Transient network communication

A user interface, comprising:

• a network communication device for communicating with a remote device;
• and
• a processor coupled to the network communication device, the processor including instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:
• determine whether the user interface is in range of a local area network to which a target gateway is coupled when the processor receives a system notification that the network communication device is communicating with a network;
• communicate with the target gateway on the local area network through the network communication device if the user interface is in range of that local area network;
• if the user interface is communicating with the target gateway on the local area network, store the association of that gateway and that local area network in a database in memory coupled to the processor;
• and
• communicate with the target gateway through a wide area network through the network communication device if the user interface is not in range of that local area network.

A user interface, comprising:

• a network communication device for communicating with a remote device;
• and
• a processor coupled to the network communication device, the processor including instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:
• determine whether the user interface is in range of a local area network to which a target gateway is coupled when the processor receives a system notification that the network communication device is communicating with a network;
• communicate with the target gateway on the local area network through the network communication device if the user interface is in range of that local area network;
• poll at least one additional local area network within its connectivity range for the target gateway;
• and
• communicate with the target gateway through a wide area network through the network communication device if the user interface is not in range of that local area network.

A user interface, comprising:

• a network communication device for communicating with a remote device;
• and
• a processor coupled to the network communication device, the processor including instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:
• determine whether the user interface is in range of a local area network to which a target gateway is coupled when the processor receives a system notification that the network communication device is communicating with a network;
• communicate with the target gateway on the local area network through the network communication device if the user interface is in range of that local area network;
• poll at least one local area network within its connectivity range to determine whether at least a second gateway is communicating on that network;
• and
• communicate with the target gateway through a wide area network through the network communication device if the user interface is not in range of that local area network.

A method of determining whether a user interface should communicate with a target gateway through a local area network or through a wide area network, comprising:

• connecting to a local area network;
• receiving a system notification indicating the network to which the user interface has connected;
• determining whether a gateway with which the user interface is to communicate is connected to the network to which the user interface has connected;
• storing the association of that gateway and that local area network in a database if the gateway is communicating on the local area network;
• and
• communicating with the gateway through the local network if that gateway is connected to the local area network and communicating with the gateway through a wide area network if the gateway is not connected to the local area network.