# US 12,015,553 B2 · Dynamic medium switching for hybrid networks

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- Number: US 12,015,553 B2
- Document ID: US12015553B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/522,812
- Filed: 2021-11-09
- Published: 2022-03-03
- Granted: 2024-06-18
- Earliest claimed: 2013-10-21
- Assignees: Texas Instruments Incorporated
- Applicants: Texas Instruments Incorporated
- Inventors: Ramanuja Vedantham; Jiun-Ren Lin; Xiaolin Lu
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12015553B2

## CPC

- H04L 45/70: {Routing based on monitoring results}
- H04L 45/124: {using a combination of metrics}
- H04W 40/12: based on transmission quality or channel quality
- Y02D 30/70: in wireless communication networks
- H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M)
- H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72)
- Y02D: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES [ICT], I.E. INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES AIMING AT THE REDUCTION OF THEIR OWN ENERGY USE

## Abstract

A method and apparatus for dynamic medium switching in a hybrid network. A method for packet transmission by a combo device includes maintaining a wireless network confidence rating value that is indicative of packet transfer reliability of a wireless network accessed by the device. A wired network confidence rating value that is indicative of packet transfer reliability of a wired network accessed by the device is also maintained. One of the wireless network and the wired network to be used for initial transmission of the data packet is selected based on which of the wireless confidence rating value and the wired confidence rating value is indicative of a higher likelihood of the packet being successfully transmitted. The packet is routed to be transmitted via the selected network.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A wireless device, comprising:
a first transceiver coupled to a first network;
a second transceiver coupled to a second network; and
a switch coupled to the first transceiver and the second transceiver, wherein the switch is configured to:
select one of the first transceiver and the second transceiver based on a first value associated with the first network and a second value associated with the second network;
determine a retransmission allowance for the first network based on the first value; and
if transmission of a packet is unsuccessful within the retransmission allowance for the first network, attempt to transmit the packet over the second network within a retransmission allowance for the second network based on the second value.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The wireless device of claim 1, wherein:
the first network is a wired network; and
the second network is a wireless network.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The wireless device of claim 1, wherein:
the first value is a first confidence rating for the first network; and
the second value is a second confidence rating for the second network.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The wireless device of claim 3, wherein:
the switch is configured to select one of the first transceiver and the second transceiver based on which of the first network and the second network has a highest confidence rating indicating a higher likelihood of successful packet transmission.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The wireless device of claim 4, wherein:
in response to the first confidence rating equaling the second confidence rating, the switch is configured to randomly select one of the first transceiver and the second transceiver.

### Claim 6 (depends on 4)

The wireless device of claim 4, wherein:
in response to the first confidence rating equaling the second confidence rating, the switch is configured to select one of the first transceiver and the second transceiver based on a next criterion.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The wireless device of claim 1, further comprising:
alternate attempting transmission of a packet between the first network and the second network until the packet is successfully transmitted or a number of transmission attempts equals a maximum number of transmission attempts.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The wireless device of claim 7, wherein:
in response to the maximum number of transmission attempts being reached, the switch is configured to drop the packet.

### Claim 9 (depends on 7)

The wireless device of claim 7, wherein:
in response to each alternate attempt at transmission of the packet, the switch is configured to receive reliability information associated with one of the first network and the second network.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The wireless device of claim 9, wherein:
the switch is configured to update a confidence rating associated with one of the first network and the second network based on the reliability information received.

### Claim 11

A method, comprising:
receiving, by a switch, a first value associated with a first network coupled to a first transceiver;
determining, by the switch, a retransmission allowance for the first network based on the first value;
receiving, by the switch, a second value associated with a second network coupled to a second transceiver; and
selecting, by the switch, one of the first transceiver and the second transceiver based on the first value and the second value
if transmission of a packet is unsuccessful within a retransmission allowance for the first network, based on the first value, attempting to transmit the packet over the second network within a retransmission allowance for the second network based on the second value.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, wherein:
the first network is a wired network; and
the second network is a wireless network.

### Claim 13 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, wherein:
the first value is a first confidence rating for the first network; and
the second value is a second confidence rating for the second network.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The method of claim 13, wherein:
the switch is configured to select one of the first transceiver and the second transceiver based on which of the first network and the second network has a highest confidence rating indicating a higher likelihood of successful packet transmission.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The method of claim 14, wherein:
in response to the first confidence rating equaling the second confidence rating, the switch is configured to randomly select one of the first transceiver and the second transceiver.

### Claim 16 (depends on 14)

The method of claim 14, wherein:
in response to the first confidence rating equaling the second confidence rating, the switch is configured to select one of the first transceiver and the second transceiver based on a next criterion.

### Claim 17 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, further comprising:
alternating, by the switch, between selection of the first network and the second network for attempted transmission of a packet between until the packet is successfully transmitted or a number of transmission attempts equals a maximum number of transmission attempts.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The method of claim 17, wherein:
in response to the maximum number of transmission attempts being reached, the switch is configured to drop the packet.

### Claim 19 (depends on 17)

The method of claim 17, wherein:
in response to each alternate attempt at transmission of the packet, the switch is configured to receive reliability information associated with one of the first network and the second network.

### Claim 20 (depends on 19)

The method of claim 19, wherein:
the switch is configured to update a confidence rating associated with one of the first network and the second network based on the reliability information received.