Heterogeneous network access on devices with one or more network interfaces

A method of managing TCP flows in a mobile device adapted to connect to a plurality of wireless network types, the method comprising in order:

• at the mobile device, enabling connection to multiple wireless networks of different types;
• executing a plurality of Internet-enabled applications on the mobile device, such that each application forms an existing TCP connection over a first one of the wireless networks;
• monitoring the existing TCP connections and determining, based on the monitoring, a switch time at which switching disruption will be minimized over all connections;
• at the switch time, switching the connections to a second one of the wireless networks;
• and
• new connections on the mobile device are over the second one of the wireless network interface.

A mobile device comprising:

• a processor for executing computer-executable instructions;
• a memory module comprising a non-transient computer-readable medium for storing computer-executable instructions and data corresponding to a routing table;
• and
• a network interface module adapted to connect the mobile device to multiple networks having different network types;
• wherein the computer-executable instructions stored on the non-transient computer-readable medium of the memory module include:
• instructions for enabling connection to a plurality of wireless networks of different types;
• instructions for executing a plurality of Internet-enabled applications such that each application forms an existing TCP connection over a first one of the wireless networks;
• instructions for modifying a routing table of the mobile device such that any additional TCP connection will be created on a second one of the wireless networks;
• instructions for determining that a termination condition has occurred;
• and
• instructions for rendering an interface on the mobile device to the first one of the wireless networks inoperative in response to the determining that the termination condition has occurred.

A non-transient computer-readable medium for use by a mobile electronic processing device, the non-transient computer-readable medium having stored thereon computer-executable instructions including:

• instructions for enabling connection from the mobile electronic processing device to a plurality of wireless networks of different types;
• instructions for executing a plurality of Internet-enabled applications on the mobile electronic processing device such that each application forms an existing TCP connection over a first one of the wireless networks;
• instructions for modifying the routing table of the mobile electronic processing device such that any additional TCP connection will be created on a second one of the wireless networks;
• instructions for determining at the mobile electronic processing device that a termination condition has occurred;
• and
• instructions for rendering an interface on the mobile electronic processing device to the first one of the wireless networks inoperative in response to the determining that the termination condition has occurred.