# US 2014/0192710 A1 · Router > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0192710 A1 - Document ID: US20140192710A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/737,051 - Filed: 2013-01-09 - Published: 2014-07-10 - Earliest claimed: 2013-01-09 - Assignees: Ventus Networks LLC - Inventors: Keith Charette; Valeriu Goldberger; Al Ivanov - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140192710A1 ## CPC - H04L 45/22: {Alternate routing} - H04W 12/03: Protecting confidentiality, e.g. by encryption - H04W 40/02: Communication route or path selection, e.g. power-based or shortest path routing - H04L 45/24: Multipath - H04L 45/70: {Routing based on monitoring results} - H04L 63/0272: {Virtual private networks} - H04W 12/02: Protecting privacy or anonymity, e.g. protecting personally identifiable information [PII] - 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 router includes a first communications port, a second communications port, and a processor that is configured to transmit data via at least one of the first communications port or the second communications port. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A router comprising: a first communications port; a second communications port; and a processor configured to: calculate a cost of establishing a secure connection with an intermediate host via each of the first and second communications ports; establish a secure connection via the lower-cost communications port; and direct transmission of data via the secure connection. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A router as claimed in claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to maintain active communications channels via both of the first and second communications ports. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) A router as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second communications ports is a cellular transceiver. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) A router as claimed in claim 3, wherein both of the first and second communications ports are cellular transceivers, and each of the first and second cellular transceivers is operable on a different network. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) A router as claimed in claim 4, wherein the cost of each cellular transceiver depends at least in part on the network it uses. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) A router as claimed in claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to establish a communications channel with the intermediate host via each communications port and to establish a secure connection with the intermediate host via at least one of the communications channels. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) A router as claimed in claim 6, wherein the processor is configured to establish an encrypted connection on each of the communications channels. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) A router as claimed in claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to establish a single communications channel with the intermediate host across all of the two or more communications ports. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) A router as claimed in claim 8, wherein the processor is configured to establish an encrypted connection on the single communications channel. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) A router as claimed in claim 8, wherein the processor is configured to receive a single stream of data and to split the stream of data into at least two substreams, each substream going to a different one of the two or more communications ports. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) A router as claimed in claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to establish across each of the two or more communications ports a communications channel with a corresponding one of a plurality of intermediate hosts, thus establishing a plurality of communications channels with the plurality of intermediate hosts; the processor being further configured to receive a single stream of data and to split the stream of data into plural substreams of data, each substream going to a different communications channel. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) A router as claimed in claim 11, the plurality of intermediate hosts being geographically diverse. ### Claim 13 A router comprising: a first cellular transceiver; a second cellular transceiver; and a processor configured to: calculate a cost of establishing communication with an intermediate host via each of the first and second cellular transceivers; and establish communication with the intermediate host via at least the lower-cost cellular transceiver. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) A router as claimed in claim 13, wherein each of the first and second cellular transceivers operates on a different network. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) A router as claimed in claim 14, wherein the cost of each cellular transceiver depends at least in part on the network it uses. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) A router as claimed in claim 13, wherein the processor is configured to receive a single stream of data and to split the stream of data into at least two substreams, each substream going to a different one of the two or more cellular transceivers. ### Claim 17 A method for routing data via one or more of multiple communications channels, comprising: establishing at least first and second communications channels via first and second communications ports; calculating a cost for establishing a data connection on each of the first and second communications channels; and establishing the data connection on the lower-cost communications channel. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) A method as claimed in claim 17, wherein the cost is calculated based in part on a communications protocol used by the communications channel. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) A method as claimed in claim 17, wherein the cost is calculated based in part on a status of the communications channel. ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) A method as claimed in claim 17, wherein the cost is calculated based in part on likelihood of maintaining the communications channel. ### Claim 21 (depends on 17) A method as claimed in claim 17, wherein the cost is calculated based in part on the type of communications port associated with the communications channel. ### Claim 22 (depends on 17) A method as claimed in claim 17, wherein the data connection to be established is an encrypted connection, and the cost is calculated based in part on a category of data to be transferred via the encrypted connection. ### Claim 23 (depends on 17) A method as claimed in claim 17, further comprising monitoring performance of the data connection, and switching communications channels in response to poor performance. ### Claim 24 A router comprising: a processor connected in communication with a local area network; and a communications port connected in communication with a host system, wherein the processor intermediates a flow of data from the local area network to the communications port, intercepts selected data having an original periodicity, and re-transmits to the communications port portions of the intercepted data at a periodicity less than the original periodicity, thereby reducing communication between the communications port and the host system. ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) A router as claimed in claim 24, wherein the processor intermediates a flow of data from the communications port to the local area network, buffers a subset of data, and re-transmits portions of the buffered data to the local area network at a periodicity matching the original periodicity. ### Claim 27 (depends on 25) A router as claimed in claim 25, wherein the processor is configured to monitor performance of the communications port, and to select a different communications port for communication with the host system, in response to diminished performance of the communications port. ### Claim 28 (depends on 25) A router as claimed in claim 25, wherein the processor is configured to periodically send system data to an intermediate host interposed between the router and the host system. ### Claim 29 A router comprising: a first communications port; a second communications port; an accelerometer; a battery; and a processor configured to: monitor the accelerometer and, on detecting motion of the router, institute a battery-conserving mode of communication via at least one of the first communications port or the second communications port, said battery-conserving mode of communication being substantially limited to periodic broadcasts of position.