Apparatus and method for intelligent routing of data between a remote device and a host system

A method for transmitting data from a local device through a plurality of dissimilar parallel wireless networks, at least two of the networks having different transmission formats, the method comprising:

• receiving data from the local device in a first format;
• selecting a first network from the plurality of wireless networks;
• switching to the first wireless network;
• converting the received data from the first format to a second format that is required by the selected first wireless network;
• transmitting the converted data through the selected first wireless network;
• restoring the data to the first format after transmission through the first wireless network occurs;
• selecting a second network from the plurality of wireless networks, the second network being dissimilar from the first network;
• switching to the second network;
• and
• transmitting the data received in the first format through the selected second wireless network;
• wherein a transmission occurs from the local device while switching from the first wireless network to the second wireless network and/or while switching from the second wireless network to the first wireless network;
• and wherein after switching networks the local device remains connected to both the first network and the second network for a period of time.

A computer readable medium storing a program for dynamically routing data over multiple dissimilar parallel wireless networks that are each monitored for status information, the medium comprising:

• a priority code segment that maintains a priority of each wireless network, the priorities indicating a most preferred path;
• an availability code segment that determines availability of each wireless network based upon status information associated with each wireless network;
• an indicating code segment that indicates a current most preferred network from the wireless networks determined to be available, the indication being based upon the network priorities;
• a switching code segment that switches from a current network, which is dissimilar at a link layer from the current most preferred network, to the current most preferred network during a transmission while remaining connected to the current network for a period of time after switching to the current most preferred network.

A computer readable medium storing a program for transmitting data from a local device through a plurality of dissimilar parallel wireless networks, at least two of the networks having different transmission formats, the medium comprising:

• a receiving code segment that receives data from the local device in a first format;
• a first selecting code segment that selects a first network from the plurality of wireless networks;
• a first switching code segment that switches to the first wireless network;
• a first converting code segment that converts the received data from the first format to a second format that is required by the selected first wireless network;
• a first transmitting code segment that transmits the converted data through the selected first wireless network;
• a first restoring code segment that restores the data to the first format after transmission through the first wireless network occurs;
• a second selecting code segment that selects a second network from the plurality of wireless networks, the second network being dissimilar from the first network;
• a second switching code segment that switches to the second network;
• and
• a second transmitting code segment that transmits the data received in the first format through the selected second wireless network;
• wherein a transmission occurs from the local device while switching from the first wireless network to the second wireless network and/or while switching from the second wireless network to the first wireless network, and
• wherein after switching networks the local device remains connected to both the first network and the second network for a period of time.

A router for dynamically routing data over multiple dissimilar parallel wireless networks that are each monitored for status information, the router comprising:

• a priority system that maintains a priority of each wireless network, the priorities indicating a most preferred path;
• a plurality of transmitters, each transmitter operating with one of the wireless networks:
• a determining system that determines availability of each wireless network based upon status information associated with each wireless network;
• an indicator that indicates a current most preferred network from the wireless networks determined to be available, the indication being based upon the network priorities;
• and
• a switch that switches from a current network, which is dissimilar from the current most preferred network, to the current most preferred network during a transmission while remaining connected to the current network for a period of time after switching to the current most preferred network.

A router for transmitting data from a local device through a plurality of dissimilar parallel wireless networks, at least two of the networks having different transmission formats, the router comprising:

• a receiver that receives data from the local device in a first format;
• a first selector that selects a first network from the plurality of wireless networks;
• a first switch that switches to the first wireless network;
• a first converter that converts the received data from the first format to a second format that is required by the selected first wireless network;
• a first transmitter that transmits the converted data through the selected first wireless network;
• a first restoring system that restores the data to the first format after transmission through the first wireless network occurs;
• a second selector that selects a second network from the plurality of wireless networks, the second network being dissimilar from the first network;
• a second switch that switches to the second network;
• and
• a second transmitter that transmits the data received in the first format through the selected second wireless network;
• wherein a transmission occurs from the local device while switching from the first wireless network to the second wireless network and/or while switching from the second wireless network to the first wireless network, and
• wherein after switching networks the local device remains connected to both the first network and the second network for a period of time.

A computer readable medium storing a program for dynamically routing data over multiple dissimilar parallel wireless networks that are each monitored for status information, the medium comprising:

• an availability code segment that ascertains availability of at least two of the wireless networks based upon the status information;
• a determining code segment that determines whether to switch between networks when at least two networks are available, in response to a user configuration and each network's speed;
• and
• a switching code segment that switches from a first available network to a second available network, which is dissimilar at a link layer from the first available network, during a transmission while remaining connected to both the first network and the second network for a period of time.

A method for dynamically routing data over multiple dissimilar parallel wireless networks that are each monitored for status information, the method comprising:

• ascertaining availability of at least two of the wireless networks based upon the status information;
• determining whether to switch between networks when at least two networks are available, in response to a user configuration and each network's speed;
• switching from a first available network to a second available network during a transmission, the second network being dissimilar from the first network;
• stopping transmitting over the first available network after switching to the second available network;
• and
• remaining connected to the first network for a period of time after switching to the second network.

A computer readable medium storing a program for dynamically routing data over multiple dissimilar parallel wireless networks that are each monitored for status information, the medium comprising:

• an availability code segment that determines availability of at least two of the wireless networks;
• an identifying code segment that identifies a current most preferred network from the wireless networks determined to be available, the identification being based upon a type of data being transmitted;
• and
• a switching code segment that switches from a current network, which is dissimilar from the current most preferred network, to the current most preferred network during a transmission and remains connected to the current network for a period of time after switching.

A method for dynamically routing data over multiple dissimilar parallel wireless networks that are each monitored for status information, the method comprising:

• determining availability of at least two of the wireless networks;
• identifying a current most preferred network from the wireless networks determined to be available, the identification being based upon a type of data being transmitted;
• switching from a current network, which is dissimilar from the current most preferred network, to the current most preferred network during a transmission;
• and
• remaining connected to the current network for a period of time after switching to the current most preferred network.

A method for dynamically routing data over multiple dissimilar parallel wireless networks that are each monitored for status information, the method comprising:

• determining availability of at least two of the wireless networks;
• identifying a current most preferred network, when multiple wireless networks are determined to be available, the identification being based upon a speed of each available network;
• and
• switching from a current network, which is dissimilar at a link layer from the current most preferred network, to the current most preferred network during a transmission;
• and
• remaining connected to the current network for a period of time after switching to the current most preferred network.

A mobile system, comprising:

• a local device comprising a database server application, the local device residing on a local area network;
• a server connected to the local device via the local area network, the server being connected to a plurality of incompatible wireless networks;
• and
• a mobile device connected to the plurality of incompatible wireless networks, the mobile device being associated with a plurality of transmitters, each transmitter operating with one of the dissimilar networks, the mobile device comprising a client application that enables a remote user to send and retrieve data from the database server application via the server, the mobile device sending data to the database server application via at least two of the plurality of incompatible wireless networks while switching between the at least two incompatible wireless networks, and remaining connected to the at least two incompatible wireless networks for a period of time after switching.

A mobile system, comprising:

• a local device residing on a local area network, the local device storing a list of jobs to be performed by field service personnel;
• a server connected to the local device via the local area network, the server being connected to a plurality of incompatible wireless networks;
• and
• a mobile device connected to the plurality of incompatible wireless networks, the mobile device comprising a client application that retrieves the list of jobs to be performed by field service personnel, and that updates ajob status, the updated job status being sent to the local device via the server to inform a dispatcher of locations of field service personnel, the updated status being transmitted via at least two of the plurality of incompatible wireless networks while switching between the at least two incompatible wireless networks, and remaining connected to the at least two incompatible wireless networks for a period of time after switching.

A method for dynamically routing data over multiple dissimilar parallel wireless networks that are each monitored for status information, the multiple wireless networks being simultaneously in coverage, each wireless network being associated with a transmitter, the method comprising:

• maintaining a priority of each wireless network, the priorities indicating a most preferred network;
• determining availability of each wireless network based upon status information associated with each wireless network, including determining if a previous network is available, and determining if a next network is available when the previous network is not available or is a lower priority than a current network;
• indicating a current most preferred network from the wireless networks determined to be available, the indication being based upon the network priorities, the current most preferred network comprising the previous network when the previous network is available and the previous network is a higher priority than the current network, which is dissimilar at the link layer from the current most preferred network;
• switching from the current network to the current most preferred network, which has a higher priority, during a transmission when the higher priority network becomes available;
• interrupting transmitting over the current network after switching to the current most preferred network;
• and
• remaining connected to the current network for a period of time after switching to the current most preferred network.