Apparatus and method for connecting an electronic device to a telecommunication network using fixed and mobile access networks

A method for connecting at least one electronic device to a telecommunication network comprising a fixed telecommunication network and a mobile telecommunication network, said telecommunication network supporting a plurality of services, the method comprising the steps of:

• a) connecting, through connecting means, said at least one electronic device to an apparatus, the apparatus comprising:
• connecting means for connecting said at least one electronic device;
• a first interface able to exchange data/voice with said fixed telecommunication network according to one or more of said plurality of services;
• a second interface able to exchange data/voice with said mobile telecommunication network according to one or more of said plurality of services;
• a connection manager for establishing a communication:
• between said connecting means and said first interface, or
• between said connecting means and said second interface, or
• between said connecting means and both said first interface and said second interface;
• and,
• control means in signal communication with said connection manager and able to generate a control signal to control said connection manager, so as to determine an exchange of data/voice between the electronic device connected to said connecting means and:
• the fixed telecommunication network, or
• the mobile telecommunication network, or
• the fixed telecommunication network for a first subset of said plurality of services and the mobile telecommunication network for a second subset of said plurality of services,
• b) connecting, through the connection manager, said apparatus to the fixed telecommunication network, or to the mobile telecommunication network, or both to the fixed telecommunication network for a first subset of said plurality of services and to the mobile telecommunication network for a second subset of said plurality of services, and
• c) generating a control signal for controlling said communication manager to determine an exchange of data/voice between said the electronic device connected to said connecting means and said fixed telecommunication network, or said mobile telecommunication network, or both the fixed telecommunication network and the mobile telecommunication network.

An apparatus for connecting at least one electronic device to a telecommunication network comprising a fixed telecommunication network and a mobile telecommunication network, said telecommunication network supporting a plurality of services, the apparatus comprising:

• connecting means for connecting said at least one electronic device;
• a first interface able to exchange data/voice with said fixed telecommunication network according to one or more of said plurality of services;
• a second interface able to exchange data/voice with said mobile telecommunication network according to one or more of said plurality of services;
• a connection manager for establishing a communication:
• between said connecting means and said first interface, or
• between said connecting means and said second interface, or
• between said connecting means and both said first interface and said second interface;
• and
• control means in signal communication with said connection manager and able to generate a control signal to control said connection manager, so as to determine an exchange of data/voice between the electronic device connected to said connecting means and:
• the fixed telecommunication network, or
• the mobile telecommunication network, or
• the fixed telecommunication network for a first subset of said plurality of services and the mobile telecommunication network for a second subset of said plurality of services;
• wherein said control means include detection means for detecting status of a first connection established between the first interface and the fixed telecommunication network, said control signal being generated as a function of said detection performed by said detection means, and
• wherein said detection means are configured to detect failure of said first connection upon checking the operation status of at least one of the different OSI reference model layers of said first connection.