Mobile device and method for switching communication sessions between alternative network resources

A method of operating a mobile device comprising a control module and at least a first physical network interface configured to send or receive data from a data source, the method comprising:

• transferring data from the data source through the at least first physical network interface;
• receiving, by the control module and from a policy generating entity, a configuration update comprising a policy defined by the policy generating entity that indicates to the mobile device one or more data transfer adaptation rules including one or more data characteristics and one or more traffic-shaping measures to be applied to data having the one or more data characteristics;
• and
• responsive to receipt of the policy, adapting the transfer of the data having the one or more data characteristics through the at least first physical network interface in accordance with the one or more traffic-shaping measures,
• wherein the one or more data transfer adaptation rules in the policy are set so as to cause the mobile device to operate so as to support operational objectives of the policy generating entity, and
• wherein the policy generating entity is a network operator, and a network operator defined policy is received from the network operator as the policy when the network operator is engaging in traffic shaping.

A method of operating a mobile device comprising a control module and at least a first physical network interface configured to send or receive data from a data source, the method comprising:

• transferring data from the data source through the at least first physical network interface;
• receiving, by the control module and from a policy generating entity, a configuration update comprising a policy defined by the policy generating entity that indicates to the mobile device one or more data transfer adaptation rules including one or more data characteristics and one or more traffic-shaping measures to be applied to data having the one or more data characteristics;
• and
• responsive to receipt of the policy, adapting the transfer of the data having the one or more data characteristics through the at least first physical network interface in accordance with the one or more traffic-shaping measures,
• wherein the one or more data transfer adaptation rules in the policy are set so as to cause the mobile device to operate so as to support operational objectives of the policy generating entity, and
• wherein the policy is an XML file comprising policy condition definitions and policy action definitions.

A mobile device, comprising:

• a control module configured to receive, from a policy generating entity, a configuration update comprising a policy defined by the policy generating entity that indicates to the mobile device one or more data transfer adaptation rules including one or more data characteristics and one or more traffic-shaping measures to be applied to data having the one or more data characteristics;
• and
• first and second physical network interfaces configured to transfer data from one or more data sources,
• wherein the mobile device is configured to, responsive to receipt of the policy, adapt transfer of data having the one or more data characteristics through the first physical network interface in accordance with the one or more traffic-shaping measures,
• wherein the mobile device is configured to, in response to the receipt of the policy, initiate a connection and transfer the data having the one or more data characteristics defined in the policy, and
• wherein the one or more data transfer adaptation rules in the policy are set so as to cause the mobile device to operate so as to support operational objectives of the policy generating entity.

A mobile device comprising:

• at least a first physical network interface configured to send or receive data from a data source;
• and
• a control module configured to cause the mobile device to:
• transfer the data from the data source through the at least first physical network interface;
• receive, through the at least first physical network interface from a policy generating entity, a configuration update comprising a policy defined by the policy generating entity that indicates to the mobile device one or more data transfer adaptation rules including one or more data characteristics and one or more traffic-shaping measures to be applied to data having the one or more data characteristics;
• and
• responsive to receipt of the policy, adapt the transfer of the data having the one or more data characteristics through the at least first physical network interface in accordance with the one or more traffic-shaping measures,
• wherein the one or more data transfer adaptation rules in the policy are set so as to cause the mobile device to operate so as to support operational objectives of the policy generating entity, and
• wherein the policy generating entity is a network operator, and a network operator defined policy is received from the network operator as the policy when the network operator is engaging in traffic shaping.

A mobile device comprising:

• at least a first physical network interface configured to send or receive data from a data source;
• and
• a control module configured to cause the mobile device to:
• transfer the data from the data source through the at least first physical network interface;
• receive, through the at least first physical network interface from a policy generating entity, a configuration update comprising a policy defined by the policy generating entity that indicates to the mobile device one or more data transfer adaptation rules including one or more data characteristics and one or more traffic-shaping measures to be applied to data having the one or more data characteristics;
• and
• responsive to receipt of the policy, adapt the transfer of the data having the one or more data characteristics through the at least first physical network interface in accordance with the one or more traffic-shaping measures,
• wherein the one or more data transfer adaptation rules in the policy are set so as to cause the mobile device to operate so as to support operational objectives of the policy generating entity, and
• wherein the policy is an XML file comprising policy condition definitions and policy action definitions.