System and method for redirecting data to a wireless device over a plurality of communication paths

A mobile computer, comprising:

• a first wireless component including a long-range RF transmitter/receiver and a short-range RF transmitter/receiver, wherein the long-range RF transmitter/receiver is configured to receive data items via a long-range wireless network when the mobile computer is out of range with respect to a short-range wireless network that is organized into a plurality of cells connected in a local area network;
• a second wireless component operably coupled to the first wireless component, the second wireless component including another short-range RF transmitter/receiver for selectively communicating with either the short-range wireless network or the short-range RF transmitter/receiver of the first wireless component depending on whether the mobile computer is in range with respect to the short-range wireless network;
• and
• a processor operably coupled to a memory containing instructions that when executed by the processor perform actions including:
• configuring a redirector component to forward selected items received by the redirector component to the mobile computer;
• determining that the mobile computer is within coverage of a particular cell of the local area network,
• forwarding an address of the particular cell to a network node via the short-range wireless communication network, and
• receiving the selected items forwarded by the redirector component via the short-range wireless communication network when the mobile computer is in coverage of the short-range wireless communication network.

A method operating at a redirector component associated with a messaging host system at a network node, the method comprising:

• configuring, according to a user selection, items to be forwarded to a mobile communication device that is capable of communicating via a short-range wireless communication network and a long-range wireless communication network;
• receiving an address of a particular cell of a plurality of cells connected in a local area network when the mobile communications device is within the particular cell's RF antenna coverage;
• receiving an item for a user of the mobile communications device at the redirector component and determining that the item is to be forwarded to the mobile communications device;
• determining that the mobile communications device is within coverage of the particular cell;
• and
• redirecting the received item to the mobile communications device via the short-range wireless communication network using the particular cell.