Connection Wedge for Seamless IP Persistence During USB Bluetooth Switching
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional laptop computers experience disruptions in Internet connectivity when switching between physical and wireless modem connections, leading to IP address reallocation and session interruptions.
Innovation Solution
A wireless communicator system with a connection wedge that selectively uses USB and Bluetooth connections to maintain a consistent IP address during transitions between physical and wireless links, ensuring seamless Internet connectivity by prioritizing the physical connection when attached and switching to wireless when detached.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a laptop computer switches between physical and wireless modem connections, then connectivity flexibility is improved, but IP address reallocation occurs causing session disruption
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a connection wedge as an intermediary software layer between the network stack and physical/wireless interfaces. This wedge maintains a persistent virtual network interface that acts as a mediator, allowing the system to switch between physical and wireless connections while preserving the same IP address and maintaining ongoing network sessions without disruption.
2Reliability
If a unified connection management system is implemented, then session persistence is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the connection management system into distinct layers: a connection wedge layer that handles high-level connection persistence and IP address maintenance, and lower-level physical/wireless interface layers that handle actual data transmission. This segmentation allows session persistence functionality to be implemented without complicating the underlying interface implementations.
Solution Approach 2:
The connection wedge serves as an intermediary layer that abstracts the complexity of managing multiple connection types. It provides a unified interface to the network stack while handling the complexity of switching between physical and wireless connections, thereby improving session persistence without exposing complexity to higher-level protocols.
3Adaptability or versatility
If Bluetooth connection is used when USB is active, then wireless connectivity is maintained, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic connection management where the system actively monitors the physical connection state and dynamically adjusts Bluetooth radio operation accordingly. When a USB connection is detected as active, the system dynamically transitions the Bluetooth connection to a low-power state or suspends it, thereby reducing power consumption while maintaining connectivity availability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs feedback mechanisms to monitor the status of physical connections and automatically adjusts Bluetooth radio power states based on this feedback. When the USB connection is active, feedback triggers Bluetooth to enter low-power mode; when USB disconnects, feedback triggers Bluetooth to become active, optimizing power consumption while maintaining connectivity.
Data Source
AI summary
A communication system including a wireless communicator including a baseband modem for connecting to the Internet via a cellular network, and a connector for physically connecting the wireless communicator to a laptop computer port, and a laptop computer including a wireless modem for communicating in a wireless mode with the wireless communicator, a port for physically connecting the wireless communicator to the laptop computer and for communicating in a wired mode with the wireless communicator, and a connection wedge, wherein the laptop computer connects to the Internet via a link between the laptop computer and the wireless communicator, and wherein the connection wedge selectively uses the wired mode or the wireless mode for the link according to whether or not the wireless communicator is physically connected to the laptop computer, respectively. A method is also described and claimed.