Device for communicating in multiple modes using multi-mode applications

摘要

Multi-mode communication devices capable of wLAN and WAN wireless network communication modes and/or wired modes can be configured to communicate for backend services (e.g. Web Services, database, events) via a network gateway to operate in response to available modes. For example, for some activities (e.g. notification messages), the devices may be configured to communication in any available mode (WAN or wLAN) while for other activities (e.g. high bandwidth communications), the devices may be restricted to one mode only (e.g. wLAN). Component applications for execution by the devices can specify message delivery properties to indicate the mode(s) to may used for a particular message. Runtime mode information may be provided and maintained automatically by a communications subsystem interface for determining mode availability. A programming tool and gateway are also described.

主权项

1. A multi-mode communication device comprising:
at least one communications subsystem to communicate in at least two modes of wireless or wired network communication comprising a first mode of network communication and a second mode of network communication; and, a processor to provide a runtime environment for executing applications configured to communicate using at least one of said first and second modes of network communication, said runtime environment comprising a mode selector providing mode information responsive to communication characteristics for each mode of network communication at runtime, the mode information comprising information as to whether each mode of communication is available; wherein the processor is to execute an application programmed to communicate using at least one of said first and second modes of network communication with a backend server for backend services, wherein the operation of the application is responsive to the mode information at runtime, and wherein the application communicates using messages, wherein a message comprises delivery mode properties programmed to indicate which of the first mode or second mode or both to use to communicate the message; wherein the runtime environment comprises a queue manager to manage communication of messages, by: a) determining the delivery mode of the messages from the delivery mode properties of the message; b) queuing the messages for later delivery when the determined delivery mode to communicate the messages becomes available; and c) removing the messages from the queue when the determined delivery mode to communicate the messages is not or is no longer available.