Data packet router for a mobile communication device

摘要

A data packet router enables a mobile communication device to access a WAN such as the Internet via a PC connected to the WAN. The router comprises bearer plug-in modules which each enable connection between the mobile communication device and the computer over a different bearer. The PC is therefore used as an internet access point for mobile communication devices which can use any conventional bearer to connect to the PC (USB, RS232, Bluetooth wireless etc.). Hence, a mobile telephone could gain web access using conventional WAP or, with the present invention, it could also be connected to a PC using a convenient bearer and hence gain access to the internet via the PC. Because the router uses bearer plug-in modules, it is possible to write new bearer modules as and when new bearers are developed and to readily add them to upgrade existing implementations. This is valuable since new connectivity standards (and enhancements to old standards) are continually under development.

主权项

1. An apparatus comprising a processor and a memory storing computer program code;
wherein the apparatus is connectable to a wide area network (WAN) so as to enable a mobile communication device to access the WAN via the apparatus; and wherein the memory and stored computer program code are configured, with the processor, to cause the apparatus to at least run a data packet router, the router being configured to at least: select a bearer plug-in module from a set of multiple available bearer plug-in modules, the selected module enabling a connection between the mobile communication device and the apparatus over a bearer; use the selected bearer plug-in module to enable connections over the bearer; provide an extensible bearer abstraction layer configured to be augmented with new bearer abstraction code; determine that an existing bearer has been upgraded; and use a bearer plug-in module to augment the bearer abstraction layer to enable usage of the upgraded existing bearer.