Services convergence among heterogeneous wired and wireless networks
A system and method for heterogeneous network communication including wired, and wireless communication mediums for seamless data, voice, as well as multimedia applications independent of the actual communication medium, type of device, and protocols running over such communication channels. The devices are structured to operate over both wired and wireless communication mediums individually or simultaneously in the intermittent or continuous fashion in secure or non-secure mode, after obtaining explicit, implicit or no permission for usage. The system and method described herein allow the communication channels operate in their native mode of operation independent of converged application perception by user of the application, a user being a person, a machine, or any other such entity that can be identified as user.
1. A heterogeneous communication system for communicating between a first terminal and a second terminal, said heterogeneous communication system comprising: a backbone network for transmitting information from the first terminal towards the second terminal; a first access network for providing access for the first terminal to the backbone network; a second access network for providing access for the first terminal to the backbone network, the second access network configured to operate as an alternative to the first access network, the first access network configured to operate as an alternative to the second access network; and wherein the first terminal selectively receives or transmits information from one of the first access network and second access network.
2. The heterogeneous communication system of claim 1 , wherein the one of the first access network and second access network is selected based on the user preferences.
3. The heterogeneous communication system of claim 1 , wherein the one of the first access network and second access network is selected based on the information received or transmitted.
4. The heterogeneous communication system of claim 1 , the first access network comprising a first selected one of the following, the second access network comprising a second selected one of the following, the first selected one different from the second selected one:
an Internet Protocol (IP) network;
a wireless local area network (LAN); and
a cellular network.
5. Computer readable media storing a plurality of executable instructions, a session convergence layer comprising a first portion of the plurality of executable instructions, a transport convergence layer comprising a second portion of the plurality of executable instructions, when executed by a computer the instructions are configured to:
facilitate communication between a first terminal and a second terminal through a heterogeneous communication system, the heterogeneous communication system comprising a first access network, a second access network, and a backbone network, the first access network configured to provide access for the first terminal to the backbone network, the second access network configured to provide access for the first terminal to the backbone network, the second access network configured to operate as an alternative to the first access network, the first access network configured to operate as an alternative to the second access network, the backbone network configured to transmit information from the first access network or the second access network to the second terminal; and
cause the first terminal to receive or transmit information from a selected one of the first access network and a second access network.
6. The computer readable media of claim 5 , wherein the selected one of the first access network and second access network is selected based on the user preferences.
7. The computer readable media of claim 5 , wherein the selected one of the first access network and second access network is selected based on the information received or transmitted.
8. The computer readable media of claim 5 , the first access network comprising a first selected one of the following, the second access network comprising a second selected one of the following, the first selected one different from the second selected one:
an Internet Protocol (IP) network;
a wireless local area network (LAN); and
a cellular network.
9. A method comprising:
facilitating communication between a first terminal and a second terminal through a heterogeneous communication system, the heterogeneous communication system comprising a first access network, a second access network, and a backbone network, the first access network configured to provide access for the first terminal to the backbone network, the second access network configured to provide access for the first terminal to the backbone network, the second access network configured to operate as an alternative to the first access network, the first access network configured to operate as an alternative to the second access network, the backbone network configured to transmit information from the first access network or the second access network to the second terminal; and
causing the first terminal to receive or transmit information from a selected one of the first access network and a second access network.
10. The method of claim 9 , further comprising:
selecting the one of the first access network and second access network based on the user preferences.
11. The method of claim 9 , further comprising:
selecting the one of the first access network and second access network based on the information received or transmitted.
12. The method of claim 9 , the first access network comprising a first selected one of the following, the second access network comprising a second selected one of the following, the first selected one different from the second selected one:
an Internet Protocol (IP) network;
a wireless local area network (LAN); and
a cellular network.