Method and apparatus for interconnection of personal area networks (PANs)
View Patent ↗Method and apparatus for facilitating high level handoff decisions performed by a gateway device of a personal area network (PAN) which examines criteria regarding both the devices making up the PAN as well as the enterprise networks which are the subject of the potential handoff.
1. A handoff method for use in a first portable communication device, the method comprising:
determining, at the first portable communication device, whether a wireless network is compatible with an operating characteristic of each of a plurality of portable communication devices that are connected as a personal area network (PAN), wherein the PAN includes the first portable communication device, and on a condition that the wireless network is not compatible with any of the plurality of portable communication devices, determining whether to establish a connection of the PAN to the wireless network based on evaluating a priority associated with each of the plurality of portable communication devices; and
establishing the connection to the wireless network based on the determining whether to establish a connection.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the determining whether to establish a connection includes receiving user input.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the determining whether to establish a connection is based on latency, data rate, security, distance, or signal strength.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the operating characteristic includes a link requirement.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the operating characteristic includes a link capability.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the determining whether a wireless network is compatible is based on an Available link, a Power availability, a Processing capability, or a User preference.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the determining whether a wireless network is compatible is based on a current wireless communication with a different wireless network.
8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the determining whether to establish a connection includes determining whether to handover the current wireless communication.
9. The method of claim 7 , wherein the different wireless network is not compatible with the operating characteristic.
10. A first portable communication device comprising:
a first communication unit configured to communicate with a plurality of portable communication devices that are connected as a personal area network (PAN), wherein the PAN includes the first portable communication device;
a processor configured to:
determine whether a wireless network is compatible with an operating characteristic of each of a plurality of portable communication devices, and
determine whether to establish a connection of the PAN to the wireless network based on evaluating a priority associated with each of the plurality of portable communication devices, on a condition that the wireless network is not compatible; and
a second communication unit configured to establish the connection based on the determining whether to establish a connection.
11. The first portable communication device of claim 10 , wherein the processor is configured to determine whether to establish a connection based on user input.
12. The first portable communication device of claim 10 , wherein the processor is configured to determine whether to establish a connection by evaluating latency, data rate, security, distance, or signal strength.
13. The first portable communication device of claim 10 , wherein the processor is configured to determine whether the wireless network is compatible with a link requirement.
14. The first portable communication device of claim 10 , wherein the processor is configured to determine whether the wireless network is compatible with a link capability.
15. The first portable communication device of claim 10 , wherein the processor is configured to determine whether wireless the network is compatible by evaluating an Available link, a Power availability, a Processing capability, or a User preference.
16. The first portable communication device of claim 10 , wherein the processor is configured to determine whether wireless the network is compatible by evaluating a current wireless communication with a different wireless network.
17. The first portable communication device of claim 16 , wherein the processor is configured to determine whether to establish a connection by determining whether to handover the current wireless communication.
18. The first portable communication device of claim 16 , wherein the different wireless network is not compatible with the operating characteristic.