Method and apparatus for distributed data transfer over multiple independent wireless networks
View Patent ↗The present invention provides for methods and apparatus for fragmenting a single message and sending the message fragments over multiple independent networks to a single receiving unit. The receiving unit then reassembles the message fragments to generate the original message. The preferred apparatus embodiment is a wireless radio frequency modem that can both receive and transmit fragmented messages over multiple independent networks.
1. A method for transmitting a message to a single receiving unit over a plurality of independent transmitting sources, the method comprising:
selecting at least two available transmitting sources for transmitting message fragments of the message to the receiving unit;
splitting the message into a plurality of said message fragments according to at least one predetermined criteria;
transmitting each of the message fragments to the receiving unit via a separate one of the selected transmitting sources;
receiving each transmitted signal at the receiving unit and extracting the corresponding message fragment from the received signal; and
combining the message fragments to reconstruct the message.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the message fragments includes a data file.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the message fragments include voice signals.
4. A method for transmitting a message to a single receiving unit over a plurality of independent transmitting sources, the method comprising:
selecting at least two available transmitting sources for transmitting message fragments of the message to the receiving unit;
splitting the message into a plurality of said message fragments according to at least one predetermined criteria;
transmitting each of the message fragments to the receiving unit via a separate one of the selected transmitting sources,
wherein each transmitted signal is configured to be received at a receiving unit, and
wherein the message fragments are configured to be recombined at the receiving unit to reconstruct the message.
5. The method of claim 4 , wherein at least one of the message fragments includes a data file.
6. The method of claim 4 , wherein at least one of the message fragments include voice signals.
7. A method for receiving a message over a plurality of independent transmitting sources, the method comprising:
receiving a plurality of message fragments corresponding to the message over a plurality of transmitting sources; and
combining the message fragments to reconstruct the message.
8. The method of claim 7 , wherein at least one of the message fragments includes a data file.
9. The method of claim 7 , wherein at least one of the message fragments include voice signals.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein each of the message fragments includes an identifier of where the message fragment was located in the message and wherein the message fragments are combined as a function of the identifiers.
11. The method of claim 1 , wherein each of the message fragments is a file.
12. The method of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the message fragments includes either a video stream or a voice stream.
13. The method of claim 4 , wherein each of the message fragments includes an identifier of where the message fragment was located in the message and wherein the message fragments are combined as a function of the identifiers.
14. The method of claim 4 , wherein each of the message fragments is a file.
15. The method of claim 4 , wherein at least one of the message fragments includes a video stream.
16. The method of claim 4 , wherein at least one of the message fragments includes a voice stream.
17. The method of claim 7 , wherein each of the message fragments includes an identifier of where the message fragment was located in the message and wherein the message fragments are combined as a function of the identifiers.
18. The method of claim 7 , wherein each of the message fragments is a file.
19. The method of claim 7 , wherein at least one of the message fragments includes a video stream.
20. The method of claim 7 , wherein at least one of the message fragments includes a voice stream.