MANAGING MULTIPLE NETWORK INTERFACES BY ASSIGNING THEM TO INDIVIDUAL APPLICATIONS
A multiple network interface system that efficiently utilizes the different interfaces by binding specific applications to them. The system is able to direct selected applications to specified interfaces through a resource management module, which can dynamically or manually bind the application. The resource management module acts as a router within the system, encompassing all the interface connections.
1 . A communication method comprising:
interfacing a communication device with one or more networks through two or more network interfaces simultaneously; and
accessing two or more network services, each network service being accessed through a different one of the two or more network interfaces.
2 . The method of claim 1 further comprising: selecting network interfaces to access network services corresponding to applications being run on the communication device.
3 . The method of claim 2 wherein the selecting network interfaces includes dynamically selecting a network interface based on one or more communication parameters.
4 . The method of claim 2 wherein the selecting network interfaces includes selecting a network interface based on predetermined network criteria.
5 . The method of claim 3 wherein the selecting a network interface is based on bandwidth.
6 . The method of claim 3 wherein the selecting a network interface is based on network signal strength.
7 . The method of claim 3 wherein the selecting a network interface is based on network security.
8 . The method of claim 3 wherein the selecting a network interface is based on network signal compatibility.
9 . The method of claim 1 wherein a user of the communication device is allowed to select a network interface for each of one or more applications.
10 . A communication device, comprising:
two or more network interfaces adapted to allow access to two or more network services, each network service being accessed through a different one of the two or more network interfaces simultaneously; and
a resource management module adapted to select network interfaces to access network services corresponding to applications being run on the communication device.
11 . The communication device of claim 10 , wherein at least one network interface is 3G DO.
12 . The communication device of claim 10 , wherein at least one network interface is IEEE 802.11.
13 . The communication device of claim 10 , wherein at least one network interface is an Ethernet connection.
14 . The communication device of claim 10 , wherein the resource management module is adapted to dynamically select a network interface.
15 . The communication device of claim 10 , wherein the resource management module is adapted to select a network interface based on user input.
16 . The communication device of claim 10 , wherein the communication device is a portable computing device.
17 . A computer program product for executing a method adapted to select two or more network interfaces, comprising program coding encoded on a computer-readable medium for carrying out the steps of claim 1 , when the program is run on a communication device.
18 . A computer program product comprising program coding stored on a computer-readable medium for carrying out the method of claim 1 , when the program product is run on a communication device.