Method for wireless connectivity continuity and quality
Configurations are described for maintaining a continuity and quality of wireless signal connection between a mobile device and systems accessible through the internet. In particular, configurations are disclosed to address the challenge of a mobile device that moves through a physical environment wherein the best wireless connectivity performance is achieved by switching between available connection sources and constantly evaluating a primary connection with other available connections that may be switched in to become a new primary connection. The mobile device may be self-propelled or carried by some other mobilizing means.
1. A method for maintaining wireless connectivity between a mobile controller and a remote controller, the method comprising:
providing first and second wireless adaptors operatively coupled to the mobile controller and configured to operate independently such that while one of the first and second wireless adaptor retains a first connection between the mobile controller and the remote controller, another of the first and second wireless adaptor scans for a second connection between the mobile controller and the remote controller; and
operating the first and second wireless adaptors to automatically:
scan to find available wireless access points;
connect with an available wireless access point using the first wireless adaptor and evaluate a first connectivity rating by sending first data via a first channel through the available wireless access point to a first remote server;
while retaining wireless connectivity with the remote controller through the first wireless adaptor, continue scanning using the second wireless adaptor to find an alternative access point and evaluate a second connectivity rating by sending second data via a second channel through the alternative access point to a second remote server;
compare the first connectivity rating of the available wireless access point connected through the first wireless adaptor with the second connectivity rating of the alternative access point available through the second wireless adaptor to find a highest evaluated channel and a lowest evaluated channel; and
while maintaining the wireless connectivity between the mobile controller and the remote controller, switching, based on comparing the evaluated connectivity ratings of the first and second channels, from the lowest evaluated channel to the highest evaluated channel to optimize a connection being used as a primary connection between the mobile controller and the remote controller.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein each of the first and second wireless adaptors has a single wireless transmitter.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the single wireless transmitter is a radio frequency (RF) antenna.
4. The method of claim 2 , wherein in a background scanning mode, data is alternated through the single wireless transmitter between the first channel and the second channel.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first and second wireless adaptors is compatible with an IEEE 802.11 standard selected from at least one of a group consisting of: 802.11A, 802.11 B, 802.11G, and 802.11N.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first and second wireless adaptors is a cellular telephone adaptor.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first and second wireless adaptors is IEEE 802.16 compatible.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first wireless adaptor is a free-space optical adaptor.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the mobile controller is configured to operate the first and second wireless adaptors to scan using a discrete frequency band.
10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the discrete frequency band is selected based upon a determined prevalence of active wireless access points.
11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the mobile controller is configured to scan for additional available wireless access points after switching wireless connectivity between the mobile controller and the remote controller through the lowest evaluated connection.
12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the mobile controller is configured to repeatedly cycle between scanning for additional available wireless access points and switching wireless connectivity between the mobile controller and the remote controller through the lowest evaluated connection.
13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the mobile controller is configured to repeatedly cycle at a frequency between about 100 cycles/second and about ½ cycles/second.
14. The method of claim 1 , wherein the mobile controller is coupled to a motorized vehicle.
15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the motorized vehicle comprises a robot.
16. The method of claim 1 , wherein the evaluation of the first and second connectivity ratings of the respective first and second channels is based at least in part upon a factor selected from a group consisting of: a latency factor, a packet loss factor, and a financial cost of connectivity factor.
17. The method of claim 1 , further comprising a third wireless adaptor operatively coupled to the mobile controller and configured to operate independently of the first and second wireless adaptors.
18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the mobile controller is configured to connect to the remote controller through the first, second and third wireless adaptors via different wireless access points, evaluate connectivity ratings through each to respective discrete remote servers, and maintain wireless connectivity only through the highest evaluated channel.
19. The method of claim 18 , wherein the first and second wireless adaptors are compatible with an IEEE 802.11 standard selected from at least one of a group consisting of: 802.11A, 802.11B, 802.11G, and 802.11N.
20. The method of claim 19 , wherein the third wireless adaptor is a cellular telephone adaptor.
21. The method of claim 1 , further comprising operating the first and second wireless adaptors to automatically switch wireless connectivity between the mobile controller and the remote controller through the highest evaluated channel.