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:
a. providing a wireless adaptor operatively coupled to the mobile controller and being configured to have a background scanning mode wherein a primary connection is maintained between the mobile controller and the remote controller on a first channel while constantly scanning to seek an alternate connection between the mobile controller and the remote controller on a second channel; and
b. operating the wireless adaptor to automatically:
i. scan to find an available wireless access point and evaluate a first connectivity rating by sending first data through the available wireless access point and a first respective channel of the first and second channels to a first remote server;
ii. establish the primary connection with the available wireless access point based on the first connectivity rating using the first respective channel of the first and second channels;
iii. while retaining connectivity with the remote controller through the first respective channel, continue scanning using the second respective channel of the first and second channels to find an alternative wireless access point and evaluate a second connectivity rating by sending second data through the alternative wireless access point and the second respective channel to a second remote server;
iv. compare the second connectivity rating of the alternative wireless access point with the first connectivity rating of the available wireless access point; and
v. maintain connectivity between the mobile controller and the remote controller through one of the first respective channel and the second respective channel associated with a highest compared connectivity rating as the primary connection, such that when the evaluated connectivity rating of the alternative wireless access point is higher than the evaluated connectivity rating of the available access point connected through the primary channel, connectivity with the available access point connected through the primary channel is maintained at least until connectivity is established with the alternative access point.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the wireless adaptor has a single wireless transmitter and the single wireless transmitter is a radio frequency (RF) antenna.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein in the background scanning mode, data is alternated through a single wireless transmitter of the wireless adaptor from both the first channel and the second channel, and wherein the data is alternated in bit packets based upon a bit packet size.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein in the background scanning mode, data is alternated through a single wireless transmitter of the wireless adaptor from both the first channel and the second channel, and wherein the data is alternated based upon a time interval.
5. The method of claim 3 , wherein the bit packet size is predetermined.
6. The method of claim 3 , wherein the bit packet size is adjustable using the mobile controller.
7. The method of claim 4 , wherein the time interval is predetermined.
8. The method of claim 4 , wherein the time interval is adjustable using the mobile controller.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the wireless adaptor is compatible with an IEEE 802.11 standard selected from a group consisting of: 802.11A, 802.11B, 802.11G, and 802.11N.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the wireless adaptor is a cellular telephone adaptor.
11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the wireless adaptor is an IEEE 802.16 compatible adaptor.
12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the wireless adaptor is a free-space optical adaptor.
13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the mobile controller is configured to operate the wireless adaptor to scan using a discrete frequency band.
14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the discrete frequency band is selected based upon a determined prevalence of active wireless access points.
15. The method of claim 1 , wherein the mobile controller is configured to scan again to find additional available wireless access points after disconnecting connectivity between the mobile controller and the remote controller through a channel which has a lowest evaluated connectivity rating.
16. The method of claim 1 , wherein the mobile controller is configured to repeatedly cycle between scanning to find available wireless access points and disconnecting connectivity between the mobile controller and the remote controller through a channel which has a lowest evaluated connectivity rating.
17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the mobile controller is configured to repeatedly cycle at a frequency between 100 cycles/second and ½ cycles/second.
18. The method of claim 1 , wherein the mobile controller is coupled to a motorized vehicle.
19. The method of claim 18 , wherein the motorized vehicle comprises a robot.
20. The method of claim 1 , wherein the mobile controller is configured to evaluate the first and second connectivity ratings of the first and the second respective channel based at least in part upon a factor selected from a group consisting of: latency, packet loss, and financial cost of connectivity.
21. The method of claim 20 , further comprising operating the wireless adaptor to automatically disconnect connectivity between the mobile controller and the remote controller through a lowest evaluated connectivity rated channel.