Method for transmitting data in a wireless telecommunications network using multiple data channels

1. A method for sending data over multiple data channels, the method comprising:

a client application running on a computer receiving a packet;

the client application dividing the packet into at least a first fragment and a second fragment;

the client application adding a header to each of the fragments;

the client application assigning the first fragment for transmission over a first data channel and assigning the second fragment for transmission over a second data channel, wherein the first data channel is a wireless channel and the second data channel is a non-wireless channel;

the computer transmitting the first fragment over the first data channel and the second fragment over the second data channel; and

the computer determining that bandwidth usage on the wireless and non-wireless channels is below a predetermined threshold and responsively terminating either the wireless channel or the non-wireless channel.

2. A computer readable medium having stored therein instructions for causing a central processing unit to execute the method of claim 1 .

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the packet is a TCP/IP packet.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the header is a PPP Multilink header.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein transmitting the first fragment over the first data channel comprises transmitting the first fragment over the first data channel in a voice session with a wireless telecommunications network.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein transmitting the first fragment over the first channel comprises transmitting the first fragment over the first data channel in a data session with a wireless telecommunications network.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising transmitting a third fragment over a third data channel, wherein the third data channel is a wireless data channel.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein transmitting the second fragment over the second data channel comprises transmitting the second fragment using an analog modem connection.

9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

the computer initializing the non-wireless channel;

the computer determining that bandwidth usage on the non-wireless data channel is above the predetermined threshold and responsively initializing the wireless channel.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first data channel has a first available bandwidth and the second channel has a second available bandwidth, and wherein the method further comprises:

distributing the fragments of the packet to the first channel and the second channel based on the first available bandwidth and the second available bandwidth.

11. A method for receiving data over multiple data channels, the method comprising:

a computer, having a wireless interface and a non-wireless interface, accessing both a first data channel and a second data channel, wherein the first data channel is a wireless channel and the second data channel is a non-wireless channel, wherein the computer accesses the first data channel via the wireless interface and accesses the second data channel via the non-wireless interface;

a client application running on the computer receiving fragments of a packet, wherein the fragments include at least a first fragment sent over the first data channel, and received via the wireless interface, and a second fragment sent over the second data channel, and received via the non-wireless interface;

the client application removing a header from each of the fragments;

the client application reassembling the fragments to form the packet; and

the computer determining that bandwidth usage on the wireless and non-wireless channels is below a predetermined threshold and responsively terminating either the wireless channel or the non-wireless channel.

12. A computer readable medium having stored therein instructions for causing a central processing unit to execute the method of claim 11 .

13. The method of claim 11 , wherein the packet is a TCP/IP packet.

14. The method of claim 11 , wherein the header is a PPP Multilink header.

15. The method of claim 11 , wherein receiving fragments of a packet comprises receiving fragments of a packet over the first data channel using a voice session with the wireless telecommunications network.

16. The method of claim 11 , wherein receiving fragments of a packet comprises receiving fragments of a packet over the first data channel using a data session with the wireless telecommunications network.

17. The method of claim 11 , wherein receiving fragments of a packet comprises receiving fragments of a packet sent over a third data channel using a session with the wireless telecommunications network.

18. The method of claim 11 , wherein receiving fragments of a packet comprises receiving fragments of a packet over the second data channel using an analog modem connection.

19. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:

the computer initializing the non-wireless channel;

the computer determining that bandwidth usage on the non-wireless data channel is above the predetermined threshold and responsively initializing the wireless channel.

20. A device, comprising:

a wireless interface;

a non-wireless interface;

a processor;

memory; and

an application, stored in the memory and configured to, in response to execution by the processor, cause the device to:

receive a packet,

divide the packet into at least a first fragment and a second fragment,

add a header to each of the fragments,

access both a first data channel and a second data channel, wherein the first data channel uses the wireless interface and the second data channel uses the non-wireless interface,

assign the first fragment to the first data channel and assign the second fragment to the second data channel, and

transmit the first fragment over the first data channel and the second fragment over the second data channel.