IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,177,927
Granted Patent B2
US 12,177,927 · App. 18/377,921 · Granted Dec 24, 2024

Systems and methods for a computer network intermediate router

Inventor: Raymond C. Rodriguez (Denver, CO)
Assignee: DISH NETWORK L.L.C.
H04W76/25H04W88/182
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,177,927
App. No.
18/377,921
Granted
Dec 24, 2024
Kind
B2
Abstract

A network router provides Internet connectivity to an intermediate router (e.g., implemented on a computer, smartphone or other device), which in turn provides Internet connectivity to a plurality of devices (e.g., IoT devices). During migration to a new router, the intermediate router may receive an indication that the first wireless router is out of service or no longer exists. Despite that the first wireless router is out of service or no longer exists, the intermediate router keeps each network connection from a plurality of devices to the intermediate router in a manner that is unaffected by the first wireless router being down or no longer existing (other than the plurality of devices experiencing a temporary Internet service interruption). The intermediate router then connects to a second wireless router to replace the first wireless router that is out of service or no longer exists. The intermediate router provides, via the connection to the new second wireless router, Internet connectivity to the plurality of devices connected to the intermediate router without reconnection, reactivation or reconfiguration of the plurality of devices to obtain the Internet connectivity.

Claims (62)

1. A computer network intermediate router, comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one memory coupled to the at least one processor, wherein the at least one memory has computer-executable instructions stored thereon that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to:

receive an indication that a first wireless router to which the intermediate router is connected is out of service or no longer exists, wherein the first wireless router provided Internet connectivity to the intermediate router, which in turn provided Internet connectivity to a plurality of devices connected to the intermediate router;

despite that the first wireless router is out of service or no longer exists, keep each network connection from the plurality of devices to the intermediate router in a manner that is unaffected by the first wireless router being down or no longer existing, other than the plurality of devices experiencing a temporary Internet service interruption;

connect to a second wireless router to replace the first wireless router that is out of service or no longer exists; and

provide, via the connection to the second wireless router, Internet connectivity to the plurality of devices connected to the intermediate router;

wherein the computer-executable instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, further cause the at least one processor to:

before receiving the indication that the first wireless router to which the intermediate router is connected is out of service or no longer exists;

receive outgoing Internet network communications from the plurality of devices; and

route the outgoing Internet network communications to the first wireless router that is connected to a modem that provides Internet connectivity to the first wireless router.

2. The computer network intermediate router of claim 1 wherein the computer-executable instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, further cause the at least one processor to:

before receiving the indication that the first wireless router to which the intermediate router is connected is out of service or no longer exists:

receive, from the modem via the first wireless router, incoming Internet network communications addressed to the plurality of devices; and

route the incoming Internet network communications to the plurality of devices.

3. The computer network intermediate router of claim 2 wherein the computer-executable instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, further cause the at least one processor to:

after providing, via the connection to the second wireless router, Internet connectivity to the plurality of devices connected to the intermediate router:

receive additional outgoing Internet network communications from the plurality of devices; and

route the additional outgoing Internet network communications to the second wireless router that is connected to the modem that provides Internet connectivity to the second wireless router.

4. The computer network intermediate router of claim 3 wherein the computer-executable instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, further cause the at least one processor to:

after providing, via the connection to the second wireless router, Internet connectivity to the plurality of devices connected to the intermediate router:

receive, from the modem via the second wireless router, additional incoming Internet network communications addressed to the plurality of devices; and

route the additional incoming Internet network communications to the plurality of devices.

5. The computer network intermediate router of claim 1 wherein:

the at least one processor is a processor of a cellular telephone;

the at least one memory is a memory of the cellular telephone;

before the connection to the second wireless router, the intermediate router is connected to the first wireless router via a local area network connection; and

the connection to the second wireless router is a local area network connection.

6. A computerized method for a computer network intermediate router, the method comprising:

receiving, by the intermediate router, an indication that a first wireless router to which the intermediate router is connected is out of service or no longer exists, wherein the first wireless router provided Internet connectivity to the intermediate router, which in turn provided Internet connectivity to a plurality of devices connected to the intermediate router;

despite that the first wireless router is out of service or no longer exists, keeping, by the intermediate router, each network connection from the plurality of devices to the intermediate router in a manner that is unaffected by the first wireless router being down or no longer existing, other than the plurality of devices experiencing a temporary Internet service interruption;

connecting, by the intermediate router, to a second wireless router to replace the first wireless router that is out of service or no longer exists; and

providing, by the intermediate router, via the connection to the second wireless router, Internet connectivity to the plurality of devices connected to the intermediate router;

wherein the computerized method further comprises:

before receiving the indication that the first wireless router to which the intermediate router is connected is out of service or no longer exists;

receiving outgoing Internet network communications from the plurality of devices; and

routing the outgoing Internet network communications to the first wireless router that is connected to a modem that provides Internet connectivity to the first wireless router.

7. The method of claim 6 , further comprising:

before receiving the indication that the first wireless router to which the intermediate router is connected is out of service or no longer exists:

receiving, by the intermediate router, from the modem via the first wireless router, incoming Internet network communications addressed to the plurality of devices; and

routing, by the intermediate router, the incoming Internet network communications to the plurality of devices.

8. The method of claim 7 , further comprising:

after providing, via the connection to the second wireless router, Internet connectivity to the plurality of devices connected to the intermediate router:

receiving, by the intermediate router, additional outgoing Internet network communications from the plurality of devices; and

routing, by the intermediate router, the additional outgoing Internet network communications to the second wireless router that is connected to the modem that provides Internet connectivity to the second wireless router.

9. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:

after providing, via the connection to the second wireless router, Internet connectivity to the plurality of devices connected to the intermediate router:

receiving, by the intermediate router, from the modem via the second wireless router, additional incoming Internet network communications addressed to the plurality of devices; and

routing, by the intermediate router, the additional incoming Internet network communications to the plurality of devices.

10. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions stored thereon that, when executed by at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to:

receive, by a computer network intermediate router, an indication that a first wireless router to which the intermediate router is connected is out of service or no longer exists, wherein the first wireless router provided Internet connectivity to the intermediate router, which in turn provided Internet connectivity to a plurality of devices connected to the intermediate router;

despite that the first wireless router is out of service or no longer exists, keep, by the intermediate router, each network connection from the plurality of devices to the intermediate router in a manner that is unaffected by the first wireless router being down or no longer existing, other than the plurality of devices experiencing a temporary Internet service interruption;

connect, by the intermediate router, to a second wireless router to replace the first wireless router that is out of service or no longer exists; and

provide, by the intermediate router, via the connection to the second wireless router, Internet connectivity to the plurality of devices connected to the intermediate router;

wherein the computer-executable instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, further cause the at least one processor to:

before receiving the indication that the first wireless router to which the intermediate router is connected is out of service or no longer exists;

receive outgoing Internet network communications from the plurality of devices; and

route the outgoing Internet network communications to the first wireless router that is connected to a modem that provides Internet connectivity to the first wireless router.

11. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 10 wherein:

the at least one processor is a processor of a cellular telephone;

before the connection to the second wireless router, the intermediate router is connected to the first wireless router via a local area network connection; and

the connection to the second wireless router is a local area network connection.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 9, 2023
From: RODRIGUEZ, RAYMOND C.
To: DISH NETWORK L.L.C.
Reel/Frame 065163/0540 →
Continuity (3)
Continuation 17901364 · Sep 1, 2022
Continuation 17004813 · Aug 27, 2020
Related Publication 20240040659A1 · Feb 1, 2024