Dual channel gateway device for machine-to-machine communication
Gateway devices can use dual cellular interfaces, each assignable to at least one of a plurality of network services, to provide reliable communications for client machines. A gateway device can use one of the dual cellular interfaces assigned to a first network service as a primary interface and the other assigned to a second network service as a hot backup interface. The backup interface remains connected to a cellular network while communications are routed on the primary interface. Accordingly, the gateway device can rapidly switch communications between from the primary interface to the backup interface. Applications, for example, for ATM payment processing, vending machine telemetry, point of sale payment processing, kiosk internet connectivity, remote monitoring and control, mobile or electronic health, and remote information displays, may run on the gateway devices, on servers, on user devices, or a combination of these devices.
1. A method of operating a gateway apparatus capable of communicating with two cellular networks, the gateway apparatus having
a cellular module configured to communication over a first network and a second network, the cellular module comprising a modem;
a first cellular interface coupled to the cellular module and configured to identify and authenticate the gateway device to the first network, the first cellular interface assignable to a first network service of a plurality of network services;
a second cellular interface coupled to the cellular module and configured to identify and authenticate the gateway apparatus to the second network, the second cellular interface assignable to a second network service of the plurality of network services;
at least one local communication interface configured to route communications between the gateway apparatus and one or more client devices; and
one or more processors coupled to the cellular module and the at least one local communication interface, the method comprising:
routing communication with the one or more client devices via the cellular module using the first cellular interface assigned to the first network service over the first network, while maintaining an active connection to the second network via the cellular module using the second cellular interface assigned to a second network service;
monitoring one or more parameters of the first network;
determining, by the one or more processors, to switch communication with the one or more client devices from the first network based upon the one or more monitored parameters of the first network; and
after determining to switch communication with the one or more client devices from the first network, route communication with the one or more client devices via the second network.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising
monitoring one or more parameters of the second network; and
after switching communication with the one or more client devices from the first network to the second network, switching communication with the one or more client devices back to the first network upon the one or more parameters of the first network meeting a predetermined criteria.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the one or more parameters of the first network comprises signal strength.
4. The method of claim 2 , wherein monitoring one or more parameters of the first network comprises monitoring the quality of service (QOS) of the first network.
5. The method of claim 2 , wherein the one or more parameters of the first network comprise a plurality of parameters which are assigned different priorities and determining to switch communication with the one or more client devices from the first network based upon the one or more monitored parameters of the first network accounting for the plurality of parameters and their priorities.
6. The method of claim 2 , wherein determining to switch communication with the one or more client devices from the first network comprises determining that the first network is one or more of unreliable, unavailable, inactive, and idle.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first network service of a plurality of network services is selected from the group consisting of voice services, data services, short message service (SMS), and multimedia messaging service (MMS).
8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the second network service of the plurality of network services is selected from the group consisting of voice services, data services, short message service (SMS), and multimedia messaging service (MMS).
9. A method of operating a dual channel gateway device capable of communicating with two cellular networks, the dual channel gateway device having
a network module having a modem and configured to communication over at least a first network and a second network;
a dual network interface coupled to the network module and comprising at least a first network interface and a second network interface, the first network interface assignable to a first network service of a plurality of network services and the second network interface assignable to a second network service of the plurality of network services;
at least one local communication interface configured to communicate with one or more external client devices; and
one or more processors coupled to the network module and the at least one local communication interface,
the method comprising:
assigning the first network interface to the first network service;
assigning the second network interface to the second network service;
using the first network service of the first network interface to communicate over the first network, while maintaining an active connection to the second network via the second network service;
determining, by the one or more processors, to switch communication from the first network; and
after determining to switch communication from the first network, using the network module to route communications over the second network.
10. The method of claim 9 further comprising:
identifying and authenticating the gateway device to the first network via the first network interface; and
identifying and authenticating the gateway device to the second network via the second network interface.
11. The method of claim 9 , wherein the plurality of network services comprises data services, voice services, and short messaging services (SMS).
12. The method of claim 9 , wherein, after determining to switch communication from the first network, changing the second network interface to a third network service of the plurality of network services and using the third network service to communicate over the second network.
13. The method of claim 12 , wherein, after determining to switch communication from the first network, changing the network service assigned to the first network interface and maintaining a connection to the first network using the second network service.
14. The method of claim 9 , further comprising monitoring one or more parameters of the first network and determining to switch communication from the first network is based upon the one or more monitored parameters of the first network.
15. The method of claim 14 , further comprising
monitoring one or more parameters of the second network; and
after switching communication from the first network to the second network, switching communication back to the first network upon the one or more parameters of the first network meeting a predetermined criteria.
16. The method of claim 14 , wherein monitoring one or more parameters of the first network comprises monitoring the quality of service (QOS) of the first network.