Multiple modem device including notification modem

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9681328-B2
Application number	US-201514753646-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 29, 2015
Priority date	Jun 29, 2015
Publication date	Jun 13, 2017
Grant date	Jun 13, 2017

Abstract

A method, in a multiple modem device that includes a notification modem and a Wi-Fi modem, includes identifying data to be collected and rules for selecting an optimal modem for data transmission from the multiple modem device. The method also includes collecting the data, and determining whether the data is to be sent via the notification modem based on a payload size associated with the data and the rules. The method includes sending the data via a control channel of a cellular network associated with the notification modem in response to a determination that the data to be sent via the notification modem. A determination whether a Wi-Fi network is available is made in response to a determination that the data is not to be sent via the notification modem. The data is sent via the Wi-Fi modem over the Wi-Fi network.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A computer-implemented method in a multiple modem device, wherein the multiple modem device includes a notification modem and a Wi-Fi modem, comprising:
identifying data to be collected and rules for selecting an optimal modem for data transmission from the multiple modem device;
collecting the data;
determining whether the data is to be sent via the notification modem based on a payload size associated with the data and the rules;
sending the data via a control channel of a cellular network associated with the notification modem in response to a determination that the data is to be sent via the notification modem;
determining whether a Wi-Fi network is available in response to a determination that the data is not to be sent via the notification modem; and
sending the data via the Wi-Fi modem over the Wi-Fi network in response to a determination that the Wi-Fi network is available.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising:
storing the data in an associated data repository until the Wi-Fi network is available in response to a determination that the Wi-Fi network is not available.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the multiple modem device further includes a cellular modem, further comprising:
determining whether the data is to be sent via the cellular network based on the rules in response to a determination that the Wi-Fi network is not available; and
sending the data via the cellular network using the cellular modem in response to a determination that the data is to be sent via the cellular network.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 3 , wherein determining whether the data is to be sent via the cellular network further comprises:
receiving an instruction to send the data via the cellular network from a mobile application on a user device associated with the multiple modem device.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising:
updating the rules via downloading from a cloud platform associated with the multiple modem device.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the Wi-Fi modem is maintained in a powered off state when not transmitting data, further comprising:
receiving, via the notification modem, a request to transfer selected data via a mobile application on a user device associated with the multiple modem device;
determining whether a payload size of the selected data is greater than a threshold size;
powering on the Wi-Fi modem in response to a determination that the payload size of the selected data is greater than the threshold size; and
sending the selected data via the Wi-Fi modem.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising;
selecting between the notification modem and the Wi-Fi modem based on security requirements associated with the data.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving, via the notification modem, a command to perform a particular action using the multiple modem device via a mobile application on a user device associated with the multiple modem device.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the multiple modem device comprises at least one of a location tracker, a temperature monitor, or a meter reader.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising:
identifying a data transfer scenario to which the rules do not apply;
requesting emergency instructions from a cloud platform; and
handling the data based on the emergency instructions.

11. The computer-implemented method of claim 10 , wherein identifying the data transfer scenario to which the rules do not apply further comprises:
identifying that the data transfer scenario is associated with at least one additional multiple modem device; and
requesting emergency instructions based on coordination between the multiple modem device and the at least one additional multiple modem device.

12. A multiple modem device, comprising:
a notification modem;
a Wi-Fi modem;
a memory to store a plurality of instructions; and
a processor configured to execute instructions in the memory to:
identify data to be collected and rules for selecting an optimal modem for data transmission from the multiple modem device;
collect the data;
determine whether the data is to be sent via the notification modem based on a payload size associated with the data and the rules;
send the data via a control channel of a cellular network associated with the notification modem in response to a determination that the data is to be sent via the notification modem;
determine whether a Wi-Fi network is available in response to a determination that the data is not to be sent via the notification modem; and
send the data via the Wi-Fi modem over the Wi-Fi network in response to a determination that the Wi-Fi network is available.

13. The multiple modem device of claim 12 , further comprising an associated data repository, wherein the processor is further configured to:
store the data in the associated data repository until the Wi-Fi network is available in response to a determination that the Wi-Fi network is not available.

14. The multiple modem device of claim 12 , further comprising a cellular modem, wherein the processor is further configured to:
determine whether the data is to be sent via the cellular network based on the rules in response to a determination that the Wi-Fi network is not available; and
send the data via the cellular network using the cellular modem in response to a determination that the data is to be sent via the cellular network.

15. The multiple modem device of claim 12 , wherein, when determining whether the data is to be sent via the cellular network, the processor is further configured to:
receive an instruction to send the data via the cellular network from a mobile application on a user device associated with the multiple modem device.

16. The multiple modem device of claim 12 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
update the rules via downloading from a cloud platform associated with the multiple modem device.

17. The multiple modem device of claim 12 , wherein the Wi-Fi modem is maintained in a powered off state when not transmitting data and wherein the processor is further configured to:
receive a request to transfer selected data via a mobile application on a user device associated with the multiple modem device;
determine whether a payload size of the selected data is greater than a threshold size;
power on the Wi-Fi modem in response to a determination that the payload size of the selected data is greater than the threshold size; and
send the selected data via the Wi-Fi modem.

18. The multiple modem device of claim 12 , wherein the multiple modem device comprises an air-conditioning device including an air-conditioning system and wherein the processor is further configured to:
download an additional rule to respond to detection of a temperature equaling or exceeding a particular temperature; and
turn on the air-conditioning system when the temperature equals or exceeds the particular temperature.

19. A non-transitory computer-readable medium including instructions to be executed by a processor in a multiple modem device, wherein the multiple modem device includes a notification modem and a Wi-Fi modem, the instructions including one or more instructions, when executed by the processor, for causing the processor to:
identify data to be collected and rules for selecting an opti

Assignees

• Verizon Patent & Licensing Inc

Inventors

• Hao Jianxiu
• Ruffini Michael P
• Chen Zhong

Classifications

• H04L67/125

  involving control of end-device applications over a network · CPC title

• H04W28/0215 Primary

  based on user or device properties, e.g. MTC-capable devices (services for machine-to-machine communication [M2M] or machine type communication [MTC] H04W4/70; wireless resource selection or allocation plan definition based on terminal or device properties H04W72/51) · CPC title

• H04W52/0212

  managed by the network, e.g. network or access point is leader and terminal is follower · CPC title

• Y02B60/50

  Cross-Sectional Technologies · mapped topic

• H04W28/0221

  power availability or consumption · CPC title