Maintaining multiple, simultaneous wireless network connections using a single radio
US8165044B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 19, 2007 |
| Grant date | Apr 24, 2012 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 6, 2029 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04L12/66
- WIPO fieldDigital communication
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A method and apparatus for managing simultaneous virtual connections with multiple wireless networks. A plurality of ports in a hardware driver may be each associated with a corresponding wireless network and maintain a unique MAC state relative to other ports. Each port may have a corresponding virtual NIC that communicates directly with the radio hardware via a hardware virtualization layer that multiplexes communication between the virtual NICs and the radio hardware. Simultaneous virtual connections may be made with one or more infrastructure networks or adhoc networks, and/or the computer may function as an access point for one or more of the networks.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.