Systems and methods for enhanced network access

Abstract

Systems and methods for enhanced network access are described. One aspect of one described embodiment includes receiving a request to connect to a network, the request associated with a user, determining a policy associated with the user, identifying at least one available network connection, determining at least one property of the at least one available network connection, evaluating the property based at least in part on the policy, and selecting the at least one available network connection based on the evaluation. In another embodiment, a computer-readable medium (such as, for example random access memory or a computer disk) includes code for carrying out such a method.

1 . A method comprising: 
 receiving a request to connect to a network, the request associated with a user;    determining a policy associated with the user;    identifying at least one available network connection;    determining at least one property of the at least one available network connection;    evaluating the property based at least in part on the policy; and    selecting the at least one available network connection based on the evaluation.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the policy comprises a list of allowed connections.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the policy comprises a list of disallowed connections.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the property comprises a property selected from the group consisting of security, reliability, speed, and cost.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one property comprises a plurality of properties and further comprising applying a normalization algorithm to the plurality of properties.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein determining the policy comprises retrieving the policy from a central policy repository.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one available network connection comprises a public connection.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one available network connection comprises a private connection.  
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising receiving a quality of service datum associated with the at least one available network connection.  
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one available network connection comprises a plurality of available network connections.  
   
   
       11 . A method comprising: 
 receiving an indication that a new network connection is available for a client device associated with a user;    determining at least one first property associated with the new network connection;    determining at least one second property associated with an existing network connection;    determining a policy associated with the user;    evaluating the at least one first property based at least in part on the policy;    evaluating the at least one second property based at least in part on the policy;    disconnecting from the existing network connection; and    connecting to the new network connection.    
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising signaling that the new network connection is available.  
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising before disconnecting from the existing network connection, opening a data cache for buffering data during a disconnection.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising after connecting to the new network connection: 
 receiving data from the data cache; and    closing the data cache.    
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising receiving a measure for determining the size of the data cache.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the measure comprises an estimated disconnection duration.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the indication that a new network connection is available comprises a signal from a hardware device.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the hardware device comprises an adapter selected from the group consisting of a WiFi adapter, a LAN adapter, a cellular adapter (WWAN), and a dial-up (WAN) adapter.  
   
   
       19 . A computer-readable medium on which is encoded program code, the program code comprising: 
 program code for receiving a request to connect to a network, the request associated with a user;    program code for determining a policy associated with the user;    program code for identifying at least one available network connection;    program code for determining at least one property of the at least one available network connection;    program code for evaluating the property based at least in part on the policy; and    program code for selecting the at least one available network connection based on the evaluation.    
   
   
       20 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 19 , further comprising program code for receiving a quality of service datum associated with the at least one available network connection.  
   
   
       21 . A computer-readable medium on which is encoded program code, the program code comprising: 
 program code for receiving an indication that a new network connection is available;    determining at least one first property associated with the new network connection;    determining at least one second property associated with an existing network connection;    determining a policy associated with a user;    evaluating the at least one first property based at least in part on the policy;    evaluating the at least one second property based at least in part on the policy;    disconnecting from the existing network connection; and    connecting to the new network connection.    
   
   
       22 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 21 , further comprising signaling that the new network connection is available.  
   
   
       23 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 21 , further comprising before disconnecting from the existing network connection, opening a data cache for buffering data during a disconnection.  
   
   
       24 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 23 , further comprising after connecting to the new network connection: 
 receiving data from the data cache; and    closing the data cache.    
   
   
       25 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 23 , further comprising receiving a measure for determining the size of the data cache.  
   
   
       26 . A system comprising: 
 a policy reader operable to determine a policy associated with a user;    a connection manager operable to: 
 receive a request to connect to a network, the request associated with a user;  
 identify at least one available network connection;  
 determine at least one property of the at least one available network connection;  
 evaluate the property based at least in part on the policy; and  
 select the at least one available network connection based on the evaluation.  
   
   
   
       27 . The system of  claim 26 , further comprising a quality of service collector operable to receive a quality of service datum associated with the at least one available network connection.  
   
   
       28 . A system comprising: 
 a policy reader operable to determine a policy associated with a user;    a connection manager operable to: 
 receive an indication that a new network connection is available;  
 determine at least one first property associated with the new network connection;  
 determine at least one second property associated with an existing network connection;  
 evaluate the at least one first property based at least in part on the policy;  
 evaluate the at least one second property based at least in part on the policy;  
 disconnect from the existing network connection; and  
 connect to the new network connection.