Electronic apparatus with router device for managing connections

Abstract

A method and electronic apparatus is provided for establishing a connection in a first electronic apparatus to a second electronic apparatus using one of a plurality of clients. The method comprises determining whether the first electronic apparatus and the second electronic apparatus, to which a connection is requested, is operating in the same network; establishing the connection using a first client if the first and second electronic apparatuses are operating in the same network; and establishing the connection using a second client if the second electronic apparatus is operating in a different network than the first electronic apparatus.

1 - 29 . (canceled) 
     
     
         30 . A first device comprising:
 a memory to store instructions; and   a processor, to execute the instructions, to:   determine whether the first device and a second device are both operating in a first network,   establish a connection, between the first device and the second device, using a first client, when the first device and the second device are both operating in the first network, and   establish the connection, using a second, different client, when the first device is operating in the first network and the second device is operating in a second, different network.   
     
     
         31 . The first device of  claim 30 , where the processor is further to:
 detect a request to establish the connection to the second device,   where the processor is to determine, in response to the detected request, whether the first device and the second device are both operating in the first network.   
     
     
         32 . The first device of  claim 31 , where the processor is further to:
 transmit a request for identification information of one of a network or a network operator associated with the second device, and   receive, in response to the request for the identification information, information associated with the second device,   where the processor is to determine, based on the information associated with the second device, whether the first device and the second device are operating in the first network.   
     
     
         33 . The first device of  claim 32 , where the information associated with the second device includes information indicating whether the second device supports a circuit switched connection or a packet switched connection. 
     
     
         34 . The first device of  claim 30 , where, when determining whether the first device and the second device are both operating in the first network, the processor is further to:
 determine identification information of one of a network or a network operator associated with the second device,   where the processor is to determine, based on the identification information, whether the first device and the second device are operating in the first network.   
     
     
         35 . The first device of  claim 34 , where the processor is to determine the identification information based on information, stored in the memory, associated with a contact that is associated with the second device. 
     
     
         36 . The first device of  claim 30 , where the processor is further to:
 establish a circuit switched connection when the first client is used to establish the connection; and   establish a packet switched connection when the second client is used to establish the connection.   
     
     
         37 . The first device of  claim 30 , where the processor is further to:
 select the first client or the second client, from a plurality of clients, to establish the connection based on at least one of signal strength information, signal quality information, or connection cost information.   
     
     
         38 . A system comprising:
 a device to:   determine whether the device and another device associated with a same network;   establish, using a first client, a connection between the device and the other device when the device and the other device are associated with the same network; and   establish the connection, using a second, different client, when the device and the other device associated with different networks.   
     
     
         39 . The system of  claim 38 , where, when determining whether the device and the other device are associated with the same network, the device is further to:
 determine whether the device and the other device are associated with the same network when identification information, of one of a network or a network operator associated with the other device, is obtained.   
     
     
         40 . The system of  claim 39 , where, when the identification information is not obtained, the device is further to:
 select a particular client, from a plurality of clients, to establish the connection based on at least one of signal strength information, signal quality information, or connection cost information; and   establish the connection using the particular client.   
     
     
         41 . The system of  claim 39 , where, when determining whether the device and the other device are associated with the same network, the device is further to:
 obtain the identification information of the one of the network or the network operator associated with the other device; and   determine whether second identification, of one of a second network or a second network operator associated with the device, matches the identification information, of one of the network or the network operator associated with the other device.   
     
     
         42 . The system of  claim 38 , where the device is further to:
 detect a request to establish the connection to the other device,   where the device is to determine, in response to the detected request, whether the device and the other device are associated with the same network.   
     
     
         43 . The system of  claim 38 , where the device is further to:
 transmit a request for identification information of one of a network or a network operator associated with the other device, and   receive, in response to the request for the identification information, information associated with the other device,   where the device is to determine, based on the information associated with the other device, whether the device and the other device are associated with the same network.   
     
     
         44 . The system of  claim 43 , where the information associated with the other device includes information indicating whether the other device supports a circuit switched connection or a packet switched connection. 
     
     
         45 . The system of  claim 38 , where the device is further to:
 establish a circuit switched connection when the first client is used to establish the connection; and   establish a packet switched connection when the second client is used to establish the connection.   
     
     
         46 . A non-transitory computer-readable memory device including instructions, executable by a processor of a first device, to perform a method, the method comprising:
 detecting a request to establish a connection between the first device and a second device, where the first device is associated with a first network;   establishing the connection, using a first client, when the second device is associated with the first network; and   establishing the connection, using a second, different client, when the second device is associated with a second, different network.   
     
     
         47 . The non-transitory computer-readable memory device of  claim 46 , the method further comprising:
 determining whether the first device and the second device are associated with a first network based on detecting the request to establish the connection.   
     
     
         48 . The non-transitory computer-readable memory device of  claim 46 , the method further comprising:
 establishing a circuit switched connection when the first client is used to establish the connection; and   establishing a packet switched connection when the second client is used to establish the connection.   
     
     
         49 . The non-transitory computer-readable memory device of  claim 46 , the method further comprising:
 select the first client or the second client, from a plurality of clients, to establish the connection based on at least one of signal strength information, signal quality information, or connection cost information.