Bypass routing to a mobile device

Abstract

A bypass server is placed in an outgoing link between a mobile device server and a relay used to distribute data from the mobile device server to remote mobile devices to which the data is addressed. Where a direct connection is established between a suitably configured network node (such as a personal computer) and a given mobile device, the bypass server may form a local connection with the network node and divert along the local connection those packets that are addressed to the given mobile device. As such, a lower cost/higher bandwidth local communication path between the given mobile device and the mobile device server may be established, when compared to the conventional remote communication path. The local communication path may be especially useful for bulk data transfers.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A method for routing data on a mobile electronic device, the method comprising:
 establishing a first connection between the mobile electronic device and a server over a direct communication path, and a second connection between the mobile electronic device and the server over a cellular communication path, wherein the first and second connections are operable to send data packets;   applying an authentication protocol to the direct communication path; and   sending a data packet to the server over the direct communication path, the data packet specifying a destination address of a communication device, wherein the server is operable to redirect the data packet to the destination address.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the mobile electronic device sends the data packet to the server via a router, and wherein a router applies the authentication protocol to the direct communication path. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the direct communication path is operable to send data packets to the mobile electronic device only when the mobile electronic device has properly authenticated itself to the server. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , further comprising:
 determining if the direct communication path has been successfully authenticated; and   when the direct communication path has not been successfully authenticated, sending the data packet over the cellular communication path.   
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising:
 associating a type with the data packets; and   only sending the data packet over the direct communication path when the type is one of a set of types to be sent over the direct communication path.   
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising:
 detecting an end of availability of the direct communication path when sending the data packet to the router over the direct communication path; and   sending the data packet to the server over the cellular communication path.   
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26 , further comprising:
 receiving an acknowledgement when the data packet is successfully sent to the communication device at the destination address; and   when an end of availability of the direct communication path is detected, only sending the data packet over the cellular communication path when no acknowledgement has been received at the mobile electronic device.   
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising:
 setting a first list of service types for the direct communication path, and a second list of service types for the cellular communication path; and   when a particular service type is only set for the cellular communication path, only sending data packets associated with the particular service type to the server over the cellular communication path.   
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising:
 providing an indication to an application on the mobile electronic device that a direct communication path is available.   
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the direct communication path is compatible with a wireless local area network (WLAN). 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the WLAN is based on one of an IEEE 802.11b standard, or an IEEE 802.11a standard, or an IEEE 802.11g standard. 
     
     
         32 . A mobile electronic device comprising:
 a processor;   a direct communication interface coupled to the processor;   a cellular communication interface coupled to the processor; and   memory coupled to the processor, the memory storing executable code which when executed by the processor is adapted to:   establish a first connection with a server over a direct communication path, and a second connection with the server over a cellular communication path, wherein the first and second connections are operable to send data packets;   apply an authentication protocol to the direct communication path; and   send a data packet to the server over the direct communication path, the data packet specifying a destination address of a communication device, wherein the server is operable to redirect the data packet to the destination address.   
     
     
         33 . The mobile electronic device of  claim 32 , wherein the mobile electronic device sends the data packet to the server via a router, and wherein a router applies the authentication protocol to the direct communication path. 
     
     
         34 . The mobile electronic device of  claim 32 , wherein the direct communication path is operable to send data packets to the mobile electronic device only when the mobile electronic device has properly authenticated itself to the server. 
     
     
         35 . The mobile electronic device of  claim 34 , wherein the executable code is further adapted to:
 determine if the direct communication path has been successfully authenticated; and   when the direct communication path has not been successfully authenticated, send the data packet over the cellular communication path.   
     
     
         36 . The mobile electronic device of  claim 32 , wherein the executable code is further adapted to:
 associate a type with the data packets; and   only send the data packet over the direct communication path when the type is one of a set of types to be sent over the direct communication path.   
     
     
         37 . The mobile electronic device of  claim 32 , wherein the executable code is further adapted to:
 detect an end of availability of the direct communication path when sending the data packet to the router over the direct communication path; and   send the data packet to the server over the cellular communication path.   
     
     
         38 . The mobile electronic device of  claim 37 , wherein the executable code is further adapted to:
 receive an acknowledgement when the data packet is successfully sent to the communication device at the destination address; and   when an end of availability of the direct communication path is detected, only send the data packet over the cellular communication path when no acknowledgement has been received at the mobile electronic device.   
     
     
         39 . The mobile electronic device of  claim 32 , wherein the executable code is further adapted to:
 set a first list of service types for the direct communication path, and a second list of services for the cellular communication; and   when a particular service type is only set for the cellular communication path, only send data packets associated with the particular service type to the server over the cellular communication path.   
     
     
         40 . The mobile electronic device of  claim 32 , wherein the executable code is further adapted to:
 provide an indication to an application on the mobile electronic device that a direct communication path is available.   
     
     
         41 . The mobile electronic device of  claim 32 , wherein the direct communication interface is a compatible with a wireless local area network (WLAN). 
     
     
         42 . The mobile electronic device of  claim 41 , wherein the WLAN is based on one of an IEEE 802.11b standard, or an IEEE 802.11a standard, or an IEEE 802.11g standard.