Method and Device to Control Communication with Multiple Networks Based on Respective Quality of Service Requirements

Abstract

A network host device including a connection manager to communicate communication data with an external network over a plurality of bearers of the external network, an interface driver to provide an interface between the interface driver and the communication manager, the interface being dedicated to the external network, to receive processing data associated with the communication data over the interface, and to tag a packet of the processing data with identification information of the external network, and a traffic control unit to receive each packet of the processing data tagged with the identification information of the external network, and to select a bearer from among the plurality of hearers of the external network to communicate the communication data.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A network host device, comprising:
 a connection manager configured to communicate communication data with an external network over a plurality of bearers of the external network;   an interface driver configured
 to provide an interface between the interface driver and the communication manager, the interface being dedicated to the external network, 
 to receive processing data associated with the communication data over the interface, and 
 to tag a packet of the processing data with identification information of the external network; and 
   a traffic control unit configured to receive the packet of the processing data tagged with the identification information of the external network, and to select a bearer from among the plurality of bearers based on the identification information tagged on the packet.   
     
     
         2 . The network host device of  claim 1 , wherein
 the connection manager is configured to negotiate a quality of service (QOS) requirement associated with communication between the host device and the external network, and   the traffic control unit is configured to select the bearer from among the plurality of bearers based on the negotiated QOS requirement.   
     
     
         3 . The network host device of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a queuing unit configured to transfer the packet of the processing data tagged with identification information of the external network from the interface driver to the classification unit, and to preserve the tagged identification information during the transfer.   
     
     
         4 . The network host device of  claim 3 , wherein the queuing unit is configured to be dedicated to transfer processing data that is associated with the external network. 
     
     
         5 . The network host device of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an application unit configured to store an application that generates the processing data, the application configured to be in communication with the external network.   
     
     
         6 . The network host device of  claim 1 , wherein the interface driver is configured to provide the interface having a characteristic based on a parameter associated with the external network, and to dynamically adjust the characteristic of the interface with a change in the parameter. 
     
     
         7 . The network host device of  claim 1 , wherein the interface driver is configured to identify the external network based on the interface over which the processing data is received. 
     
     
         8 . The network host device of  claim 1 , wherein
 the interface driver is configured to generate a descriptor associated with the packet of the processing data, and to tag the descriptor with the identification information of the external network, and   the traffic control unit is configured to select a bearer from among the plurality of bearers of the external network to communicate the communication data based on the identification information tagged on the descriptor.   
     
     
         9 . The network host device of  claim 1 , wherein the interface driver and the traffic control unit are detachable from the host device. 
     
     
         10 . The network host device of  claim 1 , wherein the interface driver is configured to provide the interface between the interface driver and the communication manager without running the Internet protocol configuration protocol (IPCP). 
     
     
         11 . A method for communicating communication data with an external network over a plurality of bearers of the external network, the method comprising:
 providing, in a network device, an interface dedicated to the external network;   receiving, in the network device, processing data associated with communication data over the interface;   tagging, in the network device, a packet of the processing data with identification information of the external network; and   selecting, in the network device, a bearer from among the plurality of bearers of the external network based on the identification information.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 negotiating a quality of service (QOS) requirement associated with communication with the external network, wherein   the selecting the bearer includes selecting the bearer from among the plurality of bearers based on the negotiated QOS requirement.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the tagging includes transferring the packet of the processing data tagged with the identification information of the external network within the network device while preserving the tagged identification information during the transferring. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the transferring the packet of the processing data includes transferring the packet of the processing data via a queue dedicated to transfer processing data associated with the external network. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 storing an application that generates the processing data, the application being configured to be in communication with the external network.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the providing the interface comprises:
 providing the interface having a characteristic based on a parameter associated with the external network, and   dynamically adjusting the characteristic of the interface with a change in the parameter.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the tagging includes identifying the external network based on the interface over which the processing data is received. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 11 , the tagging comprises:
 generating a descriptor associated with the packet of the processing data; and   tagging the descriptor with the identification information of the external network, wherein   the selecting the bearer includes selecting the bearer from among the plurality of bearers based on the identification information tagged on the descriptor.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the providing the interface includes providing the interface without running the Internet Protocol configuration protocol (IPCP). 
     
     
         20 . A method for communicating communication data with an external network over a plurality of bearers of the external network, the method comprising:
 connecting to an external network;   negotiating, in a network device, a quality of service (QOS) requirement related to communication with the external network;   providing, in the network device, an interface dedicated to the external network;   receiving, in the network device, processing data associated with communication data over the interface;   generating, in the network device, identification information of the external network based on the interface over which the processing data is received;   generating, in the network device, a descriptor associated with a packet of processing data;   tagging, in the network device, the descriptor with the identification information of the external network; and   selecting, in the network device, a bearer from among the plurality of bearers to communicate the communication data based on the identification information tagged on the descriptor and based on the negotiated QOS requirement.