Multi-modem communication using virtual identity modules

Abstract

Communication apparatus includes an interface to a plurality of wireless modems and bonding circuitry, which is configured to receive multiple virtual identities in the apparatus, to load respective ones of the received virtual identities into one or more of the wireless modems, and to communicate over the air by simultaneously transmitting or receiving a data stream over at least the two or more of the wireless modems. Systems and methods for such communication are provided, as well.

1 . Communication apparatus, comprising:
 at least one modem interface, configured for association with at least first and second physical wireless modems; and   bonding circuitry, which is configured to receive, using the at least one modem interface, via the first physical wireless modem, a set of authentication data, for use in registration of the second physical wireless modem in a communication network,   wherein the bonding circuitry is configured to communicate over the air by multiplexing of a data stream over at least the first and second physical wireless modems simultaneously.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , and comprising the first physical wireless modem, which is contained integrally within the apparatus. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the second physical wireless modem is external to the apparatus. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , where the set of authentication data comprises credentials, authentication keys and encryption strings necessary for registration, authentication and subsequent encryption and decryption of communications. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein the credentials include one or more items of data, selected from a list of items consisting of access point names (APNs), dialing strings, user names and passwords, codes that may be needed to unlock or relock a subscriber identity module (SIM), Hypertext Markup Language (HTML)-based access data, and Internet Protocol (IP) addresses. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the bonding circuitry is configured to select the authentication data so as to optimize a set of identities used by the apparatus in communicating over the air. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein the set of identities is selected so as to optimize at least one operational objective, selected from a group of operational objectives consisting of a current desired performance, a current connectivity performance, a desired transmission quality, and a cost-performance criterion. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the bonding circuitry is configured to modify a set of identities used in communicating over the air during operation of the apparatus. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the bonding circuitry is configured to modify a set of identities used in communicating over the air in response to a mobility of the apparatus. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the bonding circuitry is configured to transmit a video data stream by multiplexing video data over at least the first and second physical wireless modems simultaneously. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus according to  claim 10 , wherein the bonding circuitry is configured to be connected to at least one video camera so as to receive the video data therefrom. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the bonding circuitry is configured to be connected to and transmit the data stream from multiple different data devices concurrently. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the bonding circuitry is configured to receive, via one of the first and second physical wireless modems, a further set of authentication data, and to authenticate one of the physical wireless modems using the further set of the authentication data. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus according to  claim 13 , wherein the bonding circuitry is configured to apply the further set of the authentication data to the first physical wireless modem. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus according to  claim 13 , wherein the two or more physical wireless modems include at least a third physical wireless modem, and wherein the bonding circuitry is configured authenticate the third physical wireless modem using the further set of the authentication data. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus according to  claim 15 , wherein the bonding circuitry is configured, after authenticating the third physical wireless modem, to multiplex a further data stream over the second and third physical wireless modems simultaneously. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus according to  claim 15 , wherein the bonding circuitry is configured to activate and authenticate the third physical wireless modem immediately in response to detection of an event of interest. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus according to  claim 13 , wherein the bonding circuitry is configured to decide, at each point during operation of the apparatus, how many and which sets of authentication data to use. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus according to  claim 13 , wherein the bonding circuitry is configured to request and receive sets of authentication data from multiple different servers. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus according to  claim 19 , wherein the multiple different servers include at least first and second servers, which are respectively associated with different, first and second network operators. 
     
     
         21 . The apparatus according to  claim 19 , wherein the bonding circuitry is configured, in requesting the sets of authentication data, to specify a required number and properties of the sets of authentication data to be downloaded to the apparatus. 
     
     
         22 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the bonding circuitry is configured to select one or more sets of authentication data so as to minimize a latency in receiving further authentication data. 
     
     
         23 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the bonding circuitry is configured to multiplex the data stream over at least the first and second physical wireless modems while the first and second physical wireless modems communicate over two different wireless networks. 
     
     
         24 . The apparatus according to  claim 23 , wherein the bonding circuitry is configured to select the set of authentication data responsively to qualities of service offered by the wireless networks. 
     
     
         25 . The apparatus according to  claim 24 , wherein the bonding circuitry is configured to select the sets of authentication data so as to match the qualities of service to characteristics of the data stream that is to be transmitted or received by the apparatus. 
     
     
         26 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the bonding circuitry is configured to multiplex the data stream over at least the first and second physical wireless modems while the first and second physical wireless modems communicate over a single wireless network. 
     
     
         27 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , and comprising a connection to a physical subscriber identity module (SIM), wherein the bonding circuitry is configured to communicate initially with at least one server using the first physical wireless modem in which an identity from the physical SIM is applied in order to download the set of the authentication data from the at least one server. 
     
     
         28 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the bonding circuitry is configured for SIM-less operation. 
     
     
         29 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the physical wireless modems is a cellular modem, and at least another of the physical wireless modems is configured for wireless local area network communication. 
     
     
         30 . The apparatus according to  claim 29 , wherein the first physical wireless modem is configured for wireless local area network communication, and wherein the bonding circuitry is configured to communicate initially with at least one server over a wireless local area network using the first physical wireless modem in order to download the set of the authentication data from the at least one server. 
     
     
         31 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the first physical wireless modem is configured for satellite communication, and wherein the bonding circuitry is configured to communicate initially with at least one server over a satellite link using the first physical wireless modem in order to download the set of the authentication data from the at least one server. 
     
     
         32 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the bonding circuitry is configured, in response to a change in one or more factors, to download at least one further set of authentication data and to apply the at least one further set of the authentication data to at least one of the physical wireless modems. 
     
     
         33 . The apparatus according to  claim 32 , wherein the bonding circuitry is configured, in response to the change in the one or more factors, to release at least one of the sets of the authentication data. 
     
     
         34 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the bonding circuitry is configured to receive an incoming data stream over at least one of the first and second physical wireless modems. 
     
     
         35 . The apparatus according to  claim 34 , wherein the bonding circuitry is configured to receive the incoming data stream over the first and second physical wireless modems simultaneously. 
     
     
         36 . The apparatus according to  claim 35 , wherein the incoming data stream is multiplexed over the first and second physical wireless modems, and the bonding circuitry is configured to reassemble the multiplexed data stream into a single output data stream. 
     
     
         37 . A method for communication, comprising:
 providing a bonding device that includes at least one modem interface, configured for association with at least first and second physical wireless modems;   receiving, from at least one server using the at least one modem interface via the first physical wireless modem to the bonding device, a set of authentication data;   registering the second physical wireless modem in a communication network using the set of authentication data; and   communicating over the air by multiplexing a data stream over at least the first and second physical wireless modems simultaneously.   
     
     
         38 . The method according to  claim 37 , wherein the method comprises receiving, via one of the first and second physical wireless modems, a further set of authentication data, and authenticating one of the physical wireless modems using the further set of the authentication data. 
     
     
         39 . The method according to  claim 38 , wherein authenticating the one of the physical wireless modems comprises applying the further set of the authentication data to the first physical wireless modem. 
     
     
         40 . The method according to  claim 38 , wherein the two or more physical wireless modems include at least a third physical wireless modem, and wherein authenticating the one of the physical wireless modems comprises authenticating the third physical wireless modem using the further set of the authentication data. 
     
     
         41 . The method according to  claim 40 , wherein the method comprises, after authenticating the third physical wireless modem, multiplexing a further data stream over the second and third physical wireless modems simultaneously. 
     
     
         42 . A communication system, comprising:
 at least one server, configured to maintain and distribute to clients multiple different sets of authentication data; and   at least one bonding communication device, which comprises at least one modem interface, configured for association with at least first and second physical wireless modems, and bonding circuitry, which is configured to receive from the server, via the first physical wireless modem, a set of authentication data for use in registration of the second physical wireless modem in a communication network,   wherein the bonding communication device is configured to communicate over the air by multiplexing a data stream over at least the first and second physical wireless modems simultaneously.   
     
     
         43 . The system according to  claim 42 , wherein the at least one bonding communication device comprises multiple bonding communication devices, which are operative in a common location, and wherein the at least one server is configured to distribute the sets of authentication data so as to spread traffic in the common location among multiple different carriers.