Abstract: Virtual network interface selection manager in a client-server system, in which client and server are connectable through a plural alternate networks. System includes plural interfaces connectable to server through the plural networks, current interface indicator identifying a current interface through which data is transmitted to and/or received from the server, and prioritized listing of plural interfaces ranked in a descending order. Event detector detects occurrence of an event including time-out condition; successful interface test; and change in the plurality of interfaces, and a tester tests each plural interface in prioritized listing in a ranked order to test whether server is reachable.

Abstract: A network failover apparatus and method for use in a client-server system. The method includes establishing at least a first and further path between a client and a server. The first path connects the server to the client through a first network and a first interface of the client and the further path connects the server to the client through a further network that is separate from the first network and a further interface of the client. The method also includes reaching the server through the first interface, detecting that the server is no longer reachable through the first interface, and identifying the first interface as failed. The method also includes reaching the server through the further interface after the first interface is identified as failed, testing the first interface to determine whether the server is reachable while the server is reachable through the further interface, and reestablishing a connection to the server through the first interface.

Abstract: An apparatus and method is provided for transparent communication between a remote or mobile device and a fixed communication host network. The apparatus and method may include a remote network controller that logically resides between the host network and the existing infrastructure(s) that are used to provide communications network contact with one or more remote devices. The remote network controller is connected to the host communication network as a protocol-appropriate communications controller so that remote devices are indistinguishable to the host network from the locally-attached devices. Each remote device may be provided with an asynchronous serial data interface to communicate with a mobile data controller. The mobile data controller, in combination with the remote network controller, provides end-to-end data communication such that incompatible protocols are transparent to the remote device and host communication network.

Abstract: A network failover apparatus and method for use in a client-server system. The method includes establishing at least a first and further path between a client and a server. The first path connects the server to the client through a first network and a first interface of the client and the further path connects the server to the client through a further network that is separate from the first network and a further interface of the client. The method also includes reaching the server through the first interface, detecting that the server is no longer reachable through the first interface, and identifying the first interface as failed. The method also includes reaching the server through the further interface after the first interface is identified as failed, testing the first interface to determine whether the server is reachable while the server is reachable through the further interface, and reestablishing a connection to the server through the first interface.

Abstract: An apparatus and method is provided for transparent communication between a remote or mobile device and a fixed communication host network. The apparatus and method may include a remote network controller that logically resides between the host network and the existing infrastructure(s) that are used to provide communications network contact with one or more remote devices. The remote network controller is connected to the host communication network as a protocol-appropriate communications controller so that remote devices are indistinguishable to the host network from the locally-attached devices. Each remote device may be provided with an asynchronous serial data interface to communicate with a mobile data controller. The mobile data controller, in combination with the remote network controller, provides end-to-end data communication such that incompatible protocols are transparent to the remote device and host communication network.

Abstract: An system for controlling access to a network by a user device. The system includes a criteria engine that generates a plurality of criteria to be monitored on the user device and a checker that generates at least one check for each of the plurality of criteria. The system further includes a profiler that retrieves a profile for the user device, the profile including the plurality of criteria and the at least one check for each of the plurality of criteria, a comparator that compares a summary of the retrieved profile to a summary of a profile received from the user device and a communicator that communicates a message to the user device based on the comparison.

Abstract: An apparatus and method is provided for transparent communication between a remote or mobile device and a fixed communication host network. The apparatus and method may include a remote network controller that logically resides between the host network and the existing infrastructure(s) that are used to provide communications network contact with one or more remote devices. The remote network controller is connected to the host communication network as a protocol-appropriate communications controller so that remote devices are indistinguishable to the host network from the locally-attached devices. Each remote device may be provided with an asynchronous serial data interface to communicate with a mobile data controller. The mobile data controller, in combination with the remote network controller, provides end-to-end data communication such that incompatible protocols are transparent to the remote device and host communication network.

Abstract: A mobile router offers seamless roaming services to one or more locally connected mobile hosts over one or more simultaneously connected networks. The mobile router, as well as its local area network, roams across different subnets on similar networks, across networks that are dissimilar, or across a simultaneous combination of both. Simultaneous support is provided for mobile hosts configured for static IP addressing and mobile hosts configured for dynamic IP addressing. Seamless support is provided for mobile hosts that dynamically migrate from one mobile router to another mobile router, while avoiding the need for configuration settings on the mobile router that are associated with individual mobile hosts and avoiding the need for mobility support software on the mobile hosts themselves.