Multiple Independent Pathway Communications

Abstract

A system and method for utilizing multiple independent communication pathways for communication. Various aspects of the present invention may comprise receiving a first signal directly from a first communication network, where the first signal communicates a first representation of a unit of information. A second signal may be received from a second communication network, where the second signal communicates a second representation of the unit of information. The received first and second signals may be processed to determine the first and second representations of the unit of information respectively. An indication of reliability may be determined from the second signal. The indication of reliability and the second representation of the unit of information may be used to re-determine the first representation of the unit of information.

1 . A method for determining a unit of information comprising:
 in a portable communication device:
 receiving a first signal from a first communication network; 
 determining a first representation of the unit of information from the first signal; 
 receiving a second signal from a second communication network; 
 determining a second representation of the unit of information from the second signal; 
 determining an indication of reliability for the second representation of the unit of information; and 
 re-determining the first representation of the unit of information using the second representation of the unit of information and the indication of reliability for the second representation of the unit of information. 
   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 presenting the re-determined first representation of the unit of information to a user of the portable communication device.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , where the first signal and the second signal communicate information using different encoding strategies, modulation techniques, communication protocols, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , where the first communication network is communicatively coupled to the second communication network. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , where determining the indication of reliability is based on a frequency of detected errors. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 determining an indication of reliability for the first representation of the unit of information; and   where re-determining the first representation of the unit of information further comprises using the indication of reliability for the first representation of the unit of information.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , where the first representation of the unit of information and the second representation of the unit of information have different data resolution levels, spatial resolution levels, temporal resolution levels, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         8 . A system for determining a unit of information, the system comprising:
 a communication interface;   a processor;   a memory;   logic stored in the memory that, when executed by the processor, is operable to:
 receive, through the communication interface, a first signal from a first communication network; 
 determine a first representation of the unit of information from the first signal; 
 receive, through the communication interface, a second signal from a second communication network; 
 determine a second representation of the unit of information from the second signal; 
 determine an indication of reliability for the second representation of the unit of information; and 
 re-determine the first representation of the unit of information using the second representation of the unit of information and the indication of reliability for the second representation of the unit of information. 
   
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , where the logic, when executed by the processor, is further operable to:
 present the re-determined first representation of the unit of information to a user.   
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 8 , where the first signal and the second signal communicate information using different encoding strategies, modulation techniques, communication protocols, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 8 , where the first communication network is communicatively coupled to the second communication network. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 8 , where determining the indication of reliability is based on a frequency of detected errors. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 8 , where the logic, when executed by the processor, is further operable to:
 determine an indication of reliability for the first representation of the unit of information; and where:   re-determining the first representation of the unit of information further comprises using the indication of reliability for the first representation of the unit of information.   
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 8 , where the first representation of the unit of information and the second representation of the unit of information have different data resolution levels, spatial resolution levels, temporal resolution levels, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         15 . A portable communication device for determining a unit of information, the portable communication device comprising:
 a communication interface module operable to:
 receive a first signal from a first communication network; and 
 receive a second signal from a second communication network; and 
   a processing module operable to:
 determine a first representation of the unit of information from the first signal; 
 determine a second representation of the unit of information from the second signal; 
 determine an indication of reliability for the second representation of the unit of information; and 
 re-determine the first representation of the unit of information using the second representation of the unit of information and the indication of reliability for the second representation of the unit of information. 
   
     
     
         16 . The portable communication device of  claim 15 , where processing module is further operable to:
 present the re-determined first representation of the unit of information to a user of the portable communication device.   
     
     
         17 . The portable communication device of  claim 15 , where the first signal and the second signal communicate information using different encoding strategies, modulation techniques, communication protocols, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         18 . The portable communication device of  claim 15 , where the first communication network is communicatively coupled to the second communication network. 
     
     
         19 . The portable communication device of  claim 15 , where determining the indication of reliability is based on a frequency of detected errors. 
     
     
         20 . The portable communication device of  claim 15 , where the processing module is further operable to:
 determine a first indication of reliability for the first representation of the unit of information; and where:   re-determining the first representation of the unit of information further comprises using the indication of reliability for the first representation of the unit of information.   
     
     
         21 . The portable communication device of  claim 15 , where the first representation of the unit of information and the second representation of the unit of information have different data resolution levels, spatial resolution levels, temporal resolution levels, or any combination thereof.