Apparatus for distributing data traffic in heterogeneous wireless networks

Abstract

An apparatus for distributing data traffic in heterogeneous wireless networks is provided. A terminal for transmitting data to a plurality of wireless networks, includes a transmission rule storing unit to store a data transmission rule with respect to the plurality of wireless networks, a data dividing unit to divide first data into a plurality of first data groups based on the stored data transmission rule, a transmission network selecting unit to select an individual transmission network for each divided data group from the plurality of wireless networks based on the determined data transmission rule, and a network access unit to transmit each data group to the selected transmission network.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus comprising:
 a data dividing unit configured to divide data into a plurality of data groups; and   a network access unit configured to transmit at least one of the plurality of data groups to a transmission network selected based at least in part on data type of the plurality of data groups.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the apparatus further comprises:
 a transmission rule receiving unit configured to receive the data transmission rule.   
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the data dividing unit divides the data into the plurality of data groups based at least in part on the data transmission rule. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said each of the plurality of data groups is transmitted to the same destination apparatus. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the transmission rule receiving unit receives an encrypted data transmission rule based on a specified encryption scheme. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the data transmission rule is based on at least one of Quality of Service (QoS) information about a service associated with the data, minimum bandwidth information about the service associated with the data or a specified encryption scheme. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the data transmission rule is based on network information including at least one of an error rate with respect to the plurality of networks, data traffic information with respect to the plurality of networks or a transmission delay time with respect to the plurality of networks. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the data transmission rule is based on at least one of data transmission cost with respect to the plurality of networks, area information, or IP(Internet Protocol) related information. 
     
     
         9 . A method for transmitting data to a plurality of networks, the method comprising:
 obtaining a data transmission rule;   dividing data into a plurality of data groups;   selecting a transmission network for each of the plurality of data groups from the plurality of wireless networks based at least in part on the data transmission rule; and   transmitting said each of the plurality of data groups to the selected transmission network.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the obtaining comprises:
 receiving the data transmission rule through a network;   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein said dividing comprises:
 dividing the data into the plurality of data groups based on the data transmission rule.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein said each of the plurality of data groups is transmitted to the same destination apparatus. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein said receiving comprises:
 receiving an encrypted data transmission rule based on a predetermined encryption scheme.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the data transmission rule is based on at least one of Quality of Service (QoS) information about a service associated with the data, minimum bandwidth information about the service associated with the data or a specified encryption scheme. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the data transmission rule is based on network information including at least one of an error rate with respect to the plurality of networks, data traffic information with respect to the plurality of networks, and a transmission delay time with respect to the plurality of networks. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the data transmission rule is based on data transmission cost with respect to the plurality of networks. 
     
     
         17 . A method for transmitting data to a plurality of networks, the method comprising:
 obtaining a data transmission rule;   dividing data into a first data group and a second data group based at least in part on the data transmission rule;   selecting a first transmission network of the plurality of networks for the first data group and a second transmission network of the plurality of networks for the second data group; and   transmitting the first data group to the first transmission network and the second data group to the second transmission network.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein said selecting comprises:
 selecting the first transmission network of the plurality of networks for the first data group and the second transmission network of the plurality of networks for the second data group based on the data transmission rule.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the first data group comprises a first type of data and the second data group comprises a second type of data. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein said selecting comprises:
 selecting the first transmission network having shorter transmission delay time for the first type of data and the second transmission network having longer transmission delay time for the second type of data based on the data transmission rule.   
     
     
         21 . A method for transmitting data to a plurality of wireless networks,
 dividing data into a plurality of data groups;   selecting a transmission network for each of the plurality of data groups from the plurality of wireless networks based at least in part on network information in relation with at least one of the plurality of wireless networks; and   transmitting said each of the plurality of data groups to the selected transmission network.