System and method to support data applications in a multi-homing, multi-mode communication device

Abstract

A user interface includes an application menu. The application menu includes a list of applications that are installed at a multi-home network device. An application identified by the application menu is selectable in order to edit at least one network setting associated with the application.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A user interface comprising:
 an application menu, wherein the application menu includes a list of applications that are installed at a multi-home network device, and wherein an application from the application menu is selectable in order to edit at least one network setting associated with the application.   
     
     
         2 . The user interface of  claim 1 , further comprising a network menu that includes a list of networks that are available at the multi-homing network device. 
     
     
         3 . The user interface of  claim 2 , wherein a network from the network menu is selectable to associate the network to the application. 
     
     
         4 . The user interface of  claim 3 , further comprising a network priority menu that includes a list of networks approved for use by the application. 
     
     
         5 . The user interface of  claim 4 , wherein the network priority menu indicates a priority associated with each network listed at the network priority menu, and wherein the application is configured to communicate with each network based on the priority assigned thereto. 
     
     
         6 . The user interface of  claim 5 , wherein the priority associated with each network is assigned based on one or more inputs received via the multi-home network device. 
     
     
         7 . A method comprising:
 presenting an application menu, wherein the application menu includes a list of applications that are installed at a multi-home network device; and   receiving a first selection of an application from the application menu, wherein the first selection enables at least one network setting associated with the application to be edited.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the application menu is presented via a display of the multi-homing network device. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising in response to receiving the first selection, presenting a network menu associated with the application, wherein the network menu includes a list of available data interfaces. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the list of available data interfaces includes a global system for mobile communications (GSM) data interface, a general packet radio service (GPRS) data interface, a universal mobile telecommunications system (UMTS) data interface, a code division multiple access (CDMA) data interface, a CDMA  2000  data interface, a CDMA evolution data optimized (EVDO) interface, a Bluetooth (BT) data interface, an 802.11a data interface, an 802.11b data interface, an 802.11g data interface, an 802.11i data interface, an 802.15 data interface, an 802.16 data interface, a wideband CDMA (WCDMA) data interface, an orthogonal frequency code division multiplexing (OFCDM) data interface, a global positioning system (GPS) data interface, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the list of available data interfaces is associated with one or more access control lists (ACLs), wherein each ACL is associated with a corresponding data interface, and further comprising determining a network policy associated with the application based on the one or more ACLs. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising in response to receiving the first selection, presenting a network menu associated with the application, wherein the network menu includes a list of available networks. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the list of available networks includes a global system for mobile communications (GSM) network, a general packet radio service (GPRS) network, a universal mobile telecommunications system (UMTS) network, a code division multiple access (CDMA) network, a CDMA 2000 network, a CDMA evolution data optimized (EVDO) network, a Bluetooth BT network, an 802.11a network, an 802.11b network, an 802.11g network, an 802.11i network, an 802.15 network, an 802.16 network, a wideband CDMA (WCDMA) network, an orthogonal frequency code division multiplexing (OFCDM) network, a global positioning system (GPS) network, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising receiving a second selection to add a first network to the list of available networks or to remove a second network from the list of available networks. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 when the network menu is displayed, receiving a user input to prioritize the one or more networks; and   in response to receiving the user input to prioritize the one or more networks, presenting a network priority graphical user interface to enable a hierarchy of networks approved for use by the application to be established.   
     
     
         16 . An apparatus comprising:
 means for displaying one or more menus, wherein a first menu of the one or more menus includes a list of applications that are installed at a device; and   means for receiving one or more user inputs, wherein, when the means for displaying is configured to display the first menu, the means for receiving is configured to receive a first user input of the one or more user inputs; wherein the first user input is associated with a first selection of an application listed in the list of applications, and wherein the first selection enables at least one network setting associated with the application to be edited.   
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein a priority associated with each network is assigned by a user. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 means for identifying a subset of data interfaces from a set of multiple data interfaces based on a network policy associated with an application; and   means for binding the application to the subset of data interfaces, but not to all data interfaces within the set of multiple available data interfaces, wherein the subset of data interfaces includes at least one data interface.   
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 means for receiving a data packet from a data interface; and   means for comparing an Internet Protocol (IP) address of the data interface to a destination IP address associated with the packet,   wherein the data packet is dropped when the IP address of the data interface does not match the destination IP address, and   wherein the data packet is passed to the application based at least in part on a determination that the IP address of the data interface matches the destination IP address.