Network connectivity methods and systems

Abstract

Methods and systems are provided for connecting an electronic device to a network. In some situations, the electronic device connects to a first network provider and pings a first server having a static internet protocol address and a second server having a dedicated uniform resource locator. If the electronic device receives a response from the first and second server, the electronic device maintains its connection to the first network provider. Otherwise, the electronic device connects to a second network provider and pings the first and second servers.

1 - 33 . (canceled) 
     
     
         34 . A method comprising:
 providing a plurality of network connectivity interfaces on one or more components in the device, wherein at least two of said network connectivity interfaces use different connectivity technologies;   using a programmable processor to perform:
 a) a first network connectivity test using a first of said network connectivity interfaces to verify end-to-end connectivity between the device and a first server reachable through a static Internet Protocol (IP) address and on another network; 
 b) a second network connectivity test using the first said network connectivity interfaces to verify end-to-end connectivity between said device and another server through a static uniform resource locator (URL) on another network; 
   wherein the network-enabled device is preset with default network connectivity rules and is configured to subsequently update the rules with location-specific rules once network access has been established using the default rules.   
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 34  wherein the first connectivity test comprises running a command in a protocol in OSI layer three. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 34  wherein the first connectivity test comprises running a command in a protocol in OSI layer seven. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 34  further comprising using a sample analyzer. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein at least one of said network connectivity interface and said another network connectivity interface is a non-cellular, wireless data interface while the other is a cellular data interface. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein the programmable processor establishes connectivity based on at least one criterion selected from the group consisting of a bandwidth of the another network provider, cost to maintain connectivity to the another network provider, cost to transmit information with the aid of the another network provider, a download rate of the another network provider and an upload rate of the another network provider. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 39 , wherein the at least one criterion is location-based, time based or bandwidth-based. 
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein the programmable processor determines whether to maintain connectivity to the additional network provider is based on whether a response was received by the network device from the first server and whether a response was received by the network device from the second server 
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein the static Internet Protocol (IP) address of the first server is pre-loaded on the device and does not need to be downloaded through a network connection. 
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein the programmable processor is programmed to have a priority of connection to the static URL, static IP address, or other reliable, stable identifier based on information downloaded to set connection preferences. 
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein not all of the connections are checked simultaneously, but are instead check in groups having at least one or more connections. 
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein each the network connectivity interfaces is on the device. 
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 34  comprising at least one component that supports a plurality of network interfaces on one component. 
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 34  wherein said network connectivity rules vary by time and determine a network connectivity factor based upon time taken to receive data packets from said first server and said another server.