Device-Level Network Switching

Abstract

A device includes a plurality of network interfaces including a first network interface and secondary network interfaces. The device also include a processor that is configured to execute instructions stored in a memory to configure the device to use the first network interface to connect to a network. A heartbeat request is sent to a heartbeat responder via the first network interface and the network. In response to determining that no response to the heartbeat request was received, the first network interface is deactivated, and the device is configured to use a second network interface of the secondary network interfaces to connect to the network.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A device, comprising:
 a plurality of network interfaces, comprising a first network interface and secondary network interfaces; and   a processor, the processor configured to execute instructions stored in a memory to:
 configure the device to use the first network interface to connect to a network; 
 send a heartbeat request to a heartbeat responder via the first network interface and the network; and 
 in response to determining that no response to the heartbeat request was received:
 deactivate the first network interface; and 
 configure the device to use a second network interface of the secondary network interfaces to connect to the network. 
 
   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of the network interfaces are ordered in a priority order. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein to configure the device to use the second network interface of the secondary network interfaces to connect to a network comprises to:
 select the second network interface based on the priority order.   
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein to select the second network interface based on the priority order comprises to:
 on a first condition that the first network interface is not of a lowest priority order, select the second network interface based on the second network interface having a next lowest priority order from the first network interface; and   on a second condition that the first network interface is of the lowest priority order, select the second network interface based on the second network interface having a highest priority order.   
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
 in response to determining that the response to the heartbeat request was received, determine whether the device is currently connected to a service via the network; and   in response to determining that the device is not connected to the service and that the first network interface is not of a highest priority network interface,
 configure the device to use a third network interface of the secondary network interfaces to connect to the network, wherein the third network interface has a higher priority than the first network interface. 
   
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein to send the heartbeat request to the heartbeat responder via the first network interface and the network comprises to:
 send the heartbeat request until either the heartbeat request is sent a predetermined number of times or a response to the heartbeat request is received, whichever condition occurs first.   
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 6 , wherein to determine whether the response to the heartbeat request is received from the heartbeat responder comprises to:
 determine that no response is received after the heartbeat request is sent the predetermined number of times.   
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein to configure the device to use the second network interface of the secondary network interfaces to connect to the network comprises to:
 associate, with the second network interface, a timestamp indicating a time of configuring the device to use the second network interface to connect to the network.   
     
     
         9 . A method, comprising:
 sending, from a device, a heartbeat request to a heartbeat responder via a first network interface and a network, wherein the device to use the first network interface for connecting to the network, and wherein the device includes a plurality of network interfaces including the first network interface and secondary network interfaces; and   in response to determining that no response is received to the heartbeat request, configuring the device to use a second network interface of the secondary network interfaces to connect to the network.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the plurality of the network interfaces are ordered in a priority order. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein configuring the device to use the second network interface of the secondary network interfaces to connect to the network comprises:
 selecting the second network interface based on the priority order.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein selecting the second network interface based on the priority order comprises:
 in response to determining that the first network interface is not of a lowest priority order, selecting the second network interface based on the second network interface having a next lowest priority order from the first network interface.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein selecting the second network interface based on the priority order comprises:
 in response to determining that the first network interface is of a lowest priority order, selecting the second network interface based on the second network interface having a highest priority order.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 in response to determining that the response to the heartbeat request was received, determining whether the device is currently connected to a service via the network; and   in response to determining that the device is not connected to the service and that the first network interface is not of a highest priority network interface,
 configuring the device to use a third network interface of the secondary network interfaces to connect to the network, wherein the third network interface has a higher priority than the first network interface. 
   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein sending the heartbeat request to the heartbeat responder via the first network interface and the network comprises:
 sending the heartbeat request until either the heartbeat request is sent a predetermined number of times or a response to the heartbeat request is received, whichever condition occurs first.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein configuring the device to use the second network interface of the secondary network interfaces to connect to the network comprises:
 associating, with the second network interface, a timestamp indicating a time of configuring the device to use the second network interface to connect to the network.   
     
     
         17 . A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, comprising executable instructions that, when executed by a processor, facilitate performance of operations comprising:
 configuring a device to use a first network interface for connecting to a network, wherein the device includes a plurality of network interfaces including the first network interface and secondary network interfaces;   sending a heartbeat request to a heartbeat responder via the first network interface and the network; and   in response to determining that no response is received in response to the heartbeat request, configuring the device to use a second network interface of the secondary network interfaces to connect to the network.   
     
     
         18 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 17 , wherein the operations further comprise:
 selecting the second network interface based on a priority order of the network interfaces, wherein selecting the second network interface comprises:
 in response to determining that the first network interface is not of a lowest priority order, selecting the second network interface based on the second network interface having a next lowest priority order from the first network interface; and 
 in response to determining that the first network interface is of the lowest priority order, selecting the second network interface based on the second network interface having a highest priority order. 
   
     
     
         19 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 17 , wherein the operations for sending the heartbeat request to the heartbeat responder via the first network interface and the network comprise:
 sending the heartbeat request until either the heartbeat request is sent a predetermined number of times or a response to the heartbeat request is received, whichever condition occurs first.   
     
     
         20 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 17 , wherein the operations further comprise:
 in response to determining that the response to the heartbeat request was received, determining whether the device is currently connected to a service via the network; and   in response to determining that the device is not connected to the service and that the first network interface is not of a highest priority network interface,
 configuring the device to use a third network interface of the secondary network interfaces to connect to the network, wherein the third network interface has a higher priority than the first network interface.