Methods, Systems, and Computer Program Products for Enabling an Operative Coupling to a Network

Abstract

Methods and systems are described for enabling an operative coupling to a network. In use, first data is received at a first node in a first network. The first data is forwarded between the first node to a second node in a second network, using a network relay. Additionally it is determined that a specified decoupling condition is met, and subsequent to forwarding the first data and in response to determining that the decoupling condition is met, the second operative coupling is disabled while the first operative coupling remains enabled for receiving second data for forwarding.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A device, comprising:
 a non-transitory memory storing instructions; and   one or more processors in communication with the non-transitory memory, wherein the one or more processors execute the instructions to:
 receive, at a first node in a first network, first data; 
 forward the first data between the first node to a second node in a second network, using a network relay, wherein the network relay uses a first operative coupling of the first network via a second operative coupling of the second network, wherein the first operative coupling uses a first interface hardware component of the first network, and the second operative coupling uses a second interface hardware component of the second network; 
 determine that a specified decoupling condition is met; and 
 disable, subsequent to forwarding the first data and in response to determining that the decoupling condition is met, the second operative coupling while the first operative coupling remains enabled for receiving second data for forwarding. 
   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the first node is included in a first portion of the first network and another node is included in another portion of the first network. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1  wherein another node is included in the second network. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the one or more processors execute the instructions to:
 receive previous data before receiving the first data; 
 determine that a forwarding condition is not met for the previous data; 
 identify the previous data as data not for forwarding in response to determining the forwarding condition is not met; and 
 allow the second operative coupling to remain disabled based on determining the forwarding condition is not met. 
 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the specified decoupling condition includes a forwarding condition. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 5  wherein the forwarding condition includes determining that an attribute of the first data matches a forwarding criterion identified by the forwarding condition. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 6  wherein at least one of the attribute and the forwarding criterion is based on at least one of the first network, the second network, the first node, the second node, a protocol for at least one of sending and receiving the first data, at least one of an application sending the first data and an application identified as a recipient of the first data, a user identified with the first data, a node in a network path in a route in communicating the first data, a type of at least a portion of the first data, a pattern included in the first data, a value included in the first data, a geospatial location of a node included in communicating the first data, a sender of the first data, a receiver of the first data, or a relationship between a sender of the first data and a receiver of the first data. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 1  wherein determining that the second operative coupling is disabled includes monitoring a source of power for the second interface hardware component of the second network. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 8  wherein monitoring a power source includes at least one of determining that a coupling-threshold condition is met indicating the second operative coupling is enabled, determining that an off-threshold condition is met indicating the second interface hardware component of the second network is not receiving power and indicating the second operative coupling is disabled, and determining that a suspend-threshold condition is met indicating the second operative coupling is disabled and indicating the second interface hardware component of the second network is receiving sufficient power to access data stored in a memory component. 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 1  wherein determining that the second operative coupling is disabled includes accessing a second interface component of the second network for at least one of sending and receiving data via the second network. 
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 10  wherein the one or more processors execute the instructions to in response to accessing the second interface component of the second network, at least one of receiving an error indicating the second operative coupling is disabled and determining a current state of the second interface hardware component of the second network indicates the second operative coupling is disabled. 
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the second interface hardware component of the second network includes at least one configuration where the second interface hardware component of the second network is in an off state receiving no power, in a suspended state receiving sufficient power for accessing data stored in a memory component, or in a hibernate state receiving no power and having state information stored in a data storage medium. 
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 12  wherein the one or more processors execute the instructions to:
 determine that the second interface hardware component of the second network is in the suspended state; and 
 enable the second operative coupling by accessing state information included in the data stored in the memory component. 
 
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 12  wherein the one or more processors execute the instructions to:
 determining that the second interface hardware component of the second network is in the hibernate state; and 
 enable the second operative coupling by providing power to the second interface hardware component of the second network and provide state information in the data stored in the data storage medium to the second interface component of the second network. 
 
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the second interface hardware component of the second network includes a setting to increase power to the second interface hardware component of the second network. 
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 1  wherein forwarding the first data includes sending the first data to a node in the second network. 
     
     
         17 . A computer program product comprising computer executable instructions stored on a non-transitory computer readable medium that when executed by a processor instruct the processor to:
 receive, at a first node in a first network, first data;   forward the first data between the first node to a second node in a second network, using a network relay, wherein the network relay uses a first operative coupling of the first network via a second operative coupling of the second network, wherein the first operative coupling uses a first interface hardware component of the first network, and the second operative coupling uses a second interface hardware component of the second network;   determine that a specified decoupling condition is met; and   disable, subsequent to forwarding the first data and in response to determining that the decoupling condition is met, the second operative coupling while the first operative coupling remains enabled for receiving second data for forwarding.   
     
     
         18 . A computer-implemented method, comprising:
 receiving, at a first node in a first network, first data;   forwarding, using a processor, the first data between the first node to a second node in a second network, using a network relay, wherein the network relay uses a first operative coupling of the first network via a second operative coupling of the second network, wherein the first operative coupling uses a first interface hardware component of the first network, and the second operative coupling uses a second interface hardware component of the second network;   determining, using the processor, that a specified decoupling condition is met; and   disabling, using the processor, subsequent to forwarding the first data and in response to determining that the decoupling condition is met, the second operative coupling while the first operative coupling remains enabled for receiving second data for forwarding.