Method and system for processing data packets on a mobile device

Abstract

Methods and apparatus are described for providing uninterrupted connectivity between a network device and an interconnected network. When the network device detects that a WAN connection to the interconnected network is deteriorating, it initiates a series of operations involving a mobile device. The mobile device, equipped with a mobile application, is configured and allowed to establish a network sharing connection by the network device, and connect to the interconnected network through a cellular connection provided by the mobile device. The network sharing connection enables packet relaying for the network device and local devices connected thereto, this innovation enhances network resiliency, and provides continuous connectivity for the network device using a mobile device in various network environments.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of network communications. More specifically, this invention relates to a system and method for providing network redundancy to network devices by utilizing available WAN connections provided by mobile devices. Background Technology

[0002] In critical environments such as hospitals, financial institutions, and emergency services, uninterrupted communication and data transmission are essential. Network equipment must have robust redundancy to ensure seamless operation even in the event of disruptions such as cable cuts, power outages, or cyberattacks.

[0003] Traditional redundancy strategies typically involve power redundancy, network redundancy, data redundancy, and hardware redundancy, such as redundant power supplies for servers or mainframes, failover servers, and data backups. While these methods are valuable, they may not guarantee continuous connectivity. In the event of an outage, service may be briefly interrupted, potentially leading to data loss.

[0004] However, these redundancy strategies are all applied within the same device. For example, power redundancy measures we see on the market today rely primarily on backup power provided within the same device; if a failure occurs, this backup power within the same device may not be able to truly provide the required redundant power. The same applies to common network redundancy methods, such as establishing multiple WAN connections provided by different service providers (ISPs). However, in such solutions, only one WAN connection is used at a time, and switching to another connection when the original connection fails is not seamless and can lead to data loss.

[0005] Chinese Patent Publication No. CN105247819A discloses a gateway device utilizing dual cellular interfaces. The gateway device can quickly switch between a primary interface and a backup interface to achieve network redundancy. However, the backup interface is a hot-standby interface within the same device. If a fault occurs within the gateway device, network redundancy cannot still be achieved.

[0006] To address this limitation, this invention proposes a method and system for providing network redundancy by allowing network devices to utilize available WAN connections provided by locally connected mobile devices. By establishing a network-sharing connection between the network device and the mobile device, the mobile device's available WAN connection can act as an alternative WAN connection for the network device, providing a seamless transition connection in the event of a primary network failure.

[0007] Network sharing offers several advantages. First, it provides an alternative to a WAN connection, helping to mitigate the impact of outages and ensuring that critical operations can continue without major disruptions. Second, it offers flexibility and mobility, allowing network devices to operate independently of fixed infrastructure. This is particularly beneficial in remote areas or emergency situations where traditional network connectivity may be compromised.

[0008] By incorporating network sharing into a redundancy strategy, organizations can significantly enhance their resilience and ensure the continuity of critical operations. Network sharing provides valuable alternative WAN connectivity, helping to mitigate the impact of disruptions while also offering flexibility and mobility. Summary of the Invention

[0009] This invention discloses a method and system for providing redundant network connectivity in a network device using an alternative WAN connection provided by a mobile device. The network device can continuously transmit first data to the mobile device, allowing the mobile device to monitor the performance of the primary connection. Through a mobile application, the mobile device can determine whether a first criterion is met and establish a network-sharing connection with the network device to the alternative WAN connection.

[0010] According to embodiments of the present invention, the same or different mobile devices can provide multiple available WAN connections. A network device can select an alternative WAN connection from the multiple available WAN connections and can determine the network sharing device, i.e., the mobile device providing the selected alternative WAN connection.

[0011] According to embodiments of the present invention, the first criterion may include one or more of the following: connection availability, latency threshold, signal-to-noise ratio limit, packet loss threshold, packet drop rate limit, and other performance metrics.

[0012] According to an embodiment of the present invention, a mobile device may instruct a network device to perform troubleshooting related to a first standard before establishing a network sharing connection. If the troubleshooting is successfully performed, then there is ultimately no need to establish an alternative WAN connection.

[0013] According to an embodiment of the present invention, a mobile device may receive a first request via a mobile application installed on its operating system.

[0014] According to an embodiment of the present invention, a mobile application of a mobile device may request permission from the user of the mobile device to establish a network sharing connection in any manner through a first request.

[0015] According to embodiments of the present invention, aggregated connections can be established on top of alternative WAN connections and network sharing connections. Attached Figure Description

[0016] Figure 1A This is a schematic block diagram of a mobile device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0017] Figure 1B This is a schematic block diagram of a processing unit of a mobile device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0018] Figure 1C This is a schematic block diagram of a network device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0019] Figure 2A This is a schematic block diagram illustrating an exemplary network environment according to embodiments of the present invention.

[0020] Figure 2B This is a schematic block diagram illustrating an exemplary network environment according to embodiments of the present invention.

[0021] Figure 3A This is a flowchart illustrating the steps being performed on a mobile device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0022] Figure 3B This is another flowchart illustrating the steps being performed on a mobile device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0023] Figure 3C This is another flowchart illustrating the steps being performed on a mobile device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0024] Figure 4 This is a flowchart illustrating how to establish a network sharing connection on a mobile device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0025] Figure 5 This is a flowchart illustrating how to establish a network sharing connection at a network device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0026] Figure 6A This is a diagram illustrating the user interface (UI) of a mobile application installed on a mobile device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0027] Figure 6B The UI of a mobile application installed on a mobile device is illustrated according to an embodiment of the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0028] The terminology used in this specification is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to limit the exemplary embodiments of the invention. In this specification, unless clearly stated otherwise, the singular forms "a," "an," and "the" also mean to include the plural forms. In this specification, "and / or" and "at least one" include any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. Expressions such as "at least one," if appearing before the list of elements, modify the entire list of elements but not the individual elements in the list. In this specification, "comprising" and "including" specify the presence of the stated features, integrals, steps, operations, elements, and / or components, but do not exclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integrals, steps, operations, elements, components, and / or combinations thereof. Furthermore, the term "exemplary" is intended to refer to examples or illustrations.

[0029] While the approximate descriptions of the processes, steps, methods, algorithms, etc., described in this specification may be sequential, such processes, steps, methods, and algorithms can be configured to be performed in other orders. In other words, any sequence or order of steps described in this specification is not necessarily equivalent to the steps having to be performed in that order. The steps of the described process can be performed in any practically feasible order.

[0030] When an element is referred to as being "on," "connected to," "coupled to," or "adjacent to" another element, the element may be directly connected to or coupled to the other element, but there may be other elements between them. On the other hand, when an element is referred to as being "directly connected" or "directly coupled" to another element, there are no other elements between them.

[0031] As used herein, the terms "non-transitory computer-readable storage medium," "computer-readable medium," "main memory," "memory cell," or "other storage medium" refer to any medium that participates in providing instructions to a processing unit for execution, including but not limited to read-only memory (ROM), programmable read-only memory (PROM), erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), random access memory (RAM), magnetic RAM, magnetic core memory, floppy disk, flexible disk, hard disk, solid-state drive, magnetic tape, CD-ROM, flash memory device, memory card, and / or other machine-readable media for storing information. The processing unit reads data written to the main storage medium and writes the data to an auxiliary storage medium. Therefore, even if data written to the main storage medium is lost due to factors such as a momentary power outage, the data can be recovered by transferring the data stored in the auxiliary storage medium to the main storage medium. A computer-readable medium is merely one example of a machine-readable medium that can carry instructions for implementing any of the methods and / or techniques described herein. Various forms of computer-readable media may involve transmitting one or more sequences of one or more instructions to a processor for execution. For example, instructions may initially be carried on a disk from a remote computer. Alternatively, the remote computer may load the instructions into its dynamic memory and send them to a system that executes one or more sequences of instructions. Transmission media include coaxial cables, copper wires, and optical fibers. Transmission media may also take the form of sound waves or light waves, such as those generated during radio and infrared data communication.

[0032] Volatile memory devices can be used to store temporary variables or other intermediate information during instruction execution by the processing unit. Non-volatile memory devices or static memory devices can be used to store static information and instructions of the processing unit, as well as various system configuration parameters.

[0033] The storage medium may contain multiple software modules, which may be implemented as software code that can be executed by a processing unit using any suitable type of computer instruction. The software code may be stored in the storage medium as a series of instructions or commands, or as a program.

[0034] The processing unit can be a microprocessor, microcontroller, digital signal processor (DSP), any combination of the foregoing, or any other circuitry configured to process information. The processing unit executes program instructions or code segments to implement embodiments of the invention. Furthermore, embodiments can be implemented using hardware, software, firmware, middleware, microcode, hardware description languages, or any combination thereof. When embodiments are implemented using software, firmware, middleware, or microcode, program instructions for performing necessary tasks can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium. The processing unit can be implemented via virtualization and can be a virtual processing unit, including virtual processing units contained in cloud-based instances.

[0035] The techniques described in this specification can be used in various wireless communication networks, such as Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA), Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA), Frequency Division Multiple Access (FDMA), Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access (OFDMA), Single Carrier Frequency Division Multiple Access (SC-FDMA), and others. The terms "network" and "system" are often used interchangeably. CDMA networks can implement radio technologies such as Universal Terrestrial Radio Access (UTRA) and CDMA2000. UTRA includes Wideband CDMA (WCDMA or W-CDMA) and other variations of CDMA. CDMA2000 encompasses the IS-2000, IS-95, and IS-856 standards. TDMA networks can implement radio technologies such as the Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM). OFDMA networks can enable technologies such as evolved UTRA (E-UTRA), Ultra Mobile Broadband (UMB), and IEEE 802.11. IEEE 802.16 (WiMAX) Radio technologies include IEEE 802.20 and Flash-OFDM. UTRA and E-UTRA are part of the Universal Mobile Telecommunication System (UMTS). 3GPP Long Term Evolution (LTE) is a UMTS using E-UTRA, employing OFDMA in the downlink and SC-FDMA in the uplink. UTRA, E-UTRA, UMTS, LTE, 5G, and GSM are described in the documents of the 3GPP organization. CDMA 2000 and UMB are described in the documents of the 3GPP2 organization.

[0036] In this specification, a "tunnel" is a communication channel between two network devices that transmits data by encapsulating data in Internet Protocol (IP) packets according to any suitable encrypted tunneling protocol. A network device can be any electronic device, client, server, peer, service, application, or other object capable of sending, receiving, or forwarding information through a communication channel in a network. Encrypted tunneling protocols may include (but are not limited to) Internet Protocol security (IPsec), Secure Socket Layer / Transport Layer Security (SSL / TLS), Datagram Transport Layer Security (DTLS), Microsoft Point-to-Point Encryption (MPPE), and Secure Shell (SSH).

[0037] Figure 1A This is a schematic block diagram of a mobile device 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The mobile device 100 includes a processing unit 101, a memory unit 102, a storage unit 103, multiple wireless communication modules (WCMs), such as WCMs 104a and 104b, and multiple input / output (I / O) interfaces, such as I / O interfaces 105a and 105b. The processing unit 101 can communicate directly with the storage unit 103, WCMs 104a and 105b via a bus 106. The memory unit 102 is directly connected to the processing unit 101 and temporarily stores program instructions or code segments to be executed by the processing unit 101 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0038] The plurality of WCMs may include at least one first WCM and at least one second WCM. The at least one first WCM may establish at least one first connection with at least one Wi-Fi access point (AP) to achieve wireless communication, and the at least one second WCM may establish at least one second connection with a cellular base station to achieve wireless communication. For ease of illustration, WCM 104a may be configured to establish a first connection with a Wi-Fi AP to achieve wireless communication, and WCM 104b may be configured to connect to or couple to a Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) of the mobile device 100 to establish a second connection with the cellular base station to achieve wireless communication.

[0039] In one embodiment, the SIM of the mobile device 100 is a physical SIM card housed in the SIM slot of the mobile device 100.

[0040] In one embodiment, the SIM of the mobile device 100 may be a remote SIM card, which requires a SIM profile to be provided by an external device (e.g., a SIM server).

[0041] In another variation, WCM 104b may be configured to connect to or couple to an embedded SIM (eSIM) to establish the second connection. If the mobile device includes more than one second WCM, each of the more than one second WCM may connect to or couple to an eSIM or SIM slot to provide wireless communication.

[0042] According to an embodiment of the present invention, WCM 104a can be configured to establish a network sharing connection using the network sharing module of mobile device 100, and share the at least one second connection with other devices.

[0043] The mobile device is not limited to including only the WCMs 104a and 104b described above. The plurality of WCMs may include any type of module capable of providing wireless communication, such as Wi-Fi modules, cellular modules, near field communication (NFC) modules, Bluetooth modules, global navigation satellite system (GNSS) communication modules, and transceiver modules for satellite communication.

[0044] Figure 1B This is a schematic block diagram of a processing unit 101 of a mobile device 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. As used herein, a “module” of the processing unit 101 may be a general-purpose, dedicated, or shared processor, and is typically firmware or software executed by the processing unit 101. For ease of illustration, a module executed by the processing unit 101 may include one or more of the following: a Wi-Fi module 111, a display module 112, a cellular module 113, and a network sharing module 114.

[0045] Wi-Fi module 111 is responsible for managing the wireless communication between mobile device 100 and Wi-Fi AP, including but not limited to configuring the establishment of a wireless communication link with Wi-Fi AP via WCM 104a and verifying the device identity to the network of Wi-Fi AP.

[0046] Display module 112 can be configured to display a UI to a user through one of the plurality of I / O interfaces (e.g., I / O interface 105a). There are no limitations on the display technologies that display module 112 can support. Display module 112 can be supported by one or more of the following technologies, but is not limited to: liquid crystal display (LCD), organic light-emitting diode (OLED), and active-matrix organic light-emitting diode (AMOLED). Display module 112 can also perform functions such as presenting user interface elements (e.g., icons, text, images) on the display screen, processing touch input from the user, and translating it into operations within the device software.

[0047] Cellular module 113 can be configured to establish a cellular communication link with a base station via WCM 104b, and can further perform one or more of the following operations: select an appropriate cellular network based on factors such as signal strength and coverage, manage the SIM card or the eSIM (including but not limited to authentication and configuration), and support various cellular technologies (e.g., 2G, 3G, 4G LTE, and 5G).

[0048] The network sharing module 114 can be configured to establish the network sharing connection between the mobile device and another device through one of the plurality of I / O interfaces (e.g., I / O interface 105b).

[0049] Such as Android TM iOS TM or Windows Mobile TM The operating system (or a subset thereof) can run on the mobile device 100 and allow the launch of a variety of applications, such as communication, social media, games, productivity, and entertainment applications.

[0050] Figure 1CThis is a schematic block diagram of a network device (e.g., network device 120) according to an embodiment of the present invention. Network device 120 includes a processing unit 121, a memory unit 122, at least one local area network (LAN) interface (e.g., LAN interfaces 123a, 123b, and 123c), at least one WAN interface (e.g., WAN interfaces 124a and 124b), and a storage unit 125. The processing unit 121 can communicate directly with the LAN interfaces 123a, 123b, and 123c, the WAN interfaces 124a and 124b, and the storage unit 125 via a bus 126. Each of the at least one LAN interface can be connected to a local device via at least one of at least one third connection, and each of the at least one WAN interface can establish at least one of at least one fourth connection with an interconnected network. The memory unit 122 is directly connected to the processing unit 121 and temporarily stores program instructions or code segments to be executed by the processing unit 121 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0051] According to an embodiment of the present invention, network device 120 may be adapted to automatically switch operating modes between routing mode, bridging mode and relay mode (i.e., operate as a router, access point or repeater) based on the physical or logical attributes of the host network.

[0052] There is no limitation on the connection type for each of the at least one fourth connection established. Each of the at least one fourth connection can be a cellular connection, a satellite connection, or any wired or wireless connection typically used for accessing the Internet.

[0053] In one embodiment, when any of the at least one fourth connection is a cellular connection, the corresponding WAN interface may be connected to or coupled to the wireless cellular module. The wireless cellular module may include a SIM slot configured to accommodate a SIM card. Furthermore, an antenna may be coupled to the wireless cellular module to transmit and receive cellular signals.

[0054] In one variation, the wireless cellular module may include an eSIM interface configured to electronically store cellular subscription information, instead of a physical SIM card.

[0055] In another embodiment, when any of the at least one fourth connection is a low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite connection, the corresponding WAN interface may be coupled to LEO satellite equipment. The LEO satellite equipment may include a satellite antenna configured to communicate with LEO satellites. Furthermore, a modem controller may be coupled to the LEO satellite equipment to manage satellite communications.

[0056] Figure 2A This is a schematic block diagram illustrating an exemplary network environment according to embodiments of the present invention. For ease of explanation, Figure 1CThe network device 120 shown and Figure 1A The illustrated mobile device 100 can be used as both network device 200 and mobile device 201. Therefore, network device 200 includes at least one WAN interface for establishing at least one fourth connection (e.g., connection 205) to interconnection network 202 and at least one LAN interface allowing connection to at least one local device. For example, mobile devices 201, 203, and server 204 can be connected to network device 200 via connections 206, 207, and 208, respectively. Each of connections 206, 207, and 208 can be a wired or wireless connection. For example, connection 206 can be a wired connection, while connections 207 and 208 can be wireless connections. Mobile devices 201 and 203 can be connected to interconnection network 202 via connections 210 and 211, respectively, and allow other local devices connected to network device 200 to connect to interconnection network 202 via at least one of their connections.

[0057] There are no restrictions on the type of local device that can be connected to the interconnected network 202 directly or via network device 200. Each of the local devices can be any of the following: desktop computer, laptop computer, netbook computer, tablet computer or tablet computer, wireless mobile phone, cellular phone, game console, Internet of Things (IoT) device, or any other type of computing device. The number of local devices connected to network device 200 should be equal to or less than the number of interfaces provided by network device 200.

[0058] In one variation, the at least one fourth connection may be aggregated into at least one first tunnel for transmitting data packets.

[0059] Figure 2B This is a schematic block diagram illustrating an exemplary network environment according to an embodiment of the present invention. When the interconnection network 202 or the local device connected to the interconnection network 202 cannot... Figure 2A When the at least one fourth connection, as shown, transmits the data packet to the interconnection network 202, it introduces... Figure 2B The network environment shown.

[0060] and Figure 2A similar, Figure 2B Mobile devices 201, 203, and server 204 are local devices connected to network device 200. When the first criterion of connection 205 is met, the network environment can be configured by applying the method disclosed in this invention. Figure 2A Switch to Figure 2B For example, when Figure 2AWhen connection 205 is disconnected, and mobile devices 201, 203, and server 204 are all unable to connect to the interconnect network 202 via connection 205, the first criterion is met. Next, network device 200 can select an alternative WAN connection from multiple available WAN connections. This alternative WAN connection can be provided by mobile devices 201 and 203 connected to network device 200 and connected to the interconnect network 202 via the alternative WAN connection (e.g., connection 210 or connection 211) and the network sharing connection (e.g., connection 209). The alternative WAN connection provided by the mobile device is one of the connections established between the mobile device's wireless cellular module and a base station provided by the corresponding ISP.

[0061] In one variation, the alternative WAN connection may be aggregated into at least one second tunnel for transmitting the data packets.

[0062] Figure 3A This is a flowchart illustrating, according to an embodiment of the present invention, the steps performed on the mobile device for determining whether to establish the network sharing connection with the network device. Figure 3A Should be with Figure 2A and 2B View both together.

[0063] In step 301, mobile device 201 can continuously receive first data from network device 200 via connection 206, whereby connection 206 is a connection established between the LAN interface of network device 200 and the WAN interface of mobile device 201. The first data is a performance metric related to the network performance of the at least one fourth connection (e.g., connection 205), selected from one or more of the following parameters: connection status, latency, signal-to-noise ratio, packet loss, packet drop rate, and other aforementioned performance metrics.

[0064] In one variation, the mobile device 201 may store the first data received from the network device 200 in the storage unit 103 or the memory unit 102 of the mobile device 201.

[0065] In step 302, mobile device 201 may determine whether the first criterion is met based on the first data continuously received in step 301. When mobile device 201 performs step 302, it can be done via a mobile application. The first criterion may be a condition based on one or more of the following parameters: connection availability, latency threshold, signal-to-noise ratio limit, packet loss threshold, packet drop rate limit, and other performance metrics. If the first criterion is not met, mobile device 201 may repeat step 301 and continuously transmit the first data to mobile device 201 via connection 206.

[0066] In one embodiment, the first criterion may be satisfied if all or part of the at least one fourth connection cannot be connected to the interconnection network.

[0067] In one example, in addition to connection 205 provided by network device 200, network device 200 may also provide another connection as one of the at least four fourth connections (not shown). If neither connection 205 nor the other of the at least four fourth connections can be connected to the interconnection network, then the first criterion is satisfied.

[0068] In another example, the first criterion is satisfied if connectivity availability indicates that at least one fourth connection (e.g., connection 205) cannot connect to the interconnection network.

[0069] In another embodiment, the first criterion may be satisfied if all or part of the at least one fourth connection is experiencing high latency (e.g., equal to or greater than 100 milliseconds).

[0070] In another embodiment, the first criterion is satisfied if all or part of the delay and signal-to-noise ratio of the at least one fourth connection are higher than a threshold.

[0071] There are no restrictions on how the performance of the at least one fourth connection (e.g., connection 205) is tested. The mobile device 201 may use any method to test the performance of connection 205, such as a ping test or resolving a domain to an IP address.

[0072] In another variation, the determination in step 302 can be performed by the network device 200 itself instead of the mobile device 201, so step 301 is not required.

[0073] If the first criterion is met, then in step 303, mobile device 201 can determine whether the plurality of available WAN connections exist. The plurality of available WAN connections can be provided by the same mobile device or different mobile devices. If only one available WAN connection exists, mobile device 201 can directly proceed to step 306.

[0074] In a variation, if no mobile device provides the available WAN connection, then mobile device 201 may terminate the steps.

[0075] In step 304, if the plurality of available WAN connections exist, the user or administrator of mobile device 201 can select the alternative WAN connection from the plurality of available WAN connections. This selection can be performed via the UI of the mobile application installed on mobile device 201. For example, Figure 2AThe connection 210 of mobile device 201 and the connection 211 of mobile device 203 are the available WAN connections.

[0076] In step 305, mobile device 201 may determine a network sharing device, which is the mobile device that provides the alternative WAN connection selected in step 304.

[0077] In one example, the alternative WAN connection is provided by mobile device 201, therefore the network sharing device is mobile device 201.

[0078] In another example, the alternative WAN connection may be provided by mobile device 203.

[0079] In step 306, the mobile device 201 can perform... Figure 4 The steps shown establish a network sharing connection 209 via a network hotspot, a function provided by the network sharing module of the operating system of mobile device 201. Network sharing connection 209 is established through the WAN interface of network device 200 and the LAN interface of the network sharing device (e.g., the LAN interface of mobile device 201). How network sharing connection 209 is established will be discussed later.

[0080] In one variation, network sharing connection 209 is established via the LAN interface of network device 200 and the WAN interface of the network sharing device (e.g., the WAN interface of mobile device 201). However, the LAN interface of network device 200 and the WAN interface of mobile device 201 should be reconfigured to perform the functions of the WAN interface and the LAN interface, respectively.

[0081] In one variation, at least one of steps 303 to 305 may be performed by network device 200.

[0082] In another variation, the method disclosed herein may be performed by network device 200 instead of mobile device 201. Therefore, the determination in step 302 may be performed by network device 200 instead of mobile device 201. If the first criterion is not met, network device 200 may again perform step 301 to send the first data to mobile device 201. If the first criterion is met, then in step 302, network device 200 may communicate with mobile device 201 via the mobile application to establish a network sharing connection 209 via the network sharing hotspot.

[0083] In another variation, steps 303 through 305 are optional when the method disclosed herein is performed by network device 200. If the first criterion is met, network device 200 may directly perform step 306.

[0084] Figure 3B This is another flowchart illustrating the steps performed on the mobile device to determine whether to establish the network sharing connection according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 3B The diagram further illustrates how to perform connectivity troubleshooting on the mobile device.

[0085] In step 311, the mobile device 201 can continuously receive the first data from the network device 200 via connection 206.

[0086] In step 312, the mobile device 201 can determine whether the first standard is met through the mobile application. If the first standard is not met, the network device 200 can repeat step 311 and continuously transmit the first data to the mobile device 201 via connection 206.

[0087] In a variation, step 312 may be performed by network device 200 instead of mobile device 201, thus step 301 is unnecessary. If the first criterion is met, network device 200 may directly perform step 313.

[0088] In step 313, mobile device 201 may instruct network device 200 to troubleshoot problems related to the first standard. For example, if connection 205 fails to connect to interconnection network 202, satisfying the first standard, network device 200 may perform troubleshooting, such as resetting components of network device 200.

[0089] In step 314, mobile device 201 may determine whether the first data meets the first standard after troubleshooting. Step 314 can be performed via the mobile application. If the first standard is not met after troubleshooting, network device 200 may repeat step 311 and continue transmitting the first data to mobile device 201 via connection 206.

[0090] In a variation, if network device 200 performs step 312, network device 200 may also perform step 314.

[0091] If the first criterion is still met in step 314 after troubleshooting, then in step 315, the mobile device 201 can execute... Figure 4 The steps shown are to establish a network sharing connection 209 through the network sharing hotspot.

[0092] Figure 3C This is another flowchart illustrating the steps performed on the mobile device to determine whether to establish the network sharing connection according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 3C Integrated Figure 3A and Figure 3B .

[0093] In step 321, the mobile device 201 can continuously receive the first data from the network device 200 via connection 206.

[0094] In step 322, mobile device 201 may determine whether the first criterion is met. When step 322 is performed by mobile device 201, it can be performed via the mobile application. In a variation, step 322 may be performed by network device 200 instead of mobile device 201, thus eliminating the need for step 321.

[0095] In step 323, mobile device 201 may instruct network device 200 to troubleshoot problems related to the first standard.

[0096] In step 324, the mobile device 201 can determine whether the first data meets the first standard through the mobile application.

[0097] In step 325, if the first criterion is still met in step 324 after troubleshooting, the mobile device 201 can determine whether the plurality of available WAN connections exist.

[0098] If there is only one available WAN connection, mobile device 201 can directly proceed to step 328.

[0099] If there are multiple available WAN connections, then in step 326, the user or the administrator of the mobile device 201 may select the alternative WAN connection from the multiple available WAN connections.

[0100] In step 327, mobile device 201 may identify the network sharing device, namely the mobile device 201 that provides the alternative WAN connection selected in step 326.

[0101] In step 328, the mobile device 201 can perform... Figure 4 The steps shown are to establish a network sharing connection 209 through the network sharing hotspot.

[0102] In one variation, at least one of steps 325 to 327 may be performed by network device 200.

[0103] In another variation, steps 325 through 327 are optional when the method disclosed herein is performed by network device 200.

[0104] Figure 4 This is a flowchart illustrating how to establish the network sharing connection on the mobile device according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 4 Should be combined Figure 2A and Figure 2B Let's take a look.

[0105] In step 401, the mobile application installed on the operating system of the mobile device 201 may receive a first request to establish a network sharing connection 209 between the network device 200 and the mobile device 201.

[0106] In one embodiment, when the first criterion is met, the first request may be initiated by the user or the administrator of mobile device 201. The mobile application may request permission from the user of mobile device 201 to establish network sharing connection 209 via the first request in any manner (e.g., by generating a pop-up message). In addition to the pop-up message, push notifications, direct commands, or any other method that may request the permission from the user of mobile device 201 may also be used; the pop-up message method is for illustrative purposes only. After the permission is granted via the mobile application, confirmation of the first request may be received from the user or the administrator of mobile device 201.

[0107] In one example, if the mobile application is a web-based application, the user of mobile device 201 can receive the pop-up message via a webpage.

[0108] In another example, if the mobile application is a native application, the user of mobile device 201 may receive the pop-up message via notification, dialog box, or in-application message.

[0109] In another embodiment, the first request may be initiated by the mobile application or the operating system of the mobile device 201 without requiring permission from the user of the mobile device 201.

[0110] In another embodiment, the first request may be initiated by network device 200 and further pushed to the user or administrator of mobile device 201 via the UI of the mobile application.

[0111] In step 402, mobile device 201 may create a configuration file for the network sharing hotspot using configuration information (such as Service Set Identifier (SSID) and a key). The configuration file may be created automatically, or by the user or administrator of mobile device 201, or by the mobile application or operating system of mobile device 201.

[0112] In one variation, the configuration information in the configuration file may further include one or more of the following: authentication protocol, security protocol used by the mobile hotspot, IP address or DHCP configuration, and connection command script.

[0113] In a variation, if an existing configuration file exists for the network sharing hotspot, the mobile device 201 can use the existing configuration file instead of creating the configuration file in step 402.

[0114] Upon successful creation or retrieval of the configuration file, in step 403, mobile device 201 may activate the hotspot service and broadcast the availability of the network sharing hotspot to other devices. This allows other devices to discover and connect to the network sharing device. Mobile device 201 may activate the hotspot service in different ways depending on the different functions supported by the operating system of mobile device 201.

[0115] In step 404, mobile device 201 can send a second request to network device 200 via connection 206 to establish network sharing connection 209, enabling network device 200 and mobile device 201 to share the network connection. The second request may include the configuration information from the configuration file. There are no restrictions on the authentication protocol used; it can be Wi-Fi Protected Access – Pre-Shared Key (WPA-PSK), WPA2-PSK, WPA3-PSK, Open, or a shared key. Note that "Open" is a protocol that does not perform authentication, but it is considered an authentication method in this specification.

[0116] In one variation, instead of connection 206, a control connection can be established between mobile device 201 and network device 200 to exchange information, including but not limited to transmitting the second request in step 404. The control connection can be an out-of-band communication connection, such as an 802.15 standard connection or a near-field communication (NFC) connection, which consumes less power.

[0117] In another variation, the mobile device 201 may perform steps 403 and 404 simultaneously.

[0118] In step 405, mobile device 201 may receive a network sharing request from network device 200. Mobile device 201 can verify the information in the network sharing request by comparing it with the configuration information in the configuration file created in step 402.

[0119] In step 406, mobile device 201 may establish a network sharing connection 209 with network device 200. Once the network sharing connection 209 is established, network device 200 and other local devices connected to network device 200 can access the interconnected network through the alternative WAN connection and network sharing connection 209 of mobile device 201.

[0120] In one variation, an aggregated connection can be established over the alternative WAN connection and network sharing connection 209 of the mobile device 201.

[0121] Figure 5 This is a flowchart illustrating how the network sharing connection is established at the network device according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 5 Should be combined Figure 2A and Figure 2B Let's take a look.

[0122] In step 501, network device 200 may receive the second request from mobile device 201 via connection 206. Network device 200 may receive the second request after the first request has been sent to the mobile application on mobile device 201.

[0123] In step 502, network device 200 may retrieve the configuration information from the second request.

[0124] In step 503, network device 200 sends the network sharing request to mobile device 201 via connection 206 to establish network sharing connection 209, based on the configuration information in the configuration file.

[0125] In step 504, network device 200 may establish a network sharing connection 209 with mobile device 201.

[0126] In step 505, after the network sharing connection 209 is successfully established, the network device 200 can change the operating mode to repeat mode. The network device 200 can use the connection 210 of the mobile device 201 to forward the data packets received from the local device to the interconnected network 202.

[0127] Figure 6A and Figure 6B The UI of the mobile application installed on the mobile device is illustrated according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 6A The UI of the mobile application shown displays status and information related to the LAN connection, the at least one fourth connection, and the alternative WAN connection (if any), such as port number, IP or MAC address, and connection status.

[0128] like Figure 6A As shown, when the status of the LAN connection between the network device and the local device is displayed as "connected," it means that the local device is connected to the network device 200 via the LAN connection. Given... Figure 2AAlthough mobile devices 201, 203, and server 204 are connected to network device 200 via the LAN connection, only two devices are displayed as "connected" as shown in the UI of the mobile application. There are many reasons why the local devices may not be connected to network device 200, such as a malfunction. For clarity, only mobile devices 201 and 203 with MAC addresses AC:16:15:44:00:00 and 10:56:CA:11:00:90 successfully connect to network device 200.

[0129] Furthermore, when the WAN connection status is displayed as "Connected," it means that network device 200 is connected to the interconnected network via the connection. For ease of illustration, connection 205 is established through port 1 of network device 200, and the local devices connected to network device 200 (e.g., mobile devices 201 and 203) can connect to the interconnected network via connection 205. Network device 200 may include port 2, which is a network interface capable of performing WAN interface functions. However, no components are connected through port 2, therefore, "N / A" may be displayed as the status of port 2 on the UI of the mobile application.

[0130] When connection 205 is disconnected, such as Figure 6B The UI of the mobile application shown can change the displayed status from "connected" to "disconnected". For example... Figure 4 As shown, when the first criterion is met, the mobile application may send the first request and request permission from the user of the mobile device 201 to establish a network sharing connection 209 in any way, such as by generating the pop-up message.

[0131] For illustrative purposes, a pop-up message titled "Warning!" appears, requesting the user or administrator of network device 200 to confirm the establishment of a network sharing connection 209 between mobile device 201 and network device 200. If the user or administrator selects "Yes" upon confirming the first request, thereby sending the second request to the network device, the method disclosed in this invention can be executed.

[0132] Modifications, additions, or omissions may be made to the systems, apparatuses, and methods described herein without departing from the scope of this disclosure. For example, components of the systems and apparatuses may be integrated or separated. Furthermore, the operation of the systems and apparatuses disclosed herein may be performed by more, fewer, or other components, and the described methods may include more, fewer, or different steps. Moreover, the steps may be performed in any suitable order. As used herein, “each” means each member of a set or each member of a subset of a set.

Claims

1. A method executed on a first mobile device, comprising: When the first criterion is met: a. Choose an alternative WAN connection; b. Establish a network sharing connection between the network device and the network sharing device; as well as c. Transmit data packets to the interconnected network via the network sharing connection; The alternative WAN connection is selected from a plurality of available WAN connections provided by one or more mobile devices; The network sharing device is one of the one or more mobile devices; as well as The first standard is determined based on first data continuously received from the network device.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the network sharing device is the first mobile device.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the network sharing device is a second mobile device.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first data includes one or more of the following: connection status, latency, signal-to-noise ratio, packet loss, packet drop rate, and other performance indicators.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising: d. Receive the first request; e. Create a configuration file for the network hotspot; as well as f. Activate the hotspot service and broadcast the availability of the network shared hotspot.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising: g. When the first criterion is met, instruct the network device to perform troubleshooting.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising: h. Determine whether the first criterion is still met after troubleshooting.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein the first request is received via a mobile application.

9. The method of claim 5, wherein the first request may be one of the following: a pop-up message, a push notification, and a direct command.

10. The method of claim 5, further comprising: i. After receiving confirmation of the first request, send a second request to the network device; The second request includes the configuration information of the configuration file.

11. A first mobile device, comprising: At least one processing unit; At least one temporary main storage medium; as well as At least one non-transitory auxiliary storage medium storing program instructions executable by the at least one processing unit for: When the first criterion is met: a. Choose an alternative WAN connection; b. Establish a network sharing connection between network devices and network sharing devices; and c. Transmit data packets to the interconnected network via the network sharing connection; The alternative WAN connection is selected from a plurality of available WAN connections provided by one or more mobile devices; The network sharing device is one of the one or more mobile devices; as well as The first standard is determined based on first data continuously received from the network device.

12. The first mobile device according to claim 11, wherein the network sharing device is the first mobile device.

13. The first mobile device according to claim 11, wherein the network sharing device is a second mobile device.

14. The first mobile device according to claim 11, wherein the first data includes one or more of the following: connection status, latency, signal-to-noise ratio, packet loss, packet drop rate, and other performance metrics.

15. The first mobile device of claim 11, wherein the at least one non-transitory auxiliary storage medium further stores the program instructions executable by the at least one processing unit for: d. Receive the first request; e. Create a configuration file for the network hotspot; and f. Activate the hotspot service and broadcast the availability of the network shared hotspot.

16. The first mobile device of claim 11, wherein the at least one non-transitory auxiliary storage medium further stores the program instructions executable by the at least one processing unit for: g. When the first criterion is met, instruct the network device to perform troubleshooting.

17. The first mobile device of claim 16, wherein the at least one non-transitory auxiliary storage medium further stores the program instructions executable by the at least one processing unit for: h. Determine whether the first criterion is still met after troubleshooting.

18. The first mobile device of claim 15, wherein the first request is received via a mobile application.

19. The first mobile device of claim 15, wherein the first request may be one of the following: a pop-up message, a push notification, and a direct command.

20. The first mobile device of claim 15, wherein the at least one non-transitory auxiliary storage medium further stores the program instructions executable by at least one processing unit for: i. After receiving confirmation of the first request, send a second request to the network device; The second request includes the configuration information of the configuration file.

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