Adaptive On-Demand Tethering via Connection Quality Monitoring
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Solution Overview
Problem
Configuring a Wi-Fi hotspot on a mobile device and connecting proximal devices to it can be tedious and time-consuming, leading to latency issues for users.
Innovation Solution
A computer-implemented method for adaptive on-demand tethering, where devices monitor connection quality attributes and initiate a tethering connection with a proximal device based on comparison, using local area connections like Bluetooth for authentication and configuration, and pre-authentication mechanisms to establish a secure and efficient network connection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual configuration of Wi-Fi hotspot is used, then connection sharing is achieved, but user intervention time and configuration latency increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs pre-authentication between devices using Bluetooth before Wi-Fi hotspot connection is needed. This preliminary action stores authentication credentials in advance, so when tethering is required, the connection can be established quickly without requiring full authentication configuration at that moment.
Solution Approach 2:
The system automatically monitors network connection quality attributes and initiates tethering connections without user intervention. The device self-manages the entire process of detecting poor connection quality, selecting a proximal device, establishing tethering, and switching connections, eliminating the need for manual user configuration.
2Speed
If automatic tethering initiation is implemented, then connection switching speed improves, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously monitors network connection quality attributes (such as signal strength, data rate, or error rate) and uses this feedback to automatically initiate tethering when quality falls below a threshold. This feedback mechanism enables automatic connection switching based on real-time network conditions without requiring complex user-defined rules.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the operational parameters of network connections by monitoring connection quality attributes and dynamically switching between direct network connection and tethered connection based on these parameter changes. This allows automatic adaptation to varying network conditions through simple parameter comparison rather than complex decision logic.
3Reliability
If connection quality monitoring is added, then adaptive tethering initiation is enabled, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs connection quality monitoring at periodic intervals rather than continuously, checking network connection attributes only when needed for potential tethering decisions. This periodic monitoring approach maintains reliable connection quality assurance while significantly reducing energy consumption compared to continuous monitoring.
Data Source
AI summary
A device that implements adaptive on-demand tethering may include at least one processor circuit. The at least one processor circuit may be configured to monitor at least a first connection quality value associated with a first network connection of the device to a network. The at least one processor circuit may be further configured to receive information regarding a second connection quality value associated with a second network connection of another device. The at least one processor circuit may be further configured to initiate a tethering connection with the another device based at least in part on a comparison of the first connection quality value and the second connection quality value. The at least one processor circuit may be further configured to connect to the network through the second network connection of the another device via the tethering connection based at least in part on the comparison.