Automated Tethering via Short-Range Wireless Detection
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional tethering techniques are cumbersome for users to set up and manage, especially regarding security and data transmission rates, and often result in unnecessary WWAN data usage due to lack of awareness and manual configuration.
Innovation Solution
An automated tethering process using a smartphone's short-range wireless device to identify and connect other user devices to a WWAN network, facilitating secure and monitored data transfer while optimizing network usage by promoting Wi-Fi connections over WWAN when available.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional tethering techniques are used to connect devices to WWAN networks, then network connectivity is achieved, but the setup process becomes cumbersome and requires manual configuration
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by automatically detecting available WWAN networks and pre-configuring connection parameters before the user initiates tethering. The smartphone identifies suitable networks, retrieves connection data, and prepares tethering settings in advance, eliminating the need for manual configuration during the actual tethering process.
Solution Approach 2:
The tethering system implements self-service by automatically managing the entire connection process without user intervention. The smartphone autonomously detects WWAN networks, establishes connections, configures tethering parameters, and manages data transmission rates, allowing the system to serve itself rather than requiring manual user setup.
2Reliability
If manual tethering configuration is used, then users have control over settings, but security and data transmission rate management become problematic
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements feedback mechanisms by continuously monitoring WWAN data usage, connection status, and security parameters. The smartphone provides real-time feedback to the user about data consumption, connection quality, and security status, enabling dynamic adjustment of transmission rates and security settings without requiring manual configuration while maintaining reliable security management.
3Productivity
If tethering is enabled without monitoring, then network connectivity is established, but unnecessary WWAN data usage occurs due to lack of awareness
Solution Approach 1:
The system addresses data usage awareness by implementing comprehensive feedback mechanisms that continuously monitor and report WWAN data consumption to the user. The smartphone tracks data usage in real-time, provides notifications about consumption levels, and informs users about tethering activity, eliminating the information loss about data usage while maintaining high productivity through efficient network utilization.
4Loss of energy
If Wi-Fi connections are not prioritized, then WWAN tethering is used by default, but data charges increase due to unnecessary WWAN usage
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements dynamic network selection by continuously evaluating available networks (Wi-Fi and WWAN) and automatically switching between them based on current conditions. The smartphone dynamically adjusts its tethering behavior, prioritizing Wi-Fi connections when available to reduce data charges, while maintaining the flexibility to switch to WWAN when necessary, thus optimizing data charge loss without sacrificing network selection adaptability.
Data Source
AI summary
One embodiment provides a method, including: identifying, using a short range wireless device of an electronic device, another user device; transferring, using the short range wireless device, connection data for a wireless local area network (WLAN) access point between the electronic device and the another user device; and connecting, using a processor of the electronic device, to the WLAN using the connection data. Other aspects are described and claimed.