Sequenced Instructions for Captive Portal Auto-Connect
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing solutions for connecting to network access points, such as Wi-Fi hotspots, lack a seamless auto-connect experience and fail to leverage collective user interaction data for improved connection processes.
Innovation Solution
A computing device automatically connects to a network through a captive portal by requesting and applying a sequenced instruction set derived from crowdsourced data, which describes interactions between mobile devices and the network access point, allowing for automated and seamless network access without user intervention.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual user intervention is required for captive portal connection, then connection can be customized to user needs, but connection process becomes tedious and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by capturing and storing interaction data from successful connections in advance. This data is then reused to automatically guide future connection attempts, eliminating the need for users to manually repeat the same steps and significantly reducing connection time while maintaining effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates copies of successful connection interaction data and uses these copies to automate future connections. By copying the sequence of actions from one successful connection attempt, the system can automatically reproduce the same connection process without user intervention, resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and time consumption.
2Productivity
If automated connection scripts are used, then connection speed improves, but adaptability to different captive portals decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates feedback mechanisms by continuously capturing interaction data from actual connection attempts and using this feedback to refine and update its automated connection processes. This allows the system to adapt to different captive portal variations while maintaining high connection speeds, as the feedback loop enables continuous improvement of the automation scripts based on real-world performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements dynamics by making the automated connection process flexible and adaptive rather than rigid. The connection scripts are dynamically updated based on captured interaction data, allowing the system to adjust to different captive portal configurations and maintain both high productivity and adaptability across various network environments.
3Reliability
If connection instructions are hardcoded, then automation reliability improves, but ability to handle new portal types deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system practices self-service by automatically capturing interaction data from successful connections and using this data to generate and update its own connection instructions. This self-updating mechanism maintains high reliability for known portal types while simultaneously improving adaptability to new portal types, as the system learns and adjusts autonomously without requiring manual reprogramming.
Solution Approach 2:
The system treats connection instructions as disposable and regenerates them based on fresh interaction data rather than relying on permanent hardcoded scripts. This approach allows the system to maintain high reliability by using proven working instructions while remaining adaptable to new portal types by continuously generating new instructions from captured data, effectively replacing outdated instructions with updated ones.
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments apply a set of sequenced instructions to connect to a network through a captive portal. A computing device detects a network access point and obtains the instruction set corresponding to the network access point. The instruction set is derived by a cloud service from crowdsourced data describing interactions between mobile computing devices and the network access point. Applying the instruction set includes performing actions such as navigating web pages to accept terms and conditions, provide user or device information, and more.