Communication Client Discrimination Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing communication event analysis systems fail to accurately distinguish between network congestion and network service provider discrimination, leading to inadequate solutions for improving communication quality, as users are not adequately informed about the cause of transmission issues.

Innovation Solution

A method that detects problems with communication events by comparing communication metric data to determine if issues are caused by network service provider discrimination, computing a confidence value, and providing notifications to users suggesting alternative service providers when discrimination is detected.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Stability of the object's composition

If network service providers implement traffic shaping to manage network congestion, then network stability is improved, but communication quality for specific data types deteriorates due to discrimination against certain traffic types

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenetwork stabilityVSAvoidcommunication quality
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements feedback by monitoring communication metrics (packet loss, latency, jitter) during communication events and comparing them against baseline network conditions. When discrimination is detected, the system provides feedback to the user through notifications explaining the cause and suggesting alternative network service providers, enabling informed decisions to improve communication quality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The communication client acts as an intermediary between the user and the network service provider. It secretly establishes test communication events to probe network conditions without the service provider's knowledge, detecting discrimination behaviors that would otherwise be hidden from the user. This intermediary function allows the user to make informed choices about network providers.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If network service providers block or discriminate against certain types of network traffic, then their control over network resources is improved, but user ability to engage in desired communication events deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenetwork control flexibilityVSAvoiduser communication experience
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system enables users to self-diagnose communication problems by providing them with objective network condition data and discrimination detection results. Users can independently determine whether their communication issues are caused by network service provider discrimination and make informed decisions about switching providers, without requiring intervention from the service provider.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The communication client serves as an intermediary that secretly tests network conditions by establishing test communication events. This allows the user to obtain objective information about network discrimination without the service provider being able to manipulate or block the diagnostic process, since the testing occurs independently and covertly.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Loss of information

If users are provided with notifications about network conditions, then user awareness of communication problems is improved, but user ability to distinguish between congestion and discrimination deteriorates without further analysis

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuser awareness of network issuesVSAvoidcause identification accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system provides feedback to users not just about the presence of network problems, but specifically about the cause (congestion vs. discrimination). By analyzing communication metrics from both real and test communication events, the system generates precise feedback that identifies whether degradation is caused by general network congestion or by service provider discrimination against specific traffic types, enabling users to take appropriate action.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary analysis of network conditions by secretly establishing test communication events before the user experiences communication problems. This preliminary probing allows the system to detect discrimination behaviors in advance and provide accurate cause identification, rather than merely reacting to user-reported issues.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP2740240B1Analysis of a communication event
Publication Date: 2020.08.05 MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING LLC
  • EP2740240B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2740240B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2740240B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

Method, system, device, server and computer program product for analysing a communication event occurring over a network, wherein a network service provider provides access to the network for a communication client executed at the device to engage in the communication event. The communication client detects a problem with the communication event. Communication metric data relating to the communication event is determined. It is determined, using the determined communication metric data, whether the detected problem is caused by a reason (i) of a poor network condition in the network, or a reason (ii) of the network service provider discriminating against transmission over the network of a type of data used in the communication event. In the event that it is determined that the detected problem is caused by reason (ii), a notification is provided to a user of the device.