Dynamic Network Planning for Resource-Limited Mobile Connectivity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Mobile devices face challenges in maintaining network connectivity while traveling due to varying network availability, coverage limitations, and differing network properties, which can lead to logistical issues and inefficient data transfer.
Innovation Solution
A dynamic network planning system that creates and manages network connectivity plans for mobile devices based on anticipated travel paths, allowing devices to dynamically switch between available networks to maintain connectivity, considering factors like cost, data transfer rate, and latency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If mobile devices automatically switch between networks to maintain connectivity, then connectivity reliability is improved, but network selection complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-planning network routes based on travel paths and network maps before connectivity issues occur. The mobile device receives network plans in advance that specify which networks to use during specific travel segments, eliminating the need for real-time complex network selection decisions and improving connectivity reliability through proactive planning.
Solution Approach 2:
A network planning server acts as an intermediary between the mobile device and multiple wireless networks. The server receives travel path information, consults network maps showing availability of multiple networks (cellular, satellite, Wi-Fi), and generates optimized network plans. This intermediary handles the complexity of network selection centrally, allowing the mobile device to simply execute pre-provided instructions without complex local decision-making.
2Productivity
If devices consider multiple network factors (cost, data transfer rate, latency) for optimal connectivity, then data transfer efficiency is improved, but computational requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts the complex computational task of multi-factor network optimization from the mobile device and relocates it to a centralized network planning server. The server performs heavy computations to analyze cost, data transfer rate, and latency factors across multiple networks, then delivers simplified network plans to the mobile device. This extraction reduces the computational burden on resource-limited mobile devices while maintaining high data transfer efficiency through optimized network selection.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of requiring the mobile device to perform complex real-time network analysis, the system creates and transmits pre-computed network plans as copies of optimized routing decisions. These network plans contain simplified instructions about which networks to use during specific travel segments, derived from comprehensive analysis performed beforehand by the planning server. The mobile device simply executes these copied plans without reproducing the complex computational analysis.
3Area of stationary object
If satellite networks are used for broad coverage, then area coverage is improved, but connection reliability deteriorates due to obstruction sensitivity
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges multiple network types (cellular networks, satellite networks, and Wi-Fi networks) into a unified network plan. The network map includes availability information for all network types, and the planning server creates integrated plans that combine them strategically. The mobile device switches between different network types based on the plan, combining their advantages: cellular networks provide reliable urban coverage, satellite networks provide broad area coverage, and Wi-Fi provides high-speed local connectivity. This merging resolves the contradiction by using each network type where it excels rather than relying on a single network.
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies local quality by selecting different network types for different geographic locations and travel segments. Instead of using a single network type throughout, the network plan specifies which network is optimal for each segment based on local conditions. In urban areas with good cellular coverage, the plan selects cellular networks for reliable connections. In remote areas where cellular is unavailable, the plan switches to satellite networks for broad coverage. This localized network selection optimizes both reliability and coverage by matching network type to local conditions.
Data Source
AI summary
Examples provide improved methods for managing wireless network connectivity for a mobile device. Examples include receiving a network map that defines geographic availability of a first wireless network; determining that the first wireless network is accessible within a travel segment of a travel plan based on comparing geographic location data associated with the travel segment to the geographic availability of the first wireless network from the network map; creating a network plan that includes the travel segment and an associated connectivity waypoint, the connectivity waypoint defining when to alter connectivity status with the first wireless network; and causing the mobile device to alter connectivity status with the first wireless network based on proximity to the connectivity waypoint.