Encrypted Beacon Timing for Wireless Connectivity Verification
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for verifying Internet connectivity on mobile devices are cumbersome, insecure, and invasive, as they require connection to a WiFi access point, revealing user information and lacking in speed and privacy.
Innovation Solution
A system employing passive network discovery, challenge response discovery, and active discovery with set diversity techniques allows mobile devices to verify Internet connectivity without connecting, using encrypted timing information, challenge requests, and HTTP GET requests to multiple servers, ensuring speed, security, and privacy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the mobile device connects to the access point to verify Internet connectivity, then the verification can be performed, but the process is cumbersome and reveals user information to third party servers
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by having the access point obtain and broadcast signed timing information from the Internet before the mobile device attempts connection. This allows the device to verify connectivity in advance without actually connecting, making the verification process faster and less intrusive while maintaining reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts the essential verification element (signed timing information) from the full connection process. By obtaining and broadcasting this information separately through beacon frames, the system allows verification without requiring the mobile device to complete a full connection, thus eliminating the cumbersome connection steps while preserving verification capability
2Reliability
If the mobile device connects to the access point to obtain connectivity information, then verification is possible, but the mobile device reveals information to third party servers
Solution Approach 1:
The access point serves as an intermediary that obtains signed timing information from Internet servers and broadcasts it to mobile devices through beacon frames. This intermediary role allows verification without direct communication between the mobile device and third-party servers, preventing user information disclosure while maintaining verification reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The signed timing information is obtained and prepared in advance by the access point before any mobile device connection attempt. This preliminary action ensures that verification data is available without requiring the mobile device to contact third-party servers, thus preventing information disclosure while enabling reliable verification
3Reliability
If traditional connectivity verification methods are used, then Internet connectivity can be confirmed, but the process is slow and cumbersome
Solution Approach 1:
The access point obtains and broadcasts signed timing information from Internet servers in advance, before any mobile device needs to verify connectivity. This preliminary action eliminates the time-consuming connection and verification sequence, allowing immediate verification while maintaining reliability through the signed timing mechanism
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts the essential verification data (signed timing information) from the full connection and verification process. By broadcasting this extracted information through beacon frames, the system enables rapid verification without requiring the time-consuming traditional connection sequence, thus reducing verification time while maintaining confirmation reliability
Data Source
AI summary
A method and system for verifying Internet connectivity at an access point in a fast, secure, and privacy-friendly manner. During operation, the system may perform passive network discovery, challenge response discovery, and/or active discovery to verify Internet connectivity for a mobile device. Passive network discovery involves the mobile device using a public key of a server to decrypt a time value to verify Internet connectivity. The mobile device receives the encrypted time value as part of the server's signed timing information in an overloaded WiFi beacon frame. Challenge response discovery involves the mobile device sending an encrypted challenge to servers, and a server returns a correct response to the challenge to confirm Internet connectivity. Active discovery involves a mobile device sending HTTP GET requests to a randomly selected set of servers without including a user agent, and a server may send an HTTP REPLY to confirm Internet connectivity.