Gateway Bandwidth Prioritization for Critical Device Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
In areas with limited and expensive internet bandwidth, such as rural regions, there is no effective system to manage the bandwidth consumption of multiple devices, including IoT devices and streaming services, which can lead to insufficient bandwidth for critical devices like home security systems.
Innovation Solution
A gateway device categorizes connected devices based on their functions and creates a priority list, managing bandwidth and data usage to ensure critical functions are maintained by disabling non-critical functions when data or bandwidth thresholds are reached.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple bandwidth-consuming devices (IoT devices, computers, streaming devices) are connected to the network, then the internet functionality and device connectivity are improved, but the available bandwidth for each device decreases and critical devices may receive insufficient bandwidth
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the network devices into different priority categories (critical, non-critical, and optional devices) and allocates bandwidth separately to each category. This segmentation allows the system to manage limited bandwidth resources by ensuring critical devices receive sufficient bandwidth while non-critical devices share the remaining capacity, thereby resolving the contradiction between supporting multiple devices and maintaining adequate bandwidth for each.
2Productivity
If high bandwidth devices are allowed to consume available bandwidth freely, then their performance is improved, but critical devices with lower bandwidth needs receive low or no internet bandwidth
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by assigning different bandwidth allocation characteristics to different device categories. Critical devices are granted priority access and guaranteed minimum bandwidth, while non-critical devices are allowed to consume available bandwidth up to their fair share. This differentiated approach ensures that critical devices maintain reliable internet connectivity while still allowing high bandwidth devices to function effectively within the available network capacity.
3Ease of operation
If data is allocated without priority management, then all devices can access internet equally, but critical functions may fail due to insufficient data allocation in limited bandwidth environments
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by pre-establishing priority categories and bandwidth allocation rules before bandwidth depletion occurs. The system proactively monitors data usage and predicts when the data cap will be reached, then preemptively adjusts bandwidth allocation to ensure critical devices maintain access. This prevents the scenario where equal allocation would lead to critical function failure, while still maintaining a form of equitable access for all devices within the constrained environment.
Data Source
AI summary
Various embodiments of apparatus, systems (e.g., a gateway device) and/or methods are described for internet managing bandwidth and data usage. A category is assigned for each respective connected device in a stored list of the connected devices based on a function of each respective connected device. A priority list of the connected devices is created with regard to bandwidth use based on the category of the respective connected device. Bandwidth is provided to the connected devices based on the priority list. Also, a data reserve being less than a total recurring data cap is created. In response to determining a predefined data threshold has been met during a recurring period, non-critical functions of the connected devices are disabled for a remainder of the recurring period based on the priority list while allowing data communications with critical functions for the remainder of the recurring period.