Residential Gateway Internet Speed Test Initiation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for testing Internet connection speed in residential settings are often influenced by other home network traffic and protocol overhead, leading to inaccurate measurements.

Innovation Solution

A method and apparatus that initiate Internet connection speed tests from the residential gateway, with endpoints being the gateway and a test server, rather than user devices, to minimize the impact of home network traffic and provide accurate speed measurements.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If speed tests are initiated from user devices within the home network, then the testing can be performed conveniently, but the measurements become inaccurate due to interference from other home network traffic and protocol overhead

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconvenience of speed testingVSAvoidaccuracy of speed measurement

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the speed test function from user devices and relocates it to the residential gateway. By moving the test initiation point to the gateway, the measurement path is separated from other home network traffic, eliminating interference from devices like gaming consoles and smart TVs. This extraction resolves the contradiction by maintaining operational convenience while significantly improving measurement accuracy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The residential gateway acts as an intermediary between user devices and the external network. By positioning the gateway as the test endpoint, it mediates the speed measurement process, isolating the test traffic from other home network activities. This intermediary role allows accurate measurements of the external connection quality without being affected by internal network variables.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If speed tests include standard protocol overhead, then the tests follow conventional methods, but the protocol overhead distorts the true connection speed measurements

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecompatibility with standard testing methodsVSAvoidaccuracy of connection speed

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and removes protocol overhead from the speed test methodology. By eliminating redundant protocol layers and optimizations typically present in end-device testing, the test measures only the raw connection speed between the gateway and external network. This extraction of unnecessary protocol elements resolves the contradiction by maintaining test standardization while achieving more accurate connection quality measurements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentUS11558278B2Method and apparatus for initiating internet connection speed testing on a residential gateway

Publication Date: 2023.01.17 AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I L P

AI summary

In one example, a method and apparatus for initiating internet connection speed tests in residential gateways are disclosed. In one example, the method initiates, by a residential gateway of a subscriber premises, a test of an internet connection speed associated with the subscriber premises, such that the residential gateway and a test server are endpoints for an exchange of test data. A speed of the exchange of the test data is then measured.