Mobile Device Automatic Wi-Fi Hotspot 2.0 Connectivity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current Wi-Fi network connectivity is cumbersome and requires user intervention, unlike cellular networks, and cellular networks face capacity and congestion issues due to increasing mobile data usage, necessitating improved methods for automatic connection and traffic offloading to Wi-Fi networks.
Innovation Solution
A mobile device is configured to automatically discover and connect to Wi-Fi hotspots using pre-provisioned subscription information and credentials, enabling seamless authentication and traffic offloading from cellular to Wi-Fi networks, with support for Hotspot 2.0 networks and roaming between different service providers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual connection process is used for Wi-Fi networks, then user control and security are improved, but ease of operation and connection speed deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-provisioning subscription information, credentials, and network selection policies before the user needs to connect. The mobile device stores subscription data objects with authentication credentials and network preferences in advance, enabling automatic connection without manual user intervention during actual network switching.
Solution Approach 2:
The mobile device performs self-service by automatically discovering, selecting, and authenticating to Wi-Fi networks based on pre-provisioned subscription information. The device autonomously manages connection decisions, network selection, and authentication processes without requiring user input or manual configuration, similar to how cellular networks handle connectivity automatically.
2Productivity
If cellular networks are used for all data traffic, then reliability and coverage are improved, but network capacity and cost efficiency deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments data traffic by separating it into cellular network traffic and Wi-Fi network traffic. The mobile device automatically offloads appropriate data traffic to Wi-Fi networks when available, dividing the overall data transmission load between two different network infrastructures to optimize both capacity and cost efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
Wi-Fi networks serve as an intermediary for data traffic offloading. The system uses Wi-Fi as an intermediate carrier that relieves pressure on cellular networks by handling data traffic that can be transmitted over Wi-Fi, thereby reducing cellular network congestion and improving overall system capacity.
3Speed
If automatic connection to Wi-Fi is implemented, then ease of operation and connection speed are improved, but security and user control deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary security actions by pre-provisioning authenticated subscription information and credentials before connection is needed. The mobile device stores securely stored authentication data and network selection policies in advance, ensuring that automatic connection uses pre-validated credentials rather than unsecured or user-entered information, thereby maintaining security while enabling fast automatic connectivity.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 2A
Figure 2B
AI summary
Embodiments of a mobile device and methods automatically connecting to a Wi-Fi Hotspot 2.0 are generally described herein. In some embodiments, subscription information for one or more service providers (SP) that operate Wi-Fi networks is stored in a subscription data object of the mobile device. The subscription information includes home service provider information, policy information and pre-provisioned credentials. The mobile device may be configured to determine, without user interaction, if the subscription information is applicable to an available Wi-Fi network and perform without user interaction, an extensible authentication protocol (EAP) based authentication using the pre-provisioned credentials with the available Wi-Fi network to establish a Wi-Fi connection with the available Wi-Fi network. This automatic connectivity may allow a mobile device to roam across Wi-Fi hotspots of Wi-Fi networks and offload traffic to Wi-Fi networks.