Network Configuration Adaptation for Competitive Fairness
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Solution Overview
Problem
In competitive multi-user activities over telecommunications networks, disparities in user skills and hardware lead to unfairness and diminished enjoyment, as users with varying abilities are often matched against each other, resulting in imbalanced gameplay and potential abandonment of games.
Innovation Solution
The network configuration is adapted by assessing competitive characteristics such as skill level and hardware capabilities of users, with adjustments made to network performance parameters like latency, bandwidth, and error rates to offset disparities, ensuring fair competition by handicapping or advantaging users as necessary.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If users of varying skill levels are allowed to compete in the same network environment, then network resource utilization is improved, but fairness and user enjoyment deteriorate due to skill imbalances
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by introducing differentiated network configurations for different users based on their competitive characteristics. Instead of uniform network treatment, the system tailors network parameters (latency, bandwidth, error rates) to each user's skill level and hardware capabilities, creating locally optimized conditions that balance competitive fairness while maintaining overall network utilization.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs parameter changes by dynamically adjusting network performance parameters such as latency, bandwidth, and error rates based on assessed competitive characteristics. The network configuration is modified to offset disparities between users, transforming the network environment from a static uniform state to a dynamic adaptive state that responds to user capabilities.
2Reliability
If network performance is improved for users with lower skill levels, then fairness is enhanced, but overall network efficiency may deteriorate due to additional resource allocation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial action by selectively adjusting network parameters only for specific users who require assistance to achieve fair competition. Instead of uniformly degrading network performance across all users, the system applies targeted modifications to specific network connections based on individual competitive characteristics, minimizing the impact on overall network efficiency while achieving fairness goals.
3Reliability
If network configuration is dynamically adapted based on competitive characteristics, then fairness is improved, but system complexity increases due to continuous monitoring and adjustment mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies self-service by enabling the network system to automatically assess competitive characteristics and adjust configurations without requiring manual intervention. The network monitoring system continuously evaluates user performance and hardware capabilities, then autonomously modifies network parameters to maintain fairness, reducing the operational burden on network administrators while sustaining complex adaptive behavior.
Data Source
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AI summary
A method of managing a telecommunications network, the telecommunications network having a first user and a second user, the method comprising the step of: ascertaining a competitive characteristic associated with the first user and a competitive characteristic associated with the second user (210); comparing the ascertained competitive characteristics (220); identifying whether there is a disparity between the competitive characteristics that exceeds a threshold (230), thereby to identify a competitive advantage associated with the first or second user; and if it is identified that the disparity exceeds the threshold, adapting a network configuration of a network connection associated with the first user so as to offset the competitive advantage associated with the first or second user (240).