Automated Network Configuration Assistant for Seamless Connectivity

Solution Overview

Problem

Users often forget necessary network configuration steps when connecting to different networks, leading to connectivity issues and resource expenditure due to delayed access to internal networks, such as VPNs, resulting in lost productivity and support requests.

Innovation Solution

Implementing automated network configuration management through a processor that detects connection requests and applies preexisting settings, using a rules engine and reference structures to learn and apply necessary network configurations, such as VPN settings, to facilitate seamless connections.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If manual network configuration steps are required for each network connection, then users can establish connections to different networks, but users forget necessary configuration steps leading to connectivity issues and support requests

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconnection reliabilityVSAvoidease of network connection

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by detecting network connection requests and automatically applying appropriate configuration settings before the user attempts to connect. The processor proactively identifies the network type and configures necessary parameters (such as VPN settings, proxy configurations, or authentication credentials) in advance, eliminating the need for users to manually remember or input configuration steps for each network.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The network configuration system operates autonomously by detecting connection requests and self-configuring the appropriate settings without user intervention. The processor automatically matches network requests with stored configuration profiles and applies the correct parameters, allowing the system to serve itself rather than requiring manual user configuration for each network connection scenario.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Productivity

If automated network configuration is implemented, then connectivity issues are reduced and access is immediate, but system complexity increases due to rules engine and reference structures

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenetwork access speedVSAvoidconfiguration system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by detecting network connection requests and automatically applying appropriate configuration settings before the user attempts to connect. The processor proactively identifies the network type and configures necessary parameters (such as VPN settings, proxy configurations, or authentication credentials) in advance, eliminating the need for users to manually remember or input configuration steps for each network.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The network configuration system operates autonomously by detecting connection requests and self-configuring the appropriate settings without user intervention. The processor automatically matches network requests with stored configuration profiles and applies the correct parameters, allowing the system to serve itself rather than requiring manual user configuration for each network connection scenario.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentUS10536338B2Networking connection resolution assistant

Publication Date: 2020.01.14 INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINE CORPORATION

AI summary

Embodiments for automated accommodation of network configuration settings by a processor. A network connection request is detected. A learned, preexisting network configuration setting corresponding to the network connection request is matched to the network connection request. The network connection is established via the preexisting network configuration setting.