Network Presence Determination Using Address Range and Access Manager
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Solution Overview
Problem
It is challenging for mobile computing devices to reliably determine whether they are inside a particular network, as existing methods often rely on unreliable indicators such as network address ranges and access to resource managers.
Innovation Solution
A computing device obtains its network address and attempts to access a resource access manager; if the address is within a desired range and access is granted, it determines it is inside the network; otherwise, it concludes it is outside, using unencrypted requests to verify access.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a mobile device uses network address range checking to determine network presence, then the determination method is simple, but the reliability is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple determination methods (network address range checking and resource access manager accessibility checking) into a unified network presence determination system. Both methods must confirm network presence for a reliable determination, merging the simplicity of address checking with the reliability of access manager verification.
Solution Approach 2:
The resource access manager serves as an intermediary component that provides authoritative verification of network presence. Instead of relying solely on device-side address checking, the system introduces a network-side resource access manager that can definitively confirm whether a device is within the network boundary.
2Reliability
If a mobile device attempts to access the resource access manager to verify network presence, then the reliability improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The mobile device performs self-verification by attempting to access the resource access manager using its own network address. The device autonomously determines its network status without requiring additional external verification systems, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining high reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The resource access manager serves multiple functions: it acts as both a network boundary authority and an accessibility verification service. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate verification systems, thereby reducing device complexity while improving reliability.
3Measurement precision
If the device uses both network address range checking and resource access manager accessibility checking, then the determination accuracy improves, but the processing time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs network address range checking first as a preliminary filter before attempting resource access manager connectivity verification. This preliminary action quickly eliminates devices outside the network address range, reducing the time required for full verification while maintaining high accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The determination process is dynamic and adaptive: if the network address range check fails, the system immediately concludes the device is outside the network without performing the more time-consuming resource access manager check. This dynamic approach optimizes processing time based on initial assessment results while maintaining determination accuracy.
Data Source
AI summary
A network address of a computing device is obtained, and an unencrypted request is sent to a resource access manager of a particular network. If both a response is received from the resource access manager and the computing device has a network address within a desired range of network addresses, then a determination is made that the computing device is inside the particular network. Otherwise, a determination is made that the computing device is outside the particular network.