Network Risk Evaluation for Trusted Connection Selection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Users face difficulty in identifying trusted network connections among available options, as they may not be aware of the negative qualities of certain networks, such as malicious activity or unauthorized networks.

Innovation Solution

A network evaluation service that evaluates nearby networks, stores their characteristics in a database, and provides quality indications to users or operators, allowing them to make informed connection decisions based on these evaluations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Speed

If users connect to available networks without evaluation, then connection speed and accessibility are improved, but network security and reliability deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconnection speedVSAvoidnetwork security

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary evaluation of networks before users connect, assessing security characteristics, trust scores, and potential risks in advance. This allows users to make informed decisions about which networks to connect to, maintaining both speed and security by pre-filtering unsafe options.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The network evaluation service acts as an intermediary between users and available networks, providing independent security assessments and trust evaluations. This mediator supplies objective quality indicators that help users distinguish safe networks from malicious ones without compromising connection speed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If users evaluate all available networks before connection, then network security is improved, but time consumption and complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenetwork securityVSAvoidevaluation time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system provides differentiated evaluation information tailored to each network and user context, rather than applying a uniform evaluation process to all networks. High-risk networks receive more detailed scrutiny while low-risk networks receive streamlined assessment, reducing overall evaluation time while maintaining security.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs essential security evaluations on all networks but provides detailed analysis only for networks that meet basic safety criteria or show potential risks. This partial action approach ensures security requirements are met while avoiding unnecessary time consumption on obviously safe networks.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Measurement precision

If comprehensive network evaluation is performed, then detection precision is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverisk detection precisionVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The network evaluation system is divided into separate functional modules: network scanning, characteristic analysis, trust scoring, and risk assessment. Each module handles a specific aspect of evaluation, making the overall complex system manageable and maintainable while achieving comprehensive detection precision through coordinated module operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS12563486B1Systems and methods for identifying data risk in network connections

Publication Date: 2026.02.24 UNITED SERVICES AUTOMOBILE ASSOCIATION (USAA)

AI summary

Provided herein are systems and methods for evaluating available networks in a known environment. Based upon the evaluation, a quality indication of the networks are provided to a user or operator of devices seeking to connect to at least one of the available networks.