Slave Device Network Traffic Control via Master Notification
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Solution Overview
Problem
When a slave device accesses the Internet using a master device's cellular network, it often performs operations intended for a wireless local area network, leading to unnecessary network traffic consumption without user realization, as existing systems lack effective traffic control mechanisms.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a traffic control method where the slave device receives a notification message from the master device indicating the type of network used, and restricts network traffic for applications on the slave device if the master device is using a cellular network, thereby preventing unnecessary traffic waste by controlling operations according to the correct network type.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the slave device automatically performs operations corresponding to wireless local area network type (e.g., version update), then the application operation is convenient and automatic, but a large amount of network traffic is wasted when the master device uses cellular network
Solution Approach 1:
The master device sends a notification message to the slave device to feedback the network type information. The slave device receives this feedback and adjusts its automatic operations accordingly, restricting traffic-consuming operations when cellular network is detected, thus resolving the contradiction between automatic operation convenience and network traffic waste
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the operational parameters of applications on the slave device based on the network type parameter. When cellular network is detected, the system changes the behavior parameter from unrestricted automatic updates to restricted traffic usage, balancing convenience and traffic conservation
2Ease of operation
If the slave device uses data traffic of the master device without traffic control, then the network access is simple and unrestricted, but unnecessary traffic consumption occurs leading to waste
Solution Approach 1:
The master device performs preliminary action by sending notification messages to the slave device before data transmission occurs. This preliminary notification establishes traffic control rules in advance, allowing the slave device to restrict unnecessary traffic consumption while maintaining simple network access for authorized operations
Solution Approach 2:
The notification message acts as an intermediary mechanism between the master device and slave device. It carries network type information that mediates the traffic control decision, enabling the slave device to distinguish between appropriate and inappropriate data usage without complicating the overall network access mechanism
Data Source
Figure 1~1-a
Figure 1-b
Figure 2~3
AI summary
A traffic control method and apparatus is disclosed, where the traffic control method includes: receiving, by a slave device, a notification message sent by a master device, where the notification message carries a type of a network used by the master device, and the type of the network includes a cellular network type or a wireless local area network type; and restricting, by the slave device, use of network traffic in an application on the slave device if the type of the network used by the master device is the cellular network type, where the slave device accesses the Internet by using the master device as an access point. In the present invention, when a master device uses a network of a cellular network type, use of network traffic in an application on a slave device can be restricted, thereby saving traffic.