Social Network Credential Delivery for Wireless Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Users face inefficiency in accessing wireless internet in public places due to the need to manually obtain and input passwords, which reduces the convenience and speed of connectivity.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that utilize a social networking platform to automatically provide network access configuration files to client devices by scanning graphic codes, establishing a connection to internet access points based on relationships between user accounts and provider accounts, eliminating the need for manual password input.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If users manually obtain and input passwords to access wireless internet, then network security is maintained, but access efficiency and user convenience deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a social networking platform as an intermediary between the wireless access point provider and the user. The platform facilitates automatic password delivery through account relationship verification, eliminating the need for manual password input while maintaining security through authenticated delivery mechanisms
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables self-service by allowing users to automatically receive and use network access credentials through the social networking platform without requiring manual intervention from service staff. The automated credential delivery process lets users independently complete the connection process
2Speed
If automatic password delivery is implemented through social networking platform, then access speed is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent leverages the existing multi-functional social networking platform to handle multiple tasks: user authentication, credential verification, relationship checking, and automatic password delivery. This approach avoids building a separate dedicated system and utilizes the already-established infrastructure of the social networking platform
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-establishing account relationships and verifying user credentials before the actual network access is needed. The social networking platform maintains user profiles and relationship data in advance, enabling rapid automatic authentication and credential delivery when users need network access
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and systems for facilitating access to a network (e.g., the Internet) are disclosed herein. A server with processor(s) and memory receives a request from a client device to download a network access configuration file, where the network access configuration file is configured to enable access to the Internet via a respective Internet access point. In accordance with the received request, the server identifies a first account in a social networking platform corresponding to a provider of the respective Internet access point. The server determines a relationship between the first account and a second account corresponding to a user of the client device in the social networking platform. In accordance with a first determination that the relationship satisfies one or more predetermined access criteria, the server provides the network access configuration file to the client device.