Terminal AP Connection Prioritization for Traffic-Free Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Users often incur high internet access fees due to forgetting to switch from traffic-charged to traffic-free access points, leading to excessive data consumption and degraded user experience.
Innovation Solution
A terminal automatically detects the charging type of nearby access points and prioritizes connecting to traffic-free access points, reducing data consumption and fees by switching to them when available.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the terminal manually connects to traffic-charged AP to meet user requirements, then the user can access Internet, but the user incurs high traffic fees and experiences degraded user experience
Solution Approach 1:
The terminal performs preliminary detection of AP charging types before connection. The terminal scans and identifies traffic-free APs in advance, prioritizes them in the connection list, and automatically connects to them without user intervention, preventing excessive traffic consumption before it occurs
Solution Approach 2:
The terminal continuously monitors the charging types of available APs and provides real-time feedback to the connection management module. When a traffic-free AP becomes available, the system automatically switches connection priority to that AP, creating a closed-loop control that adapts to changing network conditions
2Loss of energy
If the terminal automatically switches to traffic-free AP, then traffic consumption is reduced, but the system complexity increases due to automatic detection and selection mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The terminal's existing Wi-Fi scanning and connection mechanisms are extended to also detect AP charging types. The same scanning infrastructure that discovers available APs is enhanced to simultaneously gather charging type information, eliminating the need for separate detection hardware or protocols
Solution Approach 2:
The terminal autonomously manages its own AP connections by automatically detecting charging types and selecting optimal APs without user intervention. The system monitors available APs, identifies traffic-free options, and performs automatic switching, making the terminal self-sufficient in managing its data consumption
3Ease of operation
If the user forgets to switch AP manually, then the terminal remains connected to traffic-charged AP, but excessive traffic fees are incurred
Solution Approach 1:
The terminal continuously monitors the charging types of available APs and provides real-time feedback to the connection management module. When a traffic-free AP becomes available, the system automatically switches connection priority to that AP, creating a closed-loop control that adapts to changing network conditions
Solution Approach 2:
The terminal acts as an intermediary between the user and the AP network, automatically managing connection decisions based on charging type detection. This intermediary function shields the user from the complexity of manual switching while preventing excessive traffic consumption
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments of this application relate to the communications field, and provide an access point connection method and a terminal, so as to preferentially connect to a traffic-free access point, reduce traffic consumption of a user, and improve video experience of the user. The method specifically includes: A terminal first obtains a charging type of each of at least one AP, where the AP charging type includes a traffic-free AP and a traffic-charged AP; and then the terminal selects an AP for connection based on the charging type of each of the at least one AP and an AP connection priority. A connection priority of the traffic-free AP is higher than that of the traffic-charged AP. This application is used to connect to an AP by a terminal.