Wireless Terminal Emulating Router Identity for Cellular Backhaul Failover
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Solution Overview
Problem
The failure of a primary connection between a wireless access point and a data network disrupts internet access, leading to high call volumes for helpdesks, especially when public access points are unavailable or affected by the failure, and existing solutions like relaying through nearby routers may not be practical.
Innovation Solution
A wireless communications device can detect the absence of a primary backhaul connection and operate as a secondary access point, replicating the wireless configuration identity of the router to establish a secondary backhaul connection using a cellular network, allowing data traffic to be routed through a secondary network, enabling continuity of service even when the primary connection is down.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a wireless communications device operates as a secondary access point by replicating the router's wireless configuration identity, then internet access continuity is improved during primary connection failure, but device complexity and potential network confusion increase
Solution Approach 1:
The wireless communications device retrieves and broadcasts a wireless configuration identity that matches the router's identity, allowing client devices to connect to the secondary access point as if connecting to the primary router. This copying approach enables seamless failover without requiring clients to reconfigure their connection settings.
Solution Approach 2:
The wireless communications device acts as an intermediary between client devices and the data network when the primary router connection fails. It receives client traffic, routes it through its own cellular data connection, and forwards it to the internet, thereby mediating the connection during primary network failure.
2Ease of operation
If the wireless communications device broadcasts the router's wireless configuration identity, then ease of connection for client devices is improved, but network security and authorization management are worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The wireless communications device retrieves and stores the wireless configuration identity from the router before the primary connection fails. This preliminary action ensures that when failover is needed, the device can immediately broadcast the correct identity without requiring real-time authentication or client reconfiguration.
Solution Approach 2:
The system monitors the status of the primary backhaul connection and automatically triggers the secondary access point operation when failure is detected. This feedback mechanism ensures that the identity broadcasting only occurs when necessary, reducing security risks while maintaining ease of connection when needed.
3Adaptability or versatility
If public access points are used for relay connection, then adaptability of the solution is improved, but reliability is worsened when public access points are unavailable or affected by the same failure
Solution Approach 1:
The wireless communications device is designed to perform multiple functions: it operates as a client device connecting to the router during normal conditions, and as a secondary access point during failure conditions. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate public access points while maintaining adaptability to different failure scenarios.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the user's own wireless communications device to provide the backup access point function, rather than relying on external public access points. This self-service approach ensures that the backup connection is always available when the primary connection fails, as the device is already present and configured in the local environment.
4Loss of time
If the wireless communications device establishes a secondary backhaul connection through cellular network, then loss of time for troubleshooting is reduced, but use of energy and data costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The secondary access point operation maintains continuous internet access for client devices during primary connection failure, eliminating interruptions and the need for troubleshooting. By keeping the network operational through the cellular connection, the system prevents the loss of time that would otherwise be spent diagnosing and resolving connection issues.
Solution Approach 2:
The system activates the secondary cellular backhaul connection only when the primary connection fails, using partial action (only when needed) rather than continuously. This approach balances energy consumption with the need for rapid failover, accepting increased energy use only during actual failure conditions when it prevents troubleshooting time loss.
Data Source
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AI summary
A wireless-enabled user terminal (7) is configured to detect the absence of a connection (3) between a wireless network router (1) and a core network (2). The terminal (7) uses data by which the router (1) is identified to emulate the router (1) and set up an alternative link (8, 9) to the network (2) so that other terminals (4, 5, 6) previously connecting to the network (2) through the router (1) can continue to connect to the network (2) through the terminal (7) and alternative link (8, 9) using the same network identities as they did through the router (1) until a connection (3) between the router (1) and network (2) is installed or restored.