Unauthorized Tethering Detection via Software Indicators
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Solution Overview
Problem
Unauthorized tethering by wireless devices leads to increased network resource consumption and congestion, causing unfairness among subscribers as network operators do not allocate resources for unauthorized tethering, resulting in disproportionate bandwidth usage.
Innovation Solution
A system and method to detect unauthorized tethering by monitoring resource usage patterns and software indicators of wireless devices, creating a list of devices performing unauthorized tethering, and adjusting or blocking their data flow to mitigate network impact.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If network operators allocate resources proportionally to data transferred, then bandwidth utilization is optimized, but unauthorized tethering devices consume excessive resources causing unfairness among subscribers
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by detecting tethering software indicators and identifying suspect devices before significant resource consumption occurs. The network element monitors for tethering indicators in data transmissions and proactively identifies devices performing unauthorized tethering, allowing preventive resource allocation adjustments before network congestion or unfair resource distribution occurs.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback mechanisms by continuously monitoring resource usage patterns and tethering indicators from wireless devices. The network element receives feedback about data transmissions, analyzes software indicators, and adjusts resource allocation based on detected unauthorized tethering behavior, creating a closed-loop control system that maintains fairness while optimizing bandwidth utilization.
2Measurement precision
If network operators monitor resource usage patterns to detect unauthorized tethering, then detection accuracy improves, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts and isolates specific tethering software indicators from general data transmissions for analysis. Rather than analyzing all device data comprehensively, the network element selectively extracts tethering-specific indicators such as particular software signatures or communication patterns, reducing the complexity of monitoring while maintaining high detection accuracy for unauthorized tethering.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a network element as an intermediary between wireless devices and the core network. This intermediary performs the complex analysis of resource usage patterns and software indicators, acting as a mediator that handles the detection complexity while presenting simplified information to the rest of the network system, thereby isolating complexity to a single component.
3Object-generated harmful factors
If data flow is adjusted or blocked for devices performing unauthorized tethering, then network resource fairness is maintained, but service quality for detected devices deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies local quality by implementing differentiated resource allocation for different devices based on their tethering status. Authorized devices receive full resource allocation with no restrictions, while unauthorized tethering devices have their data flows selectively adjusted or blocked only for the tethering-related traffic, maintaining service quality for legitimate uses while preventing unfair resource consumption from unauthorized tethering activities.
Data Source
AI summary
In systems and methods of detecting unauthorized tethering by a wireless device, plurality of wireless devices in communication with an access node is detected, and a suspect device list of wireless devices which are not authorized for tethering is determined from among the plurality of detected wireless devices. Based on a resource usage pattern of the at least one wireless device, at least one wireless device is removed from the suspect device list. For each wireless device remaining on the suspect device list a software indicator is examined, and a list of wireless devices performing unauthorized tethering is created based on the examined software indicators.