Application Layer Virtual Network Card Driver for Android Rootless Hosts
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
In Android system hosts, such as smart TVs, the installation of network card drivers is limited due to reduced system kernel volume and lack of root permissions, making it difficult to integrate network card drivers, especially for network cards with special functions like network access authentication.
Innovation Solution
An application state network card driving method that initializes a system, establishes a physical and virtual network card device channel, performs data communication through a VPN service, and deletes the virtual device without requiring root permissions, using an application layer driver to create a virtual network card device node.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If the system kernel volume is reduced and system complexity is simplified to improve system running speed, then system running speed is improved, but the ability to install network card drivers deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a virtual network card device as an intermediary layer between the physical network card hardware and the application layer. This virtual device acts as a mediator that handles driver installation and communication without requiring kernel-level modifications, thus preserving system speed while enabling driver functionality in simplified Android systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions the driver implementation from the kernel space (traditional dimension) to the application space (new dimension). By creating a virtual network card device in the application layer that communicates with physical hardware through standardized interfaces, the solution operates in a different dimensional space where root permissions are not required.
2Device complexity
If root permissions are not opened to simplify the system, then system security and simplicity are improved, but the ability to install kernel-mode network card drivers deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The virtual network card device serves as an intermediary that bridges the gap between application-level permissions and hardware-level access. It translates application-layer requests into hardware communications without requiring elevated privileges, thus maintaining system simplicity while achieving driver functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a virtual copy of the network card device in the application layer. This virtual device node replicates the functionality needed for driver operation without requiring access to the actual kernel-mode driver, allowing standard Android applications to interact with network hardware as if a traditional driver were installed.
3Quantity of substance
If kernel-mode network card drivers are not integrated to reduce system kernel volume, then system kernel volume is reduced, but network access authentication functionality deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The virtual network card device acts as an intermediary that implements authentication logic in the application layer. Instead of requiring kernel-mode drivers to handle authentication, the virtual device node processes authentication requests through standard Android APIs, maintaining security functionality without increasing kernel volume.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent moves authentication functionality from the kernel space to the application space. By implementing authentication through the virtual network card device in the application layer, the system achieves the same security objectives without embedding complex authentication drivers in the kernel, thus reducing kernel volume while preserving reliability.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed are an application state network card driving method and apparatus. The method comprises the steps of: initializing a system, establishing a channel communicating with a physical network card hardware device, creating a virtual network card device in the system, and opening the physical network card hardware device channel and a virtual network card device node channel; downstream transmitting data received by a system network interface through the virtual network card device, and uploading data uploaded by the physical network card hardware device to the system network interface; and stopping node communication of the virtual network card device, and deleting the virtual network card device. According to the invention, a network card driver can be installed on a host system without needing a root permission, thus having a good compatibility and a wide application range.