Whitelist-Based Network Traffic Filtering for Data Cost Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Users of mobile computing devices face challenges in managing access to free internet-based content, as it can be difficult to track which content providers offer free access through network service providers, leading to unexpected data usage charges and overages.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that allow computing devices to obtain whitelists identifying free content providers, enabling them to restrict network traffic to only free communications by using network configuration settings and whitelists to block access to non-free content providers, thereby managing data usage and preventing unnecessary charges.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If computing devices allow unrestricted access to all content providers, then users can access both free and paid content without limitations, but users incur unexpected data usage charges and cannot track which content providers offer free access
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by obtaining and storing whitelists of free content providers before actual network communication occurs. The computing device proactively retrieves whitelist data from network service providers or other computing devices, and stores it locally in a whitelist repository. This allows the device to later determine whether a requested content provider is free without needing to track or remember during actual usage, resolving the contradiction by preparing information in advance.
2Loss of energy
If computing devices implement whitelist-based restrictions to track free content providers, then users can control data usage and avoid charges, but the device complexity increases due to whitelist management and network configuration settings
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements self-service by enabling the computing device to automatically obtain, store, and manage whitelists without requiring manual user input or configuration. The device autonomously retrieves whitelist data from network service providers or other computing devices through push or pull services, stores it in a whitelist repository, and automatically uses it to filter network traffic. This automation reduces the perceived complexity for users while maintaining comprehensive whitelist management capabilities.
3Reliability
If computing devices obtain whitelists from multiple sources including push and pull services, then the device can maintain accurate whitelist information, but the network traffic and data processing requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements dynamics by providing flexible, configurable methods for obtaining whitelists that can adapt to different network conditions and user preferences. The computing device can obtain whitelists through push services (where the provider sends updates automatically) or pull services (where the device requests updates periodically), allowing the system to dynamically select the most appropriate method based on current needs. This dynamic approach maintains reliable whitelist information while allowing optimization of network traffic usage.
Data Source
AI summary
A computer-implemented method includes obtaining a whitelist that identifies one or more content providers that are accessible for free through a particular network service provider, wherein the particular network service provider also provides access to the other content providers for which a fee is charged, a debit against an account is taken, or a subscription with the particular network service provider is required, establishing a particular network connection with the particular network service provider, identifying a network configuration that indicates whether to restrict communication with content providers by the computing device to only communication that is free, receiving a request to communicate with a particular content provider using the particular network connection, determining, based on the network configuration, whether the particular content provider is included in the whitelist for the particular network service provider, and blocking, based on the determining, the request to communicate with the particular content provider.