Wi-Fi Access Point Network Selection Moderation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing Wi-Fi access points, designed for residential or corporate contexts, face challenges in managing large-scale communication systems, leading to suboptimal network and access point selection, impacting both user experience and service provider economics, especially when handling mobile devices with low radio link quality.
Innovation Solution
A method involving a front-end network communications device and a master server that moderates network and access point selection by receiving a MAC address from a mobile device, generating visibility policies, and enforcing these policies to control which networks are visible to the device, ensuring optimal resource management and user experience.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If mobile devices are allowed to freely select access points in large-scale communication systems, then device autonomy and ease of operation are improved, but network performance and user experience deteriorate due to poor selection decisions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an access point as an intermediary that mediates between the mobile device's autonomous selection process and the network's performance requirements. The access point receives service provider requests from mobile devices, evaluates them based on local conditions (network load, radio link quality, primary function requirements), and selectively responds to guide devices toward appropriate networks without requiring custom software on the devices.
2Reliability
If access points tightly control network selection to ensure optimal performance, then network performance and reliability are improved, but system complexity and synchronization requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the network selection control function into independent access point decisions. Each access point autonomously evaluates service provider requests based on its local conditions (network load, radio link quality, primary function requirements) without requiring synchronization with other access points. This distributed decision-making approach maintains control quality while avoiding system complexity.
3Adaptability or versatility
If mobile devices with low radio link quality are allowed to connect to access points, then device connectivity and adaptability are improved, but spectrum consumption and impact on primary users increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality assessment by evaluating each service provider request individually based on the specific conditions at the access point. The access point considers the mobile device's radio link quality, the network's current load, and the impact on primary users. This localized evaluation allows the system to adaptively accept or reject connections based on real-time conditions rather than applying uniform rules.
4Measurement precision
If custom software is deployed on mobile devices to improve network selection, then selection quality and measurement precision are improved, but ease of manufacture and service provider economics worsen due to software distribution and maintenance costs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service by enabling access points to perform the intelligence functions that would otherwise require custom software on mobile devices. The access points autonomously evaluate service provider requests, assess network conditions, and make selection decisions without requiring any special software or capabilities on the mobile devices. This shifts the computational burden from the devices to the network infrastructure.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for use in a front-end network communications device, arranged to operate as an access point, for establishing a data connection between a mobile communications terminal and one or more data communications networks comprises receiving, from the mobile communications terminal, a service provider request comprising a MAC address of the mobile communications terminal; sending, to a master server, request information pertaining to the service provider request; receiving, from the master server, a policy message comprising a visibility policy, said visibility policy containing rules for controlling the visibility of at least one of the one or more data communications networks; determining a subset of communications networks that should be visible to the mobile communications terminal based on said rules; and enforcing said visibility policy by allowing said mobile communications terminal to connect only to said subset of data communications networks.