Wi-Fi Auto-Connect via Low-Power Beacon Region Identification
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Solution Overview
Problem
Users often fail to connect to available Wi-Fi networks due to the cumbersome process of manually detecting and authenticating with each network, leading to underutilization of public Wi-Fi resources and reliance on cellular connections for internet access.
Innovation Solution
A system that enables wireless devices to automatically detect and connect to Wi-Fi networks by using low-power beacon transmitters broadcasting unique region identifiers, which are correlated with stored Wi-Fi credentials on a remote server, allowing seamless connectivity across participating venues without user intervention.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If users manually connect to Wi-Fi networks, then connection reliability is improved, but user effort and time consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-configuring Wi-Fi credentials and beacon region identifiers at venues before users arrive. When users enter a venue, the system automatically matches their location with pre-stored network information and initiates connection without requiring manual user input for network selection or authentication.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables self-service connection by automatically detecting the user's presence at a venue, retrieving the appropriate Wi-Fi credentials from stored beacon region identifiers, and initiating connection without requiring user intervention. The system serves itself by autonomously completing the connection process that would otherwise require manual user actions.
2Measurement precision
If users manually select and connect to Wi-Fi networks, then connection accuracy is improved, but time consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-configuring Wi-Fi credentials and beacon region identifiers at venues before users arrive. When users enter a venue, the system automatically matches their location with pre-stored network information and initiates connection without requiring manual user input for network selection or authentication.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback from location detection and beacon region identifier matching to automatically retrieve the correct Wi-Fi credentials and initiate connection. The feedback loop ensures accurate network selection by continuously monitoring user location and matching it with stored venue information, eliminating the need for manual network scanning and selection.
3Speed
If the device uses high-power Wi-Fi interface for connection, then connection speed is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-configuring Wi-Fi credentials and beacon region identifiers at venues before users arrive. When users enter a venue, the system automatically matches their location with pre-stored network information and initiates connection without requiring manual user input for network selection or authentication.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses beacon region identifiers as an intermediary to bridge location detection and Wi-Fi connection. Instead of directly using the high-power Wi-Fi interface for location detection, the system first detects location using low-power methods, then uses the beacon region identifier as an intermediary to retrieve credentials and trigger the Wi-Fi connection only when necessary, reducing overall energy consumption.
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus and methods are provided for automatically detecting and connecting to a Wi-Fi network. In these methods, a wireless device listens for beacons that are sent using a low-power wireless protocol. Once the wireless device detects a first beacon at a first location, the wireless device extracts a first beacon region identifier from the beacon and correlates the first beacon region identifier with a first Wi-Fi network that is located at the first location. Next, the wireless device retrieves a first set of credentials for connecting to the first Wi-Fi network. Once the first set of credentials is retrieved, the wireless device uses the first set of credentials to connect to the first Wi-Fi network.