Wi-Fi Sharing Community With Digital Certificate Roaming
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional Wi-Fi networks are limited in scope and do not allow for seamless roaming, as they are typically associated with a single residence or business, leading to a need for expanded coverage and efficient connectivity across multiple locations without incurring roaming penalties.
Innovation Solution
A Wi-Fi sharing community system that enables owners of independent Wi-Fi networks to enroll and share bandwidth, using digital certificates and blockchain technology to facilitate seamless connectivity and token-based usage across participating networks, allowing members to roam without additional charges and enabling automatic handoffs between networks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If traditional Wi-Fi networks are limited to single residence or business, then network security and management are simplified, but coverage area and roaming capability are restricted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple independent Wi-Fi networks into a unified sharing community where members can access any participating network. This is achieved by creating a collaborative ecosystem where network owners share bandwidth resources, effectively expanding the coverage area from single-location to multi-location access while maintaining individual network security through authenticated membership.
Solution Approach 2:
The Wi-Fi sharing community enables universal access to multiple networks through a single membership credential. Members receive digital certificates that allow them to connect to any participating network, transforming the traditional single-network limitation into a multi-network universal access model without requiring separate authentication for each location.
2Adaptability or versatility
If Wi-Fi networks are expanded to multiple locations, then roaming opportunity increases, but roaming penalties and additional costs are incurred
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the traditional harmful effect of roaming penalties into a beneficial shared resource model. Instead of charging members for accessing networks at different locations, the system enables free roaming by allowing members to access any participating network without additional costs, transforming the economic burden of roaming into a benefit of universal access.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the economic parameter of network access from paid roaming services to free authenticated access within the sharing community. By altering the pricing model to exclude roaming charges for members, the system enables versatile multi-location access without the financial penalties that traditionally limit user mobility.
3Productivity
If bandwidth is shared across multiple networks, then connectivity availability increases, but network performance and reliability may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the shared bandwidth into dedicated portions for different purposes: a portion is allocated for sharing with other members while the remainder is reserved for the network owner's primary use. This segmentation ensures that sharing connectivity does not compromise the reliability and performance of the host network, as bandwidth is divided rather than fully pooled.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements partial sharing by allowing members to access networks at no cost while the network owner retains control over bandwidth allocation. The owner can configure the degree of sharing and set limits on member access, ensuring that the shared portion does not excessively impact overall network performance or reliability.
4Ease of operation
If digital certificates and blockchain technology are implemented, then seamless roaming is enabled, but system complexity and setup requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service through automated digital certificate validation and seamless handoff processes. When a member moves between networks, the system automatically validates their credentials and transfers connectivity without manual intervention, reducing operational complexity for users despite the sophisticated underlying blockchain-based authentication system.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a centralized authentication server as an intermediary that handles the complex blockchain verification and certificate validation processes. This intermediary layer abstracts the technical complexity from end users and network nodes, enabling seamless roaming operations while concentrating the system complexity in a manageable central authority that automates the authentication workflow.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for creating and implementing a Wi-Fi sharing community or global Wi-Fi network are provided. According to one implementation, a method includes a step of providing, for an owner of each of a plurality of independent Wi-Fi networks, an opportunity to enroll as a member of a Wi-Fi sharing community. For enrollment, each member agrees to designate a portion of bandwidth of the member's Wi-Fi network for use by other members as a hotspot. Also, the method includes a step of issuing a digital certificate to each member to allow the member to utilize any Wi-Fi network in the Wi-Fi sharing community.