Wireless Access Point Private Device List SSID Prioritization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Smartphones and tablets automatically reconnect to a public WiFi network upon returning home, bypassing their private network, leading to incorrect SSID prioritization, increased costs for network operators, and reduced user experience due to routing internet traffic through the WiFi core network instead of the broadband access network.
Innovation Solution
A wireless access point with a private device list stores the MAC address of connected mobile terminals, preventing them from reconnecting via the public SSID if already associated with the private SSID, ensuring correct SSID prioritization and routing internet traffic through the broadband access network.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If smartphones and tablets use the default SSID prioritisation algorithm which prefers the last successfully connected SSID, then devices can automatically reconnect to WiFi networks, but devices incorrectly prioritize public SSID over private SSID when returning home
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a third-party connection manager application as an intermediary between the device's OS and the SSID selection process. This intermediary monitors connection attempts and actively intervenes to prevent connections to public SSIDs when private network is available, overriding the default OS behavior through programmatic control of the connection manager API.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback by continuously monitoring the device's connection status and network availability. The connection manager application receives feedback about which networks are available and adjusts SSID prioritization dynamically based on whether the device is at home (private network available) or away (only public network available), creating a closed-loop control system.
2Reliability
If devices connect to public SSID when at home, then internet connectivity is maintained, but traffic is routed through the WiFi core network instead of broadband access network increasing operational costs
Solution Approach 1:
The connection manager application performs preliminary actions by proactively detecting when the device has returned home and the private network is available. Before the device attempts to connect to the public SSID, the connection manager pre-empts this by establishing or maintaining the private network connection first, ensuring traffic is routed through the broadband access network from the outset.
3Reliability
If third party connection manager applications attempt to override default SSID prioritisation behavior, then correct prioritisation can be applied, but race conditions occur between OS and third party application
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the connection manager application universally applicable across multiple device types and operating systems by implementing platform-specific versions (iOS and Android) with similar functionality. The application serves multiple functions: monitoring network availability, managing SSID prioritization, preventing public SSID connections, and routing traffic appropriately, consolidating these tasks into a single multi-functional component.
Data Source
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AI summary
A wireless access point (100) which comprises a private device list (140), a private BSS and a public BSS. When a mobile terminal (400) connects to the private BSS (120) a unique identifier (such as a MAC address) is stored in the private device list. Any device whose unique identifier is stored in the private device list is prevented from subsequently connecting to the public BSS (130).