Wireless Module Keep-Alive Mechanism for VPN Session Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional VPN protocols are not tolerant of current wireless technology, leading to connection losses when a portable computer moves between cell stations or enters a low-power state, and often require multiple logon screens and passwords, causing inconvenience and security issues.
Innovation Solution
A portable computer system with a wireless module that establishes and maintains a VPN connection using a processing unit to transmit information at predetermined times, even during inactivity or low-power states, ensuring the VPN session remains active and secure without user intervention.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If VPN protocol is used for remote network communication, then security is improved, but connection stability deteriorates due to loss of connection when moving between cell stations or entering low-power state
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by sending keep-alive packets at predetermined intervals before the VPN connection actually drops. This proactive approach maintains the connection state on the network side, preventing authentication challenges when the portable computer resumes from low-power mode or moves between cell stations.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention implements periodic transmission of information packets through the wireless module at predetermined time intervals. This periodic action keeps the VPN session active on the network side without requiring continuous data transmission, resolving the contradiction between security (maintaining authenticated session) and connection stability (avoiding drops during mobility or low-power states).
2Reliability
If information is transmitted at predetermined times to maintain VPN session, then connection stability is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of continuous transmission, the system uses periodic transmission at predetermined intervals. This allows the portable computer to enter low-power states between transmissions while still maintaining VPN session stability, balancing energy consumption with connection reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The keep-alive packets maintain the continuity of the VPN session without requiring continuous data exchange. The periodic transmission ensures the session remains active on the network side while allowing the local system to conserve energy during intervals between transmissions.
3Reliability
If multiple logon screens and passwords are required for VPN connection, then security is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates due to user inconvenience and time consumption
Solution Approach 1:
Authentication is performed in advance when the VPN connection is initially established. The system proactively maintains this authenticated session through periodic keep-alive packets, eliminating the need for repeated logon screens and password entries during subsequent connections or resume operations.
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus for keeping a VPN session alive on a portable computer system such as a laptop computer includes a processor that executes instructions that implement application software. The laptop computer system also includes a wireless module that may communicate with a wireless network such as a wireless wide area network including wireless telephone networks, for example. In addition, the wireless module may establish a virtual private network (VPN) connection with a computer network via the wireless network. The wireless module includes a processing unit that may execute instructions that cause information to be transmitted to a host portion of the virtual private network connection at one or more predetermined times.