Wireless Network Offloading Engine Prioritized Lists
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Solution Overview
Problem
Wireless networks often overlap, leading to inefficient network selection by devices, which can result in suboptimal performance and increased load on certain networks, necessitating a method to prioritize and manage network connections effectively.
Innovation Solution
A system that utilizes a wireless network offloading engine to generate prioritized network lists for devices based on individual or group data, incorporating factors like network performance, user preferences, and incentives, to encourage offloading from cellular networks to Wi-Fi networks, leveraging data from beacon frames, active scanning, and subscriber-specific information.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If wireless devices choose networks based on user selection or basic availability, then network selection simplicity is maintained, but network performance and load distribution deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a network offloading engine as an intermediary component that receives network data from multiple wireless networks, generates prioritized network lists, and provides recommendations to wireless devices. This mediator handles the complex analysis and decision-making process, allowing devices to follow simple prioritized lists while achieving optimal network performance and load distribution.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-generating prioritized network lists based on network data, performance metrics, and load conditions before devices need to make selection decisions. These pre-computed prioritized lists are provided to devices in advance, enabling them to make informed selections without performing complex real-time analysis.
2Productivity
If devices connect to available wireless networks without prioritization, then ease of connection is maintained, but network load balance and performance deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The network offloading engine operates autonomously to collect network data, analyze performance metrics, generate prioritized network lists, and provide recommendations without requiring user intervention. The system serves itself by automatically managing network selection optimization, while users simply follow the provided prioritized lists for easy connection decisions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback mechanisms by continuously monitoring network data, performance metrics, and load conditions, then using this information to dynamically update and refine prioritized network lists. This feedback loop ensures that the prioritized lists reflect current network states, optimizing capacity utilization while maintaining ease of connection for devices.
3Reliability
If cellular networks are used without offloading optimization, then network coverage and reliability are maintained, but network congestion and performance degradation occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the wireless network selection process by creating prioritized lists that separate and rank different network options (cellular, Wi-Fi, etc.) based on current conditions. This segmentation allows the system to recommend specific network types and individual networks, enabling intelligent offloading decisions that reduce cellular network congestion while maintaining coverage reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically changes parameters by adjusting prioritized network lists based on varying network conditions, including load metrics, performance data, and environmental factors. These parameter changes enable the system to optimize offloading decisions in real-time, reducing cellular network congestion during high-load periods while maintaining reliable coverage through alternative network recommendations.
Data Source
AI summary
Wireless offloading provides tools to a service provider to encourage or direct a subscriber to offload from a first network, e.g., a cellular network, to a second network, e.g., a Wi-Fi network. The cellular service provider can use network data to determine wireless offloading priorities for cellular subscribers on an individual or group basis. The cellular service provider may use wireless network data it has and/or wireless network data it learns about networks from the wireless devices (which may obtain Wi-Fi network data from beacon frames of Wi-Fi networks or active scanning and which may report to the cellular service provider). Each wireless device can be given scanning assignments to ensure that the reporting task is shared among subscribers or adjusted to fill in gaps in data. With the network data, the cellular service provider is capable of generating useful prioritized network lists for wireless devices, either individually or as a group. Preferences can be encouraged in the form of incentive offers to subscribers to, e.g., offload from the cellular network to a Wi-Fi network. Incentive offers can include offers to lower service costs or provide additional or improved services.