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System for distributing Wi-Fi network bandwidth at a per-application granularity

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This technology enables users to reserve bandwidth for their Wi-Fi network sessions at a per-application granularity to control the priority of data flows and maintain quality of service.

Unmet Need: Dynamic wireless service protocols that balance network demands

Wi-Fi network bandwidth is typically managed via quality of service (QoS) protocols, which employ a central wireless infrastructure device to manage connections on an individual user, group, or even application basis. These techniques are applied across a single network (of known bandwidth capacity) and raise the priority of certain data flows or limit the priority of another flow. However, QoS protocols often fail during periods when network traffic exceeds the supplied bandwidth, demonstrating a need for improved bandwidth management tools.

The Technology: Dynamic wireless bandwidth managing system controls usage at a per-application granularity

This technology is a wireless service protocol that allows users to reserve bandwidth for specific websites or applications via a URL, web browser extension, or smart device application. Using this technology, Wi-Fi bandwidth is separated into two categories (business & economy), where the business class provides users a guaranteed bandwidth and the economy class then compete for the remainder of bandwidth. This technology adapts to the dynamic capacity of the wireless network and fully utilizes that capacity. This system maintains quality of service in Wi-Fi environments, critical for applications that cannot tolerate delays (streaming multimedia, voice over internet protocols (VoIP), etc.).

Applications:

  • Wi-Fi bandwidth management system for home/office networks
  • Priority pay-for-bandwidth system in public Wi-Fi networks
  • Adjustable bandwidth for specific applications/websites on devices
  • Parental controls limiting bandwidth for network-connected devices
  • System for optimizing network usage amongst devices
  • Cost controller for bandwidth usage

Advantages:

  • Maintain quality of service in Wi-Fi environments, which is critical for applications that cannot tolerate delays such as streaming multimedia and voice over IP
  • Can be implemented in a box or customizable router
  • Efficiently utilizes given bandwidth by actively managing data flow priority

Lead Inventor:

Dan Rubenstein, Ph.D.

Patent Information:

Patent Issued

Related Publications:

Tech Ventures Reference: