PROVIDING EASY ACCESS TO RADIO NETWORKS
An improved connectivity to radio access point is enabled by a server that includes a database storing data about various radio access points, and an evaluation module evaluating the quality of connection to each of the access points. Clients receive updates about relevant access points from the server and use the information to connect to the preferred access point. The clients also check connectivity to other access points in the vicinity, and report the findings to the server. The server uses the reports to update its database, and send corresponding updates to the clients.
1 . A method comprising:
receiving, from a set of mobile devices, data associated with a set of network access points, including data indicative of quality of connection, experienced by the set of mobile devices, associated with the set of network access points; and
displaying a map comprising a set of network access point indicators, wherein each of the network access point indicators is displayed at a location on the map relative to a location associated with at least some other network access point indicators, and wherein each of the network access point indicators reflects an indication of the quality of connection associated with a corresponding one of the set of network access points.
2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
selectively transmitting, based on a user interaction with the displayed map, data that helps to connect a particular mobile device to at least one of the network access points.
3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the received data is associated with data acquired by one or more mobile devices other than the particular mobile device.
4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the indication of the quality of connection is an indication of network bandwidth.
5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the indication of the quality of connection is determined based on one or more of a received signal strength indication, a number of occupied IP addresses, a data speed, a rate of connection drops, or a ping delay.
6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein providing the indication of the quality of connection comprises displaying each of the network access point indicators in a color associated with the quality of connection associated with the corresponding one of the set of network access points.
7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein providing the indication of the quality of connection comprises displaying a number associated with the quality of connection of each of the set of network access points.
8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein providing the indication of the quality of connection comprises displaying a rank associated with the quality of connection of each of the set of network access points.
9 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
displaying additional information on the map regarding the set of network access points based on a selection of one of the network access point indicators.
10 . A system configured to:
receive, from a set of mobile devices, data associated with a set of network access points, including data indicative of quality of connection, experienced by the set of mobile devices, associated with the set of network access points; and
display a map comprising a set of network access point indicators, wherein each of the network access point indicators is displayed at a location on the map relative to a location associated with at least some other network access point indicators, and wherein each of the network access point indicators reflects an indication of the quality of connection associated with a corresponding one of the set of network access points.
11 . The system of claim 10 , further comprising:
a transmitter configured to selectively transmit, based on a user interaction with the displayed map, data that helps to connect a particular mobile device to at least one of the network access points.
12 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the received data is associated with data acquired by one or more mobile devices other than the particular mobile device.
13 . The system of claim 10 , wherein the indication of the quality of connection is an indication of network bandwidth.
14 . The system of claim 10 , wherein the indication of the quality of connection is determined based on one or more of a received signal strength indication, a number of occupied IP addresses, a data speed, a rate of connection drops, or a ping delay.
15 . The system of claim 10 , wherein providing the indication of the quality of connection comprises displaying each of the network access point indicators in a color associated with the quality of connection of the corresponding one of the set of network access points.
16 . The system of claim 10 , wherein providing the indication of the quality of connection comprises displaying a number associated with the quality of connection of each of the set of network access points.
17 . The system of claim 10 , wherein providing the indication of the quality of connection comprises displaying a rank associated with the quality of connection of each of the set of network access points.
18 . The system of claim 10 , wherein the display is further configured to display additional information on the map regarding the set of network access points based on a selection of one of the set of network access point indicators.