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 server, historical data indicative of quality of connection experienced by a set of mobile devices connected to a set of network access points, wherein the historical data indicative 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, a ping delay, or network bandwidth, and wherein the server stores first access parameters provided by a first owner of a first network access point;
detecting a set of available network access points;
selectively connecting a first mobile device associated with the first owner of the first network access point to a second network access point of the detected set of available network access points based on the received historical data and second access parameters specified by a second owner of the second network access point; and
selectively connecting a second mobile device associated with the second owner of the second network access point to a third network access point of the detected set of available network access points based on amount of bandwidth a third owner of the third network access point is willing to allocate to third parties located in the vicinity of the third access point.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the historical data is associated with data acquired by the set of mobile devices.
3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
determining, based on the historical data, that the set of available network access points includes at least one of the set of network access points; and
connecting the mobile device to the available access point from the set of available network access points based on the determination.
4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
transmitting, to the server, data indicative of a quality of connection of the available access point from the set of available network access points.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the historical data is received based on a location of the mobile device.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the historical data indicative of the quality of connection is historical data indicative of network bandwidth.
7. A mobile device configured to:
receive, from a server, historical data indicative of quality of connection experienced by a set of mobile devices connected to a set of network access points, wherein the historical data indicative 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, a ping delay, or network bandwidth, and wherein the server stores first access parameters provided by a first owner of a first network access point;
detect a set of available network access points;
selectively connect the mobile device associated with the first owner of the first network access point to a second network access point of the detected set of available network access points based on the received historical data and second access parameters specified by a second owner of the second network access point; and
selectively connect the second owner of the second network access point to a third network access point of the detected set of available network access points based on amount of bandwidth a third owner is willing to allocate to third parties located in the vicinity of the third access point.
8. The mobile device of claim 7 , wherein the historical data is associated with data acquired by the set of mobile devices.
9. The mobile device of claim 7 , further configured to:
determine, based on the historical data, that the set of available network access points includes at least one of the set of network access points; and
connect the mobile device to the available access point from the set of available network access points based on the determination.
10. The mobile device of claim 7 , further configured to:
transmit, to the server, data indicative of a quality of connection of the available access point from the set of available network access points.
11. The mobile device of claim 7 , wherein the historical data is received based on a location of the mobile device.
12. The mobile device of claim 7 , wherein the historical data indicative of the quality of connection is historical data indicative of network bandwidth.