Method and electronic device for providing tethering service

An electronic device comprising:

• a communication interface comprising communication circuitry;
• and
• at least one processor,
• wherein the at least one processor is configured to:
• connect at least one external electronic device located in operable proximity of the electronic device to an at least one communication network using the communication circuitry for a WSB session comprising a tethering session,
• check a predetermined input from the at least one external electronic device after the tethering session has been established and responsive thereto, establish a direct WiFi connection session for a direct connection with the at least one external electronic device based on the predetermined input, wherein the WSB session and the direct WiFi connection session have different interface addresses and IP addresses, but are maintained simultaneously, and
• enable the direct WiFi connection with the at least one external device during at least part of the tethering session maintained with the at least one network so that the electronic device can simultaneously provide to the external device both the direct connection session for sharing files and the tethering session.

A method of tethering an electronic device, the method comprising:

• establishing a direct WiFi connection session for peer to peer (P2P) communication with at least one external electronic device located in operable proximity of the electronic device via a communication interface;
• responsive to receipt of an input comprising a tethering request from the external electronic device during at least part of the direct connection session, establishing a WSB session comprising a tethering session connecting the at least one external device to at least one communication network via the electronic device based on the input, wherein the WSB session and the direct WiFi connection session have different interface addresses and IP addresses, but are maintained simultaneously;
• and
• connecting, while maintaining the direct WiFi connection session for peer to peer communication, the at least one external electronic device to the at least one communication network via the electronic device so that the electronic device can simultaneously provide to the external device both the direct WiFi connection session and the WSB session comprising the tethering session.

A method of tethering an electronic device, the method comprising:

• connecting at least one external electronic device located in operable proximity of the electronic device to an at least one communication network for a WSB session comprising a tethering session;
• checking a predetermined input from the at least one external electronic device after the tethering session has been established and responsive thereto establishing a direct WiFi connection session for a direct connection with the at least one external electronic device based on the predetermined input, wherein the WSB session and the direct WiFi connection session have different interface addresses and IP addresses, but are maintained simultaneously;
• and
• enabling the direct WiFi connection session with the at least one external device during at least part of the tethering session maintained with the at least one network so that the electronic device simultaneously provides to the external device both the direct connection session for sharing files and the tethering session.