# US 12,225,601 B2 · Methods and systems for managing network hotspots > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,225,601 B2 - Document ID: US12225601B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/180,266 - Filed: 2021-02-19 - Published: 2022-02-03 - Granted: 2025-02-11 - Earliest claimed: 2017-03-08 - Assignees: Comcast Cable Communications, LLC - Applicants: Comcast Cable Communications, LLC - Inventors: Billy Stephens; Sanjay K. Sharma - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12225601B2 ## CPC - H04W 76/11: Allocation or use of connection identifiers - H04W 4/021: Services related to particular areas, e.g. point of interest [POI] services, venue services or geofences - H04W 4/023: {using mutual or relative location information between multiple location based services [LBS] targets or of distance thresholds} - H04W 12/0433: Key management protocols - H04W 12/08: Access security - H04W 12/35: {Protecting application or service provisioning, e.g. securing SIM application provisioning} - H04W 12/63: Location-dependent; Proximity-dependent - H04W 12/73: Access point logical identity - H04W 84/12: WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks] - H04W 88/06: adapted for operation in multiple networks {or having at least two operational modes}, e.g. multi-mode terminals - H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72) ## Abstract Disclosed are various systems and methods for monitoring and maintaining networks, such as networks associated with a wireless access point. In an aspect, a user device that was connected the wireless access point and loses connectivity to the access point can receive network parameters for implementing a new wireless network, where the network parameters are associated with the network as implemented by the wireless access point that is no longer available. The user device can activate a new wireless hotspot mode using the received network parameters. The resulting new wireless hotspot can implement various aspects of the wireless access point and associated network. The new wireless hotspot enabled by the user device can allow other devices, previously connected to the access point, to automatically connect to the new wireless hotspot. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method comprising: determining, by a user device, that a geographic distance between the user device and a network device satisfies a predetermined threshold; enabling, by the user device, based on determining that the geographic distance between the user device and the network device satisfies the predetermined threshold, a wireless hotspot mode of the user device; and establishing, by the user device and based on the wireless hotspot mode, a network connection with a second user device previously connected to the network device. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the wireless hotspot mode implements, as at least one network parameter of the wireless hotspot mode, at least one network parameter of a wireless network associated with the network device. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, further comprising: determining that the geographic distance between the user device and the network device no longer satisfies the predetermined threshold; and modifying, based on determining that the geographic distance between the user device and the network device no longer satisfies the predetermined threshold, at least a portion of the at least one network parameter of the wireless hotspot mode to be different from the at least one network parameter of the wireless network associated with the network device. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the user device is communicably coupled to the network device by another network connection. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein establishing the network connection with the second user device comprises establishing the network connection based on an identifier of a wireless network associated with the network device. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving one or more network parameters of a wireless network associated with the network device, wherein enabling the wireless hotspot mode further comprises enabling the wireless hotspot mode based on the one or more network parameters of the wireless network associated with the network device. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein determining that the geographic distance between the user device and the network device satisfies the predetermined threshold comprises: determining a geographic location of the user device; and comparing the geographic location of the user device to a geographic location of the network device. ### Claim 8 A method comprising: determining, by a user device and based on a GPS determined position of the user device, that a geographic distance between the user device and a network device satisfies a threshold; enabling, by the user device, based on the geographic distance satisfying the threshold, a wireless hotspot mode of the user device; and establishing, by the user device, based on an identifier of a wireless network associated with the network device, a network connection with a second user device previously connected to the network device. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, further comprising: determining, by the user device, that a second geographic distance between the user device and the network device no longer satisfies the threshold; and modifying, based on the second geographic distance no longer satisfying the threshold, at least a portion of at least one network parameter of the wireless hotspot mode to be different from at least one network parameter of the wireless network while remaining in the wireless hotspot mode. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein enabling the wireless hotspot mode of the user device is further based on determining that the user device cannot detect a signal associated with the network device. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, further comprising receiving one or more network parameters of the wireless network associated with the network device. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the wireless hotspot mode implements, as one or more network parameters of the wireless hotspot mode, the one or more network parameters of the wireless network. ### Claim 13 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein enabling the wireless hotspot mode of the user device is further based on determining that a signal strength between the user device and the network device falls below the threshold. ### Claim 14 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein the wireless hotspot mode facilitates a connection of the second user device to a network accessible to the user device. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein the network accessible to the user device comprises a cellular data network. ### Claim 16 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein the user device comprises a mobile device. ### Claim 17 A method comprising: enabling, by a user device based on determining that a geographic distance between the user device and a network device satisfies a threshold, a wireless hotspot mode of the user device; establishing, by the user device and based on the wireless hotspot mode, a network connection with a second user device previously connected to the network device; determining, by the user device, that the geographic distance between the user device and the network device no longer satisfies the threshold; and modifying, based on determining that the geographic distance between the user device and the network device no longer satisfies the threshold, one or more network parameters of the wireless hotspot mode and subsequently remaining in the wireless hotspot mode. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein modifying the one or more network parameters of the wireless hotspot mode comprises modifying the one or more network parameters of the wireless hotspot mode to be different from one or more network parameters of a wireless network associated with the network device. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein enabling the wireless hotspot mode of the user device is further based on a signal strength between the user device and the network device. ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein enabling the wireless hotspot mode of the user device is further based on determining that the user device cannot detect a signal associated with the network device.