Systems and methods for network quality estimation, connectivity detection, and load management

A wireless device configured to determine a characteristic of an active communication link, the device comprising:

• a processor configured to determine an allowability for accessing a server, via the active communication link, based on a first access restriction;
• a transmitter configured to transmit a request for a communication from the server upon allowability for accessing;
• and
• a receiver configured to receive the communication from the server, over the communication link, in response to the request;
• wherein the processor is further configured to determine a characteristic of the communication link based on the communication from the server.

An apparatus for determining a characteristic of an active communication link, the apparatus comprising:

• means for determining an allowability for accessing a server, via the active communication link, based on a first access restriction;
• means for transmitting a request for a communication from the server upon allowability for accessing;
• means for receiving the communication from the server, over the communication link, in response to the request;
• and
• means for determining a characteristic of the communication link based on the communication from the server.

A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising code that, when executed, causes an apparatus to:

• determine an allowability for accessing a server, via an active communication link, based on a first access restriction;
• transmit a request for a communication from the server upon allowability for accessing;
• receive the communication from the server, over the communication link, in response to the request;
• and
• determine a characteristic of the communication link based on the communication from the server.