Tethering distribution apparatus, control method thereof, and central mediator

An electronic device for providing a mobile hotspot service, the electronic device comprising:

• a display;
• a communication circuit;
• a memory configured to store instructions;
• and
• at least one processor coupled to the display, the communication circuit, and the memory, wherein upon execution of the stored instructions, the at least one processor is configured to:
• control the display to display a list of external electronic devices capable of using a network communication service via the electronic device functioning as a mobile hotspot, the list of the external electronic devices comprising information corresponding to each of the external electronic devices,
• control the display to display a setting screen for setting an amount of data for the external electronic devices capable of using the network communication service via the electronic device,
• in response to a user input through the setting screen, set a maximum amount of data that is capable of being used by the external electronic devices via the electronic device,
• identify an amount of data of the network communication service used by the external electronic devices via the electronic device, and
• terminate the network communication service via the electronic device for the external electronic devices when the identified amount of data corresponds to the set maximum amount of data.

A method for controlling an amount of data that is to be tethered during a tethering operation, the method comprising the steps of:

• identifying electronic devices to which data is to be tethered;
• displaying a list of the identified electronic devices;
• displaying a setting screen for setting a maximum amount of data that is to be tethered during a tethering operation;
• in response to a user input through the setting screen, setting a maximum amount of data that may be tethered during the tethering operation;
• providing tethering usage of the data to the electronic devices;
• determining an amount of data tethered to the electronic devices;
• and
• automatically terminating the tethering operation with respect to the electronic devices in response to the amount of data tethered to the electronic devices corresponding to the set maximum amount of data to be tethered during the tethering operation.

An electronic device for tethering distribution control, the electronic device comprising:

• a display;
• a mobile communication module;
• a Wi-Fi communication module;
• and
• a controller configured to:
• identify electronic devices to which data is to be tethered;
• display a list of the identified electronic devices;
• display a setting screen for setting a maximum amount of data that is to be tethered during a tethering operation;
• in response to a user input through the setting screen, setting a maximum amount of data that may be tethered during the tethering operation;
• provide tethering usage of the data to the electronic devices through the mobile communication module and the Wi-Fi communication module;
• determine an amount of data tethered to the electronic devices;
• and
• automatically terminate the tethering operation with respect to the electronic devices in response to the amount of data tethered to the electronic devices corresponding to the set maximum amount of data to be tethered during the tethering operation.