Cooperative Networks
The Mobile Tethering Game
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Abstract
The thesis aims at extending the capabilities of devices and enabling cooperation, i.e., data connection sharing, among users who may or may not necessarily be related to or know each other. To achieve this objective as well as to validate the results of our theoretical analysis, we developed a smart-phone application for data connection sharing. By means of data connection sharing, users may influence the pricing schemes of mobile network operators, increase spectrum utilization and build their own cooperative network. We define the mobile tethering game and investigate what makes the cooperation work and what are the economic requirements for building a cooperative network. The mobile tethering game may pave the way for a new business model where users not only get Internet connection service but also sell it in a mobile fashion. Using the results of the conjoint analysis integrated with the game theoretic model and the smart-phone application, the thesis will present a clear picture as to the interactions among players of the mobile tethering game and the influential preference factors. We are interested in figuring out whether people might be willing to share their connection for incentives (money or virtual currency) or whether they are just expecting to receive the same treatment (service) in a future interaction.