Access Point Discovery via Resource Unit Scanning
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Solution Overview
Problem
In industrial automation environments, the time-consuming process of wireless clients scanning multiple channels to discover access points hinders real-time communication due to the need to switch between channels and listen for beacons, leading to significant communication latency.
Innovation Solution
The method involves receiving single user probe responses from multiple access points over resource units within a single frequency band, allowing for simultaneous discovery of access points through either passive or active multi-user probe requests, thereby reducing the need to scan multiple channels and minimizing latency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If wireless clients scan multiple channels to discover access points, then access point discovery can be performed, but the scanning process takes substantial time and significantly impacts real-time communications
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple channel scanning operations into a single resource unit scanning operation. Instead of switching between multiple channels to discover access points, the system merges the discovery function into scanning resource units within a single channel, thereby reducing scanning time while maintaining reliable access point discovery.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a new dimension for access point discovery by using resource units (sub-channels) within a single channel as the scanning target. This dimensional shift from channel-level scanning to resource unit-level scanning enables faster discovery without requiring multiple channel switches, thus reducing time loss while maintaining discovery reliability.
2Reliability
If wireless clients switch to each channel to listen for beacons, then access points can be discovered, but communication latency is significantly increased
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the beacon listening function across multiple channels into a single resource unit scanning operation. By combining these functions, the system eliminates the need to switch channels for beacon detection, thereby reducing communication latency while maintaining reliable access point discovery.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary scanning of resource units within a single channel before committing to channel switching operations. This preliminary action identifies accessible access points early, preventing unnecessary channel switches and reducing overall communication latency while ensuring reliable discovery.
3Reliability
If multiple channels are scanned for access point discovery, then comprehensive discovery can be achieved, but the scanning process becomes time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent shifts the scanning dimension from channel level to resource unit level within a single channel. This dimensional change allows comprehensive access point discovery by examining multiple resource units without the time penalty of channel switching, thereby improving discovery speed while maintaining comprehensive coverage.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the frequency band into multiple resource units that can be scanned sequentially or simultaneously within a single channel. This segmentation enables comprehensive access point discovery across the frequency band without requiring multiple channel switches, thus improving discovery speed while maintaining thoroughness.
Data Source
AI summary
The current disclosure describes a method for discovering two or more access points in an industrial facility. The method includes receiving a plurality of single user probe responses from the two or more access points over the two or more resource units of the frequency band associated with access point discovery, wherein each single user probe response is received over the resource unit associated with the corresponding access point; and discovering the two or more access points based on the received plurality of single user probe responses from the two or more access points, wherein each access point from the two or more access points is associated with a corresponding resource unit from the two or more resource units and wherein each resource unit is associated with one or more sub carriers in the frequency band.