Access Point Key Sharing for Seamless Wireless Roaming

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing communication systems experience disconnection during roaming between access points, hindering seamless transitions.

Innovation Solution

A first access point transmits key and association information to a second access point and the wireless terminal, enabling seamless roaming through multi-link operation by optimizing communication load distribution based on environmental and distance comparisons.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a wireless terminal roams to an access point in a communication system, then the terminal can switch to a different access point, but disconnection occurs during the switching process

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveroaming capabilityVSAvoidconnection continuity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The first access point performs preliminary actions by transmitting key information and association information to the second access point before the wireless terminal actually roams. This pre-establishment of connection parameters and authentication data at the destination access point enables the terminal to switch without disconnection, as the necessary connection resources are already prepared in advance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism where the first access point acts as a mediator to transfer critical connection information (key information and association information) to the second access point. This information transfer intermediary process enables seamless handover by ensuring the second access point is fully prepared to receive and maintain the terminal's connection without interruption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If key information and association information are transmitted to the second access point in advance, then seamless roaming is enabled, but the system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveseamless roamingVSAvoidinformation transmission and processing

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the connection information into distinct components: key information (for authentication and security) and association information (for connection parameters and data flow). This segmentation allows the first access point to transmit and process information in manageable chunks, reducing the complexity of handling complete connection data transfers during the handover process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS20260025710A1First access point, communication system and method

Publication Date: 2026.01.22 NEC PLATFROMS LTD

AI summary

An object of the present disclosure is to provide a first access point, a communication system, a method, and a program that enable a wireless terminal to seamlessly roam to an access point in a communication system including a plurality of access points and the wireless terminal. A first access point according to the present disclosure includes a first transmission unit that transmits, to a second access point among a plurality of wireless links, key information that is necessary for using a first wireless link among the plurality of wireless links and can be used in common in a second wireless link, and association information of a wireless terminal, and a second transmission unit that transmits, to the wireless terminal, identification information for connecting to the second access point using the second wireless link.