Access Point-Directed Wireless Roaming Protocol Selection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wireless roaming protocols for wireless terminals often result in high roaming delay, high packet loss rates, or disconnection due to the lack of a clear roaming scheme when multiple protocols are supported by the terminals, leading to inappropriate protocol selection.
Innovation Solution
A wireless roaming method and system that identifies active roaming terminals based on RSSI and idle duration, determines supported roaming protocols (802.11k, 802.11r, 802.11v), and performs roaming operations using the appropriate protocols supported by each terminal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple wireless roaming protocols are supported by terminals, then protocol compatibility and versatility are improved, but protocol selection complexity and roaming failure rate increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the parameter of protocol selection from terminal-side autonomous choice to access point-side directed selection. The access point determines which protocol (802.11k, 802.11v, or 802.11r) to use based on terminal capabilities and network conditions, transforming the complex multi-protocol selection problem into a controlled parameter optimization problem that resolves the contradiction between versatility and selection complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The access point acts as an intermediary between multiple protocols and the terminal. Instead of the terminal directly selecting protocols from multiple options, the access point mediates the selection process by receiving terminal capability information and determining the appropriate protocol, thereby simplifying the selection complexity while maintaining protocol compatibility
2Ease of operation
If autonomous protocol selection is enabled at terminals, then device autonomy is improved, but roaming delay and packet loss increase due to incorrect protocol selection
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the traditional autonomous selection approach by having the access point select the protocol instead of the terminal. This inversion transfers the selection intelligence from the terminal to the access point, which has better visibility into network conditions and terminal capabilities, thereby improving roaming success rate while maintaining operational efficiency through automated decision-making
3Reliability
If clear roaming schemes are implemented, then roaming reliability is improved, but system complexity and implementation difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the roaming process into distinct phases: terminal capability advertisement, access point protocol determination, and protocol-specific execution. By dividing the complex roaming scheme into manageable segments with clear interfaces, the system achieves high reliability through structured processing while reducing implementation complexity through modular design
Data Source
AI summary
An wireless roaming method and system are provided. The method is applied to an AP and comprises: acquiring terminal information of each wireless terminal of wireless terminals currently accessing the AP; determining a roaming terminal currently in an active state from the wireless terminals according to the RSSI value and the idle duration of each wireless terminal; determining, for each roaming terminal, wireless roaming protocols supported by the roaming terminal; wherein, the wireless roaming protocols include an 802.11k-based roaming protocol, an 802.11r-based roaming protocol, and an 802.11v-based roaming protocol; performing a roaming operation on the roaming terminal according to the wireless roaming protocols supported by the roaming terminal. In the embodiment, the problem of roaming delay, packet loss or disconnection caused by selecting an inappropriate roaming protocol to realize the roaming of the roaming terminal can be avoided to the maximum extent, thereby improving the roaming experience of the user.