Wireless Access Point Multiple SSID Beacon Advertisement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current wireless access points can only advertise one service set identifier (SSID) to mobile user devices, making hidden wireless networks inaccessible and requiring costly infrastructure replacements or additional access points for public Wi-Fi hotspot deployments.
Innovation Solution
Configuring wireless access points to broadcast multiple SSIDs within an 802.11 beacon using additional information elements, allowing them to advertise multiple available networks and specify security settings, thereby making hidden networks visible and reducing connection time for mobile devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If wireless access points broadcast only one SSID in beacon frames, then device complexity is reduced and ease of operation is improved, but adaptability deteriorates as multiple networks remain hidden and inaccessible
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the SSID advertisement by introducing a bitmask field that divides and indicates which SSIDs are supported, allowing multiple networks to be advertised in an organized, structured manner within the beacon frame
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter structure of the beacon frame by adding a bitmask field alongside SSID elements, transforming how multiple networks are represented from a single SSID to a structured combination of bitmask and multiple SSID indicators
2Adaptability or versatility
If additional access points are deployed to advertise hidden networks, then adaptability improves as more networks become visible, but device complexity and infrastructure cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables a single wireless access point to perform multiple functions by allowing it to advertise multiple SSIDs simultaneously, eliminating the need for separate access points for each network and reducing infrastructure complexity
3Loss of time
If mobile devices use trial-and-error connections to discover networks, then ease of operation is maintained, but loss of time increases due to inefficient connection attempts
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-advertising all available SSIDs in the beacon frame with their support status indicated by the bitmask, allowing mobile devices to immediately identify supported networks without trial-and-error connection attempts
Data Source
AI summary
A wireless access point may be configured to advertise, to mobile user devices, multiple wireless networks available through the wireless access point. For example, service set identifiers (SSIDs) may be specified within an information element (IE) of a communication such as, for example, an 802.11 beacon, broadcasted to mobile user devices. Such an IE may utilize the capability provided by IEEE 802.11 itself to use additional and flexible numbers of information elements within a beacon. Accordingly, networks that would otherwise remain hidden due to limitations of known wireless access points are made visible to mobile user devices. Configuring a wireless access point to advertise multiple available wireless networks, for example, by firmware upgrades, may serve as a viable and cost-effective interim solution and/or alternative to replacing a wireless access point with a wireless access point configured to implement virtual wireless access points.