Access Terminal Active Set Management Without Inter-AP Protocol
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current wireless communication systems face complexity in active set management due to the need for an Active Set Control Protocol between access points, which increases inter-AP interactions and complicates handoff processes, especially when access terminals move and resources need to be coordinated across different access points.
Innovation Solution
An access terminal manages its active set information and resources without relying on an Active Set Control Protocol between access points, using Layer 2 Transport Tunneling to communicate connection requests and responses, allowing it to maintain and update its active connection information independently.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If an Active Set Control Protocol is implemented between access points for coordination, then resource management and handoff coordination are improved, but protocol complexity and inter-AP interaction overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the Active Set Control Protocol from the network side (access points and controllers) and relocates it to the access terminal. The terminal now independently determines the active set based on signal strength measurements and manages its own connections, eliminating the need for complex inter-AP coordination protocols while maintaining reliable handoff functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The access terminal performs self-service by autonomously determining its own active set members based on signal strength measurements and independently managing connection establishment and teardown with access points, without requiring network-controlled coordination protocols.
2Stability of the object's composition
If Active Set Control Protocol state is transferred between controllers during handoff, then continuity of control is improved, but handoff time and system complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the Active Set Control Protocol state transfer mechanism from the controller architecture. Instead of transferring protocol state between controllers during handoff, the access terminal maintains continuous control autonomously by independently determining active set members based on real-time signal strength measurements, eliminating handoff delays associated with state transfer.
Solution Approach 2:
The access terminal continuously monitors signal strengths from multiple access points and pre-determines active set members based on current measurements, so that when handoff is needed, the terminal already has the information required to maintain control continuity without requiring state transfer or additional coordination delays.
3Reliability
If network entities maintain awareness of active set members and assigned resources, then coordination and resource management are improved, but information storage and processing requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the active set information management function from network entities and relocates it to the access terminal. The terminal independently determines and tracks its own active set members and assigned resources, eliminating the need for network entities to store and process this information, thereby reducing information storage and processing requirements in the network while maintaining reliable resource coordination.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and apparatus related to management of active connections between an access terminal and access points are described. An access terminal maintains and manages active set information. The active set information identifies a set of access points with which the access terminal has an active connection. In some embodiments, the active set information includes allocated resources assigned to the access terminal corresponding to the different access points in the active set. Layer 2 Transport Tunneling is used, in various embodiments, to communicate connection request and/or connection response information, between access points. In some embodiments, the access terminal optionally assists in coordinating MAC resources allocated to the access terminal by different access points.