Adaptive Roaming Parameters for Mobile Wireless Devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
Mobile wireless devices face challenges in maintaining consistent quality of service due to varying wireless network conditions, as they need to frequently search and roam between access points, which affects data throughput and battery life, especially in different types of wireless local area network environments.
Innovation Solution
Adapting roaming parameters based on detected wireless network types, characterized by the number of basic service set identifiers associated with a service set identifier per radio frequency band, to adjust the frequency of scanning and roaming among access points, thereby optimizing performance and power consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the mobile wireless device frequently scans for and roams between access points to maintain connection quality, then the quality of service is improved, but data throughput and battery life deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the roaming behavior adaptive rather than static. The mobile device dynamically adjusts its scanning and roaming frequency based on real-time detection of wireless network characteristics, specifically the number of basic service set identifiers associated with a service set identifier per radio frequency band. This allows the system to optimize between connection reliability and data throughput by responding to changing network conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of roaming frequency based on detected network characteristics. When the device detects that a wireless network has multiple basic service set identifiers per service set identifier per radio frequency band, it reduces scanning and roaming frequency. This parameter change resolves the contradiction by adjusting behavior to match network density, thereby improving throughput while maintaining acceptable quality of service.
2Reliability
If the mobile wireless device frequently scans for and roams between access points to maintain connection quality, then the quality of service is improved, but battery life deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts energy consumption by adapting roaming behavior to network conditions. The mobile device detects wireless network characteristics and modifies its scanning and roaming frequency accordingly, reducing energy usage in dense networks where frequent roaming is unnecessary, while maintaining adequate quality of service through intelligent decision-making.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of roaming frequency based on detected network characteristics. When the device detects that a wireless network has multiple basic service set identifiers per service set identifier per radio frequency band, it reduces scanning and roaming frequency. This parameter change resolves the contradiction by adjusting behavior to match network density, thereby improving throughput while maintaining acceptable quality of service.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the mobile wireless device uses proprietary roaming methods in wireless local area networks, then roaming flexibility is improved, but compatibility with standard protocols deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by implementing proprietary roaming evaluation criteria specific to wireless local area networks while maintaining compatibility with existing IEEE 802.11 standards for basic communication. The mobile device uses standardized protocol elements (service set identifiers, basic service set identifiers) in a novel way to enable flexible roaming decisions without requiring fundamental protocol changes or sacrificing basic interoperability.
Data Source
AI summary
A mobile wireless device adapts roaming parameters used to determine searching for and switching among access points. The roaming parameters are adjusted based on a wireless network characterization for access points that includes a detected wireless network type. In an embodiment, the wireless network type is characterized by a service set identifier and a number of unique basic service set identifiers associated with the service set identifier per radio frequency band. Roaming parameters include a scan threshold, a roam threshold and a time interval between successive scans.