Wireless Band-Channel Scanning via Location-Based Candidate Selection
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional wireless communication devices face inefficiencies in band-channel scanning due to the large number of frequency bands and channels, especially when moving between locations, leading to slow network attachment and battery drain, as they typically scan sequentially or rely on remembering recently connected channels which is ineffective in regions with many available channels.
Innovation Solution
A method where client devices receive a set of candidate bands and channels from a server based on location-specific connectivity information, allowing them to prioritize and connect to the most suitable bands and channels for faster and more reliable network establishment and switching.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If sequential band-channel scanning is performed to ensure complete coverage of all possible frequencies, then reliability of network connection is improved, but scanning time and battery consumption increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by having base stations broadcast their operating band and channel information in system broadcast messages. Client devices receive this information in advance before attempting connection, eliminating the need to sequentially scan all possible frequencies. This preliminary provision of connectivity information directly resolves the contradiction by ensuring reliable connection (knowing the exact frequency) while minimizing scanning time (no scanning needed).
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism where base stations act as mediators that provide frequency information to client devices through system broadcast messages. Instead of client devices directly scanning all frequencies, the base stations intermediary provide the specific frequency information, resolving the technical contradiction between reliable connection and scanning time.
2Reliability
If all 65,536 possible LTE channels are scanned sequentially to ensure complete coverage, then network connection reliability is improved, but battery power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts only the necessary information (operating band and channel) from the base station and transmits it through system broadcast messages. Client devices take out only the specific frequency information they need rather than scanning all 65,536 possible channels, thereby maintaining connection reliability while dramatically reducing battery power consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of performing excessive action by scanning all possible channels, the system applies partial action by directly using the specific band and channel information provided in system broadcast messages. This partial approach (using only necessary information) resolves the contradiction between reliable connection and battery power consumption.
3Loss of time
If devices remember recently connected channels to speed up connection, then scanning time is reduced, but connection reliability decreases when moving to new locations
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements feedback by continuously receiving system broadcast messages from base stations that contain current operating band and channel information. This feedback mechanism ensures that client devices always have up-to-date frequency information, maintaining connection reliability while reducing scanning time compared to remembering old channel information.
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method is disclosed that includes receiving connectivity information from a plurality of client devices connect to a network associated with a plurality of base stations; storing the connectivity information in one or more memories; determining a first location of a first device that desires to connect to a base station associated with the network; identifying a set of candidate bands and channels for connection to the base station based on the first location and the connectivity information; and transmitting the set of candidate bands and channels to the first device.