Base Station Beacon Frame Generation for Wireless LAN Scanning

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Solution Overview

Problem

In wireless LAN systems according to IEEE802.11, the time spent on scanning and connection authentication increases with higher data communication rates, leading to a reduction in effective bandwidth due to frequent transmission of Beacon frames and potential interference between wireless communication apparatuses, especially in DMG systems using millimeter-wave bands.

Innovation Solution

A base station apparatus and wireless terminal apparatus that generate and transmit frames indicating the expiration of TXOP periods, incorporating a Beacon element to notify nearby devices, allowing for efficient scanning without waiting for frequent Beacon frames, thereby reducing interference and maintaining bandwidth.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of time

If the frequency of transmitting the Beacon frame is increased to reduce scanning time, then the scanning speed is improved, but the effective bandwidth is reduced and interference occurs between wireless communication apparatuses

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvescanning timeVSAvoideffective bandwidth
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of timeVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the Beacon frame transmission with data transmission by allowing the Beacon frame to be carried within data frames during ongoing communications. This merging eliminates the need for separate dedicated Beacon transmissions, enabling scanning information to be disseminated without occupying additional bandwidth or causing interference, thus resolving the contradiction between scanning speed and effective bandwidth utilization

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements preliminary action by having the base station prepare and include Beacon elements in advance within data frames that are already being transmitted to connected terminals. This allows scanning information to be made available to potential connecting terminals before they would otherwise need to wait for dedicated Beacon transmissions, reducing scanning time without requiring increased transmission frequency

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Productivity

If the data communication rate is increased, then the data transmission efficiency is improved, but the ratio of time needed for scanning and connection authentication to total communication time increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata communication rateVSAvoidtime ratio for scanning and authentication
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent ensures continuity of useful action by making scanning information continuously available through data frames that are already being transmitted during normal communications. Instead of having discrete, periodic Beacon transmissions that interrupt data flow, the scanning information is continuously embedded in the ongoing data transmission stream, allowing terminals to scan and authenticate without waiting for specific Beacon intervals, thus maintaining high data communication rates while reducing the relative time for scanning operations

Inventive Principle:
Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Data Source

PatentEP3373631B1Base station device, wireless terminal device, and wireless communication method
Publication Date: 2021.03.03 PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO LTD
  • EP3373631B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3373631B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3373631B1 patent drawingFigure 3A

AI summary

In a base station apparatus that performs wireless communication to a plurality of wireless terminal apparatuses according to IEEE802.11, the base station apparatus includes a frame generator that generates one or more first frames, each first frame including information indicating that a TXOP period assigned for communication with one of the plurality of wireless terminal apparatuses has expired and an additionally added Beacon element including information associated with the base station apparatus, and a transmitter that transmits the generated one or more first frames to the plurality of wireless terminal apparatuses.