Beacon Frame SSID Encoding for NFC-Free Wireless Setup
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image forming apparatuses require Near Field Communication (NFC) support to simplify wireless connection settings, increasing costs and complexity.
Innovation Solution
A communication system that allows an image forming apparatus to broadcast a special SSID based on a first SSID and password, enabling a communication terminal to establish a wireless direct connection without NFC, using a software access point function to transmit and receive data.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If NFC support is added to the image forming apparatus to simplify wireless connection settings, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a beacon frame as an intermediary carrier to transmit connection information. Instead of requiring NFC hardware for direct device-to-device communication, the system embeds SSID and password information within beacon frames that are already being transmitted by the access point, creating a simple mediation mechanism that avoids additional hardware complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts and copies connection information (SSID and password) from the access point's beacon frames to create a separate information transmission channel. This copying approach allows the terminal to acquire connection details without requiring NFC hardware, as the information is replicated from the existing wireless broadcast signals
2Ease of operation
If NFC support is added to the image forming apparatus to simplify wireless connection settings, then ease of operation is improved, but cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the beacon frame serve multiple functions: its original role in announcing access point availability is maintained, and it simultaneously functions as a carrier for transmitting connection information to terminals. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for dedicated NFC hardware while achieving the same ease of connection setup
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the access point's own beacon frames to carry connection information, allowing the access point to serve itself by providing the necessary connection details through its existing wireless broadcast mechanism, eliminating the need for separate NFC communication hardware
3Device complexity
If a software access point function is used to broadcast connection information, then device complexity is reduced, but information transmission reliability may be affected
Solution Approach 1:
The patent embeds connection information in beacon frames before the terminal needs to connect. The access point prepares and broadcasts the SSID and password information in advance through the beacon frames, ensuring the information is available and verified before the actual connection process begins, thereby maintaining reliability without additional hardware
Data Source
AI summary
A communication system includes a communication apparatus configured to provide an access point connectable using a first service set identifier (SSID) and a password, and a communication terminal configured to perform wireless direct connection with the communication apparatus, wherein the communication apparatus broadcasts a beacon including a second SSID generated based on at least the first SSID and the password, and wherein the communication terminal receives the beacon, acquires the first SSID and the password based on the second SSID, and transmits a connection request to the access point.