Distributed Wireless Beacon Timing Coordination

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing wireless communication systems face challenges in constructing networks without a controlling station, particularly in environments where multiple ad-hoc networks are adjacent, leading to issues like beacon collisions and high network loads.

Innovation Solution

A wireless communication system where each communication station transmits beacons at predetermined intervals, manages neighboring stations based on beacon reception timing, and uses a neighboring-station list to avoid collisions and reconfigure beacon timings, allowing for distributed network management without a coordinator.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If ad-hoc communication is used without a controlling station, then network flexibility and mobility are improved, but beacon collisions and network interference increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenetwork flexibilityVSAvoidbeacon collision avoidance

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic beacon transmission timing where each terminal apparatus autonomously determines its beacon transmission time based on received beacon information from other terminals. This dynamic adjustment mechanism allows the system to adapt to changing network conditions and avoid beacon collisions without requiring a centralized controlling station, thus resolving the contradiction between network flexibility and beacon collision avoidance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs a feedback mechanism where terminal apparatuses exchange beacon information containing their transmission timing details. Each terminal uses this feedback information from other terminals to adjust its own beacon transmission timing, creating a self-organizing system that prevents collisions while maintaining the ad-hoc network's flexibility and lack of centralized control.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Productivity

If multiple terminals transmit beacons simultaneously in ad-hoc networks, then network formation speed is improved, but beacon collisions occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenetwork formation speedVSAvoidbeacon collision

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a preliminary action mechanism where terminal apparatuses perform clear channel assessment and timing coordination before transmitting beacons. By checking the transmission medium and adjusting timing in advance based on received beacon information, terminals can proceed with transmission without causing collisions, thus maintaining fast network formation while avoiding harmful interference.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent utilizes periodic beacon transmission with dynamically adjusted timing intervals. Each terminal transmits beacons periodically but coordinates its transmission times based on feedback from other terminals, creating a staggered periodic pattern that enables fast network formation while preventing simultaneous transmissions and associated collisions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

3Reliability

If centralized control via access point is used, then communication coordination is improved, but transmission path efficiency decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecommunication coordinationVSAvoidtransmission path efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a self-service mechanism where terminal apparatuses autonomously perform communication coordination functions that would traditionally require a centralized access point. Each terminal independently determines its beacon transmission timing based on received information from other terminals, enabling self-organized coordination that eliminates the need for centralized control while maintaining efficient direct transmission paths between terminals.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses exchanged beacon information as an intermediary mechanism to achieve coordination between terminals. Instead of requiring a physical access point intermediary, terminals use the information contained in each other's beacons to coordinate their transmissions, enabling efficient direct communication while maintaining proper coordination through information-based mediation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS7639661B2Radio communication system, radio communication apparatus, radio communication method, and computer program

Publication Date: 2009.12.29 REDWOOD TECHNOLOGIES LLC

AI summary

Each communication station, at least, periodically transmits/receives a beacon at regular intervals and manages the transmission/reception using a neighboring-station list (neighbor list), thereby managing the network of the communications station in a distributed manner. In addition, a save area is provided in which n beacons transmitted/received at regular time intervals are managed in a neighboring-station list, thereby making it easy to schedule list reading/writing processing when the list is updated during the reception of a new beacon. When the network topologies are crossed over, a load for network management can be reduced. Thus, it is possible to provide a wireless communication system in which a system timer and a master station that controls common frame time do not exist in a domain included in the system.