Cyclical Channel Availability Check for Wireless Master Devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current Dynamic Frequency Selection (DFS) channel availability checks are lengthy and disrupt wireless communications, failing to detect all radar signals and causing interruptions in services like gaming consoles due to their 100% duty cycle, which is not suitable for low-latency applications.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a cyclical channel availability check with a partial duty cycle that extends the DFS channel availability check duration to 15 minutes or more, allowing the master device to cycle between monitoring for connection requests and performing DFS checks, ensuring continuous data transmission and radar detection while maintaining availability to subordinate devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a 100% duty cycle is used for DFS channel availability checks, then radar detection capability is improved, but wireless communication continuity deteriorates due to interruptions in data transmission
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a partial duty cycle approach where the master device performs DFS channel availability checks periodically rather than continuously. The device alternates between performing CAC on DFS channels and monitoring for connection requests on non-DFS channels, creating a periodic action pattern that reduces communication interruptions while maintaining radar detection capability over time
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the channel monitoring task into two distinct phases: (1) monitoring for connection requests on non-DFS channels, and (2) performing CAC on DFS channels. By dividing the duty cycle into these segments and alternating between them, the system maintains both radar detection capability and communication continuity without requiring 100% duty cycle on either task
2Measurement precision
If a 100% duty cycle is used for DFS channel availability checks, then radar detection completeness is improved, but service interruption increases causing downtime in low-latency applications
Solution Approach 1:
The master device performs CAC checks periodically at predetermined intervals rather than continuously. This periodic action allows the system to detect radar signals over an extended period (15 minutes or more aggregate detection time) while minimizing service interruption by alternating between CAC and normal communication operations
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts its operational mode by switching between two states: (1) monitoring for connection requests on non-DFS channels, and (2) performing CAC on DFS channels. This dynamic switching allows the system to optimize between radar detection completeness and service continuity based on current operational needs
3Reliability
If the master device performs continuous CAC on DFS channels, then channel availability accuracy is improved, but availability to subordinate devices deteriorates due to unavailability during check periods
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the master device's operational time into distinct intervals: one interval dedicated to monitoring for connection requests on non-DFS channels, and another interval dedicated to performing CAC on DFS channels. This segmentation ensures the master device remains available for communications during non-CAC intervals while maintaining channel availability accuracy through periodic CAC
Solution Approach 2:
The master device performs multiple functions by alternating between two modes: (1) serving subordinate devices on non-DFS channels by monitoring for connection requests, and (2) performing CAC on DFS channels to ensure channel availability. This multi-functionality allows the device to maintain both device availability and channel availability accuracy simultaneously through time-division multiplexing
Data Source
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AI summary
The disclosed subject matter includes techniques for performing a channel availability check. A method includes initiating, via a processor of a master device, a first connection on a first wireless channel with a subordinate device and transmitting, via the processor, a beacon to the subordinate device. The method includes monitoring, via the processor, the first wireless channel for a first predetermined amount of time for a connection request from the subordinate device in response to the beacon. The method includes performing the channel availability check to detect energy profiles on a second wireless channel for a second predetermined amount of time after the first predetermined amount of time. The processor may cycle between transmitting the beacon and monitoring the first wireless channel and performing the channel availability check on the second wireless channel until a threshold time is exceeded, the connection request is detected, or an energy profile is detected.