Dual Data Plane Wireless Roaming for Zero Packet Loss
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current wireless communication technologies experience long traffic interruptions during roaming, which are unacceptable for mission-critical tasks and applications requiring seamless network connectivity.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a system with a wireless client device that utilizes two separate data planes and a control plane to manage concurrent data transmission and roaming, enabling synchronization and switching between access points without packet loss.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If traditional single data plane roaming is used, then device complexity is reduced, but traffic interruption time increases to around 240 ms
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the data transmission function into two separate data planes: a first data plane for maintaining connection with the first access point and a second data plane for establishing connection with the second access point. This segmentation allows concurrent data transmission on both planes, enabling seamless roaming without traffic interruption while distributing the complexity across independent modular components.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent establishes the second data plane and initiates connection to the second access point before the first data plane connection is terminated. The control plane synchronizes the establishment of the second data plane in advance, so that when roaming occurs, the second data plane is already ready to immediately take over traffic, eliminating interruption time.
2Reliability
If concurrent data transmission on multiple data planes is implemented, then traffic continuity is maintained during roaming, but control complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the control functions for multiple data planes into a single control plane that manages both the first and second data planes. This unified control plane handles synchronization, connection management, and switching operations centrally, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining the reliability benefits of concurrent data transmission.
Solution Approach 2:
The control plane implements synchronization mechanisms that continuously monitor the status of both data planes and dynamically adjust traffic routing based on real-time connection states. This feedback loop ensures seamless switching between data planes while maintaining network connectivity, with the control plane adapting to changing conditions to preserve reliability.
3Speed
If fast roaming with multiple channels is implemented, then connectivity speed is improved, but packet loss may occur during transition
Solution Approach 1:
The patent maintains continuous data transmission by keeping the first data plane active while simultaneously establishing the second data plane. Traffic flows continuously through the first data plane until the second data plane is fully established and synchronized, at which point switching occurs without interruption. This continuous action prevents packet loss during the roaming transition.
Solution Approach 2:
The control plane synchronizes and prepares the second data plane in advance before the actual roaming switch occurs. Configuration information, security credentials, and routing parameters are pre-established on the second data plane, so that when the switch happens, data transmission continues without interruption or packet loss, maintaining both speed and reliability.
Data Source
AI summary
In one embodiment, a method for achieving zero packet loss in wireless roaming is implemented by a processor of a wireless client device in a system. The wireless client device establishes a first data plane in association with a first radio connected to a first access point and a second data plane in association with a second radio. The first data plane is different from and operates concurrently with the second data plane. The wireless client device determines a second access point by scanning a plurality of operating channels using the second radio. The wireless client device synchronizes the second data plane with a network controller to connect the second radio with the second data plane to the second access point. The wireless client device switches traffic of the first data plane connected to the first access point to the second data plane connected to the second access point.