Dynamic Beacon Rate Control for Fast Wireless Link Establishment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing communication technologies face challenges in quickly establishing wireless communication links between devices operating on different networks with different communication protocols, particularly in transitioning from a wide area network to a local area network like Wi-Fi, due to the time taken to detect beacons and synchronize.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus and method that control wireless transmitter circuitry to adjust transmission rates in response to requests, allowing for faster synchronization by increasing the rate of beacon transmission when a device switches from a low-power state to an active state, facilitating quicker link establishment across different network protocols.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If access points transmit beacons at a low rate to conserve power, then energy efficiency is improved, but the time to detect and synchronize with the access point increases
Solution Approach 1:
The beacon transmission rate is made dynamic rather than static. The system automatically adjusts the transmission rate based on the operational state: low rate during normal operation to conserve power, and high rate when a device requests rapid connection to reduce synchronization time.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of beacon transmission rate in response to connection requests. When a device needs to establish a connection quickly, the access point temporarily increases the beacon transmission rate from the normal low rate to a higher rate, facilitating faster detection and synchronization.
2Speed
If access points transmit beacons at a high rate to enable quick synchronization, then connection speed is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses periodic beacon transmission at a low rate during normal operation to minimize power consumption. Only when a connection request is detected does the system temporarily switch to high-rate periodic transmission to enable quick synchronization, then return to low-rate transmission afterward.
Solution Approach 2:
The beacon transmission rate is dynamically adjusted based on system needs. The access point monitors for connection requests and automatically modulates the transmission rate between low (for power savings) and high (for fast connection), optimizing the trade-off between power consumption and connection speed.
3Use of energy by moving object
If devices remain in low-power state to conserve energy, then energy efficiency is improved, but the time to detect beacons and establish connection increases
Solution Approach 1:
The access point performs preliminary action by transmitting beacons at a low rate continuously, maintaining awareness of nearby devices without requiring them to be in high-power state. When a device needs to connect, the access point has already been transmitting beacons, so the device can quickly detect and synchronize without waiting for the device to wake from a deep sleep state.
Data Source
AI summary
Various apparatuses, methods and computer programs are provided. A first apparatus includes: a controller configured to control transmitter circuitry to transmit, according to a first communication protocol, a first request to a second apparatus, the first request being for assisting a wireless communication link, according to a second communication protocol, to be established between the apparatus and a third apparatus. In response to receiving the first request, the second apparatus transmits a second request to the third apparatus. The third apparatus is configured to transmit signals at a rate, each signal being for enabling a wireless communication link to be established between the third apparatus and another apparatus (such as the first apparatus). In response to receipt of the second request, the third apparatus changes the rate at which the signals are transmitted.