Dynamic Channel Bandwidth Management for Legacy Device Support
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current networking technologies face challenges in dynamically managing channel bandwidths, leading to excessive power consumption and quality of service issues, particularly when legacy devices are not compatible with newer dynamic channel switching capabilities, resulting in inadequate information for access points about adjacent channels.
Innovation Solution
A method where stations (STAs) request exemption from scanning, but only if their traffic activity is below a certain threshold, allowing access points to disallow exemptions for STAs with exclusive visibility of specific channels, ensuring that STAs inform access points about adjacent channel status, thereby enabling safe operation in multiple channel bandwidths without affecting legacy devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If all STAs are required to scan to provide complete information to the AP about adjacent channels, then the AP can make informed decisions about channel bandwidth operation, but the power consumption of portable devices increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the scanning function from all STAs and assigns it only to specific STAs that have exclusive visibility of certain channels. The AP identifies which STAs have unique channel visibility and requires only those STAs to perform scanning, while other STAs are exempted from scanning duties.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different scanning requirements to different STAs based on their local characteristics - specifically, whether they have exclusive visibility of certain channels. STAs with exclusive visibility are required to scan, while STAs without exclusive visibility are exempted, creating a localized quality approach to scanning.
2Use of energy by moving object
If STAs with low traffic activity are exempted from scanning to save power, then power consumption decreases, but the AP may not receive sufficient information about adjacent channels
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different scanning requirements to different STAs based on their local characteristics - specifically, whether they have exclusive visibility of certain channels. STAs with exclusive visibility are required to scan, while STAs without exclusive visibility are exempted, creating a localized quality approach to scanning.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary analysis to identify which STAs have exclusive visibility of which channels before the scanning process. This preliminary identification allows the system to pre-determine which STAs should scan, avoiding the need for all STAs to scan while ensuring complete channel information is collected.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the network operates with dynamic channel bandwidth switching between 20 MHz and 40 MHz, then network performance and adaptability improve, but legacy devices experience quality of service problems
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the STA population into different groups based on their capability to operate in 20/40 MHz BSS. The system identifies STAs that are intolerant of 20/40 MHz operation and provides them with specific information about safe channels, allowing the network to dynamically adjust bandwidth while protecting legacy devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism where the AP collects channel status information from scanning STAs and processes this information to determine which channels are safe for legacy devices. The AP then communicates this information back to intolerant STAs, acting as a mediator between the dynamic bandwidth requirements and legacy device constraints.
4Loss of information
If STAs are required to scan frequently to provide up-to-date channel information, then the AP can maintain accurate knowledge of adjacent channels, but the scanning process drains battery power of portable devices
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the scanning function from all STAs and assigns it only to specific STAs that have exclusive visibility of certain channels. The AP identifies which STAs have unique channel visibility and requires only those STAs to perform scanning, while other STAs are exempted from scanning duties.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies partial scanning action by requiring only the minimum necessary STAs (those with exclusive channel visibility) to perform scanning, rather than requiring all STAs to scan. This partial action is sufficient to collect complete channel information while minimizing energy consumption.
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus, method and computer program product for facilitating one or more stations' (STAs) requests to an access point (AP) to be allowed an exemption regarding scanning of channels in a basic service set and allowing the AP to disallow STAs having visibility of certain channels to be exempt from scanning, although the traffic on a respective channel that the STAs are operating on is below a predetermined threshold, are provided. The apparatus may include a processor configured to receive requests for exemption from scanning adjacent channels to identify devices in a basic service set operating in the channels. The processor may also be configured to determine if a request(s) is received from a device(s) which determines that one of the channels is unavailable for use and when the determination reveals that a channel is unavailable for use, the processor is configured to disallow the device exemption.