Dynamic Child Station Limit Adjustment for Wireless Network Connectivity

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Solution Overview

Problem

Communication devices face limitations in allowing additional devices to participate in a wireless network as child stations when the upper limit child station number is reached, preventing devices with high necessity from joining.

Innovation Solution

A communication device that dynamically adjusts its upper limit child station number by receiving specific signals, allowing devices to participate even when the network is at capacity, using both Wi-Fi and NFC interfaces to manage connections.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the upper limit child station number is set to a fixed value, then the network stability is improved, but the adaptability to devices with high necessity is worsened

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenetwork stabilityVSAvoidadaptability to devices with high necessity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic adjustment of the upper limit child station number based on device priority. When a device with high necessity (indicated by predetermined character string in connection request) is detected, the system dynamically increases the upper limit child station number beyond the default fixed value, allowing priority devices to join even when the network appears full. This resolves the contradiction by making the limit adaptive rather than static.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the parameter of upper limit child station number based on the connection request characteristics. Upon receiving a connection request containing a predetermined character string from a high-priority device, the system modifies the upper limit parameter to accommodate additional devices, thereby adapting the network capacity to specific operational needs while maintaining stability for normal connections.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Adaptability or versatility

If the upper limit child station number is increased to allow more devices to join, then the adaptability is improved, but the network performance degradation is worsened

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveadaptability to allow more devicesVSAvoidnetwork performance

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies different quality levels of network access based on device priority. High-priority devices (those with predetermined character string) receive enhanced treatment including increased upper limit child station number allocation, while regular devices adhere to the standard limit. This local differentiation allows the system to accommodate more devices overall without uniformly degrading performance across all connections.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adjusts the upper limit child station number parameter based on the specific connection request. Instead of maintaining a consistently high limit that would degrade overall network performance, the parameter is changed only when necessary to accommodate priority devices, thereby balancing adaptability with performance maintenance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Ease of operation

If the communication device accepts all connection requests, then the ease of operation is improved, but the loss of time for processing is worsened

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of device participationVSAvoidprocessing time for connection requests

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary evaluation of connection requests by checking for the predetermined character string before full processing. This preliminary action allows the system to quickly identify and prioritize high-necessity devices, streamlining the connection process for them while maintaining standard processing for others, thereby reducing overall processing time while improving ease of operation for priority devices.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS10445036B2Communication device, and non-transitory computer-readable recording medium storing computer-readable instructions for terminal device

Publication Date: 2019.10.15 BROTHER KOGYO KK

AI summary

A communication device may set a second value instead of a first value as an upper limit child station number in a case where a first signal including a predetermined character string is received from a first external device under a situation where the first value is set as the upper limit child station number in the communication device and a participating child station number is equal to the first value. In a case where the second value is set instead of the first value as the upper limit child station number, the communication device may establish a wireless connection with the first external device via the first wireless interface so as to cause the first external device to participate as a child station in the wireless network.