Dynamic SSID Management to Reduce Wireless Network Overhead
Solution Overview
Problem
Access points (APs) advertising multiple service set identifiers (SSIDs) per radio lead to increased network overhead and latency, causing network congestion and inefficient wireless communication, especially in mesh networking scenarios where APs share wireless channels.
Innovation Solution
APs dynamically adjust SSID configurations based on network traffic, enabling or disabling SSIDs, changing beacon intervals, and modifying beacon physical layer data rates to optimize network resources and prioritize high-priority networks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If an AP advertises multiple SSIDs per radio to support various wireless networks, then network versatility and service coverage are improved, but network overhead increases and latency increases causing network congestion
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the SSID configuration mobile and adjustable rather than static. The AP dynamically enables or disables specific SSIDs based on real-time network conditions, traffic demand, and priority levels. This allows the system to adapt the number of active SSIDs according to current needs, reducing overhead when fewer services are required while maintaining versatility when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of SSID availability and beacon transmission characteristics based on network conditions. By adjusting which SSIDs are active, modifying beacon intervals, and changing beacon physical layer data rates, the system optimizes the balance between network versatility and overhead consumption according to real-time traffic patterns and priority requirements.
2Adaptability or versatility
If an AP advertises multiple SSIDs per radio to support various wireless networks, then network versatility is improved, but network latency increases causing network congestion
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the number and configuration of active SSIDs based on real-time network conditions. When latency becomes problematic, the AP can reduce the number of active SSIDs or adjust beacon intervals, thereby reducing contention and latency while maintaining the capability to activate additional SSIDs when versatility is needed and conditions permit.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent modifies parameters such as beacon intervals and beacon physical layer data rates to optimize latency performance. By adjusting these parameters dynamically based on network conditions, the system reduces latency during high-traffic periods while preserving network versatility through selective SSID activation and parameter optimization.
3Reliability
If an AP increases beacon transmission frequency or decreases beacon interval to improve network availability, then SSID accessibility is improved, but network overhead increases contributing to congestion
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by dynamically adjusting beacon intervals and beacon physical layer data rates based on network conditions and SSID priority. High-priority SSIDs receive more frequent beacons with lower data rates to ensure availability, while low-priority SSIDs have reduced beacon frequency or higher data rates to minimize overhead. This selective parameter adjustment resolves the contradiction between availability and overhead.
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies local quality by treating different SSIDs differently based on their priority and current network conditions. Each SSID can have customized beacon intervals and data rates tailored to its specific requirements, allowing critical services to maintain high availability while non-critical services consume minimal overhead, thereby resolving the universal contradiction across all SSIDs.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and systems are described for managing SSIDs in a wireless network. An AP providing wireless communications may determine that there is high or low network traffic associated with one of its SSIDs. For example, a high or low number of computing devices may be probing the AP on a particular SSID. The AP may enable or disable the SSID on additional channels, increase or decrease its beacon interval, and/or increase or decrease its beacon physical layer (PHY) data rate in order to provide probing computing devices with greater or less access to the SSID based on the network activity. The AP may scan its channels for network activity and determine the appropriate changes to its SSIDs in order to improve access to heavily used SSIDs or to free up resources.