FILS Discovery Frames With Mobility Domain IDs for Fast BSS Transition
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing wireless communication network association procedures, particularly in WLANs, are lengthy and resource-intensive, especially for mobile devices that frequently perform re-associations, leading to increased network signaling and interruption times.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating Mobility Domain information into the Fast Initial Link Setup (FILS) Discovery frame allows wireless communication devices to determine whether to perform a full or reduced authentication procedure, enabling faster association and re-association by identifying whether the target network node belongs to the same mobility domain as the source node.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a full authentication procedure is performed during association, then security and reliability are ensured, but the association time and signaling overhead increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by performing authentication procedures in advance during initial network association. The device stores authentication credentials and network information locally, so that when roving to a new access point within the same mobility domain, the authentication has already been completed beforehand, enabling fast re-association without repeating the full authentication process.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements local quality by creating a differentiated authentication approach based on location context. When the device determines it is roaming within the same mobility domain (same PLMN and tracking area), it applies a simplified local authentication procedure. When roaming to a different mobility domain, it performs a full authentication, thus adapting the authentication depth to the specific local context.
2Reliability
If frequent re-associations are performed during mobility, then network coverage and connectivity are maintained, but energy consumption and processing resources increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent reduces energy consumption during mobility by performing authentication procedures in advance during initial association. The stored authentication credentials enable fast re-association when moving between access points within the same mobility domain, eliminating the need to repeat energy-intensive authentication processes during frequent handovers.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies partial action by performing only the necessary minimal authentication steps during re-association within the same mobility domain, rather than executing the complete authentication sequence. This partial authentication approach maintains connectivity reliability while significantly reducing the processing and energy overhead compared to full authentication.
3Speed
If Mobility Domain information is included in FILS Discovery frames, then fast re-association is enabled, but frame size and signaling complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the mobility management information into structured components within the FILS Discovery frame. The Mobility Domain information is organized as distinct information elements (IEs) with specific formats, allowing receiving devices to efficiently parse and process only the relevant portions needed for fast re-association decisions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements universality by designing the FILS Discovery frame to serve multiple functions: it provides basic network discovery information, includes Mobility Domain identifiers for fast re-association, and maintains compatibility with existing WLAN protocols. This multi-functional frame structure enables fast roving while preserving interoperability across different device implementations.
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments include methods performed by a network node in a wireless communication network. The node is part of a first BSS that is one of a plurality of BSS in a Mobility Domain (MD) that supports a Fast BSS Transition procedure. Such methods include transmitting one or more Fast Initial Link Setup Discovery (FD) frames. Each FD frame includes an identifier of the first MD, which enables receiving devices to determine, without receiving any non-FD frames from the network node, whether to associate with the network node via the Fast BSS Transition procedure. Such methods include associating with a first device through the Fast BSS procedure, wherein the first wireless communication device was previously associated with one of the BSS in the MD. Other embodiments include complementary methods performed by devices, as well as network nodes and devices configured to perform such methods.