Wireless Group Owner Continuation Period for Network Stability

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Solution Overview

Problem

Wi-Fi Direct networks face issues where the group owner device immediately stops operating when the number of client devices becomes zero, leading to frequent network disconnections and the need for immediate reconnection.

Innovation Solution

A wireless communication apparatus that continues or stops operating as a group owner based on the presence of remote devices and disconnect signals, using a continuation period and holding periods determined by category information, allowing for appropriate timing in managing network connections.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the group owner device immediately stops operating when the number of client devices becomes zero, then the device can quickly release resources and transition to another state, but the wireless network is immediately lost and needs to be reconstructed again

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveresource release speedVSAvoidnetwork connection stability
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary action by maintaining the group owner operation for a predetermined period even after client devices are removed. This allows the network to remain stable during the holding period, preventing immediate network loss and reconstruction, while still enabling resource release after the period expires.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If the group owner operation is maintained for a predetermined period after client devices are removed, then the wireless network remains stable and avoids frequent disconnections, but resources are held longer than necessary

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenetwork connection stabilityVSAvoidenergy consumption for maintaining group owner operation
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements periodic action by maintaining the group owner operation only for a predetermined holding period after client devices are removed, rather than indefinitely. This time-limited maintenance balances network stability with resource release, ensuring energy efficiency while preventing frequent network disconnections.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

3Device complexity

If the group owner operation is stopped immediately when no client devices remain, then processing load is reduced quickly, but the network requires immediate reconstruction increasing overall processing overhead

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprocessing loadVSAvoidnetwork reconstruction time
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary action by keeping the group owner operation active during the holding period, preventing the need for immediate network reconstruction. This reduces the frequency of network setup operations and associated processing overhead, while still releasing resources after the predetermined period.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP2536247B1Wireless communication apparatus that operates as master station or remote station in wireless network and computer readable medium
Publication Date: 2018.12.19 BROTHER KOGYO KK
  • EP2536247B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2536247B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2536247B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A wireless communication apparatus can selectively operate as a master station or a remote station in a wireless network. When the apparatus operates as the master station, the apparatus may manage one or more remote devices that operate as remote stations. The apparatus continues the operation as the master station until a continuation period elapses in a case where the number of remote devices to be managed becomes 0. The continuation period begins at a timing at which the number of remote devices becomes 0. If the number of remote devices becomes 1 or more before the continuation period elapses, the apparatus continues the operation as the master station even after a lapse of the continuation period. If the number of remote devices remains 0 until the continuation period elapses, the apparatus stops the operation as the master station after the lapse of the continuation period.