Hidden Transmitted BSS Beacon for WLAN Energy Saving

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing wireless standards face challenges in dynamically configuring the set of information elements (IEs) for transmitted and non-transmitted Basic Service Sets (BSSes) in WLANs, leading to inefficient use of resources and potential disconnection of clients when the transmitted BSS is turned off.

Innovation Solution

An electronic device, such as an access point, creates a hidden transmitted BSS that is not visible to clients or network operators. It transmits a multi-BSS beacon with a wild-card SSID for the hidden BSS and specific SSIDs for non-transmitted BSSes, allowing for independent activation and deactivation of non-transmitted BSSes without affecting others, and ensuring that non-transmitted BSSes inherit only the minimum necessary IEs.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of energy

If a transmitted BSS is turned off, then energy is saved and network resources are reduced, but all clients on the transmitted BSS including non-transmitted BSSes are disconnected

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenergy savingVSAvoidclient connection stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the BSS structure by introducing a hidden transmitted BSS with a wild-card SSID that is separate from non-transmitted BSSes. This allows the hidden transmitted BSS to be deactivated independently while non-transmitted BSSes remain operational with their own SSIDs, thus preventing client disconnection when energy saving is required.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The hidden transmitted BSS acts as an intermediary structure that enables independent control of the transmitted BSS. By using a wild-card SSID in the hidden transmitted BSS, the system can deactivate the transmitted BSS for energy saving while the non-transmitted BSSes continue to function through their distinct SSID identifiers.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If non-transmitted BSSes inherit IEs from the transmitted BSS, then compatibility is maintained, but unnecessary IEs are included increasing device complexity

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveBSS compatibilityVSAvoidinformation elements complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts unnecessary IEs from the transmitted BSS by creating a separate hidden transmitted BSS with a wild-card SSID. The non-transmitted BSSes can then be configured with only the essential IEs they need, rather than inheriting the complete set from the transmitted BSS, thus reducing device complexity while maintaining compatibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

Each non-transmitted BSS can have its own specific SSID and associated IEs tailored to its local requirements. This local quality approach allows each BSS to include only the necessary IEs for its specific function rather than inheriting all IEs from the transmitted BSS, reducing overall complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Device complexity

If the transmitted BSS includes the smallest set of IEs, then device complexity is reduced, but it is difficult to dynamically configure this set at runtime

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinformation elements complexityVSAvoiddynamic configuration ease

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent enables dynamic configuration by allowing the SSID of the hidden transmitted BSS to be changed at runtime. The wild-card SSID can be dynamically updated to match different non-transmitted BSSes, allowing the system to adapt to changing network conditions without requiring complex IE reconfiguration, thus improving ease of operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS12342261B2Automated establishing of a hidden transmitted basic service set

Publication Date: 2025.06.24 RUCKUS IP HOLDINGS LLC

AI summary

An electronic device (such as an access point) is described. During operation, the electronic device may create a hidden transmitted BSS. For example, the hidden transmitted BSS may be hidden, e.g., from an operator of a network that includes the electronic device and/or from one or more second electronic devices. Moreover, the electronic device may transmit a multi-BSS beacon with a transmitted BSSID and a wild-card SSID (or blank character string) of the hidden transmitted BSS, and, for one or more non-transmitted BSSes, one or more non-transmitted BSSIDs and their associated SSIDs. Then, the electronic device may establish one or more connections with the one or more second electronic devices via the one or more non-transmitted BSSes. Furthermore, the electronic device may deactivate a given non-transmitted BSS in the one or more non-transmitted BSSes without impacting a remainder of the non-transmitted BSSes.