Wireless LAN Quality Estimation via Radio Frame Metadata
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wireless LAN communication quality estimation methods consume limited radio bandwidth and impose a large load due to the need to download measurement files, which are affected by internet usage status and require repeated measurements.
Innovation Solution
A method that estimates communication quality by collecting and analyzing radio information from frames transmitted between wireless LAN base stations and terminals, using indices Fa, Fb, and Fc based on MCS values, air time, MAC frame counts, and retry frames, without downloading measurement files.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a measurement file is downloaded from a communication speed measurement site to measure communication quality, then communication speed can be evaluated, but limited radio bandwidth is consumed and a large load is imposed on the radio band
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the necessary measurement data (download time) from the communication process without requiring actual file downloads. The communication quality evaluation is decoupled from bandwidth-consuming file transfers by using metadata extraction and simulation techniques, thus achieving accurate measurement without radio bandwidth consumption
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary measurement mechanism that uses proxy servers and simulation techniques to evaluate communication quality without direct file downloads over the radio band. The intermediary system processes measurement logic centrally and transmits only lightweight control signals and results, eliminating the need for large measurement files to traverse the radio interface
2Measurement precision
If a measurement file of certain size is used to ensure measurement accuracy, then measurement precision is improved, but traffic amount increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces expensive, large measurement files with lightweight, disposable measurement signals. Instead of using substantial files that consume radio resources, the system employs minimal overhead packets that serve their measurement purpose and are discarded, achieving accurate measurement without significant traffic generation
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the fundamental parameter of measurement from file size-based evaluation to time-based evaluation. By measuring download time of small control packets rather than transferring large files, the system maintains measurement precision while dramatically reducing traffic amount
3Reliability
If repeated measurements are performed on the Internet to account for best effort network variability, then measurement reliability is improved, but a large load is imposed on the radio band
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary measurements during low-traffic periods or uses historical data to establish baseline communication quality. By conducting measurements in advance when radio band load is minimal, the system ensures reliable evaluation without imposing excessive load during peak usage times
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements periodic measurement scheduling that adapts to network conditions. Instead of continuous or frequent measurements that constantly load the radio band, the system performs measurements at optimized intervals, using previous results to infer current quality when conditions are stable, thus maintaining reliability while reducing overall radio band load
Data Source
AI summary
There are provided an information collecting device configured to collect a frame A transmitted and received between a wireless LAN base station that is an evaluation target and a wireless LAN terminal subordinate to the wireless LAN base station that is the evaluation target and a frame B transmitted and received between a wireless LAN base station that is a non-evaluation target and a wireless LAN terminal subordinate to the wireless LAN base station that is the non-evaluation target, and extract radio information on communication quality of each of the wireless LAN base stations from a header of a corresponding one of the frames A and B, and a wireless LAN communication quality estimation device configured to acquire, from the wireless LAN base station that is the evaluation target, information on the number of currently connected wireless LAN terminals, acquire, from the information collecting device, the radio information on the communication quality of each of the wireless LAN base stations, and analyze the information to estimate whether the communication quality of the wireless LAN base station that is the evaluation target is good or bad.