Wireless LAN Relay Apparatus Connection Management

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional wireless LAN systems experience quality deterioration and disconnection issues during streaming communication due to excessive load on access points, as they do not effectively manage the number of connections, leading to packet delay or discard.

Innovation Solution

A communication control method and relay apparatus that monitor and manage the number of connections by setting a limit threshold value, using disconnection commands and timer processes to maintain optimal load states, preventing quality deterioration by disconnecting or limiting new connections when the threshold is exceeded.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the number of connections to an AP is increased to support more users, then the coverage and accessibility of wireless network are improved, but the communication quality and reliability deteriorate due to packet delay or discard

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenumber of connectionsVSAvoidcommunication quality
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies parameter changes by dynamically adjusting the maximum number of connections allowed to an AP based on load state. The system monitors the number of connections and compares it against threshold values to determine whether to permit new connections or disconnect existing ones, thereby optimizing communication quality while maintaining adequate coverage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If the load on an AP is dispersed by installing multiple APs, then the communication quality is improved, but the system complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecommunication qualityVSAvoidnumber of APs
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamics by enabling individual APs to adapt their connection capacity in real-time based on their current load state. Rather than statically configuring multiple APs, the system dynamically adjusts the operational parameters of existing APs to maintain optimal performance, reducing the need for additional hardware.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Reliability

If the number of connections to an AP is limited to maintain quality, then the communication reliability is improved, but the accessibility and user coverage deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecommunication qualityVSAvoidnumber of connections
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts connection limits based on real-time load monitoring. When an AP is in a low-load state, it can accept more connections to maximize coverage. When load exceeds thresholds, the system automatically reduces connection capacity to maintain quality, creating a dynamic balance between accessibility and reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements feedback mechanisms where the AP continuously monitors its own load state and adjusts its connection handling accordingly. The system uses feedback from connection counts and packet statistics to make real-time decisions about accepting or rejecting new connections, ensuring optimal balance between coverage and quality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP1786147B1Communication control method of wireless LAN system and relay apparatus
Publication Date: 2019.08.14 NEC PLATFROMS LTD
  • EP1786147B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP1786147B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP1786147B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

A relay apparatus (100) acting as an access point of wireless LAN watches a packet showing a request of starting communication among the packets to be relayed between terminal apparatuses (101, 102) and records the identification information of the terminal apparatus included in the packet. When the number of the terminal apparatuses whose identification information is recorded exceeds a preset upper limit value, the relay apparatus disconnects a communication relating to the latest identification information by transmitting a disconnection command or discarding the packet. With this arrangement, deterioration of streaming communication controlled by an access point (AP) of wireless LAN can be prevented.