Location-Aware Wireless Link Selection Using TOF and RSSI Fingerprints
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wireless network systems for mobile information handling systems face challenges in automatically selecting the most optimal wireless link due to interference from overlapping frequency bands and varying signal quality based on location and time, leading to suboptimal communication quality.
Innovation Solution
A location-aware network selection system that uses location fingerprints, combining received signal strength indicator (RSSI) values and time-of-flight (TOF) data to identify the optimal wireless link by matching current location fingerprints with historical data, adapting the wireless link selection based on the device's location and historical performance metrics.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If automatic wireless link selection is implemented, then ease of operation is improved, but communication quality deteriorates due to interference from overlapping frequency bands and varying signal quality
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by collecting historical wireless link performance data and creating location fingerprints before actual link selection is needed. This pre-processing enables the system to quickly match current location with historical data and select optimal links without real-time trial and error, thus maintaining both automation and communication quality
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback mechanisms by continuously monitoring wireless link performance metrics (signal strength, data rate, packet loss) and using this information to refine future link selections. Historical performance data is fed back into the selection algorithm to improve decision-making, ensuring that automated selections maintain high communication quality while adapting to changing conditions
2Reliability
If location-aware selection is implemented, then communication quality is improved, but device complexity increases due to location fingerprinting and historical data processing
Solution Approach 1:
The location fingerprinting system serves multiple functions: it identifies physical location, characterizes wireless environment, and enables historical data matching. By making the fingerprinting mechanism multi-functional, the system avoids adding separate complex subsystems for each function, thus improving communication quality while limiting the increase in overall device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of implementing complex real-time wireless environment analysis, the system creates simplified copies of location characteristics (location fingerprints) that capture essential environmental features. These fingerprint copies enable efficient matching with historical data without requiring full complexity of the original wireless environment modeling, thus improving communication quality while managing device complexity
3Reliability
If historical performance data is used for link selection, then communication quality is improved, but loss of time occurs during data collection and processing
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs data collection and preliminary processing in advance, building location fingerprints and storing historical performance data before actual link selection is needed. This pre-processing approach transforms time-consuming operations into background tasks, enabling fast real-time link selection while maintaining high communication quality through historical data
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses partial historical data matching rather than complete analysis of all available data. By selecting and processing only the most relevant historical records that match current location fingerprints, the system achieves good communication quality without the time penalty of processing excessive data, thus balancing reliability and time loss
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach enables automatic and adaptive selection of the most optimal wireless link, improving communication quality by considering both location-specific and historical performance metrics, thereby enhancing data transmission efficiency and reliability.
Implementation Method 1
combining received signal strength indicator (RSSI) values and time-of-flight (TOF) data
Implementation Method 2
communications with the information handling system may occur wirelessly via access to access points or base stations
Data Source
AI summary
A method of selecting an optimal wireless link based on an information handling system location fingerprint may comprise receiving a plurality of wireless signals from a plurality of address-identified wireless local area network (WLAN) access points (APs), detecting a plurality of time of flight (TOF) signal distances between the information handling system and the plurality of address-identified WLAN APs based on the plurality of wireless signals, determining a location fingerprint of the information handling system, relative to the plurality of address-identified WLAN APs, identifying an optimal wireless link associated with the location fingerprint of the information handling system, and automatically establishing the optimal wireless link associated with the location fingerprint of the information handling system.