Mesh WLAN Controller Automated Provisioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
The commissioning of large numbers of wireless local area network (WLAN) devices in various applications, such as IoT and lighting systems, is hindered by the need for skilled engineers to manually configure network connections, as many devices lack user interfaces and require complex WLAN provisioning, leading to high expert time costs and inefficiencies.
Innovation Solution
A mesh WLAN controller that operates in both mesh soft-access-point and mesh client modes, enabling self-organized networking by detecting and connecting to existing mesh WLAN basic service sets, creating new networks if necessary, and allowing forwarding of messages between multiple mesh WLAN BSSs, thus simplifying the connection process and reducing signaling overhead.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual WLAN provisioning is performed by skilled engineers, then network connection reliability is improved, but installation time and expert time costs increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The WLAN device automatically performs network scanning, BSS detection, and connection establishment without requiring manual configuration by engineers. The device autonomously completes the provisioning process by selecting and joining appropriate BSSs, thereby eliminating the need for expert intervention while maintaining connection reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary network scanning and BSS detection before the actual connection is needed. By pre-identifying available BSSs and preparing connection parameters in advance, the device accelerates the provisioning process while ensuring reliable network attachment
2Extent of automation
If WLAN configurator devices are used for automated provisioning, then expert time costs are reduced, but signaling overhead and provisioning complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the essential provisioning functions (network scanning, BSS detection, connection management) directly into the WLAN device itself, removing the dependency on external configurator devices. This eliminates the signaling overhead associated with configurator-device mediation while maintaining full automation capability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a simplified intermediary mechanism where the WLAN device itself acts as its own configurator, using internal scanning and detection capabilities rather than requiring external configurator devices. This reduces signaling overhead by eliminating unnecessary communication layers while preserving automated provisioning functionality
3Adaptability or versatility
If mesh client mode is used for connecting to existing BSSs, then network integration is improved, but initial connection time increases due to scanning and detection requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The WLAN device performs continuous or periodic network scanning and maintains an updated list of detected BSSs. This continuous monitoring allows the device to immediately connect to available BSSs when power is applied or when network conditions change, eliminating connection delays while maintaining the ability to adapt to different network environments
Solution Approach 2:
The device performs preliminary network scanning and BSS detection before connection is required. By pre-identifying available BSSs and preparing connection parameters in advance, the device eliminates connection delays while maintaining adaptability to different network environments
Data Source
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AI summary
A mesh WLAN controller (100) operates in mesh soft-access-point or mesh client modes. When operating in the mesh client mode it performs a mesh network scan, for detecting at least one mesh WLAN BSS (202), send mesh client access requests to mesh WLAN BSSs detected, and, if mesh client access is achieved, provide information indicative to the accessed WLAN BSSs of any other mesh WLAN BSS to which mesh client access is achieved, and if mesh client access is not achieved with any of the detected mesh WLAN BSSs, operate in the mesh soft-access-point mode. Upon receiving an instruction to operate in a mesh bridge-client mode, the controller detects messages from any of the mesh WLAN BSSs (204, 206) with mesh client access, and forwards the received mesh WLAN messages within any other of the mesh WLAN BSSs to which mesh client access has been achieved.