Mesh WLAN Synchronization Protocol Peer-Link Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
The current IEEE 802.11s standard for mesh wireless networks lacks clarity in synchronization procedures, particularly when a mesh is initiated, multiple mesh points synchronize simultaneously, or when merging synchronized meshes, leading to potential inefficiencies and unclear outcomes.
Innovation Solution
A synchronization method where two stations establish a communication link and exchange a synchronization element containing capability and status information bits to manage synchronization at a peer-link level, allowing for flexible synchronization profiles and propagation within the mesh, enabling individual mesh points to adopt synchronization parameters and coexist with different synchronization profiles.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If mesh-wide synchronization is implemented as defined in current 802.11s, then synchronization capability is provided across the mesh, but the procedure becomes unclear when multiple mesh points simultaneously start a mesh or when merging synchronized meshes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the mesh-wide synchronization into individual peer-link level synchronizations. Each mesh point independently manages synchronization with its peers through capability and status information bits, eliminating the ambiguity of mesh-wide procedures while maintaining reliable synchronization across the entire mesh network.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by allowing different synchronization states at different peer links within the same mesh. Each mesh point can have different capability and status bits for different peers, enabling flexible synchronization profiles that adapt to local conditions rather than enforcing a uniform mesh-wide state.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the mesh-initiating MP establishes synchronization parameters, then a synchronization framework is provided, but the procedure cannot be changed once established and may never develop into a synchronized mesh
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces dynamics by allowing mesh points to change their synchronization capability and status bits over time. A mesh point can transition from having synchronization capability set to 0 to 1, and similarly for status bits, enabling the mesh to evolve from non-synchronized to synchronized states dynamically rather than being locked into initial conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables self-service by allowing any mesh point to independently initiate synchronization with its peers by setting its capability bit to 1 and managing its own status bits. This eliminates the dependency on the mesh-initiating MP to establish synchronization, allowing any node to contribute to making the mesh synchronized.
3Device complexity
If synchronization is treated as a mesh-wide property, then a unified synchronization approach is provided, but it prevents individual peer-link level synchronization management and flexible synchronization profiles
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments synchronization management from mesh-wide to peer-link level by introducing individual capability and status information bits for each peer link. This segmentation enables flexible synchronization profiles where different peer links can have different synchronization states while maintaining manageable complexity through standardized bit fields.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses parameter changes by allowing mesh points to dynamically change their capability and status bits to indicate different synchronization states. This enables flexible synchronization profiles through parameter manipulation rather than requiring complex structural changes, maintaining simplicity while achieving versatility.
Data Source
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AI summary
An efficient synchronization procedure applicable to mesh WLAN based on the 802.1 1s standard is proposed. A first and second stations initiate the process and establish a communication link between them. Next, the first station transmits to the second station a synchronization element that contains: a capability information element indicative of a capability of the first station to synchronize, and a status information element indicative of whether the first station has established a synchronized peer link with another station. One of the two stations may then initiate the actual handshake for synchronization. The initiator transmits a request for synchronization and receives a response from the other station representative of the acceptance by the other station of the synchronization, the request and the acceptance being restrained in that the stations may not entertain conflicting synchronization procedures with different links. The request may include a set of the synchronization profile.