Mobile Device Link Setup Latency Reduction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current wireless communication systems experience delays and interruptions during handoff procedures due to the time required for dynamic host configuration protocol (DHCP) processes, particularly when a mobile device moves from one access point to another, leading to potential loss of connectivity.

Innovation Solution

The system allows a mobile device to maintain or reassign a previous IP address during handoff without re-initiating the DHCP process by comparing the requested IP address with an authentication server, enabling the access point to assign the same IP address if it matches, thus bypassing the need for DHCP reconfiguration.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the mobile device re-initiates the DHCP process during handoff to obtain a new IP address, then the IP address assignment is updated, but the handoff time increases and connectivity may be interrupted

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconnectivity continuityVSAvoidhandoff time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The mobile device preserves the previous IP address and its association with the authentication server before handoff occurs. During handoff to a new access point, the device reuses this previously obtained IP address information instead of initiating a new DHCP process, thereby performing the IP address assignment action in advance and avoiding time-consuming reconfiguration during the critical handoff transition period

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts the DHCP process from the mandatory handoff procedure. By separating the IP address acquisition step from the handoff transition, the system allows handoff to proceed independently using preserved IP address information, while DHCP can be performed later or skipped entirely when the preserved address remains valid, thus removing the time-critical dependency

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Adaptability or versatility

If the DHCP server determines a new IP address during handoff, then the IP address is updated for the new access point, but the process causes delay and may cause handoff failure

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveIP address assignmentVSAvoidhandoff completion time
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The mobile device serves itself by preserving and reusing its own previously assigned IP address information during handoff. Instead of relying on the DHCP server or new access point to assign a new IP address, the device maintains its existing IP configuration and presents it during the handoff process, thereby performing the IP address assignment function autonomously without external intervention or time-consuming server communication

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Reliability

If the mobile device performs full DHCP reconfiguration during initial link setup with each access point, then the IP address is properly assigned, but the link setup time increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveIP configuration correctnessVSAvoidinitial link setup time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs IP address assignment and authentication server association in advance during the initial connection with the first access point. The mobile device preserves this pre-configured IP address information and reuses it during subsequent handoffs to other access points, thereby performing the essential IP configuration action beforehand and avoiding repetitive full DHCP reconfiguration during each link setup event

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The preserved IP address and authentication server association are designed to be universally applicable across multiple access points within the same network. Instead of configuring IP settings specifically for each individual access point, the system creates a universal IP configuration that can be reused across different access points, thereby reducing link setup time while maintaining proper IP configuration

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP3022957B8Reduced latency during initial link setup
Publication Date: 2019.04.24 QUALCOMM INC

AI summary

A method of operation of a mobile device to reduce link setup time includes initiating a link setup procedure with a first access point. The link setup procedure includes receiving dynamic host configuration protocol (DHCP) information via the first access point. The method further includes communicating with the first access point using the DHCP information and initiating communication with a second access point after communicating with the first access point. The method further includes receiving an indication from the second access point identifying whether the mobile device is able to communicate with the second access point using the DHCP information. A value of the indication identifies whether the mobile device is able to reduce link setup time with the second access point by avoiding DHCP reconfiguration with the second access point.