Multi-Link Wi-Fi GTK Update Synchronization to Cut Frame Overhead

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Solution Overview

Problem

In multi-link wireless communication, the overhead of communication increases due to the frequent updating of Group Transient Keys (GTKs) for each link, leading to inefficient use of radio resources.

Innovation Solution

A communication apparatus that updates encryption keys individually for each link by coordinating the GTK update process across multiple links, minimizing the number of GTK update request frames transmitted by synchronizing the update timings and combining the GTK update request frames for multiple links.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If GTK is updated individually for each link in multi-link communication, then security is maintained for each link, but communication overhead increases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovesecurityVSAvoidcommunication overhead

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines GTK update operations across multiple links into a single coordinated update. Instead of updating GTK separately for each link, the system synchronizes GTK updates across all links simultaneously, merging multiple update operations into one. This reduces the number of individual GTK update frames transmitted while maintaining security for each link, directly resolving the contradiction between security and communication overhead.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Reliability

If GTK update frequency is increased for each link, then security is enhanced, but radio resource efficiency deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovesecurityVSAvoidradio resource efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements periodic GTK updates synchronized across all links simultaneously. Instead of continuous or independent periodic updates for each link, the system establishes a unified update period where GTK is updated across all links at the same time. This periodic synchronized approach maintains security requirements while minimizing the frequency of update operations, thereby improving radio resource efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

3Reliability

If multiple GTK update request frames are transmitted for multiple links, then each link receives updated keys, but message transmission frequency increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvekey update reliabilityVSAvoidmessage transmission frequency

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple GTK update request frames into a single coordinated update message. By combining the update operations for multiple links into one transmission event, the system ensures that each link receives the updated GTK while significantly reducing the total number of messages transmitted. This directly addresses the contradiction between key update reliability and message transmission frequency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS20260019254A1Communication apparatus, control method, and computer-readable storage medium

Publication Date: 2026.01.15 CANON KK

AI summary

A communication apparatus for executing wireless communication complying with an IEEE 802.11 standard series by establishing a plurality of links with another apparatus updates an encryption key individually set for each of the plurality of links by executing predetermined processing including transmission of a predetermined message to the other apparatus. In the predetermined processing, the communication apparatus transmits, to the other apparatus, the predetermined message including information concerning the encryption keys for at least two links among the plurality of links.