Multi-SSID Hidden Wireless Network Beacon Optimization
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Solution Overview
Problem
As the number of wireless networks supported by an access point increases, the frequency of beacon frames transmitted to advertise SSIDs also increases, leading to channel crowding and detrimental user experience, especially when legacy devices are not compatible with updated protocols.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a multi-SSID hidden network configuration on the access point side, allowing multiple SSIDs to identify a single hidden network, without altering WLAN protocols, ensuring compatibility with legacy devices and reducing beacon frame transmission frequency regardless of the number of supported SSIDs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple wireless networks are supported by an access point with separate beacon frames for each SSID, then each network can be independently advertised and discovered, but the channel becomes crowded and user experience deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple SSID advertisements into a single beacon frame by including multiple SSID elements within the same beacon frame structure. This allows the access point to advertise multiple wireless networks simultaneously without transmitting separate beacon frames for each SSID, thereby reducing channel congestion while maintaining the ability to support multiple networks.
Solution Approach 2:
The beacon frame is enhanced to serve multiple functions by incorporating multiple SSID elements, allowing a single beacon frame to advertise multiple wireless networks. This multi-functionality approach enables the access point to maintain adaptability for supporting multiple networks while avoiding the harmful effect of increased beacon frame transmission frequency.
2Reliability
If hidden networks omit SSID from beacon frames to enhance security, then network discovery is reduced, but devices cannot discover the hidden network to initiate authentication
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by including multiple SSID elements in advance within the beacon frame before any discovery attempt occurs. This allows devices to discover hidden networks through probe requests without requiring the SSID to be omitted entirely, as the SSID information is already prepared and available in the beacon frame for devices that request it.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback mechanisms where the access point responds to probe requests from devices by providing SSID information that was previously hidden. This feedback loop allows devices to discover and connect to hidden networks by initiating probe requests, while the SSID remains protected from passive eavesdropping, thus balancing security and discoverability.
3Adaptability or versatility
If legacy devices are supported without protocol updates, then compatibility is maintained, but updated protocols for efficient multi-SSID advertising cannot be implemented
Solution Approach 1:
The enhanced beacon frame structure is designed to be universal, maintaining compatibility with legacy devices while enabling advanced functionality. The beacon frame includes multiple SSID elements in a manner that does not break the existing protocol structure, allowing both legacy devices and updated devices to interpret and utilize the information appropriately without requiring protocol changes on the device side.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes parameters within the existing beacon frame structure by adding multiple SSID elements rather than fundamentally altering the protocol. This parameter change approach allows the access point to provide enhanced multi-SSID advertising capability while maintaining backward compatibility with legacy devices that expect the standard beacon frame format, thus avoiding the need for device-side protocol updates.
Data Source
AI summary
An access point provides a hidden wireless network that is configured with a set of SSIDs so that the hidden network is discoverable with multiple different SSIDs. Based on detection of a probe request frame which indicates an SSID from a device, the access point determines if the SSID for which network availability is requested matches one of the SSIDs in the set. If the SSID does match one of those included in the set, the SSID correctly identifies the hidden network, and the access point responds with a probe response frame. Devices connected to the hidden network may have initiated the establishment of the connection with a different SSIDs despite the hidden network being a single wireless network. Scaling the number of supported SSIDs therefore does not impact the frequency with which the access point transmits beacon frames for the hidden network.