Multi-band Channel Scanning via Lower Frequency Beacon
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Solution Overview
Problem
Millimeter-wave (mmWave) network devices experience significant propagation loss due to line-of-sight obstructions and atmospheric conditions, leading to longer scan times during passive channel scanning for establishing wireless communication links.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a method where a first network device transmits a beacon frame at a frequency band below mmWave to indicate a particular scanning channel, allowing a second network device to respond with a probe request and probe response via that channel, reducing the need to scan all available channels.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If passive channel scanning is performed across all available mmWave channels, then reliable wireless communication links can be established, but scan times become excessively long
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by first transmitting a beacon frame on a lower frequency band (e.g., 5 GHz) before proceeding with mmWave channel scanning. This beacon frame contains information about the transmitting device's identity and capabilities, allowing the receiving device to prepare in advance and respond with a probe request, thereby eliminating the need to scan all mmWave channels and significantly reducing scan time while ensuring reliable link establishment
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a lower frequency band (e.g., 5 GHz) as an intermediary communication channel to facilitate the initial connection between devices. This intermediary channel has better propagation characteristics and allows devices to establish a preliminary connection exchange (beacon frame and probe request/response) before transitioning to the mmWave band, thus reducing the time required for reliable mmWave link establishment
Data Source
AI summary
Examples described herein provide multi-band channel scanning. Examples may include transmitting, by a first radio of a first network device operating at a first frequency band below the millimeter-wave (mmWave), a beacon frame indicating a particular scanning channel of a second frequency band within the mmWave, receiving, by a second radio of the first network device operating the second frequency band, a probe request from a second network device via the particular scanning channel, wherein the probe request is in response to the beacon frame received by the second network device, and in response to the probe request, transmitting, by the second radio of the first network device, a probe response in each of one or more sector transmitting directions via the particular scanning channel.