NAN Base Channel Coordination for Direct Wireless Communication
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wireless communication systems, particularly Wi-Fi networks, face challenges in efficiently coordinating direct communication between wireless stations without an intermediate access point, leading to suboptimal setup and coordination of communication processes.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of Neighbor Awareness Networking (NAN) systems, where wireless stations can communicate directly with each other, forming clusters to facilitate communication processes, and determining, modifying, and distributing a common base channel among NAN devices within these clusters.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If wireless stations communicate directly without an intermediate access point, then communication efficiency and low-latency data exchange are improved, but setup and coordination complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a NAN cluster as an intermediary structure that coordinates communication between wireless stations. The cluster establishes a common base channel and synchronization mechanism that mediates the direct peer-to-peer communication, reducing the coordination overhead while maintaining the efficiency benefits of direct communication.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent dynamically adjusts communication parameters including channel selection, transmission timing, and power levels based on cluster conditions. By changing these parameters adaptively, the system optimizes communication efficiency while the standardized parameter adjustment procedures reduce the complexity of setup and coordination.
2Reliability
If a common base channel is distributed among NAN devices, then synchronization and robustness are improved, but channel management complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the channel management functions of individual NAN devices into a unified common base channel for the entire cluster. This consolidation improves synchronization and robustness by ensuring all devices operate on a coordinated channel, while the merging of management responsibilities reduces overall complexity through centralized coordination.
Solution Approach 2:
The common base channel serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides synchronization timing, carries data traffic, and enables cluster coordination. This multi-functionality improves reliability by making the channel infrastructure more robust, while the universal nature of the base channel simplifies management compared to device-specific channel configurations.
3Use of energy by moving object
If wireless stations form NAN clusters for direct communication, then power efficiency is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic communication cycles within NAN clusters, where devices alternate between active transmission periods and sleep periods. This periodic operation significantly improves power efficiency by reducing the time devices must remain active, while the regular, predictable pattern simplifies the complexity of cluster coordination compared to ad-hoc communication management.
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AI summary
In some embodiments, one or more wireless stations operate according to Neighbor Awareness Networking (NAN) - direct communication with neighboring wireless stations, e.g., direct communication between the wireless stations without utilizing an intermediate access point. In a NAN system, multiple NAN devices may operate in conjunction in the form of a NAN cluster to facilitate communications processes, and may be further organized into "NAN data clusters" within NAN clusters. NAN data clusters may use a common base channel to convey communications among member NAN devices. Embodiments herein provide mechanism by which a base channel may be determined, modified, and/or distributed among NAN devices operating in a NAN data cluster.