Communication Apparatus NAN Beacon Synchronization
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Solution Overview
Problem
In wireless LAN environments, communication apparatuses face challenges in efficiently detecting discovery beacons for Neighbor Awareness Networking (NAN) clusters due to asynchronous TSF timer values of nearby access points, leading to difficulties in synchronizing transmission and detection timing references.
Innovation Solution
Selecting a common access point as the timing reference for both discovery beacon transmission and detection based on BSSID and received signal strength, ensuring that both the transmission and detection sides use the same access point for efficient detection, even if multiple access points are present.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple access points are present in the wireless environment, then the communication apparatus can maintain connectivity options, but the timing reference becomes asynchronous making discovery beacon detection difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a common access point as an intermediary timing reference that both the discovery beacon transmitting apparatus and detecting apparatus use to synchronize their operations. This mediator resolves the asynchrony caused by multiple access points by providing a unified reference point for timing coordination.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the timing reference parameter from multiple asynchronous access points to a single common access point. By selecting one specific access point as the reference and configuring both transmitting and detecting apparatus to use its timing, the system transforms the timing parameters from asynchronous to synchronized state.
2Use of energy by moving object
If the communication apparatus performs a short-term search for discovery beacons, then the power consumption is reduced, but the detection probability decreases due to timing asynchrony
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms where the transmitting apparatus monitors the common access point's timing and adjusts its discovery beacon transmission accordingly. Similarly, the detecting apparatus uses feedback from the common access point timing to synchronize its detection windows, ensuring both are aligned for efficient short-term search operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary synchronization actions by configuring both transmitting and detecting apparatus to reference the same access point timing before the actual discovery beacon exchange occurs. This preliminary alignment ensures that when short-term search is performed, the timing is already coordinated, maximizing detection probability within the limited search window.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the transmission and detection sides use different timing references, then each can optimize for its own conditions, but they cannot synchronize for efficient discovery
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the separate timing references of the transmitting and detecting apparatus into a single common timing reference derived from one access point. By combining what were previously independent timing sources into a unified reference, the system eliminates timing mismatches while maintaining the ability to optimize discovery beacon parameters.
Data Source
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AI summary
A communication apparatus searches for other apparatuses existing nearby, selects, based on identification information of each of the other apparatuses found in the search and a strength of a radio wave received from each of the other apparatuses, one of the other apparatuses, and transmits a predetermined signal at a timing based on a timer value of the one apparatus.