Neighbor Aware Network Device Availability Exchange

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Solution Overview

Problem

In neighbor aware networks (NANs), existing communication methods lead to increased messaging traffic due to the need for frequent availability checks and acknowledgments, which can result in inefficiencies and higher power consumption.

Innovation Solution

Devices in a NAN provide availability information during the association phase or discovery window, allowing for reduced messaging traffic by eliminating the need for frequent polls and acknowledgments, and enabling data transmission without waiting for availability confirmation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If frequent availability checks and acknowledgments are performed to ensure reliable communication, then communication reliability is improved, but messaging traffic increases and power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecommunication reliabilityVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

Devices exchange availability information during the association phase or discovery window before actual data transmission begins. This preliminary exchange of availability status allows devices to know in advance when other devices will be available for communication, eliminating the need for frequent availability checks during data transmission and reducing both messaging traffic and power consumption while maintaining communication reliability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If frequent availability checks and acknowledgments are performed, then communication reliability is improved, but messaging traffic increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecommunication reliabilityVSAvoidmessaging traffic

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

Availability information is exchanged during the association phase or discovery window before data transmission begins. This preliminary action establishes the communication schedule in advance, allowing devices to transmit data directly during scheduled time windows without requiring frequent availability checks or acknowledgment messages, thereby reducing overall messaging traffic while maintaining reliable communication

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements periodic data transmission windows where devices transmit data at scheduled intervals based on pre-exchanged availability information. This periodic action replaces frequent ad-hoc availability checks with structured, time-based communication patterns, reducing messaging traffic while ensuring reliable data delivery during designated transmission periods

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Data Source

PatentUS10117222B2Communication between devices of a neighbor aware network

Publication Date: 2018.10.30 QUALCOMM INC

AI summary

In some examples, a method includes receiving, at a second device of a data link group of a neighbor aware network (NAN), a message including an indication of whether a first device corresponding to a particular service is available during a particular time period during which devices of the data link group are configured to operate in an active operating mode. The method also includes transitioning to a low-power operating mode during one or more transmission windows corresponding to the particular time period in response to determining that the first device is unavailable during the particular time period.