NAN Hidden Cluster Joining via Discovery Beacons

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing data communication protocols require central servers to manage mappings between resource descriptions and IP addresses, leading to significant overhead in facilitating data communication between computing devices, especially in peer-to-peer applications.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of Neighbor Awareness Networking (NAN) allows communication devices to form clusters and exchange service discovery frames without relying on central servers, using discovery beacons and synchronization beacons to enable data exchange within hidden clusters, reducing the need for explicit IP address mapping and enhancing scalability in dense Wi-Fi environments.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If central servers are used to manage IP address mappings, then resource communication can be facilitated, but communication overhead increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveresource communication facilitationVSAvoidcommunication overhead

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the central server dependency from the communication system by implementing direct peer-to-peer discovery and connection mechanisms. Devices independently generate and exchange discovery beacons containing their identifiers and connection information, eliminating the need for central server-mediated IP address mapping and reducing communication overhead.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The system enables devices to self-discover and self-connect through autonomous beacon generation and exchange. Each device independently manages its own identification and connection establishment without requiring external server assistance, thereby reducing the communication overhead associated with server-mediated resource location and connection setup.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Loss of energy

If peer-to-peer communication is implemented without central servers, then communication overhead is reduced, but device discovery and cluster joining become more difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecommunication overheadVSAvoiddevice discovery

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements periodic beacon transmission at defined intervals (e.g., every 100 time units) to enable reliable device discovery without continuous communication. This periodic action allows devices to enter low-power states between beacons while maintaining discoverability, thus reducing overall communication overhead while solving the device discovery challenge.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The discovery beacon serves as an intermediary mechanism that carries essential discovery information (device identifiers, cluster identifiers, timing synchronization data) between devices. This structured beacon format facilitates efficient device detection and cluster joining without requiring continuous direct device-to-device communication, thereby reducing overhead while improving discoverability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Difficulty of detecting and measuring

If discovery beacons are transmitted continuously, then device discoverability is improved, but energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice discoverabilityVSAvoidenergy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Difficulty of detecting and measuringVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system transmits discovery beacons periodically at predetermined intervals rather than continuously, allowing devices to maintain discoverability while entering low-power states between transmission cycles. This periodic transmission pattern significantly reduces energy consumption compared to continuous beaconing while preserving the ability of devices to discover and join clusters.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The beacon transmission system dynamically adjusts between active transmission periods and low-power idle periods. Devices can dynamically enter sleep modes during intervals between beacons and wake periodically to transmit and receive beacons, optimizing the balance between discoverability and energy consumption based on operational requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS9503961B2System and method for joining neighbor awareness networking hidden clusters

Publication Date: 2016.11.22 TAHOE RES LTD

AI summary

Embodiments described herein relate generally to a communication between in a neighbor awareness networking (NAN) cluster. A first communication device may be participating in a hidden NAN cluster and a second communication device may seek to join the hidden NAN cluster. The second communication device may broadcast a discovery beacon that includes an identifier of the hidden NAN cluster in a field of the discovery beacon that is associated with a transmitter address. If the first communication device detects such a discovery beacon, the first communication device may transmit a synchronization beacon having timing information associated with the hidden NAN cluster. If the second communication device detects the synchronization beacon, the second communication device may synchronize with the hidden NAN cluster. Other embodiments may be described and/or claimed.