NAN Proxy Server Service Discovery

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Solution Overview

Problem

In Neighbor Awareness Networking (NAN) systems, devices in a DOZE state cannot transmit or receive subscribe and publish messages during discovery windows (DW), prolonging the time to detect services provided by other devices.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a proxy server mechanism where a NAN device requests another device to perform service search and notification processes, allowing the requesting device to enter a longer DOZE state while the proxy server handles service discovery, and selecting a proxy server that remains awake during more DW periods to shorten service discovery time.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Use of energy by moving object

If a NAN device enters the DOZE state during DW periods, then power consumption is reduced, but the period until another apparatus detects a service provided by the NAN device is prolonged

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower consumptionVSAvoidservice detection period
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a proxy server as an intermediary device that remains awake during DW periods and performs service discovery on behalf of devices in DOZE state. The proxy server receives subscribe messages from other devices, retrieves service information from the target device, and returns results, thereby enabling service detection without requiring the target device to be awake.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary actions by having the proxy server pre-fetch service information from devices before they enter DOZE state, or by maintaining service information caches. This allows service detection to occur without the target device needing to be actively transmitting during the discovery window.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Loss of energy

If a NAN device enters the DOZE state during DW periods, then the wireless RF part is enabled for shorter time, but service discovery efficiency deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewireless RF activation timeVSAvoidservice discovery efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The proxy server acts as a mediator that handles the energy-efficient operation by remaining awake and managing service discovery communications. The target device can enter DOZE state while the proxy server maintains connectivity and performs message exchanges, thus decoupling the energy consumption from the service discovery function.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The proxy server provides self-service by autonomously managing service discovery operations without requiring the target device to be active. It independently receives messages, queries service information, and responds to subscribers, allowing the target device to maintain low power consumption while service discovery continues efficiently.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP3148231B1Communication apparatus and control method for recognizing another communication apparatus
Publication Date: 2020.04.22 CANON KK
  • EP3148231B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3148231B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP3148231B1 patent drawingFigure 4A~5

AI summary

A communication apparatus searches (S701) for other communication apparatuses each of which can execute, as a proxy of the communication apparatus, at least one of transmission processing and reception processing of a wireless signal during a period of a predetermined length which comes at a predetermined time interval, and selects (S702-S704), from the other communication apparatuses detected by the search, an apparatus for executing the processing as the proxy of the communication apparatus.