NAN Station Discovery Without Beaconing
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Solution Overview
Problem
In neighbor awareness networking (NAN) systems, devices face challenges in discovering services and maintaining accurate records of participating stations due to the absence of beaconing on the NAN data link channel, which affects service discovery and station association, especially with mobility changes.
Innovation Solution
A method where a first station discovers a second station capable of providing a service of interest through communication over a NAN channel supported by neighborhood stations, without relying on beaconing, and then communicates over a NAN data link channel for service access, using a discovery module to find and associate with stations in a NAN data link network.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If beaconing is eliminated on the NAN data link channel to reduce overhead and conserve power, then power consumption and overhead are reduced, but discovering stations cannot identify neighbor stations for association and maintain accurate records of participating stations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a discovery message as an intermediary carrier that transports station identification information. Instead of relying on continuous beaconing, stations send discovery messages containing their identifiers and service information during designated discovery windows, enabling other stations to identify and associate with them without requiring ongoing beacon transmissions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements periodic discovery windows at predetermined intervals during which beaconless discovery messages are exchanged. This periodic action allows stations to update their neighbor records and identify new participants at regular intervals without requiring continuous beaconing, thus reducing overall power consumption while maintaining information freshness.
2Loss of energy
If beaconing is eliminated on the NAN data link channel to reduce overhead, then network overhead is reduced, but discovering stations cannot identify changes in neighborhood due to mobility
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs preliminary action by having stations prepare and transmit discovery messages containing updated neighborhood information before other stations need to query for changes. During discovery windows, stations proactively announce their presence and any changes to their service capabilities or neighbor lists, enabling receiving stations to update their records in advance rather than reacting to mobility events.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms where stations respond to discovery requests with current neighborhood information. When a station receives a discovery message or request, it provides feedback about its current state and known neighbors, allowing requesting stations to maintain accurate records of network changes due to mobility without requiring continuous beaconing.
3Use of energy by moving object
If discovery messages are sent during discovery windows without beaconing, then power consumption is reduced, but service discovery capability must be maintained
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes discovery messages multi-functional by designing them to carry multiple types of information simultaneously. A single discovery message contains not only station identification but also service advertisements, capability information, and neighbor list updates. This universality allows stations to perform service discovery, neighbor identification, and network updates using the same beaconless discovery mechanism during discovery windows, reducing power consumption while maintaining comprehensive service discovery capability.
Data Source
AI summary
A method, an apparatus, and a computer program product for wireless communication are provided. In one aspect, a first station discovers a second station capable of providing a service of interest to the first station. The second station is one of a plurality of stations participating in a NAN data link network that provides the service of interest and supports communication over a NAN data link channel without beaconing. The second station is discovered through communication over a NAN channel supported by a plurality of neighborhood stations forming a NAN network. The NAN channel has a beaconing operation that provides synchronization. After discovery of the second station, the first station communicates with the second station over the NAN data link channel, to obtain data corresponding to the service of interest.