NAN Device Sync Beacon Conflict Resolution
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Solution Overview
Problem
In Neighbor Awareness Networks (NAN), sync beacon messages often conflict when multiple devices merge to a new cluster, leading to inefficient use of air interface resources and potential failure in message reception due to simultaneous transmissions by devices in the master role.
Innovation Solution
A method where a NAN device determines whether to send a sync beacon message based on its role and state within its original cluster, adjusting its role and state settings before merging to a new cluster, and modifying backoff intervals to avoid conflicts, ensuring timely synchronization and resource optimization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple NAN devices merge to a new cluster in master role and send sync beacon messages simultaneously, then cluster merging and synchronization can be achieved, but sync beacon message conflicts occur and air interface resources are wasted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by differentiating the behavior of devices based on their specific roles and states within the cluster. Master devices and non-master devices execute different synchronization protocols, and devices in sync state behave differently from those in non-sync state. This localized differentiation prevents unnecessary sync beacon transmissions by only allowing appropriate devices to send beacons in appropriate states, thereby resolving the conflict between achieving cluster merging and avoiding air interface resource waste.
2Reliability
If all NAN devices send sync beacon messages when merging to a new cluster, then synchronization can be achieved, but message reception fails due to simultaneous transmissions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by having devices determine their roles and states before merging to the new cluster, and by establishing a structured synchronization process where only specific devices send sync beacons at specific times. This pre-planned differentiation ensures that synchronization messages are transmitted in an organized manner, preventing simultaneous transmissions that would cause message loss while maintaining reliable synchronization.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent inverts the conventional approach by not having all devices send sync beacons, but rather having only specific devices (based on role and state) send beacons. This inversion of the universal transmission approach to a selective transmission approach resolves the contradiction between achieving synchronization and avoiding message loss from simultaneous transmissions.
3Ease of operation
If NAN devices use fixed backoff interval [0, 15] for master role, then simple protocol operation is maintained, but sync beacon message conflicts increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the backoff interval adaptive rather than fixed. The backoff interval is adjusted based on the device's role and state, and potentially based on cluster conditions. This dynamic adjustment maintains protocol simplicity through clear rules while improving transmission reliability by reducing conflicts through differentiated backoff behavior.
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments of the present invention relate to the communications field, and provide a method for sending a sync beacon message by a NAN device, and a device, so as to resolve a problem of a sync beacon message conflict that occurs when the NAN device merges to a new cluster in a master role. The method is: when a first device in a first cluster receives first cluster information of a second cluster, if the first device determines to merge to the second cluster, sending a sync beacon message in the second cluster according to a role and a state of the first device in the first cluster. According to the embodiments of the present invention, after merging to a cluster, a NAN device determines whether to send a sync beacon frame.