Network Device Discovery with Bitmask Slots for Legacy Devices
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The challenge lies in efficiently discovering and onboarding a large number of ambient power (AMP) devices in a wireless network without disrupting the ongoing communications of legacy devices, particularly due to interference from AMP devices operating in the 2.4 GHz band.
Innovation Solution
A network device with device discovery logic that transmits discovery frames containing bitmasks, assigns response slots, and adjusts transmission power to minimize collisions, enabling efficient discovery and onboarding of AMP devices while managing communication windows to avoid interference with legacy devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the AP performs discovery and onboarding of AMP devices, then the network can support more devices, but the ongoing communications of legacy devices may be disrupted due to interference
Solution Approach 1:
The discovery process is segmented into multiple phases: initial discovery phase with reduced power to minimize interference, followed by onboarding phase. The communication is divided into discovery frames and response slots, allowing AMP devices to be discovered without disrupting legacy device communications during normal operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The AP performs discovery of AMP devices during periods of low network activity or using reduced transmission power before full onboarding occurs. This preliminary discovery action allows the AP to identify AMP devices without causing significant interference to ongoing legacy device communications.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the AP uses polling mechanism to manage AMP devices, then interference with legacy devices is minimized, but the discovery and onboarding process becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The discovery and onboarding process is segmented into distinct phases: discovery phase where AMP devices are identified using bitmasks, response slot assignment, and onboarding phase where full communication is established. This segmentation simplifies the overall process by handling discovery separately from full onboarding.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces bitmasks as an intermediary mechanism to manage the discovery process. Bitmasks allow the AP to efficiently identify and filter AMP devices without requiring complex interaction protocols, thereby simplifying the discovery process while maintaining interference management through the polling mechanism.
3Area of stationary object
If the AP transmits discovery frames with high power to discover all AMP devices, then discovery range is maximized, but collisions and interference increase
Solution Approach 1:
The transmission power for discovery frames is made dynamic rather than fixed. The AP adjusts transmission power based on the current network state, using lower power when legacy devices are active and higher power when the network is less busy. This dynamic power adjustment maximizes discovery range while minimizing collisions and interference.
Solution Approach 2:
The discovery process uses periodic transmission of discovery frames at different power levels. The AP transmits discovery frames periodically, adjusting power levels between transmissions, allowing the system to maximize discovery range over time while minimizing interference during each individual transmission cycle.
Data Source
AI summary
Devices, systems, methods, and processes for discovering and onboarding network devices are described herein. Integrating device discovery and onboarding mechanisms in a network device, especially in the presence of legacy devices, is a complex challenge. A device discovery logic, configured in a network device, facilitates transmission of a discovery frame comprising one or more bitmasks. Each bitmask is associated with a corresponding response slot and also has a unique identifier pattern or sub-pattern. Devices having device identifiers that match these bitmasks respond in designated response slots. If no response is received in any response slot, the discovery frame is retransmitted by adjusting a transmission power or a new discovery frame with new bitmasks is transmitted. Additionally, the network device can energize ambient power devices using radio frequency signals before transmitting the discovery frame. This adaptive approach ensures efficient and organized device discovery and onboarding, minimizing collisions and optimizing network configuration.