Network Side Beacon Report for Wireless Roaming
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing IEEE 802.11k protocol requires client devices to scan channels and generate beacon reports, which is time-consuming, energy inefficient, and disruptive to latency-sensitive applications, potentially causing packet losses and reduced Quality of Service (QoS).
Innovation Solution
The introduction of a Network Side Beacon Report (NSBR) mode that generates reports based on probe signals received from client devices, allowing the network to compile and analyze probe signal parameters to quantify the wireless environment and provide control signals to improve QoS, reduce packet losses, and conserve energy by minimizing scanning operations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If client devices scan channels and generate beacon reports according to IEEE 802.11k protocol, then roaming time is reduced and network performance is improved, but energy consumption increases and latency-sensitive applications suffer from packet losses
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism where the network controller collects probe signal parameters from multiple access points and generates beacon reports on behalf of client devices. This mediator approach allows the client device to avoid performing energy-consuming channel scans while still obtaining necessary roaming information through the network controller's synthesized reports.
Solution Approach 2:
The network controller performs self-service by autonomously collecting probe signal data from access points and generating beacon reports without requiring client devices to initiate channel scanning. This shifts the workload from the mobile client to the network infrastructure, reducing the client's energy consumption while maintaining effective roaming functionality.
2Reliability
If client devices perform channel scanning to generate beacon reports, then roaming decisions are improved, but Quality of Service deteriorates due to packet losses in latency-sensitive applications
Solution Approach 1:
The network controller performs preliminary actions by continuously collecting probe signal parameters from access points in advance, maintaining an updated database of network conditions. When a client device needs roaming information, the controller can immediately generate reports based on pre-collected data, avoiding the need for the client to perform time-consuming channel scans that would disrupt latency-sensitive applications.
3Loss of information
If client devices continuously scan for beacon reports, then network awareness is improved, but battery life is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The network controller acts as an intermediary that maintains network awareness information centrally by collecting probe signal data from multiple access points. Client devices can query this pre-maintained information without performing continuous channel scanning, thereby preserving battery life while still achieving effective network awareness through the mediator's synthesized reports.
Data Source
AI summary
Network side beacon reports (NSBRs) may be generated based on probe signals received from one or more client devices (CDs) in a wireless network. Once enabled, an NSBR mode is configured to generate NSBRs remotely from a CD. When in the NSBR mode, an NSBR may be generated based on compiled probe signal parameters associated with one or more probe signals received from the CD.