Network-State Association for Wireless Devices

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing wireless communication techniques, such as Bluetooth, consume significant power and time when scanning for WiFi networks, delaying high-throughput data transfers between devices.

Innovation Solution

An electronic device receives network-state information from a companion device or archive device, allowing it to disable Bluetooth and enable WiFi communication, enabling quick association with a communication hub by using timing synchronization and channel information to synchronize with WiFi beacons.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If an electronic device scans multiple channels to find a known WiFi network, then the device can associate with the network, but the scanning operation consumes considerable power and delays association

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenetwork associationVSAvoidassociation delay

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by having a companion device perform WiFi network scanning and caching the results before the target device needs to associate. The scanned network information (SSID, BSSID, channel, security parameters) is stored in advance and shared with the target device, eliminating the need for it to perform time-consuming scans when association is needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses an intermediary approach by introducing a companion device that acts as a mediator between the target device and the WiFi network. The companion device performs the scanning and association work, then shares the network state information with the target device, allowing the target device to associate quickly without performing its own scan.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If an electronic device scans multiple channels to find a known WiFi network, then the device can associate with the network, but the scanning operation consumes considerable power

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenetwork associationVSAvoidscanning power consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by having a companion device perform WiFi network scanning and caching the results before the target device needs to associate. The scanned network information (SSID, BSSID, channel, security parameters) is stored in advance and shared with the target device, eliminating the need for it to perform time-consuming scans when association is needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses an intermediary approach by introducing a companion device that acts as a mediator between the target device and the WiFi network. The companion device performs the scanning and association work, then shares the network state information with the target device, allowing the target device to associate quickly without performing its own scan.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Productivity

If the electronic device disables Bluetooth to enable WiFi communication, then high-throughput data transfer is achieved, but there is a time interval when neither Bluetooth nor WiFi is available

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata transfer throughputVSAvoidcommunication unavailability duration

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-obtaining WiFi network state information (including timing-synchronization information about beacon transmissions) before disabling Bluetooth. This allows the device to immediately enable WiFi and associate with the network without experiencing a communication gap, as the necessary association data is already cached from the companion device.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS10492155B2Association based on shared network-state information

Publication Date: 2019.11.26 APPLE INC

AI summary

The present disclosure describes an electronic device that includes an antenna and an interface circuit. The interface circuit communicates, via the antenna, with a companion electronic device and/or a communication hub (e.g., an access point). The companion electronic device may communicate with the communication hub over a wireless network. During operation, the electronic device receives, from the companion electronic device or an archive electronic device, network-state information including an identifier of the companion electronic device, an identifier of the communication hub, or timing-synchronization information for beacons from the communication hub. In some embodiments, the network-state information may further include a channel associated with the connection. Moreover, the electronic device may disable communication via a first communication technique (e.g., Bluetooth) and enable communication via a second communication technique (e.g., WiFi). Furthermore, the electronic device may associate with the communication hub on the wireless network based on the network-state information.