Parallel AP Connection for Seamless WLAN Handover
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Solution Overview
Problem
In wireless local area networks (WLANs) adhering to the IEEE 802.11 standard, there is a challenge in minimizing the time of disconnection during access point (AP) switching, as existing techniques like roaming do not efficiently manage the transition between APs, leading to temporary disruptions in data communication.
Innovation Solution
A wireless communication apparatus equipped with multiple stations (STAs) that can connect to multiple access points (APs) in parallel, featuring a detection unit to assess communication quality and a connection unit to switch to a secondary AP when the primary AP's quality meets predetermined conditions, ensuring seamless data communication.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the STA switches to another AP when communication quality deteriorates, then the STA can maintain data communication, but disconnection occurs temporarily during the switching process
Solution Approach 1:
The patent establishes a connection with a candidate AP before disconnecting from the current AP. The STA receives beacon frames from surrounding APs, identifies candidate APs, and pre-establishes a connection with one of them while still connected to the current AP. This preliminary connection establishment eliminates the disconnection gap that occurs in conventional switching, as the STA already has an active connection ready to take over immediately.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the connection establishment process with the AP switching process. Instead of performing sequential operations (disconnect then connect), the STA maintains connections with multiple APs simultaneously during the transition period. The connection unit establishes a connection with a candidate AP while the communication quality of the current AP is still being monitored, effectively combining the old and new connections during the handover period.
2Loss of time
If the STA establishes connection with multiple APs in parallel, then disconnection time is reduced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the AP switching process into distinct functional units: a detection unit that monitors communication quality, a determination unit that identifies candidate APs based on beacon frames, and a connection unit that manages connections. This segmentation allows the STA to handle multiple connections systematically, with each unit responsible for a specific aspect of the switching process, thereby managing complexity through functional decomposition.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic connection management where the STA adaptively adjusts its connection state based on real-time communication quality. The STA dynamically establishes or disconnects connections with candidate APs based on monitored conditions, rather than maintaining fixed connections. This dynamic approach allows the system to optimize connection states based on current network conditions, reducing unnecessary connection management overhead.
Data Source
AI summary
A wireless communication apparatus including least a first station (STA) and a second STA, and being connectable with at least a first access point (AP) and a second AP in parallel, includes a detection unit configured to detect that a quality of communication with the first AP with which a connection is established fulfills a predetermined condition, and a connection unit configured to establish a connection with the second AP using the second STA in a case where the detection unit detects that a quality of communication with the first AP fulfills the predetermined condition in a state that a connection with the first AP is established using the first STA.