Radio Service and Scan Chain Partitioning for Stable Channel Scanning

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Network devices face challenges in maintaining continuous connectivity to client devices while scanning for other devices on different channels, as existing methods can lead to frame loss and connectivity issues during the scanning process.

Innovation Solution

Partitioning a default radio into a service chain and a scan chain allows the network device to provide continuous network connectivity to existing clients using the service chain while simultaneously scanning alternate channels with the scan chain, reducing the likelihood of frame loss and maintaining stable connections.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the network device uses a single radio to scan channels, then channel scanning capability is improved, but connectivity stability deteriorates due to frame loss

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvechannel scanning capabilityVSAvoidconnectivity stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides a single radio into two separate functional chains: a service chain dedicated to maintaining connectivity with client devices and a scan chain dedicated to scanning alternate channels. This segmentation allows simultaneous execution of scanning and connectivity functions without interference, resolving the contradiction between channel scanning capability and connectivity stability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Adaptability or versatility

If the network device scans alternate channels, then discovery of other devices is improved, but frame loss increases disrupting client connections

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice discovery capabilityVSAvoidframe loss

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

By segmenting the radio into service and scan chains, the patent ensures that frames intended for client devices are processed exclusively by the service chain, preventing them from being lost during scan chain operations. This allows device discovery on alternate channels without compromising frame delivery to connected clients.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The service chain acts as an intermediary that guarantees frame delivery to client devices, while the scan chain independently performs device discovery. The partitioning mechanism mediates between these two functions, ensuring that scanning activities do not interfere with frame transmission and reception.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Reliability

If the network device maintains continuous connectivity to client devices, then connection stability is improved, but ability to scan for other devices deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconnection stabilityVSAvoidchannel scanning capability

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the radio resources into dedicated service chain for connectivity and scan chain for channel scanning. This allows the network device to simultaneously maintain stable connections with client devices while actively scanning alternate channels, resolving the contradiction between connection stability and scanning capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS11304048B2Partition a radio into a service chain and a scan chain to scan channels

Publication Date: 2022.04.12 HEWLETT PACKARD ENTERPRISE DEV LP

AI summary

Example implementations relate to partitioning a radio into chains to scan channels. In some examples, a network device may comprise a processing resource and a memory resource storing machine-readable instructions to partition a default radio of the network device into a service chain and a scan chain in response to a scan request, scan a particular channel with the scan chain to discover devices operating on the particular channel of a network, and combine the service chain and the scan chain into the default radio.