Randomized WLAN Beacon Timing for Interference Reduction
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
In scenarios where a wireless device is concurrently connected to multiple wireless access points (APs), overlapping beacon transmissions from these APs can lead to signal interference, making it difficult for the device to decode beacons and resulting in increased frame error rates and unsuccessful downlink data transmissions.
Innovation Solution
Implementing randomized beacon transmissions using deterministic random number generators, where APs and the wireless device use the same random number generation algorithm to determine the timing of beacon transmissions, allowing the device to conserve power by sleeping between transmissions and wake up only to receive beacons, and potentially overlaying randomized beacons on periodic ones to enhance data rates.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If beacon transmissions are performed at fixed periodic intervals by multiple APs, then the beacon transmission schedule is simple and predictable, but signal interference occurs due to overlapping beacons making it difficult for devices to decode
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by transitioning from fixed periodic beacon transmissions to randomized beacon transmission timing. Each AP determines its beacon transmission time based on a random value, making the transmission schedule dynamic and unpredictable. This resolves the contradiction by preventing systematic overlaps while maintaining reliable beacon delivery through the randomization mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the timing parameter of beacon transmissions from fixed periodic intervals to randomized intervals. By modifying the time parameter randomly for each AP, the system eliminates predictable interference patterns while ensuring that beacons are still transmitted within defined intervals, thus improving decoding success without complete abandonment of periodicity.
2Reliability
If wireless devices continuously monitor for beacons from multiple APs, then beacon reception reliability is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies periodic action by having devices wake up at randomized intervals to monitor for beacons rather than continuously monitoring. The randomization ensures that devices from different APs wake up at different times, reducing the need for continuous monitoring while maintaining reliable beacon reception. This resolves the contradiction by making monitoring periodic and synchronized with the randomized beacon transmission schedule.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If randomized beacon transmission timing is implemented, then beacon overlap is reduced improving signal quality, but device synchronization complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies self-service by enabling devices to autonomously determine their own wake-up and monitoring times based on the randomized beacon transmission schedule. Each device uses the same randomization algorithm to independently calculate when to expect beacons, eliminating the need for complex centralized synchronization mechanisms. This resolves the contradiction by making the synchronization system self-organizing and reducing overall device complexity.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~4
Figure 3~5
AI summary
A deterministic random number generator at a first wireless communication node computes a pseudorandom number. The deterministic random number generator employs a same random number generation algorithm as a random number generator of a second wireless communication node. The first wireless communication node determines a timing of a randomized beacon transmission using the computed pseudorandom number.