Simultaneous Multi-Channel Scanning for Wireless Client Stations
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current wireless network client stations face inefficiencies in scanning multiple channels, particularly in the 5 GHz band, as they typically scan channels sequentially, which consumes significant time and power, and may not differentiate between primary and secondary channels, leading to prolonged discovery times for available access points.
Innovation Solution
A client station equipped with a transceiver module and a scanning module capable of simultaneously scanning multiple channels, using both passive and active scanning methods, to detect beacons and probe responses across multiple channels, thereby reducing scanning time and improving access point discovery efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If sequential channel scanning is used, then device complexity is reduced, but scanning time and power consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the channel scanning process into multiple parallel scanning operations. Instead of scanning channels sequentially one at a time, the system divides the frequency band into multiple channels and scans them simultaneously using separate scanning operations, thereby reducing total scanning time without requiring complex hardware modifications.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges multiple scanning operations into a unified simultaneous scanning process. By combining the scanning of multiple channels into a single coordinated operation that occurs at the same time, the system reduces overall scanning time while managing complexity through integrated control logic.
2Productivity
If simultaneous channel scanning is implemented, then scanning time is reduced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The scanning module is segmented into multiple independent scanning operations that can execute in parallel. Each scanning operation targets a specific channel or set of channels, allowing the system to maintain manageable complexity in each individual scanning component while achieving high overall productivity through simultaneous execution.
Solution Approach 2:
The scanning module is designed with multi-functionality to handle multiple channels and scanning methods (active and passive scanning) within a single unified structure. This universal design allows the same module to perform diverse scanning tasks simultaneously, improving productivity without proportionally increasing complexity.
3Loss of time
If all channels are scanned sequentially, then power consumption is reduced, but access point discovery time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements partial scanning by not requiring all channels to be scanned to completion before moving to the next operation. Instead, it performs scanning operations on multiple channels simultaneously and can proceed with association processes once sufficient information is gathered from a subset of channels, thereby reducing both discovery time and overall power consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary scanning operations on multiple channels in parallel before final association decisions are made. By conducting preliminary discovery activities simultaneously across multiple channels, the system reduces the time required to identify available access points and can make informed association decisions more efficiently, balancing power consumption with discovery speed.
Data Source
AI summary
A client station including a transceiver module, a scanning module, and an association module. The transceiver module is configured to transmit and receive data via a frequency band, where the frequency band includes a plurality of channels. The scanning module is configured to simultaneously scan multiple channels of the frequency band at the same time instead of scanning the plurality of channels of the frequency band one channel at a time, and to determine whether one or more access points are available for association in one or more of the multiple channels. The association module is configured to, in response to the scanning module determining that one or more access points are available for association, determine whether to associate with one of the one or more access points determined to be available for association.