Standardized 802.11 Hardware Control Interface for Adapter Compatibility

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

The development of hardware-specific drivers and control interfaces for IEEE 802.11 network adapters is costly and time-consuming, and previous interfaces often fail to perform adequately at required speeds, leading to driver crashes and inefficiencies in wireless communication.

Innovation Solution

A standardized hardware control interface for IEEE 802.11 network adapters that allows for network adapter-independent control information exchange, simplifying driver and adapter development and improving system reliability by using a standardized host control interface.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If hardware-specific drivers are developed for each network adapter type, then adapter compatibility is improved, but development cost and time increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveadapter compatibilityVSAvoiddevelopment time

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a universal hardware control interface that can work with multiple network adapter types through a standardized abstraction layer. This interface defines common control operations and data structures that different adapter implementations can adhere to, allowing a single driver to control various adapter types without requiring separate hardware-specific drivers for each device.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Adaptability or versatility

If hardware-specific drivers are developed for each network adapter type, then adapter compatibility is improved, but development complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveadapter compatibilityVSAvoiddriver complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the driver architecture into distinct layers: a hardware-agnostic control interface layer that handles common operations, and an adapter-specific implementation layer that handles hardware particulars. This segmentation isolates complexity to specific modules while presenting a simplified uniform interface to the upper layers, reducing overall system complexity despite supporting multiple adapter types.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Productivity

If previous hardware-specific interfaces are used, then specific adapter performance is optimized, but system reliability decreases due to driver crashes

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecommunication speedVSAvoiddriver stability

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent incorporates error handling, validation, and protective measures within the standardized control interface to prevent driver crashes before they occur. The interface includes built-in checks for invalid operations, proper resource management, and graceful error recovery mechanisms that cushion against failures when communicating with different adapter types, thereby improving reliability while maintaining performance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

Data Source

PatentUS10073798B2Hardware control interface for IEEE standard 802.11

Publication Date: 2018.09.11 MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING LLC

AI summary

A standardized 802.11 hardware control interface may be provided such that a driver may communicate with any one or more of a variety of network adapters.