Synchronized Group Messaging for Wireless Access Points

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Solution Overview

Problem

Multicast transmissions in wireless communication systems lead to inefficient use of the transmission medium due to redundant content being sent by multiple access points (APs), resulting in significant medium usage and reduced reliability over longer distances.

Innovation Solution

Implementing coordinated group messaging by synchronizing the transmission times and parameters across APs, ensuring identical packets are transmitted simultaneously with aligned sequence numbers, stream IDs, and payload, and using common group messaging parameters like a group temporal key and media access control address to optimize medium usage and extend signal range.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Area of stationary object

If multiple access points transmit multicast messages independently, then message delivery coverage is improved, but transmission medium usage efficiency deteriorates due to redundant content

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemessage delivery coverageVSAvoidtransmission medium usage efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of stationary objectVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges transmissions from multiple access points by synchronizing them to occur simultaneously with identical content. Multiple APs transmit the same multicast message at the same time using coordinated parameters, transforming redundant sequential transmissions into a unified simultaneous transmission that covers a larger area without proportionally increasing medium usage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Reliability

If multiple access points transmit multicast messages independently, then transmission reliability is improved through redundancy, but medium usage increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetransmission reliabilityVSAvoidmedium usage

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines redundant transmissions from multiple access points into synchronized simultaneous transmissions. By coordinating transmission times and using common group messaging parameters, the system maintains reliability through multiple transmitters while reducing total medium usage compared to independent transmissions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements periodic synchronized transmissions where multiple access points transmit multicast messages at regular, coordinated intervals. This periodic action ensures reliable delivery through repetition while optimizing medium usage by preventing overlapping transmissions and using common timing parameters across the network.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

3Loss of energy

If synchronized group messaging is implemented, then medium usage is reduced and reliability is enhanced, but system complexity increases due to coordination requirements

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemedium usageVSAvoidsystem coordination complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a coordinator entity that acts as an intermediary to manage synchronization among multiple access points. This coordinator distributes common group messaging parameters including timing information, temporal keys, and transmission parameters to participating APs, centralizing the complexity of coordination while keeping individual AP implementations relatively simple.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses parameter changes to enable synchronized transmission, specifically implementing common group messaging parameters such as group temporal keys, coordinated transmission times, and synchronized timing offsets. By changing to these standardized parameters, the system achieves coordination without requiring complex custom protocols at each access point.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

4Device complexity

If asynchronous transmissions are used, then device simplicity is maintained, but message reliability deteriorates over longer distances

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice simplicityVSAvoidmessage reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements periodic synchronized transmissions where multiple access points transmit at regular, coordinated intervals. This periodic action enhances reliability over longer distances by ensuring messages are transmitted systematically across the network at predictable times, allowing receivers to reliably capture messages from the nearest transmitting AP at each periodic interval.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Data Source

PatentUS10523821B2Synchronized group messaging

Publication Date: 2019.12.31 QUALCOMM INC

AI summary

Devices and methods for synchronized group messaging in a wireless communication system are described. Multicast transmissions, such as those in a dense network, can cause significant medium usage because same multicast packet is likely sent by multiple APs at different time. Medium usage in such implementations may be redundant. As such, the transmission medium is not used optimally. Devices and methods which coordinate and align group messages (e.g., multicast packets) amongst APs are described. Each AP may be configured to transmit identical packets at the same time. Therefore, medium usage can be reduced, while the range can be extended due to accumulated energy from APs.