TDLS Session Establishment Across Different Access Points
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Solution Overview
Problem
Electronic devices connected to different access points with multiple Basic Service Set Identifiers (BSSIDs) cannot establish a Tunneled Direct Link Setup (TDLS) session due to incompatible BSSIDs, and even devices close to each other but connected to different access points cannot establish a TDLS session.
Innovation Solution
An electronic device that receives a request for a TDLS session determines if the external device is connected to a different access point, establishes a connection with that access point, and transmits a request message to initiate the TDLS session, allowing data transmission or reception without going through the original access point.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If electronic devices are connected to the same access point using the same BSSID, then a TDLS session can be established between them, but electronic devices connected to different BSSIDs of the same access point cannot establish a TDLS session
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism where the first access point acts as a mediator to facilitate TDLS session establishment between devices on different BSSIDs. The system transmits discovery request frames through the access point infrastructure, allowing devices on different BSSIDs to discover and establish direct links despite the intermediary's involvement in the discovery phase.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables the TDLS session establishment mechanism to work universally across multiple BSSIDs of the same access point. By allowing devices connected to different BSSIDs to initiate and complete TDLS sessions, the system achieves multi-functionality where a single access point can serve multiple BSSID groups while enabling direct device-to-device communication regardless of which BSSID each device is connected to.
2Reliability
If electronic devices are connected to different access points, then they can maintain independent connections, but they cannot establish a TDLS session even if they are close to each other
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses the access point infrastructure as an intermediary to relay TDLS discovery and establishment messages between devices on different access points. The system allows discovery request frames to be transmitted through the respective access points, enabling cross-AP device discovery and TDLS session establishment without requiring complex direct scanning between distant access points.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the TDLS session establishment process with the existing access point connection framework. By integrating cross-AP TDLS functionality into the standard Wi-Fi connection management flow, the system allows devices to establish direct links while maintaining their connections to respective access points, combining the benefits of both infrastructure mode and ad-hoc direct communication.
3Productivity
If TDLS session requires previous connection to the same access point with the same BSSID, then session establishment is simple, but data transmission cannot occur between devices on different BSSIDs or different access points
Solution Approach 1:
The access point serves as a mediator that relays TDLS discovery request frames and response frames between devices on different BSSIDs or different access points. This intermediary mechanism enables data transmission capability expansion while maintaining relatively simple operation, as the access point infrastructure handles the complexity of cross-BSSID/cross-AP message routing.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extends TDLS session establishment from the single-dimension constraint (same BSSID) to multi-dimensional capability (different BSSIDs and different access points). By adding dimensions of BSSID diversity and access point diversity to the TDLS establishment process, the system enables broader data transmission scenarios while maintaining the core TDLS functionality.
Data Source
AI summary
An electronic device according to various embodiments comprises: at least one wireless communication circuit configured to transmit and receive wireless signals according to IEEE 802.11 standard; a processor operatively connected to the wireless communication circuit; and a memory operatively connected to the processor, wherein the memory can store instructions allowing, when executed, the processor to: receive a first request message for a tunneled direct link setup (TDLS) session defined by the IEEE 802.11 standard from a first access point (AP) through the wireless communication circuit; determine, on the basis of the first request message, that an external electronic device having requested the TDLS session is connected to a second AP; establish a connection to the second AP through the wireless communication circuit on the basis of the determination; transmit a second request message for the TDLS session to the second AP; and establish the TDLS session with the external electronic device through the second AP on the basis of the reception of a response message to the second request message from the external electronic device. Additional various embodiments are possible.