Terminal Discovery Without LBS Server Support

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing wireless communication technologies, such as Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, require support from a Location-Based Service (LBS) server to find and connect with other terminals running the same application in a local or adjacent area, limiting data exchange between devices.

Innovation Solution

A terminal search method that acquires and broadcasts an application identifier, allowing devices to establish connections with other terminals running the same application without relying on an LBS server, using a broadcast frame and response messages to identify and connect with target devices.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Difficulty of detecting and measuring

If LBS server support is required to find other terminals, then terminal discovery capability is improved, but system complexity and dependency increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveterminal discovery capabilityVSAvoidsystem dependency
Core Design Contradiction:
Difficulty of detecting and measuringVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the terminal discovery function from the LBS server infrastructure and implements it directly in the terminal devices themselves. Each terminal independently performs broadcast and response operations to discover other terminals, eliminating the mandatory dependency on external server support while maintaining the terminal discovery capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The terminal devices perform self-service for discovery by autonomously broadcasting their application identifiers and responding to received broadcasts without requiring external server coordination. This self-contained mechanism resolves the contradiction by enabling terminal discovery through local device operations rather than server-dependent processes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Measurement precision

If LBS server support is used for local terminal search, then search accuracy is improved, but loss of time and communication overhead increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesearch accuracyVSAvoidcommunication overhead
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the terminal discovery process into independent broadcast and response phases that occur directly between terminal devices. This segmentation eliminates the need for centralized server coordination, reducing communication overhead and time loss while maintaining search accuracy through direct peer-to-peer interaction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent skips the intermediate server communication steps by implementing direct terminal-to-terminal broadcast and response mechanisms. This rushing through of the discovery process eliminates unnecessary server round-trips, reducing time loss and communication overhead while preserving the ability to accurately identify nearby terminals running the same application.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #21Skipping (Rushing through)

3Productivity

If direct terminal-to-terminal connection is implemented, then data exchange efficiency is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata exchange efficiencyVSAvoidconnection mechanism
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a universal broadcast mechanism that handles multiple functions: terminal identification, application matching, and connection initiation. This multi-functional approach enables direct terminal-to-terminal connection and efficient data exchange without requiring separate complex mechanisms for each function, thus improving productivity while controlling device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP2846562B1Method and apparatus for searching terminals
Publication Date: 2020.06.24 HUAWEI DEVICE CO LTD
  • EP2846562B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2846562B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP2846562B1 patent drawingFigure 5~9

AI summary

The present invention discloses a method and an apparatus for discovering a device in a neighboring area, relates to the field of wireless communications technologies, and resolves a problem in the prior art that a terminal cannot find, without relying on support from an LBS server, another terminal that runs a same application in a local scope or an adjacent area. The method includes: acquiring an application identifier; broadcasting a broadcast frame that carries the application identifier to a receiving end; receiving a message that is sent by a candidate receiving end and carries a target application identifier, where the target application identifier is selected by the candidate receiving end from the application identifier; and determining a target receiving end from the candidate receiving end, so as to establish a connection of a target application with the target receiving end. Embodiments of the present invention are mainly applied to a short-distance wireless communication process.