Target Wake Time Signaling for MAC Address Rotation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing wireless network technologies face challenges in implementing randomized and changing Media Access Control (MAC) addresses (RCM) effectively, particularly in avoiding MAC address collisions and maintaining resource consistency during address changes.

Innovation Solution

The integration of Target Wake Time (TWT) signaling with RCM techniques allows client devices and access points to negotiate and agree on RCM operations, enabling efficient MAC address changes while avoiding collisions and maintaining resource consistency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If MAC addresses are randomized and changed periodically to improve privacy, then privacy protection is improved, but MAC address collisions and resource inconsistency occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprivacy protectionVSAvoidMAC address collision avoidance

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by having the access point send a notification frame to the station before the MAC address change becomes effective. This advance notification allows the system to prepare for the address change, coordinate resource allocation, and prevent collisions by ensuring the network is ready for the transition. The notification frame includes information about the upcoming MAC address change, allowing proactive management of the address transition process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Use of energy by moving object

If TWT mechanism is used to allow clients to sleep and wake up periodically to improve battery life, then energy efficiency is improved, but coordination of MAC address changes becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebattery lifeVSAvoidMAC address change coordination

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the TWT mechanism with the MAC address change notification process. The access point uses the existing TWT wake-up timing to trigger the MAC address change notification, combining two functions into a single coordinated process. This integration ensures that MAC address changes occur at predetermined wake-up times when the station is already active, reducing the need for separate coordination mechanisms and maintaining simplicity while supporting both energy efficiency and address randomization.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS20250203522A1Extending target wake time for randomized and changing media access control address signaling

Publication Date: 2025.06.19 CISCO TECHNOLOGY INC

AI summary

Presented herein are techniques for extending Target Wake Time (TWT) to provide for randomizing and changing media access control (MAC) address (RCM) signaling. According to certain embodiments, a client device operating in a wireless network determines a TWT for the client device. Next, the client device determines that it will change from using a first MAC address to a using second MAC address. Finally, the client device generates, for transmission to an access point device that serves wireless communication in the wireless network, a TWT signaling message. The TWT signaling message indicates the TWT for the client device and the second MAC address.