Wi-Fi Aware Beacon Timing for Transmission Delay Detection

Solution Overview

Problem

In wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi) aware networks, electronic devices face challenges in determining transmission delays between each other, which can lead to failure in meeting transmission requirements, especially for data with high delay sensitivity, as existing methods require additional signaling or dedicated channels, increasing overhead and detection time.

Innovation Solution

Electronic devices utilize device discovery, synchronization, or service discovery frames to carry sending time information, allowing for the determination of transmission delays without additional signaling, by using reserved fields in these frames to convey the necessary timing data.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If dedicated signaling or a dedicated channel is used for delay detection, then measurement precision of transmission delay is improved, but loss of time increases and device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetransmission delay measurement precisionVSAvoidtime needed for delay determination

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the transmission delay measurement function with existing Wi-Fi NAN beacon frames (device discovery beacon frames, synchronization beacon frames, or service discovery frames). Instead of using dedicated signaling or channels, the sending time information is embedded within these routinely transmitted beacon frames, thereby combining multiple functions into a single communication mechanism and eliminating the need for separate delay measurement procedures.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The beacon frames in Wi-Fi NAN networks are made multi-functional by incorporating sending time information fields that serve both their original purposes (device discovery, synchronization, service discovery) and the new function of transmission delay measurement. This universal approach allows the same frame structure to fulfill multiple roles without requiring additional dedicated signaling.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Measurement precision

If dedicated signaling or a dedicated channel is used for delay detection, then measurement precision of transmission delay is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetransmission delay measurement precisionVSAvoidcomplexity of delay detection mechanism

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the transmission delay measurement function with existing Wi-Fi NAN beacon frames (device discovery beacon frames, synchronization beacon frames, or service discovery frames). Instead of using dedicated signaling or channels, the sending time information is embedded within these routinely transmitted beacon frames, thereby combining multiple functions into a single communication mechanism and eliminating the need for separate delay measurement procedures.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The beacon frames in Wi-Fi NAN networks are made multi-functional by incorporating sending time information fields that serve both their original purposes (device discovery, synchronization, service discovery) and the new function of transmission delay measurement. This universal approach allows the same frame structure to fulfill multiple roles without requiring additional dedicated signaling.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Loss of time

If existing beacon frames are used to carry sending time information, then loss of time is reduced and device complexity is reduced, but measurement precision may be affected by frame structure limitations

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetime needed for delay determinationVSAvoidtransmission delay measurement precision

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of timeVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent modifies the parameters of existing beacon frames by adding or repurusing fields to carry sending time information. Specifically, it utilizes available fields in the beacon frame structure (such as timestamp fields or reserved fields) to encode the sending time, thereby adapting the frame parameters to support delay measurement without fundamentally changing the frame structure or requiring new frame types.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS12621746B2Method for determining transmission delay and electronic device

Publication Date: 2026.05.05 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD

AI summary

A method includes that a first frame from a second electronic device may carry sending time information of the sent first frame, and the first frame is a device discovery beacon frame used for device discovery, a synchronization beacon frame used for synchronization, or a service discovery frame used for service discovery in Wi-Fi aware. After receiving the first frame, a first electronic device may determine a first transmission delay between the first electronic device and the second electronic device based on the sending time information of the first frame and a first time point at which the first frame is received.