Cooperative Wi-Fi Client Troubleshooting With Coordinated Logging

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Solution Overview

Problem

Troubleshooting Wi-Fi issues in wireless networks is challenging due to partial visibility and potential overhead when multiple client devices are involved, as individual devices may miss or misinterpret events, leading to inefficiencies and increased costs.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a client cooperative troubleshooting process where multiple client devices and access points coordinate to collect logs and packet captures, using a protocol to enhance visibility and reduce overhead through coordinated logging and messaging.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If multiple client devices independently collect troubleshooting data, then comprehensive visibility of network issues is improved, but system overhead and costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevisibility of network issuesVSAvoidsystem overhead

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines troubleshooting efforts of multiple client devices by having them cooperate to collect and share data with a central entity (AP or cloud), merging individual partial views into a comprehensive network-wide troubleshooting perspective without each device independently duplicating full troubleshooting functionality

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary entity (Access Point or cloud-based entity) that coordinates the troubleshooting process, receives data from multiple clients, and manages data aggregation, thereby reducing the overhead burden on individual client devices while maintaining comprehensive visibility

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If individual client devices perform troubleshooting independently, then device autonomy is maintained, but troubleshooting accuracy decreases due to partial visibility

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice autonomyVSAvoidtroubleshooting accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent enables client devices to autonomously participate in troubleshooting by collecting and reporting their own data when requested, maintaining device autonomy while contributing to collective troubleshooting accuracy through self-service data collection

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements feedback mechanisms where troubleshooting data from multiple clients is aggregated and analyzed centrally, with results fed back to improve overall troubleshooting accuracy, allowing individual devices to maintain autonomy while benefiting from collective intelligence

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS12574764B2Client cooperative troubleshooting

Publication Date: 2026.03.10 CISCO TECHNOLOGY INC

AI summary

Client cooperative troubleshooting may be provided. A first computing device may receive, from a second computing device, a troubleshooting request in accordance with a troubleshooting capability protocol. Then the first computing device may signal troubleshooting aid messaging indicating troubleshooting is being performed and defining troubleshooting aid data. The troubleshooting request may then be performed in accordance with the troubleshooting capability protocol. The troubleshooting aid data may be received from a third computing device.