Wi-Fi P2P Virtual Interface Segmentation for Channel Contention

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing user terminal apparatuses experience performance deterioration in Wi-Fi functionality when simultaneously supporting normal Wi-Fi and Wi-Fi P2P connections, due to shared physical resources and inefficient channel listening, leading to reduced data transmission speeds and ranges.

Innovation Solution

A user terminal apparatus with separate communication interfaces for wireless LAN and direct P2P communication, a controller to determine signal characteristics, and an event signal processor to filter and manage signals, allowing selective P2P communication only on the currently operating channel, thereby reducing resource sharing and improving Wi-Fi performance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If Wi-Fi P2P listening state is established to respond to requests from surrounding devices, then P2P communication capability is improved, but normal Wi-Fi performance deteriorates due to shared physical resources

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveP2P communication capabilityVSAvoidnormal Wi-Fi performance
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the Wi-Fi interface functionality into two separate virtual interfaces: a P2P virtual interface and a normal Wi-Fi virtual interface. This segmentation allows independent resource allocation and management for P2P operations and normal Wi-Fi communications, preventing resource contention between the two functions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a virtual interface layer as an intermediary between the physical Wi-Fi interface and the application layers. This virtual interface layer acts as a mediator that manages resource allocation, filters packets, and coordinates between P2P and normal Wi-Fi operations, preventing direct resource conflict.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If channel hopping is performed to search for P2P devices across multiple channels, then P2P device discovery capability is improved, but time consumption increases due to scanning multiple channels

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveP2P device discovery capabilityVSAvoidtime consumption for device discovery
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary actions by establishing the P2P virtual interface and configuring it to monitor only the current operating channel before actual P2P communication begins. This preliminary setup avoids the need for time-consuming channel hopping during active communication, as the listening state is pre-configured to the relevant channel.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Device complexity

If physical resources are commonly shared between normal Wi-Fi and Wi-Fi P2P functions, then device complexity is reduced, but resource contention occurs leading to performance deterioration

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecommunication interface structureVSAvoiddata transmission speed
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the shared physical resources into dedicated virtual resources for P2P and normal Wi-Fi functions. By creating separate virtual interfaces with independent resource allocation, the system maintains logical resource separation without requiring multiple physical interfaces, thus avoiding performance deterioration while keeping device complexity manageable.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent makes a single physical Wi-Fi interface multi-functional by implementing virtual interface technology. The same physical hardware can simultaneously handle both P2P communication and normal Wi-Fi traffic through virtualization, eliminating the need for separate physical interfaces while preventing resource contention through intelligent resource management.

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

Data Source

PatentEP2916569B1User terminal apparatus and driving method
Publication Date: 2020.05.06 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD
  • EP2916569B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2916569B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2916569B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A user terminal apparatus, a driving method of the user terminal apparatus and a computer readable recording medium thereof are provided, in which the user terminal apparatus is configured to perform communication with a first external device and a second external device and includes a first communication interface performing communication with the first external device, a second communication interface performing communication with the second external device, and a controller determining characteristics of the received signals when signals of the second external device are received at currently operating channel which performs communication with the first external device through the first communication interface while performing communication with the first external device, and controlling the second communication interface to perform communication with the second external device according to a determining result.