Wi-Fi Roaming Access Point Ranking for Faster Channel Scanning

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Solution Overview

Problem

Wireless communication devices experience poor transmission quality and long scanning times when switching between access points due to outdated scanning results and slow channel scanning, particularly in fast-moving environments, leading to compromised network capacity and speed.

Innovation Solution

A method involving a wireless communication device that utilizes historical records and real-time data to rank access points based on scoring, filtering out low-quality channels, and optimizing scanning order to quickly establish connections with higher-quality access points.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If the wireless communication device scans all channels to find alternative access points, then the scanning completeness is improved, but the scanning time increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvescanning completenessVSAvoidscanning time

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary scanning during idle periods to build a historical record of access points and channel qualities before roaming is needed. When signal strength drops below the threshold, the device already has pre-collected scanning results to quickly identify alternative access points without performing a complete scan at the moment of roaming.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of uniformly scanning all channels with equal priority, the system assigns different scanning priorities to different channels based on historical quality data. Channels with better historical signal quality and fewer interfering networks are scanned first, while channels with poor quality or high interference are scanned later or skipped entirely.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Loss of time

If the wireless communication device reduces the number of channels scanned, then the scanning time is decreased, but the system bandwidth is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvescanning timeVSAvoidsystem bandwidth

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of timeVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adjusts the set of channels to be scanned based on historical quality data and current conditions. Channels are selected for scanning based on their historical signal strength, noise floor, and interference levels, optimizing the balance between scanning time and available bandwidth by focusing only on the most promising channels.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Measurement precision

If the wireless communication device performs complete channel scanning, then the access point selection accuracy is improved, but the connection establishment time increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccess point selection accuracyVSAvoidconnection establishment time

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDuration of action of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

4Area of stationary object

If the wireless communication device scans channels in a fast-moving environment, then the channel coverage is improved, but the scanning results become outdated quickly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvechannel coverageVSAvoidscanning result validity

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of stationary objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system adapts the scanning strategy based on the device's motion state. When the device is detected to be moving at high speed, the system reduces the number of channels scanned and focuses on a smaller set of high-priority channels to minimize scanning time. The historical record is updated more frequently to maintain relevance in dynamic environments.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS12604244B2Method used by wireless communication device for connecting to access point and wireless communication device using the same

Publication Date: 2026.04.14 MOXA INC

AI summary

In an aspect, the disclosure is directed to a wireless communication device which includes at least but not limited to: a wireless transceiver; and a processor coupled to the wireless transceiver and configured at least to: establish a first wireless connection to a first access point via the wireless transceiver, determine whether the first wireless connection of the wireless communication device has met a roaming criteria, having met the roaming criteria, obtain a subset of historical record stored in the wireless communication device according to the first access point, rank access points in the subset of historical record to generate a list of ranked access points by obtaining a score of the access point based on the historical record, select a second access point according to the list of ranked access points, and establish a second wireless connection to the second access point via the wireless transceiver.