Wireless Device AP Selection Using Connection History

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing wireless communication methods often result in connections being made with access points (APs) not intended by the user, especially when selecting APs based on radio quality or connection history, leading to suboptimal reconnections and frustration in home networks where network availability changes.

Innovation Solution

A wireless communication apparatus and method that selects connections based on dynamic criteria, such as connection history and parameter information like start and end times of connections, or positional information, to ensure reconnection with the intended AP while avoiding weak signal APs after a certain time or distance has elapsed.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If connection is determined based on radio quality threshold, then connection reliability is improved, but user intention is not respected and unintended AP connections occur

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconnection reliabilityVSAvoiduser intention alignment
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by making the AP selection criteria adaptable rather than static. The system dynamically switches between connection history-based selection and radio quality-based selection based on whether the previously connected AP is available. This resolves the contradiction by making the system reliable when the intended AP is available (through history-based selection) while maintaining flexibility to adapt to changing conditions (switching to quality-based selection when needed).

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the selection parameter dynamically: using connection history as the primary criterion when the previous AP is available, and switching to radio quality threshold as the criterion when the previous AP is unavailable. This parameter switching resolves the contradiction by prioritizing user intention (history) when possible, while ensuring connection reliability (quality threshold) when necessary.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Ease of operation

If connection is determined based on connection history priority, then user intended AP is selected, but AP with higher radio quality is not selected even if present

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuser intention alignmentVSAvoidconnection quality
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts the selection criterion based on AP availability. When the previously connected AP is available, it uses connection history priority to respect user intention. When that AP is unavailable, it dynamically switches to radio quality threshold to ensure connection reliability. This dynamic adaptation resolves the contradiction between prioritizing user intention and ensuring connection quality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses feedback from AP availability detection to adjust its selection strategy. By monitoring whether the previously connected AP is still available, the system receives feedback that determines which selection criterion to apply: history-based selection when available, quality-based selection when unavailable. This feedback mechanism resolves the contradiction by allowing the system to optimize for user intention when possible and for connection quality when necessary.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Stability of the object's composition

If static AP priority is used for connection selection, then connection stability is improved, but adaptability to changing circumstances is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconnection stabilityVSAvoidadaptability to circumstances
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent transforms the static priority system into a dynamic one by introducing conditional logic based on AP availability. The system maintains stability through connection history priority when the intended AP is available, while gaining adaptability by switching to radio quality threshold when circumstances change and the intended AP becomes unavailable. This dynamic structure resolves the contradiction between stability and adaptability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP2816845B1Wireless communication device, program, and communication control method
Publication Date: 2019.02.06 SONY GROUP CORP
  • EP2816845B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2816845B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2816845B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

There is provided a wireless communication apparatus including an obtaining unit configured to obtain parameter information, and a communication control unit configured to prioritize and select another wireless communication apparatus included in a connection history as a connection when a difference between the parameter information during a connection with another wireless communication apparatus included in the connection history and the parameter information obtained by the obtaining unit when not connected to the other wireless communication apparatus is at or less than a predetermined value.