Wireless Network Channel Assessment Coordination
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Solution Overview
Problem
In wireless networks, the variable state of channels over time can lead to communication disruptions, necessitating continuous assessment and searching for better channels to maintain desirable communication.
Innovation Solution
A method involving a coordinator that schedules periodic channel assessment and searching procedures, where devices are notified through beacons to measure and report channel status, simplifying the process by coordinating channel assessments and searches across the network.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If continuous channel assessment and searching are performed to maintain desirable communication, then communication reliability is improved, but system complexity and energy consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the channel monitoring task by designating specific devices as channel assessors that perform assessment and searching functions. This divides the complex continuous monitoring task into discrete, periodic operations performed by designated devices rather than all devices continuously, thereby maintaining communication reliability while reducing overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements periodic channel assessment and searching operations instead of continuous monitoring. The coordinator schedules periodic channel assessments and devices perform searching at intervals, which maintains the ability to detect channel quality changes and switch to better channels while significantly reducing the complexity and energy consumption associated with continuous monitoring.
2Measurement precision
If each device performs independent channel assessment and searching, then channel quality monitoring is thorough, but procedure complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the channel assessment and searching procedures into a coordinated system led by a coordinator device. The coordinator performs channel assessment and schedules searching operations, consolidating what would otherwise be multiple independent device operations into a unified procedure. This maintains thorough channel quality monitoring while simplifying the overall procedure by centralizing control.
Solution Approach 2:
The coordinator acts as an intermediary between channel quality measurement and device channel selection. Instead of each device independently performing assessment and searching, the coordinator mediates the process by assessing channels and providing information to devices, which then perform targeted searching based on coordinator guidance, reducing procedure complexity while maintaining monitoring thoroughness.
3Reliability
If channel assessment is performed during active communication, then real-time channel quality monitoring is achieved, but communication interruptions occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs channel assessment in advance of potential channel switching needs. The coordinator assesses channel quality periodically and stores assessment results, so when channel switching becomes necessary, the pre-assessed information is already available. This eliminates the need to interrupt communication for real-time assessment, as the preliminary assessment data guides subsequent channel switching decisions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements periodic channel assessment at scheduled intervals rather than during active communication bursts. This periodic approach allows communication to proceed without interruption while still achieving real-time monitoring capability through regular updates. The periodic timing is coordinated to minimize impact on communication productivity while maintaining adequate monitoring frequency.
Data Source
AI summary
A method of channel assessment and channel searching in a wireless network is disclosed. The wireless network separately performs a channel assessment procedure and a channel searching procedure for channel change or another object. The channel assessment procedure is to measure a status or quality of a channel which is currently used in the wireless network. A coordinator of the wireless network designates a time interval for the channel assessment to notify other device of it. The channel assessment procedure may be performed periodically, and is preferably scheduled to allow other devices not to use the channel for the time interval which at least one device performs channel assessment.