Wireless Client Location-Based Network Acquisition

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Solution Overview

Problem

Wireless clients face inefficiencies and battery depletion due to the time-consuming and energy-intensive process of network monitoring and acquisition, especially when roaming, as they need to constantly scan for available access points, which is exacerbated by unpredictable service provider coverage.

Innovation Solution

A wireless client determines its location and uses stored network information in an event memory to quickly and efficiently connect to associated networks, reducing the need for a full scan by employing a limited scan mode that uses location-specific network identifiers and connection attributes to establish connections.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If wireless clients perform full network scans to acquire access point information, then network acquisition reliability is improved, but battery consumption increases and connection speed decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenetwork acquisition reliabilityVSAvoidbattery consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by storing access point information (SSID, BSSID, channel, location) in advance during roaming events. When a connection is needed, the client retrieves pre-stored information from event memory rather than performing a full scan, significantly reducing battery consumption while maintaining reliable network acquisition.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system applies local quality by creating location-specific network information caches. Instead of uniform full scans everywhere, the client stores and retrieves access point details localized to specific geographic locations (determined by GPS coordinates), enabling efficient targeted connections without exhaustive scanning.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Adaptability or versatility

If wireless clients perform full network scans to ensure comprehensive access point discovery, then network coverage completeness is improved, but connection time increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenetwork coverage completenessVSAvoidconnection time
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary network discovery and stores access point information (SSID, BSSID, channel, location) in advance during roaming events. When a connection is needed, the client retrieves pre-stored information from event memory rather than performing a full scan, significantly reducing connection time while maintaining comprehensive network coverage through the stored cache.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system creates copies of access point information (network identifiers, connection attributes, location data) and stores them in event memory. These copies enable rapid retrieval and reconnection without requiring the client to re-scan or re-discover the networks, thus reducing connection time while preserving complete network coverage knowledge.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

3Loss of information

If wireless clients continuously monitor network signals to maintain connection awareness, then network visibility is improved, but energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenetwork visibilityVSAvoidenergy consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements periodic action by using event-driven monitoring that activates during specific roaming events rather than continuous monitoring. The client monitors network signals periodically when location changes or roaming events occur, storing results in event memory, thereby maintaining necessary network visibility while dramatically reducing energy consumption compared to continuous monitoring.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Data Source

PatentEP2055114B1Intelligent network acquisition for wireless clients
Publication Date: 2018.05.02 CISCO TECHNOLOGY INC
  • EP2055114B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2055114B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2055114B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

In one embodiment, a method for facilitating access to a wireless network. A wireless client is operable to determine its current location, select a wireless network based on the location, and connect to the wireless network utilizing network information associated with the location.