Wireless Device Discovery via Periodic Unsolicited Frames
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current IEEE 802.11 standards do not provide methods for wireless devices to discover other proximate individual wireless devices, as they primarily focus on discovering Basic Service Sets (BSS) rather than individual devices, which is necessary for remote connection and configuration.
Innovation Solution
The system involves broadcasting periodic unsolicited discovery frames on each channel in a channel set, listening for discovery responses, and extracting discovery information to establish connections with nearby wireless devices, even when they are not constantly listening on their base channel.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If wireless devices use traditional BSS discovery methods (active/passive scanning), then they can discover networks, but they cannot discover individual wireless devices within or outside those networks
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the discovery process into two distinct phases: network-level discovery (BSS discovery using existing 802.11 scanning) and device-level discovery (individual device discovery using new probe request/response mechanisms). This allows the system to maintain existing network discovery capabilities while adding specific device discovery functionality through separate, targeted protocol extensions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces intermediary discovery frames (probe requests and probe responses) that act as mediators between wireless devices. These frames carry device-specific information (device ID, capabilities, status) that enables indirect device discovery without requiring direct device-to-device communication channels, thus working within the existing infrastructure framework.
2Reliability
If wireless devices remain continuously listening on their base channel to enable discovery, then discovery reliability improves, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by having devices broadcast their presence information (discovery frames) at predetermined intervals before any discovery request is made. This allows listening devices to discover transmitting devices without needing to continuously monitor the channel, as the transmitting device proactively announces its presence in advance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs periodic action through interval-based discovery frame transmission and scheduled listening periods. Devices transmit discovery frames at regular intervals and listen during scheduled time windows, enabling reliable discovery while allowing devices to enter low-power states between these periodic activities, thus reducing overall power consumption.
3Loss of information
If wireless devices scan multiple channels to discover all possible devices, then discovery completeness improves, but discovery time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the channel set into multiple subsets and distributes discovery frame transmissions across these subsets. Different devices transmit on different channels within their assigned subsets, allowing receiving devices to discover multiple transmitters simultaneously by monitoring multiple channels in parallel, thus reducing total discovery time while maintaining completeness.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements partial action by allowing devices to perform discovery on a subset of channels rather than all channels. Through the coordinated use of multiple subsets and periodic transmissions, the system achieves comprehensive discovery coverage over time without requiring every device to scan every channel continuously, thus reducing individual device workload and overall discovery time.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for enabling wireless devices to discover a number of other proximate wireless devices are disclosed. The discovery may include the discovery of network configuration parameters useful for establishing a connection between the wireless devices. The disclosed systems and methods for device discovery may operate in a number of different modes to timely discover wireless devices that receive communications continuously, as well as wireless devices that turn off their wireless receivers for intermittent periods of time. The wireless devices may, for example, communicate using the IEEE 802.11 protocol.