Wireless Network Device Identification via Server Mediation

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

In large wireless local area networks (WLANs), users face difficulties in identifying and communicating with specific computers among many connected devices, making it a time-consuming task to establish connections with devices that have not previously communicated.

Innovation Solution

A method where a mobile device or server requests and transmits identifiers to establish communication with a network device via a wireless communication channel, using a server to verify and provide network identifiers for mobile devices to locate and connect with target computers within the network.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a user manually identifies a specific computer from many devices in a large WLAN, then the user can establish communication with the target device, but the process becomes time-consuming and complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of device identificationVSAvoidtime to establish connection
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a server as an intermediary that manages device identification and connection establishment. Instead of manually searching through many devices, the user interacts with the server which handles the complex task of identifying the target device and establishing communication, thereby simplifying the user's task and reducing time consumption

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback mechanisms where the server provides status information about device connections and communication states. This feedback allows users to track the connection process and understand system actions, making the overall process more manageable and less time-consuming in large networks

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Measurement precision

If the system provides detailed identification options for each network device, then the user can accurately select the target device, but the interface complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice identification accuracyVSAvoidinterface complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the complex device identification logic from the user interface and relocates it to the server. The interface presents simplified options while the server handles the complex matching and identification processes in the background, thereby maintaining identification accuracy without increasing interface complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The system segments the identification process into multiple steps handled by different components. The interface presents simplified user choices while the server performs detailed device matching, dividing the complex task into manageable parts that reduce perceived complexity while maintaining precision

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP1955524B1Identifying and accessing a network device via wireless communication
Publication Date: 2020.04.29 QUALCOMM INC
  • EP1955524B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP1955524B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP1955524B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

One embodiment of the invention is a method that includes a mobile device receiving via a wireless communication channel a request for an identifier corresponding to a network device. The mobile device transmits the identifier. The mobile device receives a network identifier corresponding to the network device. The mobile device utilizes the network identifier to establish communication with the network device via the wireless communication channel.