Wireless Repeater MAC Virtualization for Accurate Device Identification
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Solution Overview
Problem
In telecommunications networks, the use of wireless repeaters virtualizing Media Access Control (MAC) addresses and modifying signal strength values leads to inaccurate device identification and signal assessment, hindering effective network management and analysis.
Innovation Solution
A method to identify and correct MAC addresses and signal strengths by comparing Organizationally Unique Identifiers (OUI) and signal strength values across multiple records, assigning identifiers to correctly associate devices with their actual MAC addresses and signal strengths, even when virtualized.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If a repeater virtualizes the MAC address of a user device, then the repeater can extend network coverage and improve signal strength, but the device identification accuracy deteriorates because the CPE cannot distinguish between the actual device MAC address and the virtualized MAC address
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an Auto-Configuration Server (ACS) as an intermediary between the CPE and the repeater/device system. The ACS collects datasets from both the CPE (containing virtualized MAC addresses) and the repeater (containing actual MAC addresses and signal strength information), then performs matching operations to correlate virtualized MAC addresses with actual device identities. This intermediary processing layer resolves the identification conflict without requiring changes to the repeater's MAC virtualization function.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent adds a new dimension of identification by introducing repeater identifiers and creating multi-dimensional datasets that include not only MAC addresses but also signal strength values, repeater identifiers, and timing information. By matching across multiple dimensions (MAC address similarity, signal strength correlation, temporal patterns), the system can accurately identify devices even when MAC addresses are virtualized, transforming a one-dimensional identification problem into a multi-dimensional correlation problem.
2Temperature
If a repeater modifies signal strength values in datasets, then the repeater can report improved signal quality to the CPE, but the signal assessment accuracy deteriorates because the CPE receives incorrect signal strength information about the actual device
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the ACS collects signal strength data from both the CPE perspective and the repeater perspective, compares these datasets, and uses the correlation between virtualized and actual MAC addresses to infer the true signal strength characteristics of the device. The system feeds back corrected signal assessment information to replace the modified values, enabling accurate signal quality evaluation despite the repeater's modifications.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary matching and correlation operations on the datasets before final signal assessment. By pre-establishing the relationship between virtualized MAC addresses and actual device identities through MAC address pattern matching and signal strength correlation analysis, the system prepares the corrected identification framework in advance, allowing subsequent signal strength evaluations to be accurately attributed to the correct devices rather than using the repeater's modified values.
3Extent of automation
If the CPE collects datasets using the TR-69 protocol, then the network operator can remotely manage and monitor devices, but the network management effectiveness deteriorates when devices connect via repeaters because the collected data contains virtualized MAC addresses that cannot be correctly correlated with actual devices
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges datasets from multiple sources: the CPE's TR-69 protocol collections (containing virtualized MAC addresses and basic device information) and the repeater's datasets (containing actual MAC addresses and detailed signal information). By combining these datasets and performing correlation matching based on MAC address patterns and signal strength relationships, the system reconstructs complete and accurate device identification information that preserves remote management capabilities while eliminating the information loss caused by MAC virtualization.
Data Source
AI summary
This invention provides a method of operating a wireless local area network, the wireless local area network including a user device, a wireless access point and a wireless repeater, wherein the wireless repeater is configured to virtualise a Media Access Control, MAC, address of the user device when the user device is connected to the wireless repeater, the method comprising the steps of: obtaining data including a first plurality of records, wherein each record of the first plurality of records relates to the user device and includes a MAC address and a signal strength value; obtaining data including a second plurality of records, wherein each record of the second plurality of records includes a Basic Service Set Identifier, BSSID, and a signal strength value; for each MAC address in the first plurality of records: identifying a record of the second plurality of records having a BSSID that sufficiently matches the MAC address by determining a similarity between an Organisationally Unique Identifier, OUI, of the BSSID and the OUI of the MAC address, determining that a difference between the signal strength value associated with the identified record of the second plurality of records and the signal strength value associated with the MAC address of the first plurality of records is within a threshold, assigning a first hop repeater identifier to each record of the first plurality of records having the MAC address based on the BSSID of the identified record of the second plurality of records; and causing a reconfiguration in the wireless local area network based on the first hop repeater identifier.