Wireless Device Role Determination via Negotiation

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Solution Overview

Problem

In IEEE802.11 infrastructure mode, the role of devices as master or slave is randomly determined, regardless of user intention or connection state, leading to inefficient communication partner selection and increased connection time.

Innovation Solution

A wireless communication device with a notification information transmission unit, response information reception unit, notification information reception unit, response information transmission unit, and operation mode determination unit, which determines the device's role based on operation mode determination information, allowing flexible switching between master and slave modes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If devices send notification information by switching frequency to find communication partners, then connection flexibility is improved, but connection time increases and role assignment becomes random

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconnection flexibilityVSAvoidconnection time

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by having devices pre-determine their operation mode (master or slave) before actual communication partner search begins. The operation mode determination unit decides the role based on device capabilities, user settings, or negotiation outcomes stored in advance, eliminating random role assignment during the connection process and reducing connection time.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The device performs self-service by autonomously determining its own operation mode without relying on random assignment or external coordination during the connection process. The operation mode determination unit independently decides whether the device should function as master or slave based on pre-stored capabilities and settings, enabling faster and more reliable connection establishment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Device complexity

If operation mode is decided randomly during connection, then device simplicity is maintained, but communication efficiency decreases and user intention is ignored

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconnection protocol simplicityVSAvoidcommunication efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements preliminary action by determining the operation mode before the connection process begins. The operation mode determination unit uses pre-stored device capabilities, user preferences, or negotiation results to assign roles in advance, ensuring efficient communication from the start without compromising device simplicity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies parameter changes by dynamically adjusting the operation mode parameter based on device capabilities, user settings, or negotiation outcomes. The operation mode determination unit selects appropriate parameters (master or slave mode) to optimize communication efficiency while maintaining protocol simplicity through structured decision-making.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Adaptability or versatility

If frequency switching is used for notification information transmission, then network adaptability is improved, but information synchronization becomes difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenetwork adaptabilityVSAvoidnotification information synchronization

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism through the operation mode determination unit, which acts as a coordinator to establish consistent operation modes between communicating devices before partner search begins. This intermediary function ensures that both devices operate on the same frequency and protocol assumptions, preventing information synchronization issues while maintaining network adaptability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS10567979B2Wireless communication device, wireless communication system, wireless communication method, and program

Publication Date: 2020.02.18 INTERDIGITAL CE PATENT HOLDINGS SAS

AI summary

There is provided a wireless communication device including a control-message creation/transmission-instruction unit which sends notification information via a wireless communication network and also sends response information in the case of receiving notification information sent from another device, a reception/interpretation processing unit which receives, from another device which has received the notification information of the wireless communication device, response information of such other device and also receives the notification information sent from such other device, and an operation mode determination unit which determines, based on operation mode determination information included in the notification information of such other device or the response information of such other device, that the wireless communication device is caused to operate as one of a master device and a slave device.