Wireless Terminal Connection Selection via Access Point Verification

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing short-range wireless communication technologies face challenges in establishing efficient wireless connections between a wireless communication terminal and a device without going through an access point, leading to time loss and limitations in the number of terminals that can connect directly.

Innovation Solution

A wireless communication terminal is equipped with an identification information obtainment unit and a connection selection unit that determines whether to connect through an access point or directly to a wireless communication device, using second network identification information to establish a connection without an external access point, and includes a response unit to reduce standby power consumption.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Speed

If the wireless communication terminal automatically connects to the wireless communication device without going through the access point using short-range wireless communication, then the connection speed is improved, but the reliability of connection is worsened because the terminal cannot determine whether the device is actually connected to the same network

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconnection speedVSAvoidconnection reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The terminal performs preliminary detection by inquiring about the device's connection status through the access point before establishing a direct short-range connection. This preliminary action allows the terminal to verify whether the wireless communication device is connected to the same network, ensuring reliable connection establishment while maintaining fast connection speed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If the terminal detects connection status through the access point before establishing direct connection, then the connection reliability is improved, but the time loss is worsened due to additional detection steps

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconnection reliabilityVSAvoidconnection establishment time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The terminal performs only a partial detection by inquiring about the device's connection status through the access point, rather than performing a complete network scan or verification. This partial action reduces the time loss while still providing sufficient information to ensure reliable connection establishment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Reliability

If the wireless communication device maintains the response unit in standby state to respond to SNMP inquiries, then the connection reliability is improved, but the power consumption is worsened

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveresponse reliabilityVSAvoidpower consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The response unit is activated periodically or on-demand to respond to SNMP inquiries from the access point, rather than maintaining continuous standby state. This periodic activation reduces power consumption while still ensuring reliable response when needed for connection verification.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Data Source

PatentEP3193518B1Wireless communication terminal, wireless communication system, and wireless communication program
Publication Date: 2019.09.18 SEIKO EPSON CORP
  • EP3193518B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3193518B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP3193518B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

A wireless communication terminal includes an identification information obtainment unit that obtains first network identification information of a wireless communication device by short-range wireless communication with the wireless communication device; a connection determination unit that, when the identification information in the network is wirelessly transmitted to an external access point connected in advance and a response for the transmission of the identification information in the network is received, determines whether or not a wireless communication device corresponding to the identification information in the network is on the network through the external access point based on the received response; a connection selection unit that selects whether to wirelessly connect to the wireless communication device without going through the external access point or wirelessly connect to the wireless communication device through the external access point, in accordance with the determined result; and a communication control unit that performs wireless communication with the wireless communication device by the selected wireless connection.