WLAN Mesh Re-Association via Simultaneous Authentication

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional WLAN systems experience significant delays during handover processes due to probe, authentication, and re-association phases, affecting the quality of service and making fast handovers impossible.

Innovation Solution

A method and system for performing simultaneous authentication and re-association in a WLAN mesh network by transmitting authentication request information with a mesh re-association request message, allowing the old mesh point to perform authentication and manage routing updates, thereby reducing delays and overhead.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If separate authentication and re-association phases are performed during handover, then security and protocol compliance are ensured, but handover delay increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveauthentication securityVSAvoidhandover delay

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the authentication phase and re-association phase into a single integrated process. The authentication request information is transmitted within the mesh re-association request message, allowing both authentication and re-association to occur simultaneously rather than sequentially, thereby reducing handover delay while maintaining security requirements

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent performs authentication in advance by including authentication request information in the mesh re-association request message before the actual re-association is completed. This preliminary authentication action allows the receiving node to verify credentials beforehand, enabling faster re-association and reducing overall handover time

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If multiple message exchanges are performed for handover (probe, authentication, re-association), then comprehensive network verification is achieved, but message overhead increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenetwork verificationVSAvoidmessage overhead

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple handover messages into fewer combined messages. Specifically, authentication request information is embedded within the mesh re-association request message, and the authentication reply is included in the mesh re-association reply message. This consolidation reduces the total number of separate message exchanges while maintaining comprehensive verification

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The mesh re-association request message serves multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as both a re-association request and an authentication request. Similarly, the mesh re-association reply message functions as both re-association confirmation and authentication verification. This multi-functionality reduces message overhead by eliminating redundant communications

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS8707396B2Method and system for performing re-association due to handover in a WLAN mesh network

Publication Date: 2014.04.22 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD

AI summary

A method and system for performing re-association in a WLAN mesh network are provided. A mobile node transmits authentication request information to an old node via a new node along with a mesh re-association request message for re-association of the mesh network. Upon receiving the mesh re-association request message, the old node performs re-association and authentication according to the mesh re-association request message, and transmits a mesh re-association reply message to the mobile node via the new node.