WLAN Probe Response Timeout for Fast Association

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Solution Overview

Problem

In dense wireless environments, existing systems face interference and reduced throughput due to multiple wireless networks operating in the same area and spectrum, leading to communication inefficiencies.

Innovation Solution

The method involves determining a communication rate for high-efficiency wireless communication by exchanging probe requests and responses with transmission power indications, estimating path-loss, and adjusting data rates based on acknowledgments and timeout periods, while conditionally including neighbor report information and storing state information for optimized data transmission.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Area of stationary object

If multiple wireless networks operate in the same area and spectrum, then network coverage is provided, but interference increases and throughput decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenetwork coverage areaVSAvoidnetwork throughput
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the association process into multiple stages: initial scanning phase where stations collect neighbor report information from probe responses, and a subsequent association phase where pre-collected information is reused. This segmentation allows networks to operate efficiently in dense environments by reducing redundant information exchange and minimizing interference impact on throughput.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If traditional probe request/response exchange is used, then basic association is achieved, but channel time consumption increases in dense networks

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveassociation reliabilityVSAvoidchannel time consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements preliminary action by having access points include neighbor report information in probe responses during the scanning phase. Stations collect and store this information beforehand, so when association is needed, the process can proceed faster by reusing the pre-collected neighbor reports rather than exchanging complete information again, thus reducing channel time consumption while maintaining association reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Reliability

If complete state information is exchanged during each association, then communication reliability is ensured, but communication overhead increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecommunication reliabilityVSAvoidcommunication overhead
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by making the information exchange adaptive: complete state information is exchanged only when necessary (when stations haven't collected sufficient neighbor report information), while reused information is exchanged in a simplified form. This selective approach ensures communication reliability is maintained where needed while reducing overhead in scenarios where information can be safely reused from previous exchanges.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP3039913B1Fast association in WLAN 802.11
Publication Date: 2018.07.11 QUALCOMM INC
  • EP3039913B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3039913B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3039913B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Systems, methods, and devices for wireless communication are provided. In an embodiment, a method of wireless communication includes receiving, at an access point, a probe request, decoding the probe request to determine shared wireless device state information, storing the shared wireless device state information for at least a timeout period, transmitting a probe response indicating the timeout period; and receiving an association request omitting the wireless device state information within the timeout period.