WLAN Relay Selection via Priority AP List Generation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing communication systems may not always connect a communication device to the optimal relay device due to timing discrepancies between when the communication situation of a relay device is transmitted and when it is actually ascertained by the management server, leading to potential suboptimal network connections.

Innovation Solution

A communication system that generates a priority AP list based on relay device availability, communication speed, and location, allowing the communication device to select the best relay device for network connection by combining a surrounding AP list and a priority AP list generated by the management server.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If the management server manages relay device communication situations based on periodically transmitted data, then the system can operate with simple data collection mechanisms, but the communication situation ascertained by the management server may be out of sync with the actual real-time conditions

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata collection mechanism complexityVSAvoidcommunication situation accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The relay device performs preliminary actions by proactively transmitting its communication situation data to the management server before the management server actually needs to make routing decisions. This ensures the management server has advance knowledge of current network conditions, resolving the timing discrepancy between data transmission and decision-making.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system establishes a feedback loop where relay devices continuously transmit their communication situation data to the management server, which then uses this information to determine optimal routing paths. This feedback mechanism ensures the management server always has up-to-date information about network conditions, eliminating the out-of-sync problem.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Productivity

If the communication device selects relay devices based on available information at connection time, then the selection process is simple and fast, but the selected relay device may not be the optimal one due to timing discrepancies

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconnection speedVSAvoidrelay device selection accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The management server performs preliminary determination of optimal relay devices by receiving and processing communication situation data from multiple relay devices before the communication device needs to establish a connection. This preliminary action allows the communication device to make informed, accurate selections without delaying connection establishment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The management server acts as an intermediary between relay devices and communication devices, centralizing the relay selection logic. It collects communication situation data from all relay devices, processes this information to determine optimal routes, and provides this guidance to communication devices, ensuring both accuracy and efficiency in relay selection.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP2506636B1Management device, management method, communication device and communication method for a WLAN having relaying functionality
Publication Date: 2016.05.11 SONY GROUP CORP
  • EP2506636B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2506636B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2506636B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A management device includes a management table generation section that generates a management table in which location information showing the present location of a relay device is held for each relay device that may relay communications data from a communication device to a first network, a first receiving section that receives location information showing the present location of the communication device, the location information being received from the communication device via a second network different from the first network, the communication device being connected to the first network via a relay device, a list generation section that generates a candidate list showing relay device candidates that may relay a connection to the first network by communicating with the communication device with reference to the management table based on the location information of the communication device, and a transmission section that transmits the candidate list to the communication device via the second network.