WLAN Scanning Using Beacon Timing Prediction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current wireless local area network (WLAN) scanning methods consume significant power and bandwidth, leading to reduced battery life and network congestion due to inefficient channel scanning without prior knowledge of beacon timing and connectivity frame intervals.
Innovation Solution
A device uses positioning information to access a database for efficient WLAN scanning, predicting beacon timing intervals based on location-specific hash functions and global time synchronization, allowing it to tune antennas during predicted intervals, thereby reducing scanning time and energy consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a device performs comprehensive WLAN channel scanning to identify available networks, then network connectivity reliability is improved, but power consumption increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by obtaining beacon timing information from databases or previous scans before conducting full channel scanning. This allows the device to pre-calculate when beacons will be transmitted on each channel, enabling it to scan only during these predicted intervals rather than continuously monitoring all channels, thus reducing power consumption while maintaining connectivity reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The invention implements periodic scanning based on predicted beacon intervals rather than continuous scanning. The device calculates expected beacon transmission times and schedules scanning operations periodically at these specific intervals, reducing overall scanning activity and power consumption while ensuring the device captures beacon signals for network identification
2Adaptability or versatility
If a device scans multiple wireless channels to find available WLANs, then network selection capability is improved, but bandwidth overhead increases due to extraneous broadcasting
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary acquisition of beacon timing information from databases or previous scanning results before conducting channel scans. This allows the device to predict which channels will have beacon transmissions at specific times, enabling targeted scanning that maintains network selection capability while reducing unnecessary channel monitoring and associated bandwidth overhead
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of scanning all channels continuously, the invention applies partial action by scanning only the subset of channels predicted to have beacon transmissions during specific time intervals. This selective scanning approach maintains adequate network selection capability by focusing on relevant channels while reducing overall scanning activity and bandwidth consumption
3Reliability
If a device performs frequent RSSI scans to identify stronger signal sources, then connection quality is improved, but battery life is reduced due to increased power consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements periodic RSSI scanning synchronized with predicted beacon intervals rather than frequent continuous scanning. By calculating when beacons are expected to transmit on each channel and scheduling RSSI measurements at these periodic intervals, the device maintains connection quality monitoring while significantly reducing the frequency of scanning operations and associated power consumption, thereby extending battery life
Data Source
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AI summary
A device may use positioning information to increase the efficiency a wireless local area network (WLAN) scanning process. To determine the presence of WLANs within range, a device may determine its own location. For example, the device may determine its own location using a satellite-based navigation system. The device may then determine a wireless scanning strategy based on the determined location. The determination may be further based on connection parameters, such as, channel information, network capabilities, and/or other connection parameters.