Reconnect a wireless communication link according to a variable duty cycle

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to reconnecting a wireless communication link according to a variable duty cycle. In an exemplary method, a mobile device establishes a first wireless communication link and a second wireless communication link with a second device, and determines that the second wireless communication link is not connected. In response to determining that the second wireless communication link is not connected, the mobile device attempts to re-establish the second wireless communication link with the second device according to a duty cycle that varies at least based on characteristics associated with the first wireless communication link.

Description

[0001] Cross - Reference to Related Applications

[0002] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63 / 159,934, filed on Mar. 11, 2021, the entire content of which is incorporated herein by reference. TECHNICAL FIELD

[0003] This disclosure relates to systems and techniques for managing communication links, including reconnecting wireless communication links between electronic devices according to a variable duty cycle. BACKGROUND ART

[0004] Electronic devices can communicate with each other via one or more wireless communication links. For example, a first electronic device can establish a wireless communication link with a second electronic device, such as a Bluetooth link or a Wi-Fi link. The first electronic device can send data to and / or receive data from the second electronic device via the wireless communication link. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] Disclosed are systems, methods, devices, and non-transitory computer-readable media for reconnecting one or more wireless communication links between electronic devices according to a variable duty cycle.

[0006] In some aspects, a method includes: establishing, by a mobile device, a first wireless communication link and a second wireless communication link with a second device; determining, by the mobile device, that the second wireless communication link is not connected; and attempting, by the mobile device and in response to determining that the second wireless communication link is not connected, to re-establish the second wireless communication link with the second device according to a duty cycle that varies at least based on a characteristic associated with the first wireless communication link.

[0007] Specific implementations of this aspect may include one or more of the following features.

[0008] In some specific implementations, the characteristic associated with the first wireless communication link may include the connection state of the first wireless communication link.

[0009] In some specific implementations, when the first wireless communication link is in a connected state, the duty cycle may have a first value, and when the first wireless communication link is in a disconnected state, the duty cycle may have a second value different from the first value.

[0010] In some specific implementations, the characteristic of the first wireless communication link may include a received signal strength value associated with the first wireless communication link.

[0011] In some specific implementations, when the received signal strength is greater than a threshold, the duty cycle may have a first value, and when the received signal strength is less than or equal to the threshold, the duty cycle may have a second value.

[0012] In some specific implementations, the connection interval of the first wireless communication link may be greater than that of the second wireless communication link.

[0013] In some specific implementations, the sensitivity level of the first wireless communication link may be greater than that of the second wireless communication link.

[0014] In some specific implementations, the effective communication distance of the first wireless communication link may be greater than that of the second wireless communication link.

[0015] In some specific implementations, the data redundancy characteristic of the first wireless communication link may be greater than that of the second wireless communication link.

[0016] In some specific implementations, the first wireless communication link may include a Bluetooth Low Energy Long Range (LE-LR) link or a Bluetooth Low Energy (LE) Coded Physical Layer (PHY) link.

[0017] In some specific implementations, the second wireless communication link may include a Bluetooth Low Energy 1 Megabit (LE-1M) link or a Bluetooth Low Energy 2 Megabit (LE-2M) link.

[0018] In some specific implementations, the first wireless communication link may be established in response to the mobile device determining that the mobile device is in motion.

[0019] In some specific implementations, the method may further include establishing the first wireless communication link in response to determining that the received signal strength associated with the second wireless communication link is less than a threshold.

[0020] Other specific implementations relate to systems, devices, and non-transitory computer-readable media including computer-executable instructions for performing the techniques described herein.

[0021] Certain specific implementations provide at least the following advantages. In some cases, the specific implementations described herein can be used to reconnect wireless communication links between electronic devices in a manner of high power efficiency and high network resource efficiency.

[0022] For example, a first wireless communication link between a first electronic device and a second electronic device may become disconnected for various reasons, such as because the distance between these electronic devices increases or the signal interference between the two devices strengthens. In response, the first electronic device may attempt to reconnect to the second electronic device according to a variable duty cycle, depending on the characteristics of a second high power efficiency "shadow" wireless communication link established between these communication devices. For example, if the characteristics of the second wireless communication link indicate that the reconnection attempt may succeed, the first electronic device may attempt to re - establish the first wireless communication link according to a high duty cycle, so that communication between the two devices can be quickly restored. Additionally, if the characteristics of the second wireless communication link indicate that the reconnection attempt is unlikely to succeed, the first electronic device may attempt to re - establish the first wireless communication link according to a low duty cycle, so that less power is consumed over time (e.g., compared to the power consumed in the case where a high duty cycle would be used).

[0023] Moreover, when the first electronic device attempts to reconnect to the second electronic device, each attempt may degrade the network performance of the first electronic device. For example, when each attempt is executed, the first electronic device may need to temporarily interrupt other wireless communications (e.g., to reduce or avoid network co - existence issues), which may slow down or interfere with the transmission or reception of data. By using the techniques described herein, the first electronic device can attempt to reconnect to the second electronic device in a selective and intelligent manner, such that the network performance of the first electronic device is less likely to degrade (e.g., compared to the network performance that may be exhibited in the absence of the techniques described herein).

[0024] Details of one or more embodiments are set forth in the following drawings and detailed description. Other features and advantages will be apparent from the detailed description and drawings, as well as from the claims. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0025] Figure 1 is a diagram of an exemplary system for reconnecting a wireless communication link between electronic devices according to a variable duty cycle.

[0026] Figure 2A and Figure 2B is a diagram of an exemplary system that utilizes a variable duty cycle that depends on the connection state of a shadow link between electronic devices.

[0027] Figure 3A and Figure 3B is a diagram of an exemplary system that utilizes a variable duty cycle that depends on the signal strength of a wireless signal associated with a shadow link between electronic devices.

[0028] Figure 4A and Figure 4Bis a diagram of an exemplary system that selectively establishes a shadow link between these electronic devices based at least on the signal strength of a wireless signal associated with a primary link between the electronic devices.

[0029] Figure 5A and Figure 5B is a diagram of an exemplary system that selectively establishes a shadow link between these electronic devices based at least on the motion state of one of the electronic devices.

[0030] Figure 6 is a flowchart of an exemplary process for reconnecting a wireless communication link between electronic devices according to a variable duty cycle.

[0031] Figure 7 is for implementing the reference Figures 1 to 6 features and processes described in an exemplary architecture block diagram. Detailed Description

[0032] Figure 1 illustrates an exemplary system 100 for reconnecting a wireless communication link between electronic devices according to a variable duty cycle. System 100 includes a first electronic device 102a having a first wireless transceiver 104a and a second electronic device 102b having a second wireless transceiver 104b.

[0033] In at least some embodiments, system 100 enables electronic devices 102a and 102b to communicate with each other via multiple wireless communication links, e.g., simultaneously or at least partially overlapping in time. Additionally, when one of the wireless communication links becomes disconnected, electronic devices 102a and 102b may attempt to reconnect the disconnected wireless communication link. The reconnection may be performed according to a variable duty cycle, e.g., a duty cycle that varies based on one or more characteristics of another wireless communication link. For example, if one or more characteristics of another wireless communication link indicate that a reconnection attempt is likely to succeed (e.g., based on a threshold probability or other such evaluation criteria), then electronic devices 102a and 102b may attempt to reconnect the disconnected wireless communication link. In various embodiments, the reconnection may be attempted according to a higher duty cycle so that communication between the two devices may be restored more quickly. As another example, if one or more characteristics of another wireless communication link indicate that a reconnection attempt is unlikely to succeed (e.g., based on a threshold probability or other such evaluation criteria), then electronic devices 102a and 102b may attempt to reconnect the disconnected wireless communication link according to a lower duty cycle, such that less power is consumed over time and the network performance of electronic devices 102a and 102b is less likely to degrade. Alternatively or in addition, if one or more characteristics of another wireless communication link indicate that the likelihood of success of a reconnection attempt is below a retry threshold, then the reconnection attempt may be skipped or terminated. The one or more characteristics used may be selected dynamically based on the connection, for example, or may be statically configured. Additionally, the criteria used to determine whether a reconnection attempt is likely (or unlikely) to succeed may be selected dynamically based on the connection, for example, or may be static, and may be represented using any construct, such as one or more thresholds, one or more ranges, one or more values, combinations thereof, etc.

[0034] As described above, electronic devices 102a and 102b may communicate with each other via one or more wireless communication links. For example, using their wireless transceivers 104a and 140b, electronic devices 102a may establish a first wireless communication link 106a and a second communication link 106b therebetween. Additionally, electronic devices 102a and 102b may transmit data to and / or receive data from each other via wireless communication links 106a and 106b (e.g., by encoding the data into one or more signals and transmitting the signals according to one or more wireless communication protocols).

[0035] In some specific implementations, the system 100 can be used to wirelessly control devices (e.g., machines, vehicles, access control, etc.). For example, the first electronic device 102a can be a mobile computing device or a wearable computing device carried or worn by a user. Additionally, the second electronic device 102b can be a component or subsystem of the device, such as an electronic control system. The first electronic device 102a can store information (e.g., one or more security tokens, certificates, or other credentials indicating that the user of the first electronic device 102a is authorized to access and operate the device) that enables the user to obtain access to the device and operate (e.g., start / stop) the device. The first electronic device 102a can establish one or more wireless communication links with the second electronic device 102b and transmit the stored information to the second electronic device 102b via the one or more wireless communication links. The second electronic device 102b can process the received information to determine whether to allow the user to access and operate the device, and if so, allow the user to do so. For example, the second electronic device 102b can unlock one or more doors so that the user can open them, and enable an activation system or a start system so that the user can start / stop the device (e.g., an engine, a motor, etc.). In some specific implementations, the system 100 can be used to mimic or replace the functions of a remote keyless system (e.g., a "keyless entry system" or a "remote keyless ignition system") using a mobile communication device such as a smart phone or a smart watch.

[0036] However, in practice, electronic devices 102a and 102b can be any devices configured to receive, process, and transmit data. For example, at least one of electronic devices 102a or 102b can be a computing device, such as a client computing device (e.g., a desktop computer or a laptop computer), a server computing device (e.g., a server computer or a cloud computing system), a mobile computing device (e.g., a cellular phone, a smartphone, a tablet, a personal data assistant, or a laptop), a wearable computing device (e.g., a smartwatch, a virtual reality headset, or an augmented reality headset), or any other computing device capable of receiving, processing, and transmitting data. As another example, at least one of electronic devices 102a or 102b can be a vehicle with wireless communication capabilities (e.g., a car, a truck, a motorcycle, an airplane, a bicycle, a scooter, a boat, or any other vehicle that can wirelessly transmit and receive data using one or more wireless transmitters). As yet another example, at least one of electronic devices 102a or 102b can be an access control system, a machine, an electromechanical device, or any combination thereof. As yet another example, at least one of electronic devices 102a or 102b can be an accessory device with wireless communication capabilities (e.g., headphones, an audio headset, an audio speaker, a camera, or a microphone, or any other accessory device that can wirelessly transmit and receive data using one or more wireless transmitters). In some specific implementations, at least one of electronic devices 102a or 102b can operate using one or more operating systems (e.g., Apple macOS, Apple iOS, Microsoft Windows, Linux, Unix, Google Android, etc.) and one or more architectures (e.g., X86, PowerPC, ARM, etc.).

[0037] Wireless transceivers 104a and 104b can be configured to establish wireless communication links and transmit and receive data via these wireless communication links according to any wireless communication protocol. In some specific implementations, reference can be made to Figure 7The wireless communication subsystem 724 is used to implement the wireless transceivers 104a and 104b. Exemplary wireless communication protocols include Wi-Fi series wireless network protocols (e.g., as defined by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11 technical standards) and Bluetooth series wireless network protocols (e.g., as defined by the technical standards developed by the Bluetooth Special Interest Group). In some specific implementations, at least one of the wireless communication links 106a or 106b can be a Bluetooth link (e.g., a wireless communication link established according to the Bluetooth series wireless network protocols and / or technical standards such as Bluetooth 5). In some specific implementations, at least one of the wireless communication links 106a or 106b can be a Wi-Fi link (e.g., a wireless communication link established according to the Wi-Fi series wireless network protocols and / or technical standards such as IEEE 802.11ac or 802.11ax). Although Figure 1 each of the electronic devices 102a and 102b is shown to have a single corresponding wireless transceiver 104a or 104b, in reality, each of the electronic devices 102a and 102b can have any number of transceivers.

[0038] In some specific implementations, multiple wireless communication links (e.g., two or more) can be maintained simultaneously between the electronic devices 102a and 102b. In addition, at least some of the wireless communication links can have different capabilities or configurations from other wireless communication links, such that data can be exchanged in different ways across these wireless communication links. For example, the first wireless communication link 106a can be configured such that it allows data to be transmitted between the two electronic devices 102a and 102b in a more power-efficient manner, over a greater effective communication distance and / or in a more flexible manner (e.g., compared to the second wireless communication link 106b). In addition, the second wireless communication link 106b can be configured such that it allows data to be transmitted between the two electronic devices 102a and 102b faster (e.g., compared to the first wireless communication link 106a).

[0039] In some implementations, this set of configurations enables the first wireless communication link 106a to be used as a "shadow" link between the two devices 102a and 102b (e.g., to maintain a power-efficient, long-range, and resilient link between the two electronic devices), and the second wireless communication link 106b to be used as a main link between the two electronic devices 102a and 102b (e.g., to transfer data faster between the two electronic devices). For example, the electronic devices 102a and 102b may primarily use the main link to exchange data with each other, so that data is transferred between them faster. In addition, in the event that the main link becomes disconnected, the electronic devices 102a and 102b may use the shadow link to determine the likelihood that the electronic devices 102a and 102b can reconnect to the main link, and select an appropriate value for the variable duty cycle based on the determination.

[0040] As discussed, the first wireless communication link 106a and the second communication link 106b may have different configurations to provide a shadow link and a main link between the electronic devices 102 and 102b. For example, in some implementations, the first wireless communication link 106a may be configured to periodically transmit data (e.g., data packets) according to a first connection interval (e.g., a first time interval) between each transmission, and the second wireless communication link 106b may be configured to periodically transmit data according to a second time interval (e.g., a second time interval) between each transmission, wherein the first connection interval is greater than the second connection interval. For example, the first wireless communication link 106a may enable data packets to be transmitted every 400 milliseconds (or 100 milliseconds, 200 milliseconds, 500 milliseconds, etc.), and the second wireless communication link 106b may enable data packets to be transmitted every 7.5 milliseconds (or 5 milliseconds, 10 milliseconds, 20 milliseconds, etc.).

[0041] As another example, in some implementations, the first wireless communication link 106a may be configured to transmit data according to a first data redundancy level, and the second wireless communication link 106b may be configured to transmit data according to a second data redundancy level, wherein the first data redundancy level is greater than the second data redundancy level. For example, the first wireless communication link 106a may transmit data such that some or all symbols or bits of the data are repeated or replicated two or more times during a transmission interval, and the second wireless communication link 106b may transmit data such that few or no symbols or bits of the data are repeated or replicated during a transmission interval.

[0042] As another example, in some specific implementations, the first wireless communication link 106a may be configured to exchange data according to a first sensitivity level, and the second wireless communication link 106b may be configured to exchange data according to a second sensitivity level, where the first sensitivity level is greater than the second sensitivity level. For example, when exchanging data according to a relatively low sensitivity level, a wireless signal containing the data may be decoded even if the signal strength and / or signal-to-noise ratio of the wireless signal is relatively low (e.g., below a threshold or within a lower value range). However, when exchanging data according to a relatively high sensitivity level, the wireless signal can only be decoded when the signal strength and / or signal-to-noise ratio of the wireless signal containing the data is relatively high (e.g., above a threshold or within a higher value range). For example, the first wireless communication link 106a may enable decoding of data from a wireless signal having a signal strength and / or signal-to-noise ratio within a first range, and the second wireless communication link 106b may enable decoding of data from a wireless signal having a signal strength and / or signal-to-noise ratio within a second range, where the lower limit of the first range is less than the lower limit of the second range.

[0043] In some specific implementations, the first wireless communication link 106a may be a Bluetooth Low Energy Long Range (LE-LR) link and / or a Bluetooth Low Energy Coded Physical Layer (PHY) link (e.g., configured such that during transmission each data bit is redundantly represented by 2 symbols, 8 symbols, or some other multiple of symbols), as defined in the Bluetooth 5 technical standard developed by the Bluetooth Special Interest Group. Additionally, the second wireless communication link 106b may be a Bluetooth Low Energy 1 Megabit (LE-1M) or Bluetooth Low Energy 2 Megabit (LE-2M) link (e.g., configured such that during transmission each data bit is represented by a single symbol), as defined in the Bluetooth 5 technical standard developed by the Bluetooth Special Interest Group.

[0044] In some specific implementations, one or more wireless communication links between the electronic devices 102a and 102b may become disconnected. For example, one or both of the electronic devices 102a and 102b may move away from each other such that the distance between them exceeds the maximum effective communication distance of one or both of the wireless communication links 106a and 106b. As another example, there may be an increase in signal interference between the two electronic devices 102a and 102b, such as electromagnetic interference (EMI), co-channel interference (CCI) (e.g., "crosstalk"), adjacent channel interference (ACI), inter-symbol interference (ISI), inter-carrier interference (ICI), common mode interference (CMI), conducted interference, and / or signal noise.

[0045] In response to one of the wireless communication links in a wireless communication link becoming disconnected (e.g., the primary link), the electronic device may attempt to scan for another device in the environment (e.g., monitor the frequency range of the wireless signals transmitted by another device), and attempt to reconnect the wireless communication link, for example, according to a variable duty cycle. Specifically, the variable duty cycle may vary according to one or more characteristics of another wireless communication link (e.g., the shadow link). Exemplary characteristics include the connection state of the shadow link and / or the signal strength of the wireless signals received by the first electronic device 102a according to the shadow link.

[0046] In some specific embodiments, the variable duty cycle may vary according to the connection state of the shadow link. For illustrative purposes, in Figure 2A the example shown, the first wireless communication link 106a is a shadow link (e.g., compared to the second wireless communication link 106b) that maintains a high power efficiency, long distance, and resilient link between the two electronic devices 102a and 102b. In addition, the second wireless communication link 106b is the primary (or main) link for faster transmission of control information and / or data between the two electronic devices (e.g., compared to the first wireless communication link 106a). In addition, the second wireless communication link 106b has become disconnected, such as due to an increase in the distance between the electronic devices 102a and 102b and / or an increase in signal interference. However, the first wireless communication link 106a remains connected.

[0047] In this scenario, the first electronic device 102a may attempt to reconnect the second wireless communication link 106b according to the first duty cycle D1. For example, the first duty cycle D1 may be 100% (e.g., the first electronic device 102a attempts to reconnect during the entire 100% of a specific time period until it successfully reconnects or until some other stop criterion is met, such as the expiration of a pause period). For example, during each of a number of 30 millisecond time intervals, the first electronic device may attempt to reconnect during the entire 30 millisecond time interval. 30 milliseconds is provided as an example, but the time interval may be any appropriate interval, such as less than 10 milliseconds, dozens of milliseconds, hundreds of milliseconds, etc. Again, the first duty cycle D1 may be 75% (e.g., the first electronic device 102a attempts to reconnect during 75% of a specific time period until it successfully reconnects or until some other stop criterion is met, such as the expiration of a pause period). For example, during each of a number of 40 millisecond time intervals, the first electronic device may attempt to reconnect during 30 milliseconds of that time interval. 40 milliseconds is provided as an example, but any appropriate interval may be used.

[0048] In contrast, in Figure 2BIn the example shown, the first wireless communication link 106a is also disconnected (e.g., due to an increased distance between the electronic devices 102a and 102b and / or increased signal interference). In this scenario, the first electronic device 102a may attempt to reconnect to the second wireless communication link 106b according to a second duty cycle D2 that is less than the first duty cycle D1. For example, the second duty cycle D2 may be 10% (e.g., the first electronic device 102a attempts to reconnect during 10% of a specific time period until it successfully reconnects or until some other stop criterion is met, such as the expiration of a pause period). For example, during each of a number of 300 millisecond time intervals, the first electronic device may attempt to reconnect during 30 milliseconds of that time interval. 300 milliseconds is provided as an example, but any suitable interval may be used.

[0049] The change in the duty cycle is beneficial because it enables the first electronic device 102a to attempt to reconnect to the second electronic device 102b in a power-efficient manner. For example, if the first wireless communication link 106a is still connected, this may indicate that the reconnection attempt is likely to be successful (e.g., the electronic devices 102a and 102b are relatively close to each other and / or there is relatively little signal interference). Based on this information, the first electronic device 102a may attempt to re-establish the second wireless communication link 106b according to a high duty cycle, enabling a fast restoration of high-speed and / or robust communication between the two devices. Additionally, if the first wireless communication link 106a is also disconnected, this may indicate that the reconnection attempt is less likely to be successful (e.g., the electronic devices 102a and 102b are relatively far from each other and / or there is relatively more signal interference). Based on this information, the first electronic device 102a may attempt to re-establish the second wireless communication link 106b according to a low duty cycle, consuming less power over time (e.g., compared to the amount of power that would be consumed if a high duty cycle were used).

[0050] In addition, when the first electronic device 102a attempts to reconnect to the second electronic device 102b, the attempt may degrade the network performance of the first electronic device 102a. For example, when the attempt is executed, the first electronic device may need to temporarily interrupt other wireless communications (e.g., to reduce or avoid network coexistence issues), which may slow down or interfere with the transmission and / or reception of data. For example, if the second communication link 106b is a Bluetooth communication link, the first electronic device 102 may need to temporarily interrupt Wi-Fi communication during the reconnection attempt. By attempting to reconnect the second communication link 106b (e.g., the primary link) with a variable duty cycle that depends on one or more characteristics of the first wireless communication link 106a (e.g., the shadow link), the first electronic device 102a can perform one or more reconnection attempts in a selective and intelligent manner such that the network performance of the first electronic device 102a is less likely to degrade (e.g., compared to the network performance that may be exhibited without performing the techniques described herein).

[0051] In some specific implementations, the variable duty cycle may vary according to the signal strength of the wireless signal received by the first electronic device 102a based on the shadow link. For illustrative purposes, in Figure 3A the example shown, the first wireless communication link 106a is a shadow link (e.g., compared to the second wireless communication link 106b) that maintains a high power efficiency, long range, and resilient link between the two electronic devices 102a and 102b. In addition, the second wireless communication link 106b is the primary link for transmitting control information and / or data between the two electronic devices (e.g., faster or more reliable than the first wireless communication link 106a). In addition, in this example, the second wireless communication link 106b has become disconnected, such as due to an increase in the distance between the electronic devices 102a and 102b and / or an increase in signal interference. However, the first wireless communication link 106a remains connected, and the signal strength of the wireless signal received by the first electronic device 102a through the first wireless communication link 106a is relatively high (e.g., greater than a specific threshold). In some specific implementations, the signal strength may be the received signal strength indication (RSSI) measured by the first electronic device 102a. In some other specific implementations, the signal strength may be the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) or the signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio (SINR), or other such metrics. In this scenario, the first electronic device 102a may attempt to reconnect the second wireless communication link 106b according to the first duty cycle D1. For example, the first duty cycle D1 may be 100%, 75%, or some other duty cycle that exceeds a threshold (e.g., 50%).

[0052] In contrast, in Figure 3BIn the example shown, the signal strength of the wireless signal received by the first electronic device 102a via the first wireless communication link 106a is relatively low (e.g., less than or equal to a threshold). In such a scenario, the first electronic device 102a may attempt to reconnect the second wireless communication link 106b according to a second duty cycle D2 that is less than the first duty cycle D1. For example, the second duty cycle D2 may be 25%, 10%, or some other duty cycle that is below a threshold (e.g., 50%).

[0053] In some specific implementations, the threshold may be selected empirically. For example, considering a specific RSSI value of the shadow link, the threshold may be selected based on experiments or observations regarding the likelihood that a reconnection attempt to the primary link will succeed. In some other specific implementations, the threshold may be selected dynamically, e.g., based on one or more of signal conditions, historical performance, battery levels of either / both devices, etc.

[0054] The change in duty cycle is beneficial because it enables the first electronic device 102a to attempt to reconnect to the second electronic device 102b in a highly power-efficient manner. For example, if the signal strength of the wireless signal transmitted via the first wireless communication link 106a is high (e.g., greater than a threshold signal strength), this may indicate that a reconnection attempt is likely to succeed (e.g., the electronic devices 102a and 102b are relatively close to each other, and / or there is relatively little signal interference). Based on this information, the first electronic device 102a may attempt to re-establish the second wireless communication link 106b according to a high duty cycle, enabling a rapid restoration of communication between the two devices. Additionally, if the signal strength of the wireless signal transmitted via the first wireless communication link 106a is low (e.g., less than a threshold signal strength), this may indicate that a reconnection attempt is less likely to succeed (e.g., the electronic devices 102a and 102b are relatively far from each other, and / or there is relatively more signal interference). Based on this information, the first electronic device 102a may attempt to re-establish the second wireless communication link 106b according to a low duty cycle, such that the attempt to reconnect consumes less power (e.g., compared to the amount of power that would be consumed if a high duty cycle were used). Similarly, as described above, the use of a variable duty cycle may improve the network performance of the first electronic device 102a, such as by reducing or avoiding network coexistence issues.

[0055] In some specific implementations, the first electronic device 102a may attempt to maintain the first wireless communication link 106a (e.g., the shadow link) as a persistent or "always-on" connection between the two electronic devices 102a and 102b. For example, as long as conditions permit the establishment and maintenance of such a link, the first electronic device 102a may do so regardless of the state of the second wireless communication link 106b (e.g., the primary link).

[0056] In some specific implementations, including optionally in the previous examples, the first electronic device 102a may selectively establish the first wireless communication link 106a (e.g., a shadow link) based on one or more characteristics of the second wireless communication link 106b (e.g., the primary link).

[0057] For example, the first electronic device 102a may selectively establish the first wireless communication link 106a based on the signal strength of the wireless signal received from the second electronic device 102b via the second communication link 106b. For example, as Figure 4A shown, the first electronic device 102a may initially establish the second communication link 106b with the second electronic device 102b and avoid establishing the first wireless communication link 106a with the second electronic device 102b. In addition, the first electronic device 102a may monitor the signal strength of the wireless signal received from the second electronic device 102b via the second communication link 106b. For example, the signal strength may be the RSSI measured by the first electronic device 102a.

[0058] When the signal strength associated with the second communication link 106b is low enough (e.g., less than a threshold), the first electronic device 102a may selectively establish the first wireless communication link 106a (e.g., as Figure 4B shown). In the case where the second communication link 106b becomes disconnected, the first electronic device 102a may attempt to reconnect the second wireless communication link 106b, for example, according to a variable duty cycle determined in association with the first wireless communication link (e.g., as described with reference to Figures 2A to 3B ).

[0059] In some specific implementations, the threshold may be selected empirically. For example, considering one or more RSSI values of the shadow link, the threshold may be selected based on experiments or observations regarding the likelihood of the shadow link disconnecting.

[0060] This selective establishment of the first wireless communication link 106a (e.g., a shadow link) can be advantageous because it enables the first electronic device 102a to maintain the first wireless communication link 106a when the second communication link 106b is likely to become disconnected (e.g., when the RSSI associated with the second communication link 106b is below the threshold, within a determined value range, or otherwise determined to be low enough), and avoid maintaining the first wireless communication link 106a when the second communication link 106b is unlikely to become disconnected (e.g., when the RSSI associated with the second communication link 106b is above the threshold, within a determined value range, or otherwise determined to be high enough). Thus, the first electronic device 102a can operate in a highly power - efficient manner.

[0061] In some specific implementations, the first electronic device 102a may selectively establish a first wireless communication link 106a (e.g., a shadow link) based on the motion state of the first electronic device 102a. Another metric such as signal strength (described above) may be considered alone or in combination with the motion state.

[0062] For example, as Figure 5A shown, the first electronic device 102a may initially establish a second communication link 106b with the second electronic device 102b and avoid establishing the first wireless communication link 106a with the second electronic device 102b. Additionally, the first electronic device 102a may monitor its motion state using a motion sensor 502. In some specific implementations, the motion sensor 502 may include any one (or any combination thereof) of one or more accelerometers, gyroscopes, compasses, and / or orientation sensors.

[0063] In some specific implementations, the motion state may indicate whether the first electronic device 102a is in motion (e.g., a moving state and a stationary state). In some specific implementations, the motion state may indicate the intensity of the motion of the first electronic device 102a (e.g., a low-intensity motion state, a medium-intensity motion state, a high-intensity motion state, etc.). In some specific implementations, the motion state may indicate the type of activity being performed by the user holding or wearing the first electronic device 102a (e.g., sitting, standing, walking, jogging, running, etc.).

[0064] If the motion state of the first electronic device 102a meets certain criteria, the first electronic device 102a may selectively establish the first wireless communication link 106a (e.g., as Figure 5B shown). In the case where the second communication link 106b becomes disconnected, the first electronic device 102a may attempt to reconnect to the second wireless communication link 106b, for example, according to a variable duty cycle (e.g., as referenced Figures 2A to 3B above). For example, the criteria may include determining that the device (and thus the user) is in motion. Another example is that the criteria may include determining that the user holding or wearing the first electronic device is performing a certain type of activity, such as walking, jogging, or running. For example, the criteria may include determining that the movement intensity of the first electronic device is greater than a threshold intensity value.

[0065] This selective establishment of the first wireless communication link 106a (e.g., a shadow link) can be advantageous because it enables the first electronic device 102a to maintain the first wireless communication link 106a when the second communication link 106b may become disconnected (e.g., when the first electronic device 102a is in motion), and avoid maintaining the first wireless communication link 106a when the second communication link 106b is unlikely to become disconnected (e.g., when the first electronic device 102 is not moving or moving less than a threshold amount). Thus, the first electronic device 102a can operate in a highly power - efficient manner.

[0066] The specific implementations described herein can be particularly advantageous when wirelessly communicating with another device, e.g., for access or other such control. For example, as described above, the first electronic device 102a can be a wearable computing device carried or worn by a user, and the second electronic device 102b can be a component or subsystem of a device, such as an electronic control system of an access device, a vehicle, etc. Additionally, the user can use the first electronic device 102a to obtain access to the device and activate one or more device functions. For example, the user can instruct the first electronic device 102a to establish a second communication link 106b (e.g., a primary link) with the second electronic device 102b, and instruct the first electronic device 102a to transmit commands or stored information (e.g., security credentials) to the second electronic device using the second communication link 106b.

[0067] In some cases, the device can be located near the user and the first electronic device 102a (e.g., within an effective communication range), but at a location near the edge of the effective communication range of the second communication link 106b. For example, in the example of a vehicle, the vehicle can be located in a lane or other such parking space, and the user can be nearby, e.g., inside a house, a business, or other such location. By implementing the techniques described herein, the first electronic device 102a can attempt to reconnect the second communication link 106b according to a variable duty cycle, such that the second communication link 106b is less likely to repeatedly connect and disconnect over a period of time. Thus, the first electronic device 102a can operate in a highly power - efficient manner and in a manner less likely to degrade its network performance (e.g., compared to power efficiency and / or network degradation that may occur without implementing one or more of the techniques described herein).

[0068] However, the specific implementations described herein can also be beneficial for facilitating highly power - efficient communication between any electronic devices, such as computing devices, other types of vehicles, accessories, and / or accessory devices.

[0069] Figure 6An exemplary process 600 for reconnecting a wireless communication link between electronic devices according to a variable duty cycle is shown. Process 600 may be performed, for example, by Figure 1 To Figure 5 and Figure 7 One or more of the components of the system 100 shown in FIG. 1 (eg, the first electronic device 102 a and / or the second electronic device 102 b ) are executed.

[0070] In process 600, a mobile device establishes a first wireless communication link and a second wireless communication link with a second device (block 602). For example, the mobile device may be the first electronic device 102a, and the second device may be the second electronic device 102b, as described above.

[0071] In some implementations, the second device may be (or may be included in) a vehicle, an access control system, an electromechanical device, etc. For example, the second device may be a component of a vehicle that controls one or more door locks, an ignition system, a starting system, or other systems of the vehicle based on a wireless signal transmitted by the mobile device.

[0072] In some implementations, the mobile device and / or the second device may be a computing device, such as a client computing device, a server computing device, a mobile computing device, a wearable computing device, or other computing device capable of receiving, processing, and transmitting data. In some implementations, the mobile device and / or the second device may be an accessory device with wireless communication capabilities.

[0073] In some implementations, the connection interval of the first wireless communication link may be greater than the connection interval of the second wireless communication link. In some implementations, the sensitivity level of the first wireless communication link may be greater than the sensitivity level of the second wireless communication link. In some implementations, the effective communication distance of the first wireless communication link may be greater than the effective communication distance of the second wireless communication link. In some implementations, the data redundancy characteristic of the first wireless communication link may be greater than the data redundancy characteristic of the second wireless communication link.

[0074] In some specific implementations, the first wireless communication link may include a first Bluetooth link, and the second wireless communication link may include a second Bluetooth link. For example, the first Bluetooth link may include a Bluetooth low energy long range (LE-LR) link or a Bluetooth low energy (LE) coded physical layer (PHY) link. For another example, the second Bluetooth link may include a Bluetooth low energy 1 megabit (LE-1M) link or a Bluetooth low energy 2 megabit (LE-2M) link.

[0075] In addition, the mobile device determines that the second wireless communication link is not connected (block 604). For example, the mobile device determines that the second wireless communication link has been disconnected.

[0076] In response to determining that the second wireless communication link is not connected, the mobile device attempts to re - establish the second wireless communication link with the second device according to a duty cycle. The duty cycle can vary based at least on characteristics associated with the first wireless communication link (block 606).

[0077] In some embodiments, the characteristics associated with the first wireless communication link can include the connection state of the first wireless communication link. Additionally, when the first wireless communication link is in a connected state, the duty cycle can have a first value, and when the first wireless communication link is in a disconnected state, the duty cycle can have a second value different from the first value. For example, the first value can be greater than the second value.

[0078] In some embodiments, the characteristics associated with the first wireless communication link can include a received signal strength value associated with the first wireless communication link. The received signal strength value can be measured by the mobile device. Additionally, when the received signal strength value is greater than a threshold, the duty cycle can have a first value, and when the received signal strength value is less than or equal to the threshold, the duty cycle can have a second value. The first value can be greater than the second value. In some embodiments, multiple different thresholds can be implemented.

[0079] In some embodiments, process 600 can alternatively or additionally include the mobile device determining that the mobile device is in motion. Additionally, the first wireless communication link can be established in response to determining that the mobile device is in motion.

[0080] In some embodiments, process 600 can alternatively or additionally include establishing the first wireless communication link in response to determining that the received signal strength associated with the second wireless communication link is less than a threshold.

[0081] Figure 7 is a block diagram of an exemplary device architecture 700 for implementing the features and processes described with reference to Figures 1 to 6 For example, architecture 700 can be used to implement the first electronic device 102a and / or the second electronic device 102b. Architecture 700 can be implemented in any device for generating the features described with reference to Figures 1 to 6 including, but not limited to, desktop computers, server computers, portable computers, smart phones, tablets, game consoles, wearable computers, set - top boxes, media players, smart TVs, etc.

[0082] Architecture 700 can include a memory interface 702, one or more data processors 704, one or more data co - processors 774, and a peripheral device interface 706. The memory interface 702, the processor 704, the co - processor 774, and / or the peripheral device interface 706 can be separate components, or can be integrated into one or more integrated circuits. One or more communication buses or signal lines can couple the various components.

[0083] Processor 704 and / or coprocessor 774 may operate in cooperation to perform the operations described herein. For example, processor 704 may include one or more central processing units (CPUs) configured to act as the main computer processor of architecture 700. For example, processor 704 may be configured to perform the generalized data processing tasks of architecture 700. Additionally, at least some of the data processing tasks may be offloaded to coprocessor 774. For example, specialized data processing tasks such as processing motion data, processing image data, encrypting data, and / or performing certain types of arithmetic operations may be offloaded to one or more dedicated coprocessors 774 for processing these tasks. In some cases, processor 704 may be relatively more powerful and / or consume more power than coprocessor 774. For example, this may be useful because it enables processor 704 to quickly process generalized tasks while also offloading certain other tasks to coprocessor 774 that can perform those tasks more efficiently and / or effectively. In some cases, the coprocessor may include one or more sensors or other components (e.g., as described herein) and may be configured to process data acquired using these sensors or components and provide the processed data to processor 704 for further analysis.

[0084] Sensors, devices, and subsystems may be coupled to peripheral device interface 706 to facilitate multiple functions. For example, motion sensor 710, light sensor 712, and proximity sensor 714 may be coupled to peripheral device interface 706 to facilitate the orientation, lighting, and proximity functions of architecture 700. For example, in some embodiments, light sensor 712 may be utilized to assist in adjusting the brightness of touch surface 746. In some embodiments, motion sensor 710 may be used to detect the movement and orientation of the device. For example, motion sensor 710 may include one or more accelerometers (e.g., for measuring the acceleration experienced by motion sensor 710 and / or architecture 700 over a period of time) and / or one or more compasses or gyroscopes (e.g., for measuring the orientation of motion sensor 710 and / or the mobile device). In some cases, the measurement information acquired by motion sensor 710 may be in the form of one or more time-varying signals (e.g., a time-varying graph of acceleration and / or orientation over a period of time). Additionally, display objects or media may be presented based on the detected orientation (e.g., based on a "portrait" orientation or a "landscape" orientation). In some cases, motion sensor 710 may be directly integrated into coprocessor 774 configured to process the measurements acquired by motion sensor 710. For example, coprocessor 774 may include one or more accelerometers, compasses, and / or gyroscopes and may be configured to acquire sensor data from each of these sensors, process the sensor data, and transmit the processed data to processor 704 for further analysis.

[0085] Other sensors may also be connected to the peripheral device interface 706, such as a temperature sensor, a biometric sensor, or other sensing devices to facilitate related functions. For example, as Figure 7 shown, the architecture 700 may include a heart rate sensor 732 that measures the user's heartbeats. Similarly, these other sensors may also be directly integrated into one or more coprocessors 774 that are configured to process the measurements obtained from those sensors.

[0086] The location processor 715 (e.g., a GNSS receiver chip) may be connected to the peripheral device interface 706 to provide georeferencing. An electronic magnetometer 716 (e.g., an integrated circuit chip) may also be connected to the peripheral device interface 706 to provide data that can be used to determine the direction of magnetic north. Thus, the electronic magnetometer 716 can be used as an electronic compass.

[0087] The camera subsystem 720 and the optical sensor 722 (e.g., a charge-coupled device [CCD] or a complementary metal oxide semiconductor [CMOS] optical sensor) can be utilized to facilitate camera functions, such as taking photos and video clips.

[0088] The communication functions can be facilitated by one or more communication subsystems 724. The communication subsystem 724 may include one or more wireless and / or wired communication subsystems. For example, the wireless communication subsystem may include a radio frequency receiver and transmitter and / or an optical (e.g., infrared) receiver and transmitter. As another example, the wired communication system may include a port device (e.g., a universal serial bus (USB) port) or some other wired port connection that can be used to establish a wired connection to other computing devices, such as other communication devices, network access devices, personal computers, printers, displays, or other processing devices capable of receiving or transmitting data.

[0089] The specific design and implementation of the communication subsystem 724 may depend on one or more communication networks or one or more media through which the architecture 700 is intended to operate. For example, the architecture 700 may include a wireless communication subsystem that is designed to operate through a Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) network, a General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) network, an Enhanced Data GSM Environment (EDGE) network, an 802.x communication network (e.g., Wi-Fi, Wi-Max), a Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) network, Near Field Communication (NFC), and Bluetooth TM networks. The wireless communication subsystem may also include a host protocol such that the architecture 700 can be configured as a base station for other wireless devices. As another example, the communication subsystem may use one or more protocols, such as the Transmission Control Protocol / Internet Protocol (TCP / IP) protocol, the Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) protocol, the User Datagram Protocol (UDP) protocol, and any other known protocols to allow the architecture 700 to synchronize with a host device.

[0090] The audio subsystem 726 may be coupled to a speaker 728 and one or more microphones 730 to facilitate voice-enabled functions such as speech recognition, speech reproduction, digital recording, and telephone functions.

[0091] The I / O subsystem 740 may include a touch controller 742 and / or other input controllers 744. The touch controller 742 may be coupled to a touch surface 746. The touch surface 746 and the touch controller 742 may detect contact, movement, or interruption thereof using any of a variety of touch-sensitive technologies, including but not limited to capacitive, resistive, infrared, and surface acoustic wave technologies, as well as other proximity sensor arrays or other elements for determining one or more points of contact with the touch surface 746. In a particular implementation, the touch surface 746 may display virtual buttons or soft buttons and a virtual keyboard, which the user may use as input / output devices.

[0092] The other input controllers 744 may be coupled to other input / control devices 748, such as one or more buttons, rocker switches, thumb wheels, infrared ports, USB ports, and / or pointer devices (such as a stylus). One or more buttons (not shown) may include up / down buttons for volume control of the speaker 728 and / or the microphone 730.

[0093] In some particular implementations, the architecture 700 may present recorded audio files and / or video files, such as MP3, AAC, and MPEG video files. In some particular implementations, the architecture 700 may include the functionality of an MP3 player and may include pin connectors for connection to other devices. Other input / output devices and control devices may be used.

[0094] The memory interface 702 may be coupled to a memory 750. The memory 750 may include high-speed random access memory or non-volatile memory, such as one or more disk storage devices, one or more optical storage devices, or flash memory (e.g., NAND, NOR). The memory 750 may store an operating system 752, such as Darwin, RTXC, LINUX, UNIX, OS X, WINDOWS, or an embedded operating system (such as VxWorks). The operating system 752 may include instructions for handling basic system services and for performing hardware-related tasks. In some particular implementations, the operating system 752 may include a kernel (e.g., a UNIX kernel).

[0095] The memory 750 may also store communication instructions 754 to facilitate communication with one or more additional devices, one or more computers or servers, including peer-to-peer communication. The communication instructions 754 may also be used to select an operating mode or communication medium for the device based on the geographical location of the device (obtained by the GPS / navigation instructions 768). The memory 750 may include graphical user interface instructions 756 that facilitate graphical user interface processing, including a touch model for interpreting touch inputs and gestures; sensor processing instructions 758 that facilitate sensor-related processing and functions; telephone instructions 760 that facilitate telephone-related processes and functions; electronic message processing instructions 762 that facilitate electronic message processing-related processes and functions; web browsing instructions 764 that facilitate web browsing-related processes and functions; media processing instructions 766 that facilitate media processing-related processes and functions; GPS / navigation instructions 769 that facilitate GPS and navigation-related processes; camera instructions 770 that facilitate camera-related processes and functions; and other instructions 772 for performing some or all of the processes described herein.

[0096] Each of the instructions and applications identified above may correspond to an instruction set for performing one or more of the functions described herein. These instructions need not be implemented as separate software programs, processes, or modules. The memory 750 may include more or fewer instructions. Additionally, the various functions of the device may be performed in hardware and / or software, including in one or more signal processing and / or application specific integrated circuits (ASICs).

[0097] The described features may be implemented in digital electronic circuitry or in computer hardware, firmware, software, or in combinations thereof. The features may be implemented in a computer program product tangibly embodied in an information carrier (e.g., in a machine-readable storage device) for execution by a programmable processor; and method steps may be performed by a programmable processor that executes an instruction program by operating on input data and generating output to perform the functions of the described implementations.

[0098] The described features may advantageously be implemented in one or more computer programs capable of being executed on a programmable system including at least one input device, at least one output device, and at least one programmable processor coupled to receive data and instructions from, and to transmit data and instructions to, a data storage system. A computer program is a set of instructions that can be used directly or indirectly in a computer to perform some activity or produce some result. The computer program may be written in any form of programming language, including compiled and interpreted languages (e.g., Objective-C, Java), and may be deployed in any form, including as a stand-alone program or as a module, component, subroutine, or other unit suitable for use in a computing environment.

[0099] For example, suitable processors for a program that executes instructions include both general-purpose microprocessors and dedicated microprocessors, as well as one or the only processor among multiple processors or cores of any type of computer. Generally speaking, a processor will receive instructions and data from a read-only memory or a random access memory or both. The basic elements of a computer are a processor for executing instructions and one or more memories for storing instructions and data. Usually, a computer can communicate with a mass storage device for storing data files. These mass storage devices can include magnetic disks, such as internal hard disks and removable disks; magneto-optical disks; and optical disks. Storage devices suitable for tangibly embodying computer program instructions and data include: all forms of non-volatile memory, such as including semiconductor memory devices, such as EPROM, EEPROM, and flash memory devices; magnetic disks, such as internal hard disks and removable disks; magneto-optical disks; and CD-ROM and DVD-ROM disks. The processor and memory can be supplemented by an ASIC (application-specific integrated circuit) or incorporated into an ASIC.

[0100] To provide interaction with a user, these features can be implemented on a computer having a display device for displaying information to an author and a keyboard and a pointing device by which the author can provide input to the computer, the display device being such as a CRT (cathode ray tube) or LCD (liquid crystal display) monitor, and the pointing device being such as a mouse or a trackball.

[0101] These features can be implemented in a computer system that includes backend components such as a data server or the computer system includes middleware components such as an application server or an Internet server, or the computer system includes frontend components such as a client computer having a graphical user interface or an Internet browser or any combination thereof. The components of the system can be connected by any form of digital data communication (such as a communication network) or a medium of the digital data communication. Examples of communication networks include LAN, WAN, and the computers and networks that form the Internet.

[0102] A computer system can include a client and a server. The client and the server are generally far apart from each other and usually interact via a network. The relationship between the client and the server is created by computer programs that run on the respective computers and have a client-server relationship with each other.

[0103] One or more features or steps of the disclosed embodiments can be implemented using an application programming interface (API). The API can define one or more parameters passed between a calling application and other software code (such as an operating system, an inventory program, a function) that provides a service, provides data, or performs an operation or a calculation.

[0104] An API can be implemented as one or more calls in program code that send or receive one or more parameters via a parameter list or other structure based on the call conventions defined in an API specification document. The parameters can be constants, keys, data structures, targets, target classes, variables, data types, pointers, arrays, lists, or another call. API calls and parameters can be implemented in any programming language. The programming language can define the vocabulary and call conventions that a programmer will use to access the functionality that supports the API.

[0105] In some specific implementations, an API call can report to an application the capabilities of a device to run the application, such as input capabilities, output capabilities, processing capabilities, power capabilities, communication capabilities, and the like.

[0106] As described above, some aspects of the subject matter of this specification include the collection and use of data from various sources to improve the services that a mobile device can provide to a user. The present disclosure anticipates that, in some cases, the collected data can identify a specific location or address based on device usage. Such personal information data can include location-based data, addresses, subscriber account identifiers, or other identifying information.

[0107] The present disclosure also contemplates that entities responsible for the collection, analysis, disclosure, transmission, storage, or other use of such personal information data will comply with established privacy policies and / or privacy practices. Specifically, such entities should implement and adhere to privacy policies and practices that are recognized as meeting or exceeding industry or government requirements for maintaining the privacy and security of personal information data. For example, personal information from users should be collected for legitimate and reasonable uses of the entity and not shared or sold outside of those legitimate uses. Additionally, such collection should only occur after the user's informed consent. Additionally, such entities should take any steps necessary to safeguard and protect access to such personal information data and ensure that others who have access to the personal information data comply with their privacy policies and procedures. Additionally, such an entity can subject itself to third-party assessments to demonstrate its compliance with widely accepted privacy policies and practices.

[0108] With respect to advertising delivery services, the present disclosure also anticipates embodiments in which a user selectively blocks the use or access of personal information data. That is, the present disclosure anticipates that hardware elements and / or software elements can be provided to prevent or block access to such personal information data. For example, with respect to advertising delivery services, the techniques of the present invention can be configured to allow a user to select "opt-in" or "opt-out" of participating in the collection of personal information data during a registration service.

[0109] Accordingly, while the present disclosure broadly covers using personal information data to implement one or more of the various disclosed embodiments, the present disclosure also contemplates that the various embodiments may also be implemented without access to such personal information data. That is, the various embodiments of the present technology will not fail to operate properly due to the lack of all or a portion of such personal information data. For example, preferences may be inferred based on non-personal information data or an absolute minimum amount of personal information such as the content requested by a device associated with the user, other non-personal information available to a content delivery service, or publicly available information, and content may be selected and delivered to the user based thereon.

[0110] Numerous specific implementations have been described. However, it should be understood that various modifications may be made. Elements in one or more of the specific implementations may be combined, deleted, modified, or supplemented to form additional specific implementations. As another example, the logical flows shown in the figures do not require the particular order or sequential order shown to achieve the desired result. Additionally, other steps may be provided or steps may be eliminated from the flow, and other components may be added to or removed from the system. Accordingly, other specific implementations are within the scope of the following claims.

Claims

1. A method implemented by one or more processors, the method comprising: Determining, by the one or more processors, that a mobile device is communicatively coupled to a second device via a first wireless communication link and a second wireless communication link, the second wireless communication link being different from the first wireless communication link; Determining, by the one or more processors, that the second wireless communication link is not connected; And Causing, by the one or more processors and in response to determining that the second wireless communication link is not connected, the mobile device to attempt to re - establish the second wireless communication link with the second device according to a duty cycle that varies at least based on characteristics associated with the first wireless communication link.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the characteristic associated with the first wireless communication link includes the connection state of the first wireless communication link.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein when the first wireless communication link is in a connected state, the duty cycle has a first value, and when the first wireless communication link is in a disconnected state, the duty cycle has a second value different from the first value.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the characteristic of the first wireless communication link includes a received signal strength value associated with the first wireless communication link.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein when the received signal strength is greater than a threshold, the duty cycle has a first value, and when the received signal strength is less than or equal to the threshold, the duty cycle has a second value.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the connection interval of the first wireless communication link is greater than the connection interval of the second wireless communication link.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the sensitivity level of the first wireless communication link is greater than the sensitivity level of the second wireless communication link.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the effective communication distance of the first wireless communication link is greater than the effective communication distance of the second wireless communication link.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the data redundancy characteristic of the first wireless communication link is greater than the data redundancy characteristic of the second wireless communication link.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first wireless communication link includes a Bluetooth Low Energy Long Range (LE - LR) link or a Bluetooth Low Energy (LE) Coded Physical Layer (PHY) link.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the second wireless communication link includes a Bluetooth Low Energy 1 Megabit (LE - 1M) link or a Bluetooth Low Energy 2 Megabit (LE - 2M) link.

12. The method according to claim 1, wherein in response to the one or more processors determining that the mobile device is in motion, the one or more processors cause the first wireless communication link to be established.

13. The method according to claim 1, further comprising: Causing the first wireless communication link to be established in response to determining that the received signal strength associated with the second wireless communication link is less than a threshold.

14. A device including one or more processors, the device comprising: The one or more processors; And A memory storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform operations including the following: Determine that a mobile device is communicatively coupled to a second device via a first wireless communication link and a second wireless communication link, the second wireless communication link being different from the first wireless communication link; Determine that the second wireless communication link is not connected; And In response to determining that the second wireless communication link is not connected, cause the mobile device to attempt to re - establish the second wireless communication link with the second device according to a variable duty cycle that varies based at least on characteristics of the first wireless communication link.

15. The device according to claim 14, wherein the characteristic associated with the first wireless communication link includes the connection state of the first wireless communication link.

16. The device according to claim 15, wherein when the first wireless communication link is in a connected state, the duty cycle has a first value, and when the first wireless communication link is in a disconnected state, the duty cycle has a second value different from the first value.

17. The device according to claim 14, wherein the characteristic of the first wireless communication link includes a received signal strength value associated with the first wireless communication link.

18. The device according to claim 17, wherein when the received signal strength is greater than a threshold, the duty cycle has a first value, and when the received signal strength is less than or equal to the threshold, the duty cycle has a second value.

19. The device according to claim 14, wherein the first wireless communication link includes a Bluetooth Low Energy Long Range (LE - LR) link or a Bluetooth Low Energy (LE) Coded Physical Layer (PHY) link, and wherein the second wireless communication link includes a Bluetooth Low Energy 1 Megabit (LE - 1M) link or a Bluetooth Low Energy 2 Megabit (LE - 2M) link.

20. One or more non - transitory computer - readable storage media having instructions stored thereon that, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform operations including the following: Determine that a mobile device is communicatively coupled to a second device via a first wireless communication link and a second wireless communication link, the second wireless communication link being different from the first wireless communication link; Determine that the second wireless communication link is not connected; And In response to determining that the second wireless communication link is not connected, cause the mobile device to attempt to re - establish the second wireless communication link with the second device according to a variable duty cycle that varies based at least on characteristics of the first wireless communication link.

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