Low-power-consumption beacon, gateway device, wireless positioning system, broadcast control method, and storage medium

Abstract

The invention provides a low-power-consumption beacon, gateway equipment, a wireless positioning system, a broadcast control method and a storage medium, and the low-power-consumption beacon comprises a microcontroller and a Bluetooth radio frequency module connected with the microcontroller. The microcontroller is configured to execute the following operations in each broadcast period: randomly selecting a channel from a plurality of preset channels as a target broadcast channel; controlling the Bluetooth radio frequency module to send a broadcast message on the target broadcast channel; and after the broadcast message is sent, controlling the low-power-consumption beacon to enter a low-power-consumption state until the next broadcast period starts. According to the invention, the target broadcast channel is randomly selected from the plurality of preset channels in the broadcast period, the broadcast message is sent once, and then the broadcast message enters the dormancy until the next broadcast period, so that the emission times are reduced, the beacon power consumption is further reduced, and the endurance time is prolonged.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of beacon technology, and in particular to a low-power beacon, gateway device, wireless positioning system, broadcast control method, and storage medium. Background Technology

[0002] In IoT applications such as warehousing and logistics, and asset management, Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) beacons are widely used for identifying and locating fixed assets or mobile goods. These beacons are typically attached to goods, pallets, or equipment, and periodically broadcast wireless signals to assist in real-time location monitoring and tracking. However, in practical applications, the battery life of beacon devices has always been one of the key bottlenecks restricting their large-scale deployment and long-term operation. Because beacons are usually powered by disposable batteries and often employ a fully sealed design to adapt to complex industrial environments (such as dustproof, waterproof, and shockproof), frequent battery replacement or charging is difficult. Especially in scenarios such as warehousing, where the number of beacons is large and they are attached to frequently moving goods, frequent battery or device replacements will lead to high maintenance costs and operational interruptions.

[0003] Therefore, how to reduce the power consumption of beacons and extend their battery life has become an urgent technical problem to be solved. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The main objective of this invention is to provide a low-power beacon, which aims to reduce the beacon's power consumption and extend its battery life.

[0005] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention proposes a low-power beacon comprising: a microcontroller and a Bluetooth radio frequency module connected to the microcontroller; The microcontroller is configured to perform the following operations during each broadcast cycle: From a number of preset channels, one channel is randomly selected as the target broadcast channel; Control the Bluetooth radio frequency module to send a broadcast message on the target broadcast channel; After the broadcast message is sent, the low-power beacon is controlled to enter a low-power state until the next broadcast cycle begins.

[0006] Optionally, the low-power beacon further includes a motion sensor connected to a microcontroller; The motion sensor is used to detect the motion state of the low-power beacon and output it to the microcontroller; The microcontroller is also configured to perform the following operations: Based on the signal output by the motion sensor, it is determined whether the low-power Bluetooth beacon is in a moving state; When it is determined that the device is in a moving state, the Bluetooth radio frequency module is controlled to stop broadcasting; When it is determined that the state has changed from a moving state to a stationary state and the preset stationary time has been reached, the Bluetooth radio frequency module is controlled to start broadcasting.

[0007] Optionally, sending a broadcast message on the target broadcast channel includes: A preset number of broadcast messages are continuously sent on the target broadcast channel.

[0008] Optionally, determining whether the Bluetooth Low Energy beacon is in motion based on the signal output by the motion sensor includes: When the amplitude or amplitude conversion rate of the signal exceeds a preset threshold, it is determined to be in a moving state; otherwise, it is in a stationary state.

[0009] The present invention also proposes a gateway device, the gateway device comprising: Control module, power supply circuit and multiple communication chips; The power supply circuit is connected to the control module and the plurality of communication chips respectively, and is used to supply power to the control module and the plurality of communication chips; The plurality of communication chips are respectively connected to the control module; The control module is configured as follows: The plurality of communication chips are configured to scan and monitor mode, and each communication chip is fixed to monitor a preset channel; wherein the channels corresponding to the plurality of communication chips are different.

[0010] The present invention also proposes a wireless positioning system, comprising: Low-power beacons and gateways; The low-power beacon is used to broadcast on any one of multiple preset channels when broadcasting; The gateway has multiple communication chips, each corresponding to a different preset channel to receive wireless broadcast signals; wherein the number of communication chips is greater than or equal to the number of preset channels.

[0011] Optionally, the number of gateways may be multiple; The multiple gateways are used to collect the low-power beacon wireless signal and determine the location of the low-power beacon based on the wireless signal when the low-power beacon is broadcasting.

[0012] Optionally, the wireless positioning system further includes: a positioning server; The number of gateways is multiple; Multiple gateways are configured to, upon receiving a broadcast message from the same low-power beacon, each upload a data packet containing the beacon identifier, received signal strength, and precise received timestamp to the positioning server. The positioning server is configured to calculate the location of the low-power beacon based on the data packets from at least three gateways, using a time difference of arrival or angle of arrival positioning algorithm.

[0013] The present invention also proposes a broadcast control method, comprising: The motion state of the low-power beacon is detected by a motion sensor; Based on the output signal of the motion sensor, it is determined whether the low-power beacon is in a moving state; When the system determines that it is in a moving state, the Bluetooth radio frequency module of the low-power beacon stops broadcasting; when the system determines that it has transitioned from a moving state to a stationary state and has reached a preset stationary duration, the broadcasting process is initiated; wherein, the broadcasting process includes: During each broadcast cycle, a channel is randomly selected from multiple preset channels as the target broadcast channel; The Bluetooth radio frequency module is controlled to send a broadcast message on the target broadcast channel; after the transmission is completed, the low-power beacon is controlled to enter a low-power state until the next broadcast cycle.

[0014] The present invention also proposes a storage medium storing a broadcast control program, which, when executed by a processor, implements the steps of the broadcast control method.

[0015] This invention proposes a low-power beacon, a gateway device, a wireless positioning system, a broadcast control method, and a storage medium. The low-power beacon includes a microcontroller and a Bluetooth radio frequency module connected to the microcontroller. The microcontroller is configured to perform the following operations during each broadcast cycle: randomly select a channel from a plurality of preset channels as a target broadcast channel; control the Bluetooth radio frequency module to transmit a broadcast message on the target broadcast channel; and after completing the transmission of the broadcast message, control the low-power beacon to enter a low-power state until the start of the next broadcast cycle. This invention reduces the number of transmissions by randomly selecting a target broadcast channel from a plurality of preset channels during the broadcast cycle, transmitting a broadcast message once, and then entering a sleep state until the next broadcast cycle, thereby reducing beacon power consumption and extending battery life. Attached Figure Description

[0016] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention or the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present invention. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on the structures shown in these drawings without creative effort.

[0017] Figure 1This is a schematic diagram illustrating the configuration method steps of an embodiment of the low-power beacon of the present invention; Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the configuration method steps of an embodiment of the broadcast control method of the present invention.

[0018] The realization of the objective, functional features and advantages of the present invention will be further explained in conjunction with the embodiments and with reference to the accompanying drawings. Detailed Implementation

[0019] The technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of the present invention, and not all of the embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0020] It should be noted that all directional indications (such as up, down, left, right, front, back, etc.) in the embodiments of the present invention are only used to explain the relative positional relationship and movement of each component in a certain specific posture (as shown in the figure). If the specific posture changes, the directional indication will also change accordingly.

[0021] In this invention, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "connection," "fixed," etc., should be interpreted broadly. For example, "fixed" can mean a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral part; it can mean a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; it can mean a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; it can mean the internal communication of two components or the interaction between two components, unless otherwise explicitly limited. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this invention according to the specific circumstances.

[0022] Furthermore, in this invention, descriptions involving "first," "second," etc., are for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying their relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of technical features indicated. Therefore, a feature defined with "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include at least one of that feature. Additionally, the technical solutions of the various embodiments can be combined with each other, but only on the basis of being achievable by those skilled in the art. When the combination of technical solutions is contradictory or impossible to implement, such a combination of technical solutions should be considered non-existent and not within the scope of protection claimed by this invention.

[0023] Currently, mainstream Bluetooth Low Energy beacons typically need to broadcast multiple times sequentially on multiple preset broadcast channels within each broadcast cycle. This "multiple broadcasts per cycle" operating mode is the main reason for the high RF power consumption of beacons. Each RF transmission operation (sending a broadcast message) consumes significant power, severely limiting the overall battery life.

[0024] This invention proposes a low-power beacon, comprising: a microcontroller and a Bluetooth radio frequency module connected to the microcontroller; The microcontroller is configured to perform the following operations during each broadcast cycle: From a number of preset channels, one channel is randomly selected as the target broadcast channel; Control the Bluetooth radio frequency module to send a broadcast message on the target broadcast channel; After the broadcast message is sent, the low-power beacon is controlled to enter a low-power state until the next broadcast cycle begins.

[0025] It should be explained that the low-power beacon includes: a microcontroller and a Bluetooth radio frequency module electrically connected to the microcontroller. The low-power beacon may also include a power management unit that powers each module. The microcontroller may be a low-power MCU chip based on an ARM Cortex-M series core, and the Bluetooth radio frequency module is a single-mode radio frequency front-end supporting Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) 4.0 and above protocols. The microcontroller is configured to perform the following operations strictly in sequence within each fixed broadcast period (e.g., configurable to 500ms, 1s, or 2s): Step S110: Randomly select one channel from multiple preset channels as the target broadcast channel.

[0026] At the start of each broadcast cycle, the microcontroller is woken up by an internal low-power timer, switching from deep sleep mode (current can be as low as below 1μA) to active operation mode. The microcontroller randomly and with equal probability selects one of several preset broadcast channels stored in its firmware as the target broadcast channel for this broadcast. In a typical configuration, the preset channel group includes three broadcast channels specified by the Bluetooth protocol: channel 37 (center frequency 2402MHz), channel 38 (center frequency 2426MHz), and channel 39 (center frequency 2480MHz).

[0027] The preset channel group is preferably one of the three broadcast channels specified in the Bluetooth standard: channel 37 (2402 MHz), channel 38 (2426 MHz), and channel 39 (2480 MHz). Random selection can be achieved using the MCU's hardware random number generator or a pseudo-random number sequence, ensuring that the number of broadcasts by the beacon on the three channels is relatively equal over a long period, avoiding channel congestion, and avoiding the problem of co-channel interference accumulation that may occur when broadcasting on fixed channels.

[0028] Step S120: Control the Bluetooth radio frequency module to send a broadcast message on the target broadcast channel.

[0029] The microcontroller configures the Bluetooth RF module's operating frequency to the selected target broadcast channel and controls it to transmit only broadcast messages. These broadcast messages conform to the BLE broadcast protocol format, and their payload contains at least a unique identifier for the beacon (such as a 128-bit UUID, and Major and Minor values). Compared to the existing "traversal broadcast" mode, which requires transmission once each on channels 37, 38, and 39 (a total of three times) per cycle, this scheme reduces RF transmission activity within a single broadcast cycle; in one example, the RF transmission slide can be reduced to only one.

[0030] Radio frequency (RF) transmission is the main source of peak power consumption for beacons, consuming current ranging from several milliamps to tens of milliamps, while the sleep current can be as low as microamps. Assuming a broadcast period T = 1 second, and each transmission in a traditional scheme lasts 0.1 ms, the total RF activity time per cycle is 0.3 ms; while this scheme reduces the RF activity time to 0.1 ms. Therefore, the average operating current is significantly reduced.

[0031] This step is the most crucial and direct technical means to achieve extreme power consumption reduction. In existing technologies, to ensure that the signal can be received by gateways that may be listening on different channels, the beacon has to sequentially send broadcast messages on all preset channels (usually three) in each cycle. This step completely revolutionizes this by "sending only once." The direct technical effect is to reduce the number of RF transmission activities in a single broadcast cycle to one-third of the original (taking three channels as an example), thereby significantly reducing the operating time and energy consumption of the RF transmission circuit (the part with the highest power consumption), reducing the beacon's dynamic power consumption, and solving the fundamental problem of "insufficient beacon device battery life."

[0032] In one example, sending a broadcast message on the target broadcast channel includes: A preset number of broadcast messages are continuously sent on the target broadcast channel.

[0033] It is easy to understand that, in order to ensure that the messages sent by the low-power beacon during the broadcast cycle can be received by the wireless signal receiving device, multiple broadcasts can be performed when sending broadcast messages; specifically, broadcast messages are sent a preset number of times on the target broadcast channel within a single broadcast cycle. The preset number of times can be determined by the developers, for example, 5 times, 10 times, or 15 times. Furthermore, by setting the preset number of times, the next broadcast can be automatically switched upon detecting the callback event at the end of one broadcast, thus finely adjusting and reducing the power consumption of the low-power beacon during the broadcast cycle.

[0034] Step S130: After completing the transmission of the broadcast message, control the low-power beacon to enter a low-power state until the next broadcast cycle begins.

[0035] The moment the Bluetooth RF module confirms the completion of broadcast message transmission, the microcontroller immediately performs the following operations: 1) controls the Bluetooth RF module to shut down the RF power amplifier and switch to the lowest power mode or completely power off; 2) shuts down its peripheral modules except for the timer; 3) puts the microcontroller into a deep sleep mode. Beacon 100 will remain in this extremely low power state until the start of the next broadcast cycle T, at which point the timer will wake it up again, thus starting a new cycle (returning to step S10). Therefore, the beacon's active RF operating time within a cycle is extremely short, and the peak power consumption window is compressed to a minimum.

[0036] It's easy to understand that this step implements "power minimization window management." After completing its single RF transmission task, the beacon immediately (rather than waiting for the cycle to end) enters sleep or deep sleep mode. In this state, most circuits, such as the microcontroller's main core and RF module, are shut down or placed in ultra-low power mode, with only a basic timer running to wake up the next cycle. This step converts most of the time within the cycle into an ultra-low power "quiet period," minimizing the beacon's average static power consumption. Combined with the "dynamic power reduction" in step S20, it achieves comprehensive power optimization from peak to average, and from dynamic to static.

[0037] This solution directly and efficiently addresses the core pain point of "insufficient battery life of beacon devices" mentioned in the background technology. Calculations show that, with the same battery capacity and broadcast cycle, beacons using this solution can theoretically achieve several times the battery life of traditional solutions, significantly reducing maintenance frequency and total cost of ownership in large-scale deployment scenarios.

[0038] It should be noted that the above content describes the composition and operation of the "low-power beacon" product; however, beacons are generally used as wireless signal transmitting devices in conjunction with wireless signal receiving devices to jointly complete the positioning function. The low-power beacon proposed in this invention transmits broadcast messages on only one channel. To ensure that the broadcast signals emitted by the low-power beacon can be reliably received, this invention requires limitations on the wireless signal receiving device used with the low-power beacon, as follows: the wireless signal receiving device needs to have multi-channel synchronous monitoring capability. That is, it can simultaneously monitor all preset channels (channels where the low-power beacon may broadcast). When the low-power beacon randomly selects a channel and sends a single broadcast message in a certain period, even though the message only appears once and lasts for a very short time, it can still be captured instantaneously and without error.

[0039] This invention proposes a low-power beacon, comprising: a microcontroller and a Bluetooth radio frequency module connected to the microcontroller; the microcontroller is configured to perform the following operations in each broadcast cycle: randomly select a channel from a plurality of preset channels as a target broadcast channel; control the Bluetooth radio frequency module to transmit a broadcast message on the target broadcast channel; and after completing the transmission of the broadcast message, control the low-power beacon to enter a low-power state until the start of the next broadcast cycle. This invention reduces the number of transmissions by randomly selecting a target broadcast channel from a plurality of preset channels during the broadcast cycle, transmitting a broadcast message, and then entering a sleep state until the next broadcast cycle, thereby reducing beacon power consumption and extending battery life.

[0040] In the first embodiment, the low-power beacon further includes: a motion sensor connected to a microcontroller; The motion sensor is used to detect the motion state of the low-power beacon and output it to the microcontroller; The microcontroller is also configured to perform the following operations: Based on the signal output by the motion sensor, it is determined whether the low-power Bluetooth beacon is in a moving state; When it is determined that the device is in a moving state, the Bluetooth radio frequency module is controlled to stop broadcasting; When it is determined that the state has changed from a moving state to a stationary state and the preset stationary time has been reached, the Bluetooth radio frequency module is controlled to start broadcasting.

[0041] It should be noted that in warehousing and logistics scenarios, beacons attached to goods are mostly stationary in storage, but they undergo movement processes such as handling and transportation. During this movement, the precise real-time location of the goods is often not essential information for the warehouse management system, and frequent broadcasts are not very meaningful due to the rapid changes in location.

[0042] The motion sensor is used to detect the physical motion state of the beacon body in real time or periodically, and outputs analog or digital signals characterizing the motion state to the microcontroller. In a typical configuration, the motion sensor (e.g., a three-axis accelerometer integrated into a single chip) is mounted on the beacon's circuit board. The microcontroller periodically (e.g., every 100ms) reads data from the motion sensor (e.g., each axis of the accelerometer) via a digital interface such as I²C or SPI.

[0043] The microcontroller continuously calculates the real-time value or short-term rate of change (such as differential value) of the motion sensor output signal (e.g., acceleration vector amplitude). The system presets one or more thresholds to distinguish between "stationary" and "moving" states. When the sensor signal amplitude remains below a low threshold and the rate of change is extremely small (close to zero), it indicates that the beacon is in a stable, stationary state. When the sensor signal amplitude exceeds a preset high threshold, or the rate of change (i.e., the amount of change per unit time) exceeds a preset rate of change threshold, the microcontroller determines that the beacon has entered a "moving state." This dual-judgment mechanism based on amplitude or rate of change can effectively detect motions of varying intensities, from slight shaking to rapid handling.

[0044] Accordingly, when the microcontroller determines that the beacon is currently in motion based on sensor signals, it immediately (or after completing the current broadcast cycle) controls the Bluetooth RF module to stop all broadcasting activities. At this time, even if the beacon is within a broadcast cycle, it will no longer perform the "randomly select a channel and send a single message" operation. The microcontroller and RF module can enter a deeper sleep state than during periodic broadcasting, maintaining only the motion sensor and necessary logic with extremely low power consumption.

[0045] When the beacon transitions from a moving state to a stationary state, the microcontroller does not immediately resume broadcasting. Instead, it starts a timer to monitor the duration of the stationary state. Only when the stationary state reaches a preset duration (e.g., configurable to 5 seconds, 30 seconds, or longer) does the microcontroller determine that the beacon has been stably positioned and then control the Bluetooth radio frequency module to restart the normal periodic broadcasting process. The stationary duration is determined by the developers.

[0046] The preset stillness duration (e.g., 30 seconds) can avoid frequent start and stop of broadcasts caused by short pauses (such as placement during transportation), ensuring that the beacon only starts broadcasting its location after it has been stably placed in a location such as a shelf. This makes the reported location information more accurate and valuable, and also reduces unnecessary network signaling.

[0047] This solution eliminates all RF power consumption during movement by completely shutting down broadcasting, thus achieving "broadcast on demand" and significantly reducing the overall power consumption of the beacon.

[0048] In one example, the motion sensor includes a gyroscope and / or an accelerometer.

[0049] As is easily understood, an accelerometer is a sensor that detects the linear acceleration experienced by an object. This accelerometer connects to a microcontroller via an I²C or SPI interface. It continuously measures the acceleration components of a beacon along three spatial axes (X, Y, Z). When stationary, the accelerometer primarily measures the gravitational acceleration component; when moving or subjected to vibration, it measures the inertial acceleration caused by motion.

[0050] The microcontroller periodically reads the acceleration data. The decision-making logic can be based on: Vector sum amplitude: Calculates the amplitude of the vector sum of triaxial accelerations. When stationary, this value is approximately equal to 1g (gravitational acceleration). When the amplitude deviates significantly from 1g (exceeding a preset threshold), movement can be determined.

[0051] Rate of change of acceleration along a specific axis: This calculates the rate of change of acceleration over a certain time window. Even if the gravitational component remains constant under vibration conditions, the changing acceleration directly reflects the motion.

[0052] Accelerometers have a mature structure, extremely low power consumption, and low cost, making them ideal for large-scale beacon deployments. They can effectively detect various motion states such as translation, drop, and vibration, providing a reliable and economical solution for achieving "mobile stop broadcasting" functionality.

[0053] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the motion sensor is a low-power, digital output triaxial microelectromechanical system (MEMS) accelerometer.

[0054] A gyroscope is a sensor that detects the angular velocity (rotation rate) of an object. Like other gyroscopes, it connects to a microcontroller via a digital interface to measure the angular velocity of a beacon rotating around its X, Y, and Z axes. When a beacon is picked up, rotated, or swung, it will generate a significant angular velocity even without a large linear displacement of its center of gravity. The microcontroller can sensitively determine that the beacon has undergone a change in attitude or rotational motion by detecting whether the angular velocity in any axis exceeds a very small threshold (e.g., greater than a few degrees per second), thus classifying it as a moving state. Gyroscopes are extremely sensitive to rotational motion and can detect slow or purely rotating movements that an accelerometer might ignore (e.g., goods being turned in place on a pallet).

[0055] In one embodiment of the present invention, the motion sensor is a low-power MEMS gyroscope.

[0056] In one example, the motion sensor includes both a gyroscope and an accelerometer, which together form an inertial measurement unit.

[0057] The microcontroller simultaneously acquires acceleration and angular velocity data. A simple logical "OR" operation is used for judgment: when either the accelerometer or gyroscope detects a motion signal exceeding a threshold, it is determined to be a movement state. These two sensors complement each other, ensuring that neither linear movement (such as handling, where the accelerometer is sensitive) nor rotational movement (such as flipping, where the gyroscope is sensitive) is missed, greatly improving the reliability of motion state determination.

[0058] In one example, determining whether the Bluetooth Low Energy beacon is in motion based on the signal output by the motion sensor includes: When the amplitude or amplitude conversion rate of the signal exceeds a preset threshold, it is determined to be in a moving state; otherwise, it is in a stationary state.

[0059] It is easy to understand that when the amplitude or amplitude conversion rate of the output signal of the motion sensor exceeds a preset threshold, the beacon is determined to be in a moving state; otherwise, it is determined to be in a stationary state.

[0060] For accelerometers: The microcontroller reads the raw data output by the triaxial accelerometer and calculates the instantaneous composite acceleration vector amplitude. A preset amplitude threshold can be set. When the acceleration vector amplitude exceeds the preset threshold, it is determined to be movement. This method is sensitive to obvious translation, drops, or impacts.

[0061] For the gyroscope: The microcontroller reads the three-axis angular velocity data. It can calculate the absolute value of the amplitude of each axis or the composite angular velocity amplitude. An angular velocity amplitude threshold can be preset. When the absolute value of the amplitude of each axis or the composite angular velocity amplitude is greater than the angular velocity amplitude threshold, it is determined that rotational motion has occurred, i.e., a movement state.

[0062] The amplitude conversion rate focuses on the rate of change of a signal, offering better differentiation between slow or continuous uniform motion and steady-state vibrations in the environment. The microcontroller calculates the change in amplitude over consecutive time windows (e.g., two consecutive sampling points, or data within a 100ms window). The conversion rate can be obtained through simple differencing (current value minus the previous value) or by calculating the slope of a linear fit within a short time window.

[0063] A preset rate of change threshold is established. This threshold is used to distinguish between normal, minor fluctuations (such as environmental vibrations) and genuine motion initiation / cessation. For example, even if a beacon is on a moving truck (it may fluctuate wildly around 1g due to road bumps, but its average value during the truck's constant speed range may still be close to 1g), the rate of change of its acceleration amplitude is still large. When the rate of change of amplitude exceeds the preset threshold (rate of change threshold), it is determined to be in a moving state.

[0064] The present invention also proposes a gateway device, the gateway device comprising: Control module, power supply circuit and multiple communication chips; The power supply circuit is connected to the control module and the plurality of communication chips respectively, and is used to supply power to the control module and the plurality of communication chips; The plurality of communication chips are respectively connected to the control module; The control module is configured as follows: The plurality of communication chips are configured to scan and monitor mode, and each communication chip is fixed to monitor a preset channel; wherein the channels corresponding to the plurality of communication chips are different.

[0065] It should be noted that the gateway device can be used in conjunction with the aforementioned low-power beacon.

[0066] The control module can be a microprocessor (such as an ARM Cortex-A series), a microcontroller, or a field-programmable gate array (FPGA). It is responsible for running system software, processing data, executing logic control, and communicating with a host network (such as a positioning server).

[0067] The communication chip is the physical entity that performs wireless signal reception. Each communication chip is an independent radio frequency system-on-chip (SoC) or radio frequency front-end module that supports Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) scanning. The number of chips is at least equal to, and typically equal to, the number of preset broadcast channels used by the beacon (e.g., 3, corresponding to channels 37, 38, and 39). All communication chips are connected to the control module via digital communication interfaces (such as UART, SPI, USB) or a shared bus.

[0068] The power supply circuit provides power to the entire gateway device. It connects to the control module and each communication chip, providing stable and appropriate voltage and current. Since gateways are typically deployed in locations with a fixed power source (such as AC mains or PoE), their power consumption is significantly lower than that of battery-powered beacons.

[0069] After power-on, the control module initializes each communication chip sequentially, configuring them to Bluetooth scanner mode. The control module assigns and locks a different, preset broadcast channel to each chip for listening. For example, it commands the first communication chip (a) to continuously scan on channel 37 (2402 MHz); the second chip (b) to scan on channel 38 (2426 MHz); and the third chip (c) to scan on channel 39 (2480 MHz). Each chip focuses solely on the wireless signal of its assigned channel. After configuration, all communication chips simultaneously begin and continuously listen on their assigned channels. They operate in parallel at the physical layer, without time-division polling, ensuring continuous and uninterrupted listening to their respective channels.

[0070] When the low-power beacon randomly selects a channel and sends a broadcast message only once during a broadcast period (e.g., channel 38), the message appears in the air as a radio frequency event. Simultaneously, the communication chip in the gateway device, which is always monitoring channel 38, can immediately capture this message because it is constantly monitoring that channel. The communication chip reports the demodulated data packet (containing beacon ID, RSSI, etc.) to the control module through the interface. At the same time, the communication chips monitoring channels 37 and 39, although not receiving the signal from this specific beacon, continue to monitor, ready to receive other beacon signals that may be broadcast on their channels.

[0071] Traditional single-chip polling scanning has an inherent time blind spot (when the chip is listening to channel A, it will miss the signals on channels B and C at that moment). This solution completely eliminates this blind spot, and the signal acquisition is instantaneous, which is conducive to achieving faster location updates and lower latency system response. This gateway achieves full-time, synchronous, and seamless coverage of all preset broadcast channels through hardware redundancy (multiple chips). This fundamentally solves the contradiction between the beacon's "single random broadcast" and the receiver's "limited listening capability". No matter which channel the beacon selects, there is always a corresponding gateway chip "waiting", thus ensuring a very high probability of successful reception of the single broadcast message, guaranteeing communication reliability at the system level.

[0072] Furthermore, it is particularly important to note that the gateway device, when used in conjunction with the low-power beacon, enables the low-power beacon scheme to function effectively and leverage its advantages. The gateway device shifts the technical complexity and energy costs of ensuring communication reliability from the massive, difficult-to-maintain beacon terminal side to the smaller, easier-to-power-and-manage fixed gateway infrastructure side. This trade-off of controllable hardware costs on the gateway side results in a significant increase in the battery life of a massive number of terminal devices across the entire network, substantially reducing the total cost of ownership and demonstrating outstanding commercial value. Specifically: 1. The long-term maintenance costs of terminal equipment (beacons) have decreased dramatically. In traditional solutions, each beacon requires multiple broadcasts per cycle, resulting in high power consumption and short battery life (e.g., only a few months or a year). In warehousing or logistics scenarios with tens of thousands of beacons deployed, frequent battery replacements or complete equipment replacements constitute significant ongoing maintenance costs. This includes not only the cost of purchasing new batteries or beacons, but also expensive labor costs, efficiency losses due to operational interruptions, and the cost of recycling and disposing of old equipment. This is the primary source of cost reduction.

[0073] By adopting this invention, the beacon's battery life can be extended several times (e.g., from one year to three years or more) due to a significant reduction in power consumption. This means that the number of beacon battery or equipment replacements is reduced by more than 60% throughout the system's lifespan. For a system deploying tens of thousands of beacons, this saving amounts to millions or even tens of millions of yuan, constituting an overwhelming cost advantage.

[0074] 2. The increase in gateway-side costs is controllable and the marginal benefits are extremely high. The cost of a single BLE-enabled communication chip is already very low. The increase in bill of materials (BOM) cost due to adding 2-3 such chips to a gateway is negligible compared to the overall cost of the gateway's processor, casing, power supply, etc. In a typical positioning network, the number of gateways is usually 2-3 orders of magnitude less than the number of beacons (for example, a large warehouse might deploy dozens of gateways but manage tens of thousands of beacons). Therefore, the total hardware cost added by all gateways is insignificant compared to the total maintenance cost savings from all beacons.

[0075] Furthermore, gateway hardware upgrades incur one-time design and manufacturing costs, while savings in beacon maintenance costs occur over a long period. This model, which trades a one-time, controllable increase in fixed costs for a long-term, substantial reduction in operating costs, offers an extremely high return on investment.

[0076] 3. Hidden cost savings resulting from system reliability In traditional solutions, the frequent maintenance windows caused by the high power consumption of beacons, and the potential for missed signals due to polling and listening by a single gateway, all affect the continuity and reliability of the positioning system. This can lead to indirect losses such as lost cargo location and management chaos.

[0077] The extended beacon battery life in this solution reduces the probability of "disconnection" due to beacon power depletion, thereby improving the online rate of network nodes.

[0078] In addition, the gateway in this solution monitors the signal at all times, which ensures a near 100% capture rate of the broadcast signal, improving the continuity and accuracy of the positioning data.

[0079] In summary, the improved overall system reliability avoids hidden costs such as decreased operational efficiency, inventory counting errors, and even the risk of asset loss due to missing or incorrect information.

[0080] The present invention also proposes a wireless positioning system, comprising: Low-power beacons and gateways (devices); The low-power beacon is used to broadcast on any one of multiple preset channels when broadcasting; The gateway has multiple communication chips, each corresponding to a different preset channel to receive wireless broadcast signals; wherein the number of communication chips is greater than or equal to the number of preset channels.

[0081] The specific structures of the gateway and the low-power beacon are as described in the above embodiments. Since this wireless positioning system adopts all the technical solutions of all the above embodiments, it has at least all the beneficial effects brought about by the technical solutions of the above embodiments, and will not be described in detail here.

[0082] This wireless positioning system is particularly suitable for scenarios such as large-scale warehousing and logistics, smart factories, and medical asset management. For example, in a warehouse, thousands of goods are attached with low-power beacons that broadcast randomly every few seconds to tens of seconds; multiple gateways deployed throughout the warehouse reliably collect all beacon signals and upload them to the server through parallel listening with multiple chips, enabling real-time, accurate positioning and trajectory tracking of all items in the warehouse, while extending the beacon maintenance cycle from several months to several years, greatly reducing operating costs.

[0083] In one embodiment, the number of gateways (devices) is multiple; The multiple gateways are used to collect the low-power beacon wireless signal and determine the location of the low-power beacon based on the wireless signal when the low-power beacon is broadcasting.

[0084] Specifically, multiple gateway devices are deployed within a target area (e.g., a warehouse workshop). Each gateway has the structure described in the previous embodiments, containing multiple communication chips capable of parallel, real-time monitoring of all preset broadcast channels within its coverage area. Simultaneously, a large number of low-power beacons are distributed within the area, each operating in the same low-power, random channel, single-broadcast manner as described in the previous embodiments.

[0085] When a low-power beacon (e.g., beacon ID: XYZ) broadcasts at a certain time, its emitted wireless signal propagates through space and is typically received simultaneously or nearly simultaneously by multiple gateways within its signal coverage area (e.g., gateways 200a, 200b, and 200c). Each gateway that receives the broadcast message processes it independently. After receiving the message from beacon XYZ, each gateway (taking 200a as an example) generates a data packet in its control module. This data packet contains at least: Beacon identifier: Used to uniquely identify which beacon emitted the signal.

[0086] Received signal strength: The signal strength value when the gateway receives this message.

[0087] The gateway's own location identifier or coordinates.

[0088] Subsequently, each gateway sends these data packets to a central processing node (which could be one of the gateways, a standalone location server, or a cloud platform) via a network (such as Ethernet, Wi-Fi, or 4G / 5G).

[0089] After collecting data packets from at least two (preferably three or more) different gateways regarding the same beacon and the same broadcast, the central processing node can calculate the beacon's location based on this data. For example: Localization based on received signal strength: The system pre-collects "fingerprints" of the deployment area, recording the signal strength distribution from each gateway at reference points with known coordinates. When locating an unknown beacon, the system matches the real-time signal strength vectors measured by multiple gateways with the fingerprint database to find the most similar location, which is the estimated beacon location. This method utilizes a large amount of distributed wireless signal characteristics, resulting in high accuracy.

[0090] Geometric relationship-based positioning: Using a signal strength and distance attenuation model, the signal strength measured by each gateway is converted into an approximate distance estimate, and then the beacon coordinates are estimated through a multi-point intersection (triangulation) method.

[0091] Compared to a single-gateway system, this embodiment introduces multiple gateways. A single-gateway system can typically only determine that "the beacon is near a certain gateway," while a multi-gateway system, by analyzing the intensity differences of the same signal at different points in space, can calculate the beacon's specific coordinates in two-dimensional or three-dimensional space, truly achieving precise positioning. Furthermore, the multi-gateway architecture provides redundancy. Even if some gateways fail to receive the signal due to malfunction or temporary obstruction, the system can still complete the positioning calculation as long as other gateways can receive it, avoiding positioning failure caused by a single point of failure.

[0092] It is particularly important to emphasize that the multi-gateway positioning mechanism is perfectly compatible with the beacon's "single random broadcast" mode. The beacon does not need to change its low-power operation, nor does it need to increase the number of broadcasts or transmission power for positioning. It only needs to make one broadcast, which can be simultaneously captured by multiple gateways within its communication range, thus providing ample data sources for positioning calculations.

[0093] In one embodiment, the wireless positioning system further includes: a positioning server; The number of gateways is multiple; Multiple gateways are configured to, upon receiving a broadcast message from the same low-power beacon, each upload a data packet containing the beacon identifier, received signal strength, and precise received timestamp to the positioning server. The positioning server is configured to calculate the location of the low-power beacon based on the data packets from at least three gateways, using a time difference of arrival or angle of arrival positioning algorithm.

[0094] It should be noted that whenever multiple gateways receive a broadcast message from any low-power beacon, they immediately (or within a very short delay) generate a standardized data packet and upload it to the unified positioning server 400 via a wired (e.g., Ethernet) or wireless backhaul network (e.g., 4G / 5G, Wi-Fi). The data packet contains: Beacon identifier: Indicates the source of the signal.

[0095] Received signal strength: Used to assist in judging signal quality or as a backup positioning source.

[0096] Accurate reception timestamps: This is crucial for achieving high-precision positioning. Each gateway needs to be equipped with a high-precision clock (or synchronized via a network time protocol) to ensure that the timestamps recording the arrival time of messages at the antenna have microsecond-level accuracy or even higher and consistency.

[0097] The positioning server 400 continuously receives data packets from all gateways. When it receives a set of data packets from at least three different gateways that are broadcast to the same beacon in the same instance, it triggers a high-precision positioning calculation.

[0098] The server is configured to perform calculations using one of the following two advanced algorithms or a combination thereof: Time Difference of Arrival (TDOA) positioning algorithm: The server utilizes "precise reception timestamps" from different gateways. Due to the varying distances between each gateway and the beacon, the arrival time of the same broadcast signal differs slightly across gateways. By calculating the differences between these timestamps, a set of hyperbolic equations can be established, and their intersection point represents the estimated location of the beacon.

[0099] Angle of Arrival (AHA) positioning algorithm: This algorithm requires the gateway antenna to be an array antenna (such as a 2x2 array). The gateway not only reports the timestamp and signal strength in the data packet, but also needs to calculate the azimuth (and / or elevation) angle of arrival. After collecting AHA information from multiple gateways, the server determines the beacon's location by reversing the direction lines.

[0100] It is easy to understand that by utilizing precise timestamp (TDOA) or angle of arrival (AOA) information, the drawbacks of traditional positioning methods based on single signal strength, which are easily affected by environmental changes, are completely eliminated. Stable and high-precision positioning (such as 1-3 meters or even higher precision) can be achieved in complex indoor environments, meeting the advanced application needs of warehouse navigation, tool finding, personnel safety monitoring, etc.

[0101] Furthermore, the gateway's core responsibility is clearly defined as "high-precision data acquisition and reporting," eliminating the need for expensive dedicated positioning computing modules. Its complexity, cost, and power consumption are effectively controlled. The beacon's operating mode remains unchanged, maintaining its extremely low-power "single-broadcast" characteristic. High-precision positioning is entirely achieved through collaborative computing by the infrastructure (gateway + server), achieving an optimal allocation of total system energy consumption and cost.

[0102] The present invention also proposes a broadcast control method, comprising: The motion state of the low-power beacon is detected by a motion sensor; Based on the output signal of the motion sensor, it is determined whether the low-power beacon is in a moving state; When the system determines that it is in a moving state, the Bluetooth radio frequency module of the low-power beacon stops broadcasting; when the system determines that it has transitioned from a moving state to a stationary state and has reached a preset stationary duration, the broadcasting process is initiated; wherein, the broadcasting process includes: During each broadcast cycle, a channel is randomly selected from multiple preset channels as the target broadcast channel; The Bluetooth radio frequency module is controlled to send a broadcast message on the target broadcast channel; after the transmission is completed, the low-power beacon is controlled to enter a low-power state until the next broadcast cycle.

[0103] It should be explained that this method endows the beacon with environmental awareness intelligence. It automatically goes into hibernation during the moving phase when positioning is not required (such as during transportation) and automatically operates during the stationary phase when positioning is required (such as in a storage location), achieving a precise match between energy consumption and function.

[0104] Step S210: Detect the motion state of the low-power beacon using a motion sensor. The system periodically (e.g., every 100 milliseconds) reads raw data from motion sensors (such as accelerometers or gyroscopes) connected to the microcontroller. This data directly reflects the changes in the beacon's acceleration or angular velocity in three-dimensional space and is the primary basis for determining whether it has moved.

[0105] Step S220: Determine whether the low-power beacon is in a moving state based on the output signal of the motion sensor.

[0106] Calculate the instantaneous value of the sensor output signal (such as the magnitude of the synthesized acceleration vector). If this value consistently exceeds a threshold range characterizing a stationary state (e.g., a deviation from the gravitational acceleration of 1g exceeding ±0.2g), it initially indicates possible movement. Also calculate the rate of change (difference) of the signal within a short time window. A rapid rate of change (exceeding a preset rate of change threshold) typically signifies a sudden change in the state of motion.

[0107] Finally, a comprehensive judgment is made based on the logic of "amplitude exceeding a threshold or rate of change exceeding a threshold". When either condition is met, the beacon is determined to be in a "moving state"; otherwise, it is determined to be in a "stationary state". The use of dual criteria improves the sensitivity and anti-interference capability of the judgment.

[0108] Step S230: When it is determined that the device is in a moving state, the Bluetooth radio frequency module of the low-power beacon is controlled to stop broadcasting; when it is determined that the device changes from a moving state to a stationary state and reaches a preset stationary duration, the broadcasting process is started; wherein, the broadcasting process includes: During each broadcast cycle, a channel is randomly selected from multiple preset channels as the target broadcast channel; The Bluetooth radio frequency module is controlled to send a broadcast message on the target broadcast channel; after the transmission is completed, the low-power beacon is controlled to enter a low-power state until the next broadcast cycle.

[0109] It should be explained that if a broadcast cycle is in progress, it will be interrupted immediately after the current cycle ends, stopping the subsequent "random channel selection and message transmission" process. The Bluetooth RF module will then enter a shutdown or minimum power standby mode. The microcontroller itself can also enter a low-power operating mode that only maintains sensor sampling and basic logic processing. In this mode, the beacon completely stops broadcasting wireless signals, RF power consumption drops to zero, and only extremely low-power motion sensing capabilities are retained.

[0110] When the sensor signal continuously meets the "stationary state" criterion, it indicates that movement has stopped. A timer is started to monitor the duration of the stationary state. The next step is only executed after the stationary duration reaches a preset duration (e.g., 30 seconds). This preset duration is a critical parameter; it avoids frequent start-stop broadcasts due to short pauses (such as temporary placement during transport), ensuring that the beacon has been stably positioned. Once the duration condition is met, the microcontroller controls the Bluetooth RF module to power on and initialize, initiating the complete broadcast process.

[0111] Because broadcasts are only made when the device is stable and stationary, the number of wireless signals in the network is effectively controlled, reducing redundant messages in the air and lowering the data processing load on the gateway. At the same time, the reported location information represents the valid location of the item when it is stably stored, improving the accuracy and usability of the location data.

[0112] The present invention also proposes a storage medium storing a broadcast control program, which, when executed by a processor, implements the steps of the broadcast control method.

[0113] Storage medium refers to any non-transitory, computer-readable storage medium containing executable program code. Its physical form may include, but is not limited to: Read-only memory or flash memory integrated within the microcontroller of the low-power beacon.

[0114] A separate memory chip used for burning firmware during the beacon manufacturing process.

[0115] During the development or maintenance phase, a disk, optical disc, USB flash drive, or memory card is used to store program code.

[0116] Virtual storage space used for distributing and storing programs in the cloud or on the server.

[0117] Furthermore, the specific steps of the broadcast control method are as described in the above embodiments. Since this storage medium adopts all the technical solutions of all the above embodiments, it has at least all the beneficial effects brought about by the technical solutions of the above embodiments, and will not be described in detail here.

[0118] The above description is merely an optional embodiment of the present invention and does not limit the patent scope of the present invention. All equivalent structural transformations made using the contents of the present invention's specification and drawings under the inventive concept of the present invention, or direct / indirect applications in other related technical fields, are included within the patent protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A low-power beacon, characterized in that, include: Microcontroller, and Bluetooth radio frequency module connected to the microcontroller; The microcontroller is configured to perform the following operations during each broadcast cycle: From a number of preset channels, one channel is randomly selected as the target broadcast channel; Control the Bluetooth radio frequency module to send a broadcast message on the target broadcast channel; After the broadcast message is sent, the low-power beacon is controlled to enter a low-power state until the next broadcast cycle begins.

2. The low-power beacon as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The low-power beacon also includes a motion sensor connected to the microcontroller; The motion sensor is used to detect the motion state of the low-power beacon and output it to the microcontroller; The microcontroller is also configured to perform the following operations: Based on the signal output by the motion sensor, it is determined whether the low-power Bluetooth beacon is in a moving state; When it is determined that the device is in a moving state, the Bluetooth radio frequency module is controlled to stop broadcasting; When it is determined that the state has changed from a moving state to a stationary state and the preset stationary time has been reached, the Bluetooth radio frequency module is controlled to start broadcasting.

3. The low-power beacon as described in claim 1, characterized in that, Sending a broadcast message on the target broadcast channel includes: A preset number of broadcast messages are continuously sent on the target broadcast channel.

4. The low-power beacon as described in claim 2, characterized in that, The step of determining whether the low-power Bluetooth beacon is in motion based on the signal output by the motion sensor includes: When the amplitude or amplitude conversion rate of the signal exceeds a preset threshold, it is determined to be in a moving state; otherwise, it is in a stationary state.

5. A gateway device, characterized in that, The gateway device includes: Control module, power supply circuit and multiple communication chips; The power supply circuit is connected to the control module and the plurality of communication chips respectively, and is used to supply power to the control module and the plurality of communication chips; The plurality of communication chips are respectively connected to the control module; The control module is configured as follows: The plurality of communication chips are configured to scan and monitor mode, and each communication chip is fixed to monitor a preset channel; wherein the channels corresponding to the plurality of communication chips are different.

6. A wireless positioning system, characterized in that, include: Low-power beacons and gateways; The low-power beacon is used to broadcast on any one of multiple preset channels when broadcasting; The gateway has multiple communication chips, each corresponding to a different preset channel to receive wireless broadcast signals; wherein the number of communication chips is greater than or equal to the number of preset channels.

7. The wireless positioning system as described in claim 6, characterized in that, The number of gateways is multiple; The multiple gateways are used to collect the low-power beacon wireless signal and determine the location of the low-power beacon based on the wireless signal when the low-power beacon is broadcasting.

8. The wireless positioning system as described in claim 6, characterized in that, The wireless positioning system also includes: a positioning server; The number of gateways is multiple; Multiple gateways are configured to, upon receiving a broadcast message from the same low-power beacon, each upload a data packet containing the beacon identifier, received signal strength, and precise received timestamp to the positioning server. The positioning server is configured to calculate the location of the low-power beacon based on the data packets from at least three gateways, using a time difference of arrival or angle of arrival positioning algorithm.

9. A broadcast control method, characterized in that, include: The motion state of the low-power beacon is detected by a motion sensor; Based on the output signal of the motion sensor, it is determined whether the low-power beacon is in a moving state; When it is determined that the device is in a moving state, the Bluetooth radio frequency module controlling the low-power beacon stops broadcasting; When it is determined that the state has changed from a moving state to a stationary state and the preset stationary duration has been reached, a broadcast process is initiated; wherein, the broadcast process includes: During each broadcast cycle, a channel is randomly selected from multiple preset channels as the target broadcast channel; The Bluetooth radio frequency module is controlled to send a broadcast message on the target broadcast channel; after the transmission is completed, the low-power beacon is controlled to enter a low-power state until the next broadcast cycle.

10. A storage medium, characterized in that, The system stores a broadcast control program, which, when executed by a processor, implements the steps of the broadcast control method as described in claim 9.

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