Bluetooth Low Energy telecommunication method implemented between a first telecommunication device and a second telecommunication device

The proposed method for Bluetooth Low Energy telecommunication reduces energy consumption by approximately 66% through efficient frame construction and single-channel transmission with channel rotation and data history insertion, addressing the challenges of energy efficiency and reliability in BLE advertising mode.

FR3157040A1Pending Publication Date: 2025-06-20COMMISSARIAT A LENERGIE ATOMIQUE ET AUX ENERGIES ALTERNATIVES
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Patent Information

Application Number
FR2023014093
Authority / Receiving Office
FR · FR
Patent Type
Applications
Current Assignee / Owner
Filing Date
2023-12-13
Publication Date
2025-06-20

AI Technical Summary

Technical Problem

There is a need to minimize the energy required for Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) communication, particularly in BLE advertising mode, while ensuring reliability and minimizing data loss due to interference and channel limitations.

Method used

A method for Bluetooth Low Energy telecommunication that involves constructing frames with a predefined format, including current data and historical data, and transmitting these frames on a single allocated channel in a predetermined order, with channel rotation and data history insertion to enhance reliability and reduce energy consumption.

Benefits of technology

This method significantly reduces the energy required for BLE communication by approximately 66% compared to traditional methods, while maintaining reliability and minimizing data loss, making it suitable for low-power IoT applications.

✦ Generated by Eureka AI based on patent content.

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Abstract

Bluetooth Low Energy telecommunication method implemented by a first telecommunication device (10), frames TR_i, i = nN to n, comprising a first current data field and N second data fields transmitted in the first field of previously transmitted frames; comprising, during the construction of the frame TR_n, the insertion: - in the first data field of the frame TR_n, of the data set D_n; - in the jth second data field of the frame TR_n, j = 1 to N, of the data set D_(nj) previously transmitted in the first field of the frame TR_(nj); the channel selected for the transmission of the frame TR_n-j being that succeeding, in said defined loop, the channel which had been selected for the transmission of the frame TR_(nj-1) at the transmission time t_(nj-1), j = 0 to N. Figure for the abstract: Fig. 1
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Description

Title of the invention: Bluetooth Low Energy telecommunication method implemented between a first telecommunication device and a second telecommunication device Technical field

[0001] The invention lies in the field of Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) telecommunications, which are notably implemented in applications relating to connected objects (IOT, from the English “Internet of Things”). Prior art

[0002] Four main alternative roles are generally distinguished for a device suitable for implementing BLE telecommunications:

[0003] - “central”: relating to a device that discovers peripherals and broadcasters BLE with the ability to connect to peripherals;

[0004] - “peripheral”: relating to a device which makes its existence known with the ability to accept connections from a “central” device;

[0005] - “broadcaster”: relating to a device that sends packets (“advertising packets”) without allowing any connection;

[0006] - “observer”: relating to a device which discovers “peripheral” devices and “broadcaster”, but without the ability to accept connections from a “central” device.

[0007] A peripheral or broadcaster device always starts with an advertising mode before accepting a connection. In fact, advertising packets are the only way for a central or observer device to discover a peripheral or broadcaster device. The difference between two BLE devices in connected mode and in advertising / discovery mode is that connected mode allows bidirectional data transfer between the two connected devices. On the other hand, a device in advertising mode (peripheral or broadcaster) cannot receive any data from an observer / central device in this state.

[0008] In “advertising” mode, a device sends packets containing useful data. These packets are generally sent at a fixed interval, defined as the advertising interval.

[0009] There are 40 Radio Frequency (RF) channels in BLE, spaced from each other from center to center by 2 MHz. Three of these channels, numbered 37, 38, 39 are the primary advertising channels. The other 37 channels are the secondary advertising channels. in English) and they are also used for data transfer during a connection. Secondary channels are used as "auxiliary" channels, meaning that a device must first transmit advertising packets on the primary advertising channels before sending advertising packets on the secondary channels. If a device wishes to use the secondary advertising channels, it sends advertising packets on the primary channels that indicate which secondary channels to use.

[0010] The classic operation of a Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) communication in advertising mode (broadcast / not connected) between a first BLE device and a second device, for example of the smartphone type, is illustrated with reference to [Fig.5] and [Fig.6].

[0011] In order to limit interference with other connected objects and Wi-Fi bands, objects communicating in BLE in advertising mode transmit their data on channels 37, 38 and 39 (dedicated to BLE) consecutively. The average energy required for the transmission of a 47-byte frame is of the order of 33 to 45 pJ.

[0012] Thus, with reference to the lower part of [Fig.6], the same data are transmitted by the first device, labeled A, successively on channel 37, then 38, then 39 corresponding to the transmissions El37, El38, El39. Then the following useful data are transmitted, after an advertising interval, for example of duration equal to 20 ms (millisecond) successively on channel 37, then 38, then 39: E237, E238, E239.

[0013] Conventionally, with reference to the lower part of [Fig.6], the BLE receiver (Observer / scanner), labeled S, launches, according to a period of the order of 50 ms to 200 ms (scan interval), a listening phase on one channel at a time. The scan / reading time is generally of the order of 25 ms to 100 ms (scan window). Then it stops listening for an interval of the same order of magnitude, before starting to listen again on the next advertising channel. This is thus a channel rotation while listening on channels 37, 38 and 39.

[0014] It is not recommended / advised to transmit on a single fixed BLE channel as this lowers interference immunity and increases the risk of data collisions.

[0015] The channel uses a frequency band that can also be used by other devices using BLE technology but also classic Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, ZigBee and Thread (see [Fig.7] extracted from: S. Silva, S. Soares, T. Femandes, A. Valente and A. Moreira, "Coexistence and interference tests on a Bluetooth Low Energy front-end," 2014 Science and Information Conference, London, UK, 2014, pp. 1014-1018, doi: 10.1109 / SAI.2014.6918312), which further increases the risk of interference between the different channels. Therefore, it is recommended to transmit on the 3 dedicated channels in BLE advertising mode as described above.

[0016] Some publications mention transmission / reception on a single channel (BLE) in order to minimize the energy consumed when sending data. For this type of experiment, as illustrated in [Fig.8], a dedicated Bluetooth frame reader / sniffer, S, (allowing reading on 1 continuous channel, for example channel 38) is generally used, with transmission also taking place only on this same channel by the first device, A.

[0017] It is also possible, as illustrated in [Fig.9], to use this type of transmission on a smartphone-type BLE receiver, labeled, Se, in channel rotation on reception with dead time between each channel change, but this greatly limits the number of frames received.

[0018] There is a need to minimize the energy required to communicate in BLE, particularly in BLE advertising, for example to a single-channel receiver such as a Smartphone, while guaranteeing the reliability of the communication (limiting problems linked to interference) and the restitution of data (minimizing data loss) ... Summary of the invention

[0019] To this end, according to a first aspect, the present invention describes a Bluetooth Low Energy telecommunication method implemented between a first telecommunication device and a second telecommunication device, frames TR_i having been previously transmitted to the second telecommunications device by the first telecommunications device at respective successive transmission times t_i, i = nN to n-1, N, i and n integers and N >3; P telecommunication channels having been allocated for Bluetooth Low Energy telecommunications between said first and second devices; said method comprising the following steps implemented by the first telecommunications device for the transmission, at transmission time t_n, of a new set of data to be transmitted D_n: obtaining the new data set to transmit D_n; construction of a frame, named frame TR_n, based on at least the data set D_n obtained; selecting a telecommunications channel from among said P telecommunications channels having been allocated; transmission, on the selected channel, of the constructed frame T_n; said method being characterized in that the following steps are implemented by the first telecommunications device for the transmission at transmission time t_n of the frame TR_n, each of the frames TR_i, i = nN to n, being conforming to a predefined frame format comprising a first data field intended to contain the current data and comprising N second data fields intended to contain data transmitted in the first field of previously transmitted frames; when constructing the TR_n frame: insertion, into the first data field of the frame TR_n, of the data set D_n; insertion into the jth second data field of frame TR_n, j = 1 to N, of the data set D_(nj) previously transmitted in the first field of frame TR_(nj); when selecting the communication channel: a loop having been defined on the P channels ordered according to a determined order, the channel selected for the transmission of the frame TR_n is the one succeeding, in said defined loop, the channel which had been selected for the transmission of the frame TR_(nl) at the transmission time t_(nl); the channel previously selected for the transmission of the frame TR_n-j being the one succeeding, in said defined loop, the channel which had been selected for the transmission of the frame TR_(njl) at the transmission time t_(njl), j = 1 to N.

[0020] The invention makes it possible to minimize the energy required to communicate in BLE, which is particularly interesting in loT applications requiring low-power wireless communication or in systems with energy harvesting.

[0021] In embodiments, such a method will further comprise at least one of the following features:

[0022] - the delay between two successive transmission times is constant;

[0023] - the data set D_i indicates the transmission time t_i, i= nN to n, of the frame TR_i;

[0024] - a scan duration Tsw having been predefined and a period TSi having been defined, the second telecommunication device implements, every period TSi a scan step during the predefined scan duration Tsw- on a channel considered among the P channels, said P channels being considered each one after the other, before starting again.

[0025] According to another aspect, the invention describes a computer program intended to be stored in the memory of a first telecommunications device further comprising a microcomputer, said computer program comprising instructions which, when executed on the microcomputer, implement the steps of a method according to the first aspect of the invention.

[0026] The invention also describes a non-transitory computer-readable medium storing such a computer program.

[0027] According to another aspect, the invention describes a telecommunications device, hereinafter referred to as the first telecommunications device, adapted to implement Bluetooth Low Energy telecommunications with a second telecommunications device, frames TR_i having been previously transmitted to the second telecommunications device by the telecommunications device at respective successive transmission times t_i, i = nN to n-1, N, i and n integers and N >3; P telecommunication channels having been allocated for Bluetooth Low Energy telecommunications between said first and second devices; the first telecommunication device being adapted, in order to transmit, at the transmission time t_n, a new set of data to be transmitted D_n, to obtain the new set of data to be transmitted D_n, to construct a frame, called frame TR_n, as a function of at least the set of data D_n obtained, to select a telecommunication channel from among said P telecommunication channels having been allocated, to transmit, on the selected channel, the constructed frame T_n; said first telecommunication device being characterized in that the first telecommunication device, for the purpose of transmission at transmission time t_n of the frame TR_n, each of the frames TR_i, i = nN to n, conforming to a predefined frame format comprising a first data field intended to contain the current data and comprising N second data fields intended to contain data transmitted in the first field of previously transmitted frames, during the construction of the frame TR_n, insert, in the first data field of the frame TR_n, the data set D_n, insert in the jth second data field of the frame TR_n, j = 1 to N, the data set D_(nj) previously transmitted in the first field of the frame TR_(nj); said first telecommunication device being adapted for, a loop having been defined on the P channels ordered according to a determined order, selecting as communication channel for the transmission of the frame TR_n, the one succeeding, in said defined loop, the channel which had been selected for the transmission of the frame TR_(nl) at the transmission time t_(nl); the channel previously selected for the transmission of the frame TR_n-j being the one succeeding, in said defined loop, the channel which had been selected for the transmission of the frame TR_(njl) at the transmission time t_(njl), j = 1 to N.

[0028] In embodiments, said telecommunications device further comprises one and / or the other of the following provisions:

[0029] - it is suitable for placing a constant delay between two transmission times successive;

[0030] - it is suitable for indicating in the data set D_i the time of transmission t_i, i= nN to n, of frame TR_i.

[0031] According to another aspect, the invention relates to a Bluetooth Low Energy telecommunication system comprising a first telecommunication device (10) according to the invention, in which a scan duration Tsw having been predefined and a period TSi having been defined, said system further comprising the second telecommunication device, which is adapted to carry out, every period TSi, a scan during the predefined scan duration Tsw on a channel considered among the P channels, said P channels being considered each one after the other, before starting again. Brief description of the drawings

[0032] The invention will be better understood and other characteristics, details and advantages will appear more clearly on reading the following description, given without limitation, and thanks to the appended figures, given by way of example.

[0033] [Fig.l] [Fig.l] is an illustration of a BLE telecommunication system in one embodiment of the invention;

[0034] [Fig.2] [Fig.2] is a flowchart of steps of a BLE telecommunication method in one embodiment of the invention;

[0035] [Fig.3] [Fig.3] illustrates the data received and reconstructed in one embodiment of the invention;

[0036] [Fig.4] [Fig.4] is an example of a frame composition transmitted in one embodiment of the invention;

[0037] [Fig.5] [Fig.5] represents the data channels implemented in BLE communications;

[0038] [Fig.6] [Fig.6] illustrates an operation according to the prior art of a BLE communication;

[0039] [Fig.7] [Fig.7] represents the Wi-Fi, ZigBee, Bluetooth and BLE spectra;

[0040] [Fig.8] [Fig.8] illustrates an operation according to the prior art of a BLE communication;

[0041] [Fig.9] [Fig.9] illustrates an operation according to the prior art of a BLE communication;

[0042] [Fig. 10] [Fig. 10] illustrates the operation of BLE communication in one embodiment of the invention;

[0043] [Fig. 11] [Fig. 11] is a schematic representation of an application of the invention in one embodiment.

[0044] Identical references may be used in different figures when they designate identical or comparable elements. Description of the embodiments

[0045] In [Fig. 1], a BLE telecommunication system in one embodiment of the invention is shown. It comprises two BLE communication devices adapted to implement between them a BLE telecommunication method in one embodiment of the invention: a first telecommunication device 10 (EM 10) and a second telecommunication device 20 (REC 20). The first device 10 comprises a BLE transmission module 11, including a BLE transmission antenna.

[0046] The first device 10 is for example energy-autonomous and is installed on an alpine ski. It is adapted to transmit first data relating to the duration and intensity of use of the ski (cumulative over time) and the classification of the skier's level (evaluation of the intensity of deformation of the ski). It comprises for example one or more processing block(s) (not shown), for example a (force) sensor and / or a clock. Useful data coming from the output of the processing block (or that of the processing block(s)) are transmitted to the input of the BLE transmission module 11 which is adapted to transmit them in Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) (advertising mode) in real time to the REC device 20, for example a Smartphone.

[0047] The second device, REC 20, comprises a Bluetooth reception module 21, including a Bluetooth reception antenna. This reception module is for example of the BLE type and is hereinafter referred to as the BLE module 21; it is adapted to receive the data resulting from the transmission by the first device 10. The REC 20 device is adapted to process this received data and obtain, as a function of this data once processed, evaluations of the duration and intensity of the use of the ski (cumulative over time) and the classification of the skier's level.

[0048] The BLE transmission module 11 is adapted to implement the steps incumbent upon it of the BLE telecommunications method according to the invention described below in one embodiment of the invention.

[0049] The BLE reception module 21 is adapted to implement the steps incumbent upon it of the BLE telecommunications method according to the invention described below in one embodiment of the invention.

[0050] P telecommunication channels have been previously allocated for Bluetooth Low Energy telecommunications in advertising mode, with P being an integer greater than or equal to 2. For example, P is chosen to be equal to 3 and the channels are channels 37, 38, 39.

[0051] A loop has been predefined on the P channels ordered according to a determined order. For example, here, the loop is channel 37, then channel 38, then channel 39, return to the start of the loop, i.e. return to channel 37, then channel 38, then channel 39 etc.

[0052] In variants, the determined order is 37-38-39 or 37-39-38. It may further include one or more repetitions (for example 37-37-38-39) or one or more shifts.

[0053] A BLE telecommunication method in one embodiment of the invention is now described with reference to [Fig.2]. The steps of this method are iterated as soon as a new set of data is to be transmitted.

[0054] In a step 101, the BLE transmission module 11 obtains the new set of data to be transmitted. Here, it is considered to be the nth set of data to be transmitted, named D_n corresponding to the nth iteration of the method.

[0055] Each of the frames TR_i has been previously prepared by the transmission module 11, following the latter's obtaining of the i-th set of data to be transmitted, then transmitted to the REC device 20 at a respective transmission time t_i, and this in an i-th iteration of the method described in [Fig.2]. The transmission times t_i follow one another in time. It is considered that i = nN to n-1, that N, i and n are integers and N >3.

[0056] In one embodiment, the largest possible value is taken for N, within the limit of the size of the frame imposed in the BLE protocol.

[0057] In a step 102, the BLE transmission module 11 constructs the frame TR_n, in particular as a function of the nth set of data obtained, D_n.

[0058] Each of the frames constructed, then transmitted, conforms to a predefined frame format 50, represented in [Fig.4] in an embodiment of the invention, comprising a first data field 50_1 intended to comprise the set of data obtained in step 101 of the current iteration and comprising a set 50_2 of N second data fields intended to comprise the sets of data obtained in step 101 of the N previous iterations.

[0059] In the example shown in [Fig.4], N = 7 and the 7 second data fields are referenced respectively 50_l, 50_2, 50_7; each of the first and second data fields here has a size of 2 bytes. The data set obtained D_n is for example the timestamp of the transmission of the frame TR_n, i.e. the transmission time t_n for iteration n of the method (the timestamp is, in the present case, taken equal to the writing time of the frame, the time between the creation and the transmission of the frame being sufficiently short to be neglected compared to the unit of time displayed). And similarly the data set obtained D_i is the timestamp of the start of implementation of step 101 at iteration i of the method, i = 1 to n. In other embodiments, the data set D_n is (or further comprises) a temperature provided by a sensor, a strain level, etc.

[0060] Thus, when constructing the TR_n frame, the BLE 11 transmission module inserts:

[0061] - selectively, in the first data field 50_l of the frame TR_n: the data set D_n obtained in step 101 of iteration n;

[0062] - selectively, in the jth second field 50_2j of data of the frame TR_n, j = 1 at N, the data set D_(nj) previously transmitted (i.e. at iteration nj of the method) in the first field 50_l of the frame TR_(nj).

[0063] In a step 103, the BLE transmission module 11 selects from among the P channels dedicated to BLE transmission, the one on which the frame TR_n will be selectively transmitted, by applying this rule:

[0064] The channel selected for the transmission of the frame TR_n is the one immediately following, in said predefined loop of channels, the channel which had been selected for the transmission of the frame TR_(nl) at the transmission time t_(nl), during the iteration (n-1) of the method; the channel previously selected for the transmission of the frame TR_n-j being the one following, in said defined loop, the channel which had been selected for the transmission of the frame TR_(njl) at the transmission time t_(njl).

[0065] In a step 104, the BLE transmission module 11 transmits at the transmission time t_n the frame TR_n on the channel thus selected.

[0066] Frame TR_n is thus transmitted on only one of the channels among the P dedicated channels. Frame TR_n+l which will be transmitted just after TR_n will only be transmitted on the channel then selected at iteration n+1. The data set D_n will be inserted into a field of history 50_2 of TR_n+l.

[0067] In the present case, the frame TR_n also includes:

[0068] - in a field 50_01, the length of the frame, and in a field 50_02 its type, each of these two fields of size 1 byte,

[0069] - in a field 50_03, the company identifier, size 2 bytes,

[0070] - in a field 50_04, an identifier of the EM 10 device (for example, in the case considered, the NFC UID identifier of this device, the 50_0 field here having a size of 8 bytes) and includes the iteration value n, in a 50_3 field, having for example a size of 2 bytes.

[0071] The size occupied by the data indicated in [Fig.4] in the case considered is 30 bytes (out of, for example, 31 available).

[0072] The lower section of [Fig. 10] illustrates, in one embodiment of the invention, the BLE transmission in advertising mode of the frames over time, by the BLE transmission module 11: transmission of an advertising frame on a single channel, channel rotation at each new frame sending and addition of historical data to limit the loss of data (in the case considered 6 previous data minimum). The energy required for the BLE transmission of a data set is 10-15 pj / frame compared to 33 to 45 pj / frame on a prior art system.

[0073] Frame TR_1, respectively TR_2, respectively TR_3, ..., respectively TR_8 etc. is transmitted by the BLE transmission module 11 (broadcaster / advertiser) to the transmission time t_l, respectively t _2, respectively t _3, ..respectively t_8 etc, on channel 37, respectively 38, respectively 39, ... respectively on channel 38, etc.

[0074] The duration between 2 successive BLE data sendings (i.e. between successive transmission times t_i and t_i+l), i.e. the advertising interval, is configurable between 20 ms and 10.24 seconds (advertising interval, cf. BLE standard), with conventionally an advertising interval 80 of duration between 100 ms and 2 s for most uses. However, this sending is not necessarily synchronized, that is to say that, in embodiments, this duration changes over time, in particular if the EM 10 device is energy autonomous, and includes an energy recovery system: the EM 10 device then prepares and sends a frame on a channel only when (and as soon as) the necessary energy is available.

[0075] The size of the data sets and the depth of the history can be modified, depending on the size of the frame. For example, each of the data sets has a size of 4 bytes and N = 3, or each of the data sets has a size of 1 byte and N = 15 etc.

[0076] The BLE 21 reception module or Observer / scanner, in a conventional manner, scans in bursts at periodic intervals if there is data sent by a transmitter. At each interval, it scans (i.e. it reads) on 1 channel in rotation on the P dedicated channels, here successively on each of the channels 37, 38, 39.

[0077] The duration between 2 readings (scanning interval 95, in English “scanning interval”) and the duration of the scan Tsw (in English “scanning window”) are configurable according to the intended applications (between 20 ms and 10.24 s) with typically 50 ms for the scanning interval and 30 ms for the duration of the scan Tsw-

[0078] Thus, with reference to the upper section of [Fig. 10] illustrating the operation of the BLE receiver 21, a first reading 91 is triggered by the BLE reception module 21 for the duration Tsw on the channel 37 (depending on the embodiments, the same loop on the channels as at the transmitter is implemented at the receiver, or variations are made with respect to the order of the channels: for example 37-38-39, 37-39-38; the second reading 92, of duration Tsw, begins a scanning interval after the start of reading 91, and takes place this time on channel 38; the third reading 93, of duration Tsw, begins a scanning interval after the start of reading 92, and takes place this time on channel 39. The next reading takes place on channel 37 again etc.

[0079] Thus, the solution according to the invention comprises the following characteristics:

[0080] - send the data on a single advertising channel (here: channel 37, 38 or 39); this allows to reduce by a factor of 3 the quantity of energy required for sending a frame (sent on the 3 channels successively in the prior art); this technique alone is not recommended by those skilled in the art because the immunity to radio interference is no longer guaranteed;

[0081] - perform a channel rotation with each new frame sent; this strategy improves immunity to radio interference, but reduces the number of frames received by the BLE 21 receiver (itself performing a channel rotation at each reading phase, asynchronously with the transmitter in advertising mode).

[0082] - add the data history in the frame, for example up to the maximum of data allowed by the size of an advertising frame 50, to limit data loss (linked to the non-synchronization of the channel rotations of the transmitter and receiver in advertising mode).

[0083] The invention has the following advantages over the state of the art:

[0084] - fully compatible with a conventional (i.e. prior art) BLE reader type smartphone;

[0085] - limitation of the energy consumed per frame: the solution almost divides the energy required by 3 for P = 3 theoretically compared to normal use on a smartphone, and by approximately 2.6 experimentally (in connection with the increase in frame length for the history);

[0086] - reception of one frame out of three on statistical average if the receiver is listening permanent; and limited to one frame out of six on statistical average if the receiver has listening (scanning window) and waiting phases of the same duration;

[0087] - preservation of overloaded channel immunity via channel rotation in transmission;

[0088] - recovery of the majority of data thanks to the historical data integrated into the frame (for example at least 6 data, otherwise within the limit of the frame size);

[0089] - ideal solution for cumulative data (because in case of loss of information: inter possible pollution);

[0090] - ideal solution in the case of an EM 10 system with functional energy recovery operating in “Intermittent Computing” mode (action triggered only when there is sufficient energy):

[0091] - increase in the number of sendings and therefore the granularity of the measurements (reduces the latency by 3);

[0092] - reduction in the size of the capacitive storage element and therefore the time of system startup.

[0093] The steps of the method in the BLE transmission module 11, respectively the steps of the method in the reception module 21, can be implemented by the execution on a processor of software instructions stored in a memory, the BLE transmission module 11, respectively the reception module 21 comprising such a memory and such a processor. Alternatively, they can be implemented by dedicated hardware, typically a digital integrated circuit, either specific (ASIC) or based on programmable logic (for example FPGA / Field Programmable Gate Array).

[0094] The BLE communication according to the invention therefore corresponds, in an embodiment considered as an example, to

[0095] - transmission on 1 channel only (rotation with each new transmission), i.e. [Power OdBm, [Mbps throughput, 46 bytes]: 15 pJ;

[0096] - reception on 1 channel at a time, in asynchronous rotation with the transmission (hence loss of data and need for data history);

[0097] which is therefore to be compared to classic Advertising with sending of each data successively on 3 channels:

[0098] Energy: 33 - 46 pJ per advertising frame (32 bytes including 16 bytes for data) (in transmission),

[0099] SPW-2, "3 packets of 39 octets" (including 23 octets for data), OdBm power, unknown flow rate (1 or 2 Mbps): 33 pJ (in transmission),

[0100] (complete frame of 47 bytes including 31 for data)

[0101] [Fig. 11] schematically illustrates the implementation of an embodiment of the invention on an IOT device 70 installed on an alpine ski and making it possible to monitor the duration and intensity of use of the ski (cumulative over time) and the classification of the skier's level (evaluation of the intensity of deformation of the ski). The data from the sensor on the ski is transmitted in Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) (advertising mode) in real time from the IoT device to a receiver, for example a Smartphone. The data thus transmitted is then time-stamped by the smartphone and can be matched with the data from the Smartphone's sensors (GPS, Gyrometer, Accelerometer). This allows the classification of the skier's level at each portion of the descent without the skier having to retrieve the data from the sensor via an NFC scan at the end of the descent.BLE communication allows to obtain a maximum level of information on the current descent, provided that the smartphone listens and retrieves the BLE frames, because the data is not saved in the loT device.

[0102] This iOT device 70 is energy autonomous and includes a piezoelectric energy recovery system (conversion of the ski deformation energy by a piezoelectric device), with piezoelectric elements 75 generating the energy which powers the IOT device. It has very little energy (asynchronously) to carry out the transmission of data in BLE. Since the energy generated is low, it is essential to have a very low consumption solution for the transmission of data in BLE from the loT device in order to make wireless communication possible and maximize the frequency of data transmissions.

[0103] The ultra-low power data transmission system comprises:

[0104] - an nRF52810 System-On-Chip (SOC) with a Transmitter / Bluetooth receiver 71 and a microcontroller (MCU) 72;

[0105] - an energy storage capacitor 73: 10 pF;

[0106] - an energy management circuit 74 (with voltage detectors) allowing a Bluetooth sending (47-byte frame) as soon as the storage capacity is full.

[0107] It is suitable for transmitting on 1 rotating channel as described below in accordance with the invention (which consumes 10-15 pj / frame: i.e. equivalent to the energy stored in the capacity.

[0108] It is adapted to add in the frame, as represented in [Fig.4], in addition to the current time data 50_l, a history of the measurements made up of the 7 measurements previously transmitted, 50_21 to 50_27.

[0109] The addition of history in the frame according to the invention makes it possible to collect all the missing data during a ski descent (diagrammatic trajectory 200), as illustrated in [Fig. 3], where the set of circles indicates the frames sent in accordance with the composition of [Fig. 4], only the frames corresponding to the circles without crosses inside being actually received; the frames corresponding to the circles with crosses inside not being received and the current time measurements (field 50_l) in these frames corresponding to the circles with crosses inside being reconstructed using the history present in the received frames.

[0110] In the example considered where the data sets are the transmission times, the receiver deduces, as a function of all the successive data sets received, the total duration of use of the ski.

Claims

1. Claims Bluetooth Low Energy telecommunication method implemented between a first telecommunication device (10) and a second telecommunication device (20), frames TR_i having been previously transmitted to the second telecommunication device (20) by the first telecommunication device (10) at respective successive transmission times t_i, i = nN to n-1, N, i and n integers and N >3; P telecommunication channels having been allocated for Bluetooth Low Energy telecommunications between said first and second devices; said method comprising the following steps implemented by the first telecommunications device (10) for the transmission, at transmission time t_n, of a new set of data to be transmitted D_n: - obtaining the new set of data to be transmitted D_n; - construction of a frame, called frame TR_n, based on at least the data set D_n obtained; - selection of a telecommunications channel from among said P telecommunications channels having been allocated; - transmission, on the selected channel, of the constructed frame T_n; said method being characterized in that the following steps are implemented by the first telecommunication device (10) for the transmission at transmission time t_n of the frame TR_n, each of the frames TR_i, i = nN to n, conforming to a predefined frame format comprising a first data field (50_l) intended to contain the current data and comprising N second data fields (50_2) intended to contain data transmitted in the first field of previously transmitted frames; - when constructing the TR_n frame: insertion, in the first data field (50_l) of the frame TR_n, of the data set D_n; insertion into the jth second data field of frame TR_n, j = 1 to N, of the data set D_(nj) previously transmitted in the first field of the frame TR_(nj); - when selecting the communication channel: a loop having been defined on the P channels ordered according to a determined order, the channel selected for the transmission of the frame TR_n is the one succeeding, in said defined loop, the channel which had been selected for the transmission of the frame TR_(nl) at the transmission time t_(nl); the channel previously selected for the transmission of the frame TR_n-j being the one succeeding, in said defined loop, the channel which had been selected for the transmission of the frame TR_(njl) at the transmission time t_(njl), j = 1 to N.

2. Bluetooth Low Energy telecommunication method according to claim 1, wherein the delay between two successive transmission times is constant.

3. Bluetooth Low Energy telecommunication method according to claim 1 or 2, according to which the data set D_i indicates the transmission time t_i, i= nN to n, of the frame TR_i.

4. Bluetooth Low Energy telecommunication method according to any one of the preceding claims, according to which, a scan duration Tsw having been predefined and a period TSi having been defined, the second telecommunication device (20) implements, every period TSi, a scanning step during the predefined scan duration Tsw-on a channel considered among the P channels, said P channels being considered each one after the other, before starting again.

5. A computer program, intended to be stored in the memory of a first telecommunications device (10) further comprising a microcomputer, said computer program comprising instructions which, when executed on the microcomputer, implement the steps of a method according to one of the preceding claims.

6. Telecommunication device (10), hereinafter referred to as first telecommunication device (10), adapted to implement Bluetooth Low Energy telecommunication with a second telecommunication device (20), TR_i frames having been previously transmitted to the second telecommunication device (20) by the telecommunication device

7. nication (10) at respective successive transmission times t_i, i = nN to n-1, N, i and n integers and N >3; P telecommunication channels having been allocated for Bluetooth Low Energy telecommunications between said first and second devices; the first telecommunication device (10) being adapted, in order to transmit, at the transmission time t_n, a new set of data to be transmitted D_n, to obtain the new set of data to be transmitted D_n, to construct a frame, called frame TR_n, as a function of at least the set of data D_n obtained, to select a telecommunication channel from among said P telecommunication channels having been allocated, to transmit, on the selected channel, the constructed frame T_n; said first telecommunication device being characterized in that the first telecommunication device (10), for the purpose of transmitting at transmission time t_n the frame TR_n, each of the frames TR_i, i = nN to n, conforming to a predefined frame format comprising a first data field (50_l) intended to contain the current data and comprising N second data fields (50_2) intended to contain data transmitted in the first field of previously transmitted frames, during the construction of the frame TR_n, insert, in the first data field (50_l) of the frame TR_n, the data set D_n, insert in the jth second data field of the frame TR_n, j = 1 to N, the data set D_(nj) previously transmitted in the first field of the frame TR_(nj); said first telecommunication device (10) being adapted for, a loop having been defined on the P channels ordered according to a determined order, selecting as communication channel for the transmission of the frame TR_n, the one succeeding, in said defined loop, the channel which had been selected for the transmission of the frame TR_(nl) at the transmission time t_(nl); the channel previously selected for the transmission of the frame TR_n-j being the one succeeding, in said defined loop, the channel which had been selected for the transmission of the frame TR_(njl) at the transmission time t_(njl), j = 1 to N. Telecommunications device according to claim 6, adapted to place a constant delay between two successive transmission times.

8. Telecommunication device according to claim 6 or 7, adapted to indicate in the data set D_i the transmission time t_i, i= nN to n, of the frame TR_i.

9. Bluetooth Low Energy telecommunication system comprising a first telecommunication device (10) according to any one of claims 6 to 8, wherein a scan duration Tsw having been predefined and a period TSi having been defined, said system further comprising the second telecommunication device (20), which is adapted to carry out, every period TSi, a scan during the predefined scan duration Tsw on a channel considered among the P channels, said P channels being considered each one after the other, before starting again.

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