BLE Advertiser Count Estimation in Extended Neighbor Discovery

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Solution Overview

Problem

The increased number of Bluetooth low energy (BLE) devices leads to higher inter-packet collision probabilities during neighbor discovery processes, reducing the likelihood that scanners can recognize advertising devices and provide smooth services.

Innovation Solution

A method and apparatus for estimating the number of extended BLE devices by analyzing extended advertising data packets, data packets, and advertising devices using measurement values and candidate values to improve recognition probability through reduced collision possibilities.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the number of advertising devices increases, then the service coverage and functionality improve, but the inter-packet collision probability increases and scanner recognition probability decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveservice coverageVSAvoidscanner recognition probability
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the advertising transmission process by dividing advertising devices into multiple groups based on their discovery status. Group 1 contains undiscovered advertising devices, while Group 2 contains discovered devices. This segmentation allows the scanner to prioritize transmissions to undiscovered devices, reducing collisions in the discovery phase and improving overall recognition probability while maintaining service coverage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements preliminary action by having the scanner maintain a discovery status for advertising devices before actual data transmission occurs. The scanner pre-identifies undiscovered devices in Group 1 and prioritizes advertising packet transmissions to these devices before they are fully discovered. This preliminary identification and prioritization reduces inter-packet collisions during the critical discovery phase, improving scanner recognition probability while maintaining comprehensive service coverage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Productivity

If the number of extended advertising packets increases, then the neighbor discovery capability improves, but the inter-packet collision possibility increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveneighbor discovery capabilityVSAvoidinter-packet collision possibility
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements feedback mechanisms where the scanner monitors the discovery status of advertising devices and adjusts transmission priorities accordingly. The scanner receives feedback about which devices are discovered (Group 2) versus undiscovered (Group 1), and uses this feedback to dynamically prioritize transmissions to undiscovered devices. This feedback-driven prioritization reduces inter-packet collisions while maintaining high neighbor discovery capability, as transmissions are concentrated on devices that still need to be discovered rather than already-discovered devices.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP4546829B1Method of estimating of the number of bluetooth low energy in extended neighbor discovery process and apparatus thereof
Publication Date: 2026.02.25 AJOU UNIV IND ACADEMIC COOP FOUND
  • EP4546829B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4546829B1 patent drawingFigure 2A
  • EP4546829B1 patent drawingFigure 2B

AI summary

Provided are a method of estimating of the number of Bluetooth low energy (BLE) in an extended neighbor discovery process and an apparatus thereof, and a method of estimating the number of extended BLE may receive extended advertising data packets and data packets from a plurality of advertising devices, respectively based on a predetermined cycle, acquire a first candidate value, a second candidate value, and a third candidate value for the number of plural advertising devices based on a first measurement value for the number of extended advertising data packets measured, a second measurement value for the number of data packets measured based on the predetermined cycle, and a third measurement value for the number of advertising devices measured based on the predetermined cycle.