Advertising Sequence Segmentation for BLE Interference Reduction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) communication systems face limitations in data rate, capacity, and range, particularly due to interference and collisions when increasing the maximum allowed output power, which affects coexistence with other devices in the ISM/2.4GHz band.

Innovation Solution

The method involves segmenting advertisement sequences into multiple segments, each transmitted on different frequency channels based on portion-frequency association information, with an indicator to distinguish between communication systems, allowing for higher power transmission while minimizing interference by dispersing signals across multiple channels.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Length of stationary object

If the maximum allowed output power is increased to improve communication range, then communication range is improved, but interference and collisions to other devices in the ISM/2.4GHz band increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecommunication rangeVSAvoidinterference and collisions
Core Design Contradiction:
Length of stationary objectVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The advertisement packet is divided into multiple segments that are transmitted on different frequency channels. This segmentation allows the transmission to spread across the frequency spectrum, reducing the power concentration on any single channel and thereby reducing interference to other devices while maintaining overall communication range.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The invention transitions from single-channel transmission to multi-channel transmission by mapping different segments of the advertisement packet to different frequency channels. This dimensional change from one frequency dimension to multiple frequency dimensions enables higher power transmission without proportionally increasing interference on any single channel.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If advertisement packets are transmitted on multiple frequency channels to reduce interference, then interference is reduced, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveinterferenceVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention uses universal frequency channel mapping rules that can be applied across different BLE devices and scenarios. The segmentation and channel mapping mechanisms are designed to be generally applicable, allowing the same approach to reduce interference in various communication scenarios without requiring device-specific customizations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Quantity of substance

If advertisement sequences are segmented and transmitted on different channels to improve capacity, then communication capacity is improved, but transmission time increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecommunication capacityVSAvoidtransmission time
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The advertisement segments are transmitted in a periodic fashion across different frequency channels, with each segment transmitted on a different channel in sequence. This periodic multi-channel transmission approach increases communication capacity by utilizing multiple frequency resources while managing transmission time through structured scheduling.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Data Source

PatentEP3409031B1Improved advertising scheme
Publication Date: 2019.05.08 TELEFONAKTIEBOLAGET LM ERICSSON (PUBL)
  • EP3409031B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3409031B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3409031B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention is directed to methods, entities and computer program for handling advertisement messages. In particular, the method is for transmitting an advertisement sequence by one entity capable of communicating in a communication system, the advertisement sequence comprising at least one advertisement packet. The method comprises: segmenting (S10) the advertisement sequence in a plurality of advertisement segments, wherein segmenting the advertisement sequence comprises segmenting said at least one advertisement packet; for each one of said plurality of advertisement segments, generating (S12) an advertisement portion comprising a corresponding one of said plurality of advertisement segments and an indicator indicating that the advertisement portion refers to an advertisement sequence of the communication system, so as to obtain a plurality of advertisement portions corresponding to the plurality of advertisement segments; transmitting (S14) each advertisement portion of the plurality of advertisement portions on a respective frequency channel amongst a plurality of frequency channels, wherein different advertisement portions are sent on different frequency channels according to portion- frequency association information.