BLE Anchor Point Scheduling for WPAN Interference Reduction
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current devices face challenges in efficiently scheduling BLUETOOTH low energy (BLE) and wireless personal area network (WPAN) data transmissions, leading to potential interference and reduced data throughput when commissioning multiple devices.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that involve determining anchor points within a connection interval for BLE transmissions, ensuring adequate time for WPAN data transmissions by prioritizing IEEE 802.15.4 traffic over BLE traffic, and using algorithms to optimize the scheduling of BLE anchor points to minimize interference with WPAN communications.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single radio controller is used to implement both BLE and WPAN communications, then device complexity is reduced, but transmission interference increases and data throughput decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The radio controller's operation is segmented into distinct time intervals: BLE connection intervals and WPAN data transmission intervals. The controller alternates between these protocols in a scheduled manner, with BLE anchor points separated by sufficient time to allow complete WPAN packet transmission. This temporal segmentation resolves the interference problem while maintaining a single physical radio controller.
2Reliability
If BLE anchor points are scheduled frequently to maintain multiple commissionee devices, then communication reliability with commissionee devices is improved, but WPAN data transmission is disrupted
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the scheduling of BLE anchor points based on WPAN transmission requirements. The controller determines optimal anchor point timing to ensure that WPAN data packets can be fully transmitted and acknowledged before the next BLE connection interval begins. This dynamic scheduling maintains reliable communication with multiple commissionee devices while preventing WPAN transmission disruptions.
3Productivity
If multiple commissionee devices are commissioned simultaneously, then productivity is improved, but transmission scheduling complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs periodic BLE connection intervals for each commissionee device, with anchor points occurring at regular, predetermined times within each connection interval. This periodic structure allows the radio controller to efficiently manage multiple commissionee devices by knowing in advance when to switch protocols, reducing scheduling complexity while enabling simultaneous commissioning of multiple devices.
Data Source
AI summary
A commissioner device is configured to determine, within a connection interval, a first anchor point during which communication with a first commissionee device occurs using the first communication protocol. The commissioner device is configured to determine, within the connection interval, a second anchor point during which communication with a second commissionee device of the plurality of commissionee devices occurs using the first communication protocol. The second anchor point is after the first anchor point in the connection interval and an end time of the first anchor point is separated from a beginning time of the second anchor point by a time period equal to or greater than a time period required to transmit a data packet using the second communication protocol. The commissioner device is configured to receive, during a time period determined by the second anchor point, a data transmission from the second commissionee device.