Controlled appliance and method for interacting with a remote control device via the BLE standard
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current environment control systems using the Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) standard for remote control devices face challenges in optimizing power consumption, which limits the battery life of these devices.
Innovation Solution
A controlled appliance with a radio frequency (RF) communication interface, including a processing unit that sets the interface in scanning mode to receive RF signals, establishes a connection with a remote control device, and exchanges data to apply commands to an actuation module, optimizing power usage by reversing the typical connection initiation process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the remote control device initiates BLE connections and sends advertising signals, then the remote control functionality is achieved, but power consumption increases and battery life is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the traditional BLE connection initiation process by having the controlled appliance send advertising signals and initiate connections instead of the remote control device. This role reversal allows the remote control to operate in a lower-power scanning mode while the appliance handles the energy-intensive connection management, thereby reducing remote control power consumption and extending battery life.
2Speed
If the remote control device continuously scans and maintains BLE connections, then real-time control is achieved, but battery life is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
By inverting the connection initiation role to the controlled appliance, the remote control can enter low-power states between control operations while the appliance actively advertises its availability. This maintains real-time control capability through the appliance's continuous advertising while allowing the remote control battery to conserve energy during idle periods.
Solution Approach 2:
The controlled appliance periodically sends advertising signals containing connection information, allowing the remote control to scan intermittently rather than continuously maintaining an active connection. This periodic advertising approach enables real-time control responsiveness while significantly reducing the power consumption and extending battery life of the remote control device.
3Speed
If the controlled appliance receives and processes commands continuously, then control responsiveness is improved, but energy consumption of the appliance increases
Solution Approach 1:
The controlled appliance uses periodic BLE advertising intervals to listen for and process commands from remote controls. By advertising at optimized intervals rather than continuously monitoring for connections, the appliance maintains control responsiveness while reducing its energy consumption during idle periods when no control operations are being performed.
Data Source
AI summary
Controlled appliance and method for controlling interactions between the controlled appliance and a remote control device. The controlled appliance comprises a BLE interface and an actuation module. The controlled appliance sets the BLE interface in a scanning mode where the BLE interface is capable of receiving BLE signals from other devices. The controlled appliance receives, via the BLE interface, a BLE advertising signal from the remote control device. The controlled appliance establishes a connection between the controlled appliance and the remote control device through the BLE interface. The controlled appliance exchanges data with the remote control device via the BLE interface. Upon reception from the remote control device via the BLE interface of a command for controlling operations of the actuation module, the controlled appliance applies the command to the actuation module.