BLE Appliance Scanning Mode for Low-Power Remote Control Interaction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current building environmental 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 via the RF interface, optimizing interactions and reducing power consumption by using the BLE standard for efficient communication.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Duration of action of moving object

If the BLE standard is used for remote control device communication, then power consumption is reduced and battery life is extended, but further power consumption optimization is needed to maximize battery lifetime

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebattery lifeVSAvoidpower consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Duration of action of moving objectVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The controlled appliance uses periodic advertising mode where it periodically transmits advertising packets containing service information to the remote control device. This periodic transmission allows the appliance to maintain visibility and responsiveness while consuming less power compared to continuous transmission modes, directly addressing the power consumption optimization goal.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts and optimizes specific BLE interaction patterns by identifying and implementing efficient connection establishment procedures. The controlled appliance selectively initiates connections only when necessary (upon receiving advertising packets from remote controls), separating essential communication functions from optional ones, thereby reducing overall power consumption while maintaining battery life.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Reliability

If the controlled appliance continuously transmits advertising packets, then it remains visible and responsive to remote control devices, but power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveresponsiveness to remote controlVSAvoidpower consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The controlled appliance transmits advertising packets periodically rather than continuously. This periodic transmission maintains the appliance's visibility and responsiveness to remote control devices while significantly reducing power consumption compared to continuous transmission, resolving the contradiction between reliability and energy usage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements partial action by transmitting advertising packets only at necessary intervals rather than continuously. This partial transmission approach maintains sufficient responsiveness for remote control operations while avoiding excessive power consumption, achieving an optimal balance between reliability and energy efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentEP3726492B1Controlled appliance and method for interacting with a remote control device via the BLE standard
Publication Date: 2023.09.06 DISTECH CONTROLS
  • EP3726492B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3726492B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3726492B1 patent drawingFigure 3

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.