Bluetooth Low Energy Auto-Pairing via Identifier Matching
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Solution Overview
Problem
The integration of Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) devices in vehicles poses challenges due to the need for separate pairing from conventional Bluetooth devices, leading to user confusion and increased complexity, cost, and packaging requirements for external vehicle coverage.
Innovation Solution
A system that generates a list of previously paired conventional Bluetooth device identifiers and transmits it to the BLE application, allowing autonomous communication by matching identifiers, eliminating the need for a second manual pairing process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a separate BLE chipset/modem is added for BLE pairing, then BLE functionality is achieved, but device complexity and packaging requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines BLE and conventional Bluetooth pairing operations by having the existing Bluetooth node handle both protocols. The system generates a list of paired Bluetooth device identifiers and transmits it to the BLE application, which compares incoming BLE inquiries against this list to enable automatic pairing without requiring a separate BLE-specific pairing process.
Solution Approach 2:
The existing Bluetooth node is made multi-functional to handle both conventional Bluetooth and BLE operations. By using the same hardware and software infrastructure for both protocols, the system eliminates the need for a dedicated BLE pairing mechanism, thereby reducing complexity while maintaining versatility.
2Reliability
If a new BLE module is constructed for external vehicle coverage, then BLE detection capability is improved, but packaging space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The existing Bluetooth node, already positioned for interior coverage, is enhanced to provide both conventional Bluetooth and BLE functionality. This multi-functional approach allows the system to achieve external vehicle coverage for BLE detection without adding separate hardware modules, thereby avoiding increased packaging space requirements.
3Reliability
If manual pairing is required for BLE devices, then authentication security is maintained, but ease of operation decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary pairing through the conventional Bluetooth node before BLE communication is needed. The identifier list is generated and stored in advance, allowing the BLE application to automatically authenticate devices by comparing their identifiers against this pre-established list, thereby eliminating the need for manual pairing while maintaining security.
Solution Approach 2:
The BLE pairing process is made self-service by automatically comparing device identifiers against the pre-generated list. The system autonomously determines whether to allow BLE connections without requiring user intervention, thereby simplifying operation while maintaining authentication security through the identifier matching process.
Data Source
AI summary
A method of enabling communications between a Bluetooth low energy master communication device in a vehicle and a slave communication device. The slave communication device is successfully paired with a Bluetooth high energy master communication device in the vehicle. An identifier of the slave communication device is stored when it is successfully paired with the Bluetooth high energy master communication device. The Bluetooth low energy master communication device identifies an advertising event broadcast by the slave communication device. The advertising event relates to a notification by the slave communication device of the availability of its services. A determination is made whether the identifier of the slave communication device matches the stored identifier. Wireless communications between the Bluetooth low energy master communication device and the slave communication device is autonomously established without a manual pairing operation in response to an identifier of the slave communication device matching the stored identifier.