BLE Beacon Emulating RFID via EPC Encoding
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) systems are limited in their ability to enable communication between multiple peripherals and a single hub or multiple peripherals simultaneously, and they require significant investments in dedicated RFID hardware and software for extended communication ranges.
Innovation Solution
A method for transmitting and receiving beacon messages using a modified BLE protocol data unit field that encodes Electronic Product Code (EPC) data, allowing BLE devices to emulate RFID communication, thereby extending communication ranges and reducing hardware and software modification costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a complete BLE stack of hardware is implemented for both BLE devices to establish communication link, then communication capability is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent copies the RFID communication protocol structure within the BLE data field, allowing BLE devices to emulate RFID functionality. This enables existing BLE hardware to perform dual functions (standard BLE communication and RFID-like identification) without requiring separate RFID hardware stacks, thereby reducing overall system complexity while maintaining communication capability
Solution Approach 2:
The BLE device is designed to handle multiple communication modes universally - it can operate as both a standard BLE device and an RFID-like tag/reader through the integrated EPC encoding in the advertising data structure. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate dedicated RFID hardware, reducing device complexity while preserving adaptability
2Reliability
If BLE communication is established point-to-point between hub and peripheral device, then communication reliability is improved, but communication versatility deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the communication functionality into distinct layers: the physical BLE connection maintains reliable point-to-point communication, while the data structure segment (advertising data field) carries EPC-encoded information that enables multi-device identification. This segmentation allows the system to maintain reliable individual connections while achieving versatile multi-device communication through the structured data format
Solution Approach 2:
The advertising data structure with EPC encoding acts as an intermediary that bridges point-to-point BLE communication and multi-device RFID-like communication. Through this intermediary structure, a single BLE hub can identify and communicate with multiple peripherals simultaneously by decoding EPC codes in advertising packets, thereby achieving communication versatility while maintaining the reliability of individual BLE connections
3Length of stationary object
If RFID tags are used for extended communication range, then communication range is improved, but hardware investment requirement increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges RFID functionality into the BLE communication system by encoding EPC data within the BLE advertising data structure. This combination allows existing BLE hardware to achieve extended communication ranges typically associated with RFID systems, eliminating the need for separate RFID tag and reader hardware investments while maintaining the extended range capability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the data encoding parameter within the BLE protocol by incorporating EPC (Electronic Product Code) encoding in the advertising data field. This parameter change allows BLE devices to communicate using RFID-like identification protocols, extending effective communication range and compatibility without requiring physical hardware changes or additional RFID infrastructure investment
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a method for transmitting a beacon message (200), the method comprising : generating, with a beacon generating device (20, 21, 22, 23) at least one beacon message, wherein the at least one beacon message is defined by a beacon message format, wherein the beacon message format comprises a preamble field (202), an access address field (204), a protocol data unit (PDU) field (210) and a cyclic redundancy check (CRC) field (206), wherein the PDU field (210) comprises at least one electronic product code (EPC) encoded EPC-PDU field (214), and transmitting, with the beacon generating device, the at least one beacon message using a Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) wireless communication protocol to a transmission area within a transmission range of the beacon generating device for reception by one or more beacon receiving devices (30, 31, 32, 33) located in the transmission area.