BLE Beacon Adaptive Transmission Power Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) beacon devices waste power by continuously broadcasting advertising information at a constant transmission power, even when there are no pedestrians or receiving devices nearby, leading to inefficient energy usage.

Innovation Solution

A BLE beacon device adjusts its transmission power based on the presence of a smartphone, broadcasting at a lower power when no smartphone is detected and increasing power when a smartphone is nearby, using the BLE standard's adaptive transmission control mechanisms to optimize energy consumption.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the beacon device continuously broadcasts advertising information at a constant transmission power, then the advertising information can be reliably received by any passing smartphone, but the electric power is wasted when no smartphone is present

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvereliability of advertising information receptionVSAvoidelectric power waste
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The beacon device dynamically adjusts its transmission power based on the presence of smartphones. When smartphones are detected in the vicinity, the device increases transmission power to ensure reliable communication. When no smartphones are present, it reduces power to a lower level or enters sleep mode, thereby eliminating energy waste while maintaining communication reliability when needed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback mechanisms where the beacon device monitors for the presence of smartphones and adjusts its broadcasting behavior accordingly. This feedback loop allows the device to respond to actual communication needs, increasing power only when smartphones are detected and maintaining reliability of information reception during active periods.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Reliability

If the beacon device increases transmission power to ensure smartphones can receive advertising information, then the reception reliability improves, but the battery life decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvereliability of advertising information receptionVSAvoidbattery life
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDuration of action of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The beacon device employs dynamic transmission power adjustment, switching between high power mode when smartphones are detected and low power mode when they are absent. This dynamic approach ensures reliable reception during active communication periods while significantly extending battery life during idle periods when no smartphones are present.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the transmission power parameter based on detected conditions. By monitoring smartphone presence and adjusting the power parameter accordingly, the device maintains reliable communication when needed while optimizing battery life through parameter adaptation to current operational requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP3634048B1Wireless communication apparatus, wireless communication method, and program
Publication Date: 2022.08.24 CASIO COMPUTER CO LTD
  • EP3634048B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3634048B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP3634048B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

A wireless communication apparatus includes a wireless communicator and a controller. The wireless communicator is configured to wirelessly communicate with other wireless communication apparatuses. The controller is configured to control the wireless communicator to broadcast transmission information, and when the wireless communicator receives a request corresponding on the transmission information from at least one of the other wireless communication apparatuses having received the transmission information during the broadcasting of the transmission information, control the wireless communicator to change transmission power of the transmission information to the other wireless communication apparatuses.