BLE Beacon State Transition via Non-Uniform Scanning
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Solution Overview
Problem
In multi-hop Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) networks, uniform scanning intervals and durations lead to prolonged state transition times, resulting in delayed wake-up or shutdown responses, which can extend network response times and reduce battery life.
Innovation Solution
Implementing non-uniform scanning intervals and durations, where scan intervals are doubled after each attempt, allowing for faster state transitions by splitting scan periods into shorter intervals, such as one minute, two minutes, four minutes, and eight minutes, to accelerate network wake-up or dormancy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If uniform scanning intervals and durations are used in BLE networks, then device operation is simplified and consistent, but state transition times are prolonged and network responsiveness is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by transitioning from static uniform scanning intervals to dynamic non-uniform scanning intervals. The scan interval is adjusted based on the current state transition phase: shorter intervals are used during wake-up transitions to accelerate response, while longer intervals are used during dormancy to conserve energy. This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction by making the scanning behavior adaptive rather than fixed.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the scanning interval parameter based on the state transition requirements. During wake-up transitions, the scanning interval is reduced to detect incoming connections faster, while during dormancy transitions, the interval is increased to reduce power consumption. This parameter change strategy allows the system to optimize between responsiveness and energy efficiency for different operational phases.
2Speed
If shorter scan intervals are used to accelerate state transitions, then network responsiveness improves, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic action with variable periods based on the state transition phase. During wake-up transitions, scanning occurs more frequently (shorter period) to ensure rapid detection of connection requests. During dormancy transitions, scanning occurs less frequently (longer period) to conserve energy. This periodic variation resolves the contradiction by aligning scanning intensity with actual network activity requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the scanning interval based on the current state transition needs, using shorter intervals when rapid response is critical and longer intervals when energy conservation is prioritized. This dynamic behavior allows the device to optimize the trade-off between transition speed and energy consumption in real-time.
3Reliability
If extended scan durations are used to ensure complete network coverage, then scanning reliability improves, but device battery life is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the scan duration parameter based on the state transition context. During wake-up phases when reliability is critical, longer scan durations are used to ensure complete network coverage and accurate detection. During dormancy phases when battery life is paramount, shorter scan durations are used while maintaining adequate monitoring capability. This parameter adaptation resolves the contradiction between reliability and battery life.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different scanning characteristics to different operational states: more intensive scanning (longer duration, shorter interval) is applied locally during wake-up transitions where reliability is critical, while less intensive scanning is applied during dormancy where battery life is the priority. This localized quality adjustment resolves the universal contradiction by making scanning intensity context-dependent.
Data Source
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AI summary
Example implementations relate to beacon sensor device state transition. In some examples, a beacon sensor device can include a communication resource and a processing resource. In some examples, the beacon sensor device can include a memory resource storing machine readable instructions to cause the processing resource to perform at particular, non-uniform time intervals, a plurality of scans of a same duration of other beacon sensor devices within a same network as the beacon sensor device for a state transition notification. In response to the communication resource detecting the state transition notification, the beacon sensor device can be transitioned to a state corresponding to the state transition notification in some examples.