BLE Broadcast Online Device Detection for Sleeping IoT Nodes

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for detecting online devices in an Internet of Things (IoT) environment are inefficient, often missing sleeping devices and occupying Bluetooth air interface capabilities, affecting normal Bluetooth functions.

Innovation Solution

Utilizing Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) broadcast packets for online device detection, where detection request and response packets include network identifiers, enabling accurate detection without establishing persistent connections.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If conventional online device detection methods are used, then device detection capability is provided, but sleeping devices are missed and Bluetooth air interface capabilities are occupied

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice detection accuracyVSAvoidBluetooth air interface availability
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the device detection process into independent broadcast packet exchanges rather than maintaining persistent connections. Each detection event uses separate request and response packets, allowing the Bluetooth interface to remain available for other functions between detections.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements periodic broadcast packet transmission for device detection instead of continuous connection maintenance. Devices send detection request packets at intervals, and sleeping devices can respond when awakened by these periodic broadcasts, freeing the Bluetooth interface for other uses between periods.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

2Reliability

If persistent Bluetooth connections are established for device detection, then reliable device status monitoring is achieved, but Bluetooth air interface capabilities are occupied and normal Bluetooth functions are affected

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice status monitoring reliabilityVSAvoidBluetooth function availability
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the device detection function from persistent Bluetooth connections and implements it through independent broadcast packet exchanges. This separation allows reliable detection through structured request-response packets while freeing the Bluetooth interface for normal functions between detection events.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent enables the Bluetooth interface to serve multiple functions simultaneously - device detection through broadcast packets and normal Bluetooth communications - by avoiding dedicated persistent connections for detection. The same interface handles both purposes at different times without conflict.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Measurement precision

If traditional detection methods are used, then online device detection is performed, but sleeping devices cannot be detected

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveonline device detection accuracyVSAvoiddevice power consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses preliminary broadcast packets to wake sleeping devices before formal detection. The broadcast request packet serves as a preliminary signal that awakens sleeping devices, enabling them to respond with detection response packets without requiring continuous power consumption for maintaining active connections.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP4224898B1Communication method and apparatus, and electronic device
Publication Date: 2025.12.24 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD
  • EP4224898B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4224898B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP4224898B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

Embodiments of this application provide a communication method and apparatus, and an electronic device. The method includes: releasing a detection request packet by broadcast based on a Bluetooth low energy technology, where the detection request packet is a BLE broadcast packet including a network identifier of a device network on which online device detection is performed; receiving, based on the Bluetooth low energy technology, a detection response packet that is released by broadcast and that includes the network identifier, where the detection response packet is a BLE broadcast packet, and the detection response packet is a response packet generated, based on the detection request packet after the detection request packet is received, by an online device in the device network on which online device detection is performed; and determining the online device in the device network based on the detection response packet. According to the method in an embodiment of this application, all online devices including a sleeping device in a specified device network can be determined.