BLE Link Clustering for Synchronized Multi-Device Connections
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) communication technologies face limitations in efficiently managing multiple connections and coordinating data transmission across multiple devices, leading to issues such as cross-link interference, increased latency, and higher power consumption.
Innovation Solution
A BLE link-cluster architecture that coordinates and synchronizes data transmission across multiple links by establishing a link cluster between devices, using a single BLE logical link control layer and multiple physical layer interfaces, to manage connection events and packet transmission, thereby reducing interference and optimizing power usage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple independent BLE connections are established between devices, then communication coverage and device connectivity are improved, but cross-link interference and coordination complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple independent BLE connections are merged into a unified link cluster structure. The patent combines multiple links sharing common parameters (connection interval, slave latency, timeout values) into a single cluster managed by one device, reducing the number of independent connection events and minimizing cross-link interference while maintaining connectivity to multiple devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The link cluster architecture enables a single set of connection parameters to serve multiple links simultaneously. The patent implements universal parameter sharing across all links in the cluster, allowing one configuration to manage multiple connections, thereby reducing coordination complexity and interference while maintaining versatile device connectivity.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple independent BLE connections are established between devices, then communication coverage and device connectivity are improved, but coordination complexity and management overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple independent BLE connections are merged into a unified link cluster structure. The patent combines multiple links sharing common parameters (connection interval, slave latency, timeout values) into a single cluster managed by one device, reducing the number of independent connection events and minimizing cross-link interference while maintaining connectivity to multiple devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The link cluster architecture enables a single set of connection parameters to serve multiple links simultaneously. The patent implements universal parameter sharing across all links in the cluster, allowing one configuration to manage multiple connections, thereby reducing coordination complexity and interference while maintaining versatile device connectivity.
3Productivity
If connection events are scheduled on multiple links simultaneously, then data transmission throughput is improved, but transmission coordination and timing synchronization become more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments connection parameters into link-specific and cluster-wide categories. Individual link parameters (data channel allocation) remain independent while cluster-wide parameters (connection interval, timing) are synchronized, enabling parallel data transmission without complex coordination overhead.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements periodic connection events with synchronized timing across all links in the cluster. By establishing regular, periodic transmission intervals with coordinated start times, the system enables simultaneous data transmission while maintaining simple timing synchronization through repeating patterns.
4Productivity
If connection events are scheduled on multiple links simultaneously, then data transmission throughput is improved, but timing synchronization precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments connection parameters into link-specific and cluster-wide categories. Individual link parameters (data channel allocation) remain independent while cluster-wide parameters (connection interval, timing) are synchronized, enabling parallel data transmission without complex coordination overhead.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements periodic connection events with synchronized timing across all links in the cluster. By establishing regular, periodic transmission intervals with coordinated start times, the system enables simultaneous data transmission while maintaining simple timing synchronization through repeating patterns.
Data Source
AI summary
A device includes a BLUETOOTH low energy (BLE) link layer (LL) controller configured to maintain links of a link cluster between the device and one or more connected devices that share parameters associated with the link cluster and process packets associated with the links at a LL. The links of the link cluster are established according to a BLE communication standard. The parameters include coordination parameters for connection events on the links and synchronization parameters for packet transmission in the connection events. The device further includes BLE physical link (PHY) interfaces coupled to the BLE LL controller and configured to exchange the packets in the connection events on the links, interface with the BLE LL controller, and process the packets at a PHY layer according to the parameters.