BLE Pattern Detection for WLAN Channel Avoidance

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Solution Overview

Problem

Wireless local area networks (WLANs) often experience interference between WLAN transmissions and Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) signals, particularly since both may use the same frequency range, leading to potential disruptions in communication.

Innovation Solution

A system and method that utilize known BLE signal patterns to determine when and which channels are occupied by BLE signals, allowing WLAN transmissions to be adjusted and scheduled to avoid interference by selecting channels not in use by BLE signals, thereby ensuring simultaneous operation without interference.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If WLAN and BLE operate simultaneously in the same frequency range, then wireless communication coverage is extended, but interference between transmissions increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewireless communication coverageVSAvoidinterference between transmissions
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary detection of BLE signal patterns and predicts future channel occupancy before WLAN transmissions occur. By identifying upcoming BLE activity in advance, the WLAN scheduler can proactively select alternative channels or adjust transmission timing, preventing interference before it happens rather than reacting after interference occurs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The WLAN transmission parameters are made dynamic rather than static. The system continuously monitors BLE signal patterns and adjusts WLAN channel selection, transmission power, and timing in real-time based on predicted BLE activity. This dynamic adaptation allows both systems to coexist by constantly optimizing WLAN operations around BLE signal patterns.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Object-affected harmful factors

If WLAN channel selection is adjusted to avoid BLE signals, then interference is reduced, but channel utilization efficiency decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinterference between transmissionsVSAvoidchannel utilization efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

By predicting BLE signal patterns in advance, the system identifies future idle channels before they become occupied. This allows WLAN to proactively schedule transmissions on channels that will be free, maximizing channel utilization while avoiding interference. The preliminary prediction enables optimal channel selection rather than reactive avoidance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes multiple transmission parameters simultaneously including channel frequency, transmission timing, and power levels. By adjusting these parameters based on predicted BLE patterns, the system finds optimal operating points that maintain high channel utilization while avoiding interference periods, rather than simply avoiding channels entirely.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If BLE signal patterns are predicted to avoid interference, then transmission reliability improves, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetransmission reliabilityVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of complex real-time analysis of actual BLE signals, the system creates a simplified predictive model or copy of expected BLE signal patterns. This model replicates the essential timing and channel occupancy characteristics of BLE signals, enabling interference avoidance through pattern matching rather than complex signal analysis, thus maintaining reliability while reducing complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

Data Source

PatentEP3478009B1Bluetooth low energy signal patterns
Publication Date: 2020.09.16 HEWLETT PACKARD ENTERPRISE DEV LP
  • EP3478009B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3478009B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3478009B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An example computing device, comprising: a processing resource; and a memory resource storing machine readable instructions to cause the processing resource to: determine when known pattern indicates a pattern of a Bluetooth low energy (BLE) signal in relation to a channel to be occupied by the BLE signal; and adjust a channel for a wireless local area network (WLAN) transmission based on the determination.