BLE Relay Charging Spots for Wireless Power Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current wireless power charging systems lack effective communication between charging spots and management servers, limiting their ability to implement conditional charging services and requiring expensive and complex connectivity solutions.
Innovation Solution
A system utilizing Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) transceivers for communication between charging spots, with at least one spot capable of acting as a relay, and a cloud computing server connected via the Internet, enabling direct or indirect communication with a gateway for managing services like monitoring, configuration, and software updates without the need for explicit pairing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If direct Internet connection is provided for each charging spot using long range radio technology or wired technology, then communication reliability is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the communication network into multiple hierarchical levels: charging spots communicate with local gateways, gateways communicate with cloud servers, and intermediate spots act as relays. This segmentation allows each component to have simplified connectivity while maintaining overall system reliability through distributed communication paths.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces gateways as intermediary devices that mediate communication between charging spots and cloud servers. Gateways aggregate traffic from multiple spots and handle protocol translation, reducing the complexity burden from individual spots while maintaining reliable communication through the intermediary layer.
2Productivity
If charging spots are aggregated into a local area network (LAN), then communication efficiency is improved, but cost and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes charging spots multi-functional by enabling them to serve both as communication endpoints and as potential relay nodes for other spots. This universality allows the same hardware to participate in LAN aggregation while also providing mesh routing capabilities, improving communication efficiency without requiring separate dedicated infrastructure.
Solution Approach 2:
The system adds a spatial dimension to communication by allowing spots to act as relays for spots outside direct range. This creates a three-dimensional communication topology where spots can reach each other through multiple spatial paths, improving efficiency without requiring every spot to be directly connected in a traditional LAN.
3Ease of operation
If BLE advertising communication without pairing is used, then ease of operation is improved, but communication range is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a nested communication structure where BLE advertising without pairing provides the base layer of easy local communication, while relay spots nested within this network extend the effective range. Devices can easily connect via simple advertising, and the relay mechanism is nested within this existing connection model to provide extended reach.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables self-service communication by allowing any charging spot to automatically function as a relay for other spots. Spots autonomously participate in extending network range without requiring manual configuration or pairing, maintaining ease of operation while self-organizing to achieve extended communication coverage.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution extends the communication range of charging spots, enables efficient management of multiple charging spots, and supports conditional charging services by establishing a bidirectional communication tree based on BLE advertising, reducing costs and complexity.
Implementation Method 1
at least one venue comprising: a plurality of charging spots each of which comprises a dedicated Bluetooth low energy (BLE) transceiver designed to enable communication between charging spots
Implementation Method 2
Wireless charging management system... for managing inductive charging of at least one device
Data Source
AI summary
According to a first aspect of the present disclosed subject matter, a system for managing inductive charging of at least one device, the system comprising: at least one venue comprising: a plurality of charging spots each of which comprises a dedicated Bluetooth low energy (BLE) transceiver designed to enable communication between charging spots of the plurality of charging spots, wherein at least one charging spot of the plurality of charging spots is capable of being configured as a relay; at least one gateway comprising a BLE transceiver; wherein the gateway is capable of communicating, by its BLE transceiver, with each charging spot either directly or indirectly via the relay; and a cloud computing server configured to provide services to the at least one venue; and wherein the CCS is connected with at least one venue via the Internet.