Bluetooth Link Merging for Power Reduction
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
In Bluetooth network environments, when multiple devices receive data packets from a user device, they often establish separate links, leading to increased resource and power consumption for the user device, especially due to retransmissions when one device fails to receive data, which decreases network throughput.
Innovation Solution
The solution involves configuring only a primary link between the user device and one receiving device, with the other devices monitoring this link to ensure data packet reception, thereby reducing the user device's resource and power consumption by eliminating unnecessary retransmissions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple separate links are established between the user device and each receiving device, then data transmission reliability is improved, but resource consumption and power consumption of the user device increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple data transmission paths into a single link by establishing one connection between the user device and the first device, while the second device receives data through the first device. This combining approach maintains data transmission reliability to multiple devices while significantly reducing the power consumption and resource usage of the user device, as it no longer needs to maintain separate active links to each receiving device.
Solution Approach 2:
The first device acts as an intermediary or relay between the user device and the second device. The user device transmits data to the first device, which then forwards it to the second device. This intermediary approach allows reliable data distribution to multiple devices while the user device only maintains one active link, reducing its power consumption and resource requirements.
2Adaptability or versatility
If separate links are established for each receiving device, then data transmission flexibility is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple transmission functions into a single link structure. The user device establishes one link to the first device, and the system achieves flexible data distribution to multiple devices through this unified connection, thereby reducing the complexity of link management in the user device while maintaining transmission adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The single link between the user device and the first device serves multiple functions: it carries data to the first device for its own use, acts as a relay to the second device, and enables flexible data distribution. This multi-functional approach reduces device complexity while maintaining transmission versatility.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the user device establishes separate links with multiple receiving devices, then network coverage is improved, but resource consumption increases due to retransmissions
Solution Approach 1:
The first device serves as an intermediary that receives data from the user device and redistributes it to the second device. This eliminates the need for the user device to perform retransmissions to multiple devices, as the first device handles the redistribution. Network coverage is maintained while resource consumption at the user device is significantly reduced.
4Reliability
If multiple links are maintained for retransmission capability, then data reception reliability is improved, but network throughput decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the retransmission function into the single link through the first device. When retransmission is needed, it occurs through the existing unified link structure rather than requiring multiple separate links. This maintains data reception reliability while improving network throughput by reducing the overhead and contention associated with managing multiple simultaneous links.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
An electronic device comprises a wireless communication circuit configured to support a Bluetooth protocol, wherein the wireless communication circuit may be configured to: establish a first link with a first external electronic device; establish a second link with a second external electronic device; transmit, to the second external electronic device, information required for the second external electronic device to monitor data packets transmitted through the first link; receive, during a first time period, a first data packet from the first external electronic device through the first link; transmit, during a partial time period of a second time period subsequent to the first time period, a response signal for the first data packet to the first external electronic device through the first link; attempt to receive, from the second external electronic device through the second link during the remaining time period of the second time period, an ACK signal indicating whether the second external electronic device has normally received the first data packet; and, if the ACK signal is not received, transmit, during a third time period subsequent to the second time period, the first data packet to the second external electronic device through the second link, or, if the ACK signal is received, attempt to receive, from the first external electronic device during a fourth time period subsequent to the third time period, a second data packet subsequent to the first data packet.