Bluetooth Signal Combiner for Wide Area Coverage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wireless local area network systems face challenges in providing extended coverage over larger areas without the need for expensive radio terminals and base stations that require government licenses, which are typically used in wide area networks.
Innovation Solution
A distributed wide area coverage system that combines Bluetooth signals from local area base stations using a signal combiner to create an open communication channel among mobile devices, expanding coverage area while utilizing low-cost Bluetooth transceivers and potentially hard-wired or network connections between the combiner and base stations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If expensive radio terminals and base stations are used to provide wide area network coverage, then coverage area is improved, but system cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the wide area network into multiple small coverage areas, each served by a low-cost base station with Bluetooth transceiver. Instead of using a few expensive long-range base stations, the system segments the coverage area into many small zones (e.g., 30-100 feet each) and combines their signals to achieve wide area coverage collectively.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines signals from multiple low-cost base stations using a signal combiner. The combiner receives signals from several Bluetooth base stations and merges them to provide extended wide area coverage, effectively pooling the coverage areas of individual stations to create a network-wide coverage zone.
2Area of stationary object
If traditional wide area network infrastructure is deployed, then coverage area is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes low-cost Bluetooth base stations perform multiple functions: they provide local wireless access, extend wide area coverage through signal combining, and enable communication without requiring specialized government-licensed radio equipment. The same Bluetooth infrastructure serves both local and wide area needs.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a signal combiner as an intermediary component that receives signals from multiple Bluetooth base stations and combines them to provide extended coverage. This intermediary device simplifies the overall system architecture by using off-the-shelf Bluetooth components rather than complex licensed radio infrastructure.
3Ease of manufacture
If low-cost Bluetooth transceivers are used, then system cost is reduced, but coverage area is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a single-base-station model to a multi-base-station network model. By adding the dimension of multiple distributed base stations and combining their signals, the system achieves wide area coverage using low-cost Bluetooth transceivers, effectively extending the coverage area through network architecture rather than individual device capability.
Data Source
AI summary
A distributed wide area coverage system is disclosed that effectively expands the coverage area of the local wireless links by combining the signals from local area base stations and routing the combined signal back to the base stations. The base stations provide two-way open wireless communication channels among mobile devices situated within wireless signal coverage area of each of the base stations.