Bluetooth-WLAN Co-located Channel Selection via Preliminary Evaluation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional WLAN devices experience decreased throughput due to the need to dwell on channels to determine their quality, especially in crowded bands like the 2.4 GHz band, which interrupts operations and affects transmission reliability.
Innovation Solution
A combination device that communicates according to both Bluetooth and WLAN protocols, using channel evaluation data from one protocol to select higher quality frequencies for the other protocol, thereby avoiding low-quality channels and reducing dwell time, allowing for more efficient channel selection and increased throughput.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional WLAN devices perform dynamic channel selection by dwelling on channels to determine quality, then channel selection reliability is improved, but throughput decreases due to operation interruptions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by having Bluetooth protocol evaluate channel quality in advance before WLAN protocol needs to select channels. The Bluetooth device performs channel assessments and generates quality rankings beforehand, so when WLAN channel selection is needed, the evaluation is already complete. This eliminates the need for WLAN to perform redundant dwelling and evaluation operations, thereby maintaining reliability while improving throughput.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses Bluetooth protocol as an intermediary to perform channel quality evaluation for WLAN protocol. Instead of WLAN directly assessing channel quality through dwelling, Bluetooth serves as a mediator that evaluates channels and provides quality information to WLAN. This intermediary approach allows WLAN to leverage existing evaluation results without performing separate evaluation operations, resolving the contradiction between reliable selection and continuous operation.
2Reliability
If WLAN devices cycle through remaining channels to find reliable channels, then transmission reliability is improved, but time consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by completing channel quality evaluation before the actual channel selection is needed. Bluetooth device evaluates all channels and creates quality rankings in advance, so when WLAN needs to select channels, the evaluation work is already done. This significantly reduces the time WLAN would otherwise spend cycling through channels, while still ensuring reliable channel selection based on the pre-computed quality data.
3Adaptability or versatility
If devices use dynamic channel selection in crowded bands like 2.4 GHz, then adaptability to channel conditions is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by having Bluetooth protocol serve multiple functions: it not only handles Bluetooth communications but also performs channel quality evaluation that benefits WLAN protocol. This multi-functional approach allows a single device to provide channel assessment services to both Bluetooth and WLAN operations, improving adaptability to crowded spectrum conditions without requiring separate complex evaluation mechanisms for each protocol.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses Bluetooth as an intermediary service that provides channel quality information to WLAN, reducing the complexity burden on WLAN devices. Instead of each protocol independently implementing full channel evaluation capabilities, Bluetooth serves as a mediator that centralizes the evaluation function, thereby improving overall system adaptability while reducing individual device complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A method can include, by operation of first communication circuits, determining a quality of a plurality of communication frequencies according to wireless communications of a first protocol type; recording a quality of the communication frequencies; selecting communication frequencies for use by second communication circuits based on the quality of the communication frequencies; and wirelessly transmitting and receiving data with the second communication circuits according to a second protocol different than the first protocol; wherein the first and second communication circuits are collocated on the same device. Related devices and systems are also disclosed.