Wireless Coexistence Manager for Bluetooth and WLAN Interference

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing wireless devices with co-located air interfaces, such as Bluetooth and WLAN, face interference issues due to shared frequency bands, leading to poor user experience, and prior solutions lack flexibility in addressing interference based on operational criteria like antenna isolation and user priorities.

Innovation Solution

The method involves a closed-loop or open-loop approach that dynamically adjusts operating rules and parameters, such as priority-based time sharing and transmitter power control, based on antenna isolation and other operational criteria to mitigate interference and enhance user experience.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If Bluetooth and WLAN are co-located in the same device to provide unified wireless solution, then device functionality and user convenience are improved, but electromagnetic interference between the two interfaces causes performance degradation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice functionalityVSAvoidelectromagnetic interference
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

A coexistence manager acts as an intermediary between WLAN and Bluetooth interfaces, receiving interference indicators from both sides and coordinating their operation to reduce mutual interference while maintaining both functionalities

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adjusts operating parameters such as transmit power and channel selection based on real-time interference conditions, allowing the co-located interfaces to adapt their behavior to minimize electromagnetic interference

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Volume of moving object

If antenna isolation is reduced to save device size, then device compactness is improved, but interference between wireless interfaces increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice sizeVSAvoidinterference
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system changes operational parameters such as transmit power levels and frequency channel selections based on measured antenna isolation values, allowing compact device design while compensating for increased interference through parameter optimization

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Object-affected harmful factors

If priority-based time sharing is implemented to reduce interference, then interference mitigation is improved, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveinterferenceVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The coexistence manager serves as a centralized intermediary that handles priority-based scheduling and time sharing decisions, simplifying the overall system architecture by consolidating coordination logic in a single component rather than distributing complexity across multiple interfaces

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Object-affected harmful factors

If transmitter power control is adjusted to mitigate interference, then interference reduction is improved, but data throughput may be affected

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveinterferenceVSAvoiddata throughput
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

Transmitter power is dynamically controlled based on real-time interference conditions and priority levels, allowing the system to maintain high throughput when interference is low while reducing power when interference occurs, thus balancing both objectives

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP2238780B1Wireless devices coexistence
Publication Date: 2018.08.29 APPLE INC
  • EP2238780B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2238780B1 patent drawingFigure 1A
  • EP2238780B1 patent drawingFigure 1A

AI summary

Methods and apparatus for compensating for the effects of interference between multiple wireless communication apparatus. In one embodiment, the method comprises providing a first wireless communication apparatus operating in a first band and a second wireless communication apparatus operating at least partly in the first band, where the second wireless communication apparatus operates according to a different communication protocol than the first wireless communication apparatus. Interference is compensated for between the first wireless communication apparatus and the second wireless communication apparatus by selecting and operating according to one of a plurality of operational protocols, the operational protocols being policies or criteria based on which the operation changes. Said operational protocols are selected based on e.g. the electrical isolation between antennas, or they reply the selection of an operating mode, implementing power control, etc. In another embodiment, the first wireless communication apparatus and the second wireless communication apparatus operate in a closed-loop relationship to cooperatively compensate for communication interference.