Bluetooth Silent Indication Transmitter Control

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Current wireless communication devices experience high power consumption and RF resource inefficiency during silent periods in voice calls due to the transmission of comfort noise, which also limits coexistence with other wireless technologies.

Innovation Solution

A method that involves sending a silent indication (SID) message from a modem to a Bluetooth module to disable the transmitter during silent periods, allowing for the reallocation of RF resources and reducing power consumption by stopping SCO link transmissions and inserting comfort noise only when necessary.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If comfort noise is transmitted during silent periods, then listener comfort is improved, but power consumption increases and RF resources are reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelistener comfortVSAvoidpower consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system transmits comfort noise periodically at reduced rates during silent periods rather than continuously, using silence indication messages to trigger transmissions only when needed, thereby reducing power consumption while maintaining listener comfort

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts the comfort noise transmission from continuous operation and separates it into discrete periodic transmissions triggered by silence detection, allowing the system to stop transmitting during silent periods when comfort noise is not needed

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If comfort noise is transmitted during silent periods, then listener comfort is improved, but RF resource availability is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelistener comfortVSAvoidRF resource availability
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses periodic silence indication messages to trigger comfort noise transmissions only when silent periods are detected, freeing RF resources during active speech periods and other times when comfort noise is not required

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adjusts RF resource allocation based on call state, activating comfort noise transmission only during detected silent periods and deactivating it during speech periods, thereby optimizing RF resource availability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Reliability

If transmitter is kept active during silent periods, then communication readiness is maintained, but power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecommunication readinessVSAvoidpower consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the transmitter operation from continuous mode and separates it into discrete transmission events triggered by silence detection and comfort noise generation needs, allowing the transmitter to remain inactive during silent periods

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses local silence detection and comfort noise generation at the remote device, eliminating the need for continuous transmitter operation to maintain communication readiness during silent periods

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP3414953B1Silent period operation during wireless communication
Publication Date: 2021.07.28 QUALCOMM INC
  • EP3414953B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3414953B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3414953B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A method for wireless communication is described. The method includes receiving a silent indication (SID) start message from a modem at a Bluetooth (BT) module when the modem detects a silent period in a voice call. The method also includes sending the SID start message from the BT module to a remote BT device. The method further includes disabling a BT transmitter during the silent period based on the SID start message received from the modem.