Bluetooth WLAN Coexistence via Dynamic Fragmentation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Bluetooth (BT) and Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) devices face interference challenges due to shared frequency bands, particularly in co-located communication devices, where BT traffic is delay-sensitive and WLAN is used for voice traffic, necessitating improved coexistence techniques for concurrent transmission and reception.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of dynamic WLAN fragmentation and active narrow-band interference cancellation techniques to coordinate BT and WLAN operations, allowing for simultaneous data transmission and reception by fragmenting WLAN data based on BT traffic timing and adjusting transmission power or using interference cancellation to mitigate interference.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If dynamic WLAN fragmentation is implemented to avoid BT traffic timing, then BT traffic integrity is maintained, but WLAN transmission efficiency decreases due to increased frame overhead

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveBT traffic integrityVSAvoidWLAN transmission efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides WLAN data frames into multiple smaller fragments to transmit between BT transmission slots. This segmentation allows WLAN data to be broken down into manageable chunks that can be transmitted during available time windows without colliding with BT traffic, thereby maintaining BT integrity while still progressing WLAN transmission.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements dynamic fragmentation where the fragmentation threshold and frame size are adjusted in real-time based on BT traffic patterns and channel conditions. This dynamic adaptation optimizes the balance between BT reliability and WLAN efficiency by varying the degree of fragmentation according to current system state.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Reliability

If active interference cancellation is used to mitigate BT self-interference on WLAN reception, then WLAN signal quality improves, but device complexity increases due to additional processing requirements

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveWLAN signal qualityVSAvoidinterference cancellation processing
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses the known BT transmission signal (which is the source of interference) to generate an accurate interference model. By leveraging the deterministic nature of BT transmissions and their timing information, the system converts the harmful interference into a predictable signal that can be mathematically canceled from the WLAN reception, improving signal quality while keeping processing manageable.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

3Reliability

If close coordination between BT and WLAN technologies is implemented, then interference avoidance improves, but implementation difficulty increases due to coordination requirements

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinterference avoidanceVSAvoidcoordination implementation
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements self-service coordination where the system automatically monitors BT traffic patterns, determines optimal WLAN transmission opportunities, and adjusts fragmentation parameters without external intervention. The coexistence mechanism autonomously adapts to changing conditions, reducing the burden of manual coordination while maintaining effective interference avoidance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP3061299B1Apparatus and methods of bluetooth and wireless local area network coexistence
Publication Date: 2020.08.12 QUALCOMM INC
  • EP3061299B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3061299B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3061299B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Aspects of the present disclosure are directed to apparatuses and methods that can improve Bluetooth (BT) and Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) coexistence at a BT/WLAN co-located wireless communication device. Various coexistence schemes are provided such as dynamic WLAN fragmentation based on high priority BT traffic by utilizing various techniques and signaling schemes. In some aspects of the disclosure, narrow-band active interference cancellation may be combined with dynamic WLAN fragmentation to further improve BT/WLAN coexistence performance.