Bluetooth Low Energy Secondary Data Channel for High-Rate Streaming
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Solution Overview
Problem
Bluetooth Low Energy (BTLE) is impractical for certain streaming applications due to its lack of synchronous connection capabilities, leading to power inefficiencies and limitations in carrying larger data packets, which hinders its use in applications like audio streaming.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a secondary data channel that is configurable to integer multiples of the conventional BTLE data channel rate, allowing for enhanced data transfer capabilities while maintaining low power consumption by synchronizing with the primary BTLE channel without interfering with it.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If BTLE is used for streaming applications, then power consumption is reduced, but data transfer rate and synchronous connection capability are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the data transfer function by introducing a secondary data channel that operates concurrently with the primary BTLE data channel. The secondary channel is configured with integer multiples of the primary channel rate, enabling higher aggregate data transfer rates while the primary channel maintains low power consumption characteristics for control and periodic data.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent adds another dimension to the data transmission capability by establishing a secondary data channel in addition to the primary channel. This multi-channel approach allows the system to achieve higher data rates without abandoning the power-efficient single-channel operation, effectively solving the contradiction between power consumption and data transfer rate.
2Use of energy by moving object
If BTLE operates in sleep mode to save power, then power consumption is reduced, but synchronous connection capability is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent ensures continuous useful action by maintaining the primary BTLE data channel active for synchronous communication and control, while the secondary channel provides additional data transfer capacity. This dual-channel approach ensures that synchronous connection capabilities are continuously available without requiring the device to exit sleep mode, thereby maintaining both power efficiency and connection reliability.
3Reliability
If dual mode BT-BTLE device is used to achieve streaming capability, then synchronous connection is enabled, but chip area and power loss increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the single BTLE device universal by enabling it to support both low-power periodic communication and high-rate streaming applications through the secondary data channel. This eliminates the need for dual-mode devices, as the enhanced BTLE implementation can handle various application requirements using the same hardware footprint.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a functional copy of the data channel capability by introducing a secondary channel that mirrors the primary channel's protocol but operates at higher rates. This allows the system to achieve streaming capabilities without duplicating the entire BT/BTLE hardware stack, thereby avoiding the chip area penalties of dual-mode devices.
Data Source
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AI summary
Packets are communicated between a first device and a second device, over a primary data channel, according to an interval. The first device receives over the primary data channel a request from the second device to establish a secondary data channel. The request includes secondary connection parameters including an offset relative to events on the primary data channel, and a sub-interval relative to the interval. Acknowledgement is exchanged and the first and second devices communicate over the secondary data channel according to the secondary connection parameters.