Combo-Endpoint Device Multi-Protocol Scheduling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wireless communication technologies face challenges in efficiently configuring and managing communications between devices operating on multiple protocols, such as Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) and ZigBee, leading to conflicts and increased energy consumption due to temporal alignment of data communications.
Innovation Solution
A combo-endpoint device is configured to communicate using both frequency-hopping and spread spectrum protocols, with data-communication scheduling circuitry monitoring communication patterns to define connection periods and time windows that avoid conflicts with the wireless router's communication times, allowing for non-conflicting communication schedules and efficient energy use.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a combo-endpoint device communicates with both a wireless router using spread spectrum protocol and wireless communication devices using frequency-hopping protocol simultaneously, then the device can support multiple communication protocols and expand connectivity, but communication conflicts occur due to temporal alignment issues leading to increased interference and energy consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the communication timeline into distinct time windows: first time windows for spread spectrum communications with the wireless router, and second time windows for frequency-hopping communications with wireless communication devices. This temporal segmentation prevents protocol conflicts by ensuring that communications on different protocols occur at different times, thereby eliminating interference while maintaining multi-protocol support.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic scheduling of communication time windows based on monitored communication patterns. The system dynamically adjusts the timing and duration of first and second time windows to optimize resource utilization and avoid conflicts. This dynamic approach allows the combo-endpoint device to adapt to varying communication demands while preventing interference between protocols.
2Productivity
If communication time windows for frequency-hopping protocol are established without considering wireless router communication times, then the device can maintain continuous connectivity with multiple devices, but conflicts arise leading to increased energy consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The patent monitors communication patterns of the wireless router in advance to determine optimal time windows for frequency-hopping communications. By performing this preliminary monitoring and planning, the system establishes second time windows that do not conflict with first time windows for spread spectrum communications. This prevents retransmissions and associated energy waste, thereby optimizing both throughput and energy consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors communication patterns and feedback from both the wireless router and wireless communication devices to dynamically adjust time window scheduling. This feedback mechanism ensures that communication schedules remain optimized over time, preventing conflicts that would lead to retransmissions and excessive energy consumption while maintaining high productivity.
3Device complexity
If the combo-endpoint device uses a single radio-communication circuitry for both protocols, then the device complexity is reduced, but communication conflicts occur due to shared resource contention
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic time-division multiplexing where the single radio-communication circuitry alternates between spread spectrum mode during first time windows and frequency-hopping mode during second time windows. This periodic switching ensures that the shared resource is used exclusively for one protocol at a time, eliminating conflicts and ensuring reliable communications while maintaining low device complexity through resource sharing.
Data Source
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AI summary
A method for communicating between a combo-endpoint device, wireless router, and a wireless communication device includes monitoring communication patterns of wireless data communications between a wireless router and radio-communication circuitry of a combo-endpoint device, and storing data indicative of communication times of the wireless router based on the monitored communication patterns. The method further includes configuring a frequency-hopping based protocol by defining connection periods according to time windows and selected frequencies for wireless communication of data between the wireless communication device and the radio-communication circuitry, and by establishing the time windows and time intervals for an advertisement event which do not substantially conflict with the communication times of the wireless router.