Coordinator Device for Virtual Personal Area Networks
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Solution Overview
Problem
Bluetooth personal area networks face difficulties in scalability and synchronizing multiple devices, making it challenging to link them together effectively, unlike ZigBee networks which are designed to be scalable and power-efficient.
Innovation Solution
A coordinator device with a memory and controller facilitates the establishment of virtual personal area networks (VPANs) with different application profiles, allowing communication between devices operating under distinct protocol specifications through a physical layer and medium access control layer, enabling communication between devices that are otherwise incompatible.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If Bluetooth personal area networks are established with multiple devices, then communication capability is improved, but synchronization difficulty increases and scalability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the personal area network into multiple independent piconets, each with its own master device and synchronized devices. This segmentation allows each piconet to maintain its own synchronization independently, avoiding the complexity of synchronizing all devices across the entire network. The network of piconets (scatternet) structure enables multiple devices to communicate while preserving synchronization boundaries.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces slave devices as intermediaries that can belong to multiple piconets simultaneously. These intermediary slave devices act as bridges between different piconets, enabling communication across network boundaries without requiring direct synchronization between master devices of different piconets. This intermediary mechanism resolves the synchronization conflict while maintaining communication capability.
2Adaptability or versatility
If Bluetooth personal area networks are linked together, then network scalability is improved, but synchronization maintenance becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the scalable network into independent piconet segments that can be linked together to form scatternets. Each piconet maintains its own synchronization independently, allowing the network to scale by adding more piconets without propagating synchronization complexity across the entire network. This segmentation enables scalability while containing synchronization issues within individual piconets.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent adds a new dimension to Bluetooth networking by introducing the concept of scatternets, which are networks of piconets. This dimensional expansion allows the system to scale from single piconets to networks of piconets without fundamentally changing the synchronization mechanism within each piconet. The multi-dimensional structure separates synchronization scope from network size.
Data Source
AI summary
A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a coordinator device having a memory, and a controller. The memory can have computer instructions, which when executed by the controller, causes the controller to facilitate establishing a first virtual personal area network with a first sensor by executing computer instructions associated with a first application profile, and facilitate establishing a second virtual personal area network with a second sensor by executing computer instructions associated a second application profile. The first application profile can be defined by a first protocol specification, while the second application profile can be defined by a second protocol specification. The first protocol specification can also be operationally distinct from the second protocol specification. Other embodiments are disclosed.