Directional Antenna Friendly Jamming for BLE Device Discovery

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Solution Overview

Problem

In high-density Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) environments, device discovery becomes challenging due to increased chances of advertisement collisions among numerous devices, making it difficult to find a specific target device for commissioning or maintenance purposes.

Innovation Solution

A directional antenna is used to transmit a jamming signal to a specific sector, filtering out non-target device advertisements through spatially selective 'friendly' jamming, allowing the master device to connect to the target device without disturbing data connection channels.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Difficulty of detecting and measuring

If all devices in dense network broadcast advertisement beacons in short periods, then device discovery capability is improved, but advertisement collision probability increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice discovery capabilityVSAvoidadvertisement collision probability

Core Design Contradiction:

Difficulty of detecting and measuringVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by creating a localized jamming zone around the master device using directional antenna radiation patterns. The jamming signal is transmitted only in specific spatial sectors where non-target device advertisements are detected, rather than omnidirectionally. This allows the system to filter advertisements locally in affected sectors while leaving other sectors unaffected, thus resolving the contradiction between maintaining discovery capability and reducing collision probability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent converts the harmful effect of advertisement collisions into a beneficial filtering mechanism. By detecting collision-prone sectors and applying targeted jamming signals in those specific directions, the system transforms the problem of collisions into an opportunity to identify and filter non-target advertisements. The jamming signal, which could be considered harmful, is instead used as a tool to improve discovery reliability by eliminating interfering advertisements in a controlled manner.

Inventive Principle:

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

2Difficulty of detecting and measuring

If directional antenna transmits jamming signal to specific sector, then non-target advertisement filtering is improved, but data connection channel stability may be affected

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveadvertisement filtering effectivenessVSAvoiddata connection stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Difficulty of detecting and measuringVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements periodic action by continuously monitoring advertisement channels for non-target device transmissions and applying jamming signals in a periodic, on-demand manner. The directional antenna alternates between monitoring mode and jamming mode based on detected advertisement patterns. This periodic operation ensures that data connection channels remain stable during non-jamming periods while effectively filtering advertisements during jamming periods, thus resolving the contradiction between filtering effectiveness and connection stability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies local quality by restricting jamming signals to specific spatial sectors and frequency channels where non-target advertisements are detected. The directional antenna's beamforming capability confines the jamming effect to localized regions, preventing interference with data connections in other sectors. This spatial and spectral localization allows aggressive advertisement filtering in affected areas while maintaining clean data channels elsewhere, resolving the contradiction between filtering effectiveness and connection stability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This approach enables effective discovery and connection to target devices in dense networks by selectively jamming non-target advertisements, reducing collision interference and maintaining uninterrupted data connections.

Implementation Method 1

transmit a jamming signal to a directionally restricted jamming area during transmission of the beacon signal

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectromagnetic radiation: Electromagnetic Induction

Data Source

PatentEP4091348B1Apparatus and method for filtering advertisements in wireless networks

Publication Date: 2023.09.27 SIGNIFY HOLDING BV

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AI summary

The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for filtering advertisements of a target device by using friendly jamming with a beamforming antenna to jam at least one advertisement channel in at least one specific sector of non-target devices. Thus, a master device can easily discover the advertisement of the target device in order to successfully connect to the target device. In addition, since the jamming is performed on advertisement channels only, data connection channels are not disturbed.