Dual-Mode BLE Device Idle Interval Scheduling

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional Bluetooth low energy (BLE) devices struggle to concurrently support BLE activities and Bluetooth BR/EDR traffic communications efficiently, leading to inefficiencies in power consumption and data transfer due to overlapping communication channels.

Innovation Solution

A dual-mode BLE device that identifies idle intervals within Bluetooth BR/EDR traffic communications to perform BLE activities such as advertising, scanning, and data packet transmission, dynamically adjusting packet sizes and scan windows to minimize interference and optimize power usage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If BLE activities are performed concurrently with Bluetooth BR/EDR traffic communications, then data transfer efficiency is improved, but power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata transfer efficiencyVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the communication operations by identifying idle intervals within Bluetooth BR/EDR traffic communications and performing BLE activities only during these segmented time windows. This allows concurrent operation while controlling power consumption by restricting BLE activities to specific time segments rather than continuous operation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements periodic scanning and advertising operations during identified idle intervals. The scanner performs scanning at periodic intervals within idle windows, and the advertiser schedules advertising packet transmissions periodically during these intervals, optimizing power usage through periodic rather than continuous operation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

2Adaptability or versatility

If BLE activities are performed during Bluetooth BR/EDR traffic communications, then communication versatility is improved, but interference between channels increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecommunication versatilityVSAvoidchannel interference

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments time into idle intervals and active communication intervals, performing BLE activities only during identified idle intervals within Bluetooth BR/EDR traffic. This temporal segmentation reduces channel interference by ensuring BLE and BR/EDR communications do not overlap in time

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism that identifies idle intervals in Bluetooth BR/EDR traffic and uses these intervals as windows for BLE activities. This intermediary scheduling approach coordinates between the two communication modes, allowing both to operate without direct interference

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Productivity

If packet transmission size is increased to improve data transfer efficiency, then productivity is improved, but the ability to fit within idle intervals is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata transfer efficiencyVSAvoidadaptability to idle intervals

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent dynamically adjusts the maximal payload size for BLE data packets based on the duration and characteristics of identified idle intervals. The master device determines appropriate payload sizes adaptively, allowing larger packets when idle intervals are long and smaller packets when idle intervals are short, optimizing both data transfer efficiency and interval utilization

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the parameter of packet payload size dynamically based on idle interval characteristics. By adjusting this parameter according to the available time window, the system achieves high data transfer efficiency when possible while maintaining adaptability to varying idle interval durations

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS8737917B2Method and system for a dual-mode bluetooth low energy device

Publication Date: 2014.05.27 AVAGO TECHNOLOGIES INTERNATIONAL SALES PTE LTD

AI summary

A dual-mode BLE device identifies idle intervals within Bluetooth BR/EDR traffic communications. The identified idle intervals are used by the dual-mode BLE device to concurrently perform various BLE activities. For example, advertising packet transmissions, advertising packet scanning, connection setup, and/or data packet communication may be concurrently performed within identified idle intervals within the Bluetooth BR/EDR traffic communications. Packet transmission timing, advertising interval, scan window, and/or packet size are determined based on the identified idle intervals within the Bluetooth BR/EDR traffic communications. A scan window is adjusted based on timing of expected advertising transmissions and/or advertising interval(s) for saving power. BLE packets and Bluetooth BR/EDR packets may be detected in a single advertising channel. Maximal payload size is set based on the identified idle intervals within Bluetooth BR/EDR traffic communications. As a slave, the dual-mode BLE device updates connection parameters based on the identified idle intervals within Bluetooth BR/EDR traffic communications.