Wireless Bridge Device for FHSS-MA Interference Mitigation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Wearable multimedia devices face challenges with battery power consumption and network connectivity, as wireless connectivity devices drain batteries quickly and existing solutions like WLAN and Bluetooth have limitations in power management and range, especially when multiple users try to communicate concurrently.

Innovation Solution

A wireless bridge device that enables concurrent multimedia communications over multiple frequencies for multiple low-power FHSS-enabled devices, allowing them to interface with WLANs and WWANs without the need for a personal communication device, using a Public Wireless Heterogeneous Bridge (PWHB) with enhanced Bluetooth protocol and dynamic signal balancing techniques to mitigate interference.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Use of energy by moving object

If Bluetooth low-power connectivity is used to reduce power consumption, then battery life is extended, but communication range is limited to 10-30 meters

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower consumptionVSAvoidcommunication range

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSLength of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a wireless bridge device as an intermediary that receives signals from low-power FHSS-enabled devices and retransmits them at higher power levels through WLAN or WWAN networks, thereby extending the effective communication range without requiring the end devices to increase their transmit power

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent transitions from single-hop direct communication to multi-hop indirect communication, adding a dimensional layer of network architecture that allows low-power devices to communicate beyond their native range limits by routing signals through intermediate bridge devices

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Productivity

If WLAN is used to provide network access, then data throughput is improved, but power consumption increases and only 5% capacity is utilized

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata throughputVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic protocol selection and adaptive power management where devices can switch between Bluetooth, WLAN, and WWAN modes based on current communication needs, allowing the system to optimize the balance between throughput and power consumption in real-time

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the network access function into two parts: low-power FHSS devices handle local communication and the wireless bridge handles high-throughput network access, allowing each component to operate in its optimal power and performance regime

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Quantity of substance

If multiple users communicate concurrently over WLAN, then network capacity is increased, but interference increases and QoS deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenumber of concurrent usersVSAvoidquality of service

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the fundamental parameter of communication protocol from WLAN's CSMA/CA to FHSS's frequency-hopping spread spectrum, which provides inherent resistance to interference and maintains QoS even when multiple users communicate concurrently on the same physical medium

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

4Quantity of substance

If DECT technology is used to support more users, then concurrent user capacity is improved, but device complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenumber of concurrent usersVSAvoidprotocol complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The wireless bridge device is designed to support multiple FHSS-enabled devices from different manufacturers and protocols, providing universal compatibility that avoids the need for each device to implement complex multi-protocol stacks while still supporting multiple concurrent users

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS10141974B2High-capacity FHSS-MA devices and methods

Publication Date: 2018.11.27 WAXMAN SHAI

AI summary

A frequency-hopped spread-spectrum multiple-access (FHSS-MA) wideband transceiver may support frequency-division multiple-access (FDMA) functionality by including a plurality of digital chains corresponding to FHSS-MA physical channels, individually and dynamically compensated for in-phase/quadrature imbalance in the transmit and/or receive portion. A FHSS-MA transceiver supporting FDMA functionality may coordinate FH sequence selection among FHSS physical channels to minimize inter-channel interference while also supporting legacy FHSS-enabled devices (e.g., Bluetooth®). The FHSS-MA transceiver may be incorporated into a wireless bridge device to facilitate low-latency communications over wireless local-area networks (WLANs), wireless wide-area networks (WWANs) or broadcast, with multiple FHSS-enabled devices that may be paired with the wireless bridge device using FHSS-MA channels. The wireless bridge device may enable a FHSS-enabled device to re-pair with a personal device. Such wireless bridge devices may be networked into a wireless bridge network that may increase the number of FHSS-enabled devices that may be accommodated and/or increase coverage range.