Multi-Protocol Home Network Switching for Low-Power and High-Bandwidth Data
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Solution Overview
Problem
Smart home systems often consist of multiple wireless protocols that do not interoperate, requiring careful selection of compatible equipment during installation and limiting seamless integration.
Innovation Solution
A wireless protocol architecture that is globally compliant, provides long battery life, and supports high bandwidth data, allowing a smart home system to dynamically use multiple wireless network protocols for seamless operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple wireless protocols are used in a smart home system, then adaptability and versatility are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a gateway device as an intermediary that bridges different wireless protocols (IEEE 802.15.4, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi). The gateway translates messages between protocols, allowing sensor devices using one protocol to communicate with actuators using another protocol without requiring each device to support all protocols directly.
Solution Approach 2:
The gateway device performs multiple functions: it acts as a protocol translator, message router, and network coordinator. By consolidating these functions in a single multi-functional device, the system achieves protocol versatility without requiring every sensor device to be complex.
2Use of energy by moving object
If IEEE 802.15.4 protocol is used for connecting sensor devices, then energy consumption is reduced, but data transmission bandwidth is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments data transmission into two categories: control commands and sensor data use IEEE 802.15.4 for low-power communication, while video and audio data use Wi-Fi or Bluetooth for high-bandwidth transmission. This segmentation allows each protocol to be used where it is most appropriate.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically selects transmission protocols based on data type and bandwidth requirements. The gateway device determines whether to route data through IEEE 802.15.4, Bluetooth, or Wi-Fi connections, optimizing both energy consumption and transmission speed for different data types.
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 1C~1D
Figure 2
AI summary
A sensor device includes processing circuitry configured to output, at a first bandwidth, first bandwidth data to a hub device using a first wireless connection configured for a first wireless protocol. In response to determining that the sensor device has second bandwidth data to output to the hub device at a second bandwidth, the processing circuitry is configured to output a second wireless connection request to the hub device using the first wireless connection. In response to the hub device outputting information for establishing a second wireless connection with the sensor device, the processing circuitry is configured to establish the second wireless connection for a second wireless protocol different from the first wireless protocol. The processing circuitry is configured to output, at the second bandwidth, the second bandwidth data to the hub device using the second wireless connection. The second bandwidth is greater than the first bandwidth.