Network Coordination Through Alternating Listening Slots
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Solution Overview
Problem
Wireless devices communicating over multiple networks experience increased latency and bandwidth usage due to interference and the need for bursty communication to avoid collisions, particularly in time-critical applications like Bluetooth audio streaming.
Innovation Solution
Implementing an alternating listening pattern for secondary devices to listen to both primary and host devices in alternating slot groups, allowing for flexible exchange of control signaling and missed packets, and synchronizing with the primary device as needed.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If wireless devices communicate on multiple networks simultaneously using bursty communication to avoid interference, then collision avoidance is improved, but latency and bandwidth usage increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic action by establishing alternating listening patterns where the secondary device switches between listening to the primary device and host device in regular time intervals. This periodic switching allows the system to maintain consistent communication patterns while avoiding random collisions, thereby reducing latency compared to bursty communication while still preventing interference through structured time-division multiplexing.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies dynamics by making the secondary device's listening behavior adaptive rather than static. The device dynamically adjusts its listening pattern based on whether the primary device is attempting to communicate, as determined during receiving slot groups. This dynamic adjustment allows the system to optimize performance in real-time, reducing unnecessary latency while maintaining interference avoidance.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If wireless devices communicate on multiple networks simultaneously using bursty communication to avoid interference, then collision avoidance is improved, but bandwidth usage increases
Solution Approach 1:
By implementing periodic listening patterns with fixed time intervals between listening to the primary and host devices, the patent creates a structured communication rhythm that eliminates the need for excessive retransmissions and waiting periods characteristic of bursty communication. This periodic structure optimizes bandwidth utilization by ensuring consistent data flow while maintaining interference avoidance through time-division principles.
3Reliability
If secondary devices listen to both primary and host devices continuously, then data reception reliability is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent reduces energy consumption by implementing periodic listening patterns where the secondary device alternates between listening to the primary device and host device in defined time slots, rather than continuously monitoring both networks. This periodic approach maintains data reception reliability by ensuring the device listens to both networks at regular intervals while significantly reducing the total time the radio needs to be active, thereby lowering power consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the secondary device's listening duty into distinct time segments or slot groups, where it alternates between monitoring the primary device and host device. This segmentation allows the device to distribute its attention across multiple networks without requiring continuous high-power operation on all networks simultaneously, thus maintaining reliability while reducing overall energy consumption.
Data Source
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AI summary
Systems and methods for network coordination are disclosed. A method comprises listening to a primary device during a receiving slot group of a primary/secondary (P/S) piconet shared between the primary device and the secondary device, determining based on the listening during the receiving slot group whether the primary device is attempting to communicate with the secondary device, listening to a host device on a host piconet during a transmitting slot group of the P/S piconet in response to a determination that the primary device is not attempting to communicate with the secondary device, and transmitting to the primary device over the P/S piconet during the transmitting slot group of the P/S piconet in response to a determination that the primary device is attempting to communicate with the secondary device.