Packet Synchronization Information Peeking for Bluetooth Power Reduction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Bluetooth network devices face high power consumption due to the need to remain awake for extended periods to maintain synchronization with master devices during synchronous communications, such as periodic advertisements and isochronous broadcasting, despite being capable of entering low power states between communications.

Innovation Solution

A method and device that enable the network device to exit low power mode only at regular intervals to receive a portion of synchronous communications, allowing it to confirm the message source and then return to low power before receiving the entire communication, with the ability to determine subsequent communication times based on the start of the received communication.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the network device remains awake to receive the entire synchronous communication, then synchronization accuracy is maintained, but power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesynchronization accuracyVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The network device receives only a portion of the synchronous communication packet (specifically the preamble and selected fields up to a threshold) rather than the entire packet. This partial reception is sufficient to confirm the message source and maintain synchronization, while avoiding the energy cost of receiving and processing the complete packet.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Solution Approach 2:

The synchronous communication packet is conceptually divided into segments: critical synchronization information (preamble, access address, selected PDU fields) and non-critical data. The device processes only the critical segments needed for synchronization, leaving the rest to be received but not fully processed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If the network device wakes up at regular intervals to receive synchronous communications, then synchronization is maintained, but the active state time increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesynchronization maintenanceVSAvoidactive state time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The network device performs partial reception of the synchronous communication, waking up only long enough to receive the critical synchronization fields. This reduces the duration of the active state while still achieving the synchronization objective.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Solution Approach 2:

The device receives the preamble and access address fields first, which contain sufficient information to confirm the message source and establish synchronization timing. This preliminary action allows the device to determine the complete packet duration and wake up only for the necessary minimum time.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS11252661B2Packet synchronization information peeking

Publication Date: 2022.02.15 SILICON LABORATORIES INC

AI summary

A device, method and software program that allows a network device to remain synchronized to a master device while minimizing its own power consumption is disclosed. The network device exits a low power mode at regular intervals in order to receive a synchronous communication from a master device. Once the network device has received enough information to confirm that this synchronous communication is from the correct master device, the network device may then return to the low power mode, even before the entirety of the synchronous communication has been received. This may reduce the time that the network device is in the active state by more than 90% in certain instances.