Printer Status Advertising for Faster BLE-Wi-Fi Direct Setup
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing communication systems using Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) and Wi-Fi standards for wireless connections between devices face inefficiencies in notifying the terminal device of the state of a communication device, particularly when the number of connections reaches a limit, leading to delayed or failed connections.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a communication system where printers send ADV_IND or ADV_NONCONN_IND signals before establishing a Bluetooth connection to notify the terminal device of their status, including signals indicating whether they can establish a Wi-Fi Direct connection, allowing the terminal to prioritize and rank printers based on their availability and connection status.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If GATT communication is used to notify the terminal device of connection status, then the terminal device can be notified of the printer state, but a Bluetooth connection must be established first which delays the notification
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by transmitting connection status information through Bluetooth advertising packets before a formal Bluetooth connection is established. The printer device includes its connection status (such as Wi-Fi connection state) in the advertising packets it continuously broadcasts, allowing the terminal device to obtain this information immediately without waiting for GATT communication setup. This resolves the contradiction by performing the notification action in advance of the traditional connection establishment process.
2Loss of information
If Bluetooth connection is established for state notification, then the terminal device receives accurate printer status information, but the connection establishment time increases reducing overall system efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the essential printer state information from the full GATT communication process and transmits it independently through Bluetooth advertising packets. Instead of requiring the terminal device to establish a complete Bluetooth connection and navigate through GATT services to obtain printer status, the critical information (connection status, availability) is extracted and embedded in the advertising packets that are continuously transmitted. This allows the terminal device to obtain necessary information without the overhead of full connection establishment, resolving the contradiction between information accuracy and setup speed.
3Reliability
If the terminal device checks printer availability through established connection, then accurate connection status is obtained, but the time required for connection establishment reduces overall responsiveness
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback by having the printer device continuously broadcast its connection status information through Bluetooth advertising packets. The terminal device monitors these advertising packets to receive real-time feedback about printer availability and connection state. This continuous feedback mechanism allows the terminal device to make immediate decisions about printer selection without initiating a time-consuming connection establishment process, while still obtaining reliable and accurate status information through the regularly updated advertising packets.
Data Source
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AI summary
A communication device may cause a first wireless interface of the communication device to send a first signal in a case where a state of the communication device is a respondent state. The respondent state may be a state in which a Wi-Fi connection is able to be established between the communication device and a terminal device. The first signal may be sent from the first wireless interface before a Bluetooth connection is established between the communication device and a terminal device. The communication device may cause the first wireless interface to send a second signal in a case where a state of the communication device is a non-respondent state. The non-respondent state may be a state in which the Wi-Fi connection is not able to be established. The second signal may be sent from the first wireless interface before the Bluetooth connection is established.