Proxy-bridge for UPnP and Bluetooth Interoperability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing solutions for connecting Universal Plug and Play (UPnP) compliant devices with Bluetooth (BT) compliant devices face interoperability challenges, requiring complex communication stacks and manual maintenance, and are inefficient in keeping devices up-to-date regarding available devices and services.
Innovation Solution
A proxy-bridge with a first communication stack for UPnP devices and a second stack for Bluetooth devices, including a Bluetooth SDP client for discovery, a converter to translate information, and a device and service announcer to regularly advertise available devices and services, ensuring UPnP devices are kept updated without the need for polling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a proxy-bridge uses complex communication stacks to connect UPnP and Bluetooth devices, then interoperability is achieved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a proxy-bridge as an intermediary device that mediates between UPnP and Bluetooth networks. The bridge contains both UPnP and Bluetooth communication stacks and translates messages between the two protocols, allowing devices on one network to communicate with devices on the other network without requiring each device to support both protocols directly.
Solution Approach 2:
The system segments the interoperability function into a dedicated proxy-bridge device rather than implementing complex multi-protocol stacks in each endpoint device. This separates the translation functionality into a standalone component, reducing the complexity burden on individual devices while maintaining overall system interoperability.
2Use of energy by moving object
If the proxy-bridge passively waits for discovery requests, then energy consumption is low, but device discovery efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The proxy-bridge performs preliminary actions by proactively announcing the presence of Bluetooth devices to the UPnP network periodically. Instead of waiting for UPnP devices to discover Bluetooth devices, the bridge pre-publishes device information announcements, ensuring that UPnP devices can immediately discover and connect to Bluetooth devices without requiring active polling or lengthy discovery processes.
3Measurement precision
If UPnP devices poll for device information, then information accuracy is maintained, but time consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The proxy-bridge implements periodic action by sending device announcement messages to the UPnP network at regular intervals. These periodic announcements refresh the information about available Bluetooth devices, their services, and their status, ensuring that UPnP devices have accurate and up-to-date information without needing to continuously poll for updates.
4Manufacturing precision
If manual configuration is used to maintain device lists, then configuration precision is high, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The proxy-bridge implements self-service by automatically discovering Bluetooth devices on its local network and dynamically maintaining the device information database. The bridge autonomously monitors the Bluetooth network, detects new devices, retrieves their service information, and updates the UPnP network accordingly, eliminating the need for manual configuration while maintaining accurate device lists.
Data Source
AI summary
A proxy-bridge for connecting Universal Plug and Play (UPnP) compliant devices with Bluetooth (BT) compliant devices, and includes SSDP support for discovery of available UPnP compliant devices and services; a Bluetooth SDP client for discovery of available Bluetooth devices and available Bluetooth services and a Bluetooth SDP server for communicating with Bluetooth SDP clients in the available Bluetooth devices. The proxy-bridge has a converter for converting the discovered Bluetooth devices and services into associated UPnP device and service information, and the discovered UPnP compliant devices and services into associated Bluetooth device, service, and/or profile information. A device and service announcer advertises device availability at regular intervals. A UPnP adapter represents the Bluetooth devices towards the UPnP devices and a Bluetooth adapter represents the UPnP compliant devices towards the Bluetooth compliant devices.