Proxy Wi-Fi Nodes Extend Low-Power Radio Range
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Solution Overview
Problem
Low-power digital radio devices like Bluetooth and ZigBee have limited communication range, making them unsuitable for larger environments, such as between multiple rooms or buildings, due to their short transmission distances and real-time constraints.
Innovation Solution
The method employs intermediate Wi-Fi mesh network nodes to proxy communications between low-power radio devices, extending their range by forwarding signals through the Wi-Fi mesh network, allowing seamless communication even when devices are out of range, and enabling simultaneous access to resources.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If low-power digital radio devices are used for communication, then power consumption is reduced and cost is lowered, but communication range is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces Wi-Fi access points as intermediary devices that relay communications between low-power radio devices. The access points receive signals from one low-power device and forward them to another, enabling long-range communication while the low-power devices themselves maintain their energy-efficient operation. This mediator approach allows the system to achieve extended range without compromising the power consumption benefits of low-power devices.
2Reliability
If Bluetooth packet transmission with frequency hopping is used, then robustness against interference is improved, but real-time communication is constrained due to slot timing requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The Wi-Fi access point acts as a mediator that receives Bluetooth packets from one device and forwards them to another device. This intermediary approach allows the system to maintain Bluetooth's robust frequency-hopping protocol while eliminating the real-time constraints. The access point buffers and retransmits data without requiring strict adherence to Bluetooth's slot timing, thereby reducing communication delays for time-sensitive applications.
Data Source
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AI summary
A method of enabling extended range communication between a first low power digital radio device and a second low power digital radio device via an intermediate access point; which intermediate access point has a low power digital radio interface and an other communications interface and forms part of a communication network; wherein the intermediate access point is adapted to perform a proxy function for the second low power digital radio device, thereby to enable the first low power digital radio device to send and receive data to the second low power digital radio device via the intermediate access point.