Slave Bluetooth Device Time-Division Multiplexing Multiple Masters
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Solution Overview
Problem
Bluetooth devices operating in slave mode are limited to a single connection with a master device, necessitating multiple transceiver circuits for simultaneous connections, which is costly and complex, especially in applications like in-flight entertainment systems.
Innovation Solution
A slave Bluetooth device uses a single transceiver to sequentially establish connections with multiple master devices, alternating between them to manage communications, using timeout values to prevent connection teardowns.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a slave Bluetooth device includes multiple separate transceiver circuits to enable simultaneous connections to multiple master devices, then the device can maintain simultaneous active connections to multiple masters, but the hardware cost and design complexity become prohibitive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple transceiver functions into a single transceiver circuit by implementing time-division multiplexing. The slave device alternates between monitoring different master devices in non-overlapping time slots, allowing one transceiver to serve multiple masters sequentially rather than requiring separate transceivers for each connection.
Solution Approach 2:
The slave device employs periodic action by monitoring connections to different master devices in alternating time slots. It monitors the first connection during one time slot, then switches to monitor the second connection in a subsequent non-overlapping time slot, creating a periodic monitoring pattern that maintains all connections without requiring simultaneous active monitoring.
2Device complexity
If a slave Bluetooth device uses a single transceiver to connect to multiple master devices by alternating between connections, then hardware cost is reduced, but connections may be torn down if monitoring is not frequent enough
Solution Approach 1:
The slave device changes the timeout parameter for each connection based on the monitoring frequency. By adjusting the timeout value to be longer than the interval between monitoring occurrences, the device ensures that connections remain stable even though they are monitored periodically rather than continuously. This parameter adjustment allows reliable connections with reduced monitoring frequency.
3Reliability
If the slave Bluetooth device monitors multiple connections simultaneously, then connection reliability is maintained, but the single transceiver cannot physically monitor all connections at the same time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the monitoring function across different time slots rather than attempting simultaneous monitoring. Each connection is monitored in its designated time slot, dividing the overall monitoring task into discrete temporal segments. This allows a single transceiver to effectively monitor multiple connections by dedicating specific time periods to each connection.
Data Source
AI summary
A slave Bluetooth device establishes first and second connections with first and second master Bluetooth devices, respectively, that each operate in a master mode. The slave Bluetooth device operates in a slave mode when communicating through any of the first and second connections. The slave Bluetooth device communicates connection parameter update request packets containing timeout values to the first and second master Bluetooth devices. The slave Bluetooth device alternates during non-overlapping time slots between at least: 1) monitoring the first connection for traffic transmitted by the first master Bluetooth device while not monitoring the second connection; and 2) monitoring the second connection for traffic transmitted by the second master Bluetooth device while not monitoring the first connection; and controls a rate at which the alternating is performed based on the first timeout value and the second timeout value.