Wireless Audio Device State Broadcasting with Adaptive Advertising

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing wireless communication networks, particularly Bluetooth LE networks, lack efficient methods for devices to broadcast their state changes, leading to suboptimal power consumption and delayed device interaction.

Innovation Solution

Wireless devices, such as wireless audio buds, adjust their advertising parameters based on state changes, including transmission rate, duration, and payload, to efficiently broadcast device states to nearby devices, ensuring timely interaction and resource conservation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Use of energy by moving object

If wireless devices use fixed advertising parameters for broadcasting device states, then the implementation is simple, but the power consumption is suboptimal and device interaction is delayed

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower consumptionVSAvoiddevice interaction delay
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by making advertising parameters variable rather than fixed. The device dynamically adjusts advertising transmission rate, duration, and payload based on its current state (e.g., charging state, connection state, audio playing state). This allows the system to optimize power consumption by reducing advertising frequency during stable states while enabling faster device interaction when state changes occur, thus resolving the contradiction between energy efficiency and response time.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements parameter changes by modifying advertising parameters (transmission rate, duration, payload content) according to device state. When the device detects a state change, it changes the advertising parameters to broadcast the new state more frequently or with updated information. This approach reduces unnecessary power consumption during stable states while ensuring timely state propagation when changes occur, addressing both power efficiency and interaction delay concerns.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Speed

If wireless devices increase advertising transmission frequency to improve state propagation speed, then device interaction responsiveness improves, but power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestate propagation speedVSAvoidpower consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts advertising transmission frequency based on device state stability. During stable states, the advertising frequency is reduced to conserve power. When state changes are detected, the frequency increases automatically to ensure rapid state propagation. This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction by matching transmission speed to actual need, avoiding unnecessary power consumption while maintaining fast response when required.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses periodic advertising actions with variable periods. Instead of continuous high-frequency transmission, the device employs periodic advertising where the period length adapts based on state changes. During stable operation, longer periods reduce power consumption. Upon state change, the period shortens to accelerate state propagation. This periodic approach with adaptive timing resolves the speed-power consumption tradeoff.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

3Loss of information

If wireless devices broadcast detailed state information frequently, then device interaction accuracy improves, but network traffic and power consumption increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestate information accuracyVSAvoidpower consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by customizing advertising payload content according to the specific device state. Different states trigger different levels of information detail in the advertising packet. For example, during charging state, only essential charging information is broadcast, while during audio playing state, more detailed audio state information is included. This selective information broadcasting maintains state information accuracy while minimizing unnecessary power consumption and network traffic.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses partial action by broadcasting only the necessary state information rather than complete state details in all advertising packets. When device state changes, the advertising payload includes updated state information; when state remains stable, minimal or no state information is broadcast. This partial information approach maintains sufficient state awareness for device interaction while significantly reducing power consumption and network traffic compared to frequent full-state broadcasting.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentEP4124074B1Broadcasting a device state in a wireless communication network
Publication Date: 2025.07.02 APPLE INC
  • EP4124074B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4124074B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4124074B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Apparatuses, systems, and methods broadcast a device state in a wireless communication network. A wireless audio output device is configured to be paired with a second wireless device via a first piconet connection, wherein the second wireless device comprises a source of audio data to be output by the wireless audio output device. The wireless audio output device includes a processor configured to detect a change in the state of the wireless audio output device and set a transmission parameter of a broadcast transmission based at least in part on the detected change in the state and a transceiver configured to broadcast an advertising message to the second wireless device including information describing the wireless audio output device via the broadcast transmission.