WLAN Beacon Timing Synchronization with Bluetooth Traffic

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Solution Overview

Problem

Wireless local area network (WLAN) devices operating in infrastructure mode face synchronization challenges when sharing the 2.4 GHz band with Bluetooth devices, leading to asynchronous communication periods and increased power consumption due to prolonged wakefulness of client stations.

Innovation Solution

A wireless network device synchronizes a WLAN device with a Bluetooth device by adjusting its timing synchronization function (TSF) timer based on Bluetooth synchronization pulses, ensuring that WLAN beacon intervals align with Bluetooth traffic periods, thereby maintaining synchronization and reducing power consumption.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Use of energy by moving object

If WLAN devices operate independently without synchronization with Bluetooth devices, then each device can maintain its own communication schedule, but the communication periods become asynchronous leading to increased power consumption

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower consumptionVSAvoidsynchronization

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines WLAN and Bluetooth communication schedules by synchronizing the WLAN beacon intervals with Bluetooth traffic periods. The access point adjusts its beacon transmission timing to coincide with Bluetooth communication windows, creating a unified synchronized schedule that reduces power consumption while maintaining reliable communication for both protocols.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The access point dynamically adjusts its beacon interval timing based on detected Bluetooth traffic patterns. By continuously monitoring Bluetooth synchronization pulses and adapting the WLAN schedule in real-time, the system maintains optimal synchronization despite varying communication loads, thereby reducing power consumption without sacrificing reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Adaptability or versatility

If WLAN beacon intervals are fixed according to IEEE standards, then the network maintains standard compliance and stability, but it cannot adapt to Bluetooth traffic periods causing asynchrony

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveschedule alignmentVSAvoidtiming adjustment mechanism

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the timing parameters of WLAN beacon intervals dynamically based on Bluetooth traffic periods. While the nominal beacon interval remains compliant with IEEE standards, the actual transmission timing is adjusted by modifying the offset from the previous beacon, allowing adaptation to Bluetooth schedules without violating standard requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The access point uses Bluetooth synchronization pulses as an intermediary reference to align WLAN beacon timing. By detecting these pulses and using them as a timing reference, the system achieves schedule alignment between WLAN and Bluetooth without requiring complex bidirectional negotiation mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Reliability

If client stations wake up frequently to check for beacons, then they maintain up-to-date connection information, but power consumption increases due to prolonged wakefulness

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconnection synchronizationVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements periodic beacon transmissions synchronized with Bluetooth traffic periods. Client stations can wake up at predictable intervals aligned with both WLAN beacons and Bluetooth communication windows, maintaining connection synchronization while minimizing wake duration. This periodic synchronized action reduces the time stations need to remain awake compared to unsynchronized frequent wake-ups.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Data Source

PatentUS9999011B1Systems and methods for bluetooth and WLAN traffic synchronization in a same wireless network device

Publication Date: 2018.06.12 MARVELL ASIA PTE LTD

AI summary

A wireless network device including, in the wireless network device, a Bluetooth device and a wireless local area network device. The Bluetooth device is configured to establish a network of Bluetooth client stations and output a synchronization signal prior to a start of Bluetooth data transmission between the Bluetooth device and the Bluetooth client stations. The synchronization signal indicates the start of the Bluetooth data transmission. The wireless local area network device is configured to establish a network of wireless local area network client stations, receive the synchronization signal from the Bluetooth device, and transmit, a predetermined time subsequent to receiving the synchronization signal, a beacon to the wireless local area network client stations. The beacon instructs the wireless local area network client stations when to begin wireless local area network data transmission.