BLE networking systems and methods providing central and peripheral role reversal according to network provisioned timing therefor

• US 10,244,377 B2
• Filed: 04/19/2018
• Issued: 03/26/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 06/17/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Link Labs, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Link Labs, Inc.
• Inventors: Bloechl, Mark, Wohler, Scott, Luna, Jr., Ricardo, Li, Patrick, Ray, Brian Emery
• Primary Examiner(s): Maung, Nay A
• Assistant Examiner(s): Perez, Angelica M
• Application Number:
  US15/957,025
• Publication Number:
  US 20180367973A1
• Time in Patent Office: 341 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 17/318 Received signal strength
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/12 using downlink control channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/20 Selecting an access point
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0209 in terminal devices terminal devices per se H04W88/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

Provided are systems and methods for reversing the conventional roles of central and peripheral devices in a BLE network. Doing so includes implementing an end node (EN) as the sole initiator of a connection between a particular EN and other components within the network. Such initiating is controllable by the network so as to effect a transfer of EN functionality among one or more of the other components. Implementation of the transfer depends on a network controlled timing determining functionality of all network components. Accordingly, the network is enabled to effect the power consumption of those components in an effort to optimize use of their respective power resources.

Claims

1. A BLE communications system for communicating with a network, comprising:

an access point (AP) configured to connect with the network, and transmit a first beacon advertisement message;

an AP not configured to connect with the network, and transmit a second beacon advertisement message, so as to define a reference point (RP);

an end node (EN) configured to receive the first and second beacon advertisement messages, and initiate a connection with the AP for the transfer of data associated with the EN to the network, and the receipt of data from the network,

wherein

in response to the connection with the AP being initiated by the EN, and the data associated with the EN comprising at least identifying information of the EN and identifying information of one or more of the AP and the RP, the AP is caused to transfer to the network the at least identifying information of the EN, and the identifying information of the one or more of the AP and the RP,

the EN determines whether to initiate the connection with the AP in response to evaluating from the first beacon advertisement message at the time of transmission of the first beacon advertisement message each of at least (a) whether a proximity of the AP to the EN is a nearest proximity and (b) a loading of the network to which the AP is connected, and

each of the AP, the RP, and the EN is configured by the network to operate according to either an awakened state or a sleep state, the AP being selected as comprising a stationary AP, or a mobile AP.

2. The BLE communications system of claim 1, wherein:

the selected AP, the EN and the RP are configured to be operable in their associated awakened state or sleep state based on a predetermined network timing.

3. The BLE communications system of claim 2, wherein the predetermined network timing comprises real time, or a predetermined interval of time, or a combination thereof.

4. The BLE communications system of claim 3, wherein:

in response to the EN and the RP being operable in an associated sleep state, the selected AP is further configured to receive a third beacon advertisement message, and transmit to the network information associated with the third beacon advertisement message.

5. The BLE communications system of claim 4, wherein:

the third beacon advertisement message is transmitted by an EN configured to transmit the third beacon advertisement message for receipt by the selected AP.

6. The BLE communications system of claim 3, wherein:

in response to the EN being operable in an associated sleep state, the RP is configured to receive the first beacon advertisement message, and initiate a connection with the selected AP for the transfer of data associated with the RP to the network, and the receipt of data to be associated with the RP from the network.

7. The BLE communications system of claim 6, wherein:

the data associated with the RP and the data to be associated with the RP comprises sensor data, or a received signal strength indicator (RSSI), or a location offset, or a level of transmit power, or an advertising rate, or a latency condition, or a combination thereof.

8. The BLE communications system of claim 3, wherein:

in response to the EN being operable in an associated sleep state, the RP and the selected AP are configured to sequentially initiate a connection to the network for the transfer of data associated with the RP and the selected AP, respectively, and the receipt of data to be associated with the RP and the selected AP from the network, respectively.

9. The BLE communications system of claim 8, wherein:

the sequential initiation of the connection to the network is initiated by the RP.

10. The BLE communications system of claim 9, wherein:

the RP initiates the connection to the network through the selected AP.

11. The BLE communications system of claim 10, wherein:

the selected AP is configured to initiate the connection to the network in response to the RP terminating the initiated connection thereof.

12. The BLE communications system of claim 11, wherein:

the data associated with the RP and the selected AP comprises sensor data, or a received signal strength indicator (RSSI), or a location offset, or a level of transmit power, or an advertising rate, or a latency condition, or a combination thereof.

13. The BLE communications system of claim 12, wherein:

in response to receipt of the data associated with the RP and the selected AP by the network, the AP is configured to transmit the first beacon advertisement message in accordance with receipt of a network adjusted RSSI for the first beacon advertisement message, and the RP is configured to transmit the second beacon advertisement message in accordance with receipt of a network adjusted RSSI for the second beacon advertisement message.

14. The BLE communications system of claim 13, wherein:

the RP and the selected AP comprise directional and circularly polarized antennas.

15. The BLE communications system of claim 1, wherein:

the EN is configured to determine a proximity to the RP and the selected AP based on a matching of a type of motion state of the EN to a type of motion state detected by the RP and a matching of the type of motion state of the EN to a type of motion state detected by the selected AP, respectively.

16. A method of BLE communications, comprising:

in a system comprising an access point (AP) configured to connect to a network and transmit a first beacon advertisement message, an AP configured to not connect to the network, and transmit a second beacon advertisement message, so as to define a reference point (RP), and an end node (EN), in which the AP is selected as comprising a stationary AP, or a mobile AP, and the EN is configured to initiate a connection with the selected AP in response to the receipt of the first beacon advertisement message, and

operating each of the selected AP, the RP, and the EN according to a predetermined network timing configured to trigger an alternate mode of operation of the selected AP, or the RP, or a combination thereof,

wherein

in response to the connection with the selected AP being initiated by the EN, the AP is caused to transfer to the network at least identifying information of the EN, and identifying information of one or more of the selected AP, and the RP,

the EN determines whether to initiate the connection with the selected AP in response to evaluating from the first beacon advertisement message at the time of transmission of the first beacon advertisement message each of at least (a) whether a proximity of the selected AP to the EN is a nearest proximity and (b) a loading of the network to which the selected AP is connected.

17. The method of BLE communications of claim 16, wherein:

the predetermined network timing comprises real time, or a predetermined interval of time, or a combination thereof.

18. The method of BLE communications of claim 17, wherein:

in response to the predetermined timing corresponding to a sleep state for the EN and the RP,

the alternate mode of operation of the selected AP comprises further being configured to receive a third beacon advertisement message, and transmit to the network information associated with the third beacon advertisement message.

19. The method of BLE communications of claim 18, wherein:

the third beacon advertisement message is transmitted by an EN configured to transmit the third beacon advertisement message for receipt by the selected AP.

20. The method of BLE communications of claim 17, wherein:

in response to the predetermined timing corresponding to a sleep state of the EN,

the alternate mode of operation of the RP comprises being configured to receive the first beacon advertisement message, and initiate a connection with the selected AP for the transfer of data associated with the RP to the network, and the receipt of data to be associated with the RP from the network.

21. The method of BLE communications of claim 20, wherein:

the data associated with the RP and the data to be associated with the RP comprises sensor data, or a received signal strength indicator (RSSI), or a location offset, or a level of transmit power, or an advertising rate, or a latency condition, or a combination thereof.

22. The method of BLE communications of claim 17, wherein:

in response to the predetermined timing corresponding to a sleep state of the EN,

the alternate mode of operation of the selected AP and the RP comprises being configured to sequentially initiate a connection to the network for the transfer of data associated with the RP and the selected AP, respectively, and the receipt of data to be associated with the RP and the selected AP from the network, respectively.

23. The BLE communications system of claim 22, wherein:

the sequential initiation of the connection to the network is initiated by the RP.

24. The BLE communications system of claim 23, wherein:

the RP initiates the connection to the network through the selected AP.

25. The BLE communications system of claim 24, wherein:

the selected AP is configured to initiate the connection to the network in response to the RP terminating the initiated connection thereof.

26. The method of BLE communications of claim 25, wherein:

the data associated and to be associated with the RP and the selected AP comprises sensor data, or a received signal strength indicator (RSSI), or a location offset, or a level of transmit power, or an advertising rate, or a latency condition, or a combination thereof.

27. The method of BLE communications of claim 26, wherein:

in response to receipt of the data associated with the RP and the selected AP by the network, the AP is configured to transmit the first beacon advertisement message in accordance with receipt of a network adjusted RSSI for the first beacon advertisement message, and the RP is configured to transmit the second beacon advertisement message in accordance with receipt of a network adjusted RSSI for the second beacon advertisement message.

28. The method of BLE communications of claim 27, wherein:

the RP and the selected AP comprise directional and circularly polarized antennas.

29. The method of BLE communications of claim 16, wherein:

the EN is configured to determine a proximity to the RP and the selected AP based on a matching of a type of motion state of the EN to a type of motion state detected by the RP and a matching of the type of motion state of the EN to a type of motion state detected by the selected AP, respectively.

30. The method of BLE communications of claim 16, wherein:

the EN is configured to determine a proximity to the RP or the selected AP based on a Bayesian maximum a posteriori (MAP) estimation of a plurality of consecutively received signal strengths (RSSs) of respective beacon advertisement messages received from the RP or the AP.