BLE networking systems and methods providing central and peripheral role reversal with enhanced peripheral location determination using ultrasonic waveform
First Claim
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1. A BLE communications system, comprising:
- an end node (EN);
an access point (AP) configured to connect to a network and transmit a first beacon advertisement message; and
a plurality of reference points (RPs) each configured to not connect to the network and transmit each of a second beacon advertisement message comprising position information, and an ultrasonic waveform,in which the EN is configured todetect the first and second beacon advertisement messages and the ultrasonic waveform, andinitiate a connection with the AP in which, as a result of the connection, the AP is caused to transfer to the network identifying information of each of the EN and the AP,wherein the detection of a respective one of the second beacon advertisement messages triggers the EN to begin the detecting of the ultrasonic waveform.
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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 a particular access point (AP). Such implementation includes determining a coordinate location of the EN based on position information for multiple reference points (RPs) and a time of flight (TOF) of an ultrasonic waveform transmitted by each of the RPs.
62 Citations
24 Claims
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1. A BLE communications system, comprising:
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an end node (EN); an access point (AP) configured to connect to a network and transmit a first beacon advertisement message; and a plurality of reference points (RPs) each configured to not connect to the network and transmit each of a second beacon advertisement message comprising position information, and an ultrasonic waveform, in which the EN is configured to detect the first and second beacon advertisement messages and the ultrasonic waveform, and initiate a connection with the AP in which, as a result of the connection, the AP is caused to transfer to the network identifying information of each of the EN and the AP, wherein the detection of a respective one of the second beacon advertisement messages triggers the EN to begin the detecting of the ultrasonic waveform. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A BLE communications system, comprising:
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an end node (EN); an access point (AP) configured to connect to a network and transmit a first beacon advertisement message; and a plurality of reference points (RPs) each configured to not connect to the network and transmit each of a second beacon advertisement message comprising position information, and an ultrasonic waveform, in which the EN is configured to detect the first and second beacon advertisement messages and the ultrasonic waveform, calculate a time of flight (TOF) of the ultrasonic waveform transmitted from each of the plurality of RPs, and determine, within a coordinate system within which each of the EN, RPs and AP are operable, a coordinate position of the EN based on the TOFs, and initiate a connection with the AP in which, as a result of the connection, the AP is caused to transfer to the network identifying information of each of the EN and the AP, and the coordinate position. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method of BLE communication, comprising:
executing, by one or more processors among a BLE end node (EN), a BLE access point (AP) configured to connect to a network, and a plurality of BLE reference points (RPs) configured to not connect to the network, a set of instructions for transmitting a first and a second beacon advertisement message from the AP and each of the plurality of RPs, respectively, each second beacon advertisement message comprising position information, transmitting an ultrasonic waveform from each of the plurality of RPs, detecting the first and the second beacon advertisement messages at the EN, initiating detection of at least one of the ultrasonic waveforms in response to detecting at least one of the second beacon advertisement messages, and initiating a connection between the AP and the EN, in which, as a result of the connection, the AP is caused to transfer to the network identifying information of each of the EN and the AP, and a position of the EN based on at least a pair of the ultrasonic waveforms and the position information. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
Specification