Adaptive timing synchronization in packet based radio systems

• US 10,608,809 B2
• Filed: 05/02/2018
• Issued: 03/31/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 05/02/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Plantronics, Inc.
• Inventors: Haartsen, Jacobus Cornelis
• Primary Examiner(s): Zhang, Zhensheng
• Application Number:
  US15/969,702
• Publication Number:
  US 20190342068A1
• Time in Patent Office: 699 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 27/2656 Frame synchronisation, e.g. packet synchronisation, time division duplex [TDD] switching point detection or subframe synchronisation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 7/10 Arrangements for initial synchronisation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 56/00 Synchronisation arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/535 based on resource usage policies
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks

Abstract

Methods and apparatuses for adaptive timing synchronization are described. In one example, a method includes determining a data communications packet length relative to a data communications slot length in a time-slotted data communications connection to identify a duty cycle parameter. The method further includes transmitting data communications packets between a first device and a second device utilizing an adaptive timing method. The adaptive timing method includes selecting from a random timing communications method or a synchronization timing communications method responsive to the duty cycle parameter being above or below a predetermined value.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

determining a data communications packet length relative to a data communications slot length in a first time-slotted data communications connection to identify a duty cycle parameter; and

transmitting data communications packets between a first base device and a first client device utilizing an adaptive timing method comprising selecting one from a no packet timing alignment transmission method and a packet timing alignment transmission method for transmissions on the first time-slotted data communications connection between the first base device and the first client device and transmissions on a second time-slotted data communications connection between a second base device and a second client device responsive to the duty cycle parameter being above or below a predetermined value, wherein the packet timing alignment transmission method comprises aligning a first packet transmission repetition interval or a first packet transmission frame of a first packet transmitted on the first time-slotted data communications connection with a second packet transmission repetition interval or a second packet transmission frame of a second packet transmitted on the second time-slotted data communications connection, and wherein selecting one from the no packet timing alignment transmission method and the packet timing alignment transmission method comprises;

selecting the no packet timing alignment transmission method responsive to the duty cycle parameter being below the predetermined value; and

selecting the packet timing alignment transmission method responsive to the duty cycle parameter being above the predetermined value.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first base device comprises a Bluetooth base station and the first client device comprises a Bluetooth headset.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the duty cycle parameter comprises a ratio of the data communications packet length and the data communications slot length and the predetermined value comprises 50 percent.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the packet timing alignment transmission method comprises receiving and utilizing a broadcast clock signal at the first base device or the first client device from a central controller device.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining a sum of data communications packet lengths including retransmissions transmitted during a repetition interval relative to a length of the repetition interval in the first time-slotted data communications connection to generate a second duty cycle parameter;

selecting to align the first packet transmission frame of the first packet transmitted on the first time-slotted data communications connection with the second packet transmission frame of the second packet transmitted on the second time-slotted data communications connection responsive to the second duty cycle parameter being below a second predetermined value; and

selecting to align the first packet transmission repetition interval of the first packet transmitted on the first time-slotted data communications connection with the second packet transmission repetition interval of the second packet transmitted on the second time-slotted data communications connection responsive to the second duty cycle parameter being above the second predetermined value.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the second predetermined value comprises 50 percent.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the first time-slotted data communications connection comprises a Bluetooth protocol connection and the first packet transmission repetition interval comprises a Bluetooth eSCO interval in a Bluetooth Classic implementation or a Bluetooth Connection interval in a Bluetooth Low Energy implementation.

8. A method for data communications utilizing a first device comprising:

establishing a first time-slotted data communications connection with a second device;

transmitting data communications packets to the second device over the first time-slotted data communications connection;

receiving a clock signal from a central synchronization controller;

determining a data communications packet length relative to a data communications slot length in the first time-slotted data communications connection to identify a duty cycle parameter;

selecting one from a no packet timing alignment transmission method and a packet timing alignment transmission method for transmissions on the first time-slotted data communications connection between the first device and the second device and transmissions on a second time-slotted data communications connection between a third device and a fourth device responsive to the duty cycle parameter being above or below a predetermined value, wherein the packet timing alignment transmission method comprises aligning a first packet transmission repetition interval or a first packet transmission frame of a first packet transmitted on the first time-slotted data communications connection with a second packet transmission repetition interval or a second packet transmission frame of a second packet transmitted on the second time-slotted data communications connection, wherein selecting one from the no packet timing alignment transmission method and the packet timing alignment transmission method comprises;

selecting the no packet timing alignment transmission method responsive to the duty cycle parameter being below the predetermined value; and

selecting the packet timing alignment transmission method responsive to the duty cycle parameter being above the predetermined value; and

responsive to selecting the packet timing alignment transmission method, utilizing the clock signal to align the first packet transmission repetition interval or the first packet transmission frame of the first packet transmitted on the first time-slotted data communications connection with the second packet transmission repetition interval or the second packet transmission frame of the second packet transmitted on the second time-slotted data communications connection.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the first device comprises a base device and the second device comprises a client device.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the first device comprises a headset client device and the second device comprises a base device.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the duty cycle parameter comprises a ratio of the data communications packet length and the data communications slot length and the predetermined value comprises 50 percent.

12. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

determining a sum of data communications packet lengths including retransmissions transmitted during a repetition interval relative to a length of the repetition interval in the first time-slotted data communications connection to generate a second duty cycle parameter;

selecting to align the first packet transmission frame of the first packet transmitted on the first time-slotted data communications connection with the second packet transmission frame of the second packet transmitted on the second time-slotted data communications connection responsive to the second duty cycle parameter being below a second predetermined value; and

selecting to align the first packet transmission repetition interval of the first packet transmitted on the first time-slotted data communications connection with the second packet transmission repetition interval of the second packet transmitted on the second time-slotted data communications connection responsive to the second duty cycle parameter being above the second predetermined value.

13. A system comprising:

a central synchronization controller comprising a radio frequency transceiver configured to broadcast a clock signal;

a first base device from a plurality of base devices configured to;

establish a first time-slotted data communications connection with a first client device;

transmit data communications packets to the first client device over the first time-slotted data communications connection;

receive the clock signal from the central synchronization controller;

determine a data communications packet length relative to a data communications slot length in the first time-slotted data communications connection to identify a duty cycle parameter; and

select one from a no packet timing alignment transmission method and a packet timing alignment transmission method for transmissions on the first time-slotted data communications connection between the first base device and the first client device and transmissions on a second time-slotted data communications connection between a second base device and a second client device responsive to the duty cycle parameter being above or below a predetermined value, wherein the packet timing alignment transmission method comprises aligning a first packet transmission repetition interval or a first packet transmission frame of a first packet transmitted on the first time-slotted data communications connection with a second packet transmission repetition interval or a second packet transmission frame of a second packet transmitted on the second time-slotted data communications connection, and wherein to select one from the no packet timing alignment transmission method and the packet timing alignment transmission method comprises;

selecting the no packet timing alignment transmission method responsive to the duty cycle parameter being below the predetermined value; and

selecting the packet timing alignment transmission method responsive to the duty cycle parameter being above the predetermined value.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein aligning the first packet transmission repetition interval or the first packet transmission frame of the first packet transmitted on the first time-slotted data communications connection with the second packet transmission repetition interval or the second packet transmission frame of the second packet transmitted on the second time-slotted data communications connection comprises utilizing the clock signal received from the central synchronization controller.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein the first base device comprises a Bluetooth base station and the first client device comprises a Bluetooth headset.

16. The system of claim 13, wherein the duty cycle parameter comprises a ratio of the data communications packet length and the data communications slot length and the predetermined value comprises 50 percent.