METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR A DUAL-MODE BLUETOOTH LOW ENERGY DEVICE

• US 20110021142A1
• Filed: 08/24/2009
• Published: 01/27/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/24/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies International Sales Pte Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Broadcom Corporation (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Tian, Cindy, Zhuang, Yuan, Xie, Guoxin, Qiao, Song, Polo, Angel, Kwan, Chikan, Caliaperoumal, Latha, Desai, Prasanna, Ibrahim, Brima
• Granted Patent: US 8,737,917 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/41.2
• 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 52/0216 using a pre-established activity schedule, e.g. traffic indication frame
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/005 Discovery of network devices, e.g. terminals
• 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

A dual-mode BLE device identifies idle intervals within Bluetooth BR/EDR traffic communications. The identified idle intervals are used by the dual-mode BLE device to concurrently perform various BLE activities. For example, advertising packet transmissions, advertising packet scanning, connection setup, and/or data packet communication may be concurrently performed within identified idle intervals within the Bluetooth BR/EDR traffic communications. Packet transmission timing, advertising interval, scan window, and/or packet size are determined based on the identified idle intervals within the Bluetooth BR/EDR traffic communications. A scan window is adjusted based on timing of expected advertising transmissions and/or advertising interval(s) for saving power. BLE packets and Bluetooth BR/EDR packets may be detected in a single advertising channel. Maximal payload size is set based on the identified idle intervals within Bluetooth BR/EDR traffic communications. As a slave, the dual-mode BLE device updates connection parameters based on the identified idle intervals within Bluetooth BR/EDR traffic communications.

Claims

1. A method of processing signals, the method comprising:

performing by one or more processors and/or circuits in a dual-mode Bluetooth low energy (BLE) device;

identifying idle intervals within Bluetooth Basic Rate (BR)/Enhanced Data Rate (EDR) traffic communications; and

concurrently performing BLE activities within said identified idle intervals of said Bluetooth BR/EDR traffic communications.

2. The method according to claim 1, comprising:

determining an advertising interval within said identified idle intervals of said Bluetooth BR/EDR traffic communications; and

performing advertising packet transmissions within said determined advertising interval.

3. The method according to claim 2, comprising determining packet transmission timing and packet size for said advertising packet transmissions based on said identified idle intervals of said Bluetooth BR/EDR traffic communications.

4. The method according to claim 1, comprising:

determining a scan window based on said identified idle intervals of said Bluetooth BR/EDR traffic communications; and

scanning, within said identified idle intervals of said concurrent Bluetooth BR/EDR traffic communications, advertising packet transmissions using said determined scan window.

5. The method according to claim 4, comprising:

estimating timing for expected advertising packet transmissions;

adjusting said determined scan window based on said estimated timing; and

scanning said expected advertising packet transmissions using said adjusted scan window.

6. The method according to claim 4, comprising:

estimating a corresponding advertising interval of said advertising packet transmissions;

adjusting said determined scan window based on said estimated advertising interval of said advertising packet transmissions; and

scanning said advertising packet transmissions using said adjusted scan window.

7. The method according to claim 1, comprising:

receiving packets in an advertising channel; and

detecting said BLE activities and/or said BR/EDR traffic communications based on said received packets.

8. The method according to claim 1, comprising:

receiving an advertising packet;

extracting device class bits from said received advertising packet; and

performing device filtering based on said extracted device class bits.

9. The method according to claim 1, comprising:

setting maximal payload size for BLE data packets based on said identified idle intervals of Bluetooth BR/EDR traffic communications; and

communicating BLE data packets, as a master, within said identified idle intervals of Bluetooth BR/EDR traffic communications.

10. The method according to claim 1, comprising:

determining connection parameters based on said identified idle intervals of said Bluetooth BR/EDR traffic communications for an existing BLE link layer connection, in which said dual-mode BLE device operates as a slave;

updating connection parameters of said existing BLE link layer connection with said determined connection parameters; and

continuing communication in said existing BLE link layer connection using said updated connection parameters.

11. A system for processing signals, the system comprising:

one or more processors and/or circuits in a dual-mode Bluetooth low energy (BLE) device, wherein said one or more processors and/or circuits are operable to;

identify idle intervals within Bluetooth Basic Rate (BR)/Enhanced Data Rate (EDR) traffic communications; and

concurrently perform BLE activities within said identified idle intervals of said concurrent Bluetooth BR/EDR traffic communications.

12. The system according to claim 11, wherein said one or more processors and/or circuits are operable to:

determine an advertising window within said identified idle intervals of said concurrent Bluetooth BR/EDR traffic communications; and

perform advertising packet transmissions within said determined advertising window.

13. The system according to claim 12, wherein said one or more processors and/or circuits are operable to determine packet transmission timing and packet size for said advertising packet transmissions based on said identified idle intervals of concurrent Bluetooth BR/EDR traffic communications.

14. The system according to claim 13, wherein said one or more processors and/or circuits are operable to

determine a scan window based on said identified idle intervals of said concurrent Bluetooth BR/EDR traffic communications;

and

scan, within said identified idle intervals of concurrent Bluetooth BR/EDR traffic communications, advertising packet transmissions using said determined scan window.

15. The system according to claim 14, wherein said one or more processors and/or circuits are operable to:

estimate timing for expected advertising packet transmissions;

adjust said determined scan window based on said estimated timing; and

scan said expected advertising packet transmissions using said adjusted scan window.

16. The system according to claim 14, wherein said one or more processors and/or circuits are operable to:

estimate corresponding advertising interval of said advertising packet transmissions;

adjust said determined scan window based on said estimated advertising interval of said advertising packet transmissions; and

scan said advertising packet transmissions using said adjusted scan window.

17. The system according to claim 11, wherein said one or more processors and/or circuits are operable to:

receive packets in an advertising channel; and

detect said BLE activities and/or said BR/EDR traffic communications based on said received packets.

18. The system according to claim 11, wherein said one or more processors and/or circuits are operable to:

receive an advertising packet;

extract device class bits from said received advertising packet; and

perform device filtering based on said extracted device class bits.

19. The system according to claim 11, wherein said one or more processors and/or circuits are operable to:

set maximal payload size for BLE data packets based on said Bluetooth BR/EDR traffic communications; and

communicate BLE data packets, as a master, within said identified idle intervals of Bluetooth BR/EDR traffic communications.

20. The system according to claim 11, wherein said one or more processors and/or circuits are operable to:

determine connection parameters based on said identified idle intervals of Bluetooth BR/EDR traffic communications for an existing BLE link layer connection, in which said dual mode BLE device operates as a slave;

update connection parameters of said existing BLE link layer connection with said determined connection parameters; and

continue communication in said existing BLE link layer connection using said updated connection parameters.