Method and system for Bluetooth low power link layer connection setup

• US 8,712,330 B2
• Filed: 06/12/2009
• Issued: 04/29/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/12/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies International Sales Pte Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Broadcom Corporation (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Desai, Prasanna, Ibrahim, Brima
• Primary Examiner(s): Wendell, Andrew
• Application Number:
  US12/483,958
• Publication Number:
  US 20100317289A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,782 Days
• Field of Search: 455/41.2, 455/501, 455/522, 455/63.1, 455/67.11, 455/67.13, 455/69, 455/296, 370/318
• US Class Current: 455/63.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 17/318 Received signal strength
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/10 Scheduling measurement reports ; Arrangements for measurement reports
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/08 Access restriction or access information delivery, e.g. discovery data delivery signalling during connection H04W76/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/322 Power control of broadcast channels
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 Connection setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks

Abstract

A mobile device such as a Bluetooth low energy (BLE) device detects out-of-band blocking signals and manages packet transmission in associated BLE link layer connections based on the detected out-of-band blocking signals. The BLE device is operable to measure out-of-band RSSI to detect out-of-band transmission interferences. The BLE device compares the measured out-of-band RSSI with an out-of-band energy profile such as a LTE energy profile or a WiMAX energy profile to determine the out-of-band blocking signals indicating cadence or periodic out-of-band traffic activities. A remote BLE deice (advertiser) aperiodically or periodically transmits an advertising packet to the BLE device for a specific link layer connection. If not connected within a determined time period, the remote BLE device (advertiser) reduces transmission power for transmitting the advertising packet. The BLE device receives the advertising packet and sends a connection request packet to the remote BLE device (advertiser).

Claims

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

performing by circuitry in a mobile device;

detecting an out-of-band blocking signal;

determining at least one of a cadence or a periodicity of said out-of-band blocking signal based on a measured received signal strength indicator (RSSI); and

managing a packet transmission duration for an associated link layer in-band connection based on said at least one of said cadence or said periodicity for said out-of-band blocking signal that was determined.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein said detecting comprises measuring said RSSI in an out-of-band channel.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein said detecting comprises comparing said RSSI with an out-of-band energy profile, wherein said out-of-band energy profile comprises a cellular Long-Term Evolution (LTE) energy profile or a Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX) energy profile.

4. The method according to claim 3, comprising determining said out-of-band blocking signal based on said comparing.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein said mobile device supports a Bluetooth low energy (BLE) technology, a Bluetooth Basic Rate (BR)/Enhanced Data Rate (EDR) technology, or both.

6. The method according to claim 5, comprising receiving using said mobile device a first advertising packet transmitted by a BLE advertising device for a specific link layer connection.

7. The method according to claim 6, comprising receiving a second advertising packet transmitted by said BLE advertising device and corresponding to a reduced transmission power relative to a transmission power corresponding to said first advertising packet.

8. The method according to claim 7, comprising setting up said specific link layer connection with said BLE advertising device subsequent to receiving said second advertising packet.

9. The method according to claim 4, further comprising managing a packet transmission timing for said associated link layer in-band connection based on said at least one of said cadence or said periodicity for said out-of-band blocking signal that was determined.

10. A system for processing a plurality of signals, the system comprising:

circuitry for use in a Bluetooth low energy (BLE) mobile device, wherein said circuitry is operable to;

detect an out-of-band blocking signal;

determine at least one of a cadence or a periodicity for said out-of-band blocking signal based on a measured received signal strength indicator (RSSI); and

manage a packet transmission timing for an associated link layer in-band connection based on said at least one of said cadence or said periodicity for said out-of-band blocking signal that was determined.

11. The system according to claim 10, wherein said circuitry is operable to measure said RSSI in one or more out-of-band channels to detect said out-of-band blocking signal.

12. The system according to claim 11, wherein said circuitry is operable to compare said RSSI with an out-of-band energy profile to identify said out-of-band block signal, wherein said out-of-band energy profile comprises at least one of a cellular Long-Term Evolution (LTE) energy profile or a Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX) energy profile.

13. The system according to claim 12, wherein said circuitry is operable to determine said out-of-band blocking signal based on comparing said RSSI with said out-of-band energy profile.

14. The system according to claim 10, wherein said circuitry is operable to receive a first advertising packet transmitted at a first transmission power by a BLE advertising device for a specific link layer connection.

15. The system according to claim 14, wherein said circuitry is operable to receive a second advertising packet transmitted at a second transmission power by said BLE advertising device if said specific link layer connection is not set up within a determined time period, said second transmission power being lower relative to said first transmission power.

16. The system according to claim 15, wherein said circuitry is operable to set up said specific link layer connection with said BLE advertising device subsequent to receiving said second advertising packet.

17. The system according to claim 13, wherein said circuitry is operable to manage a packet transmission duration for said associated link layer in-band connection based on said at least one of said cadence or said periodicity for said out-of-band blocking signal that was determined.

18. An apparatus for processing signals, the apparatus comprising:

circuitry for use in a Bluetooth low energy (BLE) advertising device, wherein said circuitry is operable to;

transmit a first plurality of advertising packets to a BLE mobile device at a first transmission power to establish a specific link layer connection;

responsive to an absence of a connection request after transmitting said first plurality of advertising packets, transmit a subsequent plurality of advertising packets to said BLE mobile device at a reduced transmission power to establish said specific link layer connection; and

move to a data channel responsive to receiving the connection request from said BLE mobile device after said transmission of said subsequent plurality of advertising packets.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein said circuitry is operable to:

calculate a data channel index using a hopping length frequency in the connection request to enable the move to the data channel; and

receive a plurality of data packets from the BLE mobile device using the data channel.