IP Library › Granted Patent US 8,712,330
Granted Patent B2
US 8,712,330 · App. 12/483,958 · Granted Apr 29, 2014

Method and system for Bluetooth low power link layer connection setup

Inventors: Prasanna Desai (Elfin Forest, CA); Brima Ibrahim (Aliso Viejo, CA)
Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,712,330
App. No.
12/483,958
Filed
Jun 12, 2009
Granted
Apr 29, 2014
Kind
B2
Art Unit
2648
USPC
455/41.2
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 (33)

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.

Assignments (7)
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE ERROR IN RECORDING THE MERGER IN THE INCORRECT US PATENT NO. 8,876,094 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 047351 FRAME 0384. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE MERGER. Recorded Mar 8, 2019
From: AVAGO TECHNOLOGIES GENERAL IP (SINGAPORE) PTE. LTD.
To: AVAGO TECHNOLOGIES INTERNATIONAL SALES PTE. LIMITED
Reel/Frame 049248/0558 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THE MERGER PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 047230 FRAME: 0910. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE MERGER. Recorded Oct 29, 2018
From: AVAGO TECHNOLOGIES GENERAL IP (SINGAPORE) PTE. LTD.
To: AVAGO TECHNOLOGIES INTERNATIONAL SALES PTE. LIMITED
Reel/Frame 047351/0384 →
MERGER Recorded Oct 4, 2018
From: AVAGO TECHNOLOGIES GENERAL IP (SINGAPORE) PTE. LTD.
To: AVAGO TECHNOLOGIES INTERNATIONAL SALES PTE. LIMITED
Reel/Frame 047230/0910 →
TERMINATION AND RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS Recorded Feb 3, 2017
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: BROADCOM CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 041712/0001 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 1, 2017
From: BROADCOM CORPORATION
To: AVAGO TECHNOLOGIES GENERAL IP (SINGAPORE) PTE. LTD.
Reel/Frame 041706/0001 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Feb 11, 2016
From: BROADCOM CORPORATION
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 037806/0001 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 29, 2010
From: DESAI, PRASANNA; IBRAHIM, BRIMA
To: BROADCOM CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 023874/0446 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20100317289A1 · Dec 16, 2010