Method and system for a dual-mode bluetooth low energy device
View Patent ↗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.
1. A method of processing signals, the method comprising:
performing by one or more processors, one or more circuits, or any combination thereof in a dual-mode Bluetooth low energy (BLE) device:
identifying an idle interval within Bluetooth Basic Rate (BR)/Enhanced Data Rate (EDR) traffic communications by determining a duration of said idle interval before said idle interval ends;
performing BLE activities within said identified idle interval of said Bluetooth BR/EDR traffic communications;
determining an advertising interval within said identified idle interval of said Bluetooth BR/EDR traffic communications;
determining packet transmission timing and packet size for advertising packet transmissions based at least in part on said identified idle interval of said Bluetooth BR/EDR traffic communications; and
performing advertising packet transmissions within said determined advertising interval.
2. The method according to claim 1 , comprising:
determining a scan window based at least in part on said identified idle interval of said Bluetooth BR/EDR traffic communications; and
scanning, within another identified idle interval of said Bluetooth BR/EDR traffic communications, other advertising packet transmissions using said determined scan window.
3. The method according to claim 2 , comprising:
estimating a corresponding advertising interval of said other advertising packet transmissions;
adjusting said determined scan window based at least in part on said corresponding advertising interval of said other advertising packet transmissions; and
scanning said other advertising packet transmissions using said adjusted scan window.
4. The method according to claim 1 , comprising:
receiving packets in an advertising channel; and
detecting said BLE activities, said BR/EDR traffic communications, or both based at least in part on said received packets.
5. 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 at least in part on said extracted device class bits.
6. The method according to claim 1 , comprising:
setting a maximal payload size for BLE data packets based at least in part on said identified idle interval of said Bluetooth BR/EDR traffic communications; and
communicating said BLE data packets, as a master, within said identified idle interval of said Bluetooth BR/EDR traffic communications.
7. The method according to claim 1 , comprising:
determining connection parameters based at least in part on said identified idle interval 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.
8. A method of processing signals, the method comprising:
performing by one or more processors, one or more circuits, or any combination thereof in a dual-mode Bluetooth low energy (BLE) device:
identifying an idle interval within Bluetooth Basic Rate (BR)/Enhanced Data Rate (EDR) traffic communications by determining a duration of said idle interval before said idle interval ends;
performing BLE activities within said identified idle interval of said Bluetooth BR/EDR traffic communications;
determining a scan window based at least in part on said identified idle interval of said Bluetooth BR/EDR traffic communications;
scanning, within said identified idle interval of said Bluetooth BR/EDR traffic communications, advertising packet transmissions using said determined scan window;
estimating timing for expected advertising packet transmissions;
adjusting said determined scan window based at least in part on said estimated timing; and
scanning said expected advertising packet transmissions using said adjusted scan window.
9. The method according to claim 8 , comprising:
receiving an advertising packet;
extracting device class bits from said received advertising packet; and
performing device filtering based at least in part on said extracted device class bits.
10. The method according to claim 8 , comprising:
setting a maximal payload size for BLE data packets based at least in part on said identified idle interval of said Bluetooth BR/EDR traffic communications; and
communicating said BLE data packets, as a master, within said identified idle interval of said Bluetooth BR/EDR traffic communications.
11. The method according to claim 8 , comprising:
determining connection parameters based at least in part on said identified idle interval 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.
12. A system for processing signals, the system comprising:
one or more processors, one or more circuits, or any combination thereof in a dual-mode Bluetooth low energy (BLE) device, wherein said one or more processors, said one or more circuits, or any combination thereof are operable to:
identify an idle interval within Bluetooth Basic Rate (BR)/Enhanced Data Rate (EDR) traffic communications by determining a duration of said idle interval before said idle interval ends;
perform BLE activities within said identified idle interval of said Bluetooth BR/EDR traffic communications;
determine an advertising window within said identified idle interval of said Bluetooth BR/EDR traffic communications;
determine packet transmission timing and packet size for advertising packet transmissions based at least in part on said identified idle interval of said Bluetooth BR/EDR traffic communications; and
perform advertising packet transmissions within said determined advertising interval.
13. The system according to claim 12 , wherein said one or more processors, said one or more circuits, or any combination thereof are operable to:
determine a scan window based at least in part on said identified idle interval of said Bluetooth BR/EDR traffic communications; and
scan, within another identified idle interval of said Bluetooth BR/EDR traffic communications, other advertising packet transmissions using said determined scan window.
14. The system according to claim 13 , wherein said one or more processors, said one or more circuits, or any combination thereof are operable to:
estimate timing for expected advertising packet transmissions;
adjust said determined scan window based at least in part on said estimated timing; and
scan said expected advertising packet transmissions using said adjusted scan window.
15. The system according to claim 12 , wherein said one or more processors, said one or more circuits, or any combination thereof are operable to:
receive packets in an advertising channel; and
detect said BLE activities, said BR/EDR traffic communications, or both based at least in part on said received packets.
16. The system according to claim 12 , wherein said one or more processors, said one or more circuits, or any combination thereof are operable to:
receive an advertising packet;
extract device class bits from said received advertising packet; and
perform device filtering based at least in part on said extracted device class bits.
17. The system according to claim 12 , wherein said one or more processors, said one or more circuits, or any combination thereof are operable to:
set a maximal payload size for BLE data packets based at least in part on said Bluetooth BR/EDR traffic communications; and
communicate said BLE data packets, as a master, within said identified idle interval of said Bluetooth BR/EDR traffic communications.
18. The system according to claim 12 , wherein said one or more processors, said one or more circuits, or any combination thereof are operable to:
determine connection parameters based at least in part on said identified idle interval 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.
19. A system for processing signals, the system comprising:
one or more processors, one or more circuits, or any combination thereof in a dual-mode Bluetooth low energy (BLE) device, wherein said one or more processors, said one or more circuits, or any combination thereof are operable to:
identify an idle interval within Bluetooth Basic Rate (BR)/Enhanced Data Rate (EDR) traffic communications by determining a duration of said idle interval before said idle interval ends;
perform BLE activities within said identified idle interval of said Bluetooth BR/EDR traffic communications;
determine a scan window based at least in part on said identified idle interval of said Bluetooth BR/EDR traffic communications;
scan, within said identified idle interval of said Bluetooth BR/EDR traffic communications, advertising packet transmissions using said determined scan window;
estimate a corresponding advertising interval of said advertising packet transmissions;
adjust said determined scan window based at least in part on said corresponding advertising interval of said advertising packet transmissions; and
scan said advertising packet transmissions using said adjusted scan window.
20. The system according to claim 19 , wherein said one or more processors, said one or more circuits, or any combination thereof are operable to:
set a maximal payload size for BLE data packets based at least in part on said Bluetooth BR/EDR traffic communications; and
communicate said BLE data packets, as a master, within said identified idle interval of said Bluetooth BR/EDR traffic communications.
21. The system according to claim 19 , wherein said one or more processors, said one or more circuits, or any combination thereof are operable to:
determine connection parameters based at least in part on said identified idle interval 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.