METHOD, SYSTEM AND APPARATUS FOR CROSS POINT BLUETOOTH COMMUNICATION
The disclosure generally relates to a method, apparatus and a system for utilizing received signal strength indicator (RSSI) values obtained from null data packets exchanges between a pair of Bluetooth (BT) devices to determine whether to maintain BT connection. In one embodiment, the disclosure relates to a method for maintaining a BT connection between a host and a periphery device by receiving at a controller associated with a host device a plurality of null packets sent from the periphery device; determining a received signal strength (RSSI) value for each of the plurality of received nulled packets; and determining whether to maintain connection with the periphery device as a function of the determined RSSI values.
1 . A method for maintaining a Bluetooth (BT) connection between a host and a periphery device, comprising:
receiving, at a controller associated with the host, a plurality of null packets from the periphery device;
determining a received signal strength (RSSI) value for each of the respective plurality of received nulled packets; and
determining whether to maintain connection with the periphery device as a function of the determined RSSI values.
2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising buffering the plurality of RSSI values at the controller.
3 . The method of claim 2 , further comprising directing the buffered RSSI values to a host device processor for determining whether to maintain connection with the periphery device.
4 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising authenticating the periphery device by receiving a data packet containing device information.
5 . The method of claim 4 , wherein the data packet defines a Read Response transaction.
6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of null packets defines a group of packet received periodically.
7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein a first of the null data packets is generated from a link layer connectivity application.
8 . An apparatus to maintain a Bluetooth (BT) connection between host and a periphery device, comprising:
a first module configured to receive a plurality of null packets from the periphery device and to determine a received signal strength (RSSI) value for each of the respective plurality of received null packets; and
a second module configured to determine whether to maintain the BT connection as a function of the determined RSSI values.
9 . The apparatus of claim 8 , further comprising a memory module configured to store the plurality of RSSI values and a respective time stamp for each RSSI value.
10 . The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the second module is configured to terminate connection with the periphery device if one of the plurality of RSSI values is below a threshold.
11 . The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the second module is further configured to authenticate the periphery device by receiving a data packet containing periphery device information.
12 . The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the data packet containing device information defines a Read/Response transaction.
13 . The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the plurality of null packets defines a group of packet received during a time interval.
14 . The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein a first of the null data packets is generated from a link layer connectivity application.
15 . A system to maintain a Bluetooth (BT) connection between a host and a periphery device, comprising:
one or more antennas to communicate a signal;
a radio to communicate with the one or more antennas, the radio configured to receive one or more null data packets;
a controller configured to receive the plurality of null packets from the periphery device and determine a received signal strength (RSSI) values for each of the respective plurality of received nulled packets; and
a host processor configured to determine whether to maintain connection with the periphery device as a function of the determined RSSI values.
16 . The system of claim 15 , further comprising a memory module associated with the controller, the memory module configured to store the plurality of RSSI values and a respective time stamp for each RSSI value.
17 . The system of claim 15 , wherein the host processor terminates connection with the periphery device if one of the plurality of RSSI values is below a threshold.
18 . The system of claim 15 , wherein the host processor is further configured to authenticate the periphery device from a data packet.
19 . The system of claim 18 , wherein the data packet defines a Read transaction packet.
20 . The system of claim 15 , wherein the plurality of null packets defines a group of packet received during a first time interval.
21 . The system of claim 15 , wherein the authentication packet is received after the first interval.
22 . A computer-readable storage device containing a set of instructions to cause a computer to perform a process to maintain a Bluetooth (BT) connection between host and a periphery device, the instructions comprising: receive a plurality of null packets from the periphery device; determine a received signal strength (RSSI) value for each of the respective plurality of received nulled packets; and determine whether to maintain connection with the periphery device as a function of the determined RSSI values.
23 . The computer-readable storage device of claim 22 , further comprising instructions to store the plurality of RSSI values at the controller.
24 . The computer-readable storage device of claim 22 , further comprising instructions to authenticate the periphery device by receiving a data packet containing periphery device information.
25 . The computer-readable storage device of claim 24 , wherein the data packet containing device information defines a Read transaction data packet.