Abstract: A method of communication in a Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) network comprising a master device and a plurality of slave devices. The method has the steps of: generating a unique identifier parameter comprising a data string having a plurality of bits; assigning to each slave device a unique bit of the unique identifier parameter and a value of the bit representative of active communication; sending from the master device to each slave device a communication which includes the unique identifier parameter; at each slave device, determining the value of the bit assigned to the respective slave device; at each slave device, if the determined value of the bit is representative of active communication, processing the communication, otherwise ignoring the communication.

Abstract: A security solution for BLUETOOTH Low Energy (BLE) or equivalent wireless data exchange protocols involves authentication of a peripheral device by a central device using the advertising channel is presented. A method of authenticating a peripheral device in a wireless data exchange has a peripheral device sending an advertising channel Protocol Data Unit (PDU), a central device receiving the advertising channel PDU and the central device sending a scan request scanning PDU to the peripheral device. The advantage of this method of using discovery protocol enables a software based solution for the monitoring device and a hardware with software based solution on the beacon device.

Abstract: A method of communication in a Bluetooth Low Energy network is presented. The network has a master device and a plurality of slave devices between a first slave device and a second slave device. The method steps include: sending from the master device to the first slave device a synchronisation delay parameter; and sending from the master device to the second slave device the synchronisation delay parameter and a relative offset parameter. At the second slave device, the method steps include determining a synchronisation time point by adding the relative offset parameter to the synchronisation delay parameter. At the synchronisation time point, the method steps include waking the first and second slave devices and sending a communication from the first slave device to the second slave device.

Abstract: A method of determining a distance between a first and a second device in a wireless data exchange protocol is presented. The method includes sending an advertising channel Protocol Data Unit (PDU) from the first device; receiving the advertising channel PDU at the second device and responsively sending a scan request scanning PDU from the second device to the first device; receiving the scan request scanning PDU at the first device and responsively sending a scan response scanning PDU from the first device to the second device; calculating a time of flight (TOF) for at least one of the sent PDUs; and determining the distance between the first and second devices using the calculated TOF.

Abstract: A method of establishing a low latency connection between a first device and a second device on a wireless network is presented. The method contains the steps of: forming a first wireless connection between the first and second devices; forming at least a second and parallel wireless connection between the first and second devices; and sending data between the first and second devices using at least the first and second connections. For any wireless protocol for data exchange between devices that specifies a minimum interval between data exchange events, the present disclosure enables a lower latency than would otherwise be achievable according to a standard protocol.

Abstract: A method of synchronizing the clocks of a master device and at least a first slave device which are connected on a wireless network. The method includes sending a scan command from the master device to at least the first slave device, setting the master device to a broadcast mode and broadcasting data, the broadcast data comprising a first time stamp; scanning the broadcasting data at at least the first slave device and resetting the clock of the first slave device using the first time stamp. In particular, but not exclusively, the present disclosure relates to synchronizing the clocks of two devices which are connected on a Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) wireless network.

Abstract: A method comprises: a mobile tag receiving at least one first Bluetooth Low Energy message transmitted from each of at least two fixed tags, each first Bluetooth Low Energy message including at least an identifier corresponding to the respective fixed tag; the mobile tag measuring a radio parameter for each of the received first Bluetooth Low Energy messages; and the mobile tag transmitting a second Bluetooth Low Energy message including the identifiers of each of the fixed tags, the measured radio parameters associated with each of the received first Bluetooth Low Energy messages, and an identifier corresponding to the mobile tag, said second Bluetooth Low Energy message enabling the calculation of a position of the mobile tag by a server apparatus.

Abstract: A method of synchronising the clocks of a master device and at least a first slave device which are connected on a wireless network. The method includes sending a scan command from the master device to at least the first slave device, setting the master device to a broadcast mode and broadcasting data, the broadcast data comprising a first time stamp; scanning the broadcasting data at at least the first slave device and resetting the clock of the first slave device using the first time stamp. In particular, but not exclusively, the present disclosure relates to synchronising the clocks of two devices which are connected on a Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) wireless network.

Abstract: A method of establishing a low latency connection between a first device and a second device on a wireless network is presented. The method contains the steps of: forming a first wireless connection between the first and second devices; forming at least a second and parallel wireless connection between the first and second devices; and sending data between the first and second devices using at least the first and second connections. For any wireless protocol for data exchange between devices that specifies a minimum interval between data exchange events, the present disclosure enables a lower latency than would otherwise be achievable according to a standard protocol.

Abstract: A method comprises determining, based on at least one radio frequency packet passed wirelessly between first and second devices using an array of plural antennas provided in one of the first and second devices, an orientation of the second device with respect to the first device and, if the orientation satisfies a predetermined criterion, controlling operation of the first device.

Abstract: A method comprises a first device: receiving at least one Bluetooth Low Energy message transmitted from each of at least three second devices, each Bluetooth Low Energy message including data indicating a position of the respective second device (S2); measuring a radio parameter for each of the received Bluetooth Low Energy messages (S3); using the radio parameters and the data included in the messages to calculate the position of the first device (S4); and transmitting a Bluetooth Low Energy message including data indicating the position of the first device (S5).

Abstract: A method comprises: a mobile tag receiving at least one first Bluetooth Low Energy message transmitted from each of at least two fixed tags, each first Bluetooth Low Energy message including at least an identifier corresponding to the respective fixed tag; the mobile tag measuring a radio parameter for each of the received first Bluetooth Low Energy messages; and the mobile tag transmitting a second Bluetooth Low Energy message including the identifiers of each of the fixed tags, the measured radio parameters associated with each of the received first Bluetooth Low Energy messages, and an identifier corresponding to the mobile tag, said second Bluetooth Low Energy message enabling the calculation of a position of the mobile tag by a server apparatus.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses are disclosed for enabling non-persistent communications between devices. A device can receive a first broadcast from a broadcasting device, the first broadcast advertising information identifying the broadcasting device. Security information associated with the broadcasting device is then be obtained based on the received broadcast and the broadcasting device authenticated based on the security information. A second broadcast is received from the broadcasting device wherefrom it can be determined that the broadcasting device is an associated device capable of non-connected communications between the devices. At least one data packet is communicated between the devices subsequent to the second broadcast without establishing a persistent connection between the devices.

Abstract: A method of determining a distance between a first and a second device in a wireless data exchange protocol is presented. The method includes sending an advertising channel Protocol Data Unit (PDU) from the first device; receiving the advertising channel PDU at the second device and responsively sending a scan request scanning PDU from the second device to the first device; receiving the scan request scanning PDU at the first device and responsively sending a scan response scanning PDU from the first device to the second device; calculating a time of flight (TOF) for at least one of the sent PDUs; and determining the distance between the first and second devices using the calculated TOF.

Abstract: A security solution for Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) or equivalent wireless data exchange protocols involves authentication of a peripheral device by a central device using the advertising channel is presented. A method of authenticating a peripheral device in a wireless data exchange has a peripheral device sending an advertising channel Protocol Data Unit (PDU), a central device receiving the advertising channel PDU and the central device sending a scan request scanning PDU to the peripheral device. The advantage of this method of using discovery protocol enables a software based solution for the monitoring device and a hardware with software based solution on the beacon device.

Abstract: A second device (12) comprises: a transmitter configured to transmit a first signal to a first device (11); a receiver configured to receive a second signal that has been transmitted by the first device (11); a demodulator configured to demodulate a second message from the second signal, the second message including an indication of signal strength of the first signal as measured by the first device (11); a signal strength measuring module configured to measure signal strength of the received second signal; and a calculator configured to use the indication of the measured signal strength included in the second message and the signal strength of the second signal as measured by the second device (12) to calculate a measure of the distance between the first and second devices (11, 12).

Abstract: An approach is provided for providing a secure and energy efficient method of asset tracking using BLE tags. The security module determines identification criteria associated with at least one scanning device. The security module processes and/or facilitates a processing of the identification criteria to cause, at least in part, a transmission of at least one scan response to the at least one scanning device including, at least in part, asset data associated with at least one tag. The security module causes, at least in part, a modification of one or more advertising packets of the at least one tag based, at least in part, on the transmission of the asset data.

Abstract: A method is described, the method comprising scanning for a Bluetooth Low Energy data signal, and if a Bluetooth Low Energy data signal is detected, responding to detection of the Bluetooth Low Energy data signal by suspending the performance of wireless network discovery procedures in respect of at least one network operating using a protocol other than Bluetooth Low Energy. Also described is a method comprising causing generation and transmission of a Bluetooth Low Energy data signal, the generated and transmitted Bluetooth Low Energy data signal indicating the absence of at least one network which operates using a protocol other than Bluetooth Low Energy. Also described are apparatus, computer-readable code, and non-transitory computer-readable memory media having computer readable code stored thereon for causing performance of one or both of the methods.

Abstract: This specification describes a method comprising responding to receipt of a first Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) advertising message, the first BLE advertising message comprising advertising data and an address of a source device from which the advertising data derived, by forming and causing transmission of a second BLE advertising message including the advertising data and the address of the source device. This specification also describes apparatuses and computer program code for causing performance of the method. The specification also describes other methods, apparatuses and computer program code relating to the above method.

Abstract: An apparatus, a method and a computer program product is disclosed for a Bluetooth communication transceiver. The Bluetooth communication transceiver is configured as a Bluetooth low energy device performing timing measurements which are to be used for power saving. Based at least in part on the timing measurements, receive activation timings of the Bluetooth communication transceiver are adjusted. Further, a sleep clock of the apparatus may be used for calibration of the receive activation timings.