WO2016015373A1

WO2016015373A1 - Beacon-based broadcast method and beacon device

Info

Publication number: WO2016015373A1
Application number: PCT/CN2014/087251
Authority: WO
Inventors: 赵武阳; 张强; 黄海东; 王华源
Original assignee: 北京升哲科技有限公司; 赵武阳; 赵东炜
Priority date: 2014-07-31
Filing date: 2014-09-24
Publication date: 2016-02-04
Also published as: CN104219065A; CN104219065B

Abstract

The present invention provides a beacon-based broadcast method and a Beacon device. The method comprises: a Beacon device transmits a first broadcast to a fixed area according to a first sampling frequency; while the Beacon device transmits the first broadcast to the fixed area according to the first sampling frequency, the Beacon device replaces to form a scanning response (SCAN_RSP) broadcast according to the first sampling frequency, wherein the SCAN_RSP broadcast carries a second device identifier and customized data of the Beacon device; and each time after the Beacon device receives a SCAN_REQ, the Beacon device transmits the currently formed SCAN_RSP broadcast to the fixed area when a next sampling time point corresponding to the first sampling frequency comes, so as to allow a Bluetooth main device in the fixed area to scan and acquire the SCAN_RSP broadcast according to a second sampling frequency. The scheme effectively solves the technical problem that the data transmission efficiency of an existing Beacon device is low.

Description

Beacon-based broadcast method and Beacon device

Technical field

The present invention relates to the field of communications technologies, and in particular, to a Beacon-based broadcast method and a Beacon device.

Background technique

Beacon implements data transmission by using Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), also known as Bluetooth 4.0 or Bluetooth Smart. The way it works is that a device equipped with BLE communication uses BLE technology to send its own unique ID to the surroundings, and the application that receives the ID takes some action based on the ID. For example, when the Beacon communication module is set in the store, a message can be run on the iPhone and iPad to inform the designated server, or the server can send discount coupons and store credits to the iPhone and iPad in the hands of the customer.

According to the Bluetooth 4.0 protocol, the length of the Protocol Data Unit (PDU) is 2 to 39 octets in the air interface data packet. In the Beacon protocol, three types of broadcast AdvData data are used in the PDU. These three types of broadcasts are: connectable non-directed broadcast (ADV_IND), non-connectable undirected broadcast (ADV_NONCONN_IND), and received scans from the device. After the request (SCAN_REQ), the reply is sent (SCAN_RSP). In the Bluetooth 4.0 protocol, the length of AdvData is 31 bytes, and in Apple's Beacon protocol, the first 30 bytes of AdvData are used as the identifier of a Beacon product. According to the Beacon protocol, the AdvData data meets the requirements of the Beacon protocol and can be considered as a Beacon device.

But precisely because of this, Beacon's broadcast protocol can't carry more custom data. With the development of Beacon products, many other peripherals such as sensors may be added to Beacon products. However, due to the limitations of the broadcast protocol, other additional data cannot be broadcasted, and can only be read after the Beacon device is successfully connected. Connecting Beacon devices takes time, which can result in low data interaction efficiency.

Summary of the invention

The present invention provides a Beacon-based broadcast method and a Beacon device, which are used to solve the technical problem that the data transmission efficiency of the Beacon device is low in the prior art.

In a first aspect, an embodiment of the present invention provides a Beacon-based broadcast method, including:

The Beacon device sends a first broadcast to the fixed area according to the first sampling frequency, where the first broadcast carries the first device identifier of the Beacon device, so that the Bluetooth master device entering the fixed area follows the second sampling. The frequency scan acquires the first device identifier in the first broadcast;

The Beacon device replaces and forms a scan reply SCAN_RSP broadcast according to the first sampling frequency while transmitting the first broadcast to the fixed area according to the first sampling frequency, where the SCAN_RSP broadcast carries the Beacon device And the second device identifier and the custom data; wherein the second device identifier carried in the SCAN_RSP broadcast formed by the replacement and the first device identifier in the first broadcast to be sent by the Beacon device the same;

If the Beacon device receives the scan request SCAN_REQ sent by the Bluetooth master device after the first broadcast is sent, the Beacon device replaces the SCAN_RSP formed by the current replacement after receiving the SCAN_REQ. The broadcast is temporarily sent to the fixed area at a next sampling moment corresponding to the first sampling frequency, so that the Bluetooth master device in the fixed area scans and acquires according to the second sampling frequency.

In a second aspect, an embodiment of the present invention provides a Beacon device, including:

a sending module, configured to send a first broadcast to the fixed area according to the first sampling frequency, where the first broadcast carries the first device identifier of the Beacon device, so that the Bluetooth master device entering the fixed area is configured according to Obtaining, by the second sampling frequency, the first device identifier in the first broadcast;

a processing module, configured to: when the sending module sends the first broadcast to the fixed area according to the first sampling frequency, replace the forming a scan reply SCAN_RSP broadcast according to the first sampling frequency, where the SCAN_RSP broadcast carries The second device identifier and the customized data of the Beacon device; wherein the second device identifier carried in the SCAN_RSP broadcast formed by the replacement and the first broadcast to be sent by the Beacon device The first device identifier is the same;

a receiving module, configured to receive the Bluetooth master after the sending module sends the first broadcast Scan request SCAN_REQ sent by the device;

The sending module is further configured to: after the SCAN_REQ is received by the receiving module, broadcast the SCAN_RSP formed by the current replacement of the processing module at a next sampling time corresponding to the first sampling frequency. Sending to the fixed area, so that the Bluetooth master device in the fixed area scans and acquires according to the second sampling frequency.

The Beacon-based broadcast method and the Beacon device provided by the present invention, the Beacon device sends a first broadcast to the fixed area according to the first sampling frequency, where the first broadcast carries the first device identifier of the Beacon device; The Bluetooth master device in the area scans and acquires the first device identifier in the first broadcast according to the second sampling frequency; the Beacon device replaces and forms the scan according to the first sampling frequency while transmitting the first broadcast to the fixed area according to the first sampling frequency. Responding to the SCAN_RSP broadcast, the SCAN_RSP broadcast carrying the second device identifier and the custom data of the Beacon device; wherein, the second device identifier carried in the SCAN_RSP broadcast formed by the current replacement and the first broadcast in the first broadcast to be sent by the Beacon device The device identifier is the same; if the Beacon device receives the scan request SCAN_REQ sent by the Bluetooth master device according to the second sampling frequency after the first broadcast is sent, the Beacon device broadcasts the SCAN_RSP formed by the current replacement every time after receiving the SCAN_REQ. The next sampling time corresponding to a sampling frequency is temporarily sent to the fixed area. Bluetooth master device for obtaining a fixed area in accordance with a second sampling frequency sweep. This solution effectively improves the data transmission efficiency of Beacon devices.

DRAWINGS

1 is a flowchart of an embodiment of a Beacon-based broadcast method provided by the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic structural diagram of an embodiment of a Beacon device according to the present invention.

detailed description

FIG. 1 is a flowchart of an embodiment of a Beacon-based broadcast method provided by the present invention. The executor of the method in this embodiment may be an existing device that complies with the Beacon protocol, such as a Beacon base station. As shown in FIG. 1 , the Beacon-based broadcast method specifically includes:

S101: The Beacon device sends a first broadcast to the fixed area according to the first sampling frequency, where the first broadcast carries the first device identifier of the Beacon device, so that the Bluetooth master device entering the fixed area scans and acquires according to the second sampling frequency. The first device identifier in the first broadcast;

The Beacon device in the fixed position sends the first broadcast periodically and continuously to the fixed area within a certain distance of the distance according to the broadcast protocol of the Beacon technology, so as to send its own unique device identifier to the fixed area, such as The first device identifier may be specifically formed by characters such as numbers, letters, symbols, and the like. When the user holding the Bluetooth master device enters the fixed area, the Bluetooth master device that has been turned on actively scans the broadcast information sent by the Beacon device near the surrounding area according to a certain sampling frequency, such as the second sampling frequency. When the Bluetooth master device enters the fixed area covered by the broadcast sent by the Beacon device, the first broadcast can be scanned and acquired, thereby obtaining the first device identifier of the Beacon device. The Bluetooth master device can independently send a scan request SCAN_REQ to the Beacon device to obtain more data information according to the first device identifier of the Beacon device that is scanned, and also prompt the user to access the Beacon device.

Specifically, the foregoing first broadcast may be a broadcast type that the existing Beacon device can send autonomously, such as a connectable undirected ADV_IND broadcast based on the Bluetooth 4.0 protocol; and a non-connectable undirected ADV_NONCONN_IND broadcast based on the Bluetooth 4.0 protocol.

S102: The Beacon device sends a scan response SCAN_RSP broadcast according to the first sampling frequency, and the second device identifier and the custom data of the Beacon device are carried in the SCAN_RSP broadcast. The second device identifier carried in the SCAN_RSP broadcast formed by the current replacement is the same as the first device identifier in the first broadcast to be sent by the Beacon device;

In the existing Bluetooth 4.0 broadcast protocol, a broadcast type that only responds to the SCAN_REQ received from the Bluetooth master device, that is, the scan reply SCAN_RSP broadcast, is also specified. The SCAN_RSP broadcast typically provides a richer amount of information to share to the Bluetooth master in the fixed area.

In this embodiment, the Beacon device sends the first broadcast in the fixed area according to the first sampling frequency, and also periodically replaces and forms the SCAN_RSP broadcast according to the first sampling frequency. The data content carried in the SCAN_RSP broadcast formed by each replacement may be the same or different. The second device identification and custom data of the Beacon device are carried in the SCAN_RSP broadcast formed in the current time when the SCAN_RSP broadcast is formed each time. The second device identifier is the same as the first device identifier function, and is used to identify the identity of the Beacon device. The Beacon device can use the same device identifier, such as Beacon-ID, when identifying its identity. Multiple device IDs are required to identify their identity, such as Beacon-ID1, Beacon-ID2, and so on. Beacon devices can use these device IDs in a predetermined manner according to their needs in each broadcast packet.

For the sake of differentiation and management convenience, in this embodiment, the Beacon device uses the same device identifier in various broadcasts sent in the same sampling time period, which also includes the first identifier in the above ADV_IND broadcast and the above-mentioned SCAN_RSP broadcast. Second device identification. Therefore, the Beacon device needs to set the second device identifier carried in the SCAN_RSP broadcast formed by the current replacement to the first device in the first broadcast that is to be sent by the Beacon device in the next sampling period, each time the SCAN_RSP broadcast is formed. The identifiers are the same; thus ensuring that the device identifiers in the broadcast packets sent by the Beacon device in the same sampling period are the same.

Optionally, before the step 101, the Beacon device periodically replaces the first device identifier in the ADV_IND broadcast according to a predetermined rule to simulate an application scenario in which multiple Beacon devices work simultaneously. For example, the Beacon device pre-specifies four device identifiers, including: Beacon-ID1, Beacon-ID2, Beacon-ID3, and Beacon-ID4, and cyclically sets the four device identifiers in the broadcast packet according to the predetermined number according to a predetermined rule. In order to simulate the scenario where four Beacon devices simultaneously send broadcasts.

Optionally, the content type of the foregoing customized data may include: a temperature data type, a humidity data type, and a light sensing data type in the fixed area; wherein the customized data of the temperature data type displays an environment surrounding the current Beacon device The temperature value; the custom data of the humidity data type shows the ambient humidity value around the above Beacon device, and the custom data of the light sensing data type shows the ambient light intensity value around the above Beacon device, and these values can be integrated through Obtained after the temperature sensor or humidity sensor in the above Beacon device measures the surrounding environment. The Beacon device sets the data in the data field in the SCAN_RSP broadcast packet each time the formed SCAN_RSP broadcast formed is replaced. In a specific implementation, the Beacon device can carry various types of customized data content in a SCAN_RSP broadcast formed by each replacement in a fixed and periodic manner.

Optionally, in order to enable the Beacon device to send out the SCAN_RSP broadcast formed every time, the first sampling frequency used by the Beacon device may be set to be no longer than the second sampling frequency used by the Bluetooth master device held by the user. The specific application scenario is as follows: Before the Beacon device leaves the factory, a fixed sampling frequency interval of the Beacon device can be preset, and the maximum value of the sampling frequency interval is not It is greater than the minimum sampling frequency of the existing Bluetooth master device, so that the frequency at which the Beacon device transmits the broadcast is less than the frequency at which the Bluetooth master device scans the received broadcast. In turn, the SCAN_RSP broadcast formed by the Beacon device can be sent out every time.

S103. If the Beacon device receives the scan request SCAN_REQ sent by the Bluetooth master device after the first broadcast is sent, the Beacon device broadcasts the SCAN_RSP formed by the current replacement to the next one corresponding to the first sampling frequency after receiving the SCAN_REQ. The sampling moment is temporarily sent to the fixed area, so that the Bluetooth master device in the fixed area scans and acquires according to the second sampling frequency;

After the Beacon device sends the first broadcast, there is an open Bluetooth master device in the fixed area. After receiving the first broadcast, the Bluetooth master device will actively send SCAN_REQ. After receiving the SCAN_REQ, the Beacon device will The SCAN_RSP broadcast formed by the current replacement is temporarily sent to the fixed area at the next sampling time corresponding to the first sampling frequency, so that the Bluetooth master device in the fixed area scans and acquires according to the second sampling frequency. When the first sampling frequency is not greater than the second sampling frequency, the Beacon device may receive the SCAN_REQ sent by the Bluetooth master device after each broadcast of the ADV_IND broadcast, and then send the SCAN_RSP broadcast formed by each replacement to the fixed area. In addition, since the scanning receiving frequency of the Bluetooth master device is greater than the frequency of the SCAN_RSP broadcast sent by the Beacon device, the SCAN_RSP broadcast sent by all the above Beacon devices can be scanned and received by the Bluetooth master device in the fixed area, thereby improving data transmission efficiency. .

The Beacon-based broadcast method of the present invention, the Beacon device sends a first broadcast to the fixed area according to the first sampling frequency, where the first broadcast carries the first device identifier of the Beacon device, so as to enter the fixed area. The Bluetooth master device scans and acquires the first device identifier in the first broadcast according to the second sampling frequency; the Beacon device replaces and forms the scan reply SCAN_RSP broadcast according to the first sampling frequency while transmitting the first broadcast in the fixed region according to the first sampling frequency. The SCAN_RSP broadcast carries the second device identifier and the customized data of the Beacon device. The second device identifier carried in the SCAN_RSP broadcast formed by the current replacement is the same as the first device identifier in the first broadcast to be sent by the Beacon device. If the Beacon device receives the scan request SCAN_REQ sent by the Bluetooth master device according to the second sampling frequency after the first broadcast is sent, the Beacon device broadcasts the SCAN_RSP formed by the current replacement at the first sampling frequency after receiving the SCAN_REQ every time. The corresponding next sampling time is temporarily sent to the fixed area for fixing Bluetooth master device acquires the art in accordance with the second sampling frequency sweep. This program effectively improves Beacon equipment Data transfer efficiency.

One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that all or part of the steps to implement the various method embodiments described above may be accomplished by hardware associated with the program instructions. The aforementioned program can be stored in a computer readable storage medium. The program, when executed, performs the steps including the foregoing method embodiments; and the foregoing storage medium includes various media that can store program codes, such as a ROM, a RAM, a magnetic disk, or an optical disk.

2 is a schematic structural diagram of an embodiment of a Beacon device according to the present invention. The Beacon device can perform the method steps shown in FIG. 1. The Beacon device includes: a sending module 21, a processing module 22, and a receiving module 23;

The sending module 21 is configured to send a first broadcast to the fixed area according to the first sampling frequency, where the first broadcast carries the first device identifier of the Beacon device, so that the Bluetooth master device entering the fixed area is in accordance with the second The sampling frequency scan acquires the first device identifier in the first broadcast;

The processing module 22 is configured to send, by the sending module 21, a scan response SCAN_RSP broadcast according to the first sampling frequency while transmitting the first broadcast to the fixed area according to the first sampling frequency, where the SCAN_RSP broadcast carries the second device identifier of the Beacon device And the custom data; wherein the second device identifier carried in the SCAN_RSP broadcast formed by the current replacement is the same as the first device identifier in the first broadcast to be sent by the Beacon device;

The receiving module 23 is configured to receive the scan request SCAN_REQ sent by the Bluetooth master device after the sending module 21 sends the first broadcast;

The sending module 21 is further configured to: after the SCAN_REQ is received by the receiving module 23, the SCAN_RSP broadcast formed by the current replacement of the processing module is temporarily sent to the fixed area at the next sampling time corresponding to the first sampling frequency, for being fixed. The Bluetooth master device in the area scans and acquires according to the second sampling frequency.

Further, the foregoing first broadcast is specifically a connectable undirected ADV_IND broadcast, or a non-connectable undirected ADV_NONCONN_IND broadcast.

Further, before the sending module 21 sends the first broadcast to the fixed area according to the first sampling frequency, the processing module 22 is further configured to periodically replace the first device identifier in the ADV_IND broadcast according to a predetermined rule.

Further, the content type of the above customized data includes: a temperature data type and a humidity data type in the fixed area;

The processing module 22 is further configured to carry various types of customized data content in a fixed and sequential periodicity in the SCAN_RSP broadcast formed by each replacement.

Further, the first sampling frequency is not greater than the second sampling frequency.

The Beacon device of the present invention sends a first broadcast to the fixed area according to the first sampling frequency, where the first broadcast carries the first device identifier of the Beacon device, so that the Bluetooth master device entering the fixed area follows the second sampling. The frequency scan acquires the first device identifier in the first broadcast; the Beacon device sends the scan reply SCAN_RSP broadcast according to the first sampling frequency timing change while transmitting the first broadcast in the fixed area according to the first sampling frequency, and the SCAN_RSP broadcast carries The second device identifier and the custom data of the Beacon device; if the Beacon device receives the scan request SCAN_REQ sent by the Bluetooth master device according to the second sampling frequency after the first broadcast is sent, the Beacon device will receive the SCAN_REQ every time after receiving the SCAN_REQ The SCAN_RSP broadcast formed by the current replacement is temporarily sent to the fixed area at the next sampling time corresponding to the first sampling frequency, so that the Bluetooth master device in the fixed area scans and acquires according to the second sampling frequency. This solution effectively improves the data transmission efficiency of Beacon devices.

Finally, it should be noted that the above embodiments are merely illustrative of the technical solutions of the present invention, and are not intended to be limiting; although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, those skilled in the art will understand that The technical solutions described in the foregoing embodiments may be modified, or some or all of the technical features may be equivalently replaced; and the modifications or substitutions do not deviate from the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention. range.

Claims

A Beacon-based broadcast method, comprising:

The Beacon device sends a first broadcast to the fixed area according to the first sampling frequency, where the first broadcast carries the first device identifier of the Beacon device, so that the Bluetooth master device entering the fixed area follows the second sampling. The frequency scan acquires the first device identifier in the first broadcast;

The Beacon device replaces and forms a scan reply SCAN_RSP broadcast according to the first sampling frequency while transmitting the first broadcast to the fixed area according to the first sampling frequency, where the SCAN_RSP broadcast carries the Beacon device And the second device identifier and the custom data; wherein the second device identifier carried in the SCAN_RSP broadcast formed by the replacement and the first device identifier in the first broadcast to be sent by the Beacon device the same;

If the Beacon device receives the scan request SCAN_REQ sent by the Bluetooth master device after the first broadcast is sent, the Beacon device replaces the SCAN_RSP formed by the current replacement after receiving the SCAN_REQ. The broadcast is temporarily sent to the fixed area at a next sampling moment corresponding to the first sampling frequency, so that the Bluetooth master device in the fixed area scans and acquires according to the second sampling frequency.
The Beacon-based broadcast method according to claim 1, wherein the first broadcast is specifically a connectable undirected ADV_IND broadcast, or a non-connectable undirected ADV_NONCONN_IND broadcast.
The method for broadcasting a Beacon according to claim 1, wherein before the sending, by the Beacon device, the first broadcast to the fixed area according to the first sampling frequency, the method further includes:

The Beacon device periodically replaces the first device identifier in the ADV_IND broadcast according to a predetermined rule.
The Beacon-based broadcast method according to claim 3, wherein the content type of the customized data comprises: a temperature data type, a humidity data type, and a light sensing data type in the fixed area; and various types of The customized data content is periodically and periodically carried by the Beacon device in the SCAN_RSP broadcast formed by each replacement.
The Beacon-based broadcast method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the first sampling frequency is not greater than the second sampling frequency.
A Beacon device, comprising:

a sending module, configured to send a first broadcast to the fixed area according to the first sampling frequency, where the first broadcast carries the first device identifier of the Beacon device, so that the Bluetooth master device entering the fixed area is configured according to Obtaining, by the second sampling frequency, the first device identifier in the first broadcast;

a processing module, configured to: when the sending module sends the first broadcast to the fixed area according to the first sampling frequency, replace the forming a scan reply SCAN_RSP broadcast according to the first sampling frequency, where the SCAN_RSP broadcast carries The second device identifier and the customized data of the Beacon device; wherein the second device identifier carried in the SCAN_RSP broadcast formed by the replacement and the first broadcast to be sent by the Beacon device The first device identifier is the same;

a receiving module, configured to receive, after the sending module sends the first broadcast, a scan request SCAN_REQ sent by the Bluetooth master device;

The sending module is further configured to: after the SCAN_REQ is received by the receiving module, broadcast the SCAN_RSP formed by the current replacement of the processing module at a next sampling time corresponding to the first sampling frequency. Sending to the fixed area, so that the Bluetooth master device in the fixed area scans and acquires according to the second sampling frequency.
The Beacon device of claim 6, wherein the first broadcast is specifically a connectable undirected ADV_IND broadcast or a non-connectable undirected ADV_NONCONN_IND broadcast.
The Beacon device according to claim 6, wherein the processing module is further configured to periodically replace the first broadcast according to a predetermined rule before the sending module sends the first broadcast to the fixed area according to the first sampling frequency. The first device identification in the ADV_IND broadcast.
The Beacon device according to claim 8, wherein the content type of the customized data comprises: a temperature data type, a humidity data type, and a light sensing data type in the fixed area;

The processing module is further configured to carry various types of the customized data content in a fixed periodicity in the SCAN_RSP broadcast formed by each replacement.
The Beacon device according to any one of claims 6-9, wherein the first sampling frequency is not greater than the second sampling frequency.