Networked ecosystem with centralized extended multi-hop short range ranging

Abstract

A centralized extended proximity ranging method for use in a networked ecosystem having an initiator node in an initiator network, a relay node, and a target node in a target network includes accessing a recorded activation profile. The ecosystem may be configured as an Internet of Things (IoT) ecosystem. The activation profile includes a desired action or service of a target node, such as an automated robot. The proximity ranging protocol estimates a range of one or more neighboring nodes to the relay node within a range limit of the initiator node. The target node is outside the range limit. The method includes identifying a ranging path between an initiator and a target node, including communicating ranging parameters between the initiator and a node of the target network. The ranging path includes the specified node. The method includes requesting execution of a desired action or service on a ranging path.

Description

A networked ecosystem with centralized extended multi-hop short-range ranging Background Technology

[0001] Advances in global automation technology have led to the widespread adoption of network-based management of storage, diagnostics, maintenance, sensors, actuators, controls, and other operations. For example, “smart garage” network connectivity can be used to schedule and manage home charging operations for modern electric vehicles (EVs) or plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs). Other aspects of smart garage automation include smartphone-based monitoring and opening / closing of garage doors, as well as control of climate settings such as temperature, humidity, and air quality. Security systems can be managed similarly from remote locations. Within a typical garage environment, this automation also facilitates the management of inventory, tools, and parts, along with the hosting of other functions. Similar technologies can be applied to other environments, including but not limited to users' homes or offices.

[0002] Effective implementation of global automation solutions relies on accurate short-range ranging between connected devices (more generally referred to as communication nodes). In the context of global smart garage automation and other exemplary Internet of Things (IoT) applications, short-range ranging generally refers to the process of determining the distance between these nodes. Common short-range ranging techniques using electromagnetic waves include estimating the distance between a transmitter and a receiver based on the received signal strength, the amount of time it takes for a transmitted packet to reach the receiver (i.e., time of flight), and other techniques. The transmitted signal can be Ultra Wideband (UWB), Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), Wi-Fi, etc. However, this technology can only measure the short-range distance between two devices that are directly within each other's proximity. For some emerging home or industrial IoT use cases requiring low latency, or those where not all IoT devices belong to the same network or trust circle, this maximum short-range limitation for range measurement can lead to a suboptimal user experience. Summary of the Invention

[0003] This disclosure relates to a centralized short-range ranging protocol for use in a local networking ecosystem. The solution presented herein—hereinafter referred to as “multi-hop” short-range ranging—is intended to address potentially intractable problems such as ranging latency, ranging limitations, security / privacy, out-of-range service activation, network overload, and suboptimal customer experience in Internet of Things (IoT) environments (e.g., the global smart garage application mentioned above) or in industrial applications where devices located on different wireless networks (potentially in different buildings or operating areas) are required to communicate with each other. The proposed centralized short-range ranging protocol can be used to manage end-to-end short-range ranging in the aforementioned local networking ecosystem, where an initiating node requests multiple connected relay nodes to estimate the distance to an out-of-range target node. The disclosed protocol can be implemented to dynamically estimate the distance between the initiating and target nodes using a centralized model, embodiments of which are described in detail below.

[0004] A centralized approach envisions the use of a central controller (e.g., a cloud-based server, backend device, or local server) that can be operated to communicate with target nodes for the aforementioned service activation. In situations where there is no cloud or field communication between different buildings, for example, range-based applications are typically not feasible in multi-building scenarios. In instances where the nodes / devices requiring ranging do not co-reside on a single communication network, this strategy can use a central controller to locate one or more intermediate nodes and thereby orchestrate extended multi-hop ranging according to this disclosure.

[0005] In certain embodiments, this document discloses a centralized short-range ranging method and an associated networking ecosystem. The networking ecosystem includes an initiator node located in / on a first wireless network (“Initiator Network”). The networking ecosystem includes: a plurality of relay nodes, including a designated node; and a target node located in a second wireless network (“Target Network”). The target node is outside the range of the initiator node. In possible embodiments, the centralized ranging method includes: accessing, in / from a computer-readable storage medium, a recorded activation profile as a desired action or service of the target node; and then identifying one or more ranging paths between the initiator and the target node. In some embodiments, identifying the ranging path is performed by, or by means of, a central controller communicating with, the initiator and the target network. This step includes: communicating ranging parameters between the initiator network and the target network. The ranging path includes the designated node, i.e., an ultra-wideband (UWB) capable smart node or another smart node located in the target network. The method includes: requesting the target node to perform the desired action or service on the ranging path.

[0006] Identifying the ranging path may include: estimating the corresponding short-range range of one or more neighboring nodes of a plurality of relay nodes within the range limit of the initiator node using a short-range ranging protocol via a central controller, wherein the corresponding node of the one or more neighboring nodes is located in the initiator network of the initiator node or the target network of the target node. This embodiment may include: dynamically determining the inter-node distance between the initiator and the target node based at least in part on the corresponding short-range range to the one or more neighboring nodes. This embodiment further includes: requesting the desired action or service via the one or more neighboring nodes when it is determined that the inter-node distance between the initiator and the target node is not greater than an activation threshold.

[0007] The central controller can be configured as or include a cloud-based server, and in this case, the identification of ranging paths is performed using the cloud-based server.

[0008] Determining the inter-node distance between the initiator and the target node can be further based on: estimating the angle of arrival of signals exchanged between the initiator node and its neighboring nodes; and estimating the angle of arrival of signals exchanged between the target node and its neighboring nodes. The method may also include: estimating the range of neighboring nodes based on the arrival time of signals sent from the initiator node to its neighboring nodes. In estimating the range of neighboring nodes, the method may include: instructing neighboring nodes to estimate the range between themselves and the target node.

[0009] In one or more implementations, the specified node is configured with authentication, security, and / or privileges to interact with one or more relay nodes. Additionally, the specified node may be configured with authentication, security, and / or privileges to interact with the initiator node or the target node, wherein the initiator node and / or target node cannot directly interact with (or are not permitted to directly interact with) any other node in the network to which the specified node is a member.

[0010] An embodiment of the method includes establishing a communication link between an initiator network and a target network via a central controller using multiple wireless routers. In this embodiment, accessing a recorded activation profile in a computer-readable storage medium may include: accessing the recorded activation profile in the memory of the central controller; and establishing a communication link between the central controller, the initiator node, and the target node. The method may further include communicating via wireless routers with: (a) a first set of initiator nodes and relay nodes; and (b) a second set of relay nodes and the target node via a border router, wherein the plurality of wireless routers includes wireless routers and border routers.

[0011] Continuing with the present invention, in one or more embodiments, the method may include: measuring the time of arrival and angle of arrival of a signal transmitted from an initiator node to one or more relay nodes. The measurement of the signal's time of arrival and angle of arrival may be performed using a specified node, wherein the specified node is a node with ultra-wideband (UWB) capability.

[0012] The target network can be constructed as a private network, in which case the method can use a designated node as a proxy node to initiate a short-range ranging session during a delegation process of the initiator node or the target node. The delegation process may include authorizing the use of the initiator node or the target node during the short-range ranging session.

[0013] The aspects of this disclosure include: using a shortest distance algorithm to determine a node path from the initiator node through one or more relay nodes to the target node; and periodically checking the state and connectivity of the one or more relay nodes at a sampling frequency, and adjusting the sampling frequency based on the characteristics of the one or more relay nodes.

[0014] The initiating node may include a smartphone or vehicle (or part of a smartphone or vehicle). The target node may include a smart home device (or part of a smart home device). In this embodiment, accessing a recorded activation profile may include accessing recorded lighting, door, appliance, and / or vehicle charging station settings of the smart home device.

[0015] Another aspect of this disclosure includes: a networked ecosystem having nodes operable for communicating ranging parameters between an initiator network and a target network, a wireless router, a border router, and an initiator node located in the initiator network. The networked ecosystem further includes a plurality of relay nodes, including at least one relay node and at least one intelligent node. The at least one intelligent node includes a designated node. The target node is located in / is a member of the target network. The target network is, to a certain extent, outside the range limits of the initiator node. The node operable for communicating ranging parameters communicates with the initiator network and the target network via the wireless router and the border router, respectively.

[0016] As part of this embodiment, a computer-readable storage medium contains a recorded activation profile that includes the desired action or service for the target node. The networked ecosystem is configured to use a centralized short-range ranging protocol to access the recorded activation profile and identify a ranging path between the initiating node and the target node, wherein the ranging path includes the specified node. The networked ecosystem then requests the execution of the desired action or service along the ranging path.

[0017] In another implementation, the networked ecosystem includes: an initiator node, located in a first region as part of an initiator network, the initiator node having UWB capabilities; and multiple relay nodes, including at least one relay node and at least one intelligent node. The intelligent node also includes UWB capabilities and is included / constructed as a designated node. A target node, located in a second region as part of a target network, is outside the scope limitations of the initiator node and is configured as an automated robot in this representative construction. A computer-readable storage medium contains an activation profile in the form of a desired action or service of the target node.

[0018] In this embodiment, a cloud-based central controller is operable to communicate ranging parameters between an initiator network and a target network. A first wireless router connects the initiator network to the cloud-based central controller. A second wireless router connects the target network to the cloud-based central controller. The central controller uses a centralized short-range ranging protocol to access recorded activation profiles and identify ranging paths between the initiator and target nodes. Possible ranging paths include specified nodes. The central controller can request the execution of desired actions or services along the ranging path.

[0019] A centralized short-range ranging method is provided for use in a networked ecosystem having an initiator node in an initiator network, a plurality of relay nodes including a designated node, and a target node in a target network outside the range of the initiator node. The centralized short-range ranging method includes: accessing a recorded activation profile in a computer-readable storage medium as a desired action or service of the target node; identifying a ranging path between the initiator node and the target node, including communicating ranging parameters between the initiator network and the target network, wherein the ranging path includes the designated node; and requesting the execution of the desired action or service on the ranging path, wherein the designated node is a smart node located in the initiator network of the initiator node or in the target network of the target node.

[0020] In one example, identifying the ranging path includes: using a short-range ranging protocol via a central controller to estimate the corresponding short-range range of one or more neighboring nodes of the plurality of relay nodes within the range limit of the initiator node, wherein the corresponding node of the one or more neighboring nodes is in the initiator network of the initiator node or the target network of the target node.

[0021] In one example, the central controller includes a cloud-based server, and identifies that the ranging path is executed using the cloud-based server.

[0022] In one example, the method further includes: dynamically determining the inter-node distance between the initiator node and the target node based at least in part on the corresponding proximity range to the one or more neighboring nodes; and requesting the desired action or service via the one or more neighboring nodes when it is determined that the inter-node distance between the initiator node and the target node is not greater than an activation threshold.

[0023] In one example, determining the inter-node distance between the initiator node and the target node is further based on: estimating the angle of arrival of the signals exchanged between the initiator node and the neighboring nodes of the plurality of relay nodes; and estimating the angle of arrival of the signals exchanged between the target node and the neighboring nodes.

[0024] In one example, the method further includes estimating the range of the neighboring nodes based on the arrival time of signals sent by the initiator node to the neighboring nodes.

[0025] In one example, the method further includes: when estimating the range of the neighboring nodes, instructing the neighboring nodes to estimate the range between themselves and the target node.

[0026] In one example, the specified node is configured with authentication, security, and / or privileges to interact with one or more of the relay nodes.

[0027] In one example, the specified node is configured with authentication, security, and / or privileges to interact with the initiator node or the target node, and the initiator node and / or the target node are not able to or permitted to directly interact with any other node on the network to which the specified node is a member.

[0028] In one example, the method further includes: establishing a communication link between the initiator network and the target network via a central controller using multiple wireless routers.

[0029] In one example, accessing the recorded activation profile in the computer-readable storage medium includes: accessing the recorded activation profile in the memory of the central controller; establishing a communication link between the central controller, the initiator node, and the target node; and communicating via a wireless router with: (a) a first set of the initiator node and the relay nodes; and (b) a second set of the relay nodes and the target node via a border router, wherein the plurality of wireless routers includes the wireless router and the border router.

[0030] In one example, the method further includes: measuring the time of arrival and angle of arrival of a signal sent by the initiator node to one or more of the relay nodes, wherein the measurement of the time of arrival and angle of arrival of the signal is performed using a specified node, and wherein the specified node is a node with ultra-wideband (UWB) capability.

[0031] In one example, the target network is a private network, and the method further includes: using a designated node as a proxy node to initiate a short-range ranging session during a delegation process of the initiator node or the target node, wherein the delegation process includes authorizing the use of the initiator node or the target node during the short-range ranging session.

[0032] In one example, the method further includes: using a shortest distance algorithm to determine a node path from the initiator node through one or more of the relay nodes to the target node.

[0033] In one example, the method further includes: periodically checking the status and connectivity of the one or more relay nodes at a sampling frequency; and adjusting the sampling frequency based on the characteristics of the one or more relay nodes.

[0034] In one example, the initiating node includes a smartphone or vehicle, and the target node includes a smart home device; and the access to the recorded activation profile includes access to recorded lighting, door, appliance, and / or vehicle charging station settings of the smart home device.

[0035] A networked ecosystem is provided, comprising: a node operable to communicate ranging parameters between an initiator network and a target network; a wireless router; a border router; an initiator node located in the initiator network; a plurality of relay nodes, including at least one relay node and at least one smart node, the at least one smart node including a designated node; a target node located in the target network, the target network being outside the range limits of the initiator node, wherein the node operable to communicate the ranging parameters communicates with the initiator network and the target network via the wireless router and the border router, respectively; and a computer-readable storage medium containing a recorded activation profile, the recorded activation profile including desired actions or services of the target node; wherein the networked ecosystem is configured to: access the recorded activation profile using a centralized short-range ranging protocol; identify a ranging path between the initiator node and the target node, the ranging path including the designated node; and request the execution of the desired action or service on the ranging path.

[0036] In one example, the computer-readable storage medium is part of a cloud-based server, and the initiator node or the at least one smart node is configured as an ultra-wideband (UWB) node or a node with Wi-Fi capability.

[0037] In one example, the initiator network is located in a first area or building, the target network is located in a second area or building, the initiator node is part of a mobile device or sensor, and the target node is an automated robot operable to perform the desired action or service.

[0038] A networked ecosystem is provided, comprising: an initiator node located in a first area as part of an initiator network, the initiator node having ultra-wideband (UWB) capability; a plurality of relay nodes, the plurality of relay nodes including at least one relay node and at least one intelligent node, wherein the at least one intelligent node includes the UWB capability, and wherein the at least one intelligent node includes a designated node; a target node located in a second area as part of a target network, the target node being outside the range restrictions of the initiator node and configured as an automated robot; and a computer-readable storage medium containing a recorded activation profile, the recorded The activation profile includes the desired action or service of the target node; a cloud-based central controller operable to communicate ranging parameters between the initiator network and the target network; a first wireless router connecting the initiator network to the cloud-based central controller; and a second wireless router connecting the target network to the cloud-based central controller, wherein the central controller is configured to use a centralized short-range ranging protocol to access the recorded activation profile, identify the ranging path between the initiator node and the target node, and request the execution of the desired action or service on the ranging path, the ranging path including the specified nodes.

[0039] The features summarized above, as well as other features and advantages of this disclosure, will become apparent from the following detailed description of illustrative examples and models for implementing this disclosure when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and appended claims. Furthermore, this disclosure explicitly includes combinations and sub-combinations of the elements and features presented above and below. Attached Figure Description

[0040] Figure 1A is an illustration of a representative networked ecosystem configured to use a centralized extended multi-hop short-range ranging strategy as described herein.

[0041] Figure 1B is an illustration of an alternative industrial networking ecosystem that can host the centralized extended multi-hop short-range ranging strategy disclosed herein.

[0042] Figure 2 is a block diagram illustrating the protocol used to implement the centralized extended multi-hop ranging strategy of this disclosure.

[0043] Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of a multi-building environment where this centralized extended multi-hop short-range ranging strategy can be applied.

[0044] Figures 4A and 4B illustrate models for implementing a centralized extended multi-hop short-range ranging strategy according to aspects of this disclosure.

[0045] Figure 5 is a flowchart illustrating a method for implementing a centralized extended multi-hop short-range ranging strategy according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0046] This disclosure may be modified or embodied in alternative forms using the representative embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings and described in detail below. The inventive step of this disclosure is not limited to the disclosed embodiments. Rather, this disclosure is intended to cover alternatives that fall within the scope of this disclosure as defined by the appended claims. Detailed Implementation

[0047] Referring now to the accompanying drawings, which permeate several views and similar reference numerals denote similar features, Figure 1A illustrates a local Internet of Things (IoT) networking ecosystem 10 in which multiple communication nodes are networked and communicate with each other, as described herein. The networking ecosystem 10 shown in Figure 1A is described as a non-limiting global automated smart garage of a smart home 11. In this embodiment, the aforementioned nodes may include one or more of, for example, a wireless / Wi-Fi enabled thermostat 12, a garage door 13, a security camera 14, an appliance 15, a smartphone 16 or other smart devices (e.g., a smartwatch or another wearable device), a light bulb 17, a vehicle 18, etc. As described below, the networking ecosystem 10 also includes a computer-readable storage medium 19 having an activation profile 190 recorded or stored therein, the activation profile being the desired action or service of a target node or device as described below. Therefore, as part of this scheme, the activation profile 190 is accessible from the computer-readable storage medium 19. The actual host or location of the computer-readable storage medium 19 may vary depending on the embodiment and is thus depicted as separate from the various networking devices in Figure 1A.

[0048] In Figure 1B, an alternatively constructed networked ecosystem 10A is shown as an automated industrial facility, such as a manufacturing plant or warehouse. Walls 40 (one of which is shown in Figure 1B) and floors 41 delineate work areas for performing various related operations. For example, networked ecosystem 10A may include inventory sections 42 (e.g., shelves or parts / component bins), one or more production lines 43, receiving areas 44, and office spaces 45, as well as other possible areas or workplaces. In this embodiment, the nodes mentioned above can correspond to a wide variety of computers, wireless devices, sensors, smart devices, etc., including passive radio frequency identification (RFID) tags, barcode / barcode readers, etc. Like networked ecosystem 10 of Figure 1A, networked ecosystem 10A of Figure 1B also includes a computer-readable storage medium 19 having an activation profile 190 recorded or stored therein or accessible therefrom. The actual host / location of the computer-readable storage medium 19 within the illustrated networked ecosystems 10 and 10A may vary depending on the embodiment and is therefore depicted as separate from the various networked devices in Figures 1A and 1B.

[0049] The following description of the smart home, smart garage, and smart facilities in Figures 1A and 1B is used for the sake of illustrative consistency only, and the actual number and configuration of the constituent nodes participating in the networked ecosystems 10 and 10A will vary depending on the intended application. For the sake of simplicity and consistency, the networked ecosystems 10 and 10A in Figures 1A and 1B will be described below with reference to networked ecosystem 10A, and this teaching will not be limited to the embodiment in Figure 1B.

[0050] Briefly referring to Figures 4A and 4B (which are discussed in more detail below), the networked ecosystem 10A of Figure 1B includes: an initiator node 20I, for example including ultra-wideband (UWB) capability; and a plurality of connected relay nodes 20R, wherein the relay nodes 20R include at least one lower-capacity relay node and at least one higher-capacity "smart" node, as described in detail below. The networked ecosystem 10A also includes: a target node 20T, which is located outside the range constraints of the initiator node 20I and therefore does not communicate directly with it. In this embodiment, the aforementioned computer-readable storage medium 19 contains a recorded activation profile 190. The networked ecosystem 10A as described herein is also configured to: use a short-range ranging protocol 30 (Figure 2) to estimate the corresponding ranges of one or more neighboring nodes of the plurality of relay nodes 20R within the range constraints of the initiator node 20I, and use the corresponding ranges to dynamically determine the inter-node distance between the initiator node 20I and the target node 20T.

[0051] As conceived herein, short-range ranging between nodes of the networked ecosystem 10A of Figure 1B and its alternative embodiments, including the networked ecosystem 10 of Figure 1A, involves accurately estimating the distance between nodes. For example, and briefly referring to Figure 3, manufacturing, assembly, fitting, or order fulfillment operations can occur across multiple areas or buildings. Multiple buildings within a manufacturing plant will tend to have multiple controllers or routers, which in turn connect to a centralized controller, such as a local controller or a cloud-based controller. Ranging between two devices located in two different buildings may require cloud support. The centralized extended multi-hop ranging scheme of this disclosure can be used in such cases.

[0052] Figure 3 illustrates a simplified scenario where two areas, existing as exemplary buildings, are separated from each other by a wall 40. This exemplary building is a first building (Building #1) with an initiator network and a second building (Building #) with a target network. Within Building #1, a conveyor belt 50 can extend through local controllers 20A and 20B. Barcodes 25 can be used to label products to help track production progress. Exemplary devices operable as nodes herein may include smart lights. Device 23C and RFID asset tracking sensor 23D. As understood in the art, Thread is a low-power, low-bandwidth mesh networking protocol that is similar in some respects to open-source Zigbee, Z-Wave, and other “smart home” IoT protocols but does not require the use of a central hub or bridge. Within building #2, another local controller 20C can be used in conjunction with conveyor belt 50 and possibly one or more automated robots 23A, 23B. In this scenario, extended-range service activation may require local controller 20A to seek assistance from automated robot 23B outside the range. Robot 23B can be multitasking and is therefore required to perform multiple different functions, such as asset management, quality control, defect analysis, repair, maintenance, etc.

[0053] In this representative embodiment of the networked ecosystem 10A of Figure 3, which has a communication link indicated as CL and a ranging link indicated as RL, a transmitting node (such as a local controller 20A or 20B of building #1, e.g., a manufacturing controller) may be requested to locate automated robots 23A or 23B within building #2, possibly via one or more (i.e., an integer "n") additional local controllers (manufacturing units n). However, automated robots 23A and 23B are outside the range of local controllers 20A and 20B. Therefore, ranging and positioning may occur herein via one or more intermediary RFID asset tracking sensors 23D or other device nodes, for example, to request inspection of a potentially faulty part while it is being transported on conveyor belt 50. Regardless of the configuration of the networked ecosystem 10A of Figures 1B and 2, the networked ecosystem 10A benefits in a variety of ways from the centralized extended multi-hop short-range ranging technology described herein.

[0054] As an example, based on the open-source Matter TM The MATTER standard provides modern proximity ranging technology for typical smart home / garage, manufacturing plant, and other local network applications, and this standard, in turn, relates to managing the communication of locally networked devices. In some applications, devices / nodes can send activation commands to target nodes based at least in part on the proximity of the target node. However, users in the networked ecosystem 10 of Figure 1A, the industrial IoT use case of Figure 1B, or other home, office, industrial, medical, or other use cases can benefit from reduced latency and the improved customer experience derived from it.

[0055] For example, a user walking from the kitchen of their smart home 11 (Figure 1A) to the garage can expect to find the garage door 13 fully open and their vehicle 18 disconnected from the charging station (not shown) and / or adjusted according to the user's customized settings as they approach vehicle 18, which may include seat adjustment, mirror adjustment, cabin temperature setting, and one or more others. If the user is left waiting for the scheduled action to complete before entering vehicle 18, the user's overall experience may be slightly degraded. Extended multi-hop strategies thus involve extending communication distance and reducing response latency, preventing out-of-range activation errors, and improving the overall customer experience within a local network (such as the representative networked ecosystem 10 of Figure 1A or 10A of Figure 1B).

[0056] Although omitted from the various figures for the sake of simplicity, the hardware associated with the various nodes of Figures 1A and 1B can exist in the form of one or more application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), one or more electronic circuits, one or more central processing units (e.g., one or more microprocessors or processors), and associated computer-readable storage media / memory. The non-transient components of such memory, including the computer-readable storage medium 19 of Figure 1, can store machine-readable instructions in the form of one or more software or firmware programs or routines, one or more combinational logic circuits, one or more input / output circuits and devices, signal conditioning and buffering circuits, and other components accessible by one or more processors to provide the described functions. Therefore, using such hardware, along with associated antennas, receivers, and transmitters residing at the various nodes, information can be wirelessly exchanged between nodes, for example via Wi-Fi, Zigbee, Bluetooth, etc. TM Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), etc.

[0057] Referring to Figure 2, the extended multi-hop short-range ranging protocol 30 can be used in distributed and centralized alternative embodiments described below with reference to Figures 4A and 4B, respectively. For clarity, the extended multi-hop short-range ranging protocol 30 is illustrated as a block diagram. In an IoT context, actions are triggered at a target node based on a predetermined or pre-recorded user profile. For example, a user of the networked ecosystem 10 of Figure 1A, walking from the kitchen of the illustrated smart home 11 to the garage, can expect the temperature setting and / or the seats and mirrors of vehicle 18 to adjust according to their customization levels upon arrival at the garage. Similarly, a user walking around the smart home 11 can set profiles for when to turn on the light bulb 17, charge or stop charging vehicle 18, etc., relative to the user's location in the smart home 11. Similar expectations can exist in the industrial embodiment of Figure 1B for other networked devices.

[0058] Although this profile is already set up, the extended multi-hop short-range ranging strategy disclosed herein allows for an extension of the distance between the initiating and target nodes relative to existing strategies, as mentioned above. This extended range can lead to a better user experience, particularly since some actions, such as opening / closing doors, disengaging from an electric vehicle (EV) charging process, or custom adjustments within the vehicle for a specific driver, are time-consuming to complete after initiation, and therefore, earlier activation of these actions enabled by enhanced short-range ranging helps reduce or eliminate the time the user must wait for them to complete. The programmed actions can thus begin earlier than they would have otherwise done without benefiting from this teaching.

[0059] In Figure 2, box 32 represents this activation profile, which can communicate with an IoT-capable controller 20CC, as indicated by arrow 33. This controller 20CC can be embodied in various ways as a master / “smart” node in a centralized ecosystem model 10-1 as shown in Figure 4A or in 10-2 (Figure 4B) as described below. The extended multi-hop proximity ranging protocol 30 also includes a proximity ranging block 34, as indicated by arrow 35, which is deployed on or hosted by the initiating node 20I (e.g., vehicle 18, smartphone 16, etc. in Figure 1). The proximity ranging block 34 can provide the activation rules 34R required for operation according to this disclosure.

[0060] The extended multi-hop short-range ranging protocol 30 in Figure 2 also includes various relay nodes 20R, including connected relay devices 20R with IoT capabilities / discoverable capabilities within the networked ecosystem 10, operating as either lower-capability relay nodes or higher-capability smart nodes, as explained below. Block 36 represents the advanced technical capabilities for smart nodes, such as lower power limitations, higher computing power, angle of arrival (AoA) estimation capabilities, or others, while block 38 represents the lower capabilities of relay nodes, such as RFID tags and other low-power IoT devices that may typically be in sleep mode, thus requiring time to wake up and take actions such as short-range ranging. The extended multi-hop short-range ranging protocol 30 also considers the operation of the target node 20T (i.e., the intended executor of the action initiated via service activation from the initiating node 20I). The following examples rely on the architecture of the extended multi-hop short-range ranging protocol 30 in Figure 2.

[0061] Centralized Extended Multi-Hop Ranging: Referring to Figure 4A, the centralized ecosystem model 10-1 illustrates various devices / nodes nominally labeled AH for simplicity. Figure 4A is an exemplary implementation in which a central controller (in this case, a cloud-based or other central controller 20) is utilized to reach a target node 20T outside the range for the activation of desired actions or services thereon. This utilization can be performed using a cloud-based or external edge network. While this teaching is flexible enough to perform centralized multi-hop ranging with or without network separation, Figure 4A illustrates a representative case where, for example, two areas (area #1 and area #2) of the exemplary factory floor in Figure 3 represent different structures, designated workplaces, buildings, or other areas, areas #1 and #2 are separated from each other by a boundary 21 (e.g., wall 40 in Figure 1B). This teaching can be used for ranging session resource management and communication in this network environment or other densely deployed network environments.

[0062] In Figure 4A, node A represents initiator node 20I, i.e., the node / device that initiates a request to communicate with target node 20T (node ​​H) located outside the range of the initiator node and requests the desired action or service from target node 20T. Nodes B, C, D, E, F, and G represent relay nodes, most or all of which can be configured as relay nodes as described above, and none, one, or more of which can be configured as more computationally capable intelligent nodes. The centralized ecosystem model 10-1 in Figure 4A also includes additional network nodes, in this case, a cloud-based controller 20, a wireless router 22 (e.g., Wi-Fi), MATTER or Zigbee routers) and border routers 24 (similarly, Wi-Fi, (MATTER or Zigbee border router). In this embodiment, nodes B and E act as so-called "anchor" nodes (described below), where the anchor state is indicated by an asterisk (*) in Figure 4A. Generally, if a device operating in area #1 uses a wireless router 22, which exists in the form of a Zigbee network router, to activate a device in area #2 (e.g., operating the MATTER network via border router 24), the device utilizes a given designated node in the MATTER network (in this case, node E(*)) for ranging / location. The designated node E then reaches the target node 20T via one or more intermediate nodes (e.g., node G) within the MATTER network.

[0063] In a home charging application where smart home 11 (Figure 1A) is connected to an Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment (EVSE) in the form of a charger, the charger can act as a designated node, where a user approaches smart home 11 and is distanced via the designated node. Therefore, the use of the designated node can be used to enhance security. Thus, identifying the distance path between initiator node 20I and target node 20T (e.g., via central controller 20) may require using a distance path that includes the designated node. This action may further include estimating the corresponding short-range range of one or more neighboring nodes of the plurality of relay nodes within the range limit of initiator node 20I via central controller 20 using the short-range ranging protocol of Figure 2. In this exemplary case, the corresponding node among the one or more neighboring nodes is in either the initiator network or the target network. When estimating the range of one or more neighboring nodes, each neighboring node can be instructed to estimate its own range with respect to target node 20T.

[0064] In Figure 4A, this scheme can assume that the initiator node 20I is already part of the exemplary MATTER network. This assumption can be fully elaborated. In some instances, the initiator node 20I or the target node 20T may undergo a delegation process to join the MATTER network, but may still use the node specified above as a proxy to initiate / become part of a new multi-hop short-range ranging session. For example, vehicle 18 (Figure 1A) may not be part of the MATTER network, but may still use an Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment (EVSE) charging station (e.g., part of an Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) network or the exemplary MATTER network) as a proxy to invoke actions on another device (such as a television or lighting system) as the delegation process continues.

[0065] In the illustrated deployment space, each node has two functions: (i) communication and (ii) ranging. The ranging function includes Time of Arrival (ToA) for ranging and Angle of Arrival (AoA) for positioning. Functions (i) and (ii) can originate from the same wireless technology, such as Wi-Fi, or from different wireless technologies, such as Wi-Fi for communication and Ultra Wideband (UWB) for ranging / positioning. Additionally, each node is connected to a central controller 20 (local or cloud-based server or backend) via a corresponding wireless communication network (e.g., Wi-Fi, THREAD, Zigbee, etc.) with a corresponding gateway. The initiator node 20I is part of the initiator network, while the target node 20T is part of the target network (e.g., a private network). Therefore, in various embodiments, the initiator node 20I must communicate with the target node 20T via the intermediary central controller 20. As shown by the dashed lines BE and CF in Figure 4A, this multi-hop scheme offers the flexibility to enable or disable inter-network ranging / positioning. Therefore, in some implementations, the central controller 20 determines one or more ranging paths from one node to another, and in particular from the initiator node 20I to the target node 20T.

[0066] As appreciated in the art, the border router 24 of FIG4A can be used to connect a local network to the Internet via wireless router 22, or to one or more wider networks. As its name suggests, border router 24 can be located at the edge of a network (in this case, the initiator network / first wireless network served by wireless router 22). Functionally, border router 24 is used to route data traffic and thus acts as a gateway between the local network and one or more external networks. Wireless router 22 is used, for part of its purpose, to communicate with nodes within a given local network (e.g., nodes A, B, C, and D in the non-limiting simplified embodiment of FIG4A), as indicated by link line 220. Wireless router 22 can also be connected to the Internet, for example via an Ethernet box (not shown) to which wireless router 22 is connected, a connection to fiber optic or coaxial cable, a cellular link, or others. Border router 24 connects other nodes (nominally nodes E, F, G, and H) to wireless router 22 via central controller 20, as indicated by arrows CC1 and CC2. In FIG4A, lines 220 and 240 represent wireless communication paths within the networking ecosystem 10.

[0067] The centralized nature of this extended multi-hop strategy continues with the following assumptions: (1) some of the nodes are ultra-wideband (UWB) capable nodes, such as smartphones 16 or other mobile devices, or vehicles 18 of FIG. 1A, mobile automated robots 23A or 23B (FIG. 3), etc.; (2) each UWB capable node has the ability to measure time of arrival (ToA) or angle of arrival (AoA) (e.g., using multiple antennas), enabling one or more UWB capable nodes to determine the relative positions of other UWB nodes; and (3) each UWB capable node is connected to a cloud-based controller 20 via various wireless networks as shown, such as an external central server capable of communicating ranging parameters between the initiating network in region #1 and the target network in region #2 of FIG. 3. As will be appreciated in the art, UWB capable sensors are configured to use a specified portion of the radio spectrum, typically 3.1 GHz to 10.6 GHz, for the purpose of high-speed data transmission over relatively short distances.

[0068] Among other accompanying advantages, the use of low-power UWB-capable sensors in the centralized ecosystem model 10-1 scenario of Figure 4A enables accurate localization and real-time tracking of objects of interest. Because the aforementioned frequency range is widely dispersed, UWB sensors are less susceptible to interference from Wi-Fi or Bluetooth devices, making them optimal for the types of IoT applications conceived herein. Therefore, within the scope of this disclosure, detecting the corresponding range of one or more neighboring nodes can include using one or more UWB-capable nodes to measure the time of arrival (ToA) and angle of arrival (AoA) of signals from those one or more neighboring nodes.

[0069] The centralized multi-hop strategy in Figure 4A features local distance map creation, centralized multi-hop localization, and dynamic neighbor sampling. For local distance map creation, each node with UWB capability periodically scans neighboring nodes, the periodicity of which is determined by network mobility or the capabilities of neighboring nodes. One option includes communication from the local network in region #1 to the cloud-based controller 20 and ultimately to the target node 20T via the central controller 20. When links BE and DF are not present, another option can be used, in which case the initiator network can be located within its region (i.e., region #1) and communicate via the central controller 20 to infer the location of nodes in region #2. Possible schemes for implementing centralized extended multi-hop localization are described below with reference to Figure 5. Regarding dynamic neighbor sampling, a shortest distance or path algorithm can be used to find a path, where the scanning periodicity increases at the ranging path nodes. Therefore, the short-range ranging method described herein may include using a shortest distance algorithm to determine the node path from the initiator node 20I through one or more neighboring nodes to the target node 20T.

[0070] Briefly referring to Figure 4B, an alternative centralized ecosystem model 10-2 is shown, representing a configuration at a smaller scale than that depicted in Figure 4A. Other nodes can be used to perform the functions of the central controller 20 of Figure 4A. Bridge CC3 exists between routers 22 and 24, for example, a wireless peer-to-peer network connection. In possible use cases, a mobile device adopted as an initiator node 20I in an Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM)-specific network can attempt to activate a device in the MATTER network. The mobile device (e.g., smartphone 16 of Figure 1A) can in this case utilize the designated node in the MATTER / OEM network for ranging / location, such that the mobile device reaches the target node 20T only via intermediate nodes in the MATTER network that include the designated node (e.g., nodes E, F, and G in the simplified network example of Figure 4B). The designated node can be configured with authentication, security, and / or privileges to interact with either the initiator node 20I or the target node 20T. In one or more embodiments, the initiator node 20I and / or the target node 20T are also unable to interact directly with (or are not allowed to interact directly with) any other node on the network that the specified node 20T is a member of.

[0071] Referring now to Figure 5, the local distance map creation mentioned above can be implemented using algorithm or method 100. For clarity, each process step of method 100 is described as a separate set of code and organized into logical blocks. Depending on the action, the various blocks can be executed by specific nodes of the networked ecosystem 10 (Figure 1A) or 10A (Figure 1B).

[0072] When method 100 begins at block B101, and again referring to the exemplary embodiments in Figures 4A and 4B, method 100 continues to block B102 (“Position Initialization”), whereby the initiator node 20I initializes the position of the target node 20T outside the range. Method 100 then continues to block B104.

[0073] Block B104 (“Scanning Neighbors”) requires communication with neighboring nodes (one or more relay nodes) within its communication range via the initiator node 20I. Since some of these neighboring nodes may be in sleep or low-power mode, such nodes will be triggered to wake up at block B104, as indicated by arrow WW. Therefore, in some embodiments, block B104 or other portions of method 100 include: establishing a communication link between the central controller 20, the initiator node 20I, and the target node 20T; and then communicating via wireless routers with: (a) a first set of initiator node 20I and relay nodes; and (b) a second set of relay nodes and the target node 20T via border router 24 (FIG. 4A). In this case, the plurality of wireless routers includes wireless router 22 and border router 24. Method 100 then continues to block B105.

[0074] At block B105 (“Smart Node?”) in Figure 5, method 100 includes determining whether the neighboring nodes scanned at block B104 are master / smart nodes, as described above. Therefore, block B104 needs to determine the computational capabilities of neighboring nodes based on whether one or more neighboring nodes are lower-capacity relay nodes or higher-capacity smart nodes (i.e., nodes with multiple antennas and capable of determining time of arrival (ToA) and angle of arrival (AoA). Method 100 continues to block B106 if the neighboring node is a smart node, and to block B107 if the neighboring node is a relay node.

[0075] Block B106 (“Locate Neighbors”) involves initializing the location of neighboring nodes with intelligent capabilities. Method 100 then continues to block B108.

[0076] Block B107 (“Racing using neighbors”) addresses the location of neighboring nodes lacking the necessary multi-antenna structure required to achieve intelligent capabilities. Method 100 then continues to block B109.

[0077] Block B108 (“ToA, AoA”) of Figure 5 includes determining the time of arrival (ToA) and angle of arrival (AoA) of the adjacent node located at block B106. The time of arrival involves the receiver node measuring the time it takes to receive the transmitted signal from the adjacent node. Once the time of arrival has been measured, the distance between nodes is readily calculated as the product of ToA and the signal speed (i.e., the speed of light). The angle of arrival (AoA), as the name suggests, determines the direction from which the signal arrives at the receiver node, where the antenna array detects signals with subtle phase and amplitude differences. AoA is then determined based on the measured phase and amplitude differences (e.g., using beamforming or other suitable algorithms). Measuring the time of arrival and angle of arrival of the transmitted signal is performed using the specified node as mentioned above, wherein in one or more embodiments, the specified node is configured as a node with ultra-wideband (UWB) capability. Once ToA and / or AoA have been determined, method 100 proceeds to block B110.

[0078] At block B109 (“ToA”), the initiating node determines the arrival time (ToA) of the adjacent node located at block B106. Since the receiver node is a relay node in this instance, the arrival time information is available to the receiver node, while the angle of arrival (AoA) information is not available. Once ToA has been determined, method 100 proceeds to block B110.

[0079] At block B110 (“Encapsulation”), the initiating node 20I generates a data encapsulation for communication with neighboring nodes. The data encapsulation may include, for example, a unique identifier for the initiating node, time of arrival (ToA) and / or angle of arrival (AoA) information from blocks B108 or B109 as described above, and unique identifiers of neighboring nodes (e.g., alphanumeric strings or bit codes). Method 100 then continues to block B112.

[0080] At block B112 (“Transmit Encapsulation”) in Figure 5, the initiator node 20I transmits an encapsulation from block B110 to the central controller 20 using the representative embodiment of Figures 4A or 4B as described above. Therefore, embodiments of the short-range ranging method generally include transmitting a data encapsulation to the one or more neighboring nodes, wherein the data encapsulation includes a unique identifier and location of the initiator node 20I, ToA and AoA, and a unique identifier of the one or more neighboring nodes. In response to receiving the data encapsulation from the initiator node 20I, block B112 or another block may include transmitting a response data encapsulation via each of the one or more neighboring nodes, including transmitting the unique identifier of each of the one or more neighboring nodes, the angle of arrival of the received data encapsulation, and the time of arrival of the data encapsulation. Method 100 then continues to block B114.

[0081] Referring again to Figure 5, method 100 next includes: performing a centralized multi-hop localization algorithm using information from the packets from block B112 (e.g., via the central controller 20 of Figure 4A or point-to-point communication in Figure 4B). A representative set of codes that can be used for this purpose is as follows.

[0082] Centralized multi-hop localization algorithm: Begin:

[0083] In the above algorithm, Figure G defines the anchor nodes mentioned above as nodes whose positions (self-positions) are predetermined during installation and fixed during algorithm execution. In the representative smart home 11 of Figure 1A, anchor nodes could be appliances 15, televisions, etc. In the industrial factory environment of Figure 1B, anchor nodes could be specific machines, cabinets, or other nodes. Anchor nodes are adjacent to each other, even when not located relatively close. If anchor nodes cannot use each other for distance measurement, their positions can be established based on a map. This distance can be set to 0, allowing for rapid inference of the position of the target node 20T. Non-anchor nodes iteratively determine their self-positions through adjacent smart nodes with self-positioning capabilities or via three adjacent relay nodes with self-positioning capabilities. In some implementations, dynamic sampling is used, where a weighted solution can be achieved by ranking nodes with higher ranging frequencies on the ranging path.

[0084] Continuing the discussion in Figure 5, at block B116 (“Dynamic Neighbor Sampling”), the initiator node 20I receives the ranging path from block B114 and executes the dynamic neighbor sampling routine. As appreciated in the art, this technique can be used to monitor and manage the status of various neighboring nodes. Generally, each node maintains a local list or table of its neighboring nodes (i.e., those nodes within a distance limit for communication, which, depending on the embodiment, may be tens of meters or less). Using dynamic neighbor sampling, the initiator node 20I or other sampling nodes periodically check the status and connectivity of neighboring nodes at a sampling frequency. The sampling frequency can be dynamically adjusted up or down as needed based on the characteristics of one or more neighboring nodes (e.g., the presence of node behavior / changes or anomalies, neighboring node movement, movement speed, rate of selected neighboring nodes moving out of the short-range limit, etc.). A higher sampling frequency can be used when a node is moving or on the path determined at block B114. Method 100 then returns to block B104.

[0085] The centralized extended multi-hop short-range ranging service activation according to this disclosure addresses certain limitations of current ranging techniques that require two communicating devices to be relatively close. However, in the embodiments of Figures 1A and 1B, there is a need to communicate with devices located outside the range of the initiating device. Therefore, extended ranging operations using the multi-hop strategy discussed herein are performed to trigger the requested service or activity of the target device with reduced latency. When the number and / or density of such devices is relatively high, as in the exemplary networking ecosystem 10A of Figure 1B, this centralized strategy can be used to identify suitable intermediate nodes between the initiating node 20I and the target node 20T to identify suitable ranging paths between the nodes. Furthermore, this strategy enables the orchestration of extended ranges when nodes requesting ranging information do not co-reside within a given communication network (e.g., in area #1 or area #2 of Figure 3) and therefore require communication with intermediate nodes (such as the central controller 20 of Figure 4A). In the proprietary network applications mentioned above, the designated node can be used as a proxy node to initiate a short-range ranging session. The delegation process may include authorizing the use of either the initiator node 20I or the target node 20T during a short-range ranging session. These and other accompanying advantages will be readily appreciated by those skilled in the art in consideration of the foregoing disclosure.

[0086] This disclosure allows for embodiments in many different forms. Representative examples of this disclosure are shown in the accompanying drawings and are described in detail herein as non-limiting examples of the disclosed principles. Therefore, elements and limitations described in the abstract, background, summary, and detailed description sections but not expressly set forth in the claims should not be individually or collectively incorporated into the claims, by implication, inference, or otherwise.

[0087] For the purposes of this description, unless a right is specifically waived, the use of the singular includes the plural, and vice versa; the terms “and” and “or” shall be both conjunctive and disjunctive; “any” and “all” shall both mean “any and all”; and the words “including,” “contains,” “comprising,” “having,” etc., shall mean “including but not limited to.” Furthermore, approximate words such as “about,” “almost,” “basically,” “generally,” “roughly,” etc., may be used herein in the sense of “at,” “near,” or “almost at,” or “within 0-5% of,” or “within acceptable manufacturing tolerances,” or logical combinations thereof.

[0088] The detailed description and accompanying drawings support and describe the present teachings, but the scope of the present teachings is defined only by the claims. Although some of the best modes and other embodiments for carrying out the present teachings have been described in detail, various alternative designs and embodiments exist for practicing the present teachings as defined in the appended claims. Furthermore, this disclosure explicitly includes combinations and sub-combinations of the elements and features presented above and below.

Claims

1. A centralized short-range ranging method for use in a networked ecosystem, the networked ecosystem having an initiator node in an initiator network, a plurality of relay nodes including a designated node, and a target node in a target network outside the range of the initiator node, the centralized short-range ranging method comprising: Accessing the recorded activation profile in a computer-readable storage medium as the desired action or service of the target node; Identifying the ranging path between the initiator node and the target node includes communicating ranging parameters between the initiator network and the target network, wherein the ranging path includes a specified node; and requesting the execution of the desired action or service on the ranging path, wherein the specified node is an intelligent node located in the initiator network of the initiator node or the target network of the target node.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein identifying the ranging path comprises: The central controller uses a short-range ranging protocol to estimate the corresponding short-range of one or more neighboring nodes of the plurality of relay nodes within the range limit of the initiator node, wherein the corresponding node of the one or more neighboring nodes is in the initiator network of the initiator node or the target network of the target node.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the central controller includes a cloud-based server, and wherein identifying the ranging path is performed using the cloud-based server.

4. The method of claim 2, further comprising: The distance between the initiator node and the target node is dynamically determined, at least in part, based on the corresponding proximity range to the one or more adjacent nodes. And when it is determined that the distance between the initiator node and the target node is not greater than the activation threshold, the desired action or service is requested through one or more adjacent nodes.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein determining the inter-node distance between the initiator node and the target node is further based on: estimating the angle of arrival of signals exchanged between the initiator node and the neighboring nodes of the plurality of relay nodes; and estimating the angle of arrival of signals exchanged between the target node and the neighboring nodes.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising: The range of the neighboring nodes is estimated based on the arrival time of the signals sent from the initiator node to the neighboring nodes.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising: When estimating the range of the neighboring nodes, the neighboring nodes are instructed to estimate the range between themselves and the target node.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the specified node is configured with authentication, security and / or privileges to interact with one or more of the relay nodes.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the specified node is configured with authentication, security and / or privileges to interact with the initiator node or the target node, and wherein the initiator node and / or the target node are not able to or permitted to directly interact with any other node on the network to which the specified node is a member.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising: A communication link is established between the initiator network and the target network via a central controller using multiple wireless routers.

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