Positioning method, communication device, communication system, storage medium and program product

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a positioning method, a communication device, a communication system, a storage medium and a program product. A method performed by a first device comprises: receiving a signal transmitted by a second device; measuring the signal to obtain a measurement value; and determining position information of the second device according to the measurement value. This achieves fast positioning of the second device and facilitates management of the second device.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This disclosure relates to the field of communication technology, and in particular to a positioning method, communication device, communication system, storage medium, and program product. Background Technology

[0002] With the rise of IoT communication demands, IoT-related technologies and standards have gradually developed. Among them, Ambient Internet of Things (AIOT) devices are expected to have significant application advantages in a wide range of fields due to their relatively simple structure, low hardware and maintenance costs, low power consumption, and ability to operate without batteries. Summary of the Invention

[0003] This disclosure provides a positioning method, a communication device, a communication system, a storage medium, and a program product.

[0004] According to a first aspect of the present disclosure, a positioning method is provided, performed by a first device, the method comprising: receiving a signal sent by a second device; measuring the signal to obtain a measurement value; and determining the location information of the second device based on the measurement value.

[0005] According to a second aspect of the present disclosure, a positioning method is provided, performed by a second device, the method comprising: sending a signal to a first device, the signal being used by the first device to measure a measurement value, the measurement value being used by the first device to determine the location information of the second device.

[0006] According to a third aspect of the present disclosure, a positioning method is provided for a communication system, the communication system including a first device and a second device, the method comprising: the second device sending a signal to the first device; the first device measuring the signal to obtain a measurement value; and the first device determining the location information of the second device based on the measurement value.

[0007] According to a fourth aspect of the present disclosure, a communication device is provided for performing the positioning method described in the first or second aspect.

[0008] According to a fifth aspect of the present disclosure, a communication system is provided, including a first device and a second device, wherein the first device is configured to perform the positioning method described in the first aspect, and the second device is configured to perform the positioning method described in the second aspect.

[0009] According to a sixth aspect of the present disclosure, a storage medium is provided that stores instructions that, when executed on a communication device, cause the communication device to perform the positioning method as described in the first or second aspect.

[0010] According to a seventh aspect of the present disclosure, a program product is provided, including at least one of a program and instructions, wherein the program and instructions, when executed by a communication device, implement the positioning method described in the first or second aspect.

[0011] By adopting the above technical solution, at least the following beneficial technical effects can be obtained:

[0012] The first device receives and measures the signal sent by the second device, and then determines the location information of the second device based on the measurement value. This enables rapid positioning of the second device, facilitating its management and monitoring. Attached Figure Description

[0013] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this disclosure, the accompanying drawings required for the description of the embodiments are introduced below. The following drawings are only some embodiments of this disclosure and do not impose specific limitations on the protection scope of this disclosure.

[0014] Figure 1A This is a schematic diagram of the architecture of a communication system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0015] Figure 1B This is a basic schematic diagram of environmental energy Internet of Things communication according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0016] Figure 1C This is a schematic diagram of backscatter communication according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0017] Figure 1D This is a circuit schematic diagram of resistive load modulation according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0018] Figure 1E This is a schematic diagram of ASK modulation according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0019] Figure 1F This is a schematic diagram of topology 1 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0020] Figure 1G This is a schematic diagram of topology 2 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0021] Figure 2A This is an interactive schematic diagram illustrating a positioning method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0022] Figure 2BThis is a schematic diagram of a distance range according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0023] Figure 3A This is a flowchart illustrating a positioning method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0024] Figure 3B This is a flowchart illustrating a positioning method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0025] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the first device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0026] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the second device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0027] Figure 6A This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a communication device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0028] Figure 6B This is a schematic diagram of the chip structure proposed according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Detailed Implementation

[0029] This disclosure provides a positioning method, a communication device, a communication system, a storage medium, and a program product.

[0030] In a first aspect, embodiments of this disclosure propose a positioning method executed by a first device, the method comprising: receiving a signal sent by a second device; measuring the signal to obtain a measurement value; and determining the location information of the second device based on the measurement value.

[0031] In the above embodiments, the first device measures the signal sent by the second device and then determines the location information of the second device based on the measured value. This not only enables rapid positioning of the second device, greatly improving positioning efficiency and saving time and labor costs, but also facilitates effective management and monitoring of the second device.

[0032] In conjunction with some embodiments of the first aspect, in some embodiments, determining the location information of the second device based on the measured value includes: determining the distance between the second device and the first device based on the measured value.

[0033] In the above embodiments, the distance between the second device and the first device is determined by measurement values, providing specific spatial information for the positioning and management of the second device, which can enhance the accuracy and reliability of positioning.

[0034] In conjunction with some embodiments of the first aspect, in some embodiments, determining the distance between the second device and the first device based on the measured value includes: if the measured value is greater than a first threshold, determining that the distance is less than a second threshold; or, if the measured value is less than or equal to the first threshold, determining that the distance is greater than or equal to the second threshold.

[0035] In the above embodiments, the distance between the second device and the first device can be quickly determined based on the relationship between the measured value and the first threshold. This simplifies the positioning calculation process, improves positioning efficiency, and reduces the consumption of computing resources.

[0036] In conjunction with some embodiments of the first aspect, in some embodiments, determining the distance between the second device and the first device based on the measured value includes: determining the range of the distance based on a threshold interval in which the measured value is located, wherein a threshold interval corresponds to a range of values.

[0037] In the above embodiments, by dividing different threshold intervals and setting a corresponding distance value range for each threshold interval, fine-grained division of the threshold intervals and distance value ranges is achieved. This facilitates more accurate determination of the distance between the second device and the first device, thereby improving positioning accuracy.

[0038] In conjunction with some embodiments of the first aspect, in some embodiments, measuring the signal includes: measuring the signal within a measurement bandwidth, wherein the measurement bandwidth is greater than or equal to the transmission bandwidth of the signal.

[0039] In the above embodiments, by ensuring that the measurement bandwidth is greater than or equal to the signal transmission bandwidth, the characteristic information of the signal can be captured more comprehensively and completely, thereby improving the accuracy and reliability of signal measurement, and thus more accurately determining the position information of the second device, which can enhance positioning performance and accuracy.

[0040] In conjunction with some embodiments of the first aspect, in some embodiments, measuring the signal includes: measuring the signal within a measurement period, wherein the measurement period is the time period corresponding to all chips occupied by the signal in the time domain, or the measurement period is the time period corresponding to all chips occupied by the signal in the time domain that are in the ON state.

[0041] In the above embodiments, by limiting the measurement period to the duration corresponding to all chips occupied by the signal in the time domain, complete signal measurement can be ensured, avoiding information loss or errors caused by incomplete measurement periods, thereby improving the accuracy and reliability of signal measurement. This method is applicable to all signal states, ensuring comprehensive measurement.

[0042] Furthermore, by limiting the measurement period to the time corresponding to all chips where the signal is in the ON state in the time domain, effective signals can be captured more accurately, reducing the consumption of measurement resources. This method is particularly suitable for scenarios where signal states may change, improving the accuracy and reliability of signal measurements, thereby enhancing positioning accuracy and the system's anti-interference capability.

[0043] In conjunction with some embodiments of the first aspect, in some embodiments, the measured value includes at least one of the following:

[0044] Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI);

[0045] Reference Signal Received Power (RSRP).

[0046] In the above embodiments, by limiting the measurement value to at least one of RSSI or RSRP, the accuracy and reliability of the measurement results can be ensured, thereby providing stable data support for positioning.

[0047] In conjunction with some embodiments of the first aspect, in some embodiments, the first device is a reader, the second device is an environmental energy Internet of Things (AIOT) device, and the signal is a device-to-reader (D2R) signal.

[0048] In the above embodiments, by clearly defining the first device as a reader, the second device as an AIoT device, and the signal sent by the second device as a D2R signal, the positioning method can be accurately applied to IoT scenarios. This specific application scenario positioning allows the technology to better adapt to the low power consumption and high efficiency requirements of IoT devices, providing more effective technical support for the management and monitoring of IoT devices.

[0049] In conjunction with some embodiments of the first aspect, in some embodiments, the signal includes at least one of the following:

[0050] Preamble signal;

[0051] Intermediate code signal;

[0052] Reference signal used to determine carrier frequency offset;

[0053] Non-reference signal used to determine carrier frequency offset;

[0054] Signals carried on the physical device-to-reader channel (PDRCH).

[0055] In the above embodiments, by clearly defining the specific type of signal, including at least one of the following: preamble signal, intermediate code signal, reference signal or non-reference signal used to determine carrier frequency offset, and signal carried on PDRCH, the positioning method can more flexibly respond to different signal conditions and environments. Furthermore, this clear signal type classification allows the positioning method to process signals more accurately, improving the accuracy and reliability of signal measurements, thereby enhancing positioning precision and strengthening the adaptability and robustness of the positioning system.

[0056] Secondly, embodiments of this disclosure propose a positioning method executed by a second device, the method comprising: sending a signal to a first device, the signal being used by the first device to measure a measurement value, the measurement value being used by the first device to determine the location information of the second device.

[0057] In conjunction with some embodiments of the second aspect, in some embodiments, the location information includes the distance between the second device and the first device.

[0058] In conjunction with some embodiments of the second aspect, in some embodiments, the signal is measured by the first device within a measurement bandwidth, wherein the measurement bandwidth is greater than or equal to the transmission bandwidth of the signal.

[0059] In conjunction with some embodiments of the second aspect, in some embodiments, the signal is measured by the first device during a measurement period, wherein the measurement period is the time period corresponding to all chips occupied by the signal in the time domain, or the measurement period is the time period corresponding to all chips occupied by the signal in the time domain that are in the ON state.

[0060] In conjunction with some embodiments of the second aspect, in some embodiments, the measured value includes at least one of the following:

[0061] Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI);

[0062] Reference signal received power RSRP.

[0063] In conjunction with some embodiments of the second aspect, in some embodiments, the first device is a reader, the second device is an environmental energy IoT (AIOT) device, and the signal is a device-to-reader (D2R) signal.

[0064] In conjunction with some embodiments of the second aspect, in some embodiments, the signal includes at least one of the following:

[0065] Preamble signal;

[0066] Intermediate code signal;

[0067] Reference signal used to determine carrier frequency offset;

[0068] Non-reference signal used to determine carrier frequency offset;

[0069] The signal carried on the physical device to reader channel (PDRCH).

[0070] Thirdly, embodiments of this disclosure provide a first device, which may include at least one of a transceiver module and a processing module; wherein the first device may be used to execute an optional implementation of the first aspect.

[0071] Fourthly, embodiments of this disclosure provide a second device, which may include at least one of a transceiver module and a processing module; wherein the second device may be used to perform an optional implementation of the second aspect.

[0072] Fifthly, embodiments of this disclosure provide a first device that may include one or more processors; wherein the first device may be used to execute an optional implementation of the first aspect.

[0073] In a sixth aspect, embodiments of this disclosure provide a second device that may include one or more processors; wherein the second device may be used to perform an optional implementation of the second aspect.

[0074] In a seventh aspect, embodiments of this disclosure provide a communication system that may include: a first device and a second device; wherein the first device is configured to perform the method described in the optional implementation of the first aspect, and the second device is configured to perform the method described in the optional implementation of the second aspect.

[0075] Eighthly, embodiments of this disclosure provide a storage medium storing instructions that, when executed on a communication device, cause the communication device to perform the method as described in an optional implementation of the first or second aspect.

[0076] In a ninth aspect, embodiments of this disclosure provide a program product that, when executed by a communication device, causes the communication device to perform the method as described in an optional implementation of the first or second aspect.

[0077] In a tenth aspect, embodiments of this disclosure provide a computer program that, when run on a computer, causes the computer to perform the methods described in an optional implementation of the first or second aspect.

[0078] Eleventhly, embodiments of this disclosure provide a chip or chip system. The chip or chip system includes processing circuitry configured to perform the methods described in optional implementations of the first or second aspect.

[0079] It is understood that the aforementioned first device, second device, communication device, communication system, storage medium, program product, etc., are all used to execute the methods proposed in the embodiments of this disclosure. Therefore, the beneficial effects that can be achieved can be referred to the beneficial effects in the corresponding methods, and will not be repeated here.

[0080] This disclosure provides a positioning method, a communication device, a communication system, a storage medium, and a program product. In some embodiments, the terms "positioning method" and "information processing method," "communication method," and "AIOT positioning" can be used interchangeably.

[0081] This disclosure is not exhaustive, but merely illustrative of some embodiments, and is not intended to limit the scope of protection of this disclosure. Unless otherwise specified, each step in a particular embodiment can be implemented as an independent embodiment, and the steps can be arbitrarily combined. For example, a solution after removing some steps in a particular embodiment can also be implemented as an independent embodiment, and the order of the steps in a particular embodiment can be arbitrarily interchanged. Furthermore, the optional implementation methods in a particular embodiment can be arbitrarily combined; moreover, the embodiments can be arbitrarily combined, for example, some or all steps of different embodiments can be arbitrarily combined, and a particular embodiment can be arbitrarily combined with the optional implementation methods of other embodiments. In all embodiments of this disclosure, unless otherwise specified or logically conflicting, the terminology and / or descriptions between the embodiments are consistent and can be mutually referenced. Technical features in different embodiments can be combined to form new embodiments based on their inherent logical relationships.

[0082] The terminology used in the embodiments of this disclosure is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to limit the scope of this disclosure.

[0083] In this embodiment of the disclosure, unless otherwise stated, elements expressed in the singular form, such as "a," "an," "the," "the," "the," "the," "the," "the," "this," etc., can mean "one and only one," or "one or more," "at least one," etc. For example, when using articles such as "a," "an," "the," etc. in translation, the noun following the article can be understood as either a singular expression or a plural expression.

[0084] In the embodiments disclosed herein, "multiple" refers to two or more.

[0085] In some embodiments, the terms “at least one of A or B, at least one of A and B”, “one or more”, “a plurality of”, “multiple”, etc., may be used interchangeably.

[0086] In some embodiments, the notation "at least one of A and B", "A and / or B", "A in one case, B in another", "in response to one case A, in response to another case B", etc., may include the following technical solutions depending on the situation: in some embodiments, A (execute A regardless of whether there is a branch B); in some embodiments, B (execute B regardless of whether there is a branch A); in some embodiments, execution is selected from A and B (A and B are selectively executed); in some embodiments, both A and B are executed. The same applies when there are more branches such as A, B, C, etc.

[0087] In some embodiments, the notation "A or B" may include the following technical solutions, depending on the situation: in some embodiments, A (execute A regardless of whether a branch B exists); in some embodiments, B (execute B regardless of whether a branch A exists); in some embodiments, execution is selected from A and B (A and B are selectively executed). The same applies when there are more branches such as A, B, and C.

[0088] The prefixes "first," "second," etc., used in the embodiments of this disclosure are merely for distinguishing different descriptive objects and do not impose restrictions on the position, order, priority, quantity, or content of the descriptive objects. The description of the descriptive objects is found in the claims or the context of the embodiments, and the use of prefixes should not constitute unnecessary restrictions. For example, if the descriptive object is a "field," the ordinal numbers preceding "field" in "first field" and "second field" do not restrict the position or order of the "fields." "First" and "second" do not restrict whether the "fields" they modify are in the same message, nor do they restrict the order of "first field" and "second field." Similarly, if the descriptive object is a "level," the ordinal numbers preceding "level" in "first level" and "second level" do not restrict the priority between "levels." Furthermore, the number of descriptive objects is not limited by ordinal numbers and can be one or more. For example, in "first device," the number of "devices" can be one or more. Furthermore, the objects modified by different prefixes can be the same or different. For example, if the object being described is "device", then "first device" and "second device" can be the same device or different devices, and their types can be the same or different. Similarly, if the object being described is "information", then "first information" and "second information" can be the same information or different information, and their content can be the same or different.

[0089] In some embodiments, “including A,” “containing A,” “for indicating A,” and “carrying A” can be interpreted as directly carrying A or indirectly indicating A.

[0090] In some embodiments, terms such as "time / frequency" and "time-frequency domain" refer to the time domain and / or frequency domain.

[0091] In some embodiments, terms such as “in response to…”, “in response to determining…”, “in the case of…”, “when…”, “when…”, “if…”, etc. can be used interchangeably. These descriptions all refer to the device making a corresponding action under certain objective circumstances. They do not necessarily limit the time, nor do they require the device to make a judgment action when implementing it, nor do they mean that there must be other limitations.

[0092] In some embodiments, the terms “greater than,” “greater than or equal to,” “not less than,” “more than,” “more than or equal to,” “not less than,” “higher than,” “higher than or equal to,” “not lower than,” and “above” can be used interchangeably, as can the terms “less than,” “less than or equal to,” “not greater than,” “less than,” “less than or equal to,” “not more than,” “lower than,” “lower than or equal to,” “not higher than,” and “below”.

[0093] In some embodiments, devices, etc., may be interpreted as physical or virtual, and their names are not limited to those described in the embodiments. Terms such as “device,” “equipment,” “circuit,” “network element,” “network function,” “network device,” “function,” “node,” “unit,” “section,” “system,” “network,” “chip,” “chip system,” “entity,” and “subject” are interchangeable.

[0094] In some embodiments, "network" can be interpreted as devices included in a network (e.g., access network devices, core network devices, etc.).

[0095] In some embodiments, the terms "access network device (AN device)," "radio access network device (RAN device)," "base station (BS)," "radio base station," "fixed station," "node," "access point," "transmission point (TP)," "reception point (RP)," "transmission / reception point (TRP)," "panel," "antenna panel," "antenna array," "cell," "macro cell," "small cell," "femto cell," "pico cell," "sector," "cell group," "serving cell," "carrier," "component carrier," and "bandwidth part (BWP)" can be used interchangeably.

[0096] In some embodiments, the terms "terminal", "terminal device", "user equipment (UE)", "user terminal", "mobile station (MS)", "mobile terminal (MT)", subscriber station, mobile unit, subscriber unit, wireless unit, remote unit, mobile device, wireless device, wireless communication device, remote device, mobile subscriberstation, access terminal, mobile terminal, wireless terminal, remote terminal, handset, user agent, mobile client, and client can be used interchangeably.

[0097] In some embodiments, access network devices, core network devices, or network devices can be replaced by terminals. For example, embodiments of this disclosure can also be applied to structures where communication between access network devices, core network devices, or network devices and terminals is replaced by communication between multiple terminals (e.g., device-to-device (D2D), vehicle-to-everything (V2X), etc.). In this case, the structure can also be configured such that the terminal has all or part of the functions of the access network device. Furthermore, terms such as "uplink" and "downlink" can be replaced with terms corresponding to communication between terminals (e.g., "sidelink"). For example, uplink channel, downlink channel, etc., can be replaced with sidelink channel, and uplink link, downlink, etc., can be replaced with sidelink link.

[0098] In some embodiments, the terminal may be replaced by an access network device, a core network device, or a network device. In this case, the access network device, core network device, or network device may also be configured to have all or some of the functions of the terminal.

[0099] In some embodiments, the acquisition of data, information, etc., may comply with the laws and regulations of the country where the location is situated.

[0100] In some embodiments, data, information, etc., may be obtained with the user's consent.

[0101] Furthermore, each element, each row, or each column in the table of this disclosure can be implemented as an independent embodiment, and any combination of any element, any row, or any column can also be implemented as an independent embodiment.

[0102] Figure 1A This is a schematic diagram of the architecture of a communication system according to embodiments of this disclosure. Figure 1A As shown, the communication system 100 includes a first device 101 and a second device 102.

[0103] In some embodiments, the first device 101 is a reader.

[0104] In some embodiments, "reader" may be used interchangeably with terms such as "reader-writer," "reader," "card reader," "reader," and "reading device."

[0105] In some embodiments, the second device 102 is an AIoT device (i.e., a device).

[0106] In some embodiments, "AIOT device" may be used interchangeably with terms such as "Ambient IoT device", "Environmental IoT device", "Ambient IoT device", "A-IoT device", and "Passive IoT".

[0107] In some embodiments, the first device 101 and the second device 102 can communicate bidirectionally.

[0108] In some embodiments, the communication content between the first device 101 and the second device 102 includes Ambient IoT device data or Ambient IoT device signaling, etc.

[0109] In some embodiments, the number of first devices 101 is one or more, and the number of second devices 102 is one or more.

[0110] In some embodiments, the first device 101 may be a network device. Alternatively, the first device 101 may be an intermediate node.

[0111] In some embodiments, an intermediate node can be viewed as a relay, such as an integrated access and backhaul (IAB) node, a terminal, a repeater, etc.

[0112] In some embodiments, intermediate nodes need to support the ability to communicate with Ambient IoT devices.

[0113] In some embodiments, intermediate nodes may include devices with relay capabilities such as radio access network (RAN) devices, terminals, base stations (BS), integrated access and backhaul (IAB) nodes, or repeaters. Intermediate nodes may also be combinations of any of the aforementioned devices.

[0114] In some embodiments, a terminal includes, but is not limited to, at least one of the following: a mobile phone, a wearable device, an Internet of Things device, a car with communication capabilities, a smart car, a tablet computer, a computer with wireless transceiver capabilities, a virtual reality (VR) terminal device, an augmented reality (AR) terminal device, a wireless terminal device in industrial control, a wireless terminal device in self-driving, a wireless terminal device in remote medical surgery, a wireless terminal device in a smart grid, a wireless terminal device in transportation safety, a wireless terminal device in a smart city, and a wireless terminal device in a smart home.

[0115] In some embodiments, the first device may include at least one of an access network device and a core network device.

[0116] In some embodiments, the access network device is, for example, a node or device that connects a terminal to a wireless network. The access network device may include at least one of the following in a 5G communication system: evolved Node B (eNB), next-generation eNB (ng-eNB), next-generation Node B (gNB), node B (NB), home node B (HNB), home evolved node B (HeNB), radio backhaul device, radio network controller (RNC), base station controller (BSC), base transceiver station (BTS), base band unit (BBU), mobile switching center, base station in a 6G communication system, open RAN, cloud RAN, base station in other communication systems, and access node in a Wi-Fi system, but is not limited thereto.

[0117] In some embodiments, the technical solutions of this disclosure can be applied to the Open RAN architecture. In this case, the interfaces between or within access network devices involved in the embodiments of this disclosure can be transformed into internal interfaces of Open RAN. The processes and information interactions between these internal interfaces can be implemented by software or programs.

[0118] In some embodiments, the access network device may be composed of a central unit (CU) and a distributed unit (DU). The CU may also be called a control unit. The CU-DU structure can separate the protocol layer of the access network device. Some of the protocol layer functions are centrally controlled by the CU, while the remaining part or all of the protocol layer functions are distributed in the DU and centrally controlled by the CU. However, this is not the only possibility.

[0119] In some embodiments, a core network device may be a single device, including one or more network elements, or it may be multiple devices or a group of devices, each including all or part of the multiple network elements. Network elements may be virtual or physical. The core network may include, for example, at least one of the evolved packet core (EPC), 5G core network (5GCN), and next-generation core (NGC).

[0120] It is understood that the communication system described in this disclosure is for the purpose of more clearly illustrating the technical solutions of this disclosure, and does not constitute a limitation on the technical solutions proposed in this disclosure. As those skilled in the art will know, with the evolution of system architecture and the emergence of new business scenarios, the technical solutions proposed in this disclosure are also applicable to similar technical problems.

[0121] The following embodiments of this disclosure can be applied to Figure 1A The communication system 100 shown, or a part thereof, but not limited to it. Figure 1A The entities shown are illustrative; a communication system may include... Figure 1A All or part of the main body, or may include Figure 1A Other entities besides the main body, the number and form of each entity are arbitrary, each entity can be physical or virtual, the connection relationship between the entities is illustrative, the entities can be unconnected or connected, and the connection can be in any way, it can be a direct connection or an indirect connection, it can be a wired connection or a wireless connection.

[0122] The embodiments disclosed herein can be applied to Long Term Evolution (LTE), LTE-Advanced (LTE-A), LTE-Beyond (LTE-B), SUPER 3G, IMT-Advanced, 4th generation mobile communication system (4G), 5th generation mobile communication system (5G), 5G new radio (NR), Future Radio Access (FRA), New-Radio Access Technology (RAT), New Radio (NR), New radio access (NX), Futuregeneration radio access (FX), Global System for Mobile communications (GSM), CDMA2000, Ultra Mobile Broadband (UMB), IEEE 802.11 (Wi-Fi), IEEE 802.16 (WiMAX), and IEEE 802.20, Ultra-Wideband (UWB), Bluetooth (a registered trademark), Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN) networks, Device-to-Device (D2D) systems, Machine-to-Machine (M2M) systems, Internet of Things (IoT) systems, Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X) systems, systems utilizing other positioning methods, and next-generation systems built upon them, etc. Furthermore, multiple systems can be combined (e.g., a combination of LTE or LTE-A with 5G).

[0123] In some embodiments of this disclosure, the current state of IoT development is as follows:

[0124] Currently, mobile communication technology is booming. Digital mobile communication has evolved from 2G, 3G, and 4G to the current 5G, effectively meeting people's needs in voice communication, digital mobile communication, and mobile broadband internet communication. However, with social and economic development, the demand for Internet of Things (IoT) communication is gradually emerging. Currently, technologies and standards related to IoT are gradually developing. Among them, the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) has standardized a series of IoT technologies, including Machine-Type Communications (MTC), Narrow Band IoT (NB-IoT), and Reduced Capability UE (RedCap). MTC and NB-IoT significantly reduce the cost of IoT terminals by employing technologies such as low bandwidth, single antenna, reduced peak data rate, half-duplex, and reduced transmit power. Furthermore, the introduction of Enhanced Discontinuous Reception (eDRX) and Power Saving Mode (PSM) greatly reduces the power consumption of IoT terminals. Simultaneously, MTC and NB-IoT can support a large number of IoT terminals accessing the network, thus meeting the demand for massive connectivity.

[0125] NB-IoT is a low-power wide-area network technology with four key characteristics: low cost, low power consumption, strong coverage, and massive connectivity. It is largely based on the non-backward-compatible Evolved Universal Mobile Telecommunication System Territorial Radio Access (E-UTRA) standard, with a coverage target of a maximum coupling loss (MCL) of 164dB, significantly enhancing indoor coverage and supporting a large number of low-throughput, low-latency-sensitive devices. NB-IoT supports three operating modes: in-band, standalone, and guardband. Both uplink and downlink RF bandwidths are 180kHz. Downlink uses Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access (OFDMA) technology based on a 15kHz subcarrier spacing, while uplink uses Single Carrier-Frequency Division Multiple Access (SC-FDMA) technology, supporting both single-tone and multi-tone transmission. The enhanced version of NB-IoT supports a wealth of functions such as multi-carrier, positioning, multicast, wake-up signal, and fast small data transmission, and can coexist with LTE and NR systems.

[0126] Enhanced Machine-Type Communication (eMTC) is an enhanced version of LTE-M (LTE-Machine-to-Machine), an IoT technology evolved from LTE. It is also a low-cost, low-power wide-area network (WAN) technology. Compared to NB-IoT, eMTC has slightly weaker coverage, targeting an MCL of 156dB, but it can support higher transmission rates, some mobility, and voice services. eMTC has an uplink and downlink RF bandwidth of 1.4MHz and can support a maximum peak rate of 1Mbps.

[0127] RedCap, short for Reduced Capability, is a new technology standard based on 5G NR. Simply put, RedCap is lightweight 5G. The large-scale industrial wireless sensor network (IWSN) use cases described by 5G requirements not only include ultra-reliable and low-latency communication (URLLC) services with very high requirements, but also relatively low-end applications requiring small device size, support for fully wireless transmission, and battery life of several years. These applications have higher requirements than low-power wide-area networks (LPWA) (i.e., LTE-M / NB-IoT), but lower than URLLC and enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB). Furthermore, surveillance cameras in smart city scenarios requiring 5G, as well as wearable device use cases such as smartwatches, electronic health-related devices, and medical monitoring equipment, all have the characteristics of small device size, simplified functions, and the need to connect to the 5G radio access network and core network, urgently requiring the introduction of lower-cost, simplified 5G NR terminals.

[0128] In recent years, the Internet of Things (IoT) based on NB-IoT and eMTC technologies has been widely tested and commercialized, such as in smart grids, smart parking, smart transportation / logistics, and smart energy management systems. It covers many vertical fields such as smart cities, smart homes, and smart factories, and has rapidly promoted the upgrading and transformation of traditional industries.

[0129] In some embodiments, typical application scenarios for Ambient IoT (or Ambient Energy IoT or Ambient Power IoT) communication include:

[0130] The key technological advantage of environmental energy IoT communication is its battery-free communication. Utilizing key technologies such as radio frequency energy harvesting, backscattering, and low-power computing, terminals can operate without batteries, supporting extremely low hardware complexity. Therefore, environmental energy IoT communication can meet the demands for ultra-low power consumption, extremely small size, and extremely low cost. It is foreseeable that environmental energy IoT technology will have significant application advantages in a wide range of fields. These include applications in vertical industries such as industrial sensor networks, intelligent transportation, smart logistics, smart warehousing, smart agriculture, smart cities, and the energy sector, as well as applications for individual consumers such as smart wearables, smart homes, and healthcare. This section will select some typical scenarios to illustrate the application potential of environmental energy IoT communication in these fields.

[0131] 1. Typical scenario one: logistics and warehousing.

[0132] With the sustained and stable development of the economy and its ever-growing economic scale, the scale of logistics has expanded further. Logistics is a crucial link in the commodity circulation supply chain, occupying an important position in the national economy, and warehousing is the core of modern logistics. In logistics and warehousing applications, large quantities of packaging / goods need to be frequently transferred, stored, loaded, unloaded, and inventoried in logistics stations or warehouses (tens of thousands of square meters). Along with warehouse ordering, goods receiving, goods management, and goods issuing, a large amount of warehousing information is generated, typically characterized by frequent data reading operations and large data volumes. To digitally manage logistics packages / goods and improve the efficiency of logistics and warehousing management, communication terminal labels are usually affixed to the surface of the package / goods packaging for acquiring logistics information and managing the entire logistics process. Therefore, a compact terminal size is more advantageous for industry applications. At the same time, due to the huge number of goods and considerations of economics and competitiveness, express delivery or warehouse suppliers can only accept communication terminals with extremely low costs. The warehousing and logistics industry is complex and involves numerous steps, but it is already a highly automated industry. Using tags based on Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology, administrators can electronically record, query, and track goods. However, the workload remains enormous because each tag needs to be read sequentially using specialized equipment. There is a growing expectation for smarter and more efficient communication technologies to help achieve truly smart logistics and smart warehousing. Environmental energy IoT devices are characterized by extremely low cost, small size, maintenance-free operation, durability, and long lifespan. In logistics and warehousing, utilizing environmental energy IoT devices to record, store, and update cargo information, and building environmental energy IoT-based logistics and warehousing systems, can further reduce operating costs, significantly improve the efficiency of logistics and warehousing management, and contribute to the realization of smart logistics and smart warehousing.

[0133] In some embodiments, environmental energy IoT technology can achieve smart warehouse management and improve warehouse efficiency and productivity through the following aspects:

[0134] 1) Batch Reading: Supports a larger number of IoT tags to be read simultaneously in a wider range of environments. When goods arrive at the warehouse, the wireless tags attached to the goods can be read in batches (e.g., thousands of tags per second) to accurately obtain product information, such as size / weight and manufacturer.

[0135] 2) Expiry date, serial number, production line, etc., can help improve the efficiency and accuracy of logistics and warehousing.

[0136] 3) Wide-range read / write: Supports a wider read / write range. Deploying one or a few network devices within the warehouse enables IoT tag communication coverage across the entire warehouse environment. Wireless tags attached to goods or containers store their basic information and location within the warehouse. By setting up a central network node within the warehouse, all goods can be identified quickly and easily, facilitating rapid inventory checks and enabling managers to understand inventory distribution and total volume, as well as quickly predict storage needs.

[0137] 4) Handling Management: Capable of locating and updating tags. As goods move within the warehouse, network devices can promptly identify and update tag information. When specific goods need to be picked, their location can be quickly pinpointed throughout the warehouse, significantly improving sorting efficiency.

[0138] In some embodiments, the terminal requirements are:

[0139] Environmental energy IoT terminals are generally simple electronic tags; since they are typically used on a large scale (each item will be tagged), their cost, size, and power consumption need to be carefully considered.

[0140] 1) Tag power consumption: Passive tags, so there are no maintenance issues such as battery replacement;

[0141] 2) Labeling costs: Due to the large number of goods in logistics and warehousing, extremely low costs are required;

[0142] 3) Tag size: Extremely small size, suitable for large-scale application;

[0143] 4) Communication distance: It can support communication ranges from tens of meters to hundreds of meters.

[0144] In some embodiments, network requirements are:

[0145] 1) Flexible deployment based on cellular network infrastructure: Network equipment can be deployed at outdoor poles and indoors at intervals with Distributed Antenna System (DIS) stations to provide basic coverage; coverage can be supplemented or extended as needed.

[0146] 2) Coverage requirements: Coverage distance requirements for a single station (indoor > 30m, outdoor > 100m);

[0147] 3) Network security: Tag reading is based on authorization to protect privacy and data security;

[0148] 4) Reading efficiency: The number of goods is huge, and a large number of tags need to be detected at the same time (e.g., thousands per second).

[0149] 2. Typical Scenario Two: Smart Home.

[0150] Smart homes use the residence as a platform, connecting various devices within the home through the Internet of Things (IoT) to build an efficient and livable system. Smart homes utilize various functions and methods such as automatic control of home appliances, lighting control, temperature control, and anti-theft and alarm control to make the home environment safer, more convenient, and more comfortable. Sensors and small devices in smart homes can communicate based on backscattering technology.

[0151] Environmental energy IoT communication can operate without batteries or charging, significantly increasing the lifespan of corresponding devices in smart homes and reducing maintenance costs. Furthermore, its ultra-low cost, extremely small size, washability, and flexible / foldable form factor allow for highly flexible deployment in smart homes, such as embedding it in walls, ceilings, and furniture, or attaching it to keys, passports, clothing, and shoes. Based on these advantages, environmental energy IoT communication can expand the application scenarios of smart homes, making it extremely attractive to the smart home industry.

[0152] In some embodiments, typical scenarios for using ambient energy IoT technology in smart homes are as follows:

[0153] 1) Item Locator: A tiny, washable, flexible, and foldable environmentally friendly IoT device that can be attached to easily lost items in the home, such as keys, passports, bank cards, and wallets. When these items need to be found, they can be quickly located and located.

[0154] 2) Environmental Monitoring and Alarms: Environmental energy IoT devices are integrated with sensors to monitor indoor temperature, humidity, and other environmental parameters. They can also be used for emergency alarms, such as those for gas leaks. The battery-free nature of these devices significantly increases their lifespan, making them maintenance-free.

[0155] 3) Intelligent Control: Integrating environmental IoT devices and sensors enables intelligent control of home appliances. For example, it can control the on / off switches of washing machines, air conditioners, televisions, curtains, etc. Tags embedded / attached to doors and furniture can also be used to navigate home robots, providing more precise control.

[0156] 3. Typical Scenario 3: Smart Wearables.

[0157] Smart wearables are consumer-centric, wirelessly connecting various devices worn by consumers through IoT technology. They have been applied in multiple fields (such as health monitoring, activity recognition, assistive living, mobile sensing, smart clothing, and indoor positioning). Currently, mainstream product forms include wrist-supported watches (including watches and wristbands), foot-supported footwear (including shoes, socks, and future leg-wearing products), and head-supported eyewear (including glasses, helmets, and headbands). In addition, there are various non-mainstream product forms such as smart clothing, backpacks, canes, and accessories.

[0158] Battery-powered smart wearable devices often have relatively short battery life. Enabling more functions further increases power consumption, requiring users to charge frequently to ensure normal operation. This significantly impacts the user experience.

[0159] Environmentally friendly IoT terminals possess excellent characteristics such as extremely low cost, extremely small size, extremely low power consumption (battery-free), flexibility, foldability, and washability, making them particularly suitable for smart wearable scenarios and easily accepted by consumer-related industries (such as kindergartens and garment factories). On one hand, environmentally friendly IoT devices obtain energy through energy harvesting, eliminating the need for batteries and fundamentally solving the problem of frequent charging required for smart wearable devices. On the other hand, their low cost, small size, and soft, washable, and foldable materials greatly enhance wearing comfort and user experience.

[0160] In some embodiments, environmental energy IoT is used in the field of smart wearables as follows:

[0161] 1) Health monitoring: Environmental IoT devices and sensors are integrated and embedded in wearable products such as wristbands, shoes, and socks to monitor health and provide timely feedback on a person's physical condition. Data such as sleep status, weight information, heart rate, and blood pressure are monitored and collected.

[0162] 2) Location and Tracking: Ambient IoT devices can be integrated with location services for monitoring the elderly, children, or hospital patients, enabling location and tracking in case of loss. More comfortable materials optimize the wearing experience, while the passive, ultra-low power consumption significantly extends usage time.

[0163] 3) Portable payment: It is linked to personal information and can be used for portable payments such as taking public transportation, subways, and shopping.

[0164] In some embodiments, the terminal requirements are as follows: the environmental energy IoT terminal takes the form of an electronic tag, which may integrate a memory for data storage or a sensor for sensing information collection. From a wearable perspective, it should have a small size, be battery-free, waterproof, and have a flexible, foldable design.

[0165] In some embodiments, the communication technology principle of the environmental energy Internet of Things is as follows:

[0166] Figure 1B This is a basic schematic diagram illustrating the communication principle of an environmental energy IoT device according to an embodiment of this disclosure. Environmental energy IoT devices mainly combine radio frequency energy harvesting technology, backscattering technology, and low-power computing technology to achieve the advantage of device nodes not carrying power batteries. For example... Figure 1B As shown, the terminal obtains the energy to drive its operation through energy harvesting. Low-power computing and backscattering technology are used to demodulate and modulate the signal. The core of radio frequency (RF) energy harvesting is converting RF energy into DC. This energy can be stored in energy storage units (such as capacitors) or directly used to drive logic circuits, digital chips, or sensors, completing functions such as modulation and transmission of backscattered signals, and acquisition and processing of sensor information.

[0167] In backscatter-based environmental energy IoT communication systems, a backscatter transmitter modulates and reflects received radio frequency (RF) signals to transmit data, rather than generating its own RF signals. This technology has been widely used in practical production, such as in radio frequency identification (RFID), tracking devices, remote switches, medical telemetry, and low-cost sensor networks.

[0168] In some embodiments, radio frequency energy harvesting:

[0169] The basic principle of energy harvesting is to collect electromagnetic wave energy from space through electromagnetic induction. Radio frequency (RF) energy harvesting essentially converts RF energy into direct current (DC) voltage (RF-DC). In environmental energy IoT communication, the core requirement for energy harvesting is to effectively use the harvested energy to drive load circuits (low-power computing, sensors, etc.) to achieve battery-free communication.

[0170] In some embodiments, with the advancement of technology, the processes and efficiency of radio frequency energy harvesting have improved, but several challenges still remain:

[0171] 1) Due to the multipath propagation effect of electromagnetic waves, the uneven distribution of energy in space and time, and various interferences, the radio frequency energy density that can be collected in the wireless environment is extremely low (e.g., less than 10nW / cm2). The radio frequency energy that can be effectively collected needs to meet a certain input power.

[0172] 2) To drive logic circuits or chips and other computing units, the DC voltage converted from the harvested energy generally needs to meet the minimum output voltage requirements and be converted into a stable DC voltage. Improving energy harvesting efficiency, especially ensuring that the harvested energy can still drive the circuit under low input voltage conditions, is a key issue that needs to be addressed.

[0173] 3) How to rationally manage the harvested or stored energy to drive terminal operation. The efficiency of converting RF energy harvested into DC energy at low power is a challenge in the design of environmental energy IoT devices. Current experimental research shows that it is generally difficult to effectively harvest and rectify RF signals with input power below -30dBm into usable DC voltage. The RF energy conversion efficiency varies depending on the input power and energy harvesting circuit design; for example, the energy conversion efficiency at a low input power of -20dBm is often less than 10%, while at around -1dBm, the conversion efficiency is close to 50%. Given current technology, driving low-power computing circuits requires approximately 10uW of power. To meet even the simplest low-power computing and backscatter communication requirements, improving energy harvesting efficiency under low input power conditions is one of the most important tasks in the research and development of environmental energy IoT communication systems.

[0174] A radio frequency (RF) energy harvesting system mainly consists of a receiving antenna, an RF rectifier, and an energy storage module. The receiving antenna collects electromagnetic wave energy from the environment and then inputs it as an RF AC signal to the rectifier circuit. The rectifier circuit converts the RF AC energy into DC energy, which is then stored using a battery or capacitor to provide DC power to subsequent circuits and application loads. The receiving antenna and rectifier circuit are the core components of the system, directly determining the power and energy conversion efficiency obtainable from RF energy harvesting.

[0175] Antennas are responsible for collecting radio frequency (RF) energy in free space. To obtain more power, it is usually necessary to collect energy over the widest possible frequency band. In typical environments, the direction of arrival and polarization of RF energy signals are uncertain; therefore, designing omnidirectional or circularly polarized antennas can reduce sensitivity to antenna placement angles. However, in other applications, such as near base stations or repeaters, where the direction and polarization of the RF energy source are known, using directional antennas or linearly polarized receiving methods can achieve higher reception efficiency and power.

[0176] In some embodiments, the key technologies of radio frequency energy harvesting antennas include the following aspects:

[0177] 1) Miniaturized Antenna Technology. Radio frequency (RF) energy harvesting technology, used in sensors and wearable electronics, is highly sensitive to the size of the rectifier antenna. Therefore, miniaturized antennas need to be designed to meet the overall size requirements of the terminal device. Antenna size depends on the electromagnetic wavelength. For existing RF energy bands in the environment (e.g., 0.7–2.5 GHz), the wavelength is relatively well-defined. Bending technology, loading technology, and fractal technology are effective ways to achieve antenna miniaturization.

[0178] 2) Impedance matching technology. To ensure that the RF power collected by the antenna is transmitted to the rectifier circuit, a good impedance matching network needs to be designed, while minimizing the impact on the antenna size, radiation characteristics, etc.

[0179] 3) Multi-band and wideband technology. More frequency bands of radio frequency signals contain more energy. In order to collect more radio frequency energy, the antenna needs to operate in a wider frequency band. However, the operating frequency band needs to be consistent with the rectifier circuit, rather than the wider the better, so as to avoid the high-order harmonics of the rectifier circuit being reflected by the antenna, causing power loss.

[0180] Research on energy harvesting circuits has undergone many years of development and exploration, with efficiency improvement remaining a primary concern in circuit design. The conversion from radio frequency (RF) energy to DC power is significantly affected by different circuit designs and manufacturing processes. Proper use of rectifiers allows for better conversion of RF energy into a stable DC voltage (RF-DC), while further DC-DC conversion (DC-DC) is generally required when the output voltage is low to generate a voltage level suitable for driving digital logic circuits. Voltage regulators and voltage monitors are also commonly used to assist in voltage boosting and stabilization, often employing cascaded diode-capacitor methods to raise the voltage to a usable level. Diode-based rectifier circuits are the most fundamental energy harvesting method. Devices using discrete components and CMOS processes have vastly different requirements for RF input power. Due to the custom nature of CMOS electronics, they are often more efficient and operate at lower voltages compared to microcontrollers or other external digital devices, allowing for input signal power levels as low as -20dBm or even better.

[0181] In some embodiments, backscattering:

[0182] Backscatter technology is a wireless technology that enables signal transmission and encoding without an active transmitter. Similar to radar, when electromagnetic waves reach the surface of an object, a portion is reflected. The strength of the reflected signal depends on the object's shape, material, and distance. From a radar perspective, each object has its radar cross-section (RCS). Tags modulate the reflected signal by changing their RCS. The backscatter transmitter modulates the received RF signal to transmit data without needing to generate its own RF signal.

[0183] Back scattering technology has been proposed. However, due to the following limitations, traditional back scattering communication cannot be widely used in data-intensive wireless communication systems:

[0184] 1) First, traditional backscatter communication requires placing the backscatter transmitter near its radio frequency emission source, which limits the use and coverage area of ​​the device.

[0185] 2) Secondly, in traditional backscatter communication, the backscatter receiver and the radio frequency transmitter are located in the same device, namely the reader, which can lead to self-interference between the receiving and transmitting antennas, thereby reducing communication performance.

[0186] 3) In addition, traditional backscatter communication systems are passively operated, meaning that the backscatter transmitter only transmits data when the backscatter receiver queries it.

[0187] Recently, Ambient Backscatter Communication (AmBC) has emerged as a promising technology for enabling low-power communication. It effectively addresses the limitations of traditional backscatter communication systems, leading to wider adoption of AmBC in practical applications. An ambient backscatter communication system typically comprises three parts: an ambient radio-frequency (RF) source, a backscatter device (BD), and a reader. In an AmBC system, backscatter devices can communicate with each other using wireless signals broadcast from ambient RF sources such as television towers, frequency modulation (FM) towers, cellular base stations, and Wi-Fi access points (APs). Furthermore, by separating the carrier transmitter and backscatter receiver, the number of RF components in the backscatter device is minimized, and the device can operate actively; that is, the backscatter transmitter can send data without receiver activation once sufficient energy has been harvested from the RF source.

[0188] Figure 1C This is a schematic diagram of backscatter communication according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0189] like Figure 1C As shown, an environmental energy IoT device (such as a backscatter tag) receives a carrier signal sent by a reader, collects energy through an RF energy harvesting module, and powers the low-power processing module. After acquiring energy, the backscatter tag drives the corresponding circuit to modulate the incoming signal and perform backscattering.

[0190] In backscatter communication systems, load modulation is a commonly used data transmission method for electronic tags. Load modulation involves adjusting the electrical parameters (such as resistance or capacitance) of the electronic tag's oscillation circuit according to the rhythm of the data stream, thereby changing the magnitude and phase of the electronic tag's impedance and completing the modulation process.

[0191] Figure 1D This is a circuit schematic diagram of resistive load modulation according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Load modulation techniques mainly include resistive load modulation and capacitive load modulation. For example... Figure 1D As shown, in resistive load modulation, a resistor, called the load modulation resistor, is connected in parallel with the load. This resistor turns on and off according to the clock of the data stream, and the switching of switch S is controlled by binary data encoding. In capacitive load modulation, a capacitor is connected in parallel with the load, replacing the load modulation resistor controlled by binary data encoding.

[0192] Figure 1E This is a schematic diagram of ASK modulation according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0193] Taking Amplitude Shift Keying (ASK) modulation via resistance modulation as an example, the terminal can switch between absorption and reflection states by switching the load reflection coefficient. In the absorption state, i.e., the terminal achieves impedance matching, and the radio frequency signal is completely absorbed by the terminal, preventing the terminal from radiating radio frequency signals into space. The signal received by the receiver will be a low-level signal, which can represent bit '0'. Conversely, in the reflection state, i.e., the terminal switches the circuit impedance, causing impedance mismatch, and part of the RF signal is reflected. The signal received by the receiver will be a high-level signal, which can represent bit "1". The ASK modulation signal process is as follows: Figure 1E As shown, the terminal can achieve ASK modulation of the incident RF signal through simple impedance switching, thereby enabling communication with the receiver. From the receiver's perspective, the ASK signal can be detected using low-complexity envelope detection and a comparator.

[0194] Similarly, the terminal can also change the circuit's tuning frequency by adjusting the circuit's capacitance, causing the frequency of the signal radiated by the terminal to change with the capacitance, thereby achieving Frequency Shift Keying (FSK) modulation. Although FSK requires additional residual frequency offset estimation processing compared to ASK, it outperforms ASK in terms of bit error rate (BER) performance. Furthermore, FSK allows for frequency division sharing among multiple devices.

[0195] Therefore, backscatter communication cleverly utilizes impedance modulation to achieve signal modulation and transmission with extremely low complexity. In contrast, backscatter terminals do not require complex RF structures such as power amplifiers (PAs), high-precision crystal oscillators, duplexers, and high-precision filters. They also do not require complex baseband processing; for example, they only need to perform envelope detection of the signal without complex channel estimation and equalization calculations. Thus, backscattering technology makes simple terminal implementation possible.

[0196] In some embodiments, low-power computing:

[0197] The main feature of environmental energy IoT communication technology is that it achieves backscatter communication by modulating incoming wave signals. At the same time, it can also obtain energy through energy harvesting to drive digital logic circuits or chips (such as microcontroller units (MCUs) or sensor chips) to realize functions such as signal encoding, encryption or simple calculation.

[0198] As seen in previous chapters, the conversion efficiency of radio frequency energy is often less than 10%, which limits the power consumption required to drive digital logic circuits or chips for computation. Although improvements in process technology and design optimization have increased the number of computations that can be performed per microjoule of energy, it still cannot meet the demands of complex calculations.

[0199] In some embodiments, low-power computing can be achieved in the design of an environmental energy IoT communication system by considering the following aspects:

[0200] 1) Low-power receiver.

[0201] Environmental energy IoT devices can be divided into two categories based on their functional requirements. One category's main function is broadcast transmission similar to a beacon. To reduce structural complexity and power consumption, receiver functionality may not be implemented. The other category considers designing a simple, low-power receiver, such as using a comparator to implement simple ASK / decoding functions.

[0202] 2) Low-power chips.

[0203] Low-power chips typically include MCUs and sensors. Circuits driving digital processing chips generally have minimum input voltage requirements. This necessitates that the acquired energy meets certain voltage requirements. Often, the acquired energy cannot be fully utilized for backscattering and low-power computing. Currently, mature MCUs for low-power computing typically consume power in the microwatt (µW) range. Selecting low-power MCUs and sensor chips, and implementing low-voltage drive circuit design, is both crucial and challenging for achieving low-power computing.

[0204] 3) Simple encoding and modulation.

[0205] As mentioned earlier, backscattering commonly uses ASK and FSK methods, which can be implemented with simple circuit designs. For coding techniques, non-return-to-zero (NRZ) and Manchester coding are the two most commonly used coding methods in backscattering systems. In addition, simple and easy-to-implement coding methods such as unipolar RZ coding, differential biphase (DBP) coding, Miller coding, differential coding, and FM0 coding are also suitable for backscattering communication. Using simple coding and modulation can also significantly reduce the computational power consumption of environmental IoT communication.

[0206] In some embodiments, 3GPP Ambient IoT technology:

[0207] 1. Connection technology and topology.

[0208] According to current research by 3GPP, deployment scenarios, use cases, and design goals (including device power consumption, device complexity, coverage performance, user data rate, latency, and mobility speed) of Ambient IoT have been studied and discussed.

[0209] In some embodiments, the Ambient IoT topologies currently being discussed by 3GPP include the following:

[0210] 1) Topology 1: BS Ambient IoT device.

[0211] Figure 1F This is a schematic diagram of topology 1 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0212] like Figure 1FAs shown in Topology 1, the Ambient IoT device is directly connected to the base station (BS) and communicates bidirectionally. The communication between the Ambient IoT device and the base station (BS) includes data and signaling. Topology 1 also includes another possible scenario: base station 1 sends downlink data to the Ambient IoT device, and the Ambient IoT device sends uplink data to base station 2. In this case, the downlink and corresponding uplink data for the same service communication are from different base stations; that is, base station 1 and base station 2 are different base stations.

[0213] As can be seen, in topology 1, the first device 101 is an Ambient IoT device, and the network device 102 is a base station (BS).

[0214] 2) Topology 2: BS intermediate node Ambient IoT device.

[0215] Figure 1G This is a schematic diagram of topology 2 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0216] like Figure 1G As shown, the Ambient IoT device communicates bidirectionally with the intermediate node, and the intermediate node communicates bidirectionally with the base station via cellular communication. The intermediate node can be considered a relay between the Ambient IoT device and the base station (e.g., Integrated Access and Backhaul, such as an IAB node, UE, repeater, etc.). The intermediate node needs to support the ability to communicate with the Ambient IoT device. The intermediate node bidirectionally transmits data and signaling between the base station and the Ambient IoT device to complete the communication.

[0217] As can be seen, in topology 2, the first device 101 is an Ambient IoT device, the network device 102 is an intermediate node, and the second device is a base station (BS).

[0218] 2. Deployment scenarios.

[0219] The deployment scenarios studied by 3GPP mainly include the following:

[0220] 1) Deployment Scenario 1: Ambient IoT devices are indoors, and base stations are indoors.

[0221] 2) Deployment Scenario 2: Ambient IoT devices are indoors, and base stations are outdoors.

[0222] 3) Deployment Scenario 3: Ambient IoT devices are indoors, and the reader is the UE.

[0223] 4) Deployment Scenario 4: Ambient IoT devices are outdoors, and base stations are outdoors.

[0224] 5) Deployment Scenario 5: Ambient IoT device is outdoors, and the reader is the UE.

[0225] 3. Equipment classification.

[0226] Based on two factors—energy storage capacity and radio frequency signal generation capability—3GPP classifies Ambient IoT devices as follows:

[0227] 1) Device type A: It has no energy storage capacity and no ability to independently generate or amplify radio frequency signals, meaning it can only transmit by backscattering.

[0228] 2) Device Type B: It has energy storage capability but no ability to independently generate radio frequency signals; that is, it can only transmit by backscattering. The stored energy is used to amplify the reflected signal.

[0229] 3) Device type: Device C: It has energy storage capacity and the ability to independently generate radio frequency signals, that is, it includes the ability to actively transmit RF radio frequency signals.

[0230] In some embodiments, based on the above equipment classification, the equipment classification has been limited and refined during the research and discussion process:

[0231] 1) Device Type 1: Peak power consumption approximately 1 microwatt (μW), equipped with an energy storage unit, initial sampling frequency offset (SFO) up to 10X ppm, no internal downlink or uplink amplification. The device's uplink transmission uses backscattering technology, and its carrier wave is provided externally.

[0232] 2) Device Type 2a: Peak power consumption not exceeding several hundred microwatts, equipped with an energy storage unit, initial sampling frequency offset (SFO) up to 10X ppm, and internal downlink and / or uplink amplification functions. The device's uplink transmission uses backscattering technology, and its carrier wave is provided externally.

[0233] 3) Device Type 2b: Peak power consumption not exceeding several hundred microwatts, equipped with an energy storage unit, initial sampling frequency offset (SFO) up to 10X ppm, and internal downlink and / or uplink amplification functions. The device's uplink transmission is generated internally by the device.

[0234] 4. Physical layer links and wireless channels.

[0235] During the research and discussion, the physical layer links and channels were defined (where the reader can be a base station or a UE acting as an intermediate node):

[0236] R2D: reader-to-device, the corresponding physical channel is called the physical reader-to-device channel (PRDCH);

[0237] D2R: device-to-reader, the corresponding physical channel is called the physical device-to-reader channel (PDRCH);

[0238] CW2D: carrier-wave-to-device.

[0239] 5. Backscattering and carrier wave provision.

[0240] For Ambient IoT devices that cannot actively transmit (such as Device 1 and Device 2a), a carrier-wave (CW) needs to be provided externally for the device's backscatter. When the carrier CW is provided by a base station included within the topology or a UE acting as an intermediate node, it can be considered an internal carrier topology or a topology where the carrier is generated internally (CW from inside topology); when the carrier CW is provided by a node outside the topology, it can be considered an external carrier topology or a topology where the carrier is provided externally (CW from outside topology). Furthermore, considering the spectrum resources (DL or UL) used by nodes when transmitting CW, 3GPP mainly considered the following carrier provision scenarios during the research phase.

[0241] In some embodiments, for AIoT, localization methods may be considered. In some embodiments, the following design objectives may be specified for localization: 1) AIoT localization is that the reader locates the AIoT device, i.e., a single reader performs measurements, performing a measurement method similar to Reference Signal Received Power (RSRP), to determine the approximate location information of the device.

[0242] 1) Identify D2R RSRP-like measurement methods and the associated A-IoT (Ubiquitous Internet of Things) signals / channels that enable more accurate outdoor device localization for Device 2b / Device C than based on Reader-ID.

[0243] In some embodiments, it is not expected to conclude on the positioning accuracy as part of the identification of feasible D2R RSRP-like measurement methods.

[0244] Note that device localization based on Reader ID can support active devices without any additional work.

[0245] In some embodiments, the design of the D2R signal(s) / channel(s) for active devices is not affected by the identification of the D2R RSRP-like measurement method. In communication-based systems, the reader performs the measurements. The reader needs to update the measurements and engages in measurement behavior.

[0246] In some embodiments, this objective does not include the study of dedicated device procedures for device localization.

[0247] In some embodiments, this objective assumes that no dedicated positioning architecture will be specified.

[0248] In some embodiments, this objective assumes no specification of inter-reader coordination for device localization.

[0249] In view of this, embodiments of the present disclosure provide a positioning method, communication device, communication system, storage medium, and program product to achieve rapid positioning of the device.

[0250] Figure 2A This is an interactive schematic diagram illustrating a positioning method according to an embodiment of this disclosure. For example... Figure 2A As shown, this disclosure relates to a positioning method, executed by the aforementioned communication system 100, which includes at least one of the following steps:

[0251] In step S2101, the second device 102 sends a signal to the first device 101.

[0252] In some embodiments, the first device receives a signal that is sent from the second device to the first device.

[0253] In some embodiments, the signal sent by the second device is used by the first device to measure a value, which is then used to determine the location information of the second device.

[0254] In some embodiments, the signal sent by the second device is used by the first device to locate the second device.

[0255] In some embodiments, the signal sent by the second device is used by other devices to locate the second device.

[0256] In some embodiments, the name of the signal is not limited in this disclosure, and its name may be, for example, a positioning signal, a fixed signal, a known signal, a specific signal, etc.

[0257] In some embodiments, if the first device is a reader and the second device is an AIoT device, then the signal sent by the second device to the first device can be called a D2R signal.

[0258] In some embodiments, the signal includes, but is not limited to, at least one of the following:

[0259] Preamble signal;

[0260] Midamble signal;

[0261] Reference signal used to determine carrier frequency offset (CFO);

[0262] Non-reference signals used to determine the CFO;

[0263] Signals carried on PDRCH.

[0264] Alternatively, the signal can also be a signal specifically designed for positioning measurements.

[0265] It should be explained that the preamble signal refers to the signal carrying the preamble or the signal obtained by modulating the preamble. The intermediate code signal refers to the signal carrying the intermediate code or the signal obtained by modulating the intermediate code. It should be noted that the preamble can be transmitted along with other data or control information. The intermediate code can also be transmitted along with other data or control information.

[0266] For example, the signal sent by the second device to the first device is a preamble signal.

[0267] For example, the signal sent by the second device to the first device is an intermediate code signal.

[0268] For example, the signal sent by the second device to the first device is a reference signal or a non-reference signal used to determine the CFO.

[0269] For example, the signal sent by the second device to the first device is a signal specifically for positioning measurement.

[0270] For example, the signal sent from the second device to the first device is a signal carried on the PDRCH. It should be noted that the PDRCH channel can carry preamble, intermediate code, payload, reference signal for determining CFO, non-reference signal for determining CFO, or signal dedicated to positioning measurement, etc.

[0271] In step S2102, the first device 101 measures the signal and obtains the measured value.

[0272] In some embodiments, the first device measures the signal sent by the second device to obtain a measurement result. Optionally, the measurement result may be, for example, a measured value.

[0273] In some embodiments, the present disclosure does not limit the name of the measurement result, which may be, for example, the measured value, measurement information, measurement data, etc.

[0274] In some embodiments, the measured values ​​include, but are not limited to, at least one of the following:

[0275] RSSI;

[0276] RSRP.

[0277] In some embodiments, the measured values ​​may also include signal one-way propagation time, signal round-trip time, angle of arrival, signal-to-noise ratio, etc.

[0278] In some embodiments, the implementation of the first device measuring the signal sent by the second device may include: the first device measuring the signal within a measurement bandwidth to obtain a measurement value.

[0279] In some embodiments, this disclosure does not limit the name of the measurement bandwidth, and its name may be, for example, frequency range, frequency interval, specified frequency band for measurement, frequency domain unit for measurement, etc.

[0280] In some embodiments, the measurement bandwidth of the signal transmitted by the first device to the second device is greater than or equal to the transmission bandwidth of the signal.

[0281] For example, bandwidth is measured in kilohertz (kHz). If the transmission bandwidth of the second device is 180 kHz, then the measurement bandwidth of the first device can be greater than or equal to 180 kHz. If the transmission bandwidth of the second device is 360 kHz, then the measurement bandwidth of the first device can be greater than or equal to 360 kHz. If the transmission bandwidth of the second device is 540 kHz, then the measurement bandwidth of the first device can be greater than or equal to 540 kHz.

[0282] For example, the unit of bandwidth is Physical Resource Block (PRB). If the transmission bandwidth of the second device is 1 PRB, then the measurement bandwidth of the first device can be greater than or equal to 1 PRB. If the transmission bandwidth of the second device is 2 PRB, then the measurement bandwidth of the first device can be greater than or equal to 2 PRB. If the transmission bandwidth of the second device is 4 PRB, then the measurement bandwidth of the first device can be greater than or equal to 4 PRB.

[0283] In some embodiments, the implementation of the first device measuring the signal sent by the second device may include: the first device measuring the signal during a measurement period.

[0284] In some embodiments, the present disclosure does not limit the name of the measurement period, but the name may be, for example, measurement timing, time domain unit used for measurement, etc.

[0285] In some embodiments, the measurement period for the first device to measure the signal sent by the second device can be the time period corresponding to all the chips occupied by the signal in the time domain, including chips in the ON state and chips in the OFF state.

[0286] In some embodiments, the measurement period for the first device to measure the signal sent by the second device can be the time period corresponding to all chips in the time domain that are in the ON state.

[0287] It should be explained that a chip can be viewed as a relative, system-dependent unit of time. A chip can be converted to absolute time using the system's chip rate. In some embodiments, the measurement period can refer to all chips occupied by the signal in the time domain. Alternatively, the measurement period can refer to all chips in the time domain that are in the ON state.

[0288] In some embodiments, the chip state "ON" can be interchanged with binary "1", and the chip state "OFF" can be interchanged with binary "0".

[0289] In some embodiments, when a measurement period is defined, if signal A represents the signal sent by the second device to the first device, then RSSI can be defined as the linear average of the total power (which may include noise, interference signals, etc.) of all signals measured by the first device across all chips occupied by signal A (i.e., preamble signal / intermediate code signal / reference signal or non-reference signal for CFO / signal carried on PDRCH), expressed in watts (W). Alternatively, RSSI can be defined as the linear average of the total power of all received signals measured by the first device across all chips occupied by signal A that are in the ON state. RSRP can be defined as the linear average of the total power of signal A measured by the first device across all chips occupied by signal A, expressed in watts (W). Alternatively, RSRP can be defined as the linear average of the total power of signal A among all received signals measured by the first device across all chips occupied by signal A that are in the ON state.

[0290] In step S2103, the first device 101 determines the position information of the second device 102 based on the measured value.

[0291] In some embodiments, since the location information of the second device may include the distance between the second device and the first device, an implementation whereby the first device determines the location information of the second device based on a measurement value may include: determining the distance between the second device and the first device based on the measurement value.

[0292] In some embodiments, if the measured values ​​are RSSI and / or RSRP, then the distance between the second device and the first device can be determined based on the inverse relationship between RSSI / RSRP and distance.

[0293] In some embodiments, determining the distance between the second device and the first device based on a measurement value by the first device may include: if the measurement value is greater than a first threshold, determining that the distance between them is less than a second threshold; or, if the measurement value is less than or equal to the first threshold, determining that the distance between them is greater than or equal to the second threshold.

[0294] For example, assuming the measured value is RSSI, the first threshold is represented as RSSI. threshod The second threshold is expressed as L = 100 meters. Therefore, if the measured RSSI value is greater than the RSSI value... threshod If the second device is within 100 meters of the first device, meaning the distance between them is less than 100 meters, then the second device is considered to be within 100 meters of the first device. If the measured RSSI value is less than or equal to the RSSI value... threshod If so, it is determined that the second device is outside the 100-meter range of the first device, that is, the distance between the two is greater than or equal to 100 meters.

[0295] In some embodiments, if the distance between the second device and the first device is greater than or equal to a second threshold, the second device can be considered to be far from the first device; if the distance between the second device and the first device is less than the second threshold, the second device can be considered to be close to the first device.

[0296] In some embodiments, the implementation of the first device determining the distance between the second device and the first device based on the measured value may include: determining the range of distance values ​​based on a threshold interval in which the measured value falls. Optionally, a threshold interval corresponds to a range of values.

[0297] In some embodiments, the number of first thresholds can be multiple. For example, if the measurement value is RSSI, then the multiple first thresholds can be RSSI. threshod1 RSSI threshod2 RSSI threshod3 RSSI threshod4 As shown in Table 1 below, multiple first thresholds can divide the data into multiple threshold intervals. Furthermore, a distance value range can be assigned to each threshold interval.

[0298] Table 1

[0299] Threshold range Distance range <![CDATA[RSSI measurement value ≤ RSSI threshod1 > Distance ≥ D4 <![CDATA[RSSI threshod1 <RSSI measurement value ≤ RSSI threshod2 ]]> D3≤Distance<D4 <![CDATA[RSSI threshod2 <RSSI measurement value ≤ RSSI threshod3 ]]> D2 ≤ Distance < D3 <![CDATA[RSSI threshod3 <RSSI measurement value ≤ RSSI threshod4 ]]> D1 ≤ Distance < D2 <![CDATA[RSSI measurement value > RSSI threshod4 > Distance < D1

[0300] Combining Table 1 and Figure 2B For example, assume D4 = 400 meters, D3 = 300 meters, D2 = 200 meters, and D1 = 100 meters. If the measured RSSI falls within the threshold range of RSSI... threshod3 ~RSSI threshod4 So according to RSSI threshod3 ~RSSI threshod4 The corresponding distance range D1 to D2 indicates that the distance between the second device and the first device is greater than or equal to 100 meters and less than 200 meters. For example... Figure 2B As shown, the second device is located within the range of D1 to D2.

[0301] In some embodiments, the number of first thresholds can be multiple. For example, if the measured value is RSRP, then the multiple first thresholds can be RSRP. threshod1 RSRP threshod2 RSRP threshod3 RSRP threshod4 As shown in Table 2 below, multiple first thresholds can divide the data into multiple threshold intervals. Furthermore, a distance value range can be assigned to each threshold interval.

[0302] Table 2

[0303]

[0304]

[0305] Combine Table 2 and Figure 2B For example, assume D4 = 400 meters, D3 = 300 meters, D2 = 200 meters, and D1 = 100 meters. If the measured value RSRP falls within the threshold range of RSRP... threshod1 ~RSRP threshod2 According to RSRP threshod1 ~RSRP threshod2 The corresponding distance range D3 to D4 indicates that the distance between the second device and the first device is greater than or equal to 300 meters and less than 400 meters. For example... Figure 2B As shown, the second device is located within the range of D3 to D4.

[0306] In some embodiments, the information such as the first threshold, the second threshold, Table 1, and Table 2 in this disclosure may be pre-configured, or may be specified by a protocol, or may be indicated by a network device; this disclosure does not limit such information.

[0307] Using the above method, the second device sends a signal to the first device, which then measures the signal to determine the location of the second device. This not only enables rapid positioning of the second device, greatly improving positioning efficiency and saving time and labor costs, but also facilitates effective management and monitoring of the second device.

[0308] In some embodiments, the names of information, etc., are not limited to the names described in the embodiments. Terms such as "information", "message", "signal", "signaling", "report", "configuration", "indication", "instruction", "command", "channel", "parameter", "domain", "field", "symbol", "symbol", "codebook", "codeword", "codepoint", "bit", "data", "program", and "chip" can be used interchangeably.

[0309] In some embodiments, "acquire," "get," "obtain," "receive," "transmit," "bidirectional transmission," and "send and / or receive" can be used interchangeably and can be interpreted as receiving from other entities, acquiring from protocols, acquiring from higher layers, obtaining through self-processing, or autonomous implementation. Protocols include, for example, at least one of the 3GPP protocol, Wi-Fi protocol, and audio and / or video protocols.

[0310] In some embodiments, terms such as “send,” “transmit,” “report,” “distribute,” “transfer,” “bidirectional transmission,” “send and / or receive” can be used interchangeably.

[0311] In some embodiments, terms such as "certain," "preset," "default," "set," "indicated," "a certain," "any," and "first" can be used interchangeably. "Certain A," "preset A," "default A," "set A," "indicated A," "a certain A," "any A," and "first A" can be interpreted as A pre-defined in a protocol or the like, or as A obtained through setting, configuration, or instruction, or as specific A, a certain A, any A, or first A, but are not limited thereto.

[0312] The positioning method involved in the embodiments of this disclosure may include at least one of steps S2101 to S2103. For example, step S2101 may be implemented as a separate embodiment, and steps S2102 and S2103 may be implemented as separate embodiments, but are not limited thereto.

[0313] In some embodiments, steps S2101 and S2103 are optional, and one or more of these steps may be omitted or substituted in different embodiments.

[0314] In some embodiments, step S2101 is optional and may be omitted or replaced in different embodiments.

[0315] In some embodiments, the steps and their optional implementations in other embodiments described before or after this embodiment, as well as other related parts in the specification, can be referred to, and will not be repeated here.

[0316] Figure 3A This is a flowchart illustrating a positioning method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Figure 3A As shown, this disclosure relates to a positioning method, executed by a first device, the method comprising:

[0317] Step S3101: Receive the signal sent by the second device.

[0318] Step S3102: Measure the signal to obtain the measured value.

[0319] Optionally, measuring the signal includes: measuring the signal within a measurement bandwidth, wherein the measurement bandwidth is greater than or equal to the transmission bandwidth of the signal.

[0320] Optionally, measuring the signal includes: measuring the signal within a measurement period, wherein the measurement period is the time period corresponding to all chips occupied by the signal in the time domain, or the measurement period is the time period corresponding to all chips occupied by the signal in the time domain that are in the ON state.

[0321] Optionally, the measured value includes at least one of the following:

[0322] Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI);

[0323] Reference signal received power RSRP.

[0324] Optionally, the first device is a reader, the second device is an environmental energy IoT (AIOT) device, and the signal is a device-to-reader (D2R) signal.

[0325] Optionally, the signal includes at least one of the following:

[0326] Preamble signal;

[0327] Intermediate code or intermediate pilot code signal;

[0328] Reference signal used to determine carrier frequency offset;

[0329] Non-reference signal used to determine carrier frequency offset;

[0330] The signal carried on the physical device to reader channel (PDRCH).

[0331] Step S3103: Determine the location information of the second device based on the measured values.

[0332] Optionally, determining the location information of the second device based on the measurement value includes: determining the distance between the second device and the first device based on the measurement value.

[0333] Optionally, determining the distance between the second device and the first device based on the measured value includes: determining that the distance is less than a second threshold if the measured value is greater than a first threshold; or determining that the distance is greater than or equal to the second threshold if the measured value is less than or equal to the first threshold.

[0334] Optionally, determining the distance between the second device and the first device based on the measured value includes: determining the range of the distance based on the threshold interval in which the measured value is located, wherein one threshold interval corresponds to one range of values.

[0335] In some embodiments, the steps and their optional implementations in other embodiments described before or after this embodiment, as well as other related parts in the specification, can be referred to, and will not be repeated here.

[0336] Figure 3B This is a flowchart illustrating a positioning method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Figure 3B As shown, this disclosure relates to a positioning method, executed by a second device, the method comprising:

[0337] Step S3201: Send a signal to the first device, the signal being used by the first device to measure a value, the measurement value being used by the first device to determine the location information of the second device.

[0338] Optionally, the location information includes the distance between the second device and the first device.

[0339] Optionally, the signal is measured by the first device within a measurement bandwidth, wherein the measurement bandwidth is greater than or equal to the transmission bandwidth of the signal.

[0340] Optionally, the signal is measured by the first device within a measurement period, which is the time period corresponding to all chips occupied by the signal in the time domain, or the measurement period is the time period corresponding to all chips occupied by the signal in the time domain that are in the ON state.

[0341] Optionally, the measured value includes at least one of the following:

[0342] Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI);

[0343] Reference signal received power RSRP.

[0344] Optionally, the first device is a reader, the second device is an environmental energy IoT (AIOT) device, and the signal is a device-to-reader (D2R) signal.

[0345] Optionally, the signal includes at least one of the following:

[0346] Preamble signal;

[0347] Intermediate code signal;

[0348] Reference signal used to determine carrier frequency offset;

[0349] Non-reference signal used to determine carrier frequency offset;

[0350] The signal carried on the physical device to reader channel (PDRCH).

[0351] In some embodiments, the steps and their optional implementations in other embodiments described before or after this embodiment, as well as other related parts in the specification, can be referred to, and will not be repeated here.

[0352] Regarding the embodiments of this disclosure, it should also be noted that the positioning method involved in the embodiments of this disclosure is an AIOT positioning method. A reader performs measurements on the D2R signal to obtain measurement values, and compares the measurement values ​​with a threshold to determine the location of the AIOT device.

[0353] In some embodiments, the measured value may be an RSSI value or an RSRP value.

[0354] Example 1: Compare the measured value and the threshold to determine the distance between the device and the reader. If the measured value is greater than the threshold, the device is considered to be close. If the measured value is less than or equal to the threshold, the device is considered to be far away.

[0355] Optionally, the threshold is predefined, specified by a protocol, or pre-configured.

[0356] Implementation 2: Compare the measured value with a threshold to determine the distance range between the device and the reader. If the measured value is greater than the threshold, the device is determined to be within L meters of the reader; if the measured value is less than or equal to the threshold, the device is determined to be outside the L-meter range.

[0357] Optionally, the threshold is predefined, specified by a protocol, or pre-configured.

[0358] Optionally, the threshold is a single threshold.

[0359] Example 1: If the measured value of RSSI is greater than RSSI threshod1 If the device is within 100 meters of the reader, and the measured RSSI value is less than or equal to the RSSI value, then the device is considered to be within this range. threshod1 If so, then the device is within a range of 100 meters or more.

[0360] Example 2: If the measured value of RSRP is greater than RSRP threshod1 If the device is within 100 meters of the reader, and the measured value of RSRP is less than or equal to RSRP... threshod1If so, then the device is within a range of 100 meters or more.

[0361] Example 3: Compare the measured value and the threshold, set multiple thresholds, compare the range of the measured value within the threshold range, define the mapping relationship between the threshold range and the distance, and thus determine the distance range between the device and the reader.

[0362] For example, define the mapping relationship between distance and threshold range in Table 1 above.

[0363] For example, a mapping relationship between distance and RSRP threshold range can be defined as shown in Table 3 above.

[0364] Optionally, the threshold is predefined, specified by a protocol, or pre-configured.

[0365] For example: If four RSSI thresholds are defined, and the distance values ​​are D4 = 400, D3 = 300, D2 = 200, and D1 = 100, respectively, if the RSSI measurement value is greater than RSSI threshod4 If the RSSI measurement value is within 100 meters of the reader, then the device is determined to be within 100 meters of the reader. threshod3 and RSSI threshod4 If the RSSI measurement is between 100 and 200 meters from the reader, then the device is determined to be between 100 and 200 meters away. threshod3 and RSSI threshod2 If the RSSI measurement is between 200 and 300 meters, then the device is determined to be between 200 and 300 meters away from the reader. threshod2 If the RSSI value is between 1 and RSSIthreshold, then the device is determined to be between 300 and 400 meters away from the reader. If the RSSI measurement is less than RSSIthreshold, then the device is located between 300 and 400 meters away from the reader. threshod1 This determines the range of the device outside the reader's 400 range.

[0366] In some embodiments, the measurement bandwidth is defined as follows:

[0367] 1. The measured bandwidth is equal to the transmission bandwidth of the D2R signal.

[0368] For example, the measurement bandwidth equals the transmission bandwidth, and the unit of transmission bandwidth is kHz, such as 180kHz, 360kHz, 540kHz, or an integer multiple of 180 kHz, or the unit of transmission bandwidth is the number of PRBs, etc.

[0369] 2. The measured bandwidth is greater than the transmission bandwidth of D2R.

[0370] In some embodiments, the measurement time has the following definitions:

[0371] Implementation 1: The duration of all chips occupied in the time domain by the signal measured by the reader. This includes both ON and OFF states.

[0372] Example 2: The duration of all the ON states of the chip occupied by the signal measured by the reader in the time domain.

[0373] In some embodiments, the reader measures the D2R signal to obtain RSRP or RSSI. The signals used for measurement include the following options:

[0374] Option 1: The reader measures the preamble of D2R.

[0375] RSSI measurement results are obtained by measuring the preamble.

[0376] Example: RSSI is defined as the linear average of the total received power (in W) of the received signal measured by the reader across all chips occupied by the preamble.

[0377] Example: RSSI is defined as the linear average of the total received power (in [W]) of the received signal measured by the reader on all ON chips occupied by the preamble.

[0378] Option 2: The reader measures the midamble (intermediate code, intermediate code, or intermediate pilot code) of D2R.

[0379] RSSI measurement results were obtained by measuring the midamble.

[0380] Example: RSSI is defined as the linear average of the total received power (in W) of the received signal measured by the reader across all chips occupied by the midamble.

[0381] Example: RSSI is defined as the linear average of the total received power (in W) of the received signal measured by the reader on all ON chips occupied by the midamble.

[0382] Option 3: The reader measures the newly introduced signal for D2R.

[0383] The newly introduced signal can be a reference signal used by the reader to make a CFO estimate, based on which the RSRP measurement result is obtained.

[0384] Example: RSRP is defined as the linear average of the total received power (in W) of the received signal measured by the reader across all chips occupied by the reference signal.

[0385] Example: RSRP is defined as the linear average of the total received power (in [W]) of the received signal measured by the reader on all chips where the reference signal is ON.

[0386] Optionally, the newly introduced signal is not a reference signal, but it is also a signal used by the reader to perform CFO estimation, and the RSSI measurement result is obtained based on this signal.

[0387] Example: RSSI is defined as the linear average of the total received power (in W) of the received signal measured by the reader across all chips occupied by the newly introduced signal.

[0388] Example: RSSI is defined as the linear average of the total received power (in W) of the signal measured by the reader on all the ON chips occupied by the newly introduced signal.

[0389] Option 4: The reader measures the entire D2R signal.

[0390] The RSSI measurement results were obtained.

[0391] Example: RSSI is defined as the linear average of the total received power (in W) of the received signal measured by the reader across all chips occupied by the D2R.

[0392] Example: RSSI is defined as the linear average of the total received power (in W) of the received signal measured by the reader on all ON chips occupied by D2R.

[0393] Option 5: The reader measures the entire PDRCH signal.

[0394] The RSSI measurement results were obtained.

[0395] Example: RSSI is defined as the linear average of the total received power (in W) of the received signal measured by the reader across all chips occupied by the pdrch.

[0396] Example: RSSI is defined as the linear average of the total received power (in W) of the received signal measured by the reader on all the ON chips occupied by the pdrch.

[0397] Optionally, the PDRCH includes a preamble, a midamble, a payload, and a newly introduced signal (if any).

[0398] In some embodiments, the steps and their optional implementations in other embodiments described before or after this embodiment, as well as other related parts in the specification, can be referred to, and will not be repeated here.

[0399] In some embodiments of this disclosure, a communication system is provided, which may include a first device and a second device, wherein the first device may execute the positioning method performed by the first device in the foregoing embodiments of this disclosure; and the second device may execute the positioning method performed by the second device in the foregoing embodiments of this disclosure.

[0400] This disclosure also proposes an apparatus (also referred to as a communication device, etc.) for implementing any of the above methods. For example, an apparatus is proposed, which includes units or modules for implementing the steps performed by the first device (e.g., access network device, core network functional node, core network device, terminal, etc.) in any of the above methods. Furthermore, another apparatus is proposed, which includes units or modules for implementing the steps performed by the second device in any of the above methods.

[0401] It should be understood that the division of units or modules in the above device is only a logical functional division. In actual implementation, they can be fully or partially integrated into a single physical entity, or they can be physically separated. Furthermore, the units or modules in the device can be implemented by a processor calling software: for example, the device includes a processor connected to a memory containing instructions. The processor calls the instructions stored in the memory to implement any of the above methods or to implement the functions of the units or modules in the above device. The processor can be, for example, a general-purpose processor, such as a Central Processing Unit (CPU) or a microprocessor, and the memory can be internal or external to the device. Alternatively, the units or modules in the device can be implemented in the form of hardware circuits. The functionality of some or all of the units or modules can be achieved through the design of these hardware circuits, which can be understood as one or more processors. For example, in one implementation, the hardware circuit is an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC). The functionality of some or all of the units or modules is achieved through the design of the logical relationships between the components within the circuit. In another implementation, the hardware circuit can be implemented using a programmable logic device (PLD). Taking a field-programmable gate array (FPGA) as an example, it can include a large number of logic gates. The connection relationships between the logic gates are configured through configuration files, thereby achieving the functionality of some or all of the units or modules. All units or modules of the above device can be implemented entirely through processor-called software, entirely through hardware circuits, or partially through processor-called software with the remaining parts implemented through hardware circuits.

[0402] In this embodiment, the processor is a circuit with signal processing capabilities. In one implementation, the processor can be a circuit with instruction read and execute capabilities, such as a Central Processing Unit (CPU), a microprocessor, a graphics processing unit (GPU) (which can be understood as a microprocessor), or a digital signal processor (DSP). In another implementation, the processor can implement certain functions through the logical relationships of hardware circuits. The logical relationships of the aforementioned hardware circuits are fixed or reconfigurable. For example, the processor is a hardware circuit implemented using an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) or a programmable logic device (PLD), such as an FPGA. In a reconfigurable hardware circuit, the process of the processor loading a configuration document and configuring the hardware circuit can be understood as the process of the processor loading instructions to implement the functions of some or all of the above units or modules. Furthermore, it can also be a hardware circuit designed for artificial intelligence, which can be understood as an ASIC, such as a Neural Network Processing Unit (NPU), a Tensor Processing Unit (TPU), or a Deep Learning Processing Unit (DPU).

[0403] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a first device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The first device 400 is used to perform any of the above methods. In some embodiments, such as Figure 4 As shown, the first device 400 may include at least one of a transceiver module 401, a processing module 402, etc. In some embodiments, the processing module 402 is used to receive a signal sent by the second device; measure the signal to obtain a measurement value; and determine the location information of the second device based on the measurement value. Optionally, the transceiver module is used to perform at least one of the communication steps (e.g., step S2101, but not limited thereto) performed by the first device 101 in any of the above methods, which will not be described in detail here. Optionally, the processing module is used to perform at least one of the other steps (e.g., steps S2102, S2103, but not limited thereto) performed by the first device 101 in any of the above methods, which will not be described in detail here.

[0404] Figure 5This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a second device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The second device 500 is used to perform any of the above methods. In some embodiments, such as Figure 5 As shown, the second device 500 may include at least one of a transceiver module 501, a processing module 502, etc. In some embodiments, the transceiver module 501 is used to send a signal to the first device, the signal being used by the first device to measure a measurement value, and the measurement value being used by the first device to determine the location information of the second device. Optionally, the transceiver module is used to perform at least one of the communication steps (e.g., step S2101, but not limited thereto) performed by the second device 102 in any of the above methods, which will not be elaborated further here. Optionally, the processing module is used to perform at least one of the other steps (e.g., steps S2102, S2103, but not limited thereto) performed by the second device 102 in any of the above methods, which will not be elaborated further here.

[0405] In some embodiments, the transceiver module may include a transmitting module and / or a receiving module, which may be separate or integrated. Optionally, the transceiver module may be interchangeable with a transceiver.

[0406] In some embodiments, the processing module may be a single module or may include multiple sub-modules. Optionally, the multiple sub-modules may each perform all or part of the steps required by the processing module.

[0407] In some embodiments, the processing module can be replaced by the processor, and the transceiver module can be replaced by the transceiver.

[0408] Figure 6A This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a communication device 6100 according to an embodiment of this disclosure. The communication device 6100 can be a network device (e.g., access network device, core network device, etc.), a terminal (e.g., user equipment, etc.), an AIoT device, a chip, chip system, or processor that supports a first device in implementing any of the above methods, or a chip, chip system, or processor that supports a second device in implementing any of the above methods. The communication device 6100 can be used to implement the methods described in the above method embodiments; for details, please refer to the descriptions in the above method embodiments.

[0409] like Figure 6AAs shown, the communication device 6100 is used to execute any of the above methods. In some embodiments, the communication device 6100 includes one or more processors 6101. The processor 6101 may be a general-purpose processor or a special-purpose processor, such as a baseband processor or a central processing unit. The baseband processor may be used to process communication protocols and communication data, and the central processing unit may be used to control communication devices (e.g., base stations, baseband chips, terminal devices, terminal device chips, DUs or CUs, etc.), execute programs, and process program data. Optionally, the communication device 6100 is used to execute any of the above methods. Optionally, one or more processors 6101 are used to invoke instructions to cause the communication device 6100 to execute any of the above methods.

[0410] In some embodiments, the communication device 6100 further includes one or more transceivers 6102. When the communication device 6100 includes one or more transceivers 6102, the transceiver 6102 performs at least one of the communication steps such as sending and / or receiving in the above method (e.g., step S2101, but not limited thereto), and the processor 6101 performs at least one of other steps (e.g., step S2102, step S2103, but not limited thereto). In optional embodiments, the transceiver may include a receiver and / or a transmitter, which may be separate or integrated together. Optionally, the terms transceiver, transceiver unit, transceiver, transceiver circuit, interface circuit, interface, etc., can be used interchangeably; the terms transmitter, transmitting unit, transmitter, transmitting circuit, etc., can be used interchangeably; the terms receiver, receiving unit, receiver, receiving circuit, etc., can be used interchangeably.

[0411] In some embodiments, the communication device 6100 further includes one or more memories 6103 for storing data and / or instructions. Optionally, one or more processors 6101 are used to invoke instructions stored in the memory 6103 to cause the communication device 6100 to perform any of the above methods. Optionally, all or part of the memory 6103 may also be located outside the communication device 6100. In an optional embodiment, the communication device 6100 may include one or more interface circuits 6104. Optionally, the interface circuit 6104 is connected to the memory 6103 and can be used to receive data and / or instructions from the memory 6103 or other devices, and can be used to send data and / or instructions to the memory 6103 or other devices. For example, the interface circuit 6104 can read data and / or instructions stored in the memory 6103 and send the data and / or instructions to the processor 6101.

[0412] The communication device 6100 described in the above embodiments may be a first device or a second device, but the scope of the communication device 6100 described in this disclosure is not limited thereto, and the structure of the communication device 6100 may vary. Figure 6A The limitations. The communication device may be a standalone device or part of a larger device. For example, the communication device may be: (1) a standalone integrated circuit IC, or chip, or chip system or subsystem; (2) a collection of one or more ICs, optionally including storage components for storing data, programs and / or instructions; (3) an ASIC, such as a modem; (4) a module that can be embedded in other devices; (5) a receiver, terminal device, smart terminal device, cellular phone, wireless device, handheld device, mobile unit, vehicle device, network device, cloud device, artificial intelligence device, etc.; (6) others, etc.

[0413] Figure 6B This is a schematic diagram of the structure of chip 6200 according to an embodiment of this disclosure. For cases where the communication device 6100 can be a chip or a chip system, please refer to... Figure 6B The diagram shown is a schematic representation of the structure of chip 6200, but it is not limited to this.

[0414] Chip 6200 includes one or more processors 6201. Chip 6200 is used to perform any of the methods described above.

[0415] In some embodiments, chip 6200 further includes one or more interface circuits 6202. Optionally, terms such as interface circuit, interface, and transceiver pin can be used interchangeably. In some embodiments, chip 6200 further includes one or more memories 6203 for storing data and / or instructions. Optionally, all or part of the memories 6203 may be located outside of chip 6200. Optionally, interface circuit 6202 is connected to memory 6203, and interface circuit 6202 can be used to receive data and / or instructions from memory 6203 or other devices, and interface circuit 6202 can be used to send data and / or instructions to memory 6203 or other devices. For example, interface circuit 6202 can read data and / or instructions stored in memory 6203 and send the data and / or instructions to processor 6201.

[0416] In some embodiments, the interface circuit 6202 performs at least one of the communication steps such as sending and / or receiving in the above method (e.g., step S2101, but not limited thereto). The interface circuit 6202 performing the communication steps such as sending and / or receiving in the above method refers, for example, to the interface circuit 6202 performing data and / or instruction interaction between the processor 6201, the chip 6200, the memory 6203, or the transceiver device. In some embodiments, the processor 6201 performs at least one of other steps (e.g., steps S2102, steps S2103, but not limited thereto).

[0417] The modules and / or devices described in the various embodiments, such as virtual devices, physical devices, and chips, can be combined or separated arbitrarily as needed. Optionally, some or all steps can also be performed collaboratively by multiple modules and / or devices, which is not limited here.

[0418] This disclosure also proposes a storage medium storing instructions that, when executed on a communication device, cause the communication device to perform any of the above methods. Optionally, the storage medium is an electronic storage medium. Optionally, the storage medium is a computer-readable storage medium, but not limited thereto; it may also be a storage medium readable by other devices. Optionally, the storage medium may be a non-transitory storage medium, but not limited thereto; it may also be a temporary storage medium.

[0419] This disclosure also proposes a program product, including a program and / or instructions, which, when executed by a communication device, cause the communication device to perform any of the above methods. Optionally, the program product is a computer program product. Optionally, the program product is stored on the storage medium.

[0420] This disclosure also proposes a computer program that, when run on a computer, causes the computer to perform any of the above methods.

Claims

1. A positioning method, characterized in that, Performed by a first device, the method includes: Receive signals sent by the second device; The signal is measured to obtain the measured value; The location information of the second device is determined based on the measured values.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, Determining the location information of the second device based on the measured value includes: The distance between the second device and the first device is determined based on the measured value.

3. The method according to claim 2, characterized in that, Determining the distance between the second device and the first device based on the measured value includes: If the measured value is greater than a first threshold, then the distance is determined to be less than a second threshold; or... If the measured value is less than or equal to the first threshold, the distance is determined to be greater than or equal to the second threshold.

4. The method according to claim 2, characterized in that, Determining the distance between the second device and the first device based on the measured value includes: The range of distance values ​​is determined based on the threshold interval in which the measured value falls, wherein one threshold interval corresponds to one range of values.

5. The method according to any one of claims 1-4, characterized in that, The measurement of the signal includes: The signal is measured within a measurement bandwidth, wherein the measurement bandwidth is greater than or equal to the transmission bandwidth of the signal.

6. The method according to any one of claims 1-4, characterized in that, The measurement of the signal includes: The signal is measured during a measurement period, wherein the measurement period is the time period corresponding to all chips occupied by the signal in the time domain, or the measurement period is the time period corresponding to all chips occupied by the signal in the time domain that are in the ON state.

7. The method according to any one of claims 1-6, characterized in that, The measured value includes at least one of the following: Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI); Reference signal received power RSRP.

8. The method according to any one of claims 1-7, characterized in that, The first device is a reader, the second device is an environmental energy IoT (AIOT) device, and the signal is a device-to-reader (D2R) signal.

9. The method according to any one of claims 1-8, characterized in that, The signal includes at least one of the following: Preamble signal; Intermediate code signal; Reference signal used to determine carrier frequency offset; Non-reference signal used to determine carrier frequency offset; The signal carried on the physical device to reader channel (PDRCH).

10. A positioning method, characterized in that, Performed by a second device, the method includes: A signal is sent to a first device, the signal being used by the first device to measure a value, and the measured value being used by the first device to determine the location information of the second device.

11. The method according to claim 10, characterized in that, The location information includes the distance between the second device and the first device.

12. The method according to claim 10 or 11, characterized in that, The signal is measured by the first device within a measurement bandwidth, wherein the measurement bandwidth is greater than or equal to the transmission bandwidth of the signal.

13. The method according to any one of claims 10-12, characterized in that, The signal is measured by the first device within a measurement period, wherein the measurement period is the time period corresponding to all chips occupied by the signal in the time domain, or the measurement period is the time period corresponding to all chips occupied by the signal in the time domain that are in the ON state.

14. The method according to any one of claims 10-13, characterized in that, The measured value includes at least one of the following: Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI); Reference signal received power RSRP.

15. The method according to any one of claims 10-14, characterized in that, The first device is a reader, the second device is an environmental energy IoT (AIOT) device, and the signal is a device-to-reader (D2R) signal.

16. The method according to any one of claims 10-15, characterized in that, The signal includes at least one of the following: Preamble signal; Intermediate code signal; Reference signal used to determine carrier frequency offset; Non-reference signal used to determine carrier frequency offset; The signal carried on the physical device to reader channel (PDRCH).

17. A positioning method for a communication system, the communication system comprising a first device and a second device, characterized in that, The method includes: The second device sends a signal to the first device; The first device measures the signal and obtains the measured value; The first device determines the location information of the second device based on the measured value.

18. A communication device, characterized in that, The communication device is used to perform the positioning method according to any one of claims 1-16.

19. A communication system, characterized in that, The device includes a first device and a second device, wherein the first device is configured to implement the positioning method according to any one of claims 1-9, and the second device is configured to implement the positioning method according to any one of claims 10-16.

20. A storage medium storing instructions, characterized in that, When the instruction is executed on the communication device, the communication device performs the positioning method according to any one of claims 1-16.

21. A program product comprising at least one of a program and instructions, characterized in that, When at least one of the programs or instructions is executed by the communication device, the positioning method according to any one of claims 1-16 is implemented.

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