Supplemental UWB transmission

Abstract

A method of supplemental UWB ranging packet transmission includes obtaining a UWB transmission schedule including at least two scheduled transmission durations and at least one available transmission duration, transmitting at least one first UWB ranging packet from a first UWB device during one of the at least two scheduled transmission durations, receiving, at the first UWB device, a request from a second UWB device for supplemental UWB ranging packet transmission by the first UWB device, and in response to receiving the request for supplemental UWB ranging packet transmission by the first UWB device, transmitting at least one second UWB ranging packet from the first UWB device in one of the at least one available transmission duration.

Description

[0001] Cross-reference to related applications

[0002] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Application No. 18 / 609,658, filed March 19, 2024, entitled “SUPPLEMENTAL UWB TRANSMISSIONS,” which has been assigned to the assignee of this application, and the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference for all purposes. Background Technology

[0003] Wireless communication systems have gone through several generations of development, including first-generation analog wireless telephone service (1G), second-generation (2G) digital wireless telephone service (including transitional 2.5G and 2.75G networks), third-generation (3G) high-speed data wireless service with internet capabilities, and fourth-generation (4G) services (e.g., LTE or WiMax). ® This includes fifth-generation (5G) services (e.g., 5G New Radio (NR)), with sixth-generation (6G) services under development. Currently, there are many different types of wireless communication systems in use, including cellular and Personal Communication Services (PCS) systems. Known examples of cellular systems include Advanced Cellular System (AMPS) and digital cellular systems based on Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA), Frequency Division Multiple Access (FDMA), Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access (OFDMA), Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA), and GSM TDMA variants.

[0004] The fifth-generation (5G) mobile standard demands higher data transmission speeds, a greater number of connections, better coverage, and other improvements. According to the Next Generation Mobile Networks Alliance (NGC), the 5G standard is designed to provide tens of megabits per second (Mbps) of data to each of tens of thousands of users, or 1 gigabit per second (Gbps) to dozens of workers on an office floor. To support large-scale sensor deployments, it should support hundreds of thousands of simultaneous connections. Therefore, the spectral efficiency of 5G mobile communications should be significantly improved compared to the current 4G standard. Furthermore, signaling efficiency should be improved, and latency should be significantly reduced compared to the current standard.

[0005] Sixth-generation (6G) networks are expected to be significantly faster and more versatile than previous generations, and capable of supporting new applications. 6G networks are anticipated to operate in frequency bands used by other applications, such as ultra-wideband (UWB) applications for communication in the 3.1 GHz to 10.6 GHz spectrum. For example, comprehensive specifications for UWB applications can be found in, for instance, IEEE standard 802.15.4z-2020, which discusses enhanced ultra-wideband (UWB) physical layer (PHY) and associated ranging techniques. Summary of the Invention

[0006] An example method for supplementing ultra-wideband (UWB) ranging packet transmission includes: obtaining a UWB transmission schedule comprising at least two transmission durations and at least one available transmission duration; transmitting at least one first UWB ranging packet from a first UWB device during the transmission duration of one of the at least two scheduled transmission durations; receiving a request from a second UWB device at the first UWB device for supplementing UWB ranging packet transmission performed by the first UWB device; and in response to receiving the request for supplementing UWB ranging packet transmission performed by the first UWB device, transmitting at least one second UWB ranging packet from the first UWB device during one of the at least one available transmission durations.

[0007] An example first UWB device includes: at least one transceiver; at least one memory; at least one processor communicatively coupled to the at least one transceiver and the at least one memory, and configured to: obtain a UWB transmission schedule including at least two transmission durations and at least one available transmission duration; transmit at least one first UWB ranging packet during the transmission duration of one of the at least two scheduled transmission durations via the at least one transceiver; receive a request from a second UWB device via the at least one transceiver for the transmission of supplementary UWB ranging packets performed by the first UWB device; and transmit at least one second UWB ranging packet during one of the at least one available transmission durations via the at least one transceiver and in response to receiving the request for the transmission of supplementary UWB ranging packets performed by the first UWB device.

[0008] Another example of a first UWB device includes: components for obtaining a UWB transmission schedule comprising at least two transmission durations and at least one available transmission duration; components for transmitting at least one first UWB ranging packet during the transmission duration of one of the at least two scheduled transmission durations; components for receiving from a second UWB device a request for transmission of supplementary UWB ranging packets by the first UWB device; and components for transmitting at least one second UWB ranging packet during one of the at least one available transmission durations in response to receiving the request for transmission of supplementary UWB ranging packets by the first UWB device.

[0009] An example non-transitory processor-readable storage medium includes processor-readable instructions for causing at least one processor of a first UWB device to: obtain a UWB transmission schedule comprising at least two transmission durations and at least one available transmission duration; transmit at least one first UWB ranging packet during the transmission duration of one of the at least two scheduled transmission durations; receive from a second UWB device a request for transmission of supplementary UWB ranging packets performed by the first UWB device; and, in response to receiving the request for transmission of supplementary UWB ranging packets performed by the first UWB device, transmit at least one second UWB ranging packet during one of the at least one available transmission durations. Attached Figure Description

[0010] Figure 1 This is a diagram illustrating an example wireless communication system.

[0011] Figure 2 yes Figure 1 The diagram shows a block diagram of the components of an example user device.

[0012] Figure 3 This is a block diagram of the components of an example send / receive point.

[0013] Figure 4 This is a block diagram of the server components, with various examples of the server in... Figure 1 As shown in the image.

[0014] Figure 5 This is a block diagram of an example user equipment.

[0015] Figure 6 This is a block diagram of an example network entity.

[0016] Figure 7 It is a communication environment that includes base stations and multiple user equipment.

[0017] Figure 8A This is a timing diagram of the ranging session's processing and signal flow.

[0018] Figure 8B This is a timing diagram of another processing and signal flow in the ranging session.

[0019] Figure 9 This is a block diagram of a part of an ultra-wideband (UWB) ranging block.

[0020] Figure 10 yes Figure 9 The timing diagram of the ranging cycles within the UWB ranging block is shown.

[0021] Figure 11 It is a timing diagram used to implement the processing and signal flow for supplementary UWB transmission.

[0022] Figure 12 This is a block diagram of UWB ranging blocks and network communication frames.

[0023] Figure 13 It is a block diagram of a UWB message that includes an implicit supplemental ranging packet transmission instruction.

[0024] Figure 14 It is a block diagram that includes a UWB message that includes an explicit supplemental ranging packet transmission instruction.

[0025] Figure 15 It is a block diagram of a UWB message that includes multiple explicit supplemental ranging packet transmission instructions and corresponding time slot instructions.

[0026] Figure 16 This is a flowchart of the method for supplementing (UWB) ranging packet transmission. Detailed Implementation

[0027] This paper discusses techniques for supplemental (UWB) ranging packet transmission. For example, supplemental UWB ranging packet transmission can be performed based on whether a UWB ranging packet was received (and if so, how well that packet was measured). For instance, an indication (e.g., a request or instruction) to supplemental UWB ranging packet transmission might be made based on a confidence metric indicating a successful measurement of a UWB ranging packet being below a threshold confidence metric value. Time slots can be allocated in the UWB schedule for supplemental ranging packet transmission. Supplemental ranging packet transmission can be performed to achieve at least the desired (e.g., minimum) number of successful ranging packet measurements. Time slots can be added even in ranging rounds after the initial ranging packet transmission, for example, to achieve the desired number of successful ranging packet measurements. As another example, the initiator and / or responder can determine retransmission strategies in capability delivery (e.g., additional time slots within the same ranging round). Confidence metrics can be used to determine the number of time slots used for retransmission strategies. However, other examples can be used.

[0028] The projects and / or technologies described herein can provide one or more of the following capabilities, as well as others not mentioned. Interference and / or inter-session interference from communication networks can be accommodated in UWB signal transmission. Acceptable and reliable UWB ranging session performance (e.g., successful UWB communication) can still be achieved despite the interference with UWB signals. Other capabilities can be provided, and not every specific embodiment according to this disclosure is required to provide any, let alone all, of the capabilities discussed.

[0029] Obtaining the location of a mobile device accessing a wireless network can be useful for many applications, including emergency calls, personal navigation, consumer asset tracking, and locating friends or family members. In industrial applications, the location of mobile devices can be essential for asset tracking, robot control, and other kinematic operations that may require precise positioning of end effectors. Existing positioning methods include those based on measurements of radio signals transmitted from various devices or entities, including satellite spacecraft (SVs) and terrestrial wireless power sources (such as base stations and access points) in a wireless network. Stations in a wireless network can be configured to transmit reference signals that enable mobile devices to perform positioning measurements. Positioning measurements can be used in various positioning methods that utilize reference signals transmitted by base stations for location determination in a manner similar to how LTE wireless networks utilize Positioning Reference Signals (PRS) and / or Cell-Specific Reference Signals (CRS).

[0030] Other positioning methods for obtaining the location of mobile devices (e.g., UWB devices) include one-sided two-way ranging (SS-TWR), two-sided two-way ranging (DS-TWR), or one-way ranging (OWR) for Time Difference of Arrival (TDOA) positioning methods. For example, SS-TWR involves measuring the round-trip delay of a single message from one device to another and the response transmitted back to the original device. DS-TWR is an extension of SS-TWR in which two round-trip time measurements are used and combined to give a TOF (Time of Flight) result with reduced error in the presence of uncorrected clock frequency offsets. TDOA is a technique for locating mobile devices (e.g., radio frequency identification (RFID) devices) based on the relative arrival times of a single message or multiple messages. OWR is used for TDOA, and there are two TDOA scenarios. In the first TDOA scenario, messages are periodically broadcast by the mobile device to multiple fixed nodes that are synchronized in some way so that arrival times can be compared. Typically, the messages transmitted by the mobile device are referred to as flashes. In the second TDOA scenario, multiple synchronized nodes broadcast messages sequentially with known transmission time offsets relative to each other. For any pair of fixed synchronization nodes, the blinking time difference in the first case or the broadcast message at the mobile device in the second case places the mobile device on a hyperbolic surface. Combining the results from multiple such pairs yields the intersections between the sets of hyperbolic surfaces, thus determining the location of the mobile device. In the second case, the transmission offset is considered when calculating the time difference of arrival of messages from the synchronization nodes.

[0031] The description herein can refer to a sequence of actions to be performed, for example, by elements of a computing device. The various actions described herein can be performed by special-purpose circuitry (e.g., an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC)), by program instructions being executed by one or more processors, or by a combination of both. The sequence of actions described herein can be embodied in a non-transitory computer-readable medium storing a corresponding set of computer instructions that, when executed, will cause the associated processor to perform the functionality described herein. Therefore, the various examples described herein can be embodied in several different forms, all of which fall within the scope of this disclosure, including the claimed subject matter.

[0032] As used herein, the terms “User Equipment” (UE) and “Base Station” are not specific to or otherwise limited to any particular Radio Access Technology (RAT) unless otherwise indicated. Generally, a UE can be any wireless communication device (e.g., mobile phone, router, tablet computer, laptop computer, consumer asset tracking device, Internet of Things (IoT) device, etc.) used to communicate over a wireless communication network. A UE can be mobile or can (e.g., at certain times) be stationary and can communicate with a Radio Access Network (RAN). As used herein, the term “UE” can be interchangeably referred to as “Access Terminal” or “AT,” “Client Equipment,” “Wireless Equipment,” “Subscriber Equipment,” “Subscriber Terminal,” “Subscriber Station,” “User Terminal” or “UT,” “Mobile Terminal,” “Mobile Station,” “Mobile Equipment,” or variations thereof. Generally, a UE can communicate with a core network via the RAN, and through the core network, a UE can connect to external networks such as the Internet and to other UEs. Of course, other mechanisms for connecting to the core network and / or the Internet are also possible for a UE, such as via a wired access network, WiFi, etc. ® Networks (e.g., based on IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) 802.11, etc.). In addition to exchanging information with each other via a network, or instead of exchanging information with each other via a network, two or more UEs can communicate directly.

[0033] Depending on the network in which the base station is deployed, the base station can operate according to one of several RATs when communicating with the UE. Examples of base stations include access points (APs), network nodes, NodeBs, evolved NodeBs (eNBs), or generic NodeBs (gNodeBs, gNBs). Furthermore, in some systems, the base station may only provide edge node signaling functions, while in others, it may provide additional control and / or network management functions.

[0034] The UE can be represented by any device of various types, including but not limited to printed circuit boards (PCBs), compact flash memory devices, external or internal modems, wireless or wired phones, smartphones, tablets, consumer asset tracking devices, asset tags, etc. The communication link through which the UE can transmit signals to the RAN is called an uplink channel (e.g., reverse traffic channel, reverse control channel, access channel, etc.). The communication link through which the RAN can transmit signals to the UE is called a downlink or forward link channel (e.g., paging channel, control channel, broadcast channel, forward traffic channel, etc.). As used herein, the term "traffic channel (TCH)" can refer to an uplink / reverse traffic channel or a downlink / forward traffic channel.

[0035] As used herein, depending on the context, the term "cell" or "sector" may refer to one of a plurality of cells of a base station or to the base station itself. The term "cell" may refer to a logical communication entity used to communicate with a base station (e.g., on a carrier) and may be associated with identifiers to distinguish adjacent cells operating via the same or different carriers (e.g., Physical Cell Identifier (PCID), Virtual Cell Identifier (VCID)). In some examples, a carrier may support multiple cells and may be configured with different protocol types that can provide access to different types of devices (e.g., Machine-Type Communication (MTC), Narrowband Internet of Things (NB-IoT), Enhanced Mobile Broadband (eMBB), or other protocol types). In some examples, the term "cell" may refer to a portion of the geographic coverage area on which a logical entity operates (e.g., a sector).

[0036] refer to Figure 1Examples of communication system 100 include UE 105, UE 106, radio access network (RAN) (here, fifth-generation (5G) next-generation (NG) RAN (NG-RAN) 135), 5G core network (5GC) 140, and server 150. UE 105 and / or UE 106 can be, for example, an IoT device, a location tracker device, a cellular phone, a vehicle (e.g., a car, truck, bus, ship, etc.), or another device. 5G network can also be referred to as a new radio (NR) network; NG-RAN 135 can be referred to as 5G RAN or NR RAN; and 5GC 140 can be referred to as NG core network (NGC). Standardization of NG-RAN and 5GC is underway within the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP). Therefore, NG-RAN 135 and 5GC 140 can follow current or future standards from 3GPP for 5G support. NG-RAN 135 can be another type of RAN, such as 3G RAN, 4G Long Term Evolution (LTE) RAN, etc. UE 106 can be configured and coupled similarly to UE 105 to transmit signals to and / or receive signals from similar other entities in system 100, but for simplicity of the figures, in Figure 1 Such signaling is not indicated in this document. Similarly, for simplicity, the discussion focuses on UE 105. Communication system 100 may utilize information from a constellation 185 of satellite spacecraft (SVs) 190, 191, 192, 193 from a satellite positioning system (SPS) such as GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, or BeiDou, or some other local or regional SPS (such as the Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS), the European Geostationary Navigation Coverage Service (EGNOS), or the Wide Area Augmentation System (WAAS)). Additional components of communication system 100 are described below. Communication system 100 may include additional or optional components.

[0037] like Figure 1As shown, NG-RAN 135 includes NR nodeBs (gNBs) 110a and 110b and a next-generation eNodeB (ng-eNB) 114, and 5GC 140 includes Access and Mobility Management Functions (AMF) 115, Session Management Functions (SMF) 117, Location Management Functions (LMF) 120, and Gateway Mobile Location Center (GMLC) 125. gNBs 110a, 110b, and ng-eNB 114 are communicatively coupled to each other, each configured to conduct bidirectional wireless communication with UE 105, and each communicatively coupled to AMF 115 and configured to conduct bidirectional communication with AMF. gNBs 110a, 110b, and ng-eNB 114 may be referred to as base stations (BS). AMF 115, SMF 117, LMF 120, and GMLC 125 are communicatively coupled to each other, and the GMLC is communicatively coupled to an external client 130. The SMF117 can be used as the initial contact point for the Service Control Function (SCF) (not shown) to create, control, and delete media sessions. Base stations (such as gNB 110a, 110b, and / or ng-eNB 114) can be macrocells (e.g., high-power cellular base stations), small cells (e.g., low-power cellular base stations), or access points (e.g., short-range base stations configured to use short-range technologies such as WiFi). ® WiFi ® Direct connection (WiFi) ® -D), Bluetooth ® ,Bluetooth ® Low power (BLE), Zigbee ® (e.g., one or more of gNB 110a, 110b and / or ng-eNB 114) can be configured to communicate with UE 105 via multiple carriers. Each of gNB 110a, 110b and / or ng-eNB 114 can provide communication coverage for a corresponding geographic area (e.g., cell). Each cell can be divided into multiple sectors based on the base station antennas.

[0038] Figure 1Generalized examples of various components are provided, wherein any or all of the components may be appropriately utilized, and each component may be repeated or omitted as needed. Specifically, although a UE 105 is illustrated, many UEs (e.g., hundreds, thousands, millions, etc.) may be utilized in communication system 100. Similarly, communication system 100 may include a larger (or smaller) number of SVs (i.e., more or fewer than the four SVs 190-193 shown), gNBs 110a and 110b, ng-eNB 114, AMF 115, external client 130, and / or other components. The illustrated connections connecting the various components in communication system 100 include data and signaling connections, which may include additional (intermediate) components, direct or indirect physical and / or wireless connections, and / or additional networks. Furthermore, the components may be rearranged, combined, separated, replaced, and / or omitted according to desired functionality.

[0039] Although Figure 1 A 5G-based network is illustrated, but similar network implementations and configurations can be used for other communication technologies such as 3G, Long Term Evolution (LTE), etc. The specific implementations described herein (for 5G technology and / or for one or more other communication technologies and / or protocols) can be used to transmit (or broadcast) directional synchronization signals, receive and measure directional signals at a UE (e.g., UE 105), and / or provide location assistance to UE 105 (via GMLC 125 or other location servers), and / or calculate the location of UE 105 at a location-capable device (such as UE 105, gNB 110a, 110b, or LMF 120) based on measurement parameters received at UE 105 for such directional transmissions. Gateway Mobile Location Center (GMLC) 125, Location Management Function (LMF) 120, Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF) 115, SMF 117, ng-eNB (eNodeB) 114, and gNB (gNodeB) 110a, 110b are examples and may be replaced by, or include, various other location server functions and / or base station functions, respectively.

[0040] System 100 is capable of wireless communication because its components can communicate directly or indirectly (at least sometimes using a wireless connection), for example, via gNB 110a, 110b, ng-eNB 114 and / or 5GC 140 (and / or one or more other devices not shown, such as one or more other transceiver base stations). For indirect communication, the communication can be modified during transmission from one entity to another, for example, by changing the header information of data packets, changing the format, etc. UE 105 may include multiple UEs and may be mobile wireless communication devices, but can communicate wirelessly as well as via wired connections. UE 105 can be any of a variety of devices, such as smartphones, tablets, vehicle-based devices, etc., but these are merely examples, as UE 105 does not need to be any of these configurations, and other configurations of UEs can be used. Other UEs may include wearable devices (e.g., smartwatches, smart jewelry, smart glasses, or head-mounted devices, etc.). Other UEs, whether currently existing or developed in the future, may also be used. In addition, other wireless devices (whether mobile or not) can be implemented within system 100 and can communicate with each other and / or with UE 105, gNB 110a, 110b, ng-eNB 114, 5GC 140, and / or external client 130. For example, such other devices may include Internet of Things (IoT) devices, medical devices, home entertainment and / or automation devices, etc. 5GC 140 can communicate with external client 130 (e.g., a computer system), for example, to allow external client 130 (e.g., via GMLC 125) to request and / or receive location information about UE 105.

[0041] UE 105 or other devices can be configured to communicate in various networks and / or for various purposes and / or using various technologies (e.g., 5G, Wi-Fi). ® Communication, multi-frequency Wi-Fi ® Communication, satellite positioning, and one or more types of communication (e.g., GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications), CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access), LTE (Long Term Evolution), V2X (vehicle-to-everything communication, e.g., V2P (vehicle-to-pedestrian), V2I (vehicle-to-infrastructure), V2V (vehicle-to-vehicle), etc.), IEEE 802.11p, etc.). V2X communication can be cellular (Cellular-V2X (C-V2X)) and / or WiFi. ®(For example, DSRC (Dedicated Short Range Connection)). System 100 can support operation on multiple carriers (waveform signals of different frequencies). A multi-carrier transmitter can transmit modulated signals simultaneously on multiple carriers. Each modulated signal can be a Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) signal, a Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) signal, an Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access (OFDMA) signal, a Single Carrier Frequency Division Multiple Access (SC-FDMA) signal, etc. Each modulated signal can be transmitted on different carriers and can carry pilot, overhead information, data, etc. UEs 105 and 106 can communicate with each other via UE-to-UE sidelink (SL) communication by transmitting on one or more sidelink (SL) channels (such as the Physical Sidelink Synchronization Channel (PSSCH), Physical Sidelink Broadcast Channel (PSBCH), or Physical Sidelink Control Channel (PSCCH)). Direct device-to-device communication (without a network) can generally be referred to as sidelink communication, without limiting the communication to a specific protocol.

[0042] UE 105 may include and / or may be referred to as a device, mobile device, wireless device, mobile terminal, terminal, mobile station (MS), Secure User Plane Location Enabled (SUPL) terminal (SET), or some other name. Furthermore, UE 105 may correspond to a cellular phone, smartphone, laptop computer, tablet device, PDA, consumer asset tracking device, navigation device, Internet of Things (IoT) device, health monitor, security system, smart city sensor, smart meter, wearable tracker, or some other portable or mobile device. Typically, although not mandatory, UE 105 may use one or more Radio Access Technologies (RATs) to support wireless communication, such as Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM), Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA), Wideband CDMA (WCDMA), LTE, High Rate Packet Data (HRPD), IEEE 802.11 WiFi, etc. ® (Also known as Wi-Fi) ® ),Bluetooth ® (BT), WiMax (Global Microwave Access) ® 5G New Radio (NR) (e.g., using NG-RAN 135 and 5GC140), etc. UE 105 can use a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) to support wireless communication, which can connect to other networks (e.g., the Internet) using, for example, digital subscriber line (DSL) or packet cable. Using one or more of these RATs allows UE 105 (e.g., via elements of 5GC 140) Figure 1(not shown in the image), or possibly via GMLC 125, to communicate with external client 130 and / or allow external client 130 (e.g., via GMLC 125) to receive location information about UE 105.

[0043] UE 105 may include a single entity or may include multiple entities, such as in a personal area network, where the user may employ audio, video, and / or data I / O (input / output) devices, and / or body sensors, as well as separate wired or wireless modems. An estimate of the location of UE 105 may be referred to as location, location estimate, location fixed, fixed, positioning, location estimation, or location fixed, and may be geographic, providing the location coordinates of UE 105 (e.g., latitude and longitude), which may or may not include an elevation component (e.g., height above sea level; height above ground level, floor level, or basement level, or depth below). Alternatively, the location of UE 105 may be expressed as a municipal location (e.g., a postal address or designation of a point or smaller area within a building, such as a specific room or floor). The location of UE 105 may be represented as an area or volume (geographically or municipally defined) within which UE 105 is expected to be located with a certain probability or confidence level (e.g., 67%, 95%, etc.). The location of UE 105 can be represented as a relative location, which includes, for example, distance and direction relative to a known location. This relative location can be represented as relative coordinates (e.g., X, Y (and Z) coordinates) defined relative to an origin at a known location, which can be, for example, geographically, municipally, or with reference to a point, area, or volume indicated, for example, on a map, floor plan, or building plan. In the description contained herein, the use of the term "location" can include any of these variations unless otherwise indicated. When calculating the location of the UE, local x, y, and (possibly also) z coordinates are typically solved, and then (if necessary) the local coordinates are converted to absolute coordinates (e.g., with respect to latitude, longitude, and elevation above or below mean sea level).

[0044] UE 105 can be configured to communicate with other entities using one or more of a variety of technologies. UE 105 can be configured to indirectly connect to one or more communication networks via one or more device-to-device (D2D) peer-to-peer (P2P) links. D2D P2P links can use any suitable D2D radio access technology (RAT) such as LTE Direct (LTE-D), WiFi, etc. ® Direct connection (WiFi) ® -D), Bluetooth ®Support is provided. One or more UEs in a UE group utilizing D2D communication may be located within the geographic coverage area of ​​a Transmit / Receive Point (TRP) (such as one or more of gNB 110a, 110b and / or ng-eNB 114). Other UEs in such a group may be outside such geographic coverage area or may be unable to receive transmissions from the base station for other reasons. A UE group communicating via D2D communication may utilize a one-to-many (1:M) system, where each UE can transmit to other UEs in the group. The TRP can facilitate the scheduling of resources for D2D communication. In other cases, D2D communication may be performed between UEs without involving the TRP. One or more UEs in a UE group utilizing D2D communication may be located within the geographic coverage area of ​​a TRP. Other UEs in such a group may be outside such geographic coverage area or may be unable to receive transmissions from the base station for other reasons. A UE group communicating via D2D communication may utilize a one-to-many (1:M) system, where each UE can transmit to other UEs in the group. TRP can facilitate the scheduling of resources used for D2D communication. In other cases, D2D communication can be performed between UEs without involving TRP.

[0045] Figure 1 The base stations (BS) in NG-RAN 135 shown include NR Node Bs (referred to as gNB 110a and gNB 110b). Each pair of gNBs 110a and 110b in NG-RAN 135 can be interconnected via one or more other gNBs. Access to the 5G network is provided to UE 105 via wireless communication with one or more of the gNBs 110a and 110b. These gNBs can use 5G to provide wireless communication access to the 5GC 140 on behalf of UE 105. Figure 1 In this context, it is assumed that the serving gNB of UE 105 is gNB 110a, but another gNB (e.g., gNB 110b) can act as the serving gNB or as a secondary gNB to provide additional throughput and bandwidth to UE 105 if UE 105 moves to another location.

[0046] Figure 1The base station (BS) in NG-RAN 135 shown may include ng-eNB 114, also known as Next Generation Evolved Node B. ng-eNB 114 may be connected to one or more of gNBs 110a and 110b in NG-RAN 135 via one or more other gNBs and / or one or more other ng-eNBs. ng-eNB 114 may provide LTE radio access and / or evolved LTE (eLTE) radio access to UE 105. One or more of gNBs 110a, 110b and / or ng-eNB 114 may be configured to act as a location-only beacon, which may transmit signals to assist in determining the location of UE 105, but may not receive signals from UE 105 or other UEs.

[0047] gNB 110a, 110b, and / or ng-eNB 114 may each include one or more TRPs. For example, each sector within a cell of the BS may include a TRP, but multiple TRPs may share one or more components (e.g., a shared processor but with separate antennas). System 100 may include only macro TRPs, or system 100 may have different types of TRPs, such as macro TRPs, pico TRPs, and / or femto TRPs. Macro TRPs may cover a relatively large geographic area (e.g., a radius of several kilometers) and may allow unrestricted access by terminals with service subscriptions. Pico TRPs may cover a relatively small geographic area (e.g., a pico cell) and may allow unrestricted access by terminals with service subscriptions. Femto or home TRPs may cover a relatively small geographic area (e.g., a femto cell) and may allow restricted access by terminals associated with that femto cell (e.g., terminals of users in a home).

[0048] Each of the gNBs 110a, 110b, and / or ng-eNB 114 may include a Radio Unit (RU), a Distributed Unit (DU), and a Central Unit (CU). For example, the gNB 110b includes RU 111, DU 112, and CU 113. RU 111, DU 112, and CU 113 define the functionality of the gNB 110b. Although the gNB 110b is shown as having a single RU, a single DU, and a single CU, a gNB may include one or more RUs, one or more DUs, and / or one or more CUs. The interface between CU 113 and DU 112 is referred to as the F1 interface. RU 111 is configured to perform digital front-end (DFE) functions (e.g., analog-to-digital conversion, filtering, power amplification, transmit / receive) and digital beamforming, and includes part of the physical (PHY) layer. RU 111 may perform DFE using massive MIMO and may be integrated with one or more antennas of the gNB 110b. DU 112 hosts the Radio Link Control (RLC), Media Access Control (MAC), and Physical Layer of gNB 110b. A DU can support one or more cells, and each cell is supported by a single DU. The operation of DU 112 is controlled by CU 113. CU 113 is configured to perform functions for delivering user data, mobility control, radio access network sharing, location, session management, etc., although some functions are only assigned to DU 112. CU 113 hosts the Radio Resource Control (RRC), Serving Data Adaptation Protocol (SDAP), and Packet Data Convergence Protocol (PDCP) of gNB 110b. UE 105 can communicate with CU 113 via the RRC, SDAP, and PDCP layers, with DU 112 via the RLC, MAC, and PHY layers, and with RU 111 via the PHY layer.

[0049] As pointed out, although Figure 1 The diagram depicts nodes configured to communicate according to 5G communication protocols, but nodes configured to communicate according to other communication protocols (such as, for example, LTE or IEEE 802.11x) can also be used. For instance, in an evolved packet system (EPS) providing LTE radio access to UE 105, the RAN may include an evolved universal mobile telecommunications system (UMTS) terrestrial radio access network (E-UTRAN), which may include base stations containing evolved Node Bs (eNBs). The core network for the EPS may include an evolved packet core (EPC). The EPS may include the E-UTRAN plus the EPC, where the E-UTRAN corresponds to... Figure 1 NG-RAN 135 in the figure and EPC correspond to 5GC 140 in the figure.

[0050] gNB 110a, 110b, and ng-eNB 114 can communicate with AMF 115; for location functionality, AMF communicates with LMF 120. AMF 115 can support UE 105 mobility (including cell changes and handover) and can participate in supporting signaling connections with UE 105 and (possibly) data and voice bearers for UE 105. LMF 120 can communicate directly with UE 105, for example, wirelessly, or directly with gNB 110a, 110b, and / or ng-eNB 114. LMF 120 can support UE 105 positioning when UE 105 accesses NG-RAN 135, and can support various positioning procedures / methods, such as Auxiliary GNSS (A-GNSS), Observation Time Difference of Arrival (OTDOA) (e.g., Downlink (DL) OTDOA or Uplink (UL) OTDOA), Round Trip Time (RTT), Multi-Cell RTT, Real-Time Kinematics (RTK), Precise Point Positioning (PPP), Differential GNSS (DGNSS), Enhanced Cell ID (E-CID), Angle of Arrival (AoA), Angle of Departure (AoD), and / or other positioning methods. LMF 120 can process, for example, location service requests for UE 105 received from AMF 115 or GMLC 125. LMF 120 can connect to AMF 115 and / or GMLC 125. LMF 120 can be referred to by other names, such as Location Manager (LM), Location Function (LF), Commercial LMF (CLMF), or Value-Added LMF (VLMF). The node / system implementing LMF 120 may additionally or alternatively implement other types of location support modules, such as an Enhanced Serving Mobility Location Center (E-SMLC) or a Secure User Plane Location (SUPL) Location Platform (SLP). At least a portion of the location functionality (including the derivation of the location of UE 105) may be performed at UE 105 (e.g., using signal measurements obtained by UE 105 against signals transmitted by radio nodes (such as gNB110a, 110b, and / or ng-eNB 114), and / or auxiliary data provided to UE 105, for example, by LMF 120). AMF 115 may serve as a control node for handling signaling between UE 105 and 5GC 140 and may provide QoS (Quality of Service) streaming and session management. AMF 115 may support the mobility of UE 105 (including cell changes and handover) and may participate in supporting signaling connections with UE 105.

[0051] Server 150 (e.g., a cloud server) is configured to obtain the location estimate of UE 105 and provide it to external client 130. Server 150 may be configured, for example, to run a microservice / service for obtaining the location estimate of UE 105. Server 150 may, for example (e.g., by sending a location request to it), pull the location estimate from one or more of UE 105, gNB 110a, 110b (e.g., via RU 111, DU 112, and CU 113) and / or ng-eNB 114 and / or LMF 120. As another example, one or more of UE 105, gNB 110a, 110b (e.g., via RU 111, DU 112, and CU 113) and / or LMF 120 may push the location estimate of UE 105 to server 150.

[0052] GMLC 125 can support location requests for UE 105 received from external client 130 via server 150, and can forward such location requests to AMF 115 for forwarding to LMF 120, or can forward the location request directly to LMF 120. A location response from LMF 120 (e.g., containing a location estimate for UE 105) can be returned to GMLC 125 directly or via AMF 115, and GMLC 125 can then return the location response (e.g., containing the location estimate) to external client 130 via server 150. GMLC 125 is shown connected to both AMF 115 and LMF 120, but in some specific implementations it may not be connected to either AMF 115 or LMF 120.

[0053] like Figure 1 As a further example, the LMF 120 can use the new radio positioning protocol A (which may be referred to as NPPa or NRPPa) to communicate with gNB 110a, 110b and / or ng-eNB 114, which can be defined in 3GPP Technical Specification (TS) 38.455. NRPPa can be the same as, similar to or an extension of the LTE Positioning Protocol A (LPPa) defined in 3GPP TS 36.455, where NRPPa messages are transmitted via AMF 115 between gNB 110a (or gNB 110b) and LMF 120, and / or between ng-eNB 114 and LMF 120. Figure 1As a further example, LMF 120 and UE 105 can communicate using the LTE Location Protocol (LPP), which is defined in 3GPP TS 36.355. LMF 120 and UE 105 can also communicate using a new radio positioning protocol (which may be referred to as NPP or NRPP), which may be the same as, similar to, or an extension of LPP. Here, LPP and / or NPP messages can be transmitted between UE 105 and LMF 120 via AMF 115 and UE 105's serving gNB 110a, 110b, or serving ng-eNB 114. For example, LPP and / or NPP messages can be transmitted between LMF 120 and AMF 115 using the 5G Location Services Application Protocol (LCS AP), and between AMF 115 and UE 105 using the 5G Non-Access Stratum (NAS) protocol. The LPP and / or NPP protocols can be used to support the location of UE 105 using UE-assisted and / or UE-based positioning methods (such as A-GNSS, RTK, OTDOA, and / or E-CID). The NRPPa protocol can be used to support the location of UE 105 using network-based positioning methods (such as E-CID) (e.g., when used in conjunction with measurements obtained by gNB 110a, 110b, or ng-eNB 114) and / or can be used by LMF 120 to obtain location-related information from gNB 110a, 110b, and / or ng-eNB 114, such as defining parameters sent by directional SS or PRS from gNB 110a, 110b, and / or ng-eNB 114. LMF 120 can be co-located or integrated with gNB or TRP, or can be configured to be located away from gNB and / or TRP and communicate directly or indirectly with gNB and / or TRP.

[0054] Using a UE-assisted positioning method, UE 105 can obtain location measurements and transmit these measurements to a location server (e.g., LMF 120) for calculating a location estimate for UE 105. For example, location measurements may include one or more of the following: Received Signal Strength Indication (RSSI), Round-Trip Time (RTT), Reference Signal Time Difference (RSTD), Reference Signal Received Power (RSRP), and / or Reference Signal Received Quality (RSRQ) for gNB 110a, 110b, ng-eNB 114, and / or WLAN AP. Location measurements may additionally or alternatively include measurements of GNSS pseudorange, code phase, and / or carrier phase for SV 190-193.

[0055] Using a UE-based positioning method, UE 105 can obtain a location measurement (e.g., which may be the same as or similar to the location measurement of a UE-assisted positioning method) and can calculate the location of UE 105 (e.g., by means of auxiliary data received from a location server (such as LMF 120) or broadcast by gNB 110a, 110b, ng-eNB 114 or other base stations or APs).

[0056] Using a network-based positioning method, one or more base stations (e.g., gNB 110a, 110b and / or ng-eNB 114) or APs can obtain location measurements (e.g., measurements of RSSI, RTT, RSRP, RSRQ, or Time of Arrival (ToA) of signals transmitted by UE 105) and / or can receive measurements obtained by UE 105. One or more base stations or APs can transmit the measurements to a location server (e.g., LMF 120) for calculating a location estimate for UE 105.

[0057] The information provided to the LMF 120 by the gNB 110a, 110b and / or ng-eNB 114 using NRPPa may include timing and configuration information for directing SS or PRS transmissions, as well as location coordinates. The LMF 120 may provide some or all of this information as supplementary data to the UE 105 in LPP and / or NPP messages via NG-RAN 135 and 5GC140.

[0058] The LPP or NPP message transmitted from LMF 120 to UE 105 can command UE 105 to perform any of a variety of tasks depending on the desired functionality. For example, the LPP or NPP message may contain instructions for UE 105 to obtain measurements of GNSS (or A-GNSS), WLAN, E-CID, and / or OTDOA (or some other positioning method). In the case of E-CID, the LPP or NPP message may command UE 105 to obtain measurements supported by one or more of gNB 110a, 110b, and / or ng-eNB 114 (or by some other type of base station such as eNB or WiFi). ® One or more measurement parameters (e.g., beam ID, beamwidth, average angle, RSRP, RSRQ measurements) of directional signals transmitted within a specific cell supported by the AP. UE 105 can transmit these measurement parameters back to LMF 120 via serving gNB110a (or serving ng-eNB 114) and AMF 115 in an LPP or NPP message (e.g., within a 5G NAS message).

[0059] As noted, while a communication system 100 is described in relation to 5G technology, the communication system 100 can be implemented to support other communication technologies (such as GSM, WCDMA, LTE, etc.) for supporting and interacting with mobile devices (such as UE 105) (e.g., to provide voice, data, location, and other functionalities). In some such specific implementations, the 5GC 140 can be configured to control different air interfaces. For example, the 5GC 140 can use non-3GPP interoperability functions (N3IWF) within the 5GC 140. Figure 1 (Not shown) Connected to a WLAN. For example, the WLAN may support IEEE 802.11 WiFi for UE 105. ® Access, and may include one or more WiFi networks. ® AP. Here, the N3IWF can connect to the WLAN and other components in 5GC 140, such as AMF 115. In some examples, both NG-RAN 135 and 5GC 140 can be replaced by one or more other RANs and one or more other core networks. For example, in EPS, NG-RAN 135 can be replaced by E-UTRAN containing eNBs, and 5GC 140 can be replaced by EPC containing a Mobility Management Entity (MME) instead of AMF 115, an E-SMLC instead of LMF 120, and a GMLC similar to GMLC 125. In such EPS, the E-SMLC can use LPPa instead of NRPPa to transmit location information to and receive location information from eNBs in the E-UTRAN, and can use LPP to support UE 105's positioning. In these other examples, the location of UE 105 using directional PRS can be supported in a manner similar to that described herein for 5G networks. The difference is that the functions and procedures described herein for gNB 110a, 110b, ng-eNB114, AMF 115, and LMF 120 can, in some cases, be alternatively applied to other network elements, such as eNBs and WiFi. ® AP, MME, and E-SMLC.

[0060] As noted, in some examples, positioning functionality can be achieved at least in part using directional SS or PRS beams transmitted by base stations (such as gNB 110a, 110b and / or ng-eNB 114) that are used to determine the location of the UE (e.g., Figure 1 Within the range of UE 105. In some instances, the UE can use directional SS or PRS beams from multiple base stations (such as gNB 110a, 110b, ng-eNB 114, etc.) to calculate the UE's location.

[0061] Also refer to Figure 2UE 200 may be an example of one of UEs 105 and 106, and may include a computing platform containing processor 210, a memory 211 containing software (SW) 212, one or more sensors 213, a transceiver interface 214 for transceivers 215 (which includes wireless transceivers 240 and wired transceivers 250), a user interface 216, a satellite positioning system (SPS) receiver 217, and a camera 218. Processor 210, memory 211, sensors 213, transceiver interface 214, user interface 216, SPS receiver 217, and camera 218 may be communicatively coupled to each other via bus 220 (which may be configured for, for example, optical and / or electrical communication). One or more of the devices shown in the illustrations (e.g., camera 218 and / or one or more sensors in sensor 213, etc.) may be omitted from UE 200. Processor 210 may include one or more hardware devices, such as a central processing unit (CPU), a microcontroller, an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), etc. Processor 210 may include multiple processors, including a general-purpose / application processor 230, a digital signal processor (DSP) 231, a modem processor 232, a video processor 233, and / or a sensor processor 234. One or more of processors 230 to 234 may include multiple devices (e.g., multiple processors). For example, sensor processor 234 may include processors for RF (radio frequency) sensing (where one or more transmitted (cellular) wireless signals and reflections are used to identify, map, and / or track objects) and / or ultrasound, etc. Modem processor 232 may support dual SIM / dual connectivity (or even more SIMs). For example, a SIM (Subscriber Identity Module or Subscriber Identification Module) may be used by an Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM), and another SIM may be used by an end user of UE 200 to obtain connectivity. Memory 211 may be a non-transitory storage medium that may include random access memory (RAM), flash memory, disk storage, and / or read-only memory (ROM), etc. Memory 211 may store software 212, which may be processor-readable, processor-executable software code containing instructions that, when executed, cause processor 210 to perform the various functions described herein. Alternatively, software 212 may not be directly executable by processor 210, but may be configured, for example, to cause processor 210 to perform these functions when compiled and executed. The description herein may refer to processor 210 performing functions, but this includes other specific implementations, such as processor 210 performing software and / or firmware. The description herein may refer to the functions performed by processor 210 as abbreviated as functions performed by one or more processors 230 to 234. The description herein may refer to the functions performed by UE 200 as abbreviated as functions performed by one or more appropriate components of UE 200.Processor 210 may include memory containing stored instructions as a supplement to and / or replacement of memory 211. The functionality of processor 210 is discussed more fully below.

[0062] Figure 2 The configuration of UE 200 shown is exemplary and not intended to limit this disclosure (including the claims), and other configurations may be used. For example, an exemplary configuration of the UE may include one or more of processors 230 to 234 in processor 210, memory 211, and a wireless transceiver 240. Other exemplary configurations may include one or more of processors 230 to 234 in processor 210, memory 211, a wireless transceiver, and one or more of the following: sensor 213, user interface 216, SPS receiver 217, camera 218, and / or a wired transceiver. Sensor 213 may include one or more motion sensors (e.g., one or more inertial sensors) and / or one or more environmental sensors.

[0063] UE 200 may include a modem processor 232 capable of performing baseband processing on signals received and downconverted by transceiver 215 and / or SPS receiver 217. Modem processor 232 may also perform baseband processing on signals to be upconverted for transmission by transceiver 215. Alternatively, baseband processing may be performed by general-purpose / application processor 230 and / or DSP 231. However, other configurations may be used to perform baseband processing.

[0064] Transceiver 215 may include a wireless transceiver 240 and a wired transceiver 250 configured to communicate with other devices via wireless and wired connections, respectively. For example, wireless transceiver 240 may include a wireless transmitter 242 and a wireless receiver 244 coupled to antenna 246 for transmitting (e.g., on one or more uplink channels and / or one or more sidelink channels) and / or receiving (e.g., on one or more downlink channels and / or one or more sidelink channels) wireless signals 248 and converting signals from wireless signals 248 to wired (e.g., electrical and / or optical) signals and from wired (e.g., electrical and / or optical) signals to wireless signals 248. Wireless transmitter 242 includes suitable components (e.g., power amplifiers and digital-to-analog converters). Wireless receiver 244 includes suitable components (e.g., one or more amplifiers, one or more frequency filters, and analog-to-digital converters). Wireless transmitter 242 may include multiple transmitters that may be discrete components or combined / integrated components, and / or wireless receiver 244 may include multiple receivers that may be discrete components or combined / integrated components. The wireless transceiver 240 can be configured to transmit signals according to various radio access technologies (RATs) (e.g., with TRP and / or one or more other devices), such as 5G New Radio (NR), GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications), UMTS (Universal Mobile Telecommunications System), AMPS (Advanced Mobile Telephone Systems), CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access), WCDMA (Wideband CDMA), LTE (Long Term Evolution), LTE Direct (LTE-D), 3GPP LTE-V2X (PC5), IEEE 802.11 (including IEEE 802.11p), and WiFi. ® WiFi ® Direct connection (WiFi) ® -D), Bluetooth ® Zigbee ®The new radio can use millimeter-wave frequencies and / or frequencies below 6 GHz. Wired transceiver 250 may include a wired transmitter 252 and a wired receiver 254 configured for wired communication, for example, a network interface used to communicate with and receive communications from NG-RAN 135. Wired transmitter 252 may include multiple transmitters, which may be discrete components or combined / integrated components, and / or wired receiver 254 may include multiple receivers, which may be discrete components or combined / integrated components. Wired transceiver 250 may be configured, for example, for optical and / or electrical communication. Transceiver 215 may be communicatively coupled to transceiver interface 214, for example, via optical and / or electrical connections. Transceiver interface 214 may be at least partially integrated with transceiver 215. The wireless transmitter 242, the wireless receiver 244, and / or the antenna 246 may each include multiple transmitters, multiple receivers, and / or multiple antennas for transmitting and / or receiving appropriate signals, respectively.

[0065] User interface 216 may include one or more of a number of devices, such as speakers, microphones, display devices, vibration devices, keyboards, touchscreens, etc. User interface 216 may include more than one of these devices. User interface 216 may be configured to enable a user to interact with one or more applications hosted by UE 200. For example, user interface 216 may store indications of analog and / or digital signals in memory 211 in response to actions from the user, for processing by DSP 231 and / or general-purpose / application processor 230. Similarly, applications hosted on UE 200 may store indications of analog and / or digital signals in memory 211 to present output signals to the user. User interface 216 may include audio input / output (I / O) devices, including, for example, speakers, microphones, digital-to-analog circuitry, analog-to-digital circuitry, amplifiers, and / or gain control circuitry (including more than one of these devices). Other configurations of the audio I / O devices may be used. Additionally or alternatively, the user interface 216 may include one or more touch sensors that respond to touch and / or pressure on, for example, the keyboard and / or touchscreen of the user interface 216.

[0066] SPS receiver 217 (e.g., a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver) can receive and acquire SPS signal 260 via SPS antenna 262. SPS antenna 262 is configured to convert SPS signal 260 from a wireless signal to a wired signal (e.g., an electrical or optical signal) and can be integrated with antenna 246. SPS receiver 217 can be configured to process the acquired SPS signal 260 fully or partially to estimate the location of UE 200. For example, SPS receiver 217 can be configured to determine the location of UE 200 by performing trilateration using SPS signal 260. The acquired SPS signal can be processed fully or partially using general-purpose / application processor 230, memory 211, DSP 231, and / or one or more dedicated processors (not shown), and / or the estimated location of UE 200 can be calculated. Memory 211 may store indications (e.g., measurements) of SPS signal 260 and / or other signals (e.g., signals acquired from wireless transceiver 240) for use in performing positioning operations. General-purpose / application processor 230, DSP 231, and / or one or more dedicated processors, and / or memory 211 may provide or support a location engine for processing measurements to estimate the location of UE 200.

[0067] UE 200 may include a camera 218 for capturing still or moving images. Camera 218 may include, for example, an imaging sensor (e.g., a charge-coupled device or CMOS (complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor) imager), lenses, analog-to-digital circuitry, frame buffers, etc. Additional processing, conditioning, encoding, and / or compression of signals representing the captured images may be performed by a general-purpose / application processor 230 and / or a DSP 231. Additionally or alternatively, a video processor 233 may perform conditioning, encoding, compression, and / or manipulation of signals representing the captured images. The video processor 233 may decode / decompress stored image data for presentation on a display device (not shown), for example, the user interface 216.

[0068] Also refer to Figure 3Examples of TRP 300 for gNB 110a, 110b and / or ng-eNB 114 may include a computing platform including processor 310, memory 330 including software (SW) 332, and transceiver 320. Even when cited in the singular, processor 310 may include one or more processors, transceiver 320 may include one or more transceivers (e.g., one or more transmitters and / or one or more receivers), and memory 330 may include one or more memories. Processor 310, memory 330 and transceiver 320 may be communicatively coupled to each other via bus 380 (which may be configured for, for example, optical communication and / or electrical communication). One or more of the devices shown in the TRP 300 may be omitted. Processor 310 may include one or more hardware devices, such as a central processing unit (CPU), microcontroller, application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), etc. Processor 310 may include multiple processors (e.g., including general-purpose / application processors, DSPs, modem processors, video processors and / or sensor processors, such as... Figure 2 (As shown). Memory 330 may be a non-transitory storage medium including random access memory (RAM), flash memory, disk storage, and / or read-only memory (ROM). Memory 330 may store software 332, which may be processor-readable, processor-executable software code containing instructions configured to cause processor 310 to perform the various functions described herein when executed. Alternatively, software 332 may not be directly executable by processor 310, but may be configured to cause processor 310 to perform these functions, for example, when configured to be compiled and executed.

[0069] The description herein may refer to the functionality performed by processor 310, but this includes other specific implementations, such as the case where processor 310 performs software and / or firmware. The description herein may refer to the functionality performed by processor 310 as an abbreviation for one or more processors included in processor 310 performing that functionality. The description herein may refer to the functionality performed by TRP 300 as an abbreviation for the functionality performed by one or more appropriate components of TRP 300 (and therefore one of gNB 110a, 110b and / or ng-eNB 114), such as processor 310 and memory 330. Processor 310 may include memory with stored instructions as a complement and / or replacement for memory 330. The functionality of processor 310 is discussed more fully below.

[0070] Transceiver 320 may include a wireless transceiver 340 and / or a wired transceiver 350 configured to communicate with other devices via wireless and wired connections, respectively. For example, wireless transceiver 340 may include a wireless transmitter 342 and a wireless receiver 344 coupled to one or more antennas 346 for transmitting (e.g., on one or more uplink channels and / or one or more downlink channels) and / or receiving (e.g., on one or more downlink channels and / or one or more uplink channels) wireless signals 348 and converting signals from wireless signals 348 to wired (e.g., electrical and / or optical) signals and from wired (e.g., electrical and / or optical) signals to wireless signals 348. Therefore, wireless transmitter 342 may include multiple transmitters that may be discrete components or combined / integrated components, and / or wireless receiver 344 may include multiple receivers that may be discrete components or combined / integrated components. The wireless transceiver 340 can be configured to transmit signals according to various radio access technologies (RATs) (e.g., with UE 200, one or more other UEs, and / or one or more other devices), such as 5G New Radio (NR), GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications), UMTS (Universal Mobile Telecommunications System), AMPS (Advanced Mobile Telephone Systems), CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access), WCDMA (Wideband CDMA), LTE (Long Term Evolution), LTE Direct (LTE-D), 3GPP LTE-V2X (PC5), IEEE 802.11 (including IEEE 802.11p), and WiFi. ® WiFi ® Direct connection (WiFi) ® -D), Bluetooth ® Zigbee ® The wired transceiver 350 may include a wired transmitter 352 and a wired receiver 354 configured for wired communication, for example, a network interface that can be used to communicate with NG-RAN 135 to transmit and receive communication to, for example, LMF 120 and / or one or more other network entities. The wired transmitter 352 may include multiple transmitters that may be discrete components or combined / integrated components, and / or the wired receiver 354 may include multiple receivers that may be discrete components or combined / integrated components. The wired transceiver 350 may be configured, for example, for optical communication and / or electrical communication.

[0071] Figure 3The configuration of TRP 300 shown is illustrative and not intended to limit this disclosure (including the claims), and other configurations may be used. For example, the description herein discusses that TRP 300 may be configured to perform several functions or that the TRP performs several functions, but one or more of these functions may be performed by LMF 120 and / or UE 200 (i.e., LMF120 and / or UE 200 may be configured to perform one or more of these functions).

[0072] Also refer to Figure 4 Server 400 (LMF 120 may be an example thereof) may include: a computing platform including processor 410, memory 430 including software (SW) 432, and transceiver 420. Even when mentioned in the singular, processor 410 may include one or more processors, transceiver 420 may include one or more transceivers (e.g., one or more transmitters and / or one or more receivers), and memory 430 may include one or more memories. Processor 410, memory 430, and transceiver 420 may be communicatively coupled to each other via bus 480 (which may be configured for, for example, optical communication and / or electrical communication). One or more devices in the illustrated apparatus (e.g., wireless transceivers) may be omitted from server 400. Processor 410 may include one or more hardware devices, such as a central processing unit (CPU), microcontroller, application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), etc. Processor 410 may include multiple processors (e.g., including general-purpose / application processors, DSPs, modem processors, video processors, and / or sensor processors, such as... Figure 2 (As shown). Memory 430 may be a non-transitory storage medium that may include random access memory (RAM), flash memory, disk storage, and / or read-only memory (ROM). Memory 430 may store software 432, which may be processor-readable, processor-executable software code containing instructions configured to cause processor 410 to perform the various functions described herein when executed. Alternatively, software 432 may not be directly executable by processor 410, but may be configured to cause processor 410 to perform these functions, for example, when compiled and executed. The description herein may refer to processor 410 performing functions, but this includes other specific implementations, such as processor 410 performing software and / or firmware. The description herein may refer to the function performed by processor 410 as an abbreviation for one or more processors included in processor 410 performing functions. The description herein may refer to the function performed by server 400 as an abbreviation for one or more suitable components of server 400 performing functions. Processor 410 may include memory with stored instructions as a supplement and / or alternative to memory 430. The functionality of processor 410 will be discussed more comprehensively below.

[0073] Transceiver 420 may include a wireless transceiver 440 and / or a wired transceiver 450 configured to communicate with other devices via wireless and wired connections, respectively. For example, wireless transceiver 440 may include a wireless transmitter 442 and a wireless receiver 444 coupled to one or more antennas 446 for transmitting (e.g., on one or more downlink channels) and / or receiving (e.g., on one or more uplink channels) wireless signals 448 and converting signals from wireless signals 448 to wired (e.g., electrical and / or optical) signals and from wired (e.g., electrical and / or optical) signals to wireless signals 448. Therefore, wireless transmitter 442 may include multiple transmitters that may be discrete components or combined / integrated components, and / or wireless receiver 444 may include multiple receivers that may be discrete components or combined / integrated components. The wireless transceiver 440 can be configured to transmit signals according to various radio access technologies (RATs) (e.g., with UE 200, one or more other UEs, and / or one or more other devices), such as 5G New Radio (NR), GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications), UMTS (Universal Mobile Telecommunications System), AMPS (Advanced Mobile Telephone Systems), CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access), WCDMA (Wideband CDMA), LTE (Long Term Evolution), LTE Direct (LTE-D), 3GPP LTE-V2X (PC5), IEEE 802.11 (including IEEE 802.11p), and WiFi. ® WiFi ® Direct connection (WiFi) ® -D), Bluetooth ® Zigbee ® The wired transceiver 450 may include a wired transmitter 452 and a wired receiver 454 configured for wired communication, for example, a network interface that can be used to communicate with NG-RAN 135 to transmit and receive communication to, for example, TRP 300 and / or one or more other network entities. The wired transmitter 452 may include multiple transmitters that may be discrete components or combined / integrated components, and / or the wired receiver 454 may include multiple receivers that may be discrete components or combined / integrated components. The wired transceiver 450 may be configured, for example, for optical communication and / or electrical communication.

[0074] Figure 4The configuration of server 400 shown is exemplary and not intended to limit this disclosure (including the claims), and other configurations may be used. For example, wireless transceiver 440 may be omitted. Furthermore or alternatively, the description herein discusses server 400 being configured to perform certain functions, but one or more of these functions may be performed by TRP 300 and / or UE 200 (i.e., TRP 300 and / or UE 200 may be configured to perform one or more of these functions).

[0075] Also refer to Figure 5 UE 500 includes a processor 510, a transceiver 520, and a memory 530 communicatively coupled to each other via a bus 540. Even when referred to in the singular, processor 510 may include one or more processors, transceiver 520 may include one or more transceivers (e.g., one or more transmitters and / or one or more receivers), and memory 530 may include one or more memories. UE 500 may include Figure 5 The components shown. UE 500 may include one or more other components (such as...) Figure 2 Any of the components shown) makes UE 200 an example of UE 500. For example, processor 510 may include one or more components of processor 210. Transceiver 520 may include one or more components of transceiver 215, such as wireless transmitter 242 and antenna 246, or wireless receiver 244 and antenna 246, or wireless transmitter 242, wireless receiver 244 and antenna 246. Additionally or alternatively, transceiver 520 may include wired transmitter 252 and / or wired receiver 254. Memory 530 may be configured similarly to memory 211, for example including software having processor-readable instructions configured to cause processor 510 to perform functions.

[0076] The description herein may refer to the processor 510 performing functions, but this includes other specific implementations, such as the processor 510 performing software and / or firmware (stored in memory 530). The description herein may refer to the UE 500 performing functions as an abbreviation for one or more appropriate components of the UE 500 (e.g., processor 510 and memory 530) performing functions. The processor 510 (possibly in conjunction with memory 530 and, appropriately, transceiver 520) may include a UWB unit 550. The UWB unit 550 may be configured to establish a UWB ranging session, may be configured to determine a UWB schedule (for UWB transmissions in the UWB session), may be configured to perform one or more supplemental ranging packet transmissions (in addition to the scheduled transmissions), and / or may be configured to request supplemental ranging packet transmissions. The UWB unit 550 is discussed further below, and the description herein may refer to the processor 510 as a whole or the UE 500 as any function performing the functions of the UWB unit 550, wherein the UE 500 is configured to perform the functions.

[0077] Also refer to Figure 6 Network entity 600 includes a processor 610, a transceiver 620, and a memory 630 that are communicatively coupled to each other via a bus 640. Even when mentioned in the singular, network entity 600 may include one or more network entities; processor 610 may include one or more processors; transceiver 620 may include one or more transceivers (e.g., one or more transmitters and / or one or more receivers); and memory 630 may include one or more memories. Network entity 600 may include... Figure 6 The components shown can be configured as components of a communication network (e.g., a terrestrial communication network, such as a cellular network). Network entity 600 may include one or more other components, such as Figure 4 Any of the components shown makes server 400 an example of network entity 600. For example, processor 610 may include one or more components of processor 410. Transceiver 620 may include one or more components of transceiver 420. Memory 630 may be configured similarly to memory 430, for example, including software having processor-readable instructions configured to cause processor 610 to perform functions. Additionally or alternatively, network entity 600 may include one or more other components, such as Figure 3Any of the components shown makes TRP 300 an example of network entity 600. For example, processor 610 may include one or more components of processor 310. Transceiver 620 may include one or more components of transceiver 320. Memory 630 may be configured similarly to memory 330, for example, including software with processor-readable instructions configured to cause processor 610 to perform functions.

[0078] The description herein may refer to the functions performed by processor 610, but this includes other specific implementations, such as the case where processor 610 performs software and / or firmware (stored in memory 630). The description herein may refer to the functions performed by network entity 600 as a shortened form of the functions performed by one or more suitable components of network entity 600 (e.g., processor 610 and memory 630). Processor 610 (possibly in conjunction with memory 630 and, appropriately, transceiver 620) may include RAT unit 650. RAT unit 650 may be configured to generate RAT schedules. RAT unit 650 is further discussed below, and any functions that may be referred to generally as processor 610 or generally as network entity 600, performing the functions of RAT unit 650, wherein network entity 600 is configured to perform these functions, are described.

[0079] Also refer to Figure 7The signaling environment 700 includes a base station 710 and UEs 720 and 730. Each of UEs 720 and 730 may be an example of UE 500. In this example, UE 720 is a smartphone, and UE 730 is a vehicle or at least a part thereof. Base station 710 may include one or more TRPs in TRP 300 and may be configured to provide RAT signals, for example, it may be used as a base station of a cellular network. UE 720 may not be configured to communicate with base station 710 via RAT signaling (e.g., the transmission (e.g., switching) of RAT signal 740). UE 720 may be configured to communicate with base station 710 via RAT signaling, but may not communicate with base station 710, for example, to obtain RAT scheduling information, or may be unaware of RAT scheduling for one or more other reasons. RAT scheduling (which may be referred to as RAT transmission scheduling) may include indications of timing for RAT frames, subframes within corresponding frames, time slots within corresponding subframes, and symbols within corresponding time slots. UEs 720 and 730 can be configured to communicate with each other via UWB signaling (e.g., the delivery of UWB signal 750). New spectrum can be used for next-generation (e.g., 6G) RAT signals, and this new spectrum may overlap with the UWB spectrum. Using RAT signals on the same spectrum as UWB devices can cause interference with UWB signals, especially since UWB signal transmit power is -14.3 dBm or less, while RAT signal transmit power may be around 40 dBm. Interference with UWB communication may be a concern for UWB device manufacturers (e.g., vehicle manufacturers who have already used UWB signaling to achieve a 99.9% success rate in digital car key functionality (e.g., unlocking, locking, starting, and / or locking the vehicle)). To help achieve a 99.9% success rate, UWB unit 550 and / or RAT unit 650 can help mitigate or avoid interference between RAT signals (e.g., FR3 signals with frequencies between 7.125 GHz and 24.25 GHz) and UWB signals (signals with frequencies between 3.1 GHz and 10.6 GHz). To help mitigate or avoid this interference, one or more of the UWB units 550 in UEs 720 and 730 can identify one or more time slots in the RAT signaling that can be used for UWB signaling (i.e., UWB signal transmission). UE 720 can be connected to the RAT network and / or can be used as a UWB controller. In addition to or in place of base station 710, signaling environment 700 may include wireless communication device 760 (and possibly one or more other wireless signaling devices). The radio signaling device may be configured to transmit (e.g., send and / or receive) signals 770 that may interfere with one or more signals received by UE 720 (e.g., RAT signals, SL signals and / or UWB signals, etc.).Alternatively, UE 720 may transmit a signal 780 that may interfere with UWB signal 750 (e.g., one or more RAT signals in RAT signal 740, one or more other UWB signals and / or one or more SL signals, etc.).

[0080] UWB devices can use pulse-based radio signaling (e.g., short-pulse UWB) instead of OFDM-based signaling (multi-band OFDM UWB (MB-OFDM-UWB)). Short-pulse UWB signaling transmits energy per bit by utilizing varying pulse amplitude and / or pulse polarity spread across the entire UWB channel bandwidth (e.g., 1.37 GHz, 4 GHz, etc.) without using an RF carrier, while MB-OFDM-UWB transmits each bit using a 4 MHz bandwidth channel.

[0081] Using short-pulse UWB signaling systems can offer several advantages over MB-OFDM-UWB signaling systems and other OFDM-based systems. For example, short-pulse UWB signaling systems can provide better fading characteristics than MB-OFDM-UWB signaling systems (e.g., Gaussian modeling versus Rayleigh modeling fading, and / or less than 1% of the channel experiencing fading of 2 dB or more). As other examples, short-pulse UWB signaling systems can operate accurately without FEC (forward error correction), using a rake-free processing approach, with lower peak-to-average RF and / or longer battery life than MB-OFDM-UWB signaling systems. Short-pulse UWB also does not use traditional modulation and demodulation techniques (such as Fast Fourier Transform (FFT)), but can use time-domain or space-time processing techniques. Short-pulse UWB can utilize various pulse shapes (e.g., Gaussian pulses, single-cycle pulses, Hermitian pulses, etc.), and the shape used can be selected based on the pulse properties in the time and frequency domains, as well as other factors such as bandwidth utilization, interference mitigation, power spectral density, multipath fading and inter-symbol interference, design complexity, power consumption, range, and trade-offs for ultrafast sampling. In some cases, short-pulse UWB may benefit from high-speed analog-to-digital converters (ADCs) and high-speed digital-to-analog converters (DACs) to handle the very wide bandwidth used; however, other methods exist to handle ultrafast sampling, such as using time-hopping techniques, direct sequence decoding, etc.

[0082] Multi-band OFDM UWB divides the spectrum into several frequency sub-bands and applies OFDM within each band; other OFDM systems typically operate within fixed frequency bands. The composite waveform created by combining multiple sub-bands generates the final waveform used for MB-OFDM-UWB transmission. Multi-band OFDM UWB also differs from other OFDM systems in that it does not use guard intervals; it uses simpler modulation schemes, such as Binary Phase Shift Keying (BPSK) or Quadrature Phase Shift Keying (QPSK) with 64 or 256 Quadrature Amplitude Modulation (QAM); and it uses a constant power level, while other OFDM systems can use power control to change channel conditions.

[0083] Also refer to Figure 8A and Figure 8B A UWB device can be a controller or a controlled device, and can be an initiator or a responder. A UWB device is a device (such as a UE) configured to communicate with another UWB device using UWB signals. The UWB controller (which may be referred to herein as the controller) is an Enhanced Ranging Device (ERDEV) configured to control the UWB ranging session, define ranging parameters, and provide ranging parameters to another UWB device by transmitting Ranging Control Messages (RCMs). RCMs can be transmitted via a UWB link and / or via another communication link (e.g., WiFi or NR (New Radio)). RCMs contain metrics on how the UWB session will function (e.g., selected channel, transmit power, timing information). The controller can be configured to update the ranging parameters during an ongoing session by, for example, periodically transmitting Ranging Control Update Messages (RCUMs). The UWB controller (which may be referred to herein as the controller) is an ERDEV configured to send and / or receive UWB ranging messages using ranging parameters received from the controller in the RCM or RCUM. The initiator is the ERDEV that initiates a ranging pass by transmitting a Ranging Initiation Message (RIM) to the responder using information from the RCM. The controller or controller can be either the initiator or the responder. The responder responds to the ERDEV received from the initiator by transmitting a Ranging Response Message (RRM) to the initiator. The RIM and / or RRM can be measured for positioning, e.g., to determine Time of Arrival (ToA) estimates and / or Angle of Arrival (AoA) estimates, etc. The initiator and responder provide bidirectional ranging, which can correct for clock offset errors between the initiator and the responder, improving the accuracy of the ToA estimate and the overall distance (and therefore positioning) estimate. For example, as... Figure 8AAs shown, controller 810 transmits RCM 831 to controller 820. Controller 810, acting as initiator 812, transmits RIM 832 to controller 820, acting as responder 822. Responseer 822 responds to RIM 832 by transmitting RRM 833 to initiator 812. As another example, as... Figure 8B As shown, controller 810 transmits RCM 831 to controller 820. Controller 820, acting as initiator 812, transmits RIM 832 to controller 810, acting as responder 822. Responder 822 responds to RIM 832 by transmitting RRM 833 to initiator 812.

[0084] Also refer to Figure 9 A UWB session consists of consecutive ranging blocks, which are time blocks. Each ranging block (such as ranging block 910) can have a duration between 200ms and 250ms. Each ranging block includes multiple rounds, for example, rounds 9201, 9202, 9203...920. N-1 920 N Each round lasts between 10ms and 20ms. Rounds 9201 to 920... N Each of these includes ranging time slots 930, where the duration of each time slot within time slot 930 is between 1 ms and 2.66 ms. Ranging packets within a time slot can have an SP3 format (similar to PRS) and can have a duration of up to 1 ms (e.g., approximately 150 μs), while the remainder of the time slot can be reserved for handling delays. Rounds 9201 to 920 are located within ranging block 910. N The number N can be configured by the UWB controller (e.g., controller 810). Transmission of any given ranging block occurs within a selected round of the rounds, during which neither UWB device in the session transmits during the other (unselected) rounds. The selected round for any particular ranging block can be statically configured by the controller in the RCM, or it can be selected by a hopping mode. The hopping mode can be a formula known to both the initiator and the responder, and the initiator and responder can independently apply this formula to transmit and receive ranging messages. The round structure and round selection can help avoid interference between UWB sessions, as multiple UWB sessions can exist adjacent to each other without any central control over the multiple sessions.

[0085] Also refer to Figure 10Ranging round 1000 is divided into time slots that can be used for various purposes. For example, the first time slot 1010 can be used for the ranging control phase and is therefore reserved for transmitting RCM. A set of time slots 1020 is assigned to the ranging phase and is used by the initiator and responder to transmit RIM and RRM respectively in alternating time slots. Multiple RIMs and RRMs can be transmitted to achieve the desired result (e.g., one or more measurements with sufficient accuracy). An optional measurement reporting phase may include time slot 1030, during which the initiator and responder can transmit measurements that can be used to calculate the distance between the initiator and responder. The duration of a RAT frame can be 10 ms, and therefore if ranging round 1000 includes 10 time slots (each of which lasts approximately 1 ms), the duration of a RAT frame is approximately the duration of ranging round 1000. Similarly, RAT subframes can be 1 ms long, which is the same as the minimum duration of a UWB ranging time slot.

[0086] Also refer to Figure 11The signaling and processing flow 1100 for supplementing UWB transmission includes the stages shown. Flow 1100 is an example flow and not a limiting one. Flow 1100 can be modified, for example, by adding one or more messages and / or one or more stages, removing one or more stages and / or one or more messages, and / or dividing one or more messages and / or one or more stages into multiple messages and / or stages. In flow 1100, signals are transmitted between radio signaling device 1101, UE 1103, and UE 1104. Signal transmission from radio signaling device 1101 may cause interference with UWB signal transmission between UEs 1103 and 1104. Radio signaling device 1101 may include, for example, a UE (e.g., UE 1103), or a core network entity (CNE), or a TRP, or a combination of CNE and TRP, etc. CNE may be an example of network entity 600. TRP may be an example of TRP 300. Radio signaling device 1101 may be an example of UE 500 or another device that can transmit (e.g., send and / or receive) radio signals. UEs 1103 and 1104 may be examples of UE 500, where UE 1103 acts as a UWB initiator and UE 1104 acts as a UWB responder. Either UE 1103 or 1104 may act as a controller, and the other UE 1103 or 1104 may act as a controlled device. UEs 1103 and 1104 may not currently be communicating with radio signaling device 1101, or may otherwise be unable to obtain information about RAT scheduling. In procedure 1100, UEs 1103 and 1104 may establish a UWB ranging session, which may be subject to interference from signaling transmissions from TRP 1102 and / or signaling transmissions from one or more other UWB ranging sessions (e.g., between other UEs near UEs 1103 and 1104).

[0087] Signaling and processing flow 1100 can help mitigate interference to UWB ranging sessions, such as due to RAT signaling interference and / or inter-session interference, and can do so while maintaining low latency (e.g., without waiting for the next ranging block after the interference to retry sending ranging packets). According to the current UWB specification, if a UWB device experiences interference during a UWB session (e.g., the interference prevents accurate measurement of ranging packets sent in the first ranging block), the UWB device must wait (e.g., approximately 200 ms) for a subsequent ranging block to attempt to send and measure another ranging packet. Using flow 1100, in response to one of UEs 1103 and 1104 (the transmitting UE) sending a ranging packet and the other of UEs 1103 and 1104 (the receiving UE) failing to accurately measure the ranging packet, the transmitting UE can send a supplementary ranging packet. The transmitting UE can send the supplementary ranging packet without waiting for a subsequent ranging block to send it. Supplemental ranging packets can be sent during the same ranging block in which the ranging packets are sent, and the receiving UE has submitted the same ranging block for accurate measurement.

[0088] Supplemental transmission of ranging packets can be referred to as retransmission, even if the initial ranging packet transmission and the supplemental ranging packet transmission may be different. Supplemental transmission of ranging packets can be referred to as supplemental UWB ranging packet transmission, supplemental ranging packet transmission, or equivalent. The ranging packets transmitted in the supplemental transmission can be referred to as supplemental ranging packets or equivalent. Supplemental ranging packets may be transmitted based on the initial ranging packet being transmitted without accurate measurement (e.g., because it was not received at all, or was received with poor quality, making the accuracy of the ranging packet measurement unreliable, for example, having a poor quality factor, such as poor ToA estimation quality).

[0089] At stage 1110, also refer to Figure 12 Radio signaling device 1101 can generate RAT schedules (e.g., RAT schedule 1220). RAT schedule 1220 includes one or more parameters (e.g., channel, time slot offset, etc.) for appropriate signaling (e.g., downlink (DL) signaling, uplink (UL) signaling, sidelink (SL) signaling, etc.). RAT schedule 1220 is divided into frame 1221, subframe 1222 within frame 1221, time slot 1223 within subframe 1222, and symbols 1224 within time slot 1223. Radio signaling device 1101 (e.g., RAT unit 650) can determine RAT schedules based on one or more factors (e.g., one or more metrics). UWB schedule 1210 is divided into block 1211, round 1212 within block 1211, and time slot 1213 within round 1212. If the radio signaling device 1101 includes a CNE and a TRP, the CNE can determine the RAT scheduling message and send it to the TRP along with the RAT scheduling.

[0090] At stage 1120, TRP 1102 can transmit RAT transmission 1122 (RAT signal) according to the RAT schedule that UEs 1103 and 1104 can receive. RAT transmission 1122 can be transmitted according to the RAT schedule (e.g., broadcast), can be received by UEs 1103 and 1104, and can interfere with UWB signal transmission between UEs 1103 and 1104. Additionally or alternatively, although... Figure 11 It is not shown in the figure, but UWB sessions between other UEs (or between one of UEs 1103 and 1104 and another UE) may interfere with the UWB signal transmission between UEs 1103 and 1104 (which may be referred to as inter-UWB interference or inter-UWB session interference).

[0091] At stage 1130, UEs 1103 and 1104 establish a UWB session and obtain a UWB schedule. The controller (UE 1103 or UE 1104) can determine (e.g., individually or by negotiating with the controller) the UWB schedule and send the UWB schedule to the controller (the other of UEs 1103 and 1104) in the RCM. Additionally or alternatively, a RAT other than the one used for UWB signaling (e.g., Bluetooth) can be used. ® RAT, WiFi ® RAT or other short-range wireless RAT or other forms of RAT) to send UWB scheduling (including UWB scheduling parameters) to the controller. RCM may include parameters of UWB scheduling, including at least two scheduling transmission durations (e.g., ranging time slots) and at least one available transmission duration (e.g., ranging time slot). Thus, the controller can schedule ranging sessions via RCM, for example, with a certain number of time slots in a round, such that the total number of time slots meets or exceeds the number of time slots required to achieve the desired ranging level, for example, for bilateral two-way ranging (which requires sending and accurately measuring at least three two-way ranging packets). For example, for bilateral two-way ranging, the controller may schedule 2n+1 time slots, where n is a natural number, for example, to send five (5), or seven (7), or nine (9) ranging packets, etc. The increment of two time slots is allocated to allow for additional RRM and RIM for two-way ranging. RCM may, for example, be in Figure 12 The RCM is transmitted in the first ranging time slot 1231 of the ranging round shown, and can indicate, for example, that time slots 1232 and 1233 are scheduled for UWB transmission and that time slot 1234 is available for UWB transmission (e.g., supplemental ranging packet transmission). As another example, the RCM can indicate that time slots 1232 through 1234 are scheduled for ranging packet transmission, and that time slot 1235 is available for ranging packet transmission. The RCM can be transmitted in out-of-band (OOB) transmission (i.e., outside the UWB band). For example, the RCM could be Bluetooth.® Sending. The controller may or may not (for one or more reasons) send one or more supplementary UWB signals. If the controller sends supplementary UWB signals, the controller may do so based on UWB scheduling and / or parameters received from the controller.

[0092] UEs 1103 and 1104 (i.e., the UWB initiator and the UWB responder) can agree on a supplemental ranging packet transmission strategy or countermeasure. For example, in addition to scheduling one or more ranging slots for one or more ranging packet transmissions, the supplemental ranging packet transmission strategy may also include the allocation of one or more supplemental ranging slots that can be used for one or more supplemental ranging packet transmissions. Furthermore or alternatively, the supplemental ranging packet transmission strategy may include one or more rules for using one or more supplemental ranging slots. Furthermore or alternatively, the supplemental ranging packet transmission strategy may include formulas for determining (e.g., calculating) a threshold for an indication of a confidence metric and / or an indication of a confidence metric below which a supplemental ranging packet transmission can be initiated (e.g., requested or indicated). How many slots and / or which slots are allocated for possible supplemental ranging packet transmissions can be based on a confidence metric and can correspond to the level of interference to UWB transmissions (the quality of the UWB link between UEs 1103 and 1104). The confidence metric can be defined (either indicated by the controller or the controlled device) as a function of one or more of the following: packet drop, SINR (signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio) level, or ToA estimation quality (which may be referred to as a quality factor). Packet drop can be a single failure to receive or accurately measure ranging packets. ToA estimation quality can include one or more metrics related to the distance estimate that depend on the ToA estimate. The indication of the confidence metric can be a normalized value between 0 and 1, and the threshold can be between 0 and 1, for example, 0.9. Based on the responder's determination that the indication of the confidence metric is below a threshold (e.g., the threshold confidence metric value), the responder can initiate supplementary ranging packet transmission, for example, by requesting a retransmission of the ranging packet from the initiator or by having the initiator instruct the retransmission of the ranging packet. Based on the initiator receiving an indication that the confidence metric is below a threshold (e.g., the threshold confidence metric value), the initiator can initiate supplementary ranging packet transmission, for example, by instructing the initiator's transmitter to transmit supplementary ranging packets.

[0093] The UWB controller may include, for example, parameters in the RCM for supplementary transmission strategies or countermeasures. These parameters may include the formulation of a confidence metric, a threshold for the confidence metric, an indication (e.g., a flag indicator) of whether supplementary transmission can be performed after the end of the initial (non-supplementary ranging packet transmission) round, a deterministic offset value for supplementary ranging packet transmission, and / or an indication (e.g., a flag indicator) of whether supplementary ranging packet transmission can be performed after a randomly selected offset within a time slot (e.g., the time slot used for the initial ranging packet transmission). The deterministic offset value for supplementary ranging packet transmission may indicate the offset for supplementary ranging packet transmission in the same time slot as the initial packet transmission or in a later time slot (e.g., relative to the end of an indication packet from the initiator, e.g., supplementary ranging packet indication 1162 discussed below). The indication of whether supplementary ranging packet transmission can be performed after a randomly selected offset introduces some randomness into the supplementary ranging packet transmission, which can help avoid interference with the supplementary ranging packet transmission and thus increase the likelihood of successful packet delivery (and measurement). For example, a UWB device can have some kind of intelligence and can respond to one or more supplemental ranging packet transmission failures (e.g., failure of successful measurement) by introducing a random offset to attempt successful supplemental ranging packet delivery and measurement.

[0094] At stage 1140, UEs 1103 and 1104 each send one or more ranging packets in their respective messages. UEs 1103 and 1104 can send ranging packets as... Figure 8A or Figure 8B This is part of a one-sided, two-way UWB ranging session. Alternatively, such as... Figure 11 As shown, UEs 1103 and 1104 can implement a bilateral, bidirectional UWB ranging session. Here, the initiator (UE 1103) sends RIM 1142 to the responder, the responder (UE 1104) sends RRM 1144 to the initiator, and the initiator sends another RIM 1146 to the responder. Each of RIM 1142, RRM 1144, and RIM 1146 can be transmitted in different ranging time slots. For example, as... Figure 12 As shown, RIM 1142 can be transmitted in time slot 1232, RRM 1144 can be transmitted in time slot 1233, and RIM 1146 can be transmitted in time slot 1234.

[0095] At stage 1150, one or both of UEs 1103 and 1104 may determine an indication of a confidence metric corresponding to a received UWB message, or an indication of not receiving an expected UWB message (RIM or RRM, respectively) scheduled according to UWB. For example, UWB unit 550 may determine an indication of a confidence metric (e.g., its value) based on whether an expected ranging packet was received, the SINR level of the UWB channel on which the ranging packet was received, and / or the measurement quality (e.g., accuracy) (e.g., ToA estimation quality) of the received ranging packet. For example, UE 1103 may not have successfully received RRM 1144 transmitted in time slot 1233 (e.g., may not have received RRM 1144 at all or may not have received and measured RRM 1144 using at least threshold accuracy). UE 1103 (e.g., UWB unit 550) can therefore determine a confidence value (e.g., 0.63) below a threshold (e.g., 0.9) for RRM 1144.

[0096] At stage 1160, based on (e.g., in response to) one or both of UEs 1103 and 1104, determining that the supplementary UWB transmission by the other of UEs 1103 and 1104 is ordered (e.g., due to an indication that the confidence metric is below a threshold (e.g., a threshold confidence metric value)), one or both of UEs 1103 and 1104 may send a supplementary UWB ranging packet indication (e.g., a request or instruction). For example, UE 1103 may send a supplementary ranging packet indication 1162 to UE 1104, and / or UE 1104 may send a supplementary UWB ranging packet indication 1164 to UE 1103. For example, based on UE 1103's failure to successfully receive RRM 1144 transmitted in time slot 1233, UE 1103 may send supplementary ranging packet indication 1162 to UE 1104 in time slot 1234, for example, as part of RIM 1146. Supplemental UWB ranging grouping indications 1162 and 1164 can be part of either RIM or RRM, or either of the supplemental UWB ranging grouping indications 1162 and 1164 can be transmitted in OOB (e.g., in a Bluetooth context). ® Independent messages in data communication.

[0097] Supplementary UWB ranging packet indications 1162 and 1164 may include implicit and / or explicit requests or instructions for supplementary UWB ranging packet transmission. For example, if UE 1103 determines at stage 1150 that supplementary UWB ranging packet transmission is ordered, UE 1103 (e.g., UWB unit 550) may send implicit and / or explicit indications for UE 1104 to transmit supplementary UWB ranging packets. The supplementary transmission indication may be implicit, for example, an indication of a confidence metric (e.g., its value) where the value is below a threshold. See also... Figure 13 UWB message 1300 (e.g., RIM or RRM) may include a supplementary indication field 1310 with an indication of a confidence metric (in this example, a value of 0.63, which may be below a pre-agreed threshold, e.g., 0.9). As another example, also refer to... Figure 14 Supplemental transmission instructions can be explicit (e.g., a single bit with a value of "1") to request (or indicate) supplemental ranging packet transmission, such as in the supplemental instruction field 1410 of UWB message 1400 (e.g., RIM or RRM).

[0098] Multiple supplementary transmission requests can be included in a single UWB message. For example, a UWB device such as a vehicle can be a single controller, but can have multiple responders (e.g., different UWB radio components corresponding to different parts of the vehicle). The controller can therefore send multiple supplementary transmission requests corresponding to the multiple responders. For example, also refer to... Figure 15UWB message 1500 (e.g., RIM or RRM) may include a supplementary indication field 1510 with multiple explicit indications for the transmission of supplementary ranging packets. In this example, supplementary indication field 1510 includes a bitmap, where each binary value in the bitmap corresponds to another UE (e.g., a responding UWB device if UWB message 1500 is sent by the initiating UWB device). A value "1" may be a supplementary ranging packet transmission indication (instruction / request) instructing the corresponding UE to transmit supplementary ranging packets. A value "0" may be a supplementary ranging packet transmission indication (instruction / request) instructing the corresponding UE not to transmit supplementary ranging packets (or not to request the transmission of supplementary ranging packets). In this example, supplementary indication field 1510 has a bitmap with the value 000101 indicating the transmission of supplementary UWB ranging packets for the fourth responding UWB device and the sixth responding UWB device. UWB message 1500 may include a slot index field 1520, which indicates the slot for the responder to send the requested supplemental ranging packet. In this example, the fourth responder is instructed to use slot sX to send the supplemental ranging packet, and the sixth responder is instructed to use slot sY to send the supplemental ranging packet, where empty slots correspond to the other responders.

[0099] UWB messages 1300, 1400, and 1500 are examples, and other UWB messages, including other UWB message formats, can be used. For example, a UWB message may include one or more implicit supplemental ranging grouping indicators and one or more implicit supplemental ranging grouping indicators (e.g., one or more yes / no indicator bits and one or more confidence metrics, for example, a bitmap).

[0100] The UWB controller can adjust the number of time slots (and / or other durations) used for ranging packet transmission based on indications of one or more confidence metrics. For example, the UWB controller can respond to a low average confidence metric value during a ranging round by increasing the number of time slots available for supplementary UWB ranging packet transmission in subsequent (e.g., the next) ranging rounds (and thus also increasing the total number of time slots used for (scheduled and supplementary) UWB ranging packet transmission). As another example, the UWB controller can respond to a high average confidence metric value (e.g., above a threshold confidence metric value (or with a safety margin higher than the threshold confidence metric value, e.g., 5% higher than the threshold)) during a ranging round by decreasing the number of time slots available for UWB ranging packet transmission in subsequent (e.g., the next) ranging rounds. The adjustment of the duration can be sent from the controller (e.g., UE 1103) to the controller (e.g., UE 1104) in a UWB scheduling update message 1166.

[0101] At stage 1170, based on receiving supplementary UWB ranging packet indication 1164 or supplementary ranging packet indication 1162, UE 1103 may appropriately send supplementary ranging packet message 1172 and / or UE 1104 may appropriately send supplementary ranging packet message 1174. The initiator (or responder) may send supplementary ranging packets in response to an indication from the responder (or initiator) that the responder (initiator) has not successfully received a ranging packet from the initiator (responder). In addition to allocating an initial time slot for ranging, supplementary ranging packets may also be sent in supplementary time slots allocated in the UWB schedule (e.g., for the minimum number of ranging packets required). For example, if UE 1103 (the initiator) fails to successfully receive (and measure) RRM 1144 in time slot 1233, UE 1103 may transmit Supplemental Ranging Packet Instruction 1162 in time slot 1234 at stage 1160, and at stage 1170, UE 1104 (the responder) may send Supplemental Ranging Packet Message 1174 (e.g., retransmitting the ranging packet or retransmitting RRM 1144). For example, UE 1104 may send Supplemental Ranging Packet Message 1174 in time slot 1234 after an offset relative to Supplemental Ranging Packet Instruction 1162, or it may send Supplemental Ranging Packet Message 1174 in another time slot (e.g., the next available time slot, such as time slot 1235). UEs 1103 and 1104 that receive the Supplemental Ranging Packet may send an indication of the measurement of the Supplemental Ranging Packet to UEs 1103 and 1104 that sent the Supplemental Ranging Packet.

[0102] Supplementary ranging packets can be sent until a sufficient number of successful measurements are taken from the ranging packets. This helps ensure successful transmission of ranging packets and thus successful execution of one or more operations, such as unlocking a vehicle (e.g., a UWB controller) via a key fob (e.g., a UWB controller). This number can be a minimum number based on the ranging type (e.g., two packets for one-way two-way ranging, or three packets for two-way two-way ranging), or a predetermined number (e.g., above a minimum to achieve the desired level of accuracy).

[0103] Supplementary ranging packet transmissions can be performed outside of the current ranging rounds, and / or the ranging rounds can be extended to accommodate supplementary ranging packet transmissions. For example, time slots that can be used for supplementary ranging packet transmissions can be created in the RCM, and the ability to perform supplementary ranging packet transmissions in another round (i.e., a round after the round in which the initial ranging packet was transmitted) can be specified in the RCM. For example, it is possible to... Figure 12An initial ranging packet is sent in round 1241, and one or more supplementary ranging packets can be sent in round 1242. As another example, the controller and receiver can adapt to request supplementary transmissions, for example, to extend the ranging rounds so that the requested supplementary ranging packets can be sent. The duration of the ranging rounds can therefore be flexible. The controller can specify long, fixed-length ranging rounds, and the ranging block can be extended to accommodate long ranging rounds. By being able to perform supplementary transmissions beyond the current rounds and / or by extending the ranging rounds, successful ranging measurements can be performed in high-interference scenarios, which can accommodate situations where interference may exist (e.g., many users concurrently leaving facilities such as stadiums or theaters).

[0104] refer to Figure 16 And further reference Figures 1 to 15 The method 1600 for supplementing ultra-wideband (UWB) ranging packet transmission includes the stages shown. However, method 1600 is merely an example and not a limitation. Method 1600 can be modified, for example, by adding, removing, rearranging, combining, performing one or more stages concurrently, and / or by splitting one or more individual stages into multiple stages.

[0105] At stage 1610, method 1600 includes obtaining a UWB transmission schedule that includes transmission durations of at least two schedules and at least one available transmission duration. For example, at stage 1130, UE 1103 may determine the UWB schedule. As another example, at stage 1130, UE 1104 may receive the UWB schedule from UE 1103. Processor 510 (possibly combined with memory 530 and possibly combined with transceiver 520 (e.g., wireless receiver 244 and antenna 246)) may include components for obtaining the UWB transmission schedule.

[0106] At stage 1620, method 1600 includes transmitting at least one first UWB ranging packet from the first UWB device during the transmission duration of one of at least two scheduled transmission durations. For example, at stage 1140, UE 1103 may transmit RIM 1142, which includes the UWB ranging packet, in a scheduled time slot (e.g., time slot 1232). As another example, at stage 1140, UE 1104 may transmit RRM 1144, which includes the UWB ranging packet, in a scheduled time slot (e.g., time slot 1233). Processor 510 (possibly in conjunction with memory 530 and transceiver 520 (e.g., wireless transmitter 242 and antenna 246)) may include components for transmitting at least one first UWB ranging packet.

[0107] At stage 1630, method 1600 includes: receiving, at a first UWB device, a request from a second UWB device for transmission of supplemental UWB ranging packets performed by the first UWB device. For example, at stage 1160, UE 1103 may receive a supplemental UWB ranging packet indication 1164 that explicitly or implicitly requests (e.g., indicates) supplemental UWB ranging packets to be transmitted by UE 1103. As another example, at stage 1160, UE 1104 may receive a supplemental UWB ranging packet indication 1162 that explicitly or implicitly requests (e.g., indicates) supplemental UWB ranging packets to be transmitted by UE 1104. This request may be sent after the transmission of ranging packets that failed to be measured successfully, thereby resulting in a request for transmission of supplemental ranging packets. The processor 510 (possibly in combination with memory 530 and transceiver 520 (e.g., wireless receiver 244 and antenna 246)) may include components for receiving requests for supplemental UWB ranging packets transmitted by the first UWB device.

[0108] At stage 1640, method 1600 includes: in response to receiving a request for supplemental UWB ranging packet transmission by a first UWB device, transmitting at least one second UWB ranging packet from the first UWB device during one of at least one available transmission durations. For example, at stage 1170, UE 1103 may (e.g., in RIM) transmit supplemental ranging packet message 1172 and UE 1104 may receive the supplemental ranging packet message. As another example, at stage 1170, UE 1104 may (e.g., in RRM) transmit supplemental ranging packet message 1174 and UE 1103 may receive the supplemental ranging packet message. Processor 510 (possibly in conjunction with memory 530 and transceiver 520 (e.g., wireless transmitter 242 and antenna 246)) may include components for transmitting at least one second UWB ranging packet.

[0109] Specific implementations of method 1600 may include one or more of the following features. In an example implementation, the request for supplemental UWB ranging packet transmission by the first UWB device includes an indication of a confidence metric corresponding to a confidence level of the measurement accuracy of at least one first UWB ranging packet. In another example implementation, method 1600 further includes sending an indication of revising the UWB transmission schedule to increase the number of available transmission durations in future ranging rounds. For example, in response to an average confidence metric value within a ranging round being lower than a threshold average confidence metric value, a UWB controller (e.g., UE 1103) may change the number of UWBs scheduled to increase the number of durations (e.g., time slots) for transmitting one or more UWB ranging packets. The change to the UWB schedule may, for example, be sent from the controller to the controller in a UWB schedule update message 1166 at stage 1160. The processor 510 (possibly in conjunction with memory 530 and transceiver 520 (e.g., wireless transmitter 242 and antenna 246)) may include components for transmitting instructions on revisions to the UWB transmission schedule.

[0110] Additionally or alternatively, specific implementations of method 1600 may include one or more of the following features. In an example implementation, method 1600 further includes: sending a request from the first UWB device for supplemental UWB ranging packet transmission performed by the second UWB device. For example, at stage 1160, in addition to UE 1104 sending supplemental UWB ranging packet indication 1164 to UE 1103, UE 1103 may also send supplemental UWB ranging packet indication 1162 to UE 1104. As another example, at stage 1160, in addition to UE 1103 sending supplemental UWB ranging packet indication 1162 to UE 1104, UE 1104 may also send supplemental UWB ranging packet indication 1164 to UE 1103. Processor 510 (possibly in conjunction with memory 530 and transceiver 520 (e.g., wireless transmitter 242 and antenna 246)) may include components for sending a request for supplemental UWB ranging packet transmission by the second UWB device. In another example embodiment, method 1600 further includes determining whether to send a request for supplemental UWB ranging packet transmission by the second UWB device based on at least one of the following: packet dropping of at least one second UWB ranging packet transmitted by the second UWB device, or an indication of the signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio corresponding to at least one second UWB ranging packet transmitted by the second UWB device, or an estimated quality of arrival time corresponding to at least one second UWB ranging packet transmitted by the second UWB device. For example, the UWB unit 550 of UE 1103 or UE 1104 (or both) may determine whether to send a request for supplemental UWB ranging packet transmission by a second UWB device based on an indication of a confidence metric (e.g., relative to a threshold, such as a threshold), wherein the indication of the confidence metric is based on packet drop, SINR, and / or ToA estimation quality.

[0111] Additionally or alternatively, specific implementations of method 1600 may include one or more of the following features. In an example implementation, method 1600 includes: sending from a first UWB device at least one parameter for supplemental UWB ranging packet transmission performed by at least one of the first UWB device or a second UWB device. For example, at stage 1130, the controller (UE 1103 or UE 1104) may determine or negotiate a UWB schedule and send the UWB schedule to the controlled device in an RCM, wherein the RCM includes one or more relevant parameters for supplemental transmission strategies or countermeasures (for supplemental UWB ranging packet transmission). The controlled device may or may not (for one or more reasons) send one or more supplemental UWB signals. If the controlled device sends supplemental UWB signals, the controlled device may do so based on the UWB schedule and / or parameters received from the controller. Processor 510 (possibly in conjunction with memory 530 and transceiver 520 (e.g., wireless transmitter 242 and antenna 246)) may include components for transmitting at least one parameter for supplementing UWB ranging packet transmission. In another example embodiment, the at least one parameter for supplementing UWB ranging packet transmission performed by at least one of a first UWB device or a second UWB device indicates how to determine a confidence metric corresponding to a confidence level of UWB ranging packet measurement accuracy. In another example embodiment, the at least one parameter for supplementing UWB ranging packet transmission performed by at least one of a first UWB device or a second UWB device includes a confidence metric threshold, and the indication to the confidence metric is compared to the confidence metric threshold to determine whether to request supplementing UWB ranging packet transmission, the indication to the confidence metric corresponding to a confidence level of UWB ranging packet measurement accuracy. In another example implementation, at least one parameter for supplemental UWB ranging packet transmission performed by at least one of the first or second UWB devices includes a timing offset for the supplemental UWB ranging packet transmission. The timing offset can be, for example, a fixed or random offset, and can be relative to another ranging packet (e.g., within the same ranging round for supplemental ranging packet transmission). In another example implementation, at least one parameter for supplemental UWB ranging packet transmission performed by at least one of the first or second UWB devices includes an indication of whether supplemental UWB ranging packet transmission can be performed after a random timing offset.

[0112] Additionally or alternatively, specific implementations of method 1600 may include one or more of the following features. In an example implementation, transmitting at least one second UWB ranging packet includes: transmitting at least one second UWB ranging packet during the same ranging block of the UWB transmission schedule, during which at least one first UWB ranging packet is transmitted.

[0113] Specific implementation examples

[0114] Specific implementation examples are provided in the following numbered clauses.

[0115] Clause 1. A method for supplementing ultra-wideband (UWB) ranging packet transmission, the method comprising: Obtain a UWB transmission schedule that includes the transmission duration of at least two schedules and at least one available transmission duration; At least one first UWB ranging packet is transmitted from the first UWB device during the transmission duration of one of the at least two scheduled transmission durations; At the first UWB device, a request is received from the second UWB device for the transmission of supplemental UWB ranging packets by the first UWB device; and In response to receiving the request for the transmission of supplemental UWB ranging packets by the first UWB device, at least one second UWB ranging packet is transmitted from the first UWB device during one of the at least one available transmission durations.

[0116] Clause 2. The method according to Clause 1, wherein the request to send supplemental UWB ranging packets by the first UWB device includes an indication of a confidence metric corresponding to a confidence level of the measurement accuracy of the at least one first UWB ranging packet.

[0117] Clause 3. The method according to Clause 2, the method further comprising: sending an indication of a revision to the UWB transmission schedule to increase the number of available transmission durations in future ranging rounds.

[0118] Clause 4. The method according to Clause 1, the method further comprising: sending from the first UWB device a request for the transmission of supplemental UWB ranging packets by the second UWB device.

[0119] Clause 5. The method according to Clause 4, the method further comprising: determining whether to send the request for supplemental UWB ranging packet transmission by the second UWB device based on at least one of the following: packet dropping of at least one second UWB ranging packet transmitted by the second UWB device, or an indication of the signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio corresponding to the at least one second UWB ranging packet transmitted by the second UWB device, or the time-of-arrival estimation quality corresponding to the at least one second UWB ranging packet transmitted by the second UWB device.

[0120] Clause 6. The method according to Clause 1, the method further comprising: transmitting from the first UWB device at least one parameter for transmission of supplementary UWB ranging packets by at least one of the first UWB device or the second UWB device.

[0121] Clause 7. The method according to Clause 6, wherein the at least one parameter sent by the supplementary UWB ranging packet from at least one of the first UWB device or the second UWB device indicates an indication for determining an indication of a confidence metric corresponding to a confidence level of the accuracy of the UWB ranging packet measurement.

[0122] Clause 8. The method according to Clause 6, wherein the at least one parameter for supplemental UWB ranging packet transmission by at least one of the first UWB device or the second UWB device includes a confidence metric threshold, an indication of the confidence metric is compared with the confidence metric threshold to determine whether to request supplemental UWB ranging packet transmission, the indication of the confidence metric corresponding to a confidence level of the accuracy of the UWB ranging packet measurement.

[0123] Clause 9. The method according to Clause 6, wherein the at least one parameter for supplemental UWB ranging packet transmission by at least one of the first UWB device or the second UWB device includes a timing offset for supplemental UWB ranging packet transmission.

[0124] Clause 10. The method according to Clause 6, wherein the at least one parameter for supplemental UWB ranging packet transmission performed by at least one of the first UWB device or the second UWB device includes an indication of whether supplemental UWB ranging packet transmission is possible after a random timing offset.

[0125] Clause 11. The method according to Clause 1, wherein sending the at least one second UWB ranging packet comprises: sending the at least one second UWB ranging packet during the same ranging block of the UWB transmission schedule, and sending the at least one first UWB ranging packet during the same ranging block.

[0126] Clause 12. A first UWB device (Ultra-Wideband (UWB) device), the first UWB device (Ultra-Wideband (UWB) device) comprising: At least one transceiver; At least one memory; and At least one processor, communicatively coupled to the at least one transceiver and the at least one memory, and configured to: Obtain a UWB transmission schedule that includes the transmission duration of at least two schedules and at least one available transmission duration; At least one first UWB ranging packet is transmitted via the at least one transceiver during the transmission duration of one of the at least two scheduled transmission durations; Receive, via the at least one transceiver, a request from the second UWB device for the transmission of supplemental UWB ranging packets by the first UWB device; and At least one second UWB ranging packet is transmitted via the at least one transceiver and in response to receiving the request to transmit supplementary UWB ranging packets by the first UWB device during one of the at least one available transmission durations.

[0127] Clause 13. The first UWB device according to Clause 12, wherein the request to send a supplemental UWB ranging packet includes an indication of a confidence metric corresponding to a confidence level of the measurement accuracy of the at least one first UWB ranging packet.

[0128] Clause 14. The first UWB device according to Clause 13, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to: transmit via the at least one transceiver an indication of a revision to the UWB transmission schedule to increase the number of at least one available transmission durations in future ranging rounds.

[0129] Clause 15. The first UWB device according to Clause 12, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to: send a request to the second UWB device via the at least one transceiver for the transmission of supplementary UWB ranging packets performed by the second UWB device.

[0130] Clause 16. The first UWB device according to Clause 15, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to determine whether to send the request for supplemental UWB ranging packet transmission by the second UWB device based on at least one of the following: packet dropping of at least one second UWB ranging packet transmitted by the second UWB device, or an indication of the signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio corresponding to the at least one second UWB ranging packet transmitted by the second UWB device, or the time-of-arrival estimation quality corresponding to the at least one second UWB ranging packet transmitted by the second UWB device.

[0131] Clause 17. The first UWB device according to Clause 12, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to: transmit via the at least one transceiver at least one parameter for transmission of supplementary UWB ranging packets performed by at least one of the first UWB device or the second UWB device.

[0132] Clause 18. The first UWB device according to Clause 17, wherein the at least one parameter transmitted by supplementary UWB ranging packets from the first UWB device or the second UWB device indicates a method for determining an indication of a confidence metric corresponding to a confidence level of the accuracy of the UWB ranging packets.

[0133] Clause 19. The first UWB device as described in Clause 17, wherein the at least one parameter for supplemental UWB ranging packet transmission performed by at least one of the first UWB device or the second UWB device includes a confidence metric threshold, an indication of the confidence metric is compared with the confidence metric threshold to determine whether to request supplemental UWB ranging packet transmission, the indication of the confidence metric corresponding to a confidence level of the accuracy of the UWB ranging packet measurement.

[0134] Clause 20. The first UWB device as described in Clause 17, wherein the at least one parameter for supplemental UWB ranging packet transmission performed by at least one of the first UWB device or the second UWB device includes a timing offset for supplemental UWB ranging packet transmission.

[0135] Clause 21. The first UWB device as described in Clause 17, wherein the at least one parameter for supplemental UWB ranging packet transmission performed by at least one of the first UWB device or the second UWB device includes an indication of whether supplemental UWB ranging packet transmission is possible after a random timing offset.

[0136] Clause 22. The first UWB device according to Clause 12, wherein the at least one processor is configured to transmit the at least one second UWB ranging packet during the same ranging block of the UWB transmission schedule, and to transmit the at least one first UWB ranging packet during the same ranging block.

[0137] Clause 23. A first UWB device (Ultra-Wideband (UWB) device), the first UWB device (Ultra-Wideband (UWB) device) comprising: A component for obtaining a UWB transmission schedule that includes the transmission duration of at least two schedules and at least one available transmission duration; A component for transmitting at least one first UWB ranging packet during the transmission duration of one of the at least two schedules; A component for receiving from a second UWB device a request for supplemental UWB ranging packet transmission by the first UWB device; and A component for transmitting at least one second UWB ranging packet in one of the at least one available transmission durations in response to receiving the request to transmit a supplementary UWB ranging packet by the first UWB device.

[0138] Clause 24. The first UWB device as described in Clause 23, wherein the request to send supplementary UWB ranging packets by the first UWB device includes an indication of a confidence metric corresponding to a confidence level of the measurement accuracy of the at least one first UWB ranging packet.

[0139] Clause 25. The first UWB device according to Clause 24, the first UWB device further comprising a component for transmitting an indication of a revision to the UWB transmission schedule to increase the number of available transmission durations in future ranging rounds.

[0140] Clause 26. The first UWB device as described in Clause 23, the first UWB device further includes components for sending a request to the second UWB device to send supplementary UWB ranging packets.

[0141] Clause 27. The first UWB device according to Clause 26, the first UWB device further includes components for determining whether to send the request for supplemental UWB ranging packets sent by the second UWB device based on at least one of the following: packet dropping of at least one second UWB ranging packet sent by the second UWB device, or an indication of the signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio corresponding to the at least one second UWB ranging packet sent by the second UWB device, or the time-of-arrival estimation quality corresponding to the at least one second UWB ranging packet sent by the second UWB device.

[0142] Clause 28. The first UWB device according to Clause 23, the first UWB device further includes a component for transmitting at least one parameter for transmission of supplemental UWB ranging packets by at least one of the first UWB device or the second UWB device.

[0143] Clause 29. The first UWB device according to Clause 28, wherein the at least one parameter transmitted by supplementary UWB ranging packets from the first UWB device or the second UWB device indicates a method for determining an indication of a confidence metric corresponding to a confidence level of the accuracy of the UWB ranging packets.

[0144] Clause 30. The first UWB device as described in Clause 28, wherein the at least one parameter for supplemental UWB ranging packet transmission performed by at least one of the first UWB device or the second UWB device includes a confidence metric threshold, an indication of the confidence metric is compared with the confidence metric threshold to determine whether to request supplemental UWB ranging packet transmission, the indication of the confidence metric corresponding to a confidence level of the accuracy of the UWB ranging packet measurement.

[0145] Clause 31. The first UWB device as described in Clause 28, wherein the at least one parameter for supplemental UWB ranging packet transmission performed by at least one of the first UWB device or the second UWB device includes a timing offset for supplemental UWB ranging packet transmission.

[0146] Clause 32. The first UWB device as described in Clause 28, wherein the at least one parameter for supplemental UWB ranging packet transmission performed by at least one of the first UWB device or the second UWB device includes an indication of whether supplemental UWB ranging packet transmission is possible after a random timing offset.

[0147] Clause 33. The first UWB device according to Clause 23, wherein the component for transmitting the at least one second UWB ranging packet includes a component for transmitting the at least one second UWB ranging packet during the same ranging block of the UWB transmission schedule, and transmitting the at least one first UWB ranging packet during the same ranging block.

[0148] Clause 34. A non-transitory processor-readable storage medium comprising processor-readable instructions for causing at least one processor of a first UWB device (Ultra-Wideband (UWB) device) to: Obtain a UWB transmission schedule that includes the transmission duration of at least two schedules and at least one available transmission duration; At least one first UWB ranging packet is transmitted during the transmission duration of one of the at least two schedules; Receive a request from the second UWB device for the transmission of supplemental UWB ranging packets by the first UWB device; and In response to receiving the request to send supplemental UWB ranging packets by the first UWB device, at least one second UWB ranging packet is sent during one of the at least one available transmission durations.

[0149] Clause 35. The non-transitory processor-readable storage medium as described in Clause 34, wherein the request for the transmission of supplemental UWB ranging packets by the first UWB device includes an indication of a confidence metric corresponding to a confidence level of the measurement accuracy of the at least one first UWB ranging packet.

[0150] Clause 36. The non-transitory processor-readable storage medium according to Clause 35, the non-transitory processor-readable storage medium further comprising processor-readable instructions for causing the at least one processor to send an indication of a revision to the UWB transmission schedule to increase the number of available transmission durations in future ranging rounds.

[0151] Clause 37. The non-transitory processor-readable storage medium according to Clause 34, the non-transitory processor-readable storage medium further comprising processor-readable instructions for causing the at least one processor to send a request for supplemental UWB ranging packet transmission by the second UWB device.

[0152] Clause 38. The non-transitory processor-readable storage medium according to Clause 37, the non-transitory processor-readable storage medium comprising processor-readable instructions for causing the at least one processor to determine, based on at least one of the following, whether to send the request for transmission of supplemental UWB ranging packets by the second UWB device: packet dropping of at least one second UWB ranging packet transmitted by the second UWB device, or an indication of the signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio corresponding to the at least one second UWB ranging packet transmitted by the second UWB device, or the time-of-arrival estimation quality corresponding to the at least one second UWB ranging packet transmitted by the second UWB device.

[0153] Clause 39. The non-transitory processor-readable storage medium according to Clause 34, the non-transitory processor-readable storage medium comprising processor-readable instructions for causing the at least one processor to send at least one parameter for supplementary UWB ranging packet transmission performed by at least one of the first UWB device or the second UWB device.

[0154] Clause 40. A non-transitory processor-readable storage medium as described in Clause 39, wherein the at least one parameter transmitted by a supplementary UWB ranging packet from the first UWB device or the second UWB device indicates a method for determining an indication of a confidence metric corresponding to a confidence level of the accuracy of the UWB ranging packet measurement.

[0155] Clause 41. The non-transitory processor-readable storage medium according to Clause 39, wherein the at least one parameter for supplemental UWB ranging packet transmission by at least one of the first UWB device or the second UWB device includes a confidence metric threshold, an indication of the confidence metric is compared with the confidence metric threshold to determine whether to request supplemental UWB ranging packet transmission, the indication of the confidence metric corresponding to a confidence level of the accuracy of the UWB ranging packet measurement.

[0156] Clause 42. The non-transitory processor-readable storage medium according to Clause 39, wherein the at least one parameter for supplemental UWB ranging packet transmission by at least one of the first UWB device or the second UWB device includes a timing offset for supplemental UWB ranging packet transmission.

[0157] Clause 43. The non-transitory processor-readable storage medium according to Clause 39, wherein the at least one parameter for supplemental UWB ranging packet transmission performed by at least one of the first UWB device or the second UWB device includes an indication of whether supplemental UWB ranging packet transmission is possible after a random timing offset.

[0158] Clause 44. The non-transitory processor-readable storage medium according to Clause 34, wherein the processor-readable instruction for causing the at least one processor to transmit the at least one second UWB ranging packet includes a processor-readable instruction for causing the at least one processor to transmit the at least one second UWB ranging packet during the same ranging block of the UWB transmission schedule, and to transmit the at least one first UWB ranging packet during the same ranging block.

[0159] Other considerations

[0160] Other examples and specific implementations are within the scope of this disclosure and the appended claims. For example, due to the nature of software and computers, the functions described above can be implemented using software, hardware, firmware, hardwiring, or any combination thereof executed by a processor. Features implementing the functions can also be physically located in various locations, including various portions distributed such that the functions are implemented in different physical locations.

[0161] As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” also include the plural forms, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. Thus, references to a device in the singular form included in the claims (e.g., “device,” “the device”) include at least one of such devices (i.e., one or more) (e.g., “processor” includes at least one processor (e.g., one processor, two processors, etc.), “the processor” includes at least one processor, “memory” includes at least one memory, “the memory” includes at least one memory, etc.). The phrases “at least one” and “one or more” are used interchangeably, and such that the object referred to by “at least one” and the object referred to by “one or more” include embodiments having one referred object and embodiments having multiple referred objects. For example, “at least one processor” and “one or more processors” each include embodiments having one processor and embodiments having multiple processors.

[0162] As used herein, the term "comprising" indicates the presence of the described features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and / or components, but does not exclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and / or groups thereof.

[0163] Furthermore, as used herein, the "or" (which may be followed by "at least one of" or "one or more of") used in the enumeration of items indicates a disjunctive enumeration such that an enumeration of, for example, "at least one of A, B, or C," or an enumeration of "one or more of A, B, or C," or an enumeration of "A or B or C" represents A or B or C or AB (A and B) or AC (A and C) or BC (B and C) or ABC (i.e., A and B and C), or a combination having more than one feature (e.g., AA, AAB, ABBC, etc.). Therefore, a statement that an item (e.g., a processor) is configured to perform a function relating to at least one of A or B, or a statement that an item is configured to perform function A or function B, means that the item can be configured to perform a function relating to A, or can be configured to perform a function relating to B, or can be configured to perform a function relating to both A and B. For example, the phrase "a processor configured to measure at least one of A or B" or "a processor configured to measure A or measure B" means that the processor can be configured to measure A (and may or may not be configured to measure B), or can be configured to measure B (and may or may not be configured to measure A), or can be configured to measure both A and B (and can be configured to select which of A and B or measure both). Similarly, a description of a component for measuring at least one of A or B includes: a component for measuring A (which may or may not be able to measure B), or a component for measuring B (which may or may not be configured to measure A), or a component for measuring A and B (which may be able to select which of A and B or measure both). As another example, a description of an item (e.g., a processor) being configured to perform at least one of function X or function Y means that the item can be configured to perform function X, or can be configured to perform function Y, or can be configured to perform both functions X and Y. For example, the phrase “processor configured to measure at least one of X or Y” means that the processor can be configured to measure X (and may or may not be configured to measure Y), or can be configured to measure Y (and may or may not be configured to measure X), or can be configured to measure both X and Y (and can be configured to select which of X and Y or measure both).

[0164] As used herein, unless otherwise stated, the description of a function or operation as “based on” an item or condition means that the function or operation is based on the described item or condition and may be based on one or more items and / or conditions in addition to the described item or condition.

[0165] Substantial changes can be made depending on specific requirements. For example, custom hardware may be used, and / or specific elements may be implemented in the hardware, in software executed by the processor (including portable software such as applets), or both. Furthermore, connections to other computing devices, such as network input / output devices, may be employed. Unless otherwise specified, components shown in the figures and / or discussed herein that are connected or communicate with each other (functionally or otherwise) are communicatively coupled. That is, these components may be connected directly or indirectly to enable communication between them.

[0166] The systems and devices discussed above are examples. Various configurations may appropriately omit, substitute, or add various processes or components. For example, features described with respect to certain configurations may be combined in various other configurations. Different aspects and elements of configurations may be combined in a similar manner. Furthermore, technology is constantly evolving, and therefore many elements are examples and do not limit the scope of this disclosure or the claims.

[0167] A wireless communication system is a system in which communication is wirelessly transmitted between wireless communication devices, that is, through the propagation of electromagnetic waves and / or sound waves through the atmosphere rather than through wires or other physical connections. A wireless communication system (also called a wireless communication system or wireless communication network) may not transmit all communication wirelessly, but is configured to transmit at least some communication wirelessly. Furthermore, the term "wireless communication device" or similar terms do not require the device to be functionally exclusive or even primarily used for communication, do not require that communication using the wireless communication device be exclusive or even primarily wireless, and do not require that the device be a mobile device, but rather indicate that the device includes wireless communication capabilities (one-way or two-way), for example, including at least one radio component (each radio component being part of a transmitter, receiver, or transceiver) for wireless communication.

[0168] Specific details are provided in this description to offer a thorough understanding of the example configurations, including specific implementations. However, the configurations can be practiced without these specific details. For example, well-known circuits, processes, algorithms, structures, and techniques have been shown without unnecessary detail to avoid obscuring these configurations. The description herein provides example configurations and does not limit the scope, applicability, or configuration of the claims. Rather, the preceding description of the configurations provides a description for implementing the described techniques. Various changes can be made to the function and arrangement of the elements.

[0169] As used herein, the terms “processor-readable medium,” “machine-readable medium,” and “computer-readable medium” refer to any medium that participates in providing data that enables a machine to operate in a particular manner. Using a computing platform, various processor-readable media may involve providing instructions / code to a processor for execution, and / or may be used to store and / or carry such instructions / code (e.g., as signals). In many specific implementations, processor-readable media are physical and / or tangible storage media. Such media can take many forms, including but not limited to non-volatile and volatile media. Non-volatile media include, for example, optical discs and / or magnetic disks. Volatile media include, but are not limited to, dynamic memory.

[0170] Having described several example configurations, various modifications, alternative constructions, and equivalents can be used. For example, the above elements can be components of a larger system, where other rules may take precedence over or otherwise modify the application of this disclosure. Furthermore, several operations may be performed before, during, or after considering the above elements. Accordingly, the above description does not limit the scope of the claims.

[0171] Unless otherwise indicated, the terms "about" and / or "approximately" as used herein when referring to measurable values ​​(such as quantities, durations of time, etc.) cover variations of ±20%, ±10%, ±5%, or ±0.1% from the specified value, as appropriate in the context of the systems, devices, circuits, methods, and other specific embodiments described herein. Similarly, unless otherwise indicated, the term "substantially" as used herein when referring to measurable values ​​(such as quantities, durations of time, physical properties (such as frequencies), etc.) also covers variations of ±20%, ±10%, ±5%, or ±0.1% from the specified value, as appropriate in the context of the systems, devices, circuits, methods, and other specific embodiments described herein.

[0172] A statement that a value exceeds (or is greater than or higher than) a first threshold is equivalent to a statement that a value meets or exceeds a second threshold slightly greater than the first threshold. For example, in the resolution of the computing system, the second threshold is one value higher than the first threshold. A statement that a value is less than the first threshold (or within or below the first threshold) is equivalent to a statement that a value is less than or equal to a second threshold slightly lower than the first threshold. For example, in the resolution of the computing system, the second threshold is one value lower than the first threshold.

Claims

1. A method for supplementing ultra-wideband (UWB) ranging packet transmission, the method comprising: Obtain a UWB transmission schedule that includes the transmission duration of at least two schedules and at least one available transmission duration; At least one first UWB ranging packet is transmitted from the first UWB device during the transmission duration of one of the at least two scheduled transmission durations; At the first UWB device, a request is received from the second UWB device for the transmission of supplemental UWB ranging packets by the first UWB device; and In response to receiving the request for the transmission of supplemental UWB ranging packets by the first UWB device, at least one second UWB ranging packet is transmitted from the first UWB device during one of the at least one available transmission durations.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the request to send supplemental UWB ranging packets by the first UWB device includes an indication of a confidence metric corresponding to a confidence level of the measurement accuracy of the at least one first UWB ranging packet.

3. The method according to claim 2, further comprising: Send an indication of a revision to the UWB transmission schedule to increase the number of available transmission durations in future ranging rounds.

4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising: The first UWB device sends a request for the transmission of supplemental UWB ranging packets by the second UWB device.

5. The method according to claim 4, further comprising: The request to send supplemental UWB ranging packets sent by the second UWB device is determined based on at least one of the following: packet dropping of at least one second UWB ranging packet sent by the second UWB device, or an indication of the signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio corresponding to the at least one second UWB ranging packet sent by the second UWB device, or the quality of the time-of-arrival estimate corresponding to the at least one second UWB ranging packet sent by the second UWB device.

6. The method according to claim 1, further comprising: Send from the first UWB device at least one parameter for sending supplementary UWB ranging packets by at least one of the first UWB device or the second UWB device.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the at least one parameter indication sent by the supplementary UWB ranging packet from at least one of the first UWB device or the second UWB device is used to determine an indication of a confidence metric corresponding to a confidence level of the accuracy of the UWB ranging packet measurement.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the at least one parameter for supplemental UWB ranging packet transmission by at least one of the first UWB device or the second UWB device includes a confidence metric threshold, an indication of the confidence metric is compared with the confidence metric threshold to determine whether to request supplemental UWB ranging packet transmission, the indication of the confidence metric corresponding to a confidence level of the accuracy of the UWB ranging packet measurement.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein the at least one parameter for supplemental UWB ranging packet transmission by at least one of the first UWB device or the second UWB device includes a timing offset for supplemental UWB ranging packet transmission.

10. The method of claim 6, wherein the at least one parameter for supplemental UWB ranging packet transmission performed by at least one of the first UWB device or the second UWB device includes an indication of whether supplemental UWB ranging packet transmission is possible after a random timing offset.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein sending the at least one second UWB ranging packet comprises: The at least one second UWB ranging packet is transmitted during the same ranging block of the UWB transmission schedule, and the at least one first UWB ranging packet is transmitted during the same ranging block.

12. A first UWB device (Ultra-Wideband (UWB) device), the first UWB device (Ultra-Wideband (UWB) device) comprising: At least one transceiver; At least one memory; and At least one processor, communicatively coupled to the at least one transceiver and the at least one memory, and configured to: Obtain a UWB transmission schedule that includes the transmission duration of at least two schedules and at least one available transmission duration; At least one first UWB ranging packet is transmitted via the at least one transceiver during the transmission duration of one of the at least two scheduled transmission durations; Receive a request from the second UWB device via the at least one transceiver for the transmission of supplemental UWB ranging packets by the first UWB device; as well as At least one second UWB ranging packet is transmitted via the at least one transceiver and in response to receiving the request to transmit supplementary UWB ranging packets by the first UWB device during one of the at least one available transmission durations.

13. The first UWB device of claim 12, wherein the request to send supplemental UWB ranging packets includes an indication of a confidence metric corresponding to a confidence level of the measurement accuracy of the at least one first UWB ranging packet.

14. The first UWB device of claim 13, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to: transmit via the at least one transceiver an indication of a revision to the UWB transmission schedule to increase the number of available transmission durations of the at least one in future ranging rounds.

15. The first UWB device of claim 12, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to: send a request to the second UWB device via the at least one transceiver for the transmission of supplementary UWB ranging packets performed by the second UWB device.

16. The first UWB device of claim 15, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to determine whether to send the request for supplemental UWB ranging packet transmission by the second UWB device based on at least one of the following: packet dropping of at least one second UWB ranging packet transmitted by the second UWB device, or an indication of the signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio corresponding to the at least one second UWB ranging packet transmitted by the second UWB device, or the time-of-arrival estimation quality corresponding to the at least one second UWB ranging packet transmitted by the second UWB device.

17. The first UWB device of claim 12, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to transmit via the at least one transceiver at least one parameter for transmission of supplementary UWB ranging packets performed by at least one of the first UWB device or the second UWB device.

18. The first UWB device of claim 17, wherein the at least one parameter indication sent by supplementary UWB ranging packets from at least one of the first UWB device or the second UWB device indicates an indication for determining an indication of a confidence metric corresponding to a confidence level of the accuracy of the UWB ranging packets.

19. The first UWB device of claim 17, wherein the at least one parameter for supplemental UWB ranging packet transmission performed by at least one of the first UWB device or the second UWB device includes a confidence metric threshold, an indication of the confidence metric is compared with the confidence metric threshold to determine whether to request supplemental UWB ranging packet transmission, the indication of the confidence metric corresponding to a confidence level of the accuracy of the UWB ranging packet measurement.

20. A first UWB device (Ultra-Wideband (UWB) device), the first UWB device (Ultra-Wideband (UWB) device) comprising: A component for obtaining a UWB transmission schedule that includes the transmission duration of at least two schedules and at least one available transmission duration; A component for transmitting at least one first UWB ranging packet during the transmission duration of one of the at least two schedules; A component for receiving a request from a second UWB device for the transmission of supplemental UWB ranging packets by the first UWB device; and A component for transmitting at least one second UWB ranging packet in one of the at least one available transmission durations in response to receiving the request to transmit a supplementary UWB ranging packet by the first UWB device.

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