Electronic device for performing ranging operation and operating method thereof

Abstract

According to one embodiment disclosed herein, an electronic device (101) comprises: a communication circuit (190); one or more processors (120) including processing circuitry; and a memory (130) for storing instructions. When individually or collectively executed by the one or more processors, the instructions cause the electronic device to: establish a connection to an external electronic device (102; 104; 400) through a communication circuit by using a short-range communication method; after establishing the connection, detect an event for performing a ranging operation with the external electronic device; on the basis of detecting the event, transmit first association information, about associations between a first number of ranging technology / frequency combinations supported by the electronic device and performance values of the first number of ranging technology / frequency combinations, to the external electronic device through the communication circuit; after transmitting the first association information, receive second association information, about associations between a second number of ranging technology / frequency combinations supported by the external electronic device and performance values of the second number of ranging technology / frequency combinations, from the external electronic device through the communication circuit; on the basis of at least the first association information and the second association information, select one of the first number of ranging technology / frequency combinations as a ranging technology / frequency combination to be used in the electronic device; and perform a ranging operation with the external electronic device through the communication circuit by using the selected ranging technology / frequency combination, wherein the ranging technology / frequency combination includes a combination of at least one ranging technology and at least one frequency band supported by the at least one ranging technology. Other embodiments may be possible.

Description

Electronic device for performing ranging operation and method of operation thereof

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an electronic device performing a ranging operation and an operating method thereof.

[0002] With the recent advancement of information and communication technology, various short-range communication methods such as ultra-wide band (UWB), wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi), and / or Bluetooth, as well as various corresponding services, are being developed.

[0003] UWB is a short-range communication method that can transmit and receive signals using very short pulses (e.g., a few nanoseconds) at low power across a wide bandwidth. It is attracting attention as a method for recognizing and tracking the precise location of electronic devices in the Internet of Things (IoT) or ubiquitous environments. UWB is being used in various fields such as indoor and / or outdoor positioning, indoor navigation, asset tracking, industrial robots related to disaster relief, home and building automation, smart key services for vehicles and homes, or unmanned payment systems.

[0004] Wi-Fi is a wireless local area network (WLAN) method that guarantees users free mobility and can transmit / receive relatively large amounts of data despite low transmission delay, so it is used in various services.

[0005] The Bluetooth method is a short-range communication method that enables low-power wireless connections in relatively short-range environments, for example, several meters to tens of meters. It can implement short-range communication between electronic devices without complex cables, and is used in various services.

[0006] In the UWB method, a ranging technology such as the two way ranging (TWR) method has been proposed, in the Wi-Fi method, a ranging technology based on round trip time (RTT) has been proposed, and in the Bluetooth method, a ranging technology based on channel sounding (CS) has been proposed, for example.

[0007] Meanwhile, UWB ranging technology, Wi-Fi RTT technology, and Bluetooth CS technology are separate ranging technologies that can be used independently, and an electronic device can provide various services to a user by using at least two of the UWB ranging technology, Wi-Fi RTT technology, and Bluetooth CS technology together. In this way, when at least two ranging technologies are used, the frequency bands used in the at least two ranging technologies may overlap or be adjacent, in which case interference may occur between the signals used in the at least two ranging technologies, and thus communication quality may deteriorate. Even if the frequency bands used in the at least two ranging technologies do not overlap or are not adjacent, when the antennas used for the at least two ranging technologies are adjacent, a signal transmitted / received through one antenna may be input to the other antennas, and in this case, interference may also occur between the signals used in the at least two ranging technologies, and thus communication quality may deteriorate.

[0008] According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, an electronic device (101) may include a communication circuit (190), one or more processors (120) including processing circuitry, and a memory (130) for storing instructions.

[0009] According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, the instructions, when individually or collectively executed by the one or more processors, may cause the electronic device to establish a connection with an external electronic device (102; 104; 400) using a short-range communication method through the communication circuit.

[0010] According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, the instructions, when individually or collectively executed by the one or more processors, may cause the electronic device to detect an event to perform a ranging operation with the external electronic device after establishing the connection.

[0011] According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, the instructions, when individually or collectively executed by the one or more processors, may cause the electronic device to transmit, through the communication circuitry, to the external electronic device, first association information between a first number of ranging technology / frequency combinations supported by the electronic device and performance values ​​of the first number of ranging technology / frequency combinations, based on detecting the event.

[0012] According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, the instructions, when individually or collectively executed by the one or more processors, may cause the electronic device, after transmitting the first association information, to receive, from the external electronic device through the communication circuit, second association information between a second number of ranging technology / frequency combinations supported by the external electronic device and performance values ​​of the second number of ranging technology / frequency combinations.

[0013] According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, the instructions, when individually or collectively executed by the one or more processors, may cause the electronic device to select one of the first number of ranging technology / frequency combinations as a ranging technology / frequency combination to be used in the electronic device, based at least on the first association information and the second association information.

[0014] According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, the instructions, when individually or collectively executed by the one or more processors, may cause the electronic device, through the communication circuitry, to perform a ranging operation with the external electronic device using the selected ranging technology / frequency combination.

[0015] According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, a ranging technology / frequency combination may include a combination of at least one ranging technology and at least one frequency band supported by the at least one ranging technology.

[0016] According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, a method of an electronic device (101) may include an operation of establishing a connection with an external electronic device (102; 104; 400) using a short-range communication method.

[0017] According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, the method may include an operation of detecting an event for performing a ranging operation with the external electronic device after establishing the connection.

[0018] According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, the method may include, based on detecting the event, transmitting, to the external electronic device, first association information between a first number of ranging technology / frequency combinations supported by the electronic device and performance values ​​of the first number of ranging technology / frequency combinations.

[0019] According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, the method may include, after transmitting the first association information, receiving, from the external electronic device, second association information between a second number of ranging technology / frequency combinations supported by the external electronic device and performance values ​​of the second number of ranging technology / frequency combinations.

[0020] According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, the method may include an operation of selecting one of the first number of ranging technology / frequency combinations as a ranging technology / frequency combination to be used in the electronic device, based at least on the first association information and the second association information.

[0021] According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, the method may include performing a ranging operation with the external electronic device using the selected ranging technology / frequency combination.

[0022] According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, a ranging technology / frequency combination may include a combination of at least one ranging technology and at least one frequency band supported by the at least one ranging technology.

[0023] According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, a storage medium may be provided storing at least one computer-readable instruction, wherein the at least one instruction, when executed individually or collectively by one or more processors (120) including processing circuitry of an electronic device (101), causes the electronic device to perform at least one operation.

[0024] According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, the at least one operation may include establishing a connection with an external electronic device (102; 104; 400) using a short-range communication method.

[0025] According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, the at least one operation may include an operation of detecting an event for performing a ranging operation with the external electronic device after establishing the connection.

[0026] According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, the at least one operation may include, based on detecting the event, transmitting, to the external electronic device, first association information between a first number of ranging technology / frequency combinations supported by the electronic device and performance values ​​of the first number of ranging technology / frequency combinations.

[0027] According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, the at least one operation may include, after transmitting the first association information, receiving, from the external electronic device, second association information between a second number of ranging technology / frequency combinations supported by the external electronic device and performance values ​​of the second number of ranging technology / frequency combinations.

[0028] According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, the at least one operation may include selecting one of the first number of ranging technology / frequency combinations as a ranging technology / frequency combination to be used in the electronic device, based at least on the first association information and the second association information.

[0029] According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, the at least one operation may include performing a ranging operation with the external electronic device using the selected ranging technology / frequency combination.

[0030] According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, a ranging technology / frequency combination may include a combination of at least one ranging technology and at least one frequency band supported by the at least one ranging technology.

[0031] FIG. 1 is a block diagram schematically illustrating an electronic device within a network environment according to one embodiment.

[0032] FIG. 2A is a flowchart illustrating an operation process of an electronic device according to one embodiment.

[0033] FIG. 2b is a flowchart illustrating an operation process of an electronic device according to one embodiment.

[0034] FIG. 3A is a flowchart illustrating an operation process of an electronic device according to one embodiment.

[0035] FIG. 3b is a flowchart illustrating an operation process of an electronic device according to one embodiment.

[0036] FIG. 4 is a signal flow diagram showing an electronic device and an external electronic device performing a ranging operation according to one embodiment.

[0037] FIG. 5A is a flowchart illustrating a process by which an electronic device selects a ranging technology / frequency combination according to one embodiment.

[0038] FIG. 5b is a flowchart illustrating a process by which an electronic device selects a ranging technology / frequency combination according to one embodiment.

[0039] FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a process by which an electronic device selects a ranging technology / frequency combination according to one embodiment.

[0040] FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a process by which an electronic device selects a ranging technology / frequency combination according to one embodiment.

[0041] FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating a process by which an electronic device selects a ranging technology / frequency combination according to one embodiment.

[0042] FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a process by which an electronic device selects a ranging technology / frequency combination according to one embodiment.

[0043] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings. In describing an embodiment of the present disclosure, if a detailed description of a related known function or configuration is determined to unnecessarily obscure the gist of an embodiment of the present disclosure, such detailed description will be omitted. The terms described below are defined in consideration of the functions of an embodiment of the present disclosure, and may vary depending on the intent or custom of the user or operator. Therefore, their definitions should be based on the contents throughout this specification.

[0044] It should be noted that the technical terms used in this specification are merely used to describe specific embodiments and are not intended to limit the embodiments of the present disclosure. Alternatively, unless specifically defined otherwise herein, the technical terms used in this specification should be interpreted as having a meaning generally understood by a person skilled in the art to which the present disclosure pertains, and should not be interpreted in an excessively broad or narrow sense. Alternatively, if a technical term used in this specification is an incorrect technical term that does not accurately express the spirit of the present disclosure, it should be replaced with a technical term that can be correctly understood by a person skilled in the art. Alternatively, general terms used in the embodiments of the present disclosure should be interpreted as defined in the dictionary or according to the context, and should not be interpreted in an excessively narrow sense.

[0045] Alternatively, the singular expressions used herein include plural expressions unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. In this application, terms such as "consisting of" or "comprising" should not be construed to necessarily include all of the various components or various operations described in the specification, and should be construed to mean that some of the components or some of the operations may not be included, or that additional components or operations may be included.

[0046] Alternatively, terms including ordinal numbers, such as "first" or "second," used herein may be used to describe various components, but the components should not be limited by these terms. These terms are used solely to distinguish one component from another. For example, without departing from the scope of the present disclosure, a first component could be referred to as a second component, and similarly, a second component could also be referred to as a first component.

[0047] When a component is referred to as being "connected" or "connected" to another component, it may be directly connected or connected to that other component, but there may also be other components intervening. Conversely, when a component is referred to as being "directly connected" or "connected" to another component, it should be understood that there are no other components intervening.

[0048] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings. Regardless of the drawing numbers, identical or similar components will be given the same reference numbers and redundant descriptions thereof will be omitted. Alternatively, when describing an embodiment of the present disclosure, if a detailed description of a related known technology is determined to obscure the gist of the present disclosure, the detailed description thereof will be omitted. Alternatively, it should be noted that the attached drawings are only intended to facilitate easy understanding of the spirit of the present disclosure and should not be construed as limiting the spirit of the present disclosure by the attached drawings. The spirit of the present disclosure should be construed to extend to all modifications, equivalents, and substitutes other than the attached drawings.

[0049] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described using an electronic device as an example, but the electronic device may also be referred to as a terminal, a mobile station, mobile equipment (ME), user equipment (UE), user terminal (UT), subscriber station (SS), wireless device, handheld device, or access terminal (AT). Alternatively, in an embodiment of the present disclosure, the electronic device may be a device having a communication function, such as a mobile phone, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a smart phone, a wireless MODEM, or a laptop.

[0050] Alternatively, in one embodiment of the present disclosure, reference will be made to the ultra wide band (UWB) standard as defined by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.15.4 / 4z, but the main gist of the present disclosure can be applied with slight modifications to communication systems using other standards having similar technical backgrounds without significantly departing from the scope of the present disclosure, as will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Alternatively, in one embodiment of the present disclosure, reference will be made to the wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi) standard as defined by the IEEE 802.11mc, but the main gist of the present disclosure can be applied with slight modifications to communication systems using other standards having similar technical backgrounds without significantly departing from the scope of the present disclosure, as will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

[0051] FIG. 1 is a block diagram schematically illustrating an electronic device (101) within a network environment (100) according to one embodiment.

[0052] Referring to FIG. 1, in a network environment (100), an electronic device (101) may communicate with an electronic device (102) via a first network (198) (e.g., a short-range wireless communication network), or may communicate with an electronic device (104) or a server (108) via a second network (199) (e.g., a long-range wireless communication network). According to one embodiment, the electronic device (101) may communicate with the electronic device (104) via the server (108). According to one embodiment, the electronic device (101) may include a processor (120), a memory (130), an input module (150), an audio output module (155), a display module (160), an audio module (170), a sensor module (176), an interface (177), a connection terminal (178), a haptic module (179), a camera module (180), a power management module (188), a battery (189), a communication module (190), a subscriber identification module (196), or an antenna module (197). In some embodiments, the electronic device (101) may omit at least one of these components (e.g., the connection terminal (178)), or may have one or more other components added. In some embodiments, some of these components (e.g., the sensor module (176), the camera module (180), or the antenna module (197)) may be integrated into one component (e.g., the display module (160)).

[0053] The processor (120) may control at least one other component (e.g., a hardware or software component) of the electronic device (101) connected to the processor (120) by executing, for example, software (e.g., a program (140)), and may perform various data processing or calculations. According to one embodiment, as at least a part of the data processing or calculation, the processor (120) may store a command or data received from another component (e.g., a sensor module (176) or a communication module (190)) in a volatile memory (132), process the command or data stored in the volatile memory (132), and store the resulting data in a non-volatile memory (134). According to one embodiment, the processor (120) may include a main processor (121) (e.g., a central processing unit or an application processor) or a secondary processor (123) (e.g., a graphics processing unit, a neural processing unit (NPU), an image signal processor, a sensor hub processor, or a communication processor) that can operate independently or together therewith. For example, if the electronic device (101) includes a main processor (121) and a secondary processor (123), the secondary processor (123) may be configured to use less power than the main processor (121) or to be specialized for a specified function. The secondary processor (123) may be implemented separately from the main processor (121) or as a part thereof.

[0054] The auxiliary processor (123) may control at least a part of functions or states associated with at least one component (e.g., a display module (160), a sensor module (176), or a communication module (190)) of the electronic device (101), for example, on behalf of the main processor (121) while the main processor (121) is in an inactive (e.g., sleep) state, or together with the main processor (121) while the main processor (121) is in an active (e.g., application execution) state. In one embodiment, the auxiliary processor (123) (e.g., an image signal processor or a communication processor) may be implemented as a part of another functionally related component (e.g., a camera module (180) or a communication module (190)). In one embodiment, the auxiliary processor (123) (e.g., a neural network processing device) may include a hardware structure specialized for processing an artificial intelligence model. The artificial intelligence model may be generated through machine learning. This learning can be performed, for example, in the electronic device (101) itself where artificial intelligence is performed, or can be performed through a separate server (e.g., server (108)). The learning algorithm can include, for example, supervised learning, unsupervised learning, semi-supervised learning, or reinforcement learning, but is not limited to the examples described above. The artificial intelligence model can include multiple artificial neural network layers.The artificial neural network may be one of a deep neural network (DNN), a convolutional neural network (CNN), a recurrent neural network (RNN), a restricted Boltzmann machine (RBM), a deep belief network (DBN), a bidirectional recurrent deep neural network (BRDNN), a deep Q-network, or a combination of two or more of the above, but is not limited to the examples described above. In addition to, or alternatively to, a hardware structure, an artificial intelligence model may include a software structure.

[0055] The memory (130) can store various data used by at least one component (e.g., processor (120) or sensor module (176)) of the electronic device (101). The data can include, for example, software (e.g., program (140)) and input data or output data for commands related thereto. The memory (130) can include volatile memory (132) or non-volatile memory (134).

[0056] The program (140) may be stored as software in memory (130) and may include, for example, an operating system (142), middleware (144), or an application (146).

[0057] The input module (150) can receive commands or data to be used in a component of the electronic device (101) (e.g., a processor (120)) from an external source (e.g., a user) of the electronic device (101). The input module (150) can include, for example, a microphone, a mouse, a keyboard, a key (e.g., a button), or a digital pen (e.g., a stylus pen).

[0058] The audio output module (155) can output audio signals to the outside of the electronic device (101). The audio output module (155) can include, for example, a speaker or a receiver. The speaker can be used for general purposes, such as multimedia playback or recording playback. The receiver can be used to receive incoming calls. According to one embodiment, the receiver can be implemented separately from the speaker or as part of the speaker.

[0059] The display module (160) can visually provide information to an external party (e.g., a user) of the electronic device (101). The display module (160) may include, for example, a display, a holographic device, or a projector and a control circuit for controlling the device. In one embodiment, the display module (160) may include a touch sensor configured to detect a touch, or a pressure sensor configured to measure the intensity of a force generated by the touch.

[0060] The audio module (170) can convert sound into an electrical signal, or vice versa, convert an electrical signal into sound. According to one embodiment, the audio module (170) can acquire sound through the input module (150), output sound through the sound output module (155), or an external electronic device (e.g., electronic device (102)) (e.g., speaker or headphone) directly or wirelessly connected to the electronic device (101).

[0061] The sensor module (176) can detect the operating status (e.g., power or temperature) of the electronic device (101) or the external environmental status (e.g., user status) and generate an electrical signal or data value corresponding to the detected status. According to one embodiment, the sensor module (176) can include, for example, a gesture sensor, a gyro sensor, a barometric pressure sensor, a magnetic sensor, an acceleration sensor, a grip sensor, a proximity sensor, a color sensor, an IR (infrared) sensor, a biometric sensor, a temperature sensor, a humidity sensor, or an illuminance sensor.

[0062] The interface (177) may support one or more designated protocols that may be used to directly or wirelessly connect the electronic device (101) with an external electronic device (e.g., the electronic device (102)). In one embodiment, the interface (177) may include, for example, a high definition multimedia interface (HDMI), a universal serial bus (USB) interface, an SD card interface, or an audio interface.

[0063] The connection terminal (178) may include a connector through which the electronic device (101) may be physically connected to an external electronic device (e.g., electronic device (102)). According to one embodiment, the connection terminal (178) may include, for example, an HDMI connector, a USB connector, an SD card connector, or an audio connector (e.g., a headphone connector).

[0064] A haptic module (179) can convert electrical signals into mechanical stimuli (e.g., vibration or movement) or electrical stimuli that a user can perceive through tactile or kinesthetic sensations. According to one embodiment, the haptic module (179) can include, for example, a motor, a piezoelectric element, or an electrical stimulation device.

[0065] The camera module (180) can capture still images and videos. According to one embodiment, the camera module (180) may include one or more lenses, image sensors, image signal processors, or flashes.

[0066] The power management module (188) can manage power supplied to the electronic device (101). According to one embodiment, the power management module (188) can be implemented as at least a part of, for example, a power management integrated circuit (PMIC) (power management integrated circuit (circuitry)).

[0067] A battery (189) may power at least one component of the electronic device (101). In one embodiment, the battery (189) may include, for example, a non-rechargeable primary battery, a rechargeable secondary battery, or a fuel cell.

[0068] The communication module (190) may support the establishment of a direct (e.g., wired) communication channel or a wireless communication channel between the electronic device (101) and an external electronic device (e.g., electronic device (102), electronic device (104), or server (108)), and the performance of communication through the established communication channel. The communication module (190) may operate independently from the processor (120) (e.g., application processor) and may include one or more communication processors that support direct (e.g., wired) communication or wireless communication. According to one embodiment, the communication module (190) may include a wireless communication module (192) (e.g., a cellular communication module, a short-range wireless communication module, or a global navigation satellite system (GNSS) communication module) or a wired communication module (194) (e.g., a local area network (LAN) communication module, or a power line communication module). Among these communication modules, the corresponding communication module can communicate with an external electronic device (104) via a first network (198) (e.g., a short-range communication network such as Bluetooth, Wi-Fi (wireless fidelity) direct, or IrDA (infrared data association)) or a second network (199) (e.g., a long-range communication network such as a legacy cellular network, a 5G network, a next-generation communication network, the Internet, or a computer network (e.g., a LAN or WAN)). These various types of communication modules can be integrated into a single component (e.g., a single chip) or implemented as a plurality of separate components (e.g., multiple chips). The wireless communication module (192) can verify or authenticate the electronic device (101) within a communication network such as the first network (198) or the second network (199) by using subscriber information (e.g., an international mobile subscriber identity (IMSI)) stored in the subscriber identification module (196).

[0069] The wireless communication module (192) can support 5G networks and next-generation communication technologies following the 4G network, such as NR access technology (new radio access technology). The NR access technology can support high-speed transmission of high-capacity data (eMBB (enhanced mobile broadband)), minimization of terminal power and connection of multiple terminals (mMTC (massive machine type communications)), or high reliability and low latency (URLLC (ultra-reliable and low-latency communications)). The wireless communication module (192) can support, for example, a high-frequency band (e.g., mmWave band) to achieve a high data transmission rate. The wireless communication module (192) can support various technologies for securing performance in a high-frequency band, such as beamforming, massive multiple-input and multiple-output (MIMO), full dimensional MIMO (FD-MIMO), array antenna, analog beam-forming, or large scale antenna. The wireless communication module (192) can support various requirements specified in the electronic device (101), an external electronic device (e.g., the electronic device (104)), or a network system (e.g., the second network (199)). According to one embodiment, the wireless communication module (192) can support a peak data rate (e.g., 20 Gbps or more) for eMBB realization, a loss coverage (e.g., 164 dB or less) for mMTC realization, or a U-plane latency (e.g., 0.5 ms or less for downlink (DL) and uplink (UL), or 1 ms or less for round trip) for URLLC realization.

[0070] The antenna module (197) can transmit or receive signals or power to or from an external device (e.g., an external electronic device). According to one embodiment, the antenna module (197) may include an antenna including a radiator formed of a conductor or a conductive pattern formed on a substrate (e.g., a PCB). According to one embodiment, the antenna module (197) may include a plurality of antennas (e.g., an array antenna). In this case, at least one antenna suitable for a communication method used in a communication network, such as the first network (198) or the second network (199), may be selected from the plurality of antennas, for example, by the communication module (190). A signal or power may be transmitted or received between the communication module (190) and an external electronic device via the selected at least one antenna. According to some embodiments, in addition to the radiator, another component (e.g., a radio frequency integrated circuit (RFIC)) may be additionally formed as a part of the antenna module (197).

[0071] In one embodiment, the antenna module (197) may form a mmWave antenna module. In one embodiment, the mmWave antenna module may include a printed circuit board, an RFIC disposed on or adjacent a first side (e.g., a bottom side) of the printed circuit board and capable of supporting a designated high-frequency band (e.g., a mmWave band), and a plurality of antennas (e.g., an array antenna) disposed on or adjacent a second side (e.g., a top side or a side side) of the printed circuit board and capable of transmitting or receiving signals in the designated high-frequency band.

[0072] At least some of the above components can be interconnected and exchange signals (e.g., commands or data) with each other via a communication method between peripheral devices (e.g., a bus, GPIO (general purpose input and output), SPI (serial peripheral interface), or MIPI (mobile industry processor interface)).

[0073] According to one embodiment, commands or data may be transmitted or received between the electronic device (101) and an external electronic device (104) via a server (108) connected to a second network (199). Each of the external electronic devices (102 or 104) may be the same or a different type of device as the electronic device (101). According to one embodiment, all or part of the operations executed in the electronic device (101) may be executed in one or more of the external electronic devices (102, 104, or 108). For example, when the electronic device (101) is to perform a certain function or service automatically or in response to a request from a user or another device, the electronic device (101) may, instead of or in addition to executing the function or service itself, request one or more external electronic devices to perform the function or at least a part of the service. One or more external electronic devices that receive the request may execute at least a portion of the requested function or service, or an additional function or service related to the request, and transmit the result of the execution to the electronic device (101). The electronic device (101) may process the result as is or additionally and provide it as at least a portion of a response to the request. For this purpose, cloud computing, distributed computing, mobile edge computing (MEC), or client-server computing technology may be used, for example. The electronic device (101) may provide an ultra-low latency service by using distributed computing or mobile edge computing, for example. In another embodiment, the external electronic device (104) may include an Internet of Things (IoT) device. The server (108) may be an intelligent server utilizing machine learning and / or a neural network. According to one embodiment, the external electronic device (104) or the server (108) may be included in the second network (199).The electronic device (101) can be applied to intelligent services (e.g., smart home, smart city, smart car, or healthcare) based on 5G communication technology and IoT-related technology.

[0074] Electronic devices according to embodiments disclosed herein may take various forms. Electronic devices may include, for example, portable communication devices (e.g., smartphones), computer devices, portable multimedia devices, portable medical devices, cameras, wearable devices, or home appliances. Electronic devices according to embodiments disclosed herein are not limited to the aforementioned devices.

[0075] The embodiments of this document and the terminology used herein are not intended to limit the technical features described in this document to a specific embodiment, but should be understood to include various modifications, equivalents, or substitutes of the embodiment. In connection with the description of the drawings, similar reference numerals may be used for similar or related components. The singular form of a noun corresponding to an item may include one or more of the item, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. In this document, each of the phrases "A or B", "at least one of A and B", "at least one of A or B", "A, B, or C", "at least one of A, B, and C", and "at least one of A, B, or C" can include any one of the items listed together in the corresponding phrase among those phrases, or all possible combinations thereof. Terms such as "first," "second," or "first" or "second" may be used merely to distinguish one component from another, and do not limit the components in any other respect (e.g., importance or order). When a component (e.g., a first component) is referred to as "coupled" or "connected" to another (e.g., a second component), with or without the terms "functionally" or "communicatively," it means that the component can be connected to the other component directly (e.g., wired), wirelessly, or through a third component.

[0076] The term "module" used in one embodiment of this document may include a unit implemented in hardware, software, or firmware, and may be used interchangeably with terms such as logic, logic block, component, or circuit, for example. A module may be an integral component, or a minimum unit or part of such a component that performs one or more functions. For example, according to one embodiment, a module may be implemented in the form of an application-specific integrated circuit (circuitry) (ASIC).

[0077] An embodiment of the present document may be implemented as software (e.g., a program (140)) including one or more instructions stored in a storage medium (e.g., an internal memory (136) or an external memory (138)) readable by a machine (e.g., an electronic device (101)). For example, a processor (e.g., a processor (120)) of the machine (e.g., an electronic device (101)) may call at least one instruction among the one or more instructions stored from the storage medium and execute it. This enables the machine to operate to perform at least one function according to the at least one called instruction. The one or more instructions may include code generated by a compiler or code executable by an interpreter. The machine-readable storage medium may be provided in the form of a non-transitory storage medium. Here, 'non-transitory' simply means that the storage medium is a tangible device and does not contain signals (e.g., electromagnetic waves), and the term does not distinguish between cases where data is stored semi-permanently or temporarily on the storage medium.

[0078] According to one embodiment, the method according to one embodiment disclosed in the present document may be provided as a computer program product. The computer program product may be traded between sellers and buyers as a product. The computer program product may be distributed in the form of a device-readable storage medium (e.g., compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM)) or may be provided through an application store (e.g., Play Store). TM ) or directly between two user devices (e.g., smart phones), online distribution (e.g., downloading or uploading). In the case of online distribution, at least a portion of the computer program product may be at least temporarily stored or temporarily created in a machine-readable storage medium, such as the memory of a manufacturer's server, an application store's server, or an intermediary server.

[0079] According to one embodiment, each component (e.g., a module or a program) of the above-described components may include one or more entities, and some of the entities may be separated and placed in other components. According to one embodiment, one or more components or operations of the aforementioned components may be omitted, or one or more other components or operations may be added. Alternatively or additionally, a plurality of components (e.g., a module or a program) may be integrated into a single component. In such a case, the integrated component may perform one or more functions of each of the plurality of components identically or similarly to those performed by the corresponding component among the plurality of components prior to the integration. According to one embodiment, the operations performed by a module, program, or other component may be executed sequentially, in parallel, iteratively, or heuristically, or one or more of the operations may be executed in a different order, omitted, or one or more other operations may be added.

[0080] With recent advancements in information and communication technology, various short-range communication methods, such as ultra-wideband (UWB), wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi), and / or Bluetooth, and their corresponding services, are being developed. These short-range communication methods limit the use of ranging technologies, which can measure the distance between electronic devices.

[0081] In the UWB method, a ranging technology such as the two way ranging (TWR) method has been proposed, in the Wi-Fi method, a ranging technology based on round trip time (RTT) has been proposed, and in the Bluetooth method, a ranging technology based on channel sounding (CS) has been proposed, for example.

[0082] Meanwhile, UWB ranging technology, Wi-Fi RTT technology, and Bluetooth CS technology are separate ranging technologies that can be used independently, and an electronic device can provide various services to a user by using at least two of the UWB ranging technology, Wi-Fi RTT technology, and Bluetooth CS technology together. In this way, when at least two ranging technologies are used, the frequency bands used in the at least two ranging technologies may overlap or be adjacent, in which case interference may occur between the signals used in the at least two ranging technologies, and thus communication quality may deteriorate. Even if the frequency bands used in the at least two ranging technologies do not overlap or are not adjacent, when the antennas used for the at least two ranging technologies are adjacent, a signal transmitted / received through one antenna may be input to the other antennas, and in this case, interference may also occur between the signals used in the at least two ranging technologies, and thus communication quality may deteriorate.

[0083] Accordingly, the present disclosure may provide an electronic device and method for performing a ranging operation to reduce (or prevent or mitigate) interference when at least two ranging technologies are used together in an electronic device supporting multiple ranging technologies.

[0084] The present disclosure provides an electronic device and method for performing a ranging operation to reduce (or prevent or mitigate) interference by taking into account performance such as recognition distance and / or signal quality when at least two ranging technologies are used together in an electronic device supporting multiple ranging technologies.

[0085] According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, an electronic device (101) may include a communication circuit (190), one or more processors (120) including processing circuitry, and a memory (130) for storing instructions.

[0086] According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, the instructions, when individually or collectively executed by the one or more processors, may cause the electronic device to establish a connection with an external electronic device (102; 104; 400) using a short-range communication method through the communication circuit.

[0087] According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, the instructions, when individually or collectively executed by the one or more processors, may cause the electronic device to detect an event to perform a ranging operation with the external electronic device after establishing the connection.

[0088] According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, the instructions, when individually or collectively executed by the one or more processors, may cause the electronic device to transmit, through the communication circuitry, to the external electronic device, first association information between a first number of ranging technology / frequency combinations supported by the electronic device and performance values ​​of the first number of ranging technology / frequency combinations, based on detecting the event.

[0089] According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, the instructions, when individually or collectively executed by the one or more processors, may cause the electronic device, after transmitting the first association information, to receive, from the external electronic device through the communication circuit, second association information between a second number of ranging technology / frequency combinations supported by the external electronic device and performance values ​​of the second number of ranging technology / frequency combinations.

[0090] According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, the instructions, when individually or collectively executed by the one or more processors, may cause the electronic device to select one of the first number of ranging technology / frequency combinations as a ranging technology / frequency combination to be used in the electronic device, based at least on the first association information and the second association information.

[0091] According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, the instructions, when individually or collectively executed by the one or more processors, may cause the electronic device, through the communication circuitry, to perform a ranging operation with the external electronic device using the selected ranging technology / frequency combination.

[0092] According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, a ranging technology / frequency combination may include a combination of at least one ranging technology and at least one frequency band supported by the at least one ranging technology.

[0093] According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, the performance values ​​of the first number of ranging technology / frequency combinations and the second number of ranging technology / frequency combinations may include recognition distances obtained using the first number of ranging technology / frequency combinations and the second number of ranging technology / frequency combinations, and / or signal qualities obtained using the first number of ranging technology / frequency combinations and the second number of ranging technology / frequency combinations, and the first number may be the same as or different from the second number.

[0094] According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, the instructions, when individually or collectively executed by the one or more processors, may cause the electronic device to identify a first ranging technique to be used in the electronic device, at least as part of an operation of selecting one of the first number of ranging technique / frequency combinations as a ranging technique / frequency combination to be used in the electronic device, based at least on the first association information and the second association information.

[0095] According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, the instructions, when individually or collectively executed by the one or more processors, may cause the electronic device to determine, as at least part of an operation of selecting one of the first number of ranging technology / frequency combinations as a ranging technology / frequency combination to be used in the electronic device, based at least on the first association information and the second association information, whether there is a ranging technology / frequency combination in the first association information that corresponds to the first ranging technology and the at least one ranging technology / frequency combination currently in use in the electronic device.

[0096] According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, the instructions, when individually or collectively executed by the one or more processors, may cause, as at least part of an operation of selecting one of the first number of ranging technology / frequency combinations as a ranging technology / frequency combination to be used in the electronic device, based at least on the first association information and the second association information, to select, based on a presence in the first association information of a plurality of ranging technology / frequency combinations corresponding to the first ranging technology and the at least one ranging technology / frequency combination currently in use in the electronic device, a ranging technology / frequency combination having a maximum performance value from among the plurality of ranging technology / frequency combinations corresponding to the first ranging technology and the at least one ranging technology / frequency combination currently in use in the electronic device, as a ranging technology / frequency combination to be used in the electronic device.

[0097] According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, the instructions, when individually or collectively executed by the one or more processors, may cause the electronic device to select, as at least part of an operation of selecting one of the first number of ranging technology / frequency combinations as a ranging technology / frequency combination to be used in the electronic device, based at least on the first association information and the second association information, one ranging technology / frequency combination corresponding to the first ranging technology and the at least one ranging technology / frequency combination currently in use in the electronic device, based on the presence of one ranging technology / frequency combination in the first association information that corresponds to the first ranging technology and the at least one ranging technology / frequency combination currently in use in the electronic device, as a ranging technology / frequency combination to be used in the electronic device.

[0098] According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, the instructions, when individually or collectively executed by the one or more processors, may cause the electronic device to identify a first ranging technique to be used in the electronic device, at least as part of an operation of selecting one of the first number of ranging technique / frequency combinations as a ranging technique / frequency combination to be used in the electronic device, based at least on the first association information and the second association information.

[0099] According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, the instructions, when individually or collectively executed by the one or more processors, may cause the electronic device to, at least as part of an operation of selecting one of the first number of ranging technology / frequency combinations as a ranging technology / frequency combination to be used in the electronic device, based at least on the first association information and the second association information, determine whether there is a ranging technology / frequency combination in the first association information that corresponds to the first ranging technology and the at least one ranging technology / frequency combination currently in use in the electronic device.

[0100] According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, the instructions, when individually or collectively executed by the one or more processors, may cause the electronic device to, at least as part of an operation of selecting one of the first number of ranging technology / frequency combinations as a ranging technology / frequency combination to be used in the electronic device, based at least on the first association information and the second association information, determine whether, based on the presence of a plurality of ranging technology / frequency combinations corresponding to the first ranging technology and the at least one ranging technology / frequency combination currently in use in the electronic device, there exists in the second association information a ranging technology / frequency combination corresponding to the first ranging technology and the at least one ranging technology / frequency combination currently in use in the electronic device.

[0101] According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, the instructions, when individually or collectively executed by the one or more processors, may cause the electronic device to, at least as part of an operation of selecting one of the first number of ranging technology / frequency combinations as a ranging technology / frequency combination to be used in the electronic device, based at least on the first association information and the second association information, select a ranging technology / frequency combination having a maximum performance value from among the plurality of ranging technology / frequency combinations corresponding to the first ranging technology and the at least one ranging technology / frequency combination currently in use in the electronic device, based on the presence of a plurality of ranging technology / frequency combinations in the second association information corresponding to the first ranging technology and the at least one ranging technology / frequency combination currently in use in the electronic device, as a ranging technology / frequency combination to be used in the electronic device.

[0102] According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, the instructions, when individually or collectively executed by the one or more processors, may cause the electronic device to select, as at least part of an operation of selecting one of the first number of ranging technology / frequency combinations as a ranging technology / frequency combination to be used in the electronic device, based at least on the first association information and the second association information, based on the presence of one ranging technology / frequency combination corresponding to the first ranging technology and the at least one ranging technology / frequency combination currently in use in the electronic device, as a ranging technology / frequency combination to be used in the electronic device, based on the presence of one ranging technology / frequency combination corresponding to the first ranging technology and the at least one ranging technology / frequency combination currently in use in the electronic device.

[0103] According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, the instructions, when individually or collectively executed by the one or more processors, may cause the electronic device to transmit information about the selected ranging technique / frequency combination to the external electronic device via the communication circuitry before performing the ranging operation.

[0104] According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, the instructions, when individually or collectively executed by the one or more processors, may cause the electronic device to, while performing a ranging operation with the external electronic device using the selected ranging technology / frequency combination, determine a change in the usage state of at least one of the ranging technology / frequency combinations other than the selected ranging technology / frequency combination among the first number of ranging technology / frequency combinations.

[0105] According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, the instructions, when individually or collectively executed by the one or more processors, may cause the electronic device to transmit, through the communication circuit, information about the at least one ranging technology / frequency combination whose usage state has changed to the external electronic device.

[0106] According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, the instructions, when individually or collectively executed by the one or more processors, may cause the electronic device to, at least as part of an operation of transmitting the first association information to the external electronic device via the communication circuit, determine whether there is a history of transmitting the first association information to the external electronic device.

[0107] According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, the instructions, when individually or collectively executed by the one or more processors, may cause the electronic device to transmit, as first association information, an identifier identifying the first association information to the external electronic device through the communication circuitry, based on a history of transmitting the first association information to the external electronic device, at least as part of the operation of transmitting the first association information to the external electronic device.

[0108] According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, the first association information may be set for each application supported by the electronic device.

[0109] According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, the instructions, when individually or collectively executed by the one or more processors, may cause the electronic device to broadcast, through the communication circuitry, information about at least one ranging technology supported by the electronic device, and at least one frequency band supported by the at least one ranging technology supported by the electronic device, prior to establishing the connection.

[0110] According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, the instructions, when individually or collectively executed by the one or more processors, may cause the electronic device to transmit, through the communication circuitry, to the external electronic device, information about at least one ranging technology supported by the electronic device and at least one frequency band supported by the at least one ranging technology supported by the electronic device, after establishing the connection and before transmitting the first association information.

[0111] FIG. 2A is a flowchart illustrating an operation process of an electronic device according to one embodiment.

[0112] Referring to FIG. 2A, an electronic device (e.g., the electronic device (101) of FIG. 1) (e.g., one or more processors including processing circuitry) (e.g., the processor (120) of FIG. 1) may, at operation 211, establish a connection with an external electronic device (e.g., the electronic device (102) or the electronic device (104) of FIG. 1) using a short-range communication method via a communication circuit (e.g., the communication module (190) of FIG. 1). For example, the short-range communication method may include a Bluetooth method, a Bluetooth low energy (BLE) method, and / or a Wi-Fi (wireless fidelity) method. In one embodiment, the electronic device may operate as an initiator that initiates a ranging operation. In one embodiment, the external electronic device may operate as a responder that responds to the initiator.

[0113] An electronic device that has established a connection with an external electronic device may, in operation 213, detect an event for performing a ranging operation with the external electronic device. In one embodiment, the event for performing a ranging operation with the external electronic device may be an event that confirms that a distance measurement is required between the electronic device and the external electronic device.

[0114] An electronic device that detects an event for performing a ranging operation with an external electronic device may, in operation 215, transmit, from the external electronic device through a communication circuit, first association information between a first number of ranging technology / frequency combinations supported by the electronic device and performance values ​​of the first number of ranging technology / frequency combinations. In one embodiment, the first association information may be implemented in the form of a mapping table (e.g., a ranging performance table) indicating a mapping relationship between the first number of ranging technology / frequency combinations supported by the electronic device and performance values ​​of the first number of ranging technology / frequency combinations.

[0115] In one embodiment, the ranging technology / frequency combination may include a combination of at least one ranging technology and at least one frequency band supported by the at least one ranging technology.

[0116] In one embodiment, the electronic device may support a total of three ranging technologies, for example, UWB ranging technology, Wi-Fi RTT technology, and Bluetooth CS technology.

[0117] The channels (or frequency bands) supported in UWB ranging technology can be represented as shown in Table 1 below.

[0118] Table 1

[0119]

[0120] As shown in Table 1, the channels supported by UWB ranging technology can be mapped to frequency bands, respectively.

[0121] Let us assume that the electronic device uses UWB ranging technology that supports a total of three channels, for example, channel 5 (channel 5: Ch5), channel 9 (channel 9: Ch9), and channel 11 (channel 5: Ch11).

[0122] Frequency bands supported by Wi-Fi RTT technology include 2.4 GHz, which can correspond to 2400 MHz to 2500 MHz, 5 GHz, which can correspond to 5170 MHz to 5835 MHz, and 6 GHz, which can correspond to 5925 MHz to 7125 MHz.

[0123] Bluetooth CS technology can support a single frequency band that can correspond to 2402 MHz to 2440 MHz.

[0124] For example, the ranging technology / frequency combination may include a combination of at least one ranging technology and at least one frequency band supported by at least one ranging technology, such as Ch9 of UWB ranging technology, and / or a combination of Ch5 of UWB ranging technology and 5 GHz of Wi-Fi RTT technology.

[0125] In one embodiment, the performance value may be a value obtained using a ranging technology / frequency combination, and may include a recognition distance obtained using the ranging technology / frequency combination, and / or a signal quality obtained using the ranging technology / frequency combination. The signal quality may include, for example, a signal to noise ratio (SNR), and / or a received signal strength indicator (RSSI). For example, when a ranging technology / frequency combination such as a combination of Ch5 of UWB ranging technology and 5 GHz of Wi-Fi RTT technology is used, the performance value of the ranging technology / frequency combination may include a recognition distance of 26 m obtained when Ch5 of UWB ranging technology is used, and a recognition distance of 45 m obtained when 5 GHz of Wi-Fi RTT technology is used.

[0126] The electronic device that transmitted the first association information may, in operation 217, receive, from the external electronic device, through the communication circuit, second association information between the second number of ranging technology / frequency combinations supported by the external electronic device and the performance values ​​of the second number of ranging technology / frequency combinations. In one embodiment, the second association information may be implemented in the form of a mapping table (e.g., a ranging performance table) indicating a mapping relationship between the second number of ranging technology / frequency combinations supported by the external electronic device and the performance values ​​of the second number of ranging technology / frequency combinations. The second association information may be implemented in a form similar to or substantially identical to the first association information. However, since each of the ranging technologies supported by the external electronic device or the frequency bands supported by the ranging technologies supported by the external electronic device may be different from the frequency bands supported by the ranging technologies supported by the electronic device or the ranging technologies supported by the external electronic device, the second association information may be implemented in a form differentiated from the first association information.

[0127] The electronic device, which has received the second association information, may transmit, through the communication circuit, to an external electronic device, in operation 219, first information about at least one ranging technology / frequency combination currently being used by the electronic device among the first number of ranging technology / frequency combinations. In one embodiment, the electronic device may already be using at least one ranging technology / frequency combination, and thus, the electronic device may transmit the first information about at least one ranging technology / frequency combination currently being used by the electronic device to the external electronic device, so that the external electronic device may perform a ranging operation by taking into account the first information about at least one ranging technology / frequency combination currently being used by the electronic device.

[0128] The electronic device that transmitted the first information may, in operation 221, receive, from the external electronic device, through the communication circuit, second information about at least one ranging technology / frequency combination currently being used by the external electronic device among a second number of ranging technology / frequency combinations. In one embodiment, the external electronic device may already be using at least one ranging technology / frequency combination like the electronic device, and thus the second information about the at least one ranging technology / frequency combination currently being used by the external electronic device may be transmitted to the electronic device, so that the electronic device may perform a ranging operation by taking into account the second information about the at least one ranging technology / frequency combination currently being used by the external electronic device.

[0129] The electronic device that has received the second information may, in operation 223, select one of the first number of ranging technology / frequency combinations as the ranging technology / frequency combination to be used by the electronic device based on the first associated information, the second associated information, the first information, and the second information.

[0130] In one embodiment, the electronic device can identify a first ranging technology to be used in the electronic device, and can identify whether the first associated information includes a ranging technology / frequency combination corresponding to the first ranging technology and at least one ranging technology / frequency combination currently being used in the electronic device. If the first associated information includes a plurality of ranging technology / frequency combinations corresponding to the first ranging technology and at least one ranging technology / frequency combination currently being used in the electronic device, the electronic device can select a ranging technology / frequency combination having a maximum performance value among the plurality of ranging technology / frequency combinations corresponding to the first ranging technology and at least one ranging technology / frequency combination currently being used in the electronic device as the ranging technology / frequency combination to be used in the electronic device. Alternatively, if the first associated information includes one ranging technology / frequency combination corresponding to the first ranging technology and at least one ranging technology / frequency combination currently in use by the electronic device, the electronic device may select one ranging technology / frequency combination corresponding to the first ranging technology and at least one ranging technology / frequency combination currently in use by the electronic device as the ranging technology / frequency combination to be used by the electronic device.

[0131] In one embodiment, the electronic device can identify a first ranging technology to be used in the electronic device, and determine whether there is a ranging technology / frequency combination corresponding to the first ranging technology and at least one ranging technology / frequency combination currently being used in the electronic device in the first association information. If there are a plurality of ranging technology / frequency combinations corresponding to the first ranging technology and at least one ranging technology / frequency combination currently being used in the electronic device in the first association information, the electronic device can determine whether there is a ranging technology / frequency combination corresponding to the first ranging technology and at least one ranging technology / frequency combination currently being used in the electronic device in the second association information. If the second association information includes a plurality of ranging technology / frequency combinations corresponding to the first ranging technology and at least one ranging technology / frequency combination currently in use by the electronic device, the electronic device may select a ranging technology / frequency combination having a maximum performance value among the plurality of ranging technology / frequency combinations corresponding to the first ranging technology and at least one ranging technology / frequency combination currently in use by the electronic device as the ranging technology / frequency combination to be used by the electronic device. Alternatively, if the second association information includes one ranging technology / frequency combination corresponding to the first ranging technology and at least one ranging technology / frequency combination currently in use by the electronic device, the electronic device may select one ranging technology / frequency combination corresponding to the first ranging technology and at least one ranging technology / frequency combination currently in use by the electronic device as the ranging technology / frequency combination to be used by the electronic device.

[0132] An electronic device that has selected a ranging technology / frequency combination can perform a ranging operation with an external electronic device using the selected ranging technology / frequency combination in operation 225. In one embodiment, the electronic device can transmit information about the selected ranging technology / frequency combination to the external electronic device so that the external electronic device can also be aware of the ranging technology / frequency combination selected by the electronic device. In one embodiment, since the electronic device acts as an initiator, the electronic device can select a ranging technology / frequency combination to be used for the ranging operation between the electronic device and the external electronic device.

[0133] FIG. 2b is a flowchart illustrating an operation process of an electronic device according to one embodiment.

[0134] Referring to FIG. 2B, an electronic device (e.g., the electronic device (101) of FIG. 1) (e.g., one or more processors including processing circuitry) (e.g., the processor (120) of FIG. 1) may perform operations 251 to 257. Operations 251 to 257 of FIG. 2B may be implemented similarly or substantially identically to operations 211 to 217 of FIG. 2A, and thus, a redundant description thereof may be omitted herein.

[0135] The electronic device that has received the second association information may, in operation 259, select one of the first number of ranging technology / frequency combinations as the ranging technology / frequency combination to be used in the electronic device based on the first association information and the second association information. The electronic device that has selected the ranging technology / frequency combination to be used in the electronic device may, in operation 261, perform a ranging operation with an external electronic device using the selected ranging technology / frequency combination. In one embodiment, the electronic device may transmit information about the selected ranging technology / frequency combination to the external electronic device so that the external electronic device may also be aware of the ranging technology / frequency combination selected by the electronic device. In one embodiment, since the electronic device operates as an initiator, the electronic device may select the ranging technology / frequency combination to be used for the ranging operation between the electronic device and the external electronic device.

[0136] FIG. 3A is a flowchart illustrating an operation process of an electronic device according to one embodiment.

[0137] Referring to FIG. 3A, an electronic device (e.g., the electronic device (101) of FIG. 1) (e.g., one or more processors including a processing circuit) (e.g., the processor (120) of FIG. 1) may, at operation 300, establish a connection with an external electronic device (e.g., the electronic device (102) or the electronic device (104) of FIG. 1) using a short-range communication method via a communication circuit (e.g., the communication module (190) of FIG. 1). In one embodiment, the electronic device may operate as an initiator that initiates a ranging operation. In one embodiment, the external electronic device may operate as a responder that responds to the initiator.

[0138] An electronic device that has established a connection with an external electronic device may, in operation 305, detect an event for performing a ranging operation with the external electronic device. In one embodiment, the event for performing a ranging operation with the external electronic device may be an event that confirms that a distance measurement is required between the electronic device and the external electronic device.

[0139] An electronic device that detects an event for performing a ranging operation with an external electronic device may, in operation 311, check a ranging performance table of the electronic device. In one embodiment, the ranging performance table of the electronic device may be first association information between a first number of ranging technology / frequency combinations supported by the electronic device and performance values ​​of the first number of ranging technology / frequency combinations.

[0140] In one embodiment, a ranging performance table may be used by an electronic device to perform ranging operations, and thus, the ranging performance table may be set before the electronic device performs ranging operations. For example, the ranging performance table may be incorporated into the electronic device during a manufacturing process step, or may be incorporated into the electronic device through a separate procedure, such as a software update procedure, while the electronic device is in use. For example, the ranging performance table may be incorporated into the electronic device through procedures other than the software update procedure while the electronic device is in use. For example, the manufacturer of the electronic device may distribute updated software that includes a ranging performance table, but the user may not download the updated software, resulting in the electronic device not containing the ranging performance table. In this case, when the electronic device performs ranging operations with another device of the same device model as the electronic device, the electronic device may acquire the ranging performance table of the other device through a ranging performance table exchange operation. The electronic device may verify that the device model of the other device is identical to the device model of the electronic device based on information acquired from the other device during the ranging performance table exchange operation. Therefore, a ranging performance table obtained from another device of the same device model can be set as the ranging performance table of the electronic device.

[0141] A ranging performance table according to one embodiment of the present disclosure may be described as follows.

[0142] First, when an electronic device uses multiple ranging technologies together (or simultaneously), the performance of the multiple ranging technologies can generally be determined by the frequency bands used in the multiple ranging technologies. However, since the hardware structure and / or antenna arrangement are different for each device, the combination of ranging technologies that can obtain the optimal performance may be different. For example, in some electronic devices, the UWB Ch9 ranging technology is not affected by the RTT 5GHz ranging technology, but in other devices, the UWB Ch9 ranging technology may be affected by the RTT 5GHz technology, resulting in reduced performance. For example, the UWB Ch9 ranging technology may refer to a UWB ranging technology that uses Ch9, and the RTT 5GHz technology may refer to an RTT technology that uses 5GHz. Hereinafter, for convenience of explanation, the UWB Chx ranging technology may refer to a UWB ranging technology that uses Chx, and the RTT yGHz technology may refer to a Wi-Fi RTT technology that uses yGHz.

[0143] Accordingly, the present disclosure may consider a method for reducing (or preventing or mitigating) interference between ranging technologies by selecting a ranging technology / frequency combination to be used for ranging operations between the electronic device and the counterpart device based on the ranging technology table of the electronic device itself and the ranging technology table of the counterpart device with which the electronic device performs ranging operations. Accordingly, the present disclosure may require the electronic device to have a ranging technology table before performing ranging operations with the counterpart device, and the ranging technology table may be incorporated into the electronic device during the manufacturing process as described above, or may be incorporated into the electronic device through a separate procedure such as a software update procedure while the electronic device is in use, or may be incorporated into the electronic device based on a ranging technology table of another device obtained during a ranging technology table exchange operation.

[0144] According to one embodiment, the operation of constructing a ranging performance table may be described as follows.

[0145] First, the performance of a single entry in the ranging performance table may be higher as the signal quality improves, or as the recognition range obtained using the single entry increases. In one embodiment, a single entry may represent a combination of a single ranging technology and a single frequency band used by the ranging technology. The signal quality may include, for example, the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and / or the receiver signal integrity index (RSSI).

[0146] Second, the performance for a combination entry in the ranging performance table may be higher as the signal quality obtained by using the preferred ranging technology is higher, or as the recognition range obtained by using the preferred ranging technology is longer. In one embodiment, a combination entry may represent a combination of single entries. In one embodiment, a combination entry may represent a combination of at least two ranging technologies and one frequency band used in each of the at least two ranging technologies. For example, if there is a first combination entry that is a combination of UWB Ch5 ranging technology with a recognition range of 26 m and RTT 5 GHz technology with a recognition range of 45 m, and a second combination entry that is a combination of UWB Ch5 ranging technology with a recognition range of 28 m and RTT 5 GHz technology with a recognition range of 43 m, if the preferred ranging technology is UWB ranging technology, it can be determined that the second combination entry, which has better performance in terms of UWB ranging technology (e.g., longer recognition range), has better performance, and if the preferred ranging technology is Wi-Fi RTT technology, it can be determined that the first combination entry, which has better performance in terms of Wi-Fi RTT technology (e.g., longer recognition range), has better performance.

[0147] Third, the performance of a combination entry in the ranging performance table can be determined based on the average performance of the individual entries included in the combination entry. For example, a higher average SNR of the individual entries included in the combination entry may indicate better performance, or a longer average recognition distance of the individual entries included in the combination entry may indicate better performance.

[0148] In one embodiment, a reference device may exist to measure performances for single entries and / or combinations of entries in order to generate (or configure) a ranging performance table. For example, a signal quality or recognition distance for UWB ranging technology measured between an electronic device whose device model is Model A and an electronic device whose device model is Model X may be different from a signal quality or recognition distance for UWB ranging technology measured between an electronic device whose device model is Model B and an electronic device whose device model is Model Y. In this way, since the measured signal quality or recognition distance for ranging technology may also be different as the device models change, a separate reference device may be required to measure the signal quality or recognition distance for ranging technology.

[0149] In one embodiment, a plurality of ranging performance tables may be configured for an electronic device, and the ranging performance tables may be configured for each application running on the electronic device. In one embodiment, the ranging performance tables may be configured for each performance criterion. In one embodiment, the performance criterion may include signal quality and / or recognition range, as described above.

[0150] For example, the ranging performance table of an electronic device can be represented as shown in Table 2 below.

[0151] Table 2

[0152]

[0153] The ranging performance table as shown in Table 2 may include three categories in total, which may include a single entry category for UWB ranging technology, a single entry category for Wi-Fi RTT technology, and a combined entry category for a combination of UWB ranging technology and Wi-Fi RTT technology (indicated as “UWB + RTT” in Table 2). In Table 2, the rank may indicate a rank for performance obtained when the single entry or the combined entry is used.

[0154] For example, in the case of UWB ranging technology, it can be seen that the performance of UWB Ch9 ranging technology is ranked first, the performance of UWB Ch5 ranging technology is ranked second, and the performance of UWB Ch11 ranging technology is ranked third. For example, in the case of UWB ranging technology, it can be seen that the performance of UWB Ch9 ranging technology is the best.

[0155] For example, in the case of Wi-Fi RTT technology, the performance ranking of RTT 6GHz technology is first, the performance ranking of RTT 5GHz technology is second, and the performance ranking of RTT 2.4GHz technology is third. For example, in the case of Wi-Fi RTT technology, the performance of RTT 6GHz technology is the best.

[0156] For example, in the case of UWB + RTT technology, which is a combination of UWB ranging technology and Wi-Fi RTT technology, it can be seen that the performance of UWB Ch9 + RTT 6GHz technology is ranked first, the performance of UWB Ch5 + RTT 2.4GHz technology is ranked second, the performance of UWB Ch9 + RTT 2.4GHz technology is ranked third, the performance of UWB Ch11 + RTT 6GHz technology is ranked fourth, the performance of UWB Ch11 + RTT 5GHz technology is ranked fifth, the performance of UWB Ch5 + RTT 6GHz technology is ranked sixth, the performance of UWB Ch11 + RTT 2.4GHz technology is ranked seventh, the performance of UWB Ch9 + RTT 5GHz technology is ranked eighth, and the performance of UWB Ch5 + RTT 6GHz technology is ranked ninth. For example, in the case of UWB + RTT technology, it can be seen that the performance of UWB Ch9 + RTT 6GHz technology is the best.

[0157] The ranging performance table of Table 2 does not contain single entries or combination entries with the same rank, but may contain single entries or combination entries with the same rank. The ranging performance table as shown in Table 2 only contains rankings for the performances of single entries or combination entries, but the ranging performance table may also contain performance values ​​in addition to rankings for the performances of single entries or combination entries.

[0158] For example, the ranging performance table of an electronic device can be represented as shown in Table 3 below.

[0159] Table 3

[0160]

[0161] The ranging performance table as shown in Table 3, like the ranging performance table as shown in Table 2, includes three categories in total, and the three categories may include a single entry category for UWB ranging technology, a single entry category for Wi-Fi RTT technology, and a combined entry category for UWB + RTT technology. Unlike the ranging performance table as shown in Table 2, the ranging performance table as shown in Table 3 may additionally include performance values ​​for single entries or combined entries.

[0162] For example, in the case of UWB ranging technology, it can be seen that the performance of UWB Ch9 ranging technology is ranked first, and its performance value is 33 m, the performance of UWB Ch5 ranging technology is ranked second, and its performance value is 31 m, and the performance of UWB Ch11 ranging technology is ranked third, and its performance value is 25 m. For example, in the case of UWB ranging technology, it can be seen that the performance of UWB Ch9 ranging technology is the best.

[0163] For example, in the case of Wi-Fi RTT technology, the performance of RTT 6GHz technology is ranked first, and its performance value is 45m, the performance of RTT 5GHz technology is ranked second, and its performance value is 41m, and the performance of RTT 2.4GHz technology is ranked third, and its performance value is 40m. For example, in the case of Wi-Fi RTT technology, the performance of RTT 6GHz technology is the best.

[0164] For example, in the case of UWB + RTT technology, which is a combination of UWB ranging technology and Wi-Fi RTT technology, the performance of UWB Ch9 + RTT 6GHz technology is ranked first, the performance value of UWB Ch9 ranging technology is 31m, the performance value of RTT 6GHz technology is 43m, the performance of UWB Ch9 + RTT 2.4GHz technology is ranked second, the performance value of UWB Ch9 ranging technology is 30m, the performance value of RTT 2.4GHz technology is 40m, the performance of UWB Ch5 + RTT 2.4GHz technology is ranked third, the performance value of UWB Ch5 ranging technology is 29m, the performance value of RTT 2.4GHz technology is 40m, the performance of UWB Ch5 + RTT 5GHz technology is ranked fourth, the performance value of UWB Ch5 ranging technology is 26m, the performance value of RTT 5GHz technology is 45m, The performance of UWB Ch11 + RTT 6GHz technology is ranked 5th, the performance value of UWB Ch11 ranging technology is 25m, the performance value of RTT 6GHz technology is 41m, the performance of UWB Ch11 + RTT 5GHz technology is ranked 5th, the performance value of UWB Ch11 ranging technology is 25m, the performance value of RTT 2.4GHz technology is 41m, the performance of UWB Ch11 + RTT 2.4GHz technology is ranked 7th, the performance value of UWB Ch11 ranging technology is 25m, the performance value of RTT 2.4GHz technology is 39m, the performance of UWB Ch9 + RTT 5GHz technology is ranked 8th, the performance value of UWB Ch9 ranging technology is 12m, the performance value of RTT 5GHz technology is 25m, the performance of UWB Ch5 + RTT 6GHz technology is ranked 9th, and UWB Ch5 It can be seen that the performance value of ranging technology is 5m, and the performance value of RTT 6GHz technology is 20m.For example, in the case of UWB + RTT technology, it can be seen that the performance of UWB Ch9 + RTT 6GHz technology is the best.

[0165] It can be seen that the ranging performance table of Table 2 does not have single entries or combination entries with the same rank, but the ranging performance table of Table 3 does have combination entries (e.g., UWB Ch11 + RTT 6GHz technology and UWB Ch11 + RTT 5GHz technology) with the same rank. The ranging performance table as shown in Table 2 only includes rankings for the performances of single entries or combination entries, but the ranging performance table as shown in Table 3 may include performance values ​​as well as rankings for the performances of single entries or combination entries.

[0166] The electronic device, which has verified the ranging capability table of the electronic device, may transmit ranging capability information to an external electronic device through a communication circuit in operation 313. The ranging capability information may include information about at least one ranging technology supported by the electronic device and at least one frequency band supported by the at least one ranging technology supported by the electronic device. For example, when the electronic device uses UWB ranging technology, Wi-Fi RTT technology, and Bluetooth (BT) CS technology, and uses channel 5 (6489.6 MHz), channel 9 (7987.2 MHz), and channel 11 (7987.2 MHz) in the UWB ranging technology, uses 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, and 6 GHz in the Wi-Fi RTT technology, and uses 2.4 GHz in the BT CS technology, the ranging capability information of the electronic device may be expressed as shown in Table 4 below.

[0167] Table 4

[0168]

[0169] In FIG. 3A, an example is described in which an electronic device transmits ranging capability information through a connection between the electronic device and the external electronic device after establishing a connection with the external electronic device. However, the ranging capability information may be transmitted regardless of whether a connection is established between the electronic device and the external electronic device. In one embodiment, the electronic device may broadcast the ranging capability information of the electronic device, and in this case, even devices that have not established a connection with the electronic device may receive the ranging capability information of the electronic device.

[0170] An electronic device that has transmitted ranging capability information may exchange a ranging performance table with an external electronic device via a communication circuit in operation 315. The electronic device may transmit the ranging performance table of the electronic device to the external electronic device via the communication circuit in operation 315, and may receive the ranging performance table of the external electronic device from the external electronic device via the communication circuit. The ranging performance table of the external electronic device may also be configured (or generated) in a manner similar to or substantially identical to the ranging performance table of the electronic device, and therefore, a repeated description thereof will be omitted herein.

[0171] An electronic device that has exchanged a ranging performance table with an external electronic device may, in operation 317, exchange ranging status information with the external electronic device via a communication circuit. In one embodiment, the ranging status information may indicate information about at least one ranging technology / frequency combination currently being used by the electronic device among ranging technology / frequency combinations (or single entries and / or combination entries) supported by the electronic device. For example, if the electronic device supports a total of 15 ranging technology / frequency combinations as shown in Table 3 and is using at least one ranging technology / frequency combination among them, information about at least one ranging technology / frequency combination currently being used by the electronic device may be ranging status information of the electronic device. In operation 317, the electronic device may transmit the ranging status information of the electronic device to the external electronic device via the communication circuit, and receive the ranging status information of the external electronic device from the external electronic device via the communication circuit. The ranging status information of the external electronic device can also be configured (or generated) in a manner similar to or substantially identical to the ranging status information of the electronic device, and therefore, a repeated description thereof will be omitted here.

[0172] An electronic device that has exchanged ranging status information with an external electronic device may select a ranging method to be used in the electronic device in operation 319. In one embodiment, the electronic device may select a ranging technology / frequency combination to be used in the electronic device (e.g., to be used for ranging operations between the electronic device and the external electronic device) from among ranging technology / frequency combinations supported by the electronic device based on a ranging performance table of the electronic device, a ranging performance table of the external electronic device, ranging status information of the electronic device, and ranging status information of the external electronic device.

[0173] In one embodiment, the electronic device may, at operation 319, identify a first ranging technology to be used in the electronic device, and determine whether a ranging technology / frequency combination corresponding to the first ranging technology and at least one ranging technology / frequency combination currently being used in the electronic device exists in a ranging performance table of the electronic device. If the ranging performance table of the electronic device includes a plurality of ranging technology / frequency combinations corresponding to the first ranging technology and at least one ranging technology / frequency combination currently being used in the electronic device, the electronic device may select a ranging technology / frequency combination having a maximum performance value among the plurality of ranging technology / frequency combinations corresponding to the first ranging technology and at least one ranging technology / frequency combination currently being used in the electronic device as a ranging technology / frequency combination to be used in the electronic device. Alternatively, if the ranging performance table of the electronic device includes one ranging technology / frequency combination corresponding to the first ranging technology and at least one ranging technology / frequency combination currently in use in the electronic device, the electronic device may select one ranging technology / frequency combination corresponding to the first ranging technology and at least one ranging technology / frequency combination currently in use in the electronic device as the ranging technology / frequency combination to be used in the electronic device.

[0174] In one embodiment, the electronic device can identify a first ranging technology to be used in the electronic device, and can identify whether a ranging technology / frequency combination corresponding to the first ranging technology and at least one ranging technology / frequency combination currently being used in the electronic device exists in a ranging performance table of the electronic device. When the ranging performance table of the electronic device includes a plurality of ranging technology / frequency combinations corresponding to the first ranging technology and at least one ranging technology / frequency combination currently being used in the electronic device, the electronic device can identify whether a ranging technology / frequency combination corresponding to the first ranging technology and at least one ranging technology / frequency combination currently being used in the electronic device exists in a ranging performance table of an external electronic device. If the ranging performance table of the external electronic device contains a plurality of ranging technology / frequency combinations corresponding to the first ranging technology and at least one ranging technology / frequency combination currently in use by the electronic device, the electronic device may select a ranging technology / frequency combination having a maximum performance value among the plurality of ranging technology / frequency combinations corresponding to the first ranging technology and at least one ranging technology / frequency combination currently in use by the electronic device as the ranging technology / frequency combination to be used by the electronic device. Alternatively, if the ranging performance table of the electronic device contains one ranging technology / frequency combination corresponding to the first ranging technology and at least one ranging technology / frequency combination currently in use by the electronic device, the electronic device may select one ranging technology / frequency combination corresponding to the first ranging technology and at least one ranging technology / frequency combination currently in use by the electronic device as the ranging technology / frequency combination to be used by the electronic device.

[0175] An electronic device that has selected a ranging technology / frequency combination can perform a ranging operation with an external electronic device using the selected ranging technology / frequency combination in operation 321. In one embodiment, the electronic device can transmit information about the selected ranging technology / frequency combination to the external electronic device so that the external electronic device can also be aware of the ranging technology / frequency combination selected by the electronic device. In one embodiment, since the electronic device acts as an initiator, the electronic device can select a ranging technology / frequency combination to be used for the ranging operation between the electronic device and the external electronic device.

[0176] Meanwhile, although not separately illustrated in FIG. 3A, while a ranging operation is performed between an electronic device and an external electronic device, the usage status of at least one of the remaining ranging technology / frequency combinations, excluding the ranging technology / frequency combination used for the ranging operation between the electronic device and the external electronic device, among the first number of ranging technology / frequency combinations of the electronic device, may be changed. In this case, the electronic device may notify the external electronic device of information about the changed ranging technology / frequency combination, and the form thereof may be as shown in Table 5 below.

[0177] Table 5

[0178]

[0179] As shown in Table 5, when the electronic device starts a ranging operation based on, for example, UWB Ch5 ranging technology,<UWB, Ch5, Start> When transmitting a ranging start message containing information such as the following to an external electronic device and terminating a ranging operation based on UWB Ch5 ranging technology.<UWB, Ch5, End> The electronic device may transmit a ranging end message containing information such as, for example, when starting a ranging operation based on RTT 6GHz technology.<Wi-Fi, 6GHz, ch101, Start> When transmitting a ranging start message containing information such as , to an external electronic device and terminating the ranging operation based on RTT 6GHz technology.<Wi-Fi, 6GHz, ch101, End> A ranging termination message containing information such as the following can be sent.

[0180] In FIG. 3A, the case where the electronic device and the external electronic device each currently use at least one ranging technology / frequency combination is described as an example of selecting a ranging technology / frequency combination to be used by the electronic device. However, the electronic device or the external electronic device may not be performing a ranging operation. If the electronic device is not performing any ranging operation, the ranging status information of the electronic device may be information indicating that the ranging operation is not being performed. If the external electronic device is not performing any ranging operation, the ranging status information of the external electronic device may be information indicating that the ranging operation is not being performed.

[0181] FIG. 3b is a flowchart illustrating an operation process of an electronic device according to one embodiment.

[0182] Referring to FIG. 3B, an electronic device (e.g., the electronic device (101) of FIG. 1) (e.g., one or more processors including a processing circuit) (e.g., the processor (120) of FIG. 1) may perform operations 351 to 357. Operations 351 to 357 of FIG. 3B may be implemented similarly or substantially identically to operations 300, 305, 311, and 313 of FIG. 3A, and thus, a redundant description thereof may be omitted herein.

[0183] An electronic device that has transmitted ranging capability information may receive a ranging performance table from an external electronic device through a communication circuit in operation 359. The electronic device that has received the ranging performance table from the external electronic device may select a ranging method to be used in the electronic device in operation 361. In one embodiment, the electronic device may select a ranging technology / frequency combination to be used in the electronic device (e.g., to be used for ranging operations between the electronic device and the external electronic device) from among ranging technology / frequency combinations supported by the electronic device, based on the ranging performance table of the electronic device and the ranging performance table of the external electronic device.

[0184] The electronic device, having selected a ranging technology / frequency combination to be used in the electronic device, can perform a ranging operation with an external electronic device using the selected ranging technology / frequency combination in operation 363. In one embodiment, the electronic device can transmit information about the selected ranging technology / frequency combination to the external electronic device so that the external electronic device can also be aware of the ranging technology / frequency combination selected by the electronic device. In one embodiment, since the electronic device acts as an initiator, the electronic device can select a ranging technology / frequency combination to be used for the ranging operation between the electronic device and the external electronic device.

[0185] FIG. 4 is a signal flow diagram showing an electronic device and an external electronic device performing a ranging operation according to one embodiment.

[0186] Referring to FIG. 4, an electronic device (101) (e.g., electronic device (101) of FIG. 1) may act as an initiator that initiates a ranging operation. In one embodiment, an external electronic device (400) (e.g., electronic device (102) or electronic device (104) of FIG. 1) may act as a responder that responds to the initiator.

[0187] The electronic device (101) may be performing a scan operation in operation 411. The external electronic device (400) may be performing a scan operation in operation 413. While performing the scan operation, the electronic device (101) may broadcast ranging capability information of the electronic device (101) in operation 415. The cycle at which the electronic device (101) broadcasts the ranging capability information may be preset. The ranging capability information of the electronic device (101) may be similar to or substantially the same as that described in operation 313 of FIG. 3A, and thus, a redundant description thereof may be omitted herein.

[0188] While performing a scan operation, the external electronic device (400) may discover the electronic device (101) at operation 417. Additionally, while performing the scan operation, the external electronic device (400) may broadcast ranging capability information of the external electronic device (400) at operation 419. The cycle at which the external electronic device (400) broadcasts the ranging capability information may be preset. The ranging capability information of the external electronic device (400) may be similar to or substantially the same as that described in operation 313 of FIG. 3A, and thus, a redundant description thereof may be omitted herein.

[0189] While performing a scan operation, the electronic device (101) may discover an external electronic device (400) in operation 421. The electronic device (101) that has discovered the external electronic device (400) may request to establish a connection between the electronic device (101) and the external electronic device (400) by transmitting a connection request message in operation 423. The external electronic device (400) that has received the connection request message from the electronic device (101) may transmit a connection response message to the electronic device (101) in response to the connection request message in operation 425. By receiving the connection response message from the external electronic device (400), a connection may be established between the electronic device (101) and the external electronic device (400).

[0190] In this way, after a connection is established between the electronic device (101) and the external electronic device (400), the electronic device (101) can exchange a ranging performance table with the external electronic device (400) in operation 427.

[0191] In one embodiment, the electronic device (101) may exchange a ranging performance table with the external electronic device (400) through a separate server, such as a cloud server, after establishing a connection with the external electronic device (400), or even without establishing a connection with the external electronic device (400).

[0192] In one embodiment, the electronic device (101) may exchange an identifier that identifies the ranging performance table (e.g., a table name of the ranging performance table) rather than exchanging the ranging performance table depending on whether there is a history of exchanging ranging performance tables with the external electronic device (400). In this case, the identifier that identifies the ranging table may play the same role as the ranging performance table. For example, the electronic device (101) has multiple ranging performance tables, and thus, the ranging performance table exchange operation may be performed between the electronic device (101) and the external electronic device (400) at various times. For example, when the electronic device (101) supports two applications (or two services) that perform ranging operations (e.g., application A and application B), issues that are considered important in the two applications may be different. For example, application A may be required to use a ranging technology (e.g., UWB ranging technology) that has relatively high accuracy at short ranges compared to application B, and application B may be required to use a ranging technology (e.g., Wi-Fi RTT technology or BT CS technology) that has relatively low accuracy but operates smoothly at longer ranges. Accordingly, when the electronic device (101) wants to initiate a ranging operation in application A, it may use a performance table configured (or generated) in consideration of the performance value of a ranging technology that has relatively high accuracy but operates at short ranges, such as UWB ranging technology, and when it wants to initiate a ranging operation in application B, it may use a performance table configured (or generated) in consideration of the performance value of a ranging technology that has relatively low accuracy but operates smoothly at longer ranges, such as Wi-Fi RTT technology or BT CS technology.

[0193] In one embodiment, when the electronic device (101) includes a plurality of ranging performance tables and an application (or service) to be used in the electronic device (101) is not determined, or when the application to be used in the electronic device (101) is determined but a ranging performance table (exclusively set) for the application to be used in the electronic device (101) is not included, the electronic device (101) may transmit a default ranging performance table set as a default in the electronic device (101) among the plurality of ranging tables to the external electronic device (400). Alternatively, the electronic device (101) may transmit all of the plurality of ranging tables to the external electronic device (400). If there is a history of exchanging ranging performance tables between the electronic device (101) and the external electronic device (400), the electronic device (101) may transmit an identifier of a default ranging performance table or an identifier representing all of a plurality of ranging performance tables (e.g., an identifier such as “all”) to the external electronic device (400) instead of the default ranging performance table or the plurality of ranging performance tables, respectively. In this case, the external electronic device (400) may transmit the ranging performance table of the external electronic device (400) to the electronic device (101) based on the ranging performance table received from the electronic device (101). For example, if the ranging performance table received from the electronic device (101) is the default ranging performance table or all ranging performance tables, the external electronic device (400) may also transmit the default ranging performance table or all ranging performance tables of the external electronic device (400) to the electronic device (101).

[0194] In one embodiment, when an electronic device (101) includes a plurality of ranging performance tables, an application (or service) (e.g., application A) to be used in the electronic device (101) is determined, and the electronic device (101) includes a ranging performance table (exclusively set) for the application to be used in the electronic device (101), the electronic device (101) can transmit the ranging performance table (exclusively set) for the application to be used in the electronic device (101) to an external electronic device (400). The external electronic device (400) that receives the ranging performance table set for a specific application (e.g., application A) from the electronic device (101) can check whether the external electronic device (400) includes a ranging performance table set for application A, and if the external electronic device (400) includes a ranging performance table set for application A, the electronic device (101) can transmit the ranging performance table set for application A. In contrast, if the external electronic device (400) does not include a ranging performance table set for application A, the external electronic device (400) may transmit a default ranging performance table to the electronic device (101). As described above, if there is a history of exchanging ranging performance tables for application A between the electronic device (101) and the external electronic device (400), the electronic device (101) and the external electronic device (400) may transmit an identifier of the ranging performance table for application A instead of the ranging performance table for application A.

[0195] In one embodiment, either the electronic device (101) or the external electronic device (400) may not include a ranging performance table. In one embodiment, when the electronic device (101) acting as the initiator does not include a ranging performance table, the electronic device (101) may transmit a request message requesting a ranging performance table to the external electronic device (400) acting as the responder. The external electronic device (400) that receives the request message requesting the ranging performance table from the electronic device (101) may transmit the ranging performance table of the external electronic device (400) included in the external electronic device (400) to the electronic device (101). In this case, the electronic device (101) may determine a ranging technology / frequency combination to be used in the electronic device (101) using only the ranging performance table of the external electronic device (400) without the ranging performance table of the electronic device (101).

[0196] The operation 427 of exchanging the ranging performance table with the external electronic device (400) by the electronic device (101) may be similar to or substantially identical to the operation 315 of FIG. 3A, and therefore, a redundant description thereof may be omitted here.

[0197] The electronic device (101) that has exchanged a ranging performance table with an external electronic device (400) can exchange ranging status information with the external electronic device (400) in operation 428. Operation 428, in which the electronic device (101) exchanges ranging status information with the external electronic device (400), may be similar to or substantially identical to operation 317 of FIG. 3A, and thus, a redundant description thereof may be omitted here.

[0198] The electronic device (101) that exchanges ranging status information with the external electronic device (400) may, in operation 429, select a ranging technology / frequency combination to be used in the electronic device (101) (e.g., to be used for ranging operation between the electronic device (101) and the external electronic device (400)) from among the ranging technology / frequency combinations supported by the electronic device (101) based on the ranging performance table of the electronic device (101), the ranging performance table of the external electronic device (400), the ranging status information of the electronic device (101), and the ranging status information of the external electronic device (400). In one embodiment, the electronic device (101) may select one of the ranging technology / frequency combinations supported by the electronic device (101) as the ranging technology / frequency combination to be used in the electronic device (101) based on the ranging performance table of the electronic device (101), the ranging performance table of the external electronic device (400), the ranging status information of the electronic device (101), and the ranging status information of the external electronic device (400), such that interference between at least one ranging technology / frequency combination currently in use in the electronic device (101) and at least one ranging technology / frequency combination currently in use in the external electronic device (400) and the ranging technology / frequency combination to be used in the electronic device (101) is reduced (or prevented or mitigated). Operation 429 of the electronic device (101) selecting a ranging technology / frequency combination to be used in the electronic device (101) may be similar to or substantially identical to operation 319 of FIG. 3A, and thus, a redundant description thereof may be omitted herein.

[0199] The electronic device (101) that has selected the ranging technology / frequency combination can transmit information about the selected ranging technology / frequency combination to the external electronic device (400) in operation 431. The electronic device (101) can transmit information about the selected ranging technology / frequency combination to the external electronic device (400), so that the external electronic device (400) can also be aware of the ranging technology / frequency combination selected by the electronic device (101). In one embodiment, since the electronic device (101) operates as an initiator, the electronic device (101) can select the ranging technology / frequency combination to be used for the ranging operation between the electronic device (101) and the external electronic device (400).

[0200] The electronic device (101) that has transmitted information about the selected ranging technology / frequency combination can perform a ranging operation with an external electronic device (400) using the selected ranging technology / frequency combination in operation 433.

[0201] Meanwhile, although not separately illustrated in FIG. 4, while a ranging operation is performed between an electronic device (101) and an external electronic device (400), the usage status of at least one of the remaining ranging technology / frequency combinations, excluding the ranging technology / frequency combination used for the ranging operation between the electronic device (101) and the external electronic device (400), among the first number of ranging technology / frequency combinations of the electronic device (101), may be changed. In this case, the electronic device (101) may notify the external electronic device (400) of information about the changed ranging technology / frequency combination, and the form thereof may be as shown in Table 5, and thus, a redundant description thereof may be omitted.

[0202] In FIG. 4, the case where the electronic device (101) and the external electronic device (400) are each currently using at least one ranging technology / frequency combination is described as an example of selecting a ranging technology / frequency combination to be used in the electronic device (101). However, the electronic device (101) or the external electronic device (400) may not be performing a ranging operation. If the electronic device (101) is not performing any ranging operation, the ranging status information of the electronic device (101) may be information indicating that the ranging operation is not being performed. If the external electronic device (400) is not performing any ranging operation, the ranging status information of the external electronic device (400) may be information indicating that the ranging operation is not being performed.

[0203] FIG. 5A is a flowchart illustrating a process by which an electronic device selects a ranging technology / frequency combination according to one embodiment.

[0204] FIG. 5b is a flowchart illustrating a process by which an electronic device selects a ranging technology / frequency combination according to one embodiment.

[0205] Referring to FIGS. 5A and 5B , an electronic device (e.g., the electronic device (101) of FIG. 1 ) (e.g., one or more processors including a processing circuit) (e.g., the processor (120) of FIG. 1 ) may establish a connection with an external electronic device (e.g., the electronic device (102) or the electronic device (104) of FIG. 1 , or the external electronic device (400) of FIG. 4 )) using a short-range communication method via a communication circuit (e.g., the communication module (190) of FIG. 1 ). In one embodiment, the electronic device may operate as an initiator that initiates a ranging operation. In one embodiment, the external electronic device may operate as a responder that responds to the initiator. In one embodiment, the electronic device may be checking a ranging performance table and ranging status information of the external electronic device. In one embodiment, the electronic device may receive a ranging performance table of the external electronic device broadcast by the external electronic device before a connection between the electronic device and the external electronic device is established, or may receive a ranging performance table from the external electronic device through the connection between the electronic device and the external electronic device after the connection between the electronic device and the external electronic device is established. In one embodiment, the electronic device may check ranging status information of the external electronic device from the external electronic device through the connection between the electronic device and the external electronic device after the connection between the electronic device and the external electronic device is established.

[0206] The process of selecting a ranging technology / frequency combination by the electronic device illustrated in FIGS. 5A and 5B may be a process of selecting a ranging technology / frequency combination by the electronic device to perform a ranging operation with an external electronic device, when the initiator electronic device is not using any ranging technology / frequency combination. Since the electronic device is not currently using any ranging technology / frequency combination, interference between ranging technologies / frequency combinations may not occur in the electronic device regardless of which ranging technology / frequency combination the electronic device selects. However, since the external electronic device acting as the responder may be performing a ranging operation with an electronic device other than the electronic device, the electronic device may select a ranging technology / frequency combination to be used for the ranging operation between the electronic device and the external electronic device by taking into consideration not only the electronic device but also the external electronic device. Additionally, since the electronic device may not currently use a ranging technology / frequency combination, but may use other ranging technology / frequency combinations in addition to the ranging technology / frequency combinations used for ranging operations between the electronic device and external electronic devices in the future, the use of these additional ranging technology / frequency combinations may also be considered when selecting the ranging technology / frequency combinations to be used for ranging operations between the electronic device and external electronic devices.

[0207] The process of selecting a ranging technology / frequency combination by the electronic device illustrated in FIGS. 5A and 5B may be, for example, a process of selecting a ranging technology / frequency combination by the electronic device when assuming a situation in which the electronic device wants to use UWB ranging technology when it is not using any other ranging technology / frequency combination. It should be noted that the process of selecting a ranging technology / frequency combination by the electronic device illustrated in FIGS. 5A and 5B may be similarly or substantially identically applied when the electronic device wants to use other ranging technologies, such as Wi-Fi RTT technology and / or BT CS technology, in addition to UWB ranging technology. It should be noted that in FIGS. 5A and 5B, for convenience of illustration, the ranging performance table of the initiator electronic device is illustrated as the "[I] table", and the ranging performance table of the responder external electronic device is illustrated as the "[R] table".

[0208] First, when selecting a ranging technology / frequency combination to be used for ranging operations between the electronic device and the external electronic device, the electronic device may consider only entries (single entries and combined entries) included in the ranging capability table of the electronic device and entries (single entries and combined entries) included in the ranging capability table of the external electronic device, which are supported by both the electronic device and the external electronic device. For example, the electronic device may support UWB Ch5 to UWB Ch11, and the ranging capability table of the electronic device may also include single entries and combined entries related to UWB Ch5 to UWB Ch11. Conversely, the external electronic device may support only UWB Ch5 to UWB Ch9, in which case the electronic device may not consider single entries and combined entries related to UWB Ch10 and UWB Ch11 included in the ranging capability table of the electronic device.

[0209] An electronic device may select a ranging technology / frequency combination associated with UWB ranging technology that has a high performance value while taking into account interference situations both from the electronic device itself and from external electronic devices, which may be described as follows.

[0210] First, the electronic device can check the ranging performance table of the electronic device in operation 511. The electronic device, having checked the ranging performance table, can check, in operation 513, performance values ​​for a UWB single entry that includes only performance values ​​related to UWB ranging technology among the entries included in the ranging performance table of the electronic device. For example, a highest rank for a single entry or a combination of entries (e.g., a rank of 1) may indicate that the performance value for the single entry or the combination of entries is the maximum value.

[0211] In operation 513, the electronic device that has verified the performance values ​​for the UWB single entry, if there is one UWB single entry with the highest rank, can select the corresponding UWB single entry as the ranging technology / frequency combination to be used in the electronic device in operation 515. Since the presence of one UWB single entry with the highest rank indicates that the corresponding UWB single entry has the maximum performance value, the electronic device can select one UWB single entry as the ranging technology / frequency combination to be used in the electronic device.

[0212] In contrast, in operation 513, the electronic device that has verified the performance values ​​for the UWB single entry can, if there are two or more UWB single entries with the highest rank, check the ranging performance table of the external electronic device that is the responder in operation 517. In operation 517, the case where there are two or more UWB single entries with the highest rank is described as an example, but operation 517 can also be applied if the ranks of the UWB single entries are all the same. For example, if the ranking of the UWB Ch5 ranging technology or UWB Ch8 ranging technology among the UWB single entries of the electronic device, which are the UWB Ch5 ranging technology or UWB Ch9 ranging technology, is 1st (for example, if the performance values ​​of the UWB Ch5 ranging technology or UWB Ch8 ranging technology are the same), the electronic device can obtain the same performance value by using either the UWB Ch5 ranging technology or UWB Ch8 ranging technology, but the performance value of the external electronic device must also be considered, so the electronic device can check the ranging performance table of the external electronic device. In this case, the electronic device may not consider all entries included in the ranging performance table of the external electronic device, but may only consider entries corresponding to the UWB Ch5 ranging technology or UWB Ch8 ranging technology that has the maximum performance value in the electronic device. In this way, when an electronic device considers the ranging performance table of an external electronic device, it may not consider all entries included in the ranging performance table of the external electronic device, but may only consider entries corresponding to entries that were first considered in the electronic device (e.g., entries that were first considered in the electronic device based on performance values ​​(or ranks)).

[0213] The electronic device, which has checked the ranging performance table of the external electronic device, can check, in operation 519, whether a ranging operation corresponding to a ranging technology other than the UWB technology is in progress in the external electronic device (e.g., whether a ranging technology / frequency combination corresponding to a ranging technology other than the UWB technology is in use). In FIGS. 5A and 5B , it is assumed that the external electronic device supports only two ranging technologies including the UWB ranging technology and the Wi-Fi RTT technology. Therefore, in operation 519, if the electronic device determines that a Wi-Fi RTT ranging operation based on the Wi-Fi RTT technology is in progress in the external electronic device, in operation 521, the electronic device can check, in the ranging performance table of the external electronic device, the performance values ​​of a combination entry for a combination of the UWB ranging technology and the Wi-Fi RTT technology. Hereinafter, for convenience of explanation, the combination entry for the combination of the UWB ranging technology and the Wi-Fi RTT technology will be referred to as a "UWB, RTT combination entry."

[0214] In operation 521, the electronic device that has verified the performance values ​​for the UWB, RTT combination entry may, in operation 523, if there are two or more UWB, RTT combination entries with the highest rank among the entries included in the ranging performance table of the electronic device, check the ranging performance table of the electronic device in operation 525. In one embodiment, the electronic device may perform a ranging operation based on another external electronic device other than the external electronic device and a ranging technology other than the UWB ranging technology (e.g., Wi-Fi RTT technology). In FIGS. 5A and 5B , it is assumed that the electronic device supports only two ranging technologies including the UWB ranging technology and the Wi-Fi RTT technology, and therefore, the electronic device may check the performance values ​​of the UWB, RTT combination entry in the ranging performance table of the electronic device. In operation 527, the electronic device that has verified the performance values ​​for the UWB, RTT combination entry, in operation 529, if there are two or more UWB, RTT combination entries with the highest rank among the entries included in the ranging performance table of the electronic device, may select a UWB single entry corresponding to any one of the two or more UWB, RTT combination entries as the ranging technology / frequency combination to be used in the electronic device. Accordingly, the electronic device may select a ranging technology / frequency combination that can increase performance while reducing interference by considering ranging technologies used in not only the electronic device but also external electronic devices.

[0215] In the above, in operation 523, when there are two or more UWB, RTT combination entries with the highest rank among the entries included in the ranging performance table of the electronic device, the ranging performance table of the electronic device is checked in operation 525 as an example. However, the electronic device may select a UWB single entry corresponding to any one of the two or more UWB, RTT combination entries with the highest rank as the ranging technology / frequency combination to be used in the electronic device. Accordingly, the electronic device may select a ranging technology / frequency combination that can increase performance while reducing interference by considering ranging technologies used not only in the electronic device but also in external electronic devices.

[0216] In operation 527, the electronic device that has verified the performance values ​​for the UWB, RTT combination entry, in operation 531, if there is one UWB, RTT combination entry with the highest rank among the entries included in the ranging performance table of the electronic device, can select a UWB single entry corresponding to one UWB, RTT combination entry as the ranging technology / frequency combination to be used in the electronic device. Accordingly, the electronic device can select a ranging technology / frequency combination that can increase performance while reducing interference by considering ranging technologies used not only in the electronic device but also in external electronic devices.

[0217] In operation 521, the electronic device that has verified the performance values ​​for the UWB, RTT combination entry, in operation 523, if there is one UWB, RTT combination entry with the highest rank among the entries included in the ranging performance table of the electronic device, in operation 533, the electronic device can select a UWB single entry corresponding to one UWB, RTT combination entry as the ranging technology / frequency combination to be used in the electronic device. Accordingly, the electronic device can select a ranging technology / frequency combination that can increase performance while reducing interference by considering ranging technologies used in not only the electronic device but also external electronic devices.

[0218] In operation 519, if a Wi-Fi RTT ranging operation based on a Wi-Fi RTT technology is not in progress in the external electronic device, in operation 535, the electronic device can check the performance values ​​for the UWB single entries included in the ranging performance table of the external electronic device. Since it is confirmed that the ranging performance table of the electronic device already has first-order UWB single entries, when the electronic device selects a UWB single entry with the maximum performance value in the ranging performance table of the external electronic device, the electronic device can select the corresponding UWB single entry as the ranging technology / frequency combination to be used in the electronic device.

[0219] An electronic device that has checked the ranging performance table of an external electronic device can check, in operation 537, performance values ​​for a UWB single entry that includes only performance values ​​related to UWB ranging technology among the entries included in the ranging performance table of the external electronic device.

[0220] In operation 537, the electronic device that has verified the performance values ​​for the UWB single entry, if there is one UWB single entry with the highest rank, can select the corresponding UWB single entry as the ranging technology / frequency combination to be used in the electronic device in operation 539. Since the presence of one UWB single entry with the highest rank indicates that the corresponding UWB single entry has the maximum performance value, the electronic device can select one UWB single entry as the ranging technology / frequency combination to be used in the electronic device.

[0221] In contrast, in operation 537, the electronic device that has verified the performance values ​​for the UWB single entry can check the ranging performance table of the electronic device in operation 541 if there are two or more UWB single entries with the highest rank. In operation 541, the case where there are two or more UWB single entries with the highest rank is described as an example, but operation 541 can also be applied if the ranks of the UWB single entries are all the same.

[0222] The electronic device, which has checked the ranging performance table of the electronic device, may, in operation 543, be scheduled to perform a ranging operation based on a ranging technology other than the UWB ranging technology (e.g., Wi-Fi RTT technology) with an external electronic device or another external electronic device. Accordingly, the electronic device may check the performance values ​​of the UWB, RTT combination entry in the ranging performance table of the electronic device. In operation 543, the electronic device, which has checked the performance values ​​for the UWB, RTT combination entry, may, if there is one UWB, RTT combination entry with the highest rank among the entries included in the ranging performance table of the electronic device, select a UWB single entry corresponding to one UWB, RTT combination entry as the ranging technology / frequency combination to be used in the electronic device, in operation 545. Therefore, the electronic device can select a ranging technology / frequency combination that can increase performance while reducing interference by considering the ranging technology used not only in the electronic device but also in external electronic devices.

[0223] In operation 543, the electronic device that has verified the performance values ​​for the UWB, RTT combination entry can, if there are two or more UWB, RTT combination entries with the highest rank among the entries included in the ranging performance table of the electronic device, check the ranging performance table of the external electronic device in operation 547. The electronic device that has verified the ranging performance table of the external electronic device can, in operation 549, check the performance values ​​for the UWB, RTT combination entries included in the ranging performance table of the external electronic device. In operation 549, the electronic device that has confirmed the performance values ​​for the UWB, RTT combination entries included in the ranging performance table of the external electronic device, if there is one UWB, RTT combination entry with the highest rank among the UWB, RTT combination entries included in the ranging performance table of the external electronic device, in operation 553, the electronic device can select a UWB single entry corresponding to the one UWB, RTT combination entry as the ranging technology / frequency combination to be used in the electronic device. Accordingly, the electronic device can select a ranging technology / frequency combination that can increase performance while reducing interference by considering ranging technologies used in not only the electronic device but also the external electronic device.

[0224] In operation 549, the electronic device that has verified the performance values ​​for the UWB, RTT combination entries included in the ranging performance table of the external electronic device, if there are two or more UWB, RTT combination entries with the highest rank among the UWB, RTT combination entries included in the ranging performance table of the external electronic device, in operation 551, the electronic device can select a UWB single entry corresponding to any one of the two or more UWB, RTT combination entries as the ranging technology / frequency combination to be used in the electronic device. Accordingly, the electronic device can select a ranging technology / frequency combination that can increase performance while reducing interference by considering ranging technologies used in not only the electronic device but also the external electronic device.

[0225] Although not shown separately in FIGS. 5A and 5B, the electronic device may transmit information about the selected ranging technology / frequency combination to an external electronic device, thereby causing the external electronic device to perform ranging operations with the electronic device using the selected ranging technology / frequency combination.

[0226] FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a process by which an electronic device selects a ranging technology / frequency combination according to one embodiment.

[0227] Referring to FIG. 6, an electronic device (e.g., the electronic device (101) of FIG. 1) (e.g., one or more processors including a processing circuit) (e.g., the processor (120) of FIG. 1) may establish a connection with an external electronic device (e.g., the electronic device (102) or the electronic device (104) of FIG. 1, or the external electronic device (400) of FIG. 4)) using a short-range communication method via a communication circuit (e.g., the communication module (190) of FIG. 1). In one embodiment, the electronic device may operate as an initiator that initiates a ranging operation. In one embodiment, the external electronic device may operate as a responder that responds to the initiator. In one embodiment, the electronic device may be checking ranging status information of the external electronic device. In one embodiment, after a connection between the electronic device and the external electronic device is established, the electronic device may check ranging status information of the external electronic device from the external electronic device through the connection between the electronic device and the external electronic device.

[0228] The process by which the electronic device selects a ranging technology / frequency combination illustrated in FIG. 6 may be a process by which the electronic device selects a ranging technology / frequency combination to perform a ranging operation with an external electronic device, when only the initiator electronic device includes a ranging performance table and the external electronic device does not include a ranging performance table. The process by which the electronic device selects a ranging technology / frequency combination illustrated in FIG. 6 may be a process by which the electronic device selects a ranging technology / frequency combination when assuming a situation in which the electronic device wants to use UWB ranging technology, when the electronic device is not using any ranging technology / frequency combination. It goes without saying that the process by which the electronic device selects a ranging technology / frequency combination illustrated in FIG. 6 may be similarly or substantially identically applied when the electronic device wants to use other ranging technologies, such as Wi-Fi RTT technology and / or BT CS technology, in addition to UWB ranging technology. In Fig. 6, it should be noted that for convenience of illustration, the ranging performance table of the initiator electronic device is referred to as the “[I] table”.

[0229] First, the electronic device can check the ranging performance table of the electronic device in operation 611. The electronic device, having checked the ranging performance table, can check, in operation 613, the performance values ​​for a UWB single entry that includes only performance values ​​related to UWB ranging technology among the entries included in the ranging performance table of the electronic device. For example, a highest rank for a single entry or a combination of entries (e.g., a rank of 1) may indicate that the performance value for the single entry or the combination of entries is the maximum value.

[0230] In operation 613, the electronic device that has verified the performance values ​​for the UWB single entry, if there is one UWB single entry with the highest rank, can select the corresponding UWB single entry as the ranging technology / frequency combination to be used in the electronic device in operation 615. Since the presence of one UWB single entry with the highest rank indicates that the corresponding UWB single entry has the maximum performance value, the electronic device can select one UWB single entry as the ranging technology / frequency combination to be used in the electronic device.

[0231] In contrast, in operation 613, the electronic device that has verified the performance values ​​for the UWB single entry, if there are two or more UWB single entries with the highest rank, can check in operation 617 whether a ranging operation corresponding to a ranging technology other than the UWB technology is in progress in the external electronic device (e.g., whether a ranging technology / frequency combination corresponding to a ranging technology other than the UWB technology is in use). In FIG. 6, it is assumed that the external electronic device supports only two ranging technologies including UWB ranging technology and Wi-Fi RTT technology, and therefore, in operation 617, if a Wi-Fi RTT ranging operation based on Wi-Fi RTT technology is in progress in the external electronic device, in operation 619, among two or more first-priority UWB single entries, a UWB single entry corresponding to a frequency band (or channel) overlapping with a frequency band of the Wi-Fi RTT technology can be excluded from targets for a ranging technology / frequency combination to be used in the electronic device. For example, if the frequency band used in the Wi-Fi RTT technology of the external electronic device is 6 GHz, the UWB Ch5 ranging technology among the two or more first-priority UWB single entries can be excluded from the ranging technology / frequency combination to be used in the electronic device.

[0232] In operation 617, if a Wi-Fi RTT ranging operation based on the Wi-Fi RTT technology is not in progress in the external electronic device, or, in operation 619, after excluding a UWB single entry corresponding to a frequency band (or channel) overlapping with a frequency band of the Wi-Fi RTT technology among two or more first-priority UWB single entries from targets for a ranging technology / frequency combination to be used in the electronic device, the electronic device can check the performance values ​​of the UWB, RTT combination entry in the ranging performance table of the electronic device in consideration of a situation in which the electronic device will simultaneously use the Wi-Fi RTT technology in the future, in operation 621.

[0233] In operation 621, the electronic device that has verified the performance values ​​for the UWB, RTT combination entry, in operation 623, if there are two or more UWB, RTT combination entries with the highest rank among the entries included in the ranging performance table of the electronic device, may select a UWB single entry corresponding to any one of the two or more UWB, RTT combination entries as the ranging technology / frequency combination to be used in the electronic device. Accordingly, the electronic device may select a ranging technology / frequency combination that can increase performance while reducing interference by considering not only the ranging technology currently used in the electronic device but also the ranging technology to be used in the future and the ranging technology used in an external electronic device.

[0234] In operation 621, the electronic device that has verified the performance values ​​for the UWB, RTT combination entry, in operation 625, if there is one UWB, RTT combination entry with the highest rank among the entries included in the ranging performance table of the electronic device, can select a UWB single entry corresponding to one UWB, RTT combination entry as the ranging technology / frequency combination to be used in the electronic device. Accordingly, the electronic device can select a ranging technology / frequency combination that can increase performance while reducing interference by considering not only the ranging technology currently used in the electronic device but also the ranging technology to be used in the future and the ranging technology used in an external electronic device.

[0235] Although not shown separately in FIG. 6, the electronic device may transmit information about the selected ranging technology / frequency combination to an external electronic device, thereby causing the external electronic device to perform ranging operations with the electronic device using the selected ranging technology / frequency combination.

[0236] FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a process by which an electronic device selects a ranging technology / frequency combination according to one embodiment.

[0237] Referring to FIG. 7, an electronic device (e.g., the electronic device (101) of FIG. 1) (e.g., one or more processors including a processing circuit) (e.g., the processor (120) of FIG. 1) may establish a connection with an external electronic device (e.g., the electronic device (102) or the electronic device (104) of FIG. 1, or the external electronic device (400) of FIG. 4)) using a short-range communication method via a communication circuit (e.g., the communication module (190) of FIG. 1). In one embodiment, the electronic device may operate as an initiator that initiates a ranging operation. In one embodiment, the external electronic device may operate as a responder that responds to the initiator. In one embodiment, the electronic device may be checking a ranging performance table and ranging status information of the external electronic device. In one embodiment, the electronic device may receive a ranging performance table of the external electronic device broadcast by the external electronic device before a connection between the electronic device and the external electronic device is established, or may receive a ranging performance table from the external electronic device through the connection between the electronic device and the external electronic device after the connection between the electronic device and the external electronic device is established. In one embodiment, the electronic device may check ranging status information of the external electronic device from the external electronic device through the connection between the electronic device and the external electronic device after the connection between the electronic device and the external electronic device is established.

[0238] The process of selecting a ranging technology / frequency combination by an electronic device illustrated in FIG. 7 may be a process of selecting a ranging technology / frequency combination by an electronic device assuming a situation in which the electronic device wants to use two ranging technologies, for example, UWB ranging technology and Wi-Fi RTT technology, while not using any ranging technology / frequency combination. It should be noted that in FIG. 7, for convenience of illustration, the ranging performance table of the initiator electronic device is illustrated as the "[I] table", and the ranging performance table of the responder external electronic device is illustrated as the "[R] table".

[0239] First, the electronic device may not be performing any ranging operation at step 711 (e.g., there may not be a ranging technology / frequency combination in use). Thus, while not performing any ranging operation, the electronic device may detect an event to use two ranging technologies, e.g., UWB ranging technology and Wi-Fi RTT technology.

[0240] Based on detecting an event for using UWB ranging technology and Wi-Fi RTT technology, the electronic device may check the ranging performance table of the electronic device in operation 713. In one embodiment, the electronic device may check UWB, RTT combination entries included in the ranging performance table of the electronic device in operation 713. Having checked the ranging performance table, the electronic device may check performance values ​​for UWB, RTT combination entries among the entries included in the ranging performance table of the electronic device in operation 715.

[0241] In operation 715, the electronic device that has verified the performance values ​​for the UWB, RTT combination entries, if there is one UWB, RTT combination entry with the highest priority, can select the corresponding UWB, RTT combination entry as the ranging technology / frequency combination to be used in the electronic device in operation 717. Since the presence of one UWB, RTT combination entry with the highest priority indicates that the corresponding UWB, RTT combination entry has the maximum performance value, the electronic device can select one UWB, RTT combination entry as the ranging technology / frequency combination to be used in the electronic device.

[0242] In contrast, in operation 715, the electronic device that has verified the performance values ​​for the UWB, RTT combination entries can, if there are two or more UWB, RTT combination entries with the highest priority, check the ranging status table of the external electronic device in operation 719. In operation 719, the electronic device can check the performance values ​​for the UWB, RTT combination entries among the entries included in the ranging status table of the external electronic device.

[0243] In operation 719, the electronic device that has verified the performance values ​​for the UWB, RTT combination entries, if there are two or more UWB, RTT combination entries with the highest priority, can select one of the two or more UWB, RTT combination entries as the ranging technology / frequency combination to be used in the electronic device in operation 721.

[0244] In operation 719, the electronic device that has verified the performance values ​​for the UWB, RTT combination entries, if there is one UWB, RTT combination entry with the highest rank, can select the UWB, RTT combination entry corresponding to one of the entries in operation 723 as the ranging technology / frequency combination to be used in the electronic device.

[0245] Although not shown separately in FIG. 7, the electronic device may transmit information about the selected ranging technology / frequency combination to an external electronic device, thereby causing the external electronic device to perform ranging operations with the electronic device using the selected ranging technology / frequency combination.

[0246] FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating a process by which an electronic device selects a ranging technology / frequency combination according to one embodiment.

[0247] Referring to FIG. 8, an electronic device (e.g., the electronic device (101) of FIG. 1) (e.g., one or more processors including a processing circuit) (e.g., the processor (120) of FIG. 1) may establish a connection with an external electronic device (e.g., the electronic device (102) or the electronic device (104) of FIG. 1, or the external electronic device (400) of FIG. 4)) using a short-range communication method via a communication circuit (e.g., the communication module (190) of FIG. 1). In one embodiment, the electronic device may operate as an initiator that initiates a ranging operation. In one embodiment, the external electronic device may operate as a responder that responds to the initiator. In one embodiment, the electronic device may be checking a ranging performance table and ranging status information of the external electronic device. In one embodiment, the electronic device may receive a ranging performance table of the external electronic device broadcast by the external electronic device before a connection between the electronic device and the external electronic device is established, or may receive a ranging performance table from the external electronic device through the connection between the electronic device and the external electronic device after the connection between the electronic device and the external electronic device is established. In one embodiment, the electronic device may check ranging status information of the external electronic device from the external electronic device through the connection between the electronic device and the external electronic device after the connection between the electronic device and the external electronic device is established.

[0248] The process of selecting a ranging technology / frequency combination by an electronic device illustrated in FIG. 8 may be a process of selecting a ranging technology / frequency combination by an electronic device assuming a situation where the electronic device wants to additionally use a new ranging technology / frequency combination while using one ranging technology / frequency combination (for example, while already performing a ranging operation corresponding to one ranging technology / frequency combination) and the external electronic device is not using any ranging technology / frequency combination. It should be noted that in FIG. 8, for convenience of illustration, the ranging performance table of the initiator electronic device is illustrated as the "[I] table", and the ranging performance table of the responder external electronic device is illustrated as the "[R] table".

[0249] First, the electronic device acting as the initiator may be performing a ranging operation corresponding to the UWB Chx ranging technology in operation 811. The electronic device may determine, in operation 813, that the external electronic device acting as the responder is not performing any ranging operation. In this way, while the electronic device is performing a ranging operation corresponding to the UWB Chx ranging technology and the external electronic device is not performing any ranging operation, the electronic device may detect an event for using a new ranging technology, for example, Wi-Fi RTT technology.

[0250] Based on detecting an event for using Wi-Fi RTT technology, the electronic device may check the ranging performance table of the electronic device in operation 815. In one embodiment, the electronic device may check UWB Chx, RTT combination entries included in the ranging performance table of the electronic device in operation 815. Having checked the ranging performance table, the electronic device may check performance values ​​for UWB Chx, RTT combination entries among the entries included in the ranging performance table of the electronic device in operation 817.

[0251] In operation 817, the electronic device that has verified the performance values ​​for the UWB Chx, RTT combination entries, if there is one UWB Chx, RTT combination entry with the highest priority, selects the corresponding UWB Chx, RTT combination entry in operation 819, and selects the Wi-Fi RTT technology corresponding to the selected UWB Chx, RTT combination entry as the ranging technology / frequency combination to be used by the electronic device. Since the presence of one UWB Chx, RTT combination entry with the highest priority indicates that the corresponding UWB Chx, RTT combination entry has the maximum performance value, the electronic device can select the Wi-Fi RTT technology corresponding to one UWB Chx, RTT combination entry as the ranging technology / frequency combination to be used by the electronic device. In this case, the electronic device can perform the ranging operation using the frequency band corresponding to the selected Wi-Fi RTT technology.

[0252] In contrast, in operation 817, the electronic device that has checked the performance values ​​for the UWB Chx, RTT combination entries, if there are two or more UWB Chx, RTT combination entries with the highest priority, in operation 821, the electronic device can check the ranging state table of the external electronic device. In operation 821, the electronic device can check RTT single entries among the entries included in the ranging state table of the external electronic device. In one embodiment, the reason why the electronic device checks RTT single entries among the entries included in the ranging state table of the external electronic device may be to consider a case where a ranging operation based on the UWB Chx ranging technology is terminated in the future and only a ranging operation corresponding to the Wi-Fi RTT technology is performed. In operation 823, the electronic device can check the performance values ​​for RTT single entries among the entries included in the ranging state table of the electronic device.

[0253] In operation 823, the electronic device, having verified the performance values ​​for the RTT single entries, may, if there are two or more RTT single entries with the highest rank, select one of the two RTT single entries as the ranging technology / frequency combination to be used in the electronic device in operation 825.

[0254] In operation 823, the electronic device, having verified the performance values ​​for the RTT single entries, may select one RTT single entry as the ranging technology / frequency combination to be used in the electronic device, if there is one RTT single entry with the highest rank, in operation 827.

[0255] Although not shown separately in FIG. 8, the electronic device may transmit information about the selected ranging technology / frequency combination to an external electronic device, thereby causing the external electronic device to perform ranging operations with the electronic device using the selected ranging technology / frequency combination.

[0256] FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a process by which an electronic device selects a ranging technology / frequency combination according to one embodiment.

[0257] Referring to FIG. 9, an electronic device (e.g., the electronic device (101) of FIG. 1) (e.g., one or more processors including a processing circuit) (e.g., the processor (120) of FIG. 1) may establish a connection with an external electronic device (e.g., the electronic device (102) or the electronic device (104) of FIG. 1, or the external electronic device (400) of FIG. 4)) using a short-range communication method via a communication circuit (e.g., the communication module (190) of FIG. 1). In one embodiment, the electronic device may operate as an initiator that initiates a ranging operation. In one embodiment, the external electronic device may operate as a responder that responds to the initiator. In one embodiment, the electronic device may be checking a ranging performance table and ranging status information of the external electronic device. In one embodiment, the electronic device may receive a ranging performance table of the external electronic device broadcast by the external electronic device before a connection between the electronic device and the external electronic device is established, or may receive a ranging performance table from the external electronic device through the connection between the electronic device and the external electronic device after the connection between the electronic device and the external electronic device is established. In one embodiment, the electronic device may check ranging status information of the external electronic device from the external electronic device through the connection between the electronic device and the external electronic device after the connection between the electronic device and the external electronic device is established.

[0258] The process of selecting a ranging technology / frequency combination by an electronic device illustrated in FIG. 9 may be a process of selecting a ranging technology / frequency combination by an electronic device in a situation where the electronic device wants to additionally use a new ranging technology / frequency combination while using one ranging technology / frequency combination (for example, while already performing a ranging operation corresponding to one ranging technology / frequency combination) and an external electronic device is also using one ranging technology / frequency combination. It should be noted that in FIG. 9, for convenience of illustration, the ranging performance table of the electronic device that is the initiator is illustrated as the "[I] table", and the ranging performance table of the external electronic device that is the responder is illustrated as the "[R] table".

[0259] First, the electronic device acting as the initiator may be performing a ranging operation corresponding to the UWB Chx ranging technology in operation 911. The electronic device may determine, in operation 913, that the external electronic device acting as the responder is performing a ranging operation corresponding to the UWB Chy ranging technology. In this way, while the electronic device is performing a ranging operation corresponding to the UWB Chx ranging technology and the external electronic device is performing a ranging operation corresponding to the UWB Chy ranging technology (for example, while the electronic device is performing a ranging operation corresponding to the UWB Chx ranging technology with an external electronic device other than the external electronic device, and while the external electronic device is performing a ranging operation corresponding to the UWB Chy ranging technology with another external electronic device other than the electronic device), the electronic device may detect an event for using a new ranging technology, for example, a Wi-Fi RTT technology.

[0260] Based on detecting an event for using Wi-Fi RTT technology, the electronic device may check the ranging performance table of the electronic device in operation 915. In one embodiment, the electronic device may check UWB Chx, RTT combination entries included in the ranging performance table of the electronic device in operation 917. Having checked the ranging performance table, the electronic device may check performance values ​​for UWB Chx, RTT combination entries among the entries included in the ranging performance table of the electronic device in operation 919.

[0261] In operation 919, the electronic device that has verified the performance values ​​for the UWB Chx, RTT combination entries, if there is one UWB Chx, RTT combination entry with the highest priority, can select, in operation 921, a single RTT entry corresponding to the corresponding UWB Chx, RTT combination entry as the ranging technology / frequency combination to be used in the electronic device. Since the presence of one UWB Chx, RTT combination entry with the highest priority indicates that the corresponding UWB Chx, RTT combination entry has the maximum performance value, the electronic device can select a single RTT entry corresponding to one UWB Chx, RTT combination entry as the ranging technology / frequency combination to be used in the electronic device.

[0262] In contrast, in operation 919, the electronic device that has verified the performance values ​​for the UWB Chx, RTT combination entries may, if there are two or more UWB Chx, RTT combination entries with the highest priority, check the ranging state table of the external electronic device in operation 923. In operation 923, the electronic device may check the UWB Chy, RTT combination entries among the entries included in the ranging state table of the external electronic device. In operation 925, the electronic device may check the UWB Chy, RTT combination entries including RTT single entries corresponding to the UWB Chx, RTT combination entries with the highest priority among the UWB Chy, RTT combination entries included in the ranging state table of the external electronic device.

[0263] In operation 925, the electronic device that has confirmed UWB Chy, RTT combination entries including RTT single entries corresponding to the first-order UWB Chx, RTT combination entries among the UWB Chy, RTT combination entries included in the ranging state table of the external electronic device can confirm performance values ​​for the UWB Chy, RTT combination entries in operation 927.

[0264] The electronic device, which has verified the performance values ​​for the UWB Chy, RTT combination entries in operation 927, can, if there are two or more UWB Chy, RTT combination entries with the highest priority, select an RTT single entry corresponding to one of the two UWB Chy, RTT combination entries in operation 929 as the ranging technology / frequency combination to be used in the electronic device.

[0265] The electronic device, which has verified the performance values ​​for the UWB Chy, RTT combination entries in operation 927, can select, if there is one UWB Chy, RTT combination entry with the highest rank, a single RTT entry corresponding to one UWB Chy, RTT combination entry in operation 931 as the ranging technology / frequency combination to be used in the electronic device.

[0266] Although not shown separately in FIG. 9, the electronic device may transmit information about the selected ranging technology / frequency combination to an external electronic device, thereby causing the external electronic device to perform ranging operations with the electronic device using the selected ranging technology / frequency combination.

[0267] According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, a method of an electronic device (101) may include an operation of establishing a connection with an external electronic device (102; 104; 400) using a short-range communication method.

[0268] According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, the method may include an operation of detecting an event for performing a ranging operation with the external electronic device after establishing the connection.

[0269] According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, the method may include, based on detecting the event, transmitting, to the external electronic device, first association information between a first number of ranging technology / frequency combinations supported by the electronic device and performance values ​​of the first number of ranging technology / frequency combinations.

[0270] According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, the method may include, after transmitting the first association information, receiving, from the external electronic device, second association information between a second number of ranging technology / frequency combinations supported by the external electronic device and performance values ​​of the second number of ranging technology / frequency combinations.

[0271] According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, the method may include an operation of selecting one of the first number of ranging technology / frequency combinations as a ranging technology / frequency combination to be used in the electronic device, based at least on the first association information and the second association information.

[0272] According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, the method may include performing a ranging operation with the external electronic device using the selected ranging technology / frequency combination.

[0273] According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, a ranging technology / frequency combination may include a combination of at least one ranging technology and at least one frequency band supported by the at least one ranging technology.

[0274] According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, the performance values ​​of the first number of ranging technology / frequency combinations and the second number of ranging technology / frequency combinations may include recognition distances obtained using the first number of ranging technology / frequency combinations and the second number of ranging technology / frequency combinations, and / or signal qualities obtained using the first number of ranging technology / frequency combinations and the second number of ranging technology / frequency combinations, and the first number may be the same as or different from the second number.

[0275] According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, the operation of selecting one of the first number of ranging technology / frequency combinations as the ranging technology / frequency combination to be used in the electronic device, based at least on the first association information and the second association information, may include the operation of identifying the first ranging technology to be used in the electronic device.

[0276] According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, the operation of selecting one of the first number of ranging technology / frequency combinations as a ranging technology / frequency combination to be used in the electronic device based at least on the first association information and the second association information may include the operation of checking whether there is a ranging technology / frequency combination corresponding to the first ranging technology and the at least one ranging technology / frequency combination currently being used in the electronic device in the first association information.

[0277] According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, the operation of selecting one of the first number of ranging technology / frequency combinations as the ranging technology / frequency combination to be used in the electronic device, based at least on the first association information and the second association information, may include the operation of selecting, based on the presence of a plurality of ranging technology / frequency combinations corresponding to the first ranging technology and the at least one ranging technology / frequency combination currently in use in the electronic device in the first association information, a ranging technology / frequency combination having a maximum performance value among the plurality of ranging technology / frequency combinations corresponding to the first ranging technology and the at least one ranging technology / frequency combination currently in use in the electronic device, as the ranging technology / frequency combination to be used in the electronic device.

[0278] According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, the operation of selecting one of the first number of ranging technology / frequency combinations as the ranging technology / frequency combination to be used in the electronic device, based at least on the first association information and the second association information, may include the operation of selecting one ranging technology / frequency combination corresponding to the first ranging technology and the at least one ranging technology / frequency combination currently in use in the electronic device, as the ranging technology / frequency combination to be used in the electronic device, based on the presence of one ranging technology / frequency combination corresponding to the first ranging technology and the at least one ranging technology / frequency combination currently in use in the electronic device in the first association information.

[0279] According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, the operation of selecting one of the first number of ranging technology / frequency combinations as the ranging technology / frequency combination to be used in the electronic device, based at least on the first association information and the second association information, may include the operation of identifying the first ranging technology to be used in the electronic device.

[0280] According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, the operation of selecting one of the first number of ranging technology / frequency combinations as a ranging technology / frequency combination to be used in the electronic device based at least on the first association information and the second association information may include the operation of checking whether there is a ranging technology / frequency combination corresponding to the first ranging technology and the at least one ranging technology / frequency combination currently being used in the electronic device in the first association information.

[0281] According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, the operation of selecting one of the first number of ranging technology / frequency combinations as a ranging technology / frequency combination to be used in the electronic device, based at least on the first association information and the second association information, may include the operation of determining whether, based on the presence of a plurality of ranging technology / frequency combinations corresponding to the first ranging technology and the at least one ranging technology / frequency combination currently being used in the electronic device in the first association information, there exists in the second association information a ranging technology / frequency combination corresponding to the first ranging technology and the at least one ranging technology / frequency combination currently being used in the electronic device.

[0282] According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, the operation of selecting one of the first number of ranging technology / frequency combinations as the ranging technology / frequency combination to be used in the electronic device, based at least on the first association information and the second association information, may include the operation of selecting, based on the presence of the plurality of ranging technology / frequency combinations corresponding to the first ranging technology and the at least one ranging technology / frequency combination currently in use in the electronic device in the second association information, a ranging technology / frequency combination having a maximum performance value among the plurality of ranging technology / frequency combinations corresponding to the first ranging technology and the at least one ranging technology / frequency combination currently in use in the electronic device, as the ranging technology / frequency combination to be used in the electronic device.

[0283] According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, the operation of selecting one of the first number of ranging technology / frequency combinations as the ranging technology / frequency combination to be used in the electronic device, based at least on the first association information and the second association information, may include the operation of selecting one ranging technology / frequency combination corresponding to the first ranging technology and the at least one ranging technology / frequency combination currently in use in the electronic device, as the ranging technology / frequency combination to be used in the electronic device, based on the presence of one ranging technology / frequency combination corresponding to the first ranging technology and the at least one ranging technology / frequency combination currently in use in the electronic device in the second association information.

[0284] According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, the method may include an operation of checking a change in the usage status of at least one of the ranging technology / frequency combinations other than the selected ranging technology / frequency combination among the first number of ranging technology / frequency combinations while performing a ranging operation with the external electronic device using the selected ranging technology / frequency combination.

[0285] According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, the method may include transmitting, to the external electronic device, information about the at least one ranging technology / frequency combination whose usage state has changed.

[0286] According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, a storage medium may be provided storing at least one computer-readable instruction, wherein the at least one instruction, when executed individually or collectively by one or more processors (120) including processing circuitry of an electronic device (101), causes the electronic device to perform at least one operation.

[0287] According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, the at least one operation may include establishing a connection with an external electronic device (102; 104; 400) using a short-range communication method.

[0288] According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, the at least one operation may include an operation of detecting an event for performing a ranging operation with the external electronic device after establishing the connection.

[0289] According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, the at least one operation may include, based on detecting the event, transmitting, to the external electronic device, first association information between a first number of ranging technology / frequency combinations supported by the electronic device and performance values ​​of the first number of ranging technology / frequency combinations.

[0290] According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, the at least one operation may include, after transmitting the first association information, receiving, from the external electronic device, second association information between a second number of ranging technology / frequency combinations supported by the external electronic device and performance values ​​of the second number of ranging technology / frequency combinations.

[0291] According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, the at least one operation may include selecting one of the first number of ranging technology / frequency combinations as a ranging technology / frequency combination to be used in the electronic device, based at least on the first association information and the second association information.

[0292] According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, the at least one operation may include performing a ranging operation with the external electronic device using the selected ranging technology / frequency combination.

[0293] According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, a ranging technology / frequency combination may include a combination of at least one ranging technology and at least one frequency band supported by the at least one ranging technology.

Claims

1. In an electronic device (101), Communication circuit (190); One or more processors (120) including processing circuitry; and A memory (130) for storing instructions, wherein the instructions, when individually or collectively executed by one or more processors, cause the electronic device to: Through the above communication circuit, a connection is established with an external electronic device (102; 104; 400) using a short-range communication method, After establishing the above connection, detecting an event for performing a ranging operation with the external electronic device, Based on detecting the above event, transmitting, through the communication circuit, to the external electronic device, first association information between a first number of ranging technology / frequency combinations supported by the electronic device and performance values ​​of the first number of ranging technology / frequency combinations, After transmitting the first association information, through the communication circuit, from the external electronic device, second association information is received between a second number of ranging technology / frequency combinations supported by the external electronic device and performance values ​​of the second number of ranging technology / frequency combinations, Based at least on the first association information and the second association information, one of the first number of ranging technology / frequency combinations is selected as the ranging technology / frequency combination to be used in the electronic device, and Causing the external electronic device to perform a ranging operation using the selected ranging technology / frequency combination through the above communication circuit, An electronic device wherein the ranging technology / frequency combination comprises a combination of at least one ranging technology and at least one frequency band supported by the at least one ranging technology.

2. In paragraph 1, The performance values ​​of the first number of ranging technology / frequency combinations and the second number of ranging technology / frequency combinations include recognition distances obtained using the first number of ranging technology / frequency combinations and the second number of ranging technology / frequency combinations, and / or signal qualities obtained using the first number of ranging technology / frequency combinations and the second number of ranging technology / frequency combinations, and The first number is the same as or different from the second number of electronic devices.

3. In paragraph 1 or 2, The instructions, when individually or collectively executed by the one or more processors, cause the electronic device to select, at least as part of an operation of selecting one of the first number of ranging technology / frequency combinations as a ranging technology / frequency combination to be used in the electronic device, based at least on the first association information and the second association information: Identify the first ranging technology to be used in the above electronic device, Checking whether the first associated information includes a ranging technology / frequency combination corresponding to the first ranging technology and the at least one ranging technology / frequency combination currently in use in the electronic device, and An electronic device that causes a ranging technology / frequency combination having a maximum performance value among the plurality of ranging technology / frequency combinations corresponding to the first ranging technology and the at least one ranging technology / frequency combination currently in use by the electronic device to be selected as a ranging technology / frequency combination to be used by the electronic device, based on the existence of a plurality of ranging technology / frequency combinations corresponding to the first ranging technology and the at least one ranging technology / frequency combination currently in use by the electronic device in the first association information.

4. In paragraph 3, The instructions, when individually or collectively executed by the one or more processors, cause the electronic device to select, at least as part of an operation of selecting one of the first number of ranging technology / frequency combinations as a ranging technology / frequency combination to be used in the electronic device, based at least on the first association information and the second association information: An electronic device that causes the electronic device to select the one ranging technology / frequency combination corresponding to the first ranging technology and the at least one ranging technology / frequency combination currently in use by the electronic device as the ranging technology / frequency combination to be used by the electronic device, based on the presence of one ranging technology / frequency combination corresponding to the first ranging technology and the at least one ranging technology / frequency combination currently in use by the electronic device in the first associated information.

5. In paragraph 1 or 2, The instructions, when individually or collectively executed by the one or more processors, cause the electronic device to select, at least as part of an operation of selecting one of the first number of ranging technology / frequency combinations as a ranging technology / frequency combination to be used in the electronic device, based at least on the first association information and the second association information: Identify the first ranging technology to be used in the above electronic device, Check whether the first associated information includes a ranging technology / frequency combination corresponding to the first ranging technology and the at least one ranging technology / frequency combination currently in use in the electronic device, Based on the existence of a plurality of ranging technology / frequency combinations corresponding to the first ranging technology and the at least one ranging technology / frequency combination currently in use by the electronic device in the first associated information, it is determined whether the existence of a ranging technology / frequency combination corresponding to the first ranging technology and the at least one ranging technology / frequency combination currently in use by the electronic device in the second associated information, and An electronic device that causes a ranging technology / frequency combination having a maximum performance value among the plurality of ranging technology / frequency combinations corresponding to the first ranging technology and the at least one ranging technology / frequency combination currently in use by the electronic device to be selected as a ranging technology / frequency combination to be used by the electronic device, based on the existence of a plurality of ranging technology / frequency combinations corresponding to the first ranging technology and the at least one ranging technology / frequency combination currently in use by the electronic device in the second associated information.

6. In paragraph 5, The instructions, when individually or collectively executed by the one or more processors, cause the electronic device to select, at least as part of an operation of selecting one of the first number of ranging technology / frequency combinations as a ranging technology / frequency combination to be used in the electronic device, based at least on the first association information and the second association information: An electronic device that causes the electronic device to select the one ranging technology / frequency combination corresponding to the first ranging technology and the at least one ranging technology / frequency combination currently in use by the electronic device as the ranging technology / frequency combination to be used by the electronic device, based on the presence of one ranging technology / frequency combination corresponding to the first ranging technology and the at least one ranging technology / frequency combination currently in use by the electronic device in the second associated information.

7. In any one of paragraphs 1 to 6, The above instructions, when individually or collectively executed by the one or more processors, cause the electronic device to: An electronic device that causes the electronic device to transmit information about the selected ranging technology / frequency combination to the external electronic device via the communication circuit before performing the ranging operation.

8. In any one of paragraphs 1 to 7, The above instructions, when individually or collectively executed by the one or more processors, cause the electronic device to: While performing a ranging operation with the external electronic device using the selected ranging technology / frequency combination, checking for a change in the usage status of at least one of the ranging technology / frequency combinations other than the selected ranging technology / frequency combination among the first number of ranging technology / frequency combinations, and An electronic device that causes the electronic device to transmit information about the at least one ranging technology / frequency combination whose usage status has changed to the external electronic device through the communication circuit.

9. In any one of paragraphs 1 to 8, The instructions, when individually or collectively executed by the one or more processors, cause the electronic device to transmit the first associated information to the external electronic device via the communication circuit, at least as part of: Checking whether there is a history of transmitting the first associated information to the external electronic device, and An electronic device that causes an identifier identifying the first associated information to be transmitted to the external electronic device as the first associated information through the communication circuit, based on the existence of a history of transmitting the first associated information to the external electronic device.

10. In any one of paragraphs 1 to 9, The above first associated information is set for each application supported by the electronic device.

11. In any one of paragraphs 1 to 10, The above instructions, when individually or collectively executed by the one or more processors, cause the electronic device to: An electronic device that causes the electronic device to broadcast, through the communication circuit, information about at least one ranging technology supported by the electronic device and at least one frequency band supported by the at least one ranging technology supported by the electronic device, prior to establishing the connection.

12. In any one of paragraphs 1 to 10, The above instructions, when individually or collectively executed by the one or more processors, cause the electronic device to: An electronic device that causes the electronic device to transmit, through the communication circuit, information about at least one ranging technology supported by the electronic device and at least one frequency band supported by the at least one ranging technology supported by the electronic device, prior to transmitting the first association information after establishing the connection.

13. In the method of electronic device (101), An act of establishing a connection with an external electronic device (102; 104; 400) using a short-range communication method; After establishing the above connection, an action of detecting an event for performing a ranging operation with the external electronic device; An operation of transmitting, to the external electronic device, first association information between a first number of ranging technology / frequency combinations supported by the electronic device and performance values ​​of the first number of ranging technology / frequency combinations based on detecting the event; After transmitting the first association information, an operation of receiving, from the external electronic device, second association information between a second number of ranging technology / frequency combinations supported by the external electronic device and performance values ​​of the second number of ranging technology / frequency combinations; An operation of selecting one of the first number of ranging technology / frequency combinations as a ranging technology / frequency combination to be used in the electronic device, based at least on the first associated information and the second associated information; and An operation for performing a ranging operation with the external electronic device using the selected ranging technology / frequency combination, The method wherein the ranging technology / frequency combination comprises a combination of at least one ranging technology and at least one frequency band supported by the at least one ranging technology.

14. In paragraph 13, The performance values ​​of the first number of ranging technology / frequency combinations and the second number of ranging technology / frequency combinations include recognition distances obtained using the first number of ranging technology / frequency combinations and the second number of ranging technology / frequency combinations, and / or signal qualities obtained using the first number of ranging technology / frequency combinations and the second number of ranging technology / frequency combinations, and The above method wherein the first number is the same as or different from the second number.

15. In a storage medium storing at least one instruction readable by a computer, The at least one instruction, when executed individually or collectively by one or more processors (120) comprising processing circuitry of the electronic device (101), causes the electronic device to perform at least one operation; At least one of the above actions: An act of establishing a connection with an external electronic device (102; 104; 400) using a short-range communication method; After establishing the above connection, an action of detecting an event for performing a ranging operation with the external electronic device; An operation of transmitting, to the external electronic device, first association information between a first number of ranging technology / frequency combinations supported by the electronic device and performance values ​​of the first number of ranging technology / frequency combinations based on detecting the event; After transmitting the first association information, an operation of receiving, from the external electronic device, second association information between a second number of ranging technology / frequency combinations supported by the external electronic device and performance values ​​of the second number of ranging technology / frequency combinations; An operation of selecting one of the first number of ranging technology / frequency combinations as a ranging technology / frequency combination to be used in the electronic device, based at least on the first associated information and the second associated information; and An operation for performing a ranging operation with the external electronic device using the selected ranging technology / frequency combination, The storage medium wherein the ranging technology / frequency combination comprises a combination of at least one ranging technology and at least one frequency band supported by the at least one ranging technology.

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