Antenna Switching for Location Accuracy in Wireless Networks
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing location determination methods for mobile station devices in wireless networks face challenges with accuracy, energy consumption, and the need for location-based services mode operation.
Innovation Solution
A network device with multiple antennas switches between them during response packet reception to generate corrupted orthogonal samples, which are then re-generated to ideal samples, allowing for accurate location estimation of the station device without requiring the device to be in location-based services mode.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If antenna switching is performed during response packet reception, then location accuracy is improved through multiple antenna samples, but the orthogonal samples become corrupted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates ideal copies of the response packet from a single antenna reception to replace the corrupted orthogonal samples. The network device receives the response packet multiple times using different antennas, then uses a final uncorrupted reception to regenerate ideal orthogonal samples that replicate what would have been obtained without antenna switching.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the antenna parameter during reception by switching between multiple antennas. This allows the system to collect multiple samples with different spatial characteristics while maintaining the ability to regenerate ideal samples from a final uncorrupted reception, thus improving location accuracy without permanent sample corruption.
2Measurement precision
If the station device operates in location-based services mode, then location determination capability is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables the network device to perform location determination using standard protocol exchanges without requiring the station device to enter a special location-based services mode. The network device autonomously processes the response packets and performs the necessary signal processing to determine location, allowing the station device to remain in low-power mode.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent makes the location determination system universal by using standard wireless protocol exchanges that occur during normal operation. The same protocol messages used for data transmission are also used for location determination, eliminating the need for separate location-based services mode and reducing energy consumption.
3Device complexity
If standard protocol exchanges are used, then device complexity is reduced, but location accuracy is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses the response packet as an intermediary carrier that contains both data and location information. By processing the phase and timing information embedded in standard protocol exchanges, the system extracts location data without requiring complex specialized protocols, thus maintaining simplicity while improving accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent adds a spatial dimension to standard protocol exchanges by utilizing multiple antennas at the network device. This allows the system to extract location information from ordinary protocol messages through spatial signal processing, achieving enhanced location accuracy without increasing protocol complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
Improvements associated with determining a location of a station device are described. According to one improvement, a method is performed by a network device. The method includes receiving a response packet from a station device, multiple times, as received signals by switching between a plurality of antennas of the network device during reception of each occurrence of the response packet. The received signals are converted to corrupted orthogonal samples. The response packet is received from the station device a final time as a final response packet via a single antenna of the plurality of antennas. Ideal orthogonal samples are re-generated based at least in part on the final response packet. Signal phase information, embedded in the corrupted and ideal orthogonal samples, is converted into estimated locations of the station device.