BLE Directionality via Antenna Array Phase Fields
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) technologies lack efficient methods for determining directionality and angle of arrival, which is crucial for indoor positioning and proximity sensing applications, especially in environments with interference and multipath issues.
Innovation Solution
The method involves broadcasting directionality fields in BLE data channels, using antenna arrays and synchronization patterns to determine the angle of arrival and departure, and employing encryption and secure channels for accurate tracking, even in connectionless models.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional BLE technologies are used for positioning, then power efficiency is maintained, but directionality determination capability is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the directionality determination function into two parts: the transmitting device broadcasts directionality fields containing antenna phase information, while the receiving device performs angle of arrival calculation. This segmentation allows BLE devices to determine directionality without requiring complex hardware modifications at both ends, resolving the contradiction between measurement precision and device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent adds a new dimension to BLE communications by incorporating phase information from multiple antennas into the broadcast data packets. This dimensional enhancement enables directionality determination using existing BLE hardware, achieving improved measurement precision without proportionally increasing device complexity.
2Measurement precision
If antenna arrays are used to determine angle of arrival, then positioning accuracy is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The transmitting device automatically broadcasts directionality fields containing phase information from its antenna array without requiring active participation from the receiving device. This self-service approach enables positioning accuracy improvement while keeping the receiving device's energy consumption low, as it only needs to process received signals rather than actively transmit or switch antennas.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses periodic broadcasting of directionality fields at configured intervals rather than continuous transmission. This periodic action maintains positioning accuracy while significantly reducing overall energy consumption compared to continuous active scanning or transmission schemes.
3Measurement precision
If directionality fields are broadcast in BLE data channels, then angle of departure determination is enabled, but data channel interference increases
Solution Approach 1:
The directionality fields are broadcast using existing BLE advertising and data channels, making the channels serve multiple functions: both standard data transmission and directionality information broadcasting. This multi-functionality approach enables angle of departure determination without requiring separate dedicated channels, thus avoiding additional interference while maintaining measurement precision.
4Reliability
If encryption and secure channels are employed for tracking, then positioning reliability is improved, but processing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces directionality fields as an intermediary information structure that carries both positioning data and security credentials. By embedding security information within the same broadcast framework as positioning data, the system achieves improved positioning reliability through verification capabilities while minimizing additional processing complexity through unified field handling.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and system detect directionality between two objects by measuring angles of signals incident on antenna arrays on at least one side to determine angle of incidence. The methods utilize Bluetooth Low Energy communications for both the control protocol and for providing updated information for deriving directionality. Directionality information is broadcast on selected BLE advertising or data channels, or broadcast using a hopping pattern over the BLE data channels, both at a specific interval duty cycle. If a hopping pattern is selected to transmit directionality information, then anchor information is simultaneously broadcast on the BLE advertising or data channels at a different, asynchronous duty cycle. In additional embodiments, signals incident on antenna arrays located on both target and tracking sides are used to determine angle of incidence, separate antennas are combined to form new antennas and antenna models are used to anticipate known antenna structure responses.