Bluetooth Quality Sharing for Collision-Free UWB Ranging
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Solution Overview
Problem
In wireless communication environments with multiple electronic devices, UWB ranging can lead to collisions and increased power consumption due to contention-based responses, which degrade accuracy and increase power consumption.
Innovation Solution
An electronic device equipped with both Bluetooth and UWB communication circuits shares communication quality information to determine the best device for UWB communication, reducing collisions and power consumption by allowing exclusive responses.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If contention-based UWB ranging is performed with multiple nearby electronic devices, then UWB communication can be established with potential devices, but collisions occur between responses and power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by having electronic devices perform Bluetooth scanning and share communication quality information before initiating UWB ranging. This preliminary exchange of quality information allows devices to pre-determine which device should respond to UWB ranging requests, preventing collisions and reducing power consumption by avoiding unnecessary UWB communication attempts from multiple devices simultaneously
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses Bluetooth communication quality information as an intermediary mechanism to coordinate UWB ranging responses. By sharing Bluetooth signal quality metrics (such as RSSI values) between nearby devices, the system determines which device has the best communication quality and should perform the UWB ranging response, thereby mediating access and preventing collisions
2Object-affected harmful factors
If response waiting time is increased to reduce collisions in contention-based ranging, then collisions between responses are reduced, but accuracy of UWB ranging decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent resolves this contradiction by performing preliminary Bluetooth quality information exchange before UWB ranging. This allows the system to pre-assign response rights to the device with best communication quality, eliminating the need for extended waiting times while maintaining ranging accuracy through coordinated access
3Measurement precision
If UWB module is continuously activated for accurate distance measurement, then positioning accuracy is improved, but battery consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic action by using Bluetooth scanning at intervals to monitor nearby devices and share quality information. UWB communication is activated only periodically when needed based on Bluetooth quality assessments, rather than continuously, thereby maintaining positioning accuracy while significantly reducing battery consumption
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses Bluetooth communication (which consumes less power) to self-identify and share quality information among nearby devices, determining which device should perform UWB ranging. This self-service mechanism eliminates the need for continuous UWB activation while maintaining accurate positioning capability when required
Data Source
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AI summary
Disclosed is an electronic device comprising: a first communication circuit that supports communication according to a Bluetooth protocol; a second communication circuit that supports communication according to an ultra-wideband (UWB) protocol; a processor; and a memory. The electronic device can be configured to: receive a first signal from a second external electronic device; transmit, to at least one first external electronic device, first quality information related to communication with the second external electronic device; receive, from the at least one first external electronic device, second quality information related to communication between the at least one first external electronic device and the second external electronic device; and, on the basis of the first quality information and the second quality information, determine, from among the electronic device and the at least one first external electronic device, a device to communicate with the second external electronic device on the basis of the UWB protocol. Other various embodiments identified by the present document are possible.