Connectionless Bluetooth LE Ranging for Secure Device Positioning

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing Bluetooth communication networks face challenges in determining device distances and positions efficiently while maintaining network security and resource utilization, as direct connections consume resources and are vulnerable to malicious interference.

Innovation Solution

A method using connectionless Bluetooth Low Energy (LE) communication with advertising and response messages, where devices transmit and receive messages over a shared channel without direct connections, incorporating encrypted data to determine distances and angles, and triangulation with multiple broadcasting devices for precise positioning.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If direct Bluetooth connections are established between devices to determine distance, then distance measurement capability is improved, but network resource consumption increases and vulnerability to malicious interference worsens

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedistance measurement capabilityVSAvoidnetwork resource consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an intermediary approach where devices measure distance to a common reference point (the broadcasting device) rather than establishing direct peer-to-peer connections. Each device independently measures its distance to the broadcasting device using advertising messages, eliminating the need for direct connections between measuring devices while still achieving accurate distance determination through triangulation algorithms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

Each receiving device independently performs distance measurements by processing advertising messages from the broadcasting device on its own. The devices self-determine their positions using the broadcast information and triangulation calculations, without requiring resource-intensive direct connections or coordination with other measuring devices, thus reducing overall network resource consumption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Measurement precision

If direct Bluetooth connections are established for distance determination, then measurement accuracy is improved, but security against malicious interference deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedistance determination accuracyVSAvoidsecurity against malicious interference

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The broadcasting device serves as a trusted intermediary that all devices measure against. By using a common reference point with known position, the system eliminates direct trust relationships between measuring devices. The centralized broadcasting device can implement security measures and encryption for advertising messages, protecting against malicious interference while maintaining measurement accuracy through the intermediary's controlled communication channel.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the measurement process into independent unidirectional measurements from each device to the broadcasting device, rather than requiring interconnected direct measurements. This segmentation isolates each measurement transaction, making it harder for malicious devices to interfere with multiple measurements simultaneously, while the aggregated data from multiple segmented measurements enables accurate triangulation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Productivity

If connectionless Bluetooth LE communication is used for distance determination, then network resource utilization is improved, but device positioning precision may worsen

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenetwork resource utilizationVSAvoiddevice positioning precision

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple independent distance measurements from different receiving devices to the same broadcasting device into a triangulation system. By merging these individual connectionless measurements through mathematical triangulation algorithms, the system achieves precise position determination without requiring direct connections between devices. The combined information from multiple devices compensates for the lack of direct peer-to-peer measurement data.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The system transitions from two-dimensional direct distance measurements between pairs of devices to a three-dimensional positioning solution using triangulation. By incorporating measurements from multiple devices at different spatial positions and using angular information, the system determines positions in three-dimensional space, achieving high precision despite using connectionless communication for each individual measurement.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentUS20250330947A1Determining distances between broadcasting devices and receiving devices

Publication Date: 2025.10.23 INFINEON TECHNOLOGIES AMERICAS CORP

AI summary

A system includes a broadcasting device and one or more receiving devices. The broadcast device is to broadcast an broadcast message to a set of receiving devices, wherein the broadcast message indicates that a broadcasting device is available for connection. The broadcasting device is also to receive, from a receiving device a response messages based on the broadcast message. The broadcasting device is further to determine a distance between the broadcasting device and the receiving device.