EHF Device Location Reporting via FTM and Beam Training Integration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current wireless communication systems face challenges in accurately determining the location of extremely high frequency (EHF) devices due to high atmospheric attenuation and absorption, which complicates the use of existing location reporting methods, especially in the 60GHz band where radio waves experience significant free space loss.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of fine timing measurements (FTM) combined with angle of arrival (AoA) and angle of departure (AoD) information during the beam training phase allows for precise location estimation of EHF devices by embedding these directional parameters in FTM messages, enabling location computation with reduced network throughput and increased accuracy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If multiple FTM frames are exchanged to improve location accuracy, then location precision improves, but network throughput decreases and air resources are consumed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines location measurement information (FTM) with beam training procedures into a single integrated process. By merging these two functions, the system obtains both location accuracy and beam optimization without requiring separate frame exchanges, thereby maintaining throughput while improving measurement precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables FTM frames to serve multiple purposes simultaneously: location estimation, beam training, and channel sounding. This multi-functionality reduces the total number of frames needed compared to separate procedures, improving both accuracy and throughput efficiency.
2Productivity
If beam training phase is utilized for location estimation, then air resources are conserved and throughput improves, but location measurement capability must be integrated into existing protocol
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges location estimation functionality into the existing beam training protocol framework. By combining these functions, the system achieves location measurement without requiring separate dedicated measurement phases, thus conserving air resources and improving throughput.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent makes the beam training frames multi-functional by enabling them to carry both beam optimization information and location measurement data. This approach avoids protocol complexity of entirely new procedures while achieving resource efficiency.
3Measurement precision
If directional parameters are embedded in FTM messages, then location estimation accuracy improves, but message size and processing complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines directional parameters (AoA, AoD) with timing information in unified FTM messages. By merging these parameters into a single integrated message structure, the system improves location estimation accuracy while avoiding the overhead of separate message exchanges for each parameter type.
Data Source
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AI summary
Certain aspects of the present disclosure relate to location reporting for extremely high frequency (EHF) devices. Certain aspects of the present disclosure provide an apparatus for wireless communications. The apparatus generally includes a transmit interface configured to output a first frame for transmission to another apparatus at a first time, a receive interface configured to obtain, at a second time, a second frame transmitted by the other apparatus in response to the first frame, and a processing system configured to generate a third frame for transmission to the other apparatus via the transmit interface, the third frame including information indicating a difference between the first time and the second time and an indication of at least one of an angle of departure of the first frame or an angle of arrival of the second frame.