FTM Session Management for Concurrent Time Sync and Location
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current systems for fine timing measurement (FTM) in wireless communications face issues with session management, where starting a new FTM session for time synchronization aborts ongoing sessions for location estimation, and there is no mechanism to concurrently use FTM for both location services and time synchronization without an arbitration layer.
Innovation Solution
The proposed system facilitates the establishment of an FTM session that can be leveraged for both location services and time synchronization, allowing ongoing sessions to serve new requests and caching parameters to ensure seamless transition between services without requiring an arbitration layer.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a new FTM session is started for time synchronization, then time synchronization is achieved, but the ongoing FTM session for location estimation is aborted
Solution Approach 1:
The FTM session is designed to serve multiple functions - both location estimation and time synchronization - without requiring separate sessions. The session management mechanism allows the same FTM session to be leveraged for different purposes, eliminating the need to abort existing sessions when time synchronization is needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adapts the FTM session based on service requirements. When time synchronization is needed, the ongoing location estimation FTM session is not aborted but rather dynamically leveraged to serve the new time synchronization request, allowing the session to transition between different service modes.
2Ease of operation
If separate FTM sessions are used for location services and time synchronization, then each service can operate independently, but session management complexity increases and power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
A single FTM session structure is designed to accommodate both location estimation and time synchronization services. The session management mechanism allows both services to operate within the same session framework, reducing the need for separate session management and thereby reducing overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the management of FTM sessions for location services and time synchronization into a unified session management approach. By combining these previously separate session management processes, the system reduces complexity while maintaining service independence through parameter differentiation.
3Adaptability or versatility
If FTM sessions are frequently started and stopped, then service flexibility is maintained, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The FTM session is designed to continue running and serving multiple purposes rather than being frequently started and stopped. The session management mechanism allows the session to remain active and leveraged for different services, reducing the frequency of session initiation and termination, thereby lowering power consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
By designing the FTM session to serve multiple functions including both location estimation and time synchronization, the system avoids the need to terminate and restart sessions when service requirements change. This multi-functional design maintains service flexibility while reducing the energy consumption associated with frequent session lifecycle changes.
Data Source
AI summary
This disclosure describes systems, methods, and devices related to fine timing measurement (FTM) time synchronization and location estimation. A device may determine a FTM request received from an initiator device, wherein the first FTM request comprises a first trigger field. The device may determine to establish a first FTM session with the initiator device based on the first trigger field. The device may identify a second FTM request received from the initiator device, wherein the second FTM request comprises a second trigger field. The device may determine to establish a second FTM session with the initiator device based on the first trigger field and the second trigger field.