Multi-Channel Ranging for Wireless Device Location
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wireless communication networks face challenges in accurately determining the location of wireless devices in a scalable and complex-free manner, particularly in achieving high accuracy with time-based ranging techniques that require a wider frequency bandwidth.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of multi-channel location computation techniques, where wireless devices receive and store ranging signals from multiple channels, compute multi-channel wireless channel responses and time-of-arrivals, and use these to determine their location based on known base station locations, allowing for accurate and scalable location determination without requiring devices to be taken off-channel.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If time-based ranging techniques use a single channel, then device complexity is reduced, but location accuracy deteriorates due to limited bandwidth
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the ranging process into multiple independent channel segments, where each channel performs ranging measurements separately. The final location is determined by combining results from all channels, achieving high accuracy through aggregated bandwidth while maintaining manageable complexity through modular processing
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from single-channel (one-dimensional) ranging to multi-channel (multi-dimensional) ranging by utilizing multiple frequency channels simultaneously. This dimensional expansion provides wider effective bandwidth for higher accuracy while the systematic approach to handling multiple channels prevents exponential complexity growth
2Measurement precision
If multi-channel ranging is implemented, then location accuracy improves through wider bandwidth, but device complexity increases due to multiple channel processing
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the multi-channel ranging process into independent measurement tasks, where each channel is processed separately through standardized procedures. This modular segmentation allows accurate location determination through combined channel data while preventing complexity from scaling exponentially with the number of channels
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements universal processing procedures that can be applied to any number of channels. The same ranging algorithms and processing steps are reused across all channels, making the system scalable and manageable despite handling multiple frequency channels simultaneously
3Measurement precision
If traditional single-channel ranging is used, then system scalability is maintained, but location accuracy is limited by bandwidth constraints
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables continuous location updates by performing ranging measurements across multiple channels in parallel. This continuous multi-channel measurement process provides ongoing accurate location information without requiring devices to transition between channels, maintaining high productivity while achieving superior accuracy
Solution Approach 2:
The system adds the channel dimension to the ranging process, transforming single-channel sequential measurements into multi-channel parallel measurements. This dimensional enhancement provides both higher accuracy through aggregated bandwidth and improved productivity through simultaneous multi-channel operation
4Measurement precision
If devices are taken off-channel for location determination, then accurate measurements can be obtained, but network productivity decreases due to service interruption
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes the channel dimension to perform ranging measurements without removing devices from service. By operating across multiple frequency channels simultaneously, the system achieves accurate location determination while devices remain connected and operational on their primary communication channels, maintaining network productivity
Data Source
AI summary
Techniques are presented herein to coordinate ranging exchanges between base stations in order to enable any number of wireless devices in the vicinity of the base stations to obtain signals associated with ranging exchanges between base stations, time-of-departure report messages transmitted by the base stations to each other and time-of-arrival report messages transmitted by the base stations to each other, for use in computing the location of the wireless devices. Based on the multi-channel time-of-arrivals computed for the wireless device with respect to each base station, the multi-channel time-of-arrivals contained in the time-of-arrival report messages transmitted between base stations and the known locations of the base stations, a physical location is computed for the wireless device.