Multipath Signal Sensing Using Arrival Time and Angle Analysis

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Solution Overview

Problem

There is a lack of effective sensing technologies for multipath environments, which are crucial for ubiquitous sensing in complex scenarios such as indoor and multi-building environments, limiting the realization of ubiquitous sensing and computing.

Innovation Solution

A sensing method that determines arrival times and angles of multipath signals, analyzes reflection path attributes, and compares sensing results over time to detect changes in the environment, using a multi-antenna receiver and computer-executable programs.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If sensing technologies are deployed in multipath environments, then ubiquitous sensing capability is improved, but measurement precision deteriorates due to signal reflection and path complexity

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveubiquitous sensing capabilityVSAvoidsensing precision

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent converts the harmful multipath effect into a beneficial sensing resource by analyzing reflection path attributes. Instead of treating signal reflections as noise to be eliminated, the system extracts useful information from reflected signals to detect environmental changes, object positions, and movements, thereby transforming the multipath challenge into an opportunity for enhanced sensing capability in complex environments

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces arrival angles as an additional dimension for signal analysis beyond traditional time-based methods. By determining both arrival times and arrival angles of multipath signals, the system creates a two-dimensional characterization space that enables more accurate environmental sensing and object detection, effectively adding spatial dimensionality to the sensing process

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Measurement precision

If multipath signal analysis is performed to detect environmental changes, then sensing accuracy is improved, but device complexity increases due to multiple measurement parameters

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenvironmental change detection accuracyVSAvoidsignal processing complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a multi-functional processing framework that simultaneously extracts multiple attributes (arrival time, arrival angle, reflection path characteristics) from the same multipath signals. This unified approach allows the system to perform various sensing tasks including environmental change detection, object positioning, and movement detection using a single integrated processing pipeline, thereby managing complexity through functional consolidation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS20250244439A1Sensing method, receiver, and storage medium

Publication Date: 2025.07.31 ZTE CORP

AI summary

The present application discloses a sensing method, a receiver, and a storage medium. The sensing method comprises: determining arrival times and arrival angles of a multipath signal at different moments according to the multipath signal received at different moments; determining reflection path attributes of the multipath signal at different moments according to the arrival times and the arrival angles at different moments; obtaining sensing results on a current environment at different moments according to the arrival times, the arrival angles, and the reflection path attributes at different moments; and determining whether the current environment has changed according to the sensing results at different moments.