Network Ranging via Round-Trip Time Broadcast
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing positioning systems, such as GPS, fail to provide sub-meter level relative position accuracies required for vehicular safety applications using wireless communication protocols like IEEE 802.11p, necessitating additional sensors that increase costs and complexity.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus that utilize round-trip time measurements by broadcasting in a network, where wireless communication devices transmit and receive messages to determine processing delays, allowing for the calculation of distances between nodes with reduced message exchanges through combined ranging information in a single message.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If additional sensors are used to achieve sub-meter level positioning accuracy, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces physical sensors (mechanical/electronic devices) with a communication-based ranging system using message exchanges and timestamp measurements. The positioning accuracy is achieved through software-based time measurement and calculation rather than hardware sensors, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining measurement precision
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces communication messages as intermediaries to carry timing information between vehicles. These messages serve as mediators that enable distance measurement without direct sensor contact, allowing accurate positioning through information exchange rather than physical measurement devices
2Measurement precision
If traditional two-way ranging is used between vehicle pairs, then measurement precision is achieved, but the number of message exchanges and system complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple two-way ranging operations into a single broadcast message exchange. Instead of requiring separate message exchanges between each pair of vehicles, a single broadcast message containing timing information from multiple vehicles allows all vehicles to perform ranging calculations simultaneously, dramatically reducing the total number of message exchanges required in the network
Data Source
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AI summary
A method, an apparatus, and a computer program product for wireless communication are provided. The apparatus receives a first message from a first wireless communication device and a second message from a second wireless communication device, obtains information associated with a first processing delay with respect to the first message and a second processing delay with respect to the second message, and transmits a third message comprising an indication of the information associated with the first and second processing delays.