Peer-to-Peer Ranging via Neighbor Awareness Network
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems for exchanging ranging and location information among peer-to-peer devices often rely on central architectures, which increase costs and network traffic due to inefficient data exchange and processing delays.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a neighbor awareness network (NAN) that enables peer-to-peer communication through discovery beacon frames, synchronization beacon frames, and fine timing measurement techniques for direct data exchange between devices, allowing for efficient and secure transmission of ranging and location information.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a central architecture is used for data exchange between user devices, then devices can obtain information through a centralized point, but this increases network traffic and processing delays
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the central processing function from the data exchange path. Instead of routing all ranging and location information through a central server, the system enables devices to exchange this information directly peer-to-peer. The central architecture remains for other functions, but location data exchange is removed from the central path, eliminating processing delays while maintaining operational simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the network communication into two distinct paths: general data exchange through central servers and location/ranging data exchange through direct peer-to-peer connections. This segmentation allows location-critical applications to bypass central processing bottlenecks while other traffic uses the centralized management structure.
2Device complexity
If a central architecture is used for data exchange between user devices, then centralized management is simplified, but this increases network traffic and costs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts location and ranging data exchange from the central network infrastructure. Devices perform direct peer-to-peer measurements and exchanges for location information, eliminating the need for this traffic to traverse central servers. This reduces overall network traffic and associated energy costs while central servers continue to manage other aspects of device communication.
3Loss of time
If peer-to-peer communication is implemented for ranging and location information, then processing delays are reduced, but this increases device complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges peer-to-peer location exchange with existing Wi-Fi Direct or Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) protocols. Rather than creating a completely new communication mechanism, the system combines direct device-to-device ranging capabilities with established wireless technologies, reducing the complexity burden on individual devices while achieving low-latency location updates.
4Loss of energy
If direct peer-to-peer data exchange is enabled, then network traffic is reduced, but this requires more sophisticated device protocols
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal ranging protocol that works across multiple device types and existing wireless standards. The same peer-to-peer exchange mechanism functions for both Wi-Fi Direct and BLE devices, allowing diverse devices to participate in direct location exchanges without requiring device-specific protocol implementations. This universality reduces overall system complexity despite enabling direct communication.
Data Source
AI summary
In some embodiments, a first user device may synchronize a time associated with a second user device. The first user device may generate a neighbor awareness network (NAN) service discovery frame. The first user device may transmit the NAN service discovery frame to the second user device. The first user device may receive a request frame from the second user device based at least in part on transmitting the NAN service discovery frame, wherein the request frame comprises a request for ranging or location information from the first user device. The first user device may receive a NAN service discovery frame from the second user device, wherein the NAN service discovery frame comprises a request for ranging or location information from the first user device. The first user device may transmit a response frame comprising the ranging or location information in response to the received request frame.