Passive Beacon Timing Signal for UWB Ranging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing communication techniques between mobile devices and passive beacons face limitations due to packet collisions, complex scheduling requirements, and high power consumption, especially when determining range or angular relationships, and maintaining device power state for continuous transmission.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a communication technique where a passive beacon transmits a timing signal using Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) advertising, allowing mobile devices to enter a low-power mode until the transmission time, and using ultra-wideband (UWB) protocol for information transmission, enabling efficient ranging and triangulation without continuous power usage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If continuous transmission mode is used to ensure information exchange, then communication reliability is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic transmission cycles with defined active and sleep phases. The beacon transmits timing signals and information packets at specific intervals rather than continuously, allowing the transceiver to enter low-power states between transmissions while maintaining scheduled communication reliability.
2Productivity
If multiple devices communicate simultaneously in the same bandwidth, then communication efficiency is improved, but packet collisions increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the communication process into distinct phases: timing signal transmission, data packet transmission, and acknowledgment phases. Each device is assigned specific time slots within the transmission cycle, dividing the communication bandwidth temporally to prevent packet collisions while maintaining efficient multi-device communication.
Solution Approach 2:
The beacon transmits timing signals and scheduling information before actual data transmission. Devices use these preliminary timing signals to synchronize their transmission schedules, preventing collisions by knowing in advance when to transmit or listen during the communication cycle.
3Duration of action of moving object
If transceiver remains powered-on for continuous transmission, then communication availability is improved, but battery life decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The transceiver operates in periodic cycles with defined active transmission windows and sleep periods. The device wakes at predetermined times to transmit or receive timing signals and data packets, then returns to low-power sleep mode, maintaining communication availability during active phases while extending battery life through periodic operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses predetermined, hardcoded transmission schedules that devices can independently follow without continuous coordination. Each device autonomously knows when to wake, transmit, or listen based on pre-established timing relationships, eliminating the need for continuous powered-on state to maintain communication availability.
Data Source
AI summary
Certain embodiments are directed to techniques (e.g., a device, a method, a memory or non-transitory computer readable medium storing code or instructions executable by one or more processors) for passive beacon communication techniques. Transmitting devices (e.g., beacons) can transmit advertising messages using a first wireless protocol to provide timing for ranging messages for one of more ranging messages over a second protocol (e.g., UWB). One or more receiving devices can determine using signal strength if the devices are within a threshold range to perform communication techniques. Various ranging communications techniques can be used to determine a range between the receiving device and transmitting device. Other techniques can be used to passively calculate the angle of arrival for transmitter signals. The angle of arrival information can be used for precise position locating for the receiving device or to indicate interest in information provided by the one or more transmitting devices.