Service Discovery Frame Ranging in Neighborhood Aware Networks

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current wireless communication systems in peer-to-peer networks face challenges in efficient device discovery and ranging protocols, particularly in reducing power consumption and ensuring secure communication within neighborhood aware networks (NANs).

Innovation Solution

The method involves transmitting and receiving service discovery frames (SDFs) or action frames with ranging information during a discovery window, followed by performing a ranging protocol according to the indicated time period, which allows for efficient device discovery and ranging within peer-to-peer networks while optimizing power usage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If devices transmit and receive service discovery frames continuously to enable effective device discovery and ranging, then discovery reliability is improved, but power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvediscovery reliabilityVSAvoidpower consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements periodic discovery windows at predetermined intervals where devices transmit and receive service discovery frames. Between these discovery windows, devices can enter low-power states. This periodic structure ensures that discovery reliability is maintained at scheduled intervals while significantly reducing overall power consumption compared to continuous transmission.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

2Reliability

If devices perform ranging protocols outside discovery windows to reduce interference, then communication reliability is improved, but timing coordination complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecommunication reliabilityVSAvoidtiming coordination complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent exchanges ranging information during the discovery window before the actual ranging protocol execution. This preliminary exchange of ranging parameters and capabilities allows devices to prepare for accurate ranging measurements when they execute outside the discovery window, reducing interference while maintaining timing coordination through pre-negotiated parameters.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Measurement precision

If devices exchange comprehensive ranging information during discovery windows to enable accurate ranging, then measurement precision is improved, but frame size and transmission overhead increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveranging measurement precisionVSAvoidframe size
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts ranging information exchange from the main service discovery frame and performs it in a separate, dedicated ranging protocol phase. This separation allows comprehensive ranging data to be exchanged without bloatting the service discovery frame size, while still enabling accurate ranging measurements through dedicated ranging messages exchanged outside the discovery window.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentEP3308529B1Methods and apparatus for wireless discovery location and ranging within a neighborhood aware network
Publication Date: 2019.09.25 QUALCOMM INC
  • EP3308529B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3308529B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3308529B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Methods and apparatus for wireless communication in a peer-to-peer network are described herein. In one aspect, a method of wireless communication apparatus is provided. The method includes transmitting during a discovery window, by a first device, a first service discovery frame (SDF) or other action frame to a second device, the first SDF or other action frame comprising ranging information for performing a ranging protocol. The method further includes performing the ranging protocol, by the first device, in accordance with the ranging information.