Time-of-Flight Ranging Without Radio or Antenna Calibration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wireless communication systems, particularly 5G NR, face challenges in providing high-accuracy location and tracking services without the need for costly and time-consuming radio/antenna calibration, especially for low-end devices.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus that measure time-of-flights (ToFs) between UEs at multiple locations, track positions and orientations, compute a loss function based on these measurements, and estimate the direction or distance of a target UE without requiring calibration of uncalibrated radios/antennas, enabling accurate tracking using virtual triangulation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If radio/antenna calibration is performed to achieve accurate time-of-flight measurements, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the calibration step from the system setup process. By using virtual triangulation that relies on relative position changes rather than absolute calibrated measurements, the solution removes the calibration requirement while maintaining positioning accuracy. This allows uncalibrated devices to perform accurate ranging.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces virtual triangulation as an intermediary method between raw signal measurements and final position calculation. Instead of directly using calibrated physical measurements, it uses uncalibrated measurements combined with virtual reference frames and relative geometry to achieve accurate positioning without physical calibration.
2Reliability
If factory calibration is performed to enable accurate tracking, then tracking accuracy is improved, but production time and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the calibration step from the manufacturing process entirely. By designing the system to use relative measurements and virtual reference frames, it eliminates the need for factory calibration while maintaining tracking accuracy, thereby reducing production time and cost.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs self-calibration through software-based virtual reference frames rather than requiring physical calibration hardware. The device automatically establishes accurate tracking by using its own uncalibrated measurements in conjunction with virtual triangulation algorithms, making the system self-sufficient without external calibration equipment.
3Measurement precision
If calibration is required for accurate ranging, then ranging precision is improved, but device cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces expensive physical calibration hardware and processes with software-based virtual reference frames. This substitution dramatically reduces manufacturing costs while maintaining ranging accuracy, making precise ranging accessible to low-cost devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical/physical calibration process with a software-based computational approach. Instead of physically calibrating antennas and radio components, the system uses software algorithms to create virtual reference frames that enable accurate ranging without physical calibration infrastructure.
4Measurement precision
If multiple ToF measurements at multiple locations are taken, then tracking accuracy is improved, but measurement time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary establishment of virtual reference frames and relative position relationships before actual ranging measurements. By pre-configuring the virtual triangulation geometry, the system can quickly process multiple ToF measurements without time-consuming calibration procedures, reducing overall measurement time while maintaining accuracy.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables accurate tracking and ranging capabilities in wireless devices without calibration, reducing factory calibration time and making it feasible for low-cost devices, thus expanding the use of ranging technology to a broader range of devices.
Implementation Method 1
measures, a set of time-of-flights (ToFs) between the first UE and a second UE
Data Source
AI summary
Aspects presented herein may enable a tracking device to estimate the distance of a target device without calibrated radios/antenna(s) at the tracking/target device. In one aspect, a first UE measures a set of time-of-flights (ToFs) between the first UE and a second UE at multiple locations of the first UE. The first UE tracks positions and orientations of the first UE during the measurement of the set of ToFs at the multiple locations of the first UE. The first UE computes a loss function based on the differences between the set of ToFs and the tracked positions and orientations of the first UE, where the loss function is associated with a probability in which the second UE is at a specified location. The first UE estimates at least one of a direction or a distance of the second UE from the first UE based on the computed loss function.