UWB Beacon Interval Structure for Flexible Ranging Slot Allocation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing frameworks for UWB devices lack flexibility in operational structures, particularly in managing ranging capabilities within wireless communication systems.

Innovation Solution

A transmit apparatus and receive apparatus are provided with processors configured to determine a variable beacon interval including a ranging management period and a ranging period, generating a beacon signal with information for ranging contention access and free periods, and transmitting channel access slots accordingly.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a fixed beacon interval structure is used, then the system structure is simple, but the flexibility and adaptability for different ranging scenarios is poor

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveflexibility in operational structuresVSAvoidbeacon interval structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The beacon interval is changed from a fixed structure to a variable structure that can be dynamically adjusted. The processor determines different beacon intervals based on ranging requirements, and the system can switch between different operational modes (ranging management period, ranging period, idle period) within the beacon interval, providing flexibility without requiring completely different system structures for different scenarios

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The duration of different periods within the beacon interval (ranging management period, ranging period, idle period) can be adjusted by changing parameters such as the number of slots allocated to each period. This allows the system to adapt to different ranging scenarios by modifying time parameter allocations rather than changing the overall system architecture

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If more channel access slots are allocated for ranging, then the ranging capability is enhanced, but the communication efficiency for other data transmission may be reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveranging capabilityVSAvoidcommunication efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The number of channel access slots allocated for ranging is made dynamic rather than fixed. The processor can determine the number of slots in the ranging management period and ranging period based on current ranging needs, allowing the system to allocate more slots to ranging when needed and more slots to data transmission when ranging requirements are lower, thus balancing ranging capability and communication efficiency

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system allocates channel access slots partially to ranging and partially to data transmission within the same beacon interval structure. Instead of dedicating all slots to ranging or all to data transmission, the system uses partial allocation where different periods (ranging management period, ranging period) share the available slots, achieving both ranging capability and communication efficiency simultaneously

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentEP3858080B1Apparatus and method for flexible operational structures for UWB devices
Publication Date: 2026.02.25 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD
  • EP3858080B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3858080B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP3858080B1 patent drawingFigure 4a

AI summary

A method of transmit apparatus in a wireless communication system supporting ranging capability is provided. The method comprises determining a beacon interval including a ranging management period and a ranging period, wherein the beacon interval is a variable interval, generating a beacon signal including information for a number of channel access slots corresponding to a ranging contention access period (RCAP) and a ranging contention free period (RCFP), transmitting, to a receive apparatus, the beacon signal at the determined beacon interval, and transmitting, to the receive apparatus, at least one channel access slot in the ranging management period.