UWB Frame Count Signaling Without PN Field Overhead

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Solution Overview

Problem

The ultra-wideband (UWB) system faces challenges with high signaling overheads and power consumption due to the use of narrowband assisted multi-millisecond UWB (NBA-MMS UWB) messages, particularly in compressed physical layer service data units (PSDU) formats, which are used for ranging and sensing scenarios.

Innovation Solution

A communication method that generates and sends indication information to construct frame counts (FC) based on a first field in a message, eliminating the need for a packet number (PN) field, and includes a second message with a timeout field for the start-of-ranging (SOR) message, reducing signaling overheads and power consumption.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Use of energy by stationary object

If a message in compressed PSDU format is used to reduce duty cycle of NB signal, then power consumption is reduced, but signaling overheads become high

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower consumptionVSAvoidsignaling overheads
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by stationary objectVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the frame count construction logic from the message content and implements it through indication information in the frame control field. This separates the FC construction mechanism from the message payload, allowing compressed PSDU format to maintain low signaling overheads while still enabling proper FC derivation for security processing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism where the frame control field serves as a mediator between the message format and the FC construction process. The indication information in the frame control field provides guidance on how to construct FC from available message fields, bridging the gap between compressed message format and security requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Loss of information

If FC construction is implemented without PN field to reduce signaling overheads, then message size is reduced, but FC construction complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesignaling overheadsVSAvoidFC construction complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of having the PN field directly provide the FC value, the patent inverts the approach by using indication information to specify how FC should be constructed from other available fields. This reversal simplifies the message structure while providing flexible FC construction methods through the frame control field.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the parameter representation by using indication information bits in the frame control field to encode different FC construction methods. These parameter changes allow the system to adapt FC construction to different message types and scenarios without requiring additional message fields.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP4693958A1Communication method for UWB and related product
Publication Date: 2026.02.11 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD
  • EP4693958A1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4693958A1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP4693958A1 patent drawingFigure 4A~4B

AI summary

This application discloses a communication method for a UWB and a related product. This application may be applied to a UWB-based wireless personal area network system, a sensing system, a positioning system, a ranging system, or a communication system, and may be further applied to a wireless local area network system that supports 802.11 series protocols such as a next-generation Wi-Fi protocol of IEEE 802.11ax, for example, 802.11be or Wi-Fi 7, and a next-generation protocol of 802.11be, for example, Wi-Fi 8. The method includes: generating indication information, where the indication information indicates to construct a frame count (frame counter, FC) based on a first field in a first message, and the first field indicates a type of the first message; and sending the indication information. The method in embodiments of this application can reduce signaling overheads.