UWB Ranging Message Frame Using Narrowband Preamble

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Solution Overview

Problem

UWB secure distance measurement systems face high power consumption, latency, and reduced link budget due to lengthy UWB messages and the need for separate narrowband communication channels, increasing complexity and reducing measurement range.

Innovation Solution

A common message frame is used with a first information portion transmitted via a narrowband channel and a second portion via UWB, eliminating unnecessary UWB headers and synchronizations, allowing precise time estimation for UWB reception, reducing power consumption, and optimizing link budget.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If Bluetooth or Wi-Fi is used for device communication, then communication capability is provided, but communication security and positioning precision are insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepositioning precisionVSAvoidcommunication security
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent transitions from using Bluetooth/Wi-Fi radio frequency parameters to UWB (Ultra-Wideband) parameters for communication. This parameter change enables both high-precision positioning (through time-of-flight measurement) and enhanced security (through physical layer security features of UWB), simultaneously resolving both aspects of the contradiction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If UWB message authentication is performed using traditional methods, then authentication is provided, but packet injection attacks and false information verification are vulnerable

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveauthentication reliabilityVSAvoidpacket injection attack vulnerability
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a challenge-response authentication mechanism as an intermediary verification process. The first device sends a challenge message, the second device responds with a computed authentication value, and the first device verifies this response. This intermediary process prevents packet injection attacks by ensuring that only legitimate devices with the correct shared secret can generate valid authentication responses.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent performs authentication verification before accepting distance measurement results. By preliminarily verifying the authenticity of UWB messages through challenge-response authentication, the system prevents false information from being processed, thereby eliminating the vulnerability to false information verification attacks.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Measurement precision

If distance measurement is performed using UWB, then precise distance information is obtained, but message authentication security and resistance to false information verification are insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedistance measurement precisionVSAvoidmessage authentication security
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the receiving device verifies authentication information from the transmitting device before accepting distance measurement data. The challenge-response authentication creates a feedback loop that confirms message authenticity, ensuring that precise distance measurements are only accepted from verified legitimate devices, thus resolving the contradiction between measurement precision and authentication security.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

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

Power consumption is reduced by a factor of hundred to thousand, latency is minimized, and link budget is optimized, enhancing the measurement range and accuracy of UWB distance measurements.

Implementation Method 1

a time of flight of the electromagnetic signal is measured, and the distance between the first device and the second device is determined based on the time of flight of the electromagnetic signal

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectTime of flight: Time of Flight

Data Source

PatentEP4348303B1Method for transceiving a message for UWB distance measurement, method and system for distance measurement and transceiver for UWB distance measurement
Publication Date: 2026.04.29 INFINEON TECH SWITZERLAND AG
  • EP4348303B1 patent drawingFigure 1~4
  • EP4348303B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6
  • EP4348303B1 patent drawingFigure 7~10

AI summary

Method for transceiving a message (M) for UWB distance measurement : transceiving a first information portion (A) via a narrowband channel; transceiving after the first information portion a second information portion (B) via a UWB channel, wherein the second information portion (B) comprises a distance pulse sequence being a pulse sequence to be used for distance measurement; wherein the first information portion (A) and the second information portion (B) are transceived in a common message frame.