UWB Ranging Synchronization Through Scheduled Low-Power Sessions
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing communication techniques for ultra-wide band (UWB) ranging in electronic devices face challenges such as power consumption due to continuous scanning and synchronization issues, leading to battery drain and excessive coordination among protocols.
Innovation Solution
A scheduling technique for UWB communication that involves storing a schedule for multiple sessions, broadcasting advertising packets during selected time slots, entering a reduced power state until the next session, and using UWB signals for both ranging and advertising without relying on Bluetooth, allowing autonomous UAP scheduling and reducing power consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If continuous scanning and synchronization are performed to maintain communication readiness, then communication reliability is improved, but power consumption increases causing battery drain
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic action by transitioning the UWB communication circuitry between active scanning states and reduced power states in a cyclic manner. The system performs scanning and synchronization only during scheduled communication sessions rather than continuously, thereby maintaining communication reliability when needed while significantly reducing power consumption during idle periods through periodic operation cycles.
2Ease of operation
If devices remain in powered-on state for next transmission, then communication readiness is improved, but battery life decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-synchronizing timing information during advertising packets and pre-scheduling communication sessions. This allows the receiving device to enter reduced power state with confidence that it will wake up at the correct time for the next transmission, eliminating the need to remain continuously powered on while maintaining communication readiness through advance timing coordination.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements periodic action by activating the communication circuitry only during scheduled transmission windows and entering reduced power state between sessions. This periodic activation pattern maintains communication readiness for scheduled exchanges while extending battery life by keeping the device in low-power mode during idle periods.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple protocols are coordinated for ranging and advertising, then communication functionality is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the functions of advertising and ranging into a unified UWB-based communication framework. By combining these previously separate protocol functions into a single integrated system using advertising packets that carry both advertising information and ranging synchronization data, the patent reduces protocol coordination complexity while maintaining comprehensive communication functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements universality by designing the UWB advertising packet to serve multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as an advertising signal for device discovery, a synchronization reference for timing alignment, and a trigger for ranging sessions. This multi-functional approach eliminates the need for separate protocol coordination while preserving all necessary communication capabilities.
Data Source
AI summary
Techniques for ranging for a mobile device with one or more electronic devices using communication circuitry implementing a wireless protocol can include storing a schedule for a plurality of communication sessions. The technique can include broadcasting the advertising packets during a selected number of available time slots of a second time period, the advertising packets including information about the schedule for the plurality of communication sessions. After broadcasting an advertising packet during a selected time slot, the technique can include entering a reduced power state for the communication circuitry until a subsequent advertising packet is sent or a subsequent first time period for communicating the ranging packets as specified by the schedule. The technique can include exiting the reduced power state for the communication circuitry prior to the subsequent first time period. The technique can include transmitting a ranging packet via the wireless protocol according to the schedule.