Ultra-Wideband Communication Scheduling for Low-Power Ranging
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing communication techniques for electronic devices face challenges such as battery drain due to continuous powered-on states for signal transmission, excessive coordination among protocols, and packet collisions, particularly in ultra-wide band (UWB) communications.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a scheduling mechanism for UWB communications that allows devices to enter a reduced power state between transmissions, using UWB advertising packets to convey a schedule for multiple exchanges, and autonomously manage UWB Acquisition Packet (UAP) transmissions without host-layer intervention, thereby reducing power consumption and minimizing collisions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If devices maintain powered-on state for continuous signal transmission, then communication reliability is improved, but battery power is drained
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic communication exchanges with defined advertising periods and ranging periods. Devices transmit advertising packets at specific intervals and enter reduced power states between transmissions. This periodic operation pattern allows devices to maintain communication reliability through scheduled transmissions while significantly reducing battery power consumption by powering down during idle periods.
2Reliability
If scheduling techniques assign specific time periods to minimize packet collisions, then packet collision is reduced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the communication protocol into distinct layers: a host layer that creates the scheduling pattern and a radio layer that autonomously executes transmissions. The host layer defines advertising periods and ranging periods, while the radio layer independently manages packet transmissions based on these periods. This segmentation reduces device complexity by distributing scheduling responsibilities across layers, eliminating the need for complex cross-protocol coordination while maintaining effective collision minimization.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple protocols coordinate for ranging and advertising, then communication functionality is improved, but excessive coordination overhead occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the scheduling functionality from the radio layer and places it in the host layer. The host layer creates the advertising period and ranging period schedule, then passes this scheduling information to the radio layer. The radio layer autonomously executes transmissions according to this schedule without requiring continuous coordination with other protocols. This extraction eliminates excessive coordination overhead while preserving the versatility of multi-protocol communication functionality.
Data Source
AI summary
Techniques for ranging for a mobile device with one or more electronic devices using a schedule for a plurality of communication exchanges. The technique can include receiving 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 exchanges. After receiving an advertising packet during a selected time slot of the second time period, the technique can include storing the schedule in a memory of the mobile device. The technique can include receiving a ranging packet during a subsequent first time period via the wireless protocol according to the schedule.