UWB User-Device Multilateration Through In-Band Anchor Relays
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional UWB systems require additional hardware for out-of-band communication channels, increasing costs and are limited by the directional nature of UWB anchors, restricting scalability and range in distance measurement.
Innovation Solution
A UWB system utilizing in-band communication channels for multi-lateration, where a processing circuit generates and relays payloads with time stamps to determine distances and locations between UWB anchors and user devices, reducing hardware requirements and improving scalability and range.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If out-of-band communication channels are used for anchor intercommunication, then distance measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and setup costs increase due to additional hardware requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the distance measurement function and the communication function into a single UWB channel. The initiation messages containing distance information are transmitted through the same UWB communication channel used for ranging, eliminating the need for separate out-of-band communication hardware between anchors.
Solution Approach 2:
The UWB communication channel is made multi-functional by enabling it to perform both ranging operations and inter-anchor communication. The initiation messages are embedded within the UWB protocol framework, allowing the same hardware to serve dual purposes without additional specialized components.
2Device complexity
If in-band communication channels are used for anchor intercommunication, then device complexity is reduced, but communication range is limited due to directional nature of UWB anchors
Solution Approach 1:
The user device acts as an intermediary relay node. When one anchor cannot directly communicate with another anchor due to directional limitations, the initiation messages are routed through the user device, which receives messages from one anchor and forwards them to the other anchor, thereby extending the effective communication range.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a new communication path dimension by utilizing the user device as a relay. Instead of requiring direct line-of-sight communication between anchors, the system creates an indirect communication path through the user device, effectively overcoming the directional constraints in the spatial dimension.
3Measurement precision
If out-of-band communication infrastructure is deployed, then distance measurement accuracy is improved, but setup time and costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the communication infrastructure requirements with the existing UWB ranging infrastructure. By using the same UWB channels for both ranging and message transmission, the system eliminates the need for separate out-of-band communication infrastructure deployment, thereby reducing both setup time and costs while maintaining measurement accuracy.
4Measurement precision
If UWB anchors are positioned directionally towards user devices, then ranging performance is improved, but inter-anchor communication scalability is restricted
Solution Approach 1:
The user device serves as a mediator that enables scalable anchor deployment. Anchors can maintain their optimal directional positioning towards user devices for ranging performance, while the user device relays communication between anchors, allowing the system to scale to larger deployments without requiring anchors to change their directional orientation.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A
Figure 2B
AI summary
A processing circuit of an ultra-wideband (UWB) system communicates in contention-based ranging (CBR) with UWB anchors to transmit a time stamp. The time stamp facilitates determination of distance between the UWB system and each of the UWB anchors. Upon transmission of the time stamp, the UWB system receives details associated with a distance between the UWB system and a corresponding UWB anchor that transmits the distance. The UWB system generates payloads to relay the distance in combination with an updated time stamp indicating a time of generation of the payloads to another UWB anchor. The payloads facilitate in multi-lateration of the UWB system.