Wi-Fi Sensing Using Position Data to Filter Channel Measurements

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Solution Overview

Problem

Wi-Fi sensing systems face challenges in accurately detecting changes in wireless communication environments due to the lack of relative position information between participating stations, leading to false alarms and reduced reliability.

Innovation Solution

The use of position information, obtained through protocols like Fine Timing Measurement (FTM) or IEEE 802.11az, to determine the relative positions of stations and selectively process channel estimation measurements, thereby improving the accuracy and reliability of Wi-Fi sensing by distinguishing between environmental changes and station movements.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If Wi-Fi sensing is performed without position information, then the system complexity is low, but the reliability and accuracy of sensing are reduced due to false alarms from station movements

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesensing reliabilityVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Position information acts as an intermediary element that mediates between the Wi-Fi sensing system and the stations. By introducing position data obtained through FTM or 802.11az protocols, the system can distinguish between environmental changes and station movements, thereby improving sensing reliability without requiring fundamental system redesign

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The position information mechanism serves multiple functions: it identifies moving stations, validates channel estimation measurements, and filters false alarms. This multi-functional approach improves sensing reliability while avoiding the need for separate dedicated systems for each function

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Productivity

If channel estimation measurements from all stations are processed, then the quantity of data is sufficient, but the productivity is reduced due to unnecessary data from moving stations

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesensing efficiencyVSAvoiddata quantity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The system extracts and identifies moving stations using position information, then separates them from the set of stations used for sensing. By taking out moving stations from the measurement pool, the system processes only relevant data from stationary stations, improving productivity while maintaining sufficient data quantity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of processing data from all stations, the system selectively processes measurements only from stationary stations identified through position information. This partial action approach avoids the excessive processing of unnecessary data from moving stations, optimizing sensing efficiency

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentEP3971609B1Position information aided wi-fi sensing
Publication Date: 2024.08.14 INTEL CORP
  • EP3971609B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3971609B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3971609B1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3B

AI summary

A wireless communication device for communicating across a wireless communication channel includes a memory storing instructions and one or more processors coupled to the memory to execute the instructions stored in the memory. The instructions are configured to determine a plurality of channel estimation measurements corresponding to a plurality of PPDUs received from an additional wireless communication device; determine a plurality of position measurements using information about the transmission of the plurality of PPDUs, wherein the position measurement is a position of the additional wireless communication device relative to the wireless communication device; select a subset of the plurality of channel estimation measurements based on the plurality of position measurements; and determine a change in a state of the wireless communication channel based on the selected subset of the plurality of channel estimation measurements.