Wireless Sounding Signal Measurements for Standard Protocol Sensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wireless sensing technologies lack an efficient and effective method for wireless sensing measurement and reporting, particularly in the context of IoT applications, where understanding wireless signal interactions with human activities is crucial for smart IoT applications, but technical standards like IEEE 802.11bf have not yet standardized these processes.
Innovation Solution
A system and method for wireless sensing measurement and reporting involving a transmitter and receiver in a wireless data communication network, utilizing a time series of wireless sounding signals to perform sensing measurements, with results reported through the PHY or MAC layer to higher layers for task execution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If wireless sensing measurement and reporting methods are implemented without standardized protocols, then sensing functionality can be explored and developed, but system reliability and interoperability deteriorate due to lack of standardization
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements wireless sensing functionality within existing wireless communication protocols (such as WiFi), enabling the same protocol to serve both communication and sensing purposes. This universal approach allows sensing operations to be performed without requiring separate dedicated infrastructure, thereby improving adaptability while maintaining compatibility with existing standards.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs channel sounding measurements during the normal wireless communication process, extracting sensing information from the existing signal transmissions. By conducting measurements preliminarily within the communication framework rather than requiring separate measurement phases, the system achieves reliable sensing without disrupting standard communication operations.
2Device complexity
If existing wireless communication protocols are used for sensing, then device complexity is reduced by leveraging existing infrastructure, but measurement precision deteriorates due to lack of dedicated sensing optimization
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts sensing measurement capabilities from the wireless communication protocol itself, utilizing existing protocol elements (such as channel state information and signal characteristics) to derive sensing data. This extraction approach maintains simplicity by avoiding additional hardware while achieving meaningful sensing precision through intelligent signal processing of existing communication signals.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces signal processing algorithms as intermediaries that bridge the gap between basic communication signals and sensing applications. These algorithms process existing communication signals to extract precise sensing information, thereby maintaining low device complexity while achieving high measurement precision through software-based enhancement rather than hardware additions.
3Measurement precision
If wireless sounding signals are transmitted continuously for sensing measurements, then measurement precision is improved through sufficient data collection, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs periodic channel sounding measurements rather than continuous transmission, scheduling sensing measurements at specific intervals during normal communication operations. This periodic approach ensures sufficient data collection for precise sensing while significantly reducing energy consumption compared to continuous operation, as measurements are conducted only when necessary and leverage existing communication signal transmissions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes existing communication signal transmissions to serve dual purposes: both data communication and sensing measurements. By making the communication system multi-functional, the system avoids the need for separate dedicated sensing transmissions, thereby reducing additional energy consumption while maintaining measurement precision through the extraction of sensing information from the communication signals themselves.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods, apparatus and systems for wireless sensing are described. In one example, a described system in a wireless data communication network comprises: a transmitter configured to transmit a time series of at least one wireless sounding signal (WSS) based on a standard wireless network protocol associated with the wireless data communication network, and a receiver. The wireless data communication network comprises a physical (PHY) layer, a medium access control (MAC) layer, and at least one higher layer. The receiver is configured to: receive the time series of at least one WSS (TSWSS) based on the standard wireless network protocol through a wireless channel of a venue, and perform a plurality of wireless sensing measurements based on the received TSWSS to obtain sensing measurement results based on the standard wireless network protocol. The PHY layer or the MAC layer of the receiver provides the sensing measurement results locally to the at least one higher layer of the receiver based on the standard wireless network protocol. The sensing measurement results are available to the at least one higher layer of the receiver for performing a sensing-based task based on the sensing measurement results.