Method and apparatus for measuring location of multiple electronic devices based on time scheduling information in connection with ultra-wide band communication

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11856487-B2
Application number	US-202217749575-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 20, 2022
Priority date	Jun 5, 2019
Publication date	Dec 26, 2023
Grant date	Dec 26, 2023

Abstract

An electronic device includes an ultra-wide band (UWB) communication module; a memory; and a processor operably connected to the UWB communication module and the memory, wherein the processor is configured to receive, through the UWB communication module, a first message from a first external electronic device at a first time slot; store, in the memory, the first message and a receiving time of the first message; receive, through the UWB communication module, a second message from a second external electronic device at a second time slot; store, in the memory, the second message and a receiving time of the second message; identify a time schedule information for transmitting a third message to the first external electronic device and the second external electronic device, the time schedule information including a transmitting time of the third message; obtain first time information regarding a period of time between the receiving time of the first message and the transmitting time of the third message and second time information regarding a period of time between the receiving time of the second message and the transmitting time of the third message; and transmit, through the UWB communication module, the third message including the first time information and the second time information to the first external electronic device and the second external electronic device at a third time slot.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An electronic device comprising:
an ultra-wide band (UWB) communication module;
a memory; and
a processor operably connected to the UWB communication module and the memory, wherein the processor is configured to:
receive, through the UWB communication module, a first message from a first external electronic device at a first time slot;
store, in the memory, the first message and a receiving time of the first message;
receive, through the UWB communication module, a second message from a second external electronic device at a second time slot;
store, in the memory, the second message and a receiving time of the second message;
identify a time schedule information for transmitting a third message to the first external electronic device and the second external electronic device, the time schedule information including a transmitting time of the third message;
obtain first time information regarding a period of time between the receiving time of the first message and the transmitting time of the third message and second time information regarding a period of time between the receiving time of the second message and the transmitting time of the third message; and
transmit, through the UWB communication module, the third message including the first time information and the second time information to the first external electronic device and the second external electronic device at a third time slot.

2. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the time schedule information is received from at least one of the first external electronic device, the second external electronic or a server.

3. The electronic device of claim 2 , wherein the time schedule information includes information regarding a time for each of multiple external electronic devices to transmit a message.

4. The electronic device of claim 2 , wherein the time schedule information is determined based on a number of multiple external electronic devices or based on a location measurement scheme.

5. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
receive, through the UWB communication module, a fourth message including third time information from the first external electronic device at a fourth time slot, the third time information regarding a period of time between a time when the first external electronic device receives the third message and a time at which the first external electronic device transmits the fourth message; and
determine a distance from the first external electronic device based on the third time information.

6. The electronic device of claim 5 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
acquire angle of arrival (AOA) information through multiple antennas, and
identify a relative location of the first external electronic device based on the acquired AOA information and the distance from the first external electronic device.

7. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
receive, through the UWB communication module, a fourth message including third time information from the first external electronic device at a fourth time slot, the third time information regarding a period of time between a time when the first external electronic device receives the third message and a time at which the first external electronic device transmits the fourth message;
determine a distance or a relative angle from the first external electronic device based on the third time information; and
identify a relative location with regard to the first external electronic device.

8. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the second message includes time information regarding a period of time between a time at which the second external electronic device receives the first message from the first external electronic device and a time at which the second external electronic device transmits the second message.

9. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to specify a destination address to receive the third message.

10. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
read information corresponding to the electronic device by analyzing the first message, when the first message has not specified a destination address; and
store, in the memory, the read information and the receiving time of the first message.

11. A method for operating an electronic device, the method comprising:
receiving, through an ultra-wide band (UWB) communication module included in the electronic device, a first message from a first external electronic device at a first time slot;
storing, in a memory included in the electronic device, the first message and a receiving time of the first message;
receiving, through the UWB communication module, a second message from a second external electronic device at a second time slot;
storing, in the memory, the second message and a receiving time of the second message;
identifying a time schedule information for transmitting a third message to the first external electronic device and the second external electronic device, the time schedule information including a transmitting time of the third message;
obtaining first time information regarding a period of time between the receiving time of the first message and the transmitting time of the third message and second time information regarding a period of time between the receiving time of the second message and the transmitting time of the third message; and
transmitting, through the UWB communication module, the third message including the first time information and the second time information to the first external electronic device and the second external electronic device at a third time slot.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the time schedule information is received from at least one of the first external electronic device, the second external electronic or a server.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the time schedule information includes information regarding a time for each of multiple external electronic devices to transmit a message.

14. The method of claim 12 , wherein the time schedule information is determined based on a number of multiple external electronic devices or based on a location measurement scheme.

15. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:
receiving, through the UWB communication module, a fourth message including third time information from the first external electronic device at a fourth time slot, the third time information regarding a period of time between a time when the first external electronic device receives the third message and a time at which the first external electronic device transmits the fourth message; and
determining a distance from the first external electronic device based on the third time information.

16. The method of claim 15 , further comprising:
acquiring angle of arrival (AOA) information through multiple antennas, and
identifying a relative location of the first external electronic device based on the acquired AOA information and the distance from the first external electronic device.

17. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:
receiving, through the UWB communication module, a fourth message including third time information from the first external electronic device at a fourth time slot, the third time information regarding a period of time between a time when the first external electronic device receives the third message and a time at which the first external electronic device transmits the

Assignees

• Samsung Electronics Co Ltd

Inventors

• Yoon Sejong
• Kang Doosuk
• Kang Moonseok
• Kim Hyunchul
• Yang Yi
• Jang Jonghoon

Classifications

• H04W4/029 Primary

  Location-based management or tracking services · CPC title

• G01S5/06

  Position of source determined by co-ordinating a plurality of position lines defined by path-difference measurements (G01S5/12 takes precedence) · CPC title

• H04B1/7163 Primary

  using impulse radio · CPC title

• H04W64/00 Primary

  Locating users or terminals {or network equipment} for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management · CPC title

• H04B2201/71634

  Applied to ranging · CPC title