Signaling techniques using fragmented and multi-partitioned UWB packets

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12015916-B2
Application number	US-202117453165-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 1, 2021
Priority date	Nov 2, 2020
Publication date	Jun 18, 2024
Grant date	Jun 18, 2024

Abstract

Techniques are provided for utilizing a hybrid of ultra-wideband (UWB) and narrowband (NB) signaling to provide more efficient operating range and operating efficiency. In one example, a first device may transmit a first packet via an NB signal to a second device, whereby the first packet comprises information indicating to the second device a time period for reception of a second (UWB) packet. In this example, the second packet may comprise a first partition and a second partition, whereby the first partition comprises a first plurality of fragments and the second partition comprising a second plurality of fragments. The respective fragments of each plurality of fragments may be transmitted via a UWB signal. The first device may then transmit the first plurality of fragments, and then subsequently transmit the second plurality of fragments to the second device, the first and second pluralities respectively being associated with different fragment types.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A computer-implemented method, comprising:
transmitting, by a first device, a first packet via a narrowband (NB) signal to a second device, the first packet comprising information indicating to the second device a time period for reception of a second packet, the second packet comprising a first partition and a second partition, the first partition comprising a first plurality of fragments and the second partition comprising a second plurality of fragments, and respective fragments of each of the first and second plurality of fragments being transmitted via an ultra-wideband signal;
transmitting, by the first device, the first plurality of fragments to the second device via the ultra-wideband signal, the respective fragments of the first plurality of fragments being associated with a first fragment type; and
transmitting, by the first device, the second plurality of fragments to the second device via the ultra-wideband signal, the respective fragments of the second plurality of fragments being associated with a second fragment type.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the first partition is associated with a Channel Impulse Response (CTR) estimation and a first propagation path extraction, and the second partition is associated with a secure validation of the first propagation path extraction.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the first fragment type of the first plurality of fragments corresponds to a periodic sequence, and wherein the second fragment type corresponds to a pseudo-random sequence.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein a first number of the first plurality of fragments and a second number of the second plurality of fragments is a different number.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the second device authenticates a first propagation path extraction based at least in part on the second plurality of fragments.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the first packet comprises a security parameter that indicates a pseudo-random sequence secure key that is shared between only the first device and the second device, and wherein the second device authenticates a first propagation path extraction based at least in part on the security parameter.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 ,
wherein the second packet is associated with a first ranging round, and wherein second packet is one of a sequence of packets that are respectively partitioned to include multiple partitions.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 7 , wherein the second packet is further partitioned to include a third plurality of fragments that is collectively associated with a data payload.

9. A first device, comprising:
a memory configured to store computer-executable instructions; and
one or more processors in communication with the memory and configured to access the memory and execute the computer-executable instructions to, at least:
transmit a first packet via a narrowband (NB) signal to a second device, the first packet comprising information indicating to the second device a time period for reception of a second packet, the second packet comprising a first partition and a second partition, the first partition comprising a first plurality of fragments and the second partition comprising a second plurality of fragments, and respective fragments of each of the first and second plurality of fragments being transmitted via an ultra-wideband signal;
transmit the first plurality of fragments to the second device via the ultra-wideband signal, the respective fragments of the first plurality of fragments being associated with a first fragment type; and
transmit the second plurality of fragments to the second device via the ultra-wideband signal, the respective fragments of the second plurality of fragments being associated with a second fragment type.

10. The first device of claim 9 , wherein the first partition is associated with a Channel Impulse Response (CIR) estimation and a first propagation path extraction, and the second partition is associated with a secure validation of the first propagation path extraction.

11. The first device of claim 9 , wherein the first fragment type of the first plurality of fragments corresponds to a periodic sequence, and wherein the second fragment type corresponds to a pseudo-random sequence.

12. The first device of claim 9 , wherein the second packet is associated with a first ranging round, and wherein second packet is one of a sequence of packets that are respectively partitioned to include multiple partitions.

13. The first device of claim 12 , wherein the second packet is further partitioned to include a third plurality of fragments that is collectively associated with a data payload.

14. The first device of claim 13 , wherein the data payload comprises audio data or video data.

15. The first device of claim 9 , wherein the first partition is associated with a Channel Impulse Response (CIR) estimation and the second partition is associated a data payload.

16. One or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media comprising computer-executable instructions that, when executed by one or more processors of a first device, cause the one or more processors to perform operations comprising:
transmitting a first packet via a narrowband (NB) signal to a second device, the first packet comprising information indicating to the second device a time period for reception of a second packet, the second packet comprising a first partition and a second partition, the first partition comprising a first plurality of fragments and the second partition comprising a second plurality of fragments, and respective fragments of each of the first and second plurality of fragments being transmitted via an ultra-wideband signal;
transmitting the first plurality of fragments to the second device via the ultra-wideband signal, the respective fragments of the first plurality of fragments being associated with a first fragment type; and
transmitting the second plurality of fragments to the second device via the ultra-wideband signal, the respective fragments of the second plurality of fragments being associated with a second fragment type.

17. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media of claim 16 , wherein the first partition is associated with a Channel Impulse Response (CIR) estimation and a first propagation path extraction, and the second partition is associated with a secure validation of the first propagation path extraction.

18. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media of claim 16 , wherein the fragment type of the first plurality of fragments corresponds to a periodic sequence, and wherein the second fragment type corresponds to a pseudo-random sequence.

19. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media of claim 16 , wherein the first packet comprises a security parameter that indicates a pseudo-random sequence secure key that is shared between only the first device and the second device, and wherein the second device authenticates a first propagation path extraction based at least in part on the security parameter.

20. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media of claim 16 , wherein the second packet further partitioned to include a third plurality of fragments that is collectively associated with a data payload.

Assignees

• Apple Inc

Inventors

• Hammerschmidt Joachim S
• Mani Santhoshkumar
• Sasoglu Eren

Classifications

• H01Q5/25

  Ultra-wideband [UWB] systems, e.g. multiple resonance systems; Pulse systems · CPC title

• H04L25/0212 Primary

  of impulse response · CPC title

• H04W12/0431

  Key distribution or pre-distribution; Key agreement · CPC title

• H04W12/0471

  Key exchange · CPC title

• H04L25/0224

  using sounding signals · CPC title