Higher accuracy secure phase-based ranging and direction finding

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2023156423-A1
Application number	US-202117527104-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Nov 15, 2021
Priority date	Nov 15, 2021
Publication date	May 18, 2023
Grant date	—

Abstract

A system and method for improving the accuracy of a secure phase-based ranging procedure and a Direction Finding procedure. The method includes receiving radio frequency signals from a second communication device. The method includes operating in a first mode including generating first location data based on the radio frequency signals and, transferring the first location data to a second processor in compliance with a Bluetooth Host Control Interface. The method includes comparing one or more conditions to one or more threshold values and responsive to the comparing transitioning from operating in the first mode to operating in a second mode. The method includes, while operating the second mode, generating second location data based on the radio frequency signals and, transferring the second location data to the second processor at a higher data transfer rate than the transferring of the first location data to the second processor.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A method of a first communication device, comprising:
receiving radio frequency signals from a second communication device; operating in a first mode including generating first location data based on the radio frequency signals and, using a first processor, transferring the first location data to a second processor in compliance with a Bluetooth Host Control Interface; using the first processor, comparing one or more conditions to one or more threshold values and responsive to the comparing transitioning from operating in the first mode to operating in a second mode; and while operating the second mode, generating second location data based on the radio frequency signals, and using the first processor, transferring the second location data to the second processor at a higher data transfer rate than the transferring of the first location data to the second processor.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the comparing the one or more conditions comprises at least one of comparing a value indicative of a distance, comparing a value indicative of a battery power level, and comparing a value indicative of signal quality.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the generating the first location data comprises sampling the radio frequency signals at a first sample rate and the generating the second location data comprises sampling the radio frequency signals at a second sample rate, wherein the second sample rate is greater that the first sample rate.

4 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the first sample rate is 1 megahertz (MHz).

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the first location data comprises time and phase data values, and the second location data comprises in-phase and quadrature phase (I/Q) data.

6 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
transferring the first location data over a first data path and transferring the second location data over a second data path, wherein the first data path has a maximum data transfer rate that is lower than that of the second data path.

7 . The method of claim 6 , wherein the transferring the second location data to the second processor includes transferring the second location data to a portion of a memory that is shared by the first process and the second processor.

8 . The method of claim 7 , further comprising:
sending a message to the second processor to cause the second processor to retrieve the second location data from the portion of the memory.

9 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
using the second processor, executing at least one of a phase-based ranging algorithm and a direction finding algorithm to generate one or more location measurement values associated with the second communication device.

10 . A communication device, comprising:
a radio frequency (RF) modem configured to:
receive radio frequency signals from a second communication device; and
a first processor configured to:
operate in a first mode to transfer the first location data to a second processor in compliance with a Bluetooth Host Control Interface, wherein the first location data is based on the radio frequency signals;
compare one or more conditions to one or more threshold values; and
transition, responsive to the comparing, from operating in the first mode to operating in a second mode; and
while operating in the second mode, transfer the second location data to the second processor at a higher data transfer rate than the transferring of the first location data to the second processor, wherein the second location data is based on the radio frequency signals.

11 . The communication device of claim 10 , wherein the first processor further configured to at least one of:
compare a value indicative of a distance, compare a value indicative of a battery power level, and compare a value indicative of signal quality.

12 . The communication device of claim 10 , wherein the RF modem further configured to:
sample the radio frequency signals at a first sample rate to generate the first location data; and sample the radio frequency signals at a second sample rate to generate the second location data, wherein the second sample rate is greater that the first sample rate.

13 . The communication device of claim 12 , wherein the first sample rate is 1 megahertz (MHz).

14 . The communication device of claim 10 , wherein the first processor is configured to generate the first location data, the first location data comprising time and phase data values, and wherein RF modem is configured to generate the second location data, the second location data comprising in-phase and quadrature phase (I/Q) data.

15 . The communication device of claim 10 , wherein the first processor further configured to:
transfer the first location data over a first data path; and transfer the second location data over a second data path.

16 . The communication device of claim 15 , wherein the first data path has a maximum data transfer rate that is lower than that of the second data path.

17 . The communication device of claim 15 , wherein the first processor further configured to:
transfer the second location data to a portion of a memory that is shared with the second processor.

18 . The communication device of claim 17 , wherein the first processor further configured to:
send a message to the second processor to cause the second processor to retrieve the second location data from the portion of the memory.

19 . The communication device of claim 10 , further comprising the second processor, wherein the second processor is configured to:
execute at least one of a phase-based ranging algorithm and a direction finding algorithm to generate one or more location measurement values associated with the second communication device.

20 . A system, comprising:
a first processor and a second processor; a first data path and a second data path, each coupled between the first processor and the second processor; and a radio frequency (RF) modem coupled to the first processor, wherein the RF modem configured to:
receive radio frequency signals;
wherein the first processor configured to:
operate in a first mode to transfer the first location data to the second processor via the first data path, the first location data based on the radio frequency signals;
compare one or more conditions to one or more threshold values; and
transition, responsive to the comparing, from operating in the first mode to operating in a second mode; and
while operating in the second mode, transfer the second location data to the second processor via the second data path, the second location data based on the radio frequency signals.

Assignees

• Cypress Semiconductor Corp

Inventors

• Simileysky Victor
• Uln Kiran
• Wihardja James
• Zand Pouria

Classifications

• Y02D30/70

  in wireless communication networks · CPC title

• G01S5/10

  Position of receiver fixed by co-ordinating a plurality of position lines defined by path-difference measurements {, e.g. omega or decca systems}(G01S5/12 takes precedence {; beacons and receivers cooperating therewith G01S1/306, G01S1/308}) · CPC title

• H04W4/80 Primary

  Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication · CPC title

• G01S5/0221

  Receivers · CPC title

• H04W4/023 Primary

  using mutual or relative location information between multiple location based services [LBS] targets or of distance thresholds · CPC title