Patent Application
20230354230
The present technology relates to a method and a respective system of UWB-based communication between a mobile device and at least one peer device.
Like bluetooth and Wifi, ultra-wideband (UWB) is a short-range, wireless communication protocol that operates through radio waves. UWB operates at very high frequency—a broad spectrum of Gigahertz frequencies—and can be used to capture highly accurate spatial and directional data. Using UWB it is possible to discover an object's location and communicate with it. When two UWB-enabled devices are near to one another, the devices start “ranging” including to calculate the time-of-flight between the devices, i.e. the round trip time of challenge/response communication packets. The UWB positioning process may instantaneously track the device movement in real-time. Furthermore, using angle-of- arrival (AOA) technology, the real-time accuracy of UWB measurements provides highly precise device location services at the centimeter level. Furthermore, UWB devices may also determine whether an object is stationary, moving closer or moving away. UWB can be used to have a mobile device, such as a smartphone, control an IoT device such as a household appliance or a multimedia system for example.
In a smart home eco system where UWB is used for connecting and controlling a smart device (e.g. IoT (Internet of Things)) by a smart device such as a phone, there are fundamental challenges that may make it very difficult to scale and provide a working system. One of the challenges is related to synchronizing the mobile device, such as a smartphone, with one or more smart devices (for example IoT devices) and keep the synchronization. Another challenge is how to make sure that the power consumption of the devices is kept low while the synchronization is maintained. A further challenge is how to control a specific device in an environment that has many devices next to each other.
Thus, there may a need for a method and a respective system of UWB-based communication between a mobile device and at least one smart device, wherein at least one of the aforementioned problems is reduced or even avoided.
This need may be satisfied by the subject-matter of the independent claims. The dependent claims specify particular embodiments of the present invention.
Embodiments of the present technology may provide a high scalable solution that may allow supporting high number of IoT devices in for example a home environment. Furthermore, embodiments may allow multiple peer devices, e.g. smart devices, such as smartphones, to connect to the full IoT devices in the UWB range. Embodiments may dynamically manage the ranging mode from the low power synchronization to full power ranging with data transfer within the same session. Further, embodiments of the present technology may enable the low power mode for the device that have limited power supply to participate to the network.
According to an embodiment it is provided a method of UWB-based communication between a mobile device, in particular hand carried device, and at least one peer device, the method comprising while the mobile device is in an idle mode: a synchronizing step including that the mobile device sends at least one synchronization message without performing full ranging cycle; the peer device receiving the synchronization message; and the peer device synchronizing with the mobile device based on the received synchronization message; the method comprising while the mobile device is in a non-idle mode: the mobile device starting a UWB-based ranging cycle, in particular DS-TWR session, with the synchronized peer device, in order to control the smart-device via the mobile device.
The mobile device may for example comprise or include a laptop computer, a tablet and/or a smartphone or general cellular phone. The peer device may comprise for example a home appliance or a multimedia device or any household device, for example set up in a home environment. The method may support simultaneously UWB-based communications between plural mobile devices and plural peer devices. For example, one mobile device may connect to between five and fifty peer devices. One peer device may for example connect to between one and ten mobile devices for example.
The idle mode may comprise that the mobile device is locked such that a user cannot immediately provide input to the mobile device. The mobile device may be needed to get unlocked, in order to allow the user to enter some input. The idle mode in particular may include that the display screen over which the user can also provide input, is off or is locked. When the mobile device is in the idle mode, the peer device cannot immediately be controlled by the user via the mobile device.
UWB-based communication requires a synchronization step between the mobile device and the peer device, in order to appropriately apply “ranging”, in order to establish the distance and also angular positions of the two communicating devices. In a typical use case supported by embodiments, the mobile device which is UWB enabled points towards the UWB-enabled peer device, such as a home device, for example a speaker, a television, a light bulb or thermostat. The mobile device may then detect exactly what peer device is being pointed at and may then automatically open up a relevant control panel on the display of the mobile device, such as a smartphone display. The display of the mobile device may then be utilized by a user to turn on the peer device, such as to turn on the TV or turn it off, to select the colour and/or brightness of a smart light bulb, change the radio station, or adjust the volume of a speaker, turn up the thermostat or seamlessly cast video and audio from the mobile device to a television or speaker.
Embodiments may also be enable that the mobile device may pull up additional information from the peer device, such as song lyrics, further recommendations and other new ways of engagement. Embodiments may allow that the mobile device perceives signals from one or more peer devices in its surroundings and controls the peer devices when the mobile device points towards them. The mobile device as well as the peer device, such as a home device, may include a built-in UWB chip set and antennas, in order to support UWB technology or communication. Embodiments may support ranging methods of IEEE 802.15.8, e.g. SS-TWR, DS-TWR.
Double-sided two way ranging (DS-TWR) refers to a ranging method that uses two delays that naturally occur in signal transmission to determine the range between the two communicating devices. Thereby, the signal propagation delay between the two devices is considered as well as processing delay of acknowledgements within the respective devices. In DS-TWR there may be two types of messages, i.e. Poll, response, Final and report message which exchange between the two devices. The distance may then be estimated by the time-of-flight (ToF) between the two devices. The ranging cycle may alternatively comprise Single-sided two way ranging (SS-TWR).
The synchronizing step may include communication in the radio frequency range or optionally for example in a bluetooth frequency range. The synchronization step does not perform full Ranging cylce, since accurate determinations of the distance and also angle may not be required for synchronization. Thereby, power consumption may be reduced. The synchronization message may include information of the local time of the mobile device. The peer device may set its clock depending on the received synchronization message. Thereby, both devices, i.e. the mobile device and the peer device, are synchronized and may be kept synchronized over time which may for example involve that the mobile device continuous to send synchronization messages for example in a regular manner and the peer device receiving the respective synchronization messages and synchronizing based on the received synchronization messages over time.
The mobile device may then be set into a non-idle mode. The non-idle mode may for example include that an input screen is unlocked and thus is enabled to receive input from a user. The user may for example intend to control the peer device via the mobile device, for example to set a volume of an audio device or switch on a home appliance for example. For this purpose, a UWB-based DS-TWR session is started, thereby utilizing the synchronization which has been established previously. Since for synchronization, not the (full) DS-TWR session was applied or performed, both, the mobile device and also the peer device had reduced power consumption. The synchronization step may be preceded by a pre- synchronization step for example using bluetooth low energy communication technology. This will be described in an embodiment below.
The synchronization step may be accurate enough in order to synchronize the two devices for performing ranging using UWB-based communication.
According to an embodiment the synchronization step comprises transmitting subsequent UWB-based RCM messages from the mobile device to the peer device without transmitting any other messages in between, wherein the RCM messages include information that a standard ranging round should not be performed.
An RCM message is a ranging control message used during ranging. The RCM message is only one message of an entire set of messages which are exchanged in a multicast DS-TWR session. Usually, a standard ranging round is started by an RCM message. However, according to an embodiment the RCM message serving as a synchronization message includes the information that a standard ranging round should not be performed. This information is received by the peer device which therefore adapts its communication behaviour accordingly. For example, the peer device does not expect a poll message from the mobile device for example. Also the peer device does not send a response. Thereby, power consumption may be reduced.
According to an embodiment the subsequent RCM messages are transmitted at regular points in time, in order to keep the peer device synchronized with the mobile device.
The subsequent RCM messages enable the two devices to keep an accurate synchronization, even if the relative positioning of the mobile device and the peer device changes over time. The method may be performed while the distance between the mobile device and the peer device is within a permissible range, such as between 1 m and 10 m for example. Other values are possible.
According to an embodiment the method further comprises indicating at the mobile device and at the peer device that both devices are synchronized.
For example, at the mobile device and/or the peer device, a light, such as an LED light, may be illuminated or an indication may be given on a display screen of the respective device. A user may then recognize, that for example controlling the respective peer device is possible, for example by entering some input on an unlocked user screen.
According to an embodiment the mobile device enters a deep power saving mode, after the mobile device having transmitted the synchronization message, wherein the peer device enters a power saving mode, after the peer device having received the synchronization message.
When the mobile device and/or the peer device enter a power saving mode, power consumption may be reduced. The devices may have several power modes, such as an active mode, a deep power down (DPD) mode in which they consume microampere range current and a high power down mode, where they consume nanoampere current range for example.
According to an embodiment the peer device comprises an IoT device, wherein the mobile device comprises a smart phone. The IoT device may be any house appliance or home appliance, such as a TV, a radio, a washing machine, a light bulb, a lamp or any other device which is capable for UWB communication. The mobile device may also in other embodiments include a laptop or a tablet for example. Thereby, multiple different devices are supported by embodiments of the present technology.
According to an embodiment the idle mode of the mobile device comprises a user interaction screen being inactive. The idle mode may be released when the user presses a particular button. Then, the user interaction screen may be active, in order to enable the user to control the peer device via the mobile device.
According to an embodiment the DS-TWR session is started, while the mobile device is non-idle and the mobile device is pointing to the smart-device within a defined angle range and within a defined distance range.
During the DS-TWR session, the user may be enabled to control the peer device and/or to receive configuration or operating information from the peer device. Whether the peer device is within the defined angle range and/or the defined distance range may be determined by evaluating information obtained during the DS-TWR session including ranging information. Thereby, effective control of the peer device is enabled, while power consumption is reduced.
According to an embodiment Ranging cylce comprises: the mobile device transmitting at least one of: a RCM, a Poll-message, a Final-message, and a Final Data-message; the peer device transmitting at least one of: a response after a poll-message by the mobile device, a report-message, a RCR-message, a RIUM-message. Thereby, the conventional DS-TWR communication is supported.
According to an embodiment the transmission is in a SP1-frame or SP0-frame, wherein at least one transmission frame is extended, in order to accompany application data. The SP0, SP1 frames specify particular data frames, for example related to the RCM message and/or the Poll-message or the response message. The application data may for example include.
According to an embodiment the method comprises for initial synchronization during the synchronization step: the peer device sending advertisement messages using bluetooth-based transmission; the mobile device receiving at least one of the advertisement messages and connecting to the peer device via a bluetooth-based protocol; and the mobile device establishing a bluetooth-based synchronization with the peer device.
The specified initial synchronization may also be referred to as a pre-synchronization step. Therein, a different technology, namely bluetooth, is utilized in order to enable a rough synchronization. The synchronization achievable by the bluetooth-based communication may be not as accurate as the synchronization as achieved by using the UWB-communication. However, a rough synchronization may be provided, enabling to quickly achieve an accurate synchronization via the UWB-based communication later on.
According to an embodiment the bluetooth-based protocol comprises a BLE-protocol, wherein the bluetooth-based synchronization between the mobile device and the peer device has a timing-error being less than 5 ms. The bluetooth low energy protocol may also contribute for saving power.
According to an embodiment the method further comprises at least one other the peer device receiving the synchronization message; and the at least one other peer device synchronizing with the mobile device based on the received synchronization message; the method comprising while the mobile device is in a non-idle mode: the mobile device starting a UWB-based (multicast) DS-TWR session with the synchronized at least one other peer device, in order to control the at least one other smart-device via the mobile device. Thereby, the mobile device may connect to two or more peer devices. Furthermore, later on, the mobile device may also control the two peer devices using UWB-based (multicast) DS-TWR.
According to an embodiment the method further comprises at least one other mobile device transmitting at least one other synchronization message without performing full Ranging cylce; at least one peer device receiving the other synchronization message; and the peer device synchronizing with the other mobile device based on the received other synchronization message; the method comprising while the other mobile device is in a non-idle mode: the other mobile device starting a UWB-based (multicast) DS-TWR session with the synchronized peer device, in order to control the smart-device via the other mobile device. Thereby, plural mobile devices may be connected to one peer device or even plural peer devices. Thereby, flexibility is improved.
It should be understood, that features, individually or in any combination, disclosed, described, explained or applied to a method of UWB-based communication between a mobile device and at least one peer device is also applicable, individually or in any combination, to a system of UWB-based communication according to an embodiment and vice versa.
According to an embodiment it is provided a system of UWB-based communication, comprising at least one mobile device; and at least one peer device, wherein the at least one mobile device and the at least one peer device are configured to carry out a method according to one of the preceding embodiments. The system may further comprise at least one other mobile device and at least one other peer device.
Embodiments of the present technology are now described referring to the figures. The invention is not restricted to the illustrated or described embodiments.
It should be understood that features or units in the different figures which are similar or same in structure and/or function are labelled with reference signs which differ only in the first digit. A description of one element or structure not described with reference to a particular figure may be taken from the respective description according to another embodiment or figure.
The system 100 of UWB-based communication according to an embodiment of the present technology comprises at least one mobile device 101 and at least one peer device, such as smart device 102 which are both UWB-enabled. The mobile device 101 comprises a UWB controller 103 as well as a host 104. The mobile device 101 further comprises a BLE unit 105 which is enabled to perform bluetooth low energy communications. The smart device 102 comprises a UWB controller 106 as well as a host 107 and a BLE unit 108.
In the embodiment illustrated in
In particular, the smart device 102 may permanently send advertisement messages 112 at the BLE-link. The mobile device 101 which receives one of the advertisement messages 112 will then connect to the smart device 102, since it may send scan messages 114. The advertisement messages 112 are received at the BLE unit 105 and transmitted in response messages 115 to the host unit 104. The host unit 104 then starts a session via the BLE layer 105 (see message 116).
During the third and fourth phase 111, the mobile device may initiate first and then start a multicast DS-TWR session, in particular as soon as a single smart device is found at a defined time interval. Therein, the third and fourth phase 111 comprises a portion 117 to exchange session ID, to configure and to range, before performing a multicast DS-TWR session 126.
The smart device 102 may continuously search for additional mobile devices which may allow for multiple users to connect to the same smart device 102.
The mobile device 201 may start multicast DS-TWR session, as soon as a single smart device is found at a defined time base. The block duration may be 1000 ms, the fixed slot alignment as aligned in the BLE establishment phase along with adding and removing devices may be applied. The smart device 202a,b,c may then synchronize on the multicast session. During the ranging cycle, in particular DS-TWR multicast, the RCM message 218 may be sent by the mobile device 201. Then, a Poll-message 219 may be sent by the mobile device 201. The smart device 202a may transmit a response message 220a which may be received by the mobile device 201. Other response messages 220b, 220c may be transmitted by the other smart devices 202b, 202c. The mobile device 201 may transmit a Final-message 221 to the smart device 202c and may then transmit a Final Data-message 222 to the smart device 202c.
During a reporting phase 223, the different smart devices 202a, 202b, 202c may transmit report messages 224a,b,c to the mobile device 201. Further, the smart device 202c may transmit a RCR-message 225 which is received at the mobile device 201. The mobile device 201 may transmit a RIUM-message 226, in particular including information how to control the respective smart device 202c.
The system 300 schematically illustrated in
The system 400 schematically illustrated in
When the mobile device 401 is in a non-idle mode, i.e. in particular when the display of the mobile device 401 is turned on and also pointing to the particular smart device 402c, a UWB-based DS-TWR session may be established the third and fourth phase 411. The DS- TWR session includes sending a Poll-message 419 from the mobile device 401 to the smart device 402c. The smart device 402c responds with a response message 420c. Later on, the mobile device 401 transmits a Final-message 421 and then a Final Data-message 422 which is received by the smart device 402c.
In particular, when the mobile device 401 is in display off mode, the mobile device sends (during second phase 410) a blink (418) only instead of a full DS-TWR. The blink or synchronization message 418 may be the RCM message of the multicast DS-TWR with an indicator bit that the remaining of the ranging round shall not be processed.
Only when the mobile device is activated (i.e. the display is turned on), a full ranging session is started with the smart device 402 during the phases 411, i.e. the third/fourth phase.
The system 500 schematically illustrated in
During UWB data transfer, collision management may be managed based on adaptive hopping scheme. A session may be unique via its ID. Session parameters may include all required settings, such as PHY settings, MAC settings and the like. When the session is started, the controllee may start sending application date via dedicated data-packets. Data transfer and ranging sessions may be built up on top of the UWB communication scheme. Thereby, the UWB communication scheme is based on a strictly time multiplexed approach to optimize power consumption. The communication scheme is organized in blocks of typical size of 50-100 ms. Thereby, blocks are segmented into rounds. In a block, the actual rounds take place where UWB communication happens. Typically for a duration of 5-10 ms, the rounds themselves are segmented into slots. The round uses slots for example of 1 ms where the actual transmission is performed.
In this specification, embodiments have been presented in terms of a selected set of details. However, a person of ordinary skill in the art would understand that many other embodiments may be practiced which include a different selected set of these details. It is intended that the following claims cover all possible embodiments.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 22171130.2 | May 2022 | EP | regional |
