CN103038663B - Equipment for measurement of round trip time - Google Patents

Abstract

Facilitate the facility of location to the station (STA) in the network of such as short-range wireless networking etc.The request measuring related communication is provided and automated tos respond to.This facility can include radio and medium education (MAC) section.MAC section can receive this request and be immediately generated this after the homogeneous period and automated to respond to, and is homogeneous between this homogeneous period this type of facility any in this network.This facility only performs this generation automated toed respond to, although this response can include (x, y) additional information of coordinate etc of such as this facility.

Description

Equipment for measurement of round trip time

Background

1. background field

The aspects of the disclosure relates generally to wireless communication system, and particularly relates to by using dedicated network facility to promote The accurately measurement of paired two-way time (RTT) carries out position for movement station and determines.

2. background context

Mobile communications network is providing the day by day complicated ability being associated with location positioning.The most for example with individual The new software application of relevant those of people's productivity ratio, cooperative communication, social networking and data capture etc can use Positional information provides new feature and service to client.Rule in addition to sizable business potential, in some jurisdiction Zhang Yaoqiu may require Virtual network operator movement station to emergency services dial-out call the 911 of the such as U.S. (calling) time report should The position of movement station.

Conventionally, digital cellular location technology, global position system (SPS) and similar techniques has been used to provide Position determines.In conventional numerical cellular network, position location capability also can be by various times and phase measurement from such as Access point or base station etc. have the point of known location to be provided.Such as, a kind of position used in a cdma network determines does Method is referred to as AFLT method (AFLT).Using AFLT, movement station can be to the pilot tone launched from multiple base stations The phase measurement of signal calculates the position of oneself.

The improvement of AFLT is produced from hybrid position location technology, such as, wherein, except with the connecing of base station signal Receiving beyond the measurement technology being associated, movement station also can use global position system (SPS) receiver.This SPS receiver provides Positional information independent of the information derived from the signal transmitted by these base stations.Positional accuracy can be by using conventional skill The measurement that art combination is derived from SPS and AFLT system improves.

But, rotine positioning location technology based on the signal provided by SPS and cellular basestation is built at movement station Difficulty may be met with when in thing and working in urban environment or in the situation of expectation high accuracy.In this type of situation, letter Number reflection and refraction, multipath and signal attenuation, and the like can significantly reduce positional accuracy, and can make " during locking Between " slow to grow to the unacceptable period.These problems can use from the most for example according to the Wi-Fi of 802.11x The signal derivation positional information of other prior wireless networks of standard etc overcomes.Used in other prior wireless networks Rotine positioning determine that the two-way time (RTT) that technology can use the signal that used in these networks to derive measures.

Short range radio or cordless communication network (such as 802.11 or Wi-Fi network, blueteeth network, and the like) Middle slave station (STA) can be used to via trilateration to the RTT measurement of access point (AP) to determine the position at station or to position it. As understood by those skilled in the art, given the round or center of ball and radius, trilateration is used to determine three circles Region or the common factor of four spheric regions.Such as, being accurately positioned can the efficient distribution of supplemental network resources, location Based service Purchase, and added benefit can be provided.In general networks, AP can be used for location；But, if the use of existing AP has Dry potential challenge.

Although it will be appreciated that 2 dimension location need at least three non-colinear AP, but there is the particular geometric of three non-colinear AP Form is possible and unavailable in existing deployment.Use being accurately positioned of RTT range finding that all AP may be needed to have with low variance Compatible process postpone.But, having the AP for the resource of location that can be competent at completely may be not in all deployment scenario In the most available.Further, the heavy duty on given AP (such as processes large scale memory via direct memory addressing (DMA) Transmission etc) RTT may be caused to turn around temporal variation and thus make Position location accuracy and stability lower one's standard or status.Further Ground, if being used for positioning by the AP disposed, then is likely to occur between location traffic and normal data/control traffic and strives With, thus cause delay or the loss positioning data.Further, location may need to join the software/firmware on AP Put or update and be enable to deliver network geometry form, map URI or other information.But this type of configuration and renewal may It not the most feasible in all deployment scenario.

Use RTT measure technology accurately determine position be usually directed to about radio signal propagation by constitute network Various equipment time the knowledge of time delay that caused by these wireless signals.In practice, when using conventional RTT location technology, Estimate that processing delay time can relate to a large amount of Add-onses, the nothing postponed at STA and AP for characterizing and understand RTT to process Hardware in line AP changes and fingerprint characteristic identification and calibration before the deployment time-consuming to operating environment.

Correspondingly, when use RTT technology carry out position determine time, it may be desirable to avoid the hardware in WAP to change Or avoid notable additional treatments, thus improve location positioning accuracy and performance in cost-effective mode.

General introduction

The exemplary embodiment of the present invention relates to the station facilitated in the wireless network of such as short-range wireless networking etc (STA) special facilities of location and method.Exemplary installation can to measure related communication request (such as from STA for request that two-way time, (RTT) measured) provide and automated to respond to and radio can be included, this RF interface Including with frequency conversion section and the transceiver of medium education (MAC) section being coupled to this RF interface.This facility has and is assigned to Its MAC Address.MAC section is configured to receive the request to measuring related communication, and that establishes in this short-range wireless networking is equal Such as acknowledgement (ACK) (such as, acknowledgement is generated to the request to this measurement related communication received immediately after the scheduled time slot of Frame) etc automated to respond to.This ACK can form this measurement related communication.To response in this homogeneous scheduled time slot and this facility Process be associated and be homogeneous between any facility in this network.Automated to respond to include MAC Address.It is important that It should be noted that in certain embodiments, this facility is configured to only perform this generation automated toed respond to, although this response can include all As positioned the additional information of criterion etc, wherein all (x, y) seats being associated with the position of this facility in this way of these location criterions Mark to or universal resource identifier (URI) or there is the analog of additional location information.Such as, URI can with comprise additional position The resource of information is associated.In other embodiments, this facility can be configured to be generated the request measuring related communication (x, y) coordinate or the universal resource identifier (URI) or have additional position of such as this facility are provided in such as beacon before The information of the analog of information etc.

Brief Description Of Drawings

Provide accompanying drawing with help, the embodiment of the present invention to be described, and provide accompanying drawing to be only used for explaining orally embodiment rather than right It is defined.

Fig. 1 is the diagram of the Illustrative Operating Environment explaining orally with embodiment of the disclosure compatible movement station.

Fig. 2 is the block diagram of the various assemblies explaining orally exemplary mobile station.

Fig. 3 is to explain orally to use WAP to determine the diagram of the example technique of the position of movement station.

Fig. 4 is to explain orally to use determine the sequential of the position of movement station two-way time (RTT) with multiple WAPs Sequential chart.

Fig. 5 is the diagram explaining orally the operating environment for the movement station using exemplary installation.

Fig. 6 is to explain orally to use all facilities to determine the sequential chart of the exemplary sequential of the position of movement station.

Fig. 7 is the block diagram of the various assemblies explaining orally exemplary installation.

Fig. 8 is to explain orally for using facility to facilitate the flow chart of the illustrative methods of location.

Specifically describe

Each aspect of the present invention is disclosed in the following description relating to the specific embodiment of the invention and relevant accompanying drawing.Permissible Design alternative embodiment is without departing from the scope of the present invention.It addition, the well-known element of the present invention will not retouched in detail State and maybe will be omitted in order to avoid falling into oblivion the related details of the present invention.

Wording " exemplary " is used herein to mean that " as example, example or explanation ".Here depicted as " example Property " any embodiment be not necessarily to be construed as advantageous over or surpass other embodiments.Equally, term " embodiments of the invention " is not The all embodiments requiring the present invention all include discussed feature, advantage or mode of operation.

Term used herein is merely for the purpose of description specific embodiment, and is not intended as limiting the reality of the present invention Execute example.As it is used herein, " one ", " certain " and " being somebody's turn to do " of singulative is intended to also include plural form, unless context is another Clearly dictate otherwise.It will also be understood that specify institute old when term " includes ", " having ", " comprising " and/or " containing " are used herein The existence of feature, integer, step, operation, key element and the assembly stated, but it is not precluded from one or more other features, whole The existence of number, step, operation, key element, assembly and its group or interpolation.

Method system described herein depends on that application can realize by various means.Such as, these method bodies System can realize in hardware, firmware, software or its any combination.Hardware is realized, these processing units can at one or More special ICs (ASIC), digital signal processor (DSP), digital signal processor (DSPD), able to programme patrol Volume device (PLD), field programmable gate array (FPGA), processor, controller, microcontroller, microprocessor, electronic device, It is designed to carry out other electronic units or the interior realization of a combination thereof of functions described herein.

Realizing for firmware and/or software, these method systems can be by the module (example performing function described herein As, code, function etc.) realize.Any machine readable media visibly embodying instruction can be used to realize institute herein The method system described.Such as, software code can be stored in memorizer and be performed by processing unit.Memorizer can be by reality Now in processing unit, or outside processing unit.As it is used herein, term " memorizer " refer to any kind of long-term, Short-term, volatibility, non-volatile or other memorizeies, and it is not limited to any certain types of memorizer or certain number of The type of memorizer or memory storage medium thereon.

If realized in firmware and/or software, the most each function can be stored in as the instruction of one or more bars or code On computer-readable medium.Each example includes that being encoded into the computer-readable medium with data structure has calculating with being encoded into The computer-readable medium of machine program.Computer-readable medium can take the form of goods.Computer-readable medium includes physics Computer-readable storage medium.Storage medium can be any usable medium that can be accessed by a computer.Non-limiting as example, this Class computer-readable medium can include that RAM, ROM, EEPROM, CD-ROM or other optical disc storage, disk storage or other magnetic are deposited Storage equipment, maybe can be used to storage instruction or the desirable program code of data structure form and can be accessed by a computer any its His medium；Dish (disk) and dish (disc) include compact disc (CD), laser dish, laser disc, digital versatile as used herein Dish (DVD), floppy disk and blu-ray disc, its mid-game the most magnetically reproduces data, and dish laser optics reproduce data.Above-mentioned Combination also should be included within the scope of computer readable media.

In addition to storage on a computer-readable medium, instruction and/or data can be included in communicator as signal In transmission medium on provide.Such as, communicator can include the transceiver with the signal of indicator and data.These refer to Order and data are configured to make one or more processing unit realize the function outlined in claim.That is, communicator Including having the transmission medium indicating the signal in order to the information performing disclosed function.Institute in the very first time, communicator Including transmission medium can include the Part I that performs the information of disclosed function, and in the second time, communicator Transmission medium included by can include the Part II performing the information of disclosed function.

By brief overview and according to various exemplary embodiments, it is possible to provide exemplary two-way time facility (RTT_ APP), this facility provides the accurate of stand (STA) and quickly location or existing location of auxiliary improvement are measured or estimated.Pass through Being provided with limited number special function and homogeneous process postpones, the many that RTT_APP avoids in problem set forth above is asked Topic, especially with gradually form relevant those problems of a large amount of process needed for the estimation processing delay based on AP.Such as, RTT_APP can be configured in response to the RTT measurement packet oriented to send ACK, and does not has other to process functional being implemented. RT_ APP can be additionally configured to send beacon (if desired) for delivering the information about network.RTT_APP can be all In any one frequency band in multiple frequency bands of for example Wi-Fi 802.11 frequency band or similar frequency band etc or a combination thereof Work.RTT_APP can support that the configuration allowing the delivery of URI is for delivering network geometry form or map.

According to various exemplary embodiments, RTT_APP has little to the size having superiority, low cost and low-power, and Fewer than the hardware and software feature required for generic Access Point.RTT_APP without supporting typical AP feature, such as route, Exchange, bridge joint and similar characteristics and without additional port, such as Ethernet, WAN, USB port or similar port.RTT_ APP is without supporting to enable the required high-level software configuration of different topology, security profile, VLAN and the like.Exemplary RTT_ APP not may allow indoor fixed with the existing infrastructure device disposed by the way of being well adapted to location by replacing or supplementing The deployment of position.Although RTT_APP can send accidental beacon signal, but owing to RTT_APP is mainly configured in response to RTT measures request, therefore can be operation is continued the longest period than conventional AP more efficient way on such as battery supply. Thus, RTT_APP can be disposed in the unavailable part of main supply.As will be described with herein below, RTT_APP can be with The mode previously do not suspected provides above-mentioned and is had superiority and added benefit.

Fig. 1 is the diagram of the Illustrative Operating Environment 100 of STA1108.Embodiments of the invention are for assisting STA1 108 determine the RTT_APP of its position based on measurement two-way time (RTT), and the process wherein introduced by WAP postpones Can be minimized or eliminate.It is associated it will be appreciated that various embodiments solve with the variation processed in delay between diverse access point Inferior position.In addition to processing the static residual quantity on postponing between all access points, these variations also can be due to loading condition and the like Elapse change in time.The residual quantity infringement can being processed in delay due to Position location accuracy, so occurring in that elimination variable process The demand postponed.

Working environment 100 can comprise one or more different types of wireless communication system and wireless location system.? In embodiment shown in Fig. 1, global position system (SPS) 102 is used as the independence of the positional information about STA1108 and comes Source.STA1 108 can include being specifically designed to be the reception signal from SPS satellite for the one of derivation geographical location information Individual or more special SPS receiver (102a, 102b etc.).

It will be appreciated that it is said that in general, SPS can include transmitter system, these transmitters are positioned such that all entity energy Enough it is based at least partially on the signal being received from these transmitters to determine that oneself is on earth or the position of top.Such The usual emitting utensil of machine of penetrating has the signal that repetition pseudo noise (PN) code setting number chip is marked, and can be located at On control station based on ground, subscriber's installation and/or spacecraft.In particular example, this kind of transmitter can be located at ring ground On orbiter aircraft (SV).Such as, such as global positioning system (GPS), Galileo, Glonass or Compass etc. are complete SV in the constellation of ball navigational satellite system (GNSS) can launch use can be with the PN code district launched by other SV in this constellation Separate PN code (such as, uses different PN code or not as in Glonass as in GPS to every satellite Identical code is used on same frequency) signal marked.According to some aspect, technology presented herein is not limited to whole world SPS System (such as, GNSS).Such as, technology presented herein can be applied to or makes it separately in various provincialism systems Middle use, the most for example Japan's quasi-zenith satellite system (QZSS) in overhead, India's provincialism navigation in India overhead is defended Star system (IRNSS), the Big Dipper etc. of Over China, and/or can be with one or more whole world and/or provincialism aeronautical satellite system System be associated or separately can therewith associated with various amplification systems (such as, satellite-based amplification system (SBAS)).Make Non-limiting for example, SBAS can include the amplification system providing integrity information, difference correction etc., such as Wide Area Augmentation System (WAAS), Europe stationary navigation overlay service over the ground (EGNOS), multisatellite amplification system (MSAS), GPS assist type Geo (the most static) amplification navigation or GPS and Geo expand navigation system (GAGAN) and/or similar system.Therefore, as made herein , SPS can include one or more whole world and/or provincialism navigational satellite system and/or any combination of amplification system, And sps signal can include the signal that sps signal, class sps signal and/or one or more SPS of other and this type of are associated.

Operating environment 100 may also include multiple wide area network WAPs (WAN-WAP) of one or more types 104, they can be used for wireless speech and digital communication and come about the independent positional information of STA1 108 as another Source.Generally, each in the WAN-WAP 104a-104c in WWAN can from fixed position operation and provide big city and The network coverage on regional zone.WAN-WAP 104 can be the wireless wide-area of the cellular basestation that can include known position Net (WWAN) and the most for example such as one of other wide area wireless system according to the WiMAX node of 802.16 specifications etc Part.It will be appreciated that this WWAN can include other known network assemblies not shown in FIG. 1 for simplification.

Operating environment 100 may also include local area network wireless access point (LAN-WAP) 106, and it can be used for wireless speech sum According to communication, and can be used as another independent position data source.LAN-WAP 106 can be can operate between floors and The geographic zone less than WWAN performs a part for the wireless lan (wlan) of communication.Such as, this type of LAN-WAP 106 Can be Wi-Fi network, honeycomb piconet and the femto the most such as the network of working specification according to 802.11x etc A part for cellular cell, blueteeth network and similar network.

STA1 108 can any one or a combination thereof from SPS satellite 102, WAN-WAP 104 and LAN-WAP 106 come Derivation positional information.Each in said system can use different techniques to provide independently estimating of the position to STA1108 Meter.In certain embodiments, movement station can be combined each Xie Laiti derived from these different types of access points The accuracy of high position data.But, for realizing the accuracy increased, especially it is likely difficult to the indoor received at satellite-signal In position, dependence based on the location carried out in the signal source close to the proximity of STA1108 or trilateration is directed at more High accuracy potentially possible.

When use SPS 102 derive position time, movement station can use be designed specifically to SPS associated with receiver, should Receiver uses routine techniques from the multiple signal extraction positions launched by SPS satellite 102.Methods and apparatus described herein Can be combined with various global position systems, such as american global positioning system (GPS), Russia's Glonass(GLONASS) be System, Europe Galileo(Galileo) system, any use from the satellite of the combination of satellite system system or any will The satellite system developed.It addition, disclosed method and apparatus can be with the combination using pseudo satellite, pseudolite or satellite and pseudo satellite, pseudolite Positioning determining system be used together.Pseudo satellite, pseudolite be broadcast type be similar to GPS or cdma cellular signal and be modulated at L-band or PN code in the carrier signal of other frequencies or the transmitter based on ground of other ranging codes, this carrier signal can be with GPS Time synchronized.Each such pseudolite transmitter can be assigned the PN code of uniqueness thus permit it and be remotely received machine Mark.Pseudo satellite, pseudolite may be very useful in disabled situation at the gps signal from orbiter, such as in tunnel, ore deposit In well, building, urban canyons or other closed areas.The another kind of realization of pseudo satellite, pseudolite is referred to as radio beacon.As herein Used in term " satellite " be intended to include pseudo satellite, pseudolite, the equivalent of pseudo satellite, pseudolite and there may also be other.Such as institute herein Using, term " sps signal " is intended to include from pseudo satellite, pseudolite or the class sps signal of the equivalence of pseudo satellite, pseudolite.

When from WWAN derivation position, each WAN-WAP 104a-104c can take the shape of the base station in digital cellular network Formula, and STA1 108 can include cellular transceiver and base station signal can be utilized to the processing unit of position of deriving.This type of honeybee Nest network may include but be not limited to the standard according to GSM, CDMA, 2G, 3G, 4G, LTE and the like.Should be understood that digital cellular network Network can include the addition of base station shown in Fig. 1 or other resources.Although WAN-WAP 104 may be actually movably or Otherwise there is the ability that can be relocated, but for explaining orally purpose, it will be assumed that they are substantially arranged at fixing Position on.

STA1 108 can use the most for example the known of AFLT method (AFLT) etc to support Reach time technology to determine to perform position.In some other embodiment, each WAN-WAP104a-104c can take WiMAX without The form of line network base station.In this type of situation, STA1 108 can use arrival time (TOA) technology from by each WAN-WAP 104 signals provided determine the position of oneself.STA1 108 can use TOA technology as the following more detailed description to want Position is determined with the auxiliary of self-support pattern or use location-server 110 and network 112.Note, the enforcement of the disclosure Example includes that making STA1 108 use belongs to different types of each WAN-WAP 104 to determine positional information.Such as, some WAN- WAP 104 can be cellular basestation, and other WAN-WAP can be WiMAX base station.In this type of working environment, STA1 108 Can have the ability to utilize from the signal of each different types of WAN-WAP and be further combined the position solution derived and carry High accuracy.

When use WLAN derives position, STA1 108 can use under the auxiliary of location-server 110 and network 112 Arrival time technology.Location-server 110 can be by network 112 to movement station communication.Network 112 can include including LAN-WAP in The combination of the wired and wireless network of 106.In one embodiment, each LAN-WAP 106a-106e can be the most wireless Access point, it need not be arranged on fixing position and can change position.The position of each LAN-WAP 106a-106e The form of available common coordinate frame is stored in location-server 110.In one embodiment, the position of STA1 108 can lead to Cross the mode making STA1 108 receive from the signal of each LAN-WAP 106a-106e to determine.Each signal can be based on can It is included in the some form of identification information (the most for example, MAC Address) receiving in signal and originates LAN-WAP phase with it Association.STA1 108 can derive each time delay being associated received in signal with categorized sequence subsequently.STA1 108 message that can subsequently form the identification information of each that can include in these time delays and these LAN-WAP, and warp This message is sent to location-server 110 by network 112.Based on the message received, location-server can use subsequently and be stored The position of the related LAN-WAP 106 is to determine the position of STA1 108.Location-server 110 can generate and include pointing to The position configuration of the pointer of movement station position in local coordinate system indicates (LCI) message and this message is supplied to STA1 108.This LCI message may also include other points (POI) interested of the position relative to STA1108.First LCI can be only used as Server 110 is known the result of the nearby MAC Address of LAN-WAP that STA108 can see and is established.Together with this LCI, these Nearby the position of LAN-WAP is given STA 108, STA 108 and these can be used nearby to be derived from LAN-WAP position based on this Oneself position.Alternatively, server 110 can generate the LCI including STA position.It should be noted that the position of STA 108 can be in service Derive at device 110 or at STA 108.When derivation position at STA 108, server 110 provides to be had as described The LCI of LAN-WAP position.When calculating the position of STA1 108, location-server 110 it is contemplated that may be by wireless network The different delays that interior all key elements introduce.

Location determination techniques described herein can be used for such as wireless wide area network (WWAN), wireless lan (wlan), The various cordless communication networks of Wireless Personal Network (WPAN) etc..Term " network " and " system " can be used interchangeably. WWAN can be that CDMA (CDMA) network, time division multiple acess (TDMA) network, frequency division multiple access (FDMA) network, orthogonal frequency are many Location (OFDMA) network, single-carrier frequency division multiple access (SC-FDMA) network, Long Term Evolution (LTE) network, WiMAX(IEEE 802.16) network etc..It is one or more of wireless that cdma network can realize such as cdma2000, wideband CDMA (W-CDMA) etc. It is electrically accessed technology (RAT).Cdma2000 includes IS-95, IS-2000 and IS-856 standard.It is mobile that TDMA network can realize the whole world Communication system (GSM), digital advanced mobile phone system (D-AMPS) or other certain RAT.GSM and W-CDMA is from name Described in document for the alliance of " third generation partnership projects " (3GPP).Cdma2000 is from entitled " third generation partnership projects 2 " described in the document of the alliance of (3GPP2).3GPP and 3GPP2 document is that the public is retrievable.WLAN can be IEEE 802.11x network, and WPAN can be blueteeth network, IEEE 802.15x or other certain type of networks.These technology Can also be used for any combination of WWAN, WLAN and WPAN.

The block diagram of Fig. 2 explains orally exemplary mobile station 200(such as, the STA1 108 of Fig. 1) various assemblies.For simplifying, The various features explained orally in the block diagram of Fig. 2 and function use shared bus to link together, and it is intended to indicate that these are each Color characteristic and function act as land used and are coupled, and no matter concrete coupling device how.In addition to shared bus connects, this area It will be recognized that other connections, mechanism, feature, function or the like can be provided that and on-demand adaptation is to act as Land used coupling and the portable radio machine of configuration reality.It addition, it is also to be recognized that the feature explained orally in the example of Fig. 2 or merit One or more among energy can be segmented further, or among the feature or function explained orally in Fig. 2 two or more Multiple it is combined.

As used herein, movement station (MS) refers to such as following equipment: honeycomb or other Wireless Telecom Equipments, PCS Personal Communications System (PCS) equipment, personal navigation equipment (PND), personal information manager (PIM), personal digital assistant (PDA), laptop devices or be able to receive that other suitable mobile devices of radio communication and/or navigation signal.Term is " mobile Stand " also aim to include such as communicating with personal navigation equipment (PND) by short-distance radio, infrared, wired connection or other connections Equipment no matter satellite signal receiving, assistance data reception and/or position relevant treatment be to occur at this equipment still At PND.And, " movement station " is intended to include can be such as via the Internet, Wi-Fi or other networks and server communication All devices, including Wireless Telecom Equipment, computer, laptop devices etc., connect regardless of satellite signal receiving, assistance data Receive and/or position relevant treatment is to occur at another equipment of being associated at this equipment, at server or with network. Above any exercisable combination is also considered as " movement station ".

Movement station 200 can include one or more wide area network transceiver can being connected with one or more antenna 202 204.Wide area network transceiver 204 can include being suitable for communicating with WAN-WAP 104 and detecting to/from WAN-WAP 104 Signal and the equipment directly communicated with other wireless devices in network, hardware and software.In one aspect, wide area network Transceiver 204 can include being suitable for the cdma communication system that the cdma network with wireless base station communicates.But, in its other party Face, wireless communication system can include different types of cellular telephony, the most for example TDMA or GSM network, or similar Technology.Further, it is possible to use the Wireless networking technologies of any other type, such as according to WiMAX and the class of 802.16 standards Like technology.Movement station 200 may also include one or more local area network transceiver that may be connected to one or more antenna 202 206.Local area network transceiver 204 includes being suitable for communicating with LAN-WAP 106 and detecting to/from LAN-WAP's 106 Signal and the equipment directly communicated with other wireless devices in network, hardware and software.In one aspect, LAN is received Send out machine 206 and can include the such as Wi-Fi being suitable for communicating with one or more WAP according to 802.11x standard Communication system.But in other respects, local area network transceiver 206 can include another type of local area network technology, individual territory network technology (such as blueteeth network) or similar techniques.Further, it is possible to use the Wireless networking technologies of any other type, such as ultra broadband, ZigBee, Wireless USB or similar techniques.

As used herein, LAN-WAP106 and WAN-WAP can be censured in the term " WAP " (WAP) of abbreviation 104.Specifically, in description given below, when term " WAP " is used, it should be appreciated that all embodiments can include can profit Movement station 200 with any combination of signal from multiple LAN-WAP 106, multiple WAN-WAP 104 or both.? The WAP of the particular type used by movement station 200 can be depending on working environment.Moreover, movement station 200 is dynamically respectively Carry out between the WAP of type selecting to draw that position solves accurately.

SPS receiver 208 also is included within movement station 200.SPS receiver 208 can be connected to one or more Individual antenna 202 is to receive satellite-signal.SPS receiver 208 can include any hardware being suitable for receiving and process sps signal And software.SPS receiver 208 in appropriate occasion to other system solicited message and operation, and use by any suitably The measurement that SPS algorithm is obtained is necessary calculation for performing the position for determining movement station 200.

It should be noted that in certain embodiments, relative motion sensor 212 can coupled to processing unit 210 to provide independent In from the motion derived by the signal received by wide area network transceiver 204, local area network transceiver 206 and SPS receiver 208 The relative motion of data and orientation information.

By example but and non-limiting, relative motion sensor 212 can use accelerometer (such as MEMS), gyro The motion detection of instrument, geomagnetic sensor (such as compass), altimeter (such as atmospheric pressure altimeter) and any other type passes Sensor.Additionally, relative motion sensor 212 can include multiple different types of device, and combine its output motion letter being provided Breath.Such as, relative motion sensor can use the combination of multi-axis accelerometer and orientation sensors to provide calculating 2-D and 3-D to sit The ability of the position in mark system.

Processing unit 210 can be coupled to wide area network transceiver 204, local area network transceiver 206, SPS receiver 208 and Relative motion sensor 212.Processing unit can include offer process function and other calculation and control functional one or More microprocessors, microcontroller and digital signal processor.Processing unit 210 may also include or coupled to separately for depositing Storage data and software instruction are for performing functional memorizer 214 by programming in movement station.Memorizer 214 can be with plate Be loaded on processing unit 210 (such as same IC encapsulate in), or memorizer can be the memorizer outside processing unit also Functionally coupled by data/address bus or the like, or internal storage and the combination of external memory storage.Below will more The details of the software functionality that each side with the disclosure discussed in detail is associated.

Several software modules can reside in tables of data in memorizer 214 and used by processing unit 210 and communicate with management With location determine functional both.As explained in Figure 2, memorizer 214 can include and otherwise receive based on wireless Locating module 216, application module 218, receive signal strength indicator (RSSI) module 220, two-way time (RTT) module 222 and relative positioning module (not shown).It should be appreciated that the tissue of memory content is only exemplary as shown in Figure 2 , and thus, the realization that can be depending on movement station 200 differently combines, separately and these modules of structuring and Data structure functional.

Application module 218 can be the process run on the processing unit 210 of movement station 200, and this process is to based on nothing Locating module 216 request position information of line.Alternatively, this positional information autonomously or can applied mould by locating module 216 Continuously, periodically or in a similar manner provide under the control of block 218.Application is (the most all on the upper strata of communication construction model Application layer such as seven layers of open architecture protocol model of OSI(Open Systems Interconnection)) in run, and indoor navigation, partner can be included Companion's localizer, shopping and complimentary ticket, assets are followed the trail of, location-aware formula service discovery, and the like.Based on wireless location mould Block 216 can use from measuring the information derived from the RTT of the signal exchanged with the multiple WAP position to movement station 200 of deriving Put.In order to use RTT technology to accurately determine position, the reasonable estimation to the process time delay introduced by each WAP can It is used to calibration/adjustment and records RTT.Recording RTT to be determined by RTT module 222, RTT module 222 can be measured at movement station Between 200 and WAP, the sequential of the signal of exchange is with derivation RTT information.

Once recording, RTT value just may be passed on determining movement station 200 based on wireless locating module 216 with auxiliary Position.The amplitude of the signal transmitted by WAP can be used to assist the process time to WAP based on wireless locating module 216 Estimation.These amplitudes can determine according to the form of the rssi measurement determined by RSSI module 220.RSSI module 220 can Amplitude and statistical information about these signals is supplied to based on wireless locating module 216.Based on wireless locating module 216 use these RTT measurement the most true based on propagation delay measurement that will be further described below herein and the like Location is put.

Process delay with reduction such as provided by the RTT_APP that institute negotiates peace described such as herein and make it equal not having In the case of one effect being associated, it would be desirable to additional calibration is such as obtained by relative motion sensor 212 or other sections to use The information obtained improves the process time of WAP further.In one embodiment, relative motion sensor 212 can be single to processing Unit 210 directly provides position and orientation data, and these data can be stored in such as memorizer 214.In other embodiments, Relative motion sensor 212 can provide and be processed further with derivation for performing the information of calibration by processing unit 210 Data.Such as, relative motion sensor 212 can provide acceleration and orientation data (single shaft or multiaxis).

This position can be all as in response to ask or be continuously output to application module 218 in a continuous manner.It addition, based on Wireless locating module 216 can use parameter database 224 to carry out swap operation parameter.This type of parameter can include determined by about Various parameters, initial treatment time that WAP position in the process time of each WAP, common coordinate frame is associated with network are estimated Meter, and the like.The details of these parameters will be provided below in following sections.

In other embodiments, these additional informations optionally include aided location and exercise data, and it is except relatively transporting Dynamic sensor 212 is outer also can be determined from other sources of the most for example SPS measurement etc.These assisting position data may Intermittent and be to make an uproar, but depend on the environment that movement station 200 works the most wherein, can advantageously act as estimating Count or confirm the estimation of the location to WAP or for estimating or confirm and the independent information positioning other information being associated Another source.

Although the module shown in Fig. 2 is explained as being comprised in memorizer 214 in this example, it is to be understood that In some implementations, various mechanism can be used to provide or otherwise act as land used and arrange this type of code.Such as, based on nothing The locating module 216 of line and completely or partially can providing in firmware of application module 218.Although it addition, in this example, base Being illustrated as separate feature in wireless locating module 216 and application module 218, it is to be understood that such as, this type of code can It is grouped together as a code or perhaps combined with other codes, or is otherwise further divided into many Individual sub-code.Every kind of configuration in various replacements and/or additional configurations can be held as being used for as described in further herein below The means of the various inventive function of row are included.

Processing unit 210 can include any type of logic being suitable for carrying out technology the most presented herein. Such as, processing unit 210 can be to be acted as land used based on the instruction in memorizer 214 to be configured to optionally initiate to utilize One or more routine of exercise data uses in other parts of movement station.

Movement station 200 can include user interface 250, and the latter provides any suitable interface system, such as allow user with Microphone/speaker 252, keypad 254 and the display 256 that movement station 200 is mutual.Microphone/speaker 252 can use extensively Territory net transceiver 204 and local area network transceiver 206 provide voice communications services.Keypad 254 can include comprising for user's input Any kind of keypad of any appropriate button.Display 256 includes the most for example backlit LCD displays etc Any suitable display, and may also include the touch-screen display for further user input pattern.

As used herein, STA1 108 can be to can be configured to capture from one or more Wireless Telecom Equipment Or the wireless signal of network launches and to one or more Wireless Telecom Equipment or network launches wireless signal any just Take formula or movable equipment or machine.As shown in Figures 1 and 2, movement station represents this type of portable radio machine.Thus, borrow Helping example and non-limiting, STA1 108 can include radio, cellular telephone apparatus, calculating equipment, PCS Personal Communications System (PCS) equipment or other similar be equipped with the movable equipment of radio communication, facility or machine.

As used in this article, term " wireless device " can refer to transmit information on network and also have position true Determine and any kind of Wireless Telecom Equipment of navigation functionalities.Wireless device can be any cellular mobile terminal, Ge Rentong Communication system (PCS) equipment, personal navigation equipment, laptop devices, personal digital assistant or any other be able to receive that and process Network and sps signal are for carrying out the suitable movement station that determines based on wireless position.

Determining based on wireless position to use separate signal source or a combination thereof variously to reach.Real at some In Xian, wireless position determines SPS measurement can be used to perform.Such as, if STA1 108 has just enter into indoor environment, and if This indoor environment not deep fades sps signal, then SPS location can be used.In some other realization, use as language All technology of the signal that sound/data communication uses can be utilized to carry out position and determine.Various technology in this classification are entitled “WIRELESS POSITION DETERMINATION USING ADJUSTED ROUND TRIP TIME MEASUREMENTS (wireless position using adjusted measurement of round trip time determines) " co-pending application (U.S. Patent application No.12/ 622,289) illustrate in.

Fig. 3 shows to explain orally the simplification environment of the example technique of the position for determining STA1 108.STA1 108 RF signals that can use such as 2.4GHz signal etc and for modulating the standardization agreement of these RF signals and according to all Information block such as standard configurations such as IEEE 802.11 and similar standards exchanges and the most multiple WAP 311 radio communications.Logical Cross and go out different types of information from the signal extraction exchanged and use layout (the such as network as described above of network Geometric shape), STA1 108 can determine that its position in predefined reference frame.As shown in Figure 3, movement station can use Two-dimensional coordinate system indicates its position (x_t,y_t), but, all embodiments disclosed herein are not limited to this, and also can It is suitable for use with such as three-dimensional system of coordinate to determine position (if it is intended to extra dimension).Although it addition, Fig. 3 showing three Individual WAP(WAP1 311a, WAP2 311b and WAP3 311c), but may wish to use additional WAP and use to be applicable to surpass Position is solved by the technology determining system, and these technology can average out by the various errors of different noise effect introducings, and because of The accuracy of position determined by this improvement.

In order to use wireless signal measurement to determine the position (x of t preset time_t,y_t), first movement station STA1108 may be It needs to be determined that network geometry form.This network geometry form can include by coordinate (x_k,y_k) each WAP 311 of specifying is in reference Position in coordinate system, wherein k=1,2,3, corresponding to the position (x1, y1) of WAP1 311a as shown in Figure 3, WAP2 311b Position (x2, y2) and the position (x3, y3) of WAP3 311c.Movement station can be it is then determined that distance d_k, wherein k=1,2,3, right Should the d1, STA1 between STA 108 and WAP1311a 108 and WAP2 d2 between 311b, and STA 108 and WAP D3 between 311c.As will be described in more detail below, several different ways can be used to estimate these distances (d_k), such as By the knowledge of the characteristic of the RF signal of exchange between STA1 108 and each WAP 311.This class feature is following will beg for The round trip propagation time including these signals of opinion and the signal intensity according to RSSI.These distances tend to have sign further For err_dkVarious errors 312a-312c, wherein k=1,2,3.Cherish a special interest in the disclosure is the place being attributable to each WAP The error that reason postpones.Will be described in greater detail below the notable process of elimination herein to postpone and process between the most each WAP to prolong Variation on Chi.

In other embodiments, can use and do not have other information sources related partly to determine or complete with these WAP Kind these distances (d_k).Such as, other alignment systems of such as SPS etc can be used to d_kRough estimate.Should note Meaning, it is more likely that the signal that SPS has in intended operating environment (such as indoor, metropolitan area or like environment) may It is not enough to provide d_kAlways estimate accurately.But, sps signal can combined with other information determine with aided location Journey.Other relative pointing devices can reside in STA1 108, and it can be used as providing estimating roughly relative position and orientation The basis of meter.

The most each distance is all determined, and movement station just can be subsequently by using the most for example trilateration etc Various geometric techniques known solve its position (x_t,y_t).It can be seen from figure 3 that the position of STA1 108 is ideally located around At the common factor of the broken circle of each WAP.These circles can be by radius d_kWith center (x_k,y_k) definition, wherein k=1,2,3.In practice In, due to the various systematicness in noise, networked system and random factor and other errors, including in each WAP based on negative The process carried postpones, and the common factor of these circles may be not at a single point.

The problem being associated is calculated in position in order to be more fully understood that and use such as RTT to measure, and sections below will be more detailed Carefully discussing and determine based on wireless position according to what RTT measured, these RTT measurements include having and according to various exemplary realities The RTT executing the homogeneous delay that the RTT_APP of example is associated measures.It will be appreciated that RTT and rssi measurement can be combined to improve often The estimation of the process time delay of individual WAP 311.

Referring again to Fig. 3, determine that the distance between STA1 108 and each WAP 311 can relate to use and RF signal correction The propagation time information of connection.In one embodiment, can perform signal past of exchange between STA1 108 and WAP 311 Return the determination of time (RTT) and convert thereof into distance (d_k).RTT technology can be used to measure transmission packet and receive Time between acknowledgement.RTT measuring method generally uses calibration and removes process delay.But, attempting, offer high position is accurate During exactness, especially position precision is being had in the application of high request, using calibration to be probably inadequate.Although applying at some With in environment, movement station and processing of WAP postpone to be assumed it is identical, but in reality, they push away in time Migration is toward there being difference in various degree.

In order to measure the RTT about given WAP 311, as shown in Figure 4, STA1 108 can send such as directed probe request Etc probe requests thereby 410, this probe requests thereby 410 can be received operation in range by WAP 311 and there may also be Other WAP receive.Time (the delivery time t of such as this packet that probe requests thereby 410 is sent_TXEtc) can be recorded.From The corresponding propagation time t of STA1 108 to WAP 311_P0(this time can be generalized to t_PN442), after, WAP will receive this Packet.Then WAP311 can process this directed probe request 410 and at such as Δ_WAP0431 or vague generalization situation in be Δ_WAPN The backward STA1 108 of the process time of 441 etc sends back the ACK of such as ACK 411 etc.At the second propagation time t_P0It After, STA1 108 this ACK recordable is grouped the time being received, and such as receives time t_RXACK.Movement station can be then based on Such as time difference t_px ACK-t_TXRTT is defined as the time 420 or for the time 429 in vague generalization situation by packet.Simpler Ground, RTT adds process equal to the propagation delay of twice to postpone.

By using RTT based on directed probe request as above to find range, STA1108 can not directly and WAP 311 Perform RTT explicitly to measure.Due to orientation access detection be considered as unicast packet, thus WAP 311 can generally by Confirm after the period of regulation access detection packet is successfully decoded.Being associated with WAP 311 by avoiding, overhead can Significantly reduced.

Two-way time between STA1 108 and WAPk can model as in following formula 1.

RTT_k=2d_k+Δ_k+Δ_STA+n_k (1)

Wherein:

d_kIt is STA1 108 and WAP_kActual range (foot) between 311；

Δ_kIt is WAP_kThe hardware handles time (nanosecond) of 311;

Δ_STAIt is that the hardware handles at STA1108 postpones (nanosecond)；And

n_kThe error (nanosecond) during RTT measures, this error be because of unknown WAP height, movement station time order error and The summation of the error that WAP time order error is caused.

It should be appreciated that because the unit of distance provides with foot, and the unit of time is to come with nanosecond (ns) There is provided, so the light velocity can be approximately units to simplify this model and by avoiding multiplying to reduce the calculating time.

Can be assumed that, STA processes and postpones Δ_STACan be calibrated out by STA1 108, for fixing process postpones the most such as This.Thus Δ_STAZero can be taken as.If STA1 108 aware of individual WAP_kThe process time Δ of 311, then to this WAP_k The propagation time of 311 just can be estimated as (RTT_k-Δ_k)/2, this propagation time would correspond to STA1 108 and WAP_kBetween 311 Distance (d_k).But, STA1 108 does not generally have WAP_kThe knowledge processing the time of 311, and STA1 108 generally exists To WAP_kThe distance of 311 can be estimated and be necessary for before obtaining processing time Δ_kEstimation.But, WAP processes delay Δ_kCan be variable between individual WAP or at least can comprise variable delay component and thus be probably and be difficult to calibration Remove, when the non-RTT of individual WAP measures when relevant process load is increased or decreased especially true.Negotiated peace herein described The various exemplary embodiments of RTT_APP be designed to alleviate the error being associated with variable processing time.

In addition to the estimation relating to RTT, it should be noted that the distance between each WAP 311 and STA1 108 also can be estimated, Or estimation based on RTT can use other information improve or confirm.In one embodiment, additional information can include receiving Signal intensity instruction (RSSI) or the measurement being associated with the ACK packet received from each WAP 311.

Even if the delay in RTT_APP can be atomic and be fixing between all RTT_APP, but still may need or The process time expecting to have the delay estimated in the most non-RTT_APP equipment and confirmation RTT_APP, (no matter it was the most micro-not Foot road) ability.This type of is estimated, RSSI way can be used.For estimation based on RSSI, STA1 108 can use distance With the approximate model apart from upper variance as the function (RSSI) of signal intensity.RSSI model can initial attempt at STA1 108 Known WAP processes and is used when postponing.One of location algorithm based on RTT is characterised by, RSSI model can be extremely simple, And without fingerprint characteristic identification before substantial amounts of deployment.But, in the environment that RTT_APP exists, RSSI estimates can be by optionally Eliminate to save the process resource at STA1 108.

In one embodiment, RSSI model can be assumed that the unique RSSI information known to movement station is as in terms of dBm Approximation ultimate range d in terms of foot of the function of RSSI_max.Based on to the indoor with the WAP that ultimate range is 225 feet The Initial travel emulation of environment, this function provides in following formula 2.

$d_{\max }\left(\mathrm{RSSI}\right)=\min ({10}^{\frac{-(\mathrm{RSSI}+25.9)}{20.0}},225)$ $\left(2\right)$

From above distance boundary, any RSSI recorded can be converted into distance estimations by STA1108, and this distance estimations can It is modeled as being normal distribution in order to the relation in following formula 3 and formula 4:

$d_{\mathrm{RSSI}}=\frac{d_{\max }\left(\mathrm{RSSI}\right)}{2}---\left(3\right)$

${\mathrm{\σ}}_{d_{\mathrm{RSSI}}}^2=\frac{d_{\max }^2\left(\mathrm{RSSI}\right)}{16}---\left(4\right)$

Wherein, variance supposes 4 σ_dRSSI=d_max。

The algorithm centered by movement station being depicted below as determining for position based on RTT He other additional measurements carries For details, these other additional measurement can include rssi measurement.In one embodiment, STA1108 can estimate that it wireless connects to all The distance of access point, each WAP has the position that STA1 108 uses above-mentioned technology to know.These distances are used to estimate Meter and the position of these WAPs 311, STA1 108 can determine that the position of oneself.Assume each WAP Position is known in the conventional coordinates of the WGS-84 such as used in GPS etc.

Once rssi measurement is performed, then can be by RSSI module 220(Fig. 2) use rssi measurement to determine each One group of distance of WAP is to draw RSSI distance.Once RSSI distance is determined, then movement station and each WAP_kBetween 311 Distance can be by RTT module 222(Fig. 2) use RTT measurement to determine, these RTT measurements can be described as RTT distance.RSSI distance and RTT distance is provided to based on wireless locating module 216(Fig. 2), they can use conventional trilateration technique there It is combined to determine mobile station location.Once STA1 108 position is determined, then the process time of each WAP 311 can be based on Determined position confirms or updates.Can be based on least mean-square error technology for combining the technology of RTT and rssi measurement.Should note Meaning, according to an embodiment, given WAP can will identify themselves as RTT_APP, and this should warn STA1 108 to use RSSI and class thereof Can be unnecessary like the delay estimation that processes of thing for this specific WAP.Alternatively, hold based on the ACK generated by RTT_APP The RTT of row measures and RSSI distance estimations can be used to confirm to carry out accuracy confirmation or verification.

Will also be appreciated that, even what location estimation was generated by RTT measurement based on RTT_APP, it is possible to by use from Such as relative motion sensor 212(Fig. 2) information that obtains comes the most perfect, to improve the position of movement station and to adjust every The process time delay of individual routine (non-RTT_APP) WAP or RTT_APP is used for confirming.

Fig. 5 is to illustrate to include that RTT_APP0501a RTT_APP2501c is for prolonging based on such as known, homogeneous process Belated offer ACK is to set up or the auxiliary foundation diagram to the exemplary environments 500 accurately estimated of the position of STA1 108.And And, this embodiment explain orally these RTT_APP can individually or with LAN-WAP, WAN-WAP the most described in conjunction with Figure 1 and Other access devices of ICBM SHF satellite terminal etc are positioned in this localizing environment together.

In one embodiment, RTT_APP 501 may be in response to be referred to as in figure 6 the directional detection of RTT_MEAS_REQ610 Request, provides the special acknowledgement being referred to as RTT_MEAS_RESP_APP0 611 in figure 6 with the form of response or acknowledgement.Due to often The delay that processes of individual RTT_APP is known as insignificant or homogeneous, so a Δ can be made_kFor constant and advantageously from upper Formula (1) is decomposed out.It will be appreciated that remove Δ from formula (1)_kIt is especially advantageous, because other factors are easily estimated need not generate Determine in the case of meter.Such as, the process of STA1 108 postpones Δ_STAOneself can be readily determined by this movement station.By with Δ_{RTT_APP}The given value process of the RTT_APP (postpone) replacement process and postpone Δ_k, or by by supposing the constant close to zero Eliminate Δ_k, accuracy and the simplicity of the location estimation derived according to formula (1) can be greatly increased.It will be appreciated that at average ring In border, the error of the nanosecond in RTT calculation may result in the range error of half foot.Thus, the process of several microseconds postpones Variation may result in error significantly, and this is unacceptable for many is applied.

In order to more preferably understand all advantages, Fig. 6 carrying out reference, wherein sequential relationship is in the way of being similar to the sequential of Fig. 4 Illustrate.STA1 108 can be configured to send probe requests thereby and/or directed probe request, and this probe requests thereby is for explaining orally purpose quilt It is denoted as RTT_MEAS_REQ 610.It will be appreciated that in certain embodiments, this request can comprise sufficient identity characteristic, thus It will only be identified by the facility of such as RTT_APP etc.Alternatively, this request can be sent as normal detectable signal, At this, any WAP can respond with ACK.In this type of embodiment, these facilities maybe can will identify themselves as RTT_APP or Person they can respond simply, and STA1 108 can be become which WAP that know in environment to be designated as RTT_ by configured in advance APP.Even if in the scene not being provided about the special identifier of the existence of the RTT_APP in environment, RTT_APP is simple Existence also should by provide consistent result the most accurately (this means STA1 108 can confirm consistently with The measurement result that RTT_APP is associated) improve the accuracy of measurement.

When RTT_MEAS_REQ 610 is such as received at RTT_APP0501, acknowledgement can be generated immediately, this acknowledgement It is denoted as RTT_MEAS_RESP_APP0 611 for explaining orally purpose.It will be appreciated that RTT_APP processes time Δ_{RTT_APP} 620 Can be assumed that between all different RTT_APP of such as RTT_APP0501 etc in this context be homogeneous, this simplify use Decrease variable error amount in the calculation of position determining STA1 108 simultaneously.From the time sending RTT_MEAS_REQ 610 Rising, for RTT_APP0501, two-way time can be Δ_{RTT_APP} 620+RTT 621。

In order to provide and the accuracy of the location estimation connection to STA1 in environment 108, wireless round measurement facility RTT_ APP can be purchased into by ack signal and (x, y) form or as will be appreciated and understand with can include in certain embodiments The additional information of the position coordinates of other forms is come in response to detection or directional detection.RTT_APP can be dedicated to only respond to In orientation request and thus can be purchased by minimally and not there is such as routing capabilities or similar by be associated with WAP Ability.

Example arrangement for RTT_APP explains orally in the figure 7.RTT_APP unit 701(could be for such as it The directional detection of RTT_MEAS_REQ 610 or the like or request carry out the special facilities of acknowledgement) can be purchased into and had such as The basic module of medium education (MAC) block 710, physical layer (PHY) block 720 and radio frequency (RF) block 730 etc.It will be appreciated that Although these blocks are illustrated as separation, but some or all of pieces in MAC block 710, PHY Block 720 and RF block 730 can quilt Be integrated in together the same module of such as module 715 etc, unit, element, or the like in.Specifically, it will be appreciated that PHY Block 720 can include RF block 730 in, and can include MAC block 710 in some cases in.In other embodiments, as it will be appreciated, The each several part of these blocks can overlap.Although understanding functional distribution can be flexibly, but MAC block 710 should be base In hardware and simple as far as possible, because the main task of MAC block 710 is intended to respond RTT probe requests thereby.If beacon communication obtains Support, then MAC block 710 also should perform such as function according to the carrier sense of 802.11 standards and media access etc, but It is compared to needing to support and safety, turbo(acceleration) the relevant several features of pattern, packet aggregation and the like complete For feature access point, this class standard support can provide in the way of notable simplification.If beacon communication is supported, then from Dynamic response can include beacon frame, and MAC block 710 can use this beacon frame to realize carrier sense mechanism and avoidance mechanism it One.Although the description of the assembly of various pieces provides according to illustrative embodiment, but arrange and can be depending on specific joining Put realize details and different, no matter whether have structural or functional overlapping between all piece, or the like.

MAC block 710 can be purchased into has processing unit 711, and this processing unit can be general processor or special place Reason device, as long as performance parameter is met.It will be appreciated that in the situation that software realizes, various tools described herein Body algorithm and code will be deformable to allow any processing unit to realize embodiments of the invention specially.Alternatively, at this Reason unit can be adapted to specially for carrying out according to based on application specific or the operation of all embodiments of custom design.Process single Unit 711 can be with memorizer 712, and memorizer 712 can be onboard memorizer or external memory storage, it means that memorizer 712 Can be maybe external module or unit or the combination of both in can be incorporated in the circuit identical with processing unit 711.Each group Part can be coupled by Bussing connector 713, and Bussing connector 713 can be serial or parallel bus or adapter or as will be appreciated by Certain other configuration.

PHY Block 720 can be configured at homophase and orthogonal (I/Q) block 713 receive and transmit such as from go to nothing The signal of line electrical environment, I/Q block 723 will pass to from the incoming analogue signal of this radio environment (such as, transmission band) Analog-digital converter (ADC) 724 and digital signal (such as, digital baseband frequency) will be spread out of pass to digital to analog converter DAC 725.Processing unit 711 is coupled to external equipment or system also by adapter 714.MAC block 710 can pass through bus 713 Or be coupled to PHY Block 720 by similar device, or can with the easy signal by such as data rate or the like etc about The PHY Block 720 of bundle is integrated.It will be appreciated that in certain embodiments, PHY Block 720 and MAC block 710 can be integrated, or at MAC block 710 are implemented in embodiment within hardware, and MAC is functional can be towards hardware, i.e. without probe requests thereby is grouped into Row decodes completely.Alternatively, the probe requests thereby energy of such as RTT_MEAS_REQ 610 etc is so that processing delay and being reduced to neglect The mode slightly measured is identified and made an immediate response at the hardware layer of referred to as hardware mac layer.Can be to complete request It is also feasible for receiving the processed acknowledgement that generates before, as long as enough parts of this request have obtained processing identifying it is so Can.Process delay is reduced to be almost equal to zero by this type of way.

It will be appreciated that signal can aloft be advanced to and from RTT_APP unit in interface, and RF block 730 can be used Being sent to and be received from this air interface, RF block 730 can include an antenna or can include according to such as antenna diversity The more antennas 732 of layout and the like.RF block can perform transmission frequency signal under intermediate frequency (IF) signal (not shown) Frequency conversion, wherein it can pass to PHY 720 by amplifier 721.The IF signal generated can pass to amplifier from PHY Block 720 722 are up-converted for transmitting to be delivered to RF block 730 and (if being necessary).In certain embodiments, Direct Conversion Can be used, wherein be need not receiving RF signal or the signal to launch on RF block 730 carries out intermediate frequency frequency conversion, and Signal is directly converted into digital vectors and by directly from transmission frequency (such as, transmission band, such as 802.11 transmission band) Process.It will be appreciated that (can be related to by directly conversion or functional the identifying of RF MAC in RF frequency or transmission frequency signal Without conversion in the case of signal is identified) degree on, base band down coversion and transmission band up-conversion can be avoided by, acknowledgement Can more quickly be generated to cause the more best performance of RTT_APP unit 701, and thus cause the position of STA1 108 is estimated The more high position accuracy of meter.

It will be appreciated that according to embodiment, the location of the mobile unit of the most all STA1 108 as described herein etc can It is that the request measuring related communication of such as position measurement related communication etc is generated by using by special facilities Response is facilitated.In an illustrative methods, the assembly selected works of the method explain orally in fig. 8, after starting at 801, at 802 Dedicated request can optionally be sent, and request is designated RTT_MEAS_REQ (APPn) by these dedicated request, and it may refer to Show the request to the concrete request measuring related communication (such as from the RTT_MEAS_RESP_APPn of compliance RTT_APPn) Type, ((APPn) can be the identifier being associated with facility RTT_APPn.Although it should be noted that above example includes going to The citation of the orientation request of RTT_APPn, but this request can be sent to one as clean culture, multicast or broadcast communication or a combination thereof Individual facility (if known) the most facilities.Alternatively, this request can be using clean culture, multicast or broadcast mode as normal probe requests thereby Send, in this case in range all access points, will equally respond including RTT_APP and non-RTT_APP etc.. This request can be received at 803, at the such as RTT_APP in the range of the sender of this request or any access point. If suitably, then at 804, recipient can such as based on this request request type and/or the identifier that is associated with this facility By this request identification or be designated RTT_MEAS_REQ (APPn) separately.

At 805, the response of such as RTT_MEAS_RESP_APPn etc can postpone Δ in homogeneous process_{RTT_APP}Afterwards It is immediately generated.It should be noted that this process period censures in this article as postponing, though the least in the actual delay generating this response Scene in be also such.Once this response has been fully received, then for the purpose of calculation, will have representative and to this Request receive ongoing the systematicness of this response is processed simultaneously certain non-zero time amount (no matter its most micro-its Micro-).But this amount will be homogeneous or can be configured to homogeneous, therefore the purpose for calculation can be as discussed herein above Be decomposed out.During generating response, will additionally note that, use such as (x, y) position of the RTT_APPn of coordinate Can be included in this response with auxiliary positioning.In one embodiment, the MAC Address of RTT_APP can search in data base with Obtain (x, y) coordinate of this RTT_APP.Alternatively, the list of on-the-spot RTT_APP can provide when movement station enters this scene To this movement station.When the most requested station of enough numbers response receives, or have been set up in location estimation, add The situation that has been received of single response in, can position at 806.Alternatively, to first prelocalization code or position Improving of estimating can use one or more response to carry out.Although illustrative methods is indicated as at 807 completing, but will Understanding, this process can ad infinitum be continued, such as, when movement station is in motion, or the like.

Skilled artisans will appreciate that, according to the embodiment described in the disclosure, information and signal can use various not Represent with any one in technology and skill.Such as, run through be described above may be addressed all the time data, instruct, order, Information, signal, position (bit), code element and chip can by voltage, electric current, electromagnetic wave, magnetic field or magnetic particle, light field or light particle, Or its any combination represents.

Additionally, skilled artisans will appreciate that, the various illustrative logics described in conjunction with embodiment disclosed herein Block, module, circuit and algorithm steps can be implemented as electronic hardware, computer software or a combination of both.For clearly solving Say this interchangeability of hardware and software, above describe various illustrative group with its functional form vague generalization Part, frame, module, circuit and step.This type of is functional is implemented as hardware or software depends on specifically applying and being added to The design constraint of total system.Technical staff can realize described function in a varying manner for every kind of application-specific Property, but this type of realizes decision-making and should not be interpreted to cause departing from the scope of the present invention.

The method, sequence and the algorithm that describe in conjunction with embodiment disclosed herein can be embodied directly in hardware, in by processing single Embody in the software module that unit performs or in combination of the two.Software module can reside in RAM memory, flash memory, ROM Memorizer, eprom memory, eeprom memory, depositor, hard disk, removable dish, CD, DVD or known in the art In the storage medium of any other form.Exemplary storage medium is coupled to processing unit so that this processing unit can be from/to This storage medium reading writing information.In alternative, storage medium can be integrated into processing unit.

Correspondingly, embodiments of the invention can include implementing for using relative motion sensor to adjust based on wireless The computer-readable medium of the method for position.Correspondingly, the present invention is not limited to explained orally example and any for performing literary composition The means of the function described by Ben are all included in an embodiment of the present invention.

Although foregoing disclosure shows the illustrative embodiment of the present invention, it is noted that can make wherein Various replacings and change are without departing from the scope of the present invention defined such as claims.According to described herein The function of the claim of inventive embodiments, step and action are not necessarily intended to perform by any certain order.Although additionally, originally The key element of invention is probably with odd number to be described or claimed in right, but plural number is also to have suspected, unless explicitly sound Understand and be defined in odd number.

Claims (37)

1., for facilitating a device for the location of the station STA in short-range wireless networking, described device includes:

Radio frequency interface；And

It is coupled to the media access control MAC section of described RF interface；

Wherein, described MAC section is configured to:

Described RF interface receives the request to measurement related communication from described STA；And

Generate the request of receiving automated toed respond to and transmits on described RF interface immediately after the homogeneous period described from Dynamic response, the described homogeneous period is created as between multiple examples of described device and the described device being coupled to described network It is homogeneous, wherein said automated tos respond to for generating RTT two-way time for location, and wherein said automated to respond to energy Generated before processed to the reception of complete described request, as long as enough parts of described request have obtained processing with mark It is such；

Wherein performed communication is only limitted to receive the request to described measurement related communication and generation and transmission asks described That asks automated tos respond to.

2. device as claimed in claim 1, it is characterised in that the described request to described measurement related communication includes RTT Measure the request of related communication, and the wherein said response of request automated toing respond to be described RTT measures related communication.

3. device as claimed in claim 1, it is characterised in that described MAC section includes hardware MAC section.

4. device as claimed in claim 1, it is characterised in that described RF interface includes being configured to change transmission band frequency Become the frequency conversion section of digital baseband frequency.

5. device as claimed in claim 4, it is characterised in that described transmission band frequency includes 802.11 transmission bands.

6. device as claimed in claim 1, it is characterised in that described RF interface includes being configured to change digital baseband frequency Become the frequency conversion section of transmission band frequency.

7. device as claimed in claim 6, it is characterised in that described transmission band frequency includes 802.11 transmission bands.

8. device as claimed in claim 1, it is characterised in that described response includes and the resource phase comprising additional location information The Uniform Resource Identifier URI of association.

9. device as claimed in claim 1, it is characterised in that described response includes positioning criterion.

10. device as claimed in claim 9, it is characterised in that described location criterion includes relevant to the position of described device Connection (x, y) coordinate to and wherein said response include described (x, y) coordinate pair.

11. devices as claimed in claim 1, it is characterised in that described response includes acknowledgement ACK frame.

12. 1 kinds of equipment being used for providing location in short-range wireless networking, described equipment includes:

Transceiver device, it receives the request measuring related communication for slave station STA；And

Media access control MAC device, it is coupled to described transceiver device, and described mac device is used for:

Identifying the described request to described measurement related communication, described request is based on the identifier being associated with described equipment and institute The request type stating request identifies；And

Making described transceiver device generate to automated to respond to described request, wherein said transceiver device is further used for all Automated toing respond to described in transmitting immediately after the period of one, the described homogeneous period is created as at described equipment and is coupled to described Homogeneous between multiple examples of the described equipment of network, wherein said automated to respond to for generate for location two-way time RTT, and wherein said automated toing respond to can generate before processed to the reception of complete described request, if described request Enough parts obtained processing such to identify it；

Wherein performed communication is only limitted to identify the request to described measurement related communication and make described transceiver device send out Send and described request is automated toed respond to.

13. equipment as claimed in claim 12, it is characterised in that the described request to described measurement related communication includes past Return time RTT and measure the request of related communication.

14. equipment as claimed in claim 12, it is characterised in that described transceiver device is further used in 802.11 transmission Transmission on frequency band and at least one in reception.

15. equipment as claimed in claim 12, it is characterised in that described in automated to respond to include and comprise additional location information The Uniform Resource Identifier URI that resource is associated.

16. equipment as claimed in claim 12, it is characterised in that described mac device is further used for making described transceiver fill Put and automated to respond to described in transmission, described in automated to respond to include with comprise positional information the Uniform Resource Identifier that is associated of resource URI, wherein said automated toing respond to includes beacon frame.

17. equipment as claimed in claim 12, it is characterised in that described mac device is further used for making described transceiver fill Put and automated to respond to described in transmission, described in automated to respond to (x, y) coordinate pair, the Qi Zhongsuo that include being associated with the position of described equipment State and automated to respond to include beacon frame.

18. equipment as claimed in claim 12, it is characterised in that described in automated to respond to include relevant to the position of described equipment (x, y) coordinate pair of connection.

19. equipment as claimed in claim 12, it is characterised in that described in automated to respond to include acknowledgement ACK frame.

20. equipment as claimed in claim 12, it is characterised in that described in automated to respond to include beacon frame, and wherein said Mac device is further used for the one using described beacon frame to realize carrier sense mechanism and avoidance mechanism.

21. 1 kinds are used for the method facilitating the location in short-range wireless networking, and described method includes:

Measurement related communication being asked from station STA is received at multiple private network devices in described short-range wireless networking Ask；

Described request is identified at the plurality of private network devices；

Generate at each private network devices in the plurality of private network devices and automated to respond to and in the homogeneous period Automated toing respond to described in transmitting the most immediately, the described homogeneous period is each private network in the plurality of private network devices Network device is homogeneous, and wherein said automated toing respond to can generate before processed to the reception of complete described request, if institute State enough parts of request and obtained processing such to identify it；And

Respective described in each based on from each private network devices of correspondence in the plurality of dedicated network facility Described STA is positioned by the different arrival times automated toed respond to.

22. methods as claimed in claim 21, it is characterised in that farther include to fill based on from the plurality of dedicated network The arrival time automated toed respond to described in each private network devices of the correspondence put determines the position of described STA.

23. methods as claimed in claim 22, it is characterised in that determine that the position of described STA farther includes described STA Carry out trilateration.

24. methods as claimed in claim 21, it is characterised in that described in automated to respond to include and comprise additional location information The Uniform Resource Identifier URI that resource is associated.

25. methods as claimed in claim 21, it is characterised in that described in automated to respond to include filling with the plurality of dedicated network (x, y) coordinate pair that the position of the corresponding private network devices in putting is associated.

26. methods as claimed in claim 21, it is characterised in that described in automated to respond to include acknowledgement ACK frame.

27. 1 kinds are used for the method facilitating the positioning service in short-range wireless networking, including:

Slave station receives the request measuring related communication；

Generate automated toing respond to and automated toing respond to described in transmission immediately after homogeneous delay, Qi Zhongsuo the request received It is homogeneous between any element automated toed respond to described in can the providing of described network for stating homogeneous delay, and wherein institute State and automated to respond to generate before processed to the reception of complete described request, as long as enough parts of described request obtain Process to identify it such；

Wherein performed communication is limited to receive the code to the request measuring related communication and generation and transmission asks described The response asked.

28. methods as claimed in claim 27, it is characterised in that farther include with described automated to respond to include with comprise attached Add the Uniform Resource Identifier URI that the resource of positional information is associated.

29. methods as claimed in claim 27, it is characterised in that described in automated to respond to include and be coupled to holding of described network (x, y) coordinate pair that the position of the processing unit of the code that row automated tos respond to described in provide is associated.

30. methods as claimed in claim 27, it is characterised in that described in automated to respond to include acknowledgement ACK frame.

31. 1 kinds of methods in the device facilitating the location of the station STA in short-range wireless networking, described method includes:

RF interface receives the request to measurement related communication from described STA；

Generate and described request is automated toed respond to and transmits described after the homogeneous period expires immediately on described RF interface Automated to respond to, wherein said automated to respond to for generating RTT two-way time for location, and wherein said automated to respond to energy Generated before processed to the reception of complete described request, as long as enough parts of described request have obtained processing with mark It is such；

The wherein said homogeneous period is homogeneous between multiple examples of described device；And

Perform to be only limitted to receive to measuring the request of related communication and generation and that described request is automated toed respond to by transmission is logical Letter.

32. methods as claimed in claim 31, it is characterised in that described RF interface includes 802.11 transmission bands.

33. methods as claimed in claim 31, it is characterised in that described response includes and the resource comprising additional location information The Uniform Resource Identifier URI being associated.

34. methods as claimed in claim 31, it is characterised in that described response includes being associated with the position of described device (x, y) coordinate pair.

35. methods as claimed in claim 31, it is characterised in that described response includes acknowledgement ACK frame.

36. 1 kinds of systems being used for facilitating the location of the station STA in short-range wireless networking, described system includes multiple device, often Individual device includes:

Radio frequency interface；And

It is coupled to the processor of described RF interface；

Wherein said processor is configured to:

Described RF interface receives the request to measurement related communication from described STA；

Generate and described request is automated toed respond to and transmits described after the homogeneous period expires immediately on described RF interface Automated to respond to, wherein said automated to respond to for generating RTT two-way time for location, and wherein said automated to respond to energy Generated before processed to the reception of complete described request, as long as enough parts of described request have obtained processing with mark It is such；

The wherein said homogeneous period is homogeneous between the plurality of device；And

Perform to be only limitted to receive the request to described measurement related communication and generation and described request is automated toed respond to by transmission Communication.

37. 1 kinds of systems being used for facilitating the location in short-range wireless networking, described system includes:

At the multiple private network devices in described short-range wireless networking, slave station STA receives and asks measurement related communication The device asked；

For identifying the device of described request at the plurality of private network device；And

Automated toing respond to for generation and transmitting institute after the homogeneous period immediately at the plurality of private network device Stating the device automated toed respond to, the described homogeneous period is that each private network device in the plurality of private network device is equal One, wherein said automated toing respond to can generate before processed to the reception of complete described request, as long as described request Partly obtain process such to identify it；

Communication in wherein said multiple private network device is limited to described for receiving the request measuring related communication Device, described device for identifying described request and described described request is automated toed respond to for generating and transmit immediately Device.