CN117678253A - Method and apparatus for ultra wideband communication - Google Patents

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for Ultra Wideband (UWB) communications are provided. The first UWB device generates a discovery message providing information for discovering the first UWB device. The first UWB device broadcasts a discovery message over a Narrowband (NB) discovery channel. The NB discovery channel is not associated with the UWB channel. The UWB channel is one of a plurality of candidate UWB channels allocated for UWB communications.

Description

Method and apparatus for ultra wideband communication

Technical Field

The present disclosure relates generally to Ultra Wideband (UWB) communications, and more particularly, to methods and apparatus for providing UWB services over UWB channels and Narrowband (NB) channels.

Background

In the internet of things (IoT), information is exchanged and processed between distributed components such as objects. Internet of everything (IoE) technology is a combination of big data processing technology and IoT technology based on connections to cloud servers. Important technical elements required to implement IoT include, for example, sensing technologies, wired/wireless communication and network infrastructure, service interface technologies, and security technologies. Technologies for connection between objects include, for example, sensor networks, machine-to-machine (M2M), and machine-type communication (MTC).

In an IoT environment, intelligent internet technology services may be provided that collect and analyze data generated from connected objects. For example, through convergence and fusion between existing information technology and various industries, ioT may be applied in smart homes, smart buildings, smart cities, smart cars or networked cars, smart grids, healthcare, smart appliances, and advanced medical services.

Since various services can be provided with the development of wireless communication systems, a method of efficiently providing these services is required.

Disclosure of Invention

[ technical problem ]

The present disclosure provides a method and apparatus for providing UWB services over UWB channels and Narrowband (NB) channels.

[ solution to the problem ]

The present disclosure provides a method for avoiding collisions and for efficiently using UWB devices.

The present disclosure provides a method for performing advertising, device discovery, and/or connection establishment using in-band, rather than out-of-band, and structure of a UWB device for the method.

The present disclosure provides a method for operating at least one of the channels allocated to UWB as an NB channel for advertisement, device discovery, and/or connection establishment.

The present disclosure provides a method for dividing an NB channel into a mirror channel coupled to a UWB channel and a discovery channel not coupled to the UWB channel and operating the NB channel.

The present invention provides a method for performing a device discovery process regardless of whether UWB is used using a discovery channel that is not coupled to a UWB channel.

The present disclosure provides a method of performing device discovery and connection establishment on the same channel.

According to an embodiment, a method for UWB communication is provided. The first UWB device generates a discovery message providing information for discovering the first UWB device. The first UWB device broadcasts a discovery message over an NB discovery channel. The NB discovery channel is not associated with the UWB channel. The UWB channel is one of a plurality of candidate UWB channels allocated for UWB communications.

According to an embodiment, a method for UWB communication is provided. The second UWB receives a discovery message from the first UWB device over an NB discovery channel that provides information for discovery of the first UWB device. The second UWB device obtains the discovery message. The NB discovery channel is not associated with the UWB channel. The UWB channel is one of a plurality of candidate UWB channels allocated for UWB communications.

According to an embodiment, a first UWB device is provided that includes at least one transceiver and a controller connected to the at least one transceiver. The controller is configured to: a discovery message is generated that provides information for discovery of the first UWB device. The controller is further configured to broadcast the discovery message over the NB discovery channel. The NB discovery channel is not associated with the UWB channel. The UWB channel is one of a plurality of candidate UWB channels allocated for UWB communications.

According to an embodiment, a second UWB device is provided that includes at least one transceiver and a controller connected to the at least one transceiver. The controller is configured to: a discovery message is received from a first UWB device over an NB discovery channel providing information for discovering the first UWB device. The controller is further configured to obtain the discovery message. The NB discovery channel is not associated with the UWB channel. The UWB channel is one of a plurality of candidate UWB channels allocated for UWB communications.

Drawings

The above and other aspects, features and advantages of the present disclosure will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1A shows an example of a UWB device according to an embodiment;

FIG. 1B illustrates a communication system including a UWB device according to an embodiment;

FIG. 2 illustrates a method of performing an NB procedure and a UWB procedure by a UWB device according to an embodiment;

FIG. 3 illustrates a structure of a ranging block and cycle for UWB ranging according to an embodiment;

FIG. 4 illustrates UWB ranging operations according to embodiments;

FIG. 5 illustrates UWB ranging operations according to another embodiment;

FIG. 6 illustrates the operation of a UWB device in a ranging area network according to an embodiment;

fig. 7 illustrates a structure of a channel used in a ranging area network according to an embodiment;

FIG. 8A illustrates an advertising operation according to an embodiment;

fig. 8B illustrates an advertisement operation and a connection establishment operation according to an embodiment;

FIG. 9 illustrates the operation of a UWB device in a ranging area network according to another embodiment;

fig. 10 illustrates a structure of a channel used in a ranging area network according to another embodiment;

FIG. 11A illustrates a method of performing a discovery operation by a UWB device according to an embodiment;

FIG. 11B illustrates a method of performing a discovery operation and a connection establishment operation by a UWB device according to an embodiment;

FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating a discovery operation performed by a controller according to an embodiment;

fig. 13 is a flowchart showing a discovery operation performed by the slave according to the embodiment;

fig. 14 is a flowchart showing a connection establishment operation performed by the controller according to the embodiment;

fig. 15 is a flowchart showing a connection establishment operation performed by the slave according to the embodiment;

fig. 16 illustrates a structure of a channel used in a ranging area network according to another embodiment;

fig. 17 shows a structure of a channel used in a ranging area network according to another embodiment;

fig. 18 shows a structure of a first UWB device according to an embodiment;

Fig. 19 shows a structure of a second UWB device according to an embodiment;

fig. 20 shows a ranging cycle to which a transmission offset is applied according to an embodiment;

fig. 21 shows time slots when a transmission offset is applied in an NB channel according to an embodiment;

fig. 22 shows an example of cyclic hopping according to an embodiment; and

fig. 23 shows an example of synchronization between UWB channels and NB channels according to embodiments.

Detailed Description

Embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The same or similar components may be denoted by the same or similar reference numerals although they are shown in different drawings. Detailed descriptions of constructions or processes known in the art may be omitted to avoid obscuring the subject matter of the present disclosure.

Some elements may be exaggerated or shown schematically. The dimensions of each element do not necessarily reflect the actual dimensions of the element.

The advantages and features of the present disclosure and methods for accomplishing the same may be understood by the following examples described in connection with the accompanying drawings. However, the present disclosure is not limited to the embodiments disclosed herein, and various changes may be made thereto. The embodiments disclosed herein are provided only to inform those of ordinary skill in the art of the categories of the disclosure.

It will be understood that each block of the flowchart illustrations, and combinations of flowcharts, can be implemented by computer program instructions. Because computer program instructions may be provided in a processor of a general purpose computer, special purpose computer, or other programmable data processing apparatus, instructions, which execute via the processor of the computer or other programmable data processing apparatus, create means for implementing the functions described in conjunction with the blocks of each flowchart. Because computer program instructions may be stored in a computer-usable or computer-readable memory, the computer-usable or computer-readable memory may be directed to a computer or other programmable data processing apparatus to function in a particular manner, the instructions stored in the computer-usable or computer-readable memory may produce an article of manufacture including instruction means that implement the function specified in the flowchart block or blocks. Because computer program instructions may be provided in a computer or other programmable data processing apparatus, the instructions which produce a process implemented process such that the instructions which execute on the computer or other programmable data processing apparatus create means for implementing the functions specified in the flowchart block or blocks.

Furthermore, each block may represent a module, segment, or portion of code, which comprises one or more executable instructions for implementing the specified logical function(s). Further, it should also be noted that in some alternative implementations, the functions noted in the block may occur out of the order. For example, two blocks shown in succession may be executed substantially concurrently or the blocks may be executed in the reverse order, depending upon the functionality involved.

As used herein, the term "unit" means a software element or a hardware element, such as a Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) or an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC). The unit plays a role. However, the term "unit" is not limited to meaning software or hardware elements. The units may be configured in a storage medium that may be addressed or may be configured to reproduce one or more processors. Thus, by way of example, a unit includes elements such as software elements, object-oriented software elements, class elements and task elements, processes, functions, attributes, procedures, subroutines, segments of program code, drivers, firmware, microcode, circuitry, data, databases, data structures, tables, arrays, and variables. The functionality provided for in the elements or units may be combined with additional elements or may be divided into sub-elements or sub-units. Furthermore, elements or units may be implemented to reproduce one or more CPUs in a device or secure multimedia card. According to an embodiment, a unit may comprise one or more processors.

As used herein, the term "terminal" or "device" may also be referred to as a Mobile Station (MS), user Equipment (UE), user Terminal (UT), terminal, wireless terminal, access Terminal (AT), subscriber unit, subscriber Station (SS), wireless device, wireless communication device, wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU), mobile node, handset, or other terminology. Various embodiments of the terminal may include a cellular telephone, a smart phone with wireless communication capabilities, a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) with wireless communication capabilities, a wireless modem, a portable computer with wireless communication capabilities, a capture/record/capture/photographic device with wireless communication capabilities such as a digital camera, a game player with wireless communication capabilities, a music storage and playback home appliance with wireless communication capabilities, an internet home appliance capable of wireless internet access and browsing, or a portable unit or terminal containing a combination of these capabilities. Further, the terminals may include M2M terminals and MTC terminals/devices, but are not limited thereto. In this disclosure, a terminal may be referred to as an electronic device or simply a device.

Hereinafter, the working principle of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. The terms used herein are defined in consideration of functions in the present disclosure, and may be replaced with other terms according to the intention or practice of a user or operator. Accordingly, these terms should be defined based on the entire disclosure.

Although a communication system using UWB is described in connection with the embodiments of the present disclosure, the embodiments of the present disclosure may also be applied to other communication systems having similar technical backgrounds or features, as an example. For example, bluetooth or ZigBee may be used in the above ^TM Is a communication system of (a). Moreover, embodiments of the present disclosure may be modified within the scope of the present disclosure without significantly departing from the scope of the disclosure, and such modifications may be applied to other communication systems, at the discretion of one of ordinary skill in the art.

Detailed descriptions of known techniques or functions may be skipped when determined to obscure the subject matter of the present disclosure. The terms used herein are defined in consideration of functions in the present disclosure, and may be replaced with other terms according to the intention or practice of a user or operator. Accordingly, these terms should be defined based on the entire disclosure.

Generally, wireless sensor network technologies are largely classified into Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) technologies and Wireless Personal Area Network (WPAN) technologies according to recognition distances. In this case, WLAN is an IEEE 802.11 based technology that enables access to the backbone network within a radius of about 100 m. WPAN is an IEEE 802.15 based technology including bluetooth, zigBee, and UWB. A wireless network implementing such wireless network technology may include a plurality of electronic devices.

UWB may refer to wireless communication technologies using a bandwidth of 500MHz or more or a bandwidth corresponding to a center frequency of 20% or more, according to the definition of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). UWB may mean the frequency band itself to which UWB communication is applied. UWB can achieve safe and accurate ranging between devices. Thus, UWB can achieve a relative position estimate based on the distance between two devices, or an accurate position estimate of a device based on the distance from a fixed device (whose position is known).

The Ranging Device (RDEV) may be a device capable of performing UWB ranging. Here, the ranging device may be, for example, a RDEV or Enhanced RDEV (ERDEV) as defined in IEEE 802.15.4/4 z. The ranging device may be referred to as a UWB device.

The advertiser may be a device (e.g., a ranging device) that sends a message for discovery. For example, the advertiser may be a device that transmits (or broadcasts) an advertisement message over a mirror channel or transmits (or broadcasts) a discovery beacon (message) over a discovery channel.

The scanner may be a device (e.g., a ranging device) that receives the message for discovery. For example, the scanner may be a device that scans a mirror channel to receive an advertisement message or scans a discovery channel to receive a discovery beacon (message). Here, the scanner may be referred to as an observer.

The controller may be a device (e.g., a ranging device) that defines and controls a Ranging Control Message (RCM) (or control message). The controller may define and control the ranging features by sending control messages.

The slave may be a device (e.g., a ranging device) that uses ranging parameters in an RCM (or control message) received from the controller. The slave may utilize ranging features configured via control messages from the controller.

The initiator may be a device that initiates a ranging exchange (e.g., a ranging device). The initiator may initiate a ranging exchange by transmitting a first Ranging Frame (RFRAME) as a ranging initiation message.

The responder may be a device (e.g., a ranging device) that responds to the initiator in a ranging exchange. The responder may respond to the ranging initiation message received from the initiator.

The in-band communication may be data communication using UWB as the underlying wireless technology.

Out-of-band (OOB) communications may be data communications that do not use UWB as the underlying wireless technology.

The UWB session may be a period from the start of communication by UWB between the controller and the slave until the communication is stopped. In a UWB session, RFRAME may be transmitted, data frames may be transmitted, or RFRAME and data frames may be transmitted.

The UWB session Identifier (ID) may be an ID (e.g., a 32 bit integer) that identifies a UWB session shared between the controller and the slave.

The UWB session key may be a key for protecting UWB sessions. The UWB session key may be used to generate a scrambling time stamp sequence (STS). Here, the UWB session key may be a UWB ranging session key (urs k), and may be abbreviated as a session key.

The UWB Subsystem (UWBs) may be a hardware component that implements UWB PHY and MAC specifications included in UWB devices. Here, the UWB PHY and MAC specifications may be, for example, PHY and MAC specifications defined in IEEE 802.15.4/4z, for example. The UWBS may be referred to herein as a UWB component.

The UWB-enabled application may be an application for a service (UWB service). The UWB-enabled application may be abbreviated herein as an application or UWB application.

The service may be an implementation of a use case that provides the service to the end user. The service may be referred to herein as a UWB service.

The service data may be data defined by a service provider that needs to be transferred between two ranging devices to implement the service.

A service provider may be an entity that defines and provides the hardware and software needed to provide a particular service to an end user.

The STS may be an encryption sequence for increasing the integrity and accuracy of the ranging time stamps.

Unlike the static STS, the dynamic STS mode may be an operation mode in which the STS is not repeated during the ranging session. In this mode, the STS may be managed by the ranging device and the ranging session key used to generate the STS may be managed by the security component.

The static STS mode is an operation mode in which STS is repeated during a session and need not be managed by a security component.

The secure channel may be a data channel that is resistant to eavesdropping and tampering.

For example, when using a dynamic STS, the security component may be an entity (e.g., a Secure Element (SE) or Trusted Execution Environment (TEE)) having a defined security level, the security component interfacing with the UWBS to provide RDS to the UWBS.

The security ranging may be based on STS generated through a strong encryption operation.

The UWB channel may be one of the candidate UWB channels allocated for UWB communications. The candidate UWB channel allocated for UWB communications may be a channel allocated for UWB communications, as defined in IEEE 802.15.4/4 z. UWB channels may be used for UWB communications (e.g., UWB ranging and/or transactions). For example, UWB channels may be used for transmission/reception of ranging frames RFRAME and/or transmission/reception of data frames. In an embodiment, one or more UWB channels may operate together.

The NB channels may be channels having narrower bandwidths than the UWB channels. In an embodiment, the NB channel may be a sub-channel of one of the candidate UWB channels allocated for UWB communications, or a channel of a particular bandwidth that uses another available frequency band (e.g., a portion of the industrial, scientific, and medical (ISM) frequency band). The candidate UWB channel allocated for UWB communications may be a channel allocated for UWB communications, as defined in IEEE 802.15.4/4 z. NB channels can be used for advertisement, device discovery, and/or connection establishment for additional parameter negotiation/authentication. For example, NB channels can be used to send and receive discovery beacons (messages), advertisement messages, additional advertisement messages, connection request messages, and/or connection acknowledgement messages. In an embodiment, one or more NB channels may operate together. In an embodiment, NB channels may be used for in-band communications, such as UWB channels.

The mirror channel is one of the NB channels and can be used to provide information about device-to-device discovery and/or UWB channel occupancy. The mirror channel may be coupled (or synchronized) with the UWB channel. For discovery, the advertisement message may be sent over a mirror channel. In an embodiment, the advertisement message may be sent over the mirror channel when the UWB channel (communication) is activated (UWB activation case). The mirror channel may be referred to herein as an advertisement channel, an NB advertisement channel, or an NB mirror channel. The advertisement message may be referred to as a first advertisement message or NB advertisement message. In an embodiment, one or more mirror channels may operate together.

The discovery channel is one of the NB channels and may be used for device-to-device discovery and/or connection establishment. The discovery channel may not be coupled (or synchronized) with the UWB channel. For discovery, a discovery beacon (message) may be sent over a discovery channel. In an embodiment, a discovery beacon (message) may be sent over a discovery channel, whether or not the UWB channel (communication) is activated. Specifically, not only in the UWB activation case but also in the UWB deactivation case, a discovery beacon (message) may be transmitted through a discovery channel. Here, the discovery channel may be referred to as an NB discovery channel. The discovery beacon may be referred to as a discovery message, NB discovery beacon, or NB discovery message. In an embodiment, one or more discovery channels may operate together.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure are described with reference to the drawings.

The present disclosure provides a method for avoiding collisions and for efficiently using UWB devices.

The present disclosure provides a method for performing advertising, device discovery, and/or connection establishment using in-band, rather than out-of-band, and structure of a UWB device for the method. Accordingly, the entire operation for providing the UWB service can be performed through in-band communication. In this case, sufficient UWB services may be provided for devices without additional OOB communication modules, such as Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) communication modules, rather than UWB communication modules.

The present disclosure provides a method of operating at least one subchannel in a channel allocated for UWB as an NB channel for advertisement, device discovery, and/or connection establishment. Here, NB channels used for advertisement, device discovery, and/or connection establishment may be distinguished from channels used for UWB ranging and/or transactions (UWB channels).

The present disclosure provides a method for dividing an NB channel into a mirror channel coupled to a UWB channel and a discovery channel not coupled to the UWB channel and operating the NB channel.

The present invention provides a method for performing a device discovery process regardless of whether UWB is used using a discovery channel that is not coupled to a UWB channel.

The present disclosure provides a method of performing device discovery and connection establishment on the same channel.

Fig. 1A shows the structure of a UWB device according to an embodiment.

Referring to fig. 1a, the uwb device 100a includes at least one PHY layer 110a, a MAC layer (MAC sublayer) 120a, and a higher layer 130a.

(1) PHY layer

At least one PHY layer 110a may include a transceiver with a low-level control mechanism. The transceiver may be referred to herein as an RF transceiver or a radio transceiver.

The at least one PHY layer 110a may include at least one first transceiver supporting UWB channels and at least one second transceiver supporting NB channels having a narrower bandwidth than UWB channels. The first transceiver may be referred to herein as a UWB transceiver. The second transceiver may be referred to as an NB transceiver.

In another embodiment, at least one PHY layer 110a may include a transceiver (dual-channel transceiver) that supports both UWB channels and NB channels.

The PHY layer 110a may support at least one of the following functions:

transceiver activation and deactivation functions (transceiver on/off functions)

Energy detection function

-channel selection function

-Clear Channel Assessment (CCA) function

-synchronization function

-low level signalling functions

Ultra wideband ranging, deployment and positioning functions

-spectrum resource management function

-a function of transmitting/receiving packets over a physical medium

(2) MAC layer

The MAC layer 120a provides an interface between the upper layer 130a and the PHY layer 110 a.

The MAC layer 120a may provide two services as follows:

-MAC data service: service capable of transmitting and receiving MAC Protocol Data Units (PDUs) through PHY

-MAC management service: services interfacing with a MAC sublayer management entity (MLME) Service Access Point (SAP) (MLME-SAP).

The MAC layer 120a may support at least one of the following functions.

Device discovery and connection establishment functions

Channel access function (function of accessing physical channels (e.g. NB channels/UWB channels))

Synchronization functions (e.g. synchronization between NB channels (mirror channels) and UWB channels)

-an interference suppression function based on energy detection

Narrowband signaling-related functions

Guaranteed Time Slot (GTS) management function

Frame transfer function

Ultra wideband ranging function

PHY parameter change notification function

Safety function

(3) Upper layer

The upper layer 130a may include a network layer that provides functions such as network configuration and message routing, and/or an application layer that provides the intended functions of the device.

The application layer may be a UWB-enabled application layer for providing UWB services.

Fig. 1B illustrates a communication system including a UWB device according to an embodiment.

Referring to fig. 1B, a communication system 10B includes a first UWB device 100B and a second UWB device 200B. The first UWB device 100B and/or the second UWB device 200B of fig. 1B may be examples of the UWB device 100a of fig. 1A.

The first UWB device 100b includes a UWB-enabled application layer 110b, an architecture 120b, at least one UWB transceiver 130b, and at least one NB transceiver 140b. The second UWB device 200b includes a UWB-enabled application layer 210b, an architecture 220b, at least one UWB transceiver 230b, and at least one NB transceiver 240b.

In fig. 1B, the UWB transceiver and NB transceiver of each device are shown as separate components, but these components are divided according to their operation/function. In particular, UWB transceivers and NB transceivers are not limited to implementation as separate physical components (e.g., separate chipsets). Thus, the UWB transceiver and NB transceiver may each be implemented as separate chipsets, or the UWB transceiver and NB transceiver may be implemented as a single integrated chipset.

UWB-enabled application layers 110b and 210b may be upper application layers for UWB services.

Architecture 120b or 220b may collectively manage UWB transceiver 130b or 230b and NB transceiver 140b or 240b. In embodiments, the architecture 120b or 220b may support functionality for controlling UWB/NB communications (e.g., medium Access Control (MAC) or UWB/NB transceiver synchronization functionality) and/or functionality for communicating the obtained information to the higher application layer 110b or 210 b.

UWB transceiver 130b or 230b may support at least one of the candidate UWB channels assigned to UWB communications. For example, UWB transceiver 130b or 230b may support at least one UWB channel. Exemplary candidate UWB channels allocated for UWB communications may be shown in table 1 below.

TABLE 1

Note that the frequency band represents a sequence of adjacent HRP UWB center frequencies: band 0 is a sub-gigahertz channel, band 1 has a low band HRPUWB channel, band 2 has a high band channel

In an embodiment, at least one channel in table 1 may be allocated as a UWB channel supported by UWB transceiver 130b or 230 b. For example, channel numbers 5 and/or 9 of table 1 may be assigned as UWB channels.

At least one UWB channel supported by UWB transceiver 130b or 230b may be used for UWB communications (e.g., UWB ranging and/or transactions). For example, at least one UWB channel supported by UWB transceiver 130b or 230b may be used to transmit/receive ranging frames RFRAME and/or data frames.

NB transceiver 140b or 240b may support at least one NB channel having a narrower bandwidth (e.g., 50MHz or less) than the UWB channel. At least one NB channel supported by NB transceiver 140b or 240b can be used for advertisement (discovery) and/or narrowband signaling.

In an embodiment, the NB channel may be a subchannel allocated to one of the candidate UWB channels for UWB communications. Exemplary candidate UWB channels allocated for UWB communications may be shown in table 1 above.

In another embodiment, the NB channels may be channels of a particular bandwidth that use another available frequency band (e.g., some of the ISM bands).

NB channels can be used for in-band communication, like UWB channels.

As shown in table 1 above, the candidate UWB channels have primarily bandwidths of 500MHz or greater. Therefore, when it is used for advertisement (discovery) as it is, it is disadvantageous in terms of power spectral density (energy detection), and thus it is necessary to divide the corresponding channel into a plurality of sub-channels for advertisement (discovery).

In an embodiment, at least one of the sub-channels into which one of the channels of table 1 is divided or at least one of the channels using a specific bandwidth of an available frequency band (e.g., a portion of an ISM band) may be allocated as a mirror channel. The mirror channel may be used to transmit advertisement messages.

In addition, at least one of the remaining sub-channels or channels not allocated as the mirror channel may be allocated as a channel for connection establishment (connection establishment channel). The channel used for connection establishment may be referred to herein as a second subchannel, NB connection establishment channel, or sub-announcement channel.

The connection establishment channel may be used to transmit additional advertisement messages including additional advertisement information not transmitted over the advertisement channel, for additional parameter negotiations or for authentication. The additional advertisement message may be referred to herein as a second advertisement message or an additional NB advertisement message.

At least one of the sub-channels into which one of the channels of table 1 is divided or at least one of the channels using a specific bandwidth of an available frequency band (e.g., a portion of an ISM band) may be allocated as a discovery channel. Here, the discovery channel may be used to transmit discovery beacons and for connection establishment. Thus, when using the discovery channel, device discovery and connection establishment can be performed through one channel. In contrast, when using a mirror channel, a separate connection setup channel needs to be allocated for connection setup.

As described above, NB channels have a narrower bandwidth than UWB channels. However, the band of the NB channel may be the same as or different from the band of the UWB channel.

For example, the NB and UWB channels may use different frequency bands. For example, the channel number (or band group number) of the candidate UWB channel including the sub-channel allocated as the NB channel and the channel number (or band group number) of the candidate UWB channel allocated as the UWB channel may be different from each other.

As another example, NB channels and UWB channels may use the same frequency band. For example, the channel number (or band group number) of the candidate UWB channel including the sub-channel allocated as the NB channel and the channel number (or band group number) of the candidate UWB channel allocated as the UWB channel may be identical to each other.

The first UWB device 100b and the second UWB device 200b may perform UWB communication (process) (in-band communication) through a first radio link (UWB channel) established via the UWB transceiver 110b of the first UWB device 100b and the UWB transceiver 210b of the second UWB device 200 b.

The first UWB device 100b and the second UWB device 200b may perform NB communication (process) through a second radio link (NB channel) established via the NB transceiver 110b of the first UWB device 100b and the NB transceiver 210b of the second UWB device 200b (in-band communication).

Hereinafter, a method of the UWB device performing NB communication (procedure) and UWB communication (procedure) is described with reference to fig. 2.

Fig. 2 illustrates a method of performing NB and UWB processes by a UWB device according to embodiments.

The UWB device of fig. 2 may be, for example, the UWB device of fig. 1A or 1B.

Referring to fig. 2, a UWB device may perform NB procedure 210 and UWB procedure 220.NB process 210 and UWB process 220 may be managed or controlled by the MAC layer (entity) of the UWB device.

(1) NB program

Here, NB procedure 210 refers to a procedure performed using at least one NB channel. NB procedure 210 can be performed prior to UWB procedure 220.

NB procedure 210 can include at least one of the following operations.

Operation of the UWB device to send and/or receive advertising messages (advertising operations) through at least one mirrored channel.

Operation of the UWB device to transmit and/or receive discovery beacons (messages) through at least one discovery channel (discovery operation).

-the UWB device transmitting and/or receiving an additional advertisement message, a connection request message and/or a connection confirmation message (first connection establishment operation) over at least one connection establishment channel.

-an operation of the UWB device to send and/or receive connection request messages and/or connection confirmation messages (second connection establishment operation) through at least one discovery channel.

(2) UWB procedure

Here, the UWB process 220 refers to a process performed using at least one UWB channel.

UWB process 220 may include at least one of the following operations:

-the UWB device performing operations of UWB ranging (UWB ranging operations) with another UWB device

Operation of the UWB device to exchange service data (transaction operations) with another UWB device

Fig. 3 illustrates a structure of a ranging block and a cycle for UWB ranging according to an embodiment.

Here, the ranging block refers to a period for ranging. The ranging cycle may be a period of sufficient duration to complete an entire ranging measurement cycle involved by a group of UWB devices participating in the ranging exchange. The ranging slot may be a sufficient period for transmitting at least one Ranging Frame (RFRAME) (e.g., ranging initiate/acknowledge/final message, etc.).

As shown in fig. 3, one ranging block may include at least one ranging cycle. Each ranging cycle may include at least one ranging slot.

When the ranging mode is a block-based mode, the average time between adjacent ranging cycles may be constant. Alternatively, when the ranging mode is an interval-based mode, the time between adjacent ranging cycles may be dynamically changed. In other words, the interval-based pattern may employ a temporal structure with adaptive intervals.

The number and duration of time slots included in the ranging cycle may be changed between ranging cycles. This may be configured by a control message from the controller.

Here, the ranging cycle may be abbreviated as cycle, the ranging block may be abbreviated as block, and the ranging slot may be abbreviated as slot.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of UWB ranging operation of the UWB process is described with reference to fig. 4 and 5.

Fig. 4 illustrates UWB ranging operations according to an embodiment.

The UWB ranging operation of fig. 4 may be an example of the UWB ranging operation of the UWB process of fig. 2. The UWB ranging operation of fig. 4 may be performed through a UWB channel.

In FIG. 4, UWB ranging may be, for example, single-sided two-way ranging (SS-TWR) or double-sided two-way ranging (DS-TWR).

In fig. 4, it is assumed that a controller 401 functions as an initiator, and a controller 402 functions as a responder.

Referring to operation 410a, the controller 401 transmits a control message (ranging control message) for controlling UWB ranging to the slave 402. For example, the controller 401 may transmit a control message to the controller 402 through a UWB channel.

In an embodiment, the control message may include information about the role of the UWB device (e.g., initiator or responder), ranging slot index information, and/or address information about the UWB device.

Referring to operation 420a, the controller (initiator) 401 transmits a ranging initiation message for initiating a ranging exchange to the slave (responder) 402. For example, the controller (initiator) 401 may transmit a ranging initiation message to the slave (responder) 402 through a UWB channel.

Referring to operation 430a, the slave (responder) 402 transmits a ranging response message corresponding to the ranging initiation message to the controller (initiator) 401. For example, the slave (responder) 402 may transmit a ranging response message to the controller (initiator) 403 through a UWB channel.

In an embodiment, the ranging response message may further include first measurement report information. The first measurement report message may include, for example, an angle of arrival (AoA) measurement, a response time of the responder measurement, and/or a list of round trip time measurements for the responder and the responder address. The response time may indicate a time difference between a reception time of the ranging initiation message and a transmission time of the ranging response message at the responder side. Based on this, SS-TWR may be performed. Calculation of time of flight (ToF) and distance/direction/position by SS-TWR follow the scheme defined in IEEE 802.15.4z.

In the case of DS-TWR, the controller (initiator) 401 may also transmit a ranging response message for completing ranging to the slave (responder) 402. For example, the controller (initiator) 401 may also transmit a ranging final message to the slave (responder) 402 through a UWB channel.

The ranging final message may further include second measurement report (measurement report) information. The second measurement report information may include AoA measurements, round trip time of the first responder (first round trip time), and/or a list of response time measurements for the responder and the responder address. The first round trip time may indicate a time difference between a ranging response message from the responder and a ranging final message from the initiator. Based on this, DS-TWR may be performed. Calculation of ToF and distance/direction/position by DS-TWR follows the scheme defined in IEEE 802.15.4z.

Fig. 5 illustrates UWB ranging operations according to another embodiment.

The UWB ranging operation of fig. 5 may be an example of the UWB ranging operation of the UWB process of fig. 2. The UWB ranging operation of fig. 5 may be performed through a UWB channel.

In fig. 5, UWB ranging may be, for example, SS-TWR or DS-TWR.

In fig. 5, unlike the embodiment of fig. 4, it is assumed that a controller 401 functions as a responder, and a controller 402 functions as an initiator.

Referring to operation 410b, the controller 401 transmits a control message (ranging control message) for controlling UWB ranging to the slave 402. For example, the controller 401 may transmit a control message to the controller 402 through a UWB channel.

The control message may include information about the role of the UWB device (e.g., initiator or responder), ranging slot index information, and/or address information about the UWB device.

Referring to operation 420b, the slave (initiator) 402 transmits a ranging initiation message for initiating a ranging exchange to the controller (responder) 401. For example, the slave (initiator) 402 may transmit a ranging initiation message to the controller (responder) 401 through a UWB channel.

Referring to operation 430b, the controller (responder) 401 transmits a ranging response message corresponding to the ranging initiation message to the slave (initiator) 402. For example, the controller (responder) 401 may transmit a ranging response message to the slave (initiator) 402 through a UWB channel.

The ranging response message may further include first measurement report information. The first measurement report message may include, for example, aoA measurements, response times measured by the responder, and/or a list of round trip time measurements for the responder and the responder address. The response time may indicate a time difference between a reception time of the ranging initiation message and a transmission time of the ranging response message at the responder side. Based on this, SS-TWR may be performed. Calculation of ToF and distance/direction/position by SS-TWR follows the scheme defined in IEEE 802.15.4z.

Meanwhile, in case of the DS-TWR, the slave (initiator) 402 may also transmit a ranging response message for completing ranging to the controller (responder) 401. For example, the slave (initiator) 402 may also transmit a ranging final message to the controller (responder) 401 through a UWB channel.

The ranging final message may further include second measurement report (measurement report) information. The second measurement report information may include AoA measurements, round trip time of the first responder (first round trip time), and/or a list of response time measurements for the responder and the responder address. The first round trip time may indicate a time difference between a ranging response message from the responder and a ranging final message from the initiator. Based on this, DS-TWR may be performed. Calculation of ToF and distance/direction/position by DS-TWR follows the scheme defined in IEEE 802.15.4z.

An embodiment in which the discovery process between devices is performed only by the advertisement message transmitted through the mirror channel is described below with reference to fig. 6 to 8.

Fig. 6 illustrates the operation of a UWB device in a ranging area network according to an embodiment.

Here, a Ranging Area Network (RAN) may include a plurality of UWB devices performing UWB ranging. The RAN may be referred to as a New Generation (NG) RAN (NRAN), and the UWB device may be referred to as an NG UWB device.

In fig. 6, it is assumed that a first UWB device 601 of the NRAN functions as a controller and a bulletin board. In the NRAN of fig. 6, the first UWB device 601 may perform NB processing. The first UWB device 601 may perform a UWB process with the second UWB device 602 through a previously established UWB session. Each process is described below.

(1) NB program

Referring to fig. 6 (a), in operation 610a, the first UWB device 601 may perform a UWB ranging operation with the second UWB device 602 through a previously established UWB session. The first UWB device 601 and the second UWB device 602 may perform UWB ranging operations through their respective UWB antennas. The UWB antenna of each device may be connected to a UWB transceiver of each device, and the UWB transceiver may support at least one UWB channel.

In operation 620a, the first UWB device 601 may transmit an advertisement message and the third UWB device 603 may receive the advertisement message. The first UWB device 601 may broadcast the advertisement message through an NB antenna of the first UWB device 601 and the third UWB device 603 may receive the advertisement message through an NB antenna of the third UWB device 603. The NB antenna of each device may be connected to the NB transceiver of each device, and the NB transceiver may support at least one NB channel.

In fig. 6 (a), the first UWB device 601 keeps the NB transceiver (or NB antenna) in an active state (on) for transmitting an advertisement message and keeps the UWB transceiver (or UWB antenna) in an active state (on) to perform UWB ranging. Further, the second UWB device 602 keeps the UWB transceiver (or UWB antenna) in an active state (on) to perform UWB ranging, but since reception of an announcement message is unnecessary, the NB transceiver (or NB antenna) may be kept in an inactive state (off). In addition, the third UWB device 603 keeps the UWB transceiver (or UWB antenna) in an active state (on) to receive the advertisement message, but may keep the UWB transceiver (or UWB antenna) in an inactive state (off) since UWB ranging has not been performed yet.

In this way, UWB transceivers (or UWB antennas) and/or NB transceivers (or NB antennas) may be turned on/off depending on the context, thereby saving power consumption.

(2) UWB procedure

Referring to (b) of fig. 6, in operation 610b, the first UWB device 601 may perform a UWB ranging operation with the second UWB device 602 through a previously established UWB session. The first UWB device 601 and the second UWB device 602 may perform UWB ranging operations through their respective UWB antennas. As described above, the UWB antenna of each device may be connected to the UWB transceiver of each device, and the UWB transceiver may support at least one UWB channel.

In operation 620b, the first UWB device 601 may perform a UWB ranging operation using the third UWB device 603. When the third UWB device 603 obtains information necessary to participate in UWB ranging (UWB process) with the first UWB device 601 through operation 620a, the third UWB device 603 may perform UWB ranging with the first UWB device 601. To this end, the third UWB device 603 may switch the UWB transceiver (or UWB antenna) of the third UWB device 603 to an active state (on). Thereafter, the third UWB device 602 may receive the ranging control message from the first UWB device 601 through the UWB antenna and may perform a UWB ranging operation based on the ranging control message. As described above, the UWB antenna may be connected to the UWB transceiver and the UWB transceiver may support at least one UWB channel.

When the third UWB device 603 performs UWB ranging with the first UWB device 601, the third UWB device 603 may switch the NB transceiver (or NB antenna) of the third UWB device 603 to an inactive state (off) to save power consumption.

In fig. 6 (b), the first UWB device 601 keeps the NB transceiver (or NB antenna) in an active state (on) for transmitting an advertisement message and keeps the UWB transceiver (or UWB antenna) in an active state (on) to perform UWB ranging. Further, the second UWB device 602 keeps the UWB transceiver (or UWB antenna) in an active state (on) to perform UWB ranging, but since reception of an announcement message is unnecessary, the NB transceiver (or NB antenna) may be kept in an inactive state (off). Further, the third UWB device 603 keeps the UWB transceiver (or UWB antenna) in an active state (on) to perform UWB ranging, but since reception of an announcement message is unnecessary, the NB transceiver (or NB antenna) may be kept in an inactive state (off).

In this way, UWB transceivers (or UWB antennas) and/or NB transceivers (or NB antennas) may be turned on/off depending on the context, thereby saving power consumption.

In fig. 6, it is assumed that the third UWB device 603 functions as a scanner and a controller, but embodiments of the present disclosure are not limited thereto. The third UWB device 603 may function as a scanner and controller. In this case, the third UWB device 603 may perform UWB ranging by establishing its own UWB session without participating in a UWB session controlled by another device.

Fig. 7 illustrates a structure of a channel used in a ranging area network according to an embodiment.

The ranging area network of fig. 7 may correspond to the ranging area network of fig. 6.

In fig. 7, the ranging blocks, ranging cycles, and ranging slots transmitted through the UWB channel may be ranging blocks, ranging cycles, and ranging slots used by a UWB device (e.g., the first UWB device 601 of fig. 6) serving as an advertiser/controller in a preconfigured session (e.g., a UWB ranging session).

Referring to fig. 7, the mirror channel and UWB channel may be used in a ranging area network.

The mirror channel may be used to send and/or receive at least one advertisement message. For example, a mirror channel may be used to transmit/receive the first advertisement message 710a and the second advertisement message 710b.

In addition, a connection setup channel may be used in the ranging area network to transmit and/or receive at least one additional advertisement message, a connection request message, and/or a connection confirmation message.

The UWB channel may be used to transmit and/or receive at least one ranging message for UWB ranging. At least one ranging message may be transmitted/received through the ranging blocks 720a and 720 b.

As described above with reference to fig. 3, each ranging block may include at least one ranging cycle, and each ranging cycle may include at least one ranging slot. For example, the first ranging block 720a may include M ranging cycles 730a-1, 730a-2, … … a-M. Each ranging cycle may include a plurality of ranging slots. Further, the second ranging block 720b may include M ranging cycles 730b-1, 730b-2, … … 730b-M. Each ranging cycle may include a plurality of ranging slots.

Fig. 8A illustrates an advertising operation according to an embodiment.

The advertisement operation of fig. 8A may be an example of the advertisement operation of NB process 210 of fig. 2.

In fig. 8A, the first UWB device 801 may be a UWB device that functions as a bulletin board and a controller. The second UWB device 802 may be a UWB device that functions as a scanner and a slave.

The advertising operation of fig. 8A may be an advertising/discovery operation performed through a mirror channel.

Referring to fig. 8A, in operation 810a, a first UWB device 801 transmits an advertisement message. The first UWB device 801 may broadcast an announcement message over at least one mirror channel. In this case, the second UWB device 802 may scan at least one mirror channel to receive the advertisement message. Thus, the second UWB device 802 may obtain device discovery and/or advertising information.

The mirror channel may be a channel previously known to the first UWB device 801 and the second UWB device 802. For example, the mirror channel may be included in information provided at the time of installation of the relevant UWB-enabled application, be a hard-coded default channel, or be a channel shared in other various ways between the first UWB device 801 and the second UWB device 802. As described above, the mirror channel may be one (or more) sub-channels in the candidate UWB channel.

The advertisement message may include at least one of information about a start time of a ranging cycle, information about a channel occupation time (e.g., information about a channel occupation time expressed as a multiple of a Time Unit (TU)), information about a length of a ranging block, information about a ranging cycle, or information about the number of active cycles or an active cycle number. Here, the active cycle may be a ranging cycle that is actually used (or occupied) in the ranging cycle.

The advertisement message may include information (session ID information) about a session ID of the session (e.g., a ranging session) and/or information (address information) about an address of a UWB device (e.g., a MAC address of the UWB device) that transmits the advertisement message. The advertisement message may include numbering information for indicating to which of all active cycle numbers in the corresponding ranging block the advertisement message corresponds.

The advertisement message may include information (transmission time information) about a transmission time of a subsequent corresponding advertisement message. For example, the advertisement message or the transmission time information may include the number of slots (transmission slot indication information) in which the corresponding advertisement message starts to be transmitted and/or information about the slot length (slot length information).

The advertisement message may include information about a period of a ranging block in which the advertisement message is transmitted. For example, the advertisement message or the information on the period of the ranging block may include information on how many ranging blocks have been skipped (first information) or information on the number of consecutive ranging blocks that have not transmitted the advertisement message (second information).

When the advertisement information obtained through the operation of fig. 8A includes all information necessary to perform UWB communication (UWB process), the second UWB device 802 may perform the above-described operation of fig. 8A and then immediately perform the UWB process.

However, according to an embodiment, the advertisement information may include only a part of information necessary to perform the UWB process. For example, additional advertisement information may be further required to perform UWB communication. Alternatively, additional parameter negotiations or authentications may be further required to perform UWB communications. In this case, additional advertisement operations and/or connection establishment operations for advertisement information acquisition, additional parameter negotiation, and/or authentication may be further performed. This will be described below with reference to fig. 8B.

Fig. 8B illustrates an advertisement operation and a connection establishment operation according to an embodiment.

The advertisement operation and the connection establishment operation of fig. 8B may be examples of the advertisement operation and the first connection establishment operation of the NB procedure of fig. 2.

In fig. 8B, the first UWB device 801 may be a UWB device that functions as a bulletin board and a controller. The second UWB device 801 may be a UWB device that functions as a scanner and a slave.

The advertisement operation of fig. 8B may be an advertisement operation performed through a mirror channel, and the connection establishment operation may be a connection establishment operation performed through a connection establishment channel.

Referring to fig. 8B, in operation 810B, a first UWB device 801 transmits an advertisement message. For example, the first UWB device 801 may broadcast an announcement message over at least one mirror channel. In this case, the second UWB device 802 may scan at least one mirror channel to receive the advertisement message. Thus, the second UWB device 802 may obtain device discovery and/or advertising information.

As described above, the mirror channel may be a channel previously known to the first UWB device 801 and the second UWB device 802. Further, the mirror channel may be one (or more) sub-channels in the candidate UWB channel.

In addition, when additional bulletin information is further required, operation 811b may be performed. Operation 811b may be an optional operation.

In operation 811b, the first UWB device 801 may transmit an additional advertisement message. For example, the first UWB device 801 may broadcast additional advertisement messages over the connection setup channel. In this case, the second UWB device 802 may receive the additional advertisement message by scanning the connection establishment channel. Information about NB connection establishment channels can be included in the advertisement message of operation 810 b.

The second UWB device 802 may also obtain additional advertisement information through the additional advertisement message of operation 811b.

In addition, operations 820b and 830b may be performed when additional parameter negotiations and/or authentication (connection establishment) are required. Operations 820b and 830b may be optional operations.

In operation 820b, the second UWB device 802 may transmit a connection request message to the first UWB device. For example, the second UWB device 802 may send a connection request message to the first UWB device over a connection setup channel. In an embodiment, the connection request message may include parameters for the performance of the slave and/or information for authentication.

In operation 830b, the first UWB device 801 may transmit a connection confirmation message to the second UWB device in response to the connection request message. For example, the first UWB device 801 may send a connection confirmation message to the second UWB device over a connection setup channel. The connection confirmation message may include parameters for UWB establishment, parameters for protecting a session key for a UWB session, and/or information for authentication.

Negotiations and/or authentication of additional parameters may be performed through the connection establishment operations of operations 820b and 830 b.

The message exchange operations of operations 820b and 830b may be repeated as many times as desired. For example, if additional message exchanges are required after the message exchanges of operations 820b and 830b are performed once (i.e., if message exchanges are required for additional parameter negotiations and/or authentications), the message exchange operations of operations 820b and 830b may be further performed on the corresponding connection establishment channels (sub-advertisement channels) as needed.

The embodiment of fig. 8B may reduce congestion of the mirror channels and may be able to efficiently operate multiple NB channels as compared to the embodiment of fig. 8A. The embodiment of fig. 8A may perform a faster NB procedure than the embodiment of fig. 8B, thereby shortening the overall time for providing UWB services. Accordingly, it is necessary to flexibly set an appropriate NB procedure and NB channel operation scheme in consideration of the number of UWB devices participating in UWB ranging, the surrounding environment, and the like.

As described above, in fig. 6 to 8, the mirror channel and the UWB channel for transmitting the advertisement message are synchronized or coupled. Thus, as shown in fig. 6, in order to transmit an advertisement message, the UWB antenna (or UWB transceiver) of the UWB device must always be in an active state. In this case, unless the UWB antenna (or UWB transceiver) of the UWB device is in an active state, the UWB device cannot transmit a discovery, and thus cannot perform an inter-device discovery process. Accordingly, regardless of whether the UWB antenna (or UWB transceiver) of the UWB device is in an active state or a disabled state, it is necessary to consider a method (always in discovery) capable of performing a device-to-device discovery process. An example of such "always found" is described below.

Also in the following embodiments, the operation through the mirror channel may be performed with reference to the descriptions made with respect to fig. 6 to 8.

An embodiment in which the discovery process between devices is performed by an advertisement message transmitted through a mirror channel and a discovery beacon (message) transmitted through a discovery channel is described below with reference to fig. 9 to 17.

In this embodiment, compared with the above-described embodiments, the discovery process may be performed using an advertisement message transmitted through a mirror channel and a discovery beacon (message) transmitted through a discovery channel. Meanwhile, as described above, the mirror channel is coupled (or synchronized) with the UWB channel, but the discovery channel is not coupled (or synchronized) with the UWB channel. Accordingly, when the discovery process is performed through a discovery message transmitted through a discovery channel, the discovery process may be performed regardless of UWB activation. For example, regardless of the activation of the UWB antenna (or UWB transceiver) of the UWB device, the UWB device may transmit a discovery message through the discovery channel, for example, even when the UWB antenna (or UWB transceiver) is disabled. Thus, "always found" can be performed.

Fig. 9 illustrates the operation of a UWB device in a ranging area network according to another embodiment.

Here, the RAN may be a network including a plurality of UWB devices performing UWB ranging. The RAN may be referred to as an NRAN and the UWB device may be referred to as an NG UWB device.

In fig. 9, it is assumed that a first UWB device 901 of an NRAN functions as a bulletin board. In the NRAN of fig. 9, the first UWB device 901 may perform an NB procedure.

Referring to fig. 9, a first UWB device 901 may transmit a discovery beacon (message) and a second UWB device 902 and/or a third UWB device 903 may receive the discovery beacon (message). The first UWB device 901 may broadcast a discovery beacon (message) over at least one discovery channel using an NB antenna of the first UWB device 601, and the second UWB device 902 and/or the third UWB device 903 may receive the discovery beacon (message) by scanning the at least one discovery channel using its own NB antenna. The NB antenna of each device may be connected to the NB transceiver of each device. The NB transceiver can support at least one discovery channel.

In fig. 9, a first UWB device 901 may keep an NB transceiver (or NB antenna) active (on) for transmitting discovery beacons (messages). Unlike the embodiment of fig. 6, in fig. 9, the first UWB device 901 does not need to activate a UWB transceiver (or UWB antenna) to transmit discovery beacons (messages). For example, the first UWB device 901 may transmit a discovery beacon (message) even when the UWB transceiver (or UWB antenna) of the first UWB device 901 remains in an inactive state. In this case, unlike the embodiment of fig. 6, even in a state where the UWB communication function is disabled, device discovery is possible.

Further, the second UWB device 902 and the third UWB device 903 keep the NB transceiver (or NB antenna) in an active state (on) to receive the discovery beacon (message), but since UWB communication (e.g., UWB ranging) has not been performed, the UWB transceiver (or UWB antenna) may be kept in an inactive state (off).

Thereafter, the first UWB device 901, the second UWB device 902, and/or the third UWB device 903 may activate a UWB transceiver (or UWB antenna) to perform UWB communication with another UWB device.

For example, when information necessary for participation in UWB ranging (UWB process) with the first UWB device 901 is obtained through the above NB process, the third UWB device 903 may switch the UWB transceiver (or UWB antenna) of the third UWB device 903 to an active state (on) to perform UWB ranging with the first UWB device 901. Thereafter, the third UWB device 902 may perform UWB ranging with the first UWB device 901 through the UWB antenna. As described above, the UWB antenna may be connected to the UWB transceiver and the UWB transceiver may support at least one UWB channel.

Meanwhile, when the third UWB device 903 performs UWB ranging with the first UWB device 901, the third UWB device 903 may switch the NB transceiver (or NB antenna) of the third UWB device 903 to an inactive state (off) to save power consumption.

In this way, UWB transceivers (or UWB antennas) and/or NB transceivers (or NB antennas) may be turned on/off as the case may be, thereby saving power consumption.

Fig. 10 illustrates a structure of a channel used in a ranging area network according to another embodiment.

In fig. 10, a ranging block structure may be configured for the UWB channel. For example, as shown, a first ranging block including a plurality of ranging cycles having ranging cycle 1 1030a-1, ranging cycle 2 1030a-2, … … ranging cycle M1030 a-M, ranging cycle m+11030a-m+1, and a second ranging block including a plurality of ranging cycles having ranging cycle 1, ranging cycle 2 1030b-2, ranging cycle N1030 b-N, … … ranging cycle n+11030b-m+1 may be configured for a UWB channel. M and N may be the same or different numbers. Each ranging cycle includes at least one ranging slot.

In fig. 10, at least one advertisement message may be transmitted via a mirror channel using an NB. For example, as shown, each advertisement message 1020a-1, 1020a-2, 1020a-3, 1020b-1, 1020b-3 may be transmitted in a corresponding timing via a mirror channel using the NB.

In fig. 10, at least one discovery message may be transmitted via a discovery channel using an NB. For example, as shown, discovery message 1010a-1 may be transmitted in respective timings via a discovery channel using an NB.

In fig. 10, at least one message related to connection establishment may be transmitted via a discovery channel using the NB. For example, as shown, connection request message 1010a-2 and connection acknowledgement message 1010a-3 may be transmitted in respective timings by using a discovery channel of the NB.

In fig. 10, it is assumed that there are a plurality of Ranging Area Networks (RANs) (e.g., RAN1, RAN2, and RAN 3). Each RAN of fig. 10 may correspond to the RAN of fig. 9.

In fig. 10, it is assumed that one UWB channel is shared by a plurality of RANs. For example, as shown, UWB channels may be shared by RAN1, RAN2, and RAN3.

Further, in fig. 10, it is assumed that UWB channels (e.g., at least one ranging cycle of UWB channels) were previously occupied for some RANs sharing the respective UWB channels. For example, as shown, ranging cycle 2 1030a-2 of the first ranging block and ranging cycle 2 1030b-2 of the second ranging block may be occupied for RAN1. The ranging cycles M1030a-M of the first ranging block and the ranging cycles N1030 b-N of the second ranging block may be used for RAN2.M and N may be the same or different numbers. The index of the ranging cycle occupied by the same RAN may be the same or different for each ranging block.

The UWB channel (e.g., at least one ranging cycle of the UWB channel) may not be pre-occupied for RAN3. Therefore, the discovery procedure and the connection establishment procedure of the RAN3 need to be performed through the discovery channel.

Referring to fig. 10, described below is the operation of the RAN that previously occupied the UWB channel, followed by the operation of the RAN that does not previously occupy the UWB channel.

(1) Operation of RANs with UWB channels and pre-occupied time (e.g., operation of RAN1 and RAN 2) (see above Operation of the embodiment described with reference to fig. 6 to 8

The UWB channel and at least one specific cycle of UWB channels may be pre-occupied by the controller of RAN1 and the controller of RAN 2. The configuration of the ranging blocks, ranging cycles, and ranging slots transmitted over the UWB channel may be set by the controller of RAN1 or the controller of RAN 2.

The advertiser of the corresponding RAN may send the advertisement message over a mirror channel coupled (or synchronized) with the UWB channel of the corresponding RAN. For example, the advertiser of RAN1 may send the advertisement message 1020a-1 or 1020b-1 over the mirror channel at a particular time of the ranging cycle 1030a-2 or 1030b-2 of the UWB channel of RAN1 (e.g., a start time of the first time slot of the corresponding ranging cycle or a time at which a transmission offset is applied in the first time slot of the corresponding ranging cycle). As another example, the advertiser of RAN2 may send advertisement message 1020a-2 or 1020b-2 over the mirror channel at a particular time of the ranging cycle 1030a-m or 1030b-n of the UWB channel of RAN2 (e.g., a start time of the first time slot of the corresponding ranging cycle or a time at which a transmission offset is applied in the first time slot of the corresponding ranging cycle).

The scanner of the corresponding RAN may receive the advertisement message by scanning the mirror channel. Thereafter, the scanner of the corresponding RAN may perform operations based on the received advertisement message. The operation based on the advertisement message is described above with reference to fig. 6 to 8.

(2) Operation of RAN without UWB channel and pre-occupation time (e.g., operation of RAN 3)

At the present time, the UWB channel and at least one specific cycle of the UWB channel are in a state not pre-occupied by the controller of the RAN 3. Thus, the advertiser of the RAN3 may not send an advertisement message for discovery through the mirror channel.

The advertiser of RAN3 may send a discovery beacon (message) 1010a-1 for discovery over a discovery channel. As an example, the bulletin board of the RAN3 may be a controller or a slave.

The UWB device (e.g., controller) that has received the discovery beacon may transmit a connection request message 1010a-2 to the UWB device (e.g., controller) that has transmitted the discovery beacon. In addition, the UWB device (e.g., controller) having received the connection request message 1010a-2 may transmit the connection confirmation message 1010a-3 to the UWB device (e.g., slave) having transmitted the connection request message 1010a-2.

Discovery beacons (messages), connection response messages, and connection acknowledgement messages may be sent in periods corresponding to one ranging cycle. For example, as shown, discovery beacon (message) 1010a-1, connection response message 1010a-2, and/or connection acknowledgement message 1010a-3 for RAN3 may be sent during a period of first ranging cycle 1030a-1 corresponding to a first ranging block.

As described above, the UWB channel is in a state not previously occupied by the controller of the RAN 3. In this case, the controller of the RAN3 may scan the mirror channel for at least one period to select a UWB channel and time. The controller can identify the status of the UWB channel by mirror channel scanning and select and occupy the UWB channel/time to be used based thereon. For example, as shown, the controller may identify the status of the UWB channel through mirror channel scanning, and may select and occupy an unoccupied ranging cycle 1030a-m 1 or 1030b-n+1 for the other RAN of the corresponding UWB channel.

After the UWB channel and time are occupied by the controller of the RAN3, a connection setup procedure for the RAN3 may be performed. The controller may send information for communication in the newly occupied UWB channel to the slave through a connection establishment procedure. The controller may provide information to the slave for communication over the UWB channel via a connection acknowledgement message. For example, the controller may receive a connection request message from the slave through the discovery channel, and may provide information for communication on the UWB channel to the slave through a connection acknowledgement message corresponding to the connection request message through the discovery channel. As an example, the connection confirmation message may include information about the UWB channel and/or ranging cycle to be used (or the start time of UWB communication). For example, the connection acknowledgement message may include information indicating that UWB communication may be performed in a ranging cycle n+1 (1030 b-n+1) occupied by RAN 3.

In this case, the slave may participate in respective ranging cycles of respective UWB channels based on the connection acknowledgement message. Accordingly, the controller and the slave may perform UWB communication (e.g., UWB ranging) in the corresponding UWB channel.

The slave may not activate the UWB communication function until the connection establishment procedure. The slave may activate the UWB communication function when obtaining information for communication over the UWB channel through the connection establishment procedure. In this case, the slave can adjust the timing for activating the UWB communication function. For example, the slave may activate the UWB communication function at a time (first time) when information for communication on the UWB channel through the connection establishment procedure is obtained, at a time (second time) when actual UWB communication is performed, or at a time (third time) between the first time and the second time.

As described above, when using a discovery channel, discovery and connection establishment may be performed on the same channel that is not coupled to the UWB channel. Thus, collisions can be minimized when occupying the UWB channel.

Fig. 11A illustrates a method of performing a discovery operation by a UWB device according to an embodiment.

The discovery operation of fig. 11A may be an example of the discovery operation of NB process 210 of fig. 2. The discovery operation of fig. 11A may be performed through at least one discovery channel.

In fig. 11A, the first UWB device 1101 may be a UWB device serving as a bulletin board, and the second UWB device 1101 may be a UWB device serving as a scanner. Further, the first UWB device 1101 and the second UWB device 1101 may be a controller or a slave.

Referring to fig. 11A, in operation 1110a, the first UWB device 1101 may transmit a discovery beacon (message). The first UWB device 1101 may broadcast a discovery beacon (message) through at least one discovery channel. In this case, the second UWB device 1102 may scan the discovery channel to receive discovery beacons (messages). Thus, the second UWB device 1102 may discover the first UWB device 1101.

The first UWB device 1101 may transmit a discovery beacon (message) through a discovery channel regardless of whether the UWB channel is occupied.

The discovery beacon (message) may provide information for device discovery.

The discovery channel may be a common channel (common discovery channel) that all UWB devices scan. In another embodiment, the discovery channel may be a dedicated channel (dedicated discovery channel) established through negotiation between devices.

The discovery beacon (message) may be sent periodically. In this case, information about the corresponding period may be included in the discovery beacon (message).

For the above-described transmission/reception of discovery beacons (messages) and device discovery operations based thereon, reference is made to, for example, a known BLE advertisement-related operation.

Fig. 11B illustrates a method of performing a discovery operation and a connection establishment operation by a UWB device according to an embodiment.

The discovery operation of fig. 11B may be an example of the discovery operation of NB process 210 of fig. 2. The connection establishment operation may be an example of a second connection establishment operation of NB procedure 210 of fig. 2. The advertising operation and the connection establishment operation of fig. 11B may be performed through at least one discovery channel.

In fig. 11B, the first UWB device 1101 may be a UWB device serving as an advertiser, and the second UWB device 1101 may be a UWB device serving as a scanner. Further, the first UWB device 1101 and the second UWB device 1101 may be a controller or a slave.

Referring to fig. 11B, in operation 1110B, the first UWB device 1101 may transmit a discovery beacon (message). The first UWB device 1101 may broadcast a discovery beacon (message) through at least one discovery channel. In this case, the second UWB device 1102 may scan the discovery channel to receive discovery beacons (messages). Thus, the second UWB device 1102 may discover the first UWB device 1101.

The first UWB device 1101 may transmit a discovery beacon (message) through a discovery channel regardless of whether the UWB channel is occupied.

The discovery beacon (message) may provide information for device discovery.

The discovery channel may be a common channel (common discovery channel) that all UWB devices scan. In another embodiment, the discovery channel may be a dedicated channel (dedicated discovery channel) established through negotiation between devices.

The discovery beacon (message) may be sent periodically. In this case, information about the corresponding period may be included in the discovery beacon (message).

In operation 1120b, the second UWB device 1102 receiving the discovery beacon (message) may transmit a connection request message for connection establishment to the first UWB device 1101. The second UWB device 1102 may transmit a connection request message to the first UWB device 1101 through a discovery channel that has received a discovery beacon (message).

In operation 1130b, the first UWB device 1101 receiving the connection request message may transmit a connection confirmation message corresponding to the connection request message to the second UWB device 1102. The first UWB device 1101 may transmit a connection confirmation message to the second UWB device 1102 through a corresponding discovery channel.

When the controller occupies a UWB channel, the connection confirmation message may include information about the corresponding UWB channel and related parameters (e.g., a start time of UWB communication or an occupied ranging cycle).

When the controller does not occupy the UWB channel, the connection confirmation message may include information indicating that the mirror channel needs to be scanned.

The message exchange operations of operations 1120b and 1130b for connection establishment may be repeated as many times as desired. For example, if additional message exchanges are required after the message exchanges of operations 1120b and 1130b are performed once, the message exchange operations of operations 1120b and 1130b may be further performed as many times as needed in the corresponding discovery channel. For example, if the connection confirmation message includes information indicating that the mirror channel needs to be scanned, the connection establishment procedure is not completed through the corresponding connection confirmation message. Thus, connection establishment requires additional message exchanges, and through the additional message exchanges, information about the corresponding UWB channel and related parameters (e.g., the start time of UWB communication or the occupied ranging cycle) that the controller newly occupies can be transmitted to the controller.

Fig. 12 is a flowchart showing a discovery operation performed by the controller according to the embodiment.

In fig. 12, it is assumed that a message for discovery is transmitted by the controller. In fig. 12, the controller may be represented as a first UWB device, and the slave may be represented as a second UWB device.

Fig. 12 may be an example of the embodiment of fig. 11A.

Referring to fig. 12, at 1210, the controller determines whether an occupied UWB channel exists. The controller may identify whether there is an occupied UWB channel for the RAN to which the controller belongs.

If there is an occupied UWB channel, the controller transmits an advertisement message through a mirror channel corresponding to the UWB channel and transmits a discovery beacon (message) through a discovery channel at 1220.

The advertisement message may include information indicating a state (status) of the UWB channel.

When the advertisement message is transmitted through the mirror channel, another controller or slave may receive the advertisement message through the mirror channel to identify the UWB channel state and access the indicated channel/time.

When transmitting a discovery beacon through the discovery channel, another controller or slave may receive the discovery beacon through the discovery channel and discover the controller that has transmitted the discovery beacon.

The discovery channel may be a common channel that is scanned by all UWB devices. In another embodiment, the discovery channel may be a dedicated channel established through negotiations between devices.

The discovery beacon (message) may be sent periodically. In this case, information about the corresponding period may be included in the discovery beacon (message).

If there is no occupied UWB channel, the controller transmits a discovery beacon over the discovery channel at 1230. Unlike the mirror channel coupled to the UWB channel, the discovery channel is not coupled to the UWB channel, so that the controller can transmit a message (e.g., discovery beacon (message)) for discovery through the discovery channel regardless of whether the UWB channel is occupied.

Since the mirror channel is coupled with the UWB channel, if the UWB channel is unoccupied and the controller transmits a message (e.g., an advertisement message) for discovery through the mirror channel, 1) the channel congestion increases, and 2) whether the channel is occupied cannot be identified by a simple method such as energy detection. Thus, if the UWB channel is unoccupied, the controller should not transmit an announcement message through the mirror channel.

Fig. 13 is a flowchart showing a discovery operation performed by the slave according to the embodiment.

In fig. 13, it is assumed that a message for discovery is transmitted by the slave. The slave may receive messages/beacons for discovery through the NB channel without requiring UWB activation. In fig. 13, the controller may be represented as a first UWB device, and the slave may be represented as a second UWB device.

Fig. 13 may be an example of the embodiment of fig. 11A.

Referring to fig. 13, the slave determines whether UWB channel occupancy is desired 1310. The slave can identify whether the controller is expected to occupy the UWB channel.

When the UWB channel is expected to be occupied, the controller scans a mirror channel corresponding to the UWB channel to receive the advertisement message at 1320. Thus, the controller can discover the controller.

For example, in the case of a kiosk's use, the kiosk device (controller) may not know when and how many UEs (slaves) are accessing, and thus may always occupy the UWB channel at regular periods for competitive access by the UEs. In this case, the kiosk device may transmit an advertisement message for informing of the occupancy state of the UWB channel through a mirror channel coupled to the UWB channel at regular periods. In this case, the UE may expect the kiosk device to occupy the UWB channel and scan the mirror channel to receive the advertisement message.

As another example, in the case of a kiosk's use, a UE (controller) may activate a particular application to access the kiosk device (controller). When a particular application is activated, the UE may expect the kiosk device as a controller to occupy the UWB channel and scan the mirror channel to receive the advertisement message, thereby rapidly performing service discovery.

When no UWB channel occupancy is desired, the slave scans the discovery channel and receives a discovery beacon (message), 1330. Thus, the controller can discover the controller.

As with the kiosk example described above, power consumption increases when the controller always occupies the UWB channel. Thus, the controller needs to disable UWB communication functions when UWB channel occupancy is not necessary. In this case, the controller cannot transmit a message for discovery through the mirror channel, but can transmit only a message for discovery through the discovery channel. Thus, when no UWB channel occupancy is desired, the slave may perform discovery operations by discovery channel scanning instead of mirror channel scanning.

The slave may scan a common discovery channel to receive a plurality of discovery beacons and discover the plurality of controllers.

In another embodiment, the slave may scan a set of dedicated discovery channels through previous negotiations with the controllers to receive discovery beacons from and discover a particular controller.

Fig. 14 is a flowchart showing a connection establishment operation performed by the controller according to the embodiment.

In fig. 14, it is assumed that a connection request message is transmitted by a controller and a connection confirmation message is transmitted by the controller. In fig. 14, it is assumed that a connection request message and a connection acknowledgement message are transmitted/received through a discovery channel. In fig. 14, the controller may be represented as a first UWB device, and the slave may be represented as a second UWB device.

Fig. 14 may be an example of the embodiment of fig. 11B.

Referring to fig. 14, the controller receives a connection request message from the controller through a discovery channel at 1410. The slave that has transmitted the connection request message may be a slave that has received a message for discovery (e.g., discovery beacon) from the controller through the discovery channel.

At 1420, the controller determines whether there is a pre-occupied UWB channel.

If there is an occupied UWB channel, the controller transmits a first connection confirm message including information for communication in the corresponding UWB channel to the slave through the discovery channel at 1430. This is described in more detail below with reference to fig. 16.

If there is no occupied UWB channel, the controller sends 1440 a second connection confirmation message over the discovery channel that includes information indicating that a mirror channel scan is required. In this case, since the connection establishment is not completed through the second connection confirmation message, an additional procedure for connection establishment may be performed later.

In addition, at 1450, the controller may identify the state (condition) of the UWB channel through the mirror channel scan, and may provide information to the slave for communication over the UWB channel. The information for communicating over the UWB channel may include information about the time to use (e.g., ranging cycle) and the UWB channel.

The controller can identify the status of the UWB channel by mirror channel scanning and select and occupy the UWB channel/time to be used based thereon.

The controller may provide information for communication over the UWB channel to the slave via a third connection acknowledgement message. For example, the controller may receive a second connection request message from the slave through the discovery channel in the additionally performed connection setup process, and may provide information for communication on the UWB channel to the slave through the discovery channel using a third connection confirm message corresponding to the second connection request message. This is described in more detail below with reference to fig. 17.

Fig. 15 is a flowchart showing a connection establishment operation by the slave according to the embodiment.

In fig. 15, it is assumed that a connection request message is transmitted by a controller and a connection confirmation message is transmitted by the controller. In fig. 15, it is assumed that a connection request message and a connection acknowledgement message are transmitted/received through a discovery channel. In fig. 15, the controller may be represented as a first UWB device, and the slave may be represented as a second UWB device.

Fig. 15 may be an example of the embodiment of fig. 11B.

Referring to fig. 15, the slave transmits a connection request message to the controller through a discovery channel at 1510. The slave that has transmitted the connection request message may be a slave that has received a message for discovery (e.g., discovery beacon) from the controller through the discovery channel.

At 1520, the slave receives a connection confirmation message from the controller over the discovery channel.

At 1530, the slave determines whether the received connection confirmation message is a first connection confirmation message including information for communicating over the UWB channel or a second connection confirmation message including information indicating that a mirror channel scan is required.

When the received connection confirmation message is the first connection confirmation message, the slave obtains information for communication over the UWB channel at 1540. The information for communicating over the UWB channel may include information about the time to use (e.g., ranging cycle) and the UWB channel. The slave may participate in a corresponding UWB channel and a corresponding ranging cycle based on the information. Accordingly, the slave and the controller may perform UWB communication (e.g., UWB ranging) in the corresponding UWB channel.

When the received connection confirmation message is the second connection confirmation message, the slave performs an additional connection establishment procedure at 1550. In this case, the slave may transmit the second connection request message to the controller through the discovery channel, and the controller may transmit a third connection confirmation message corresponding to the second connection request message to the slave through the discovery channel. The third connection confirmation message may include information for communication over the UWB channel.

At 1560, the slave receives information for communication over the UWB channel. The slave may receive information for communication over the UWB channel through the third connection confirmation message described above. The information for communicating on the UWB channel may include information about the time to use (e.g., the start time of UWB communication or the occupied ranging cycle) and the UWB channel. The slave may participate in a corresponding UWB channel and a corresponding ranging cycle based on the information. Accordingly, the slave and the controller may perform UWB communication (e.g., UWB ranging) in the corresponding UWB channel.

Fig. 16 illustrates a structure of a channel used in a ranging area network according to another embodiment.

In fig. 16, a ranging block structure may be configured for the UWB channel. For example, as shown, a first ranging block including a plurality of ranging cycles having ranging cycles 1 1630a-1, ranging cycles 2 1630a-2, … … ranging cycles M1630 a-M, ranging cycles m+11630a-m+1, and a second ranging block including a plurality of ranging cycles having ranging cycles 1, ranging cycles 2 1630b-2, ranging cycles N1630 b-N, … … ranging cycles n+11630b-m+1 may be configured for a UWB channel. M and N may be the same or different numbers. Each ranging cycle includes at least one ranging slot.

In fig. 16, at least one advertisement message may be transmitted via a mirror channel using an NB. For example, as shown, each advertisement message 1620a-1, 1620a-2, 1620a-3, 1620a-4, 1620b-1, 1620b-3 may be transmitted in a corresponding timing via a mirror channel using NB.

In fig. 16, at least one discovery message may be transmitted via a discovery channel using an NB. For example, as shown, each discovery message 1610a-1, 1601b-1 may be transmitted in a corresponding timing by using a discovery channel of the NB.

In fig. 16, at least one message related to connection establishment may be transmitted via a discovery channel using the NB. For example, as shown, connection request message 1610a-2 and connection acknowledgement message 1610a-3 may be transmitted in respective timings by using a discovery channel of the NB.

In fig. 16, it is assumed that one UWB channel is shared by a plurality of RANs. For example, as shown, UWB channels may be shared by RAN1, RAN2, and RAN 3.

Further, in fig. 16, it is assumed that each of at least one ranging cycle of UWB channels is previously occupied by each RAN sharing a corresponding UWB channel. For example, as shown, ranging cycles 1 1630a-1 and m+11630a-m+1 of the first ranging block and ranging cycles n+11630b-n+1 of the second ranging block may be occupied for RAN3, ranging cycles 2 1630a-2 of the first ranging block and ranging cycles 2 1630b-2 of the second ranging block may be occupied for RAN1, and ranging cycles M1630 a-M of the first ranging block and ranging cycles N1630 b-N of the second ranging block may be occupied for RAN2.M and N may be the same or different numbers. The index of the ranging cycle occupied by the same RAN may be the same or different for each ranging block.

The advertiser of the corresponding RAN may send the advertisement message over a mirror channel coupled (or synchronized) with the UWB channel of the corresponding RAN. For example, as shown, the advertiser of RAN1 may send advertisement message 1620a-1 or 1620b-1 over a mirror channel at a particular time of a ranging cycle 1630a-2 or 1630b-2 of the UWB channel of RAN1 (e.g., a start time of a first slot of a corresponding ranging cycle or a time when a transmission offset is applied in a first slot of a corresponding ranging cycle). As another example, as shown, the advertiser of RAN2 may send advertisement message 1620a-2 or 1620b-2 over a mirror channel at a particular time of a ranging cycle 1630a-m or 1630b-n of the UWB channel of RAN2 (e.g., a start time of a first time slot of a corresponding ranging cycle or a time when a transmission offset is applied in the first time slot of a corresponding ranging cycle). As another example, as shown, the advertiser of RAN3 may send advertisement messages 1620a-1, 1620a-4, or 1620b-3 over a mirror channel at a particular time (e.g., the start time of the first time slot of the corresponding ranging cycle or the time when the transmission offset is applied in the first time slot of the corresponding ranging cycle) of the ranging cycle 1630a-1, 1630a-m+1, or 1630b-n+1 of the UWB channel of RAN 3.

The advertiser of the corresponding RAN may send a discovery beacon (message) over a discovery channel that is not coupled (or synchronized) with the UWB channel of the corresponding RAN. For example, as shown, the advertiser of RAN3 may send discovery beacons 1610a-1 and 1610b-1 periodically or aperiodically over a discovery channel.

A UWB device (e.g., a controller) having received the discovery beacon may transmit a connection request message 1610a-2 to the UWB device (e.g., a controller) having transmitted the discovery beacon. In addition, the UWB device (e.g., controller) having received the connection request message 1610a-2 may transmit a connection confirmation message 1610a-3 to the UWB device (e.g., slave) having transmitted the connection request message 1610a-2. In the embodiment of fig. 16, connection acknowledgement message 1610a-3 may include information for communicating over the UWB channel since the UWB channel is already occupied by the controller. For example, the connection acknowledgement message 1610a-3 may include information regarding the UWB channel and/or ranging cycle to be used (or the start time of UWB communication). For example, as shown, the connection acknowledgement message 1610a-3 may include information informing that UWB communications may be performed in a ranging cycle m+11630a-m+1 occupied by the RAN 3. In this case, control may participate in a respective ranging cycle of a respective UWB channel based on connection acknowledgement message 1610a-3. Accordingly, the controller and the slave may perform UWB communication (e.g., UWB ranging) in the corresponding UWB channel.

Fig. 17 shows a structure of a channel used in a ranging area network according to another embodiment.

In fig. 17, a ranging block structure may be configured for the UWB channel. For example, as shown, a first ranging block including a plurality of ranging cycles having ranging cycles 1 1730a-1, ranging cycles 2 1730a-2, … … ranging cycles M1730 a-M, ranging cycles m+11730a-m+1, and a second ranging block including a plurality of ranging cycles having ranging cycles 1, ranging cycles 2 1730b-2, ranging cycles N1730 b-N, … … ranging cycles n+11730b-m+1 may be configured for a UWB channel. M and N may be the same or different numbers. Each ranging cycle includes at least one ranging slot.

In fig. 17, at least one advertisement message may be transmitted via a mirror channel using an NB. For example, as shown, each advertisement message 1720a-2, 1720a-3, 1720a-4, 1720b-1, 1720b-3 may be transmitted in a corresponding timing over a mirror channel using NB.

In fig. 17, at least one discovery message may be transmitted via a discovery channel using an NB. For example, as shown, discovery message 1710A-1 may be transmitted in a corresponding timing via a discovery channel using NB.

In fig. 17, at least one message related to connection establishment may be transmitted via a discovery channel using the NB. For example, as shown, connection request message 1710A-2 and connection acknowledgement message 1710A-3 may be transmitted in respective timings by using a discovery channel of the NB.

In fig. 17, it is assumed that one UWB channel is shared by a plurality of RANs. For example, as shown, UWB channels may be shared by RAN1, RAN2, and RAN3.

Further, in fig. 17, it is assumed that at least one ranging cycle of UWB channels was previously occupied for some RANs sharing the respective UWB channels. For example, as shown, ranging cycle 21730A-2 of the first ranging block and ranging cycle 21730b-2 of the second ranging block may be used for RAN1. The ranging cycles M1730A-M of the first ranging block and the ranging cycles N1730 b-M of the second ranging block may be occupied for RAN2. At least one ranging cycle of the UWB channel may not be pre-occupied for RAN3.M and N may be the same or different numbers. The index of the ranging cycle occupied by the same RAN may be the same or different for each ranging block.

The advertiser of the corresponding RAN may send the advertisement message over a mirror channel coupled (or synchronized) with the UWB channel of the corresponding RAN. For example, as shown, the advertiser of RAN1 may send advertisement message 1720A-1 or 1720b-1 over the mirror channel at a particular time of ranging cycle 1730A-2 or 1730b-2 of the UWB channel of RAN1 (e.g., a start time of a first time slot of a corresponding ranging cycle or a time at which a transmission offset is applied in the first time slot of a corresponding ranging cycle). As another example, as shown, the advertiser of RAN2 may send advertisement message 1720A-2 or 1720b-2 over a mirror channel at a particular time of ranging cycle 1730A-m or 1730b-n of the UWB channel of RAN2 (e.g., a starting time of a first time slot of a respective ranging cycle or a time when a transmission offset is applied in the first time slot of a respective ranging cycle). The advertiser of RAN3 may not send an advertisement message over the mirror channel at the current time since it was not previously occupied for the ranging cycle of RAN3.

The advertiser of the corresponding RAN may send a discovery beacon (message) over a discovery channel that is not coupled (or synchronized) with the UWB channel of the corresponding RAN. For example, as shown, the advertiser of RAN3 may send discovery beacon 1710A-1 over a discovery channel periodically or aperiodically.

The UWB device (e.g., a slave) having received the discovery beacon may transmit a connection request message 1710A-2 to the UWB device (e.g., a controller) having transmitted the discovery beacon. Further, the UWB device (e.g., controller) having received the connection request message 1710A-2 may transmit a connection confirmation message 1710A-3 to the UWB device (e.g., slave) having transmitted the connection request message 1710A-2.

In fig. 17, the connection acknowledgement message may include information indicating that mirror channel scanning is required, since the UWB channel was not previously occupied by the controller of RAN 3. In this case, the controller can recognize the state of the UWB channel through the mirror channel scanning, and select and occupy the UWB channel/time to be used based on this. For example, as shown, the controller may identify the status of the UWB channel by mirror channel scanning and may select and occupy unoccupied ranging cycles 1730a-m+1 or 1730b-n+1 for other RANs of the corresponding UWB channel.

The controller may send information for communication in the newly occupied UWB channel to the slave through a connection establishment procedure. For example, as shown, an additional connection establishment procedure may be performed after the ranging cycle occupying RAN 3. In this case, the controller may transmit information for communication in the newly occupied UWB channel to the slave. The controller may provide information for communication over the UWB channel to the slave via a connection acknowledgement message. For example, the controller may receive a connection request message from the slave during the additional connection establishment process, and may provide the slave with information for communication over the UWB channel through a connection acknowledgement message corresponding to the connection request message. The connection acknowledgement message may include information about the UWB channel and/or ranging cycle to be used (or the start time of UWB communication). For example, the connection acknowledgement message may include information indicating that UWB communications may be performed in the ranging cycle n+11730b-n+1 occupied by RAN 3. In this case, the slave may participate in respective ranging cycles of respective UWB channels based on the connection acknowledgement message. Accordingly, the controller and the slave may perform UWB communication (e.g., UWB ranging) in the corresponding UWB channel.

Fig. 18 shows a structure of a first UWB device according to an embodiment.

In fig. 18, the first UWB device may correspond to the UWB device of fig. 1, including the UWB device, or may be an electronic device that may include a portion of the UWB device.

In fig. 18, the first UWB device may be a UWB device that functions as a controller/advertiser or a slave/advertiser.

Referring to fig. 18, the first UWB device includes a transceiver 1810, a controller 1820, and a storage unit 1830. Here, the controller 1820 may be defined as a circuit or an application specific integrated circuit or at least one processor.

The transceiver 1810 may transmit signals to and receive signals from another entity. The transceiver 1810 may transmit/receive data to/from another device through, for example, at least one NB channel and/or at least one UWB channel.

The transceiver 1810 may include at least one first transceiver supporting NB channels and at least one second transceiver supporting UWB channels. In another embodiment, transceiver 1820 may include at least one transceiver to support both NB and UWB channels.

The controller 1820 may control overall operation of the electronic device. For example, the controller 1820 may control the inter-block signal flow to perform operations according to the flowcharts described above. In particular, the controller 1820 may control the operation of the first UWB device described above with reference to fig. 1 through 17.

For example, the controller 1820 may broadcast a discovery message over the NB discovery channel that provides information for discovering the first UWB device.

As another example, when a UWB channel is occupied by a first UWB device, the controller 1820 may broadcast an advertisement message that provides information about the occupied UWB channel over an NB mirror channel associated with the UWB channel.

As another example, the controller 1820 may receive a connection request message for connection establishment from the second UWB device through the NB discovery channel, and may transmit a connection acknowledgement message corresponding to the connection request message to the second UWB device through the NB discovery channel.

As another example, the controller 1820 may scan NB mirror channels to identify the status of the UWB channels and select the UWB channels and times to be occupied by the first UWB device.

The storage unit 1830 may store at least one of information transmitted/received via the transceiver 1810 and information generated via the controller 1820. For example, the storage unit 1830 may store information and data (e.g., bulletin information) necessary for the methods described with reference to fig. 1 to 17.

Fig. 19 shows a structure of a second UWB device according to an embodiment.

In fig. 19, the first UWB device may correspond to the UWB device of fig. 2, including the UWB device, or may be an electronic device that may include a portion of the UWB device.

In fig. 19, the second UWB device may be a UWB device that functions as a controller/scanner or a controller/scanner.

Referring to fig. 19, the second UWB device includes a transceiver 1910, a controller 1920, and a storage unit 1930. In this disclosure, the controller 1920 may be defined as a circuit or an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC) or at least one processor.

Transceiver 1910 may transmit signals to and receive signals from another entity. The transceiver 1910 may transmit/receive data to/from another device through, for example, at least one NB channel and/or at least one UWB channel.

Transceiver 1910 may include at least one first transceiver supporting NB channels and at least one second transceiver supporting UWB channels. In another embodiment, the transceiver 1920 may include at least one transceiver that supports both NB and UWB channels.

According to an embodiment, the controller 1920 may control the overall operation of the electronic device. For example, the controller 1920 may control the inter-block signal flow to perform operations according to the flowcharts described above. In particular, the controller 1920 may control the operation of the second UWB device described above with reference to fig. 1 through 17.

For example, the controller 1920 may receive a discovery message from the first UWB device over an NB discovery channel that provides information for discovering the first UWB device.

As another example, when the intended UWB channel is occupied by a first UWB device, the controller 1920 may receive an advertisement message from the first UWB device that provides information about the occupied UWB channel through an NB mirror channel associated with the UWB channel.

As another example, the controller 1920 may transmit a connection request message for connection establishment to the first UWB device through the NB discovery channel, and may receive a connection acknowledgement message corresponding to the connection request message from the first UWB device through the NB discovery channel.

The storage unit 1930 may store at least one of information transmitted/received via the transceiver 1910 and information generated via the controller 1920. For example, the storage unit 1930 may store information and data (e.g., bulletin information) necessary for the methods described with reference to fig. 1 to 17.

The embodiments described below may be applied together with or in addition to or instead of some of the embodiments described above with reference to fig. 1 to 19.

Multi-NB channel operation and channel hopping

As described above, one NB channel or multiple NB channels can be operated/supported together. The NB channels may be mirror channels or discovery channels.

Meanwhile, when only one NB channel is operated (in the case of single NB channel operation), a failure in seamless communication may occur in some cases. For example, when multiple devices use a single NB channel simultaneously, seamless communication in the respective NB channels may not be achieved due to collisions between signals of the multiple devices. As another example, because the wireless communication environment of a single NB channel is poor, seamless communication may not be possible in the corresponding NB channel.

Thus, multiple NB channels need to operate together if necessary. When operating a plurality of NB channels, channel hopping techniques for performing communication while hopping (or moving) channels can be used for seamless communication.

When operating a plurality of NB channels and using/applying a channel hopping technique, the UWB device may perform a channel hopping operation based on a preset hopping configuration (e.g., a hopping sequence, a hopping period, and the number of a plurality of channels used in channel hopping). For example, when a plurality of mirror channels are operated and a channel hopping technique is used, the UWB device may transmit an advertisement message/packet while hopping the plurality of mirror channels according to a preset hopping configuration. As another example, when operating a plurality of discovery channels and using channel hopping techniques, the UWB device may transmit discovery messages/packets while hopping the plurality of discovery channels according to a preset hopping configuration.

In this way, when a plurality of NB channels are operated and a channel hopping technique is used, although a plurality of apparatuses use the respective NB channels at the same time, collision between signals can be prevented, and seamless communication is possible since signals (messages) are transmitted in any channel according to the channel hopping operation. Further, in this case, although the wireless communication environment of any particular channel is poor, since a signal (message) is transmitted when hopping/moving between a plurality of channels, seamless communication can be performed through another channel having a good wireless communication environment.

NB channel transmission offset

To avoid collisions between messages/frames within a slot (ranging slot), a transmission offset may be used. An example of a ranging cycle to which a transmission offset is applied is shown in fig. 20.

Fig. 20 illustrates a ranging cycle to which a transmission offset is applied according to an embodiment.

Regarding fig. 20 (a), a ranging cycle with a transmission offset of 0 is shown. Regarding fig. 20 (b), a ranging cycle in which the transmission offset is S1 is shown. With respect to fig. 20 (c), a ranging cycle in which the transmission offset is S2 is shown. Regarding fig. 20 (d), a ranging cycle in which the transmission offset is S3 is shown.

Fig. 20 may be an embodiment in which a transmission offset is applied when ranging messages are exchanged in a UWB channel, but is not limited thereto and may also be applied to message transmission in an NB channel. For a description of the transmission offset, reference may be made to the description of IEEE 802.15.4z.

In fig. 20, the start time (reference time) of the transmission offset may be the start time of the ranging slot.

The controller may determine a transmission offset and transmit information about the transmission offset to the slave. For example, the controller may determine a transmission offset of a next ranging cycle (e.g., a ranging cycle of a next ranging block) and transmit information about the transmission offset to the slave through a ranging control message or another message (e.g., a ranging final message) of a current ranging cycle (e.g., a ranging cycle of a current ranging block). In this case, a corresponding transmission offset may be applied in the next ranging cycle.

The same transmission offset may be applied in case of transmission of messages/packets in the same ranging cycle. In other words, packets in each ranging slot in a corresponding ranging cycle may be transmitted with the same transmission offset applied thereto.

Meanwhile, even in the case of message/packet transmissions on NB channels (e.g., discovery channels and/or mirror channels), transmission offsets need to be used as needed to avoid collisions between multiple devices. An example of a slot in which a transmission offset is applied at the time of message transmission on the NB channel may be the same as shown in fig. 21.

Fig. 21 illustrates a time slot when a transmission offset is applied in an NB channel according to an embodiment.

In an embodiment, a UWB device transmitting a message over an NB channel determines a transmission offset regardless of whether another UE (e.g., another UWB device) transmits the message in a respective slot of a respective NB channel.

With respect to fig. 21 (a), a slot to which a transmission offset determined according to an embodiment is applied is shown.

Referring to fig. 21 (a), the UWB device may determine any delay period x. The UWB device may determine the delay period x based on a specific time arbitrarily selected within a preset time range. The time range used to determine the delay period x may be the same time range preset for UWB devices that transmit messages over NB channels.

The UWB device may determine that the delay period x is a transmission offset. Thus, in fig. 21 (a), the start time (reference time) of the delay period x corresponds to the start time of the corresponding slot, so that the delay period x can be determined as the transmission offset.

The UWB device may include and transmit information about the transmission offset (or delay period x) in a message (e.g., an advertisement message and/or a discovery message) transmitted in a corresponding slot (e.g., a ranging slot that determines the delay period x or the transmission offset). For example, the UWB device may include information about a transmission offset (or delay period x) in an advertisement message transmitted in a corresponding slot through a mirror channel. As another example, the UWB device may include information about the transmission offset (or delay period x) in a discovery message transmitted in a corresponding slot through a discovery channel.

The same transmission offset may be applied in the associated time slot. For example, the same transmission offset may be applied to the current slot (e.g., a slot in which an advertisement message including information about the transmission offset (or delay time x) is transmitted) in the next slot (e.g., a slot in which the advertisement message is transmitted after the current slot). For example, the same transmission offset may be applied to the current slot (e.g., the slot in which the discovery message including information about the transmission offset (or delay time x) is transmitted) in the next slot (e.g., the slot in which the discovery message is transmitted after the current slot).

In another embodiment, a UWB device transmitting a message over an NB channel determines a transmission offset while considering whether another UE (e.g., another UWB device) transmits a message in a corresponding slot of a corresponding NB channel.

Regarding (b) of fig. 21, a ranging slot to which a transmission offset determined according to an embodiment is applied is shown.

Referring to (b) of fig. 21, the UWB device may recognize/grasp whether or not to transmit a message from another UWB device during a preset specific period y from the start time of the corresponding slot. The specific period y for identifying/grasping whether or not to transmit a message from another UWB device may be the same period preset for the UWB device transmitting a message through the NB channel.

The UWB device may determine any delay period x when no message is transmitted from other UWB devices during a preset specific period y. The UWB device may determine the delay period x based on a specific time arbitrarily selected within a preset time range. The time range used to determine the delay period x may be the same time range preset for UWB devices that transmit messages over NB channels.

The UWB device may determine that the sum of the preset specific period y and the delay period x is a transmission offset.

The UWB device may include and transmit information about a transmission offset (or delay period x) in a message transmitted in a corresponding transmission offset in a corresponding time slot (e.g., a time slot in which the delay period x or transmission offset is determined). For example, the UWB device may include information about a transmission offset (or delay period x) in an advertisement message transmitted in a corresponding slot through a mirror channel. As another example, the UWB device may include information about the transmission offset (or delay period x) in a discovery message transmitted in a corresponding slot through a discovery channel.

The same transmission offset may be applied in the associated time slot. For example, the same transmission offset may be applied to the current slot (e.g., a slot in which an advertisement message including information about the transmission offset (or delay time x) is transmitted) in the next slot (e.g., a slot in which the advertisement message is transmitted after the current slot). For example, the same transmission offset may be applied to the current slot (e.g., the slot in which the discovery message including information about the transmission offset (or delay time x) is transmitted) in the next slot (e.g., the slot in which the discovery message is transmitted after the current slot).

With respect to fig. 21 (c), another example of a ranging slot to which the transmission offset determined according to the embodiment is applied is shown.

Referring to (c) of fig. 21, the UWB device may recognize/grasp whether or not to transmit a message from another UWB device during a preset specific period y from the start time of the corresponding slot. The specific period y for identifying/grasping whether or not to transmit a message from another UWB device may be the same period preset for the UWB device transmitting a message through the NB channel.

When a message is transmitted from another UWB device during a preset specific period y (first period), the UWB device can recognize/grasp again whether or not to transmit a message from another UWB device during a preset specific period y' (second period) from the time when transmission of the message has been completed. As shown, the first period y and the second period y' may be the same period, but are not limited thereto. For example, the second period y' may be shorter than the first period y.

The UWB device may determine any delay period x when no message is transmitted from other UWB devices during a preset specific period y'. The UWB device may determine the delay period x based on a specific time arbitrarily selected within a preset time range. The time range used to determine the delay period x may be the same time range preset for UWB devices that transmit messages over NB channels.

The UWB device may determine the transmission offset based on any delay period x and/or transmission related time information (e.g., transmission start time, transmission end time, and/or transmission period) of UWB messages transmitted from another UWB device or devices, a preset specific period y (first period), and a preset specific period y' (second period). For example, the UWB device may determine that the sum of a preset specific period y (first period), a period from the preset specific period y to a transmission end time of a message transmitted from another UWB device, a preset specific period y' (second period), and any delay period x is a transmission offset. As another example, the UWB device may determine that the sum of the period from the start time of the corresponding slot to the transmission start time of the UWB message transmitted from another UWB device, the transmission period of the UWB message transmitted from another UWB device, a preset specific period y' (second period), and any delay period x is a transmission offset.

The UWB device may include and transmit information about a transmission offset (or delay period x) in a message transmitted in a corresponding transmission offset in a corresponding time slot (e.g., a time slot in which the delay period x or transmission offset is determined). For example, the UWB device may include information about a transmission offset (or delay period x) in an advertisement message transmitted in a corresponding slot through a mirror channel. As another example, the UWB device may include information about the transmission offset (or delay period x) in a discovery message transmitted in a corresponding slot through a discovery channel.

The same transmission offset may be applied in the associated time slot. For example, the same transmission offset may be applied to the current slot (e.g., a slot in which an advertisement message including information about the transmission offset (or delay time x) is transmitted) in the next slot (e.g., a slot in which the advertisement message is transmitted after the current slot). For example, the same transmission offset may be applied to the current slot (e.g., the slot in which the discovery message including information about the transmission offset (or delay time x) is transmitted) in the next slot (e.g., the slot in which the discovery message is transmitted after the current slot).

Cyclic frequency hopping of NB channels

UWB devices participating in ranging message exchanges (ranging exchanges) on the UWB channel may use a different, but not entirely different, ranging cycle in the next ranging block than the current ranging block. For example, since the transmission time is changed in the ranging block if cyclic hopping is used, the ranging cycle of the next ranging block may be different from that of the current ranging block. Here, the same ranging cycle may mean that the index of the ranging cycle of the current ranging block is the same as the index of the ranging cycle of the next ranging block, and a different ranging cycle may mean that the index of the ranging cycle of the current ranging block is different from the index of the ranging cycle of the next ranging block.

Fig. 22 shows an example of cyclic hopping according to an embodiment.

With respect to fig. 22 (a), an embodiment in which cyclic hopping is not applied is shown. With respect to fig. 22 (b), an embodiment in which cyclic hopping is applied is shown.

The controller may determine whether to skip to a different ranging cycle in the next ranging block. For example, the controller may determine whether to apply cyclic hopping.

When no application/trigger cycle hopping is performed, the UWB device may use the same ranging cycle in the next ranging block. For example, as shown in fig. 22 (a), when cyclic frequency hopping is not applied, the UWB device may use the same ranging cycle j as that of the current ranging block N in the next ranging block n+1.

When applying/triggering cyclic hopping, the UWB device may use a different ranging cycle in the next ranging block. The UWB device may skip to a different ranging cycle in a next ranging block using a hopping sequence generated based on the pre-exchanged information to generate a hopping sequence or a pre-negotiated hopping sequence. For example, as shown in (b) of fig. 22, when cyclic frequency hopping is applied, the UWB device may use a ranging cycle k different from the ranging cycle j of the current ranging block N in the next ranging block n+1.

When the ranging cycle used by the UWB device on the UWB channel changes, the transmission time of the message transmitted on the mirror channel synchronized/coupled with the UWB channel also needs to change. An example of changing the transmission time of the mirror channel (NB channel) according to the change of the transmission time of the UWB channel may be shown in fig. 23.

Fig. 23 shows an example of synchronization between UWB channels and NB channels according to embodiments.

With respect to fig. 23 (a), synchronization between the UWB channel and the mirror channel (NB channel) in the current ranging block is shown. With respect to fig. 23 (b), synchronization between the UWB channel and the mirror channel (NB channel) in the next ranging block is shown when the transmission time of the UWB channel changes, i.e., the change in the ranging cycle used in the UWB channel. The variation in the transmission time of the UWB channel may come from the application of cyclic frequency hopping as shown in fig. 22, but is not limited thereto.

Referring to fig. 23 (a), in the current ranging block, the UWB device may transmit a UWB message in a ranging cycle j of the UWB channel and transmit an advertisement message through a mirror channel at a time synchronized with a transmission time of the UWB channel (or a transmission time of the UWB message). The transmission time of the message through the mirror channel may be determined based on the transmission time of the UWB channel.

When the transmission time of the UWB channel is changed, the UWB device may include information about the transmission time change in the message and transmit the message through the NB channel. For example, when cyclic hopping is applied, the UWB device may include information about the cyclic hopping (e.g., an index of a ranging cycle to be hopped in a next ranging block) in an advertisement message and transmit it through a mirror channel. In this case, the peripheral device without the UWB connection setup can recognize a change in the transmission time of the UWB channel through the corresponding information and participate in the ranging exchange in the corresponding ranging cycle.

Referring to (b) of fig. 23, in the next ranging block, the UWB device may transmit the UWB message in a ranging cycle k different from a ranging cycle j of a previous ranging block of the UWB channel and transmit the advertisement message at the changed time through a mirror channel synchronized with a transmission time of the UWB channel (or a transmission time of the UWB message). The transmission time of the message through the mirror channel may be determined based on the transmission time of the UWB channel.

In the above embodiments, components included in the present disclosure are represented in singular or plural form according to the specific embodiments disclosed. However, the singular or plural forms are selected to be sufficient for the context suggested for ease of description and the present disclosure is not limited to the singular or plural components. As used herein, the singular forms "a", "an" and "the" are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

Although the embodiments of the present disclosure have been described above, various changes may be made thereto without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. Accordingly, the scope of the invention should not be limited by the above-described embodiments, but should be defined by the appended claims and equivalents thereof.

Claims (15)

1. A method for ultra-wideband UWB communication, the method comprising:

generating, by a first UWB device, a discovery message providing information for discovering the first UWB device; and

the discovery message is broadcast by the first UWB device over a narrowband NB discovery channel,

wherein the NB discovery channel is not associated with a UWB channel, an

Wherein the UWB channel is one of a plurality of candidate UWB channels allocated for the UWB communication.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising: in the event that the UWB channel is occupied by the first UWB device, broadcasting an advertisement message providing information about the occupied UWB channel through an NB mirror channel associated with the UWB channel.

Wherein the NB mirror channel is different from the NB discovery channel.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the NB discovery channel is a common discovery channel or a dedicated discovery channel set by negotiating with a second UWB device.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein:

the discovery message is periodically broadcast by the first UWB device, an

Wherein the discovery message includes information related to a transmission period of the discovery message.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, by the first UWB device, a connection request message for connection establishment from a second UWB device over the NB discovery channel; and

and transmitting, by the first UWB device, a connection confirmation message corresponding to the connection request message to the second UWB device through the NB discovery channel.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the connection confirmation message includes information for communicating over the UWB channel if the UWB channel is occupied by the first UWB device.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the connection confirmation message includes information indicating that NB mirror channels associated with the UWB channel need to be scanned to identify a status of the UWB channel if the UWB channel is not occupied by the first UWB device.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising identifying a state of the UWB channel by scanning the NB mirror channel and selecting the UWB channel and a time to be occupied by the first UWB device.

9. A method for ultra-wideband UWB communication, the method comprising:

at a second UWB, receiving a discovery message from a first UWB device over a narrowband NB discovery channel, the discovery message providing information for discovery of the first UWB device; and

acquiring, by the second UWB device, the discovery message;

wherein the NB discovery channel is not associated with a UWB channel, an

Wherein the UWB channel is one of a plurality of candidate UWB channels allocated for the UWB communication.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising: in the event that the UWB channel is expected to be occupied by the first UWB device, receiving an advertisement message from the first UWB device over an NB mirror channel associated with the UWB channel providing information about the occupied UWB channel,

wherein the NB mirror channel is different from the NB discovery channel.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the NB discovery channel is a common discovery channel or a dedicated discovery channel set by negotiating with the second UWB device.

12. The method according to claim 9, wherein:

the discovery message is periodically broadcast by the first UWB device, an

Wherein the discovery message includes information related to a transmission period of the discovery message.

13. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

transmitting, by the second UWB device, a connection request message for connection establishment to the first UWB device through the NB discovery channel; and

receiving, at the second UWB device, a connection confirmation message corresponding to the connection request message from the first UWB device through the NB discovery channel, and

wherein, in the event that the UWB channel is occupied by the first UWB device, the connection confirmation message includes information for communicating over the UWB channel, an

Wherein, in the event that the UWB channel is not occupied by the first UWB device, the connection confirmation message includes information indicating that an NB mirror channel associated with the UWB channel needs to be scanned to identify a state of the UWB channel.

14. A first ultra wideband UWB device comprising:

at least one transceiver; and

a controller connected to the at least one transceiver, wherein the controller is configured to:

generating a discovery message providing information for discovering the first UWB device, an

The discovery message is broadcast over a narrowband NB discovery channel,

wherein the NB discovery channel is not associated with a UWB channel, an

Wherein the UWB channel is one of a plurality of candidate UWB channels allocated for the UWB communication.

15. A second ultra wideband UWB device comprising:

at least one transceiver; and

a controller connected to the at least one transceiver, wherein the controller is configured to:

receiving a discovery message from a first UWB device over a narrowband NB discovery channel, the discovery message providing information for discovery of the first UWB device, an

The discovery message is obtained and the discovery message is received,

wherein the NB discovery channel is not associated with a UWB channel, an

Wherein the UWB channel is one of a plurality of candidate UWB channels allocated for the UWB communication.