WO2018231727A1 - Mesures de localisation améliorées pour communication sans fil - Google Patents

Mesures de localisation améliorées pour communication sans fil Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2018231727A1
WO2018231727A1 PCT/US2018/036964 US2018036964W WO2018231727A1 WO 2018231727 A1 WO2018231727 A1 WO 2018231727A1 US 2018036964 W US2018036964 W US 2018036964W WO 2018231727 A1 WO2018231727 A1 WO 2018231727A1
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WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
time
ndp
indication
arrival
lmr
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PCT/US2018/036964
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English (en)
Inventor
Feng Jiang
Qinghua Li
Xiaogang Chen
Po-Kai Huang
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Intel Corporation
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Publication of WO2018231727A1 publication Critical patent/WO2018231727A1/fr

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    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04W—WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
    • H04W64/00—Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04W—WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
    • H04W84/00—Network topologies
    • H04W84/02—Hierarchically pre-organised networks, e.g. paging networks, cellular networks, WLAN [Wireless Local Area Network] or WLL [Wireless Local Loop]
    • H04W84/10—Small scale networks; Flat hierarchical networks
    • H04W84/12—WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]

Definitions

  • This disclosure generally relates to systems and methods for wireless communications and, more particularly, to enhanced location measurements for wireless communication.
  • Wireless devices are becoming widely prevalent and are increasingly requesting positioning.
  • Part of providing location-based services includes positioning the mobile device.
  • a mobile device's position may be determined from time measurements taken from signals.
  • FIG. 1 is a network diagram illustrating an example network environment, in accordance with one or more example embodiments of the present disclosure.
  • FIG. 2 is a network diagram illustrating an example network environment for multiuser channel sounding, in accordance with one or more example embodiments of the present disclosure.
  • FIG. 3 illustrates a multi-user channel sounding sequence, in accordance with one or more example embodiments of the present disclosure.
  • FIG. 4 illustrates an enhanced location measurement communication process, in accordance with one or more example embodiments of the present disclosure.
  • FIG. 5 illustrates an enhanced location measurement sequence, in accordance with one or more example embodiments of the present disclosure.
  • FIG. 6A illustrates an enhanced location measurement sequence, in accordance with one or more example embodiments of the present disclosure.
  • FIG. 6B illustrates an enhanced location measurement sequence, in accordance with one or more example embodiments of the present disclosure.
  • FIG. 7 A depicts a flow diagram of an illustrative process for enhanced location measurements, in accordance with one or more example embodiments of the present disclosure.
  • FIG. 7B depicts a flow diagram of an illustrative process for enhanced location measurements, in accordance with one or more example embodiments of the present disclosure.
  • FIG. 7C depicts a flow diagram of an illustrative process for enhanced location measurements, in accordance with one or more example embodiments of the present disclosure.
  • FIG. 8 depicts a functional diagram of an example communication station that may be suitable for use as a user device, in accordance with one or more example embodiments of the disclosure.
  • FIG. 9 depicts a block diagram of an example machine upon which any of one or more techniques (e.g., methods) may be performed, in accordance with one or more embodiments of the disclosure.
  • Example embodiments described herein provide certain systems, methods, and devices for enhanced location measurements in wireless communication.
  • the following description and the drawings sufficiently illustrate specific embodiments to enable those skilled in the art to practice them.
  • Other embodiments may incorporate structural, logical, electrical, process, and other changes. Portions and features of some embodiments may be included in, or substituted for, those of other embodiments.
  • Embodiments set forth in the claims encompass all available equivalents of those claims.
  • positioning/ranging operations may be used to determine device location.
  • the IEEE 802.1 laz standard may provide enhanced location measurements for an unlimited number of wireless stations (STAs) to be able to concurrently compute a device's location.
  • Location methods may involve a network of multiple devices in communication with one another and performing positioning/ranging calculations. For example, a signal emitted by a tag device may be received at different times by different anchor devices. For example, a tag device may transmit an omnidirectional signal.
  • Nearby anchor devices may have timing mechanisms (e.g., clocks/oscillators) and may note the time of arrival of received signals from other anchor devices and from tag devices.
  • the anchor devices may communicate the times of arrival and departure of sounding signals, and the anchor devices may use the timing information to determine a tag device's location.
  • Anchor devices may also communicate with an external server to exchange timing information used to determine a tag device location at either the anchor devices or at a server.
  • the exchange of frames with relevant timing information for device location determinations may occur in messages over a channel, radio, or medium that is the same as or different than the channel used to perform ToF operations.
  • the possible combinations of tag device locations may be represented by a hyperbolic curve (e.g., using a time difference of arrival - TDOA - method).
  • a hyperbolic curve e.g., using a time difference of arrival - TDOA - method.
  • multiple curves may be used to determine an intersection of the curves (e.g., multiple measurements between different pairs of anchor devices may be used).
  • the difference between distances of two devices (e.g., anchor devices) to another device (e.g., a tag device) may represent a focal length of a hyperbola, and the intersection of multiple hyperbolas may indicate a tag device's location.
  • frames such as FTM frames or other frames may allow anchor devices to communicate times of arrival and departure so that the anchor devices (e.g., three or more) may determine a tag device location based on the different distances of the anchor devices from the tag device.
  • the set of possible tag positions may be represented by a hyperbola.
  • three device location may be determined (e.g., a location based on the information of the first and second devices, a location based on the information of the first and third devices, and a location based on the information of the first and fourth devices), allowing for a determination of the location of the tag in three- dimensional space based on the intersection of the hyperbolic curves.
  • Passive location operations may refer to a passive device among a network of devices.
  • the passive device may not perform the location/ranging operations (e.g., may not send sounding signals used in ranging operations), and instead may passively receive location/ranging information from other devices in the network. If a passive device receives timing and location information associated with multiple other devices (e.g., four or more anchor devices), the passive device may use the timing and location information to determine its own location.
  • Some existing methods for passive location determinations may include collaborative To A (CToA) and receive only differential time-of-flight location (RDToF).
  • CTIA collaborative To A
  • RDToF is based on a multi-user (MU) measurement phase of the IEEE 802.11 az standard.
  • the basic idea is an access point (AP), such as a master AP, and the anchor station devices (STAs) in a common basic service set (BSS) may exchange an MU channel sounding sequence and measurement report packets (e.g., location measurement reports).
  • a passive client device may listen to these sounding packets and/or measurement packets, and may determine the passive device's position using the hyperbolic method.
  • a passive device may determine respective hyperbolas associated with possible locations of the passive device's location, and may determine an intersection of the hyperbolas. The intersection of the hyperbolas may represent the location of the passive device.
  • Anchor STAs may be APs or STAs in the vicinity of a master AP.
  • the master AP, the anchor STAs, and the passive client may use uplink and downlink null data packets (NDPs) to compute time stamps.
  • NDPs may be used for sounding signals and may include a sequence of symbols as part of the sounding sequence in a location/ranging operation.
  • the respective times at which an NDP sounding signal may be received by an anchor STA or AP may be referred to as a time of arrival (To A), and the respective times at which an NDP sounding signal may be sent from an anchor STA or AP may be referred to as a time of departure (ToD).
  • To A time of arrival
  • ToD time of departure
  • Such To As and ToDs may be used in TDOA or other location/ranging operations to determine a device location.
  • Example embodiments of the present disclosure relate to systems, methods, and devices for enhanced location measurements for wireless communications.
  • enhanced measurement report feedback methods may enable a passive client device to obtain time stamp information associated with the ToAs and ToDs of sounding signals between devices (e.g., a master AP and an anchor STA) exchanging sounding signals.
  • the time stamp information may be used to determine device location information.
  • a passive client may utilize time stamps indicated in received transmissions from the master AP and/or anchor STAs to build a hyperbolic equation based on the known positions of master AP and anchor STAs.
  • the distance between master AP and passive client may be defined as d MC
  • the distance between anchor station and passive client may be defined as d sc
  • Time t 1 may represent the ToD of an uplink NDP sounding frame sent from an anchor STA (e.g., in response to a trigger frame received from the master AP).
  • Time t 4 may represent the ToA of a downlink NDP received from the master AP at the anchor STA.
  • Time t 5 may represent the ToA of the uplink NDP received at the passive client from the anchor STA.
  • Time t 6 may represent the ToA of the downlink NDP received at the passive client from the master AP.
  • the ToA and ToD information t 4 and t t may be indicated in a broadcast frame sent from the master AP.
  • a master AP's and anchor STA's coordinates (e.g., location) are known
  • the master AP's and anchor STA's coordinates may be translated into a hyperbolic function representing the possible passive client coordinates (x, y).
  • the cross point/intersection of such three hyperbolic equations (e.g., based on the location calculations associated with multiple devices) may represent the passive client's location.
  • Time t 2 may represent the ToA of an uplink NDP sounding signal received at the master AP from the anchor STA.
  • Time t 3 may represent the ToD of a downlink NDP sounding signal sent from the master AP to the anchor STA.
  • the ToA and ToD information t 2 and t 3 may be indicated in a broadcast frame sent from master AP.
  • each anchor STA in a network with a master AP may exchange NDP sounding signals and may send an uplink location measurement report (LMR) to the master AP.
  • LMR uplink location measurement report
  • the LMR may indicate time t 1 and time t 4 (e.g., the time stamps associated with the sounding signal ToAs/ToDs at the anchor STA).
  • the master AP may send a broadcast frame including an indication of time t 1 and time t 4 . Therefore, when the passive client receives the broadcast frame, the passive client may build a hyperbolic curve using Equation 1.
  • the broadcast frame may also include location information (for example, location configuration information in the IEEE 802.11Revmc standard) associated with the master AP and/or anchor STA to facilitate the location/ranging calculations.
  • location information for example, location configuration information in the IEEE 802.11Revmc standard
  • the master AP may send a broadcast packet even without having received an uplink LMR from anchor STA. Without the LMR, the master AP may not be aware of the ToA timestamps of sounding signals at a respective anchor STA (e.g., time t 1 and time t 4 ).
  • the broadcast frame sent by the master AP may indicate time t 2 and time t 3 , along with location information associated with the master AP and anchor STAs.
  • the passive client may determine a hyperbolic curve to represent the possible locations of the passive client.
  • the anchor STAs each may send respective uplink LMRs with time stamp information to the master AP. Because a trigger frame from the AP to the anchor STAs may indicate STA identifiers of the anchor STAs and resource allocations for each anchor STA, the passive client may be able to identify the uplink LMRs sent from the anchor STAs to the master AP.
  • the passive client may be able to determine a hyperbolic curve to represent the possible locations of the passive client using Equation 1.
  • FIG. 1 is a network diagram illustrating an example network environment, in accordance with one or more example embodiments of the present disclosure.
  • Wireless network 100 may include one or more user device(s) 120 and one or more access point(s) (AP) 102, which may communicate in accordance with IEEE 802.11 communication standards, such as the IEEE 802.1 lax and/or IEEE 802.1 laz specifications.
  • the user device(s) 120 may be referred to as stations (STAs).
  • STAs stations
  • the user device(s) 120 may be mobile devices that are non- stationary and do not have fixed locations.
  • the AP 102 is shown to be communicating on multiple antennas with user devices 120, it should be understood that this is only for illustrative purposes and that any user device 120 may also communicate using multiple antennas with other user devices 120 and/or AP 102.
  • the user devices 120 and AP 102 may include one or more computer systems similar to that of the functional diagram of FIG. 8 and/or the example machine/system of FIG. 9.
  • One or more illustrative user device(s) 120 and/or AP 102 may be operable by one or more user(s) 110.
  • the user device(s) 120 e.g., 124, 126, or 128) and/or AP 102 may include any suitable processor-driven device including, but not limited to, a mobile device or a non- mobile, e.g., a static, device.
  • user device(s) 120 and/or AP 102 may include, a user equipment (UE), a station (STA), an access point (AP), a personal computer (PC), a wearable wireless device (e.g., bracelet, watch, glasses, ring, etc.), a desktop computer, a mobile computer, a laptop computer, an ultrabook TM computer, a notebook computer, a tablet computer, a server computer, a handheld computer, a handheld device, an internet of things (IoT) device, a sensor device, a PDA device, a handheld PDA device, an on-board device, an off-board device, a hybrid device (e.g., combining cellular phone functionalities with PDA device functionalities), a consumer device, a vehicular device, a non-vehicular device, a mobile or portable device, a non- mobile or non-portable device, a mobile phone, a cellular telephone, a PCS device, a PDA device which incorporates a wireless communication device, a UE
  • Any of the user device(s) 120 may be configured to communicate with each other via one or more communications networks 130 and/or 135 wirelessly or wired.
  • Any of the communications networks 130 and/or 135 may include, but not limited to, any one of a combination of different types of suitable communications networks such as, for example, broadcasting networks, cable networks, public networks (e.g., the Internet), private networks, wireless networks, cellular networks, or any other suitable private and/or public networks.
  • any of the communications networks 130 and/or 135 may have any suitable communication range associated therewith and may include, for example, global networks (e.g., the Internet), metropolitan area networks (MANs), wide area networks (WANs), local area networks (LANs), or personal area networks (PANs).
  • any of the communications networks 130 and/or 135 may include any type of medium over which network traffic may be carried including, but not limited to, coaxial cable, twisted-pair wire, optical fiber, a hybrid fiber coaxial (HFC) medium, microwave terrestrial transceivers, radio frequency communication mediums, white space communication mediums, ultra-high frequency communication mediums, satellite communication mediums, or any combination thereof.
  • coaxial cable twisted-pair wire
  • optical fiber a hybrid fiber coaxial (HFC) medium
  • microwave terrestrial transceivers microwave terrestrial transceivers
  • radio frequency communication mediums white space communication mediums
  • ultra-high frequency communication mediums satellite communication mediums, or any combination thereof.
  • Any of the user device(s) 120 may include one or more communications antennas.
  • the one or more communications antennas may be any suitable type of antennas corresponding to the communications protocols used by the user device(s) 120 (e.g., user devices 124, 126 and 128), and AP 102.
  • suitable communications antennas include Wi-Fi antennas, Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11 family of standards compatible antennas, directional antennas, non-directional antennas, dipole antennas, folded dipole antennas, patch antennas, multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) antennas, omnidirectional antennas, quasi- omnidirectional antennas, or the like.
  • the one or more communications antennas may be communicatively coupled to a radio component to transmit and/or receive signals, such as communications signals to and/or from the user devices 120 and/or AP 102.
  • Any of the user device(s) 120 may be configured to perform directional transmission and/or directional reception in conjunction with wirelessly communicating in a wireless network.
  • Any of the user device(s) 120 e.g., user devices 124, 126, 128), and AP 102 may be configured to perform such directional transmission and/or reception using a set of multiple antenna arrays (e.g., DMG antenna arrays or the like). Each of the multiple antenna arrays may be used for transmission and/or reception in a particular respective direction or range of directions.
  • Any of the user device(s) 120 may be configured to perform any given directional transmission towards one or more defined transmit sectors. Any of the user device(s) 120 (e.g., user devices 124, 126, 128), and AP 102 may be configured to perform any given directional reception from one or more defined receive sectors.
  • MIMO beamforming in a wireless network may be accomplished using RF beamforming and/or digital beamforming. In some embodiments, in performing a given MIMO transmission, user devices 120 and/or AP 102 may be configured to use all or a subset of its one or more communications antennas to perform MIMO beamforming.
  • Any of the user devices 120 may include any suitable radio and/or transceiver for transmitting and/or receiving radio frequency (RF) signals in the bandwidth and/or channels corresponding to the communications protocols utilized by any of the user device(s) 120 and AP 102 to communicate with each other.
  • the radio components may include hardware and/or software to modulate and/or demodulate communications signals according to pre-established transmission protocols.
  • the radio components may further have hardware and/or software instructions to communicate via one or more Wi-Fi and/or Wi-Fi direct protocols, as standardized by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11 standards.
  • the radio component in cooperation with the communications antennas, may be configured to communicate via 2.4 GHz channels (e.g. 802.11b, 802. llg, 802.11 ⁇ , 802.1 lax), 5 GHz channels (e.g. 802.11 ⁇ , 802.1 lac, 802.1 lax), or 60 GHZ channels (e.g. 802.1 lad).
  • non-Wi-Fi protocols may be used for communications between devices, such as Bluetooth, dedicated short-range communication (DSRC), Ultra-High Frequency (UHF) (e.g. IEEE 802.11af, IEEE 802.22), white band frequency (e.g., white spaces), or other packetized radio communications.
  • the radio component may include any known receiver and baseband suitable for communicating via the communications protocols.
  • the radio component may further include a low noise amplifier (LNA), additional signal amplifiers, an analog-to-digital (A/D) converter, one or more buffers, and digital baseband.
  • LNA low noise amplifier
  • A/D analog-to-digital
  • Some demonstrative embodiments may be used in conjunction with a wireless communication network communicating over a frequency band of 2.16 GHz.
  • other embodiments may be implemented utilizing any other suitable wireless communication frequency bands, for example, an extremely high frequency (EHF) band (the millimeter wave (mmWave) frequency band), a WLAN frequency band, a WPAN frequency band, a frequency band according to the WGA specification, and the like.
  • EHF extremely high frequency
  • WLAN the millimeter wave
  • WPAN Wireless Personal Area Network
  • the user device(s) 120 and/or the AP 102 may be configured to operate in accordance with one or more specifications, including one or more IEEE 802.11 specifications, (e.g., an IEEE 802.11az specification, an IEEE 802.1 lax specification, and/or any other specification and/or protocol).
  • one or more frames 140 may be communicated between the AP 102 and the user device(s) 120.
  • the one or more frames 140 may include trigger frames (e.g., from AP 102 to user devices 120 to trigger an uplink transmission), sounding signals (e.g., NDP frames with sounding symbols), NDP announcement (NDPA) frames to announce subsequent NDP frames, LMRs and other measurement frames, and other types of frames involved in a sounding signal sequence used for enhanced ranging operations.
  • trigger frames e.g., from AP 102 to user devices 120 to trigger an uplink transmission
  • sounding signals e.g., NDP frames with sounding symbols
  • NDPA NDP announcement
  • FIG. 2 is a network diagram illustrating an example network environment 200 for MU channel sounding, in accordance with one or more example embodiments of the present disclosure.
  • AP 202 (e.g., master AP) may be in communication with anchor STA 204, anchor STA 206, AP 210, anchor STA 212, and passive client 214.
  • AP 210 may be in communication with anchor station 216.
  • AP 202 and the anchor stations may exchange MU channel sounding sequences and LMRs.
  • Passive client 214 may identify the sounding signals in the sounding signal sequences along with the LMRs, and may determine a position of the passive client 214 using the hyperbolic method. For example, based on timing and location information associated with a sounding sequence between AP 202 and anchor station 212, passive client 214 may determine possible locations of passive client 214 according to a hyperbolic curve which accounts for the timing and location information. Using other timing and location information associated with AP 202 and anchor station 204, and with AP 202 and anchor station 206, for example, passive client 214 may determine three different hyperbolic curves representing possible locations of passive client 214. By determining an intersection of the hyperbolic curves, passive client 214 may estimate its location.
  • the anchor STAs may be APs in the vicinity of AP 202.
  • passive client 214 may use uplink and downlink NDPs associated with sounding signals to determine the time stamps used to estimate the location of passive client 214.
  • FIG. 3 illustrates a multi-user channel sounding sequence 300, in accordance with one or more example embodiments of the present disclosure.
  • AP 302 may be in communication with one or more anchor STAs (e.g., anchor STA 304, anchor STA 306, anchor STA 308).
  • the anchor STAs may be part of a common BSS with AP 302.
  • the communications may be part of a sounding sequence.
  • AP 302 may send a trigger frame (TF) 310, which may be received by any nearby device, including the anchor STAs.
  • TF 310 may trigger one or more anchor STAs (e.g., anchor STA 304) identified by TF 310 (e.g., by individual identifiers or a group identifier) to send uplink frames as a sounding sequence.
  • TF trigger frame
  • Anchor STA 304 may send NDP 312 in an uplink transmission to AP 302, and NDP 312 may include one or more sounding symbols.
  • AP 302 may send TF 314, which may be received by any nearby device, including the anchor STAs.
  • TF 314 may trigger one or more anchor STAs (e.g., anchor STA 306) identified by TF 314 (e.g., by individual identifiers or a group identifier) to send uplink frames as a sounding sequence.
  • Anchor STA 306 may send NDP 316 in an uplink transmission to AP 302, and NDP 316 may include one or more sounding symbols.
  • AP 302 may continue to send TFs (e.g., TF 318), which may be received by any nearby device, including the anchor STAs, until each polled anchor STA has provided an NDP to use in sounding operations.
  • TF 318 may trigger one or more anchor STAs (e.g., anchor STA 308) identified by TF 318 (e.g., by individual identifiers or a group identifier) to send uplink frames as a sounding sequence.
  • Anchor STA 308 may send NDP 320 in an uplink transmission to AP 302, and NDP 320 may include one or more sounding symbols.
  • AP 302 may begin a downlink sounding sequence.
  • AP 302 may send NDPA frame 322 to announce a downlink transmission, then may send NDP 324, which may include one or more sounding symbols and may be received by any anchor STA.
  • the transmissions may be spaced in time.
  • anchor STA 304 may wait a short interframe space (SIFS) 326 before sending NDP 312.
  • AP 302 may wait SIFS 328 before sending TF 314.
  • Anchor STA 306 may wait SIFS 330 before sending NDP 316.
  • AP 302 may wit SIFS 332 before sending TF 318, and may wait SIFS 334 in between sending NDPA 322 and NDP 324.
  • SIFS short interframe space
  • NDPs may be associated with respective ToAs and ToDs of the devices which send and receive the NDPs. Knowing those ToAs and ToDs, devices may perform ranging calculations to determine device location as explained further herein.
  • FIG. 4 illustrates an enhanced location measurement communication process 400, in accordance with one or more example embodiments of the present disclosure.
  • AP 402 and anchor STA 404 may be in communication and may exchange sounding signals in a sounding sequence.
  • Passive client 406 may listen and identify the sounding signals and other signals exchanged between AP 402 and anchor STA 404, but may not send any sounding signals.
  • AP may send TF 408, which may be received by anchor STA 404 and anchor STA 406.
  • anchor STA 404 in response to TF 408, may send NDP 410 in an uplink transmission, and NDP 410 may include one or more sounding symbols.
  • AP 402 may receive NDP 410 at time t2, which may be referred to as a ToA.
  • AP 402 may send NDPA frame 412, and then at ToD time t3 may send NDP 414, which may include one or more sounding symbols.
  • NDP 414 may be received by anchor STA 404 at time U, which may be a ToA.
  • NDP 410 from the anchor STA 404 may be received at ToA ts at the passive client 406, and NDP 414 may be received at ToA t 6 at the passive client 406.
  • passive client 406 may use time stamps ti, U, t 5 , and t 6 to build a hyperbolic equation (e.g., a time difference of arrival model) based on the position of AP 402 and a respective anchor STA (e.g., the position of APs and anchor STAs may be known and may be indicated in frames sent to/identified by passive client 406).
  • a hyperbolic equation e.g., a time difference of arrival model
  • the distance between AP 402 and passive client 406 may be defined as d MC
  • the distance between anchor STA 404 and passive client 406 may be defined as d sc
  • the distance between AP 402 and anchor STA 404 may be defined as d MS
  • Equation 1 c may represent light speed (e.g., ⁇ 3xl0 8 m/s), and the difference between d MC and d sc is a constant.
  • Equation (1) may be translated to a hyperbolic function for the coordinates (x, y) of passive client 406.
  • hyperbolic equations may represent the location of passive client 406.
  • FIG. 5 illustrates an enhanced location measurement sequence 500, in accordance with one or more example embodiments of the present disclosure.
  • AP 502 may be in communication with one or more anchor STAs (e.g., anchor STA 504,..., anchor STA 506).
  • AP 508 may send TF 508, which may be received by any nearby anchor STAs.
  • anchor STA 504 e.g., which may be identified by an individual or group identifier in TF 508
  • NDP 510 uplink transmission
  • AP 502 may send TF 512.
  • anchor 506 may send NDP 514, which may include one or more sounding symbols.
  • NDP 514 may include one or more sounding symbols.
  • AP 502 may perform a downlink sounding signal sequence.
  • AP 502 may send NDPA 516 followed by NDP 518, which may include one or more sounding symbols.
  • AP 502 may request anchor STAs to send measurement reports.
  • AP 502 may send TF 520 to trigger the sending of LMRs (e.g., LMR 522,...,.LMR 524).
  • Anchor STA 504 may send LMR 522, which may include indications of a ToD associated with NDP 510 and of a ToA associated with NDP 518.
  • Anchor STA 506 may send LMR 524, which may include indications of a ToD associated with NDP 514 and of a ToA associated with NDP 518.
  • AP 502 may send one or more broadcast packets (e.g., broadcast packet 526) which may indicate the ToAs and ToDs of respective NDPs as sent/received by the respective devices.
  • broadcast packet 526 may allow a passive client (e.g., passive client 406 of FIG. 4) to estimate passive client locations.
  • the transmissions may be spaced in time. For example, Anchor STA 504 may wait SIFS 528 after receiving TF 508 from AP 502 before sending NDP 510, and Anchor STA 506 may wait SIFS 530 after receiving TF 512 from AP 602 before sending NDP 514.
  • AP may also wait SIFS 532 after receiving the last uplink NDP (e.g., NDP 514) before sending NDPA 516, and may wait SIFS 534 after sending NDPA 516 before sending NDP 518.
  • AP 502 may wait a time 536 (e.g., SIFS+x, where x may be a variable to indicate the length of a time interval) before sending TF 520.
  • Anchor STAs may wait SIFS 538 before sending their LMRs. After receiving the LMRs, AP 502 may wait SIFS+x 540 before sending broadcast packet 526.
  • AP 502 may have collected time stamps (e.g., t 2 and t 3 of FIG. 4) for all relevant anchor STAs, and each anchor STA may have time stamps (e.g., time stamps ti and U in FIG. 4). Therefore, using an Anchor_STA_to_AP LMR feedback part, AP 502 may use TF 520 to solicit the time stamps ti and U from anchor STA 504 and from anchor STA 506.
  • AP 502 may send broadcast packet 526 to a passive client device (e.g., passive client 406 of FIG. 4).
  • a passive client device e.g., passive client 406 of FIG. 4
  • broadcast packet 526 may include one or more packets, and may include the following information.
  • broadcast packet 526 may include an STA information field, and this information field may include each STA's identifier (ID), such as an association identifier (AID), ranging ID, or basic service set identifier (BSSID), a group identifier, the time stamps tl, t2, t3, t4, associated with communication with the respective anchor STA, and also the location information of AP 502 and/or the respective anchor STAs.
  • Broadcast packet 526 may also include a dialog token field to identify which measurement sequence to which an LMR may correspond.
  • AP 502 may use broadcast packet 526 to send the AP's time stamps (e.g., time stamps t 2 , and t3 of FIG. 4) and location information of AP 502 and/or the respective anchor STAs to a passive client.
  • a passive client may estimate passive client location (e.g., using TDOA).
  • FIG. 6A illustrates an enhanced location measurement sequence 600, in accordance with one or more example embodiments of the present disclosure.
  • AP 602 may be in communication with one or more anchor STAs (e.g., anchor STA 604,..., anchor STA 606). AP 602 may send TF 608, which may be received by any nearby anchor STAs. In response to TF 608, anchor STA 604 (e.g., which may be identified by an individual or group identifier in TF 608) may send an uplink transmission (e.g., NDP 610), which may include one or more sounding symbols.
  • anchor STA 604 e.g., which may be identified by an individual or group identifier in TF 608
  • NDP 610 uplink transmission
  • AP 602 may send TF 612, which may indicate one or more additional anchor STAs (e.g., anchor STA 614) to send uplink sounding NDPs.
  • anchor STA 606 e.g., which may be identified in TF 612
  • NDP 614 may include one or more sounding symbols.
  • AP 602 may begin a downlink sounding sequence by sending NDPA 616, then sending NDP 618, which may include one or more sounding symbols.
  • AP may send one or more broadcast packets (e.g., broadcast packet 620), which may indicate the ToA of NDP 610 (e.g., t 2 of FIG. 4) and the ToD of NDP 618 (e.g., t 3 of FIG. 4) and the location information of AP 602 and/or the respective anchor STAs 604 and 606.
  • broadcast packet 620 may be sent to a passive client (e.g., passive client 406 of FIG. 4).
  • Anchor STA 604 may wait SIFS 622 after AP 602 sends TF 608 before sending NDP 610, and anchor STA 606 may wait SIFS 624 after AP 602 sends TF 612 before sending NDP 614.
  • AP 602 may wait SIFS 626 after receiving the last uplink sounding NDP (e.g., NDP 614) before sending NDP A 616, and may wait SIFS 628 before sending NDP 618.
  • AP 602 also may wait a time 630 (e.g., SIFS+x) before sending broadcast packet 620.
  • the broadcast packet may include the following information.
  • broadcast packet 620 may include an STA information field, and this information field may include each anchor STA's ID (e.g., AID, ranging ID, or BSSID), respective anchor STA time stamps (e.g., time stamps t 2 , t3 of FIG.
  • Broadcast packet 620 also may include location information associated with AP 602. Broadcast packet 620 also may include a dialog token field to identify which measurement sequence to which a measurement report may corresponds. The information in broadcast packet 620 may be indicated by one or more indicators.
  • FIG. 6B illustrates an enhanced location measurement sequence 650, in accordance with one or more example embodiments of the present disclosure.
  • AP 652 may be in communication with one or more anchor STAs (e.g., anchor STA 654,..., anchor STA 656). AP 652 may send TF 658, which may be received by any nearby anchor STAs. In response to TF 658, anchor STA 654 (e.g., which may be identified by an individual or group identifier in TF 658) may send an uplink transmission (e.g., NDP 660), which may include one or more sounding symbols.
  • anchor STA 654 e.g., which may be identified by an individual or group identifier in TF 658
  • NDP 660 uplink transmission
  • AP 652 may send TF 662, which may indicate one or more additional anchor STAs (e.g., anchor STA 654) to send uplink sounding NDPs.
  • anchor STA 656 e.g., which may be identified in TF 662
  • NDP 664 may include one or more sounding symbols.
  • AP 652 may begin a downlink sounding sequence by sending NDPA 666 followed by NDP 668, which may include one or more sounding symbols.
  • AP 652 may send TF 670 to trigger uplink transmissions of reports (e.g., LMR 672, LMR 674) from the anchor STAs.
  • Anchor STA 654 may send LMR 672
  • anchor STA 656 may send LMR 674.
  • Anchor STA 654 may wait SIFS 676 after receiving TF 658 from AP 652 before sending NDP 660, and anchor STA 656 may wait SIFS 678 after receiving TF 662 from AP 652 before sending NDP 664.
  • AP 652 may wait SIFS 680 after receiving the last uplink sounding NDP (e.g., NDP 664) before sending NDPA 666, and may wait SIFS 682 before sending NDP 668.
  • AP 652 also may wait a time 684 (e.g., SIFS+x) before sending TF 670.
  • Anchor STA 654 and anchor STA 656 may wait SIFS 686 after receiving TF 670 before sending LMR 672 and LMR 674, respectively.
  • AP 652 may use TF 670 to solicit LMRs from the anchor STAs, and TF 670 may use anchor STA IDs (e.g., AID, ranging ID, or BSSID) to poll anchor STAs to send uplink LMRs.
  • TF 670 may also indicate a respective resource allocation for each anchor STA to transmit a respective LMR (e.g., for resource unit allocation).
  • the respective LMR may include the following information.
  • An LMR may include time stamps (e.g., time stamps ti and U of FIG. 4), and the LMR may also include an indication of a respective anchor STA' s location information.
  • An LMR also may include a dialog token field to identify which measurement sequence to which a measurement report may correspond.
  • a passive client may identify a TF (e.g., TF 658, TF, 662, TF 670) to identify the anchor STAs and transmission parameters (e.g., modulation and coding scheme, high efficiency long training field size, etc.) associated with transmissions between the anchor STAs and AP 652.
  • a TF may identify a respective resource allocation for an anchor STA, and after decoding a TF, a passive client may determine which anchor STA will send an LMR for using a respective resource unit allocation as indicated in the TF.
  • a passive client may also identify and use a transmission parameter to identify LMRs sent by anchor STAs.
  • a passive client may decode the anchor STA's LMR and may determine time stamp and location information properly. Also, the passive client may identify the location of AP 652 based on an indication in a beacon packet (not shown) sent by AP 652.
  • a packet is transmitted using the high efficiency (HE) format (e.g., as defined in the IEEE 802.11 standards)
  • HE- SIGA signal-A field
  • a BSS color indicated in a signal-A field (HE- SIGA) of a frame/packet may be set to 0 to allow all packets to be received properly by passive clients belonging to a different BSS (e.g., a different BSS than AP 652 and anchor STA 654).
  • a transmitter address (TA) field of a TF may include a BSS identifier (BSSID) of a master AP (e.g., AP 652).
  • BSSID BSS identifier
  • a downlink NDPA packet e.g., NDPA 666) and measurement report feedback packet (e.g., LMR 672, LMR 674) may include a master AP's BSSID and a dialog token identifying a measurement sequence.
  • a passive client e.g., passive client 406 of FIG. 4
  • the passive client may use the master AP's BSSID and the dialog token to identify the measurement sequence so that the passive client may correctly identify LMRs and associate the timing/location information in LMRs with the correct devices.
  • FIG. 7A depicts a flow diagram of an illustrative process 700 for enhanced location measurements, in accordance with one or more example embodiments of the present disclosure.
  • processing circuitry of a wireless device may identify, at a first ToA (e.g., t 2 of FIG. 4), a first NDP (e.g., NDP 510 of FIG. 5) received from a second device (e.g., anchor device 504 of FIG. 5).
  • the first NDP may be sent in response to a TF (e.g., TF 508 of FIG. 5), and may include one or more sounding symbols as part of an uplink sounding signal.
  • the processing circuitry may cause the device to send a second NDP at a first ToD (e.g., t 3 of FIG. 4).
  • the second NDP may be sent after uplink sounding signals are complete.
  • the device may send one or more TFs (e.g., TF 508, TF 512 of FIG. 5), each TF addressed to one or more anchor STAs and triggering one or more uplink NDPs with sounding symbols.
  • the device may send the second NDP as part of a downlink sounding sequence.
  • the device may also send an NDPA (e.g., NDPA 516 of FIG. 5) after receiving the last of the uplink NDPs and before sending the second NDP.
  • the second NDP may include one or more sounding symbols for downlink sounding.
  • the processing circuitry may identify a first LMR (e.g., LMR 522 of FIG. 5) received from the second device, and the first LMR may include an indication of a second ToD (e.g., ti of FIG. 4) when the second device sends the first NDP and an indication of a second ToA (e.g., U of FIG. 4) when the second device receives the second NDP.
  • the LMR may be associated with an identifier.
  • the device may identify multiple LMRs, one for each respective anchor ST A which was indicated in a TF and which provided an uplink NDP.
  • the LMR may allow the device to compile timing and location information associated with the device and the second device so that all such information may be indicated in a broadcast packet.
  • the LMRs of respective anchor STAs may be combined so that a device which has the timing/location information of multiple devices may determine multiple hyperbolic curves (e.g., a TDOA method), and may estimate a device location based on the intersection of the curves.
  • the anchor STAs which send LMRs may be identified in a TF (e.g., TF 520).
  • the processing circuitry may cause the device to send one or more broadcast packets (e.g., broadcast packet 526 of FIG. 5), and the one or more broadcast packets may include an indication of the first ToA, the indication of the second ToA, an indication of the first ToD, and the indication of the second ToD.
  • the broadcast packet transmission may include ti, t 2 , t3, and t 4 of FIG. 4, for example, so that a passive client (e.g., passive client 406 of FIG. 4), which may receive the broadcast packet, may perform location estimations.
  • the device may compile the timing and location information from the LMRs and provide indications of such information in the broadcast packets so that the passive client may identify and use relevant timing and location information for multiple combinations of devices which perform sounding sequences.
  • FIG. 7B depicts a flow diagram of an illustrative process 720 for enhanced location measurements, in accordance with one or more example embodiments of the present disclosure.
  • processing circuitry of a wireless device may identify a first NDP (e.g., NDP 610 of FIG. 6A) received from a second device (e.g., anchor STA 604 of FIG. 6A) at a first ToA (e.g., t 2 of FIG. 4).
  • the first NDP may be sent in response to a TF (e.g., TF 608 of FIG. 6A), and may include one or more sounding symbols as part of an uplink sounding signal.
  • the processing circuitry may cause the device to send an NDPA (e.g., NDPA 616 of FIG. 6A).
  • the device may wait until after all uplink NDPs are received from anchor STAs as part of an uplink NDP sounding sequence. For example, the device may send multiple TFs (e.g., TF 608, TF 612 of FIG. 6A), each indicating one or more anchor STAs to send uplink NDP sounding signals (e.g., NDP 610, NDP 614 of FIG. 6A).
  • the device may initiate a downlink sounding sequence by sending the NDPA.
  • the processing circuitry may cause to device to send a second NDP (e.g., NDP 618) at a first ToD (e.g., t 3 of FIG. 4).
  • the second NDP may be part of the downlink sounding sequence and may include one or more sounding symbols.
  • the second NDP may be sent after the device sends an NDPA.
  • the processing circuitry may cause the device to send one or more broadcast packets (e.g., broadcast packet 620 of FIG. 7).
  • the broadcast packet may include an indication of the first ToA and an indication of the first ToD. Because the device may not have received an LMR from an anchor STA, the device may not be aware of the respective timing information associated with anchor STAs (e.g., ti and U of FIG. 4). Therefore, the broadcast packet may be limited to timing and location data associated with the device (e.g., t 2 and t 3 of FIG. 4).
  • a passive client may receive the broadcast packet and may use the timing information associated with sounding sequences with one or more anchor STAs to determine device location (e.g., using the TDOA hyperbola method). For example, each sounding sequence between the device and an anchor STA may result in different t2 values, so the broadcast packet may include the different timing values along with identifiers to associate the timing values with the sequence and corresponding anchor STA.
  • FIG. 7C depicts a flow diagram of an illustrative process 740 for enhanced location measurements, in accordance with one or more example embodiments of the present disclosure.
  • processing circuitry of a wireless device may identify a TF (e.g., TF 658, TF 662, TF 670 of FIG. 6B) received from a second device (e.g., AP 652 of FIG. 6B.
  • the TF may identify one or more anchor STAs (e.g., anchor STA 654, anchor STA 656 of FIG. 6B) to send uplink transmissions, such as NDPs (e.g., NDP 660, NDP 664 of FIG. 6B) used to transmit sounding symbols or LMRs (e.g., LMR 672, LMR 674 of FIG. 6B) used to transmit timing and location information.
  • NDPs e.g., NDP 660, NDP 664 of FIG. 6B
  • LMRs e.g., LMR 672, LMR 674 of FIG. 6B
  • the TF may indicate resource allocations for respective anchor STAs identified by the TF, and may also indicate one or more transmission parameters used in the transmission of NDPs and/or LMRs so that, for example, the device may identify NDPs and/or LMRs transmitted by an AP and/or anchor STA.
  • the processing circuitry may determine, using the TF, a first resource allocation associated with a third device (e.g., anchor STA 654 of FIG. 6B).
  • the resource allocation may be indicated in the TF, and may be recognized by the device.
  • the device may use the resource allocation of any anchor STA to associate LMRs received according to the resource allocation with respective anchor STAs. This way, the device may associate the timing and location information indicated by respective LMRs with the proper devices for the purposes of estimating location (e.g., using a TDOA hyperbola method).
  • the processing circuitry may determine location information associated with the device using the timing and location information in a respective LMR.
  • the device may anticipate and detect LMRs from anchor STAs identified in a TF, and may properly decode the LMRs to determine the timing and location information to use in location estimations. For example, knowing ti and U of an anchor STA (e.g., as shown in FIG. 4), the device may use Equation 1 defined above for position calculations. If the device has LMRs associated with three or more combinations of devices, the device may determine three or more hyperbolic curves, and using the intersection of those curves, the device may estimate its location.
  • FIG. 8 depicts a functional diagram of an example communication station 800 that may be suitable for use as a user device.
  • FIG. 8 illustrates a functional block diagram of a communication station that may be suitable for use as an AP 102 (FIG. 1) or user device 120 (FIG. 1) in accordance with some embodiments.
  • the communication station 800 may also be suitable for use as a handheld device, a mobile device, a cellular telephone, a smartphone, a tablet, a netbook, a wireless terminal, a laptop computer, a wearable computer device, a femtocell, a high data rate (HDR) subscriber station, an access point, an access terminal, or other personal communication system (PCS) device.
  • HDR high data rate
  • PCS personal communication system
  • the communication station 800 may include communications circuitry 802 and a transceiver 810 for transmitting and receiving signals to and from other communication stations using one or more antennas 801.
  • the transceiver 810 may be a device comprising both a transmitter and a receiver that are combined and share common circuitry (e.g., communication circuitry 802).
  • the communication circuitry 802 may include amplifiers, filters, mixers, analog to digital and/or digital to analog converters.
  • the transceiver 810 may transmit and receive analog or digital signals.
  • the transceiver 810 may allow reception of signals during transmission periods. This mode is known as full-duplex, and may require the transmitter and receiver to operate on different frequencies to minimize interference between the transmitted signal and the received signal.
  • the transceiver 810 may operate in a half-duplex mode, where the transceiver 810 may transmit or receive signals in one direction at a time.
  • the communications circuitry 802 may include circuitry that can operate the physical layer (PHY) communications and/or media access control (MAC) communications for controlling access to the wireless medium, and/or any other communications layers for transmitting and receiving signals.
  • the communication station 800 may also include processing circuitry 806 and memory 808 arranged to perform the operations described herein. In some embodiments, the communications circuitry 802 and the processing circuitry 806 may be configured to perform operations detailed in FIGs. 2, 3, 4, 5, 6A, 6B, 7A, 7B, and 7C.
  • the communications circuitry 802 may be arranged to contend for a wireless medium and configure frames or packets for communicating over the wireless medium.
  • the communications circuitry 802 may be arranged to transmit and receive signals.
  • the communications circuitry 802 may also include circuitry for modulation/demodulation, upconversion/downconversion, filtering, amplification, etc.
  • the processing circuitry 806 of the communication station 800 may include one or more processors.
  • two or more antennas 801 may be coupled to the communications circuitry 802 arranged for sending and receiving signals.
  • the memory 808 may store information for configuring the processing circuitry 806 to perform operations for configuring and transmitting message frames and performing the various operations described herein.
  • the memory 808 may include any type of memory, including non-transitory memory, for storing information in a form readable by a machine (e.g., a computer).
  • the memory 808 may include a computer-readable storage device, read-only memory (ROM), random- access memory (RAM), magnetic disk storage media, optical storage media, flash-memory devices and other storage devices and media.
  • the communication station 800 may be part of a portable wireless communication device, such as a personal digital assistant (PDA), a laptop or portable computer with wireless communication capability, a web tablet, a wireless telephone, a smartphone, a wireless headset, a pager, an instant messaging device, a digital camera, an access point, a television, a medical device (e.g., a heart rate monitor, a blood pressure monitor, etc.), a wearable computer device, or another device that may receive and/or transmit information wirelessly.
  • PDA personal digital assistant
  • laptop or portable computer with wireless communication capability such as a personal digital assistant (PDA), a laptop or portable computer with wireless communication capability, a web tablet, a wireless telephone, a smartphone, a wireless headset, a pager, an instant messaging device, a digital camera, an access point, a television, a medical device (e.g., a heart rate monitor, a blood pressure monitor, etc.), a wearable computer device, or another device that may receive and/or transmit information wirelessly.
  • the communication station 800 may include one or more antennas 801.
  • the antennas 801 may include one or more directional or omnidirectional antennas, including, for example, dipole antennas, monopole antennas, patch antennas, loop antennas, microstrip antennas, or other types of antennas suitable for transmission of RF signals.
  • a single antenna with multiple apertures may be used instead of two or more antennas.
  • each aperture may be considered a separate antenna.
  • MIMO multiple-input multiple-output
  • the antennas may be effectively separated for spatial diversity and the different channel characteristics that may result between each of the antennas and the antennas of a transmitting station.
  • the communication station 800 may include one or more of a keyboard, a display, a non-volatile memory port, multiple antennas, a graphics processor, an application processor, speakers, and other mobile device elements.
  • the display may be an LCD screen including a touch screen.
  • the communication station 800 is illustrated as having several separate functional elements, two or more of the functional elements may be combined and may be implemented by combinations of software-configured elements, such as processing elements including digital signal processors (DSPs), and/or other hardware elements.
  • processing elements including digital signal processors (DSPs), and/or other hardware elements.
  • DSPs digital signal processors
  • some elements may include one or more microprocessors, DSPs, field- programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), application specific integrated circuits (ASICs), radio- frequency integrated circuits (RFICs) and combinations of various hardware and logic circuitry for performing at least the functions described herein.
  • the functional elements of the communication station 800 may refer to one or more processes operating on one or more processing elements.
  • Certain embodiments may be implemented in one or a combination of hardware, firmware, and software. Other embodiments may also be implemented as instructions stored on a computer-readable storage device, which may be read and executed by at least one processor to perform the operations described herein.
  • a computer-readable storage device may include any non-transitory memory mechanism for storing information in a form readable by a machine (e.g., a computer).
  • a computer-readable storage device may include read-only memory (ROM), random-access memory (RAM), magnetic disk storage media, optical storage media, flash-memory devices, and other storage devices and media.
  • the communication station 800 may include one or more processors and may be configured with instructions stored on a computer-readable storage device memory.
  • FIG. 9 illustrates a block diagram of an example of a machine 900 or system upon which any one or more of the techniques (e.g., methodologies) discussed herein may be performed.
  • the machine 900 may operate as a standalone device or may be connected (e.g., networked) to other machines.
  • the machine 900 may operate in the capacity of a server machine, a client machine, or both in server-client network environments.
  • the machine 900 may act as a peer machine in peer-to- peer (P2P) (or other distributed) network environments.
  • P2P peer-to- peer
  • the machine 900 may be a personal computer (PC), a tablet PC, a set-top box (STB), a personal digital assistant (PDA), a mobile telephone, a wearable computer device, a web appliance, a network router, a switch or bridge, or any machine capable of executing instructions (sequential or otherwise) that specify actions to be taken by that machine, such as a base station.
  • PC personal computer
  • PDA personal digital assistant
  • STB set-top box
  • mobile telephone a wearable computer device
  • web appliance e.g., a network router, a switch or bridge
  • network router e.g., a router, a router, or bridge, or any machine capable of executing instructions (sequential or otherwise) that specify actions to be taken by that machine, such as a base station.
  • machine shall also be taken to include any collection of machines that individually or jointly execute a set (or multiple sets) of instructions to perform any one or more of the methodologies discussed herein, such as cloud computing, software as a service (
  • Examples, as described herein, may include or may operate on logic or a number of components, modules, or mechanisms.
  • Modules are tangible entities (e.g., hardware) capable of performing specified operations when operating.
  • a module includes hardware.
  • the hardware may be specifically configured to carry out a specific operation (e.g., hardwired).
  • the hardware may include configurable execution units (e.g., transistors, circuits, etc.) and a computer readable medium containing instructions where the instructions configure the execution units to carry out a specific operation when in operation. The configuring may occur under the direction of the executions units or a loading mechanism. Accordingly, the execution units are communicatively coupled to the computer-readable medium when the device is operating.
  • the execution units may be a member of more than one module.
  • the execution units may be configured by a first set of instructions to implement a first module at one point in time and reconfigured by a second set of instructions to implement a second module at a second point in time.
  • the machine (e.g., computer system) 900 may include a hardware processor 902 (e.g., a central processing unit (CPU), a graphics processing unit (GPU), a hardware processor core, or any combination thereof), a main memory 904 and a static memory 906, some or all of which may communicate with each other via an interlink (e.g., bus) 908.
  • the machine 900 may further include a power management device 932, a graphics display device 910, an alphanumeric input device 912 (e.g., a keyboard), and a user interface (UI) navigation device 914 (e.g., a mouse).
  • UI user interface
  • the graphics display device 910, alphanumeric input device 912, and UI navigation device 914 may be a touch screen display.
  • the machine 900 may additionally include a storage device (i.e., drive unit) 916, a signal generation device 918 (e.g., a speaker), an enhanced location measurement device 919, a network interface device/transceiver 920 coupled to antenna(s) 930, and one or more sensors 928, such as a global positioning system (GPS) sensor, a compass, an accelerometer, or other sensor.
  • GPS global positioning system
  • the machine 900 may include an output controller 934, such as a serial (e.g., universal serial bus (USB), parallel, or other wired or wireless (e.g., infrared (IR), near field communication (NFC), etc.) connection to communicate with or control one or more peripheral devices (e.g., a printer, a card reader, etc.)).
  • a serial e.g., universal serial bus (USB), parallel, or other wired or wireless (e.g., infrared (IR), near field communication (NFC), etc.) connection to communicate with or control one or more peripheral devices (e.g., a printer, a card reader, etc.)).
  • USB universal serial bus
  • IR infrared
  • NFC near field communication
  • the storage device 916 may include a machine readable medium 922 on which is stored one or more sets of data structures or instructions 924 (e.g., software) embodying or utilized by any one or more of the techniques or functions described herein.
  • the instructions 924 may also reside, completely or at least partially, within the main memory 904, within the static memory 806, or within the hardware processor 902 during execution thereof by the machine 900.
  • one or any combination of the hardware processor 902, the main memory 904, the static memory 906, or the storage device 916 may constitute machine- readable media.
  • the enhanced location measurement device 919 may carry out or perform any of the operations and processes (e.g., process 700 of FIG. 7A, process 720 of FIG. 7B, and process 740 of FIG. 7C) described and shown above.
  • the enhanced location measurement device 919 may enable a passive client device to obtain time stamp information associated with the ToAs and ToDs of sounding signals between devices (e.g., a master AP and an anchor STA) exchanging sounding signals.
  • the time stamp information may be used to determine device location information.
  • the enhanced location measurement device 919 may facilitate that for each pair of a master AP and anchor STA in a network, a passive client may utilize time stamps indicated in received transmissions from the master AP and/or anchor STAs to build a hyperbolic equation based on the known positions of master AP and anchor STAs.
  • the distance between master AP and passive client may be defined as d MC
  • the distance between anchor station and passive client may be defined as d sc
  • d MS the distance between master AP and anchor station
  • Time t 1 may represent the ToD of an uplink NDP sounding frame sent from an anchor STA (e.g., in response to a trigger frame received from the master AP).
  • Time t 4 may represent the ToA of a downlink NDP received from the master AP at the anchor STA.
  • Time t 5 may represent the ToA of the uplink NDP received at the passive client from the anchor STA.
  • Time t 6 may represent the ToA of the downlink NDP received at the passive client from the master AP.
  • the ToA and ToD information t 4 and t t may be indicated in a broadcast frame sent from the master AP.
  • the enhanced location measurement device 919 may, assuming that a master AP's and anchor STA's coordinates (e.g., location) are known, after substituting d MC and d sc with a passive client's coordinates as (x, y), facilitate that the master AP's and anchor STA's coordinates may be translated into a hyperbolic function representing the possible passive client coordinates (x, y).
  • the cross point/intersection of such three hyperbolic equations (e.g., based on the location calculations associated with multiple devices) may represent the passive client's location.
  • Time t 2 may represent the ToA of an uplink NDP sounding
  • Time t 3 may represent the ToD of a downlink NDP sounding signal sent from the master AP to the anchor STA.
  • the ToA and ToD information t 2 and t 3 may be indicated in a broadcast frame sent from master AP.
  • the enhanced location measurement device 919 may facilitate that each anchor STA in a network with a master AP may exchange NDP sounding signals and may send an uplink location measurement report (LMR) to the master AP.
  • LMR uplink location measurement report
  • the LMR may indicate time t 1 and time t 4 (e.g., the time stamps associated with the sounding signal ToAs/ToDs at the anchor STA).
  • the master AP may send a broadcast frame including an indication of time t 1 and time t 4 . Therefore, when the passive client receives the broadcast frame, the passive client may build a hyperbolic curve using Equation 1.
  • the broadcast frame may also include location information (for example, location configuration information in the IEEE 802.11Revmc standard) associated with the master AP and/or anchor STA to facilitate the location/ranging calculations.
  • the enhanced location measurement device 919 may facilitate that after uplink and downlink NDP sounding signal exchanges between a master AP and anchor STAs in a network, the master AP may send a broadcast packet even without having received an uplink LMR from anchor STA. Without the LMR, the master AP may not be aware of the ToA timestamps of sounding signals at a respective anchor STA (e.g., time t t and time t 4 ). Therefore, the broadcast frame sent by the master AP may indicate time t2 and time t 3 , along with location information associated with the master AP and anchor STAs. Using Equation 2, the passive client may determine a hyperbolic curve to represent the possible locations of the passive client.
  • the enhanced location measurement device 919 may facilitate that after uplink and downlink NDP sounding signal exchanges between a master AP and anchor STAs in a network, the anchor STAs each may send respective uplink LMRs with time stamp information to the master AP. Because a trigger frame from the AP to the anchor STAs may indicate STA identifiers of the anchor STAs and resource allocations for each anchor STA, the passive client may be able to identify the uplink LMRs sent from the anchor STAs to the master AP.
  • the passive client may be able to determine a hyperbolic curve to represent the possible locations of the passive client using Equation 1.
  • machine-readable medium 922 is illustrated as a single medium, the term “machine-readable medium” may include a single medium or multiple media (e.g., a centralized or distributed database, and/or associated caches and servers) configured to store the one or more instructions 924.
  • machine-readable medium may include a single medium or multiple media (e.g., a centralized or distributed database, and/or associated caches and servers) configured to store the one or more instructions 924.
  • Various embodiments may be implemented fully or partially in software and/or firmware.
  • This software and/or firmware may take the form of instructions contained in or on a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium. Those instructions may then be read and executed by one or more processors to enable performance of the operations described herein.
  • the instructions may be in any suitable form, such as but not limited to source code, compiled code, interpreted code, executable code, static code, dynamic code, and the like.
  • Such a computer-readable medium may include any tangible non-transitory medium for storing information in a form readable by one or more computers, such as but not limited to read only memory (ROM); random access memory (RAM); magnetic disk storage media; optical storage media; a flash memory, etc.
  • machine-readable medium may include any medium that is capable of storing, encoding, or carrying instructions for execution by the machine 900 and that cause the machine 900 to perform any one or more of the techniques of the present disclosure, or that is capable of storing, encoding, or carrying data structures used by or associated with such instructions.
  • Non-limiting machine-readable medium examples may include solid-state memories and optical and magnetic media.
  • a massed machine -readable medium includes a machine-readable medium with a plurality of particles having resting mass.
  • massed machine -readable media may include non-volatile memory, such as semiconductor memory devices (e.g., electrically programmable read-only memory (EPROM), or electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM)) and flash memory devices; magnetic disks, such as internal hard disks and removable disks; magneto-optical disks; and CD-ROM and DVD- ROM disks.
  • semiconductor memory devices e.g., electrically programmable read-only memory (EPROM), or electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM)
  • EPROM electrically programmable read-only memory
  • EEPROM electrically erasable programmable read-only memory
  • the instructions 924 may further be transmitted or received over a communications network 926 using a transmission medium via the network interface device/transceiver 920 utilizing any one of a number of transfer protocols (e.g., frame relay, internet protocol (IP), transmission control protocol (TCP), user datagram protocol (UDP), hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP), etc.).
  • transfer protocols e.g., frame relay, internet protocol (IP), transmission control protocol (TCP), user datagram protocol (UDP), hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP), etc.
  • Example communications networks may include a local area network (LAN), a wide area network (WAN), a packet data network (e.g., the Internet), mobile telephone networks (e.g., cellular networks), plain old telephone (POTS) networks, wireless data networks (e.g., Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11 family of standards known as Wi-Fi®, IEEE 802.16 family of standards known as WiMax®), IEEE 802.15.4 family of standards, and peer-to-peer (P2P) networks, among others.
  • the network interface device/transceiver 920 may include one or more physical jacks (e.g., Ethernet, coaxial, or phone jacks) or one or more antennas to connect to the communications network 926.
  • the network interface device/transceiver 920 may include a plurality of antennas to wirelessly communicate using at least one of single-input multiple- output (SIMO), multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO), or multiple-input single-output (MISO) techniques.
  • transmission medium shall be taken to include any intangible medium that is capable of storing, encoding, or carrying instructions for execution by the machine 900 and includes digital or analog communications signals or other intangible media to facilitate communication of such software.
  • the operations and processes described and shown above may be carried out or performed in any suitable order as desired in various implementations. Additionally, in certain implementations, at least a portion of the operations may be carried out in parallel. Furthermore, in certain implementations, less than or more than the operations described may be performed.
  • the word "exemplary” is used herein to mean “serving as an example, instance, or illustration.” Any embodiment described herein as “exemplary” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other embodiments.
  • the terms “computing device,” “user device,” “communication station,” “station,” “handheld device,” “mobile device,” “wireless device” and “user equipment” (UE) as used herein refers to a wireless communication device such as a cellular telephone, a smartphone, a tablet, a netbook, a wireless terminal, a laptop computer, a femtocell, a high data rate (HDR) subscriber station, an access point, a printer, a point of sale device, an access terminal, or other personal communication system (PCS) device.
  • the device may be either mobile or stationary.
  • the term "communicate” is intended to include transmitting, or receiving, or both transmitting and receiving. This may be particularly useful in claims when describing the organization of data that is being transmitted by one device and received by another, but only the functionality of one of those devices is required to infringe the claim. Similarly, the bidirectional exchange of data between two devices (both devices transmit and receive during the exchange) may be described as “communicating,” when only the functionality of one of those devices is being claimed.
  • the term “communicating” as used herein with respect to a wireless communication signal includes transmitting the wireless communication signal and/or receiving the wireless communication signal.
  • a wireless communication unit which is capable of communicating a wireless communication signal, may include a wireless transmitter to transmit the wireless communication signal to at least one other wireless communication unit, and/or a wireless communication receiver to receive the wireless communication signal from at least one other wireless communication unit.
  • the term "access point" (AP) as used herein may be a fixed station.
  • An access point may also be referred to as an access node, a base station, or some other similar terminology known in the art.
  • An access terminal may also be called a mobile station, user equipment (UE), a wireless communication device, or some other similar terminology known in the art.
  • Embodiments disclosed herein generally pertain to wireless networks. Some embodiments may relate to wireless networks that operate in accordance with one of the IEEE 802.11 standards.
  • Some embodiments may be used in conjunction with various devices and systems, for example, a personal computer (PC), a desktop computer, a mobile computer, a laptop computer, a notebook computer, a tablet computer, a server computer, a handheld computer, a handheld device, a personal digital assistant (PDA) device, a handheld PDA device, an on- board device, an off-board device, a hybrid device, a vehicular device, a non- vehicular device, a mobile or portable device, a consumer device, a non-mobile or non-portable device, a wireless communication station, a wireless communication device, a wireless access point (AP), a wired or wireless router, a wired or wireless modem, a video device, an audio device, an audio- video (A/V) device, a wired or wireless network, a wireless area network, a wireless video area network (WVAN), a local area network (LAN), a wireless LAN (WLAN), a personal area network (PAN), a wireless PAN (
  • Some embodiments may be used in conjunction with one way and/or two-way radio communication systems, cellular radio-telephone communication systems, a mobile phone, a cellular telephone, a wireless telephone, a personal communication system (PCS) device, a PDA device which incorporates a wireless communication device, a mobile or portable global positioning system (GPS) device, a device which incorporates a GPS receiver or transceiver or chip, a device which incorporates an RFID element or chip, a multiple input multiple output (MIMO) transceiver or device, a single input multiple output (SIMO) transceiver or device, a multiple input single output (MISO) transceiver or device, a device having one or more internal antennas and/or external antennas, digital video broadcast (DVB) devices or systems, multi- standard radio devices or systems, a wired or wireless handheld device, e.g., a smartphone, a wireless application protocol (WAP) device, or the like.
  • WAP wireless application protocol
  • Some embodiments may be used in conjunction with one or more types of wireless communication signals and/or systems following one or more wireless communication protocols, for example, radio frequency (RF), infrared (IR), frequency-division multiplexing (FDM), orthogonal FDM (OFDM), time-division multiplexing (TDM), time-division multiple access (TDM A), extended TDMA (E-TDMA), general packet radio service (GPRS), extended GPRS, code-division multiple access (CDMA), wideband CDMA (WCDMA), CDMA 2000, single-carrier CDMA, multi-carrier CDMA, multi-carrier modulation (MDM), discrete multi- tone (DMT), Bluetooth, global positioning system (GPS), Wi-Fi, Wi-Max, ZigBee, ultra- wideband (UWB), global system for mobile communications (GSM), 2G, 2.5G, 3G, 3.5G, 4G, fifth generation (5G) mobile networks, 3 GPP, long term evolution (LTE), LTE advanced, enhanced data
  • Example 1 may include a device, the device comprising memory and processing circuitry configured to: identify, at a first time of arrival, a first null data packet (NDP) received from a second device; cause to send a second NDP at a first time of departure; identify a first location measurement report (LMR) received from the second device, the first LMR comprising an indication of a second time of departure when the second device sends the first NDP and an indication of a second time of arrival when the second device receives the second NDP; and cause to send one or more broadcast packets, the one or more broadcast packets comprising an indication of the first time of arrival, the indication of the second time of arrival, an indication of the first time of departure, and the indication of the second time of departure.
  • NDP null data packet
  • LMR location measurement report
  • Example 2 may include the device of example 1 and/or some other example herein, the one or more broadcast packets further comprising an indication of an identifier associated with the second device, location information associated with the second device, location information associated with the device, and an identifier associated with the LMR.
  • Example 3 may include the device of example 1 and/or some other example herein, wherein to case to send the one or more broadcast packets comprises the storage and the processing circuitry to cause to send the one or more broadcast packets to a passive client device, wherein a location associated with the passive client device is unknown.
  • Example 4 may include the device of example 1 and/or some other example herein, wherein the storage and the processing circuitry are further configured to: identify a third NDP received from a third device at a third time of arrival; identify a fourth NDP received from a fourth device at a fourth time of arrival; and identify a second LMR received from the third device and a third LMR received from the fourth device, the second LMR comprising an indication of a fifth time of arrival when the third device receives the second NDP and an indication of third time of departure when the third device sends the third NDP, the third LMR comprising an indication of a sixth time of arrival when the fourth device receives the second NDP and an indication of a fourth time of departure when the fourth device sends the fourth NDP, the one or more broadcast packets further comprising an indication of the third time of arrival, an indication of the fourth time of arrival, the indication of the fifth time of arrival, the indication of the sixth time of arrival, the indication of the third time of departure, the indication of the fourth time of departure, an
  • Example 5 may include the device of example 1 and/or some other example herein, wherein the device is a master access point, wherein the storage and the processing circuitry are further configured to cause to send a first trigger frame, and wherein the first NDP is an uplink NDP received after the first trigger frame is sent.
  • Example 6 may include the device of example 5 and/or some other example herein, wherein the second device is associated with a first group, wherein the storage and the processing circuitry are further configured to: cause to send a second trigger frame; identify a third NDP received from a third device at a third time of arrival, wherein the third device is associated with a second group different than the first group; and identify a second LMR received from the third device, the second LMR comprising an indication of a fourth time of arrival when the third device receives the second NDP and an indication of a third time of departure when the third device sends the third NDP, the one or more broadcast packets further comprising an indication of the third time of arrival, an indication of the fourth time of arrival, and an indication of the third time of departure.
  • Example 7 may include the device of example 5 and/or some other example herein, wherein the storage and the processing circuitry are further configured to cause to send an NDP announcement (NDPA) frame after the first time of arrival and before the first time of departure.
  • NDPA NDP announcement
  • Example 8 may include the device of example 1 and/or some other example herein, wherein the first NDP comprises one or more first sounding symbols, and wherein the second NDP comprises one or more second sounding symbols.
  • Example 9 may include the device of example 1 and/or some other example herein, further comprising a transceiver configured to transmit and receive wireless signals.
  • Example 10 may include the device of example 9 and/or some other example herein, further comprising one or more antennas coupled to the transceiver.
  • Example 11 may include a non-transitory computer-readable medium storing computer-executable instructions which when executed by one or more processors result in performing operations comprising: identifying, by a first device, a first null data packet (NDP) received from a second device at a first time of arrival; causing to send an NDP announcement (NDPA) frame; causing to send a second NDP at a first time of departure; and causing to send one or more broadcast packets comprising an indication of the first time of arrival and an indication of the first time of departure, wherein the first NDP comprises one or more first sounding symbols, and wherein the second NDP comprises one or more second sounding symbols.
  • NDP null data packet
  • NDPA NDP announcement
  • Example 12 may include the non- transitory computer-readable medium of example 11 and/or some other example herein, wherein the first device is a master access point, wherein the first NDP is received in an uplink transmission, wherein the NDPA frame is sent in a first downlink transmission, and the second NDP is sent in a second downlink transmission.
  • Example 13 may include the non- transitory computer-readable medium of example 11 and/or some other example herein, the one or more broadcast packets further comprising an indication of an identifier associated with the second device, location information associated with the second device, location information associated with the first device, and an identifier associated with a measurement sequence.
  • Example 14 may include the non- transitory computer-readable medium of example 11 and/or some other example herein, identifying a third NDP received from a third device at a third time of arrival; and identifying a fourth NDP received from a fourth device at a fourth time of arrival, the one or more broadcast packets further comprising an indication of the third time of arrival, an identifier associated with the third device, location information associated with the third device, an indication of the fourth time of arrival, an identifier associated with the fourth device, and location information associated with the fourth device.
  • Example 15 may include the non- transitory computer-readable medium of example 11 and/or some other example herein, wherein the first device is a master access point, the operations further comprising causing to send a first trigger frame, and wherein the first NDP is an uplink NDP received after the first trigger frame is sent.
  • Example 16 may include the non-transitory computer-readable medium of example 15 and/or some other example herein, wherein the second device is associated with a first group, the operations further comprising: causing to send a second trigger frame; and identifying a third NDP received from a third device at a third time of arrival, wherein the third device is associated with second group different than the first group, the one or more broadcast packets further comprising an indication of the third time of arrival, an identifier associated with the third device, and location information associated with the third device.
  • Example 17 may include the non- transitory computer-readable medium of example 15 and/or some other example herein, the operations further comprising causing to send an NDP announcement (NDPA) frame after the first time of arrival and before the first time of departure.
  • NDPA NDP announcement
  • Example 18 may include a method comprising: identifying, by processing circuitry of a first device, a trigger frame received from a second device; determining, by the processing circuitry, based at least in part on the trigger frame, a first resource allocation associated with a third device; identifying, by the processing circuitry, a first location measurement report (LMR) received from the third device, the first LMR comprising timing information associated with one or more sounding signals and location information associated with the third device; and determining, by the processing circuitry, based at least in part on the timing information and on the location information, location information associated with the first device.
  • Example 19 may include the method of example 18 and/or some other example herein, wherein identifying the first LMR further comprises identifying the first LMR based at least in part on the first resource allocation.
  • Example 20 may include the method of example 18 and/or some other example herein, further comprising: determining, based at least in part on the timing information, a time of departure when the third device sends a first sounding signal of the one or more sounding signals; and determining, based at least in part on the timing information, a time of arrival when the third device receives a second sounding signal of the one or more sounding signals, wherein determining the location information associated with the first device comprises determining the location information associated with the first device based at least in part on the time of departure, the time of arrival, and the location information associated with the third device.
  • Example 21 may include the method of example 18 and/or some other example herein, further comprising determining, based at least in part on the trigger frame, a transmission parameter associated with the first LMR, wherein identifying the first LMR further comprises identifying the first LMR based at least in part on the transmission parameter.
  • Example 22 may include the method of example 18 and/or some other example herein, further comprising determining, based at least in part on the trigger frame, an identifier associated with the third device, wherein identifying the first LMR comprises identifying the first LMR based at least in part on the identifier.
  • Example 23 may include the method of example 18 and/or some other example herein, further comprising identifying a first sounding signal of the one or more sounding signals, the trigger frame soliciting the first sounding signal comprising an indication of the identifier.
  • Example 24 may include the method of example 18 and/or some other example herein, wherein the first device is associated with a first basic service set (BSS), and wherein the second device and the third device may be associated with a second BSS different than the first BSS.
  • BSS basic service set
  • Example 25 may include the method of example 18 and/or some other example herein, the method further comprising: determining, based at least in part on the trigger frame, a second resource allocation associated with fourth device and a third resource allocation associated with a fifth device; and identifying, a second LMR received from the fourth device and a third LMR received from the fifth device, wherein determining the location information associated with the first device further comprises determining the location information based at least in part on the second LMR and on the third LMR.
  • Example 26 may include an apparatus comprising means for performing a method as claimed in any one of examples 18-25.
  • Example 27 may include a system, comprising at least one memory device having programmed instruction that, in response to execution cause at least one processor to perform the method of any one of examples 18-25.
  • Example 28 may include a machine-readable medium including code, when executed, to cause a machine to perform the method of any one of examples 18-25.
  • Example 29 may include a non-transitory computer-readable medium storing computer-executable instructions which when executed by one or more processors result in performing operations comprising: determining, by the processing circuitry, based at least in part on the trigger frame, a first resource allocation associated with a third device; identifying, by the processing circuitry, a first location measurement report (LMR) received from the third device, the first LMR comprising timing information associated with one or more sounding signals and location information associated with the third device; and determining, by the processing circuitry, based at least in part on the timing information and on the location information, location information associated with the first device.
  • LMR location measurement report
  • Example 30 may include the non-transitory computer-readable medium of example 29 and/or some other example herein, wherein identifying the first LMR further comprises identifying the first LMR based at least in part on the first resource allocation.
  • Example 31 may include the non-transitory computer-readable medium of example 29 and/or some other example herein, the operations further comprising: determining, based at least in part on the timing information, a time of departure when the third device sends a first sounding signal of the one or more sounding signals; and determining, based at least in part on the timing information, a time of arrival when the third device receives a second sounding signal of the one or more sounding signals, wherein determining the location information associated with the first device comprises determining the location information associated with the first device based at least in part on the time of departure, the time of arrival, and the location information associated with the third device.
  • Example 32 may include the non-transitory computer-readable medium of example 29 and/or some other example herein, the operations further comprising determining, based at least in part on the trigger frame, an identifier associated with the third device, wherein identifying the first LMR comprises identifying the first LMR based at least in part on the identifier.
  • Example 33 may include the non- transitory computer-readable medium of example 29 and/or some other example herein, the operations further comprising determining, based at least in part on the trigger frame, an identifier associated with the third device, wherein identifying the first LMR comprises identifying the first LMR based at least in part on the identifier.
  • Example 34 may include the non-transitory computer-readable medium of example 29 and/or some other example herein, the operations further comprising identifying a first sounding signal of the one or more sounding signals, the trigger frame soliciting the first sounding signal comprising an indication of the identifier.
  • Example 35 may include the non- transitory computer-readable medium of example 29 and/or some other example herein, wherein the first device is associated with a first basic service set (BSS), and wherein the second device and the third device may be associated with a second BSS different than the first BSS.
  • BSS basic service set
  • Example 36 may include the non-transitory computer-readable medium of example 29 and/or some other example herein, the operations further comprising: determining, based at least in part on the trigger frame, a second resource allocation associated with fourth device and a third resource allocation associated with a fifth device; and identifying, a second LMR received from the fourth device and a third LMR received from the fifth device, wherein determining the location information associated with the first device further comprises determining the location information based at least in part on the second LMR and on the third LMR.
  • Example 37 may include an apparatus comprising means for: identifying, at a first time of arrival, a first null data packet (NDP) received from a second device; causing to send a second NDP at a first time of departure; identify a first location measurement report (LMR) received from the second device, the first LMR comprising an indication of a second time of departure when the second device sends the first NDP and an indication of a second time of arrival when the second device receives the second NDP; and causing to send one or more broadcast packets, the one or more broadcast packets comprising an indication of the first time of arrival, the indication of the second time of arrival, an indication of the first time of departure, and the indication of the second time of departure.
  • NDP null data packet
  • LMR location measurement report
  • Example 38 may include the apparatus of example 37 and/or some other example herein, the one or more broadcast packets further comprising an indication of an identifier associated with the second device, location information associated with the second device, location information associated with the device, and an identifier associated with the LMR.
  • Example 39 may include the apparatus of example 37 and/or some other example herein, wherein the means for causing to send the one or more broadcast packets comprises means for causing to send the one or more broadcast packets to a passive client device, wherein a location associated with the passive client device is unknown.
  • Example 40 may include the apparatus of example 37 and/or some other example herein, further comprising means for: identifying a third NDP received from a third device at a third time of arrival; identify a fourth NDP received from a fourth device at a fourth time of arrival; and identifying a second LMR received from the third device and a third LMR received from the fourth device, the second LMR comprising an indication of a fifth time of arrival when the third device receives the second NDP and an indication of third time of departure when the third device sends the third NDP, the third LMR comprising an indication of a sixth time of arrival when the fourth device receives the second NDP and an indication of a fourth time of departure when the fourth device sends the fourth NDP, the one or more broadcast packets further comprising an indication of the third time of arrival, an indication of the fourth time of arrival, the indication of the fifth time of arrival, the indication of the sixth time of arrival, the indication of the third time of departure, the indication of the fourth time of departure, an indication of an identifier
  • Example 41 may include the apparatus of example 37 and/or some other example herein, wherein the apparatus is a master access point, further comprising means for causing to send a first trigger frame, and wherein the first NDP is an uplink NDP received after the first trigger frame is sent.
  • Example 42 may include the apparatus of example 41 and/or some other example herein, wherein the second device is associated with a first group, the apparatus further comprising means for: causing to send a second trigger frame; identifying a third NDP received from a third device at a third time of arrival, wherein the third device is associated with a second group different than the first group; and identifying a second LMR received from the third device, the second LMR comprising an indication of a fourth time of arrival when the third device receives the second NDP and an indication of a third time of departure when the third device sends the third NDP, the one or more broadcast packets further comprising an indication of the third time of arrival, an indication of the fourth time of arrival, and an indication of the third time of departure.
  • Example 43 may include the apparatus of example 41 and/or some other example herein, the apparatus further comprising means for causing to send an NDP announcement (NDPA) frame after the first time of arrival and before the first time of departure.
  • NDPA NDP announcement
  • Example 44 may include the apparatus of example 37 and/or some other example herein, wherein the first NDP comprises one or more first sounding symbols, and wherein the second NDP comprises one or more second sounding symbols.
  • Example 45 may include a device, the device comprising memory and processing circuitry configured to: identify a first null data packet (NDP) received from a second device at a first time of arrival; cause to send an NDP announcement (NDPA) frame; cause to send a second NDP at a first time of departure; and cause to send one or more broadcast packets comprising an indication of the first time of arrival and an indication of the first time of departure, wherein the first NDP comprises one or more first sounding symbols, and wherein the second NDP comprises one or more second sounding symbols.
  • NDP null data packet
  • NDPA NDP announcement
  • Example 46 may include the device of example 45 and/or some other example herein, wherein the first is a master access point, wherein the first NDP is received in an uplink transmission, wherein the NDPA frame is sent in a first downlink transmission, and the second NDP is sent in a second downlink transmission.
  • Example 47 may include the device of example 45 and/or some other example herein, the one or more broadcast packets further comprising an indication of an identifier associated with the second device, location information associated with the second device, location information associated with the first device, and an identifier associated with a measurement sequence.
  • Example 48 may include the device of example 45 and/or some other example herein, wherein the memory and processing circuitry are further configure to identify a third NDP received from a third device at a third time of arrival; and identify a fourth NDP received from a fourth device at a fourth time of arrival, the one or more broadcast packets further comprising an indication of the third time of arrival, an identifier associated with the third device, location information associated with the third device, an indication of the fourth time of arrival, an identifier associated with the fourth device, and location information associated with the fourth device.
  • Example 49 may include the device of example 45 and/or some other example herein, wherein the device is a master access point further configured to cause to send a first trigger frame, and wherein the first NDP is an uplink NDP received after the first trigger frame is sent.
  • Example 50 may include the device of example 45 and/or some other example herein, wherein the second device is associated with a first group, the device further configure to: cause to send a second trigger frame; and identify a third NDP received from a third device at a third time of arrival, wherein the third device is associated with second group different than the first group, the one or more broadcast packets further comprising an indication of the third time of arrival, an identifier associated with the third device, and location information associated with the third device.
  • Example 51 may include the device of example 45 and/or some other example herein, the storage and the processing circuitry are further configured to: cause to send an NDP announcement (NDPA) frame after the first time of arrival and before the first time of departure.
  • NDPA NDP announcement
  • Example 52 may include a method comprising: identifying, by a first device, a first null data packet (NDP) received from a second device at a first time of arrival; causing to send an NDP announcement (NDPA) frame; causing to send a second NDP at a first time of departure; and causing to send one or more broadcast packets comprising an indication of the first time of arrival and an indication of the first time of departure, wherein the first NDP comprises one or more first sounding symbols, and wherein the second NDP comprises one or more second sounding symbols.
  • NDP null data packet
  • NDPA NDP announcement
  • Example 53 may include the method of example 52 and/or some other example herein, wherein the first device is a master access point, wherein the first NDP is received in an uplink transmission, wherein the NDPA frame is sent in a first downlink transmission, and the second NDP is sent in a second downlink transmission.
  • Example 54 may include the method of example 53 and/or some other example herein, the one or more broadcast packets further comprising an indication of an identifier associated with the second device, location information associated with the second device, location information associated with the first device, and an identifier associated with a measurement sequence.
  • Example 55 may include the method of example 53 and/or some other example herein, further comprising identifying a third NDP received from a third device at a third time of arrival; and identifying a fourth NDP received from a fourth device at a fourth time of arrival, the one or more broadcast packets further comprising an indication of the third time of arrival, an identifier associated with the third device, location information associated with the third device, an indication of the fourth time of arrival, an identifier associated with the fourth device, and location information associated with the fourth device.
  • Example 56 may include the method of example 53 and/or some other example herein, wherein the first device is a master access point, the method further comprising causing to send a first trigger frame, and wherein the first NDP is an uplink NDP received after the first trigger frame is sent.
  • Example 57 may include the method of example 53 and/or some other example herein, wherein the second device is associated with a first group, the method further comprising: causing to send a second trigger frame; and identifying a third NDP received from a third device at a third time of arrival, wherein the third device is associated with second group different than the first group, the one or more broadcast packets further comprising an indication of the third time of arrival, an identifier associated with the third device, and location information associated with the third device.
  • Example 58 may include the method of example 53 and/or some other example herein, the method further comprising causing to send an NDP announcement (NDPA) frame after the first time of arrival and before the first time of departure.
  • NDPA NDP announcement
  • Example 59 may include an apparatus comprising means for performing a method as claimed in any one of examples 53-58.
  • Example 60 may include a system, comprising at least one memory device having programmed instruction that, in response to execution cause at least one processor to perform the method of any one of examples 53-58
  • Example 61 may include a machine readable medium including code, when executed, to cause a machine to perform the method of any one of examples 53-58.
  • Example 62 may include an apparatus comprising means for identifying a first null data packet (NDP) received from a second device at a first time of arrival; causing to send an NDP announcement (NDPA) frame; causing to send a second NDP at a first time of departure; and causing to send one or more broadcast packets comprising an indication of the first time of arrival and an indication of the first time of departure, wherein the first NDP comprises one or more first sounding symbols, and wherein the second NDP comprises one or more second sounding symbols.
  • NDP null data packet
  • NDPA NDP announcement
  • Example 63 may include the apparatus of example 62 and/or some other example herein, wherein the apparatus is a master access point, wherein the first NDP is received in an uplink transmission, wherein the NDPA frame is sent in a first downlink transmission, and the second NDP is sent in a second downlink transmission.
  • Example 64 may include the apparatus of example 62 and/or some other example herein, the one or more broadcast packets further comprising an indication of an identifier associated with the second device, location information associated with the second device, location information associated with the first device, and an identifier associated with a measurement sequence.
  • Example 65 may include the apparatus of example 62 and/or some other example herein, the apparatus further comprising means for: identifying a third NDP received from a third device at a third time of arrival; and identifying a fourth NDP received from a fourth device at a fourth time of arrival, the one or more broadcast packets further comprising an indication of the third time of arrival, an identifier associated with the third device, location information associated with the third device, an indication of the fourth time of arrival, an identifier associated with the fourth device, and location information associated with the fourth device.
  • Example 66 may include the apparatus of example 65 and/or some other example herein, wherein the second device is associated with a first group, the apparatus further comprising means for: causing to send a second trigger frame; and identifying a third NDP received from a third device at a third time of arrival, wherein the third device is associated with second group different than the first group, the one or more broadcast packets further comprising an indication of the third time of arrival, an identifier associated with the third device, and location information associated with the third device.
  • Example 67 may include the apparatus of example 65 and/or some other example herein, the apparatus further comprising means for causing to send an NDP announcement (NDP A) frame after the first time of arrival and before the first time of departure.
  • NDP A NDP announcement
  • Example 68 may include one or more non-transitory computer-readable media comprising instructions to cause an electronic device, upon execution of the instructions by one or more processors of the electronic device, to perform one or more elements of a method described in or related to any of examples 1-67, or any other method or process described herein
  • Example 69 may include an apparatus comprising logic, modules, and/or circuitry to perform one or more elements of a method described in or related to any of examples 1-67, or any other method or process described herein.
  • Example 70 may include a method, technique, or process as described in or related to any of examples 1-67, or portions or parts thereof.
  • Example 71 may include an apparatus comprising: one or more processors and one or more computer readable media comprising instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform the method, techniques, or process as described in or related to any of examples 1-67, or portions thereof.
  • Example 72 may include a method of communicating in a wireless network as shown and described herein.
  • Example 73 may include a system for providing wireless communication as shown and described herein.
  • Example 74 may include a device for providing wireless communication as shown and described herein.
  • Embodiments according to the disclosure are in particular disclosed in the attached claims directed to a method, a storage medium, a device and a computer program product, wherein any feature mentioned in one claim category, e.g., method, can be claimed in another claim category, e.g., system, as well.
  • the dependencies or references back in the attached claims are chosen for formal reasons only. However, any subject matter resulting from a deliberate reference back to any previous claims (in particular multiple dependencies) can be claimed as well, so that any combination of claims and the features thereof are disclosed and can be claimed regardless of the dependencies chosen in the attached claims.
  • These computer-executable program instructions may be loaded onto a special- purpose computer or other particular machine, a processor, or other programmable data processing apparatus to produce a particular machine, such that the instructions that execute on the computer, processor, or other programmable data processing apparatus create means for implementing one or more functions specified in the flow diagram block or blocks.
  • These computer program instructions may also be stored in a computer-readable storage media or memory that may direct a computer or other programmable data processing apparatus to function in a particular manner, such that the instructions stored in the computer-readable storage media produce an article of manufacture including instruction means that implement one or more functions specified in the flow diagram block or blocks.
  • certain implementations may provide for a computer program product, comprising a computer- readable storage medium having a computer-readable program code or program instructions implemented therein, said computer-readable program code adapted to be executed to implement one or more functions specified in the flow diagram block or blocks.
  • the computer program instructions may also be loaded onto a computer or other programmable data processing apparatus to cause a series of operational elements or steps to be performed on the computer or other programmable apparatus to produce a computer-implemented process such that the instructions that execute on the computer or other programmable apparatus provide elements or steps for implementing the functions specified in the flow diagram block or blocks.
  • blocks of the block diagrams and flow diagrams support combinations of means for performing the specified functions, combinations of elements or steps for performing the specified functions and program instruction means for performing the specified functions. It will also be understood that each block of the block diagrams and flow diagrams, and combinations of blocks in the block diagrams and flow diagrams, may be implemented by special-purpose, hardware-based computer systems that perform the specified functions, elements or steps, or combinations of special-purpose hardware and computer instructions.
  • Conditional language such as, among others, "can,” “could,” “might,” or “may,” unless specifically stated otherwise, or otherwise understood within the context as used, is generally intended to convey that certain implementations could include, while other implementations do not include, certain features, elements, and/or operations. Thus, such conditional language is not generally intended to imply that features, elements, and/or operations are in any way required for one or more implementations or that one or more implementations necessarily include logic for deciding, with or without user input or prompting, whether these features, elements, and/or operations are included or are to be performed in any particular implementation.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Computer Networks & Wireless Communication (AREA)
  • Signal Processing (AREA)
  • Mobile Radio Communication Systems (AREA)

Abstract

La présente invention concerne d'une manière générale des procédés, des systèmes et des dispositifs de codage pour des mesures de localisation améliorées. Un dispositif peut identifier, à un premier moment d'arrivée, un premier paquet de données nulles (NDP) reçu en provenance d'un second dispositif. Le dispositif peut envoyer un second NDP à un premier moment de départ. Le dispositif peut identifier un premier rapport de mesure de localisation (LMR) reçu en provenance du second dispositif, le premier LMR comprenant une indication d'un second moment de départ lorsque le second dispositif envoie le premier NDP et une indication d'un second moment d'arrivée lorsque le second dispositif reçoit le second NDP. Le dispositif peut envoyer un ou plusieurs paquets de diffusion comprenant une indication du premier moment d'arrivée, l'indication du second moment d'arrivée, une indication du premier moment de départ, l'indication du second moment de départ, et l'indication des informations de localisation du premier dispositif et du second dispositif.
PCT/US2018/036964 2017-06-12 2018-06-11 Mesures de localisation améliorées pour communication sans fil WO2018231727A1 (fr)

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