Methods, systems, and computer readable media for distribution of time synchronization information to ultra-wide-band devices

1. A system for distribution of time synchronization information to ultra-wide-band (UWB) devices, the system comprising:

a plurality of anchors, wherein each anchor comprises at least one anchor processor, an anchor UWB radio, and an anchor timing system, wherein each anchor performs UWB ranging on a subset of a plurality of tags, each securable to an object for tracking, wherein each tag comprises at least one tag processor, a tag UWB radio, and a tag timing system, wherein the tag timing systems and the anchor timing systems are time synchronized; and

a site master configured for transmitting a first time-synchronization message to a first anchor in a first UWB coverage island and a second anchor in a second UWB coverage island, wherein the first anchor is configured for distributing time synchronization information to a first plurality of anchors within the first UWB coverage island by one or more first UWB transmissions, and wherein the second anchor is configured for distributing time synchronization information to a second plurality of anchors within the second UWB coverage island by one or more second UWB transmissions.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the site master is configured for transmitting the first time-synchronization message by Wi-Fi to the first anchor in the first UWB coverage island and to the second anchor in the second UWB coverage island.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first anchor is configured for distributing time synchronization information to a first plurality of tags within the first UWB coverage island by the same one or more first UWB transmissions made to the first plurality of anchors within the first UWB coverage island, and wherein the second anchor is configured for distributing time synchronization information to a second plurality of tags within the second UWB coverage island by the same one or more second UWB transmissions made to the second plurality of anchors within the second UWB coverage island.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the site master is configured for maintaining a list of UWB coverage islands and, for each UWB coverage island on the list, a network address of a designed anchor within the UWB coverage island for distributing time synchronization information within the UWB coverage island.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first anchor is configured for transmitting the one or more first UWB transmissions during a first assigned time slot for the first anchor, and wherein at least one anchor of the first plurality of anchors within the first UWB coverage island is configured for distributing time synchronization information by transmitting one or more additional UWB transmissions during a second assigned time slot for the at least one anchor.

6. A method for distribution of time synchronization information to ultra-wide-band (UWB) devices, the method comprising:

initializing a UWB local area network (LAN) comprising a plurality of anchors and a plurality of tags, each secured to an object for tracking, wherein each anchor comprises: at least one anchor processor, an anchor UWB radio, and an anchor timing system, and wherein each tag comprises: at least one tag processor, a tag UWB radio, and a tag timing system, wherein the tag timing systems are synchronized to the anchor timing systems;

transmitting, from a site master, a first time-synchronization message to a first anchor in a first UWB coverage island and a second anchor in a second UWB coverage island;

distributing time synchronization information, from the first anchor, to a first plurality of anchors within the first UWB coverage island by one or more first UWB transmissions; and

distributing time synchronization information, from the second anchor, to a second plurality of anchors within the second UWB coverage island by one or more second UWB transmissions.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein transmitting the first time-synchronization message comprises transmitting the first time-synchronization message by Wi-Fi to the first anchor in the first UWB coverage island and to the second anchor in the second UWB coverage island.

8. The method of claim 6 , comprising distributing time synchronization information, from the first anchor, to a first plurality of tags within the first UWB coverage island by the same one or more first UWB transmissions made to the first plurality of anchors within the first UWB coverage island, and distributing time synchronization information, from the second anchor, to a second plurality of tags within the second UWB coverage island by the same one or more second UWB transmissions made to the second plurality of anchors within the second UWB coverage island.

9. The method of claim 6 , comprising maintaining, at the site master, a list of UWB coverage islands and, for each UWB coverage island on the list, a network address of a designed anchor within the UWB coverage island for distributing time synchronization information within the UWB coverage island.

10. The method of claim 8 , comprising transmitting, at the first anchor, the one or more first UWB transmissions during a first assigned time slot for the first anchor, and distributing time synchronization information by transmitting, from at least one anchor of the first plurality of anchors within the first UWB coverage island, one or more additional UWB transmissions during a second assigned time slot for the at least one anchor.