Media access control (MAC) frame structure and data communication method in a real-time localization system

1. A system comprising:

a plurality of anchors that each have a known location;

a position estimator including a processing system having a processor; and a memory that stores executable instructions that, when executed by the processing system, facilitate performance of operations, the operations comprising:

calculating a plurality of time differences between receiving a pair of packets from each pair of anchors, respectively, of the plurality of anchors, wherein the pair of packets is a range request (REQ) packet and a range response (RSP) packet; and

estimating a position of a mobile device according to the plurality of time differences,

wherein each REQ packet and each RSP packet is communicated in accordance with a media access control (MAC) frame structure comprising:

a beacon period for synchronizing the plurality of anchors via transmission of a first set of communication packets, wherein the synchronizing the plurality of anchors is based on measuring time differences in time shifts for beacon signals in different time slots of the beacon period, and

a contention-free period, wherein the contention-free period is partitioned into slots, wherein each pair of packets of a corresponding pair of the plurality of anchors is communicated during a corresponding one of the slots.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the slots of the contention-free period are separated by guard intervals.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the synchronizing the plurality of anchors comprises at least a first anchor of the plurality of anchors:

transmitting a first beacon signal in a first time slot of the beacon period;

measuring a first time shift between the transmitting of the first beacon signal and a start of the first time slot;

receiving a second beacon signal from a second anchor transmitted during a second time slot of the beacon period;

measuring a second time shift between the receiving the second beacon signal and a start of the second time slot;

determining a time difference between the first time shift and the second time shift; and

adjusting a clock signal of the first anchor based on the time difference.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the processing system is part of the mobile device.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein at least two pair of anchors of the plurality of anchors share a common anchor, wherein at least two of the pair of packets share a common REQ packet, or a combination thereof.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the MAC frame structure further comprises: a sync period for the plurality of anchors to synchronize a start of the contention-free period with each other; and an ending period.

7. The system of claim 6 , wherein the MAC frame structure further comprises: a contention period.

8. A method comprising:

calculating, by a position estimator, a plurality of time differences between receiving a range request (REQ) packet transmitted by a mobile device and receiving a plurality of range response (RSP) packets transmitted by a plurality of anchors, wherein each of the RSP packets is in response to the REQ packet, wherein each of the plurality of anchors has a known location; and

estimating, by the position estimator, a position of the mobile device according to the plurality of time differences,

wherein each REQ packet and each RSP packet is communicated in accordance with a media access control (MAC) frame structure comprising:

a beacon period for synchronizing the plurality of anchors via transmission of a first set of communication packets, wherein the synchronizing the plurality of anchors is based on measuring time differences in time shifts for beacon signals in different time slots of the beacon period,

a contention-free period, and

a contention period, wherein the RSP packets are transmitted during the contention period, and wherein the plurality of anchors only transmit RSP packets in response to REQ packets transmitted during the contention period.

9. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:

adjusting a clock signal of at least one anchor based on the time differences.

10. The method of claim 8 , wherein the synchronizing the plurality of anchors comprises at least a first anchor of the plurality of anchors:

transmitting a first beacon signal in a first time slot of the beacon period;

measuring a first time shift between the transmitting of the first beacon signal and a start of the first time slot;

receiving a second beacon signal from a second anchor transmitted during a second time slot of the beacon period;

measuring a second time shift between the receiving the second beacon signal and a start of the second time slot;

determining a time difference between the first time shift and the second time shift; and

adjusting a clock signal of the first anchor based on the time difference.

11. The method of claim 8 , wherein the position estimator is part of a server that is in communication with one or more of the plurality of anchors.

12. The method of claim 8 , wherein the position estimator is part of one or more of the plurality of anchors.

13. The method of claim 8 , wherein the MAC frame structure further comprises: a sync period for the plurality of anchors to synchronize a start of the contention-free period with each other; and an ending period.

14. A system comprising:

a plurality of anchors that each have a known location;

a position estimator including a processing system having a processor; and

a memory that stores executable instructions that, when executed by the processing system, facilitate performance of operations, the operations comprising:

calculating a plurality of time differences for pairs of packets, wherein each time difference of the pairs of packets is between transmitting of a range request (REQ) packet and receiving of a range response (RSP) packet, wherein the REQ packet of each of the pairs is either transmitted by a mobile device or is transmitted by at least some of the plurality of anchors; and

estimating a position of the mobile device according to the plurality of time differences,

wherein each REQ packet and each RSP packet is communicated in accordance with a media access control (MAC) frame structure comprising:

a beacon period for synchronizing the plurality of anchors via transmission of a first set of communication packets, wherein the synchronizing the plurality of anchors is based on measuring time differences in time shifts for beacon signals in different time slots of the beacon period,

a contention-free period and

a contention period, wherein the REQ packets are transmitted during the contention period, and wherein RSP packets are transmitted only in response to the REQ packets transmitted during the contention period.

15. The system of claim 14 , wherein the REQ packet of each of the pairs of packets is transmitted by the mobile device.

16. The system of claim 15 , wherein the position estimator is part of the mobile device.

17. The system of claim 14 , wherein the position estimator is part of: one or more of the plurality of anchors, a server, or a combination thereof.

18. The system of claim 14 , further comprising:

adjusting a clock signal of at least one anchor based on the time differences.

19. The system of claim 14 , wherein the synchronizing the plurality of anchors comprises at least a first anchor of the plurality of anchors:

transmitting a first beacon signal in a first time slot of the beacon period;

measuring a first time shift between the transmitting of the first beacon signal and a start of the first time slot;

receiving a second beacon signal from a second anchor of the plurality of anchors transmitted during a second time slot of the beacon period;

measuring a second time shift between the receiving the second beacon signal and a start of the second time slot;

determining a time difference between the first time shift and the second time shift; and

adjusting a clock signal of the first anchor based on the time difference.

20. The system of claim 14 , wherein the MAC frame structure further comprises: a sync period for the plurality of anchors to synchronize a start of the contention-free period with each other; and an ending period.