Method for signaling quality of range estimates in UWB devices
View Patent ↗A method signals a quality of range estimates in a UWB network. For each range estimate, a confidence level of a range estimate is signaled, a confidence interval for the range estimate is signaled, and a confidence interval scaling factor for the confidence interval is signaled.
1. A method for signaling a range quality estimate a in a wireless network, comprising for each range estimate:
transmitting a first range packet from a first device to a second device;
transmitting a second range packet from the second device to the first device in response to receiving the first range packet by the second device;
determining the range quality estimate based on the first range packet and the second range packet; wherein the range quality estimate is indicative of an accuracy of a range estimate;
exchanging the range quality estimate between the first device and the second device, wherein the range quality estimate includes a confidence level of the range estimate, a confidence interval for the range estimate, and a confidence interval scaling factor for the confidence interval.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
providing the scaling factor value over the network.
3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
signaling the confidence level with three bits;
signaling the confidence interval with two bits; and
signaling the scaling factor with two bits.
4. The method of claim 1 , in which the scaling factor scales the range confidence intervals.
5. The method of claim 1 , in which the scaling factor of confidence interval depends on a particular application.
6. The method of claim 1 , in which the scaling factor of the confidence interval depends on the quality of range estimates.
7. The method of claim 1 , in which the network uses ultra wideband signals.
8. The method of claim 1 , in which the transmitting and receiving, and exchanging is according to an IEEE 802.15.4a standard.
9. A system for signaling a range quality estimate in an ultra wideband network, comprising for each range estimate:
a first device configured to transmit a first range packet;
a second device configured to transmit a second range packet in response to receiving the first range packet;
means for determining the range quality estimate based on the first range packet and the second range packet; wherein the range quality estimate is indicative of an accuracy of a range estimate;
means for exchanging the range quality estimate between the first device and the second device, wherein the range quality estimate includes a confidence level of the range estimate, a confidence interval for the range estimate, and a confidence interval scaling factor for the confidence interval.