Ultra-wideband communication protocol

• US 20050058121A1
• Filed: 09/15/2003
• Published: 03/17/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/15/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intellectual Ventures Holding 81 LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Pulse-Link Incorporated
• Inventors: Santhoff, John, Siwiak, Kazimierz
• Granted Patent: US 7,339,883 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/352
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/71632 Signal aspects H04B1/7172 and H04B1/7176 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 80/00 Wireless network protocols or protocol adaptations to wireless operation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/181 Transcoding devices; Rate adaptation devices

Abstract

A communication protocol for ultra-wideband communications is provided. The present invention provides compatibility and interoperability between ultra-wideband communications devices within various types of networks. In one embodiment, combined, or interleaved data frames having both high and low data transfer rate capability are provided. The low data transfer rate may be used for initial discovery of the type of network that is being accessed, and the high data transfer rate may be used to quickly transfer data within networks that have a high data transfer rate capability. This Abstract is provided for the sole purpose of complying with the Abstract requirement rules that allow a reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the disclosure contained herein. This Abstract is submitted with the explicit understanding that it will not be used to interpret or to limit the scope or the meaning of the claims.

Claims

1. A ultra-wideband communication method, the method comprising the steps of:

generating a first data frame, constructed to transmit data at a first data rate;

generating a second data frame, constructed to transmit data at a second data rate; and

transmitting both the first and second data frames.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first and second data frames each comprise a plurality of time bins, with each time bin capable of receiving an ultra-wideband pulse.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first data frame transmits data at a rate that ranges between about one kilobit per second to about five megabits per second.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the second data frame transmits data at a rate that ranges between about five megabits per second to about one gigabit per second.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the second data frame transmits data at a rate selected from a group consisting of:

a 25 megabit per second rate, a 50 megabit per second rate, a 100 megabit per second rate, a 200 megabit per second rate, a 400 megabit per second rate, a 480 megabit per second rate, a 500 megabit per second rate, and a one gigabit per second rate.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the first and second data frames each comprise a time duration that may range from about one microsecond to about one millisecond.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the first and second data frames each comprise a plurality of time bins, with each time bin capable of receiving an ultra-wideband pulse, wherein the ultra-wideband pulse may range in duration from about 10 picoseconds to about one nanosecond.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein a ratio of the first and second data frames may vary.

9. A ultra-wideband communication method, the method comprising the steps of:

means for generating a first data frame, constructed to transmit data at a first data rate;

means for generating a second data frame, constructed to transmit data at a second data rate; and

means for transmitting both the first and second data frames.

10. A computer program product for directing a general purpose digital computer to perform a desired function, the computer program product comprising:

a set of computer readable instructions to generate a first data frame, constructed to transmit data at a first data rate;

a set of computer readable instructions to generate a second data frame, constructed to transmit data at a second data rate; and

a set of computer readable instructions to transmit both the first and second data frames.

11. An ultra-wideband communication device, comprising:

a first transceiver structured to communicate at a first data rate; and

a second transceiver structured to communicate at a second data rate.

12. The ultra-wideband communication device of claim 11, wherein the first data rate transmits data at a rate that ranges between about 1 kilobit per second to about 5 megabits per second.

13. The ultra-wideband communication device of claim 11, wherein the second data rate transmits data at a rate that ranges between about 5 megabits per second to about 1 gigabit per second.

14. The ultra-wideband communication device of claim 11, wherein:

the first transceiver communicates at the first data rate; and

the second transceiver is kept off.

15. The ultra-wideband communication device of claim 11, wherein:

the first transceiver communicates at the first data rate; and

the second transceiver kept off until communication at the second data rate is desired.

16. An ultra-wideband communication network, comprising:

at least two ultra-wideband communication devices, each device structured to transmit and receive data using at least two data rates; and

a master ultra-wideband transceiver structured to communicate with the at least two ultra-wideband communication devices, and structured to direct data through the network selectively using the two data rates.

17. The ultra-wideband communication network of claim 16, wherein each of the two data rates are selected from a group consisting of:

one kilobit per second, five megabits per second, 25 megabits per second, 50 megabits per second, 100 megabits per second, 200 megabits per second, 400 megabits per second, 480 megabits per second, 500 megabits per second, and one gigabit per second.

18. The ultra-wideband communication network of claim 16, wherein the master ultra-wideband transceiver chooses one of the two data rates by determining a communication data rate capability of each of the at least two ultra-wideband communication devices.

19. The ultra-wideband communication network of claim 16, wherein each of the at least two ultra-wideband communication devices transmit a plurality of pulses.

20. The ultra-wideband communication network of claim 19, wherein each of the plurality of pulses has duration that ranges from about ten picoseconds to about one millisecond.

21. The ultra-wideband communication network of claim 16, wherein each of the at least two ultra-wideband communication devices transmits a plurality of orthogonal frequency division multiplexing signals.

22. The ultra-wideband communication network of claim 16, wherein each of the at least two ultra-wideband communication devices includes a low data rate transceiver and a high data rate transceiver.

23. An ultra-wideband communication network, comprising:

an ultra-wideband communication device structured to transmit and receive data using at least two data rates; and

a master ultra-wideband transceiver structured to transmit and receive data using at least two data rates;

wherein the master ultra-wideband transceiver determines a data rate capability of the ultra-wideband communication device.

24. The ultra-wideband communication network of claim 23, wherein the master ultra-wideband transceiver communicates the ultra-wideband communication device at the determined data rate capability.

25. The ultra-wideband communication network of claim 23, wherein the master ultra-wideband transceiver transmits a beacon signal containing information selected from a group consisting of:

geographic location information, and a data communication rate capability.

26. The ultra-wideband communication network of claim 23, wherein each of the two data rates are selected from a group consisting of:

one kilobit per second, five megabits per second, 25 megabits per second, 50 megabits per second, 100 megabits per second, 200 megabits per second, 400 megabits per second, 480 megabits per second, 500 megabits per second, and one gigabit per second.

27. The ultra-wideband communication network of claim 23, wherein the ultra-wideband communication device transmits a request to the a master ultra-wideband transceiver to communicate using only one of the data rates.

28. The ultra-wideband communication network of claim 23, wherein the a master ultra-wideband transceiver transmits a shut-down command signal to the ultra-wideband communication device.