Wireless network range estimation and associated methods
First Claim
1. A wireless communications system comprising:
- a plurality of wireless communications devices each having a device type associated therewith from among a plurality of different device types, and each device type having a known latency profile associated therewith; and
a wireless device detector comprising at least one antenna and a transceiver connected thereto, and a controller for cooperating with said transceiver for transmitting a plurality of device finding signals to a target wireless communications device from among said plurality of wireless communications devices;
said target wireless communications device transmitting a respective reply signal for each of said device finding signals;
said controller of said wireless device detector also for cooperating with said transceiver for receiving the reply signals, generating an observed latency profile for said target wireless communications device based upon the transmission of device finding signals and the received reply signals therefor, determining a propagation delay associated with said target wireless communications device based upon the observed latency profile and the known latency profile of said target wireless communications device, and estimating a range to said target wireless communications device based upon the determined propagation delay.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The wireless communications system includes a plurality of wireless communications devices, with each device type having a known latency profile associated therewith. A wireless device detector includes a controller for cooperating with a transceiver for transmitting a plurality of device finding signals to a target wireless communications device. The target wireless communications device transmits a respective reply signal for each of the device finding signals. Also, the controller generates an observed latency profile for the target wireless communications device based upon the transmission of device finding signals and the received reply signals therefor, determines a propagation delay based upon the observed latency profile and the known latency profile, and estimates a range to the target wireless communications device based upon the determined propagation delay.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. A wireless communications system comprising:
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a plurality of wireless communications devices each having a device type associated therewith from among a plurality of different device types, and each device type having a known latency profile associated therewith; and
a wireless device detector comprising at least one antenna and a transceiver connected thereto, and a controller for cooperating with said transceiver for transmitting a plurality of device finding signals to a target wireless communications device from among said plurality of wireless communications devices;
said target wireless communications device transmitting a respective reply signal for each of said device finding signals;
said controller of said wireless device detector also for cooperating with said transceiver for receiving the reply signals, generating an observed latency profile for said target wireless communications device based upon the transmission of device finding signals and the received reply signals therefor, determining a propagation delay associated with said target wireless communications device based upon the observed latency profile and the known latency profile of said target wireless communications device, and estimating a range to said target wireless communications device based upon the determined propagation delay. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A wireless communications system comprising:
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a plurality of wireless local area network (WLAN) devices each having a device type associated therewith from among a plurality of different device types, and each device type having a known latency histogram associated therewith; and
a wireless device detector comprising at least one antenna and a transceiver connected thereto, and a controller for cooperating with said transceiver for transmitting a plurality of device finding signals to a target WLAN device from among said plurality of WLAN devices;
said target WLAN device transmitting a respective reply signal for each of said device finding signals;
said controller of said wireless device detector also for cooperating with said transceiver for receiving the reply signals, generating an observed latency histogram for said target WLAN device based upon the transmission of device finding signals and the received reply signals therefor, determining a propagation delay associated with said target WLAN device based upon a mathematical cross-correlation of the observed latency histogram and the known latency histogram of said target WLAN device, and estimating a range to said target WLAN device based upon the determined propagation delay. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16)
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17. A wireless device detector for detecting a target wireless communications device comprising:
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at least one antenna and a transceiver connected thereto; and
a controller for cooperating with said transceiver for transmitting a plurality of device finding signals to the target wireless communications device and receiving a respective reply signal therefrom for each of said device finding signals, generating an observed latency profile for said target wireless communications device based upon the transmission of device finding signals and the received reply signals therefor, determining a propagation delay associated with said target wireless communications device based upon the observed latency profile and a known latency profile of said target wireless communications device, and estimating a range to said target wireless communications device based upon the determined propagation delay. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A method for locating a target wireless communications device from among a plurality of wireless communications devices, each wireless communications device having a device type associated therewith from among a plurality of different device types, and each device type having a known latency profile associated therewith, the method comprising:
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transmitting a plurality of device finding signals to the target wireless communications device, and receiving a respective reply signal for each of the device finding signals therefrom;
generating an observed latency profile for the target wireless communications device based upon the transmission of device finding signals and the received reply signals therefor;
determining a propagation delay associated with the target wireless communications device based upon the observed latency profile and a known latency profile of the target wireless communications device; and
estimating a range to the target wireless communications device based upon the determined propagation delay. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25)
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Specification