Position based WPAN (Wireless Personal Area Network) management

• US 20100124214A1
• Filed: 01/27/2010
• Published: 05/20/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/21/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies International Sales Pte Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Broadcom Corporation (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Karaoguz, Jeyhan
• Granted Patent: US 8,774,070 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/338
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0289 of multiple transceivers, e.g. in ad hoc networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/20 using signal quality detector
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/18 Negotiating wireless communication parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/08 User group management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/20 Services signaling; Auxiliary data signalling, i.e. transmitting data via a non-traffic channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/00 Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/186 Processing of subscriber group data
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks

Abstract

Position based WPAN (Wireless Personal Area Network) management. Based on either the relative position or the specific location of devices within a WPAN, communication between the various devices is managed by grouping the devices into two or more groups. In addition, the communication between theses various devices may be governed by profiles assigned to the groups (or even the actual individual devices) that are assigned based on their locations within the WPAN. The relative locations of the devices may be made using ranging that is performed by transmitting UWB (Ultra Wide Band) pulses between the various devices within the WPAN. Alternatively, each device may include GPS (Global Positioning System) functionality and information corresponding to the specific locations of the devices may be communicated between the devices, and that information may be used to group devices user and/or assign profiles to govern the communication to and from the devices.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

an output for transmitting a first plurality of communication signals respectively to a plurality of communication devices; and

an input for receiving a second plurality of communication signals respectively from the plurality of communication devices; and

wherein;

the apparatus determines relative position of each respective communication device of the plurality of communication devices using at least one of the first plurality of communication signals and the second plurality of communication signals; and

based on the relative position of each of the plurality of communication devices, the apparatus employs a first profile for communication with a first of the plurality of communication devices and employs a second profile for communication with a second of the plurality of communication devices.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the apparatus determines the relative position of each respective communication device of the plurality of communication devices using a respective time duration of a round trip corresponding to a respective one of the first plurality of communication signals and a corresponding, respective one of the second plurality of communication signals.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the apparatus monitors the relative position of each of the plurality of communication devices; and

based on a change in position of at least one of the plurality communication devices, the apparatus employs a third profile for communication with the at least one of the plurality communication devices.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the apparatus monitors the relative position of the second of the plurality of communication devices; and

based on a change in position of the second of the plurality of communication devices, the apparatus employs the first profile for communication with the second of the plurality of communication devices.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the first profile includes at least one of a first data rate, a first modulation density, a first code having a first code rate, and a first time frequency code (TFC); and

the second profile includes at least one of a second data rate, a second modulation density, a second code having a second code rate, and a second TFC.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein:

the first modulation density is of a higher order than the second modulation density.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the first plurality of communication signals includes a first plurality of Ultra Wide Band (UWB) pulses; and

the second plurality of communication signals includes a second plurality of UWB pulses.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

at least one of the plurality of communication devices includes Global Positioning System (GPS) functionality for determining a specific location of the at least one of the plurality of communication devices; and

at least one of the second plurality of communication signals includes information corresponding to the specific location of the at least one of the plurality of communication devices as determined by the GPS functionality.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the apparatus is a piconet coordinator (PNC); and

the plurality of communication devices includes a plurality of user piconet devices (DEVs).

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the apparatus is a first piconet coordinator (PNC); and

at least one of the plurality of communication devices is a second PNC.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

a first group of communication devices that includes the first of the plurality of communication devices is located relatively closer to the apparatus than a second group of communication devices that includes the second of the plurality of communication devices.

12. An apparatus, comprising:

an output for transmitting a first plurality of communication signals respectively to a plurality of communication devices; and

an input for receiving a second plurality of communication signals respectively from the plurality of communication devices; and

wherein;

the apparatus determines relative position of each respective communication device of the plurality of communication devices using at least one of the first plurality of communication signals and the second plurality of communication signals; and

based on the relative position of each of the plurality of communication devices, the apparatus employs a first parameter for communication with a first of the plurality of communication devices and employs a second parameter for communication with a second of the plurality of communication devices;

based on a change in position of the first of the plurality of communication devices, the apparatus employs a third parameter for communication with the first of the plurality of communication devices; and

based on a change in position of the second of the plurality of communication devices, the apparatus employs a fourth parameter for communication with the second of the plurality of communication devices.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein:

the apparatus determines the relative position of each respective communication device of the plurality of communication devices using a respective time duration of a round trip corresponding to a respective one of the first plurality of communication signals and a corresponding, respective one of the second plurality of communication signals.

14. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein:

the apparatus monitors the relative position of the first and the second of the plurality of communication devices to detect the change in position of the first and the second of the plurality of communication devices.

15. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein:

the first parameter is included within a first profile that includes a first data rate, a first modulation density, a first code having a first code rate, and a first time frequency code (TFC); and

the second parameter is included within a second profile that includes a second data rate, a second modulation density, a second code having a second code rate, and a second TFC.

16. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein:

the first plurality of communication signals includes a first plurality of Ultra Wide Band (UWB) pulses; and

the second plurality of communication signals includes a second plurality of UWB pulses.

17. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein:

at least one of the plurality of communication devices includes Global Positioning System (GPS) functionality for determining a specific location of the at least one of the plurality of communication devices; and

at least one of the second plurality of communication signals includes information corresponding to the specific location of the at least one of the plurality of communication devices as determined by the GPS functionality.

18. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein:

a first group of communication devices that includes the first of the plurality of communication devices is located relatively closer to the apparatus than a second group of communication devices that includes the second of the plurality of communication devices.

19. A method, comprising:

operating a first communication device to determine relative position of a second communication device and a third communication device;

based on the relative position of the second communication device, employing a first profile for communication between the first communication device and the second communication device; and

based on the relative position of the third communication device, employing a second profile for communication between the first communication device and the third communication device.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

transmitting a first transmit communication signal from the first communication device to the second communication device;

transmitting a second transmit communication signal from the first communication device to the third communication device;

within the first communication device, receiving a first receive communication signal from the second communication device;

within the first communication device, receiving a second receive communication signal from the third communication device;

determining the relative position of the second communication device using a respective time duration of a round trip corresponding to the first transmit communication signal and the first receive communication signal; and

determining the relative position of the third communication device using a respective time duration of a round trip corresponding to the second transmit communication signal and the second receive communication signal.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein:

the first transmit communication signal includes a first Ultra Wide Band (UWB) pulse; and

the first receive communication signal includes a second UWB pulse.

22. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

monitoring the relative position of the second communication device and the third communication device; and

based on a change in position of at least one of the second communication device and the third communication device, employing a third profile for communication between the first communication device and the second communication device or for communication between the first communication device and the third communication device.

23. The method of claim 19, wherein:

the first profile includes at least one of a first data rate, a first modulation density, a first code having a first code rate, and a first time frequency code (TFC); and

the second profile includes at least one of a second data rate, a second modulation density, a second code having a second code rate, and a second TFC.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein:

the first modulation density is of a higher order than the second modulation density.

25. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

employing Global Positioning System (GPS) functionality within at least one of the second communication device and the third communication device for determining a specific location of the at least one of the second communication device and the third communication device; and

from the at least one of the second communication device and the third communication device, transmitting information corresponding to the specific location of the at least one of the second communication device and the third communication device.

26. The method of claim 19, wherein:

the first communication device is a piconet coordinator (PNC); and

the second communication device and the third communication device are user piconet devices (DEVs).

27. The method of claim 19, wherein:

the first communication device is a first piconet coordinator (PNC); and

at least one of the second communication device and the third communication device is a second PNC.

28. The method of claim 19, wherein:

a first group of communication devices that includes the second communication device is located relatively closer to the first communication device than a second group of communication devices that includes the third communication device.