METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR 60 GHZ LOCATION DETERMINATION AND COORDINATION OF WLAN/WPAN/GPS MULTIMODE DEVICES

• US 20120157120A1
• Filed: 02/24/2012
• Published: 06/21/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/14/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies International Sales Pte Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Broadcom Corporation (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Hansen, Christopher J., Karaoguz, Jeyhan
• Granted Patent: US 8,320,877 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/456.1
• 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 72/51 based on terminal or device properties
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks

Abstract

Within a local region, information may be communicated between two or more wireless multimode communication devices (WMCD) comprising 60 GHz band and lower frequency band wireless interfaces. Spatial relationships between devices may vary. The 60 GHz interface may handle location determination operations and data transfers. The lower frequency band may support WPAN, WLAN and may handle coordination of communications and data transfers. The WMCDs may be coupled with a network. Antennas may be directional. Moreover, the spatial orientation of the antennas may be dynamically modified or swept across a specified angle. Furthermore, intelligent and/or adaptive antenna systems may be utilized. The WMCDs may utilize a position and/or time reference system to aid in location determination operations.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

utilizing a directional millimeter wave communication link between a first device and a second device at a first frequency to determine a location of the second device relative to the first device; and

communicating the location of the second device via a second communication link at a second frequency that is lower in frequency than the first frequency.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the directional millimeter wave communication link utilizes a frequency in the approximate range of 57 to 66 GHz.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the second communication link utilizes a frequency of approximately 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the second communication link utilizes 802.11 WLAN, Bluetooth WPAN or Wimedia UWB.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising utilizing a Global Positioning System to aid in determining the location of the second device.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising communicating the location of the second device to other devices in a network via the second communication link to coordinate communications within the network.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising establishing communication between the first device and the second device via the second communication link to first establish a secure link prior to utilizing the directional millimeter wave link to determine the location of the second device.

8. A method comprising:

communicating from a first multimode communication device at a lower frequency band to establish lower frequency communication link with a second multimode communication device;

communicating from the first multimode communication device at a higher frequency band utilizing a directional millimeter wave communication link to establish a directional link with the second multimode communication device to determine a location of the second multimode communication device relative to the first device; and

communicating from the first multimode communication device the location of the second multimode communication device using the lower frequency band.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the higher frequency band of the directional millimeter wave communication link utilizes a frequency band of approximately 60 GHz.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the lower frequency band utilizes a frequency band of approximately 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the lower frequency band utilizes 802.11 WLAN, Bluetooth WPAN or Wimedia UWB.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising utilizing a Global Positioning System to aid in determining the location of the second multimode communication device.

13. The method of claim 10, further comprising communicating the location of the second multimode communication device to other devices in a network via the lower frequency band to coordinate communications within the network.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein communicating from the first multimode communication device at the lower frequency band to establish lower frequency communication with the second multimode communication device further includes establishing a secure link prior to utilizing the directional millimeter wave link to determine the location of the second multimode communication device.

15. An apparatus comprising:

a processor to operate the apparatus as a multimode communication device;

a first wireless interface, coupled to the processor, to operate at a 60 GHz frequency band to communicate with a second multimode communication device using a directional millimeter wave communication link to establish a directional link with the second multimode communication device to determine a location of the second multimode communication device relative to the apparatus; and

a second wireless interface, coupled to the processor, to operate at a lower frequency band from the 60 GHz frequency band to transmit the location of the second multimode communication device via the lower frequency band using a second communication link.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the lower frequency band utilizes a frequency band of approximately 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz.

17. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the lower frequency band utilizes 802.11 WLAN, Bluetooth WPAN or Wimedia UWB.

18. The apparatus of claim 16, further comprising a Global Positioning System interface coupled to the processor to aid in determining the location of the second multimode communication device.

19. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the second wireless interface to communicate the location of the second multimode communication device to other devices in a network via the second communication link to coordinate communications within the network.

20. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the second wireless interface to communicate with the second multimode communication device at the lower frequency band to establish a secure link prior to utilizing the directional millimeter wave link to determine the location of the second multimode communication device.