METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR BROADBAND NEAR-FIELD COMMUNICATION UTILIZING FULL SPECTRUM CAPTURE (FSC) SUPPORTING RANGING

• US 20130210352A1
• Filed: 02/15/2013
• Published: 08/15/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/15/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Entropic Communications, LLC (SoftBank Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Maxlinear Incorporated
• Inventors: Ling, Curtis, Gallagher, Timothy
• Granted Patent: US 10,356,585 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/41.1
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 11/06 using intensity measurements
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 17/309 Measuring or estimating channel quality parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 17/318 Received signal strength
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/00 Near-field transmission systems, e.g. inductive or capacitive transmission systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/79 for data transfer in combination with power transfer
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18517 Transmission equipment in earth stations
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/08 Access security
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/283 Power depending on the position of the mobile
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/0453 Resources in frequency domain, e.g. a carrier in FDMA
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 Connection setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks

Abstract

A wireless communication device (WCD) generates and transmits wireless broadband signals (WBS) at a power level that is below a spurious emissions mask such that the transmitted WBS occupy a designated frequency spectrum band. The WCD transmits duty cycle bursts of the WBS and determines range, position and/or movement based on the transmitted burst of the WBS. A bandwidth of the wireless broadband signals may occupy approximately 800 MHz within a range of 0 Hz to 1 GHz. The transmit power utilized for transmitting the WBS may be spread over a bandwidth of approximately 300 MHz within the 800 MHz bandwidth. The spreading results in a power spectral density of the transmitted WBS approximating thermal noise at a distance of approximately 3 meters. A course range may be determined utilizing wireless signals other than the transmitted bursts and a fine range may be determined utilizing the transmitted bursts.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

in a wireless communication device that is operable to communicate wireless broadband signals at a power level that is below a spurious emissions mask, wherein said transmitted wireless broadband signals occupy a designated frequency spectrum band;

transmitting bursts of said wireless broadband signals at said power level that is below said spurious emissions mask; and

determining range, position and/or movement based on said transmitted burst of said wireless broadband signals.

2. The method according to claim 1, comprising:

spreading said wireless broadband signals having said power level that is below said spurious emissions mask across said entire designated frequency spectrum band, wherein;

a bandwidth of said wireless broadband signals occupy approximately 800 MHz within a range of 0 Hz to 1 GHz;

a corresponding transmit power utilized for said transmitting of said wireless broadband signals is spread over a bandwidth of approximately 300 MHz within said 800 MHz bandwidth; and

said spreading results in a power spectral density of said transmitted wireless broadband signals approximating thermal noise at a distance of approximately 3 meters

3. The method according to claim 1, comprising generating duty cycle bursts of said wireless broadband signals at said power level that is below said spurious emissions mask.

4. The method according to claim 1, comprising:

determining a course range and/or location utilizing one or more other wireless signals other than said transmitted bursts of said wireless broadband signals; and

determining a fine range and/or location utilizing said transmitted bursts of said wireless broadband signals.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein said determined fine range and/or location is relative to one or more known locations.

6. The method according to claim 4, wherein said one or more other wireless signals comprises global navigation satellite system (GNSS) signals, wireless wide area network signals (WWAN), and wireless personal area network signals (WPAN).

7. The method according to claim 4, comprising generating an indoor and/or outdoor map based on said transmitted bursts of said wireless broadband signals and/or said one or more other wireless signals.

8. The method according to claim 4, comprising one or both of:

displaying said determined range and/or position on said generated map; and

/or

tracking said movement utilizing said generated map.

9. The method according to claim 1, comprising securing content and/or an entity based on said determined range, position and/or movement.

10. The method according to claim 1, comprising controlling sharing of content based on said determined range, position and/or movement.

11. A system, comprising:

one or more circuits for use in a wireless communication device that is operable to communicate wireless broadband signals at a power level that is below a spurious emissions mask, wherein said transmitted wireless broadband signals occupy a designated frequency spectrum band, said one or more circuits being operable to;

transmit bursts of said wireless broadband signals at said power level that is below said spurious emissions mask; and

determine range, position and/or movement based on said transmitted burst of said wireless broadband signals.

12. The system according to claim 11, wherein said one or more circuits are operable to:

spread said wireless broadband signals having said power level that is below said spurious emissions mask across said entire designated frequency spectrum band, wherein;

a bandwidth of said wireless broadband signals occupy approximately 800 MHz within a range of 0 Hz to 1 GHz;

a corresponding transmit power utilized for said transmitting of said wireless broadband signals is spread over a bandwidth of approximately 300 MHz within said 800 MHz bandwidth; and

said spreading results in a power spectral density of said transmitted wireless broadband signals approximating thermal noise at a distance of approximately 3 meters

13. The system according to claim 11, wherein said one or more circuits are operable to generate duty cycle bursts of said wireless broadband signals at said power level that is below said spurious emissions mask.

14. The system according to claim 11, wherein said one or more circuits are operable to:

determine a course range and/or location utilizing one or more other wireless signals other than said transmitted bursts of said wireless broadband signals; and

determine a fine range and/or location utilizing said transmitted bursts of said wireless broadband signals.

15. The system according to claim 14, wherein said determined fine range and/or location is relative to one or more known locations.

16. The system according to claim 14, wherein said one or more other wireless signals comprises global navigation satellite system (GNSS) signals, wireless wide area network signals (WWAN), and wireless personal area network signals (WPAN).

17. The system according to claim 14, wherein said one or more circuits are operable to generate an indoor and/or outdoor map based on said transmitted bursts of said wireless broadband signals and/or said one or more other wireless signals.

18. The system according to claim 14, wherein said one or more circuits are operable to one or both of:

displaying said determined range and/or position on said generated map; and

/or

tracking said movement utilizing said generated map.

19. The system according to claim 11, wherein said one or more circuits are operable to secure content and/or an entity based on said determined range, position and/or movement.

20. The system according to claim 11, wherein said one or more circuits are operable to control sharing of content based on said determined range, position and/or movement.