POWER EFFICIENT AND FLEXIBLE UPDATE RATE POSITIONING SYSTEM

• US 20150091702A1
• Filed: 09/27/2013
• Published: 04/02/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/2013
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Gupta, Alok Kumar, King, Scott Howard, Chilukuri, Srinivas
• Application Number:
  US14/038,882
• Publication Number:
  US 20150091702A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/10.4
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10207 parameter settings related to power consumption of the interrogator
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10306 ultra wide band
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10366 the interrogation device being adapted for miscellaneous applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0254 detecting a user operation or a tactile contact or a motion of the device
• 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 76/28 Discontinuous transmission [DTX]; Discontinuous reception [DRX]
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

Methods, systems, and devices for automatically changing the manner in which a tag unit communicates with one or more access points based on the tag unit'"'"'s mobility state are described. A tag unit may transmit ultra-wideband (UWB) signals in a low update mode while in a stationary state. The tag unit may transmit UWB signals in a high update mode while in a mobile state. The tag unit, an access point, and/or a tracking management server may determine a tag unit'"'"'s mobility state and adjust an update mode based on the mobility state.

Claims

1. A method of communicating with a location tracking tag in a location tracking system, comprising:

determining a mobility state of the location tracking tag comprising at least a narrowband transceiver and at least an ultra-wideband (UWB) transmitter;

upon determining the mobility state of the location tracking tag is stationary, operating the location tracking tag in a low update mode while the tag is stationary; and

upon determining the mobility state of the location tracking tag is mobile, operating the location tracking tag in a high update mode while the tag is mobile.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

minimizing transmissions from the UWB transmitter while the location tracking tag is stationary; and

minimizing transmissions from the narrowband transceiver while the location tracking tag is mobile.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

initiating operating the location tracking tag in the high update mode based on the tag sensing mobility.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein operating the location tracking tag in the low update mode comprises:

broadcasting a synchronization packet via the narrowband transceiver;

initiating a wake up timer set for a predetermined interval upon the broadcasting the synchronization packet; and

entering a sleep mode upon the initiating the wake up timer.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

waking according to the wake up timer; and

obtaining a transmission time slot for a low update UWB probe transmission.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the synchronization packet comprises a preamble sequence within a payload that provides for frequency offset estimation.

7. The method of claim 4, wherein the synchronization packet comprises a preamble sequence within a payload that indicates intent to switch to a high update mode.

8. The method of claim 4, wherein the synchronization packet comprises a preamble sequence within a payload that provides a desired update rate.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein operating the location tracking tag in the high update mode comprises:

obtaining, via the narrowband transceiver, a fixed time slot for a high update UWB probe transmission;

waking up before the fixed time slot for the high update UWB probe transmission; and

broadcasting a synchronization packet via the narrowband transceiver upon the waking up.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

obtaining an exact start time for the high update UWB probe transmission; and

transmitting a UWB probe according to the fixed time slot and the exact start time.

11. A system for communicating with a location tracking tag in a location tracking system, comprising:

means for determining a mobility of the location tracking tag, the locating tracking tag comprising at least a narrowband transceiver and at least an ultra-wideband (UWB) transmitter;

means for operating the location tracking tag in a low update mode while the tag is stationary, the means for operating configured to operate upon a determination that the mobility state of the location tracking tag is stationary; and

means for operating the location tracking tag in a high update mode while the tag is mobile, the means for operating configured to operate upon a determination that the mobility state of the location tracking tag is mobile.

12. The system of claim 11, further comprising:

means for minimizing transmissions from the UWB transmitter while the location tracking tag is stationary; and

means for minimizing transmissions from the narrowband transceiver while the location tracking tag is mobile.

13. The system of claim 11, further comprising:

means for initiating operating the location tracking tag in the high update mode based on the tag sensing mobility.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the means for operating the location tracking tag in the low update mode comprises:

means for broadcasting a synchronization packet via the narrowband transceiver;

means for initiating a wake up timer set for a predetermined interval, the means for initiating configured to initiate the wake up timer upon a synchronization packet broadcast; and

means for entering a sleep mode configured to enter the sleep mode upon a wake up timer initiation.

15. The system of claim 14, further comprising:

means for waking according to the wake timer; and

means for obtaining a transmission time slot for a low update UWB probe transmission.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein the synchronization packet comprises a preamble sequence within a payload that provides for frequency offset estimation.

17. The system of claim 14, wherein the synchronization packet comprises a preamble sequence within a payload that indicates intent to switch to a high update mode.

18. The system of claim 14, wherein the synchronization packet comprises a preamble sequence within a payload that provides a desired update rate.

19. The system of claim 11, wherein the means for operating the location tracking tag the high update mode comprises:

means for obtaining, via the narrowband transceiver, a fixed time slot for a high update UWB probe transmission;

means for waking up before the fixed time slot for the high update UWB probe transmission; and

means for broadcasting a synchronization packet via the narrowband transceiver, the means for broadcasting configured to broadcast upon the tag waking up.

20. The system of claim 19, further comprising:

means for obtaining an exact start time for the high update UWB probe transmission; and

means for transmitting a UWB probe according to an obtained fixed time slot and an obtained exact start time.

21. A location tracking tag apparatus for communicating in a location tracking system, the apparatus comprising:

a processor in electronic communication with at least a narrowband transceiver and at least an ultra-wideband (UWB) transceiver;

memory in electronic communication with the processor; and

instructions stored in the memory, the instructions being executable by the processor to;

determine a mobility state of the location tracking tag;

upon determining the mobility state of the location tracking tag is stationary, operate the location tracking tag in a low update mode while the tag is stationary; and

upon determining the mobility state of the location tracking tag is mobile, operate the location tracking tag in a high update mode while the tag is mobile.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the instructions are further executable by the processor to:

minimize transmissions from the UWB transmitter while the location tracking tag is stationary; and

minimize transmissions from the narrowband transceiver while the location tracking tag is mobile.

23. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the instructions are further executable by the processor to:

initiate operating the location tracking tag in the high update mode based on the tag sensing mobility.

24. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the instructions executable by the processor to operate the location tracking tag in the low update mode comprise instructions executable to:

broadcast a synchronization packet via the narrowband transceiver;

initiate a wake up timer set for a predetermined interval upon the broadcasting the synchronization packet; and

enter a sleep mode upon the initiating the wake up timer.

25. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the instructions are further executable by the processor to:

wake according to the wake timer; and

obtain a transmission time slot for a low update UWB probe transmission.

26. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the synchronization packet comprises a preamble sequence within a payload that provides for frequency offset estimation.

27. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the synchronization packet comprises a preamble sequence within a payload that indicates intent to switch to a high update mode.

28. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the synchronization packet comprises a preamble sequence within a payload that provides a desired update rate.

29. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the instructions executable by the processor to operate the location tracking tag in the high update mode comprise instructions executable to:

obtain, via the narrowband transceiver, a fixed time slot for a high update UWB probe transmission;

wake up before the fixed time slot for the high update UWB probe transmission; and

broadcast a synchronization packet via the narrowband transceiver upon waking up.

30. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein the instructions executable by the processor to operate the location tracking tag in the high update mode comprise instructions executable to:

obtain an exact start time for the high update UWB probe transmission; and

transmit a UWB probe according to the fixed time slot and the exact start time.

31. A computer-program product for operating a location tracking tag in a location tracking system, the computer-program product comprising a non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions executable by a processor to:

determine a mobility state of a the locating tracking tag, which comprises at least a narrowband transceiver and at least an ultra-wideband (UWB) transmitter;

upon determining the mobility state of the location tracking tag is stationary, operate the location tracking tag in a low update mode while the tag is stationary; and

upon determining the mobility state of the location tracking tag is mobile, operate the location tracking tag in a high update mode while the tag is mobile.

32. The computer-program product of claim 31, wherein the instructions are further executable by the processor to:

minimize transmissions from the UWB transmitter while the location tracking tag is stationary; and

minimize transmissions from the narrowband transceiver while the location tracking tag is mobile.

33. The computer-program product of claim 31, wherein the instructions are further executable by the processor to:

initiate operating the location tracking tag in the high update mode based on the tag sensing mobility.

34. The computer-program product of claim 31, wherein the instructions executable by the processor to operate the location tracking tag in the low update mode comprise instructions executable to:

broadcast a synchronization packet via the narrowband transceiver;

initiate a wake up timer set for a predetermined interval upon the broadcasting the synchronization packet; and

enter a sleep mode upon the initiating the wake up timer.

35. The computer-program product of claim 34, wherein the instructions are further executable by the processor to:

wake according to the wake timer; and

obtain a transmission time slot for a low update UWB probe transmission.

36. The computer-program product of claim 34, wherein the synchronization packet comprises a preamble sequence within a payload that provides for frequency offset estimation.

37. The computer-program product of claim 34, wherein the synchronization packet comprises a preamble sequence within a payload that indicates intent to switch to a high update mode.

38. The computer-program product of claim 34, wherein the synchronization packet comprises a preamble sequence within a payload that provides a desired update rate.

39. The computer-program product claim 31, wherein the instructions executable by the processor to operate the location tracking tag in the high mode comprise instructions executable to:

obtain, via the narrowband transceiver, a fixed time slot for a high update UWB probe transmission;

wake up before the fixed time slot for the high update UWB probe transmission; and

broadcast a synchronization packet via the narrowband transceiver upon waking up.

40. The computer-program product claim 31, wherein the instructions executable by the processor to operate the location tracking tag in the high mode comprise instructions executable to:

obtain an exact start time for the high update UWB probe transmission; and

transmit a UWB probe according to the fixed time slot and the exact start time.