Sub-frame synchronized ranging
First Claim
1. A method of communication between two or more nodes, the method comprising:
- synchronizing the two or more nodes with a frame preamble in an initial communication frame;
subsequently exchanging data communications between the two or more nodes without transmitting additional frame preambles from any of the two or more nodes until a special re-synchronization switch point occurs;
exchanging a ranging schedule between the two or more nodes;
exchanging ranging pulses in subsequent communication frames between the two or more nodes based on the ranging schedule; and
determining distances between the nodes based on the ranging pulses.
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Abstract
A method of determining distances between communication nodes. The method includes transmitting an initial communication frame from a first node to at least one second node. The initial communication frame includes a frame preamble, first data and a first switch point. The method further includes synchronizing a local clock of the at least one second node based on the frame preamble. Switching the at least one second node to a transmitting node based on the received switch point. Transmitting a subsequent communication frame from the at least one second node to the first node. The subsequent communication frame includes a ranging preamble, second data and a second switch point. The method continues by synchronizing a local clock in the first node based on the ranging preamble from the at least one second node and determining the range between the first node and the second node based on the ranging preamble.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method of communication between two or more nodes, the method comprising:
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synchronizing the two or more nodes with a frame preamble in an initial communication frame; subsequently exchanging data communications between the two or more nodes without transmitting additional frame preambles from any of the two or more nodes until a special re-synchronization switch point occurs; exchanging a ranging schedule between the two or more nodes; exchanging ranging pulses in subsequent communication frames between the two or more nodes based on the ranging schedule; and determining distances between the nodes based on the ranging pulses. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method of determining distances between communication nodes, the method comprising:
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transmitting an initial communication frame from a first node to at least one second node, the initial communication frame including a frame preamble, first data and a first switch point; synchronizing a local clock of the at least one second node based on the frame preamble in the initial communication frame; switching the at least one second node to a transmitting node based on the received switch point; transmitting a subsequent communication frame from the at least one second node to the first node without a frame preamble, the subsequent communication frame including a ranging preamble, second data and a second switch point, wherein neither the first node nor the at least one second node transmits an additional frame preamble between the transmission of the initial communication frame and the transmission of the subsequent communication frame from the at least one second node; synchronizing a local clock in the first node based on the ranging preamble from the at least one second node; and determining the range between the first node and the second node based on the ranging preamble. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A communication system comprising:
a plurality of nodes adapted to exchange communication frames for a period of time in which the clocks of each node are synchronized based on a frame preamble in an initial communication frame transmitted by one of the nodes, the plurality of nodes further adapted to determine distances between the nodes with the use of range preambles in subsequent communication frames exchanged between the nodes during the period of time, wherein the subsequent communication frames exchanged between the nodes during the period of time are transmitted without additional frame preambles and none of the plurality of nodes transmits an additional frame preamble during the period of time. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
Specification