Intel Corporation

Apple Inc.

Intel IP Corporation

Itai Steiner

Gaby Prechner

Jonathan Segev

Elad Eyal

Leor Banin

Yuval Amizur

Uri Schatzberg

Shani Ben-Haim

Kobi Kopelman

Alexander Sasha Sirotkin

Avishay Sharaga

Shahar Michaelovich

Moshe David

Matan Levy

Alex Orenov

Livnat Ehrenberg

The disclosure generally relates to a method, system and apparatus for autonomous Wi-Fi location determination by using information from neighboring access points (APs) along with an optional range measurements. In one embodiment, a root AP determines its location as a function of neighboring AP's location and the distance measured between the root AP and each of the corresponding neighbors. The location information can be stored internally or reported to external resource.

Method and apparatus for Wi-Fi location determination

Embodiments for providing a query for location information for access points (APs) proximate to a reporting AP are generally described herein. A station may include a processor arranged to generate a Location Configuration Information (LCI) request having subelements arranged to query a reporting AP for a LCI report that includes location information regarding APs proximate to the reporting AP and a transceiver, coupled to the processor, the transceiver being arranged to send to the reporting AP the generated LCI request for the LCI report that includes location information regarding APs proximate to the reporting AP.

Location configuration information (LCI) query

In accordance with some embodiments, one or more low-power responder nodes may be utilized to provide better and lower cost coverage for fine timing measurement (FTM) requests. By advertising its availability to receive and respond to FTM requests, a low-power responder node may enter a low-power or deep sleep mode during times of unavailability. A low-power responder node may be powered by a battery, reducing the cost and deployment of nodes in a location determination network.

Method, system and apparatus for a low-power location measurement responder

Systems and techniques for time-of-flight (ToF) location determination with unmanaged WLAN are described herein. Information for ToF measurements may be received. The ToF measurements may be performed with a plurality of WLAN access points (APs), including transmitting an initiator message from the SET (e.g., navigation device) to the plurality of WLAN APs. Results for the ToF measurements may be gathered. The gathered results may be communicated to a position calculator to calculate a position of the SET.

Time-of-flight location determination with unmanaged WLAN

Indoor positioning networks are faced with several challenges. The methods employed by many indoor positioning systems require highly accurate time synchronization. Where many responders must be synchronized together, the accuracy of the time-synchronization can be improved via a synchronization tree that identifies preferable paths to synchronize responders and eliminates ambiguity. Moreover, where absolute location information is available for less than all of the responders, accurate round trip time measurement can be used to obtain the relative locations of the responders to each other. Where the relative locations are known, any absolute location of a responder can be extrapolated to the remaining responders. Finally, with the use of appropriate algorithms, these round trip time measurements can be collected in reference to a device that is stationary or moving.

Positioning system configuration with round trip time

Example systems, methods, and devices for provisioning in a wireless network can be provided. In one embodiment, a method can include storing, by a wireless communication device, credentials of one or more trusted network entities in the wireless network, receiving, by the wireless communication device, a request for location information from one or more access points, and transmitting, by the wireless communication device, location information to the one or more access points. The request may include location configuration information request, time of flight request or a fine timing measurement request. The method may also include storing one or more aging parameters for one or more trusted network entities. The credentials include basic service set identification or service set identification. Certain methods, apparatus, and systems described herein can be applied to 802.11ax or any other wireless standard.

Systems, methods, and devices for provisioning wireless network initiated location or time of flight request

Some demonstrative embodiments include apparatuses, systems and/or methods of Fine Timing Measurement (FTM). For example, an apparatus may include circuitry and logic configured to cause an initiator station to process an FTM message received from a responder station, the first FTM message comprising a first field comprising a first Message Authentication Code (MAC); to process a second FTM message comprising the first field, a second field, and an FTM time value corresponding to the first FTM message, the first field comprising a second MAC, and the second field comprising the first MAC; and to determine whether or not to use the FTM time value for an FTM measurement, based on an authentication of the responder station according to the second MAC.

Apparatus, system and method of fine timing measurement (FTM)

Some demonstrative embodiments include devices, systems and/or methods of estimating a location of a mobile device. For example, an apparatus may include a wireless communication unit to communicate a message between an access point and a mobile device, the message including a group identifier to indicate the access point belongs to a group of two or more access points having local coordinates measured with respect to a common origin point.

Apparatus, system and method of estimating a location of a mobile device

Some demonstrative embodiments include apparatuses, systems and/or methods of performing a Fine Timing Measurement (FTM) procedure with a responder station. For example, an apparatus may include logic and circuitry configured to cause a responder station to transmit an information element including FTM availability information, the FTM availability information including an indication of a plurality of channels and, for a channel of the plurality of channels, one or more FTM availability windows; and to be available to perform an FTM procedure on the channel during the FTM availability windows corresponding to the channel.

Apparatus, system and method of performing a fine time measurement (FTM) procedure with a responder station

The disclosure relates to time-of-flight (TOF) positioning and device location within a wireless networks using a hybrid combination of Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) and Wi-Fi signaling. In one exemplary embodiment, a hybrid responder engages in BLE discovery and negotiation with a mobile device seeking its location. The hybrid responder may engage its WiFi platform only to conduct the FTM procedure. By keeping the WiFi platform in deep sleep or Off mode, the hybrid responder can gain significant power savings.

System, method and apparatus for hybrid wireless fine-timing measurement

An apparatus to transmit a fine timing measurements (FTM) request from a first station to a second station. The FTM request including a request for suspending FTM measurements, if a threshold of movement has not been crossed since a last FTM measurement by the second station. The second station transmits in response to the FTM request a response including a motion indication of the second station.

Method, system, and apparatus of range measurement in a wireless network

Some demonstrative embodiments include apparatuses, systems and/or methods of Fine Timing Measurement (FTM). For example, an apparatus may include circuitry and logic configured to cause an initiator station to transmit an FTM request message to a responder station, the FTM request message comprising a challenge token; process an FTM measurement frame received from the responder station, the FTM measurement frame comprising a security token, which is based on the challenge token; and authenticate the responder station based on the security token.

Apparatus, system and method of Fine Timing Measurement (FTM)

Some demonstrative embodiments include apparatuses, systems and/or methods of performing a wireless association. For example, a mobile device may include a radio to receive from a wireless communication station a frame including an association capability indication, the association capability indication to indicate a capability of the wireless communication station to perform a wireless association; and a controller to initiate an association procedure with the wireless communication station based on the capability information.

Apparatus, system and method of performing a wireless association

Examples are disclosed for techniques for a new method of calculating multiple locations of a wireless communication device based on the same or a subset of the same raw data measurements (such as WiFi Time-Of-Flight/Fine-Time-Measurements or RSSI) and client specific fixed location device locations sources and/or database. Additionally, new APIs and implementation methods to support the new method are disclosed.

Method, system and apparatus for enabling location determination using multiple simultaneous location databases

Some demonstrative embodiments include apparatuses, devices, systems and methods of one-sided Round-Trip-Time (RTT) measurement. For example, an apparatus may include circuitry and logic configured to cause a mobile device to receive bias information of an Access-Point (AP); perform a one-sided round-trip-time (RTT) measurement with the AP; and estimate a range between the mobile device and the AP based on the one-sided RTT measurement and the bias information.

Growing community of inventors

Tel Aviv, Israel

Itai Steiner