Ultra-wideband communication system and method

Abstract

The present invention provides systems and methods for communication between ultra-wideband (UWB) devices. In general, the UWB device may characterize the attenuation, and other characteristics of the communication environment. Using these characteristics the UWB device can adapt various communication parameters to improve the communication quality. The UWB device may use these characteristics to establish zones and sectors for communication with other UWB devices. Based on this zone and sector assignment the UWB device may select communication parameters for communication with other UWB devices. This Abstract is provided for the sole purpose of complying with the Abstract requirement rules that allow a reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the disclosure contained herein. This Abstract is submitted with the explicit understanding that it will not be used to interpret or to limit the scope or the meaning of the claims.

1 . A method of selecting at least one communication parameter in an ultra-wideband communication system based on a bit-error-rate, the method comprising the steps of: 
 providing a first ultra-wideband device;    transmitting a bit-error-rate message from the first ultra-wideband device to a second ultra-wideband device;    receiving a bit-error-rate response message from the second ultra-wideband device; and    selecting at least one communication parameter based on the bit-error-rate.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the transmitted bit-error-rate message comprises a known number of bits.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the received bit-error-rate message sent from the second ultra-wideband device includes information relating to the number of bits received.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the communication parameter is selected from at least one of a group consisting of an ultra-wideband pulse modulation technique, a method of error detection, a method of error correction, a method of error control, a ultra-wideband pulse recurrence frequency, a data rate, a power of transmission, an ultra-wideband pulse shape, a configuration of a receiver, an ultra-wideband pulse width, a frame length, and a rate of time synchronization.  
     
     
         5 . A computer program product for selecting at least one communication parameter in an ultra-wideband communication system based on a bit-error-rate, comprising: 
 computer logic for transmitting a bit-error-rate message from a first ultra-wideband device to a second ultra-wideband device;    computer logic for receiving a bit-error-rate response message from the second ultra-wideband device; and    computer logic for selecting at least one communication parameter based on the bit-error-rate.    
     
     
         6 . The computer program product of  claim 5 , wherein the transmitted bit-error-rate message comprises a known number of bits.  
     
     
         7 . The computer program product of  claim 5 , wherein the received bit-error-rate message sent from the second ultra-wideband device includes information relating to the number of bits received.  
     
     
         8 . The computer program product of  claim 5 , wherein the communication parameter is selected from at least one of a group consisting of: an ultra-wideband pulse modulation technique, a method of error detection, a method of error correction, a method of error control, a ultra-wideband pulse recurrence frequency, a data rate, a power of transmission, an ultra-wideband pulse shape, a configuration of a receiver, an ultra-wideband pulse width, a frame length, and a rate of time synchronization.  
     
     
         9 . The computer program product or  claim 5 , wherein the computer program product is translated into a physical implementation.  
     
     
         10 . A method of selecting at least one communication parameter in an ultra-wideband communication system based on a bit-error-rate, the method comprising the steps of: 
 means for providing a first ultra-wideband device;    means for transmitting a bit-error-rate message from the first ultra-wideband device to a second ultra-wideband device;    means for receiving a bit-error-rate response message from the second ultra-wideband device; and    means for selecting at least one communication parameter based on the bit-error-rate.    
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the transmitted bit-error-rate message comprises a known number of bits.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the received bit-error-rate message sent from the second ultra-wideband device includes information relating to the number of bits received.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the communication parameter is selected from at least one of a group consisting of: an ultra-wideband pulse modulation technique, a method of error detection, a method of error correction, a method of error control, a ultra-wideband pulse recurrence frequency, a data rate, a power of transmission, an ultra-wideband pulse shape, a configuration of a receiver, an ultra-wideband pulse width, a frame length, and a rate of time synchronization.