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 geographical area, the method comprising the steps of: 
 providing an ultra-wideband device;    establishing a plurality of geographical areas, with the ultra-wideband device located substantially at a center of one of the geographical areas; and    assigning at least one communication parameter to each geographical area.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein a similar communication parameter is assigned to each geographical area, but a characteristic of the similar communication parameter varies based on each geographical area.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the similar 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, an ultra-wideband pulse shape, a frame length, and a rate of time synchronization.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the characteristic of the similar communication parameter communication parameter is selected from at least one of a group consisting of: a data rate, a power of transmission, a configuration of a receiver, and an ultra-wideband pulse width.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the geographical areas are established by a distance between the ultra-wideband device and another ultra-wideband device.  
     
     
         6 . A method of selecting at least one communication parameter in an ultra-wideband communication system, the method comprising the steps of: 
 providing a first ultra-wideband device and a second ultra-wideband device;    determining a distance between the first ultra-wideband device and the second ultra-wideband device;    establishing a plurality of geographical areas, with at least one of the ultra-wideband devices located substantially at a center of one of the geographical areas;    partitioning each of the geographical areas into at least two sectors; and    assigning at least one communication parameter to each geographical area and to each sector.    
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , 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.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the second ultra-wideband device transmits the distance, geographic area and sector to the first ultra-wideband device.  
     
     
         9 . A method of providing spatial diversity in an ultra-wideband communication system, the method comprising the steps of: 
 providing a first ultra-wideband device and a second ultra-wideband device;    establishing a plurality of geographical areas, with at least one of the ultra-wideband devices located in a first geographical area, and the second ultra-wideband device located in a second geographical area;    using a group of ultra-wideband time periods to communicate between the first ultra-wideband device and the second ultra-wideband device; and    assigning specific time periods to each of the geographical areas.    
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the step of assigning specific time periods to each of the geographical areas comprises the steps of: 
 selecting a repetition interval for the group of ultra-wideband time periods;    assigning to each geographic area at least one time period; and    eliminating repetitive time periods from each geographic area.    
     
     
         11 . A method of selecting at least one communication parameter in an ultra-wideband communication system based on a distance, the method comprising the steps of: 
 providing a first ultra-wideband device;    transmitting a geographical location request message from the first ultra-wideband device to at least two ultra-wideband devices having known geographical locations;    receiving a response message from the at least two ultra-wideband devices, the response message including the geographical location of each of the at least two ultra-wideband devices;    calculating the distance between the first ultra-wideband device and the at least two ultra-wideband devices; and    selecting at least one communication parameter based on the calculated distance.    
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the at least one 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, an ultra-wideband pulse shape, a frame length, a rate of time synchronization, a data rate, a power of transmission, a configuration of a receiver, and an ultra-wideband pulse width.