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AppleGranted patentNetworks & wirelessInterest 6/10

Apple patents method to fix distance errors in device-to-device ranging

Apple has been granted a patent for a technique that improves the accuracy of measuring distance between electronic devices. The method involves comparing distance readings from two different antenna locations on a mobile device and adjusting the measurements if the difference exceeds a set threshold.

Why it mattersThis could make features like precise location sharing or device pairing more reliable by correcting small errors in wireless distance calculations.

In the filing’s own words

A mobile device may receive a plurality of timestamps, wherein the plurality of timestamps indicate sending and receiving time for ranging packets and response packets. The mobile device may calculate a responder turn-around time as a first difference between the second time and the first time. The mobile device may calculate a responding round trip time as a second difference between the second time and the third time. The mobile device may receive from the electronic device an initiator turn-around time and an initiator round trip time. The mobile device may calculate a frequency offset for the wireless protocol using the responder turn-around time, the responding round trip time, the initiator turn-around time, and the initiator round trip time. The mobile device may compare an observed frequency offset to the calculated frequency offset to determine a frequency offset difference and whether it exceeds a threshold, adjusting a ranging measurement.

What exactly they claim (claim 1)

1. A method of ranging with an electronic device by a mobile device, the method performed by the mobile device comprising: receiving a first set of ranging packets at a first antenna array in a first location on the mobile device; calculating a first ranging value based at least in part on the first set of ranging packets; receiving a second set of ranging packets at a second antenna array in a second location on the mobile device, where the second location is different from the first location; calculating a second ranging value based at least in part on the second set of ranging packets; comparing the first ranging value and the second ranging value to determine a difference; comparing the difference to a first threshold; and when the difference is above the first threshold, adjusting at least one of the first ranging value and the second ranging value.

Facts

Company
Apple (Apple Inc.)
Official title
Techniques for improving ranging between electronic devices
Patent number
US12748202B2
Application number
18668076
Filed
May 17, 2024
Granted
Sep 29, 2026
Inventors
3
Claims
20

Classified under

G01S 13/46 Physics & computingG01S 5/0252 Physics & computingG01S 5/0289 Physics & computingG01S 5/10 Physics & computingH04W 64/006 Electricity & electronicsG01S 5/0218 Physics & computing
Read the full filing (official PDF) ↗ Open in the Patent Tracker

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Summaries are simplified from the filing’s own abstract and first claim. A patent filing is not a product announcement.
Patent data and drawings: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Nebula is not affiliated with or endorsed by the USPTO.