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Apple patents method for devices to measure distance using direct signals

Patent drawing
Patent drawing from the official filing.

Apple describes a way for two devices to determine their relative position by sending a specific signal directly to each other. The receiving device measures the strength of that signal and sends the result back, allowing the system to adjust how these signals are grouped and transmitted.

Why it mattersThis technique could help devices locate each other more accurately without relying on external towers, which is useful for features like precise location sharing or local network coordination.

In the filing’s own words

Disclosed are methods, systems, and computer-readable medium to perform operations for sidelink positioning including transmitting a sidelink positioning reference signal (SL-PRS) transmission to another UE, receiving feedback information from the other UE that was generated based on a measured signal strength of the transmitted SL-PRS transmission, and configuring an SL-PRS multiplexing group based on the received feedback information.

What exactly they claim (claim 1)

1 - 47. (canceled)

Facts

Company
Apple (Apple Inc.)
Official title
SIDELINK AND DOUBLE SIDED ROUND TRIP TIME POSITIONING
Publication number
US20260312748A1
Application number
19482843
Filed
May 10, 2024
Published
Oct 8, 2026
Inventors
6
Claims
21

Classified under

H04L 5/0037 Electricity & electronicsH04L 5/0094 Electricity & electronicsH04W 56/0065 Electricity & electronicsH04W 64/006 Electricity & electronicsH04W 72/25 Electricity & electronics
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.