Abstract: A communication system with a master device configured to determine location information in real-time with respect to a portable device. The master device may direct one or more monitor devices to monitor communications that occur over a primary communication link. The monitor devices may sense characteristic information about the signal from the portable device, and communicate this characteristic information to the master device via an auxiliary communication link. The communication system may determine location of the portable device, authenticate the portable device, determine whether the portable device is authorized to allow or initiate an action, and command or enable an action with respect to equipment.

Abstract: A reader includes a transceiver and a control module. The transceiver is configured to, during a current connection event, monitor notification messages transmitted from a portable access device to a phone-as-a-key (PaaK) system of a vehicle, where the notification messages are transmitted to establish a communication link between the portable access device and the PaaK system. The control module is configured to: perform an in-phase and quadrature phase capture of the notification messages based on fields in one or more of the notification messages, where the fields include a mobile de-whitened section including two or more series of consecutive bits, where the consecutive bits in each of the one or more series are all zeros or all ones; based on the in-phase and quadrature phase capture, determine an angle-of-arrival of the notification messages, and indicate the angle-of-arrival to the PaaK system for permitted access determined by the PaaK system.

Abstract: A system and a method to wirelessly synchronize, monitor, or communicate, or a combination thereof, amongst sensors (e.g., sensors, hubs, sensor controllers, etc.) in a Bluetooth Low Energy-based microlocation system. The system or method, or both, may use the BLE hardware (e.g., transmitters, receivers, antennas, etc.) to interleave a communications protocol within the connection interval gaps of the BLE protocol used to communicate with devices.

Abstract: A system and method for a distributed security model that may be used to achieve one or more of the following: authenticate system components; securely transport messages between system components; establish a secure communications channel over a constrained link; authenticate message content; authorize actions; and distribute authorizations and configuration data amongst users' system components in a device-as-a-key system.

Abstract: A method and system of creating microlocation zones by defining virtual boundaries using a system of one or more transmitters and receivers with one or more spatially-correlated antennas.

Abstract: A system for includes master and sniffer devices. The master device includes: first antennas with different polarized axes; a transmitter transmitting a challenge signal via the first antennas from the vehicle to a slave device, where the slave device is a portable access device; and a receiver receiving a response signal in response to the challenge signal from the slave device. The sniffer device includes: second antennas with different polarized axes; and a receiver receiving, via the second antennas, the challenge signal from the transmitter and the response signal from the slave device. The sniffer device measures when the challenge signal and the response signal arrive at the sniffer device to provide arrival times. The master or sniffer device estimates at least one of a distance from the vehicle to the slave device or a location of the slave device relative to the vehicle based on the arrival times.

Abstract: A system is provided and includes a receiver and an access module. The receiver is configured to receive a signal transmitted from a portable access device to a vehicle. The access module is configured to generate a differentiated signal based on the received signal, up-sample the differentiated signal to generate a first up-sampled signal, up-sample an expected signal to generate a second up-sampled signal, cross-correlate the first up-sampled signal and the second up-sampled signal to generate a cross-correlation signal, determine, based on the cross-correlation signal, a phase difference between the first up-sampled signal and the second up-sampled signal, determine a round trip time of the signal received by the receiver based on the phase difference, and permit access to the vehicle based on the round trip time.

Abstract: A system for includes master and sniffer devices. The master device includes: first antennas with different polarized axes; a transmitter transmitting a challenge signal via the first antennas from the vehicle to a slave device, where the slave device is a portable access device; and a receiver receiving a response signal in response to the challenge signal from the slave device. The sniffer device includes: second antennas with different polarized axes; and a receiver receiving, via the second antennas, the challenge signal from the transmitter and the response signal from the slave device. The sniffer device measures when the challenge signal and the response signal arrive at the sniffer device to provide arrival times. The master or sniffer device estimates at least one of a distance from the vehicle to the slave device or a location of the slave device relative to the vehicle based on the arrival times.

Abstract: An access system for a vehicle includes a receiver and an access module. The receiver is configured to receive a signal transmitted from a portable access device to the vehicle. The access module is configured to: generate a differentiated signal based on the received signal; up-sample the differentiated signal to generate a first up-sampled signal; obtain or generate an expected signal; up-sample the expected signal to generate a second up-sampled signal; cross-correlate the first up-sampled signal and the second up-sampled signal to generate a cross-correlation signal; based on the cross-correlation signal, determine a phase difference between the first up-sampled signal and the second up-sampled signal; determine a round trip time of the signal received by the receiver; and permit access to the vehicle based on the round trip time.

Abstract: A reader includes a transceiver and a control module. The transceiver is configured to, during a current connection event, monitor notification messages transmitted from a portable access device to a phone-as-a-key (PaaK) system of a vehicle, where the notification messages are transmitted to establish a communication link between the portable access device and the PaaK system. The control module is configured to: perform an in-phase and quadrature phase capture of the notification messages based on fields in one or more of the notification messages, where the fields include a mobile de-whitened section including two or more series of consecutive bits, where the consecutive bits in each of the one or more series are all zeros or all ones; based on the in-phase and quadrature phase capture, determine an angle-of-arrival of the notification messages, and indicate the angle-of-arrival to the PaaK system for permitted access determined by the PaaK system.

Abstract: An access system for a vehicle includes a receiver and an access module. The receiver is configured to receive a signal transmitted from a portable access device to the vehicle. The access module is configured to: generate a differentiated signal based on the received signal; up-sample the differentiated signal to generate a first up-sampled signal; obtain or generate an expected signal; up-sample the expected signal to generate a second up-sampled signal; cross-correlate the first up-sampled signal and the second up-sampled signal to generate a cross-correlation signal; based on the cross-correlation signal, determine a phase difference between the first up-sampled signal and the second up-sampled signal; determine a round trip time of the signal received by the receiver; and permit access to the vehicle based on the round trip time.

Abstract: A reader includes a transceiver and a control module. The transceiver is configured to, during a current connection event, monitor notification messages transmitted from a portable access device to a phone-as-a-key (PaaK) system of a vehicle, where the notification messages are transmitted to establish a communication link between the portable access device and the PaaK system. The control module is configured to: perform an in-phase and quadrature phase capture of the notification messages based on fields in one or more of the notification messages, where the fields include a mobile de-whitened section including two or more series of consecutive bits, where the consecutive bits in each of the one or more series are all zeros or all ones; based on the in-phase and quadrature phase capture, determine an angle-of-arrival of the notification messages, and indicate the angle-of-arrival to the PaaK system for permitted access determined by the PaaK system.

Abstract: A system and a method to wirelessly synchronize, monitor, or communicate, or a combination thereof, amongst sensors (e.g., sensors, hubs, sensor controllers, etc.) in a Bluetooth Low Energy-based microlocation system. The system or method, or both, may use the BLE hardware (e.g., transmitters, receivers, antennas, etc.) to interleave a communications protocol within the connection interval gaps of the BLE protocol used to communicate with devices.

Abstract: A portable access device for wirelessly gaining access to a vehicle includes a transceiver, receive and transmit queues, and a control module. The transceiver, during a current connection event, receives first notification messages from a PaaK system of the vehicle and in response thereto transmits second notification messages to the PaaK system. The first notification messages and the second notification message are transmitted to establish a communication link between the portable access device and the PaaK system. The receive queue receives the first notification messages. The transmit queue stores the second notification messages. The control module, based on a first one of the first notification messages, determines what data was transmitted during a last connection event prior to the current connection event and generates one or more of the second notification messages to include data not previously received during the last connection event.

Abstract: An access system for a vehicle includes a receiver and an access module. The receiver is configured to receive a signal transmitted from a portable access device to the vehicle. The access module is configured to: generate a differentiated signal based on the received signal; up-sample the differentiated signal to generate a first up-sampled signal; obtain or generate an expected signal; up-sample the expected signal to generate a second up-sampled signal; cross-correlate the first up-sampled signal and the second up-sampled signal to generate a cross-correlation signal; based on the cross-correlation signal, determine a phase difference between the first up-sampled signal and the second up-sampled signal; determine a round trip time of the signal received by the receiver; and permit access to the vehicle based on the round trip time.

Abstract: A system and a method to wirelessly synchronize, monitor, or communicate, or a combination thereof, amongst sensors (e.g., sensors, hubs, sensor controllers, etc.) in a Bluetooth Low Energy-based microlocation system. The system or method, or both, may use the BLE hardware (e.g., transmitters, receivers, antennas, etc.) to interleave a communications protocol within the connection interval gaps of the BLE protocol used to communicate with devices.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed and include receiving, with a peripheral device, a message packet from a portable device, the message packet including an authenticated packet with a de-whitened tone byte inserted therein. The portable device generates first message authentication code (MAC) bytes based on a shared secret key and generates the authenticated packet based on the first MAC bytes, first nonce bytes, and a message byte. The peripheral device validates the message packet in response to determining that the first MAC bytes match second MAC bytes and that the first nonce bytes match second nonce bytes. The peripheral device generates a reconstructed message packet in response to validating the message packet by removing the de-whitened tone byte from the authenticated packet. The communication gateway establishes a communication link between the portable device and the communication gateway in response to receiving the reconstructed message packet.

Abstract: A method and system of creating microlocation zones by defining virtual boundaries using a system of one or more transmitters and receivers with one or more spatially-correlated antennas.

Abstract: A system is disclosed and includes a plurality of antennas. Each antenna includes a plurality of conductive elements and is circularly polarized. The plurality of conductive elements is configured to receive radio frequency (RF) signals. A first end of each of the plurality of conductive elements is electrically coupled to a printed circuit board, which includes a plurality of coupler circuits and a switching circuit. The plurality of coupler circuits is configured to combine the RF signals and output a signal to the switching circuit based on the combined RF signals. The switching circuit is configured to selectively output one of the signals based on at least one control port of the switching circuit being selectively activated by a control signal. The system also includes a microcontroller configured to determine, based on at least one of the signals, an angle of arrival associated with the plurality of antennas.

Abstract: Apparatus and systems are disclosed and include a body having a plurality of slots. Each of the plurality of slots includes a first portion, a second portion, and a third portion. The first portion is located on a first surface of the body. The second portion is located on a second surface of the body and forms a helical shape. The third portion is located on a third surface of the body. The first surface and the second surface are non-parallel. The third surface and the second surface are non-parallel. The apparatus includes a plurality of antenna elements that are disposed in a respective one of the plurality of slots. The plurality of antenna elements is configured to receive radio frequency (RF) signals. The apparatus includes a ground plane that is coupled to a first end of each of the plurality of antenna elements.