Abstract: A method (500, 600) is provided of operating a local transceiver (300), comprising: setting the local transceiver into an operational mode; operating the local transceiver in a polling mode (520); receiving a quiescent begin indicator identifying a beginning of a quiescent mode (520); setting a portion of the local transceiver into a low power consumption mode in response to the quiescent begin indicator (540); measuring an elapsed time since receiving the quiescent begin indicator as a quiescent time (530, 550); and returning the portion of the local transceiver to the operational mode based on a quiescent end indicator 550, 580, 690).

Abstract: A system and method is provided for determining the location of an object. A first transceiver is associated with an object to be located. The first transceiver comprises a first transmitter and a first receiver operable to transmit and receive signals using a first transmission protocol and a second transmitter operable to transmit signals using a second transmission protocol. A first signal is transmitted using the first signal transmission protocol and is received by the first receiver. The second transmitter is then used to transmit a second signal using the second transmission protocol in response to receipt of the first signal and the second signal is then processed to determine the location of the object. In some embodiments, the first transmission protocol is in accordance with the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.15.4 standard and the second transmission protocol is in accordance with a Ultra-Wide Band (UWB) standard.

Abstract: A method is provided for transmitting data. A first device generates a first signal having a first duty cycle, comprising a first gated-on portion and a first gated-off portion in a time slot; and a second device generates a second signal having second duty cycle, comprising a second gated-on portion and a second gated-off portion in the same time slot. The first gated-on portion is generated during a first segment of the time slot and the first gated-off portion is generated during a second segment of the time slot, while the second gated-on portion is generated during the second segment and the second gated-off portion is generated during the first segment. Media access control (MAC) can be used to further define positions within time slots and provide error correction, power control, and the like. A preamble can be transmitted at an increased power level to facilitate acquisition.

Abstract: A wireless receiver (100) is provided, comprising: a non-coherent signal detector (130) configured to receive an incoming signal and perform a non-coherent signal analysis in response to a first control signal; a coherent signal detector (140) configured to receive the incoming signal and perform a coherent signal analysis to extract coherently-encoded data from the incoming signal in response to a second control signal; and a receiver circuit (160) configured to process the coherently-encoded data. The non-coherently-encoded data provides an indication as to whether the incoming signal includes the coherently-encoded data, and the coherent signal detector is further configured to enter in a low power sleep state in response to a third control signal.

Abstract: A method is provided for operating a wireless local device. In this method a local device receives a beacon for a current superframe in a common signal format. The beacon includes time slot assignment information. The local device then determines a device format for the transmission of data to a remote device based on format determination information. The device format can be one of a common signal format, and one or more wireless formats. The local device then determines one or more remote device time slots in the superframe assigned for transmission of the data to the remote device based on the time slot assignment information. Finally, the local device transmits the data in the one or more remote device time slots to the remote device using the device format.

Abstract: A method is provided for receiving a data frame in an ultrawide bandwidth network. In this method, a device receives an ultrawide bandwidth signal containing a data frame. The device then performs an acquisition operation during a first preamble in the data frame, and identifies a marker after the first preamble that indicates that the first preamble has ended. After this, the device performs a signal processing operation during a second preamble in the data frame. After the training, the device then receives a header in the data frame, and then receives a payload in the data frame. By having a marker between the two preambles, this method provides a receiving device with critical information regarding the timing of the preamble section of a frame.

Abstract: A transceiver (110, 120, 130, 140) is provided, comprising: a receiver circuit (230) configured to process an incoming signal received over a transmission channel; a transmitter circuit (240) configured to generate an outgoing signal; a preamble detector (260) configured to monitor the transmission channel to determine whether a preamble or header is currently being transmitted over the transmission channel; and a control circuit (250) configured to enable the transmitter circuit to generate the outgoing signal whenever the preamble detector determines that no preamble or header is currently being received.

Abstract: A method is provided for generating a multiple band ultrawide bandwidth signal. In this method, an ultrawide bandwidth devices provides a first reference signal having a first reference frequency, and a second reference signal having a second reference frequency that is different from the first reference frequency. The device generates a first ultrawide bandwidth signal based on the first reference signal, and a second ultrawide bandwidth signal based on the second reference signal, creating two separate frequency bands. These two signals can be generated form the same base clock signal, allowing for significantly simpler implementation and modification.

Abstract: A method is provided for transmitting data. A first device generates a first signal having a first duty cycle, comprising a first gated-on portion and a first gated-off portion in a time slot; and a second device generates a second signal having second duty cycle, comprising a second gated-on portion and a second gated-off portion in the same time slot. The first gated-on portion is generated during a first segment of the time slot and the first gated-off portion is generated during a second segment of the time slot, while the second gated-on portion is generated during the second segment and the second gated-off portion is generated during the first segment. Media access control (MAC) can be used to further define positions within time slots and provide error correction, power control, and the like. A preamble can be transmitted at an increased power level to facilitate acquisition.

Abstract: A method is provided for operating a transceiver that comprises: transmitting a preamble; transmitting an outer header identifying parameters of an outer payload, after transmitting the preamble; and transmitting the outer payload after transmitting the outer header. The transmitting of the outer payload includes: transmitting an inner header identifying parameters of an inner payload; transmitting an inner payload after transmitting the inner header; and repeating the transmitting of the inner header and the transmitting of the inner payload a plurality of times. A corresponding method of operating a receiver functions by receiving each of these transmitted elements.

Abstract: A method is provided for transmitting data. A first device (121) generates a first signal (320) having a first duty cycle, comprising a first gated-on portion (323) and a first gated-off portion (363) in a time slot (260); and a second device (125) generates a second signal (330) having second duty cycle, comprising a second gated-on portion (333) and a second gated-off portion (363) in the same time slot (260). The first gated-on portion (323) is generated during a first segment of the time slot (260) and the first gated-off portion (363) is generated during a second segment of the time slot (260), while the second gated-on portion (333) is generated during the second segment and the second gated-off portion (363) is generated during the first segment. The first and second duty cycles are individually below 100%, and the sum of the first and second duty cycles is below 100%.

Abstract: A method (500) is provided for operating an interleaver circuit 120 having N shift lines (2201-220N). Each shift line has a line input node, a line output node, and one or more bit storage elements (240). The method includes: storing don't-care bits in each bit storage element (520); isolating the line output nodes from an interleaver output node (520); receiving a stream of data bits at an interleaver input node (530); and sequentially connecting the interleaver input node to respective line input nodes to shift the stream of data bits into the bit storage elements of corresponding shift lines in an interleaved fashion (530). A don't-care bit is shifted out of each of the bit storage elements in corresponding shift lines as each data bit is shifted in. A last don't-care bit is shifted out of respective bit storage elements in the shift lines during N consecutively-received data bits.

Abstract: A method (500, 600) is provided of operating a local transceiver (300), comprising: setting the local transceiver into an operational mode; operating the local transceiver in a polling mode (520); receiving a quiescent begin indicator identifying a beginning of a quiescent mode (520); setting a portion of the local transceiver into a low power consumption mode in response to the quiescent begin indicator (540); measuring an elapsed time since receiving the quiescent begin indicator as a quiescent time (530, 550); and returning the portion of the local transceiver to the operational mode based on a quiescent end indicator 550, 580, 690).

Abstract: A transceiver (110, 120, 130, 140) is provided, comprising: a receiver circuit (230) configured to process an incoming signal received over a transmission channel; a transmitter circuit (240) configured to generate an outgoing signal; a preamble detector (260) configured to monitor the transmission channel to determine whether a preamble or header is currently being transmitted over the transmission channel; and a control circuit (250) configured to enable the transmitter circuit to generate the outgoing signal whenever the preamble detector determines that no preamble or header is currently being received.

Abstract: A wireless receiver (100) is provided, comprising: a non-coherent signal detector (130) configured to receive an incoming signal and perform a non-coherent signal analysis in response to a first control signal; a coherent signal detector (140) configured to receive the incoming signal and perform a coherent signal analysis to extract coherently-encoded data from the incoming signal in response to a second control signal; and a receiver circuit (160) configured to process the coherently-encoded data. The non-coherently-encoded data provides an indication as to whether the incoming signal includes the coherently-encoded data, and the coherent signal detector is further configured to enter in a low power sleep state in response to a third control signal.

Abstract: A method is provided for operating a wireless device. In this method, a first operation is performed on a wireless signal using a first group of wavelets arranged according to a first analog code word format (720). A second operation is then performed on the wireless signal using a second group of wavelets arranged according to a second analog code word format (740). The first code word format can be different in content and in size from the second code word format. By choosing different properties for each analog code word format, the device can optimize the performance of each operation. These operations can be performed in receiving process (800) or a transmission process (900).

Abstract: A system and method are provided for authenticating a new device in a wireless network using an authentication device. First, the new device estimates the distance between the new device and the authenticating device as a first distance measurement, and sends the first distance measurement to the authentication device. The authentication device then estimates the distance between the new device and the authenticating device as a second distance measurement. The authentication device then evaluates the first and second distance measurements to determine if they meet authentication criteria and sends authentication data to the new device only if the first and second distance measurements meet the authentication criteria. These criteria can be that they do not differ by more than a set error value or that they both are below a set maximum value.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for authenticating a new device in a wireless network using an authentication device. First, the new device estimates the distance between the new device and the authenticating device as a first distance measurement, and sends the first distance measurement to the authentication device. The authentication device then estimates the distance between the new device and the authenticating device as a second distance measurement. The authentication device then evaluates the first and second distance measurements to determine if they meet authentication criteria and sends authentication data to the new device only if the first and second distance measurements meet the authentication criteria. These criteria can be that they do not differ by more than a set error value or that they both are below a set maximum value.

Abstract: A filter is provided that is formed of multiple filter stages arranged in series. Each of these filter stages has an input tap at its input that can be selectively connected to a filter input signal, and an output tap at its and output that can be selectively connected to an output selection circuit. Adjacent pairs of filter stages can also be isolated from each other. By selectively connecting the various input and output taps, and selectively isolating pairs of filter stages from each other, the filter can be formed into a single long filter or a plurality of parallel filters anywhere in size from one filter stage up to half the total number of filter stages. The output selection circuit can then sequentially select whatever filter stage outputs are connected to it and provide those as a general filter output.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for authenticating a new device in a wireless network using an authentication device. First, the new device estimates the distance between the new device and the authenticating device as a first distance measurement, and sends the first distance measurement to the authentication device. The authentication device then estimates the distance between the new device and the authenticating device as a second distance measurement. The authentication device then evaluates the first and second distance measurements to determine if they meet authentication criteria and sends authentication data to the new device only if the first and second distance measurements meet the authentication criteria. These criteria can be that they do not differ by more than a set error value or that they both are below a set maximum value.