Systems and Methods for Sensing an Environment with Wireless Communication Signals

Abstract

A system and method are provided, for sensing an environment. The system and method analyze wireless signals in the environment to determine effects on the wireless signal by the environment during propagation thereof, the effects being indicative of at least one characteristic of the environment.

1 . A method for sensing an environment, the method comprising analyzing at least one wireless signal in the environment to determine effects on the wireless signal by the environment during propagation thereof, the effects being indicative of either or both: at least one characteristic of the environment, and a way in which the environment is configured. 
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the analyzing comprises determining a transformation of an input signal to an output signal, the output signal being a received wireless signal. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the effects on the wireless signal are determined using static profiles that model stable behavior in the environment. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the static profiles are determined by:
 obtaining one or more wireless channel measurements;   pre-processing the one or more wireless channel measurements and performing a feature computation operation to identify one or more static segments;   performing a static profile evaluation using the one or more static segments;   performing a static profile extraction based on the evaluation; and   outputting one or more static profiles.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , further comprising applying an index scramble to the static segments and preparing an assembly of a static mesh prior to performing the static profile evaluation. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 4 , further comprising compressing the one or more static profiles. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising using static profiles for at least one of:
 a baseline for activity recognition; and   a comparison of static profiles at different points of time.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the static profiles are used to determine if a calibration is required. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one wireless signal is a pilot signal. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein channel state information measurements from a standardized wireless protocol are used in the analyzing. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising generating at least one wireless signal. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising reusing at least one wireless signal. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising analyzing the static profiles. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the analyzing comprising applying a movement assessment. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein a plurality of wireless signal streams are analyzed. 
     
     
         16 . A computer readable medium comprising computer executable instructions for sensing an environment, comprising instructions for analyzing at least one wireless signal in the environment to determine effects on the wireless signal by the environment during propagation thereof, the effects being indicative of either or both: at least one characteristic of the environment, and a way in which the environment is configured. 
     
     
         17 . A system comprising a processor and memory, the memory storing computer executable instructions for sensing an environment, comprising instructions for analyzing at least one wireless signal in the environment to determine effects on the wireless signal by the environment during propagation thereof, the effects being indicative of either or both: at least one characteristic of the environment, and a way in which the environment is configured.