CUWB Lexicon

Introduction

This article is a listing of terms that are common to Ultra-Wideband technologies and systems.

A - E

ALOHA	A simple messaging scheme where each transmitter sends data in any randomly selected frame. RF collisions increase as the density of transmitters increases. Both simple (Slotted ALOHA) and complex (CSMA/CD) collision mitigation schemes may be utilized to improve the overall system efficiency.
Anchor	In an RTLS network, this is typically a stationary node. Anchors are in physically surveyed locations and ‘anchor’ the coordinate system within the location algorithm.
Anchor Roles	Anchor role assignments are made through the CUWB MANAGER and serve to define their relationship to network time. An anchor that participates in time synchronization must transmit UWB packets and thus takes up airtime.
Anchor Survey	A written record of each anchor’s Serial number and measured location in three dimensional (X,Y,Z coordinate) space.
Archimedes	2.x Release of the Ciholas Ultra-Wideband System
AoA	Angle of Arrival or a method to determine the Angle of Arrival of a signal.
API	Application Program Interface
Beacon	A single transmission from a Tag or Anchor.
Bernoulli	3.x Release of the Ciholas Ultra-Wideband System.
BW	BandWidth. This is the amount of frequency space that a (RF) signal occupies.
CDP	Ciholas Data Protocol, a transmission protocol designed for data marshalling
CDP Splitter	This CUWB system software piece binds to a CDP stream and converts it to one or more different streams, or network configurations.
CIHOLAS	A collection of amazing and knowledgeable engineers bringing innovative products to market. Be sure to say ‘hello’ when encountering them in the wild.
CUWB	Ciholas Ultra-Wideband.
CUWB Manager	A system application and user control point for management, configuration, and general operation of CUWB Networks.
CUWB Network	A particular configuration of UWB devices and settings. CUWB Networks are setup through the CUWB Manager.
CUWB RTLS	Ciholas Ultra-Wideband Real Time Location System.
CUWB Viewer	This user application captures, interprets, and displays a three dimensional CDP packet stream for the user.
DW	DecaWave. Creator of the DW1000 UWB Radio Chipset.
DWETH	DecaWave-Ethernet, A deployable (FCC approved) CUWB RTLS device designed by Ciholas. See Product Datasheet
DWTAG	DecaWave-Tag, A deployable (FCC approved) CUWB RTLS development Tag designed by Ciholas. See Product Datasheet
DWUSB	DecaWave-USB, An evaluation (Not FCC approved) CUWB RTLS device designed by Ciholas. See Product Datasheet

F - J

K - O

LAN	Local Area Network
Location Engine	Used to identify the algorithm in the CUWB RTLS that generates location output given timing data as an input.
LPS	Locates Per Second. The total number of location measurements per second.
Master	In the Archimedes CUWB network, this is the single device that coordinates accurate time transfer between the other devices.
Masterless	In a “masterless” system, time synchronization is distributed and is not dependent on a single Node.
MTWR	Multiple Two Way Ranging. A method for increasing the air time efficiency of TWR measurements between many nodes by removing the requirement for fixed delay between transmissions.
Node	Colloquial term for an UWB device participating in a CUWB Network.

P - T

Quaternion	Quaternions in mathematics refer to a number system that extends complex numbers. Quaternions are often used as an efficient method of encoding rotation.
RF	Radio Frequency.
RTLS	Real Time Location System.
RSSI	Received Signal Strength Indication.
Snoop	A node in listen-only mode that receives but does not transmit data over RF.
Survey	The act of measuring locations of the static anchors in the CUWB RTLS. Accurate survey is essential to CUWB Network performance.
System Package	The Ciholas bundled software package that is used for installation of the CUWB System
Tag	A tag is a mobile trackable node in an RTLS network. Tags are generally attached to objects that users wish to track within an environment.
TDOA	Time Difference of Arrival. Usually refers to the reception time difference of a transmitter beacon at two anchors.
ToA	Time of Arrival. Usually refers to the reception time of a transmitter beacon at an anchor.
TWR	Two Way Ranging, A well known algorithm for combining precise timestamps of three radio transmission to determine range between two devices.

U - Z

UWB	Ultra Wide Band is a radio technology that uses fast, low energy transmissions for short-range, high-bandwidth communications. UWB transmissions can be precisely timed making them ideal for RTLS systems.
Wired Anchor	An anchor that shares data with the CUWB network through a physical media such as Ethernet.
Wireless Anchor	An anchor that shares data with the CUWB network over-the-air through a media such as UWB.