Electronic device, an electronic reference device, and related method for positioning of the electronic device

An electronic reference device operable in a system comprising an associated electronic device and a plurality of other electronic reference devices, the electronic reference device comprising:

• memory circuitry;
• interface circuitry;
• and
• processor circuitry;
• wherein the processor circuitry is configured to:
• receive a first signal from the associated electronic device, and
• upon expiry of at least one predetermined anchor delay time period known to both the electronic reference device and the associated electronic device, transmit, to the associated electronic device, a second signal having a pulse width below a threshold and information that identifies the electronic reference device from among a plurality of other electronic reference devices in operative communication with the associated electronic device,
• wherein the at least one predetermined anchor delay time period known to both the electronic reference device and the associated electronic device is different than each of a plurality of other predetermined anchor delay time periods unique to each of the plurality of other electronic reference devices thereby allowing the second signal to be transmitted to the associated electronic device spaced apart in time by the anchor delay time period relative to transmissions from the plurality of other electronic reference devices to the associated electronic device.

A method, performed in an electronic device, for determining a position of the electronic device, the method comprising:

• transmitting, to a plurality of electronic reference devices, a first signal, the first signal having a pulse width below a threshold;
• receiving a plurality of second signals from the plurality of electronic reference devices comprising original second signals from each of the plurality of electronic reference devices and reflections of the original second signals;
• filtering the reflections of the original second signals from the plurality of second signals leaving filtered received second signals;
• determining a round-trip time of the filtered received second signals;
• determining, based on the round-trip time of the filtered received second signals and at least one predetermined time period, a time of flight of each of the filtered received second signals;
• determining, based on each time of flight, distances between the electronic device and each electronic reference device of the plurality of electronic reference devices, the distances comprising a first distance, and a second distance;
• obtaining, from a memory circuitry, reference positions of the plurality of electronic reference devices;
• associating the first distance with a first candidate electronic reference device having one of the reference positions;
• associating the second distance with a second candidate electronic reference device having one of the remaining reference positions;
• determining, based on the associations, one or more candidate positions of the electronic device;
• and
• determining, based on the distances, the one or more candidate positions and the obtained reference positions, a position of the electronic device.