Carrier sense-based ranging

A computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause a computing device to estimate a distance to an electronic device communicating over a wireless network, by performing the steps of:

• sending a first message to the electronic device;
• receiving a second message in response to the first message;
• determining, based on the first message and the second message, a transmission idle time;
• determining an expected interval associated with the wireless network;
• calculating a frame detection time based on both a signal-to-noise ratio of the second message and the transmission idle time;
• and
• estimating a distance to the electronic device based on the transmission idle time, the expected interval and the frame detection time.

A system, comprising:

• a first electronic device;
• and
• a second electronic device, wherein the second electronic device includes a memory storing instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the second electronic device to estimate a distance to the first electronic device, by performing the steps of:
• sending, at the second electronic device via a transmitter included in the second electronic device, a first message to the first electronic device;
• receiving, at the second electronic device and via a receiver included in the second electronic device, a second message in response to the first message, wherein the second message is transmitted to the second electronic device via a second transmitter included in the first electronic device;
• determining, based on the first message and the second message, a transmission idle time;
• determining an expected interval associated with the wireless network;
• calculating a frame detection time based on both a signal-to-noise ratio of the second message and the transmission idle time;
• and
• estimating a distance to the first electronic device based on the transmission idle time, the expected interval and the frame detection time.