shown in FIG. 2) or a via a second AP, such as the AP 121, as described in FIG. 4A. In another example, the signals 520 may include a feedback matrix generated by the BKD 130-2, which includes information for the AP 120 to determine the strength and other properties of the signal 515 (and other signals) in the configuration 505.

In arrangement 550 of FIG. 5B, the RIS 140 and the elements are in a configuration 555. The configuration 555 may also include an optimum configuration for providing ambient power to the BKD 130-2 via RF beams (as described in relation to FIG. 4B above). In another example, the configuration 555 provides an improved communication path between the AP 120 and the BKD 130-2 as determined during a sounding frame process described herein. For example, the RIS 140 may rotate one or more edge elements of the configurable reflecting elements 142 to provide for efficient reflection of signals 560 and 570 as signals 565 and 575 between the AP 120 and the BKD 130-2. Determining and providing the optimum configuration shown in FIGS. 4B and 5B are described in more detail in relation to the system flow and methods of FIGS. 6 and 7.

FIG. 6 illustrates a system flow diagram and FIG. 7 is a method 700 for providing communication in the network 110 via the RIS 140, according to one embodiment. For ease of illustration and discussion, the method 700 will be discussed in parallel with system flow 600 in FIG. 6. Referring to FIG. 7, method 700 begins at block 705 where the AP 120 receives an energy indication message from an ambient power device in a network and determines, from the energy indication message, a current energy level status at block 710. For example, as shown at steps 601 and 602 in system flow 600, the BKD 130 generates a current energy level status at step 601, which may include any combination of energy requirements for functions performed by the BKD, energy storage capabilities, a current stored energy level, as well as communication levels, etc.

At step 602, the AP 120 receives the current energy level status and, at step 603, determines the current energy level status for the BKD 130. In some examples, the AP 120 determines from the current energy level status various information including one or more of a needed energy from the BKD 130 and communication parameters for the BKD 130. In some examples, the AP 120 also determines a location of the BKD 130 relative to the AP 120 based on received signals from the BKD 130 and other location information such as information received from the controller 115, etc.

In an example where the BKD 130 is in a new location or communication between the AP 120 and the BKD 130 has changed since a last communication (e.g., an obstruction has moved between the AP 120 and the BKD 130), the AP 120 proceeds to blocks 720-730 of method 700 and step 610 of system flow 600. For example, the AP 120 begins a sounding frame series process at step 610 in order to determine an optimum configuration for the RIS 140 to improve or enhance signal transmissions between the AP 120 and the BKD 130. At block 720, the AP 120 transmits a control message to adjust elements of the RIS 140 for a first sounding frame and transmits a sounding frame to the BKD at block 725, and continues this process at block 730 until the sounding frame series is complete.

Referring to steps 610 in the system flow 600, the AP 120 determines and transmits a RSI control message at step 620 to alter the configurable reflecting elements 142 to a new configuration. In some examples, the control message at step 620 includes a standard configuration for sounding frames (e.g., a standard initial configuration) or is a configuration determined based on a location of the BKD. For example, the control message at step 620 may include different initial configurations depending on whether the sounding series is for the BKD 130-1 or BKD 130-2 based on their respective locations as shown in FIG. 3.

At step 622, the AP 120 transmits a sounding frame which may reflect off of the RIS 140 at step 624. For example, the BKD 130 passively emits a p-BKD back to the AP 120 at step 625. In another example, AP 120 may continue transmitting the sounding frames to the BKD 130 until the BKD 130 harvests enough energy to generate a frame matrix which is transmitted to the AP 120 at step 615.

In some examples, the AP 120 proceeds through several iterations of updating RSI controls, emitting sounding frames, and receiving p-BKDs/frame matrix signals as shown in steps 630, 632, 634, 635, 640, 642, 644, and 645. In the steps 620 and 640, the RIS configurations may be determined based on pre-set configurations or may be based on feedback received from the BKD 130 (e.g., based on the p-BKDs and frame matrices received from the BKD 130).

In some examples, at block 730 the AP 120 determines based on the received frame matrix or other factors (e.g., a timeout mechanism, etc.) that the sound frames series is complete. At block 740, the AP 120 updates a set of signal factors based on at least one response received from the ambient power device for the series of sounding frames. For example, at step 650, the AP 120 updates signal factors for communications between the AP 120 and the BKD 130 based on any or all of the p-BKD or frame matrices received in the sounding frame series. The signal factors may include various information related to an RIS configuration which provided the best reception of signals between the AP 120 and BKD 130 based on the type of transmission (e.g., beacons, periodic sounding frames, RF beams, etc.).

At block 745, the AP 120 provides a control message to the RIS to alter a surface of the RIS to maximize the set of signal factors and initiates transmissions to the BKD 130 based on the set of signal factors and the current energy level status at block 750. For example, at step 655, the AP 120 generates and transmits the control message to the RIS 140, which alters the configurable reflecting elements 142 based on the BKD 130 and the type of communication. In some examples, the configuration of the configurable reflecting elements 142 determined by the AP 120 may be a first configuration for the standard communication transmission shown at steps 670 and 675 and a second configuration for RF beams shown at steps 680 and 685. The AP 120 then transmits RF energy to the ambient power device for communication and/or to meet an energy requirement indicated in the current energy level status at the steps