Positioning reference signal silent mode

Abstract

A method for generating a positioning reference signal muting pattern at a transmission / reception point (TRP), comprising: obtaining one or more positioning reference signal standards at the TRP, the one or more positioning reference signal standards being related to at least one of positioning reference signal transmission or positioning reference signal reception; and generating a positioning reference signal muting pattern at the TRP so that the positioning reference signal muting pattern satisfies the one or more positioning reference signal standards.

Description

Background Art

[0001] Wireless communication systems have evolved over many generations, including first generation analog wireless telephone service (1G), second generation (2G) digital wireless telephone service (including transitional 2.5G and 2.75G networks), third generation (3G) high-speed data internet-enabled wireless services, and fourth generation (4G) services (e.g., Long Term Evolution (LTE) or WiMax), fifth generation (5G) services, and the like. There are many different types of wireless communication systems in use today, including cellular and personal communications service (PCS) systems. Examples of known cellular systems include the cellular analog Advanced Mobile Phone System (AMPS), and digital cellular systems based on code division multiple access (CDMA), frequency division multiple access (FDMA), orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA), time division multiple access (TDMA), global system for mobile access (GSM) variants of TDMA, and the like.

[0002] The fifth generation (5G) mobile standard calls for higher data transmission speeds, a greater number of connections, and better coverage, among other improvements. The 5G standard according to the Next Generation Mobile Networks Alliance aims to provide data rates of tens of megabits per second to each of tens of thousands of users and 1 gigabit per second to dozens of employees in an office. To support large sensor deployments, hundreds of thousands of simultaneous connections should be supported. As a result, the spectrum efficiency of 5G mobile communications should be significantly improved compared to the current 4G standard. In addition, signaling efficiency should be improved and latency should be significantly reduced compared to the current standard.

[0003] Obtaining the location of a mobile device that is accessing a wireless network may be useful for many applications, including, for example, emergency calls, personal navigation, asset tracking, locating friends or family members, etc. Existing positioning methods include methods based on measuring radio signals transmitted from various devices or entities (e.g., base stations and access points) including satellite vehicles (SVs) and terrestrial radio sources in wireless networks. It is expected that standardization of 5G wireless networks will include support for various positioning methods, which can utilize reference signals transmitted by base stations in a manner similar to how LTE wireless networks currently utilize positioning reference signals (PRS) and / or cell-specific reference signals (CRS) for position determination. Summary of the invention

[0004] An example method for generating a positioning reference signal muting pattern at a transmission / reception point (TRP) includes: obtaining one or more positioning reference signal standards at the TRP, the one or more positioning reference signal standards relating to at least one of positioning reference signal transmission or positioning reference signal reception; and generating a positioning reference signal muting pattern at the TRP such that the positioning reference signal muting pattern satisfies the one or more positioning reference signal standards.

[0005] Implementations of such methods may include one or more of the following features. The method includes randomizing a positioning reference signal muting pattern to produce a randomized pattern. The method includes determining whether the randomized pattern satisfies one or more positioning reference signal criteria. The method includes: determining that the randomized pattern fails to satisfy at least one of the one or more positioning reference signal criteria; and responding to determining that the randomized pattern fails to satisfy at least one of the one or more positioning reference signal criteria by discarding the randomized pattern or modifying the randomized pattern to produce a modified pattern that satisfies the one or more positioning reference signal criteria.

[0006] Additionally or alternatively, embodiments of such methods may include one or more of the following features. One or more positioning reference signal criteria include: a positioning reference signal muting pattern resulting in an expected probability of signal collisions below a threshold probability; or a first threshold number of non-muted positioning reference signals to enable receive antenna pattern training; or a second threshold number of non-muted positioning reference signals to achieve a third threshold level of signal integration; or a combination of two or more thereof. One or more positioning reference signal criteria specify a muting pattern parameter indicating muting and non-muting characteristics indicated by the positioning reference signal muting pattern. The muting pattern parameter specifies an amount of muted transmissions. The muting pattern parameter specifies an amount of continuous muted transmissions. The muting pattern parameter specifies an amount of continuous unmuted transmissions. The muting pattern parameter specifies a ratio of muted transmissions to unmuted transmissions. The muting pattern parameter specifies a threshold for muted transmissions or a threshold for unmuted transmissions. The muting pattern parameter specifies a measurement interval with at least two identical unmuted transmissions in the measurement interval.

[0007] Additionally or alternatively, embodiments of such methods may include one or more of the following features. One or more positioning reference signal standards specify a muting pattern effect that the positioning reference signal muting pattern is to have. Generating the positioning reference signal muting pattern includes generating a first binary bit sequence and generating a second binary bit sequence that is a cyclic shift of the first binary bit sequence.

[0008] An example transmission / reception point (TRP) for generating a positioning reference signal muting pattern includes: a memory; and a processor, communicatively coupled to the memory and configured to: obtain one or more positioning reference signal criteria, the one or more positioning reference signal criteria relating to at least one of positioning reference signal transmission or positioning reference signal reception; and generate a positioning reference signal muting pattern such that the positioning reference signal muting pattern satisfies the one or more positioning reference signal criteria.

[0009] Implementations of such a TRP may include one or more of the following features. The processor is configured to randomize a positioning reference signal muting pattern to produce a randomized pattern. The processor is configured to determine whether the randomized pattern satisfies one or more positioning reference signal criteria. The processor is configured to: determine that the randomized pattern fails to satisfy at least one of the one or more positioning reference signal criteria; and respond to the randomized pattern failing to satisfy at least one of the one or more positioning reference signal criteria by discarding the randomized pattern or modifying the randomized pattern to produce a modified pattern that satisfies the one or more positioning reference signal criteria.

[0010] Additionally or alternatively, embodiments of such a TRP may include one or more of the following features. One or more positioning reference signal standards include: a positioning reference signal muting pattern resulting in an expected probability of signal collisions below a threshold probability; or a first threshold number of non-muted positioning reference signals to enable receive antenna pattern training; or a second threshold number of non-muted positioning reference signals to achieve a third threshold level of signal integration; or a combination of two or more thereof. One or more positioning reference signal standards specify a muting pattern parameter indicating muting and non-muting characteristics indicated by the positioning reference signal muting pattern. The muting pattern parameter specifies the amount of muted transmissions. The muting pattern parameter specifies the amount of continuous muted transmissions. The muting pattern parameter specifies the amount of continuous unmuted transmissions. The muting pattern parameter specifies a ratio of muted transmissions to unmuted transmissions. The muting pattern parameter specifies a threshold for muted transmissions or a threshold for unmuted transmissions. The muting pattern parameter specifies a measurement interval with at least two identical unmuted transmissions in the measurement interval.

[0011] Similarly or alternatively, implementations of such a TRP may include one or more of the following features. One or more positioning reference signal standards specify a muting pattern effect that a positioning reference signal muting pattern is to have. To generate a positioning reference signal muting pattern, the processor is configured to generate a first binary bit sequence and generate a second binary bit sequence that is a cyclic shift of the first binary bit sequence.

[0012] An example transmission / reception point (TRP) for generating a positioning reference signal muting pattern, the device comprising: a component for obtaining one or more positioning reference signal standards, the one or more positioning reference signal standards being related to at least one of positioning reference signal transmission or positioning reference signal reception; and a component for generating a positioning reference signal muting pattern so that the positioning reference signal muting pattern satisfies the one or more positioning reference signal standards.

[0013] Implementations of such a TRP may include one or more of the following features. The component for generating a positioning reference signal muting pattern includes a component for randomizing the positioning reference signal muting pattern to generate a randomized pattern. The component for generating the positioning reference signal muting pattern includes a component for determining whether the randomized pattern satisfies one or more positioning reference signal standards. The comparison for generating the positioning reference signal muting pattern includes: a component for determining that the randomized pattern fails to satisfy at least one of the one or more positioning reference signal standards; and a component for responding to determining that the randomized pattern fails to satisfy at least one of the one or more positioning reference signal standards by discarding the randomized pattern or modifying the randomized pattern to produce a modified pattern that satisfies one or more positioning reference signal standards.

[0014] Additionally or alternatively, embodiments of such a TRP may include one or more of the following features. One or more positioning reference signal standards include: a positioning reference signal muting pattern resulting in an expected probability of signal collisions below a threshold probability; or a first threshold number of non-muted positioning reference signals to enable receive antenna pattern training; or a second threshold number of non-muted positioning reference signals to achieve a third threshold level of signal integration; or a combination of two or more thereof. One or more positioning reference signal standards specify a muting pattern parameter indicating muting and non-muting characteristics indicated by the positioning reference signal muting pattern. The muting pattern parameter specifies the amount of muted transmissions. The muting pattern parameter specifies the amount of continuous muted transmissions. The muting pattern parameter specifies the amount of continuous unmuted transmissions. The muting pattern parameter specifies a ratio of muted transmissions to unmuted transmissions. The muting pattern parameter specifies a threshold for muted transmissions or a threshold for unmuted transmissions. The muting pattern parameter specifies a measurement interval with at least two identical unmuted transmissions in the measurement interval.

[0015] Similarly or alternatively, implementations of such a TRP may include one or more of the following features. One or more positioning reference signal standards specify a muting pattern effect that a positioning reference signal muting pattern is to have. The component for generating a positioning reference signal muting pattern is used to generate a first binary bit sequence and generate a second binary bit sequence that is a cyclic shift of the first binary bit sequence.

[0016] An example non-transitory processor-readable storage medium includes processor-readable instructions configured to cause a processor at a transmission / reception point to: obtain one or more criteria regarding at least one of positioning reference signal transmission or positioning reference signal reception; and generate a positioning reference signal muting pattern such that the positioning reference signal muting pattern satisfies the one or more criteria.

[0017] Implementations of such a storage medium may include one or more of the following features. The storage medium includes instructions configured to cause a processor to randomize a positioning reference signal muting pattern to produce a randomized pattern. The storage medium includes instructions configured to cause a processor to determine whether the randomized pattern satisfies one or more criteria. The storage medium includes instructions configured to cause a processor to perform the following operations: determine that the randomized pattern fails to satisfy at least one of the one or more criteria; and respond to the randomized pattern failing to satisfy at least one of the one or more criteria by discarding the randomized pattern or modifying the randomized pattern to produce a modified pattern that satisfies the one or more criteria.

[0018] Additionally or alternatively, embodiments of such a storage medium may include one or more of the following features. One or more criteria include: a positioning reference signal muting pattern resulting in an expected probability of a signal collision being below a threshold probability; or a first threshold number of non-muted positioning reference signals to enable receive antenna pattern training; or a second threshold number of non-muted positioning reference signals to achieve a third threshold level of signal integration; or a combination of two or more thereof. One or more positioning reference signal criteria specify a muting pattern parameter indicating muting and non-muting characteristics indicated by the positioning reference signal muting pattern. The muting pattern parameter specifies an amount of muted transmissions. The muting pattern parameter specifies an amount of continuous muted transmissions. The muting pattern parameter specifies an amount of continuous unmuted transmissions. The muting pattern parameter specifies a ratio of muted transmissions to unmuted transmissions. The muting pattern parameter specifies a threshold for muted transmissions or a threshold for unmuted transmissions. The muting pattern parameter specifies a measurement interval having at least two identical unmuted transmissions in the measurement interval.

[0019] Additionally or alternatively, embodiments of such a storage medium may include one or more of the following features. One or more positioning reference signal standards specify a muting pattern effect that a positioning reference signal muting pattern is to have. The instructions configured to cause the processor to generate a positioning reference signal muting pattern are configured to cause the processor to generate a first binary bit sequence and generate a second binary bit sequence that is a cyclic shift of the first binary bit sequence. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020] Figure 1 is a simplified diagram of an example wireless communication system.

[0021] Figure 2 yes Figure 1 A block diagram of components of an example user device is shown in .

[0022] Figure 3 yes Figure 1 A block diagram of components of an example transmit / receive point is shown in FIG.

[0023] Figure 4 yes Figure 1 A block diagram of the components of the example server shown in .

[0024] Figure 5 In such Figure 1 A timing diagram of muted and non-muted positioning reference signals transmitted between components of a wireless communication system is shown in FIG.

[0025] Figure 6 In such Figure 1 A timing diagram of example muted and non-muted positioning reference signals transmitted between components of a wireless communication system is shown in FIG.

[0026] Figure 7 In such Figure 1 A timing diagram of muted and unmuted positioning reference signals transmitted between components of an example wireless communication system is shown.

[0027] Figure 8 It is used for Figure 1 The components of the wireless communication system shown in FIG. 1 generate and implement the communication and processing flow of the positioning reference signal muting mode.

[0028] Fig. 9 The invention is a flowchart of a method for generating and implementing a positioning reference signal quieting pattern. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0029] This document discusses techniques for generating and implementing a positioning reference signal muting pattern. For example, a device such as a server obtains information about the transmission and / or reception of a positioning reference signal. The device may obtain the information, for example, by measurement or programming. The information may include one or more criteria, such as parameters related to muting or non-muting in a muting pattern and / or parameters of one or more effects of a muting pattern. The device generates a muting pattern to meet one or more criteria. The device may randomize the muting pattern over time and, for example, in response to a UE requesting location services from the device, provide a muting pattern to one or more appropriate base stations and / or one or more user equipments (UEs) (before and / or after randomization). However, other configurations may be used.

[0030] The items and / or techniques described herein may provide one or more of the following capabilities and other capabilities not mentioned. Conflicts of positioning reference signals may be reduced. The transmission and reception of positioning reference signals may be adjusted to meet one or more performance criteria (e.g., transmission criteria, reception criteria, conflict avoidance criteria, etc.). Repeated conflicts between positioning reference signals and periodic or semi-persistent signals may be avoided, including but not limited to different positioning reference signals and / or other reference signals or data from different TRPs, PSS / SSS / PBCH (SSB) from the same and / or different TRPs. Repeated positioning reference signal preemption may be avoided. Other capabilities may be provided, and not all, let alone all, of the capabilities discussed must be provided according to every embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0031] refer to Figure 1 , an example wireless communication system 110 includes user equipment (UE) 112, UE 113, UE 114, base transceiver stations (BTS) 120, 121, 122, 123, a network 130, a core network 140, and an external client 150. The core network 140 (e.g., a 5G core network (5GC)) may include backend equipment including an access and mobility management function (AMF) 141, a session management function (SMF) 142, a server 143, and a gateway mobile positioning center (GMLC) 144. The AMF 141, the SMF 142, the server 143, and the GMLC 144 are communicatively coupled to each other. For example, server 143 may be a location management function (LMF) that supports positioning of UEs 112-114 (e.g., using technologies such as Assisted Global Navigation Satellite System (A-GNSS), OTDOA (Observed Time Difference of Arrival, e.g., downlink (DL) OTDOA and / or uplink (UL) OTDOA), round trip time (RTT), multi-cell RTT, RTK (Real Time Kinematics), PPP (Precise Point Positioning), DGNSS (Differential GNSS), E-CID (Enhanced Cell ID), AoA (Angle of Departure)).

[0032] The LMF may also be referred to as a location manager (LM), a location function (LF), a commercial LMF (CLMF), or a value-added LMF (VLMF). The server 143 (e.g., LMF) and / or one or more other devices of the system 110 (e.g., one or more UEs 112-114) may be configured to determine the location of the UEs 112-114. The server 143 may communicate directly with the BTS 121 (e.g., gNB) and / or one or more other BTSs, and may be integrated with the BTS 121 and / or one or more other BTSs. The SMF 142 may serve as an initial contact point for a service control function (SCF) (not shown) to create, control, and delete media sessions. The server 143 (e.g., LMF) may be co-located or integrated with a gNB or TRP (transmission / reception point), or may be located away from the gNB and / or TRP and configured to communicate directly or indirectly with the gNB and / or TRP.

[0033] The AMF 141 may serve as a control node for handling signaling between the UEs 112-114 and the core network 140, and provide QoS (Quality of Service) flow and session management. The AMF 141 may support the mobility of the UEs 112-114, including cell changes and handovers, and may participate in supporting signaling connections to the UEs 112-114. The system 110 is capable of wireless communication because the components of the system 110 may communicate with each other (at least sometimes using wireless connections), for example, directly or indirectly, via the BT 120-123 and / or the network 130 (and / or one or more other devices not shown, such as one or more other base transceiver stations). For indirect communication, the communication may be changed during transmission from one entity to another, for example, changing header information of a data packet, changing the format, etc. The UEs 112-114 shown are smartphones, tablets, and vehicle-based devices, but these are merely examples, as the UEs 112-114 need not be any of these configurations, and other configurations of the UEs may be used. The UEs 112, 113 shown are mobile wireless communication devices including mobile phones (including smartphones) and tablet computers (although they can communicate wirelessly and via wired connections). The UE 114 shown is a vehicle-based mobile wireless communication device (although the UE 114 can communicate wirelessly and via wired connections). Other UEs may include wearable devices (e.g., smart watches, smart jewelry, smart glasses or headphones, etc.). Other UEs may also be used, whether currently existing or developed in the future. In addition, other wireless devices (whether mobile or not) may be implemented within the system 110 and may communicate with each other and / or with the UEs 112-114, the BTSs 120-123, the network 130, the core network 140, and / or the external client 150. For example, such other devices may include Internet of Things (IoT) devices, medical devices, home entertainment and / or automation devices, etc. The core network 140 may communicate with external clients 150 (eg, computer systems) to allow the external clients 150 to request and / or receive location information about the UEs 112-114 (eg, via the GMLC 144).

[0034] UE 112-114 or other devices may be configured to communicate over various networks and / or for various purposes and / or using various technologies (e.g., 5G, Wi-Fi communications, multiple frequencies of Wi-Fi communications, satellite positioning, one or more types of communications (e.g., GSM (Global System for Mobile), CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access), LTE (Long Term Evolution), V2X (e.g., V2P (Vehicle to Pedestrian)), V2I (Vehicle to Infrastructure), V2V (Vehicle to Vehicle) etc.), IEEE 802.11p etc.). V2X communications may be cellular (Cellular-V2X (C-V2X)) and / or WiFi (e.g., DSRC (Dedicated Short Range Connection)). System 110 may support operation on multiple carriers (waveform signals of different frequencies). A multi-carrier transmitter may simultaneously transmit modulated signals on multiple carriers. Each modulated signal may be a code division multiple access (CDMA) signal, a time division multiple access (TDMA) signal, an orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA) signal, a single carrier frequency division multiple access (SC-FDMA) signal, etc.). Each modulated signal may be sent on a different carrier and may carry pilot, overhead information, data, etc.

[0035] BTSs 120-123 may communicate wirelessly with UEs 112-114 in system 110 via one or more antennas. BTSs may also be referred to as base stations, access points, Node Bs (gNBs), access nodes (ANs), Node Bs, evolved Node Bs (eNBs), etc. For example, each of BTSs 120, 121 may be a gNB or a transmission point gNB, BTS 122 may be a macro cell (e.g., a high-power cellular base station) and / or a small cell (e.g., a low-power cellular base station), and BTS 123 may be an access point (e.g., configured to utilize a wireless network such as WiFi, WiFi-Direct (WiFi-D), -Short-range base stations for communicating with short-range technologies such as Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), Zigbee, etc.). One or more BTSs 120-123 can be configured to communicate with UEs 112-114 via multiple carriers. Each of BTSs 120, 121 can provide communication coverage for a respective geographic area (e.g., a cell). Each cell can be divided into multiple sectors according to the base station antenna.

[0036] Each of the BTSs 120-123 includes one or more transmission / reception points (TRPs). For example, each sector within a cell of a BTS may include a TRP, although multiple TRPs may share one or more components (e.g., a shared processor but with separate antennas). The system 110 may include only macro TRPs, or the system 110 may have different types of TRPs, such as macro, pico, and / or femto TRPs, and so on. A macro TRP may cover a relatively large geographic area (e.g., several kilometers in radius) and may allow unrestricted access to terminals with service subscriptions. A pico TRP may cover a relatively small geographic area (e.g., a pico cell) and may allow unrestricted access to terminals with service subscriptions. A femto or home TRP may cover a relatively small geographic area (e.g., a femto cell) and may allow restricted access to terminals associated with the femto cell (e.g., terminals for users in a home).

[0037] UE 112-114 may be referred to as a terminal, an access terminal (AT), a mobile station, a mobile device, a subscriber unit, etc. UE 112-114 may include various devices listed above and / or other devices. UE 112-114 may be configured to be indirectly connected to one or more communication networks via one or more device-to-device (D2D) peer-to-peer (P2P) links. D2D P2P links may be supported with any suitable D2D radio access technology (RAT), such as LTE Direct (LTE-D), WiFi Direct (WiFi-D), Etc. One or more of the group of UEs 112-114 utilizing D2D communications may be within the geographic coverage area of ​​a TRP such as one or more of the BTSs 120-123. Other UEs in such a group may be outside such geographic coverage area or otherwise unable to receive transmissions from the base station. The group of UEs 112-114 communicating via D2D communications may utilize a one-to-many (1:M) system in which each UE may transmit to other UEs in the group. The TRPs of the BTSs 120-123 may facilitate resource scheduling for the D2D communications. In other cases, D2D communications may be performed between UEs without the involvement of a TRP.

[0038] Also refer to Figure 2UE 200 is an example of one of UEs 112-114 and includes a computing platform including a processor 210, a memory 211 including software (SW) 212, one or more sensors 213, a transceiver interface 214 for a transceiver 215, a user interface 216, a satellite positioning system (SPS) receiver 217, a camera 218, and a positioning device (PD) 219. The processor 210, the memory 211, the (multiple) sensors 213, the transceiver interface 214, the user interface 216, the SPS receiver 217, the camera 218, and the PD 219 may be communicatively coupled to each other via a bus 220 (which may be configured, for example, for optical and / or electrical communication). One or more of the devices shown (e.g., camera 218, PD 219, and / or one or more of the sensors 213, etc.) may be omitted from UE 200. The processor 210 may include one or more intelligent hardware devices, such as a central processing unit (CPU), a microcontroller, an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), etc. The processor 210 may include multiple processors, including a general / application processor 230, a digital signal processor (DSP) 231, a modem processor 232, a video processor 233, and / or a sensor processor 234. One or more of the processors 230-234 may include multiple devices (e.g., multiple processors). For example, the sensor processor 234 may include, for example, a processor for radar, ultrasonic wave, and / or laser radar, etc. The modem processor 232 may support dual SIM / dual connection (or even more SIMs). For example, a SIM (subscriber identification module or subscriber identity module) may be used by an original equipment manufacturer (OEM), while another SIM may be used by a terminal user of the UE 200 for connection. The memory 211 is a non-transitory storage medium that may include a random access memory (RAM), a flash memory, a disk memory, and / or a read-only memory (ROM), etc. The memory 211 stores software 212, which may be a processor-readable, processor-executable software code that contains instructions configured to cause the processor 210 to perform various functions described herein when executed. Alternatively, the software 212 may not be directly executed by the processor 210, but may be configured to cause the processor 210 to perform functions, for example, when compiled and executed. The description may refer only to the processor 210 performing functions, but this includes other embodiments, such as the processor 210 executing software and / or firmware. The description may refer to the processor 210 performing functions as a shorthand for one or more of the processors 230-234 performing functions. The description may refer to the UE 200 performing functions as a shorthand for one or more appropriate components of the UE 200 performing functions. In addition to and / or in place of the memory 211, the processor 210 may include a memory with stored instructions. The functions of the processor 210 will be discussed more fully below.

[0039] Figure 2 The configuration of UE 200 shown is an example of the present invention including the claims and is not a limitation, and other configurations may be used. For example, an example configuration of UE includes one or more of processors 230-234 of processor 210, memory 211, and wireless transceiver 240. Other example configurations include one or more of processors 230-234 of processor 210, memory 211, wireless transceiver 240, and one or more of (multiple) sensors 213, user interface 216, SPS receiver 217, camera 218, PD 219, and / or wired transceiver 250.

[0040] UE 200 may include a modem processor 232 capable of performing baseband processing of signals received and down-converted by transceiver 215 and / or SPS receiver 217. Modem processor 232 may perform baseband processing on signals to be up-converted for transmission by transceiver 215. Additionally or alternatively, baseband processing may be performed by processor 230 and / or DSP 231. However, other configurations may be used to perform baseband processing.

[0041] UE 200 may include sensor(s) 213, which may include, for example, one or more of various types of sensors, such as one or more inertial sensors, one or more magnetometers, one or more environmental sensors, one or more optical sensors, one or more weight sensors, and / or one or more radio frequency (RF) sensors, etc. An inertial measurement unit (IMU) may include, for example, one or more accelerometers (e.g., collectively responsive to acceleration of UE 200 in three dimensions) and / or one or more gyroscopes. Sensor(s) 213 may include one or more magnetometers to determine orientation (e.g., relative to magnetic north and / or true north), which orientation may be used for any of a variety of purposes, such as to support one or more compass applications. Environmental sensor(s) may include, for example, one or more temperature sensors, one or more barometric pressure sensors, one or more ambient light sensors, one or more camera imagers, and / or one or more microphones, etc. Sensor(s) 213 may generate analog and / or digital signals, indications of which may be stored in memory 211 and processed by DSP 231 and / or processor 230 to support one or more applications, such as applications for pointing positioning and / or navigation operations.

[0042] The sensor 100 may be used for relative position measurement, relative position determination, motion determination, etc. The information detected by the (multiple) sensor 100 may be used for motion detection, relative displacement, dead reckoning, sensor-based position determination, and / or sensor-assisted position determination. The (multiple) sensor 100 may be used to determine whether the UE 200 is fixed (stationary) or moving and / or whether to report certain useful information about the mobility of the UE 200 to the server 143. For example, based on the information obtained / measured by the (multiple) sensor, the UE 200 may notify / report to the server 143 that the UE 200 has detected movement or that the UE 200 has moved, and report the relative displacement / distance (e.g., via dead reckoning, or sensor-based position determination, or sensor-assisted position determination enabled by the (multiple) sensor 100). In another example, for relative positioning information, the sensor / IMU may be used to determine the angle and / or orientation of other devices relative to the UE 200, etc.

[0043] The IMU may be configured to provide measurements of the direction of motion and / or speed of motion of the UE 200, which may be used for relative position determination. For example, one or more accelerometers and / or one or more gyroscopes of the IMU may detect the linear acceleration and rotational speed of the UE 200, respectively. The linear acceleration and rotational speed measurements of the UE 200 may be integrated over time to determine the instantaneous direction of motion and displacement of the UE 200. The instantaneous direction and displacement of motion may be integrated to track the position of the UE 200. For example, a reference position of the UE 200 at a time may be determined, for example, using the SPS receiver 217 (and / or by some other components), and measurements from (multiple) accelerometers and (multiple) gyroscopes after that time may be used for dead reckoning to determine the current position of the UE 200 based on the motion (direction and distance) of the UE 200 relative to the reference position.

[0044] (Multiple) magnetometers can determine the strength of the magnetic field in different directions, which can be used to determine the direction of the UE 200. For example, the direction can be used to provide a digital compass for the UE 200. The magnetometer can be a two-dimensional magnetometer configured to detect and provide an indication of the strength of the magnetic field in two orthogonal dimensions. Alternatively, the magnetometer can be a three-dimensional magnetometer configured to detect and provide an indication of the strength of the magnetic field in three orthogonal dimensions. The magnetometer can provide a component for sensing a magnetic field and providing an indication of the magnetic field, for example, to the processor 210.

[0045] The transceiver 215 may include a wireless transceiver 240 and a wired transceiver 250, which are configured to communicate with other devices via wireless connections and wired connections, respectively. For example, the wireless transceiver 240 may include a transmitter 242 and a receiver 244, which are coupled to one or more antennas 246 for transmitting (e.g., on one or more uplink channels) and / or receiving (e.g., on one or more downlink channels) wireless signals 248, and converting signals from the wireless signals 248 to wired (e.g., electrical and / or optical) signals, and converting signals from the wired (e.g., electrical and / or optical) signals to the wireless signals 248. Thus, the transmitter 242 may include multiple transmitters, which may be discrete components or combined / integrated components, and / or the receiver 244 may include multiple receivers, which may be discrete components or combined / integrated components. The wireless transceiver 240 may be configured according to a standard such as 5G New Radio (NR), GSM (Global Mobile System), UMTS (Universal Mobile Telecommunications System), AMPS (Advanced Mobile Phone System), CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access), WCDMA (Wideband CDMA), LTE (Long Term Evolution), LTE Direct (LTE-D), 3GPP LTE-V2X (PC5), IEEE 802.11 (including IEEE 802.11p), WiFi, WiFi Direct (WiFi-D), The new radio may use millimeter wave frequencies and / or frequencies below 6 GHz to communicate with various radio access technologies such as Zigbee (e.g., with TRP and / or one or more other devices). The wired transceiver 250 may include a transmitter 252 and a receiver 254, which are configured for, for example, wired communication with the network 130 to send communications to, for example, UE 200 and receive communications from UE 200. The transmitter 252 may include multiple transmitters, which may be discrete components or combined / integrated components, and / or the receiver 254 may include multiple receivers, which may be discrete components or combined / integrated components. The wired transceiver 250 may be configured, for example, for optical communication and / or electrical communication. The transceiver 215 may be communicatively coupled to the transceiver interface 214, for example, via an optical and / or electrical connection. The transceiver interface 214 may be at least partially integrated with the transceiver 215.

[0046] The user interface 216 may include one or more of several devices, such as a speaker, a microphone, a display device, a vibration device, a keyboard, a touch screen, etc. The user interface 216 may include any one or more of these devices. The user interface 216 may be configured to enable a user to interact with one or more applications hosted by the UE 200. For example, in response to an action from a user, the user interface 216 may store an indication of an analog and / or digital signal in the memory 211 for processing by the DSP 231 and / or the general processor 230. Similarly, an application hosted on the UE 200 may store an indication of an analog and / or digital signal in the memory 211 to present an output signal to the user. The user interface 216 may include an audio input / output (I / O) device, which includes, for example, a speaker, a microphone, a digital to analog circuit, an analog to digital circuit, an amplifier and / or a gain control circuit (including any one or more of these devices). Other configurations of audio I / O devices may be used. Similarly or alternatively, the user interface 216 may include one or more touch sensors in response to, for example, touch and / or pressure on a keyboard and / or touch screen of the user interface 216.

[0047] The SPS receiver 217 (e.g., a global positioning system (GPS) receiver) may be capable of receiving and acquiring SPS signals 260 via an SPS antenna 262. The antenna 262 is configured to convert the wireless signal 260 into a wired signal, such as an electrical signal or an optical signal, and may be integrated with the antenna 246. The SPS receiver 217 may be configured to process the acquired SPS signal 260 in whole or in part to estimate the position of the UE 200. For example, the SPS receiver 217 may be configured to determine the position of the UE 200 by trilateration using the SPS signal 260. The general processor 230, the memory 211, the DSP 231, and / or one or more dedicated processors (not shown) may be used to process the acquired SPS signal in whole or in part in conjunction with the SPS receiver 217, and / or calculate an estimated position of the UE 200. The memory 211 may store indications (e.g., measurements) of the SPS signal 260 and / or other signals (e.g., signals acquired from the wireless transceiver 240) for performing positioning operations. The general purpose processor 230 , the DSP 231 , and / or one or more dedicated processors and / or the memory 211 may provide or support a location engine for processing measurements to estimate the location of the UE 200 .

[0048] UE 200 may include a camera 218 for capturing still or moving images. Camera 218 may include, for example, an imaging sensor (e.g., a charge coupled device or CMOS imager), a lens, analog-to-digital circuits, a frame buffer, etc. Additional processing, conditioning, encoding, and / or compression of signals representing captured images may be performed by general purpose processor 230 and / or DSP 231. Similarly or alternatively, video processor 233 may perform conditioning, encoding, compression, and / or manipulation of signals representing captured images. Video processor 233 may decode / decompress stored image data for presentation on a display device (not shown), such as user interface 216.

[0049] PD 219 may be configured to determine the location of UE 200, the motion of UE 200, and / or the relative location and / or time of UE 200. For example, PD 219 may communicate with SPS receiver 217, and / or include some or all of SPS receiver 217. PD 219 may work in conjunction with processor 210 and memory 211 as appropriate to perform at least a portion of one or more positioning methods, although the description herein may refer only to PD 219 being configured to perform or perform according to a positioning method. PD 219 may also or optionally be configured to use ground-based signals (e.g., at least some signals 248) for trilateration, help obtain and use SPS signals 260, or both to determine the location of UE 200. PD 219 may be configured to determine the location of UE 200 using one or more other techniques (e.g., relying on the self-reported location of the UE (e.g., part of the UE's location beacon)), and may use a combination of techniques (e.g., SPS and ground positioning signals) to determine the location of UE 200. PD 219 may include one or more of sensors 213 (e.g., gyroscope(s), accelerometer(s), magnetometer(s), etc.) that may sense the orientation and / or motion of UE 200 and provide an indication that processor 210 (e.g., processor 230 and / or DSP 231) may be configured to determine the motion (e.g., velocity vector and / or acceleration vector) of UE 200. PD 219 may be configured to provide an indication of uncertainty and / or error in the determined position and / or motion.

[0050] Also refer to Figure 3, an example of a TRP 300 for BTSs 120-123 includes a computing platform including a processor 310, a memory 311 including software (SW) 312, and a transceiver 315. The processor 310, the memory 311, and the transceiver 315 may be communicatively coupled to each other via a bus 320 (which may be configured, for example, for optical and / or electrical communication). One or more of the illustrated devices (e.g., a wireless interface) may be omitted from the TRP 300. The processor 310 may include one or more intelligent hardware devices, such as a central processing unit (CPU), a microcontroller, an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), etc. The processor 310 may include multiple processors (e.g., such as Figure 4 As shown, including a general / application processor, a DSP, a modem processor, a video processor and / or a sensor processor). Memory 311 is a non-transitory storage medium that may include random access memory (RAM), flash memory, disk storage and / or read-only memory (ROM), etc. Memory 311 stores software 312, which may be a processor-readable, processor-executable software code that contains instructions configured to cause the processor 310 to perform various functions described herein when executed. Alternatively, software 312 may not be directly executable by processor 310, but may be configured to cause the processor 310 to perform functions, for example, when compiled and executed. The description may refer only to the processor 310 performing functions, but this includes other embodiments, such as the processor 310 executing software and / or firmware. The description may refer to the processor 310 performing a function as a shorthand for one or more processors contained in the processor 310 that performs the function. The description may refer to the TRP 300 that performs a function as a shorthand for one or more appropriate components of the TRP 300 (and therefore one of the BTSs 120-123) that performs the function. Processor 310 may include a memory having stored instructions in addition to and / or in lieu of memory 311. The functionality of processor 310 will be discussed more fully below.

[0051] The transceiver 315 may include a wireless transceiver 340 and a wired transceiver 350, which are configured to communicate with other devices via wireless connections and wired connections, respectively. For example, the wireless transceiver 340 may include a transmitter 342 and a receiver 344, which are coupled to one or more antennas 346 for transmitting (e.g., on one or more uplink channels) and / or receiving (e.g., on one or more downlink channels) wireless signals 348, and converting signals from the wireless signals 348 to wired (e.g., electrical and / or optical) signals, and converting signals from the wired (e.g., electrical and / or optical) signals to the wireless signals 348. Thus, the transmitter 342 may include multiple transmitters, which may be discrete components or combined / integrated components, and / or the receiver 344 may include multiple receivers, which may be discrete components or combined / integrated components. The wireless transceiver 340 may be configured according to a standard such as 5G New Radio (NR), GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications), UMTS (Universal Mobile Telecommunications System), AMPS (Advanced Mobile Phone System), CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access), WCDMA (Wideband CDMA), LTE (Long Term Evolution), LTE Direct (LTE-D), 3GPP LTE-V2X (PC5), IEEE 802.11 (including IEEE 802.11p), WiFi, WiFi Direct (WiFi-D), The wired transceiver 350 may include a transmitter 352 and a receiver 354, which are configured for, for example, wired communication with the network 130 to send communications to, for example, the server 143 and receive communications from the server 143. The transmitter 352 may include a plurality of transmitters, which may be discrete components or combined / integrated components, and / or the receiver 354 may include a plurality of receivers, which may be discrete components or combined / integrated components. The wired transceiver 350 may be configured, for example, for optical communication and / or electrical communication.

[0052] Figure 3 The configuration of TRP 300 shown is an example of the present invention, including the claims, and is not a limitation, and other configurations may be used. For example, the description herein discusses that TRP 300 is configured to perform or execute several functions, but one or more of these functions may be performed by server 143 and / or UE 200 (i.e., server 143 and / or UE 200 may be configured to execute one or more of these functions).

[0053] Also refer to Figure 4, server 400, as an example of server 143, includes a computing platform including a processor 410, a memory 411 including software (SW) 412, and a transceiver 415. The processor 410, the memory 411, and the transceiver 415 may be communicatively coupled to each other via a bus 420 (which may be configured, for example, for optical and / or electrical communication). One or more of the devices shown (e.g., a wireless interface) may be omitted from the server 400. The processor 410 may include one or more intelligent hardware devices, such as a central processing unit (CPU), a microcontroller, an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), etc. The processor 410 may include multiple processors (e.g., Figure 4 As shown, including a general / application processor, a DSP, a modem processor, a video processor and / or a sensor processor). Memory 411 is a non-temporary storage medium that may include random access memory (RAM), flash memory, disk storage and / or read-only memory (ROM), etc. Memory 411 stores software 412, and software 212 may be a processor-readable, processor-executable software code, which contains instructions configured to cause the processor 410 to perform various functions described herein when executed. Alternatively, software 412 may not be directly executed by processor 410, but may be configured to cause processor 410 to perform functions, for example, when compiled and executed. This description may refer only to processor 410 performing functions, but this includes other embodiments, such as processor 410 executing software and / or firmware. This description may refer to processor 410 performing functions as a shorthand for one or more processors included in processor 410 performing functions. This description may refer to server 400 performing functions as a shorthand for one or more appropriate components of server 400 performing functions. Processor 410 may include a memory with stored instructions in addition to and / or in place of memory 411. The functionality of processor 410 will be discussed more fully below.

[0054] The transceiver 415 may include a wireless transceiver 440 and a wired transceiver 450, which are configured to communicate with other devices via wireless connections and wired connections, respectively. For example, the wireless transceiver 440 may include a transmitter 442 and a receiver 444, which are coupled to one or more antennas 446 for transmitting (e.g., on one or more uplink channels) and / or receiving (e.g., on one or more downlink channels) wireless signals 448, and converting signals from the wireless signals 448 to wired (e.g., electrical and / or optical) signals, and converting signals from the wired (e.g., electrical and / or optical) signals to the wireless signals 448. Thus, the transmitter 442 may include multiple transmitters, which may be discrete components or combined / integrated components, and / or the receiver 444 may include multiple receivers, which may be discrete components or combined / integrated components. The wireless transceiver 440 may be configured according to a standard such as 5G New Radio (NR), GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications), UMTS (Universal Mobile Telecommunications System), AMPS (Advanced Mobile Phone System), CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access), WCDMA (Wideband CDMA), LTE (Long Term Evolution), LTE Direct (LTE-D), 3GPP LTE-V2X (PC5), IEEE 802.11 (including IEEE 802.11p), WiFi, WiFi Direct (WiFi-D), Various radio access technologies (RATs) such as Zigbee (e.g., with UE 200, one or more other UEs, and / or one or more other devices) communicate signals. Wired transceiver 450 may include a transmitter 452 and a receiver 454, which are configured for, for example, wired communication with network 130 to send communications to, for example, TRP 300 and receive communications from TRP 300. Transmitter 452 may include multiple transmitters, which may be discrete components or combined / integrated components, and / or receiver 454 may include multiple receivers, which may be discrete components or combined / integrated components. Wired transceiver 450 may be configured, for example, for optical communication and / or electrical communication.

[0055] Figure 4 The configuration of the server 400 shown is an example of the present invention, including the claims, and is not a limitation, and other configurations may be used. For example, the wireless transceiver 440 may be omitted. Similarly or alternatively, the description herein discusses that the server 400 is configured to perform or execute several functions, but one or more of these functions may be performed by the TRP 300 and / or the UE 200 (i.e., the TRP 300 and / or the UE 200 may be configured to execute one or more of these functions).

[0056] Positioning Technology

[0057] One or more of many different positioning techniques (also referred to as positioning methods) may be used to determine the location of an entity, such as one of the UEs 112-114. For example, known location determination techniques include RTT, multi-RTT, OTDOA (also referred to as TDOA and including UL-TDOA and DL-TDOA), enhanced cell identification (E-CID), DL-AoD, UL-AoA, and the like. RTT uses the time it takes for a signal to propagate from one entity to another and back to determine the range between two entities. The range plus the known position of the first entity and the angle (e.g., azimuth) between the two entities may be used to determine the location of the second entity. In multi-RTT (also referred to as multi-cell RTT), multiple ranges from one entity (e.g., UE) to other entities (e.g., TRP) and the known positions of the other entities may be used to determine the location of one entity. In TDOA techniques, travel time differences between one entity and the other entities may be used to determine the relative range to the other entities, and those travel time differences combined with the known positions of the other entities may be used to determine the location of one entity. Angles of arrival and / or departure may be used to help determine the location of an entity. For example, the angle of arrival or departure of a signal, combined with the range between devices (determined using the signal, e.g., the travel time of the signal, the received power of the signal, etc.) and the known position of one of the devices, can be used to determine the position of the other device. The angle of arrival or departure can be an azimuth relative to a reference direction such as true north. The angle of arrival or departure can be a zenith angle relative to directly upward from an entity (i.e., relative to radially outward from the center of the earth). E-CID uses the identity of the serving cell, the timing advance (i.e., the difference between the reception and transmission times at the UE), the estimated timing and power of the detected neighboring cell signals, and possible angles of arrival (e.g., the angle of arrival of the signal from the base station at the UE or vice versa) to determine the position of the UE. In TDOA, the difference in arrival times of signals from different sources at the receiving device and the known positions of the sources and the known offsets of the transmission times from the sources are used to determine the position of the receiving device.

[0058] For positioning techniques using PRS (positioning reference signal) signals (e.g., TDOA and RTT), PRS signals sent by multiple TRPs are measured, and the arrival time of the signal, the known transmission time, and the known location of the TRP are used to determine the range from the UE to the TRP. For example, RSTD (reference signal time difference) can be determined for PRS signals received from multiple TRPs, and RSTD can be used in TDOA techniques to determine the positioning (position) of the UE. PRS signals are typically sent using the same power, and PRS signals with the same signal characteristics (e.g., the same frequency shift) may interfere with each other, so that PRS signals from farther TRPs may be overwhelmed by PRS signals from closer TRPs, so that signals from farther TRPs may not be detected. PRS muting can be used to help reduce interference by muting some PRS signals (e.g., reducing the power of the PRS signal to zero, and thus not sending the PRS signal). In this way, the UE can more easily detect weaker (at the UE) PRS signals without stronger PRS signals interfering with the weaker PRS signals.

[0059] The positioning reference signal (PRS) includes a downlink PRS (DL PRS) and an uplink PRS (UL PRS) (which may be referred to as an SRS (sounding reference signal) for positioning). The PRS may include a PRS resource or a PRS resource set of a frequency layer. A DL PRS positioning frequency layer (or simply a frequency layer) is a collection of DL PRS resource sets from one or more TRPs, which have common parameters configured by higher layer parameters DL-PRS-PositioningFrequencyLayer, DL-PRS-ResourceSet, and DL-PRS-Resource. Each frequency layer has a DL PRS subcarrier spacing (SCS) for a DL PRS resource set and DL PRS resources in the frequency layer. Each frequency layer has a DL PRS cyclic prefix (CP) for a DL PRS resource set and DL PRS resources in the frequency layer. In addition, the DL PRS point A parameter defines the frequency of the reference resource block (and the lowest subcarrier of the resource block). The DL PRS resources belonging to the same DL PRS resource set have the same point A, and all DL PRS resource sets belonging to the same frequency layer have the same point A. The A frequency layer also has the same DL PRS bandwidth, the same starting PRB (and center frequency), and the same comb size value.

[0060] The TRP may be configured to send DL PRS on a schedule, for example, by instructions received from a server and / or by software in the TRP. According to the schedule, the TRP may send DL PRS intermittently, for example, periodically at consistent intervals starting from an initial transmission. The TRP may be configured to send one or more PRS resource sets. A resource set is a collection of PRS resources across a TRP that have the same periodicity, common muting pattern configuration (if any), and the same repetition factor across time slots. Each PRS resource set includes multiple PRS resources, each PRS resource includes multiple resource elements (REs), which can span multiple physical resource blocks (PRBs) within N (one or more) consecutive symbols (multiple) within a time slot. In an OFDM symbol, a PRS resource occupies consecutive PRBs. Each PRS resource is configured with an RE offset, a time slot offset, a symbol offset within a time slot, and the number of consecutive symbols that the PRS resource can occupy within a time slot. The RE offset defines the starting RE offset of the first symbol within the DL PRS resource in frequency. The relative RE offsets of the remaining symbols within the DL PRS resource are defined based on the initial offset. The time slot offset is the starting time slot of the DL PRS resource relative to the corresponding resource set time slot offset. The symbol offset determines the starting symbol of the DL PRS resource within the starting time slot. The transmitted REs can be repeated across time slots, where each transmission is called a repetition, so that there can be multiple repetitions in a PRS resource. The DL PRS resources in a DL PRS resource set are associated with the same TRP, and each DL PRS resource has a DL PRS resource ID. DL PRS resources in a DL PRS resource set are associated with the same TRP, and each DL PRS resource has a DL PRS resource ID. A PRS resource ID is associated with a single beam transmitted from a single TRP (although a TRP may transmit one or more beams).

[0061] PRS resources can also be defined by quasi co-location and starting PRB parameters. The quasi co-location (QCL) parameter can define any quasi co-location information of the DL PRS resources with other reference signals. The DL PRS can be configured as a QCL type D with a DL PRS or SS / PBCH (synchronization signal / physical broadcast channel) block from a serving cell or a non-serving cell. The DL PRS can be configured as a QCL type C with an SS / PBCH block from a serving cell or a non-serving cell. The starting PRB parameter defines the starting PRB index of the DL PRS resource relative to the reference point A. The granularity of the starting PRB index is one PRB and can have a minimum value of 0 and a maximum value of 2176 PRBs.

[0062] A PRS resource set is a collection of PRS resources with the same period, the same muting pattern configuration (if any), and the same repetition factor across time slots. All repetitions that all PRS resources of a PRS resource set are configured to be sent each time are referred to as "instances". Thus, an "instance" of a PRS resource set is a specified number of repetitions for each PRS resource and a specified number of PRS resources in a PRS resource set, such that the instance is complete once the specified number of repetitions are sent for each of the specified number of PRS resources. An instance may also be referred to as an "opportunity". A DL PRS configuration including a DL PRS transmission schedule may be provided to a UE to facilitate (or even enable) the UE to measure the DL PRS.

[0063] RTT positioning is an active positioning technique because RTT uses positioning signals sent by the TRP to the UE and by the UE (participating in RTT positioning) to the TRP. The TRP can send a DL-PRS signal received by the UE, and the UE can send an SRS (sounding reference signal) signal received by multiple TRPs. In 5G multi-RTT, coordinated positioning can be used, in which the UE sends a single UL-SRS received by multiple TRPs for positioning, instead of sending a separate UL-SRS for each TRP. A TRP participating in multi-RTT will typically search for UEs currently residing on the TRP (serving UEs, where the TRP is the serving TRP) and UEs residing on neighboring TRPs (neighboring UEs). The neighboring TRP can be the TRP of a single BTS (e.g., a gNB), or it can be the TRP of one BTS and the TRP of a separate BTS. For RTT positioning, including multi-RTT positioning, the DL-PRS signal and the UL-SRS signal in a PRS / SRS signal pair used to determine the RTT (and therefore for determining the range between the UE and the TRP) can be close in time to each other so that errors due to UE motion and / or UE clock drift and / or TRP clock drift are within acceptable limits. For example, the signals in the PRS / SRS signal pair can be sent from the TRP and the UE, respectively, within approximately 10 milliseconds of each other. In the case where the SRS signal is sent by the UE and the PRS and SRS signal transmissions are close in time to each other, it has been found that, particularly if many UEs attempt to locate simultaneously, radio frequency (RF) signal congestion may result (which may result in excessive noise, etc.) and / or computational congestion may result at the TRP where many UEs attempt to measure simultaneously.

[0064] RTT positioning can be UE-based or UE-assisted. In UE-based RTT, the UE 200 determines the RTT and the corresponding range to each TRP 300 and the location of the UE 200 based on the range to the TRP 300 and the known location of the TRP 300. In UE-assisted RTT, the UE 200 measures the positioning signal and provides the measurement information to the TRP 300, and the TRP 300 determines the RTT and the range. The TRP 300 provides the range to a location server, such as the server 400, and the server determines the location of the UE 200, for example, based on the range to different TRPs 300. The RTT and / or range can be determined by the TRP 300 receiving the signal (multiple) from the UE 200, by the TRP 300 in combination with one or more other devices (e.g., one or more other TRPs 300 and / or the server 400), or by one or more devices other than the TRP 300 receiving the signal from the UE 200.

[0065] 5G NR supports multiple positioning technologies. The NR native positioning methods supported by 5G NR include DL-only positioning method, UL-only positioning method and DL+UL positioning method. Downlink-based positioning methods include DL-TDOA and DL-AoD. Uplink-based positioning methods include UL-TDOA and UL-AoA. DL+UL-based combined positioning methods include single-base station RTT and multi-base station RTT (multi-RTT).

[0066] PRS Silent Mode

[0067] The TRP 300 may be configured, for example, by instructions received from the server 400 and / or by software 312 to send a downlink positioning reference signal (DL-PRS) according to a schedule. According to the schedule, the TRP 300 may intermittently send a DL-PRS signal, for example, periodically sending a DL-PRS signal at a consistent interval starting from an initial transmission. The TRP 300 may be configured to send a DL-PRS signal at a known time in a repeating sequence of a resource set. Each resource set includes a plurality of resources, each resource being a beam sent by the TRP 300. Each beam sends a DL-PRS signal, and the transmission may be repeated, each transmission being referred to as a repetition, so that for a resource within an instance, there may be multiple repetitions of the transmitted signal. An "instance" is a specified number of repetitions for each resource within a resource set and a specified number of resources, so that once a specified number of repetitions is sent for each of the specified number of resources, the instance is completed. An instance may also be referred to as an "opportunity". In addition, each repetition may include one or more symbols of one or more information slots sent by the TRP 300.

[0068] The PRS muting pattern can be represented by a bitmap (i.e., a bit string) that indicates when the PRS is muted and when the PRS is not muted, so the term bitmap and the term muting pattern are used interchangeably in this article. For example, a bit value of "1" can indicate that the corresponding (multiple) PRS signals are not muted, and a bit value of "0" can indicate that the corresponding (multiple) PRS signals are muted. The muting pattern can be inter-instance, in which case each bit in the bitmap indicates whether to mute all PRS repetitions in the corresponding configurable number of instances, or it can be intra-instance, in which case each bit in the bitmap indicates whether to mute the corresponding PRS repetition in an instance. Therefore, for the example of inter-instance muting with a bitmap of 1010, the 0th and 2nd instances are not muted, while the 1st and 3rd instances are muted. For the same bitmap 1010, but with intra-instance muting, the 0th and 2nd repetitions in each instance are not muted, while the 1st and 3rd repetitions in each instance are muted.

[0069] refer to Figure 5 , different muting modes can be applied to different (e.g., adjacent) TRPs 300 to help reduce interference between PRS signals. In this example, the box represents the signal transmission of the TRP, where a portion of the box is used for the PRS signal, the PRS muting bitmap 1010 is applied to TRP1 and TRP2, and the PRS muting bitmap 0101 is applied to TRP3 and TRP4. Therefore, in this example, PRS transmissions 511, 513 from TRP1 are not muted, and PRS transmissions 512, 514 are muted (as shown by the dotted lines). Similarly, PRS transmissions 521, 523 from TRP2 are not muted, and PRS transmissions 522, 524 are muted. In addition, PRS transmissions 531, 533, 541, 543 from TRP3, TRP4, respectively, are muted, and PRS transmissions 532, 534, 542, 544 are not muted. Each PRS transmission may be a specific repetition of a resource within an instance (eg, the first transmission in a batch of 4 repetitions).

[0070] Many muting modes can be combined with various scenarios for the number of repetitions, symbols per repetition, and TRP per repetition. Figure 6, shows an example of an inter-instance, 2-bit PRS muting pattern for a scenario of comb-2 transmission, two symbols per repetition, and two repetitions per instance. The number of instances corresponding to each bit in the bitmap, such as consecutive instances, can be configurable. In this example, the number of instances per bit is one instance to help simplify the example. Comb-2 indicates that in each repetition, different TRPs are frequency-division multiplexed to use different subcarriers to send PRS signals, so that the PRS signals from different TRPs sent simultaneously are frequency orthogonal to help prevent conflicts between PRS signals. In addition, the TRPs can switch subcarriers for different symbols within the repetition (called interleaving) to help fill holes in the frequency domain, thereby helping to eliminate aliasing in the time domain. For example, repetition 610 including PRS signals sent from TRP1 and TRP2 includes symbol 612 and symbol 614. In symbol 612, TRP1 can use odd-numbered subcarriers to send the PRS signal of TRP1, while TRP2 can use even-numbered subcarriers to send the PRS signal of TRP2. In symbol 614, TRP1 may use even-numbered subcarriers to transmit the PRS signal of TRP1, while TRP2 may use odd-numbered subcarriers to transmit the PRS signal of TRP2. The two repetitions of each instance in this example are transmitted in consecutive time slots (time slot 0 and time slot 1), although this is not required.

[0071] Figure 6 The muting pattern shown includes a 2-bit muting bitmap for each pair of TRPs. In this example, a value of "1" in the bitmap corresponds to transmitting (multiple) PRS signals without muting (i.e., not muted), and a value of "0" in the bitmap corresponds to muting (multiple) PRS signals (i.e., the PRS signal transmission is muted). The muted PRS signals are Figure 6 4. The inter-instance muting is shown in dotted lines, and the unmuted (non-muted) PRS signal is shown in solid lines. In this example, the TRP1 and TRP2 pair has a bitmap muting pattern "10", while the TRP3 and TRP4 pair has a bitmap muting pattern "01". Although only one instance corresponding to each bit in each bitmap is shown, more than one instance may correspond to a bit in the bitmap, where the number of instances corresponding to a bit is configurable (e.g., by control information from the server 400). Thus, the bits in the bitmap may correspond to a configurable (continuous) number of instances of a DL-PRS resource set in the periodic transmission of the DL-PRS resource set. In the inter-instance muting shown, for a DL-PRS resource set instance indicated as muted by the bitmap, all DL-PRS resources within the DL-PRS resource set instance are muted.

[0072] For the bitmap shown, TRPs TRP1 and TRP2 send PRS signals in two repetitions (repetition 610 and repetition 616) without muting during the first instance and muting the PRS signals during the second instance, and TRPs TRP3 and TRP4 mute the PRS signals during the first instance and send PRS signals in two repetitions (repetition 618, 620) without muting during the second instance. The start of the first and second instances are separated in time by a period 622, the value of which depends on parameters such as the number of repetitions and the number of resources per instance. The value of the period 622 can be, for example, approximately 160 milliseconds. The UE 200 measures the PRS signals during the first and second instances to receive PRS signals from all four TRPs TRP1, TRP2, TRP3, TRP4. UE 200 may acquire PRS signals from all four TRPs TRP1, TRP2, TRP3, TRP4 using measurements of repetitions 610, 616 and at least repetition 618 (spanning a time window 624 equal to period 622 plus the time of repetition 618).

[0073] Also refer to Figure 7 , shows an example of an intra-instance, 2-bit PRS muting pattern for a scenario with comb-2 transmission, two symbols per repetition, and two repetitions per instance. Figure 6 The example between the instances shown is similar, with four TRPs sending comb-2PRS signals of two symbol lengths each at each repetition. Each TRP has a 2-bit muting bitmap, with each bit corresponding to a corresponding repetition in the corresponding instance. In this case, the PRS signals from TRP1 and TRP2 are not muted during the first repetition 712 during the first instance, and are muted during the second repetition 714 during the first instance. In contrast, the PRS signals from TRP3 and TRP4 are muted during the first repetition 716 during the first instance, and are not muted during the second repetition 718 during the first instance. The second instance follows a similar pattern to the first instance. In this case, the UE 200 can measure the PRS signals from all four TRPs in the time window 720 spanning the first instance.

[0074] Figure 6 and Figure 7 The scenarios shown in are examples only, and many other scenarios can be used. For example, bitmaps of other sizes can be used, such as 4 bits, 8 bits, 16 bits, 32 bits, etc. Thus, in a scenario similar to Figure 7However, in an intra-instance scenario with a four-bit bitmap, each bit may correspond to each of the four repetitions in the instance. As another example, each of the four bits may correspond to each of the four repetitions in two instances, and the portions of the muting pattern in different instances may be different (e.g., the first repetition is muted in the first instance, the second repetition is muted in the second instance, and the second repetition is not muted in the first instance, and the first repetition is not muted in the second instance). For an intra-instance PRS muting scenario, a large number of repetitive muting patterns within an instance may be used for different TRPs or TRP sets. As another example, more than four TRPs may be sending PRS signals.

[0075] PRS silent mode generation

[0076] The server 400 may be configured to generate (e.g., determine and create) and implement a PRS mute pattern for a plurality of TRPs. The server 400 may generate the PRS mute pattern in a variety of ways. For example, the server 400 may select one or more predefined bitmap patterns. As another example, the server 400 may randomly generate values ​​for the mute pattern. One or more other techniques may be used to generate the mute pattern, and two or more techniques may be combined to generate the mute pattern (e.g., starting with a stored predefined bitmap and then changing (e.g., randomizing) the bitmap). One or more criteria may be used to guide the generation of a bitmap and / or determine whether a bitmap is acceptable, e.g., will produce one or more desired effects (e.g., results).

[0077] The server 400 can generate a PRS mute pattern by connecting multiple bitmaps. For example, the server 400 can add one bitmap to another bitmap to extend the PRS mute pattern. The server 400 can select a predefined starting bitmap that is well balanced between mute and non-mute indications. For example, the starting bitmap can have mute and non-mute indications, each of which is within the range of 40%-60% of the sum of the mute and non-mute indications, i.e., no less than 40% of mute indications and no more than 60% of mute indications, and no less than 40% of non-mute indications and no more than 60% of non-mute indications. As other examples, the mute range of the starting bitmap can be between 30% and 50%, or between 45% and 55%, or other ranges. The percentage of mute indications is equal to 100% minus the percentage of non-mute indications, and vice versa. As an example, the server 400 may start with a four-bit bitmap with two mute indications and two non-mute indications, then add another bitmap, such as a randomly generated 16-bit bitmap that meets the specified criteria, and then add one or more other appropriate bitmaps. As another example, the server 400 may perform a logical or mathematical operation on the first bitmap to generate a second bitmap that the server 400 appends to the first bitmap. The server 400 may perform another logical or mathematical operation on the first bitmap, or perform the same or different logical or mathematical operation on the second bitmap to generate a third bitmap that the server 400 appends to the second bitmap. As another example, the server 400 may perform another operation on the bitmap, such as a circular shift, so that one sequence is a circular shift of another sequence. For example, the server 400 may perform a circular right shift operation (e.g., changing a bitmap of 1101001 to 1110100) and / or a circular left shift operation on a bitmap to generate another bitmap (e.g., changing 1101001 to 1010011). As another example, the server 400 may use multiple bitmaps to form another bitmap. Figure 6 The bitmap of the scene shown (Scene 1) is modified Figure 7 The bitmap of the scene (scene 2) shown, for example, inverts the bitmap value in scene 2 when the corresponding bitmap value in scene 1 is 1, and does not invert the value in scene 2 when the corresponding scene 1 bitmap value is 0. For example, when the scene 1 bitmap value of TRP1 and TRP2 is 1 ( Figure 6 In the case of the first instance in scene 2), the bitmap value of the corresponding instance in scene 2 is inverted (the first instance mode is changed from 10 to 01), and the scene 1 bitmap value is 0 in both TRP1 and TRP2 ( Figure 6 In the case of the second instance in scene 2, the bitmap value of the corresponding instance in scene 2 is not inverted (the second instance keeps Figure 7 In this example, a new pattern of 0110 would be generated.

[0078] The bitmap generated by the server 400 will be repeated by the appropriate TRP(s). The server 400 will typically provide a complete bitmap to each TRP 300. The server 400 may continue to add bitmaps indefinitely, but will typically stop the bitmap at some finite length and provide the completed bitmap to the TRP 300. However, the server 400 may modify the bitmap over time, for example, by sending a new bitmap to the TRP 300 or instructions to change an existing bitmap.

[0079] In order to generate a PRS muting pattern, the server 400 may consider one or more of a plurality of criteria (e.g., key performance indicators (KPIs)) for the PRS muting pattern to satisfy regarding the transmission and / or reception of positioning reference signals. The criteria may include one or more parameters indicating one or more characteristics (e.g., ratios, thresholds, etc.) of muting and non-muting indicated by the pattern and / or one or more effects of the muting pattern (e.g., the results of one or more implementation patterns, such as conflicts, interference, etc.). For example, the server 400 may attempt to send the PRS signals closely together in time so that the PRS signals may be measured almost simultaneously over the measurement interval. The DL-PRS configuration parameters available in 3GPP 37.355 are very flexible, and the server 400 may select almost any configuration. However, in actual deployments, the server 400 may apply one or more constraints. The server 400 may attempt to make the measurement interval smaller to help reduce the impact of UE motion on the measurement interval, the change of the UE clock over the measurement interval, and / or the change of the TRP clock over the measurement interval. An example parameter may be a threshold number of unmuted transmissions or a threshold number of consecutive unmuted transmissions. Many other examples of parameters or other criteria are discussed herein. Some criteria are discussed with respect to one or more purposes, but these criteria are not limited to achieving the detailed (multiple) purposes, and may not achieve the detailed (multiple) purposes and / or may achieve one or more other purposes.

[0080] As another example, the server 400 may attempt to maintain a balance between muted and unmuted PRS signals (e.g., a balance between 1s and 0s in the bitmap) to help ensure that the measurement of the PRS signal is not excessively delayed (e.g., due to waiting for the next transmission). The server 400 may provide criteria for a muting pattern (e.g., a randomly generated pattern) such that a certain number of bits have a certain value (e.g., 8 bits of a 16-bit bitmap must be 1, or 5 bits of an 8-bit bitmap must be 0, e.g., 1 indicates transmission and 0 indicates muted transmission), or a threshold number of bits have a certain value (e.g., at least 3 bits of an 8-bit bitmap must be 1), or a threshold percentage or threshold ratio (e.g., at least 33% of the bits must be 1, or at least 3 / 8 of the bits must be 1 (i.e., the ratio of 1s to 0s must be 3 / 5 or higher)), or a ratio of bits of one value to bits of another value. For example, the server 400 may provide one or more muting pattern parameters that indicate a balance between unmuted transmissions and muted transmissions, e.g., to help ensure a good balance for the muting pattern. For example, the server 400 may specify a range of silent transmissions or a range of non-silent transmissions, such as a silent transmission range of 40%-60% of the sum of silent transmissions and non-silent transmissions, or a silent transmission range of 45%-55%, or other ranges. The percentage of silent transmissions is equal to 100% minus the percentage of non-silent transmissions, and vice versa. As another example, the server 400 may specify a ratio of silent transmissions to non-silent transmissions (e.g., 1:1 or 2:3, etc.), and vice versa.

[0081] The server 400 may take into account the desire to train the receiving antenna pattern and / or the desire to help signal integration in generating a PRS muting pattern. The server 400 may have a bitmap standard to have multiple bits of the same value, for example, indicating an unmuted PRS signal, which may facilitate or enable training of one or more receiving modes and / or help integration of PRS signals (e.g., weakly received PRS signals). For example, the standard may be that the muting mode has a threshold number of non-muted positioning reference signal indications to enable receiving antenna pattern training. As another example, the criterion may be that the muting mode has a threshold number of non-muted positioning reference signal indications to achieve a threshold level of signal integration (e.g., a threshold level of total power). As another example, the standard may be the maximum distance (e.g., the maximum number of time slots) between the turn-on bits (indications of unmuted transmission). The UE 200 may observe unmuted signals on multiple time slots with the same antenna pattern and integrate the received signals, for example, to help receive PRS signals with poor SNR (signal-to-noise ratio). UE 200 can observe unmuted signals on different time slots with different antenna patterns to determine which antenna pattern produces the strongest received signal. This information can be used to train one or more antenna patterns, for example, to improve PRS signal reception.

[0082] As another example, the criteria for silent mode may be that a certain position in a bitmap has a certain value (e.g., bit seven in a 16-bit bitmap must be "1"). Server 400 may ignore any bitmaps generated that do not have a certain value at a certain position in the bitmap. A limit may be set on a certain value at a certain position using a specified frequency of the number of times a bitmap is generated using the criteria for a certain position containing a certain value (e.g., a specified percentage (e.g., 80%) or a threshold percentage (e.g., no more than 90%, or at least 10%) or a percentage range (e.g., between 30% and 75%) of the times a certain position has a certain value. A bitmap limit may be used for a specified frequency of the number of times a bitmap is applied to a TRP transmission, e.g., 70-80% of the times silent mode is applied, position X has a value of 1, and 20-30% of the times position X has a value of 0.

[0083] Additionally or alternatively, the server 400 may attempt to manage the timing of the PRS signal to reduce conflicts. The server 400 may attempt to manage the timing of the PRS signal to reduce conflicts with other signals, such as periodic signals that are repeatedly transmitted in the same time window (e.g., (multiple) slot numbers, (multiple) symbol numbers). The server 400 may attempt to reduce conflicts with PRS signals in symbols / slots that may not be suitable for DL-PRS measurement. Some signals such as SSB (PSS / SSS / PBCH) (synchronization signal block primary synchronization signal / secondary synchronization signal / physical broadcast channel) may dominate the DL-PRS signal in the conflict, so the server 400 may attempt to avoid scheduling the PRS signal during the time window in which the SSB (PSS / SSS / PBCH) signal is transmitted. Some high priority signals may be given a higher transmission priority than the DL-PRS signal, and if the high priority signal is repeated with the transmission time of another signal such as the DL-PRS signal, the DL-PRS signal may not be sent as frequently as expected (and therefore will not be received and / or processed). The techniques discussed herein (eg, varying muting patterns over time, subjecting muting patterns to performance criteria, randomizing muting patterns over time, etc.) may help reduce collisions and / or preemption of DL-PRS signal transmissions.

[0084] For the PRS muting mode, the server 400 may consider the expected mobility of one or more UEs in the coverage area of ​​the TRP 300. The server 400 may obtain information about the propagation environment, such as measurements and / or indications of the measurements (e.g., summaries of the measurements, conclusions), to determine the expected mobility. The server 400 (e.g., the memory 411) may be programmed with the mobility information of the TRP (e.g., a TRP 300 located near a highway is assigned a high expected mobility environment, while a TRP located in a stadium is assigned a relatively low expected mobility environment). The server 400 may be configured to weight different key performance indicators (KPIs) differently for different use cases. For example, if little or no UE movement is expected, the server 400 may prefer, for example, a heavier weight, improved orthogonality with a long measurement interval (e.g., lack of PRS signals with the same frequency characteristics, e.g., the same subcarrier), and if significant UE movement is expected, a short measurement interval and / or intra-instance orthogonality is preferred. Thus, for example, server 400 may prefer inter-instance PRS muting for low mobility applications, and may prefer intra-instance PRS muting for high mobility applications. Server 400 may ignore or not use bitmaps intended for high mobility environments where the measurement interval to be used exceeds a threshold amount of time. Similarly, if orthogonality is advantageous, server 400 may ignore or not use bitmaps that would result in a probability of collision exceeding a threshold probability (e.g., the frequency of expected collisions exceeds a threshold frequency).

[0085] The server 400 may generate a bitmap to achieve at least the desired SNR. The server 400 may use information provided by one or more UEs 200 and / or one or more TRPs 300 and / or stored in the memory 411 to determine the impact of different PRS muting patterns on the SNR and approve a pattern that will result in an SNR above a threshold level.

[0086] Other criteria may be considered in addition to and / or in place of the criteria discussed herein.

[0087] The server 400 is configured to obtain information related to one or more standards of the silent mode. For example, the server 400 can obtain relevant information by receiving measurement information (e.g., raw measurements and / or processed measurements) from one or more UEs 200, one or more TRPs 300, and / or from performing measurements. As another example, the server 400 can obtain relevant information (e.g., whether the TRP 300 is in a high mobility area or a low mobility area (i.e., whether the UE in the coverage area of ​​the TRP 300 is expected to have high mobility or low mobility)) by programming with information related to one or more standards or otherwise storing information related to one or more standards. The server 400 can use the obtained information to determine one or more standards (e.g., (multiple) characteristics of the silent mode and / or the usage performance of the silent mode).

[0088] The server 400 can ensure compliance with the PRS mute pattern standards in a variety of ways. The server 400 can apply one or more standards for the PRS mute pattern as input to an algorithm for generating a bitmap. Additionally or alternatively, the server 400 can analyze the generated bitmap against one or more standards, and for bitmaps that do not meet the standards, before causing the TRP 300 to implement the bitmap, discard the bitmap or modify the bitmap to meet the standards. Additionally or alternatively, the server 400 can analyze the expected results of using the bitmap (e.g., conflicts, interference, etc.) to determine whether to use, modify, or discard the bitmap.

[0089] Also refer to Figure 8 , the signal and process flow 800 shows the communication between the UE 200, the server 400 and the three TRPs 300-1, 300-2, 300-3, and the process of the server 400 generating the PRS muting pattern. The signal and process flow 800 includes the messages and stages shown, and is only an example and not a limitation. For example, the process 800 can be changed by adding, removing, rearranging, combining, executing messages and / or stages concurrently, and / or splitting one or more messages and / or stages into multiple messages and / or stages.

[0090] The TRPs 300-1, 300-2, 300-3 may provide one or more messages 811, 812, 813 to the server 400, which may affect the generation of one or more PRS muting patterns. For example, one or more of the messages 811, 812, 813 may indicate the mobility level of the UE in the respective coverage area of ​​the TRPs 300-1, 300-2, 300-3. In addition or alternatively, one or more of the messages 811, 812, 813 may indicate a request for assistance in training the respective receive antenna patterns of the respective (multiple) TRPs 300-1, 300-2, 300-3.

[0091] At stage 814, the server 400 generates a PRS muting pattern, such as a bitmap, with appropriate characteristics according to a specified criterion. The criterion may be one or more criteria, such as one or more parameters related to muting or non-muting in a muting pattern and / or one or more effects of a muting pattern, such as those discussed above with respect to performance indication, facilitating antenna pattern training, balancing muting and non-muting, having one or more specified time slots with specified values, helping to ensure orthogonality (e.g., reducing the probability of collision with another signal to below a threshold probability), facilitating positioning in a high mobility environment, etc. One or more criteria may be used to influence how a bitmap is generated (e.g., specifying to a random number generator (e.g., implemented by the processor 410) that only values ​​1 or 0 are generated, and a specified number of 1s in the total number of bits). In addition or alternatively, the server 400 may generate a bitmap and then determine whether the bitmap satisfies one or more criteria. The server 400 may discard a bitmap that does not meet one or more criteria, or modify the bitmap so that the modified bitmap meets one or more criteria.

[0092] The server 400 provides the appropriate PRS muting pattern to each of the TRPs 300-1, 300-2, 300-3. The server 400 sends a bitmap of the corresponding PRS muting pattern to the TRPs 300-1, 300-2, 300-3 in messages 815, 816, 817. Each of the TRPs 300-1, 300-2, 300-3 will use the respective PRS muting pattern to determine when to send a PRS signal (unmuted PRS signal) and when not to send a PRS signal (muted PRS signal). The TRPs 300-1, 300-2, 300-3 may repeat their respective muting patterns, for example, until otherwise instructed by the server 400.

[0093] In stage 818, the server 400 may randomize the PRS muting patterns of the TRPs 300-1, 300-2, 300-3 (multiple). Randomizing the muting patterns (multiple) over time helps avoid repeated conflicts that may occur when the same muting patterns are used in the presence of repeated periodic signals. The process 800 may return to stage 814 for the server 400 to check the randomized (multiple) muting patterns against the desired standards to help ensure that the desired characteristics of the muting patterns are met, for example, to help ensure that the desired quality (e.g., SNR, orthogonality, antenna training capabilities, etc.) is achieved. However, randomization may at least occasionally override one or more standards. For example, if a specified bit is set to a specified value, but the randomized muting pattern (bitmap) has a different value at a specified point, the randomized bitmap may be used without changing the value of the specified bit. The randomized bitmap (multiple) may be sent to the TRPs 300-1, 300-2, 300-3 in messages 815-817.

[0094] UE 200 may request location services from server 400 in message 819. Message 819 may be sent directly to server 400 as shown, or may be sent indirectly to server 400 via one or more TRPs 300-1, 300-2, 300-3. Although request 819 is shown as occurring after stage 818 of randomizing one or more silent patterns, UE 200 may send request 819 at any time.

[0095] The server 400 may respond to the location service request 819 from the UE 200 by sending the appropriate muting pattern(s) to the UE 200 in a message 820. The server 400 sends the muting patterns of the TRP(s) 300-1, 300-2, 300-3 (e.g., serving TRP and neighboring TRPs, or TRPs within a location estimation radius of the UE 200, etc.) in the vicinity of the UE 200. The UE 200 may use the muting pattern(s) to save energy, for example, by avoiding wasting power searching for signals during time windows where no signals will be sent, and / or by narrowing the search time window to a time window where the corresponding PRS signal indicated in the PRS muting pattern will be sent unmuted.

[0096] operate

[0097] refer to Fig. 9 , and further reference Figure 1-Figure 8 , the method 900 for generating a positioning reference signal muting pattern includes the stages shown. However, the method 900 is only an example and not a limitation. The method 900 can be changed, for example, by adding, removing, rearranging, combining, performing stages simultaneously, and / or splitting a single stage into multiple stages. For example, one or more stages can occur in Fig. 9 Prior to the stage shown, and / or one or more stages may occur Fig. 9 After the stage shown. For example, a muting pattern can be provided to TRP 300 and used to determine when to send a PRS signal. Other examples are also possible, including other functions discussed below.

[0098] At stage 911, method 900 includes obtaining one or more positioning reference signal criteria, the one or more positioning reference signal criteria relating to at least one of positioning reference signal transmission or positioning reference signal reception. The positioning reference signal may be a positioning reference signal wirelessly transmitted from a location determination system of a mobile device, such as a ground-based TRP 300 as part of a wireless communication system. The one or more positioning reference signal criteria relate to (e.g., involve, affect, or are intended to affect) positioning reference signal transmission or reception or both. The one or more positioning reference signal criteria may, for example, relate to the expected and / or undesired time at which the TRP 300 transmits a PRS signal, the amount of the TRP 300 transmitting a PRS signal (e.g., continuously, per unit time, etc.), the balance of transmitting and not transmitting a PRS signal, etc. The one or more positioning reference signal criteria may, for example, relate to the expected and / or undesired reception time of a PRS signal, conflict and / or preemption avoidance, the ability to integrate PRS signals, the ability to train a receiving antenna pattern, etc. The one or more positioning reference signal criteria may include a threshold value for the number of consecutive muted positioning reference signal transmissions, as this may affect the response time through, for example, a positioning time or first positioning time parameter. For example, a criterion may be a threshold maximum number of consecutive silent transmissions (e.g., to help ensure that a signal is received within a threshold amount of time (e.g., at a threshold frequency)). One or more criteria may include a threshold number of consecutive non-silent positioning reference signal transmissions, as this may impact response time through, for example, a fix time or first fix time parameter. For example, a criterion may be a threshold minimum number of consecutive unsilent transmissions (e.g., to help ensure that a signal can be received and decoded). One or more positioning reference signal criteria may include a positioning reference signal muting pattern that results in an expected probability of a signal collision below a threshold probability. For example, processor 410 (or processor 310) may be capable of analyzing a muting pattern (and possibly other information, such as other muting patterns) to predict whether use of the muting pattern will result in an expected probability of a signal collision below a threshold (acceptable) probability. One or more positioning reference signal criteria specify a muting pattern parameter that indicates the muting and non-muting characteristics indicated by the muting pattern. The mute mode parameter may specify an amount of mute transmissions (e.g., an amount of consecutive mute transmissions), or an amount of non-mute transmissions, or a ratio of mute transmissions to non-mute transmissions, or a threshold for mute transmissions, or a threshold for non-mute transmissions, or a measurement interval with at least two identical non-mute transmissions, etc. One or more positioning reference signal criteria may include a threshold number of non-mute positioning reference signals to enable receive antenna pattern training.For example, the processor 410 (or the processor 310) may be configured to determine whether the muting pattern has an indication of a sufficient number of non-muted positioning reference signals, so that the use of the expected muting pattern will result in (e.g., based on historical information and / or simulation) sufficient (possibly continuous) PRS signal transmissions for the UE 200 receiving the PRS signal transmission to train one or more receive antenna patterns of the UE 200. The one or more positioning reference signal criteria may include a certain number of non-muted positioning reference signals to achieve a threshold level of signal integration. For example, the processor 410 (or the processor 310) may be configured to determine whether the muting pattern has an indication of a sufficient number of non-muted positioning reference signals, so that the use of the expected muting pattern will result in (e.g., based on historical information and / or simulation) sufficient PRS signal transmissions for the UE 200 receiving the PRS signal transmission to integrate the received transmissions to a combined energy amount above a threshold energy amount. The one or more positioning signal criteria may specify the muting pattern effect that the muting pattern is to have. The one or more positioning reference signal criteria may include one or more other criteria, whether or not discussed herein. The processor 410, possibly in combination with the memory 411 (e.g., software 412) and possibly in combination with the transceiver 415 (e.g., wireless receiver 444 and / or wired receiver 454), may include components for obtaining one or more positioning reference signal standards. For example, the memory 411 may be programmed with one or more positioning reference signal standards, and / or the processor 410 may receive information from the TRP 300 and / or the UE 200 (via the TRP 300), and the processor 410 may determine one or more of the one or more positioning reference signal standards based on the information. In addition or alternatively, the processor 310, possibly in combination with the memory 311 (e.g., software 312) and possibly in combination with the transceiver 315 (e.g., wireless receiver 344 and / or wired receiver 354), may include components for obtaining one or more positioning reference signal standards. For example, the processor 310 may receive one or more positioning reference signal standards from the server 400, and / or receive information from the UE 200 and / or the server 400, and the processor 310 may determine one or more of the one or more positioning reference signal standards based on the information.

[0099] At stage 912, method 900 includes generating a positioning reference signal muting pattern such that the positioning reference signal muting pattern satisfies one or more positioning reference signal criteria. The one or more positioning reference signal criteria may be, for example, the muting pattern itself or an expected result of using the muting pattern, such as used by TRP 300 to send PRS signals and / or by UE 200 to receive and measure PRS signals. Processor 410, possibly in combination with memory 411 (e.g., software 412), may include components for generating a positioning reference signal muting pattern. Similarly, processor 310, possibly in combination with memory 311 (e.g., software 312), may include components for generating a positioning reference signal muting pattern. For example, processor 410 (or processor 310) may select a bitmap, generate a bitmap applying any appropriate criteria (e.g., the ratio of 1s and 0s in a binary bitmap), append to an existing bitmap, etc., and analyze the bitmap to determine whether one or more other criteria (if any) are met (e.g., criteria regarding expected performance (e.g., PRS signal reception) using the bitmap (e.g., as determined by TRP 300 when a PRS signal is transmitted).

[0100] The method 900 may include one or more of the following features. For example, the method 900 may include randomizing the positioning reference signal muting pattern to generate a randomized pattern. The randomized pattern can help reduce repeated conflicts and / or preemption of the positioning reference signal. A variety of techniques can be used to randomize the muting pattern, for example, right-shifting the muting pattern, left-shifting the muting pattern, using a random number generator or a pseudo-random number generator to generate one or more values ​​for one or more bit positions in a bitmap, etc. The method 900 may include determining whether the randomized pattern meets one or more positioning reference signal standards. The processor 410 (or processor 310) that may be combined with the memory 411 (or memory 311) may include a component for randomizing the positioning reference signal muting pattern and a component for determining whether the randomized pattern meets one or more positioning reference signal standards. The method 900 may include determining that the randomized pattern fails to meet at least one of the one or more positioning reference signal standards, and in response, discarding the randomized pattern or modifying the randomized pattern to generate a modified pattern that meets one or more positioning reference signal standards. For example, the processor 410 (or the processor 310) may delete, ignore, or not use a randomized muting pattern that fails to meet one or more of the one or more positioning reference signal criteria. As another example, the processor 410 (or the processor 310) may randomize the randomized pattern to generate a re-randomized pattern, and check whether the re-randomized pattern meets one or more positioning reference signal criteria, and if the one or more positioning reference signal criteria are met, use the re-randomized pattern, otherwise discard or further modify the re-randomized pattern.

[0101] Additionally or alternatively, the method 900 may include one or more of the following features. Generating the positioning reference signal muting pattern may include generating a first binary bit sequence and generating a second binary bit sequence that is a cyclic shift of the first bit sequence.

[0102] Other considerations

[0103] Other examples and implementations are within the scope and spirit of the present disclosure and the appended claims. For example, due to the nature of software and computers, the above functions can be implemented using software executed by a processor, hardware, firmware, hard wiring, or any combination of these. Features that implement the functions can also be physically located in various locations, including being distributed so that parts of the functions are implemented in different physical locations. For example, one or more functions or one or more parts thereof discussed above that occur in server 400 (e.g., for determining and implementing a PRS mute mode) can be performed outside of server 400, such as by TRP300.

[0104] As used herein, the singular forms "a", "an" and "the" also include the plural forms, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. As used herein, the terms "comprise", "comprising", "include" and / or "include" specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements and / or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components and / or groups thereof.

[0105] In addition, as used herein, "or" used in a list of items beginning with "at least one" or ending with "one or more" means a disjunctive list, for example, a list of "at least one of A, B, or C" or a list of "one or more of A, B, or C" means A or B or C or AB or AC or BC or ABC (i.e., A and B and C), or a combination of more than one feature (e.g., AA, AAB, ABBC, etc.).

[0106] Substantial modifications may be made depending on specific requirements. For example, custom hardware may also be used, and / or specific elements may be implemented in hardware, software (including portable software, such as applets, etc.), or both, executed by a processor. In addition, connections to other computing devices such as network input / output devices may be employed.

[0107] The systems and devices discussed above are examples. Various configurations may omit, replace, or add various programs or components as appropriate. For example, features described with respect to certain configurations may be combined in various other configurations. Different aspects and elements of configurations may be combined in a similar manner. Moreover, technology is constantly evolving, and therefore, many elements are examples and do not limit the scope of the disclosure or claims.

[0108] A wireless communication system is a system in which communications are transmitted wirelessly, i.e., by electromagnetic and / or acoustic wave propagation through air space rather than by wires or other physical connections. A wireless communication network may not have all communications transmitted wirelessly, but is configured to have at least some communications transmitted wirelessly. In addition, the term "wireless communication device" or similar terms does not require that the functionality of the device is exclusively or uniformly primarily used for communication, or that the device is a mobile device, but indicates that the device includes wireless communication capabilities (one-way or two-way), for example, including at least one radio for wireless communication (each radio is part of a transmitter, receiver or transceiver).

[0109] Specific details are given in the specification to provide a thorough understanding of example configurations (including embodiments). However, configurations can be practiced without these specific details. For example, known circuits, processes, algorithms, structures and techniques are shown without unnecessary details to avoid obscuring configurations. This description only provides example configurations and does not limit the scope, applicability or configuration of the claims. On the contrary, the above description of the configuration provides a description for implementing the technology. Various changes can be made to the functions and arrangements of the elements without departing from the spirit or scope of the present disclosure.

[0110] As used herein, the terms "processor-readable medium," "machine-readable medium," and "computer-readable medium" refer to any medium that participates in providing data that causes a machine to operate in a particular manner. Using a computing platform, various processor-readable media may be involved in providing instructions / codes to (multiple) processors for execution and / or may be used to store and / or carry such instructions / codes (e.g., as signals). In many embodiments, processor-readable media are physical and / or tangible storage media. Such media may take a variety of forms, including, but not limited to, non-volatile media and volatile media. Non-volatile media include, for example, optical and / or magnetic disks. Volatile media include, but are not limited to, dynamic memory.

[0111] Several example configurations have been described, and various modifications, alternative constructions, and equivalents may be used without departing from the spirit of the present disclosure. For example, the above elements may be components of a larger system, in which other rules may take precedence over or otherwise modify the application of the present invention. In addition, many operations may be performed before, during, or after consideration of the above elements. Therefore, the above description does not limit the scope of the claims.

[0112] A statement that a value exceeds (or is greater than or above) a first threshold is equivalent to a statement that the value meets or exceeds a second threshold that is slightly greater than the first threshold, e.g., at the resolution of the computing system, the second threshold is a value that is higher than the first threshold. A statement that a value is less than (or within or below) a first threshold is equivalent to a statement that the value is less than or equal to a second threshold that is slightly lower than the first threshold, e.g., at the resolution of the computing system, the second threshold is a value that is lower than the first threshold.

Claims

1. A method for generating a positioning reference signal muting pattern at a transmission / reception point TRP, the method comprising: obtaining, at the TRP, one or more positioning reference signal criteria, the one or more positioning reference signal criteria relating to at least one of positioning reference signal transmission or positioning reference signal reception, wherein the one or more positioning reference signal criteria specify a muting pattern parameter, the muting pattern parameter indicating a ratio or threshold of muting and non-muting indicated by the positioning reference signal muting pattern; and generating the positioning reference signal muting pattern at the TRP by combining a predefined positioning reference signal muting pattern and a randomized positioning reference signal muting pattern, The one or more positioning reference signal standards include: The positioning reference signal muting mode causes the expected probability of signal conflict to be lower than a threshold probability; or a first threshold number of non-muted positioning reference signals to enable receiving antenna pattern training; or a second threshold number of non-silence location reference signals to achieve a third threshold level of signal integration; or A combination of two or more of these. 2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising randomizing the positioning reference signal muting pattern to produce a randomized pattern. 3 . The method of claim 2 , further comprising determining whether the randomized pattern satisfies the one or more positioning reference signal criteria.

4. The method according to claim 3, further comprising: determining that the randomized pattern fails to satisfy at least one of the one or more positioning reference signal criteria; as well as In response to determining that the randomized pattern fails to satisfy at least one of the one or more positioning reference signal criteria, the randomized pattern is discarded or modified to produce a modified pattern that satisfies the one or more positioning reference signal criteria.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein: The Silent Mode parameter specifies the amount of silent transmission.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein: The silence mode parameter specifies the amount of continuous silence transmission.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein: The mute mode parameter specifies the amount of continuous unmuted transmission.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein: The muting pattern parameter specifies a measurement interval in which there are at least two identical unmuted transmissions.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein: The one or more positioning reference signal standards specify a muting mode effect that the positioning reference signal muting mode is to have.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein: Generating the positioning reference signal muting pattern includes generating a first binary bit sequence and generating a second binary bit sequence that is a cyclic shift of the first binary bit sequence.

11. A transmission / reception point TRP for generating a positioning reference signal muting pattern, the TRP comprising: Memory; as well as a processor, communicatively coupled to the memory, and configured to: obtaining one or more positioning reference signal criteria, the one or more positioning reference signal criteria relating to at least one of positioning reference signal transmission or positioning reference signal reception, wherein the one or more positioning reference signal criteria specify a muting pattern parameter, the muting pattern parameter indicating a ratio or threshold of muting and non-muting indicated by the positioning reference signal muting pattern; and The positioning reference signal muting pattern is generated by combining a predefined positioning reference signal muting pattern and a randomized positioning reference signal muting pattern, The one or more positioning reference signal standards include: The positioning reference signal muting mode causes the expected probability of signal conflict to be lower than a threshold probability; or a first threshold number of non-muted positioning reference signals to enable receiving antenna pattern training; or a second threshold number of non-silence location reference signals to achieve a third threshold level of signal integration; or A combination of two or more of these.

12. The TRP of claim 11, wherein: The processor is configured to randomize the positioning reference signal muting pattern to produce a randomized pattern.

13. The TRP of claim 12, wherein: The processor is configured to determine whether the randomized pattern satisfies the one or more positioning reference signal criteria.

14. The TRP of claim 13, wherein: The processor is configured to: determining that the randomized pattern fails to satisfy at least one of the one or more positioning reference signal criteria; and The randomized pattern fails to meet at least one of the one or more positioning reference signal criteria in response to the randomized pattern being discarded or modified to produce a modified pattern that meets the one or more positioning reference signal criteria.

15. The TRP of claim 11, wherein: The Silent Mode parameter specifies the amount of silent transmission.

16. The TRP of claim 11, wherein: The silence mode parameter specifies the amount of continuous silence transmission.

17. The TRP of claim 11, wherein: The mute mode parameter specifies the amount of continuous unmuted transmission.

18. The TRP of claim 11, wherein: The muting pattern parameter specifies a measurement interval in which there are at least two identical unmuted transmissions.

19. The TRP of claim 11, wherein: The one or more positioning reference signal standards specify a muting mode effect that the positioning reference signal muting mode is to have.

20. The TRP of claim 11, wherein: To generate the positioning reference signal muting pattern, the processor is configured to generate a first binary bit sequence and generate a second binary bit sequence that is a cyclic shift of the first binary bit sequence.

21. A transmission / reception point (TRP) for generating a positioning reference signal muting pattern, the TRP comprising: means for obtaining one or more positioning reference signal criteria regarding at least one of positioning reference signal transmission or positioning reference signal reception, wherein the one or more positioning reference signal criteria specify a mute pattern parameter indicating a ratio or threshold of mute and non-mute indicated by the positioning reference signal mute pattern; and means for generating the positioning reference signal muting pattern by combining a predefined positioning reference signal muting pattern and a randomized positioning reference signal muting pattern, The one or more positioning reference signal standards include: The positioning reference signal muting mode causes the expected probability of signal conflict to be lower than a threshold probability; or a first threshold number of non-muted positioning reference signals to enable receiving antenna pattern training; or a second threshold number of non-silence location reference signals to achieve a third threshold level of signal integration; or A combination of two or more of these.

22. The TRP of claim 21, wherein The means for generating the positioning reference signal muting pattern includes means for randomizing the positioning reference signal muting pattern to generate a randomized pattern.

23. The TRP of claim 22, wherein: Means for generating the positioning reference signal muting pattern includes means for determining whether the randomized pattern satisfies the one or more positioning reference signal criteria.

24. The TRP of claim 23, wherein: The components for generating the positioning reference signal silent mode include: means for determining that the randomized pattern fails to satisfy at least one of the one or more positioning reference signal criteria; and Means for responding to a determination that the randomized pattern fails to satisfy at least one of the one or more positioning reference signal criteria by discarding the randomized pattern or modifying the randomized pattern to produce a modified pattern that satisfies the one or more positioning reference signal criteria.

25. The TRP of claim 21, wherein: The Silent Mode parameter specifies the amount of silent transmission.

26. The TRP of claim 21, wherein: The silence mode parameter specifies the amount of continuous silence transmission.

27. The TRP of claim 21, wherein: The mute mode parameter specifies the amount of continuous unmuted transmission.

28. The TRP of claim 21, wherein: The muting pattern parameter specifies a measurement interval in which there are at least two identical unmuted transmissions.

29. The TRP of claim 21, wherein: The one or more positioning reference signal standards specify a muting mode effect that the positioning reference signal muting mode is to have.

30. The TRP of claim 21, wherein: The means for generating the positioning reference signal muting pattern is configured to generate a first binary bit sequence and a second binary bit sequence which is a cyclic shift of the first binary bit sequence.

31. A non-transitory processor-readable storage medium comprising processor-readable instructions configured to cause a processor of a transmission / reception point to: obtaining one or more positioning reference signal criteria for at least one of positioning reference signal transmission or positioning reference signal reception, wherein the one or more positioning reference signal criteria specify a muting pattern parameter indicating a ratio or threshold of muting and non-muting indicated by a positioning reference signal muting pattern; and The positioning reference signal muting pattern is generated by combining a predefined positioning reference signal muting pattern and a randomized positioning reference signal muting pattern, in, The one or more positioning reference signal criteria include: The positioning reference signal muting mode causes the expected probability of signal conflict to be lower than a threshold probability; or a first threshold number of non-muted positioning reference signals to enable receiving antenna pattern training; or a second threshold number of non-silence location reference signals to achieve a third threshold level of signal integration; or A combination of two or more of these.

32. The storage medium of claim 31, further comprising instructions configured to cause the processor to randomize the positioning reference signal muting pattern to produce a randomized pattern.

33. The storage medium of claim 32, further comprising instructions configured to cause the processor to determine whether the randomized pattern satisfies the one or more criteria.

34. The storage medium of claim 33, further comprising instructions configured to cause the processor to: determining that the randomized pattern fails to satisfy at least one of the one or more criteria; and The randomized pattern failing to satisfy at least one of the one or more criteria is responded to by discarding the randomized pattern or modifying the randomized pattern to produce a modified pattern that satisfies the one or more criteria.

35. The storage medium according to claim 31, wherein: The Silent Mode parameter specifies the amount of silent transmission.

36. The storage medium according to claim 31, wherein: The silence mode parameter specifies the amount of continuous silence transmission.

37. The storage medium according to claim 31, wherein: The mute mode parameter specifies the amount of continuous unmuted transmission.

38. The storage medium according to claim 31, wherein: The muting pattern parameter specifies a measurement interval in which there are at least two identical unmuted transmissions.

39. The storage medium according to claim 31, wherein: The one or more positioning reference signal standards specify a muting mode effect that the positioning reference signal muting mode is to have.

40. The storage medium according to claim 31, wherein: The instructions configured to cause the processor to generate the positioning reference signal muting pattern are configured to cause the processor to generate a first binary bit sequence and generate a second binary bit sequence that is a cyclic shift of the first binary bit sequence.

Images