Mobile methods and devices to support mobile device location tracking in wireless networks.

Abstract

The invention relates to a method and mobile device for assisting in the positioning of mobile devices in a wireless network. The mobile device assists in positioning with positioning reference signals (PRS) on multiple bands by dividing the PRS processing into two distinct modes, reception mode and tracking mode. In reception mode, the mobile device performs a rapid scan of all bursts from the PRS base station using less than the full set of resources for PRS, i.e., less bandwidth than the full number of PRS iterations and / or fewer than the full number of PRS iterations. The mobile device can select the best bursts to use for positioning, for example, based on signal strength measurements. In tracking mode, the mobile device tracks PRS signals from selected beams using a full set of PRS tracking resources. The mobile device can return to receiving mode after a predetermined number of positioning events or if the selected beams are no longer valid due to movement or changes in conditions.