5G NR PRS Reception Using Buffer Symbols Outside Measurement Gaps

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing 3GPP specifications for 5G NR positioning face challenges in ensuring that user equipment (UE) has sufficient time to perform beam switching and process downlink control information when receiving positioning reference signals (PRS) outside of measurement gaps, leading to potential PRS drops due to insufficient time for beamforming and decoding downlink control information (DCI).

Innovation Solution

The proposed solution involves configuring buffer symbols within a positioning processing window (PPW) to allow the UE to perform beam switching and process DCI, using these symbols to prioritize PRS reception by dropping other channels if necessary, and reporting partial PRS measurements to the network.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If PRS reception is performed outside measurement gaps, then positioning measurement capability is improved, but beam switching time and DCI processing time are insufficient causing PRS drops

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovePRS reception reliabilityVSAvoidbeam switching time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The network configures buffer symbols in advance within the positioning processing window to provide predetermined time for beam switching and DCI processing before PRS reception, ensuring sufficient preparation time without extending the overall positioning measurement interval

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The invention introduces configurable buffer symbol parameters including number of buffer symbols, their positions within the PPW, and associations with specific PRS resources, allowing flexible adjustment of time allocation for beam switching and processing based on specific deployment scenarios

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Measurement precision

If buffer symbols are configured for beam switching, then PRS reception accuracy is improved, but time window duration increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepositioning measurement accuracyVSAvoidpositioning processing window duration

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDuration of action of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The network configures a specific number of buffer symbols (part of the total PPW) dedicated to beam switching and DCI processing, rather than extending the entire PPW duration, thus achieving necessary preparation time while maintaining efficient positioning measurement intervals

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Reliability

If PRS is prioritized over other channels, then positioning measurement is ensured, but other channel reception is affected

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepositioning measurement reliabilityVSAvoiddownlink control information

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The positioning processing window is segmented into buffer symbols for preparation and PRS symbols for measurement, with further segmentation based on priority states that determine whether PDSCH or PDCCH is dropped, allowing selective prioritization based on specific deployment scenarios

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS12556335B2Apparatus, methods, and computer programs related to positioning reference signals

Publication Date: 2026.02.17 NOKIA TECHNOLOGIES OY

AI summary

There is disclosed a method comprising: receiving priority information indicative of a priority state of at least one positioning reference signal, receiving time window information configuring a time window that is outside of a measurement gap; and based on the priority information and the time window information, receiving one or more positioning reference signals during the time window by using one or more buffer symbols.