5G NR PRS Beam Reporting with Adaptive Downlink Beam Sets

Solution Overview

Problem

The cell-specific transmission of positioning reference signals (PRS) in 5G NR results in large resource overheads and increased terminal power consumption due to the need for orthogonal PRS time frequency resources for downlink beams.

Innovation Solution

Implement methods and apparatuses that allow terminals to measure and report beam information using both cell-specific and UE-specific/UE group-specific reference signals, optimizing beam directions through quasi co-location (QCL) associations to reduce unnecessary resource allocation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If cell-specific transmission of positioning reference signals (PRS) is used for downlink beams, then positioning coverage is improved, but resource overheads increase and terminal power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepositioning coverageVSAvoidresource overheads

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the PRS transmission into two distinct types: cell-specific PRS for coverage and UE-specific PRS for precision. This segmentation allows the system to use only the necessary PRS type for each terminal, reducing overall resource overhead while maintaining positioning coverage through cell-specific PRS and enhancing precision where needed through UE-specific PRS.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies local quality by configuring PRS resources differently for different terminals based on their specific positioning requirements. UE-specific PRS configuration allows each terminal to receive reference signals optimized for its location and needs, reducing unnecessary resource allocation to terminals that don't require high-precision positioning.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Reliability

If cell-specific transmission of positioning reference signals (PRS) is used for downlink beams, then positioning coverage is improved, but terminal power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepositioning coverageVSAvoidterminal power consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the PRS transmission into two distinct types: cell-specific PRS for coverage and UE-specific PRS for precision. This segmentation allows the system to use only the necessary PRS type for each terminal, reducing overall resource overhead while maintaining positioning coverage through cell-specific PRS and enhancing precision where needed through UE-specific PRS.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements partial action by configuring UE-specific PRS only for terminals that require high-precision positioning services. Most terminals can rely on cell-specific PRS for basic positioning coverage, while only specific terminals receive the additional UE-specific PRS resources, thereby reducing overall terminal power consumption while maintaining necessary positioning capabilities.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Measurement precision

If orthogonal PRS time frequency resources are allocated for downlink beams, then beam-specific positioning accuracy is improved, but resource overheads increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebeam-specific positioning accuracyVSAvoidresource overheads

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the PRS transmission into two distinct types: cell-specific PRS for coverage and UE-specific PRS for precision. This segmentation allows the system to use only the necessary PRS type for each terminal, reducing overall resource overhead while maintaining positioning coverage through cell-specific PRS and enhancing precision where needed through UE-specific PRS.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the configuration parameters of PRS resources based on terminal requirements. By dynamically adjusting PRS configuration information including resource allocation, frequency domain allocation, and time domain allocation for UE-specific PRS, the system optimizes beam-specific positioning accuracy while adapting resource consumption to actual positioning needs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS12452694B2Methods and apparatuses for signal transmission, signal measurement reporting, and positioning

Publication Date: 2025.10.21 DATANG MOBILE COMM EQUIP CO LTD

AI summary

Disclosed are methods and apparatuses for signal transmission, signal measurement reporting, and positioning. The signal measurement reporting method includes acquiring a cell-specific first reference signal (RS) sent by a network in the direction of M downlink beams of first downlink beam sets of different cells, and using first RS configuration information to measure the first RS to obtain a first beam information report value, and reporting same to the network, where M is greater than 1, and acquiring a second RS sent by the network in the direction of N downlink beams of second downlink beam sets of the different cells, and using second RS configuration information to measure the second RS to obtain a second beam information report value, and reporting same to the network, where 1<=N<M, the second downlink beam sets being determined by the network using the first beam information report value.