Aggregated Reference Signal Identification for Carrier Aggregation Positioning

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional positioning methods using Time Difference Of Arrival (TDOA) technology face challenges in accurately determining the aggregated reference signal due to waveform changes after carrier aggregation, leading to large errors in location information and failing to achieve precise positioning.

Innovation Solution

A signal determining method that involves receiving configuration information for subcarriers, determining the time alignment error (TAE) between them, generating an aggregated reference signal, and matching received signals against this signal to identify the aggregated reference signal, thereby accurately determining the transmission time and improving location precision.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If carrier aggregation technology is used to increase signal bandwidth for positioning, then signal bandwidth is improved, but waveform change makes signal identification difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesignal bandwidthVSAvoidsignal identification accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-calculating and storing the expected aggregated reference signal waveform characteristics before signal reception. The signal receiving device uses the time alignment error information to pre-generate the expected aggregated reference signal pattern, enabling efficient and accurate identification of the actual received signal against this predetermined template, thus solving the signal identification difficulty caused by waveform changes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Quantity of substance

If conventional TDOA positioning is used with limited bandwidth signals, then signal bandwidth is maintained, but positioning precision deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesignal bandwidthVSAvoidpositioning accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies merging by combining multiple reference signals across different subcarriers into a single aggregated reference signal. This aggregation process effectively increases the signal bandwidth from the individual subcarrier level to the aggregated signal level, thereby improving positioning precision while maintaining compatibility with existing TDOA positioning frameworks.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Quantity of substance

If aggregated reference signal is generated through carrier aggregation, then signal bandwidth is increased, but transmission time determination accuracy deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesignal bandwidthVSAvoidtransmission time determination accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces time alignment error information as an intermediary parameter that mediates between the multiple subcarrier signals during aggregation. This intermediary information allows the signal receiving device to accurately determine the relative timing relationships between aggregated signals from different subcarriers, thereby maintaining high transmission time determination accuracy despite the increased signal bandwidth from carrier aggregation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP3352500B1Signal determining method and device
Publication Date: 2020.06.17 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD
  • EP3352500B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3352500B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3352500B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

The present invention provides a signal determining method and an apparatus, so as to resolve a problem, in a conventional positioning method, that a signal receiving device cannot accurately determine whether a received signal is an aggregated reference signal, and consequently, positioning fails due to a relatively large error of location information obtained by means of positioning. The method is as follows: A signal receiving device may estimate, according to a TAE between at least two subcarriers used by a signal sending device to transmit a reference signal and a reference signal sent by the signal sending device on each subcarrier, an aggregated reference signal that is sent by the signal sending device and that is obtained after carrier aggregation. After receiving a signal, the signal receiving device determines, according to whether the signal matches the estimated aggregated reference signal, whether the signal is an aggregated reference signal sent by the signal sending device. In this way, the signal receiving device can accurately determine whether a received signal is an aggregated reference signal, then accurately determine a transmission time of the aggregated reference signal, and finally obtain location information with relatively high precision.