Antenna Configuration Selection for Accurate Mobile Positioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current mobile communication systems face challenges in selecting the optimal antenna configuration for user devices to ensure accurate positioning signals, as the antenna phase center offset and variance can lead to timing errors and affect signal quality, especially when the angle of arrival and departure are unknown.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus and method that determine an angular radiation space of interest and calculate positioning metrics based on average antenna phase center offset vector and variance data to select the most suitable antenna configuration for sending or receiving positioning signals, considering factors like polarizations and beam steering directions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If multiple antenna configurations are available for positioning signals, then positioning accuracy can be improved by selecting the optimal configuration, but device complexity increases due to the need to evaluate and select from multiple configurations
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary evaluation of antenna configurations by calculating positioning metrics (average antenna phase centre offset vector and variance) for each configuration before actual positioning operations. This pre-computation allows the device to quickly select the optimal configuration without complex real-time calculations, resolving the contradiction by preparing configuration data in advance.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the evaluation parameters from simple signal strength metrics to comprehensive positioning metrics that include average antenna phase centre offset vector and variance. This parameter transformation enables accurate comparison of different antenna configurations based on their actual positioning performance, allowing optimal selection without excessive complexity.
2Ease of operation
If antenna phase centre offset and variance are not considered, then device operation is simpler, but positioning accuracy deteriorates due to timing errors
Solution Approach 1:
The invention introduces positioning metrics (average antenna phase centre offset vector and variance) as intermediary parameters that bridge the gap between simple device operation and accurate positioning. These metrics serve as a mediator that quantifies the impact of antenna phase centre variations, enabling automated configuration selection without requiring complex manual adjustments while maintaining high positioning accuracy.
3Measurement precision
If beam direction is known, then angular radiation space can be precisely defined for optimization, but system complexity increases due to beam identification requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adapts the angular radiation space definition based on beam identification status. When a beam is identified, the system uses the beam direction to define a narrow angular radiation space, optimizing positioning for that specific direction. When no beam is identified, it automatically switches to a wide angular radiation space, maintaining operational simplicity while adapting to available information.
Data Source
Figure 15
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AI summary
An apparatus, method and computer program is described comprising: determining an angular radiation space of interest for communications between a user device and a network node of a mobile communication system; obtaining a positioning metric for each of a plurality of available antenna configurations for communication between the user device and the network node in the angular radiation space of interest, wherein said positioning metrics are based, at least in part, on average antenna phase centre offset vector data and phase centre offset variance data for the user device; and selecting one of said plurality of antenna configurations, based on the obtained positioning metrics, for sending positioning signals from the user device to the network node or for receiving positioning signals at the user device from the network node.