Antenna Port Segmentation for 5G Positioning Accuracy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current 5G positioning methods in cellular networks face limitations in accuracy due to the number of antenna ports, high power consumption, and susceptibility to non-line of sight (NLOS) propagation, which affects the precision of position estimation, especially in scenarios requiring sub-meter or centimeter-level accuracy.
Innovation Solution
The method involves dynamic port mapping and multiplexing antenna ports across time to optimize reference signal transmission and reception, using a combination of time division multiplexing and neural networks for improved estimation of positioning parameters like Time of Arrival (ToA), Angle of Arrival (AoA), and Angle of Departure (AoD), while distinguishing between Line of Sight (LOS) and NLOS paths to enhance accuracy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the number of antenna ports is increased to improve positioning accuracy, then measurement precision improves, but device complexity and power consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the antenna array into multiple antenna groups, where each group contains a subset of antenna ports. This segmentation allows the system to process positioning measurements from multiple groups sequentially or selectively, effectively increasing the total number of usable antenna ports without requiring all ports to be active simultaneously, thus improving positioning accuracy while managing device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs dynamic antenna port mapping and selective activation of antenna groups based on positioning requirements. The system dynamically configures which antenna ports are active and how they are mapped to measurement resources, allowing flexibility to increase effective antenna ports only when high positioning accuracy is needed, rather than maintaining maximum complexity continuously.
2Measurement precision
If more antenna ports are used to improve positioning accuracy, then measurement precision improves, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the antenna ports into multiple groups, the system can activate only the necessary number of antenna groups for a given positioning task. This reduces the total number of active antenna ports, thereby lowering power consumption while still achieving the required positioning accuracy through intelligent selection and combination of measurements from multiple groups.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the operational parameters of the antenna system by dynamically adjusting the number of active antenna ports and their mapping configuration based on positioning accuracy requirements. This allows the system to optimize the trade-off between positioning accuracy and power consumption by using fewer antenna ports when high precision is not critical and more ports when sub-meter or centimeter-level accuracy is required.
3Measurement precision
If traditional positioning methods are used, then implementation simplicity is maintained, but measurement precision is limited due to NLOS propagation susceptibility
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines measurements from multiple antenna groups to estimate positioning parameters. By merging the data from multiple spatially distributed antenna ports, the system can differentiate between LOS and NLOS paths more effectively, reducing the impact of NLOS propagation on positioning accuracy through diversified measurement inputs.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback from multiple antenna group measurements to iteratively refine positioning parameter estimates. By continuously comparing measurements from different antenna groups and adjusting the estimation algorithm accordingly, the system can identify and mitigate NLOS contamination, improving robustness against harmful propagation effects.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to methods of improving accuracy of positioning a node in a cellular system. The invention discloses a method for receiving reference signal and assistance information at different antenna on each antenna port per antenna group in each time interval from antenna beams of a transmitter in a time orthogonal manner using the configuration information. The method also comprises estimation of positioning parameters based on time domain multiplexing of the at least one reference signal and the at least one assistance information received on different antenna on each antenna port per antenna group. The invention further discloses methods of improving accuracy by estimating orientation of a user equipment, shortlisting best group of measurement of positioning parameters, and optimization of time and angle window for estimation of location of the user equipment.