5G Beamforming Location Accuracy via Dynamic Antenna Configuration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current cellular communication systems face limitations in accurately determining the location of terminal devices due to limited angular resolution and non-uniform beam directivity, especially in 5G networks using beamformed reference signals, which can lead to inaccurate angle of departure (AoD) estimation.
Innovation Solution
The method involves an access node transmitting a plurality of beamformed reference signals, with a central positioning entity providing information on the number of antennas and oversampling factor, allowing terminal devices to measure and report reference signal received power values and uncertainty, enabling more accurate AoD estimation through processing measurement results using non-linear equations and interpolation techniques.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If beamformed reference signals are transmitted using limited numbers of beams, then device complexity is reduced, but measurement precision deteriorates due to limited angular resolution
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the number of beams and oversampling factor based on the number of antennas available at the access node. When more antennas are available, the system increases the number of beams and oversampling factor to improve angular resolution, and vice versa. This dynamic adaptation resolves the contradiction by making the system flexible rather than fixed.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes key parameters (number of beams, oversampling factor) based on the number of antennas. The location management function provides information about the number of antennas, and the access node adjusts beamforming parameters accordingly. This parameter adaptation allows the system to optimize measurement precision while considering device complexity constraints.
2Device complexity
If non-uniform beam directivity is not compensated, then device complexity is reduced, but measurement precision deteriorates due to inaccurate AoD estimation
Solution Approach 1:
The terminal device measures the reference signal received power for multiple beams and provides feedback to the access node. The access node uses this feedback along with knowledge of beam directivity patterns to compensate for non-uniformity. This feedback mechanism enables the system to correct for beam directivity effects and improve AoD estimation accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary measurements of reference signal received power for multiple beams before determining the final angle of departure. By measuring multiple beams and having the terminal device report these measurements in advance, the system can process the data to compensate for non-uniform beam directivity and achieve more accurate positioning.
3Device complexity
If measurement uncertainties are not accounted for, then device complexity is reduced, but measurement precision deteriorates in positioning accuracy
Solution Approach 1:
The terminal device calculates and reports measurement uncertainties along with the reference signal received power measurements. The access node receives both the measurements and their associated uncertainties, and uses this feedback to weight the measurements appropriately when determining the angle of departure and position, thereby improving positioning accuracy.
Data Source
AI summary
A system comprising a first apparatus, a second apparatus and a third apparatus, wherein the first apparatus is configured to provide, to a second apparatus, information regarding a number of antennas and/or an oversampling factor; the second apparatus is configured to transmit a plurality of beams in accordance with the information received from the first apparatus regarding the number of antennas and the oversampling factor; the third apparatus configured to receive a plurality of beamformed reference signals transmitted by the second apparatus, obtain measurement results for at least two of the plurality of beamformed reference signals, wherein the measurement results comprise one or more of: reference signal received power value, beam identifier, a value indicating uncertainty of the accuracy of the reference signal received power value; and transmit the measurement results to the second apparatus; and wherein the second apparatus is further configured to: process the received measurement results to obtain information regarding a position of the third apparatus and to transmit the obtained information regarding the position of the third apparatus to the first apparatus; and wherein the first apparatus is further configured to receive further measurement results from at least one further apparatus in addition to the second apparatus and to determine the location of the third apparatus based on the received measurement results and the received further measurement results.