Conditional SRS Resource Selection for RRC-Inactive UE Positioning

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing wireless communication systems face challenges in accurately positioning user equipment (UE) in a radio resource control (RRC) not-connected state, particularly in 5G networks, due to inefficiencies in managing sounding reference signal (SRS) resources.

Innovation Solution

The method involves configuring and selecting a subset of SRS resources based on signal strength measurements and association information, allowing UE to transmit only the selected subset while in an RRC not-connected state, and enabling TRP to detect and measure these resources effectively.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If all SRS resources are transmitted in RRC not-connected state, then positioning coverage is improved, but signaling overhead and network processing burden increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepositioning coverageVSAvoidsignaling overhead
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the SRS resource transmission by introducing a subset selection mechanism. The UE selects only a subset of pre-configured SRS resources based on downlink signal strength measurements, rather than transmitting all configured resources. This segmentation reduces the quantity of uplink signaling while maintaining positioning coverage across different cells.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies partial action by having the UE transmit only a subset of SRS resources rather than all configured resources. The subset size and selection are optimized to provide sufficient positioning information without excessive signaling overhead, achieving the right balance between coverage and overhead.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

2Reliability

If SRS resources are transmitted in RRC not-connected state, then positioning capability is improved, but UE power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepositioning capabilityVSAvoidUE power consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the SRS transmission workload by selecting only a subset of resources for transmission. This reduces the total transmission power and energy consumption compared to transmitting all pre-configured SRS resources, while still maintaining adequate positioning capability through the selected subset.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the transmission parameters dynamically by adjusting which SRS resources are transmitted based on downlink signal strength measurements. The UE adapts its transmission behavior by selecting resources associated with stronger downlink signals, optimizing energy efficiency while maintaining positioning accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Measurement precision

If conditional SRS transmission is implemented, then positioning accuracy is improved, but measurement and selection complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepositioning accuracyVSAvoidmeasurement and selection complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-configuring multiple SRS resources associated with different cells before the positioning measurement phase. The UE already has the association information stored, so during positioning it only needs to perform simple downlink signal strength measurements and select from pre-defined options, reducing real-time complexity while improving accuracy through conditional selection.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP4730905A2Conditional positioning sounding reference signal (SRS) transmission of pre-configured SRS resources in radio resource control (RRC) not-connected state
Publication Date: 2026.04.22 QUALCOMM INC
  • EP4730905A2 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4730905A2 patent drawingFigure 2A
  • EP4730905A2 patent drawingFigure 2B

AI summary

Disclosed are techniques for wireless communication. In an aspect, a user equipment (UE) may receive configuration information for one or more sounding reference signal (SRS) resource sets associated with one or more cells in an SRS validity area. The UE may select a subset of one or more SRS resources of an SRS resource set associated with a first cell of the one or more cells based on one or more signal strength measurements of one or more downlink reference signals and association information of the one or more downlink reference signals with respect to the first cell and the one or more SRS resources. The UE may transmit, while operating in a radio resource control (RRC) not-connected state, only the selected subset of the one or more SRS resources from all the SRS resources associated with the first cell.