Downlink Angle of Arrival Determination Using Intermediary Reference Signals
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
In mobile communication systems, devices with varying capabilities face challenges in accurately determining downlink angles of arrival for positioning and data transfer, especially when receiving reference signals from network nodes, due to differences in power and processing capabilities, which affects battery life and processing demands.
Innovation Solution
The system determines a downlink angle of arrival at a second device based on an estimated best angle for receiving downlink reference signals and the position and orientation of the second device relative to a first device, using both downlink and sidelink reference signals, and provides this information for communication with a network node, while considering time differences and Doppler shifts to ensure coherence.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If devices with limited capabilities perform accurate downlink angle of arrival determination using multiple receiver beams, then positioning accuracy is improved, but battery consumption increases and processing demands become excessive
Solution Approach 1:
A first device acts as an intermediary between the second device and the network node. The first device receives downlink reference signals from the network node, determines downlink angles of arrival using multiple receiver beams, and provides this information to the second device. This mediator approach allows the second device to achieve accurate positioning without performing computationally intensive beam sweeping itself, thereby reducing its battery consumption and processing demands.
Solution Approach 2:
The positioning task is segmented into different functions distributed across devices. The first device performs the energy-intensive angle of arrival determination using multiple receiver beams, while the second device performs lighter tasks such as receiving sidelink reference signals and utilizing the pre-computed angle information. This segmentation allows limited-capability devices to achieve accurate positioning without bearing the full processing burden.
2Measurement precision
If devices with limited capabilities perform comprehensive reference signal processing, then positioning accuracy is improved, but processing demands become excessive
Solution Approach 1:
The first device serves as a computational intermediary that performs the complex downlink reference signal processing and angle of arrival determination. The second device with limited capabilities only needs to process sidelink reference signals and utilize the pre-computed angle information, significantly reducing its processing demands while maintaining positioning accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The first device performs preliminary processing of downlink reference signals to determine angles of arrival before the second device needs this information for positioning. This preliminary action allows the second device to receive ready-computed angle data rather than having to perform the computationally intensive beam sweeping and angle determination itself, thereby reducing processing complexity.
3Measurement precision
If the system uses multiple receiver beams for downlink reference signals, then downlink angle of arrival accuracy is improved, but the time required for signal processing increases
Solution Approach 1:
The first device performs the time-consuming process of receiving downlink reference signals across multiple receiver beams and determining downlink angles of arrival in advance. This preliminary action completes the computationally intensive measurements before the second device needs the angle information for positioning, thereby reducing the overall time impact on the positioning process.
Solution Approach 2:
The first device acts as an intermediary that absorbs the time penalty associated with multi-beam processing. By performing the angle of arrival determination using multiple receiver beams, the first device incurs the processing time cost, while the second device benefits from accurate angle information without experiencing the time delay, as the calculations are already complete when needed.
4Reliability
If devices maintain synchronized timing for downlink and sidelink reference signals, then measurement coherence is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements timing synchronization mechanisms where timing information is exchanged and adjusted between devices and the network node. This feedback loop ensures that downlink and sidelink reference signals are received with appropriate timing relationships, maintaining measurement coherence while managing system complexity through coordinated timing adjustments rather than complex simultaneous processing.
Data Source
AI summary
A method, apparatus and computer program is described comprising: receiving a downlink reference signal for each of a plurality of receiver angles of arrival of a first device, wherein the downlink reference signal is received at the first device from a network node at a first time; receiving a sidelink reference signal, wherein the sidelink reference signal is received at the first device from a second device at a second time; and determining a downlink angle of arrival at the second device based, at least in part, on: an estimated best angle, according to some metric, of the plurality of angles of arrival at the first device; and a position and orientation of the second device relative to the first device.Figure proposed for publication with the Abstract: FIG. 5