Downlink PRS Muting Patterns Using Resource Subgroups

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing 5G wireless communication systems face challenges in efficiently managing downlink positioning reference signal (PRS) muting configurations, leading to high signaling overhead and interference issues during PRS transmissions.

Innovation Solution

A method is introduced to reduce signaling overhead by grouping PRS resources into subgroups and applying a common muting pattern across these subgroups, allowing for efficient PRS muting configuration with reduced bitmaps, and using deterministic or randomized functions to derive muting patterns for other subgroups.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If individual muting patterns are configured for each PRS resource, then interference management precision is improved, but signaling overhead increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinterference management precisionVSAvoidsignaling overhead
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments PRS resources into multiple PRS resource sets, where each set can be independently configured with muting patterns. This segmentation allows the system to apply muting configurations at a coarser granularity level (resource set level rather than individual resource level), thereby reducing the total number of muting pattern configurations needed while maintaining effective interference management across different resource groups.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a unified muting pattern configuration mechanism that can be applied across multiple PRS resource sets. A single muting pattern configuration can serve multiple PRS resources simultaneously, making the configuration universal rather than resource-specific. This multi-functionality reduces signaling overhead while still providing interference management capabilities across the entire PRS resource pool.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Reliability

If detailed muting patterns are applied to each PRS resource, then PRS transmission interference management is improved, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovePRS transmission reliabilityVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

By dividing PRS resources into multiple resource sets, the system manages complexity through hierarchical organization. Each resource set can be independently managed with its own muting pattern, allowing the system to handle complexity in a structured manner rather than managing every individual resource separately. This segmentation reduces the overall system complexity while maintaining reliable interference management.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the granularity parameter of muting pattern configuration from individual PRS resources to PRS resource sets. This parameter change reduces the number of configuration elements from potentially dozens of individual resources to a smaller number of resource sets, thereby reducing system complexity while maintaining the essential interference management functionality through adjusted configuration parameters.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Adaptability or versatility

If separate muting configurations are used for each PRS resource set, then interference management flexibility is improved, but signaling overhead increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinterference management flexibilityVSAvoidsignaling overhead
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the muting pattern configuration approach by allowing a single muting pattern to be applied across multiple PRS resource sets. This merging reduces the total number of separate configurations needed while maintaining the ability to manage interference across different resource sets. The unified configuration approach reduces signaling overhead while preserving interference management flexibility through the hierarchical resource set structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP4014421B1Muting pattern configuration options for downlink positioning reference signals(PRS)
Publication Date: 2025.07.09 QUALCOMM INC
  • EP4014421B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4014421B1 patent drawingFigure 2A
  • EP4014421B1 patent drawingFigure 2B

AI summary

Disclosed are techniques for wireless communication. In an aspect, a user equipment (UE) receives, from a transmission point, a first positioning reference signal (PRS) muting pattern for a first subgroup of PRS resources of a first PRS resource set, wherein the first PRS muting pattern comprises a plurality of N bits representing a plurality of N PRS occasions of the first subgroup of PRS resources, wherein each bit of the plurality of N bits represents a corresponding PRS occasion of the plurality of N PRS occasions of each PRS resource of the first subgroup of PRS resources, and wherein the plurality of N PRS occasions comprises a plurality of active PRS occasions of the first subgroup of PRS resources, and measures, during at least one of the plurality of active PRS occasions of the first subgroup of PRS resources, PRS received from the transmission point.