Discontinuous Reception Positioning with Missed Frequency Bin Recovery

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing wireless communication systems face challenges in accurately positioning devices with varying power consumption requirements, particularly in scenarios where discontinuous reception is necessary to conserve energy, such as in smart devices with non-rechargeable batteries or long recharging intervals, while maintaining positioning accuracy.

Innovation Solution

An apparatus and method for receiving discontinuous reception configurations, monitoring reference signals, and estimating channel characteristics using both received and previously stored values, even when frequency bins are missed, by comparing channel characteristics and applying preset conditions to ensure accurate positioning.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Use of energy by moving object

If discontinuous reception is used to save power, then energy consumption is reduced, but positioning accuracy deteriorates due to missed frequency bins

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower consumptionVSAvoidpositioning accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent stores channel characteristic values from previous reception occasions before they are needed for positioning estimation. This preliminary storage of data allows the system to compensate for missed frequency bins in current reception occasions, maintaining positioning accuracy while using discontinuous reception to save power.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates copies of channel characteristic values from previously received reference signals and stores them for later use. These copied values are used to estimate positioning parameters when frequency bins are missed during discontinuous reception, thereby maintaining positioning accuracy without requiring continuous reception.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

2Use of energy by moving object

If discontinuous reception is used to save power, then energy consumption is reduced, but reliability deteriorates due to incomplete reference signal reception

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower consumptionVSAvoidpositioning reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent prepares compensatory measures in advance by storing channel characteristic values from previous reception occasions. When frequency bins are missed during discontinuous reception, these pre-stored values serve as a cushion to maintain reliable positioning estimation, thereby improving reliability without requiring continuous reception.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent determines whether frequency bins were missed and uses stored channel characteristic values to estimate positioning parameters accordingly. This feedback mechanism ensures that positioning reliability is maintained even when discontinuous reception causes incomplete reference signal reception.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Measurement precision

If continuous reception is used to maintain positioning accuracy, then measurement precision is improved, but energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepositioning accuracyVSAvoidpower consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses discontinuous reception with periodic monitoring of reference signals at specific intervals rather than continuous reception. This periodic action reduces energy consumption while the stored channel characteristic values from previous periods compensate for any missed frequency bins, maintaining positioning accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent performs preliminary reception and storage of reference signals during active periods, then uses these pre-stored values during inactive periods. This preliminary action allows the system to maintain positioning accuracy without requiring continuous energy-consuming reception.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP4418754B1Positioning with discontinuous reception
Publication Date: 2025.12.03 NOKIA TECHNOLOGIES OY
  • EP4418754B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4418754B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP4418754B1 patent drawingFigure 5~7

AI summary

When discontinuous reception is used with positioning, and reference signals for positioning are received in a plurality of frequency bins, it may be that a frequency bin is missed. That may decrease an accuracy of the positioning. Hence, an apparatus receiving (404) the reference signals, when determining (408) that one or more frequency bins are missed, may use, when one or more conditions are met (410), earlier values per a missed frequency bin, when estimating (409) at least one characteristic for positioning.