Dynamic Bandwidth Part Switching for Positioning Reference Signal Latency
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current wireless communication systems face challenges in reducing latency for operations reliant on reference signals, particularly in positioning, due to limitations in bandwidth parts (BWP) and resource allocation, leading to inefficiencies in transmitting and receiving reference signals.
Innovation Solution
The proposed solution involves dynamically switching between different bandwidth parts (BWP) to allocate more resources for reference signal communication, allowing for faster retuning and reduced latency by configuring User Equipment (UE) to use a dedicated positioning BWP with wider bandwidth or closer resource allocation, thereby enhancing the efficiency of reference signal transmission and reception.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If reference signals are transmitted in a preconfigured BWP with narrow bandwidth, then resource allocation is efficient for other communication purposes, but latency increases due to insufficient resources for reference signal occasions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by enabling the UE to dynamically switch between different BWPs based on whether reference signal transmission is required. The UE transitions from a first BWP (optimized for general communication) to a second BWP (optimized for reference signals) when positioning operations are needed, and switches back afterward. This dynamic BWP switching resolves the contradiction by allowing the system to optimize for reference signal resources during positioning operations while maintaining efficient resource allocation for other purposes during normal operation.
2Productivity
If the BWP is configured with wide bandwidth to accommodate reference signal occasions, then latency is reduced, but resource allocation efficiency for other communication purposes deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the overall bandwidth into multiple specialized BWPs: a first BWP optimized for general data communication and a second BWP optimized for reference signal transmission. Each BWP is configured with parameters tailored to its specific purpose, allowing the system to achieve high reference signal transmission efficiency without forcing the general communication BWP to be overly complex or resource-intensive.
3Loss of time
If measurement gaps are used to free up resources for positioning signals, then latency is reduced, but the complexity of resource management increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by designing the second BWP to serve multiple positioning-related functions simultaneously. The same second BWP configuration can be used for transmitting different types of reference signals (e.g., SRS, PRS) and for different positioning operations, eliminating the need for separate measurement gap configurations for each positioning scenario. This multi-functional approach reduces positioning latency while keeping resource management straightforward.
Data Source
AI summary
A method, carried out in a wireless network (100) comprising access nodes, for configuring a user equipment, UE, (10) for communication of reference signals (161, 162, 163) between the UE and the wireless network, the method comprising: transmitting (402, 703) resource allocation information to the UE, associated with a first bandwidth part, BWP, (aBWP) for data communication; transmitting (404, 801), in resources of the first BWP, a control message (64) controlling the UE to transmit or receive said reference signals in a configured (705) second BWP (pBWP), wherein the second BWP is different from the first BWP.