Dynamic Sidelink Anchor Groups for On-Demand UE Positioning

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing wireless communication systems, particularly in the context of 5G and V2X technologies, face challenges in efficiently and accurately determining the position of user equipment (UEs) using sidelink communications, especially in scenarios where direct communication with base stations is limited or unavailable.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of sidelink anchor groups, which utilize a network of UEs to form a communication network that supports position estimation through sidelink reference signals, enabling UE-to-UE positioning even when direct base station communication is unavailable.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If sidelink communications are used for position estimation without base station communication, then positioning reliability is improved in areas with limited base station coverage, but positioning accuracy deteriorates due to lack of centralized coordination

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepositioning reliabilityVSAvoidpositioning accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces anchor UEs as intermediary nodes that receive reference signals from multiple target UEs and facilitate position estimation. These anchor UEs act as mediators between target UEs and the positioning system, enabling decentralized position estimation while maintaining coordination through pre-configured anchor groups. This resolves the contradiction by providing localized coordination (improving reliability) while using standardized reference signal measurements (maintaining accuracy).

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent divides the positioning system into multiple anchor UE groups, where each group is responsible for position estimation in specific geographic areas or scenarios. This segmentation allows the system to maintain localized coordination for reliability while using standardized measurement procedures across all groups to preserve overall positioning accuracy. The network can configure different anchor groups for different coverage scenarios.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Loss of information

If on-demand PRS transmission is implemented, then signaling efficiency is improved, but positioning response time increases due to UE-initiated requests

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesignaling efficiencyVSAvoidpositioning response time
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements pre-configuration of anchor UE groups and their associated reference signal resources before positioning is needed. The network pre-establishes which UEs will serve as anchors, pre-allocates time-frequency resources for reference signals, and pre-configures measurement parameters. When positioning is required, the pre-configured anchors can immediately begin transmitting reference signals without waiting for on-demand requests, thus reducing response time while maintaining signaling efficiency through the pre-planned resource allocation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Measurement precision

If multiple anchor UEs are configured for position estimation, then positioning accuracy is improved, but device complexity increases due to multiple sidelink connections

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepositioning accuracyVSAvoidsidelink connection complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the positioning functions of multiple anchor UEs into a coordinated measurement process. Instead of requiring the target UE to independently manage multiple separate positioning connections, the anchor UEs are pre-grouped and configured to work together as a unified positioning unit. The target UE establishes sidelink connections with the anchor group as a collective entity, and the combined measurements from all anchors are processed to determine position. This merging approach maintains high positioning accuracy through multiple anchors while reducing device complexity by treating the anchor group as a single coordinated system rather than multiple independent connections.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP4385264B1Sidelink anchor group for sidelink position estimation
Publication Date: 2025.09.17 QUALCOMM INC
  • EP4385264B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4385264B1 patent drawingFigure 2A
  • EP4385264B1 patent drawingFigure 2B

AI summary

Disclosed are techniques for wireless communication. In an aspect, a position estimation entity provides assistance data to sidelink anchors and a UE. The assistance data may include a set of proximity-based sidelink positioning reference signal (PRS) preconfigurations for on-demand PRS position estimation. The target UE transmits a sidelink PRS trigger to trigger an on-demand sidelink PRS position estimation session with a dynamic sidelink anchor group, the sidelink PRS trigger configured to indicate a sidelink zone associated with the UE and a proximity requirement for participation in the ondemand sidelink PRS position estimation. At least one sidelink anchor determines that the proximity requirement to the sidelink zone is satisfied, selects a proximity-based sidelink PRS pre-configuration based on a dynamic proximity to the sidelink zone, and performs a sidelink PRS exchange with the UE.