Floating Clock Models for Frequency-Drift Positioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current positioning technologies face challenges such as limited bandwidth of positioning reference signals, density of TRPs, limited antennas and array size, long measurement times, and limited support for sensor information, leading to inaccuracies in Non-Line-of-Sight conditions and resource-intensive solutions.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus that model a base station clock with respect to a receiver clock to define the receiver clock based on frequency drift and offset, using filters like Kalman or AI/ML models to generate timing offsets, mitigating frequency drift and improving positioning accuracy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multi-round trip time (RTT) techniques are used to mitigate frequency drift, then frequency drift mitigation is achieved, but resource requirements increase and throughput is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the frequency drift mitigation function from the complex multi-RTT process by introducing a dedicated frequency drift compensation module that operates independently. This module separately estimates frequency offsets and compensates timing measurements, removing the burden from the main RTT positioning process and reducing overall resource consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs frequency drift estimation and compensation in advance before the actual positioning measurement. By pre-characterizing the frequency offsets between base station and user equipment clocks, the system prepares correction values that can be applied during positioning, avoiding the need for repeated measurements and reducing resource requirements.
2Measurement precision
If time synchronization deviation between base clocks is present, then positioning accuracy is limited, but achieving perfect synchronization increases system complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces frequency drift estimation and compensation as an intermediary mechanism between the base station and user equipment clocks. Rather than requiring direct synchronization, the system uses estimated frequency offsets as mediators to correct timing measurements, achieving accurate positioning without complex synchronization infrastructure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transforms the synchronization problem from a binary state (synchronized or not) to a continuous parameter approach. By estimating frequency drift as a continuous parameter and applying incremental corrections, the system achieves positioning accuracy without requiring absolute time synchronization, thereby reducing system complexity.
3Measurement precision
If frequency drift compensation is not applied, then resource usage is efficient, but positioning accuracy deteriorates due to timing biases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial frequency drift compensation by estimating and correcting only the dominant frequency offset components rather than attempting perfect synchronization. This partial action approach achieves sufficient positioning accuracy improvement without the excessive resource consumption that would result from comprehensive synchronization mechanisms.
Data Source
AI summary
A method, apparatus and computer program product provide for frequency drift mitigation in a user equipment (UE). In the context of a method for mitigating frequency drift, the method modeling a base station clock with respect to a receiver clock so as to define the receiver clock at least partially based upon a frequency drift and a clock offset between the base station clock and the receiver clock to provide a floating frequency domain to compensate for the frequency drift between the base station clock and the receiver clock. The method also includes, based on modeling the base station clock with respect to the receiver clock, generating at least one timing offset of the receiver clock with respect to the base station clock. The method also includes determining a position of a UE associated with the receiver clock based at least partially upon the at least one timing offset.