Frequency-Dependent Beam Patterns for mmWave Positioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wireless communication systems face challenges in accurately determining the location of mobile devices due to the fixed element spacing in antenna arrays, which causes beam squinting and degrades the accuracy of positioning measurements across wide bandwidths.
Innovation Solution
The method involves providing frequency-dependent beam pattern assistance data to mobile devices, allowing them to determine the angle of departure for reference signals based on specific sub-bands, and using this information to improve positioning accuracy by associating sub-bands with their respective beam parameters.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If fixed element spacing is used in antenna arrays to cover wide bandwidth, then bandwidth coverage is improved, but beam squinting occurs which degrades positioning measurement accuracy
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the wide bandwidth into multiple sub-bands, with each sub-band having its own beam pattern parameters. This segmentation allows the system to maintain accurate beamforming for each sub-band individually while covering the entire wide bandwidth, thereby resolving the beam squinting issue that occurs when using fixed element spacing across the full bandwidth.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different beam pattern parameters locally to different sub-bands. Each sub-band is associated with specific beam pattern information that is optimized for its frequency range, allowing the system to maintain high positioning accuracy across the entire bandwidth by tailoring the beam characteristics to each local frequency region.
2Measurement precision
If frequency-dependent beam pattern assistance data is provided for multiple sub-bands, then positioning accuracy is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent pre-calculates and provides beam pattern parameters for each sub-band in advance through assistance data. This preliminary action allows the mobile device to simply look up and apply the appropriate beam pattern parameters based on the current sub-band, rather than performing complex real-time calculations, thereby maintaining high positioning accuracy while minimizing processing complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces beam pattern parameters as an intermediary that bridges the relationship between frequency and spatial characteristics. These parameters serve as a lookup table or reference data that simplifies the complex relationship between frequency-dependent beamforming and positioning calculations, making the system more manageable despite the increased data requirements.
Data Source
AI summary
Techniques are provided for enabling user equipment (UE) positioning based on base station side angle estimation in millimeter wave (mmW) bands. An example method for determining positioning information with a mobile device includes receiving positioning assistance data including beam pattern information for a plurality of reference signals associated with at least two sub-bands, receiving at least one of the plurality of reference signals within a sub-band, and determining an angle of departure value for at least one of the plurality of reference signals based at least in part on the positioning assistance data for the sub-band.