Group UE Positioning With Shared PRUs and Time-Multiplexed Signals
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing positioning methods in cellular networks face inefficiencies in resource utilization and signaling overhead due to the lack of coordinated mechanisms for managing multiple user equipment (UE) locations, particularly when UEs are served by different base stations or are outside network coverage.
Innovation Solution
A group of UEs shares one or more positioning reference units (PRUs) and employs time-multiplexed transmission schedules for positioning reference signals, allowing UEs to transmit these signals in a controlled manner without overlapping, thereby optimizing resource use and reducing signaling overhead.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If each user equipment transmits positioning reference signals independently, then positioning accuracy is maintained, but signaling overhead increases and resource utilization deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges positioning reference signal transmissions from multiple UEs by grouping them under common positioning reference units. Multiple UEs share the same PRU associations and transmit signals in coordinated time slots, combining their positioning efforts into a unified resource allocation scheme that reduces overall signaling overhead while maintaining individual positioning accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements periodic time-multiplexed transmission schedules where UEs transmit positioning reference signals in alternating time slots rather than continuously or simultaneously. This periodic action allows the system to reuse the same frequency resources at different times, reducing resource conflicts and signaling overhead while ensuring each UE gets periodic opportunities for accurate positioning measurements.
2Productivity
If multiple user equipments share positioning reference units, then resource utilization improves, but coordination complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the group of UEs into subgroups, each associated with a specific positioning reference unit. This segmentation allows the network to manage coordination complexity by handling smaller, more manageable groups independently rather than coordinating all UEs simultaneously, while still achieving high resource utilization through shared PRU associations across multiple segments.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces the positioning reference unit as an intermediary entity that mediates between multiple UEs and the network. The PRU serves as a intermediate layer that receives positioning requests from multiple UEs, manages the association relationships, and coordinates signal transmissions, thereby simplifying the overall system architecture and reducing direct coordination complexity between UEs and network nodes.
3Speed
If user equipments transmit positioning signals simultaneously, then positioning speed is improved, but signal interference increases and measurement precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs periodic time-multiplexed transmission schedules where UEs transmit positioning reference signals in alternating time slots rather than continuously or simultaneously. This periodic action allows the system to reuse the same frequency resources at different times, reducing resource conflicts and signaling overhead while ensuring each UE gets periodic opportunities for accurate positioning measurements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements preliminary association of UEs with positioning reference units before actual positioning measurements. This preliminary action establishes predetermined transmission schedules and resource allocations, allowing UEs to know in advance when they should transmit signals, thereby avoiding simultaneous transmissions and interference while maintaining efficient positioning speed through pre-planned coordination.
Data Source
AI summary
According to an example aspect of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus configured to store, in a first user equipment, information defining a group of user equipments, the first user equipment being comprised in the group, and associate at least one positioning reference unit with the user equipments of the group such that each user equipment of the group is associated with at least one positioning reference unit, or receive from a cellular communication network the associations of the user equipments of the group with the at least one positioning reference unit.