IRS Reflection Center Positioning Under Signal Blockage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wireless communication systems face challenges in accurately positioning user equipment (UE) in complex and dynamic environments due to signal attenuation or blockage, which affects the precision of wireless channel measuring and reporting mechanisms.
Innovation Solution
The method involves setting the surface phase for each intelligent reflecting surface (IRS) based on a real or virtual focal point, identifying IRS reflection centers, measuring impulse responses, and iteratively estimating the UE's position until specific conditions are met.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If traditional wireless channel measuring mechanisms are used in complex environments, then signal transmission can be maintained, but positioning precision deteriorates due to signal attenuation and blockage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces intelligent reflecting surfaces (IRS) as intermediary elements to reflect wireless signals between transmitters and receivers. The IRS consists of multiple reflective elements that can be independently controlled to redirect signals around obstacles, thereby maintaining signal transmission reliability while enabling accurate positioning measurements in complex environments where direct line-of-sight paths are blocked
2Measurement precision
If iterative position estimation methods are used to improve accuracy, then positioning precision is improved, but computational complexity and time consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary actions by pre-configuring the intelligent reflecting surfaces with known positions and reflection characteristics before the positioning process. The network entity pre-establishes the geometric relationships between IRS elements, transmitters, and receivers, allowing the iterative estimation algorithm to converge faster by starting from informed initial conditions rather than performing exhaustive searches
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms where the network entity receives measurement reports from user equipment containing received signal strength information and timing data. This feedback is used to iteratively refine position estimates, with each iteration using the previous estimate to guide the next measurement and calculation, thereby achieving high precision while reducing the number of iterations needed compared to non-iterative methods
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach enhances the precision of UE positioning by accurately determining the IRS reflection center and impulse response, improving the accuracy of UE location estimation in various scenarios.
Implementation Method 1
measuring a first impulse response from the IRS using one or more first transmissions from a network entity that are reflected to the UE using the IRS
Data Source
AI summary
Certain aspects of the present disclosure provide techniques for user equipment (UE) positioning using one or more intelligent reflecting surfaces (IRSs). A method that may be performed by a UE includes for each IRS of the one or more IRSs: identifying a first IRS reflection center, measuring a first impulse response from the IRS to obtain a first measured impulse response representation, determining a first impulse response for a first ray reflected from the first IRS reflection center of the IRS, estimating a first position of the UE based on, at least, the first IRS reflection centers for each of the one or more IRSs and the first impulse responses for each of the one or more IRSs, and estimating a second position of the UE in an iterative manner until one or more conditions are satisfied.