Measurement Gap Alignment for Positioning Reference Signals

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current LTE systems face challenges in configuring measurement gaps for inter-frequency RSTD measurements, leading to incorrect or insufficient positioning reference signals, which can result in failed or inaccurate positioning measurements.

Innovation Solution

A base station configures measurement gaps to align with the transmission of positioning reference signals from neighboring cells on non-serving frequencies, ensuring reliable and accurate positioning measurements by obtaining information on the frequencies and cells involved in the measurements.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If measurement gaps are configured without aligning with positioning reference signal transmission, then device complexity is reduced, but measurement precision deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepositioning measurement accuracyVSAvoidmeasurement gap configuration complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The base station obtains positioning reference signal transmission timing information from neighboring cells in advance, and uses this information to pre-configure measurement gaps that align with the signal transmission timing. This preliminary acquisition and configuration ensures that the wireless device can perform accurate positioning measurements without requiring complex real-time adjustments.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback mechanisms where the base station receives positioning reference signal transmission information from neighboring cells, processes this information, and uses it to configure appropriate measurement gaps. This feedback loop ensures that measurement gaps are optimally aligned with actual signal transmission, improving measurement precision while maintaining manageable configuration complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Reliability

If measurement gaps are configured to cover all possible positioning reference signals, then reliability of positioning measurements is improved, but loss of time increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepositioning measurement reliabilityVSAvoidmeasurement gap duration
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of configuring measurement gaps to cover all possible positioning reference signals uniformly, the base station configures measurement gaps specifically aligned with the actual transmission timing of positioning reference signals from relevant neighboring cells. This localized, targeted configuration ensures reliable measurements are taken when signals are actually present, while minimizing unnecessary time loss from gaps configured for hypothetical or absent signals.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Measurement precision

If measurement gaps are configured without information on non-serving frequencies, then ease of operation is improved, but measurement precision deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinter-frequency positioning measurement accuracyVSAvoidmeasurement gap configuration simplicity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The base station obtains information about non-serving frequencies and positioning reference signal transmission timing from neighboring cells before configuring measurement gaps. This preliminary acquisition of frequency and timing information enables the base station to configure accurate inter-frequency measurement gaps without requiring complex real-time calculations or manual intervention, thus maintaining ease of operation while achieving high measurement precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP2666319B1Enhanced measurement gap configuration support for positioning related applications
Publication Date: 2016.11.16 TELEFONAKTIEBOLAGET LM ERICSSON (PUBL)
  • EP2666319B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2666319B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2666319B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A base station (40-s) is configured to serve a wireless device (36) in a serving cell (42-s) on a serving frequency. The base station (40-s) obtains information that indicates one or more non-serving frequencies on which the device (36) is to perform one or more positioning measurements. These positioning measurements are to be used for determining the device's geographic position. For at least one non-serving frequency indicated by the information, the base station (40-s) configures a measurement gap during which the device (36) is to perform a corresponding positioning measurement. Specifically, the base station (40-s) configures such measurement gap to occur during a period of time in which a neighboring eel! (42-1, 42-2) transmits a positioning reference signal over that non -serving frequency. A positioning reference signal is specifically designed to be a signal on which a device performs positioning measurements. Thus, by aligning the measurement gap with a positioning reference signal, the positioning measurements will prove more reliable and accurate.