Multi-UE Positioning Signal Scheduling to Reduce RF Congestion

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Solution Overview

Problem

The increasing number of UEs requesting positioning services in 5G networks leads to radio frequency (RF) and computational congestion, which hampers efficient location determination.

Innovation Solution

A server allocates unique times for UEs to send uplink positioning signals, coordinating transmission and measurement windows to reduce congestion by ensuring different UEs transmit at different times, thereby minimizing RF interference and processing overload.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If multiple UEs transmit positioning signals simultaneously in 5G networks, then positioning service capacity increases, but RF congestion and computational overload occur

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepositioning service capacityVSAvoidRF congestion
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the positioning signal transmissions by dividing UEs into different groups and allocating specific time resources to each group. This segmentation allows multiple UEs to transmit positioning signals without simultaneous interference, resolving the RF congestion issue while maintaining high service capacity. The base station processes each group separately in dedicated time windows, preventing computational overload.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Productivity

If multiple UEs transmit positioning signals simultaneously, then positioning service capacity increases, but computational overload occurs

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepositioning service capacityVSAvoidprocessing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the positioning signal processing by dividing UEs into different groups and allocating specific time resources to each group. This segmentation allows the base station to process positioning signals from multiple UEs in dedicated time windows rather than simultaneously, reducing computational complexity while maintaining high service capacity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements periodic action by allocating positioning signal transmission opportunities in periodic time windows for different UE groups. The base station processes each group's positioning signals in sequential periodic intervals, which reduces peak computational load compared to simultaneous processing, while still supporting many UEs through the periodic scheduling mechanism.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

3Ease of operation

If UEs are grouped by location for positioning, then signal separation ease increases, but positioning accuracy may be compromised due to time allocation delays

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesignal separation easeVSAvoidpositioning accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements periodic action by allocating positioning signal transmission opportunities in periodic time windows for different UE groups. The base station processes each group's positioning signals in sequential periodic intervals, which reduces peak computational load compared to simultaneous processing, while still supporting many UEs through the periodic scheduling mechanism.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Data Source

PatentEP4055924B1Multi-user-equipment positioning signaling
Publication Date: 2025.07.02 QUALCOMM INC
  • EP4055924B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4055924B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4055924B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A method of coordinating positioning signaling includes: identifying a first user equipment (UE) served by a base station and a second UE served by the base station, the base station being configured to send a base station positioning signal wirelessly at a plurality of base-station-transmission times; allocating first times to the first UE, for sending first UE positioning signals, and second times to the second UE, for sending second UE positioning signals, at least one of the first times being different from at least one of the second times; sending a first communication to cause the first UE to send at least a respective one of the first UE positioning signals at each of the first times; and sending a second communication to cause the second UE to send at least a respective one of the second UE positioning signals at each of the second times.