Narrowband Positioning Reference Signals for IoT Device Location
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wireless communication systems face challenges in accurately locating devices using narrowband positioning reference signals, particularly for low-cost machine type communication (MTC) devices with limited resources, due to limitations in communication bandwidth and coverage.
Innovation Solution
The system transmits narrowband positioning reference signals (NB-PRS) in multiple narrowbands more frequently than previous techniques, allowing user equipment (UE) to determine the elapsed time for signal travel and report it back to the base station (BS) for estimating the UE's position, using techniques applicable across various wireless communication networks like LTE.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If positioning reference signals are transmitted in the entire system bandwidth, then positioning coverage is improved, but resource consumption and device complexity increase for narrowband devices
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the system bandwidth into multiple narrowbands and transmits positioning reference signals (PRS) in each narrowband separately. This segmentation allows narrowband devices to receive PRS in their designated narrowband without requiring full-bandwidth processing, reducing device complexity while maintaining positioning coverage across the entire system bandwidth through coordinated transmission in multiple narrowbands.
2Measurement precision
If positioning reference signals are transmitted more frequently, then positioning accuracy is improved, but network resource consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic transmission of positioning reference signals in narrowbands with configurable periodicity. This allows the network to balance positioning accuracy requirements with resource consumption by adjusting the frequency of PRS transmissions, providing periodic positioning updates rather than continuous transmission, thereby reducing overall network resource usage while maintaining acceptable positioning accuracy.
3Measurement precision
If narrowband positioning reference signals are transmitted in multiple narrowbands, then positioning accuracy for narrowband devices is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by transmitting positioning reference signals with characteristics optimized for narrowband devices in specific narrowband regions. Each narrowband can have PRS configurations tailored to local requirements, allowing positioning optimization for narrowband devices without requiring complex full-bandwidth processing, thereby improving positioning accuracy while managing system complexity through localized signal optimization.
Data Source
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AI summary
Certain aspects of the present disclosure generally relate to DL-based and ULbased positioning reference signal (PRS) techniques that may help facilitate positioning procedures in systems deploying narrowband devices, such as NB-IoT devices. An exemplary method includes determining resources within a narrowband region of a wider system bandwidth for transmitting a positioning reference signal (PRS), transmitting the PRS using the determined resources, and estimating a position of a wireless node based on at least one first measurement of a first reference signal and the PRS transmitted within a narrowband region.