NR-Light UE Positioning Using Premium UE Round-Trip Timing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Bandwidth-limited user equipment (UE), such as NR-Light UE, faces reduced positioning accuracy and limited coverage due to reduced bandwidth and transmit power, which are not effectively addressed by existing technologies.
Innovation Solution
Utilizing proximate premium UE, such as smartphones, to exchange timing measurement signals via sidelink connections, enabling multilateral positioning and improving accuracy through round trip time estimates.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If bandwidth-limited UE uses reduced bandwidth for positioning, then device complexity and power consumption are reduced, but positioning accuracy deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a premium UE as an intermediary entity that possesses high bandwidth capabilities. The bandwidth-limited UE exchanges timing measurement signals with this intermediary premium UE, which then relays measurement information to the network. This intermediary approach allows the bandwidth-limited UE to achieve accurate positioning without requiring high bandwidth capabilities itself, thus resolving the contradiction between device complexity and positioning accuracy.
2Use of energy by moving object
If bandwidth-limited UE uses reduced transmit power, then energy consumption is reduced, but positioning coverage and accuracy deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The premium UE acts as a signal amplifier and relay. The bandwidth-limited UE transmits timing measurement signals at low power to the nearby premium UE, which then retransmits or relays these signals to the network with higher effective power. This intermediary relaying mechanism allows the bandwidth-limited UE to maintain low power consumption while achieving the signal strength and coverage necessary for accurate positioning.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent exploits the local spatial relationship between the bandwidth-limited UE and the premium UE. By positioning the premium UE in close proximity to the bandwidth-limited UE, the system creates a local high-power relay point that compensates for the overall low transmit power of the bandwidth-limited UE, enabling accurate positioning without increasing its power consumption.
3Device complexity
If traditional positioning methods are used for bandwidth-limited UE, then system complexity is kept simple, but positioning accuracy and coverage are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the premium UE serve multiple functions: it acts as both a regular user equipment for communication and as a positioning relay node. The premium UE processes timing measurement signals from bandwidth-limited UEs and relays this positioning information to the network, thereby performing dual roles. This multi-functionality approach enables accurate positioning for bandwidth-limited UEs without requiring separate dedicated positioning infrastructure, thus maintaining system simplicity while improving positioning accuracy.
Data Source
AI summary
Techniques for positioning an NR bandwidth-limited user equipment (UE) are provided. An example method of positioning a bandwidth-limited UE performed by a network entity includes: receiving an indication of one or more proximate premium UE from the bandwidth-limited UE; determining one or more participating UEs based on the indication of the one or more proximate premium UE; providing an indication of the one or more participating UEs to the bandwidth-limited UE; receiving measurement information from the bandwidth-limited UE; and calculating a location of the bandwidth-limited UE based at least on the measurement information.