Optical Sensing for UE Positioning and Beam Alignment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing wireless communication systems face challenges in accurately determining the position of user equipment (UE) and aligning beams between wireless network devices, especially in non-line-of-sight environments, due to the lack of effective methods for obtaining and utilizing optical sensory data for angular information.

Innovation Solution

A method and apparatus that utilize optical sensory data to determine angular information regarding wireless transmissions between network nodes and UE, enabling precise positioning and beam alignment by sending configuration information, receiving optical data, and inferring angular orientation using visual odometry techniques.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If optical sensory data is utilized to determine angular information for positioning and beam alignment, then positioning accuracy and beam alignment precision are improved, but device complexity and processing requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepositioning accuracyVSAvoidprocessing complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by capturing optical sensory data and determining angular information in advance of the actual positioning and beam alignment operations. The network device obtains optical data from the UE and pre-calculates angular information, which is then stored and used during beam alignment procedures, eliminating the need for real-time complex calculations during critical communication operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary approach by using optical sensory data as a mediator between the UE and the network device for positioning purposes. Instead of direct complex wireless signal-based positioning, the system uses optical data as an intermediate measurement that provides angular information, simplifying the overall positioning architecture while improving accuracy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If optical sensory data is used for determining angular information in non-line-of-sight environments, then beam alignment effectiveness is improved, but data processing time and computational resources increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebeam alignment effectivenessVSAvoidprocessing time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The network device performs preliminary processing of optical sensory data to determine angular information before actual beam alignment is required. By pre-calculating angular relationships from optical data, the system reduces processing time during critical beam alignment operations, making the overall process more efficient despite the initial computational investment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS20250330948A1Positioning and beam alignment based on optical sensing

Publication Date: 2025.10.23 QUALCOMM INC

AI summary

Techniques for beam alignment with a user equipment (UE) are provided. In some embodiments, such techniques may include receiving first configuration information from a network entity, the first configuration information indicative of how optical sensory data is to be obtained with the UE; obtaining the optical sensory data with a sensor of the UE; and based at least on the optical sensory data, obtaining angular information regarding wireless transmissions between at least one wireless network node and the UE.