Paging-Linked Positioning Reference Signals for Low-Power UEs

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing wireless communication systems face challenges in reducing power consumption while maintaining high positioning accuracy for low-power high-accuracy positioning (LPHAP) user equipment (UEs) in RRC inactive or idle states, particularly in scenarios where GPS signals are weak indoors.

Innovation Solution

Implementing techniques that associate paging receptions with positioning reference signal (PRS) receptions, using paging early indications (PEI) to optimize power consumption by reducing unnecessary transitions between sleep modes, and enabling ultra-deep sleep modes to minimize power usage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If LPHAP UEs frequently wake up to detect positioning reference signals (PRS) and synchronization signals (SSB) for high positioning accuracy, then positioning accuracy is improved, but power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepositioning accuracyVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The network sends paging early indications (PEI) before the actual paging occasion to inform UEs in advance about upcoming paging messages. This allows LPHAP UEs to prepare for potential positioning operations without immediately waking up to detect PRS and SSB signals, thereby reducing unnecessary signal detections and extending battery life while maintaining positioning accuracy when needed

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If LPHAP UEs transition between sleep modes and active states to receive positioning signals, then positioning functionality is maintained, but battery life is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepositioning functionalityVSAvoidbattery life

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDuration of action of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements periodic paging time windows (PTW) during which LPHAP UEs can remain in inactive state. Within each PTW, UEs wake up only at specific paging occasions to check for paging messages. This periodic structure allows UEs to maintain positioning functionality through controlled wake-up cycles while maximizing sleep duration to extend battery life

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

3Reliability

If LPHAP UEs monitor paging occasions and detect positioning signals, then network connectivity is maintained, but unnecessary signal detections increase power consumption

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenetwork connectivityVSAvoidenergy wasted on unnecessary detections

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The network provides feedback to LPHAP UEs through paging early indications (PEI) that inform UEs whether a paging message will be transmitted in the upcoming paging occasion. This feedback mechanism allows UEs to make informed decisions about whether to wake up and perform signal detections, avoiding unnecessary power consumption when no paging message is present while maintaining network connectivity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS20250338255A1Techniques for communicating positioning related reference signals for wireless devices

Publication Date: 2025.10.30 ZTE CORP

AI summary

Techniques are described to receive a positioning related reference signal that is associated with paging indication. An example wireless communication method includes determining, by a wireless device, a paging indication; and performing a positioning related operation in response to the determining the paging indication, wherein the positioning related operation is associated with the paging indication.