Positioning SRS Timing Alignment Within UE DRX Cycles

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Solution Overview

Problem

Networks face inefficiencies in positioning user equipment (UE) due to uncertainty about when UE will transmit sounding reference signals (SRS) during discontinuous reception (DRX) inactive periods, leading to wasted resources as positioning nodes monitor for SRS during times when they are not transmitted.

Innovation Solution

A base station compares DRX timing information with SRS configuration to determine if positioning SRS falls within inactive times, modifying the DRX cycle or SRS configuration to align transmissions with active periods, and communicates this information to location management functions and positioning nodes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If positioning nodes monitor for SRS during DRX inactive periods, then positioning accuracy is maintained, but network resources are wasted due to unnecessary monitoring

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepositioning accuracyVSAvoidnetwork resource waste

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The serving base station performs preliminary actions by determining DRX timing information and SRS configuration in advance, identifying when SRS transmissions will occur relative to DRX active and inactive periods. This advance planning allows positioning nodes to be informed beforehand about actual SRS transmission times, enabling them to monitor only during relevant periods and avoid wasting resources monitoring during DRX inactive periods when no SRS will be transmitted.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Measurement precision

If UE transmits SRS during DRX inactive periods, then positioning coverage is improved, but UE power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepositioning coverageVSAvoidUE power consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system changes the timing parameters of SRS transmissions to align with DRX active periods rather than inactive periods. By modifying when SRS transmissions occur (changing the time parameter), the UE can maintain positioning coverage while avoiding transmissions during power-saving DRX inactive periods, thus reducing UE power consumption while still enabling positioning functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Productivity

If positioning nodes are informed of DRX timing and SRS configuration, then resource efficiency is improved, but signaling overhead increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveresource efficiencyVSAvoidsignaling overhead

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The serving base station performs multiple functions using the same DRX timing information and SRS configuration data: it uses this information to both optimize SRS transmission scheduling (improving resource efficiency) and to generate the positioning node configuration information (managing signaling). By having the serving base station handle both the scheduling optimization and the information distribution, the system achieves resource efficiency improvements while consolidating the signaling management function in one node.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS12610424B2Positioning SRS transmissions during a discontinuous reception cycle

Publication Date: 2026.04.21 APPLE INC

AI summary

A base station of a network acts as a serving node for a user equipment (UE). The UE is a target UE in a positioning method initiated by the network. The base station compares discontinuous reception (DRX) timing information for a DRX cycle of the UE with positioning sounding reference signal (SRS) timing information for an SRS configuration of the UE, determines whether the positioning SRS is located within an inactive time of the DRX cycle and when the positioning SRS is located within the inactive time of the DRX cycle, modifies one of the DRX cycle or the SRS configuration.