PRS Activation Control for Low-Latency Wireless Positioning

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current wireless communications systems lack support for aperiodic, semi-static, or on-demand positioning reference signals (PRS), which are necessary for low-latency positioning operations.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a method and apparatus for configuring and activating aperiodic, semi-static, or on-demand positioning reference signals through activation state and reporting state configuration information, time domain offset information, and beam switching or quasi-co-location (QCL) switching to enhance PRS operations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of time

If periodic positioning reference signals are used, then system compatibility is maintained, but positioning latency increases and flexibility is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepositioning latencyVSAvoidPRS flexibility

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of timeVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic PRS activation and deactivation through MAC CE signaling, allowing the system to switch between periodic and aperiodic/semi-static PRS modes based on positioning requirements. The network can dynamically activate specific PRS resources or resource sets for aperiodic positioning operations, enabling low-latency positioning while maintaining backward compatibility with periodic PRS support.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Loss of time

If aperiodic PRS is implemented, then positioning latency is reduced, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepositioning latencyVSAvoidPRS management complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of timeVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent pre-configures multiple PRS resource sets with different parameters (periodicity, time offsets, frequency offsets) before aperiodic positioning operations. When aperiodic PRS is needed, the network simply activates pre-configured resources via MAC CE signaling rather than configuring everything from scratch, reducing the complexity burden of aperiodic implementation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses MAC CE signaling to dynamically change PRS parameters (activation state, time domain offsets, frequency domain offsets) without reconfiguring the entire PRS framework. This selective parameter modification approach reduces system complexity compared to full reconfiguration while enabling flexible aperiodic positioning.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Measurement precision

If multiple PRS resources are configured for different beams, then positioning accuracy is improved, but signal coordination complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepositioning accuracyVSAvoidbeam coordination complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple PRS resources into PRS resource sets that can be collectively activated or deactivated. Each resource set contains PRS resources associated with different beams, and the network can activate entire sets via single MAC CE commands, reducing the coordination complexity of managing multiple beam-specific PRS resources while maintaining positioning accuracy through multi-beam measurements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments PRS resources into logically grouped resource sets, where each set corresponds to specific positioning scenarios or beam groups. This segmentation allows independent activation/deactivation of specific beam groups, simplifying the management of multiple PRS resources while enabling accurate positioning through selective multi-beam operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

4Adaptability or versatility

If on-demand PRS activation is implemented, then positioning flexibility is improved, but signaling overhead increases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovePRS adaptabilityVSAvoidsignaling overhead

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements partial activation where only specific PRS resource sets or individual resources are activated via MAC CE signaling rather than activating all configured PRS resources. This partial action approach provides on-demand flexibility for specific positioning scenarios while minimizing signaling overhead by activating only the necessary subset of PRS resources.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentUS12538262B2Positioning method, terminal, and network-side device

Publication Date: 2026.01.27 VIVO MOBILE COMM CO LTD

AI summary

A positioning method includes: transmitting or receiving, by a terminal, first information; and performing, by the terminal, a positioning operation based on the first information, where the first information includes at least one of the following: configuration information of first positioning reference signals, where the configuration information includes at least one of the following: activation state configuration information, reporting state configuration information, first time domain offset information, second time domain offset information, or configuration information of beam switching or QCL switching; or activation information, where the activation information is used to activate transmission of a first target positioning reference signal, and/or the activation information is used to activate reporting of a second target positioning reference signal, where the first target positioning reference signal includes one or more of the first positioning reference signals, and the second target positioning reference signal includes one or more of the first positioning reference signals.