PRS Bandwidth Stitching for Phase Compensation in Frequency Hopping

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Solution Overview

Problem

The 5G wireless communication systems face challenges in achieving precise positioning due to the complexity of frequency hopping and channel estimation, particularly in scenarios involving multiple frequency ranges and diverse network architectures, which affect the accuracy and efficiency of positioning reference signals.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of bandwidth stitching for positioning reference signals (PRS) is introduced, allowing for enhanced phase compensation and alignment across different frequency bands, utilizing comb patterns and muting patterns to optimize signal overlap and alignment in both time and frequency domains.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If frequency hopping is implemented for positioning reference signals, then spectral efficiency is improved, but channel estimation complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvespectral efficiencyVSAvoidchannel estimation complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-configuring comb patterns and muting patterns for positioning reference signals before frequency hopping occurs. The comb pattern defines predetermined subcarrier spacing and the muting pattern defines predetermined resource element positions in advance, allowing the receiver to prepare channel estimation templates beforehand. This reduces the real-time complexity of channel estimation during frequency hopping while maintaining spectral efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Measurement precision

If bandwidth stitching is implemented across multiple frequency ranges, then positioning accuracy is improved, but signal alignment complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepositioning accuracyVSAvoidsignal alignment complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies parameter changes by systematically varying comb pattern parameters (such as comb size and subcarrier offset) and muting pattern parameters across different frequency ranges. These parameter changes are predetermined and coordinated between frequency ranges, enabling bandwidth stitching for improved positioning accuracy while reducing alignment complexity through standardized parameter relationships.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Productivity

If comb patterns and muting patterns are used for signal overlap, then frequency reuse is improved, but pattern coordination complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefrequency reuseVSAvoidpattern coordination complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies segmentation by dividing the frequency spectrum into multiple ranges, each with its own comb pattern and muting pattern configuration. This segmentation allows independent optimization of each frequency range while maintaining overall system coordination through standardized pattern relationships. The segmentation enables frequency reuse across ranges without requiring complex global pattern coordination.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP4275312B1Positioning reference signal design for phase compensation in bandwidth stitching
Publication Date: 2026.04.01 QUALCOMM INC
  • EP4275312B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4275312B1 patent drawingFigure 2A
  • EP4275312B1 patent drawingFigure 2B

AI summary

Disclosed are techniques for wireless communication. In an aspect, a receiver device receives a first plurality of positioning reference signal (PRS) resources scheduled within a PRS bandwidth on a plurality of time intervals, the first plurality of PRS resources staggered in frequency across the plurality of time intervals, each pair of consecutive PRS resources of the first plurality of PRS resources partially overlapping in frequency, and performs phase estimation for the first plurality of PRS resources based, at least in part, on the overlap in frequency between each pair of consecutive PRS resources.