PRS Burst Transmission via Antenna Port Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Mobile devices face inaccuracies in position estimation due to distorted and noisy signals from cellular base stations, leading to errors in determining time of arrival, which affects navigation and emergency services, particularly in environments with multipath fading and signal attenuation.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a method where cellular base stations transmit Positioning Reference Signals (PRS) bursts using two or more transmitter antenna ports, alternating their transmission occasions and polarity to reduce multipath fading and signal attenuation, and a mobile device processes these signals to enhance signal quality and accuracy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If Positioning Reference Signals are transmitted using multiple antenna ports with alternating transmission occasions and polarity, then signal quality and measurement precision are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the positioning reference signal transmission across multiple antenna ports (first and second antenna ports) with alternating transmission occasions. Each antenna port transmits PRS bursts during specific occasions (e.g., odd occasions for first port, even occasions for second port), dividing the overall transmission function into distinct segments that reduce multipath fading and improve measurement precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements periodic alternation of PRS transmission between different antenna ports based on transmission occasions. The polarity alternates between occasions, creating a periodic pattern that enables the mobile device to process signals from multiple occasions and combine them for more accurate time of arrival measurements while mitigating multipath effects.
2Area of stationary object
If signals are transmitted in environments with multipath fading and signal attenuation, then coverage area is extended, but signal strength and reliability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harmful effect of multipath fading into a benefit by transmitting PRS signals through multiple antenna ports with alternating polarity. The mobile device processes signals from multiple transmission occasions and combines them, such that the multipath effects that would normally degrade signal quality are mitigated through diversity combining, thereby maintaining reliability across extended coverage areas including dense urban and rural regions.
Data Source
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AI summary
Methods, apparatuses, and devices for processing Positioning Reference Signals (PRS) bursts are presented. In one example, a mobile device may acquire a first PRS burst transmitted from a base station through first transmitter antenna port and acquire a second PRS burst transmitted from a base station through a second antenna port. The mobile device may select between the first and second acquired PRS bursts for use in positioning operations such as observed time difference of arrival.