Receiver Beam Selection for Mobile Positioning Latency
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing mobile communication systems face challenges in achieving high positioning accuracy due to the need for exhaustive beam sweeping, which results in increased computational and reporting overhead, as well as unacceptable positioning latency.
Innovation Solution
The proposed solution involves an apparatus and method that utilize wide-beam or omnidirectional operation during the first phase to obtain downlink positioning reference samples, determine initial channel response estimates, select optimal receiver beams using machine-learning classifiers, and then receive second-phase positioning samples using these selected beams.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If exhaustive beam sweeping is performed to achieve high positioning accuracy, then positioning accuracy is improved, but computational overhead and reporting overhead increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by performing beam sweeping and channel response estimation during a first phase using wide-beam or omnidirectional modes before the actual positioning measurement phase. This preliminary beam selection process identifies optimal receiver beams in advance, so that during the second phase only the selected beams need to be processed, significantly reducing computational overhead while maintaining positioning accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the positioning process into two distinct phases: a first phase for beam selection and channel response estimation using wide-beam modes, and a second phase for actual positioning measurements using the selected narrow beams. This segmentation allows the system to separate the heavy computational beam sweeping task from the precision positioning task, reducing overall computational complexity.
2Measurement precision
If exhaustive beam sweeping is performed to select optimal receiver beams, then positioning accuracy is improved, but positioning latency increases to unacceptable levels
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs the time-consuming beam sweeping and channel response estimation actions during a first phase before the positioning measurement phase. By completing this preliminary selection in advance, the second phase can proceed quickly with only the selected beams, dramatically reducing positioning latency while still achieving high accuracy through the pre-selected optimal beams.
Solution Approach 2:
By dividing the positioning process into two phases where the first phase handles beam selection and the second phase handles positioning measurements, the patent eliminates the need to perform exhaustive beam sweeping during the critical positioning measurement period, thus reducing positioning latency to acceptable levels.
3Measurement precision
If narrow beams are used for receiving positioning signals, then positioning accuracy is improved, but the need for exhaustive beam sweeping increases computational overhead
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses wide-beam or omnidirectional modes during the first phase to obtain channel response estimates for all possible beams, then uses these estimates to select the optimal narrow beams for the second phase. This preliminary action allows the system to identify the best narrow beams without having to perform exhaustive computational analysis during the positioning measurement phase, reducing computational overhead.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces channel response estimates as an intermediary that bridges the wide-beam first phase and the narrow-beam second phase. These estimates serve as a mediator that allows the system to select optimal narrow beams based on preliminary wide-beam measurements, avoiding the need for exhaustive beam sweeping during the positioning phase and reducing computational complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus, computer program and method is described comprising: obtaining, at a receiver, during a first phase of operation, one or more first downlink positioning reference samples from each of a plurality of communication nodes of a mobile communication system, wherein the receiver operates in a wide-beam or omnidirectional mode during the first phase of operation; determining first response estimates of channels between the receiver and each of said each communication nodes, based on the positioning reference samples obtained for the respective communication node; selecting, for each communication node, a receiver beam for receiving positioning signals from the respective communication node, based, at least in part, on the respective first channel response estimate; and receiving, at the receiver, in a second phase of operation, one or more second downlink positioning reference samples from each of the plurality of communication nodes using the selected receiver beams.