Reference Location Device Signaling for Accurate 5G UE Positioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wireless communication systems, particularly in the context of 5G, face challenges in enhancing spectral efficiency and reducing latency while supporting accurate positioning of user equipment (UE) through improved signaling mechanisms.
Innovation Solution
The introduction of reference location devices (RLDs) that assist in positioning UE by transmitting and receiving signals, utilizing beamforming techniques and multiple frequency ranges, and integrating with existing network architectures to enhance accuracy and efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If reference location devices are introduced to improve positioning accuracy, then positioning precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Reference location devices (RLDs) are introduced as intermediary elements between user equipment and the network. These RLDs act as mediators that receive signals from multiple TRPs and perform measurements, thereby improving positioning accuracy without requiring direct complex interactions between UEs and all TRPs. The RLDs simplify the overall system architecture by centralizing measurement functions.
Solution Approach 2:
The positioning function is segmented into separate reference location devices that can be independently deployed and managed. This segmentation allows the positioning capability to be distributed across multiple RLDs rather than requiring all positioning functionality to be integrated into each UE or central network entity, reducing individual device complexity while maintaining overall system accuracy.
2Measurement precision
If multiple frequency ranges and beamforming are used to enhance positioning accuracy, then measurement precision is improved, but signal processing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Beamforming configurations and frequency range selections are predetermined and pre-configured for reference location devices. The network pre-establishes beamforming parameters, resource allocations, and frequency configurations before positioning measurements are needed. This preliminary setup reduces real-time signal processing complexity while maintaining high measurement precision through optimized pre-configured parameters.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts parameters such as frequency ranges, beamforming weights, and resource allocations based on network conditions and positioning requirements. By changing these parameters adaptively, the system optimizes positioning accuracy for different scenarios without requiring permanently complex signal processing capabilities in all devices.
3Productivity
If reference location devices are deployed to support more connections, then productivity is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Reference location devices are designed with multi-functionality, serving both as positioning reference points and as regular network nodes for data communication. This universality allows the same RLD infrastructure to support both positioning functions and general network connectivity, increasing overall system productivity without proportionally increasing complexity. The RLDs can simultaneously handle positioning measurements and user data traffic.
Solution Approach 2:
The positioning functionality is merged with existing network infrastructure elements such as base stations and access points. Rather than deploying completely separate positioning systems, the patent integrates RLDs into the existing network architecture, combining positioning functions with regular network operations. This merging approach increases connection capacity while leveraging existing infrastructure to minimize additional complexity.
Data Source
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AI summary
Disclosed are techniques for communication. In an aspect, a location server receives, from a network entity serving a reference device, a registration request for the reference device to operate as a reference location device (RLD), the registration request including one or more parameters enabling the location server to communicate with the reference device via a positioning protocol, instigates a positioning procedure with the reference device via the positioning protocol based on the one or more parameters; receives one or more reference positioning measurements from the reference device during the positioning procedure via the positioning protocol; and determines one or more correction terms for positioning one or more user equipments (UEs) based, at least in part, on a location of the reference device and the one or more reference positioning measurements.