Reference Location Device Signaling for Accurate 5G Positioning

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing wireless communication systems, particularly in the context of 5G networks, face challenges in enhancing spectral efficiency and reducing latency while supporting accurate UE positioning, as well as optimizing the use of reference location devices (RLDs) for efficient signal transmission and measurement.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of reference location devices (RLDs) within the wireless communication system to assist in positioning UEs, utilizing signaling protocols and procedures that enable efficient activation and deactivation of uplink sounding reference signals (SRS) transmission, and integrating RLDs into network architectures to enhance positioning accuracy and reduce latency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If reference location devices are integrated into the network architecture to enhance positioning accuracy, then positioning precision is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepositioning accuracyVSAvoidnetwork architecture complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The network architecture is segmented by introducing dedicated reference location devices (RLDs) that are spatially distributed throughout the network. Each RLD independently transmits positioning reference signals, allowing the positioning function to be divided across multiple discrete nodes rather than requiring a monolithic complex system, thereby improving positioning accuracy without proportionally increasing overall system complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Reference location devices serve as intermediary elements between user equipment and the core network positioning infrastructure. These RLDs transmit positioning reference signals and provide measurement assistance information, acting as mediators that enhance positioning accuracy without requiring direct complex interactions between UEs and the location management function, thus improving precision while managing network complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Measurement precision

If uplink sounding reference signals are continuously transmitted for positioning measurements, then positioning accuracy is improved, but spectral efficiency deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepositioning accuracyVSAvoidspectral efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

Uplink sounding reference signals are transmitted periodically rather than continuously, with the location management function controlling the activation and deactivation of SRS transmission based on positioning requirements. This periodic transmission approach maintains positioning accuracy when needed while significantly reducing spectral resource consumption during periods when positioning measurements are not required, thereby resolving the contradiction between positioning precision and spectral efficiency

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The sounding reference signal transmission is made dynamic through on-demand activation and deactivation controlled by the location management function. The LMF can dynamically adjust SRS transmission based on current positioning needs, user mobility state, and service requirements, allowing the system to optimize the balance between positioning accuracy and spectral efficiency in real-time rather than using a static continuous transmission approach

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP4400858B1Signaling and procedures for supporting reference location devices
Publication Date: 2025.12.24 QUALCOMM INC
  • EP4400858B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4400858B1 patent drawingFigure 2A
  • EP4400858B1 patent drawingFigure 2B

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.