SRS Resource Allocation Across Cells for Conflict-Free UE Positioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
In a 5G NR system, inter-cell SRS resource conflicts occur when user equipment moves from one cell to another, leading to overlapping resource allocations between UEs, which hampers accurate positioning and resource management.
Innovation Solution
A resource allocation method where a location management function (LMF) constructs unique correspondences between UEs and SRS resources, managing the allocation relationship and ensuring each UE is assigned a unique SRS resource within a location area, with base stations executing these allocations to avoid conflicts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If base stations independently allocate SRS resources to UEs in their respective cells, then resource allocation is simple and decentralized, but inter-cell SRS resource conflicts occur when UEs move between cells
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an SRS resource allocation management entity (such as a core network device) as an intermediary to coordinate SRS resource allocation across multiple base stations. This entity receives SRS resource allocation requests from base stations, manages the allocation to ensure uniqueness across cells, and returns allocation results. This mediator resolves the conflict between decentralized simplicity and centralized conflict avoidance by providing a coordination layer that maintains resource uniqueness without requiring complex inter-base-station communication protocols.
2Productivity
If SRS resources are shared across cell boundaries, then resource utilization improves, but positioning accuracy deteriorates due to resource conflicts
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by having the SRS resource allocation management entity pre-allocate or pre-reserve SRS resources for UEs before they move between cells. When a UE is initially served by a base station, the management entity allocates an SRS resource and stores the binding relationship. When the UE moves to a neighboring cell, the management entity retrieves the pre-established allocation rather than performing a new allocation, ensuring resource consistency and avoiding conflicts that would compromise positioning accuracy while maintaining efficient resource utilization.
3Device complexity
If each base station manages its own SRS resources independently, then device complexity is reduced, but signaling interactions increase when UEs handover between cells
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the SRS resource allocation management function from individual base stations into a centralized SRS resource allocation management entity. Instead of each base station independently managing resources and communicating extensively during handovers, the management entity consolidates allocation decisions. Base stations only need to communicate allocation requests and results with this single entity, reducing inter-base-station signaling overhead while keeping individual base station complexity low. The management entity maintains a unified view of resource allocation across all cells.
Data Source
AI summary
This application discloses a resource allocation method and a related device, to effectively avoid an inter-cell SRS resource conflict. The method in this application includes: A target base station receives a first correspondence from a location management function LMF, where the first correspondence indicates that a first user equipment UE uniquely corresponds to a first SRS resource in a plurality of cells, the plurality of cells include a cell served by the target base station, and the first UE is located in the cell served by the target base station. The target base station allocates the first SRS resource to the first UE based on the first correspondence.