SRS Configuration for Multi-Cell Positioning in New Radio
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current wireless communication systems face latency and interference issues when configuring and using sounding reference signals (SRS) for determining user equipment positioning, particularly in scenarios requiring inter-cell communication and UL-based positioning, due to challenges in bandwidth part switching, inter-cell interference, and latency in XnAP or NR PPa protocols.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a dedicated positioning bandwidth for SRS transmission, utilizing SRS carrier switching, and modifying latency parameters to enable SRS measurement by multiple cells, including blind detection on multiple UL bandwidth parts and delayed switching to manage interference and latency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If SRS is configured for UL-based positioning usage to enable measurement by multiple cells, then positioning capability is improved, but latency and interference issues arise due to inter-cell communication delays and conflicts with other UL transmissions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the uplink bandwidth into multiple bandwidth parts (BWPs), with a dedicated positioning BWP for SRS transmissions and other BWPs for data transmissions. This segmentation allows neighboring cells to receive positioning SRS without interference from data transmissions, reducing latency and enabling simultaneous positioning and data operations across multiple cells
Solution Approach 2:
The serving cell acts as an intermediary by notifying neighboring cells of the SRS configuration through XnAP or NR PPa protocols. This intermediary mechanism enables coordinated multi-cell positioning operations, allowing neighboring cells to prepare for and receive SRS transmissions without direct UE-to-neighboring-cell configuration delays
2Measurement precision
If SRS configuration is transmitted to neighboring cells through XnAP or NR PPa protocols to enable coordinated positioning, then positioning accuracy is improved, but communication latency between cells increases
Solution Approach 1:
The serving cell notifies neighboring cells of the SRS configuration in advance through XnAP or NR PPa protocols before the actual positioning measurement occurs. This preliminary notification allows neighboring cells to pre-configure their receivers and prepare for SRS reception, reducing the operational latency during actual positioning transmissions
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic BWP switching that allows the UE to switch between positioning BWP and data BWPs based on operational requirements. This dynamic switching enables flexible resource allocation where the same time-frequency resources can be dynamically assigned to positioning or data transmissions, optimizing both accuracy and latency performance
3Productivity
If SRS transmission uses the same bandwidth resources as other uplink transmissions, then resource efficiency is improved, but interference with neighboring cell receptions occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The uplink bandwidth is segmented into multiple BWPs with distinct functions: a positioning BWP dedicated to SRS transmissions and other BWPs for data transmissions. This segmentation physically separates positioning and data resources, eliminating interference between them while maintaining overall resource efficiency through structured allocation
Solution Approach 2:
Different bandwidth parts are assigned different quality characteristics appropriate to their function: the positioning BWP is configured with parameters optimized for SRS reception by neighboring cells, while data BWPs use parameters optimized for throughput. This local quality differentiation ensures each transmission type operates in its optimal environment without interfering with others
Data Source
AI summary
Aspects of the present application provide methods and devices in a communication network that aid in implementing sounding reference signal (SRS) measurement by multiple cells (i.e. serving cells and non-serving cells, also known as “neighbor cells”) as well as NR LMUs.