5G Millimeter Wave TDOA Positioning via PRS Beam Polling
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Solution Overview
Problem
The 5G system faces challenges in accurately positioning terminals due to the high attenuation and weak diffraction ability of millimeter waves, making existing downlink positioning schemes from LTE systems ineffective.
Innovation Solution
A method is introduced to determine the time difference of arrival (TDOA) of Positioning Reference Signals (PRS) by identifying neighbor cells, transmitting cell identities and beam polling configuration information, and detecting PRS beams to calculate the TDOA, which is applicable in millimeter wave communication scenarios.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If downlink positioning scheme from LTE system is used, then positioning can be achieved in LTE system, but the scheme is not applicable to 5G system due to serious signal attenuation and weak diffraction ability of millimeter waves
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the fundamental parameters of the positioning scheme by introducing beamforming technology and beam polling mechanisms specifically designed for millimeter wave frequencies. Instead of using traditional omnidirectional PRS transmission, the system employs directional beam transmission with configurable beam widths and scanning patterns, adapting the positioning approach to overcome millimeter wave propagation characteristics.
Solution Approach 2:
The positioning reference signal transmission is segmented into multiple beams that scan different spatial directions. Each beam carries positioning information, and the terminal measures signals from multiple beam directions to determine position. This segmentation allows the system to overcome the limited coverage of individual millimeter wave beams while maintaining positioning accuracy.
2Measurement precision
If beam polling configuration information is transmitted to terminal, then terminal can detect PRS beams accurately, but system complexity increases due to additional information transmission and processing
Solution Approach 1:
Beam polling configuration information including beam IDs, timing, and frequency resources is pre-configured and transmitted to the terminal before actual positioning measurement. This preliminary action allows the terminal to prepare its reception and measurement procedures in advance, improving detection accuracy while avoiding real-time processing complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The network introduces beam polling configuration information as an intermediary layer between the positioning server and terminal. This configuration data acts as a guide that simplifies the terminal's measurement process by providing pre-processed beam selection criteria, resource allocation, and measurement parameters, thereby reducing the computational burden on the terminal.
3Measurement precision
If PRS beams are transmitted with transmission moment information, then terminal can calculate TDOA accurately, but signal transmission requires additional information embedding that may affect signal quality
Solution Approach 1:
Transmission moment information is merged with the PRS beam signal structure by embedding timing indicators within the reference signal sequence or resource allocation pattern. Instead of adding separate information channels, the timing information is integrated into the existing PRS transmission framework, avoiding additional signal overhead and maintaining signal quality while enabling accurate TDOA calculation.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for determining a time difference of arrival, and a communication device and system, where neighbor cells for positioning are determined for a target terminal by a positioning server, then cell identities of the neighbor cells and beam polling configuration information of the neighbor cells are transmitted to the target terminal, so that the target terminal may detect a Positioning Reference Signal (PRS) beam transmitted by a corresponding neighbor cell according to the beam polling configuration information, and a time difference of arrival of PRS beams transmitted by one neighbor cell and another neighbor cell is calculated.