UE Positioning With Unified Uplink and Downlink Measurements
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Solution Overview
Problem
The implementation of multiple position methods in wireless networks for mobile devices increases cost and complexity, making it challenging to support efficient and accurate location services.
Innovation Solution
A method and system for determining the position of a user equipment (UE) using downlink and uplink reference signal measurements, offloading location support from Location Management Functions (LMFs) to gNBs and UEs, which involve receiving assistance data, transmitting and measuring reference signals, and calculating RTT based on these measurements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple position methods are implemented in wireless networks, then position determination capability is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal positioning framework that supports multiple position determination methods (OTDOA, UTDOA, RTT, AOD, AOA) through a unified procedure. The LMF and gNB entities are designed to handle multiple positioning methods using common signaling mechanisms and measurement procedures, allowing the network to select appropriate methods based on requirements without requiring separate dedicated systems for each method, thus improving versatility while controlling complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The positioning functionality is segmented into distinct modular components: LMF for positioning management and calculation, gNBs for signal transmission and measurement collection, and UE for local measurements. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently and enables flexible combination of different positioning methods through standardized interfaces, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining multi-method capability
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple position methods are implemented in wireless networks, then position determination capability is improved, but implementation cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs universal LMF and gNB entities that can support multiple positioning methods through common infrastructure and signaling procedures. The same downlink reference signals (CRS, CSI-RS, PRS) and uplink reference signals (SRS) are used across different positioning methods, eliminating the need for separate dedicated signal structures for each method. This universal approach reduces implementation costs by reusing existing network components and protocols while maintaining the ability to implement various positioning methods
Solution Approach 2:
The network leverages existing self-organizing capabilities of gNBs and UEs to perform positioning functions. gNBs automatically perform downlink measurements, UEs perform uplink measurements, and the LMF coordinates these activities using standardized signaling. This self-service approach reduces the need for additional specialized hardware and manual configuration, thereby lowering implementation costs while supporting multiple positioning methods
3Device complexity
If location support is offloaded from LMFs to gNBs and UEs, then device complexity is reduced, but measurement coordination difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
The LMF acts as an intermediary that coordinates measurements between gNBs and UEs. The LMF receives positioning requirements, determines appropriate positioning methods, configures reference signal transmissions, collects measurement results from gNBs and UEs, and performs position calculation. This intermediary role simplifies the coordination complexity by centralizing control while allowing distributed measurement execution, reducing device complexity without sacrificing measurement coordination capability
Solution Approach 2:
The LMF performs preliminary actions by pre-configuring reference signal transmissions and measurement procedures before actual positioning occurs. The LMF sends positioning assistance data to UEs, configures downlink and uplink reference signal parameters, and prepares measurement configurations for gNBs in advance. This preliminary setup reduces real-time coordination complexity during actual positioning operations while maintaining accurate measurement collection across multiple methods
Data Source
AI summary
A position of a user equipment (UE) may be determined using downlink based solutions (e.g. OTDOA), uplink based solutions (e.g. UTDOA), or combined downlink and uplink based solutions (e.g. RTT). The serving gNBs may request neighboring gNBs to produce downlink reference signal transmissions to a target UE and/or measure uplink reference signal transmissions from the target UE. The serving gNB may receive the uplink reference signal measurements from neighboring gNBs and obtain an own uplink reference signal measurement and forward to the UE or another network entity all the uplink reference signal measurements. The UE may use the uplink reference signal measurements, along with the UE's own downlink reference signal measurements to determine RTTs. The serving gNBs or another entity may keep the uplink reference signal measurements and may determine RTTs after receiving the downlink reference signal measurements from the UE.