UE Positioning Using SSB Beam Polling in 5G mmWave

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Solution Overview

Problem

The location of a User Equipment (UE) cannot be accurately measured based on 5G signals due to the challenges posed by millimeter wave technology, such as severe attenuation and weak radiation, which are not addressed in the 5G standard.

Innovation Solution

A positioning method and apparatus that utilize Synchronization Signal Block (SSB) beam polling information, including sub-carrier interval, cyclic prefix configuration, number of SSB beams, and geographic coordinates, to enhance UE location estimation by measuring SSB indexes, RSRP, and RSRQ, enabling accurate positioning without increasing resource overhead.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Speed

If millimeter wave technology is used to achieve faster data transmission rate, then transmission speed is improved, but signal propagation reliability deteriorates due to severe attenuation and weak radiation capability

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata transmission rateVSAvoidsignal propagation reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the positioning function from general communication functions by introducing dedicated positioning reference signals (PRS) and specific positioning measurement procedures. This allows the system to optimize for positioning accuracy without compromising the high-speed data transmission capability of millimeter wave technology, resolving the contradiction between transmission speed and positioning reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes key parameters including introducing new frequency ranges (mmWave band), modifying signal structures (SSB beam polling, PRS resources), and adjusting measurement procedures (RSRP, RSRQ, angle of arrival). These parameter changes enable accurate positioning despite the inherent propagation challenges of millimeter wave technology.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Object-generated harmful factors

If narrow beam polling is used for SSB transmission in millimeter wave band, then interference between cells is reduced, but positioning measurement capability deteriorates due to lack of dedicated positioning signals

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinterference between cellsVSAvoidpositioning measurement capability
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-generated harmful factorsVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent makes synchronization signals (SSB) serve dual purposes: maintaining their primary function for cell synchronization and beam management while simultaneously enabling positioning measurements. By configuring SSB resources and introducing positioning-specific SSB measurements, the system achieves both interference reduction and positioning capability without requiring completely separate signal structures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent performs preliminary configuration of positioning reference signal resources, SSB beam polling patterns, and measurement parameters before actual positioning measurements. This preliminary setup ensures that the narrow beam structure is optimized for both reducing inter-cell interference and enabling accurate positioning measurements when needed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Measurement precision

If additional measurement information is collected for positioning, then positioning accuracy is improved, but system complexity increases due to more measurement parameters

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepositioning accuracyVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic measurement strategies where the UE adaptively selects which positioning measurements to perform based on service requirements, signal conditions, and network configuration. The system dynamically adjusts measurement parameters such as measuring SSB indexes, RSRP, RSRQ, and angle of arrival only when positioning is needed, rather than continuously maintaining all measurement capabilities, thus reducing overall system complexity while preserving positioning accuracy when required.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP3852397B1Method and apparatus for positioning user equipment
Publication Date: 2026.03.18 ZTE CORP
  • EP3852397B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3852397B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3852397B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

Provided are a positioning method and apparatus for a UE, a storage medium and an electronic device. The method includes: after a UE initiates a positioning request, the UE receives first supplementary information sent by an LMF; the first supplementary information includes SSB beam polling information of the designated cell reported by a NG-RAN node to the LMF; the UE measures the designated cell to acquire first measurement information; the UE determines the location of the UE according to the first measurement information and the first supplementary information.