UE Rx-Tx Timing Reporting Across Multiple PRS Frequency Bands

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing 5G wireless communication systems face challenges in accurately determining the UE Rx-Tx timing difference due to the complexity of managing multiple frequency bands and high signaling overhead, which affects positioning accuracy and efficiency.

Innovation Solution

The system introduces a method for reporting time differences between inbound and outbound positioning reference signals by indicating the frequency bands used, reducing PRS processing overhead and maintaining low signaling overhead through the use of relative band indexes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If multiple frequency bands are used for positioning reference signals, then positioning accuracy is improved, but signaling overhead increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepositioning accuracyVSAvoidsignaling overhead
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and reports only the necessary frequency band information (relative band indexes) rather than complete PRS configuration details. The UE identifies and reports the DL PRS frequency band and UL SRS frequency band using compact relative band indexes, eliminating the need to signal full configuration parameters for each PRS resource across multiple bands.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of reporting absolute frequency band configurations, the patent inverts the approach by reporting relative band indexes that indicate the relationship between DL and UL bands. The gNB configures a set of candidate bands and the UE reports offsets or relative indices, transforming absolute configuration signaling into relative differential signaling that reduces overhead.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Measurement precision

If detailed PRS configuration information is signaled, then positioning accuracy is improved, but processing overhead increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepositioning accuracyVSAvoidprocessing overhead
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts only the essential frequency band identification information from the complete PRS configuration. Rather than processing and signaling full PRS resource configurations including all parameters, the solution focuses on identifying and reporting the frequency band assignments using relative band indexes, significantly reducing the information that needs to be processed and transmitted.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Measurement precision

If multiple frequency bands are configured for PRS, then positioning accuracy is improved, but message size increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepositioning accuracyVSAvoidmessage size
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the parameter representation from absolute frequency band configurations to relative band indexes. By defining a set of candidate frequency bands and reporting relative offsets or indices rather than absolute configurations, the message size is reduced while preserving the ability to identify multiple frequency bands for positioning measurements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP4140065B1UE receive-transmit time difference measurement reporting
Publication Date: 2025.09.17 QUALCOMM INC
  • EP4140065B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4140065B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4140065B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A positioning method includes: measuring, at a UE, an IB PRS resource on a first frequency band; transmitting, from the UE to a recipient device, an OB PRS resource on a second frequency band; and at least one of: transmitting, from the UE based on the second frequency band being different than the first frequency band, a receive-transmit time difference indication and a band indication indicative of the second frequency band, the receive-transmit time difference indication being indicative of a difference between a time of arrival of the IB PRS resource and a time of departure of the OB PRS resource; or transmitting, from the UE based on the second frequency band being implicit, the receive-transmit time difference indication without transmitting the band indication.