Uplink Reference Signal Muting for Higher-Resolution PUSCH Localization

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing communication systems face challenges in efficiently utilizing physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH) and uplink reference signals for user equipment localization and sensing, resulting in lower range and velocity resolution due to the bursty nature of PUSCH and the sparse distribution of uplink reference signals.

Innovation Solution

A method is introduced to mute a subset of resources allocated for uplink reference signal transmission while maintaining the total bandwidth and time duration, reallocating the saved energy to increase the transmission power of both PUSCH and non-muted reference signals, thereby improving energy efficiency and localization performance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If uplink reference signals are transmitted continuously to maintain localization accuracy, then measurement precision is improved, but use of energy increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelocalization accuracyVSAvoidenergy consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies periodic action by transmitting uplink reference signals only in specific time slots rather than continuously. The gNB configures the UE to transmit reference signals periodically based on scheduled time slots, which maintains localization accuracy while significantly reducing energy consumption compared to continuous transmission.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements dynamics by allowing flexible adjustment of reference signal transmission parameters including time slots, frequency resources, and power levels. The gNB can dynamically configure these parameters based on current localization needs, balancing measurement precision requirements with energy efficiency in real-time.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Productivity

If PUSCH resources are allocated for bursty data transmissions, then productivity is improved, but measurement precision deteriorates due to sparse reference signal distribution

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata transmission efficiencyVSAvoidrange and velocity resolution
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies segmentation by dividing the uplink resources into distinct segments: dedicated PUSCH resources for data transmission and separate reference signal resources for localization. This segmentation allows bursty data transmissions to proceed efficiently while ensuring sufficient reference signal distribution for accurate measurement, resolving the conflict between productivity and measurement precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Measurement precision

If transmission power is increased to improve signal-to-noise ratio, then measurement precision is improved, but use of energy increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesignal-to-noise ratioVSAvoidtransmission power
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by differentiating transmission power requirements across different resources. Reference signal transmissions use higher power levels in specific time slots to ensure adequate signal-to-noise ratio for localization, while PUSCH data transmissions use optimized power levels. This localized power allocation improves measurement precision without unnecessarily increasing overall energy consumption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP4645740A1Method, apparatus and computer program
Publication Date: 2025.11.05 NOKIA TECHNOLOGIES OY
  • EP4645740A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4645740A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4645740A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

There is provided an access node comprising means for: receiving, from a user equipment, a message for requesting allocation of one or more physical uplink shared channel resources; based on the received message, sending, to the user equipment, information indicating resources allocated for one or more physical uplink shared channel transmissions; based on the received message, sending, to a first network function, information indicating resources that are allocated for one or more physical uplink shared channel transmissions; receiving, from the first network function, based on the information indicating the resources that are allocated for the one or more physical uplink shared channel transmissions, information indicating that a subset of a plurality of resources allocated for uplink reference signal transmission are to be muted; sending, to a user equipment, the information indicating that the subset of a plurality of resources allocated for uplink reference signal transmission are to be muted; and receiving, from the user equipment, the one or more physical uplink shared channel transmissions and one or more uplink reference signal transmissions.