PRS-based terrestrial beacon system (TBS) implementations

• US 10,317,509 B2
• Filed: 09/08/2016
• Issued: 06/11/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Fischer, Sven
• Primary Examiner(s): Liu, Harry K
• Application Number:
  US15/259,301
• Publication Number:
  US 20170285132A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,006 Days
• Field of Search: 342464
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0226 Transmitters
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/10 Position of receiver fixed by co-ordinating a plurality of position lines defined by path-difference measurements , e.g. omega or decca systemsG01S5/12 takes precedence ; beacons and receivers cooperating therewith G01S1/306, G01S1/308
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 27/261 Details of reference signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0007 the frequencies being orthogonal, e.g. OFDM(A), DMT
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0048 Allocation of pilot signals, i.e. of signals known to the receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/00 Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/12 Wireless traffic scheduling
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/23 in the downlink direction of a wireless link, i.e. towards a terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices

Abstract

Disclosed are methods, devices, systems, apparatus, servers, computer-/processor-readable media, and other implementations, including an example method to facilitate position determination operations that includes producing, by a location transmission unit (LTU) configured for downlink-only communication, one or more subframes comprising one or more LTU broadcast positioning reference signals. The LTU is detectable by at least one mobile wireless device based on LTU broadcast control signals, with at least some of the LTU broadcast control signals being transmittable by a different wireless node than the LTU. The method also includes transmitting, by the LTU, the one or more LTU broadcast positioning reference signals usable for determination of a position of at least one mobile wireless device, with the one or more LTU broadcast positioning reference signals being detectable by the at least one mobile wireless device.

Claims

1. A method to facilitate position determination operations, the method comprising:

producing, by a location transmission unit (LTU) configured for downlink-only communication, one or more subframes comprising one or more LTU broadcast positioning reference signals, wherein one or more signals transmitted by the LTU are configured to be detected by at least one mobile wireless device based on LTU broadcast control signals, with at least some of the LTU broadcast control signals being configured to be transmitted by a different wireless node than the LTU; and

transmitting, by the LTU, the one or more LTU broadcast positioning reference signals configured for use in determining a position of the at least one mobile wireless device, the one or more LTU broadcast positioning reference signals being configured to be detected by the at least one mobile wireless device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the LTU is configured to support multiple modes of operation, including:

1) a partial standalone mode in which one or more remote nodes, different from the LTU, transmit system information comprising data relating to the LTU while the LTU is configured to operate independently from any network node supporting uplink communication with the at least one mobile wireless device, or

     2) an integrated network mode in which the LTU is configured to operate within a network comprising at least one network node supporting uplink communication with the at least one mobile wireless device, with the at least one network node configured to transmit all the LTU broadcast control signals.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

transmitting, by the LTU while the LTU is operating in the partial standalone mode, a subset of the LTU broadcast control signals.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein transmitting, by the LTU, the subset of the LTU broadcast control signals while operating in the partial standalone mode comprises:

transmitting an LTU primary synchronization signal (PSS) and an LTU secondary synchronization signal (SSS), the LTU SSS derived at least in part based on the LTU PSS and an identification value assigned to the LTU, wherein the LTU PSS and the LTU SSS are configured to be detected by the at least one mobile wireless device and configured to support determination of LTU frame timing, and wherein the LTU SSS is configured to be used to determine a physical layer identifier for the LTU.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein transmitting, by the LTU, the subset of the LTU broadcast control signals while operating in the partial standalone mode comprises:

deriving, by the LTU, based at least in part on a physical layer identifier for the LTU, an LTU specific reference signal (LRS) comprising data for demodulating signals from the LTU; and

transmitting, by the LTU, the LTU LRS.

6. The method of claim 3, wherein transmitting, by the LTU, the subset of the LTU broadcast control signals while operating in the partial standalone mode comprises:

transmitting, by the LTU, a broadcast channel information signal comprising data representative of;

channel bandwidth for the LTU, or an LTU system frame number, or any combination thereof.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein transmitting the one or more LTU broadcast positioning reference signals comprises:

scheduling the one or more LTU broadcast positioning reference signals within at least one transmission sub-frame, the at least one transmission sub-frame associated with a plurality of symbols that are each associated with a plurality of sub-carriers.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein scheduling the one or more LTU broadcast positioning reference signals within the at least one transmission sub-frame, while the LTU is operating in an integrated network mode in which the LTU is configured to operate within a network comprising at least one network node supporting uplink communication with the at least one mobile wireless device, comprises:

making available for scheduling of at least one of the one or more LTU broadcast positioning reference signals all of the plurality of symbols within the at least one transmission sub-frame; and

selecting at least one of the all of the plurality of symbols available for the scheduling of the at least one of the one or more LTU broadcast positioning reference signals.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein scheduling the one or more LTU broadcast positioning reference signals within the at least one transmission sub-frame, while the LTU is operating in a partial standalone mode in which the LTU is configured to operate independently from any network node supporting uplink communication with the at least one mobile wireless device, and in which one or more remote nodes, different from the LTU, transmit system information comprising data relating to the LTU, comprises:

making available for scheduling of the at least one of the one or more LTU broadcast positioning reference signals a subset of the plurality of symbols that are within the at least one transmission sub-frame, with at least one of the plurality of symbols being allocated for transmission of control signaling for the LTU.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein producing the one or more LTU broadcast positioning reference signals comprises:

generating a scrambling sequence using a pseudo-random sequence generator, wherein the pseudo-random sequence generator is initialized with a 31-bit initialization seed, c′

_init, generated according to;

11. The method of claim 1, wherein producing the one or more LTU broadcast positioning reference signals comprises:

producing the one or more LTU broadcast positioning reference signals based, in part, on a muting pattern indicated by a PRS muting bitstring with a bitstring-length of at least 32 bits.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein transmitting the one or more LTU broadcast positioning reference signals comprises:

transmitting the one or more LTU broadcast positioning reference signals to support observed time difference of arrival (OTDOA) positioning operations.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein OTDOA assistance data, used to support the OTDOA positioning operations, includes an indicator to indicate to the at least one mobile wireless device that the OTDOA assistance is being provided for the LTU when the LTU is operating in an integrated network mode of operation in which the LTU is configured to operate within a network comprising at least one network node supporting uplink communication with the at least one mobile wireless device.

14. A location transmission unit (LTU), comprising:

one or more processors, configured to;

produce one or more subframes comprising one or more LTU broadcast positioning reference signals, wherein the LTU is configured for downlink-only communication, and wherein one or more signals transmitted by the LTU are configured to be detected by at least one mobile wireless device based on LTU broadcast control signals, with at least some of the LTU broadcast control signals being configured to be transmitted by a different wireless node than the LTU; and

a transmitter, coupled to the one or more processors, configured to;

transmit the one or more LTU broadcast positioning reference signals configured for use in determining a position of the at least one mobile wireless device, the one or more LTU broadcast positioning reference signals being configured to be detected by the at least one mobile wireless device.

15. The LTU of claim 14, wherein the LTU is configured to support multiple modes of operation, including:

1) a partial standalone mode in which one or more remote nodes, different from the LTU, transmit system information comprising data relating to the LTU while the LTU is configured to operate independently from any network node supporting uplink communication with the at least one mobile wireless device, or

     2) an integrated network mode in which the LTU is configured to operate within a network comprising at least one network node supporting uplink communication with the at least one mobile wireless device, with the at least one network node configured to transmit all the LTU broadcast control signals.

16. The LTU of claim 15, wherein the transmitter is further configured to:

transmit, while the LTU is operating in the partial standalone mode, a subset of the LTU broadcast control signals.

17. The LTU of claim 16, wherein the transmitter configured to transmit the subset of the LTU broadcast control signals, while the LTU is operating in the partial standalone mode, is configured to:

transmit an LTU primary synchronization signal (PSS) and an LTU secondary synchronization signal (SSS), the LTU SSS derived at least in part based on the LTU PSS and an identification value assigned to the LTU, wherein the LTU PSS and the LTU SSS are configured to be detected by the at least one mobile wireless device and configured to support determination of LTU frame timing, and wherein the LTU SSS is configured to be used to determine a physical layer identifier for the LTU.

18. The LTU of claim 16, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to:

derive, based at least in part on a physical layer identifier for the LTU, an LTU specific reference signal (LRS) comprising data for demodulating signals from the LTU;

wherein the transmitter configured to transmit the subset of the LTU broadcast control signals, while the LTU is operating in the partial standalone mode, is configured to;

transmit, by the LTU, the LTU LRS.

19. The LTU of claim 16, wherein the transmitter configured to transmit the subset of the LTU broadcast control signals, while the LTU is operating in the partial standalone mode, is configured to:

transmit a broadcast channel information signal comprising data representative of;

channel bandwidth for the LTU, or an LTU system frame number, or any combination thereof.

20. The LTU of claim 14, wherein the transmitter configured to transmit the one or more LTU broadcast positioning reference signals is configured to:

schedule the one or more LTU broadcast positioning reference signals within at least one transmission sub-frame, the at least one transmission sub-frame associated with a plurality of symbols that are each associated with a plurality of sub-carriers.

21. The LTU of claim 20, wherein the transmitter configured to schedule the one or more LTU broadcast positioning reference signals within the at least one transmission sub-frame, while the LTU is operating in an integrated network mode in which the LTU is configured to operate within a network comprising at least one network node supporting uplink communication with the at least one mobile wireless device, with the at least one network node configured to transmit all the LTU broadcast control signals, is configured to:

make available for scheduling of at least one of the one or more LTU broadcast positioning reference signals all of the plurality of symbols within the at least one transmission sub-frame; and

select at least one of the all of the plurality of symbols available for the scheduling of the at least one of the one or more LTU broadcast positioning reference signals.

22. The LTU of claim 20, wherein the transmitter configured to schedule the one or more LTU broadcast positioning reference signals within the at least one transmission sub-frame, while the LTU is operating in a partial standalone mode in which the LTU is configured to operate independently from any network node supporting uplink communication with the at least one mobile wireless device, and in which one or more remote nodes, different from the LTU, transmit system information comprising data relating to the LTU, is configured to:

make available for scheduling of the at least one of the one or more LTU broadcast positioning reference signals a subset of the plurality of symbols that are within the at least one transmission sub-frame, with at least one of the plurality of symbols being allocated for transmission of control signaling for the LTU.

23. The LTU of claim 14, wherein the one or more processors configured to produce the one or more LTU broadcast positioning reference signals are configured to:

generate a scrambling sequence using a pseudo-random sequence generator, wherein the pseudo-random sequence generator is initialized with a 31-bit initialization seed, c′

_init, generated according to;

24. The LTU of claim 14, wherein the one or more processors configured to produce the one or more LTU broadcast positioning reference signals are configured to:

produce the one or more LTU broadcast positioning reference signals based, in part, on a muting pattern indicated by a PRS muting bitstring with a bitstring-length of at least 32 bits.

25. The LTU of claim 14, wherein the transmitter configured to transmit the one or more LTU broadcast positioning reference signals is configured to:

transmit the one or more LTU broadcast positioning reference signals to support observed time difference of arrival (OTDOA) positioning operations.

26. The LTU of claim 25, wherein OTDOA assistance data, used to support the OTDOA positioning operations, includes an indicator to indicate to the at least one mobile wireless device that the OTDOA assistance is being provided for the LTU when the LTU is operating in an integrated network mode of operation in which the LTU is configured to operate within a network comprising at least one network node supporting uplink communication with the at least one mobile wireless device, with the at least one network node configured to transmit all the LTU broadcast control signals.

27. An apparatus to facilitate position determination operations, the apparatus comprising:

means for producing, by a location transmission unit (LTU) configured for downlink-only communication, one or more subframes comprising one or more LTU broadcast positioning reference signals, wherein one or more signals transmitted by the LTU are configured to be detected by at least one mobile wireless device based on LTU broadcast control signals, with at least some of the LTU broadcast control signals being configured to be transmitted by a different wireless node than the LTU; and

means for transmitting, by the LTU, the one or more LTU broadcast positioning reference signals configured to be detected a position of the at least one mobile wireless device, the one or more LTU broadcast positioning reference signals being configured to be detected by the at least one mobile wireless device.

28. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the LTU is configured to support multiple modes of operation, including:

1) a partial standalone mode in which one or more remote nodes, different from the LTU, transmit system information comprising data relating to the LTU while the LTU is configured to operate independently from any network node supporting uplink communication with the at least one mobile wireless device, or

     2) an integrated network mode in which the LTU is configured to operate within a network comprising at least one network node supporting uplink communication with the at least one mobile wireless device, with the at least one network node configured to transmit all the LTU broadcast control signals.

29. The apparatus of claim 28, further comprising means for transmitting, by the LTU while the LTU is operating in the partial standalone mode, a subset of the LTU broadcast control signals, including:

1) means for transmitting an LTU primary synchronization signal (PSS) and an LTU secondary synchronization signal (SSS), the LTU SSS derived at least in part based on the LTU PSS and an identification value assigned to the LTU, wherein the LTU PSS and the LTU SSS are configured to be detected by the at least one mobile wireless device and configured to support determination of LTU frame timing, and wherein the LTU SSS is configured to be used to determine a physical layer identifier for the LTU;

2) means for deriving, by the LTU, based at least in part on a physical layer identifier for the LTU, an LTU specific reference signal (LRS) comprising data for demodulating signals from the LTU, and means for transmitting, by the LTU, the LTU LRS;

or

3) means for transmitting, by the LTU, a broadcast channel information signal comprising data representative of;

channel bandwidth for the LTU, or an LTU system frame number, or any combination thereof;

or

any combination thereof.

30. A non-transitory computer readable media programmed with instructions, executable on a processor, to:

produce, by a location transmission unit (LTU) configured for downlink-only communication, one or more subframes comprising one or more LTU broadcast positioning reference signals, wherein one or more signals transmitted the LTU are configured to be detected by at least one mobile wireless device based on LTU broadcast control signals, with at least some of the LTU broadcast control signals being configured to be transmitted by a different wireless node than the LTU; and

transmit, by the LTU, the one or more LTU broadcast positioning reference signals configured for use in determining a position of the at least one mobile wireless device, the one or more LTU broadcast positioning reference signals being configured to be detected by the at least one mobile wireless device.