Method of Handling Positioning Measurement and Related Communication Device

• US 20100323720A1
• Filed: 06/22/2010
• Published: 12/23/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/22/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: HTC Corporation
• Original Assignee: HTC Corporation
• Inventors: Jen, Yu-Chih
• Granted Patent: US 8,543,128 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/456.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/2606 Arrangements for base station coverage control, e.g. by using relays in tunnels
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/10 Scheduling measurement reports ; Arrangements for measurement reports
• 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 84/047 using dedicated repeater stations

Abstract

A method of handling positioning measurement for a relay in a wireless communications system is disclosed. The method comprises communicating with a mobile device and a base station to serve the mobile device for conveying signaling between the mobile device and the base station, and transmitting a first reference signal associated with a positioning measurement to the mobile device.

Claims

1. A method of handling positioning measurement for a relay in a wireless communications system, the method comprising:

communicating with a mobile device and a base station to serve the mobile device for conveying signaling between the mobile device and the base station; and

transmitting a first reference signal associated with a positioning measurement to the mobile device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein transmitting the first reference signal associated with the positioning measurement to the mobile device comprises:

forwarding the first reference signal to the mobile device when the first reference signal is generated by the base station and transmitted to the relay;

or

transmitting the first reference signal to the mobile device when the first reference signal is generated by the base station and scheduled for the relay to transmit;

or

transmitting the first reference signal to the mobile device when the first reference signal is generated and scheduled for a transmission by the relay.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein a first pattern of the first reference signal generated by the relay is the same as a second pattern of a reference signal generated by the base station, or is a pattern with a specific type.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

obtaining from the base station the scheduling of positioning resource for transmitting the first reference signal to the mobile device;

or

scheduling the positioning resource for transmitting the first reference signal to the mobile device.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

signaling at least one identification to the mobile device when the relay is a non-transparent relay with which the mobile device is aware of whether or not the mobile device communicates with a network of the wireless communications system via the relay, wherein the at least one identification is at least one of a physical cell identity and a relay identity; and

signaling available identification or signaling no identification to the mobile device when the relay is a transparent relay with which the mobile device is not aware of whether or not the mobile device communicates with the network via the relay.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the relay is a transparent relay with which the mobile device is not aware of whether or not the mobile device communicates with a network of the wireless communications system via the relay;

or wherein the relay is a non-transparent relay with which the mobile device is aware of whether or not the mobile device communicates with the network via the relay.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the first reference signal transmitted from the relay is scheduled by the base station at a first resource, or is scheduled by the relay at a second resource.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the first reference signal from the relay and a second reference signal from the base station are transmitted at the same time or with a time offset.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the first reference signal from the relay and the second reference signal from the base station are transmitted with the same positioning configuration or different positioning configurations.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

receiving a positioning measurement report from the mobile device;

wherein the positioning measurement report includes positioning measurement result of at least one of measured arrivals of reference signals corresponding to at least one of the relay and the base station when the reference signals from at least one of the relay and the base station are detected and received by the mobile device.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein only the relay transmits a reference signal, or the mobile device receives the reference signal only from the relay.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the positioning measurement report is reported by the mobile device according to the received reference signal.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the positioning measurement report further comprises a first physical cell identity of the base station when the at least one measured arrival of the reference signal corresponding to the base station is included in the positioning measurement report, and at least an identification of the relay when the at least one measured arrival of the reference signal corresponding to the relay is included in the positioning measurement report, wherein the identification is a second physical cell identity, or an relay identity, or the first physical cell identity if the relay has no physical cell identity and is under control of the base station.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein the positioning measurement result included in the positioning measurement report is determined by the mobile device according to at least one of a reference signal quality, a reference signal arrival timing, a physical cell identity, a reference signal pattern, and a positioning configuration predefined or acknowledged from the network.

15. A method of handling positioning measurement for a mobile device in a wireless communications system, the method comprising:

according to a positioning configuration predefined or acknowledged from a network of the wireless communications system, performing a positioning measurement to generate a positioning measurement report; and

including positioning measurement result of at least one of measured arrivals of reference signals corresponding to at least one of a relay and a base station of the wireless communications system in the positioning measurement report when the reference signals are detected and received from at least one of the relay and the base station.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

according to at least one of a reference signal quality, a reference signal arrival timing, a physical cell identity, a reference signal pattern, and a positioning configuration predefined or acknowledged from the network, determining which information of the positioning measurement result is included in the positioning measurement report.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

including a first physical cell identity of the base station in the positioning measurement report when the measured arrival of the reference signal corresponding to the base station is included in the positioning measurement report; and

including an identification of the relay in the positioning measurement report when the measured arrival of the reference signal corresponding to the relay is included in the positioning measurement report and the relay is a non-transparent relay with which the mobile device is aware of whether or not the mobile device communicates with the network via the relay, wherein the identification is a second physical cell identity, or an relay identity, or the first physical cell identity if the relay has no physical cell identity and is under control of the base station.

18. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

including a first physical cell identity of the base station in the positioning measurement report when the measured arrival of the reference signal corresponding to the base station is included in the positioning measurement report; and

including a second physical cell identity of the relay in the positioning measurement report when the measured arrival of the reference signal corresponding to the relay is included in the positioning measurement report and the relay is a transparent relay with which the mobile device is not aware of whether or not the mobile device communicates with a network of the wireless communications system via the relay.

19. A method of handling positioning measurement for a mobile device in a wireless communications system, the method comprising:

according to a positioning configuration predefined or acknowledged from a network of the wireless communications system, performing a positioning measurement to generate a positioning measurement report; and

including positioning measurement result of at least an arrival of reference signal corresponding to the relay in the positioning measurement report when the reference signal is received from the relay and no reference signal is received from the base station, or only the relay transmits the reference signal.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

including at least one of a physical cell identity and relay indication of the relay in the positioning measurement report when the arrival of the reference signal corresponding to the relay is included in the positioning measurement report.

21. A method of handling positioning measurement for a network in a wireless communications system, the method comprising:

receiving a positioning measurement report from a mobile device of the wireless communications system, wherein the positioning measurement report comprises a measurement result associated with a reference signal that a relay of the network transmits to the mobile device;

obtaining at least one of a related transmission timing of the reference signal associated with the relay, and a transmission location of the relay; and

estimating a positioning of the mobile device according to the positioning measurement report, the related transmission timing, and the transmission location.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the relay is a transparent relay with which the mobile device is not aware of whether or not the mobile device communicates with the network via the relay.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the relay has no physical cell identity and does not signal a relay indication associated with the relay, or the relay has a physical cell identity, but does not signal the relay indication.

24. The method of claim 21, wherein the relay is a non-transparent relay with which the mobile device is aware of whether or not the mobile device communicates with the network via the relay.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the relay has no physical cell identity but signals a relay indication associated with the relay, or the relay has a physical cell identity and signals the relay indication, or the relay simply has a physical cell identity.

30. The method of claim 25, wherein with the assigned uplink grant, transmitting the positioning measurement report at the resource of the assigned uplink grant comprises:

with the assigned uplink grant, transmitting the positioning measurement report at the resource of the assigned uplink grant according to a requirement of measurement associated with certain number of cells.

31. The method of claim 30, further comprising:

completing no measurement associated with reference signals transmitted from the cells; and

transmitting the positioning measurement report with at least a physical cell identity of the cells to the network with the assigned uplink grant.

32. The method of claim 30, further comprising:

completing measurement associated with reference signals transmitted from a first number of the cells, wherein the first number is less than or equal to a second number of the cells; and

transmitting the positioning measurement report including measurement results of at least first number of cells and at least a physical cell identity of at least first number of cells, to the network with the assigned uplink grant.

33. The method of claim 30, further comprising:

completing measurement associated with reference signals transmitted from a third number of the cells, wherein the third number is larger than a second number of the cells; and

transmitting the positioning measurement report including measurement results of at least second number of cells and at least a physical cell identity of at least second number of cells, to the network with the assigned uplink grant.

34. The method of claim 30, further comprising:

completing measurement associated with reference signals transmitted from a third number of the cells, wherein the third number is larger than a second number of the cells; and

transmitting the positioning measurement report including measurement results of at most third number of cells and at least a physical cell identity of at least third number of cells, to the network with the assigned uplink grant.

26. A method of handling positioning measurement for a mobile device in a wireless communications system, the method comprising:

activating a positioning measurement to generate a positioning measurement report;

receiving an uplink grant assigned by a network of the wireless communications system; and

with the assigned uplink grant, transmitting the positioning measurement report at the resource of the assigned uplink grant.

27. The method of claim 26, further comprising:

determining whether the positioning measurement is completed; and

before expiration of a period of validity of the assigned uplink grant, transmitting no positioning measurement report or transmitting whatever has been measured for positioning to the network when the positioning measurement is not completely performed or the requirement of measurement result for positioning is not met, or transmitting positioning measurement report to the network when the positioning measurement is completed.

28. The method of claim 26, wherein the assigned uplink grant is scheduled for the positioning measurement report in the positioning configuration or upon activation of positioning measurement, or requested by the mobile device, or received from the network.

29. The method of claim 27, wherein determining whether the positioning measurement is completed comprises:

determining the positioning measurement is completed when reference signals from at least certain number of cells are completely measured or when accumulation of the reference signals from each of the at least certain number of cells is in process or partially measured.

35. The method of claim 26, wherein the assigned uplink grant is sufficient for the positioning measurement report.

36. The method of claim 26, wherein the positioning measurement report includes padding.

37. The method of claim 26, further comprising:

indicating the positioning measurement report by an identity or indication to the network, whereby the network identifies the positioning measurement report according to the identity or indication.

38. The method of claim 37, wherein the identity or indication comprises a logical channel identity (LCID) or a radio network temporary identifier (RNTI).

39. The method of claim 37, wherein the identity is identified at a physical layer, a medium access control layer, or a radio link control layer of the network.

40. The method of claim 37, wherein the indication is included in a medium access control header, or scrambling at a physical layer.

41. A method of handling measurement for a network in a wireless communications system, the method comprising:

determining a length of a measurement gap for a mobile device according to at least an uplink or downlink transmission opportunity, wherein the length of measurement gap is dynamic or semi-static; and

configuring to the mobile device the measurement gap during which a measurement is performed.

42. The method of claim 41, wherein the measurement gap is configured for the mobile device to receive signaling from a relay of the wireless communications system.

43. The method of claim 41, wherein at least a relay is deployed in the network, and transmits signaling to the mobile device.

44. The method of claim 41, wherein a random access procedure is performed by the mobile device during a measurement gap.

45. A method of handling measurement for a mobile device in a wireless communications system, the method comprising:

receiving configuration of a measurement gap from a network of the wireless communications system;

and further comprising at least one of;

skipping performing at least a first measurement of at least a first subframe or period within the measurement gap; and

performing at least a second measurement of at least a second subframe or period within the measurement gap.

46. The method of claim 45, wherein skipping performing at least a first measurement of at least a first subframe or period within the measurement gap comprises:

skipping performing at least a first measurement corresponding to a relay of the wireless communications system during a period of a transmission from a base station of the wireless communication to the relay within the measurement gap.

47. The method of claim 45, wherein performing at least a second measurement of the at least a second subframe or period within the measurement gap comprises:

performing at least a second measurement corresponding to a base station of the wireless communications system during a period of a transmission from the base station to a relay of the wireless communications system within the measurement gap.

48. The method of claim 47, further comprising:

performing at least a third measurement corresponding to the relay during a period of a transmission from the relay to the mobile device within the measurement gap.

49. The method of claim 45, wherein the configuration of the measurement gap comprises a length of the measurement gap and the length of the measurement gap is dynamic or semi-static according to at least an uplink or downlink transmission opportunity.

50. The method of claim 45, wherein the at least a first subframe are configured for a transmission from a base station to a relay of the wireless communications system.

51. The method of claim 45, wherein at least a relay is deployed in the network, and transmits signaling to the mobile device.

52. The method of claim 45, further comprising performing a random access procedure corresponding to a base station or a relay of the wireless communications system during the measurement gap.

53. The method of claim 45, wherein performing at least a second measurement of at least a second subframe or period within the measurement gap comprising:

measuring at least a connection corresponding to at least one of a base station and a relay of the wireless communications system within the measurement gap.

54. A method of handling measurement for a mobile device in a wireless communications system, the method comprising:

activating a measurement;

measuring cell state information reference signals (CSI-RS) or cell reference signals (CRS) from a plurality of cells associated with a coordinated multipoint transmission/reception (COMP) operation and configured for the mobile device or for a CoMP measurement; and

generating a measurement report including measurement result of measuring at least one of the CSI-RS and the CRS of each measured cell in the measurement report for each measured cell in the measurement report.

55. The method of claim 54, further comprising

sending the measurement report to a donor serving cell of the plurality of cells, wherein the donor serving cell is controlled by a donor base station which configures the plurality of cells associated with the COMP operation to the mobile device;

or

sending the measurement report to at least one of the plurality of cells associated with the COMP operation, or

sending separated measurement reports to corresponding measured cells of the plurality of cells associated with the COMP operation.

56. The method of claim 54, wherein measuring the CSI-RSs or the CRSs from the plurality of cells associated with the COMP operation and configured for the mobile device or for COMP measurement comprises:

for each of the plurality of cells, automatically determining whether to measure the CSI-RS or the CRS or whether to report the measurement of the CSI-RS or the CRS;

or

determining whether to measure the CSI-RS or the CRS or whether to report the measurement of the CSI-RS or the CRS according to a first indication received from the donor serving cell.

57. The method of claim 54, further comprising:

including a second indication for indicating a type of each of the measured reference signals, in the measurement report so that the network identifies the type of each of the measured reference signals with the indication.

58. The method of claim 57, wherein the network identifies the type of each of the measured reference signals with the indication, and then applies a power control procedure for the reference signal type being measured according to the indication.

59. The method of claim 58, wherein the power control procedure comprises different power control steps or offsets for the measured reference signals of different types, and the power control steps or offset for the measured reference signals of different types are configured dynamically or semi-statically.

60. The method of claim 57, further comprising:

including a physical cell identity (PCI) or a cell global identity (CGI) of each of the plurality of cells in the measurement report.

61. A method of handling measurement for a network in a wireless communications system, the method comprising:

configuring a plurality of cells to a mobile device of the wireless communications system for coordinated multipoint transmission/reception (COMP) operation; and

assigning the mobile device to measure full set or a first subset of the plurality of cells for a measurement.

62. The method of claim 61, wherein the plurality of cells configured to the mobile device are cells configured for a radio resource control (RRC) measurement, or for a COMP measurement.

63. The method of claim 61, further comprising

determining a length of a measurement gap for the measurement according to an amount of the full set or at least a first subset of the plurality of cells;

and

configuring the measurement gap to the mobile device.

64. The method of claim 63, wherein the length of the measurement gap for the measurement is predefined by the network, and is sufficient for measuring the full set or the at least a first subset of the plurality of cells.

65. The method of claim 61, further comprising:

assigning the mobile device an uplink grant so that the mobile device sends a measurement report associated with the measurement with the assigned uplink grant, wherein the assigned uplink grant is configured for the measurement or request by the mobile device.

66. The method of claim 61, further comprising:

determining a length of a measurement gap according to least common multiple (LCM) of reference signal transmission periods of the plurality of cells or according to least common multiple (LCM) of reference signal transmission periods of the cells where the mobile device responds feedback or are configured with measurement configuration; and

configuring the measurement gap to the mobile device for the measurement.

67. The method of claim 61, wherein the first subset of the plurality of cells are cells each has at least a transmission link with the mobile device.

68. The method of claim 67, further comprising:

allowing the mobile device to use a part of the first subset of the plurality of cells for performing uplink transmissions within the measurement gap, wherein the part of the first subset of the plurality of cells are the cells that have no transmission with the mobile device.

69. The method of claim 61, further comprising:

allowing the mobile device to use unassigned cells of the plurality of cells for performing uplink transmissions within the measurement gap.