METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SUPPORTING POSITIONING MEASUREMENTS

• US 20110039577A1
• Filed: 08/13/2010
• Published: 02/17/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/13/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: InterDigital Patent Holdings, Inc. (InterDigital, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: InterDigital Patent Holdings, Inc. (InterDigital, Inc.)
• Inventors: Dennean, Charles A., Stern-Berkowitz, Janet A., Rudolf, Marian
• Granted Patent: US 8,909,271 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/456.1
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0205 Details
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0236 Assistance data, e.g. base station almanac
• 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 5/0048 Allocation of pilot signals, i.e. of signals known to the receiver
• 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 64/003 locating network equipment
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/0446 Resources in time domain, e.g. slots or frames

Abstract

A method and apparatus for supporting positioning measurements. The methods include designating a reference cell, choosing a positioning signal, and, for inter-frequency measurements, determining which inter-frequency cell to measure and how to make such an inter-frequency positioning measurement.

Claims

1. A method for supporting positioning measurements, comprising:

designating a cell as a reference cell; and

transmitting the reference cell information to a wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU).

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the reference cell is not a serving cell.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting positioning reference signal (PRS) information for the reference cell to the WTRU on a condition that the reference cell supports PRS.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the PRS information includes PRS subframe allocation information.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein lack of signaling of the PRS information equals non-support of PRS.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting information for each non-reference cell that indicates that its transmission of a positioning reference signal is synchronized with the reference cell'"'"'s transmission of a positioning reference signal.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting at least one carrier frequency with respect to at least one inter-frequency cell being used for positioning measurements.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the at least one carrier frequency is provided as assistance data.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein assistance data is signaled via one of radio resource control or long term evolution positioning protocol signaling.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein the at least one carrier frequency is identified using an evolved absolute radio frequency channel number (EARFCN).

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the EARFCN is provided as assistance data.

12. A method for supporting positioning measurements, comprising:

receiving reference cell information from a network; and

making positioning measurements using the reference cell information.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

receiving positioning reference signal (PRS) information for a reference cell on a condition that the reference cell supports PRS.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the PRS information includes PRS subframe allocation information.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein a wireless transmit/receive unit determines lack of positioning reference signal (PRS) support by the reference cell from lack of signaling of PRS information for the reference cell.

16. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

receiving information for each non-reference cell that indicates that its transmission of a positioning reference signal is synchronized with the reference cell'"'"'s transmission of a positioning reference signal.

17. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

receiving at least one carrier frequency with respect to at least one inter-frequency cell being used for positioning measurements.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the at least one carrier frequency is provided as assistance data.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein assistance data is signaled via one of radio resource control or long term evolution positioning protocol signaling.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the at least one carrier frequency is identified using an evolved absolute radio frequency channel number (EARFCN).

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the EARFCN is provided as assistance data.