METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR WIRELESS DEVICE POSITIONING IN MULTICARRIER CONFIGURATIONS

• US 20120329476A1
• Filed: 06/21/2012
• Published: 12/27/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/22/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Tenny, Nathan E.
• Granted Patent: US 9,363,782 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/456.1
• 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 76/15 Setup of multiple wireless link connections

Abstract

The described aspects include methods and apparatus for performing positioning for a user equipment (UE). The UE can communicate with a plurality of serving cells in a multicarrier configuration, and can indicate a plurality of serving cell identifiers corresponding to the plurality of serving cells in a message to a positioning server. The positioning server can obtain location information corresponding to at least a portion of a plurality of cells, or related eNBs, related to the plurality of serving cell identifiers, and can communicate the location information to the UE. The UE can perform positioning based at least in part on the location information.

Claims

1. A method for performing positioning for a user equipment (UE), comprising:

communicating with a plurality of serving cells in a multicarrier configuration; and

indicating a plurality of serving cell identifiers corresponding to the plurality of serving cells in a message to a positioning server.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving location information for the plurality of serving cell identifiers; and

performing positioning for a UE based at least in part on the location information.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the location information additionally corresponds to neighboring cells of the plurality of serving cells or other cells selected based at least in part on the plurality of serving cells.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the other cells are within a threshold distance of at least one of the plurality of serving cells, use a similar operating frequency as at least one of the plurality of serving cells, or are within radio visibility of at least one of the plurality of serving cells.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of serving cell identifiers correspond to a global cell identifier, an operating frequency of the plurality of serving cells, or a carrier identifier.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the message is a LTE Positioning Protocol (LPP) message.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the message is a Secure User Plane Location (SUPL) message.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the indicating comprises including the plurality of serving cell identifiers as a Location ID in the SUPL message.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the indicating comprises including the plurality of serving cell identifiers in a list of Multiple Location IDs in the SUPL message.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the indicating comprises setting a serving cell flag to TRUE for each of the plurality of serving cell identifiers in the list of Multiple Location IDs.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the indicating comprises specifying that each of the plurality of serving cell identifiers in the list of Multiple Location IDs have the same timestamp.

12. An apparatus for performing positioning for a user equipment (UE), comprising:

means for communicating with a plurality of serving cells in a multicarrier configuration; and

means for indicating a plurality of serving cell identifiers corresponding to the plurality of serving cells in a message to a positioning server.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, further comprising:

means for receiving location information for the plurality of serving cell identifiers; and

means for performing positioning for a UE based at least in part on the location information.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the location information additionally corresponds to neighboring cells of the plurality of serving cells or other cells selected based at least in part on the plurality of serving cells.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the other cells are within a threshold distance of at least one of the plurality of serving cells, use a similar operating frequency as at least one of the plurality of serving cells, or are within radio visibility of at least one of the plurality of serving cells.

16. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the plurality of serving cell identifiers correspond to a global cell identifier, an operating frequency of the plurality of serving cells, or a carrier identifier.

17. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the message is a LTE Positioning Protocol (LPP) message.

18. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the message is a Secure User Plane Location (SUPL) message.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the means for indicating includes the plurality of serving cell identifiers as a Location ID in the SUPL message.

20. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the means for indicating includes the plurality of serving cell identifiers in a list of Multiple Location IDs in the SUPL message.

21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the means for indicating sets a serving cell flag to TRUE for each of the plurality of serving cell identifiers in the list of Multiple Location IDs.

22. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the means for indicating specifies that each of the plurality of serving cell identifiers in the list of Multiple Location IDs have the same timestamp.

23. A computer program product for performing positioning for a user equipment (UE), comprising:

a non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising;

code for causing at least one computer to communicate with a plurality of serving eNBs in a multicarrier configuration; and

code for causing the at least one computer to indicate a plurality of serving cell identifiers corresponding to the plurality of serving cells in a message to a positioning server.

24. The computer program product of claim 23, wherein the non-transitory computer-readable medium further comprises:

code for causing the at least one computer to receive location information for the plurality of serving cell identifiers from the positioning server; and

code for causing the at least one computer to perform positioning for a UE based at least in part on the location information.

25. The computer program product of claim 24, wherein the location information additionally corresponds to neighboring cells of the plurality of serving cells or other cells selected based at least in part on the plurality of serving cells.

26. The computer program product of claim 25, wherein the other cells are within a threshold distance of at least one of the plurality of serving cells, use a similar operating frequency as at least one of the plurality of serving cells, or are within radio visibility of at least one of the plurality of serving cells.

27. The computer program product of claim 23, wherein the plurality of serving cell identifiers correspond to a global cell identifier, an operating frequency of the plurality of serving cells, or a carrier identifier.

28. The computer program product of claim 23, wherein the message is a LTE Positioning Protocol (LPP) message.

29. The computer program product of claim 23, wherein the message is a Secure User Plane Location (SUPL) message.

30. The computer program product of claim 29, wherein the code for causing the at least one computer to indicate includes the plurality of serving cell identifiers as a Location ID in the SUPL message.

31. The computer program product of claim 29, wherein the code for causing the at least one computer to indicate includes the plurality of serving cell identifiers in a list of Multiple Location IDs in the SUPL message.

32. The computer program product of claim 31, wherein the code for causing the at least one computer to indicate sets a serving cell flag to TRUE for each of the plurality of serving cell identifiers in the list of Multiple Location IDs.

33. The computer program product of claim 31, wherein the code for causing the at least one computer to indicate specifies that each of the plurality of serving cell identifiers in the list of Multiple Location IDs have the same timestamp.

34. An apparatus for performing positioning for a user equipment (UE), comprising:

a processor;

a memory in electronic communication with the processor;

instructions stored in the memory, the instructions being executable by the processor to;

communicate with a plurality of serving cells in a multicarrier configuration; and

indicate a plurality of serving cell identifiers corresponding to the plurality of serving cells in a message to a positioning server.

35. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein the instructions being further executable by the processor to:

receive location information for the plurality of serving cell identifiers; and

perform positioning for a UE based at least in part on the location information.

36. The apparatus of claim 35, wherein the location information additionally corresponds to neighboring cells of the plurality of serving cells or other cells selected based at least in part on the plurality of serving cells.

37. The apparatus of claim 36, wherein the other cells are within a threshold distance of at least one of the plurality of serving cells, use a similar operating frequency as at least one of the plurality of serving cells, or are within radio visibility of at least one of the plurality of serving cells.

38. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein the plurality of serving cell identifiers correspond to a global cell identifier, an operating frequency of the plurality of serving cells, or a carrier identifier.

39. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein the message is a LTE Positioning Protocol (LPP) message.

40. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein the message is a Secure User Plane Location (SUPL) message.

41. The apparatus of claim 40, wherein the instructions being executable by the processor to indicate the plurality of serving cell identifiers specify the plurality of serving cell identifiers as a Location ID in the SUPL message.

42. The apparatus of claim 40, wherein the instructions being executable by the processor to indicate the plurality of serving cell identifiers specify the plurality of serving cell identifiers in a list of Multiple Location IDs in the SUPL message.

43. The apparatus of claim 42, wherein the instructions being executable by the processor to indicate the plurality of serving cell identifiers set a serving cell flag to TRUE for each of the plurality of serving cell identifiers in the list of Multiple Location IDs.

44. The apparatus of claim 42, wherein the instructions being executable by the processor to indicate the plurality of serving cell identifiers specify that each of the plurality of serving cell identifiers in the list of Multiple Location IDs have the same timestamp.

45. An apparatus for performing positioning for a user equipment (UE), comprising:

a multicarrier communicating component for communicating with a plurality of serving cells in a multicarrier configuration; and

a serving cell identifier providing component for indicating a plurality of serving cell identifiers corresponding to the plurality of serving cells in a message to a positioning server.

46. The apparatus of claim 45, further comprising:

a location information receiving component for receiving location information for the plurality of serving cell identifiers; and

a positioning component for performing positioning for a UE based at least in part on the location information.

47. The apparatus of claim 46, wherein the location information additionally corresponds to neighboring cells of the plurality of serving cells or other cells selected based at least in part on the plurality of serving cells.

48. The apparatus of claim 47, wherein the other cells are within a threshold distance of at least one of the plurality of serving cells, use a similar operating frequency as at least one of the plurality of serving cells, or are within radio visibility of at least one of the plurality of serving cells.

49. The apparatus of claim 45, wherein the plurality of serving cell identifiers correspond to a global cell identifier, an operating frequency of the plurality of serving cells, or a carrier identifier.

50. The apparatus of claim 45, wherein the message is a LTE Positioning Protocol (LPP) message.

51. The apparatus of claim 45, wherein the message is a Secure User Plane Location (SUPL) message.

52. The apparatus of claim 51, wherein the serving cell identifier providing component includes the plurality of serving cell identifiers as a Location ID in the SUPL message.

53. The apparatus of claim 51, wherein the serving cell identifier providing component includes the plurality of serving cell identifiers in a list of Multiple Location IDs in the SUPL message.

54. The apparatus of claim 53, wherein the serving cell identifier providing component sets a serving cell flag to TRUE for each of the plurality of serving cell identifiers in the list of Multiple Location IDs.

55. The apparatus of claim 53, wherein the serving cell identifier providing component specifies that each of the plurality of serving cell identifiers in the list of Multiple Location IDs have the same timestamp.

56. A method for providing location information to a user equipment (UE), comprising:

receiving a message comprising a plurality of serving cell identifiers related to a UE;

obtaining location information corresponding to at least a portion of a plurality of cells related to the plurality of serving cell identifiers; and

communicating the location information to the UE.

57. The method of claim 56, further comprising:

obtaining intra-frequency location information corresponding to one or more other cells utilizing a similar operating frequency as at least one of the plurality of cells; and

communicating the intra-frequency location information to the UE along with one or more identifiers corresponding to the one or more other cells.

58. The method of claim 56, wherein the message is a LTE Positioning Protocol (LPP) message or a Secure User Plane Location (SUPL) message.

59. An apparatus for providing location information to a user equipment (UE), comprising:

means for receiving a message comprising a plurality of serving cell identifiers related to a UE;

means for obtaining location information corresponding to at least a portion of a plurality of cells related to the plurality of serving cell identifiers; and

means for communicating the location information to the UE.

60. The apparatus of claim 59, wherein the means for obtaining further obtains intra-frequency location information corresponding to one or more other cells utilizing a similar operating frequency as at least one of the plurality of cells, and the means for communicating further communicates the intra-frequency location information to the UE along with one or more identifiers corresponding to the one or more other cells.

61. The apparatus of claim 59, wherein the message is a LTE Positioning Protocol (LPP) message or a Secure User Plane Location (SUPL) message.

62. A computer program product for providing location information to a user equipment (UE), comprising:

a non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising;

code for causing at least one computer to receive a message comprising a plurality of serving cell identifiers related to a UE;

code for causing the at least one computer to obtain location information corresponding to at least a portion of a plurality of cells related to the plurality of serving cell identifiers; and

code for causing the at least one computer to communicate the location information to the UE.

63. The computer program product of claim 62, wherein the code for causing the at least one computer to obtain further obtains intra-frequency location information corresponding to one or more other cells utilizing a similar operating frequency as at least one of the plurality of cells, and the code for causing the at least one computer to communicate further communicates the intra-frequency location information to the UE along with one or more identifiers corresponding to the one or more other cells.

64. The computer program product of claim 62, wherein the message is a LTE Positioning Protocol (LPP) message or a Secure User Plane Location (SUPL) message.

65. An apparatus for providing location information to a user equipment (UE), comprising:

a processor;

memory in electronic communication with the processor;

instructions stored in the memory, the instructions being executable by the processor to;

receive a message comprising a plurality of serving cell identifiers related to a UE;

obtain location information corresponding to at least a portion of a plurality of cells related to the plurality of serving cell identifiers; and

communicate the location information to the UE.

66. The apparatus of claim 65, wherein the instructions being further executable by the processor to:

obtain intra-frequency location information corresponding to one or more other cells utilizing a similar operating frequency as at least one of the plurality of cells; and

communicate the intra-frequency location information to the UE along with one or more identifiers corresponding to the one or more other cells.

67. The apparatus of claim 65, wherein the message is a LTE Positioning Protocol (LPP) message or a Secure User Plane Location (SUPL) message.

68. An apparatus for providing location information to a user equipment (UE), comprising:

a serving cell identifier receiving component for receiving a message comprising a plurality of serving cell identifiers related to a UE;

a location information determining component for obtaining location information corresponding to at least a portion of a plurality of cells related to the plurality of serving cell identifiers; and

a location information communicating component for communicating the location information to the UE.

69. The apparatus of claim 68, wherein the location information determining component further obtains intra-frequency location information corresponding to one or more other cells utilizing a similar operating frequency as at least one of the plurality of cells, and the location information communicating component further communicates the intra-frequency location information to the UE along with one or more identifiers corresponding to the one or more other cells.

70. The apparatus of claim 68, wherein the message is a LTE Positioning Protocol (LPP) message or a Secure User Plane Location (SUPL) message.