Positioning location for remote radio heads (RRH) with same physical cell identity (PCI)

• US 9,521,646 B2
• Filed: 11/12/2015
• Issued: 12/13/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 02/22/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Ji, Tingfang, Palanki, Ravi, Gaal, Peter, Xu, Hao, Wei, Yongbin
• Primary Examiner(s): Chu, Wutchung
• Application Number:
  US14/940,086
• Publication Number:
  US 20160072616A1
• Time in Patent Office: 397 Days
• Field of Search: 370/241, 370/328, 370/329, 370/336, 370/350, 370/468
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 1/20 using a comparison of transit time of synchronised signals transmitted from non-directional antennas or antenna systems spaced apart, i.e. path-difference systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0048 Allocation of pilot signals, i.e. of signals known to the receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/02 Arrangements for optimising operational condition
• 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 72/0446 Resources in time domain, e.g. slots or frames
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/20 Control channels or signalling for resource management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/23 in the downlink direction of a wireless link, i.e. towards a terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/085 Access point devices with remote components

Abstract

A method of wireless communication includes generating a unique position reference signal (PRS) for a remote radio head having a same physical cell identity (PCI) as a macro eNodeB. The unique PRS is based on a virtual cell ID and/or unique cell global identification (CGI) of the remote radio head such that the unique PRS is different from a PRS of the macro eNodeB. The PRS of the macro eNodeB is based on the PCI. The method also includes transmitting the unique PRS.

Claims

1. A method of wireless communication, comprising:

generating a unique position reference signal (PRS) for a remote radio head having a same physical cell identity (PCI) as a macro eNodeB, the unique PRS being based on at least one of a virtual cell ID and cell global identification (CGI) of the remote radio head such that the unique PRS is different from a PRS of the macro eNodeB, the PRS of the macro eNodeB being based on the PCI; and

transmitting the unique PRS to a user equipment located in a region of a cell of the RRH that overlaps with a cell of the macro eNodeB.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising signaling to a user equipment (UE) that the PRS is based on at least one of the cell global identification or the virtual cell ID.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising signaling to a user equipment (UE), a position reference signal configuration of a plurality of remote radio heads in neighboring cells when the UE is near a serving cell boundary.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising

receiving uplink transmissions from a user equipment (UE);

and

determining a position location of the UE based on the received uplink transmissions.

5. An apparatus for wireless communication, comprising:

a memory; and

at least one processor coupled to the memory, the at least one processor being configured;

to generate a unique position reference signal (PRS) for a remote radio head (RRH) having a same physical cell identity (PCI) as a macro eNodeB, the unique PRS being based on at least one of a virtual cell ID and cell global identification (CGI) of the remote radio head such that the unique PRS is different from a PRS of the macro eNodeB, the PRS of the macro eNodeB being based on the PCI; and

to transmit the unique PRS to a user equipment located in a region of a cell of the RRH that overlaps with a cell of the macro eNodeB.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, in which the processor is further configured to signal to a user equipment (UE) that the PRS is based on at least one of the cell global identification or the virtual cell ID.

7. The apparatus of claim 5, in which the processor is further configured to signal to a user equipment (UE), a position reference signal configuration of a plurality of remote radio heads in neighboring cells when the UE is near a serving cell boundary.

8. The apparatus of claim 5, in which the processor is further configured:

to receive uplink transmissions from a user equipment (UE); and

to determine a position location of the UE based on the received uplink transmissions.

9. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having non-transitory program code recorded thereon for wireless communication in a wireless network, the program code being executed by at least one processor and comprising:

program code to generate a unique position reference signal (PRS) for a remote radio head (RRH) having a same physical cell identity (PCI) as a macro eNodeB, the unique PRS being based on at least one of a virtual cell ID and cell global identification (CGI) of the remote radio head such that the unique PRS is different from a PRS of the macro eNodeB, the PRS of the macro eNodeB being based on the PCI; and

program code to transmit the unique PRS to a user equipment located in a region of a cell of the RRH that overlaps with a cell of the macro eNodeB.

10. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 9, in which the program code further comprises program code to signal to a user equipment (UE) that the PRS is based on at least one of the cell global identification or the virtual cell ID.

11. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 9, in which the program code further comprises program code to signal to a user equipment (UE), a position reference signal configuration of a plurality of remote radio heads in neighboring cells when the UE is near a serving cell boundary.

12. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 9, in which the program code further comprises:

program code to receive uplink transmissions from a user equipment (UE); and

program code to determine a position location of the UE based on the received uplink transmissions.

13. An apparatus for wireless communication, comprising:

means for generating a unique position reference signal (PRS) for a remote radio head (RRH) having a same physical cell identity (PCI) as a macro eNodeB, the unique PRS being based on at least one of a virtual cell ID and cell global identification (CGI) of the remote radio head such that the unique PRS is different from a PRS of the macro eNodeB, the PRS of the macro eNodeB being based on the PCI; and

means for transmitting the unique PRS to a user equipment located in a region of a cell of the RRH that overlaps with a cell of the macro eNodeB.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising means for signaling to a user equipment (UE) that the PRS is based on at least one of the cell global identification or the virtual cell ID.

15. The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising means for signaling to a user equipment (UE), a position reference signal configuration of a plurality of remote radio heads in neighboring cells when the UE is near a serving cell boundary.

16. The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising:

means for receiving uplink transmissions from a user equipment (UE); and

means for determining a position location of the UE based on the received uplink transmissions.