Method and apparatus for supporting positioning measurements

• US 9,591,605 B2
• Filed: 10/17/2014
• Issued: 03/07/2017
• 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: Stern-Berkowitz, Janet A., Rudolf, Marian, Dennean, Charles A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gelin, Jean
• Application Number:
  US14/517,243
• Publication Number:
  US 20150094091A1
• Time in Patent Office: 872 Days
• Field of Search: 455/432.1, 455/432.3, 455/434, 455/435.1, 455/435.2, 455/435.3, 455/436, 455/446, 455/447, 455/502, 455/456.1, 455/456.2, 455/456.3, 455/456.5, 370/329, 370/335, 370/338, 370/350
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 first cell as a reference cell;

designating a second cell as a non-reference cell; and

providing, via a network entity to a wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU), reference cell information and non-reference cell information, wherein the non-reference cell information includes;

(1) a subframe offset between a first Positioning Reference Signal (PRS) transmitted by the reference cell and a second PRS transmitted by the non-reference cell and (2) time difference information indicative of a relative timing difference between the reference and non-reference cells based on the first and second PRSs.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the reference cell is a non-serving cell.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the non-reference cell information identifies a carrier frequency of the non-reference cell.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the reference cell information includes an identity of the reference cell.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the reference cell information includes PRS information for the reference cell on a condition that the reference cell supports PRS transmission.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the PRS information includes PRS subframe allocation information.

7. A location server, comprising:

a processor configured to;

designate a first cell as a reference cell;

designate a second cell as a non-reference cell; and

provide reference cell information and non-reference cell information to a wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) for performing positioning measurements with respect to the reference cell and the non-reference cell, wherein the non-reference cell information includes;

(1) a subframe offset between a first Positioning Reference Signal (PRS) transmitted by the reference cell and a second PRS transmitted by the non-reference cell and (2) time difference information indicative of a relative timing difference between the reference and non-reference cells based on the first and second PRSs.

8. The location server of claim 7, wherein the reference cell is a non-serving cell.

9. The location server of claim 7, wherein the non-reference cell information identifies a carrier frequency of the non-reference cell.

10. The location server of claim 7, wherein the reference cell information includes an identity of the reference cell.

11. The location server of claim 7, wherein the reference cell information includes PRS information for the reference cell on a condition that the reference cell supports PRS transmission.

12. The location server of claim 11, wherein the PRS information includes PRS subframe allocation information.

13. A method for supporting positioning measurements, comprising:

transmitting an identity of a reference cell to a wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU);

transmitting, via a network entity to the WTRU, assistance data, wherein the assistance data includes;

(1) a subframe offset between a first Positioning Reference Signal (PRS) transmitted by the reference cell and a second PRS transmitted by the non-reference cell, and (2) time difference information indicative of a relative timing difference between the reference and non-reference cells based on the first and second PRSs; and

receiving a measurement made using the assistance data from the WTRU.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the reference cell is a non-serving cell.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the assistance data identifies a carrier frequency of the non-reference cell.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the assistance data includes an identity of the non-reference cell.

17. A location server, comprising:

a processor configured to;

transmit an identity of a reference cell to a wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU);

transmit assistance data to the WTRU, wherein the assistance data includes;

(1) a subframe offset between a first Positioning Reference Signal (PRS) transmitted by the reference cell and a second PRS transmitted by the non-reference cell, and (2) time difference information indicative of a relative timing difference between the reference and non-reference cells based on the first and second PRSs; and

receive a measurement made using the assistance data from the WTRU.

18. The location server of claim 17, wherein the reference cell is a non-serving cell.

19. The location server of claim 17, wherein the assistance data identifies a carrier frequency of the non-reference cell.

20. The location server of claim 17, wherein the assistance data includes an identity of the non-reference cell.