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

• US 9,615,348 B2
• Filed: 12/29/2015
• Issued: 04/04/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 02/22/2011
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• 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:
  US14/983,152
• Publication Number:
  US 20160112983A1
• Time in Patent Office: 462 Days
• Field of Search: 370329, 370338, 370328, 4554561, 4554564, 4554565, 4554566
• 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 receiving position location reference signals (PRSs) from multiple remote radio heads (RRHs) and a macro eNodeB having a same physical cell identity (PCI). Each PRS is a same PRS. Additionally, the PRSs from the multiple RRHs are received on subframes that are different from subframes used by the macro eNodeB. Furthermore, each PRS does not indicate a source of transmission. The method also includes determining a time difference between the received PRSs.

Claims

1. A method of wireless communication by a user equipment (UE), comprising:

receiving position location reference signals (PRSs) from a plurality of remote radio heads (RRHs) and a macro eNodeB, the plurality of RRHs and the macro eNodeB having a same physical cell identity (PCI), each PRS being a same PRS and not indicating a source of transmission, a first PRS from a first RRH having been transmitted at a time that is different from each other transmission time of other PRSs from other RRHs and also different from a transmission time of a second PRS from the macro eNodeB; and

determining a position location based at least in part on the first PRS and the second PRS.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving a mapping function for determining which node transmitted each PRS based on the timing.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining UE measurements based at least in part on reference signal time difference (RSTD) measurements from the first PRS and the second PRS.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising transmitting the UE measurements to a position location server to determine the position location.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting uplink signals that enable calculation of reference signal time difference (RSTD) measurements at the macro eNodeB and at least one RRH, the RSTDs being used for the position location.

6. An apparatus for wireless communication, the apparatus comprising:

means for receiving position location reference signals (PRSs) from a plurality of remote radio heads (RRHs) and a macro eNodeB, the plurality of RRHs and the macro eNodeB having a same physical cell identity (PCI), each PRS being a same PRS and not indicating a source of transmission, a first PRS from a first RRH having been transmitted at a time that is different from each other transmission time of other PRSs from other RRHs and also different from a transmission time of a second PRS from the macro eNodeB; and

means for determining a position location based at least in part on the first PRS and the second PRS.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, further comprising means for receiving a mapping function for determining which node transmitted each PRS based on the timing.

8. The apparatus of claim 6, further comprising means for determining UE measurements based at least in part on reference signal time difference (RSTD) measurements from the first PRS and the second PRS.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, further comprising means for transmitting the UE measurements to a position location server to determine the position location.

10. The apparatus of claim 6, further comprising means for transmitting uplink signals that enable calculation of reference signal time difference (RSTD) measurements at the macro eNodeB and at least one RRH, the RSTDs being used for the position location.

11. An apparatus for wireless communication, the apparatus comprising:

a memory; and

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

to receive position location reference signals (PRSs) from a plurality of remote radio heads (RRHs) and a macro eNodeB, the plurality of RRHs and the macro eNodeB having a same physical cell identity (PCI), each PRS being a same PRS and not indicating a source of transmission, a first PRS from a first RRH having been transmitted at a time that is different from each other transmission time of other PRSs from other RRHs and also different from a transmission time of a second PRS from the macro eNodeB; and

to determine a position location based at least in part on the first PRS and the second PRS.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, in which the at least one processor is further configured to receive a mapping function for determining which node transmitted each PRS based on the timing.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, in which the at least one processor is further configured to determine UE measurements based at least in part on reference signal time difference (RSTD) measurements from the first PRS and the second PRS.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, in which the at least one processor is further configured to transmit the UE measurements to a position location server to determine the position location.

15. The apparatus of claim 11, in which the at least one processor is further configured to transmit uplink signals that enable calculation of reference signal time difference (RSTD) measurements at the macro eNodeB and at least one RRH, the RSTDs being used for the position location.

16. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having a program code recorded thereon for wireless communication, when executed by at least one processor, the program code causing the at least one processor to perform operations comprising:

receiving position location reference signals (PRSs) from a plurality of remote radio heads (RRHs) and a macro eNodeB, the plurality of RRHs and the macro eNodeB having a same physical cell identity (PCI), each PRS being a same PRS and not indicating a source of transmission, a first PRS from a first RRH having been transmitted at a time that is different from each other transmission time of other PRSs from other RRHs and also different from a transmission time of a second PRS from the macro eNodeB; and

determining a position location based at least in part on the first PRS and the second PRS.

17. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 16, further comprising program code to cause the at least one processor to perform operations comprising receiving a mapping function for determining which node transmitted each PRS based on the timing.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 16, further comprising program code to cause the at least one processor to perform operations comprising determining UE measurements based at least in part on reference signal time difference (RSTD) measurements from the first PRS and the second PRS.

19. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 18, further comprising program code to cause the at least one processor to perform operations comprising transmitting the UE measurements to a position location server to determine the position location.

20. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 16, further comprising program code to cause the at least one processor to perform operations comprising transmitting uplink signals that enable calculation of reference signal time difference (RSTD) measurements at the macro eNodeB and at least one RRH, the RSTDs being used for the position location.