Positioning in the presence of passive distributed elements

• US 9,986,526 B2
• Filed: 03/07/2016
• Issued: 05/29/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 06/26/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Khandekar, Aamod Dinkar, Palanki, Ravi, Sampath, Ashwin, Bhushan, Naga, Bachu, Raja Sekhar
• Primary Examiner(s): Mui, Gary
• Application Number:
  US15/063,159
• Publication Number:
  US 20160192317A1
• Time in Patent Office: 813 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0063 of measured values, i.e. measurement on base station and position calculation on mobile
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0081 Transmission between base stations
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0236 Assistance data, e.g. base station almanac
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0273 using multipath or indirect path propagation signals in position determination
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/15 Active relay systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/003 locating network equipment

Abstract

Systems and methodologies are described that facilitate transmitting positioning reference signals (PRS) differently for passive distributed elements. PRSs for passive distributed elements can be transmitted over disparate resources than those utilized for PRSs at a related access point, using different symbol sequences, and/or the like. In this regard, wireless devices can differentiate between PRSs from access points and those from passive distributed elements, which can mitigate confusion for processes involving such RSs, such as position determining. Alternatively, passive distributed elements can refrain from transmitting PRSs, and a corresponding access point can indicate to wireless devices to only determine positioning based on PRSs. Thus, the wireless devices can utilize the PRSs transmitted from the access point (and not other reference signals transmitted from the passive distributed element) to determine a position.

Claims

1. A method of wireless communication, comprising:

receiving an indicator that specifies a first signal type receivable from one or more access points for determining a position, wherein the first signal type is selected from at least two different signal types for determining the position; and

measuring, responsive to the indicator, only signals of the first signal type to determine the position while not measuring a second signal type, receivable from a passive distributed element, to determine the position, wherein the passive distributed element is configured by the one or more access points to transmit the second signal type of the at least two different signal types.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first signal type comprises positioning reference signals (PRSs).

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the second signal type comprises common reference signals (CRSs).

4. A wireless communications apparatus, comprising:

at least one processor configured to;

receive an indicator that specifies a first signal type receivable from one or more access points for determining a position, wherein the first signal type is selected from at least two different signal types for determining the position;

determine whether received wireless signals were transmitted by the one or more access points or transmitted by a passive distributed element; and

responsive to a determination that the received wireless signals were transmitted by the one or more access points, measure only signals of the first signal type receivable from the one or more access points; and

a memory coupled to the at least one processor.

5. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 4, wherein the indicator specifies a positioning reference signal as the first signal type.

6. An apparatus, comprising:

means for receiving an indicator that specifies a first signal type receivable from one or more access points for determining a position, wherein the first signal type is selected from at least two different signal types for determining the position; and

means for measuring, responsive to the indicator, only signals of the first signal type to determine the position while not measuring a second signal type, receivable from a passive distributed element, to determine the position, wherein the passive distributed element is configured by the one or more access points to transmit the second signal type of the at least two different signal types.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the indicator specifies a positioning reference signal as the first signal type.

8. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having program code recorded thereon, the program code comprising:

program code to receive an indicator that specifies a first signal type receivable from one or more access points for determining a position, wherein the first signal type is selected from at least two different signal types for determining the position; and

program code to measure, responsive to the indicator, only signals of the first signal type to determine the position while not measuring a second signal type, receivable from a passive distributed element, to determine the position, wherein the passive distributed element is configured by the one or more access points to transmit the second signal type of the at least two different signal types.

9. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 8, wherein the indicator specifies a positioning reference signal as the first signal type.

10. An apparatus, comprising:

a receiver to receive wireless signals; and

a processor comprising an assistance data receiving component implemented in the processor, a source determining component implemented in the processor, and a positioning determining component implemented in the processor, wherein

the assistance data receiving component is configured to process an indicator that specifies a first signal type receivable from one or more access points for determining a position, wherein the first signal type is selected from at least two different signal types for determining the position;

the source determining component is configured to determine whether received wireless signals were transmitted by the one or more access points or transmitted by a passive distributed element; and

the position determining component is configured to measure, responsive to a determination that the received wireless signals were transmitted by the one or more access points, only signals of the first signal type receivable from the one or more access points.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the indicator specifies a positioning reference signal as the first signal type.

12. A method of wireless communication, comprising:

transmitting, to a wireless device, an indication that specifies a first signal type receivable for determining positioning data, wherein the first signal type is selected from at least two different signal types for determining the position;

transmitting, to a passive distributed element, an indication to transmit a second signal type of the at least two different signal types; and

transmitting, to the wireless device, a signal comprising the first signal type for determining the positioning data.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the first signal type comprises a positioning reference signal.

14. A wireless communications apparatus, comprising:

at least one processor configured to;

transmit, to a wireless device, an indication that specifies a first signal type receivable for determining positioning data, wherein the first signal type is selected from at least two different signal types for determining the positioning data;

transmit, to a passive distributed element, an indication to transmit a second signal type of the at least two different signal types; and

transmit, to the wireless device, a signal comprising the first signal type for determining the positioning data; and

a memory coupled to the at least one processor.

15. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 14, wherein the first signal type comprises a positioning reference signal.

16. An apparatus, comprising:

means for transmitting, to a wireless device, an indication that specifies a first signal type receivable for determining positioning data, wherein the first signal type is selected from at least two different signal types for determining the positioning data;

means for transmitting, to a passive distributed element, an indication to transmit a second signal type of the at least two different signal types; and

means for transmitting, to the wireless device, a signal comprising the first signal type for determining the positioning data.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the first signal type comprises a positioning reference signal.

18. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having program code recorded thereon, the program code comprising:

program code to transmit, to a wireless device, an indication that specifies a first signal type receivable for determining positioning data, wherein the first signal type is selected from at least two different signal types for determining the positioning data;

program code to transmit, to a passive distributed element, an indication to transmit a second signal type of the at least two different signal types; and

program code to transmit, to the wireless device, a signal comprising the first signal type for determining the positioning data.

19. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 18, wherein the first signal type comprises a positioning reference signal.

20. An apparatus, comprising:

a transmitter; and

a processor, wherein the transmitter and the processor are together configured;

to transmit, to a wireless device, an indication that specifies a first signal type receivable for determining positioning data, wherein the first signal type is selected from at least two different signal types for determining the positioning data;

to transmit, to a passive distributed element, an indication to transmit a second signal type of the at least two different signal types; and

to transmit, to the wireless device, a signal comprising the first signal for determining the positioning data.

21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the first signal type comprises a positioning reference signal.