Blind search for network positioning reference signal (PRS) configuration parameters

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9490935-B2
Application number	US-201414221140-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 20, 2014
Priority date	Sep 7, 2013
Publication date	Nov 8, 2016
Grant date	Nov 8, 2016

Abstract

A method for blindly determining positioning reference signals in a wireless communication network determines a positioning reference signal (PRS) network configuration by estimating a PRS energy from predetermined locations of each subframe of an incoming signal. Such a method may also include blindly detecting PRS parameters based on the estimated PRS energy. The PRS energy may be peak energy responses for deep searches or verifications. The PRS energy may be a signal to signal plus noise ratio for shallow searches.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for determining a positioning reference signal (PRS) network configuration by a user equipment (UE), comprising:
estimating a PRS energy from predetermined locations of each subframe of an incoming signal by observing, within a radio frame, a first subframe having a peak energy response above a threshold value; and
blindly detecting PRS parameters based at least in part on the estimated PRS energy by:
scanning the radio frame a plurality of times;
determining presence of a PRS signal in each subframe of the radio frame based on the estimated PRS energy of each subframe being above the threshold value;
assigning a value to each determined subframe based at least in part on a majority value of the plurality of scans; and
determining the PRS parameters based on at least in part on a muting pattern, wherein the muting pattern is based at least in part on the assigned value for each subframe.

2. The method of claim 1 , in which the PRS energy comprises a PRS peak energy response.

3. The method of claim 2 , in which estimating the PRS peak energy response comprises observing peak energy responses across a plurality of frequency tones; and blindly detecting PRS parameters comprises determining a PRS bandwidth parameter based at least in part on the observations.

4. The method of claim 2 , in which estimating the PRS peak energy response comprises: blindly detecting PRS parameters comprises determining a subframe offset parameter for a start of PRS occasions based at least in part on the observations.

5. The method of claim 1 , in which the PRS energy comprises a PRS signal to signal plus noise ratio.

6. An apparatus for wireless communication, comprising: a receiver configured to receive signals from a plurality of locations; and at least one processor configured:
to estimate a PRS energy from predetermined locations of each subframe of an incoming signal by observing, within a radio frame, a first subframe having a peak energy response above a threshold value; and
to blindly detect PRS parameters based at least in part on the estimated energy by:
scanning the radio frame a plurality of times;
determining presence of a PRS signal in each subframe of the radio frame based on the estimated PRS energy of each subframe being above the threshold value;
assigning a value to each determined subframe based at least in part on a majority value of the plurality of scans; and
determining the PRS parameters based on at least in part on a muting pattern, wherein the muting pattern is based at least in part on the assigned value for each subframe.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 , in which the PRS energy comprises a PRS peak energy response.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 , in which the at least one processor is further configured:
to observe peak energy responses across a plurality of frequency tones; and
to determine a PRS bandwidth parameter based at least in part on the observations.

9. The apparatus of claim 7 , in which the at least one processor is further configured: to determine a subframe offset parameter for a start of PRS occasions based at least in part on the observations.

10. The apparatus of claim 6 , in which the PRS energy comprises a PRS signal to signal plus noise ratio.

11. A computer program product comprising:
a non-transitory computer-readable medium having program code recorded thereon, the program code comprising:
program code to estimate a PRS energy from predetermined locations of each subframe of an incoming signal by observing, within a radio frame, a first subframe having a peak energy response above a threshold value; and
program code to blindly detect PRS parameters based at least in part on the estimated PRS energy by:
scanning the radio frame a plurality of times;
determining presence of a PRS signal in each subframe of the radio frame based on the estimated PRS energy of each subframe being above the threshold value;
assigning a value to each determined subframe based at least in part on a majority value of the plurality of scans; and
determining the PRS parameters based on at least in part on a muting pattern, wherein the muting pattern is based at least in part on the assigned value for each subframe.

12. The program product of claim 11 , in which the PRS energy comprises a PRS peak energy response.

13. The program product of claim 11 , in which the PRS energy comprises a PRS signal to signal plus noise ratio.

14. An apparatus for wireless communication, comprising:
means for estimating a PRS energy from predetermined locations of each subframe of an incoming signal by observing, within a radio frame, a first subframe having a peak energy response above a threshold value; and
means for blindly detecting PRS parameters based at least in part on the estimated PRS energy by:
scanning the radio frame a plurality of times;
determining presence of a PRS signal in each subframe of the radio frame based on the estimated PRS energy of each subframe being above the threshold value;
assigning a value to each determined subframe based at least in part on a majority value of the plurality of scans; and
determining the PRS parameters based on at least in part on a muting pattern, wherein the muting pattern is based at least in part on the assigned value for each subframe.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 , in which the PRS energy comprises a PRS peak energy response.

16. The apparatus of claim 14 , in which the PRS energy comprises a PRS signal to signal plus noise ratio.

Assignees

• Qualcomm Inc

Inventors

• Mirbagheri Arash
• Opshaug Guttorm Ringstad
• Werner Benjamin Alfred
• Ristic Borislav

Classifications

• H04W64/00 Primary

  Locating users or terminals {or network equipment} for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management · CPC title

• G01S5/02216

  Timing or synchronisation of the receivers · CPC title

• H04L5/0023

  Time-frequency-space · CPC title

• H04L27/2666

  Acquisition of further OFDM parameters, e.g. bandwidth, subcarrier spacing, or guard interval length · CPC title

• H04L5/0048

  Allocation of pilot signals, i.e. of signals known to the receiver (allocation of control signalling H04L5/0053; use of control signalling H04L5/0091) · CPC title