Positioning reference signal (PRS) generation for multiple transmit antenna systems

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9651653-B2
Application number	US-201313797752-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 12, 2013
Priority date	Dec 24, 2012
Publication date	May 16, 2017
Grant date	May 16, 2017

Abstract

A method of providing Observed Time Difference of Arrival (OTDOA) assistance information to a mobile station is disclosed. In some embodiments, the OTDOA assistance information may comprise Positioning Reference Signal (PRS) assistance information including antenna switching assistance information for at least one cell. In one embodiment, the method may be implemented on a location server for the cell.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A processor-implemented method of providing Observed Time Difference of Arrival (OTDOA) assistance information from a location server, the method comprising:
sending, via a communications interface on the location server, the OTDOA assistance information to a User Equipment (UE), the OTDOA assistance information comprising Positioning Reference Signal (PRS) assistance information, wherein when physical transmitting antenna element switching is used by at least one cell in a subset of cells served by the location server, the PRS assistance information includes antenna switching assistance information for the at least one cell, wherein the antenna switching assistance information further comprises at least one of:
one or more parameters, and wherein each of the one or more parameters:
identifies a cell in the subset of cells served by the location server, and
indicates whether physical transmitting antenna element switching occurs between PRS positioning occasions for the cell; or,

information pertaining to an antenna switching interval.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more parameters comprise Boolean parameters.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
the antenna switching interval is specified in terms of a number of consecutive PRS positioning occasions transmitted on a physical transmitting antenna element in the at least one cell before the physical transmitting antenna element is switched.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the antenna switching assistance information further comprises at least one of:
antenna switching pattern information.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the OTDOA assistance information is sent to the MS using Long Term Evolution (LTE) Positioning Protocol (LPP) or LPP extensions (LPPe) messages.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the location server for the at least one cell is one of: a Serving Mobile Location Center (SMLC), or an Evolved SMLC (E-SMLC), of a Position Determination Entity (PDE), or a Secure User Plane Location (SUPL) Location Platform (SLP).

7. A location server comprising:
a communications interface, the communications interface to send Observed Time Difference of Arrival (OTDOA) assistance information to User Equipment (UE); and
a processor coupled to the communications interface, the processor configured to generate the OTDOA assistance information for at least one cell in a subset of cells served by the location server, the OTDOA assistance information comprising Positioning Reference Signal (PRS) assistance information, wherein when physical transmitting antenna element switching is used by the at least one cell, the PRS assistance information includes antenna switching assistance information for the at least one cell, wherein the antenna switching assistance information further comprises at least one of:
one or more parameters, and wherein each of the one or more parameters:
identifies a cell in the subset of cells served by the location server, and
indicates whether physical transmitting antenna element switching occurs between PRS positioning occasions for the cell; or,

information pertaining to an antenna switching interval.

8. The location server of claim 7 , wherein the one or more parameters comprise Boolean parameters.

9. The location server of claim 7 , wherein:
the antenna switching interval is specified in terms of a number of consecutive PRS positioning occasions transmitted on a physical transmitting antenna element in the at least one cell before the physical transmitting antenna element is switched.

10. The location server of claim 9 , wherein the antenna switching assistance information further comprises at least one of:
antenna switching pattern information.

11. The location server of claim 7 , wherein:
the processor further generates the OTDOA assistance information as Long Term Evolution (LTE) Positioning Protocol (LPP) or LPP extensions (LPPe) messages.

12. A location server comprising:
means for sending Observed Time Difference of Arrival (OTDOA) assistance information to a User Equipment (UE); and
means for generating the OTDOA assistance information for at least one cell in a subset of cells served by the location server, the OTDOA assistance information comprising Positioning Reference Signal (PRS) assistance information, wherein when physical transmitting antenna element switching is used by the at least one cell, the PRS assistance information includes antenna switching assistance information for the at least one cell, wherein the antenna switching assistance information further comprises at least one of:
one or more parameters, and wherein each of the one or more parameters:
identifies a cell in the subset of cells served by the location server, and
indicates whether physical transmitting antenna element switching occurs between PRS positioning occasions for the cell; or,

information pertaining to an antenna switching interval.

13. The location server of claim 12 , wherein the one or more parameters comprise Boolean parameters.

14. The location server of claim 12 , wherein:
the antenna switching interval is specified in terms of a number of consecutive PRS positioning occasions transmitted on a physical transmitting antenna element in the at least one cell before the physical transmitting antenna element is switched.

15. The location server of claim 14 , wherein the antenna switching assistance information further comprises at least one of:
antenna switching pattern information.

16. The location server of claim 12 , wherein:
means for generating generates the OTDOA assistance information as Long Term Evolution (LTE) Positioning Protocol (LPP) or LPP extensions (LPPe) messages.

17. A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising executable instructions for providing Observed Time Difference of Arrival (OTDOA) assistance information from a location server, wherein the executable instructions configure a processor to:
send, via a communications interface on the location server, the OTDOA assistance information to a User Equipment (UE), the OTDOA assistance information comprising Positioning Reference Signal (PRS) assistance information, wherein when physical transmitting antenna element switching is used by at least one cell in a subset of cells served by the location server, the PRS assistance information includes antenna switching assistance information for the at least one cell, wherein the antenna switching assistance information further comprises at least one of:
one or more parameters, and wherein each of the one or more parameters:
identifies a cell in the subset of cells served by the location server, and
indicates whether physical transmitting antenna element switching occurs between PRS positioning occasions for the cell; or,

information pertaining to an antenna switching interval.

18. The computer-readable medium of claim 17 , wherein the one or more parameters comprise Boolean parameters.

19. The computer-readable medium of claim 17 , wherein:
the antenna switching interval is specified in terms of a number of consecutive PRS positioning occasions transmitted on a physical transmitting antenna element in the at least one cell before the physical transmitting antenna element is switched.

20. The computer-readable medium of claim 19 , wherein the antenna switching assistance information further comprises at least one of:
antenna switching pattern information.

21. The computer-readable medium of claim 17 , wherein the antenn

Assignees

• Qualcomm Inc

Inventors

• Fischer Sven
• Gaal Peter
• Edge Stephen William
• Mirbagheri Arash
• Ji Tingfang
• Opshaug Guttorm R

Classifications

• G01S5/0036

  of measured values, i.e. measurement on mobile and position calculation on base station · CPC title

• G01S5/10

  Position of receiver fixed by co-ordinating a plurality of position lines defined by path-difference measurements {, e.g. omega or decca systems}(G01S5/12 takes precedence {; beacons and receivers cooperating therewith G01S1/306, G01S1/308}) · CPC title

• G01S1/20

  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 title

• H04W64/006

  with additional information processing, e.g. for direction or speed determination · CPC title

• G01S5/0236 Primary

  Assistance data, e.g. base station almanac · CPC title