Positioning location for transmitters with same physical cell identity (PCI)

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9844020-B2
Application number	US-201615344354-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 4, 2016
Priority date	Feb 22, 2011
Publication date	Dec 12, 2017
Grant date	Dec 12, 2017

Abstract

A method of wireless communication includes generating a position reference signal (PRS) for a transmitter having a same physical cell identity (PCI) as a macro eNodeB. The PRS is based on a virtual cell ID and/or cell global identification (CGI) of the transmitter such that the PRS is different from a PRS of the macro eNodeB. The method also includes transmitting the PRS.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of wireless communication, comprising:
generating a position reference signal (PRS) for a transmitter having a same physical cell identity (PCI) as a macro eNodeB, the PRS being based on at least one of a virtual cell ID and a cell global identification (CGI) of the transmitter such that the PRS is different from a PRS of the macro eNodeB; and
transmitting the PRS to a user equipment located in a region of a cell of the transmitter that overlaps with a cell of the macro eNodeB.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising signaling to a user equipment (UE) that the PRS is based on at least one of the cell global identification or the virtual cell ID.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising signaling to a user equipment (UE), a position reference signal configuration of a plurality of transmitters in neighboring cells when the UE is near a serving cell boundary.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving uplink transmissions from a user equipment (UE); and
determining a position location of the UE based on the received uplink transmissions.

5. The method of claim 1 , in which the transmitter comprises a remote radio head (RRH).

6. An apparatus for wireless communication, comprising:
a memory; and
at least one processor coupled to the memory, the at least one processor being configured:
to generate a position reference signal (PRS) for a transmitter having a same physical cell identity (PCI) as a macro eNodeB, the PRS being based on at least one of a virtual cell ID and a cell global identification (CGI) of the transmitter such that the PRS is different from a PRS of the macro eNodeB; and
to transmit the PRS to a user equipment located in a region of a cell of the transmitter that overlaps with a cell of the macro eNodeB.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 , in which the processor is further configured to signal to a user equipment (UE) that the PRS is based on at least one of the cell global identification or the virtual cell ID.

8. The apparatus of claim 6 , in which the processor is further configured to signal to a user equipment (UE), a position reference signal configuration of a plurality of transmitters in neighboring cells when the UE is near a serving cell boundary.

9. The apparatus of claim 6 , in which the processor is further configured:
to receive uplink transmissions from a user equipment (UE); and
to determine a position location of the UE based on the received uplink transmissions.

10. The apparatus of claim 6 , in which the transmitter comprises a remote radio head (RRH).

11. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having non-transitory program code recorded thereon for wireless communication in a wireless network, the program code being executed by at least one processor and comprising:
program code to generate a position reference signal (PRS) for a transmitter having a same physical cell identity (PCI) as a macro eNodeB, the PRS being based on at least one of a virtual cell ID and a cell global identification (CGI) of the transmitter such that the PRS is different from a PRS of the macro eNodeB; and
program code to transmit the PRS to a user equipment located in a region of a cell of the transmitter that overlaps with a cell of the macro eNodeB.

12. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 11 , in which the program code further comprises program code to signal to a user equipment (UE) that the PRS is based on at least one of the cell global identification or the virtual cell ID.

13. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 11 , in which the program code further comprises program code to signal to a user equipment (UE), a position reference signal configuration of a plurality of transmitters in neighboring cells when the UE is near a serving cell boundary.

14. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 11 , in which the program code further comprises:
program code to receive uplink transmissions from a user equipment (UE); and
program code to determine a position location of the UE based on the received uplink transmissions.

15. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 11 , in which the transmitter comprises a remote radio head (RRH).

16. An apparatus for wireless communication, comprising:
means for generating a position reference signal (PRS) for a transmitter having a same physical cell identity (PCI) as a macro eNodeB, the PRS being based on at least one of a virtual cell ID and a cell global identification (CGI) of the transmitter such that the PRS is different from a PRS of the macro eNodeB; and
means for transmitting the PRS to a user equipment located in a region of a cell of the transmitter that overlaps with a cell of the macro eNodeB.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 , further comprising means for signaling to a user equipment (UE) that the PRS is based on at least one of the cell global identification or the virtual cell ID.

18. The apparatus of claim 16 , further comprising means for signaling to a user equipment (UE), a position reference signal configuration of a plurality of transmitters in neighboring cells when the UE is near a serving cell boundary.

19. The apparatus of claim 16 , further comprising:
means for receiving uplink transmissions from a user equipment (UE); and
means for determining a position location of the UE based on the received uplink transmissions.

20. The apparatus of claim 16 , in which the transmitter comprises a remote radio head (RRH).

Assignees

• Qualcomm Inc
• Qualcom Incorporated

Inventors

• Ji Tingfang
• Palanki Ravi
• Gaal Peter
• Xu Hao
• Wei Yongbin

Classifications

• H04W72/23

  in the downlink direction of a wireless link, i.e. towards a terminal · CPC title

• H04W72/20

  Control channels or signalling for resource management · CPC title

• H04W64/00 Primary

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

• 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