CN112805581A - Enhanced cell identification location determination - Google Patents

Abstract

Techniques for improving enhanced cell identification (E-CID) positioning are provided. Examples of methods for determining a location of a mobile device according to the present disclosure include: generating, with a mobile device, a plurality of receive beams; receiving a radio beam transmitted from a base station using one or more of a plurality of reception beams such that the radio beam includes a beam identification value; and determining a measurement quantity of the radio beam for each of one or more of the plurality of receive beams.

Description

Enhanced cell identification location determination

Background

Obtaining the location or position of a mobile device that is accessing a wireless network may be useful for many applications including, for example, emergency calls, personal navigation, asset tracking, locating friends or family members, and the like. Existing positioning methods include methods based on measuring radio signals transmitted from various devices, including Satellite Vehicles (SVs) and terrestrial wireless power supplies in wireless networks, such as base stations and access points. In terrestrial radio-based methods, a mobile device can measure the timing of signals received from two or more base stations and determine the time of arrival, time difference of arrival, and/or time of reception-time difference of transmission. Combining these measurements with the known locations of the base stations and the known transmission times from each base station, locating the mobile device can be accomplished through a location method such as observed time difference of arrival (OTDOA) or enhanced cell ID (E-CID).

In general, E-CID is a popular Long Term Evolution (LTE) cellular network positioning protocol with relatively low complexity. In the E-CID positioning protocol, a mobile device may share a cell ID of a serving cell with a positioning server (LS) along with additional parameters configured to enable the LS to estimate the location of the mobile device based on a 2D circular area of cell coverage associated with the cell ID.

Disclosure of Invention

Examples of methods for determining a location of a mobile device according to the present disclosure include: generating, with a mobile device, a plurality of receive beams; receiving a radio beam transmitted from a base station using one or more of a plurality of reception beams such that the radio beam includes a beam identification value; and determining a measurement quantity of the radio beam for each of one or more of the plurality of receive beams.

Implementations of such a method may include one or more of the following features. The location of the mobile device may be based at least in part on the beam identification value and the measured quantity of radio beams for each of the one or more receive beams. Determining the position may include providing the beam identification value and the measured quantity of the radio beam for each of the one or more reception beams to a positioning server and receiving the position from the positioning server. A beam width may be determined for at least one of one or more of the plurality of receive beams, and determining the location may be based at least in part on the beam width. Determining the beam width may include determining a first measurement quantity of the first receive beam and a second measurement quantity of the second receive beam such that the second measurement quantity is 50% of the first measurement quantity and the beam width is equal to a width of the second receive beam. Determining the beam width may include determining a first measurement quantity of the first receive beam and a second measurement quantity of the second receive beam such that the second measurement quantity is 50% of the first measurement quantity and the beam width is based on an angle between the first receive beam and the second receive beam. The measurement quantity may be a reference signal received power value and/or a reference signal received quality value. The measurement quantity may be an average angle of at least one of the one or more reception beams with respect to an orientation of the mobile device or with respect to a coordinate system.

An example of a mobile device according to the present disclosure includes one or more modems and antenna modules configured to generate a plurality of receive beams with the mobile device, receive a radio beam transmitted from a base station with one or more of the plurality of receive beams, wherein the radio beam includes a beam identification value; and at least one processor configured to determine a measurement quantity for the radio beam for each of one or more of the plurality of receive beams.

Implementations of such a mobile device may include one or more of the following features. The at least one processor may be configured to determine the location based at least in part on the beam identification value and the measured quantity of the radio beam for each of the one or more of the plurality of receive beams. The at least one processor may be configured to determine a position by providing the beam identification value and the measurement quantity of the radio beam for each of one or more of the plurality of reception beams to a positioning server, and receive the position from the positioning server. The at least one processor may be configured to determine a beam width of at least one of one or more of the plurality of receive beams, and determine a location based at least in part on the beam width. The at least one processor may be configured to determine the beam width by determining a first measurement of the first receive beam and a second measurement of the second receive beam such that the second measurement is 50% of the first measurement and the beam width is equal to the width of the second receive beam. The at least one processor may be configured to determine the beam width by determining a first measurement of the first receive beam and a second measurement of the second receive beam such that the second measurement is 50% of the first measurement and the beam width is based on an angle between the first receive beam and the second receive beam. The measurement quantity may be a reference signal reception power value or a reference signal reception quality value. The measurement quantity may be an orientation of at least one of the one or more of the plurality of receive beams relative to the mobile device or an average angle relative to a coordinate system.

An example of a method for determining a location of a mobile device in accordance with the present disclosure includes receiving measurements measured by the mobile device, the measurements including at least a beam identification value and a receive power value associated with directional synchronization signal blocks received by one or more receive beams generated by the mobile device; and determining a location of the mobile device based at least in part on the measurement.

Implementations of such a method may include one or more of the following features. The measurement results may include a receive beam width value based on one or more receive beams, and determining the location of the mobile device may be based at least in part on the receive beam width value. The measurement result may include a reference signal received power value, and determining the location of the mobile device may be based at least in part on the reference signal received power value. The measurement results may include a reference signal reception quality value, and determining the location of the mobile device is based at least in part on the reference signal reception quality value. The measurements may include an average angle of the receive beam relative to a coordinate system, and determining the location of the mobile device is based at least in part on the average angle of the receive beam. An enhanced cell identification measurement initiation request message can be provided to a mobile device such that the enhanced cell identification measurement initiation request message includes a measurement quantity information element that enumerates a beam ID value, an average angle per received beam value, a reference signal received power per beam ID value, and a beam width per beam ID value. Receiving measurement results from the mobile device may include receiving an enhanced cell identification measurement result message from the mobile device such that the enhanced cell identification measurement result message includes a result beam information element based on one or more receive beams, the result beam information element may enumerate a beam ID value, an average angle of receive beam values, a reference signal received power per beam value, and a receive beam width value.

An example of a system for determining a location of a mobile device in accordance with the present disclosure includes at least one communication module configured to receive measurements measured by the mobile device, the measurements including at least beam identification values and receive power values associated with directional synchronization signal blocks received by one or more receive beams generated by the mobile device; and at least one processor configured to determine a location of the mobile device based at least in part on the measurement results.

Implementations of such a system may include one or more of the following features. The measurements may include a receive beam width value based on one or more receive beams, and the at least one processor may be configured to determine a location of the mobile device based at least in part on the receive beam width value. The measurement result may include a reference signal receive power value, and the at least one processor may be configured to determine the location of the mobile device based at least in part on the reference signal receive power value. The measurement results may include a reference signal reception quality value, and the at least one processor may be configured to determine the location of the mobile device based at least in part on the reference signal reception quality value. The measurements may include an average angle of the receive beam relative to a coordinate system, and the at least one processor may be configured to determine the location of the mobile device based at least in part on the average angle of the receive beam. The at least one processor may be configured to provide an enhanced cell identification measurement initiation request message to the mobile device such that the enhanced cell identification measurement initiation request message includes a measurement quantity information element that enumerates a beam ID value, an average angle per received beam value, a reference signal received power per beam ID value, and a beam width per beam ID value. Receiving measurement results from the mobile device may include receiving an enhanced cell identification measurement result message from the mobile device such that the enhanced cell identification measurement result message includes a result beam information element based on one or more receive beams, the result beam information element may enumerate a beam ID value, an average angle of receive beam values, a reference signal received power per beam value, and a receive beam width value.

The devices and/or techniques described herein may provide one or more of the following capabilities, as well as other capabilities not mentioned. The base station may transmit a periodic synchronization signal. The synchronization signal may be a directional beam. Each synchronization signal may include a beam identification value. The mobile device may generate a directional receive beam configured to receive the synchronization signal. The orientation of the receive beam relative to the mobile device may be directional. The bearing of the mobile device may be determined based on a coordinate system (e.g., true north, magnetic north, etc.), and the receive beam may be directional with respect to the coordinate system. The beamwidth of the receive beam may vary. One or more measurement quantities may be determined for each receive beam. The measurement quantity is associated with a beam identification value. The measurement quantities may be an average angle of the receive beam (bearing relative to the mobile device), a Reference Signal Received Power (RSRP) value, a Reference Signal Received Quality (RSRQ) value, and a receive beam width value. The UE may determine the current location based on the measurement quantity. The measurement quantity may be provided to the network node. Synchronization beams from other base stations can also be received and used to determine the current location of the mobile device. Further, the above-described effects may be achieved by means other than the described means, and the described items/techniques do not necessarily produce the described effects.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram of an example communication system.

Fig. 2A is an example synchronization signal in a fifth generation new radio (5G NR) wireless network.

Fig. 2B is an example channel state information reference signal (CSI-RS) periodic configuration in a 5G NR wireless network.

Fig. 3 is a conceptual diagram of a directional beam transmitted from a base station based on a Synchronization Signal (SS) burst.

Fig. 4 is a block diagram of an antenna module in an example mobile device with configurable receive beam steering (steering) and receive beamwidth.

Fig. 5 is a signaling flow diagram illustrating messages sent between components of a communication network during a positioning session.

Fig. 6 is a conceptual diagram illustrating E-CID positioning based on a plurality of beams transmitted from a base station.

Fig. 7A is a conceptual diagram illustrating E-CID positioning based on beam steering within a mobile device.

Fig. 7B is a conceptual diagram illustrating E-CID positioning based on configurable receive beamwidth within a mobile device.

Fig. 8 is a flow diagram of an example process typically performed at a mobile device to support and facilitate mobile device location.

Fig. 9 is a flow diagram of an example process, typically performed at a mobile device, of providing E-CID measurements to a network node.

Fig. 10 is a flow diagram of an example process typically performed at a network node to facilitate mobile device location.

Fig. 11 is a schematic diagram of an example wireless node (e.g., base station, access point, or server).

Fig. 12 is a schematic diagram of a mobile device (e.g., UE).

Detailed Description

Obtaining the location or position of a mobile device that is accessing a wireless network may be useful for many applications including, for example, emergency calls, personal navigation, asset tracking, locating friends or family members, and the like. Existing positioning methods include methods based on measuring radio signals transmitted from various devices, including Satellite Vehicles (SVs) and terrestrial wireless power supplies in wireless networks, such as base stations and access points. In terrestrial radio-based approaches, a mobile device may measure the timing of signals received from two or more base stations and determine signal strength, time of arrival, time difference of arrival, and/or time of reception-time difference of transmission. Combining these measurements with the known locations of the base stations and the possible known transmission times from each base station, locating the mobile device can be accomplished through a location method such as observed time difference of arrival (OTDOA) or enhanced cell ID (E-CID). Such terrestrial-based positioning methods may be used in wireless networks supporting different wireless technologies, such as Long Term Evolution (LTE) and fifth generation (5G) (also known as New Radio (NR)) technologies defined by an organization known as the third generation partnership project (3 GPP).

In existing LTE networks, the accuracy of E-CID positioning is typically limited, since the position uncertainty can only be reduced to 2D circular areas with limited radius. In modern wireless networks, the impact of such restrictions may be reduced. For example, in a 5G NR network, a base station such as a gNB may transmit and receive to/from mobile devices using millimeter wave (mm wave) frequencies above 24 GHz. The 5G NR physical layer relies on beamforming techniques to establish efficient and reliable communication between stations. The transmitted directional beams may be encoded with unique beam identification information configured to allow the receiving station to distinguish between the various beams transmitted by one or more base stations in the network. In an example, the beam ID value may be encapsulated in a synchronization signal burst index (i.e., SSB index value). The mobile device may be configured to receive the transmitted beams by forming respective directional receive beams directed in the general direction of the transmitter.

To improve the accuracy of E-CID positioning, the mobile device receiver may be configured to utilize received cell identification information and received beam ID information (e.g., SSB index values). The addition of beam ID information can be used to reduce the location uncertainty of a particular sector of a cell by mapping the beam ID to a spatially averaged angle. The E-CID position estimation may be further improved by estimating the position of the mobile device within a particular beam using additional measurement quantities, such as a received beam width value and signal strength related parameters (e.g., Reference Signal Received Power (RSRP) and Reference Signal Received Quality (RSRQ) values) per measured beam ID. The mobile device may utilize additional measurements to determine the current location (e.g., local computing) and/or may provide measurements to a network node to determine the current location of the mobile device (e.g., remote computing/network assistance). In local or remote computing use cases, additional Information Elements (IEs) may be included in the 5G NR communication protocol to request and propagate measurement quantities.

Fig. 1 shows a diagram of a communication system 100 according to an embodiment. Communication system 100 may be configured to implement E-CID positioning. Here, the communication system 100 includes components of a mobile device (i.e., User Equipment (UE))105 and a fifth generation (5G) network, the fifth generation (5G) network including a Next Generation (NG) Radio Access Network (RAN) (NG-RAN)135 and a 5G core network (5GC) 140. The 5G network may also be referred to as a New Radio (NR) network; NG-RAN 135 may be referred to as a 5G RAN or an NR RAN; the 5GC 140 may be referred to as an NG core Network (NGC). The 3GPP is standardizing NG-RAN and 5 GC. Thus, the NG-RAN 135 and the 5GC 140 may conform to current or future 5G support standards of 3 GPP. The communication system 100 may further utilize information from a Satellite Vehicle (SV)190 for a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS), such as the Global Positioning System (GPS), GLONASS, galileo or beidou, or some other local or regional Satellite Positioning System (SPS), such as IRNSS, EGNOS or WAAS. Additional components of communication system 100 are described below. The communication system 100 may include additional or alternative components.

Note that fig. 1 provides only a general illustration of the various components, any or all of which may be used as appropriate, and each of which may be duplicated or omitted as needed. In particular, although only one UE 105 is shown, it should be understood that many UEs (e.g., hundreds, thousands, millions, etc.) may utilize the communication system 100. Similarly, communication system 100 may include more (or fewer) SVs 190, gnbs 110, ng-enbs 114, AMFs 115, external clients 130, and/or other components. The illustrated connections connecting the various components in the communication system 100 include data and signaling connections that may include additional (intermediate) components, direct or indirect physical and/or wireless connections, and/or additional networks. Further, components may be rearranged, combined, separated, replaced, and/or omitted depending on desired functions.

Although fig. 1 illustrates a 5G-based network, similar network implementations and configurations may be used for other communication technologies, such as 3G, Long Term Evolution (LTE), and so on. Embodiments described herein (whether for 5G technologies or other communication technologies and protocols) may be used to transmit (or broadcast) directional synchronization signals (e.g., gNB 110, ng-eNB 114), receive and measure directional signals at a UE (e.g., UE 105), and provide location assistance to the UE 105 (via GMLC 125 or other location server), and/or calculate a location of the UE 105 at a location-capable device such as UE 105, gNB 110, or LMF 120 based on measurements received at the UE 105 for such directionally-transmitted signals. It should be appreciated that the gateway mobile location center (GMLC 125), location management function (LMF 120), access and mobility management function (AMF 115) and ng-enb (enodeb) and gnb (gnnodeb) are exemplary and in various embodiments, these other functions may be replaced by or included with various other location server functions and/or base station functions, respectively.

The UE 105 may include and/or may be referred to as a device, mobile device, wireless device, mobile terminal, Mobile Station (MS), Secure User Plane Location (SUPL) enabled terminal (SET), or other name. Further, the UE 105 may correspond to a cell phone, a smart phone, a laptop, a tablet, a PDA, a tracking device, a navigation device, an internet of things (IoT) device, or some other portable or mobile device. Typically, although not necessarily, the UE 105 may support wireless communication using one or more Radio Access Technologies (RATs), such as global system for mobile communications (GSM), Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA), wideband CDMA (wcdma), LTE, High Rate Packet Data (HRPD), IEEE 802.11WiFi (also known as Wi-Fi), and wireless access point (WiFi),

(BT), Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX), 5G New Radio (NR) (e.g., using NG-RAN 135 and 5GC 140), and so on. The UE 105 may also support wireless communications using a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) that may use, for example, digital subscribersA line (DSL) or packet cable is connected to other networks (e.g., the internet). The use of one or more of these RATs may allow the UE 105 to communicate with the external client 130 (e.g., via elements of the 5GC 140 not shown in fig. 1, or possibly via a Gateway Mobile Location Center (GMLC)125), and/or allow the external client 130 to receive location information about the UE 105 (e.g., via the GMLC 125).

The UE 105 may comprise, for example, a single entity or may comprise multiple entities in a personal area network where a user may use audio, video, and/or data I/O devices and/or body sensors and separate wired or wireless modems. The estimate of the location of the UE 105 may be referred to as a position fix, a location estimate, a location determination, a position estimate, or a position determination, and may be geographic-level, such that providing the location coordinates (e.g., latitude and longitude) of the UE 105 may or may not include an altitude component (e.g., an altitude above sea level, an altitude above ground level, floor level, or basement level, or a depth below ground level, floor level, or basement level). Alternatively, the location of the UE 105 may be represented as a civic location (e.g., as a postal address or an indication of a point or small area in a building, such as a particular room or floor). The location of the UE 105 may also be represented as an area or volume (defined in geographic or urban form) in which the UE 105 is expected to be located with a certain probability or confidence level (e.g., 67%, 95%, etc.). The location of the UE 105 may also be a relative location that includes, for example, a distance and direction or relative X, Y (and Z) coordinates defined relative to some origin at a known location, which may be defined geographically, in urban terms, or by reference to a point, area, or volume indicated on a map, floor plan, or building plan. In the description contained herein, unless otherwise indicated, use of the term "position" may include any of these variations. When calculating the position of a UE, it is common to solve for local x, y and possibly z coordinates, and then, if necessary, convert the local coordinates to absolute coordinates (e.g., latitude, longitude, and altitude above or below the mean sea level).

The Base Stations (BSs) in NG-RAN 135 shown in FIG. 1 include NR NodeBs (also referred to as gNBs) 110-1 and 110-2 (collectively referred to herein as gNB 110). Pairs of gnbs 110 in NG-RAN 135 may be connected to each other, for example, directly as shown in fig. 1 or indirectly through other gnbs 110. The gbb 110 may provide 5GC wireless communication access on behalf of the UE 105 using 5G by providing the UE 105 with access to a 5G network through wireless communication between the UE 105 and one or more gbbs 110. In fig. 1, it is assumed that the serving gNB of UE 105 is gNB 110-1, but if UE 105 moves to another location, other gnbs (e.g., gNB 110-2) may act as serving gnbs or may act as auxiliary gnbs to provide additional throughput and bandwidth to UE 105.

The Base Station (BS) in the NG-RAN 135 shown in fig. 1 may also comprise a next generation evolved node B, also referred to as NG-eNB 114. Ng-eNB 114 may be connected to one or more of the gnbs 110 in Ng-RAN 135, e.g., directly as shown in fig. 1, or indirectly through other gnbs 110 and/or other Ng-enbs. The ng-eNB 114 may provide LTE radio access and/or evolved LTE (LTE) radio access to the UE 105. Some of the gnbs 110 (e.g., gNB 110-2) and/or ng-enbs 114 in fig. 1 may be configured to function as positioning-only beacons that may transmit signals (e.g., directional PRSs) to help position the UE 105, but may not receive signals from the UE 105 or other UEs.

As noted above, although fig. 1 depicts nodes configured to communicate in accordance with a 5G communication protocol, nodes configured to communicate in accordance with other communication protocols may be used, such as the LTE protocol or the IEEE 802.11x protocol. For example, in an Evolved Packet System (EPS) providing LTE radio access to UEs 105, the RAN may comprise an evolved Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) terrestrial radio access network (E-UTRAN), which may include base stations including evolved node bs (enbs). The core network of the EPS may include an Evolved Packet Core (EPC). The EPS may also include E-UTRAN corresponding to NG-RAN 135 in fig. 1 and EPC corresponding to 5GC 140 in fig. 1. The methods and techniques described herein for supporting UE 105 positioning using directional SS bursts may be applicable to such other networks, e.g., from an eNB and/or from a WiFi IEEE 802.11 Access Point (AP).

The gNB 110 and ng-eNB 114 may communicate with an access and mobility management function (AMF)115, which communicates with a Location Management Function (LMF)120 for location functions. The AMF 115 may support mobility for the UE 105, including cell changes and handovers, and may participate in supporting signaling connections to the UE 105 and possibly data and voice bearers for the UE 105. The LMF 120 may support positioning of the UE 105 when the UE accesses the NG-RAN 135, and may support positioning procedures/methods such as assisted GNSS (a-GNSS), observed time difference of arrival (OTDOA), Real Time Kinematics (RTK), Precise Point Positioning (PPP), differential GNSS (dgnss), enhanced cell ID (E-CID), angle of arrival (AOA), angle of departure (AOD), and/or other positioning methods. LMF 120 may also process location service requests for UE 105 received, for example, from AMF 115 or GMLC 125. The LMF 120 may be connected to the AMF 115 and/or the GMLC 125. The LMF 120 may be referred to by other names such as Location Manager (LM), Location Function (LF), commercial LMF (clmf), or value-added LMF (vlmf). In some embodiments, a node/system implementing LMF 120 may additionally or alternatively implement other types of location support modules, such as an enhanced serving mobile location center (E-SMLC) or a Secure User Plane Location (SUPL) location platform (SLP). Note that in some embodiments, at least a portion of the positioning functions (including deriving the location of the UE 105) may be performed at the UE 105 (e.g., using signal measurements obtained by the UE 105 for signals transmitted by wireless nodes such as the gNB 110 and ng-eNB 114, and assistance data provided to the UE 105 by the LMF 120, for example).

Gateway Mobile Location Center (GMLC)125 may support location requests for UE 105 received from external clients 130 and may forward such location requests to AMF 115 for forwarding by AMF 115 to LMF 120 or may forward location requests directly to LMF 120. A location response from LMF 120 (e.g., containing a location estimate for UE 105) may similarly be returned to GMLC 125, either directly or via AMF 115, and then GMLC 125 may return the location response (e.g., containing the location estimate) to external client 130. The GMLC 125 is shown connected to the AMF 115 and the LMF 120, although in some embodiments the 5GC 140 may only support one of these connections.

As further shown in fig. 1, LMF 120 may communicate with gNB 110 and/or ng-eNB 114 using a new radio positioning protocol a (which may be referred to as NPPa or NRPPa), which may be defined in 3GPP Technical Specification (TS) 38.455. NRPPa, which may be the same as, similar to, or an extension of LTE positioning protocol a (lppa) as defined in 3GPP TS 36.455, is transmitted between the gNB 110 and LMF 120 and/or between the ng-eNB 114 and LMF 120 via AMF 115. As further shown in fig. 1, the LMF 120 and the UE 105 may communicate using the LTE Positioning Protocol (LPP) defined in 3GPP TS 36.355. The LMF 120 and the UE 105 may also or alternatively communicate using a new radio positioning protocol (which may be referred to as NPP or NRPP), which may be the same as, similar to, or an extension of LPP. Here, LPP and/or NPP messages may be communicated between UE 105 and LMF 120 via AMF 115 and serving gNB 110-1 or serving ng-eNB 114 for UE 105. For example, LPP and/or NPP messages may be transmitted between LMF 120 and AMF 115 using a 5G location services application protocol (LCS AP), and may be transmitted between AMF 115 and UE 105 using a 5G non-access stratum (NAS) protocol. The LPP and/or NPP protocols may be used to support positioning of the UE 105 using UE-assisted and/or UE-based positioning methods (e.g., a-GNSS, RTK, OTDOA, and/or E-CID). The NRPPa protocol may be used to support positioning of UE 105 using network-based positioning methods such as E-CID (e.g., when used with measurements obtained by gNB 110 or ng-eNB 114) and/or may be used by LMF 120 to obtain location-related information from gNB 110 and/or ng-eNB 114, such as parameters defining directional SS transmissions from gNB 110 and/or ng-eNB 114.

With the UE-assisted positioning method, UE 105 may obtain location measurements and send the measurements to a positioning server (e.g., LMF 120) for computing a location estimate for UE 105. For example, the location measurements may include one or more of a Received Signal Strength Indication (RSSI), a round trip signal propagation time (RTT), a Reference Signal Time Difference (RSTD), a Reference Signal Received Power (RSRP), and/or a Reference Signal Received Quality (RSRQ) of the gNB 110, ng-eNB 114, and/or WLAN APs. The position measurements may also or alternatively include GNSS pseudorange, code phase and/or carrier phase measurements for SV 190. With a UE-based positioning method, the UE 105 may obtain location measurements (e.g., which may be the same or similar to location measurements of a UE-assisted positioning method) and may calculate the location of the UE 105 (e.g., via assistance data received from a positioning server such as the LMF 120 or broadcast by the gNB 110, ng-eNB 114, or other base stations or APs). With network-based positioning methods, one or more base stations (e.g., gNB 110 and/or ng-eNB 114) or APs may obtain location measurements (e.g., measurements of RSSI, RTT, RSRP, RSRQ, or time of arrival (TOA) of signals transmitted by UE 105) and/or may receive measurements obtained by UE 105 and may send the measurements to a positioning server (e.g., LMF 120) for computing a location estimate for UE 105.

The information provided by the gNB 110 and/or ng-eNB 114 to the LMF 120 using NRPPa may include timing and configuration information for directional SS transmissions and location coordinates. The LMF 120 may then provide some or all of this information as assistance data to the UE 105 in LPP and/or NPP messages through the NG-RAN 135 and 5GC 140.

The LPP or NPP messages sent from the LMF 120 to the UE 105 may instruct the UE 105 to perform any of a variety of tasks, depending on the desired functionality. For example, the LPP or NPP message may contain instructions that cause the UE 105 to obtain measurements of GNSS (or a-GNSS), WLAN, E-CID, and/or OTDOA (or some other positioning method). In the case of an E-CID, the LPP or NPP message may instruct the UE 105 to obtain one or more measurements (e.g., beam ID, beam width, average angle, RSRP, RSRQ measurements) of directional signals transmitted within a particular cell supported by a particular gNB 110 and/or ng-eNB 114 (or supported by other types of base stations such as enbs or WiFi APs). UE 105 may send the measurement back to LMF 120 in an LPP or NPP message (e.g., in a 5G NAS message) through serving gNB 110-1 (or serving ng-eNB 114) and AMF 115.

As described above, although communication system 100 is described with respect to 5G technology, communication system 100 may be implemented to support other communication technologies, e.g., GSM, WCDMA, LTE, etc., that are used to support and interact with mobile devices such as UE 105 (e.g., to implement voice, data, positioning, and other functionality). In some such embodiments, the 5GC 140 may be configured to control different air interfaces. For example, in some embodiments, the 5GC 140 may connect to the WLAN using a non-3 GPP interworking function (N3IWF, not shown in fig. 1) in the 5GC 150. For example, the WLAN may support IEEE 802.11WiFi access for the UE 105 and may include one or more WiFi APs. Here, the N3IWF may be connected to other elements in the WLAN and 5GC 150, such as the AMF 115. In some other embodiments, both the NG-RAN 135 and the 5GC 140 may be replaced by other RANs and other core networks. For example, in EPS, NG-RAN 135 may be replaced by E-UTRAN containing enbs, 5GC 140 may be replaced by EPC containing Mobility Management Entity (MME) instead of AMF 115, E-SMLC instead of LMF 120, and GMLC which may be similar to GMLC 125. In such an EPS, the E-SMLC may use LPPa instead of NRPPa to transmit and receive location information to and from an eNB in the E-UTRAN and may use LPP to support positioning of the UE 105. In these other embodiments, positioning of the UE 105 using directional PRS may be supported in a manner similar to that described herein for a 5G network, except that the functions and procedures described herein for the gNB 110, ng-eNB 114, AMF 115, and LMF 120 may instead be applied to other network elements, such as enbs, WiFi APs, MMEs, and E-SMLCs in certain circumstances.

As described above, in some embodiments, the positioning function may be implemented at least in part using directional SS beams transmitted by base stations (e.g., gNB 110 and/or ng-eNB 114) that are within range of a UE (e.g., UE 105 of fig. 1) whose location is to be determined. In some cases, the UE may use directional SS beams from multiple base stations (e.g., gNB 110, ng-eNB 114, etc.) to calculate the UE's location.

Referring to fig. 2A, an example synchronization signal in a 5G NR wireless network is shown. A synchronization signal and Physical Broadcast Channel (PBCH) block (SSB/SS block) may include primary and secondary synchronization signals (PSS, SSs), each synchronization signal occupying 1 symbol and 127 subcarriers, the PBCH spanning 3 OFDM symbols and 240 subcarriers. The periodicity of the SSBs may be configured by the network and the time locations at which the SSBs may be transmitted are determined by the subcarrier spacing. Within the frequency range of one carrier, multiple SSBs may be transmitted. The Physical Cell Identifiers (PCIs) of the SSBs need not be unique, i.e., different SSBs may have different PCIs.

The concept of SSBs and bursts arises in some versions of the 3GPP specifications (e.g., 3GPP "NR and NG-RAN overhead Description-rel.15," TS 38.300, 2018) for the transmission of periodic synchronization signals from the gNB. As shown in fig. 2, an SS block may be a set of 4 OFDM symbols in time and 240 subcarriers in frequency (i.e., 20 resource blocks). The SS blocks may carry PSS, SSs, and PBCH. Demodulation reference signals (DMRS) associated with the PBCH may be used to estimate Reference Signal Received Power (RSRP) of the SS block. In a 14 symbol slot, there are two possible locations for the SS block: symbols 2-5 and symbols 8-11. SS blocks may be grouped into the first 5 milliseconds of an SS burst, which may have different periodic TSSs. For example, the value of TSS may be on the order of 5, 10, 20, 40, 80, or 160 milliseconds. When accessing the network for the first time, the UE may assume a periodic TSS of 20 milliseconds. Each SS block may be mapped to a particular angular direction when considering the frequency at which beam operation is desired. In order to reduce the influence of SS transmission, an SS may transmit through a wide beam, and data transmission of an active UE may be generally performed through a narrow beam to increase a gain generated through beamforming.

In an embodiment, in connected mode, CSI-RS may be used for Radio Resource Management (RRM) measurements for mobility management purposes. For example, multiple CSI-RSs may be configured to the same SS burst, such that a UE may first acquire synchronization with a given cell using the SS burst, and then search for CSI-RS resources using the synchronization as a reference. The CSI-RS measurement window configuration may contain at least a periodicity and a time/frequency offset with respect to the associated SS burst. Referring to fig. 2B, an exemplary CSI-RS periodic configuration in a 5G NR wireless network is shown. SS blocks may be transmitted once every TSS millisecond and embed time and frequency offsets indicating the time and frequency allocation of CSI-RS signals within the frame structure. As described, T after the SS burst ends_CSIMillisecond, can send CSI-RS informationNumber (n). Generally, in 5G NR networks, the optimal direction of a transceiver beam needs to be identified periodically (e.g., through a beam search operation) to maintain alignment between the communicating nodes. In an example, SS and CSI-based measurements may be used jointly to reflect different coverage areas that may be achieved by different beamforming architectures.

Referring to fig. 3, a conceptual diagram of a directional beam transmitted from a base station based on a Synchronization Signal (SS) burst is shown. The SS burst includes a plurality of SS blocks, such as a first SS block 302, a second SS block 304, a third SS block 306, a fourth SS block 308, and a fifth SS block 310. The SS burst may include additional SS blocks. As described above, each SS block 302, 304, 306, 308, 310 may be mapped to an angular direction and a particular beam ID. For example, a first SS block 302 is mapped to a first beam 302a having a beam identification value (e.g., exponent) of 1, a second SS block 304 is mapped to a second beam 304a having a beam identification value of 2, a third SS block 306 is mapped to a third beam 306a having a beam identification value of 3, a fourth SS block 308 is mapped to a fourth beam 308a having a beam identification value of 4, and a fifth SS block 310 is mapped to a fifth beam 310a having a beam identification value of 5. In an initial signal acquisition procedure, the UE 105 may receive one or more beam identification values from a base station (e.g., a gNB) in a wireless network. Once the UE 105 receives a beam from a particular base station, the UE may be configured to map the received beam identification value and cell identification based on a codebook. For example, when the UE 105 receives the second beam 304a having a beam identification value of 2 (i.e., associated with SS block 2), the UE may be configured to reference a codebook (e.g., a data structure) having the beam identification value to determine the angular information associated with the second beam 304 a. In an example, the UE may report the beam identification back to a network node configured to determine angle information based on a codebook (i.e., a codebook stored remotely from the UE). In general, there may be a one-to-one mapping between the beam identification value (e.g., SSB ID) and the spatial angle of the transmit beam. One or more data structures, such as a codebook (e.g., a data table), located on the network node and/or the UE may be used to determine the angular direction of the transmit beam based on the beam identification value.

Referring to fig. 4, a block diagram of an antenna module in an example mobile device 400 with configurable receive beam steering and receive beamwidth is shown. The diagram includes a Power Management Integrated Circuit (PMIC)402, a modem 404, a first antenna module 406a, and a second antenna module 406 b. The PMIC 402 is operably coupled to the modem 404 and is configured to control a power supply of the modem 404. The modem 404 may include one or more modems operatively coupled to the antenna modules 406a-b and configured to support 5G mobility features (e.g., beam steering).

X50 is an example of modem 404. The modem 404 provides signals and control data to multiple antenna modules. The antenna modules 406a-b may be multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) antenna arrays configured to implement beamforming, beam steering, and beam tracking. For example, the antenna module may include a patch antenna array, and the modem 404 may be configured to control power to the antenna array and control the resulting beam pattern (pattern) using phase shifters and/or hybrid antenna couplers. Although two antenna modules are depicted in fig. 4, additional modules may be coupled to modem 404. The first antenna module 406a is an example of beam steering such that a single beam of fixed width is steered at different reference angles. The antenna module 406a is configured to scan through different angular sensitivities relative to the antenna array. For example, antenna module 406a may be configured to sequentially receive signals in first beam direction 408a, second beam direction 408b, and third beam direction 408 c. The angular orientation between the beam direction and the reference direction (e.g., orthogonal to the antenna array) may be referred to as the average angle 412. In an example, the angular orientation can be based on a frame of reference (e.g., true north, magnetic north, etc.). The mobile device 400 may be configured to measure RSRP/RSRQ of the transmit beams received by each receive beam 408 a-c. The average angle 412 and RSRP/RSRQ values of the various receive beams 408a-c may be used to improve the accuracy of E-CID positioning.

The second antenna module 406b is an example of a single beam with controllable beamwidth. The modem 404 is configured to change the receive beamwidth. For example, the number of antenna patches may be changed to change the receive beamwidth. Modem 404 may be configured to, for example, generate a first receive beam 410a, a second receive beam 410b that is wider than first receive beam 410a, and a third receive beam 410c that is wider than second receive beam 410 b. The uniform beamwidth and shape depicted in fig. 4 is an example that demonstrates the concept of varying beamwidth. The actual beam width and shape may vary. Mobile device 400 can be configured to measure RSRP/RSRQ of the transmit beams for each different beam width value associated with each receive beam 410 a-c.

Referring to fig. 5, with further reference to fig. 1, a signaling flow 500 is illustrated that shows various messages sent between components of a communication network, such as the communication system 100 illustrated in fig. 1, during a location session between a UE 105 and a location server corresponding to the LMF 120 using LPP and/or NPP (also referred to as LPP/NPP session). Although signaling flow 500 is discussed, for ease of illustration, similar messaging may be implemented for other communication technologies or protocols (e.g., EPS or WLAN) with respect to embodiments of the 5G communication network. Further, in some embodiments, the UE 105 itself may be configured to determine its location using, for example, assistance data provided to it (e.g., by the LMF 120 or by the serving gNB 110-1). The positioning protocol used for signaling flow 500 may be LPP, NPP, or a combination of LPP and NPP (e.g., where the LPP message comprises an embedded NPP message). Messages for the positioning protocol are referred to as LPP/NPP messages in the following accordingly to indicate that these messages are for LPP, NPP or a combination of LPP and NPP. However, other positioning protocols are also possible, such as the LPP extensions (LPPe) protocol defined by the Open Mobile Alliance (OMA).

In some embodiments, in act 501, a location session for UE 105 may be triggered when LMF 120 receives a location request for UE 105. Depending on the scenario, the location request may arrive at the LMF 120 from the AMF 115 shown in fig. 1 or from the GMLC 125. LMF 120 may then query AMF 115 for UE 105 information. AMF 115 may then send information (not shown in fig. 5) of UE 105 to LMF 120. The information may indicate that the UE 105 has 5G (or LTE) radio access (for the example embodiment of fig. 5), and may provide a current 5G serving cell of the UE 105 (e.g., a cell supported by the gNB 110-1, which may be the serving gNB of the UE 105), and/or may indicate that the UE 105 supports positioning using LPP and/or NPP. Some or all of this information may have been obtained from UE 105 and/or from gNB 110-1 via AMF 115, e.g., when UE 105 connects to 5GC 140 and registers with 5GC 140.

To begin the LPP/NPP session (e.g., based on an indication that the UE 105 supports LPP and/or NPP with 5G radio access), the LMF 120 sends an LPP/NPP request capability message (e.g., using a 5G LCS AP) to the AMF 115 serving the UE 105 at act 502. In act 503, the AMF 115 may include the LPP/NPP request capability message in a 5G NAS transport message that is sent to the UE 105 (e.g., via a NAS communication path in the NG-RAN 135, as shown in fig. 1). In act 504, the UE 105 responds to the AMF 115 with an LPP/NPP provide capabilities message that is also within the 5G NAS transport message. In act 505, the AMF 115 extracts the LPP/NPP offer capability message from the 5G NAS transport message and relays the LPP/NPP offer capability message to the LMF 120 (e.g., using the 5G LCS AP). Here, the LPP/NPP provide capability messages sent in acts 504 and 505 may indicate positioning capabilities of the UE 105, e.g., positioning methods and associated assistance data (e.g., a-GNSS positioning, OTDOA positioning, E-CID positioning, WLAN positioning, etc.) supported by the UE 105 when accessing a 5G network.

Based on the positioning capabilities of the UE 105 received in act 505, and possibly based on the positioning request received in act 501 (e.g., the positioning accuracy requirements included in the positioning request received in act 501), the LMF 120 may select one or more positioning methods to locate the UE 105 in act 506. For example, in act 506, the LMF may perform an E-CID in association with a directional synchronization signal (e.g., an SS block) transmitted from the gNB 110 and/or from the ng-eNB 114.

Based on the positioning method selected in act 506 and the assistance data indicated by UE 105 as supported in act 505, LMF 120 may determine assistance data for UE 105 to support the selected positioning method. Then, in act 507, LMF 120 may send an NRPPa information request message, which may be relayed by AMF 115 to serving node gNB 110-1 (at act 508). The NRPPa information request may request location related information for gNB 110-1, such as the location of gNB 110-1, E-CID configuration parameters for gNB 110-1, and/or information regarding the broadcast assistance data for gNB 110-1. The NRPPa information requests sent at acts 507 and 508 may comprise requests for configuration parameters related to the directed SS block. Serving node gNB 110-1 responds with an NRPPa information response message in act 509, which may be relayed by AMF 115 to LMF 120 in act 510. The NRPPa information response may provide some or all of the location-related information requested in acts 507 and 508. For example, when requesting configuration parameters for E-CID positioning information in acts 507 and 508, the NRPPa information response may provide signal characteristics, beam angles, and other configuration information for each SS block supported by the gNB 110-1. LMF 120 may repeat acts 507 and 510 to obtain location related information (e.g., configuration parameters for SS blocks) from other gnbs 110 and/or ng-enbs (e.g., gNB 110-2 and ng-eNB 114) (not shown in fig. 5) near UE 105.

In some embodiments, serving gbb 110-1 and/or other gbbs 110 and ng-enbs (such as gbb 110-2 and ng-eNB 114) (not shown in fig. 5) may broadcast assistance data to UE 105 (and other UEs) and/or may provide assistance data to UE 105 in a point-to-point manner, e.g., using radio resource control protocol (RRC) for 5G access (not shown in fig. 5), in act 511. In some embodiments, the broadcast may use System Information Blocks (SIBs) for the RRC protocol. The assistance data may include configuration parameters and signal characteristics (e.g., beam identification values and angle data) of SS blocks transmitted by the transmitting gNB 110 and/or transmitted by other nearby gnbs 110 and/or ng-enbs 114. In some embodiments, acts 512 and 513 described next may not occur, for example, if all location-related information may be broadcast to UEs by gNB 110-1 and/or other gnbs 110 and/or ng-enbs 114.

The LMF 120 may send some or all of the assistance data received in act 510, as well as other assistance data that may already be known to the LMF 120, to the UE 105 via the LPP/NPP provide assistance data message sent to the AMF 115 in act 512, and the LPP/NPP provide assistance data message is relayed by the AMF 115 to the UE 105 in a 5G NAS transport message in act 513. In the case of E-CID positioning, the assistance data may include identities of the reference cell and neighboring cells supported by the gNB 110 and/or ng-eNB 114, and may include information for each cell, such as SS bursts and SS block information transmitted within the cell. The assistance data may also include configuration parameters and signal characteristics associated with different directional signals that may be beamformed by the antenna array of the gNB 110 and/or ng-eNB 114.

The NAS transport message sent in act 513 may be followed by an LPP/NPP request location information message again sent from the LMF 120 to the AMF 115 in act 514, which the AMF 115 relays to the UE 105 in a 5G NAS transport message in act 515. The LPP/NPP request location information message may request one or more location measurements and/or location estimates from the UE 105 based on, for example, the location method selected in act 506 and/or the location capabilities of the UE 105 sent to the LMF 120 in acts 504 and 505. The positioning measurements may for example comprise a request for E-CID measurement quantities such as receive beam ID, average angle per receive beam, RSRP/RSRQ per receive beam ID, receive beam width per beam ID.

In act 516, the UE 105 may then obtain some or all of the location measurements (and other information) requested in acts 514 and 515. The location measurement results may be based in part on directional SS blocks transmitted by serving gNB 110-1 and/or other nearby gnbs 110 and/or ng-enbs 114. For example, SS blocks may be transmitted by the gNB 110 and/or ng-eNB 114 within the reference cell and/or neighboring cells. The measurements obtained in act 516 may include some or all of the measurements requested in act 515 or implied in act 515 (if act 515 requests a location estimate from the UE 105). The UE 105 may measure the directional SS blocks (e.g., for the serving cell or the neighboring cells) based on the configuration parameters and signal characteristics provided for the directional SSB parameters in the location-related information received in act 511 and/or act 513. In an example, the UE 105 determines a measurement quantity for each receive beam. The measurement quantity may include the beam ID of the reception beam and the measurement quantity of each reception beam, as shown in fig. 4. Thus, for each beam ID (e.g., the directional beam that transmits the gNB), the UE 105 may be configured to determine an average angle of the receive beams (e.g., the angle between the first, second, and third beams 408 a-c), a receive beamwidth per beam ID, and RSRP/RSRQ per ID.

In some embodiments, at least some of the location measurements obtained in act 516 are provided in an LPP/NPP provide location information message sent from the UE 105 to the AMF 115 in a 5G NAS transport message in act 517. In act 518, the AMF 115 extracts the LPP/NPP provide location information message from the 5G NAS transport message and relays it to the LMF 120 (e.g., using a 5G LCS AP). With this information, the LMF 120 may then determine the location of the UE 105 at act 519. For example, when the measurement quantities returned by the UE 105 in acts 517 and 518 include measurements of one or more directional SS blocks (e.g., beam ID/SSB indices, and measurements of average angle, RSRP, RSRQ, receive beam width), the LMF 120 may identify a directional angle and range corresponding to the measurement quantities. The beam ID may be stored in a codebook together with the corresponding angle data. The average angle, RSRP/RSRQ, and receive beam width values may be used to improve angular resolution and range determination between the gNB and the UE 105. After the location determination of act 519, LMF 120 may send the determined location to the entity (e.g., GMLC 125 or AMF 115) that sent the location request in act 501 at act 520.

In some embodiments, after act 516, the UE 105 may determine a location of the UE 105 (not shown in fig. 5). The location may be determined by the UE 105 as just described for act 519. The location determination by the UE 105 may be based on the location-related information received by the UE 105 in acts 511 and/or acts 512 and 513, including the previously described location-related information and other information, such as the location of the antennas of the gNB 110 and/or ng-eNB 114 and any transmission time differences of the gNB 110 and/or ng-eNB 114. Then, in acts 517 and 518, the UE 105 may return the determined location to the LMF 120 instead of returning the location measurement. In this embodiment, act 519 may not occur.

Referring to fig. 6, a conceptual diagram illustrating E-CID positioning based on a plurality of beams transmitted from a base station is shown. A base station, such as the gNB 110-1, is configured to transmit a plurality of synchronization signal blocks (SS blocks) as a plurality of transmit beams 602 a-d. The beam angles depicted in fig. 6 are examples only. In an example, each beam will cover approximately 30 degrees (e.g., 12 beams cover 360 degrees). The UE 105 detects a first beam identification value associated with the first beam 602a and a second beam identification value associated with the second beam 602 b. An angular region 608 is defined as the region between the first beam 602a and the second beam 602 b. Detection of the first and second beam identifications associated with the first beam 602a and the second beam 602b, respectively, may be used to determine that the current location of the UE 105 is within (or near) the angular region 608. In an example, the UE 105 or other network node may include a codebook or other data structure to associate the geographic coverage of the transmit beams based on the respective angles of the transmit beams and the location of the gNB 110-1. The UE 105 may also be configured to determine RSRP/RSRQ values associated with the first beam 602a and the second beam 602 b. The RSRP/RSRQ value may be used to determine a range between UE 105 and gNB 110-1. Other signal information such as Round Trip Time (RTT) values may also be used to determine range. For example, the range values 606 may be used in conjunction with the angular region 608 to determine an estimated location of the UE 105. Although fig. 6 depicts the UE 105 detecting two beams, it is possible for the UE 105 to be entirely within the area of a single beam, and thus the angular area may be defined by the coverage of a single beam. Further, one or more beams from other base stations may be used to improve location estimation, and other signaling techniques with multiple base stations (e.g., time difference of arrival (TDOA)) may also be used to determine an estimated location of the UE 105.

Referring to fig. 7A, with further reference to fig. 4, a conceptual diagram illustrating E-CID positioning based on beam steering with a mobile device is shown. A base station, such as the gNB 110-1, is configured to transmit a plurality of synchronization signal blocks (SS blocks) as a plurality of transmit beams 702 a-d. In operation, other base stations (e.g., second gNB 110-2) may also transmit multiple SS block beams (not shown in fig. 7A), and the positioning scheme may use measurements derived from the other base stations. The UE 105 is configured to enable the plurality of receive beams 710a-c to receive beams transmitted by the base station. In an example, the UE 105 may be configured to use multiple receive beams or steer a single beam at different reference angles to achieve a multi-beam pattern as shown in fig. 7A. In operation, the UE 105 is configured to determine a measurement value for each transmit beam (e.g., 702a-d) received by each receive beam (e.g., 710 a-c). For example, the UE 105 detects a first beam identification value for a first transmit beam 702a having a first receive beam 710a and a second receive beam 710 b. The UE 105 determines a first RSRP/RSRQ value for the first transmit beam 702a based on the first receive beam 710a and a second RSRP/RSRQ value for the first transmit beam 702a based on the second receive beam 710 b. The UE 105 also determines a third RSRP/RSRQ value for the second transmit beam 702b based on the first receive beam 710a and a fourth RSRP/RSRQ value for the first transmit beam 702a based on the second receive beam 710 b. The UE 105 may report RSRP/RSRQ values and average angles 712 (e.g., via NAS transport messages 517) to a network node to determine UE location, or the UE 105 may be configured to utilize the measurements to determine location.

In an example, the UE 105 may be configured to determine a 3dB beamwidth of one or more receive beams 710a-c based on RSRP/RSRQ values. For example, the UE 105 may steer the receive beams 710a-c and determine when the measurement associated with the beam ID (e.g., the second beam 702b) drops by half (e.g., 3 dB). The determined beamwidth of the receive beam may be included in the reported measurement quantity. An example algorithm for determining a beamwidth may include determining a first measurement of a first receive beam and a second measurement of a second receive beam. If the second measurement is 50% of the first measurement, the 3dB beamwidth is based on the angle between the first receive beam and the second receive beam.

Referring to fig. 7B, with further reference to fig. 4, a conceptual diagram illustrating E-CID positioning based on configurable receive beam width values within a mobile device is shown. As illustrated in fig. 7A, a base station, such as the gNB 110-1, is configured to transmit a plurality of synchronization signal blocks (SS blocks) as a plurality of transmit beams 702 a-d. The UE 105 may receive beams from more than one base station (not shown in fig. 7B). The antenna module 406b within the UE 105 may be configured to establish the receive beam 720a at a fixed average angle and a first beamwidth. The UE 105 is configured to change the number of antennas and/or the antenna gain parameters to increase the receive beamwidth. For example, the receive beam may be increased to a second beamwidth 720b or a third beamwidth 720 c. The number and size of beamwidths in fig. 7B is merely exemplary, and not limiting, as the physical beam geometry may be defined by a more abstract shape. The UE 105 may measure RSRP/RSRQ for each received transmit beam ID value (e.g., SSB index of the transmit beams 702a, 702b), where each different beam width value is associated with a respective beam 720 a-c. In an example, the UE 105 may provide each RSRP/RSRQ value measured by each different beamwidth of each different transmit beam as a measurement quantity to a network node, such as a positioning server. In another example, the UE 105 may be configured to estimate the 3dB beamwidth of the receive beams using the measured RSRP/RSRQ values of each receive beam. That is, the UE 105 may sequentially increase the receive beamwidth until RSRP/RSRQ drops by 3 dB. An example algorithm for determining a beamwidth may include determining a first measurement of a first receive beam and a second measurement of a second receive beam. If the second measurement is 50% of the first measurement, the 3dB beamwidth is equal to the width of the second receive beam. The UE 105 may report an estimate of the 3dB receive beamwidth to the network node as a measurement quantity.

Referring to fig. 8, with further reference to fig. 1-7B, a method 800 of supporting and facilitating mobile device location, generally performed at a mobile device, includes the illustrated steps. However, the method 800 is merely exemplary and not limiting. The method 800 may be altered, for example, by having steps added, removed, rearranged, combined, performed concurrently, and/or having individual steps separated into multiple steps. For example, step 808 of determining the beamwidth of the receive beam described below is optional and may not require the determination of the location at step 810. Other variations to the method 800 shown and described are possible.

At step 802, method 800 includes generating, with a mobile device, a plurality of receive beams. The modem 404 and antenna module 406a in the UE 105 are examples of means for generating multiple receive beams. The antenna module within the UE 105 may include an antenna array (e.g., patch, line, dipole, etc.), and the modem 404 may be configured to control the antenna array and control the resulting beam pattern using phase shifters and/or hybrid antenna couplers. In an example, the UE 105 may generate multiple receive beams at fixed reference angles. The UE 105 may be configured to generate a single receive beam of fixed width and steer the beam at different reference angles (e.g., receive beams 710a-c in fig. 7A). In an example, the UE 105 may generate a single beam with a fixed average angle and increase the receive beamwidth (e.g., receive beams 720a-c in fig. 7B). The initial receive beam parameters may be based on information received from the network node. The UE 105 may receive a broadcast or request message from a base station. In an example, the UE 105 may receive LPP or NPP messages with instructions to obtain one or more measurement quantities (e.g., beam ID, receive beam width, average angle, RSRP, RSRQ measurements) of directional signals transmitted within a particular cell supported by a particular gNB 110.

At step 804, the method 800 includes receiving a radio beam transmitted from a base station with one or more of a plurality of receive beams, wherein the radio beam includes a beam identification value. The modem 404 and antenna module 406a in the UE 105 are examples of means for receiving a radio beam transmitted from a base station. In a 5G NR wireless network, a base station such as a gNB may transmit a synchronization signal. In an initial signal acquisition procedure, the UE 105 may receive one or more radio beams, each radio beam including a beam identification value (e.g., an SSB index). The UE 105 may be configured to receive radio beams from other base stations within the communication network. In addition to the SSB index value, each received radio beam may be identified with cell identification information.

At step 806, the method 800 includes determining a measurement quantity for the radio beam for each of one or more of the plurality of receive beams. The UE 105 is an example means for determining measurement quantities. The UE 105 is configured to determine a measurement quantity for each transmitted radio beam received by each receive beam. For example, referring to fig. 7A, the UE 105 detects a beam identification value of a transmitted radio beam 702a having a first receive beam 710a and a second receive beam 710 b. UE 105 determines a first reference signal received power/reference signal received quality (RSRP/RSRQ) value for transmit beam 702a based on first receive beam 710a and a second RSRP/RSRQ value for transmit beam 702a based on second receive beam 710 b. The UE 105 may also determine an average angle per receive beam 712 as a measurement quantity. For each respective receive beam (e.g., 710a-b), an average angle 712 may be measured relative to the bearing of the UE 105. In an example, the average angle 712 may be represented relative to an external coordinate system (e.g., true north, magnetic north). In an example, the UE 105 may be configured to establish a receive beam at a fixed average angle and a first beamwidth and then change the number of antennas and/or the antenna gain parameters to increase the receive beamwidth. The UE 105 may determine RSRP/RSRQ values for each different beamwidth as a measure of the received radio beams.

At step 808, the method 800 optionally includes determining a beamwidth of at least one of the one or more of the plurality of receive beams. The UE 105 is an example means for determining a beamwidth. The UE 105 may be configured to determine a 3dB beamwidth of one or more receive beams based on a measurement quantity such as RSRP/RSRQ values determined at step 806. In an example, the UE 105 may steer the receive beam to determine when the measurement associated with the radio beam drops by 50%. In another example, the UE 105 may establish a receive beam at a fixed average angle and a first beamwidth and then change the number of antennas and/or the antenna gain parameters to increase the receive beamwidth. The UE 105 may then measure RSRP/RSRQ values of the radio beam for each different receive beamwidth to estimate a 3dB beamwidth of the radio beam. That is, the UE 105 may sequentially increase the receive beam width until the RSRP/RSRQ of the radio beam drops by 50%.

At step 810, the method 800 optionally includes determining a position based at least in part on the beam identification value, the measured quantity of the radio beam for each of one or more of the plurality of receive beams, and the beam width of at least one of the one or more of the plurality of receive beams. UE 105 or a network node such as LMF 120 is an example means for determining location. The measurement quantities determined at steps 806 and 808 may include measurements of one or more radio beams (e.g., beam ID/SSB indices, and measurements of average angle, RSRP, RSRQ, and beam width). The UE 105 or the LMF 120 may identify an orientation angle and a range corresponding to the measurement quantity. The beam ID may be stored in a codebook together with the corresponding angle data of the base station. The average angle, RSRP/RSRQ, and beamwidth information may be used to improve the angular resolution and range determination between the gNB and the UE 105.

Referring to fig. 9, with further reference to fig. 1-7B, a method 900, generally performed at a mobile device, of providing E-CID measurements to a network node includes the steps shown. However, the method 900 is merely exemplary and not limiting. Method 900 can be altered, for example, by having steps added, removed, rearranged, combined, performed concurrently, and/or having individual steps separated into multiple steps. For example, step 906 of determining the beamwidth of the receive beam described below may be optional and may not be transmitted at step 908. Other variations to the method 900 shown and described are possible.

At step 902, method 900 includes receiving one or more identification values associated with one or more radio beams transmitted by at least one base station. The modem 404 and antenna module 406a in the UE 105 are examples of means for receiving a radio beam comprising an identification value. In a 5G NR wireless network, a base station such as a gNB may transmit a synchronization signal. In an initial signal acquisition procedure, the UE 105 may receive one or more radio beams, each radio beam including a beam identification value (e.g., an SSB index). The UE 105 may be configured to receive radio beams from other base stations within the communication network. In addition to the SSB index value, each received radio beam may be identified with cell identification information.

At step 904, the method 900 comprises determining a beam identification value and a measurement quantity of at least one of the transmitted radio beams. The UE 105 is an example means for determining beam identification values and measurement quantities of transmitted radio beams. The UE 105 is configured to determine one or more measurement quantities for each transmitted radio beam. In an example, referring to fig. 7A, the UE 105 detects a beam identification value of a transmitted radio beam 702a having a first receive beam 710a and a second receive beam 710 b. The UE 105 determines an RSRP/RSRQ value for each of the plurality of receive beams. The UE 105 may also determine an average angle based on the relative angles of the receive beams. The UE 105 may also be configured to change the beam width and determine RSRP/RSRQ values for each different beam width as a measure of the transmitted radio beams. In an example, the UE 105 may receive an enhanced cell identity measurement initiation request message that includes a measurement quantity information element that enumerates a beam ID value, an average angle per receive beam value, a reference signal received power per beam ID value, and a receive beam width per beam ID value.

At step 906, the method 900 optionally includes determining a beam width value for at least one receive beam. The UE 105 is an example means for determining a beamwidth. The UE 105 may be configured to determine a 3dB beamwidth of one or more receive beams based on a measurement quantity such as RSRP/RSRQ values determined at step 904. In an example, the UE 105 may steer the receive beam to determine when the measurement associated with the transmitted radio beam drops by 3 dB. In another example, the UE 105 may establish a receive beam at a fixed average angle and a first beamwidth and then change the number of antennas and/or the antenna gain parameters to increase the receive beamwidth. The UE 105 may then measure RSRP/RSRQ values of the transmitted radio beams for each different receive beamwidth to estimate the 3dB beamwidth of the radio beams. That is, the UE 105 may sequentially increase the receive beamwidth until the RSRP/RSRQ of the radio beam drops by 3 dB.

At step 908, the method 900 includes transmitting the beam identification value, the measurement quantity, and the beam width value. The UE 105 is an example means for transmitting measurement quantities. In an example, the UE 105 may generate an E-CID measurement message in an LPP/NPP provide location information message that is sent from the UE 105 to the AMF 115 in a 5G NAS transport message at the action. The E-CID measurement result message may include beam result information elements such as a measurement beam ID of the reporting cell, an average angle of the reception beams, an RSRP measured per beam, an RSRQ measured per beam, and a reception beam width value with a power drop of no more than 3 dB. The AMF 115 may extract the E-CID measurement from the 5G NAS transport message and relay the result to the LMF 120 (e.g., using a 5G LCS AP). The LMF 120 may be configured to determine a location of the UE 105 based on the beam identification value and the measurement quantity. In an example, the beam width value may be used for position calculation.

Referring to fig. 10, with further reference to fig. 1-7B, a method 1000 is generally performed at one or more network nodes to facilitate location of a mobile device, including the steps shown. However, the method 1000 is merely exemplary and not limiting. The method 1000 can be altered, for example, by having various steps added, removed, rearranged, combined, performed concurrently, and/or having a single step split into multiple steps. For example, step 1004 described below for receiving the beamwidth of the receive beam may be optional. Other variations to the method 1000 shown and described are possible.

At step 1002, the method 1000 includes transmitting a plurality of directional synchronization signal blocks, wherein each block includes a beam identification value. The gNB 110 is a means for transmitting a plurality of directional synchronization blocks. In a 5G NR wireless network, a base station such as a gNB may transmit a synchronization signal. In an initial signal acquisition procedure, the UE 105 may receive one or more radio beams, each radio beam including a beam identification value (e.g., an SSB index). The UE 105 may be configured to receive radio beams from other base stations within the communication network. In addition to the SSB index value, each received radio beam may be identified with cell identification information.

At step 1004, the method 1000 includes receiving a measurement from the mobile device, the measurement including at least a beam identification value, a receive power value, and a receive beam width value. The gNB 110 is a means of receiving the measurement results. In an example, UE 105 may receive an E-CID measurement initiation request from LMF 120 through gNB 110. In response, the UE 105 may generate an E-CID measurement result message including beam result information elements such as a measurement beam ID of the reporting cell, an average angle of the received beams, a measured RSRP per beam, a measured RSRQ per beam, and optionally a received beam width value with a power drop of no more than 3 dB. In an example, the measurement may include an average angle of the receive beam relative to an orientation or other coordinate system of the mobile device, and the positioning of the mobile device may be based at least in part on the average angle of the receive beam. The E-CID measurement may be an LPP/NPP provide location information message that is sent from the UE 105 to the AMF 115 in a 5G NAS transport message at action. In an example, receiving the E-CID measurement may include receiving an enhanced cell identification measurement message from the mobile device. The enhanced cell identification measurement result message may include a result beam information element listing a beam ID value, an average angle of reception beam values, a reference signal received power per beam value, and a reception beam width value.

At step 1006, method 1000 includes determining a location of the mobile device based at least in part on the received measurements. The LMF 120 is a means for determining the location of the mobile device. The LMF 120 may identify an orientation angle and range corresponding to the E-CID measurement message. For example, the cell ID and beam ID for each SS block on each base station may be stored in a codebook or similar data structure along with the corresponding angle data relative to the base station. The average angle, RSRP/RSRQ, and receive beamwidth information may be used to improve angular resolution and range determination between the gNB and the UE 105. The location of the mobile device may be transmitted to the UE 105 or another network node (e.g., GMLC 125 or AMF 115).

Referring to fig. 11, a schematic diagram of an exemplary wireless node 1100, such as a base station, access point, or server, is shown that may be similar to any of the various nodes depicted in fig. 1 and 5, for example (e.g., components of the gnbs 110-1 and 110-2, ng-eNB 114, LMF 120, 5GC 140), and configured to have functionality similar to those nodes, or other nodes discussed herein (e.g., E-SMLC or SLP). Wireless node 1100 may include at least one communication module 1110a-n, which may be electrically coupled to one or more antennas 1116a-n for communicating with wireless devices (e.g., UE 105). Each of the communication modules 1110a-1110n may include a respective transmitter 1112a-n for transmitting signals (e.g., downlink messages, which may be arranged in frames and may include directional synchronization signals such as those described herein) and, optionally (e.g., for nodes configured to receive and process uplink communications), a respective receiver 1114 a-n. In embodiments where the implemented node comprises a transmitter and a receiver, the communication module comprising the transmitter and the receiver may be referred to as a transceiver. The node 1100 may also include a network interface 1120 to communicate with other network nodes via wires (e.g., by sending and receiving queries and responses). For example, node 1100 may be configured to communicate with a gateway or other suitable device of a network (e.g., via wired or wireless backhaul communication) to facilitate communication with one or more core network nodes (e.g., any of the other nodes and elements shown in fig. 1 and 5). Additionally and/or alternatively, communication with other network nodes may also be performed using the communication modules 1110a-n and/or the respective antennas 1116 a-n.

Node 1100 may also include other components that may be used with embodiments described herein. For example, in some embodiments, node 1100 may include at least one processor (also referred to as a controller) 1130 to manage communications (e.g., send and receive messages) with other nodes, to generate communication signals, and to provide other related functionality including functionality to implement the various processes and methods described herein. Thus, for example, the processor, in conjunction with other modules/units of the node 1100, may be configured to cause the node 1100, when acting as a base station (e.g., the gNB 110 or the ng-eNB 114), to generate a plurality of directional synchronization signals (SS blocks) for at least one cell of the base station, each of the plurality of directional SS blocks including a beam identification (e.g., an SS block index). Similarly, the processor, in conjunction with other modules/units of node 1100, may be configured to cause node 1110, when acting as a location-enabled device, to obtain E-CID measurements from a mobile device and determine a location of the mobile device based at least in part on the E-CID measurements and a stored codebook or other data structure, for example.

Processor 1130 may be coupled to (or otherwise in communication with) memory 1140, which memory 1140 may comprise one or more modules (implemented in hardware or software) to facilitate controlling the operation of node 1100. For example, memory 1140 may include an application module 1146 having computer code for performing various applications required for the operation of node 1100. For example, processor 1130 may be configured to control operation of antennas 1116a-n (e.g., using code provided via application module 1146 or some other module in memory 1140) to adjustably control transmit power and phase of the antennas, gain patterns, antenna direction (e.g., the direction in which a composite radiation beam from antennas 1116a-n propagates), antenna diversity, and other adjustable antenna parameters of antennas 1116a-n of node 1100. The antennas 1116a-n of the node 1100 collectively form an antenna array of the node 1100, and control of the antennas 1116a-n may allow, for example, directional synchronization signals to be beamformed and transmitted in a particular direction characterized in part by a directional angle and a beam width. In some embodiments, the configuration of the antennas may be controlled according to pre-stored configuration data (e.g., a codebook provided at the time of manufacture or deployment of the node 1100) or according to data obtained from a remote device (e.g., a central server that transmits data representing the antenna configuration and other operating parameters to be used for the node 1100). In some embodiments, wireless node 1100 may also be configured to perform location data services or other types of services for a plurality of wireless devices (clients) in communication with wireless node 1100 (or in communication with a server coupled to wireless node 1100), and to provide location data and/or assistance data to such plurality of wireless devices.

Further, in some embodiments, memory 1140 may also include a neighbor relation controller (e.g., a neighbor discovery module) 1142 to manage neighbor relations (e.g., maintain neighbor lists 1144) and provide other related functionality. In some embodiments, node 1110 may also include one or more sensors (not shown) and other devices (e.g., cameras).

Referring to fig. 12, a User Equipment (UE)1200 is illustrated that may utilize the various processes and techniques described herein. In embodiments and/or functionality, the UE 1200 may be similar or identical to any other UE described herein, including the UE 105 described in fig. 1, 3-7B. Moreover, the embodiment illustrated in fig. 12 may also be used, at least in part, to implement some of the nodes and devices illustrated by the present disclosure, including nodes and devices such as base stations (e.g., gNB 110, ng-eNB 114, enbs, etc.), location servers (e.g., LMF 120), and other components and devices illustrated and described in fig. 1-7B.

UE 1200 includes a processor 1211 (or processor core) and memory 1240. As described herein, UE 1200 is configured to detect and process directional synchronization signals (SS blocks). The UE 1200 may optionally include a trusted environment operatively connected to the memory 1240 via a common bus 1201 or a dedicated bus (not shown). UE 1200 may also include a communication interface 1220 and a wireless transceiver 1221, wireless transceiver 1221 configured to transmit and receive wireless signals 1223 over a wireless network (e.g., NG-RAN 135 and 5GC 140 of fig. 1) via a wireless antenna 1222. Wireless transceiver 1221 may include modem 404 and antenna modules 406a-b shown in fig. 4. A wireless transceiver 1221 is connected to the bus 1201 via the communication interface 1220. Here, UE 1200 is shown with a single wireless transceiver 1221. However, the UE 1200 may alternatively have multiple wireless transceivers 1221 and/or multiple wireless antennas 1222 to support multiple communication standards, such as WiFi, CDMA, wideband CDMA (wcdma), Long Term Evolution (LTE), 5G, NR, wireless,

Short-range wireless communication techniques, and the like.

Communication interface 1220 and/or wireless transceiver 1221 may support operation on multiple carriers (waveform signals of different frequencies). The multicarrier transmitter may transmit the modulated signal on multiple carriers simultaneously. Each modulated signal may be a Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) signal, a Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) signal, an Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access (OFDMA) signal, a single-carrier frequency division multiple access (SC-FDMA) signal, or the like. Each modulated signal may be transmitted on a different carrier and may carry pilot, control information, overhead information, data, and the like.

UE 1200 may also include a user interface 1250 (e.g., a display, a keyboard, a touch screen, a Graphical User Interface (GUI)) and a Satellite Positioning System (SPS) receiver 1255 that receives SPS signals 1259 (e.g., from SPS satellites) via SPS antenna 1258, which may be the same antenna as wireless antenna 1222 or may be a different antenna. The SPS receiver 1255 may communicate with a single Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) or a plurality of such systems. GNSS may include, but is not limited to, Global Positioning System (GPS), Galileo, Glonass, Beidou (Compass), etc. SPS satellites are also known as satellites, Space Vehicles (SVs), and the like. SPS receiver 1255 measures SPS signals 1259, and may use the measurements of SPS signals 1259 to determine a position of UE 1200. Processor 1211, memory 1240, Digital Signal Processor (DSP)1212, and/or a dedicated processor (not shown) may also be used to process SPS signals 1259, in whole or in part, and/or to calculate (approximately or more accurately) the position of UE 1200 in conjunction with SPS receiver 1255. Alternatively, the UE 1200 may support communicating SPS measurements to a location server (e.g., E-SMLC, LMF, such as LMF 120 of fig. 1, etc.) that computes the UE location. Memory 1240 or registers (not shown) are used to store information from SPS signals 1259 or other location signals. Although only one processor 1211, one DSP 1212, and one memory 1240 are shown in fig. 12, the UE 1200 may use more than one of any, a pair, or all of these components. A processor 1211 and DSP 1212 associated with UE 1200 are connected to bus 1201.

Memory 1240 may include a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium (or multiple media) that stores functionality as one or more instructions or code. Media that may comprise memory 1240 include, but are not limited to, RAM, ROM, flash memory, disk drives, and the like. Typically, the functions stored by memory 1240 are performed by a general purpose processor, such as processor 1211, a special purpose processor, such as DSP 1212, and the like. Thus, the memory 1240 is a processor-readable and/or computer-readable memory that stores software (programming code, instructions, etc.) configured to cause the processor 1211 and/or the DSP 1212 to perform the described functions. Alternatively, one or more functions of the UE 1200 may be performed in whole or in part in hardware.

The UE 1200 may use various techniques to estimate its current location within the relevant system based on information available to other communication entities within the view and/or the UE 1200. For example, UE 1200 may utilize short-range wireless communication techniques (e.g.,

radio technology or

Etc.), Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) or other Satellite Positioning System (SPS) satellites, and/or map data obtained from a map server or other server (e.g., LMF, E-SMLC, or SLP). In embodiments, the location server may be an E-SMLC, SLP, standalone service mobile location center (SAS), or LMF, etc., which may provide assistance data to UE 1200 to allow or assist UE 1200 in acquiring signals (e.g., signals from WLAN APs, signals from cellular base stations (including directional SS signals), GNSS satellites, etc.), provide transmitters and/or transceivers (e.g., base stations, access points, beacons, and computing devices) location (and, in embodiments, position) and associated beam information (beam ID, position (absolute or relative to transmitter position), strength, timing, etc.) to UE 1200, and enable UE 1200 to determine distance and/or pseudorange and pseudorange based on location related measurements (e.g., time related measurements (e.g., TOA, OTDOA, RTT, FTM, etc.)) and/or signal strength related measurements (e.g., RSSI) and/or other beam related information using these signals And/or relative position and/or orientation) and calculating position using the position of the transmitter/transceiver and, in embodiments, the orientation of the transmitter and/or transceiver and signal measurements of signals from the transmitter and/or transceiver. For example, information about one or more receive and transmit beams may be used to determine the orientation of the device relative to a given transmitter (e.g., based on which receive beam(s) and transmit beam(s) are used relative to the orientation of the transmitter), the distance from the transmitterThe location and bearing of the UE 1200 may be determined (e.g., using signal strength or time information) using one or more beams from one or more transmitters. The locations and other parameters of the base stations and access points associated with the WLAN (e.g., time information, signal strength, base station ID and/or AP MAC address, base station orientation (compass orientation or relative orientation with respect to surrounding geographical or map features)) may be stored in a codebook or similar base station almanac, which may be stored on the UE 1200 and/or as part of a larger base station database, which may be stored remotely on a location server. In embodiments, the beam identification value (e.g., SSB ID) and the associated angle and location information associated with the beam and signal information (e.g., RSS), and in embodiments, transmitter information, as described above, may be provided by the location server and/or may be provided by the transmitting device in a signal transmission, e.g., as a pilot message or as a message embedded in the beam. In embodiments, the base station almanac may include beam identification values (e.g., SSB IDs) and associated angle and location information and signal information (e.g., RSS) associated with the beams, and this information may be updated based on information transmitted from the respective base station and/or access point or other transmitter or based on information from a location server. In embodiments, the beam identification value (e.g., SSB ID) and the associated angle and location information associated with the beam and signal information (e.g., RSS) may be instantaneous and may be received, for example, from each respective transmitter/transceiver or from a location server and used to determine the device location without updating base station almanac information. In an embodiment, the base station almanac may include beam information associated with neighboring base stations and access points. In embodiments, the transmitter information and/or associated beam information may be retained in a base station almanac or other memory, such that the base station almanac also contains transmitter and/or beam information for transmitters/transceivers that are no longer in view, such that this information may be used for later positioning (e.g., transmitter position and transmitter orientation, and other non-transitory features may be suitable for future position determination actions). In an embodiment, the beams and/orThe transmitter information may be obtained from both the base station almanac and the transceiver/transmitter and/or from the location server, such that non-transient aspects of the beams associated with any given transmitter/transceiver (if any) are stored in the base station almanac, while transient aspects, such as the angle and/or transmit signal strength associated with a particular beam ID at any given time, are provided to the UE 1200 by the transmitter/transceiver or the location server. UE 1200 may provide measurement information about one or more base stations and/or APs to a positioning server to compute a position estimate (which may be referred to as a "UE-assisted" positioning), or may self-compute a position estimate (which may be referred to as a "UE-based" positioning) based on the measurements and base station almanac/codebook data provided by the positioning server (e.g., orbit and time data for GNSS satellites, configuration parameters for directional PRS signals, precise position coordinates for WLAN APs and/or cellular base stations for OTDOA, AOD, and/or E-CID positioning, SSB ID with angle data, SSB ID/RSS position estimate, etc.).

In embodiments, the positioning server may obtain additional beam information, such as angle and signal strength or signal transmission time relative to the measurement time, from the UE 1200 and/or from the respective transmitter/transceiver that transmitted the respective beam being measured. In embodiments, the transceiver/transmitter beam configuration may be variable in number, ID, and angle based on the communication requirements of the client device; in embodiments, the transceiver/transmitter ID, beam ID, and beam configuration may be communicated to the mobile device, for example, as part of a messaging in each beam or pilot, particularly when the beam configuration is instantaneous. In embodiments, the beam configurations may be standardized such that the particular beam ID of any given transmitter corresponds to a particular beam configuration, e.g., a particular transmit orientation of the transmitter/transceiver with respect to a particular beam. In an embodiment, the beam ID may include an identification symbol code or code. In an embodiment, the beam ID may include configuration information, such as the angle of orientation of the beam with respect to the corresponding transmitter/transceiver.

In embodiments, the UE 1200 may determine its position and orientation based on the above components, including in embodiments sensor measurements, such as accelerometer, magnetometer, camera, and/or gyroscope measurements to determine or enhance orientation measurements. In an embodiment, the UE 1200 may utilize the determined location and orientation in conjunction with beam information (e.g., transceiver/transmitter ID, beam transmission angle/orientation relative to the transceiver/transmitter) and measurements (e.g., range-related measurements, receive beam information, and receive angle-related measurements) from the transceiver/transmitter to determine or enhance the accuracy of the location and/or orientation associated with the transceiver/transmitter. In embodiments, the UE 1200 may store this information, for example, for position determination or for enhancing a base station almanac on the UE 1200 or for enhancing a base station/transceiver/transmitter database on a location server. In embodiments, the UE 1200 may forward the stored measurement results and associated transceiver information to the group origin server and/or the positioning server for updating, improving accuracy of, and/or adding to the information stored in the base station database on the group origin server and/or the positioning server. In an embodiment, UE 1200 may send stored measurement results when requesting base station almanac information or other assistance. In an embodiment, UE 1200 may send stored measurements when connected to a WiFi system, either periodically, for example (e.g., every night or every week), or when connected to a charger, for example, or when connected to a system with no per unit data charges, or under other specific conditions. In embodiments, the upload condition may be configurable, for example, with menu input or other configuration input received at the UE 1200.

In one embodiment, the UE 1200 may include a camera 1230 (e.g., front and/or rear), such as a Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor (CMOS) image sensor with an appropriate lens configuration. Other imaging technologies may be used, such as Charge Coupled Devices (CCD) and back-illuminated CMOS. The camera 1230 may be configured to acquire and provide image information to assist in locating the UE 1200. In an example, one or more external image processing servers (e.g., remote servers) may be used to perform image recognition and provide location estimation processing. The UE 1200 may include other sensors 1235, which may also be used for, or to assist in, calculating the location of the UE 1200. Other sensors 1235 may include inertial sensors (e.g., accelerometers, gyroscopes, magnetometers, compasses, any of which may be based on micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) or implemented based on some other technology), as well as barometers, thermometers, hygrometers and other sensors. In an example, a compass may be used to determine the average angle of the receive beams.

As described above, in some embodiments, UE 1200 may be configured to generate multiple receive beams with a mobile device; receiving a radio beam transmitted from a base station using one or more of a plurality of reception beams, wherein the radio beam includes a beam identification value; determining a measurement quantity for the radio beam for each of the one or more receive beams; determining a beamwidth for each of the one or more receive beams; and determining a position based at least in part on the beam identification value, the measured quantity of the radio beam for each of the one or more of the plurality of receive beams, and the beam width of the radio beam.

Basic changes can be made according to specific requirements. For example, customized hardware might also be used and/or particular elements might be implemented in hardware, software (including portable software, such as applets, etc.), or both. In addition, connections to other computing devices, such as network input/output devices, may be used.

A configuration may be described as a process that is illustrated in a flowchart or block diagram. Although operations may be described as a sequential process, many of the operations can be performed in parallel or concurrently. In addition, the order of the operations may be rearranged. A process may have additional steps not included in the figure. Furthermore, examples of the methods may be implemented by hardware, software, firmware, middleware, microcode, hardware description languages, or any combination thereof. When implemented in software, firmware, middleware or microcode, the program code or code segments to perform the necessary tasks may be stored in a non-transitory computer-readable medium such as a storage medium. The processor may perform the described tasks.

Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly or conventionally understood. As used herein, the articles "a" and "an" refer to one or to more than one (i.e., to at least one) of the grammatical object of the article. For example, "an element" means one element or more than one element. As used herein, "about" and/or "approximately" is used to refer to a measurable value, such as a quantity, duration, etc., including a variation of ± 20% or ± 10%, 5%, or + 0.1% from a specified value, as such variation is appropriate in the context of the systems, devices, circuits, methods, and other embodiments described herein. As used herein, "substantially" is used to refer to a measurable value, such as a quantity, a duration, a physical property (e.g., frequency), etc., and also includes variations from the specified value by ± 20% or ± 10%, ± 5%, or + 0.1%, as such variations are suitable in the context of the systems, devices, circuits, methods, and other embodiments described herein.

As used herein, including in the claims, "or" when used in a list beginning with "at least one" or "one or more" means a list of gossip, e.g., a list of "at least one of A, B or C" means a or B or C or AB or AC or BC or ABC (i.e., a and B and C), or a combination having more than one feature (e.g., AA, AAB, ABBC, etc.). Further, as used herein, unless otherwise specified, a statement that a function or operation is "based on" a thing or condition means that the function or operation is based on the thing or condition, and may be based on one or more things and/or conditions other than the thing or condition.

As used herein, a mobile device or station (MS) refers to a device such as a cellular or other wireless communication device, a smartphone, a tablet, a Personal Communication System (PCS) device, a Personal Navigation Device (PND), a Personal Information Manager (PIM), a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), a laptop, or other suitable mobile device capable of receiving wireless communication and/or navigation signals, such as navigational positioning signals. The term "mobile station" (or "mobile device" or "wireless device") is also intended to include devices that communicate with a Personal Navigation Device (PND), such as by short-range wireless, infrared, wireline connection, or other connection, regardless of whether satellite signal reception, assistance data reception, and/or position-related processing occurs at the device or the PND. Further, "mobile station" is intended to include all devices, including wireless communication devices, computers, laptops, tablets, etc., which are capable of communication with a server, e.g., via the internet, WiFi or other network, and which are capable of communication with one or more types of nodes, regardless of whether satellite signal reception, assistance data reception, and/or position-related processing occurs at the device, at the server, or at another device or node associated with the network. Any operable combination of the above is also considered a "mobile station". A mobile device may also be referred to as a mobile terminal, User Equipment (UE), device, terminal supporting secure user plane positioning (SET), target device, target, or by other names.

Although some of the techniques, processes, and/or implementations presented herein may comply with all or part of one or more standards, in some embodiments, these techniques, processes, and/or implementations may not comply with all or part of the one or more standards.

Although specific embodiments have been disclosed herein in detail, this has been done by way of example for purposes of illustration only and is not intended to limit the scope of the appended claims, which follow. In particular, it is contemplated that various substitutions, alterations, and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the claims. Other aspects, advantages, and modifications are considered to be within the scope of the following claims. The claims presented represent embodiments and features disclosed herein. Other non-claimed embodiments and features are also contemplated. Accordingly, other embodiments are within the scope of the following claims.

Claims (30)

1. A method for determining a location of a mobile device, comprising:

generating, with the mobile device, a plurality of receive beams;

receiving a radio beam transmitted from a base station using one or more of the plurality of receive beams, wherein the radio beam includes a beam identification value; and

determining a measurement quantity for the radio beam for each of one or more of the plurality of receive beams.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining the location based at least in part on the beam identification value and the measurement quantity of the radio beam for each of one or more of the plurality of receive beams.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein determining the location comprises providing the beam identification value and the measured quantity of the radio beam for each of one or more of the plurality of receive beams to a location server and receiving the location from the location server.

4. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

determining a beamwidth of at least one of one or more of the plurality of receive beams; and

determining the location based at least in part on the beamwidth.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein determining the beam width comprises determining a first measurement quantity for a first receive beam and a second measurement quantity for a second receive beam, wherein the second measurement quantity is 50% of the first measurement quantity and the beam width is equal to a width of the second receive beam.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein determining the beamwidth comprises determining a first measurement of a first receive beam and a second measurement of a second receive beam, wherein the second measurement is 50% of the first measurement, and the beamwidth is based on an angle between the first receive beam and the second receive beam.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the measurement quantity is a reference signal received power value or a reference signal received quality value.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the measurement quantity is an average angle of at least one of the one or more of the plurality of receive beams relative to an orientation of the mobile device or relative to a coordinate system.

9. A mobile device, comprising:

one or more modems and antenna modules configured to:

generating, with the mobile device, a plurality of receive beams;

receiving a radio beam transmitted from a base station using one or more of the plurality of receive beams, wherein the radio beam includes a beam identification value; and

at least one processor configured to determine a measurement quantity for the radio beam for each of one or more of the plurality of receive beams.

10. The mobile device of claim 9, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to determine a location based at least in part on the beam identification value and the measurement quantity of the radio beam for each of one or more of the plurality of receive beams.

11. The mobile device of claim 10, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to determine the location by providing the beam identification value and the measurement quantity of the radio beam for each of one or more of the plurality of receive beams to a location server, and to receive the location from the location server.

12. The mobile device of claim 10, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:

determining a beamwidth of at least one of one or more of the plurality of receive beams; and

determining the location based at least in part on the beamwidth.

13. The mobile device of claim 12, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to determine the beam width by determining a first measurement of a first receive beam and a second measurement of a second receive beam, wherein the second measurement is 50% of the first measurement and the beam width is equal to a width of the second receive beam.

14. The mobile device of claim 12, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to determine the beam width by determining a first measurement of a first receive beam and a second measurement of a second receive beam, wherein the second measurement is 50% of the first measurement, and the beam width is based on an angle between the first receive beam and the second receive beam.

15. The mobile device of claim 9, wherein the measurement quantity is a reference signal received power value or a reference signal received quality value.

16. The mobile device of claim 9, wherein the measurement quantity is an orientation of at least one of the one or more of the plurality of receive beams relative to the mobile device or an average angle relative to a coordinate system.

17. A method for determining a location of a mobile device, comprising:

receiving measurements measured by the mobile device, the measurements including at least a beam identification value and a receive power value associated with a directional synchronization signal block received by one or more receive beams generated by the mobile device; and

determining the location of the mobile device based at least in part on the measurement results.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the measurement result comprises a receive beam width value based on the one or more receive beams, and the determining the location of the mobile device is based at least in part on the receive beam width value.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the measurement result comprises a reference signal receive power value, and the determining the location of the mobile device is based at least in part on the reference signal receive power value.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the measurement comprises a reference signal reception quality value, and the determining the location of the mobile device is based at least in part on the reference signal reception quality value.

21. The method of claim 17, wherein the measurement comprises an average angle of a receive beam relative to a coordinate system, and the determining the location of the mobile device is based at least in part on the average angle of the receive beam.

22. The method of claim 17, further comprising providing an enhanced cell identification measurement initiation request message to the mobile device, wherein the enhanced cell identification measurement initiation request message includes a measurement quantity information element that enumerates a beam ID value, an average angle per receive beam value, a reference signal receive power per beam ID value, and a beam width per beam ID value.

23. The method of claim 17, wherein receiving the measurement results from the mobile device comprises receiving an enhanced cell identification measurement result message from the mobile device, wherein the enhanced cell identification measurement result message comprises a result beam information element based on the one or more receive beams, the result beam information element listing a beam ID value, an average angle of receive beam values, a reference signal received power per beam value, and a receive beam width value.

24. A system for determining a location of a mobile device, comprising:

at least one communication module configured to:

receiving measurements measured by the mobile device, the measurements including at least a beam identification value and a receive power value associated with a directional synchronization signal block received by one or more receive beams generated by the mobile device; and

at least one processor configured to:

determining the location of the mobile device based at least in part on the measurement results.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein the measurement results comprise receive beam width values based on the one or more receive beams, and the at least one processor is configured to determine the location of the mobile device based at least in part on the receive beam width values.

26. The system of claim 24, wherein the measurement comprises a reference signal receive power value, and the at least one processor is configured to determine the location of the mobile device based at least in part on the reference signal receive power value.

27. The system of claim 24, wherein the measurement comprises a reference signal reception quality value, and the at least one processor is configured to determine the location of the mobile device based at least in part on the reference signal reception quality value.

28. The system of claim 24, wherein the measurement comprises an average angle of a receive beam relative to a coordinate system, and the at least one processor is configured to determine the location of the mobile device based at least in part on the average angle of the receive beam.

29. The system of claim 24, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to provide an enhanced cell identity measurement initiation request message to the mobile device, wherein the enhanced cell identity measurement initiation request message includes a measurement quantity information element that lists a beam ID value, an average angle per receive beam value, a reference signal received power per beam ID value, and a beam width per beam ID value.

30. The system of claim 24, wherein receiving the measurement from the mobile device comprises receiving an enhanced cell identification measurement message from the mobile device, wherein the enhanced cell identification measurement message comprises a result beam information element based on the one or more receive beams, the result beam information element listing a beam ID value, an average angle of receive beam values, a reference signal received power per beam value, and a receive beam width value.

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