US-12618933-B2 - Timing synchronization correction for position estimation based on time difference of arrival

US12618933B2US 12618933 B2US12618933 B2US 12618933B2US-12618933-B2

Abstract

Disclosed are techniques for wireless communication. Aspects of the disclosure are directed to timing synchronization correction for position estimation based on TDOA (e.g., uplink TDOA, sidelink TDOA, etc.). In some aspects, a relative time of arrival (RTOA)-based calibration procedure is performed to determine a timing synchronization correction value to be applied to TDOA measurements between two wireless reception reference nodes. In further aspects, the synchronization correction value aspects is used in association with a TDOA-based position estimate of a target user equipment (UE) (e.g., at a location management function (LMF) for network-assisted positioning, or transmitted to target UE and used by the target UE for UE-based positioning).

Inventors

Rakesh Dugad
Doohyun SUNG
Mehboob Alam MUNSHI
Ashok Kumar NIMMALA
Kanchan Kumar GORAIN
Anit TOMY

Assignees

QUALCOMM INCORPORATED

Dates

Publication Date: 20260505
Application Date: 20231128

Claims (20)

1 . A method of operating a position estimation entity, comprising: transmitting a first request for a first timing calibration procedure associated with a first wireless transmission by a first user equipment (UE) to a first wireless reception reference node and a second wireless reception reference node; wherein the first UE is associated with a first known location, wherein the first wireless reception reference node is associated with a second known location, and wherein the second wireless reception reference node is associated with a third known location; receiving a first relative time of arrival (RTOA) associated with the first wireless transmission as measured at the first wireless reception reference node; receiving a second RTOA associated with the first wireless transmission as measured at the second wireless reception reference node; determining a first receive time offset associated with the first wireless reception reference node based on the first RTOA and a first expected RTOA, wherein the first expected RTOA is based on the first known location and the second known location; determining a second receive time offset associated with the second wireless reception reference node based on the second RTOA and a second expected RTOA, wherein the second expected RTOA is based on the first known location and the third known location; determining a timing synchronization correction value between the first wireless reception reference node and the second wireless reception reference node based on the first receive time offset and the second receive time offset; and deriving a time difference of arrival (TDOA)-based position estimate of a target user equipment (UE) based on a TDOA of a positioning reference signal (PRS) between the first wireless reception reference node and the second wireless reception reference node and the timing synchronization correction value.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein each of the first UE, the first wireless reception reference node and the second wireless reception reference node is fixed, or temporarily stationary, or moving at less than a mobility threshold.
3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the first wireless reception reference node and the second wireless reception reference node comprise one or more wireless network components.
4 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising: determining an additional set of receive time offsets associated with an additional set of wireless reception reference nodes that does not include either of the first wireless reception reference node or the second wireless reception reference node.
5 . The method of claim 4 , further comprising: transmitting a second request for a second timing calibration procedure associated with a second wireless transmission by a second UE to the first wireless reception reference node and a third wireless reception reference node that belongs to the additional set of wireless reception reference nodes, wherein the second UE is associated with a fourth known location, and wherein the third wireless reception reference node is associated with a fifth known location; receiving a third RTOA associated with the second wireless transmission as measured at the first wireless reception reference node; receiving a fourth RTOA associated with the second wireless transmission as measured at the third wireless reception reference node; determining a third receive time offset associated with the first wireless reception reference node based on the third RTOA and a third expected RTOA; determining a fourth receive time offset associated with the third wireless reception reference node based on the fourth RTOA and a fourth expected RTOA; and determining one or more timing synchronization correction values between the first wireless reception reference node, the second wireless reception reference node, or both, and one or more wireless reception reference nodes in the additional set of wireless reception reference nodes based on the third receive time offset and the fourth receive time offset.
6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the position estimation entity corresponds to a network component for network-assisted position estimation or to the target UE for UE-based position estimation.
7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the TDOA-based position estimate corresponds to an uplink (UL)-TDOA position estimate or a sidelink (SL)-TDOA position estimate.
8 . A method of operating a wireless reception reference node, comprising: measuring a first relative time of arrival (RTOA) associated with a first wireless transmission by a user equipment (UE), wherein the UE is associated with a first known location, and wherein the wireless reception reference node is associated with a second known location; determining a receive time offset associated with the wireless reception reference node based on the first RTOA and an expected RTOA, wherein the expected RTOA is based on the first known location and the second known location; measuring a second RTOA associated with a second wireless transmission by a target user equipment (UE); correcting the second RTOA based on the receive time offset; and transmitting the corrected second RTOA to a position estimation entity.
9 . The method of claim 8 , wherein each of the UE and the wireless reception reference node is fixed, or temporarily stationary, or mobile with a respective position estimate that is still valid.
10 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the position estimation entity corresponds to a network component for network-assisted position estimation or to the target UE for UE-based position estimation.
11 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the corrected second RTOA is associated with derivation of a time difference of arrival (TDOA)-based position estimate by the position estimation entity.
12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the TDOA-based position estimate corresponds to an uplink (UL)-TDOA position estimate or a sidelink (SL)-TDOA position estimate.
13 . A method of operating a user equipment (UE), comprising: receiving location assistance data associated with a first wireless reception reference node and a second wireless reception reference node, wherein the location assistance data comprises a timing synchronization correction value between the first wireless reception reference node and the second wireless reception reference node; transmitting a positioning reference signal (PRS) associated with a time difference of arrival (TDOA)-based position estimation procedure; receiving measurement information associated with a TDOA of the PRS between the first wireless reception reference node and the second wireless reception reference node; correcting the TDOA based on the timing synchronization correction value; and deriving a TDOA-based position estimate of the UE based on the corrected TDOA.
14 . The method of claim 13 , wherein each of the first wireless reception reference node and the second wireless reception reference node is fixed, or temporarily stationary, or mobile with a respective position estimate that is still valid.
15 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the first wireless reception reference node and the second wireless reception reference node comprise one or more wireless network components, one or more UEs, or a combination thereof.
16 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the TDOA-based position estimate corresponds to an uplink (UL)-TDOA position estimate or a sidelink (SL)-TDOA position estimate.
17 . A position estimation entity, comprising: one or more memories; one or more transceivers; and one or more processors communicatively coupled to the one or more memories and the one or more transceivers, the one or more processors, either alone or in combination, configured to: transmit, via the one or more transceivers, a first request for a first timing calibration procedure associated with a first wireless transmission by a first user equipment (UE) to a first wireless reception reference node and a second wireless reception reference node; wherein the first UE is associated with a first known location, wherein the first wireless reception reference node is associated with a second known location, and wherein the second wireless reception reference node is associated with a third known location; receive, via the one or more transceivers, a first relative time of arrival (RTOA) associated with the first wireless transmission as measured at the first wireless reception reference node; receive, via the one or more transceivers, a second RTOA associated with the first wireless transmission as measured at the second wireless reception reference node; determine a first receive time offset associated with the first wireless reception reference node based on the first RTOA and a first expected RTOA, wherein the first expected RTOA is based on the first known location and the second known location; determine a second receive time offset associated with the second wireless reception reference node based on the second RTOA and a second expected RTOA, wherein the second expected RTOA is based on the first known location and the third known location; determine a timing synchronization correction value between the first wireless reception reference node and the second wireless reception reference node based on the first receive time offset and the second receive time offset; and derive a time difference of arrival (TDOA)-based position estimate of a target user equipment (UE) based on a TDOA of a positioning reference signal (PRS) between the first wireless reception reference node and the second wireless reception reference node and the timing synchronization correction value.
18 . The position estimation entity of claim 17 , wherein each of the first UE, the first wireless reception reference node and the second wireless reception reference node is fixed, or temporarily stationary, or moving at less than a mobility threshold.
19 . The position estimation entity of claim 17 , wherein the first wireless reception reference node and the second wireless reception reference node comprise one or more wireless network components.
20 . The position estimation entity of claim 17 , wherein the one or more processors, either alone or in combination, are further configured to: determine an additional set of receive time offsets associated with an additional set of wireless reception reference nodes that does not include either of the first wireless reception reference node or the second wireless reception reference node.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE 1. Field of the Disclosure Aspects of the disclosure relate generally to wireless technologies. 2. Description of the Related Art Wireless communication systems have developed through various generations, including a first-generation analog wireless phone service (1G), a second-generation (2G) digital wireless phone service (including interim 2.5G and 2.75G networks), a third-generation (3G) high speed data, Internet-capable wireless service and a fourth-generation (4G) service (e.g., Long Term Evolution (LTE) or WiMax). There are presently many different types of wireless communication systems in use, including cellular and personal communications service (PCS) systems. Examples of known cellular systems include the cellular analog advanced mobile phone system (AMPS), and digital cellular systems based on code division multiple access (CDMA), frequency division multiple access (FDMA), time division multiple access (TDMA), the Global System for Mobile communications (GSM), etc. A fifth generation (5G) wireless standard, referred to as New Radio (NR), enables higher data transfer speeds, greater numbers of connections, and better coverage, among other improvements. The 5G standard, according to the Next Generation Mobile Networks Alliance, is designed to provide higher data rates as compared to previous standards, more accurate positioning (e.g., based on reference signals for positioning (RS-P), such as downlink, uplink, or sidelink positioning reference signals (PRS)), and other technical enhancements. These enhancements, as well as the use of higher frequency bands, advances in PRS processes and technology, and high-density deployments for 5G, enable highly accurate 5G-based positioning. SUMMARY The following presents a simplified summary relating to one or more aspects disclosed herein. Thus, the following summary should not be considered an extensive overview relating to all contemplated aspects, nor should the following summary be considered to identify key or critical elements relating to all contemplated aspects or to delineate the scope associated with any particular aspect. Accordingly, the following summary has the sole purpose to present certain concepts relating to one or more aspects relating to the mechanisms disclosed herein in a simplified form to precede the detailed description presented below. In an aspect, a method of operating a position estimation entity includes transmitting a first request for a first timing calibration procedure associated with a first wireless transmission by a first user equipment (UE) to a first wireless reception reference node and a second wireless reception reference node; wherein the first UE is associated with a first known location, wherein the first wireless reception reference node is associated with a second known location, and wherein the second wireless reception reference node is associated with a third known location; receiving a first relative time of arrival (RTOA) associated with the first wireless transmission as measured at the first wireless reception reference node; receiving a second RTOA associated with the first wireless transmission as measured at the second wireless reception reference node; determining a first receive time offset associated with the first wireless reception reference node based on the first RTOA and a first expected RTOA; determining a second receive time offset associated with the second wireless reception reference node based on the second RTOA and a second expected RTOA; determining a timing synchronization correction value between the first wireless reception reference node and the second wireless reception reference node based on the first receive time offset and the second receive time offset; and deriving a time difference of arrival (TDOA)-based position estimate of a target user equipment (UE) based on a TDOA of a positioning reference signal (PRS) between the first wireless reception reference node and the second wireless reception reference node and the timing synchronization correction value. In an aspect, a method of operating a wireless reception reference node includes measuring a first relative time of arrival (RTOA) associated with a first wireless transmission by a user equipment (UE), wherein the UE is associated with a first known location, and wherein the wireless reception reference node is associated with a second known location; determining a receive time offset associated with the wireless reception reference node based on the first RTOA and an expected RTOA; measuring a second RTOA associated with a second wireless transmission by a target user equipment (UE); correcting the second RTOA based on the receive time offset; and transmitting the corrected second RTOA to a position estimation entity. In an aspect, a method of operating a user equipment (UE) includes receiving location assistance data associated with a first wireless reception reference node and a second wi