Patent Application
20240053493
The present application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 119 of European Patent Application No. EP 22 19 0023.6 filed on Aug. 11, 2022, which is expressly incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
The present invention relates to a method for a terminal device. The present invention further relates to an apparatus for a terminal device.
Some exemplary embodiments of the present invention relate to a method, for example a computer-implemented method, comprising: providing, by a terminal device, a first information characterizing a position of the terminal device, performing at least one sidelink-based positioning procedure associated with at least one further terminal device. In some exemplary embodiments, the first information may e.g. be used for preparing and/or for performing the at least one sidelink-based positioning procedure.
In some exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the terminal device and/or the at least one further terminal device can e.g. be used with a wireless, for example cellular, communications system, which is for example based on and/or adheres at least partially to at least one third generation partnership project, 3GPP, radio standard such as 4G (fourth generation), 5G (fifth generation), 6G (sixth generation) or other radio access technology.
In some exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the first terminal device and/or the at least one further terminal device may be a user equipment (UE) or a data transceiver modem, which, for example, may be associated with a mobile object such as e.g. a vehicle, for example car or truck or the like.
In some exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the first terminal device and/or the at least one further terminal device may be at least one of: an IoT (Internet of Things) device, an infrastructure component or part of an infrastructure component (e.g., traffic lights, street lights, traffic sign, toll gate), an industrial automation component, e.g. IIoT (Industrial IoT) component or infrastructure (e.g., robots, machines, etc.), a device for a mobile broadband user, and/or a vehicle.
In some exemplary embodiments of the present invention, a network device may be provided, which may e.g. be a base station, e.g. for a wireless, for example cellular, communications system, which is for example based on and/or adheres at least partially to at least one third generation partnership project, 3GPP, radio standard such as 4G (fourth generation), 5G (fifth generation), 6G (sixth generation) or other radio access technology.
In some exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the network device may e.g. be a gNB.
In some exemplary embodiments of the present invention, providing the first information comprises at least one of: a determining the position of the terminal device using a) satellite-based positioning procedure, e.g. based on a, for example global, navigation satellite system, b) determining the position of the terminal device using laser scanning, c) determining the position of the terminal device using tachometry, d) determining the position of the terminal device based on a-priori knowledge related to the position, e.g. associated with at least one of: d1) a configuration of the terminal device, d2) standardization, d3) deployment of the terminal device, e.g. based on position measurements during an installation of the terminal device, e) receiving the position of the terminal device from at least one further entity, f) determining the position of the terminal device using sidelink-based positioning, g) determining the position of the terminal device using a positioning procedure, e.g. other than sidelink-based, e.g. based on an air interface, e.g. Uu-interface according to some accepted standard.
In some exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the method comprises: assuming, by the terminal device, at least temporarily a role of a reference terminal device and/or an anchor terminal device for the at least one sidelink-based positioning procedure with the at least one further terminal device, wherein, for example, the at least one further terminal device at least temporarily assumes a role of a target terminal device.
In some exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the method comprises: assuming, by the terminal device, at least temporarily a role of a target terminal device for at least one further sidelink-based positioning procedure with the at least one further terminal device, wherein, for example, the at least one further terminal device at least temporarily assumes a role of a reference terminal device and/or an anchor terminal device.
In some exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the method comprises: using, by the terminal device, an information element to indicate to at least one further entity, for example to a network device and/or to a further terminal device, information related to the providing of the first information, wherein for example the information related to the providing of the first information characterizes at least one of: a) how the position of the terminal device is and/or has been provided, b) whether the position of the terminal device is and/or has been provided using a specific positioning procedure, e.g. a positioning procedure other than a or the positioning procedure based on an air interface, e.g. Uu-interface according to some accepted standard, c) whether the position of the terminal device is and/or has been provided using a positioning procedure which is not defined and/or related to a communications standard, for example which is not defined and/or related to a third generation partnership project, 3GPP,—related positioning methodology, d) an accuracy related to first information.
In some exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the method comprises: transmitting, by the terminal device, the information element to the at least one further entity, for example to a network device and/or to a further terminal device, wherein for example the transmitting is performed during at least one of: a) a configuration phase associated with the terminal device, b) a discovery phase associated with at least one further terminal device, e.g. target terminal device.
In some exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the method comprises: using, by the terminal device, an information element to signal to at least one further entity, for example to a network device and/or to a further terminal device, that the first information is trustworthy.
In some exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the method comprises: verifying, by the terminal device, the position of the terminal device, wherein for example the verifying is performed repeatedly, for example periodically, for example during an operation of the terminal device.
In some exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the method comprises: receiving, by the terminal device, via a sidelink interface, e.g. a PC5 interface according to some accepted standard, at least a first positioning reference signal, wherein, for example, the at least one first positioning reference signal may e.g. be a groupcast signal transmitted from at least one further terminal device, e.g. a target terminal device, and, transmitting, by the terminal device, a second positioning reference signal based on the first positioning reference signal, for example in response to the receiving of the first positioning reference signal, via the sidelink interface, e.g. at least to the at least one further terminal device.
In some exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the transmitting of the second positioning reference signal comprises at least one of: a) transmitting the second positioning reference signal multiplexed in time, e.g. with respect to the first positioning reference signal, b) transmitting the second positioning reference signal interleaved in at least one of b1) time and b2) frequency, e.g. with respect to the first positioning reference signal.
In some exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the method comprises: transmitting, by the terminal device, a third positioning reference signal via the sidelink interface, e.g. in form of a groupcast signal, e.g. at least to the at least one further terminal device, and receiving, by the terminal device, via the sidelink interface, at least a fourth positioning reference signal, wherein, for example, the fourth positioning reference signal is transmitted by the at least one further terminal device, e.g. based on the third positioning reference signal, for example in response to the third positioning reference signal.
In some exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the method comprises: using time and/or frequency resources, e.g. for at least one of the transmitting and the receiving, based on at least one of: a) configuration by at least one further terminal device, e.g. target terminal device, e.g. associated with at least one preferred sidelink feedback channel of the at least one further terminal device, b) configuration by at least one network device, e.g. via Uu interface control information, c) preconfiguration, e.g. of the terminal device, d) standardization.
Further exemplary embodiments of the present invention relate to an apparatus, for example for a terminal device, for performing the method according to the embodiments.
Further exemplary embodiments of the present invention relate to an apparatus, for example for a terminal device, comprising means (i.e., an arrangement), for performing the method according to the embodiments.
In some exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the apparatus and/or its functionality may e.g. be provided within the terminal device. In some exemplary embodiments, the apparatus and/or its functionality may e.g. be provided outside of the terminal device, e.g. in form of a, for example separate, device, that may e.g. be at least temporarily coupled with the terminal device.
Further exemplary embodiments of the present invention relate to a communication system or network comprising at least one apparatus according to the embodiments.
In some exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the communication system or network may comprise at least one terminal device comprising at least one apparatus according to the embodiments.
Further exemplary embodiments of the present invention relate to a computer program comprising instructions which, when the program is executed by a computer, cause the computer to carry out the method according to the embodiments.
Further exemplary embodiments of the present invention relate to a computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions which, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to carry out the method according to the embodiments.
Further exemplary embodiments of the present invention relate to a data carrier signal carrying and/or characterizing the computer program according to the embodiments.
Further exemplary embodiments of the present invention relate to a use of the method according to the embodiments and/or of the apparatus according to the embodiments and/or of the communication system according to the embodiments and/or of a computer program according to the embodiments, and/or of a computer-readable storage medium according to the embodiments and/or of a data carrier signal according to the embodiments, for at least one of: a) performing at least one sidelink-based positioning procedure, b) assisting a network device and/or at least one further terminal device in performing at least one positioning procedure, c) validating at least one positioning procedure, d) increasing a precision of at least one positioning procedure associated with the terminal device, e) performing hybrid positioning associated with the terminal device, f) employing sidelink ranging capabilities of at least one terminal device, e.g. for positioning, g) increasing a flexibility of positioning associated with at the terminal device, h) performing on-demand sidelink-based positioning, e.g. upon request of at least one network device and/or at least one further terminal device, i) providing positioning capabilities to communications networks, e.g. associated with car-to-car communication and/or communication of Industrial Internet of Things, IIoT, device and/or vehicle-to-X, V2X, communication, j) assigning, for example dynamically, e.g. during operation, assigning, different roles associated with at least one sidelink-based positioning procedure to the terminal device, k) determining a position of the terminal device, e.g. as a reference terminal device and/or as an anchor terminal device, l) assessing a reliability of a position of the terminal device, e.g. as a reference terminal device and/or as an anchor terminal device, m) verifying, for example by a network device, the position of the terminal device.
Some exemplary embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the figures.
Some exemplary embodiments,
In some exemplary embodiments, the terminal device 10 and/or the at least one further terminal device 10a can e.g. be used with a wireless, for example cellular, communications system 1000, which is for example based on and/or adheres at least partially to at least one third generation partnership project, 3GPP, radio standard such as 4G (fourth generation), 5G (fifth generation), 6G (sixth generation) or other radio access technology.
In some exemplary embodiments, the first terminal device 10 and/or the at least one further terminal device 10a may be a user equipment (UE) or a data transceiver modem, which, for example, may be associated with a mobile object such as e.g. a vehicle, for example car or truck or the like.
In some exemplary embodiments, the first terminal device 10 and/or the at least one further terminal device 10a may be at least one of: an IoT (Internet of Things) device, an infrastructure component or part of an infrastructure component (e.g., traffic lights, street lights, traffic sign, toll gate), an industrial automation component, e.g. IIoT (Industrial IoT) component or infrastructure (e.g., robots, machines, etc.), a device for a mobile broadband user, and/or a vehicle.
In some exemplary embodiments,
In some exemplary embodiments,
In some exemplary embodiments,
In some exemplary embodiments,
In some exemplary embodiments,
In some exemplary embodiments,
In some exemplary embodiments,
In some exemplary embodiments,
In some exemplary embodiments,
In some exemplary embodiments,
In some exemplary embodiments,
In some exemplary embodiments,
In some exemplary embodiments,
In some exemplary embodiments, at least some aspects of
Further exemplary embodiments,
Further exemplary embodiments,
In some exemplary embodiments, the apparatus 100, 100a and/or its functionality may e.g. be provided within the terminal device 10, 10a. In some exemplary embodiments, the apparatus 100, 100a and/or its functionality may e.g. be provided outside of the terminal device 10, 10a, e.g. in form of a, for example separate, device, that may e.g. be at least temporarily coupled with the terminal device 10, 10a.
Further exemplary embodiments,
In some exemplary embodiments,
In some exemplary embodiments,
In some exemplary embodiments, the gNB 20 may e.g. trigger the sidelink-based positioning procedure POS-PROC-SL.
In some exemplary embodiments, the gNB 20 may comprise an apparatus 200 for controlling an operation of the gNB 20.
In some exemplary embodiments, the configuration CFG comprises at least one calculating unit, e.g. processor, CFG-102 and at least one memory unit CFG-104 associated with (i.e., usably by) the at least one calculating unit CFG-102, e.g. for at least temporarily storing a computer program PRG and/or data DAT, wherein the computer program PRG is e.g. configured to at least temporarily control an operation of the configuration CFG, e.g. for (e.g., within) at least one apparatus 100, 100a, 200, such as e.g. the execution of a method according to some exemplary embodiments.
In some exemplary embodiments, the at least one calculating unit CFG-102 comprises at least one core (not shown) for executing the computer program PRG or at least parts thereof, e.g. for executing the method according to the embodiments or at least one or more steps and/or other aspects thereof.
According to further exemplary embodiments, the at least one calculating unit CFG-102 may comprise at least one of the following elements: a microprocessor, a microcontroller, a digital signal processor (DSP), a programmable logic element (e.g., FPGA, field programmable gate array), an ASIC (application specific integrated circuit), hardware circuitry, a tensor processor, a graphics processing unit (GPU). According to further preferred embodiments, any combination of two or more of these elements is also possible.
According to further exemplary embodiments, the memory unit CFG-104 comprises at least one of the following elements: a volatile memory CFG-104a, e.g. a random-access memory (RAM), a non-volatile memory CFG-104b, e.g. a Flash-EEPROM.
In some exemplary embodiments, the computer program PRG is at least temporarily stored in the non-volatile memory CFG-104b. Data CFG-DAT (e.g. associated with the first information I-1 and/or the information elements IE-10, IE-10′ and the like), which may e.g. be used for executing the method according to some exemplary embodiments, may at least temporarily be stored in the RAM CFG-104a.
In some exemplary embodiments, an optional computer-readable storage medium SM comprising instructions, e.g. in the form of a further computer program PRG′, may be provided, wherein the further computer program PRG′, when executed by a computer, i.e. by the calculating unit CFG-102, may cause the computer CFG-102 to carry out the method according to the embodiments. As an example, the storage medium SM may comprise or represent a digital storage medium such as a semiconductor memory device (e.g., solid state drive, SSD) and/or a magnetic storage medium such as a disk or harddisk drive (HDD) and/or an optical storage medium such as a compact disc (CD) or DVD (digital versatile disc) or the like.
In some exemplary embodiments, the configuration CFG may comprise an optional data interface CFG-106, e.g. for bidirectional data exchange with an external device (not shown). As an example, by means of the data interface CFG-106, a data carrier signal DCS may be received, e.g. from the external device, for example via a wired or a wireless data transmission medium, e.g. over a (virtual) private computer network and/or a public computer network such as e.g. the Internet.
In some exemplary embodiments, the data carrier signal DCS may represent or carry the computer program PRG, PRG′ according to the embodiments, or at least a part thereof.
Further exemplary embodiments relate to a computer program PRG, PRG′ comprising instructions which, when the program is executed by a computer CFG-102, cause the computer CFG-102 to carry out the method according to the embodiments.
In some exemplary embodiments, element e1 symbolizes a Uu-based positioning procedure associated with the target UE 10a.
In some exemplary embodiments, element e2 symbolizes an optional downlink configuration, e.g. related to a trigger, e.g. for a discovery procedure associated with the terminal devices 10, 10a.
In some exemplary embodiments, element e3 symbolizes the gNB 20 requesting the target UE 10a to perform sidelink-based positioning, e.g. using predefined anchors, e.g. using the UE 10 as an anchor UE.
In some exemplary embodiments, element e4 symbolizes the UE 10a switching to a, for example next, sidelink positioning opportunity, e.g. from a communication e3 with the gNB 20 over e.g. the Uu-interface.
In some exemplary embodiments, element e5 symbolizes an optional discovery process associated with the UE 10, 10a. In some exemplary embodiments, the optional discovery process may e.g. be initiated by the target UE 10a, see arrows e5a. In some exemplary embodiments, the optional discovery process may e.g. be initiated by the anchor UE 10, see arrows e5b.
In some exemplary embodiments, element e6 symbolizes the sidelink-based positioning procedure, wherein e.g. sidelink reference signals may be exchanged between the UE 10, 10a, e.g. similar to or based on the exemplary procedure(s) of
In some exemplary embodiments, elements e7a, e7b symbolize respective sidelink positioning measurement gaps, which may result from switching from a use of the sidelink interface IF-SL, e.g. a PC5 interface, to an air interface, e.g. Uu interface, e.g. for transmitting e8a, e8b result(s) of the sidelink-based positioning procedure e6 to the gNB 20.
In some exemplary embodiments, element e9 symbolizes a sidelink delay margin.
In some exemplary embodiments, element e1 symbolizes a Uu-based positioning procedure associated with the target UE 10a.
In some exemplary embodiments, element e2′ of
In some exemplary embodiments, element e3′ symbolizes the gNB 20 requesting the target UE 10a to perform sidelink-based positioning, e.g. with a discovery procedure and/or with predefined anchors, wherein a configuration of the predefined anchors may e.g. be included in element e3′.
In some exemplary embodiments, element e4′ symbolizes the UE 10a switching to a, for example next, sidelink positioning opportunity, e.g. from a communication e3′ with the gNB 20 over e.g. the Uu-interface.
In some exemplary embodiments, element e50 symbolizes an optional discovery request by the target UE 10a, end element e51 symbolizes a, for example mandatory, response from the anchor UE 10 to the target UE 10a.
In some exemplary embodiments, element e4″ symbolizes the UE 10a switching from the SL interface to the Uu-interface.
In some exemplary embodiments, element e52 symbolizes an optional sidelink positioning response from the anchor UE 10 to the gNB 20, e.g. comprising neighbor reporting.
In some exemplary embodiments, element e53 symbolizes an optional sidelink positioning response from the target UE 10a to the gNB 20, e.g. comprising neighbor reporting.
In some exemplary embodiments, element e54 symbolizes an optional sidelink positioning confirmation, which may e.g. be transmitted by the gNB 20, e.g. based on at least one of the elements e52, e53, and which may be used to instruct the target UE 10a to perform sidelink positioning e6, e.g. after switching e55 to a, for example next, sidelink positioning opportunity.
Further exemplary embodiments,
In some exemplary embodiments, the principle according to the embodiments may e.g. be used for determining a position of a terminal device 10, 10a, which may e.g. at least temporarily act as an anchor UE or reference UE.
In some exemplary embodiments, the principle according to the embodiments may e.g. be used for verifying a position POS-10 of a UE, e.g. anchor UE or reference UE.
In some exemplary embodiments, e.g. for anchor/reference UEs, a positioning of the UE may e.g. be verified initially and/or during the operation of UE (e.g., repeatedly, e.g. periodically), which, in some exemplary embodiments, may e.g. lead to a network-verified-position UE.
In some exemplary embodiments, a sharing of the UE's positioning capability is proposed, e.g. performing GNSS positioning, e.g. including a GNSS accuracy, and/or performing a Uu based location, e.g. with a certain accuracy (or a threshold), and/or considering a geo-defined location (e.g., inserted and/or verified during installation and/or could be updated during maintenance etc.).
In some exemplary embodiments, the UE 10 may perform a discovery process, e.g. with a target UE 10a, and in some exemplary embodiments, during the discovery process, the information, whether or not the reference/anchor UE 10 is a, for example, network-verified-position UE, is conveyed. In some exemplary embodiments, this information (i.e., whether or not the reference/anchor UE 10 is a, for example, network-verified-position UE) can be conveyed, e.g. also, during a radio resource control, RRC, communication, e.g. between the anchor UE 10 and the target UE 10a.
In some exemplary embodiments, e.g. to enhance an accuracy of sidelink positioning, multilateration sidelink positioning estimate(s) can be considered. In this case, more than one reference UE 10 with (e.g., network-verified-position POS-10) may be used.
In some exemplary embodiments, the network, e.g. gNB 20, may select more than one UE, e.g. for discovery (e.g., prepared for discovery), where, for example, the target UE 10a may select those UE with e.g. RSSI (Received Signal Strength Indicator)/RSRP (Reference signal received power) exceeding a certain threshold.
In some exemplary embodiments, e.g. after a target UE 10a is requested, e.g. by the gNB 20, to initiate a discovery (see, for example, element e3′ of
In some exemplary embodiments, e.g. in either case (e.g., target-UE based or network based multilateration SL positioning), the multilateration may involve aspects of round-trip based measurements. In some exemplary embodiments, e.g. a groupcast SL positioning reference signal, e.g. SL-PRS, may be sent from the target UE 10a to all selected reference UEs 10, e.g. after discovery, e.g., to those anchor UE 10 with high RSSI/RSRP or within a certain communication range or following some other requirement (e.g., having their own positioning conveyed with high accuracy or trustworthiness).
In some exemplary embodiments, all selected reference UEs 10 should send SL-PRS back to the target UE 10a either, for example, a) multiplexed in time or interleaved in Time and/or frequency, e.g. replying the target UE SL-PRS sent before. In some exemplary embodiments, the resource locations for replying may e.g. be configured by the target UE 10a, e.g. on its preferred sidelink feedback channel (e.g., for SL-PRS feedback in this case) or may be configured by the gNB 20 (e.g., via Uu control information), or pre-configured in the sidelink capable UEs.
In some exemplary embodiments, e.g. in either case (e.g., target-UE based or network based multilateration SL positioning), the multilateration may involve aspects of single trip measurements, e.g. as opposed to round-trip based measurements.
In some exemplary embodiments, a groupcast SL-PRS sent from the target UE 10a, e.g. to all selected reference UEs 10 (e.g., after discovery), e.g., within a certain communication range or following some other, can be used, wherein, for example, all reference UE (fulfilling these criteria) send to the network, e.g. gNB 20, their computed sidelink positioning, and the network may aggregate the multilateration sidelink positioning estimation.
In some exemplary embodiments, the, for example all, reference UEs 10, which have been selected (e.g., during discovery and/or by network), may send their SL-PRS to a target UE 10a, e.g. multiplexed in time or interleaved in Time and/or frequency, wherein, for example, the target UE 10a may determine, e.g. compute, the multilateration sidelink positioning estimations as stated above.
In some exemplary embodiments, the network 1000, e.g. gNB 20, may indicate or up to the UE to side to send either the final positioning result to the network or all possible computational combinations to the network.
In some exemplary embodiments, the first information I-1 and/or further information exemplarily disclosed above may e.g. be transmitted, e.g. between involved device, using at least one of: a) level 1 (L1) signaling, b) level 2 (L2) signaling.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 22 19 0023.6 | Aug 2022 | EP | regional |
