Patent Application
20240057020
The present application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 119 of European Patent Application No. EP 22 19 0018.6 filed on Aug. 11, 2022, which is expressly incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
The present invention relates to a method of determining, by a network device, a position of a terminal device.
The present invention further relates to an apparatus for determining, by a network device, a position of a terminal device.
Exemplary embodiments of the present invention relate to a method, for example a computer-implemented method, comprising: determining, by a network device, a position of a first terminal device, determining, by the network device, a position of a second terminal device, and initiating, by the network device, at least one sidelink (SL)-based positioning procedure associated with at least one of the first terminal device and the second terminal device.
In some exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the at least one sidelink-based positioning procedure may be used to verify and/or to refine the position information related to the position of the first terminal device and/or the position information related to the position of the second terminal device.
In some exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the network device is 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, the first terminal device and/or the second 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 second 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 second 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, at least one of the first terminal device and the second terminal device is, e.g. currently, served by the network device, e.g. gNB.
In some exemplary embodiments of the present invention, at least one of a) determining the position of the first terminal device, b) determining the position of the second terminal device, comprises at least one of: A) performing a positioning procedure, for example based on an air interface, e.g. Uu interface, between the network device and at least one of the first terminal device and the second terminal device, B) receiving at least one of the position of the first terminal device and the position of the second terminal device, e.g. from a further entity, wherein for example at least one of a) determining the position of the first terminal device, b) determining the position of the second terminal device uses another positioning procedure than a sidelink-based positioning procedure associated with at least one of the first terminal device and the second terminal device.
In some exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the Uu-based positioning procedure may e.g. employ positioning reference signals, PRS, according to some accepted standard, and/or supported positioning techniques according to some accepted standard.
In some exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the at least one sidelink-based positioning procedure may e.g. employ sidelink positioning reference signals associated with a sidelink interface, e.g. enabling, for example direct, terminal device-to-terminal device communication. In some exemplary embodiments, the sidelink interface may e.g. be a PC5 interface according to some accepted standard.
In some exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the method comprises evaluating, by the network device, at least one of the position of the first terminal device and the position of the second terminal device with respect to a result of the at least one sidelink-based positioning procedure, wherein for example the evaluating comprises verifying at least one of the position of the first terminal device and the position of the second terminal device based on the result of the at least one sidelink-based positioning procedure. In other words, in some exemplary embodiments, the at least one sidelink-based positioning procedure may e.g. be used to verify, e.g. check a precision or accurateness, or at least plausibility, of the position of the first terminal device and/or of the position of the second terminal device as e.g. obtained by another, e.g. non-sidelink-based, positioning procedure.
In some exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the method comprises at least one of: a) transmitting, by the network device, a request instructing to perform at least one sidelink-based positioning procedure associated with at least one of the first terminal device and the second terminal device to at least one of the first terminal device and the second terminal device, b) receiving, by the network device, a response to the request from at least one of the first terminal device and the second terminal device, wherein for example the response to the request characterizes an acknowledgement of at least one of the first terminal device and the second terminal device indicating b1) that the respective terminal device is capable of performing the at least one sidelink-based positioning procedure and/or b2) that the first terminal device and the second terminal device are configured to, e.g. able to, communicate directly with each other, e.g. over a sidelink interface, e.g. a PC5 interface according to some accepted standard.
In some exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the method comprises at least one of: a) receiving, by the network device, a response to the request from the first terminal device, wherein for example the response characterizes an acknowledgement of the first terminal device indicating that a1) the first terminal device is capable of performing the at least one sidelink-based positioning procedure and/or that a2) the first terminal device is configured to, e.g. able to, communicate directly with the second terminal device, e.g. over a sidelink interface, e.g. a PC5 interface according to some accepted standard, b) receiving, by the network device, a response to the request from the second terminal device, wherein for example the response characterizes an acknowledgement of the second terminal device indicating that b1) the second terminal device is capable of performing the at least one sidelink-based positioning procedure and/or that b2) the second terminal device is configured to, e.g. able to, communicate directly with the first terminal device, e.g. over a sidelink interface, e.g. a PC5 interface according to some accepted standard.
Further exemplary embodiments of the present invention relate to an apparatus, for example for a network device, for performing the method according to the embodiments disclosed herein.
Further exemplary embodiments relate to an apparatus, for example for a network device, comprising means for performing the method (i.e., an arrangement) according to the embodiments disclosed herein.
Further exemplary embodiments of the present invention relate to a method, for example a computer-implemented method, comprising: receiving, by a terminal device, a request instructing the terminal device to perform at least one sidelink-based positioning procedure associated with at least one further terminal device. In some exemplary embodiments, the terminal device may e.g. be the first terminal device and/or the second terminal device as exemplarily mentioned above.
In some exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the method comprises: transmitting, by the terminal device, a response to the request, wherein for example the response to the request characterizes an acknowledgement of the terminal device indicating at least one of a) that the terminal device is capable of performing the at least one sidelink-based positioning procedure, b) that the terminal device is configured to, e.g. able to, communicate directly with another terminal device, e.g. over a sidelink interface, e.g. a PC5 interface according to some accepted standard.
In some exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the method comprises at least one of: a) performing, by the terminal device, the at least one sidelink-based positioning procedure associated with at least one further terminal device in a first configuration, wherein for example the terminal device assumes a role of a target terminal device, wherein for example at least one further terminal device assumes a role of an anchor terminal device, b) performing, by the terminal device, the at least one sidelink-based positioning procedure associated with at least one further terminal device in a second configuration, wherein for example the terminal device assumes a role of an anchor terminal device, wherein for example at least one further terminal device assumes a role of a target terminal device.
In some exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the method comprises: transmitting, by the terminal device, a result of the at least one sidelink-based positioning procedure, e.g. to the network device, wherein for example the transmitting comprises at least one of a) transmitting, by the terminal device, a result of the at least one sidelink-based positioning procedure associated with a or the first configuration, e.g. to the network device, b) transmitting, by the terminal device, a result of the at least one sidelink-based positioning procedure associated with a or the second configuration, e.g. to the network device.
In some exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the method comprises at least one of: a) assuming, for example at least temporarily, a first role, by the terminal device, e.g. for the at least one sidelink-based positioning procedure, wherein the first role is associated with a target terminal device, b) assuming, for example at least temporarily, a second role, by the terminal device, e.g. for the at least one sidelink-based positioning procedure, wherein the second role is associated with an anchor terminal device.
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 disclosed herein.
Further exemplary embodiments of the present invention relate to an apparatus, for example for a terminal device, comprising means for performing the method (i.e., an arrangement) according to the embodiments disclosed herein.
Further exemplary embodiments of the present invention relate to a wireless, for example cellular, communication system comprising at least one apparatus according to the embodiments disclosed herein.
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 disclosed herein.
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 disclosed herein.
Further exemplary embodiments of the present invention relate to a data carrier signal carrying and/or characterizing the computer program according to the embodiments disclosed herein.
Further exemplary embodiments 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 comprising instructions which, when the program is executed by a computer, cause the computer to carry out the method according to the embodiments, and/or of 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 and/or of a data carrier signal carrying and/or characterizing 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 for at least one of: a) performing at least one sidelink-based positioning procedure, b) assisting a network device in performing at least one positioning procedure, c) validating at least one positioning procedure associated with a network device, e.g. based on the at least one sidelink-based positioning procedure, d) increasing a precision of at least one positioning procedure associated with a network device, e.g. based on the at least one sidelink-based positioning procedure, e) performing hybrid positioning associated with at least one network device and at least one terminal device, f) employing sidelink ranging capabilities of at least one terminal device, e.g. for positioning, g) increasing a flexibility of hybrid positioning associated with at least one network device and at least one terminal device, h) performing on-demand sidelink-based positioning, e.g. upon request of at least one network device, e.g. for verifying the position of the first terminal device and/or the position of the second 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 the at least one sidelink-based positioning procedure to at least one of the first terminal device and the second terminal device, k) collision warning associated with at least one mobile object, e.g. mobile terminal device, 1) collision avoidance associated with at least one mobile object, e.g. mobile terminal device, m) collision prevention associated with at least one mobile object, e.g. mobile terminal device, n) modifying a movement, e.g. trajectory, of at least one mobile object, e.g. mobile terminal device.
Some exemplary embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the figures.
Exemplary embodiments,
In some exemplary embodiments, the at least one sidelink-based positioning procedure POS-PROC-SL may be used to verify and/or to refine the position information related to the position POS-20-1 of the first terminal device 20-1 and/or the position information related to the position POS-20-2 of the second terminal device 20-2.
In some exemplary embodiments,
In some exemplary embodiments, the network device 10 may e.g. be a gNB.
In some exemplary embodiments,
In some exemplary embodiments, the first terminal device 20-1 and/or the second terminal device 20-2 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,
In some exemplary embodiments, at least one of the first terminal device 20-1 and the second terminal device 20-2 is, e.g. currently, served by the network device, e.g. gNB 10.
In some exemplary embodiments,
In some exemplary embodiments, the Uu-based positioning procedure may e.g. employ positioning reference signals, PRS, according to some accepted standard, and/or supported positioning techniques according to some accepted standard.
In some exemplary embodiments,
In some exemplary embodiments,
In some exemplary embodiments,
In some exemplary embodiments,
Further exemplary embodiments,
Further exemplary embodiments,
In some exemplary embodiments,
Further exemplary embodiments,
In some exemplary embodiments,
In some exemplary embodiments,
In some exemplary embodiments,
In some exemplary embodiments,
Further exemplary embodiments,
Further exemplary embodiments,
In some exemplary embodiments,
Further exemplary embodiments,
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, 200a, 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 positions POS-20-1, POS-20-1 and/or with any of the procedures 400, 402, POS-PROC-SL, POS-PROC-SL-1, POS-PROC-SL-2, 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.
Element 10 of
Element e1 of
Element e2 of
Element e3 of
In some exemplary embodiments, the respective request e3a, e3b may e.g. be denoted as “relative positioning request” or “relative positioning verification request”, as relative positioning between the terminal devices 20-1, 20-2 may be used, e.g. in the form of sidelink positioning, e.g. to obtain (e.g., at least) a relative position information associated with the terminal devices 20-1, 20-2, which may e.g. be used for verifying the positions POS-20-1, POS-20-2 (also see, for example, the procedure of
In some exemplary embodiments, the respective request e3a, e3b may e.g. be acknowledged by at least one of the target UEs 20-1, 20-2 (see, for example, the blocks 420, 422 of
In some exemplary embodiments, element e4 of
In some exemplary embodiments, element e5 of
In some exemplary embodiments, element e6 of
In some exemplary embodiments, the arrow RES-POS-PROC-SL collectively denotes at least one result of at least one of the sidelink-based positioning procedures e5, e6, which at least one result may e.g. comprise relative position information characterizing at least one relative position, e.g. of the first terminal device 20-1 with respect to the second terminal device 20-2.
In some exemplary embodiments, at least one of the terminal devices 20-1, 20-2, for example both terminal devices 20-1, 20-2, may report corresponding result(s) RES-POS-PROC-SL of at least one of the sidelink-based positioning procedures e5, e6 to the gNB 10, see, for example, also
While
In some exemplary embodiments, the principle according to the embodiments may e.g. be employed for verifying a position, for example a relative position, of two terminal devices 20-1, 20-2. As an example, at least one of the two terminal devices may e.g. be a mobile device and/or associated with a mobile device such as a vehicle, seen for example,
In some exemplary embodiments, at least one of the gNB 10, 10a of
In some exemplary embodiments, the abovementioned procedure may, for example, be used when the gNB 10, 10a determines a potential danger, e.g. caused by a potential collision, e.g. indicated by a difference of the positions POS-20-1, POS-20-2 decreasing below a predetermined safety threshold, e.g. within a predetermined time interval. In such cases, e.g. for obtaining even more precise position information related to the terminal devices 20-1, 20-2, a procedure according to the embodiments, see for example blocks 404, 406, may be performed, whereby e.g. the determined positions POS-20-1, POS-20-2 may be verified and/or the difference of the determined positions POS-20-1, POS-20-2 may be refined, e.g. for confirming whether there is a risk of collision of the terminal devices 20-1, 20-2 or, for example, vehicles associated with the terminal devices 20-1, 20-2. In some exemplary embodiments, this exemplary procedure may e.g. be used for collision avoidance of mobile terminal devices 20-1, 20-2.
In some exemplary embodiments, information exchanged between the gNB 10 and at least one of the terminal devices 20-1, 20-2 and/or exchanged between the terminal devices 20-1, 20-2 may e.g. be transmitted using at least one of: a) level 1 (L1) signaling, b) level 2 (L2) signaling.
Further exemplary embodiments,
In some exemplary embodiments, the principle according to the embodiments may e.g. be used by the network 1000, e.g. via gNB 10, e.g. to verify a Uu-based positioning, e.g. by utilizing sidelink positioning anchor UEs and respective sidelink ranging capabilities.
In some exemplary embodiments, e.g. assuming that Uu-based positioning was performed successfully for multiple UEs individually (see, for example, blocks 400, 402 of
In some exemplary embodiments, as the network e.g. performs individual measurements related to the UE, a positioning error might add up, e.g. if a relative position between UEs 20-1, 20-2 is of interest. In this case, in some exemplary embodiments, at least one SL positioning procedure POS-PROC-SL, POS-PROC-SL-1, POS-PROC-SL-2, e5, e6 may be performed between the UEs of interest, e.g. for the network 1000. In other words, in some exemplary embodiments, the principle according to the embodiments may e.g. be used to calibrate Uu-based positions POS-20-1, POS-20-2, e.g. by the gNB 10, e.g. per an on-demand basis.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 22 19 0018.6 | Aug 2022 | EP | regional |
