# US 11,122,574 B2 · Indication of antenna coherence for phase difference of arrival and angle of departure estimation > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,122,574 B2 - Document ID: US11122574B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/534,830 - Filed: 2019-08-07 - Published: 2020-02-13 - Granted: 2021-09-14 - Earliest claimed: 2018-08-08 - Assignees: QUALCOMM Incorporated - Applicants: QUALCOMM Incorporated - Inventors: Bilal Sadiq; Naga Bhushan; Junyi Li; Alexandros Manolakos; Joseph Binamira Soriaga - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11122574B2 ## CPC - G01S 5/0236: {Assistance data, e.g. base station almanac} - H04W 72/51: based on terminal or device properties - G01S 5/02: using radio waves (using satellite radio beacon systems for determining position G01S19/00) - H04W 40/04: based on wireless node resources - H04W 40/12: based on transmission quality or channel quality - H04W 64/003: {locating network equipment} - G01S 5/00: Position-fixing by co-ordinating two or more direction or position line determinations; Position-fixing by co-ordinating two or more distance determinations {(using active systems G01S13/00, G01S15/00, G01S17/00)} - G01S 5/0218: {Multipath in signal reception} - G01S 5/10: Position of receiver fixed by co-ordinating a plurality of position lines defined by path-difference measurements {, e.g. omega or decca systems}(G01S5/12 takes precedence {; beacons and receivers cooperating therewith G01S1/306, G01S1/308}) - G01S: RADIO DIRECTION-FINDING; RADIO NAVIGATION; DETERMINING DISTANCE OR VELOCITY BY USE OF RADIO WAVES; LOCATING OR PRESENCE-DETECTING BY USE OF THE REFLECTION OR RERADIATION OF RADIO WAVES; ANALOGOUS ARRANGEMENTS USING OTHER WAVES - H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72) ## Abstract Disclosed are techniques to determine angle of departure (AoD) of signals transmitted from a set of transmission points associated with a transmitter (e.g., a base station, a user equipment (UE)). In an aspect, the set of transmission points are collocated and transmit coherent signals. A receiver (e.g., UE, network entity) determines phase difference of arrivals (PDoAs) of the signals. Based on the PDoAs and locations of the set of transmission points, the AoD can be calculated. When the UE is the receiver, the network entity can send a base station almanac (BSA) message to the UE indicating the set of transmission points and their locations. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A first node, comprising: a memory; a receiver; and a processor coupled to the memory and the transceiver, wherein the processor is configured to: receive, from a network entity through the receiver, an almanac message identifying a set of transmission points associated with a second node as being collocated and configured to transmit coherent signals, receive, through the receiver, the coherent signals transmitted from at least two transmission points of the set of transmission points of the second node, and determine one or more phase difference of arrivals (PDoAs) among the coherent signals, wherein between any two transmission points in the set of transmission points, signals transmitted from the two transmission points are distinguishable from each other in a time domain, a frequency domain, a code domain, or any combination thereof. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The first node of claim 1, wherein the almanac message also indicates locations of the set of transmission points, and wherein the processor is further configured to determine an angle of departure (AoD) of the received coherent signals based on the one or more PDoAs and the locations of the set of transmission points. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The first node of claim 2, wherein the almanac message indicates the locations of the set of transmission points, and wherein the locations' precision is better than a wavelength of the coherent signals. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The first node of claim 2, wherein the locations of the set of transmission points indicated in the almanac message are in at least two dimensions. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The first node of claim 2, wherein the almanac message indicates that the locations of the set of transmission points are such that the set of transmission points are non-uniformly distributed. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The first node of claim 1, wherein the coherent signals are all signals of a same beam. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The first node of claim 1, wherein at least one coherent signal does not form a beam with at least one other coherent signal. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The first node of claim 1, further comprising a transmitter, wherein the processor is further configured to report, through the transmitter, the one or more PDoAs to the network entity. ### Claim 9 A network entity, comprising: a memory; a communication interface; and a processor coupled to the memory and the communication interface, wherein the processor is configured to provide, to a first node through the communication interface, an almanac message indicating a set of transmission points associated with a second node as being collocated and configured to transmit coherent signals, and wherein between any two transmission points in the set of transmission points, signals transmitted from the two transmission points are distinguishable from each other in a time domain, a frequency domain, a code domain or any combination thereof. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The network entity of claim 9, wherein the almanac message also indicates locations of the set of transmission points, wherein the processor is further configured to receive, from the first node through the communication interface, an angle of departure (AoD) of two or more of the coherent signals received at the first node, and wherein the first node determines the AoD of the received coherent signals based on one or more phase difference of arrivals (PDoAs) and the locations of the set of transmission points. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The network entity of claim 10, wherein the almanac message indicates the locations of the set of transmission points, and wherein the locations' precision is better than a wavelength of the coherent signals. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The network entity of claim 10, wherein the locations of the set of transmission points indicated in the almanac message are in at least two dimensions. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The network entity of claim 10, wherein the almanac message indicates that the locations of the set of transmission points are such that the set of transmission points are non-uniformly distributed. ### Claim 14 (depends on 9) The network entity of claim 9, wherein the coherent signals are all signals of a same beam. ### Claim 15 (depends on 9) The network entity of claim 9, wherein at least one coherent signal does not form a beam with at least one other coherent signal. ### Claim 16 (depends on 9) The network entity of claim 9, wherein the processor is further configured to: receive, from the first node through the communication interface, one or more phase difference of arrivals (PDoAs) among the coherent signals determined by the first node; and determine an angle of departure (AoD) of the coherent signals from the set of transmission points based on the one or more PDoAs and the locations of the set of transmission points. ### Claim 17 A method of operating a first node, comprising: receiving, from a network entity, an almanac message indicating a set of transmission points associated with a second node as being collocated and configured to transmit coherent signals; receiving the coherent signals transmitted from at least two transmission points of the set of transmission points of the second node; and determining one or more phase difference of arrivals (PDoAs) among the coherent signals, wherein between any two transmission points in the set of transmission points, signals transmitted from the two transmission points are distinguishable from each other in a time domain, a frequency domain, a code domain, or any combination thereof. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein the almanac message also indicates locations of the set of transmission points, and wherein the method further comprises determining an angle of departure (AoD) of the received coherent signals based on the one or more PDoAs and the locations of the set of transmission points. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, wherein the almanac message indicates the locations of the set of transmission points, and wherein the locations' precision is better than a wavelength of the coherent signals. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, wherein the locations of the set of transmission points indicated in the almanac message are in at least two dimensions. ### Claim 21 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, wherein the almanac message indicates that the locations of the set of transmission points are such that the set of transmission points are non-uniformly distributed. ### Claim 22 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein the coherent signals are all signals of a same beam. ### Claim 23 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, further comprising: reporting the one or more PDoAs to the network entity. ### Claim 24 A method of operating a network entity, comprising: providing, to a first node, an almanac message indicating a set of transmission points associated with a second node as being collocated and configured to transmit coherent signals, wherein between any two transmission points in the set of transmission points, signals transmitted from the two transmission points are distinguishable from each other in a time domain, a frequency domain, a code domain, or any combination thereof. ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) The method of claim 24, wherein the almanac message also indicates locations of the set of transmission points, wherein the method further comprises receiving, from the first node, an angle of departure (AoD) of two or more of the coherent signals received at the first node, wherein the first node determines the AoD of the received coherent signals based on one or more phase difference of arrivals (PDoAs) and the locations of the set of transmission points. ### Claim 26 (depends on 25) The method of claim 25, wherein the almanac message indicates the locations of the set of transmission points, and wherein the locations' precision is better than a wavelength of the coherent signals. ### Claim 27 (depends on 25) The method of claim 25, wherein the locations of the set of transmission points indicated in the almanac message are in at least two dimensions. ### Claim 28 (depends on 25) The method of claim 25, wherein the almanac message indicates that the locations of the set of transmission points are such that the set of transmission points are non-uniformly distributed. ### Claim 29 (depends on 24) The method of claim 24, wherein the coherent signals are all signals of a same beam. ### Claim 30 (depends on 24) The method of claim 24, further comprising: receiving, from the first node, one or more phase difference of arrivals (PDoAs) among the coherent signals determined by the first node; and determining an angle of departure (AoD) of the coherent signals from the set of transmission points based on the one or more PDoAs and the locations of the set of transmission points.