Patterns for reference signals used for positioning in a wireless communications system

A method for wireless communication at a receiving device, comprising:

• receiving a set of reference signals used for positioning via a subset of a set of time-frequency resources, wherein the set of time-frequency resources includes a plurality of symbols and a plurality of frequency tones;
• identifying the set of reference signals based at least in part on a pattern for the set of time-frequency resources, wherein:
• the pattern comprises an assignment of reference signals to a first set of frequency tones within a first symbol of the set of time-frequency resources and to a second set of frequency tones within a second symbol of the set of time-frequency resources,
• each frequency tone of the first set is separated in frequency from each frequency tone of the second set by at least one frequency tone of the plurality of frequency tones, and
• the pattern is based at least in part on a sequence of offsets, wherein the sequence of offsets is based at least in part on a comb level configured for transmitting the reference signals, and wherein each offset in the sequence is used to assign a reference signal to a frequency tone within a symbol;
• decoding the reference signals;
• and
• estimating a location of the receiving device based at least in part on the decoded reference signals.

An apparatus for wireless communication at a transmitting device, comprising:

• one or more transceivers,
• one or more memory, and
• one or more processors electronically coupled to the one or more memory and the one or more transceivers, the one or more processors configured to:
• determine a pattern for a set of time-frequency resources that includes a plurality of symbols and a plurality of frequency tones, wherein:
• the pattern comprises an assignment of reference signals used for positioning to a first set of frequency tones within a first symbol of the set of time-frequency resources and to a second set of frequency tones within a second symbol of the set of time-frequency resources, the first symbol and the second symbol being consecutive,
• each frequency tone of the first set is separated in frequency from each frequency tone of the second set by at least one frequency tone of the plurality of frequency tones, and
• the pattern is based at least in part on a sequence of offsets, wherein the sequence of offsets is based at least in part on a comb level configured for transmitting the reference signals, and wherein each offset in the sequence is used to assign a reference signal to a frequency tone within a symbol;
• map the reference signals to a subset of the set of time-frequency resources based at least in part on the pattern;
• and
• transmit, via the one or more transceivers, the reference signals via the subset of the set of time-frequency resources.

An apparatus for wireless communication at a receiving device, comprising:

• one or more transceivers,
• one or more memory, and
• one or more processors electronically coupled to the one or more memory and the one or more transceivers, the one or more processors configured to:
• receive, via the one or more transceivers, a set of reference signals used for positioning via a subset of a set of time-frequency resources, wherein the set of time-frequency resources includes a plurality of symbols and a plurality of frequency tones;
• identify the set of reference signals based at least in part on a pattern for the set of time-frequency resources, wherein:
• the pattern comprises an assignment of reference signals to a first set of frequency tones within a first symbol of the set of time-frequency resources and to a second set of frequency tones within a second symbol of the set of time-frequency resources,
• each frequency tone of the first set is separated in frequency from each frequency tone of the second set by at least one frequency tone of the plurality of frequency tones, and
• the pattern is based at least in part on a sequence of offsets, wherein the sequence of offsets is based at least in part on a comb level configured for transmitting the reference signals, and wherein each offset in the sequence is used to assign a reference signal to a frequency tone within a symbol;
• decode the reference signals;
• and
• estimate a location of the receiving device based at least in part on the decoded reference signals.