# US 11,451,926 B2 · Methods and systems for on-demand transmission of a positioning reference signal in a wireless network > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,451,926 B2 - Document ID: US11451926B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/668,582 - Filed: 2019-10-30 - Published: 2020-05-14 - Granted: 2022-09-20 - Earliest claimed: 2018-10-31 - Assignees: QUALCOMM Incorporated - Applicants: QUALCOMM Incorporated - Inventors: Stephen William Edge; Sven Fischer; Sony Akkarakaran; Guttorm Ringstad Opshaug - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11451926B2 ## CPC - H04W 4/029: Location-based management or tracking services - H04W 64/00: Locating users or terminals {or network equipment} for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management - H04L 5/0048: {Allocation of pilot signals, i.e. of signals known to the receiver (allocation of control signalling H04L5/0053; use of control signalling H04L5/0091)} - H04W 16/28: using beam steering - H04W 88/18: Service support devices; Network management devices - H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72) - H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M) ## Abstract An entity in a wireless network is configured to increase transmission of a positioning reference signal (PRS) at each of a plurality of transmitters, where the increase in transmission of PRS at each of the plurality of transmitters is coordinated to avoid interference to or from non-PRS transmission in the wireless network. The increase in the transmission of PRS may be performed by a server, such as a location management function (LMF) or location management component (LMC), a base station, such as a gNB, ng-eNB, or eNB, or by a combination of the server and base station. The entity may determine the increase in transmission of the PRS in response to location requests for a plurality of user equipments (UEs), notification reports from a plurality of base stations, or requests for increased PRS from a plurality of UEs. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for supporting location of a user equipment (UE) at a first entity in a wireless network, comprising: determining an increase in transmission of a positioning reference signal (PRS) at each of a plurality of transmitters, wherein the increase in transmission of PRS at each of the plurality of transmitters is coordinated with respect to non-PRS transmission in the wireless network; sending a first message to the each transmitter, the first message comprising an indication of the increase in transmission of PRS for the each transmitter; and receiving a response from the each transmitter, the response confirming or rejecting the increase in transmission of PRS at the each transmitter; wherein coordination of the increase in transmission of PRS at each of the plurality of transmitters with respect to non-PRS transmission in the wireless network comprises determining an area of increased PRS transmission, wherein the increase in transmission of the PRS at each of the plurality of transmitters comprises an increase in transmission by each transmitter of PRS inside the area and excludes an increase in transmission by each transmitter of PRS having a direction directed outside the area. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the first entity is a Location Management Function (LMF) or a Location Management Component (LMC). ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, further comprising: receiving location requests for one or more UEs, wherein the determining the increase in transmission of the PRS at each of the plurality of transmitters is based on the location requests; and sending a second message to each UE in the one or more UEs, the second message requesting measurements by the each UE of at least one PRS with increased transmission from at least one transmitter. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, further comprising: receiving notification reports from a plurality of base stations, the notification report from each base station in the plurality of base stations requesting an increase in PRS transmission for the each base station, wherein determining the increase in transmission of the PRS at each of the transmitters is based on the notification reports, wherein the plurality of base stations comprise or are a subset of the plurality of transmitters. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the first entity is a base station. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5, further comprising: receiving requests for increased PRS from one or more UEs, wherein determining the increase in transmission of the PRS at each of the plurality of transmitters is based on the requests for increased PRS, wherein the plurality of transmitters comprises or includes the base station. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6, wherein the requests comprise requests for a random access procedure or Radio Resource Control (RRC) messages or both. ### Claim 8 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5, further comprising: receiving requests for location of one or more UEs, wherein determining the increase in transmission of the PRS at each of the plurality of transmitters is based on the requests for location, wherein the plurality of transmitters comprises or includes the base station. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, further comprising sending a second message to each UE in the one or more UEs, the second message requesting measurements by the each UE of at least one PRS with increased transmission from at least one transmitter. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the coordination of the increase in transmission of PRS at each of the plurality of transmitters with respect to non-PRS transmission in the wireless network is to avoid interference to or from non-PRS transmission in the wireless network, wherein the increase in transmission of the PRS at each of the plurality of transmitters comprises an increase in transmission of a plurality of directional PRSs at each of the plurality of transmitters, wherein the plurality of directional PRSs comprise PRS beams directed inside the area and exclude PRS beams directed outside the area. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of transmitters comprises a plurality of base stations, a plurality of PRS only beacons, a plurality of remote radio heads, a plurality of Transmission Points (TPs), a plurality of Transmission Reception Points (TRPs), or some combination of these. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the increase in transmission of PRS at each of the plurality of transmitters is coordinated to avoid interference to or from non-PRS transmission in the wireless network. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the increase in transmission of PRS at each of the plurality of transmitters is coordinated during the increase in transmission of PRS to avoid interference to or from non-PRS transmission in the wireless network. ### Claim 14 An entity in a wireless network configured for supporting location of a user equipment (UE) comprising: an external interface configured to receive and send messages to other entities in the wireless network; at least one memory; and at least one processor coupled to the external interface and the at least one memory, the at least one processor configured to: determine an increase in transmission of a positioning reference signal (PRS) at each of a plurality of transmitters, wherein the increase in transmission of PRS at each of the plurality of transmitters is coordinated with respect to non-PRS transmission in the wireless network; send, via the external interface, a first message to the each transmitter, the first message comprising an indication of the increase in transmission of PRS for the each transmitter; and receive, via the external interface, a response from the each transmitter, the response confirming or rejecting the increase in transmission of PRS at the each transmitter; wherein the at least one processor is configured to coordinate the increase in transmission of PRS at each of the plurality of transmitters with respect to non-PRS transmission in the wireless network by being configured to determine an area of increased PRS transmission and the increase in transmission of the PRS at each of the plurality of transmitters comprises an increase in transmission by each transmitter of PRS inside the area and excludes an increase in transmission by each transmitter of PRS having a direction directed outside the area. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The entity of claim 14, wherein the entity is a Location Management Function (LMF) or a Location Management Component (LMC). ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The entity of claim 15, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to: receive, via the external interface, location requests for one or more UEs, wherein the at least one processor is configured to determine the increase in transmission of the PRS at each of the plurality of transmitters based on the location requests; and send, via the external interface, a second message to each UE in the one or more UEs, the second message requesting measurements by the each UE of at least one PRS with increased transmission from at least one transmitter. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The entity of claim 15, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to: receive notification reports from a plurality of base stations, the notification report from each base station in the plurality of base stations requesting an increase in PRS transmission for the each base station, wherein the at least one processor is configured to determine the increase in transmission of the PRS at each of the plurality of transmitters based on the notification reports, wherein the plurality of base stations comprise or are a subset of the plurality of transmitters. ### Claim 18 (depends on 14) The entity of claim 14, wherein the entity is a base station. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The entity of claim 18, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to: receive, via the external interface, requests for increased PRS from one or more UEs, wherein the at least one processor is configured to determine the increase in transmission of the PRS at each of the plurality of transmitters based on the requests for increased PRS, wherein the plurality of transmitters comprises or includes the base station. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The entity of claim 19, wherein the requests comprise requests for a random access procedure or Radio Resource Control (RRC) messages or both. ### Claim 21 (depends on 18) The entity of claim 18, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to: receive, via the external interface, requests for location of one or more UEs, wherein the at least one processor is configured to determine the increase in transmission of the PRS at each of the plurality of transmitters based on the requests for location, wherein the plurality of transmitters comprises or includes the base station. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The entity of claim 21, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to send, via the external interface, a second message to each UE in the one or more UEs, the second message requesting measurements by the each UE of at least one PRS with increased transmission from at least one transmitter. ### Claim 23 (depends on 14) The entity of claim 14, wherein the at least one processor is configured to coordinate the increase in transmission of PRS at each of the plurality of transmitters with respect to non-PRS transmission in the wireless network to avoid interference to or from non-PRS transmission in the wireless network, wherein the increase in transmission of the PRS at each of the plurality of transmitters comprises an increase in transmission of a plurality of directional PRSs at each of the plurality of transmitters, wherein the plurality of directional PRSs comprise PRS beams directed inside the area and exclude PRS beams directed outside the area. ### Claim 24 (depends on 14) The entity of claim 14, wherein the plurality of transmitters comprises a plurality of base stations, a plurality of PRS only beacons, a plurality of remote radio heads, a plurality of Transmission Points (TPs), a plurality of Transmission Reception Points (TRPs), or some combination of these. ### Claim 25 An entity in a wireless network configured for supporting location of a user equipment (UE) comprising: means for determining an increase in transmission of a positioning reference signal (PRS) at each of a plurality of transmitters, wherein the increase in transmission of PRS at each of the plurality of transmitters is coordinated with respect to non-PRS transmission in the wireless network; means for sending a first message to the each transmitter, the first message comprising an indication of the increase in transmission of PRS for the each transmitter; and means for receiving a response from the each transmitter, the response confirming or rejecting the increase in transmission of PRS at the each transmitter; wherein coordination of the increase in transmission of PRS at each of the plurality of transmitters with respect to non-PRS transmission in the wireless network comprises means for determining an area of increased PRS transmission, wherein the increase in transmission of the PRS at each of the plurality of transmitters comprises an increase in transmission by each transmitter of PRS inside the area and excludes an increase in transmission by each transmitter of PRS having a direction directed outside the area. ### Claim 26 (depends on 25) The entity of claim 25, further comprising: means for receiving location requests for one or more UEs, wherein the determining the increase in transmission of the PRS at each of the plurality of transmitters is based on the location requests; and means for sending a second message to each UE in the one or more UEs, the second message requesting measurements by the each UE of at least one PRS with increased transmission from at least one transmitter. ### Claim 27 (depends on 25) The entity of claim 25, further comprising: means for receiving notification reports from a plurality of base stations, the notification report from each base station in the plurality of base stations requesting an increase in PRS transmission for the each base station, wherein determining the increase in transmission of the PRS at each of the plurality of transmitters is based on the notification reports, wherein the plurality of base stations comprise or are a subset of the plurality of transmitters. ### Claim 28 (depends on 25) The entity of claim 25, further comprising: means for receiving requests for increased PRS from one or more UEs, wherein determining the increase in transmission of the PRS at each of the plurality of transmitters is based on the requests for increased PRS, wherein the plurality of transmitters comprises or includes the base station. ### Claim 29 A non-transitory computer readable medium including program code stored thereon, the program code is operable to configure at least one processor in a first entity in a wireless network for supporting location of a user equipment (UE), comprising: program code to determine an increase in transmission of a positioning reference signal (PRS) at each of a plurality of transmission points (transmitters), wherein the increase in transmission of PRS at each of the plurality of transmitters is coordinated with respect to non-PRS transmission in the wireless network; program code to send a first message to the each transmitter, the first message comprising an indication of the increase in transmission of PRS for the each transmitter; and program code to receive a response from the each transmitter, the response confirming or rejecting the increase in transmission of PRS at the each transmitter; wherein program code to coordinate the increase in transmission of PRS at each of the plurality of transmitters with respect to non-PRS transmission in the wireless network comprises program code to determine an area of increased PRS transmission and the increase in transmission of the PRS at each of the plurality of transmitters comprises an increase in transmission by each transmitter of PRS inside the area and excludes an increase in transmission by each transmitter of PRS having a direction directed outside the area. ### Claim 30 (depends on 29) The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 29, further comprising: program code to receive location requests for one or more UEs, wherein the determining the increase in transmission of the PRS at each of the plurality of transmitters is based on the location requests; and program code to send a second message to each UE in the one or more UEs, the second message requesting measurements by the each UE of at least one PRS with increased transmission from at least one transmitter. ### Claim 31 (depends on 29) The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 29, further comprising: program code to receive notification reports from a plurality of base stations, the notification report from each base station in the plurality of base stations requesting an increase in PRS transmission for the each base station, wherein the program code to determine the increase in transmission of the PRS at each of the transmitters is based on the notification reports, wherein the plurality of base stations comprise or are a subset of the plurality of transmitters. ### Claim 32 (depends on 29) The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 29, further comprising: program code to receive requests for increased PRS from one or more UEs, wherein determining the increase in transmission of the PRS at each of the plurality of transmitters is based on the requests for increased PRS, wherein the plurality of transmitters comprises or includes the base station.