# US 12,114,252 B2 · Positioning reference signal adjustment based on repetitive signal performance > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,114,252 B2 - Document ID: US12114252B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/399,591 - Filed: 2021-08-11 - Published: 2022-02-17 - Granted: 2024-10-08 - Earliest claimed: 2020-08-14 - Assignees: QUALCOMM Incorporated - Applicants: Qualcomm Incorporated - Inventors: Jingchao Bao; Sony Akkarakaran; Tao Luo; Juan Montojo; Alexandros Manolakos - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12114252B2 ## CPC - G01S 1/68: Marker, boundary, call-sign, or like beacons transmitting signals not carrying directional information - H04W 48/12: using downlink control channel - G01S 1/0428: {Signal details} - G01S 1/045: {Receivers} - G01S 5/0036: {of measured values, i.e. measurement on mobile and position calculation on base station} - G01S 5/0236: {Assistance data, e.g. base station almanac} - 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)} - H04L 5/0078: {Timing of allocation} - H04L 27/261: {Details of reference signals} - H04W 24/02: Arrangements for optimising operational condition - H04W 24/10: Scheduling measurement reports {; Arrangements for measurement reports} - H04W 48/04: based on user or terminal location or mobility data, e.g. moving direction, speed - H04W 64/003: {locating network equipment} - G01S 5/0215: {Interference} - G01S 5/0218: {Multipath in signal reception} - G01S 2201/01: adapted for specific applications or environments - H04L 5/0026: {Division using four or more dimensions, e.g. beam steering or quasi-co-location [QCL]} - H04L 5/006: {Quality of the received signal, e.g. BER, SNR, water filling} - H04L 5/0091: {Signalling for the administration of the divided path, e.g. signalling of configuration information} - H04W 64/00: Locating users or terminals {or network equipment} for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management - H04W 76/28: Discontinuous transmission [DTX]; Discontinuous reception [DRX] - 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) - H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M) ## Abstract A method, at an apparatus, of adapting to repetitive positioning reference signal reception degradation, includes: obtaining positioning reference signal pattern information, indicative of repetitive degradation of reception quality of a positioning reference signal; and transmitting, based on the positioning reference signal pattern information, at least one of: one or more positioning-reference-signal-related configuration parameters to a network entity; or a signal in accordance with the one or more positioning-reference-signal-related configuration parameters to a user equipment. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An apparatus comprising: an interface configured to transfer wireless signals between the apparatus and a user equipment; a memory; and a processor, communicatively coupled to the interface and the memory, configured to: obtain positioning reference signal pattern information indicative of a repetitive pattern, corresponding to positioning reference signal transfer between the apparatus and another entity, of acceptable positioning reference signal reception quality and degradation of positioning reference signal reception quality, the degradation including loss of line of sight between the apparatus and the other entity, or interference with the at least one positioning reference signal, or a combination thereof, wherein the repetitive pattern comprises alternating occurrences, as a function of at least one of location or time, of acceptable positioning reference signal reception quality and degraded positioning reference signal reception quality; and transmit, via the interface and based on the positioning reference signal pattern information, at least one of: to a network entity, one or more positioning-reference-signal-related configuration parameters; or, to the user equipment, a signal in accordance with the one or more positioning-reference-signal-related configuration parameters. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to determine a positioning reference signal muting pattern based on the positioning reference signal pattern information and to transmit an indication of the positioning reference signal muting pattern via the interface to the user equipment. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the indication of the positioning reference signal muting pattern indicates one or more positioning reference signals to be repetitively muted. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the processor is configured to transmit a deactivation message via the interface to the user equipment indicating a deactivation of the positioning reference signal muting pattern. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the deactivation message includes an indication of at least one positioning reference signal measurement for the user equipment to report to the apparatus. ### Claim 6 (depends on 2) The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the processor is configured to transmit, to the user equipment, at least one of an aperiodic, on-demand, or semi-persistent positioning reference signal independently of the positioning reference signal muting pattern. ### Claim 7 (depends on 2) The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the indication of the positioning reference signal muting pattern comprises a binary bit sequence wherein each bit in the binary bit sequence indicates a relative degradation and corresponds to a respective amount of time of scheduled positioning reference signal transmission. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to: predict signal degradation of a particular positioning reference signal scheduled to be transmitted without muting; and in response to predicting the signal degradation of the particular positioning reference signal, at least one of: mute the particular positioning reference signal; or avoid measurement of the particular positioning reference signal. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the one or more scheduled positioning-reference-signal-related configuration parameters comprise at least one of a positioning reference signal periodicity, offset, comb size, muting pattern, or repetition factor. ### Claim 10 An apparatus comprising: means for obtaining positioning reference signal pattern information indicative of a repetitive pattern, corresponding to positioning reference signal transfer between the apparatus and another entity, of acceptable positioning reference signal reception quality and degradation of positioning reference signal reception quality, the degradation including loss of line of sight between the apparatus and the other entity, or interference with the at least one positioning reference signal, or a combination thereof, wherein the repetitive pattern comprises alternating occurrences, as a function of at least one of location or time, of acceptable positioning reference signal reception quality and degraded positioning reference signal reception quality; and first means for transmitting, based on the positioning reference signal pattern information, at least one of: to a network entity, one or more positioning-reference-signal-related configuration parameters; or, to a user equipment, a signal in accordance with the one or more positioning-reference-signal-related configuration parameters. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising: means for determining a positioning reference signal muting pattern based on the positioning reference signal pattern information; and second means for transmitting an indication of the positioning reference signal muting pattern to the user equipment. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the indication of the positioning reference signal muting pattern indicates one or more positioning reference signals to be repetitively muted. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising third means for transmitting a deactivation message to the user equipment indicating a deactivation of the positioning reference signal muting pattern. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the deactivation message includes an indication of at least one positioning reference signal measurement for the user equipment to report to the apparatus. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising fourth means for transmitting, to the user equipment, at least one of an aperiodic, on-demand, or semi-persistent positioning reference signal independently of the positioning reference signal muting pattern. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the indication of the positioning reference signal muting pattern comprises a binary bit sequence wherein each bit in the binary bit sequence indicates a relative degradation and corresponds to a respective amount of time of scheduled positioning reference signal transmission. ### Claim 17 (depends on 10) The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising: predicting means, the predicting means for predicting signal degradation of a particular positioning reference signal scheduled to be transmitted without muting; and means for responding to the predicting means predicting the signal degradation of the particular positioning reference signal by at least one of: muting the particular positioning reference signal; or avoiding measurement of the particular positioning reference signal. ### Claim 18 (depends on 10) The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the one or more scheduled positioning-reference-signal-related configuration parameters comprise at least one of a positioning reference signal periodicity, offset, comb size, or repetition factor. ### Claim 19 A method, at an apparatus, of adapting to repetitive positioning reference signal reception degradation, the method comprising: obtaining positioning reference signal pattern information indicative of a repetitive pattern, corresponding to positioning reference signal transfer between the apparatus and another entity, of acceptable positioning reference signal reception quality and degradation of positioning reference signal reception quality, the degradation including loss of line of sight between the apparatus and the other entity, or interference with the at least one positioning reference signal, or a combination thereof, wherein the repetitive pattern comprises alternating occurrences, as a function of at least one of location or time, of acceptable positioning reference signal reception quality and degraded positioning reference signal reception quality; and transmitting, based on the positioning reference signal pattern information, at least one of: to a network entity, one or more positioning-reference-signal-related configuration parameters; or, to a user equipment, a signal in accordance with the one or more positioning-reference-signal-related configuration parameters. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The method of claim 19, further comprising: determining a positioning reference signal muting pattern based on the positioning reference signal pattern information; and transmitting an indication of the positioning reference signal muting pattern to the user equipment. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The method of claim 20, wherein the indication of the positioning reference signal muting pattern indicates one or more positioning reference signals to be repetitively muted. ### Claim 22 (depends on 20) The method of claim 20, further comprising transmitting a deactivation message to the user equipment indicating a deactivation of the positioning reference signal muting pattern. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The method of claim 22, wherein the deactivation message includes an indication of at least one positioning reference signal measurement for the user equipment to report to the apparatus. ### Claim 24 (depends on 20) The method of claim 20, further comprising transmitting, to the user equipment, at least one of an aperiodic, on-demand, or semi-persistent positioning reference signal independently of the positioning reference signal muting pattern. ### Claim 25 (depends on 20) The method of claim 20, wherein the indication of the positioning reference signal muting pattern comprises a binary bit sequence wherein each bit in the binary bit sequence indicates a relative degradation and corresponds to a respective amount of time of scheduled positioning reference signal transmission. ### Claim 26 (depends on 19) The method of claim 19, further comprising: predicting signal degradation of a particular positioning reference signal scheduled to be transmitted without muting; and responding to predicting the signal degradation of the particular positioning reference signal by at least one of: muting the particular positioning reference signal; or avoiding measurement of the particular positioning reference signal. ### Claim 27 (depends on 19) The method of claim 19, wherein the one or more scheduled positioning-reference-signal-related configuration parameters comprise at least one of a positioning reference signal periodicity, offset, comb size, or repetition factor. ### Claim 28 A non-transitory, processor-readable storage medium comprising processor-readable instructions configured to cause a processor of an apparatus, in order to adapt to repetitive positioning reference signal reception degradation, to: obtain positioning reference signal pattern information indicative of a repetitive pattern, corresponding to positioning reference signal transfer between the apparatus and another entity, of acceptable positioning reference signal reception quality and degradation of positioning reference signal reception quality, the degradation including loss of line of sight between the apparatus and the other entity, or interference with the at least one positioning reference signal, or a combination thereof, wherein the repetitive pattern comprises alternating occurrences, as a function of at least one of location or time, of acceptable positioning reference signal reception quality and degraded positioning reference signal reception quality; and transmit, based on the positioning reference signal pattern information, at least one of: to a network entity, one or more positioning-reference-signal-related configuration parameters; or, to a user equipment, a signal in accordance with the one or more positioning-reference-signal-related configuration parameters. ### Claim 29 (depends on 28) The storage medium of claim 28, further comprising instructions configured to cause the processor to: determine a positioning reference signal muting pattern based on the positioning reference signal pattern information; and transmit an indication of the positioning reference signal muting pattern to the user equipment. ### Claim 30 (depends on 29) The storage medium of claim 29, wherein the indication of the positioning reference signal muting pattern indicates one or more positioning reference signals to be repetitively muted. ### Claim 31 (depends on 29) The storage medium of claim 29, further comprising instructions configured to cause the processor to transmit a deactivation message to the user equipment indicating a deactivation of the positioning reference signal muting pattern. ### Claim 32 (depends on 31) The storage medium of claim 31, wherein the deactivation message includes an indication of at least one positioning reference signal measurement for the user equipment to report to the apparatus. ### Claim 33 (depends on 29) The storage medium of claim 29, further comprising instructions configured to cause the processor to transmit, to the user equipment, at least one of an aperiodic, on-demand, or semi-persistent positioning reference signal independently of the positioning reference signal muting pattern. ### Claim 34 (depends on 29) The storage medium of claim 29, wherein the indication of the positioning reference signal muting pattern comprises a binary bit sequence wherein each bit in the binary bit sequence indicates a relative degradation and corresponds to a respective amount of time of scheduled positioning reference signal transmission. ### Claim 35 (depends on 28) The storage medium of claim 28, further comprising instructions configured to cause the processor to: predict signal degradation of a particular positioning reference signal scheduled to be transmitted without muting; and respond to predicting the signal degradation of the particular positioning reference signal by at least one of: muting the particular positioning reference signal; or avoiding measurement of the particular positioning reference signal. ### Claim 36 (depends on 28) The storage medium of claim 28, wherein the one or more scheduled positioning-reference-signal-related configuration parameters comprise at least one of a positioning reference signal periodicity, offset, comb size, or repetition factor. ### Claim 37 A user equipment comprising: a transceiver configured to transmit and receive wireless signals; a memory; and a processor, communicatively coupled to the transceiver and the memory, and configured to: measure at least one positioning reference signal received via the transceiver; determine a signal degradation pattern indicative of a repetitive pattern of acceptable positioning reference signal reception quality of the at least one positioning reference signal and degradation of positioning reference signal reception quality of the at least one positioning reference signal, the degradation including loss of line of sight between the user equipment and a source of the at least one positioning reference signal, or interference with the at least one positioning reference signal, or a combination thereof, wherein the repetitive pattern comprises alternating occurrences, as a function of at least one of location or time, of acceptable positioning reference signal reception quality and degraded positioning reference signal reception quality; and transmit, via the transceiver, an indication of the signal degradation pattern. ### Claim 38 (depends on 37) The user equipment of claim 37, wherein the indication of the signal degradation pattern comprises one or more positioning reference signal timing parameters. ### Claim 39 (depends on 37) The user equipment of claim 37, wherein the indication of the signal degradation pattern comprises a binary bit sequence wherein each bit in the binary bit sequence indicates a relative degradation and corresponds to a respective amount of time of scheduled positioning reference signal transmission. ### Claim 40 A user equipment comprising: means for measuring at least one positioning reference signal from a positioning reference signal source; means for determining a signal degradation pattern indicative of a repetitive pattern of acceptable positioning reference signal reception quality of the at least one positioning reference signal and degradation of positioning reference signal reception quality of the at least one positioning reference signal, the degradation including loss of line of sight between the user equipment and a source of the at least one positioning reference signal, or interference with the at least one positioning reference signal, or a combination thereof, wherein the repetitive pattern comprises alternating occurrences, as a function of at least one of location or time, of acceptable positioning reference signal reception quality and degraded positioning reference signal reception quality; and means for transmitting an indication of the signal degradation pattern to a network entity. ### Claim 41 (depends on 40) The user equipment of claim 40, wherein the indication of the signal degradation pattern comprises one or more positioning reference signal timing parameters. ### Claim 42 (depends on 40) The user equipment of claim 40, wherein the indication of the signal degradation pattern comprises a binary bit sequence wherein each bit in the binary bit sequence indicates a relative degradation and corresponds to a respective amount of time of scheduled positioning reference signal transmission. ### Claim 43 A method of providing an indication of signal degradation, the method comprising: measuring, at a user equipment, at least one positioning reference signal from a positioning reference signal source; determining, at the user equipment, a signal degradation pattern indicative of a repetitive pattern of acceptable positioning reference signal reception quality of the at least one positioning reference signal and degradation of positioning reference signal reception quality of the at least one positioning reference signal, the degradation including loss of line of sight between the user equipment and a source of the at least one positioning reference signal, or interference with the at least one positioning reference signal, or a combination thereof, wherein the repetitive pattern comprises alternating occurrences, as a function of at least one of location or time, of acceptable positioning reference signal reception quality and degraded positioning reference signal reception quality; and transmitting, from the user equipment, an indication of the signal degradation pattern to a network entity. ### Claim 44 (depends on 43) The method of claim 43, wherein the indication of the signal degradation pattern comprises one or more positioning reference signal timing parameters. ### Claim 45 (depends on 43) The method of claim 43, wherein the indication of the signal degradation pattern comprises a binary bit sequence wherein each bit in the binary bit sequence indicates a relative degradation and corresponds to a respective amount of time of scheduled positioning reference signal transmission. ### Claim 46 A non-transitory, processor-readable storage medium comprising processor-readable instructions configured to cause a processor of a user equipment, in order to provide an indication of signal degradation, to: measure at least one positioning reference signals from a positioning reference signal source; determine a signal degradation pattern indicative of a repetitive pattern of acceptable reception quality of the at least one positioning reference signal and degradation of reception quality of the at least one positioning reference signal, the degradation including loss of line of sight between the user equipment and the positioning reference signal source, or interference with the at least one positioning reference signal, or a combination thereof, wherein the repetitive pattern comprises alternating occurrences, as a function of at least one of location or time, of acceptable reception quality and degraded reception quality; and transmit an indication of the signal degradation pattern to a network entity. ### Claim 47 (depends on 46) The storage medium of claim 46, wherein the indication of the signal degradation pattern comprises one or more positioning reference signal timing parameters. ### Claim 48 (depends on 46) The storage medium of claim 46, wherein the indication of the signal degradation pattern comprises a binary bit sequence wherein each bit in the binary bit sequence indicates a relative degradation and corresponds to a respective amount of time of scheduled positioning reference signal transmission.