Method and apparatus for cooperative positioning in a wireless communication network

A network node configured for operation in a wireless communication network and comprising:

• a communication interface configured for sending signals to wireless devices and receiving signals from wireless devices;
• and
• a processing circuit that is operatively associated with the communication interface and is configured to:
• identify wireless devices in the service area that are candidates for operating in a cooperative positioning mode for performing device positioning, wherein the cooperative positioning mode comprises respective wireless devices exchanging positioning information using device-to-device, D2D, communications, and determining their positions or refining their respective positioning determinations, based on the exchanged positioning information;
• transmit assistance information at least to the identified wireless devices, the assistance information identifying radio resources to be used for the cooperative positioning mode and thereby reducing a cooperative positioning signal search space searched by the identified wireless devices upon activation of the cooperative positioning mode;
• and
• detect a warning situation that is associated with actual or expected impaired operation of the wireless communication network, at least within a service area, and, in response to the detection, send a message to the identified wireless devices, to activate the cooperative positioning mode, as between or among the identified wireless devices.

A method in a wireless device that is configured for operation in a wireless communication network, said method comprising:

• receiving assistance information from the wireless communication network, the assistance information identifying radio resources to be used for a cooperative positioning mode;
• detecting a warning situation that is associated with actual or expected impaired operation of the wireless communication network within a current service area of the wireless device, and, in response to the detecting:
• activating the cooperative positioning mode, which relies on exchanging positioning information with other wireless devices using device-to-device, D2D, communications;
• detecting one or more other wireless devices in the service area that are candidates for engaging in cooperative positioning with the wireless device, wherein detecting the one or more other wireless devices includes searching for cooperative positioning signals in a reduced search space defined by the radio resources identified in the assistance information;
• and
• performing cooperative positioning in conjunction with one or more of the detected wireless devices, the cooperative positioning comprising exchanging positioning information with at least one of the one or more detected wireless devices using D2D communications, and determining a position of the wireless device or refining a determined position of the device, based on positioning information received during said exchanging.

A wireless device that is configured for operation in a wireless communication network, said wireless device comprising:

• a communication interface for sending signaling to and receiving signaling from the wireless communication network;
• and
• a processing circuit that is operatively associated with the communication interface and is configured to:
• receive assistance information from the wireless communication network, the assistance information identifying radio resources to be used for a cooperative positioning mode;
• detect a warning situation that is associated with actual or expected impaired operation of the wireless communication network within a current service area of the wireless device, and, in response to the detection:
• activate the cooperative positioning mode, which relies on exchanging positioning information with other wireless devices using device-to-device, D2D, communications;
• detect one or more other wireless devices in the service area that are candidates for engaging in cooperative positioning with the wireless device, wherein detection of the one or more other wireless devices includes searching for cooperative positioning signals in a reduced search space defined by the radio resources identified in the assistance information;
• and
• perform cooperative positioning in conjunction with one or more of the detected wireless devices, the cooperative positioning comprising exchanging positioning information with at least one of the one or more detected wireless devices using D2D communications, and determining a position of the wireless device or refining a determined position of the wireless device, based on positioning information received during said exchanging.

A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing a computer program product comprising computer program instructions that, when executed by a processing circuit in a network node that is configured for operation in a wireless communication network, causes the network node to:

• identify wireless devices in the service area that are candidates for operating in a cooperative positioning mode for performing device positioning, wherein the cooperative positioning mode comprises respective wireless devices exchanging positioning information using device-to-device, D2D, communications, and determining their respective positions or refining their respective positioning determinations;
• transmit assistance information at least to the identified wireless devices, the assistance information identifying radio resources to be used for the cooperative positioning mode and thereby reducing a cooperative positioning signal search space searched by the identified wireless devices upon activation of the cooperative positioning mode;
• and
• detect a warning situation that is associated with actual or expected impaired operation of the wireless communication network within a service area, and, in response, send a message to the identified wireless devices, to activate the cooperative positioning mode, as between or among the identified wireless devices.

A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing a computer program product comprising computer program instructions that, when executed by a processing circuit in a wireless device that is configured for operation in a wireless communication network, causes the wireless device to:

• receive assistance information from the wireless communication network, the assistance information identifying radio resources to be used for a cooperative positioning mode:
• detect a warning situation that is associated with actual or expected impaired operation of the wireless communication network within a current service area of the wireless device, and in response to the detection:
• activate the cooperative positioning mode, which relies on exchanging positioning information with other wireless devices using device-to-device, D2D, communications;
• detect one or more other wireless devices in the service area that are candidates for engaging in cooperative positioning with the wireless device, wherein detection of the one or more other wireless devices includes searching for cooperative positioning signals in a reduced search space defined by the radio resources identified in the assistance information;
• and
• perform cooperative positioning in conjunction with one or more of the detected wireless devices, the cooperative positioning comprising exchanging positioning information with at least one of the one or more detected wireless devices using D2D communications, and determining a position of the wireless device or refining a determined position of the wireless device, based on positioning information received during said exchanging.