U.S. patent application number 16/736954 was filed with the patent office on 2020-05-07 for observed time difference of arrival angle of arrival discriminator.
The applicant listed for this patent is GUANGDONG OPPO MOBILE TELECOMMUNICATIONS CORP., LTD.. Invention is credited to Peter DEANE, Garry IRVINE.
Application Number | 20200142025 16/736954 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 50549368 |
Filed Date | 2020-05-07 |
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United States Patent
Application |
20200142025 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
IRVINE; Garry ; et
al. |
May 7, 2020 |
OBSERVED TIME DIFFERENCE OF ARRIVAL ANGLE OF ARRIVAL
DISCRIMINATOR
Abstract
A method, user equipment (UE) and location server for estimating
position of a UE based on observed angles of arrival. According to
one embodiment, angles of arrival of signals from a plurality of
base stations are received by a UE are observed by scanning for
position reference signals (PRS) by adjusting a phase difference
between antennas to cause a null of a beam of the UE to be
incremented through an angular sector. For each of a plurality of
base stations, an angle of arrival at which the null is steered
when a PRS is suppressed by the null and a reference signal time
difference, RSTD, are determined. Each angle of arrival and
corresponding RSTD is transmitted to a location server which
estimates UE position based on the observed angles of arrival.
Further, the location server may instruct the UE to suppress a
non-line-of-sight PRS signal.
Inventors: |
IRVINE; Garry; (Ottawa,
CA) ; DEANE; Peter; (Ottawa, CA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
GUANGDONG OPPO MOBILE TELECOMMUNICATIONS CORP., LTD. |
Dongguan |
|
CN |
|
|
Family ID: |
50549368 |
Appl. No.: |
16/736954 |
Filed: |
January 8, 2020 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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15129268 |
Sep 26, 2016 |
10557919 |
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PCT/IB2014/060272 |
Mar 28, 2014 |
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16736954 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G01S 5/10 20130101; G01S
5/08 20130101; H01Q 3/36 20130101; H04W 64/00 20130101 |
International
Class: |
G01S 5/08 20060101
G01S005/08; H01Q 3/36 20060101 H01Q003/36 |
Claims
1-23. (canceled)
24. A method performed by a user equipment (UE), the method
comprising: scanning for position reference signals (PRSs) from a
plurality of base stations, by adjusting a phase difference between
antennas to cause a null of a beam of an antenna pattern of the UE
to be incremented through an angular sector; determining, for each
of the plurality of base stations: an observed angle of arrival
(AOA) at which the null is steered when a PRS is suppressed by the
null; and a reference signal time difference (RSTD); and
transmitting each observed AOA and corresponding RSTD to a location
server.
25. The method of claim 24, further comprising determining a
spatial orientation of the UE to determine a reference plane for
the scanning.
26. The method of claim 24, further comprising receiving from the
location server an indication of a target PRS to be suppressed, the
target PRS being determined to be received from a non-line-of-sight
direction.
27. The method of claim 26, wherein the indication includes a
target AOA at which the target PRS is received, and the method
further comprises steering a null to the target AOA.
28. The method of claim 27, wherein the target AOA differs, from
the observed AOA corresponding to the target PRS, by more than a
threshold.
29. The method of claim 24, further comprising: for a first PRS
received from one of the plurality of base stations, scanning the
null to determine if more than one minimum of the first PRS is
encountered, the more than one minimum indicating that the first
PRS is received via multiple paths.
30. A user equipment (UE), comprising: a plurality of antennas; a
phase shifter configured to adjust a relative phase between at
least two of the plurality of antennas; a transceiver configured to
receive and process signals from the plurality of antennas, the
signals including at least one position reference signal (PRS); a
memory storing instructions; and a processor configured to execute
the instructions to: scan for PRSs from a plurality of base
stations, by controlling the phase shifter to adjust a phase
difference between antennas to cause a null of a beam of an antenna
pattern of the UE to be incremented through an angular sector;
determine, for each of the plurality of base stations: an observed
angle of arrival (AOA) at which the null is steered when a PRS is
suppressed by the null; and a reference signal time difference
(RSTD); and transmit each observed AOA and corresponding RSTD to a
location server.
31. The UE of claim 30, wherein the processor is further configured
to execute the instructions to: determine a spatial orientation of
the UE to determine a reference plane for the scanning.
32. The UE of claim 30, wherein the processor is further configured
to execute the instructions to: receive from the location server an
indication of a target PRS to be suppressed, the target PRS being
determined to be received from a non-line-of-sight direction.
33. The UE of claim 32, wherein the indication includes a target
AOA at which the target PRS is received, and the processor is
further configured to execute the instructions to steer a null to
the target AOA.
34. The UE of claim 33, wherein the target AOA differs, from the
observed AOA corresponding to the target PRS, by more than a
threshold.
35. The UE of claim 30, wherein the processor is further configured
to execute the instructions to: for a first PRS received from one
of the plurality of base stations, scan the null to determine if
more than one minimum of the first PRS is encountered, the more
than one minimum indicating that the first PRS is received via
multiple paths.
36. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing a program
code executable by a user equipment (UE), wherein the execution of
the program code causes the UE to perform operations comprising:
scanning for position reference signals (PRSs) from a plurality of
base stations, by adjusting a phase difference between antennas to
cause a null of a beam of an antenna pattern of the UE to be
incremented through an angular sector; determining, for each of the
plurality of base stations: an observed angle of arrival (AOA) at
which the null is steered when a PRS is suppressed by the null; and
a reference signal time difference (RSTD); and transmitting each
observed AOA and corresponding RSTD to a location server.
37. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 36,
wherein the operations further comprise: determining a spatial
orientation of the UE to determine a reference plane for the
scanning.
38. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 36,
wherein the operations further comprise: receiving from the
location server an indication of a target PRS to be suppressed, the
target PRS being determined to be received from a non-line-of-sight
direction.
39. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 38,
wherein the indication includes a target AOA at which the target
PRS is received, and the operations further comprise steering a
null to the target AOA.
40. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 39,
wherein the target AOA differs, from the observed AOA corresponding
to the target PRS, by more than a threshold.
41. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 36,
wherein the operations further comprise: for a first PRS received
from one of the plurality of base stations, scanning the null to
determine if more than one minimum of the first PRS is encountered,
the more than one minimum indicating that the first PRS is received
via multiple paths.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present disclosure relates to wireless communication
systems, and more particularly to determining angles of arrivals of
position reference signals for determining a wireless user
equipment location.
BACKGROUND
[0002] When a user equipment (UE), such as a cellular phone, is
used to dial a 911 emergency call center, government regulations
call for an ability to determine the location of the UE so that the
location may automatically be sent to the 911 emergency call
center. Many UEs are equipped with a global positioning system
(GPS) receiver that can accurately determine the UE location.
However, if the link to GPS satellites is weak or the UE does not
have GPS capability, then another method of position determination
is called for.
[0003] One such method is a technique called observed time
difference of arrival (OTDOA). This technique operates by
transmitting a special physical channel called a position reference
signal (PRS) to the UE from 3 or more base stations such as evolved
node Bs (eNBs) in a long term evolution (LTE) communication
network. The PRS includes precise timing information. The UE
observes the relative arrival times of the signals from nearby eNBs
and reports the reference signal time difference (RSTD)
observations to a particular serving eNB to which the UE is
actively attached. The serving eNB conveys the report of
observations to a location server which computes the position
estimate of the UE using triangulation. The OTDOA mechanism relics
upon accurate knowledge of the antenna locations of the cNBs, an
eNB time reference relative to the other eNBs, and the observed
time of arrival of a PRS signal at the UE. An error in any of these
parameters degrades the position estimate of the UE.
[0004] The time of arrival (TOA) of the PRS is presumed to be
received from a line of sight (LOS) direction, i.e., a direct path
from an antenna of an eNB. Depending on the propagation
environment, the LOS path may be attenuated due to an obstruction,
such that a relatively stronger signal from the antenna may arrive
from the eNB at the UE via a path that includes a reflection. This
signal may drown out the LOS signal and may convey inaccurate TOA
information.
[0005] The accuracy of the estimate of the location of the UE by
the location server may be adversely affected by non-LOS
propagation of the PRS received at the UE such as may result from
reflected multipath signals.
SUMMARY
[0006] Methods and systems for determining a UE location based on
signal angle of arrival observations are disclosed. According to
one aspect, there is provided a location server for a wireless
communication system. The location server includes a memory and a
processor. The memory is configured to store reference signal time
differences (RSTD), received from a user equipment (UE). Each RSTD
is based on a position reference signal (PRS) received by the UE
from a different one of a plurality of base stations. The memory is
also configured to store observed angles of arrival received from
the UE, each observed angle of arrival corresponding to a different
one of the RSTDs. The processor is in communication with the memory
and is configured to determine a first estimated UE location based
on the RSTDs and the known locations of the plurality of base
stations. For each RSTD, the processor is configured to determine
an estimated angle of arrival based on the first estimated UE
location and known locations of the base stations. The processor is
also configured to compare an observed angle of arrival with the
estimated angle of arrival corresponding to the RSTD, and to weight
the RSTD based on the comparison. The processor may also be
configured to determine a second estimated UE location based on at
least some of the weighted RSTDs and known locations of the
plurality of base stations.
[0007] According to this aspect, in some embodiments, the location
server is located at one of the plurality of base stations. In some
embodiments, a magnitude of the weight assigned to an RSTD is
inversely proportional to a difference between the estimated angle
of arrival and the observed angle of arrival. In some embodiments,
a set of three RSTDs with the highest weights is used to estimate
the location of the UE. In some embodiments, the second estimated
UE location is based on a least squares operation applied to the
RSTDs. In some embodiments, the processor is further configured to
send an instruction to the UE to suppress a particular one of the
PRSs from the plurality of base stations. In some embodiments, the
PRS to be suppressed may be associated with an RSTD that has a
weight that is lower than a threshold.
[0008] According to another aspect, there is provided a UE capable
of observing angles of arrival of a plurality of position reference
signals (PRS). The UE includes a plurality of antennas and a phase
shifter to adjust a relative phase between at least two of the
plurality of antennas. A transceiver of the UE is configured to
receive and process signals from the antennas, the signals
including at least one position reference signal. PRS. A memory is
configured to store an angle of arrival of each of the at least one
PRS. A processor coupled to the phase shifter, the transceiver, and
the memory is configured, for each of the at least one PRS, to
adjust the phase shifter to adjust a phase between antennas to
steer a null in a signal processed by the transceiver until the PRS
is suppressed.
[0009] According to this aspect, in some embodiments, the processor
is further configured to determine an angle of arrival of the PRS
as being the angle to which the null is steered when the PRS is
suppressed, and is further configured to cause transmission, via
the transceiver, of the determined angle of arrival to a location
server. In some embodiments, the PRS that is suppressed is selected
by a location server as being received from a direction other than
along a line of sight between the UE and a base station from which
the PRS is transmitted. In some embodiments, the processor is
further configured to, after suppressing the indicated PRS from the
non-line of sight direction, detect the PRS received at a different
angle of arrival from the base station from which the suppressed
PRS is received. In some embodiments, a sensor is configured to
enable determination of a spatial orientation of the UE. The sensor
establishes a reference plane for determining an angle to which the
null is steered. In some embodiments, the UE determines angles of
arrivals of multiple PRS, each PRS received from a different one of
a plurality of base stations.
[0010] According to another aspect, there is provided a method of
estimating a position of a user equipment (UE) in a wireless
communication system. The method includes receiving from the UE
reference signal time differences (RSTDs), each RSTD being based on
a position reference signal (PRS) received by the UE from a
different base station. The method also includes receiving from the
UE observed angles of arrival, each observed angle of arrival
corresponding to a different one of the RSTDs. A first estimate of
the position of the UE is determined based on the RSTDs and known
locations of the base stations corresponding to the RSTDs. For each
RSTD, the method includes determining an estimated angle of arrival
based on the first estimated position of the UE and the known
locations of the base stations; comparing an observed angle of
arrival to the estimated angle of arrival; and weighting the
corresponding RSTD based on the comparison. The method also
includes performing a second estimate of the position of the UE
based on the weighted RSTDs and the known locations of the base
stations corresponding to the RSTDs.
[0011] According to this aspect, in some embodiments, the second
estimate is performed based on three weighted RSTDs having highest
weights. In some embodiments, the weighted RSTD corresponds to a
line-of-sight angle of arrival. In some embodiments, the method
further includes sending an instruction to the UE to suppress a
particular PRS arriving at an observed angle of arrival based on a
determination that the particular PRS corresponds to an observed
angle of arrival that differs from its corresponding estimated
angle of arrival by more than a threshold. In some embodiments, a
magnitude of a weight is inversely proportional to a difference
between the observed angle of arrival and the estimated angle of
arrival corresponding to the RSTD to which the weight is
applied.
[0012] According to another aspect, there is provided a method of
generating observed angles of arrival of signals from a plurality
of base stations and received by a user equipment. UE. The method
includes scanning for position reference signals, PRSs, by
adjusting a phase difference between antennas to cause a null of a
beam of the UE to be incremented through an angular sector. The
method also includes determining, for each of the plurality of base
stations: an angle of arrival at which the null is steered when a
PRS is suppressed by the null; and a reference signal time
difference, RSTD. The method also includes transmitting each angle
of arrival and corresponding RSTD to a location server.
[0013] According to this aspect, in some embodiments, the method
includes determining a spatial orientation of the UE to determine a
reference plane for the scanning. In some embodiments, the method
includes receiving from the location server an indication of a
particular one of the PRSs to be suppressed, the PRS to be
suppressed being determined to be received from a non-line-of-sight
direction. In some embodiments, the indication includes a target
angle of arrival at which the PRS to be suppressed is received, and
the method further comprises steering a null to the target angle of
arrival. In some embodiments, for a particular base station and
PRS, the method includes scanning the null to determine if more
than one minima of the PRS is encountered, more than one minima
indicating that the PRS is received via multiple paths.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0014] FIG. 1 is a diagram of a system for determining location of
a user equipment according to principles of the present
disclosure;
[0015] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a communication system having a
base station, a user equipment and a location server arranged to
estimate UE position in accordance with principles of the present
disclosure;
[0016] FIG. 3 is a flowchart of a process for determining and
reporting angles of arrival of position reference signals (PRS) at
a UE;
[0017] FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a process for calculating a first
estimate of UE position based on angles of arrival determined by
the UE and transmitted to the location server;
[0018] FIG. 5 is a flowchart for calculating a second estimate of
UE position based on weighted RSTDs;
[0019] FIG. 6 is a flowchart of a process for determining when to
discard an RSTD and instruct a UE to suppress the PRS corresponding
to the discarded RSTD; and
[0020] FIG. 7 is a flowchart of a process for suppressing a PRS
received from a non-LOS angle of arrival.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0021] Before describing in detail example embodiments that are in
accordance with the present disclosure, it is noted that the
embodiments reside primarily in combinations of apparatus
components and processing steps related to determining position of
a UE. Accordingly, the system and method components have been
represented where appropriate by conventional symbols in the
drawings, showing only those specific details that are pertinent to
understanding the embodiments of the present disclosure so as not
to obscure the disclosure with details that will be readily
apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit
of the description herein.
[0022] As used herein, relational terms, such as "first" and
"second," "top" and "bottom," and the like, may be used solely to
distinguish one entity or element from another entity or element
without necessarily requiring or implying any physical or logical
relationship or order between such entities or elements
[0023] In embodiments discussed herein, AOA data associated with a
received position reference signal (PRS) is collected at the user
equipment (UE) and sent to a location server along with
corresponding reference signal time difference (RSTD) observations.
The location server uses this information along with knowledge of
radiating antenna coordinates of antennas of the neighboring base
stations to establish an estimated angle of arrival. AOAs at the UE
can be established using the phase relationship between two or more
receive antenna elements of the UE. In some embodiments, the
location server uses this estimate to establish a likelihood that
one of many PRS arrive by way of a line of sight (LOS) propagation
from a given radiating antenna. Based on this likelihood, a weight
is applied to the RSTD of each set of observed time difference of
arrival (OTDOA) data. Due to a finite dynamic range of the UE
receiver in detecting the PRS, detection of a weak line of sight
PRS that is impaired by some attenuating obstruction may be
degraded in the presence of a strong non-line of sight PRS
originating from the same radiating antenna. If this is determined
to be the case, a null can be applied in the direction of the
stronger non-line of sight signal in order to improve reception of
the line of sight signal which can be identified by its faster
arrival time.
[0024] A null occurs when the output of individual antenna elements
are summed with a specific phase offset applied to each element.
Because the null response can be made quite sharp, the null
response has good qualities for establishing an AOA. In particular,
the angle of arrival of a given PRS may be established with good
accuracy at a UE with a limited number of antenna elements by
phasing antennas at the UE to null out the PRS signal. The angle of
arrival of the PRS is determined to be the angle at which the null
is steered when the received PRS signal strength is a minimum.
Calculation of the angle of arrival may be made relative to a known
planar orientation of the UE's antenna elements. Accelerometers
used as orientation sensors are commonly installed in UE devices
and may be used to establish the planar orientation of the UE's
antenna elements.
[0025] Referring now to the drawing figures in which like reference
designators denote like elements, there is shown in FIG. 1 a
diagram of a configuration 10 of neighboring base stations 12a,
12b, 12c and 12d, referred to collectively herein as base stations
12, or, in long term evolution (LTE) networks, eNBs 12. Each base
station 12 transmits a PRS to a UE 14. In the example of FIG. 1,
the base stations 12b, 12c and 12d transmit to the UE using a line
of sight (LOS), i.e., a direct path from the base station antenna
to the UE. As shown in FIG. 1, the signal from the base station 12a
arrives from a line of sight that has an obstacle 16a that
attenuates the transmitted signal. The signal from the base station
12a also arrives from a non-LOS direction via a reflection from an
obstacle 16b. Thus, in the example of FIG. 1, it is possible that a
signal from a non-LOS direction may be stronger than the same
signal from a LOS direction.
[0026] A location server 18, which may be part of a base station
12, may be in direct communication with the UE 14 or may receive
OTDOA signal measurement information from the UE 14 indirectly via
a base station 12. In some example embodiments, the location server
18 communicates a determined location of the UE via communication
network 20 to a 911 call center 22. In operation, the UE 14
observes PRS from the various base stations and determines their
angles of arrival. The UE also determines, for each PRS, an RSTD
based on a time of flight of the PRS. The angles of arrival and the
corresponding RSTDs obtained from the PRS are sent to the location
server 18.
[0027] The location server 18 determines the location of the UE 14
based on the RSTDs and the known locations of the base stations 12.
Further, for each RSTD, the location server 18 compares an
estimated angle of arrival, computed based on known locations of
the base stations 12, to an angle of arrival observed at the UE 14,
to determine a weight to be applied to an RSTD. A greater weight
may be assigned to an RSTD when the estimated angle of arrival is
close to the observed angle of arrival, and a lesser weight may be
assigned to the RSTD when the estimated angle of arrival differs
substantially from the observed angle of arrival. Then, in some
example embodiments, the location server 18 computes a more
accurate estimation of the position of the UE 14 using some or all
of the weighted RSTDs. This is described in more detail below with
reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. 4A and 4B.
[0028] FIG. 2 is a more detailed block diagram of a communication
system 10 having the base station 12, the user equipment 14 and the
location server 18. Note that the location server 18 may, in some
embodiments, be located at the base station 12, and in some
embodiments, may communicate only indirectly with the UE 14 via a
base station 12. The UE 14 has at least two antennas 24 for
receiving PRS and for transmitting OTDOA signal measurement
information, which includes RTSD and AOA, and may also include LOS
quality data. A phase shifter 26 enables shifting of the relative
phase between signals received by the antennas 24 in order to sweep
a null signal through an angular sector. A transceiver 28 of the
user equipment 14 transmits the radio frequency (RF) signals
carrying the OTDOA signal measurement information to the location
server 18, and receives PRS from a plurality of base stations
12.
[0029] The UE 14 includes a memory 30 and a processor 32. The
memory 30 stores observed angles of arrival 34. RSTDs 36 and phase
values 40 for adjusting the phase shifter 26. The memory may also
be configured to store computer code that, when executed by the
processor 32, causes the processor 32 to perform UE functions
described herein. The processor 32, when executing software,
includes functionality to cause null steering 42 and to determine
observed angles of arrival 44. In particular, the processor may
perform operations that include adjusting a phase value 40,
measuring a PRS magnitude, continuing to adjust phase until a
minimum in the PRS magnitude occurs, and determining the angle of
the null at which the minimum occurs to be the angle of arrival for
the particular PRS.
[0030] Further, the processor 32 may cause suppression of a PRS
signal received at a particular angle, while searching fir a
minimum of the PRS signal occurring at another angle. Where
multiple PRS minimums occur, the processor 32 may determine the
angle of arrival of the PRS 44, having a least RSTD. Note that the
UE 14 may also include a sensor such as an accelerometer 46 to
ascertain an orientation of the UE 14 to ensure that the UE is in a
particular orientation, such as vertical, for determining an
observed angle of arrival with respect to a reference plane.
[0031] In some embodiments, a PRS arriving from a particular angle
that is determined by the location server 18 to be from a direction
other than a line of sight, may be suppressed. The non-LOS signal
from the particular angle may be suppressed by steering a null to
the particular angle at the UE 14. In some embodiments, the
processor 32 of the UE 14 is further configured, after suppressing
the indicated PRS from the non-line of sight direction, to detect
the PRS received from a different angle of arrival. Thus, the UE 14
may perform any one or more of at least two major functions: (1)
determining observed angles of arrival and corresponding RSTDs to
be used by the location server 18 to determine UE position, and (2)
suppressing PRS from non-line of sight directions and detecting the
PRS at another angle of arrival. Suppressing a PRS from a non-LOS
angle of arrival of a PRS can improve reception of the PRS arriving
at a LOS angle of arrival.
[0032] Note that the OTDOA information may be sent to the location
server 18 directly from the UE 14. Alternatively, the OTDOA
information may be sent by the UE 14 to the base station 12 from
which it is forwarded to the location server 18. In some
embodiments, the location server 18 may be located at a base
station 12. The base station 12 includes at least one antenna 48, a
transceiver 50, a memory 52 and a processor 54. The transceiver 50
operates to prepare data to be transmitted and to convert received
data to baseband for processing by the processor 54. The memory 52
stores position reference signals (PRS) 56 and a location 58 of the
base station 12. The memory 52 may also be configured to store
computer code that, when executed by a processor 54, causes the
processor 54 to perform base station functions described herein.
The processor 54, when executing software, generates, via a PRS
generator 60, the PRS for transmission to the UE 14 by the
transceiver 50 of the base station 12.
[0033] The location server 18 includes at least one antenna 62 and
a transceiver 64 to receive OTDOA measurement information from the
UE 14. The location server 18 also includes a memory 66 and a
processor 68. The memory 66 stores observed and estimated angles of
arrival 70, RSTDs 72, base station locations 74, and estimated UE
locations 76. The memory 66 may also be configured to execute
computer code that, when executed by a processor 68, causes the
processor 68 to perform location server functions described herein.
The processor 68, when executing computer code, functions to
perform UE location estimation 78, angle of arrival (AOA)
estimation 80, AOA comparison 82, and weight assignment 84.
[0034] In operation, the processor 68 of the location server 18
computes estimated UE locations based on RSTDs and known base
station locations, and computes estimated UE locations based on the
observed angles of arrival and known base station locations via
trilateration, i.e., by determining an intersection of lies
extending from the base stations at the observed angles of arrival.
The processor 68 may also compute angles of arrival based on the UE
location estimate and known base station locations, and compare
these computed angles of arrival to angles of arrival observed at
the UE 14. The processor 68 may eliminate RSTDs from the
computation of UE location when the difference between the observed
and estimated AOA corresponding to the RSTD is large, i.e., greater
than a predetermined amount. The processor 68 may also assign a
weight to an RSTD that depends upon a magnitude of a difference
between the estimated angle of arrival and the observed angle of
arrival. Thus, the location server 18 may perform any one or more
of at least three major functions: (1) comparing an observed angle
of arrival to an estimated angle of arrival to determine a weight
to be assigned to a corresponding RSTD, (2) computing an estimated
UE position based on the weighted RSTDs and (3) instructing the UE
14 to suppress a particular one of the PRS corresponding to an RSTD
determined to be from a non-line-of-sight.
[0035] The processor 68 of the location server 18 is in
communication with the memory 66 and is configured to determine a
first estimated UE location based on the RSTDs and the known
locations 74 of the plurality of base stations 12. For each RSTD,
the processor 68 is configured to determine an estimated angle of
arrival 70 based on the first estimated UE location 76 and known
locations of the base stations 74. The processor 68 is also
configured to compare an observed angle of arrival with the
estimated angle of arrival corresponding to the RSTD, and to weight
the RSTD based on the comparison. In some embodiments, the
processor 68 is also configured to determine a second estimated UE
location 100 based on at least some of the weighted RSTDs and 74
known locations of the plurality of base stations. Thus, improved
accuracy in determining the position of a UE may be achieved in
some embodiments by assigning higher weighting to LOS data and
lower weighting to non-LOS data. The location server 18 may
optionally instruct the UE to suppress a PRS determined to be from
a non-line of sight direction FIG. 3 is a flowchart of a process
performed by the UE 14 for determining and reporting angles of
arrival of position reference signals at a UE 14. Not shown in FIG.
3 is an optional initial step of determining UE orientation. Thus,
the orientation sensors 46 of the UE 14 may be used to determine if
the UE 14 has a specific planar orientation that is acceptable for
determining angles of arrival. For example, the sensors 46 may
determine whether the UE 14 is oriented vertically plus or minus
30.degree.. In some embodiments, a null value is reported with the
OTDOA signal measurement information from the UE 14 to the location
server 18 if a suitable orientation of the UE 14 is not found
within a pre-determined amount of time, the null value indicating
that an angle of arrival has not been detected for a particular
PRS.
[0036] If the orientation of the UE 14 is acceptable, then, for
each of a plurality of PRSs, the signals received at each of at
least two antennas 24 of the UE 14 are phased with respect to each
other to sweep a null in a beam formed by the antennas 24 through
an angular sector such as 360.degree. (block S104). A phase shifter
26 for varying the phase between the signals may be incremented
according to pre-determined increments. The angle of arrival for a
particular PRS is determined as the angle at which the PRS minimum
occurs. In other words, the angle to which the null is steered to
suppress the PRS signal is the observed angle of arrival of the PRS
signal (block S106). Additionally, the beam null may optionally be
scanned so as to determine whether more than one minima of a
particular PRS being scanned is encountered, thereby indicating
that the PRS is received by multiple paths. One of the angles of
arrival, for example, the angle of arrival from a base station to
which the UE is attached, may be used as a reference angle against
which the other angles of arrival are measured. Each determined
angle of arrival is associated with an RSTD determined by the UE
(block S108). Each observed angle of arrival and corresponding RSTD
is transmitted from the UE 14 to the location server 18 (block
S110).
[0037] FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a process performed by the location
server 18 for calculating the estimated position of a UE 14 based
on angles of arrival determined by the UE 14 and transmitted to the
location server 18. OTDOA signal measurement information is
received by the location server 18 (block S112). The OTDOA signal
measurement information includes at least two UE observations for
each of a plurality of base stations 12. The at least two UE
observations include an RSTD and an observed angle of arrival. A
first estimated UE location is calculated using multilateration
based on the received RSTDs observed at the UE 14 and knowledge of
the locations of the eNBs 12 possessed by the location server 18
(block S114). An estimated angle of arrival from a particular cNB
12 is calculated based on the estimated UE location and physical
locations of the eNBs 12 (block S116).
[0038] FIG. 5 is a flowchart of a process for weighting RSTDs and
computing a second estimate of UE position. For each RSTD, the
estimated angle of arrival is compared to the observed angle of
arrival (block S118).
[0039] A weight may be assigned to the RSTD based on the difference
between the observed angle of arrival and the estimated angle of
arrival (block S120). A magnitude of a weight assigned to an RSTD
may be inversely proportional to a difference between the estimated
angle of arrival and the observed angle of arrival, so that a
larger weight is applied when the difference between the estimated
AOA and the observed AOA is small, and a smaller weight is applied
when the difference is large. After all the RSTDs have been
weighted, a second estimate of the UE may be calculated using the
highest weighted RSTDs and the known base station locations (block
S122).
[0040] Thus, if the difference between the observed angle of
arrival and the estimated angle of arrival is sufficiently small as
compared to a threshold for each of at least three RSTDs, then the
UE location may be estimated using multilateration and the weighted
RSTDs. RSTDs corresponding to a difference between the observed
angle of arrival and an estimated angle of arrival that is not as
small as the threshold may be discarded. When the total number of
non-discarded RSTDs, including the RSTD of the reference eNB 12, is
greater than two, then trilateration based on the 3 RSTDs having
the highest quality may be performed. Also, more than three RSTDs
may be employed in a weighted formula, such as a least squares
method, to compute the UE location. This second estimate of UE
location is, in some embodiments, provided by the location server
18 to the 911 call center 22 via the network 20. Note that the
embodiments of FIGS. 4 and 5 contemplate the possibility of using a
non-line-of-sight PRS in a least squares calculation of estimated
UE position. For example, some RSTDs that are less than the
threshold may correspond to non-LOS PRS. This may result from a
non-LOS path being very short or from a condition where many
non-LOS PRS signals are received from abase station.
[0041] FIG. 6 is a flowchart of a process for making a
determination to discard an RSTD and optionally instruct the UE to
suppress the corresponding PRS arriving from the corresponding
observed angle of arrival. As mentioned above with reference to
FIG. 5, the location server 18 compares, for each RSTD, an observed
angle of arrival to an estimated angle of arrival (block S118). If
the difference between the observed angle of arrival and the
estimated angle of arrival exceeds the threshold, the corresponding
RSTD is discarded (block S124). In some embodiments, the method
includes sending an instruction to the UE to suppress a particular
PRS arriving at an observed angle of arrival corresponding to the
discarded RSTD, which is considered to be from a non-line-of-sight
direction (block S126).
[0042] FIG. 7 is a flowchart of an example process for suppressing
PRS received from the non-LOS angles of arrival. The UE 14 receives
the instruction from the location server 18 to suppress a PRS at a
target angle of arrival from the location server (block S128). The
PRS to be suppressed is one that is deemed to arrive by a non-LOS
direction, based on the observed angle of arrival differing from
the estimated angle of arrival by an amount exceeding the
threshold.
[0043] The UE 14 may scan a null in the beam to the target angle of
arrival to suppress the particular PRS (block S130). Suppressing a
high power non-LOS version of the PRS enables better detection of a
lower power LOS version of the PRS that arrives earlier than the
suppressed PRS arriving at the target angle. Thus, a first null may
be steered to the angle of arrival of the high power non-LOS
version of the PRS and a second null may be swept to determine an
angle of arrival for one or more versions of the PRS signal that
has a smaller RSTD value. Once the PRS from the non-LOS direction
is suppressed, the UE 14 may scan its beam to find the PRS arriving
at a different angle of arrival (block S132). This angle and a
corresponding RSTD may be sent to the location server 18 (block
S134).
[0044] Note that in some embodiments, a value may be assigned to
another parameter called "LOS quality" or "RSTD quality" measured
by the UE and included within the OTDOA signal measurement
information. A large LOS quality rating may be assigned to strongly
received PRS and small LOS quality rating may be assigned to weakly
received PRS. When this information is received by the location
server, the location server may weight a corresponding RSTD based
at least in part on the received LOS quality rating, where signals
having a large LOS quality rating are weighted more heavily than
signals having lower LOS quality rating. Thus, the LOS quality
rating may be based on the PRS signal strength and may be affected
by signal to noise ratio of the PRS, signal to noise ratio of a
reference PRS, detected orientation of the UE 14, and the number of
UE antennas.
[0045] Thus, embodiments may provide improved accuracy of position
estimates of a UE by assigning weights to RSTDs measured by the UE
based on a comparison of an angle of arrival observed by the UE to
an estimated angle of arrival computed by a location server.
Non-LOS PRSs received by the UE may be nulled to enable better
detection of a PRS received from a LOS direction or a stronger PRS
received from a non-LOS direction.
[0046] The present invention can be realized in hardware, or a
combination of hardware and software. Any kind of computing system,
or other apparatus adapted for carrying out the methods described
herein, is suited to perform the functions described herein. A
typical combination of hardware and software could be a specialized
computer system, having one or more processing elements and a
computer program stored on a storage medium that, when loaded and
executed, controls the computer system such that it carries out the
methods described herein. The present invention can also be
embedded in a computer program product, which comprises all the
features enabling the implementation of the methods described
herein, and which, when loaded m a computing system is able to
carry out these methods. Storage medium refers to any volatile or
non-volatile storage device.
[0047] Computer program or application in the present context means
any expression, in any language, code or notation, of a set of
instructions intended to cause a system having an information
processing capability to perform a particular function either
directly or after either or both of the following a) conversion to
another language, code or notation; b) reproduction in a different
material form.
[0048] It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that
the present invention is not limited to what has been particularly
shown and described herein above. In addition, unless mention was
made above to the contrary, it should be noted that all of the
accompanying drawings are not to scale. A variety of modifications
and variations are possible in light of the above teachings without
departing from the scope of the following claims.
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