Tools and methods for UE environment mapping
A wireless communication device, WCD, transmits one or more uplink transmissions, obtains backscattering measurements for the one or more uplink transmissions, and reports the backscattering measurements to a wireless communication network. A network node in the wireless communication network receives the backscattering measurements, and estimates an environment of the WCD based on the backscattering measurements. The one or more uplink transmissions may for example include a sounding reference signal, SRS. The network node may for example schedule a transmission, select beamforming, or adapt a positioning reference signal configuration based on the estimated environment of the WCD. The network node may for example receive positioning measurements and estimate a position of the WCD based on the positioning measurements. The estimation of a position of the WCD and the estimation of an environment of the WCD may for example be performed jointly via simultaneous localization and mapping, SLAM.
1 . A method performed by a wireless communication device configured for use in a wireless communication network, the method comprising:
transmitting one or more uplink transmissions to a network node in the wireless communication network that the wireless communication device is configured to use;
receiving one or more reflected versions of the one or more uplink transmissions;
performing measurements on the received one or more reflected versions of the one or more uplink transmissions to obtain backscattering measurements for the one or more uplink transmissions to the network node; and
reporting, to the wireless communication network, the backscattering measurements for the one or more uplink transmissions to the network node.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the backscattering measurements comprise one or more of:
a received power of the received one or more reflected versions of the one or more uplink transmissions;
ranging information indicative of a distance between the wireless communication device an object in a vicinity of the wireless communication device; and
doppler shift of the received one or more reflected versions of the one or more uplink transmissions.
3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more uplink transmissions comprise one or more of:
a sounding reference signal;
a positioning reference signal; and
a reference signal used during a random access channel, RACH, procedure.
4 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving configuration of an uplink reference signal for positioning measurements, wherein the one or more uplink transmissions comprise the uplink reference signal.
5 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving configuration of a downlink reference signal for positioning measurements;
obtaining positioning measurements for one or more downlink transmissions comprising the downlink reference signal; and
reporting the positioning measurements to the wireless communication network.
6 . The method of claim 5 , wherein positioning measurements comprise one or more of:
a time of arrival measurement;
an angle of arrival measurement; and
a reference signal received power measurement.
7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the backscattering measurements for the one or more uplink transmissions are obtained using a different set of at least one antenna element or antenna panel than used for the transmission of the one or more uplink transmissions.
8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein a set of at least one antenna element or antenna panel is used for transmitting the one or more uplink transmissions and for obtaining the backscattering measurements.
9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the wireless communication device reports the backscattering measurements to a location server in the wireless communication network.
10 . A wireless communication device configured for use in a wireless communication network, the wireless communication device comprising processing circuitry and one or more memories, the one or more memories containing instructions executable by the processing circuitry to configure the wireless communication device to:
transmit one or more uplink transmissions to a network node in the wireless communication network that the wireless communication device is configured to use;
receive one or more reflected versions of the one or more uplink transmissions;
perform measurements on the received one or more reflected versions of the one or more uplink transmissions to obtain backscattering measurements for the one or more uplink transmissions to the network node; and
report, to the wireless communication network, the backscattering measurements for the one or more uplink transmissions to the network node.
11 . The wireless communication device of claim 10 , wherein the one or more uplink transmissions comprise one or more of:
a sounding reference signal;
a positioning reference signal; and
a reference signal used during a random access channel, RACH, procedure.
12 . The wireless communication device of claim 10 , wherein the one or more memories contain instructions executable by the processing circuitry to further configure the wireless communication device to:
receive configuration of an uplink reference signal for positioning measurements, wherein the one or more uplink transmissions comprise the uplink reference signal.