IP Library Granted Patent US 12,328,281
Granted Patent B2
US 12,328,281 · App. 18/000,727 · Granted Jun 10, 2025

UE-to-UE positioning

Inventors: Yiqing Cao (Beijing, CN); Jing Lei (San Diego, CA); Wanshi Chen (San Diego, CA); Alexandros Manolakos (Escondido, CA); Sony Akkarakaran (Poway, CA)
Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
H04L5/0051G01S5/0072H04L5/16
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,328,281
App. No.
18/000,727
Granted
Jun 10, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A first UE includes: a transceiver; a memory; and a processor, communicatively coupled to the transceiver and the memory, configured to: at least one of: initiate a first UE-to-UE positioning function in response to receiving a first UE-to-UE positioning trigger from a second UE via the transceiver; or send a second UE-to-UE positioning trigger for the second UE via the transceiver to cause the second UE to initiate a second UE-to-UE positioning function; or communicate with the second UE via the transceiver to determine a characteristic of a UE-to-UE location reference signal to be exchanged between the first UE and the second UE; and exchange the UE-to-UE location reference signal with the second UE via the transceiver.

Claims (83)

1. A first user equipment (UE) comprising:

a transceiver;

a memory; and

a processor, communicatively coupled to the transceiver and the memory, configured to:

at least one of:

(1) initiate a first UE-to-UE positioning function in response to receiving a first UE-to-UE positioning trigger from a second UE via the transceiver;

transmit a first UE-to-UE location reference signal at a first transmission frequency in response to receiving the first UE-to-UE positioning trigger; and

at least one of:

transmit the first UE-to-UE location reference signal at a second transmission frequency in response to an absence of receiving the first UE-to-UE positioning trigger, the second transmission frequency being lower than the first transmission frequency; or

abstain from transmitting the first UE-to-UE location reference signal at the second transmission frequency in response to the absence of receiving the first UE-to-UE positioning trigger; or

(2) communicate with the second UE via the transceiver to determine a characteristic of a second UE-to-UE location reference signal to be exchanged transferred between the first UE and the second UE, wherein the characteristic of the second UE-to-UE location reference signal comprises a timing parameter of the second UE-to-UE location reference signal to accommodate half-duplex communication by at least one of the first UE or the second UE, and wherein the timing parameter includes at least one quantity of one or more symbols in a slot to allow transition between half-duplex transmission and half-duplex reception by the at least one of the first UE and the second UE; and

transfer the second UE-to-UE location reference signal between the first UE and the second UE via the transceiver.

2. The first UE of claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to communicate with the second UE to determine the characteristic of the second UE-to-UE location reference signal, wherein the second UE-to-UE location reference signal occupies the same one or more symbols in each of a plurality of consecutive slots.

3. The first UE of claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to communicate with the second UE to determine the characteristic of the second UE-to-UE location reference signal, and wherein the timing parameter comprises a muting pattern for the second UE-to-UE location reference signal.

4. The first UE of claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to communicate with the second UE to determine the characteristic of the second UE-to-UE location reference signal wherein the characteristic of the second UE-to-UE location reference signal comprises a frequency range of the second UE-to-UE location reference signal.

5. The first UE of claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to send a second UE-to-UE positioning trigger for the second UE via a network node to cause the second UE to initiate a second UE-to-UE positioning function.

6. The first UE of claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to send a second UE-to-UE positioning trigger for the second UE via the transceiver using a sidelink channel to cause the second UE to initiate a second UE-to-UE positioning function.

7. The first UE of claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to send a second UE-to-UE positioning trigger for the second UE via the transceiver to cause the second UE to initiate a second UE-to-UE positioning function, and wherein the second UE-to-UE positioning trigger includes the second UE-to-UE location reference signal.

8. The first UE of claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to send a second UE-to-UE positioning trigger for the second UE via the transceiver to cause the second UE to initiate a second UE-to-UE positioning function, and wherein the second UE-to-UE positioning trigger includes at least one transmission parameter of the second UE-to-UE location reference signal, the at least one transmission parameter comprising at least one of a timing, a frequency, a code sequence, or a periodicity.

9. The first UE of claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to communicate with the second UE to determine the characteristic of the second UE-to-UE location reference signal, and wherein the characteristic of the second UE-to-UE location reference signal comprises at least one of a comb number, a quantity of one or more consecutive symbols, a code sequence, or a scrambling sequence.

10. The first UE of claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to transfer the second UE-to-UE location reference signal with the second UE via the transceiver using a sidelink channel.

11. The first UE of claim 10 , wherein the second UE-to-UE location reference signal comprises one of a sounding reference signal (SRS), a channel state information reference signal (CSI-RS), or a non-SRS, non-CSI-RS, staggered reference signal.

12. The first UE of claim 11 , wherein the processor is configured to send a capabilities message via the transceiver indicating a capability of the first UE to transfer the second UE-to-UE location reference signal as the SRS, the CSI-RS, or the non-SRS, non-CSI-RS, staggered reference signal.

13. The first UE of claim 12 , wherein the processor and the transceiver are configured to send the second UE-to-UE location reference signal with half-pi binary phase shift keying modulation.

14. A first user equipment (UE) comprising:

at least one of:

(1) initiating means, the initiating means for initiating a first UE-to-UE positioning function in response to receiving a first UE-to-UE positioning trigger from a second UE;

first transmitting means for transmitting the UE-to-UE location reference signal at a first transmission frequency in response to receiving the first UE-to-UE positioning trigger; and

at least one of:

second transmitting means for transmitting the UE-to-UE location reference signal at a second transmission frequency in response to an absence of receiving the first UE-to-UE positioning trigger, the second transmission frequency being lower than the first transmission frequency; or

means for abstaining from transmitting the UE-to-UE location reference signal at the second transmission frequency in response to the absence of receiving the first UE-to-UE positioning trigger; or

(2) determining means, the determining means for communicating with the second UE to determine a characteristic of a second UE-to-UE location reference signal to be transferred between the first UE and the second UE, wherein the characteristic of the second UE-to-UE location reference signal comprises a timing parameter of the second UE-to-UE location reference signal to accommodate half-duplex communication by at least one of the first UE or the second UE, and wherein the timing parameter includes at least one quantity of one or more symbols in a slot to allow transition between half-duplex transmission and half-duplex reception by the at least one of the first UE and the second UE; and

means for transferring the second UE-to-UE location reference signal between the first UE and the second UE.

15. The first UE of claim 14 , wherein the first UE comprises the determining means and the determining means include means for determining the characteristic of the second UE-to-UE location reference signal, wherein the second UE-to-UE location reference signal occupies the same one or more symbols in each of a plurality of consecutive slots.

16. The first UE of claim 14 , wherein the first UE comprises the determining means, and wherein the timing parameter comprises a muting pattern for the second UE-to-UE location reference signal.

17. The first UE of claim 14 , wherein the first UE comprises the determining means and the determining means include means for determining the characteristic of the second UE-to-UE location reference signal wherein the characteristic of the second UE-to-UE location reference signal comprises a frequency range of the second UE-to-UE location reference signal.

18. The first UE of claim 14 , wherein the first UE comprises means for sending a second UE-to-UE positioning trigger for the second UE using a sidelink channel to cause the second UE to initiate a second UE-to-UE positioning function.

19. The first UE of claim 14 , wherein the first UE comprises the sending means for sending a second UE-to-UE positioning trigger for the second UE to cause the second UE to initiate a second UE-to-UE positioning function, wherein the second UE-to-UE positioning trigger includes the second UE-to-UE location reference signal.

20. The first UE of claim 14 , wherein the first UE comprises sending means for sending a second UE-to-UE positioning trigger for the second UE to cause the second UE to initiate a second UE-to-UE positioning function, wherein the second UE-to-UE positioning trigger includes at least one transmission parameter of the second UE-to-UE location reference signal, the at least one transmission parameter comprising at least one of a timing, a frequency, a code sequence, or a periodicity.

21. The first UE of claim 14 , wherein the first UE comprises the determining means, and wherein the characteristic of the second UE-to-UE location reference signal comprises at least one of a comb number, a quantity of one or more consecutive symbols, a code sequence, or a scrambling sequence.

22. The first UE of claim 14 , wherein the means for transferring the second UE-to-UE location reference signal with the second UE include means for transferring the second UE-to-UE location reference signal with the second UE using a sidelink channel.

23. The first UE of claim 22 , wherein the second UE-to-UE location reference signal comprises one of a sounding reference signal (SRS), a channel state information reference signal (CSI-RS), or a non-SRS, non-CSI-RS, staggered reference signal.

24. The first UE of claim 23 , further comprising means for sending a capabilities message indicating a capability of the first UE to transfer the second UE-to-UE location reference signal as the SRS, the CSI-RS, or the non-SRS, non-CSI-RS, staggered reference signal.

25. The first UE of claim 24 , wherein the means for transferring the second UE-to-UE location reference signal with the second UE include means for transferring the second UE-to-UE location reference signal with the second UE with half-pi binary phase shift keying modulation.

26. A method of location reference signal transfer, the method comprising:

at least one of:

(1) initiating a first UE-to-UE positioning function at a first UE in response to receiving a first UE-to-UE positioning trigger at the first UE from a second UE;

transmitting the UE-to-UE location reference signal at a first transmission frequency in response to receiving the first UE-to-UE positioning trigger; and

either:

transmitting the UE-to-UE location reference signal at a second transmission frequency in response to an absence of receiving the first UE-to-UE positioning trigger, the second transmission frequency being lower than the first transmission frequency; or

abstaining from transmitting the UE-to-UE location reference signal at the second transmission frequency in response to the absence of receiving the first UE-to-UE positioning trigger; or

determining, based on communicating with the second UE, a characteristic of a second UE-to-UE location reference signal to be transferred between the first UE and the second UE, wherein the characteristic of the second UE-to-UE location reference signal comprises a timing parameter of the second UE-to-UE location reference signal to accommodate half-duplex communication by at least one of the first UE or the second UE, and wherein the timing parameter includes at least one quantity of one or more symbols in a slot to allow transition between half-duplex transmission and half-duplex reception by the at least one of the first UE and the second UE; and

transferring the second UE-to-UE location reference signal with between the first UE and the second UE.

27. The method of claim 26 , wherein the method comprises determining the characteristic of the second UE-to-UE location reference signal, wherein the second UE-to-UE location reference signal occupies the same one or more symbols in each of a plurality of consecutive slots.

28. The method of claim 26 , wherein the method comprises determining the characteristic of the second UE-to-UE location reference signal, and wherein the timing parameter comprises a muting pattern for the UE-to-UE location reference signal.

29. The method of claim 26 , wherein the method comprises determining the characteristic of the second UE-to-UE location reference signal wherein the characteristic of the second UE-to-UE location reference signal comprises a frequency range of the second UE-to-UE location reference signal.

30. The method of claim 26 , wherein the method comprises sending a second UE-to-UE positioning trigger for the second UE via a network node to cause the second UE to initiate a second UE-to-UE positioning function.

31. The method of claim 26 , wherein the method comprises sending a second UE-to-UE positioning trigger for the second UE using a sidelink channel to cause the second UE to initiate a second UE-to-UE positioning function.

32. The method of claim 26 , wherein the method comprises sending a second UE-to-UE positioning trigger for the second UE to cause the second UE to initiate a second UE-to-UE positioning function, and wherein the second UE-to-UE positioning trigger includes the second UE-to-UE location reference signal.

33. The method of claim 26 , wherein the method comprises sending a second UE-to-UE positioning trigger for the second UE to cause the second UE to initiate a second UE-to-UE positioning function, and wherein the second UE-to-UE positioning trigger includes at least one transmission parameter of the second UE-to-UE location reference signal, the at least one transmission parameter comprising at least one of a timing, a frequency, a code sequence, or a periodicity.

34. The method of claim 26 , wherein the method comprises determining the characteristic of the second UE-to-UE location reference signal wherein the characteristic of the second UE-to-UE location reference signal comprises at least one of a comb number, a quantity of one or more consecutive symbols, a code sequence, or a scrambling sequence.

35. The method of claim 26 , wherein transferring the second UE-to-UE location reference signal with the second UE includes transferring the second UE-to-UE location reference signal with the second UE using a sidelink channel.

36. The method of claim 35 , wherein the second UE-to-UE location reference signal comprises one of a sounding reference signal (SRS), a channel state information reference signal (CSI-RS), or a non-SRS, non-CSI-RS, staggered reference signal.

37. The method of claim 36 , further comprising sending a capabilities message indicating a capability of the first UE to transfer the second UE-to-UE location reference signal as the SRS, the CSI-RS, or the non-SRS, non-CSI-RS, staggered reference signal.

38. The method of claim 37 , wherein transferring the second UE-to-UE location reference signal with the second UE includes transferring the second UE-to-UE location reference signal with the second UE with half-pi binary phase shift keying modulation.

39. A non-transitory, processor-readable storage medium comprising processor-readable instructions configured to cause a processor of a first user equipment (UE), in order to transfer a location reference signal, to:

at least one of:

(1) initiate a first UE-to-UE positioning function in response to receiving a first UE-to-UE positioning trigger from a second UE; or

transmit the UE-to-UE location reference signal at a first transmission frequency in response to receiving the first UE-to-UE positioning trigger; and

transmit the UE-to-UE location reference signal at a second transmission frequency in response to an absence of receiving the first UE-to-UE positioning trigger, the second transmission frequency being lower than the first transmission frequency

(2) determine, based on communicating with the second UE, a characteristic of a second UE-to-UE location reference signal to be transferred between the first UE and the second UE, wherein the characteristic of the second UE-to-UE location reference signal comprises a timing parameter of the second UE-to-UE location reference signal to accommodate half-duplex communication by at least one of the first UE or the second UE, and wherein the timing parameter includes at least one quantity of one or more symbols in a slot to allow transition between half-duplex transmission and half-duplex reception by the at least one of the first UE and the second UE; and

transfer the second UE-to-UE location reference signal between the first UE and the second UE.

40. The storage medium of claim 39 , wherein the instructions comprise instructions configured to cause the processor to determine the characteristic of the second UE-to-UE location reference signal, wherein the second UE-to-UE location reference signal occupies the same one or more symbols in each of a plurality of consecutive slots.

41. The storage medium of claim 39 , wherein the instructions comprise instructions configured to cause the processor to determine the characteristic of the second UE-to-UE location reference signal, and wherein the timing parameter comprises a muting pattern for the UE-to-UE location reference signal.

42. The storage medium of claim 39 , wherein the instructions comprise instructions configured to cause the processor to determine the characteristic of the second UE-to-UE location reference signal wherein the characteristic of the UE-to-UE location reference signal comprises a frequency range of the second UE-to-UE location reference signal.

43. The storage medium of claim 39 , wherein the instructions comprise instructions configured to cause the processor to send a second UE-to-UE positioning trigger for the second UE using a sidelink channel to cause the second UE to initiate a second UE-to-UE positioning function.

44. The storage medium of claim 39 , wherein the instructions comprise instructions configured to cause the processor to send a second UE-to-UE positioning trigger for the second UE to cause the second UE to initiate a second UE-to-UE positioning function, and wherein the second UE-to-UE positioning trigger includes the UE-to-UE location reference signal.

45. The storage medium of claim 39 , wherein the instructions comprise instructions configured to cause the processor to send a second UE-to-UE positioning trigger for the second UE to cause the second UE to initiate a second UE-to-UE positioning function, and wherein the second UE-to-UE positioning trigger includes at least one transmission parameter of the second UE-to-UE location reference signal, the at least one transmission parameter comprising at least one of a timing, a frequency, a code sequence, or a periodicity.

46. The storage medium of claim 39 , wherein the instructions comprise instructions configured to cause the processor to determine the characteristic of the second UE-to-UE location reference signal to comprise at least one of a comb number, a quantity of one or more consecutive symbols, a code sequence, or a scrambling sequence.

47. The storage medium of claim 39 , wherein the instructions configured to cause the processor to exchange transfer the second UE-to-UE location reference signal with the second UE include instructions configured to cause the processor to transfer the second UE-to-UE location reference signal with the second UE using a sidelink channel.

48. The storage medium of claim 47 , wherein the second UE-to-UE location reference signal comprises one of a sounding reference signal (SRS), a channel state information reference signal (CSI-RS), or a non-SRS, non-CSI-RS, staggered reference signal.

49. The storage medium of claim 48 , further comprising instructions configured to cause the processor to send a capabilities message indicating a capability of the first UE to transfer the second UE-to-UE location reference signal as the SRS, the CSI-RS, or the non-SRS, non-CSI-RS, staggered reference signal.

50. The storage medium of claim 49 wherein the instructions configured to cause the processor to transfer the second UE-to-UE location reference signal with the second UE include instructions configured to cause the processor to transfer the second UE-to-UE location reference signal with half-pi binary phase shift keying modulation.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 5, 2022
From: CAO, YIQING; LEI, JING; CHEN, WANSHI; MANOLAKOS, ALEXANDROS; AKKARAKARAN, SONY
To: QUALCOMM INCORPORATED
Reel/Frame 061979/0109 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20230224123A1 · Jul 13, 2023
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