Antenna configuration selection
An apparatus, method and computer program is described comprising: determining an angular radiation space of interest for communications between a user device and a network node of a mobile communication system; obtaining a positioning metric for each of a plurality of available antenna configurations for communication between the user device and the network node in the angular radiation space of interest, wherein said positioning metrics are based, at least in part, on average antenna phase center offset vector data and phase center offset variance data for the user device; and selecting one of said plurality of antenna configurations, based on the obtained positioning metrics, for sending positioning signals from the user device to the network node or for receiving positioning signals at the user device from the network node.
1. An apparatus, comprising:
at least one processor; and
at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to perform:
determining an angular radiation space of interest for communications between a user device and a network node of a mobile communication system;
obtaining a positioning metric for a plurality of available antenna configurations for communication between the user device and the network node in the angular radiation space of interest, wherein said positioning metrics are based, at least in part, on average antenna phase center offset vector data and phase center offset variance data for the user device; and
selecting one of said plurality of antenna configurations, based on the obtained positioning metrics, for sending positioning signals from the user device to the network node or for receiving positioning signals at the user device from the network node.
2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the selecting comprises selecting the antenna configuration of the plurality having the lowest average antenna phase center offset vector data and phase center offset variance data.
3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the at least one memory and instructions, when executed by the at least one processor are further configured to cause the apparatus to perform:
determining whether a beam is identified for communications between the user device and the network node and, if so, defining the angular radiation space of interest as a direction of said beam and, if not, defining the angular radiation space of interest as a widebeam angular space.
4. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the positioning metrics are based on antenna phase center offset vector and variance data that have been measured or simulated in advance.
5. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the positioning metrics comprise average power weighted antenna phase center offset vector and variance data.
6. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the positioning metrics comprise antenna phase center offset vector and variance data combined into single data points.
7. The apparatus as claimed in claim 6 , wherein each of said single data points comprise averages of antenna phase center offset vector data points and corresponding antenna phase center offset variance data points over the relevant angular radiation space.
8. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said positioning metrics comprise average antenna phase center offset vector data and phase center offset variance data for the user device for a first polarization, a second polarization and a combination of the first and second polarizations.
9. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said positioning metrics comprise average antenna phase center offset vector data and phase center offset variance data for the user device for a first combination of first and second polarizations that are offset in phase relative to one another and a second combination of the first and second polarizations that are not offset in phase relative to one another.
10. The apparatus as claimed in claim 8 , wherein the at least one memory and instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to further perform:
determining whether power signal levels are sufficient for sending or receiving said positioning signals using an antenna configuration having a single polarization, wherein said selecting said one of said plurality of antenna configuration said selecting said one of said plurality of antenna configuration makes said selection accordingly.
11. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said positioning metrics comprise average antenna phase center offset vector data and phase center offset variance data for the user device in different antenna beam steering directions.
12. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said positioning signals comprise at least one of positioning reference signals and sounding reference signals.
13. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the apparatus is the user device.
14. A method comprising:
determining an angular radiation space of interest for communications between a user device and a network node of a mobile communication system;
obtaining a positioning metric for a plurality of available antenna configurations for communication between the user device and the network node in the angular radiation space of interest, wherein said positioning metrics are based, at least in part, on average antenna phase center offset vector data and phase center offset variance data for the user device; and
selecting one of said plurality of antenna configurations, based on the obtained positioning metrics, for sending positioning signals from the user device to the network node or for receiving positioning signals at the user device from the network node.
15. A non transitory computer-readable medium comprising computer program instructions encoded thereon, said instructions, when executed on an apparatus, cause the apparatus to perform at least:
determining an angular radiation space of interest for communications between a user device and a network node of a mobile communication system;
obtaining a positioning metric for a plurality of available antenna configurations for communication between the user device and the network node in the angular radiation space of interest, wherein said positioning metrics are based, at least in part, on average antenna phase center offset vector data and phase center offset variance data for the user device; and
selecting one of said plurality of antenna configurations, based on the obtained positioning metrics, for sending positioning signals from the user device to the network node or for receiving positioning signals at the user device from the network node.