Method and apparatus for muting signaling in a wireless communication network

1. A method of controlling positioning reference signal transmission in a wireless communication network, the method comprising:

transmitting positioning reference signals at recurring positioning occasions for use in making positioning reference signal measurements at receiving radio equipment;

muting the positioning reference signals in certain ones of the positioning occasions according to a muting configuration; and

transmitting muting configuration information indicating the muting configuration to inform the receiving radio equipment of the muting configuration;

wherein the muting configuration information comprises a muting occasion parameter indicating positioning occasions to which muting applies, wherein each of the positioning occasions comprises two or more consecutive subframes and the positioning occasions recur at a pre-set periodicity.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the receiving radio equipment comprises:

one or more user equipments (UEs) associated with users of the wireless communication network; and/or

one or more fixed nodes within the wireless communication network.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein transmitting the positioning reference signals comprises transmitting the positioning reference signals from one or more base stations in the wireless communication network, each of the base stations being associated with a respective cell.

4. The method of claim 3 , further comprising determining the muting configuration on a per-cell basis.

5. The method of claim 3 , wherein:

the one or more base stations comprise a plurality of base stations associated with respective ones in a plurality of associated cells; and

the method further comprises determining the muting configuration cooperatively across the plurality of associated cells.

6. The method of claim 3 , further comprising determining, at each base station, the muting configuration to be used by the base station based at least in part on control signaling received at the base station from a higher-layer node in the wireless communication network.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein:

the wireless communication network comprises a Long Term Evolution (LTE) network or an LTE-Advanced network;

the base station comprises an eNodeB; and

the method further comprises exchanging control signaling between the eNodeB and an Evolved Serving Mobile Location Center (E-SMLC) that controls one or more aspects of the muting configuration of the base station.

8. The method of claim 3 , further comprising determining, at each base station, the muting configuration to be used by the base station, based at least in part on exchanging muting configuration information or muting control signaling with one or more neighboring base stations.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein transmitting the muting configuration information comprises transmitting the muting configuration information from a base station via lower layer signaling.

10. A base station for use in a wireless communication network that transmits positioning reference signals, the base station comprising:

a transmitter configured to transmit positioning reference signals at recurring positioning occasions for use in making positioning reference signal measurements at receiving radio equipment; and

a processing circuit operatively associated with the transmitter and configured to:

mute the positioning reference signals in certain ones of the positioning occasions in accordance with a muting configuration; and

transmit, via the transmitter, muting configuration information indicating the muting configuration to inform the receiving radio equipment of the muting;

wherein the muting configuration information comprises a muting occasion parameter indicating positioning occasions to which muting applies, wherein each of the positioning occasions comprises two or more consecutive subframes and the positioning occasions recur at a pre-set periodicity.

11. The base station of claim 10 , wherein:

the base station includes a core network communication interface for receiving muting control signaling via higher-layer signaling from another node in the wireless communication network; and

the processing circuit is configured to determine or otherwise set the muting configuration of the base station based at least in part on the muting control signaling.

12. The base station of claim 11 , wherein:

the wireless communication network comprises a Long Term Evolution (LTE) network or an LTE-Advanced network;

the base station comprises an eNodeB; and

the muting control signaling received at the base station comprises signaling from an Evolved Serving Mobile Location Center (E-SMLC) that controls one or more aspects of the muting configuration of the base station.

13. The base station of claim 10 , wherein the base station comprises an eNodeB, a home eNodeB, a pico base station, or a relay node.

14. The base station of claim 10 , further comprising an inter-base-station communication interface, wherein the processing circuit is further configured to determine one or more aspects of the muting configuration cooperatively with one or more neighboring base stations based on exchanging inter-base-station signaling via the inter-base-station communication interface.

15. The base station of claim 10 , further comprising a core network communication interface configured to communicate directly or indirectly with one or more core network nodes comprising a positioning node, wherein the processing circuit is configured to receive signaling from the positioning node that sets or otherwise controls one or more aspects of the muting configuration of the base station.

16. The base station of claim 10 , wherein the processing circuit is configured to autonomously determine the muting configuration to be used by the base station.

17. A method, in a radio apparatus, of controlling measurement of positioning reference signals that are transmitted by a base station in a wireless communication network, the method comprising:

receiving signaling, from a positioning node in the wireless communication network, that conveys muting configuration information indicating a muting configuration applied by the base station when transmitting positioning reference signals at recurring positioning occasions, wherein:

the muting configuration information comprises a muting occasion parameter indicating positioning occasions to which muting applies; and

each of the positioning occasions comprises two or more consecutive subframes and the positioning occasions recur at a pre-set periodicity;

receiving positioning reference signals from the base station for use in making positioning reference signal measurements, in accordance with the muting configuration; and

making the positioning reference signal measurements using the positioning reference signals received in accordance with the muting configuration.

18. A radio apparatus comprising:

control circuitry and receiver circuitry, wherein the control circuitry is configured to:

receive signaling, via the receiver circuitry and from a positioning node in a wireless communication network, that conveys muting configuration information indicating a muting configuration applied by a base station when transmitting positioning reference signals at recurring positioning occasions, wherein:

the muting configuration information comprises a muting occasion parameter indicating positioning occasions to which muting applies; and

each of the positioning occasions comprises two or more consecutive subframes and the positioning occasions recur at a pre-set periodicity;

receive positioning reference signals, via the receiver circuitry and from the base station, for use in making positioning reference signal measurements, in accordance with the muting configuration; and

make the positioning reference signal measurements using the positioning reference signals received in accordance with the muting configuration.