IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,659,915
Granted Patent B2
US 12,659,915 · App. 18/548,705 · Granted Jun 16, 2026

Configuration framework and positioning reference signal (PRS) association mechanisms and triggering for reconfigurable intelligent surface (RIS)-aided positioning and object sensing

Inventors: Alexandros Manolakos (Escondido, CA); Weimin Duan (San Diego, CA); Krishna Kiran Mukkavilli (San Diego, CA); Tingfang Ji (San Diego, CA); Naga Bhushan (San Diego, CA)
Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
H04W64/00H04B7/04013H04L5/0051H04W72/231H04W76/20
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,659,915
App. No.
18/548,705
Granted
Jun 16, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

Disclosed are techniques for wireless positioning. In an aspect, a user equipment (UE) engages in a positioning session or a sensing session and receives, from a network entity, assistance data for at least one positioning reference signal (PRS) resource transmitted by a transmission point, the assistance data including a PRS resource location field indicating a geographic location of the transmission point, the assistance data further including reflection point object (RPO) information for at least one RPO that is capable of reflecting a waveform associated with the at least one PRS resource, the RPO information including at least location information for the at least one RPO.

Claims (76)

1 . A method of wireless positioning performed by a user equipment (UE), comprising:

engaging in a positioning session or a sensing session; and

receiving, from a network entity, assistance data for at least one positioning reference signal (PRS) resource transmitted by a transmission point, the assistance data including a PRS resource location field indicating a geographic location of the transmission point, the assistance data further including reflection point object (RPO) information for at least one RPO that is capable of reflecting a waveform associated with the at least one PRS resource, the RPO information including at least location information for the at least one RPO, wherein the RPO information further includes an RPO identifier, and the PRS resource location field includes the geographic location of the transmission point and the RPO identifier, and wherein the RPO information further includes a frequency band, a frequency range, or both in which the at least one RPO operates.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein a direction of reflections from the at least one RPO is controllable.

3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the at least one RPO is a reconfigurable intelligent surface (RIS) connected to a wireless access network to which the network entity belongs.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein a direction of reflections from the at least one RPO is not controllable.

5 . The method of claim 4 , wherein the at least one RPO is an RIS not connected to a wireless access network to which the network entity belongs, a mirror, glass, metal, or other reflective object.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the location information for the at least one RPO is a geographic location of the at least one RPO.

7 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving the RPO information in broadcast information from a base station.

8 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the broadcast information comprises a positioning system information block (PosSIB).

9 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving the RPO information in unicast information from a serving base station.

10 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

transmitting a request to the network entity for the RPO information.

11 . The method of claim 1 , wherein:

the RPO is an RIS, and

the RIS is associated with a plurality of RPO identifiers, each of the plurality of RPO identifiers associated with a different direction of reflection from the RIS.

12 . The method of claim 1 , wherein:

the RPO is an RIS, and

the RIS is associated with a single RPO identifier and a plurality of RPO beam identifiers, each of the plurality of RPO beam identifiers associated with a different direction of reflection from the RIS.

13 . The method of claim 1 , wherein an association of an RPO identifier of the at least one RPO to the at least one PRS resource is configured statically.

14 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the association of the RPO identifier of the at least one RPO to the at least one PRS resource being configured statically comprises the assistance data being received via a Long-Term Evolution (LTE) positioning protocol (LPP) Provide Assistance Data message.

15 . The method of claim 1 , wherein an association of an RPO identifier of the at least one RPO to the at least one PRS resource is configured semi-statically.

16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the association of the RPO identifier of the at least one RPO to the at least one PRS resource being configured semi-statically comprises the assistance data being received via radio resource control (RRC), LPP, or both signaling.

17 . The method of claim 1 , wherein an association of an RPO identifier of the at least one RPO to the at least one PRS resource is configured dynamically.

18 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the association of the RPO identifier of the at least one RPO to the at least one PRS resource being configured dynamically comprises the assistance data being received via medium access control control element (MAC-CE), downlink control information (DCI), or both.

19 . A method of wireless positioning performed by a user equipment (UE), comprising:

engaging in a positioning session or a sensing session; and

receiving, from a network entity, assistance data for at least one positioning reference signal (PRS) resource transmitted by a transmission point, the assistance data including a PRS resource location field indicating a geographic location of the transmission point, the assistance data further including reflection point object (RPO) information for at least one RPO that is capable of reflecting a waveform associated with the at least one PRS resource, the RPO information including at least location information for the at least one RPO,

wherein:

a geographic location of the at least one RPO is not known to the network entity, and

the location information for the at least one RPO is an estimated location of the at least one RPO.

20 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the PRS resource location field includes the geographic location of the transmission point and the location information for the at least one RPO.

21 . A method of wireless positioning performed by a network entity, comprising:

engaging in a positioning session or a sensing session with a user equipment (UE);

determining reflection point object (RPO) information for at least one RPO that is capable of reflecting a waveform, the RPO information including at least location information for the at least one RPO, wherein the RPO information further includes an RPO identifier, and wherein the RPO information further includes a frequency band, a frequency range, or both in which the at least one RPO operates; and

transmitting the RPO information to the UE.

22 . The method of claim 21 , wherein the at least one RPO is a reconfigurable intelligent surface (RIS) connected to a wireless access network to which the network entity belongs.

23 . The method of claim 21 , wherein the at least one RPO is an RIS not connected to a wireless access network to which the network entity belongs, a mirror, glass, metal, or other reflective object.

24 . The method of claim 21 , wherein the location information for the at least one RPO is a geographic location of the at least one RPO.

25 . The method of claim 21 , wherein:

a geographic location of the at least one RPO is not known to the network entity, and

the location information for the at least one RPO is an estimated location of the at least one RPO.

26 . A user equipment (UE), comprising:

a memory;

at least one transceiver; and

at least one processor communicatively coupled to the memory and the at least one transceiver, the at least one processor configured to:

engage in a positioning session or a sensing session; and

receive, via the at least one transceiver, from a network entity, assistance data for at least one positioning reference signal (PRS) resource transmitted by a transmission point, the assistance data including a PRS resource location field indicating a geographic location of the transmission point, the assistance data further including reflection point object (RPO) information for at least one RPO that is capable of reflecting a waveform associated with the at least one PRS resource, the RPO information including at least location information for the at least one RPO, wherein the RPO information further includes an RPO identifier, and the PRS resource location field includes the geographic location of the transmission point and the RPO identifier, and wherein the RPO information further includes a frequency band, a frequency range, or both in which the at least one RPO operates.

27 . The UE of claim 26 , wherein a direction of reflections from the at least one RPO is controllable.

28 . The UE of claim 26 , wherein a direction of reflections from the at least one RPO is not controllable.

29 . The UE of claim 26 , wherein the location information for the at least one RPO is a geographic location of the at least one RPO.

30 . The UE of claim 26 , wherein the PRS resource location field includes the geographic location of the transmission point and the location information for the at least one RPO.

31 . A user equipment (UE), comprising:

a memory;

at least one transceiver; and

at least one processor communicatively coupled to the memory and the at least one transceiver, the at least one processor configured to:

engage in a positioning session or a sensing session; and

receive, via the at least one transceiver, from a network entity, assistance data for at least one positioning reference signal (PRS) resource transmitted by a transmission point, the assistance data including a PRS resource location field indicating a geographic location of the transmission point, the assistance data further including reflection point object (RPO) information for at least one RPO that is capable of reflecting a waveform associated with the at least one PRS resource, the RPO information including at least location information for the at least one RPO,

wherein:

a geographic location of the at least one RPO is not known to the network entity, and

the location information for the at least one RPO is an estimated location of the at least one RPO.

32 . A network entity, comprising:

a memory;

at least one transceiver; and

at least one processor communicatively coupled to the memory and the at least one transceiver, the at least one processor configured to:

engage in a positioning session or a sensing session with a user equipment (UE);

determine reflection point object (RPO) information for at least one RPO that is capable of reflecting a waveform, the RPO information including at least location information for the at least one RPO, wherein the RPO information further includes an RPO identifier, and wherein the RPO information further includes a frequency band, a frequency range, or both in which the at least one RPO operates; and

cause the at least one transceiver to transmit the RPO information to the UE.

33 . The network entity of claim 32 , wherein the at least one RPO is a reconfigurable intelligent surface (RIS) connected to a wireless access network to which the network entity belongs.

34 . The network entity of claim 32 , wherein the at least one RPO is an RIS not connected to a wireless access network to which the network entity belongs, a mirror, glass, metal, or other reflective object.

35 . The network entity of claim 32 , wherein the location information for the at least one RPO is a geographic location of the at least one RPO.

36 . The network entity of claim 32 , wherein:

a geographic location of the at least one RPO is not known to the network entity, and

the location information for the at least one RPO is an estimated location of the at least one RPO.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 8, 2023
From: MANOLAKOS, ALEXANDROS; DUAN, WEIMIN; MUKKAVILLI, KRISHNA KIRAN; JI, TINGFANG; BHUSHAN, NAGA
To: QUALCOMM INCORPORATED
Reel/Frame 064845/0234 →
Priority Claims (1)
GR 20210100241 · Apr 8, 2021 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20240179669A1 · May 30, 2024
References Cited (19)
US 5689812A · Takahashi · 1997 [cited by examiner]
US 7072612B2 · Soliman · 2006 [cited by applicant]
US 20220014877A1 · Stare · 2022 [cited by examiner]
US 20220113365A1 · Sosnin · 2022 [cited by examiner]
US 20220247480A1 · Papadopoulos · 2022 [cited by examiner]
US 20230048739A1 · Bengtsson · 2023 [cited by examiner]
US 20230258759A1 · Wang · 2023 [cited by examiner]
US 20230421209A1 · Jiang · 2023 [cited by examiner]
US 20240039608A1 · Wang · 2024 [cited by examiner]
JP 2005323392A · 2005 [cited by applicant]
JP 2008193525A · 2008 [cited by applicant]
JP 2011153997A · 2011 [cited by applicant]
JP 2012068070A · 2012 [cited by applicant]
JP 2014527737A · 2014 [cited by applicant]
WO WO2004079387A2 · 2004 [cited by applicant]
WO 2020096506A1 · 2020 [cited by applicant]
WO 2021029997A1 · 2021 [cited by applicant]
Fraunhofer IIS., et al., “RSRP based Positioning with Assistance Data Exchange”, 3GPP TSG RAN WG2 Meeting #106, R2-1907144 RSRP_Based_Positioning, 3rd Generation Partnership Project, Mobile Competence Centre, 650, Route… [cited by applicant]
International Search Report and Written Opinion—PCT/US2022/014365—ISA/EPO—Jun. 9, 2022. [cited by applicant]