Client device orientation estimation
According to an example embodiment, a client device is configured to receive a first positioning reference signal; identify an orientation of a polarisation of the first positioning reference signal based on the received first positioning reference signal; estimate an orientation of the client device based on at least the identified orientation of the polarisation of the first positioning reference signal; and provide the orientation estimate to a network node device, Devices, methods, and computer programs are disclosed.
1 . An apparatus comprising at least one processor, and at least one memory including computer program code, the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to:
receive a first positioning reference signal;
identify an orientation of a polarisation of the first positioning reference signal based on the received first positioning reference signal;
estimate an orientation of the apparatus based on at least the identified orientation of the polarisation of the first positioning reference signal; and
provide the orientation estimate to a network node device,
wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are further configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to:
receive a second positioning reference signal;
identify an orientation of a polarisation of the second positioning reference signal based on the received second positioning reference signal; and
estimate an orientation of the apparatus based on at least the identified orientations of the polarisations of the first positioning reference signal and of the second positioning reference signal.
2 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are further configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to:
obtain assistance data, wherein the assistance data comprises information about the first positioning reference signal; and
estimate the orientation of the apparatus based on at least the identified orientation of the polarisation of the first positioning reference signal and the assistance data.
3 . The apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the assistance data comprises at least one of:
angle of departure of the positioning reference signal;
antenna geometry used for transmission of the first positioning reference signal; or
antenna polarisation used for transmission of the first positioning reference signal.
4 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the orientation estimate comprises a relative orientation estimate in relation to the identified orientation of the polarisation of the first positioning reference signal.
5 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are further configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to:
perform the identifying the orientation of the polarisation of the first positioning reference signal and/or the estimating the orientation of the apparatus in response to receiving a request for orientation estimation.
6 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the first positioning reference signal is transmitted by a first network node device, and the second positioning reference signal is transmitted by a second network node device.
7 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are further configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to:
receive the first positioning reference signal and/or the second positioning reference signal using an orthogonal dual-polarised antenna.
8 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the first positioning reference signal and/or the second positioning reference signal is received via a line-of-sight path.
9 . A method comprising:
receiving a first positioning reference signal;
identifying an orientation of a polarisation of the first positioning reference signal based on the received first positioning reference signal;
estimating an orientation of a client device based on at least the identified orientation of the polarisation of the first positioning reference signal; and
providing the orientation estimate to a network node device,
further comprising:
receiving a second positioning reference signal;
identifying an orientation of a polarisation of the second positioning reference signal based on the received second positioning reference signal; and
estimating an orientation of the client device based on at least the identified orientations of the polarisations of the first positioning reference signal and of the second positioning reference signal.
10 . The method according to claim 9 , further comprising:
obtaining assistance data, wherein the assistance data comprises information about the first positioning reference signal; and
estimating the orientation of the client device based on at least the identified orientation of the polarisation of the first positioning reference signal and the assistance data.
11 . The method according to claim 10 , wherein the assistance data comprises at least one of:
angle of departure of the positioning reference signal;
antenna geometry used for transmission of the first positioning reference signal; or
antenna polarisation used for transmission of the first positioning reference signal.
12 . The method according to claim 9 , wherein the orientation estimate comprises a relative orientation estimate in relation to the identified orientation of the polarisation of the first positioning reference signal.
13 . The method according to claim 9 , further comprising:
performing the identifying the orientation of the polarisation of the first positioning reference signal and/or the estimating the orientation of the apparatus in response to receiving a request for orientation estimation.
14 . The method according to claim 9 , wherein the first positioning reference signal is transmitted by a first network node device, and the second positioning reference signal is transmitted by a second network node device.
15 . The method according to claim 9 , further comprising:
receiving the first positioning reference signal and/or the second positioning reference signal using an orthogonal dual-polarised antenna.
16 . The method according to claim 9 , wherein the first positioning reference signal and/or the second positioning reference signal is received via a line-of-sight path.