System and method for phase noise-based signal design for positioning in a communication system

1. An apparatus in a communication system, comprising:

processing circuitry, configured to:

receive configuration parameters for a reference signal based on a level of phase noise for the reference signal estimated by a user equipment, the configuration parameters for the reference signal comprising a subcarrier spacing of the reference signal;

apply the configuration parameters to the reference signal to obtain a modified reference signal; and

transmit the modified reference signal to the user equipment to enable a position of the user equipment to be determined.

2. The apparatus as recited in claim 1 , wherein the processing circuitry is configured to:

receive a time of arrival estimate for the modified reference signal received by the user equipment; and

determine the position of the user equipment based on the time of arrival estimate.

3. A method of operating an apparatus in a communication system, the method comprising:

receiving configuration parameters for a reference signal based on a level of phase noise for the reference signal estimated by a user equipment, the configuration parameters for the reference signal comprising a subcarrier spacing of the reference signal;

applying the configuration parameters to the reference signal to obtain a modified reference signal; and

transmitting the modified reference signal to the user equipment to enable a position of the user equipment to be determined.

4. The method as recited in claim 3 , further comprising:

receiving a time of arrival estimate for the modified reference signal received by the user equipment; and

determining the position of said user equipment based on the time of arrival estimate.

5. An apparatus in a communication system, the apparatus comprising:

processing circuitry, configured to:

transmit a positioning request to a base station;

estimate a level of phase noise for a reference signal;

transmit said estimate of the level of phase noise to enable the base station to apply configuration parameters to the reference signal to obtain a modified reference signal, the configuration parameters being based on the estimate of the level of phase noise and the configuration parameters for the reference signal comprising a subcarrier spacing of the reference signal; and

receive the modified reference signal from the base station to enable a position of the apparatus to be determined.

6. The apparatus as recited in claim 5 , wherein the processing circuitry is configured to:

determine a time of arrival estimate for the modified reference signal received by said apparatus; and

determine the position of the apparatus based on the time of arrival estimate.

7. A method of operating an apparatus in a communication system, the method comprising:

transmitting a positioning request to a base station;

estimating a level of phase noise for a reference signal;

transmitting the estimate of the level of phase noise to enable the base station to apply configuration parameters to the reference signal to obtain a modified reference signal, the configuration parameters being based on the estimate of said level of phase noise and the configuration parameters for the reference signal comprising a subcarrier spacing of the reference signal; and

receiving the modified reference signal from the base station to enable a position of the apparatus to be determined.

8. The method as recited in claim 7 , further comprising:

determining a time of arrival estimate for the modified reference signal received by the apparatus; and

determining the position of said apparatus based on the time of arrival estimate.