IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,487,311
Granted Patent B2
US 12,487,311 · App. 18/060,429 · Granted Dec 2, 2025

Backscatter-based positioning

Inventors: Xiaojie Wang (Hillsborough, NJ); Jing Sun (San Diego, CA); Xiaoxia Zhang (San Diego, CA); Junyi Li (Fairless Hills, PA)
Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
G01S5/0063H04L5/0051H04W24/08
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,487,311
App. No.
18/060,429
Granted
Dec 2, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

This disclosure provides systems, methods, and devices for wireless communication that support backscatter-based positioning. In a first aspect, a method of wireless communication includes transmitting a configuration signal that indicates a tag address of a tag device and a modulation scheme for generation of a backscatter signal. The method also includes transmitting a positioning reference signal (PRS) after transmission of the configuration signal. The method further includes receiving, from the tag device, a backscatter signal based on the modulation scheme and the PRS. Other aspects and features are also claimed and described.

Claims (110)

1 . A method of wireless communication performed by a network entity, the method comprising:

transmitting a configuration signal that indicates a tag address of a tag device and a modulation scheme for generation of a backscatter signal;

transmitting a positioning reference signal (PRS) after transmission of the configuration signal;

receiving, from the tag device, a backscatter signal based on the modulation scheme and the PRS;

correlating the backscatter signal and the PRS; and

determining a round trip time (RTT) based on correlating the backscatter signal and the PRS.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein

the tag address indicates a tag identifier of the tag device, a group identifier associated with the tag device, or a combination thereof.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein:

the modulation scheme indicates a phase scrambling parameter, an on/off pattern, or a combination thereof;

the on/off pattern indicates one or more transitions of the tag device from a first state to a second state or from the second state to the first state,

the first state corresponds to backscatter transmission state, and

the second state corresponds to an energy harvesting state.

4 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

selecting a period of the PRS, and

wherein:

the PRS includes timing information, a wideband sequence, is periodic, or a combination thereof; and

the wideband sequence includes a code-division multiple access-pseudo random (CDMA-PN) sequence.

5 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving tag capability information corresponding to the tag device; and

determining a tag processing delay period based on the tag capability, and

wherein transmitting the PRS after the transmission of the configuration signal includes transmitting the PRS after conclusion of the tag processing delay period.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the modulation scheme includes:

frequency shifting based on a frequency shift parameter,

phase scrambling based on a phase scrambling parameter,

modulation data, or

a combination thereof.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein:

the network entity is configured to operate in a full duplex mode, and

the network entity and the tag device are configured to operate asynchronously of one another.

8 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

monitoring a channel for the backscatter signal after transmitting the PRS, the channel monitored according to a monitoring window having a duration less than a duration of the PRS;

identifying interference in the channel, wherein the interference includes self-interference, environmental interference, or a combination thereof; and

updating the modulation scheme based on the interference to counteract the interference.

9 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

monitoring, during a detection time window, for the backscatter signal, and

wherein a duration of the time window is greater than a period of the PRS, and

wherein the detection time window is configured based on a period of the PRS.

10 . A network entity comprising:

at least one processor; and

a memory coupled to the at least one processor, the at least one processor configured to:

transmit a configuration signal that indicates a tag address of a tag device and a modulation scheme for generation of a backscatter signal;

transmit a positioning reference signal (PRS) after transmission of the configuration signal;

receive, from the tag device, a backscatter signal based on the modulation scheme and the PRS;

correlate the backscatter signal and the PRS; and

determine a round trip time (RTT) based on correlating the backscatter signal and the PRS.

11 . The network entity of claim 10 , wherein:

the tag address indicates a tag identifier of the tag device, a group identifier associated with the tag device, or a combination thereof.

12 . The network entity of claim 10 , wherein:

the modulation scheme indicates a phase scrambling parameter, an on/off pattern, or a combination thereof;

the on/off pattern indicates one or more transitions of the tag device from a first state to a second state or from the second state to the first state,

the first state corresponds to backscatter transmission state, and

the second state corresponds to an energy harvesting state.

13 . The network entity of claim 10 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:

select a period of the PRS, and

wherein:

the PRS includes timing information, a wideband sequence, is periodic, or a combination thereof; and

the wideband sequence includes a code-division multiple access-pseudo random (CDMA-PN) sequence.

14 . The network entity of claim 10 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:

receive tag capability information corresponding to the tag device; and

determine a tag processing delay period based on the tag capability, and

wherein the PRS is transmitted after the transmission of the configuration signal includes transmitting the PRS after conclusion of the tag processing delay period.

15 . The network entity of claim 10 , wherein the modulation scheme includes:

frequency shifting based on a frequency shift parameter,

phase scrambling based on a phase scrambling parameter,

modulation data, or

a combination thereof.

16 . The network entity of claim 10 , wherein:

the network entity is configured to operate in a full duplex mode, and

the network entity and the tag device are configured to operate asynchronously of one another.

17 . The network entity of claim 10 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:

monitor a channel for the backscatter signal after transmitting the PRS;

identify interference in the channel, wherein the interference includes self-interference, environmental interference, or a combination thereof; and

update the modulation scheme based on the interference to counteract the interference.

18 . The network entity of claim 10 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:

monitor, during a detection time window, for the backscatter signal, and

wherein a duration of the time window is greater than a period of the PRS, and

wherein the detection time window is configured based on a period of the PRS.

19 . A method of wireless communication performed by a tag device, the method comprising:

receiving a configuration signal that indicates a tag address of the tag device and a modulation scheme for generation of a backscatter signal;

configuring one or more components of the tag device based on the modulation scheme, wherein configuring the one or more components occurs during a tag processing delay period;

receiving a positioning reference signal (PRS) after receipt of the configuration signal; and

transmitting a backscatter signal based on the modulation scheme and the PRS, wherein transmitting the backscatter signal occurs after conclusion of the tag processing delay period.

20 . The method of claim 19 , wherein:

the configuration signal includes an energy signal; and

energy generated based on the energy signal is useable for powering one or more components of the tag device.

21 . The method of claim 19 , further comprising:

determining that the tag address included in the configuration signal indicates the tag device; and

generating the backscatter signal based on the modulation scheme in response to a determination that the tag address indicates the tag device.

22 . The method of claim 19 , further comprising:

modulating, based on the modulation scheme, the PRS with modulation data to generate the backscatter signal; and

processing the configuration signal during a tag processing delay period, and

wherein modulating the PRS with the modulation data occurs after conclusion of the tag processing delay period during a modulation time period.

23 . A tag device comprising:

at least one processor; and

a memory coupled to the at least one processor, the at least one processor configured to:

receive a configuration signal that indicates a tag address of the tag device and a modulation scheme for generation of a backscatter signal;

configure one or more components of the tag device based on the modulation scheme, wherein configuring the one or more components occurs during a tag processing delay period;

receive a positioning reference signal (PRS) after receipt of the configuration signal; and

transmit a backscatter signal based on the modulation scheme and the PRS, wherein the backscatter signal is transmitted after conclusion of the tag processing delay period.

24 . The tag device of claim 23 , wherein:

the configuration signal includes an energy signal; and

energy generated based on the energy signal is useable for powering one or more components of the tag device.

25 . The tag device of claim 23 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:

determine that the tag address included in the configuration signal indicates the tag device; and

generate the backscatter signal based on the modulation scheme in response to a determination that the tag address indicates the tag device.

26 . The tag device of claim 23 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:

modulate, based on the modulation scheme, the PRS with modulation data to generate the backscatter signal; and

process the configuration signal during a tag processing delay period, and

wherein the PRS is modulated with the modulation data after conclusion of the tag processing delay period during a modulation time period.

Assignments (2)
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE RECEIVING PARTY NAME/ASSIGNEE SHOULD READ AS QUALCOMM INCORPORATED PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 62272 FRAME 64. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT. Recorded Aug 26, 2025
From: WANG, XIAOJIE; SUN, JING; ZHANG, XIAOXIA; LI, JUNYI
To: QUALCOMM INCORPORATED
Reel/Frame 073057/0199 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 4, 2023
From: WANG, XIAOJIE; SUN, JING; ZHANG, XIAOXIA; LI, JUNYI
To: INCORPORATED, QUALCOMM
Reel/Frame 062272/0064 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20240175965A1 · May 30, 2024
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