Relative transmission point beam configuration information
Embodiments include methods, performed by a network node (or function), for providing positioning assistance data to one or more user equipment (UEs) in a wireless network. Such methods include determining relative beam configuration information for one or more transmission reception points (TRPs) in the wireless network based on absolute beam configuration information for one or more associated TRPs in the wireless network. Such methods also include transmitting, to one or more UEs, positioning assistance data including the relative beam configuration information for the one or more TRPs. Embodiments also include complementary methods performed by a UE, as well as network nodes (or functions) and UEs configured to perform such methods.
1 . A method, performed by a network node, for providing positioning assistance data to one or more user equipment (UEs) in a wireless network, the method comprising:
determining relative beam configuration information for one or more transmission reception points (TRPs) in the wireless network based on absolute beam configuration information for one or more associated TRPs in the wireless network, wherein the relative beam configuration information determined for the one or more TRPs includes respective identifiers of the one or more associated TRPs; and
transmitting, to one or more UEs, positioning assistance data including the relative beam configuration information determined for the one or more TRPs, wherein the positioning assistance data excludes fields for global coordinate system azimuth and elevation angles of beams transmitted by the one or more TRPs.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein for each of the associated TRPs, the absolute beam configuration information includes respective azimuth angles and respective elevation angles of one or more beams transmitted by the associated TRP.
3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the positioning assistance data also includes the absolute beam configuration information for the one or more associated TRPs.
4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein:
the relative beam configuration information includes a plurality of identifiers of respective associated TRPs; and
each of the plurality of identifiers corresponds to a different portion of the absolute beam configuration information.
5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein each identifier of an associated TRP indicates that absolute configuration information for the one or more TRPs is adopted from corresponding absolute configuration information for the identified associated TRP.
6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein for each particular TRP of the one or more TRPs, the relative beam configuration information also includes a representation of differences between one or more beam configuration parameters of the particular TRP and corresponding reference parameters of a particular associated TRP.
7 . The method of claim 6 , wherein for each particular TRP of the one or more TRPs:
the reference parameters of the particular associated TRP include respective azimuth angles and respective elevation angles of one or more beams transmitted by the particular associated TRP; and
the representation of the differences includes a coordinate translation to be applied to the respective azimuth angles and the respective elevation angles.
8 . The method of claim 6 , wherein for each particular TRP of the one or more TRPs:
the relative beam configuration information also includes identifiers of one or more beams transmitted by a particular associated TRP; and
the relative beam configuration information is only valid for the identified beams.
9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein:
the method further comprises selecting a relative configuration format, for the one or more TRPs, from among a plurality of available relative configuration formats;
determining the relative beam configuration information is based on the selected relative configuration format; and
the positioning assistance data includes an indicator of the selected relative configuration format.
10 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the plurality of available relative configuration formats include:
a referential format based on identifiers of one or more associated TRPs; and
a differential format based on identifiers of one or more associated TRPs and differences of one or more configuration parameters from corresponding reference parameters of the one or more associated TRPs.
11 . A method performed by user equipment (UE) for positioning in a wireless network, the method comprising:
receiving, from a network node, positioning assistance data including relative beam configuration information for one or more transmission reception points (TRPs) in the wireless network, wherein:
the relative beam configuration information for the one or more TRPs includes respective identifiers of one or more associated TRPs in the wireless network, and
the positioning assistance data excludes fields for global coordinate system azimuth and elevation angles of beams transmitted by the one or more TRPs;
determining absolute beam configuration information for the one or more TRPs based on the relative beam configuration information and absolute beam configuration information for the one or more associated TRPs, wherein the absolute beam configuration information determined for each of the one or more TRPs includes global coordinate system azimuth and elevation angles of at least one beam transmitted by the TRP; and
estimating the UE's position based on the determined absolute beam configuration information and on measurements of signals transmitted or received by the one or more TRPs.
12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein for each of the associated TRPs, the absolute beam configuration information includes respective azimuth angles and respective elevation angles of one or more beams transmitted by the associated TRP.
13 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the positioning assistance data also includes the absolute beam configuration information for the one or more associated TRPs.
14 . The method of claim 11 , wherein:
the relative beam configuration information includes a plurality of identifiers of respective associated TRPs; and
each of the plurality of identifiers corresponds to a different portion of the absolute beam configuration information.
15 . The method of claim 11 , wherein:
each identifier of an associated TRP indicates that absolute configuration information for the one or more TRPs is adopted from corresponding absolute configuration information for the identified associated TRP; and
determining the absolute beam configuration information for the one or more TRPs comprises selecting the corresponding absolute beam configuration information for each identified associated TRP.
16 . The method of claim 11 , wherein for each particular TRP of the one or more TRPs, the relative beam configuration information also includes a representation of differences between one or more beam configuration parameters of the particular TRP and corresponding reference parameters of a particular associated TRP.
17 . The method of claim 16 , wherein for each particular TRP of the one or more TRPs:
the reference parameters of the particular associated TRP include respective azimuth angles and respective elevation angles of one or more beams transmitted by the particular associated TRP; and
the representation of the differences includes a coordinate translation for the respective azimuth angles and the respective elevation angles.
18 . The method of claim 17 , wherein for each particular TRP of the one or more TRPs, determining the absolute beam configuration information comprises applying the coordinate translation to the respective azimuth and elevation angles of the one or more beams transmitted by the particular associated TRP to obtain respective azimuth and elevation angles of one or more beams transmitted by the particular TRP.
19 . The method of claim 16 , wherein for each particular TRP of the one or more TRPs:
the relative beam configuration information also includes identifiers of one or more beams transmitted by a particular associated TRP; and
the relative beam configuration information is only valid for the identified beams.
20 . The method of claim 11 , wherein:
the positioning assistance data also includes an indicator of a relative configuration format for the relative beam configuration information; and
determining the absolute beam configuration information is based on the indicated relative configuration format.
21 . A network node configured to provide positioning assistance data to one or more user equipment (UEs) in a wireless network, the network node comprising:
communication interface circuitry configured to communicate with the one or more UEs via the wireless network; and
processing circuitry operatively coupled to the communication interface circuitry, whereby the processing circuitry and the communication interface circuitry are configured to:
determine relative beam configuration information for one or more transmission reception points (TRPs) in the wireless network based on absolute beam configuration information for one or more associated TRPs in the wireless network, wherein the relative beam configuration information determined for the one or more TRPs includes respective identifiers of the one or more associated TRPs; and
transmit, to one or more UEs, positioning assistance data including the relative beam configuration information determined for the one or more TRPs, wherein the positioning assistance data excludes fields for global coordinate system azimuth and elevation angles of beams transmitted by the one or more TRPs.
22 . The network node of claim 21 , wherein one or more of the following applies:
the positioning assistance data also includes the absolute beam configuration information for the one or more associated TRPs; and
for each of the associated TRPs, the absolute beam configuration information includes respective azimuth angles and respective elevation angles of one or more beams transmitted by the associated TRP.
23 . A user equipment (UE) configured for positioning in a wireless network, the UE comprising:
radio transceiver circuitry configured to communicate with a network node via the wireless network; and
processing circuitry operatively coupled to the radio transceiver circuitry, whereby the processing circuitry and the radio transceiver circuitry are configured to:
receiving, from a network node, positioning assistance data including relative beam configuration information for one or more transmission reception points (TRPs) in the wireless network, wherein:
the relative beam configuration information for the one or more TRPs includes respective identifiers of one or more associated TRPs in the wireless network, and
the positioning assistance data excludes fields for global coordinate system azimuth and elevation angles of beams transmitted by the one or more TRPs;
determining absolute beam configuration information for the one or more TRPs based on the relative beam configuration information and absolute beam configuration information for the one or more associated TRPs, wherein the absolute beam configuration information determined for each of the one or more TRPs includes global coordinate system azimuth and elevation angles of at least one beam transmitted by the TRP; and
estimating the UE's position based on the determined absolute beam configuration information and on measurements of signals transmitted or received by the one or more TRPs.
24 . The UE of claim 23 , wherein one or more of the following applies:
the positioning assistance data also includes the absolute beam configuration information for the one or more associated TRPs; and
for each of the associated TRPs, the absolute beam configuration information includes respective azimuth angles and respective elevation angles of one or more beams transmitted by the associated TRP.