Determining timing offset for improved positioning accuracy
Disclosed is a method comprising selecting a reference point associated with a position of a terminal device ( 302 ), determining a timing offset associated with one or more first antenna panels ( 304 ), wherein the timing offset is determined based at least partly on the reference point, and applying the timing offset to the one or more first antenna panels ( 305 ).
1 . A user equipment comprising at least one processor, and at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the user equipment to:
select, by the user equipment, a reference point comprised in a second antenna panel and associated with a position of the user equipment;
determine, by the user equipment, a timing offset associated with one or more first antenna panels, wherein the timing offset is determined based at least partly on the reference point, the one or more first antenna panels and the second antenna panel, and wherein the user equipment comprises the one or more first antenna panels and the second antenna panel; and
apply, by the user equipment, the timing offset to the one or more first antenna panels.
2 . The user equipment according to claim 1 , wherein the user equipment is further caused to transmit at least one signal to one or more base stations via the one or more first antenna panels by using the timing offset.
3 . The user equipment according to claim 2 , wherein the at least one signal is a sounding reference signal for positioning.
4 . The user equipment according to claim 2 , wherein the timing offset is smaller than a cyclic prefix associated with the at least one signal.
5 . The user equipment according to claim 1 , wherein the user equipment is further caused to transmit a plurality of sounding reference signals for positioning via the one or more first antenna panels by using the timing offset, wherein each sounding reference signal for positioning is configured with a different spatial relation.
6 . The user equipment according to claim 1 , wherein the user equipment is further caused to report, to the one or more base stations and/or to a location management function, a capability to use the timing offset associated with the one or more first antenna panels.
7 . The user equipment according to claim 1 , wherein the timing offset is determined based at least partly on an orientation angle, one or more beam steering angles, a distance between the reference point and one of the one or more first antenna panels, and/or an estimated direction of the one or more base stations.
8 . The user equipment according to claim 1 , wherein the timing offset is determined by calculating d*|cos(α)|/c, wherein d is the distance between the reference point and one of the one or more first antenna panels, cos is a mathematical cosine function, α is a beam steering angle, and c is the velocity of light.
9 . The user equipment according to claim 1 , wherein the timing offset is applied, if the one or more beam steering angles are within the first pre-defined threshold.
10 . The user equipment according to claim 1 , wherein the timing offset is applied, if a difference between at least two of the beam steering angles is above or equal to a second pre-defined threshold, and if the orientation angle is below or equal to a third pre-defined threshold.
11 . The user equipment according to claim 1 , wherein the timing offset is applied to address a positioning error associated with a sounding reference signal for positioning transmission.
12 . The user equipment according to claim 1 , wherein the timing offset is determined based at least partly on a distance between the one or more first antenna panels and the second antenna panel.
13 . A system comprising at least a user equipment and one or more base stations;
wherein the user equipment is configured to:
select a reference point comprised in a second antenna panel and associated with a position of the user equipment;
determine a timing offset associated with one or more first antenna panels, wherein the timing offset is determined based at least partly on the reference point, the one or more first antenna panels and the second antenna panel, and wherein the user equipment comprises the one or more first antenna panels and the second antenna panel;
apply the timing offset to the one or more first antenna panels; and
transmit at least one signal to the one or more base stations via the one or more first antenna panels by using the timing offset; and
wherein the one or more base stations are configured to:
receive the at least one signal.
14 . The system according to claim 13 , wherein the system further comprises a location management function;
wherein the one or more base stations are further configured to:
measure an uplink timing associated with the received at least one signal; and
transmit the measured uplink timing to the location management function; and
wherein the location management function is configured to:
receive the measured uplink timing from the one or more base stations; and
estimate a position of the user equipment based at least partly on the measured uplink timing.
15 . A method comprising:
selecting, by a user equipment, a reference point comprised in a second antenna panel and associated with a position of the user equipment;
determining, by the user equipment, a timing offset associated with one or more first antenna panels, wherein the timing offset is determined based at least partly on the reference point, the one or more first antenna panels and the second antenna panel, and wherein the user equipment comprises the one or more first antenna panels and the second antenna panel; and
applying, by the user equipment, the timing offset to the one or more first antenna panels.
16 . The method according to claim 15 , wherein the method further comprises transmitting at least one signal to one or more base stations via the one or more first antenna panels by using the timing offset.
17 . The method according to claim 16 , wherein the at least one signal is a sounding reference signal for positioning.
18 . The method according to claim 15 , wherein the method further comprises transmitting a plurality of sounding reference signals for positioning via the one or more first antenna panels by using the timing offset, wherein each sounding reference signal for positioning is configured with a different spatial relation.
19 . The method according to claim 15 , wherein the method further comprises reporting, to the one or more base stations and/or to a location management function, a capability to use the timing offset associated with the one or more first antenna panels.
20 . The method according to claim 15 , wherein the timing offset is determined based at least partly on an orientation angle, one or more beam steering angles, a distance between the reference point and one of the one or more first antenna panels, and/or an estimated direction of the one or more base stations.
21 . A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising program instructions that, when executed by user equipment, cause the user equipment to perform at least the following:
select, by the user equipment, a reference point comprised in a second antenna panel and associated with a position of the user equipment;
determine, by the user equipment, a timing offset associated with one or more first antenna panels, wherein the timing offset is determined based at least partly on the reference point, the one or more first antenna panels and the second antenna panel, and wherein the user equipment comprises the one or more first antenna panels and the second antenna panel; and
apply, by the user equipment, the timing offset to the one or more first antenna panels.