Base station, wireless communications network and methods for operating the same

Abstract

A base station is configured to control a wireless communication network cell of a wireless communication network and is configured to use a coarse position information related to a coarse position of a user equipment to determine a direction towards the user equipment. The base station is configured to transmit a positioning signal to the user equipment and to direct the transmission of the positioning signal towards the user equipment. The positioning signal is adapted to allow for a determining of a fine position information relating to the user equipment.

The invention claimed is: 
     
         1 . A base station configured to control a wireless communications network cell of a wireless communications network, the base station comprising:
 a wireless interface for transmitting and/or receiving wireless signals;   wherein the base station is configured to use a coarse position information related to a coarse position of an a user equipment to determine a direction towards the user equipment;   wherein the base station is configured to transmit a positioning signal to the user equipment and to direct the transmission of the positioning signal towards the user equipment;   wherein the positioning signal is adapted to allow for a determining of a fine position information relating to the user equipment; and   wherein the base station is configured to receive a response signal from the user equipment, the response signal comprising data related to the positioning signal and indicating a parameter of reception of the positioning signal, and determine the fine position information using the parameter of reception, wherein the base station is configured to repeat determining of the a position of the user equipment in subsequent steps, wherein the base station is configured to use the fine position information of the user equipment determined in a first step as the coarse position information in a second step following the first step; and wherein the base station is configured to direct the positioning signal using a beamforming technique, and wherein the base station is configured to reduce a width of a second beam used in the second step when compared to a width of a first beam used in the first step; or   wherein the fine position information is more accurate when compared to the coarse position information by at least 5%.   
     
     
         2 . The base station according to  claim 1 , wherein the positioning signal is adapted to allow for a determination of the fine position information based on data related to the positioning signal, the data indicating a parameter of reception of the positioning signal. 
     
     
         3 . The base station according to  claim 1 , wherein the base station is configured to receive athe response signal from the user equipment, the response signal comprising data related to the positioning signal and indicating a parameter of reception of the positioning signal; and
 wherein the base station is configured to provide the parameter of reception of the sequence to a calculator for determining the fine position information.   
     
     
         4 . The base station according to  claim 3 , wherein the base station comprises the controllercalculator. 
     
     
         5 . The base station according to  claim 2 , wherein the parameter of reception is related to at least one of a time of arrival, a time difference of arrival and a direction of arrival. 
     
     
         6 . The base station according to  claim 1 , wherein the base station is configured to direct the transmission of the positioning signal using a beamforming technique. 
     
     
         7 . The base station according to  claim 1 , wherein the base station is configured to transmit the positioning signal in a shared channel of the wireless communications network cell. 
     
     
         8 . The base station according to  claim 1 , wherein the base station is configured to determine a direction of arrival based on a signal received from the user equipment and wherein the base station is configured to determine the coarse position information of the first step based the direction of arrival. 
     
     
         9 . The base station according to  claim 1 , wherein the base station is configured to receive the coarse position information of the first step from a location server of the wireless communications network or from a further base station. 
     
     
         10 . The base station according to  claim 1 , wherein the base station is configured to receive a signal from the user equipment comprising a position information, wherein the base station is configured to use the received position information as the coarse position information of the first step. 
     
     
         11 . The base station according to  claim 1 , wherein the user equipment is a first user equipment and wherein the base station is configured to exclude a direction towards a second user equipment or towards a further base station from the direction of the positioning signal. 
     
     
         12 . The base station according to  claim 1 , wherein, to direct the transmission of the positioning signal towards the user equipment, the base station is configured to obtain information related to at least a first direction of arrival of a first path and a second direction of arrival of a second path between the base station and the user equipment and to transmit the positioning signal along the first direction and along the second direction. 
     
     
         13 . The base station according to  claim 1 , wherein the base station is configured to receive a control information from the user equipment and to direct the transmission of the positioning signal towards the user equipment responsive to the control information so as to implement a first transmission pattern, wherein the base station is configured to transmit the positioning signal according to a second transmission pattern in absence of the control information. 
     
     
         14 . The base station according to  claim 1 , wherein the user equipment is associated to a further base station of the wireless communications network, and wherein the base station is configured to receive the coarse position information from a location server of the wireless communications network or from the further base station. 
     
     
         15 . The base station according to  claim 1 , wherein the user equipment is a first user equipment and wherein the positioning signal is a first positioning signal, wherein the base station is configured to transmit the first positioning signal so as to comprise a first sequence of a plurality of predetermined sequences for positioning signals, wherein the base station is configured to transmit a second positioning signal comprising a second sequence of the plurality of sequences in a direction of a second user equipment whilst not transmitting the second positioning signal into a direction of the first user equipment. 
     
     
         16 . The base station according to  claim 1 , wherein the sequence comprises a Positioning Reference Signal or is a Positioning Reference Signal. 
     
     
         17 . The base station according to  claim 1 , wherein the wireless communications network is an LTE network. 
     
     
         18 . The base station according to  claim 1 , wherein the base station is configured to determine a Line of Sight path between the user equipment and the base station, wherein the base station is configured to transmit the positioning signal along the direction of the Line of Sight path whilst excluding a direction of a Non-Line of Sight path. 
     
     
         19 . A wireless communications network comprising:
 a user equipment;   a first base station according to  claim 1  and configured to control a first wireless communications network cell of the wireless communications network and configured to transmit a first positioning signal to the user equipment and to direct the transmission of the first positioning signal towards the user equipment; wherein the first positioning signal is adapted to allow for a determining of a fine position information relating to the user equipment, the wireless communications network comprising a second base station according to  claim 1 , wherein the first base station is configured to transmit a first positioning signal and wherein the second base station is configured to transmit a second positioning signal configured to control a second wireless communications network cell of the wireless communications network; wherein the second base station is configured to use a coarse position information related to a coarse position of the user equipment to determine a direction towards the user equipment; wherein the second base station is configured to transmit a second positioning signal to the user equipment and to direct the transmission of the second positioning signal towards the user equipment; wherein the second positioning signal is adapted to allow for a determining of a fine position information relating to the user equipment;,   a user equipment;   wherein the first base station and second base station are configured to coordinately use a beamforming technique for transmitting the first positioning signal with the first base station and the second positioning signal with the second base station; and   wherein the user equipment is a first user equipment, wherein the wireless communications network comprises a second user equipment and wherein the first base station is configured to transmit a third positioning signal so as to comprise the a first sequence of the plurality of sequences and not the a second sequence into a direction of the second user equipment; or   wherein the first base station is configured to transmit the first positioning signal so as to comprise a the first sequence of a plurality of predetermined sequences for position signals into a direction of the user equipment, and wherein the second base station is configured to transmit the second positioning signal so as to comprise the first sequence into a direction of the user equipment and wherein the first base station is configured to transmit the first positioning signal to the user equipment during a first time interval and not during a second time interval following the first time interval, wherein the second base station is configured to transmit the second positioning signal to the user equipment during the second time interval and not during the first time interval.   
     
     
         20 . The wireless communications network according to  claim 19 , wherein the first base station is configured to transmit the first positioning signal so as to comprise a first sequence of a plurality of predetermined sequences for position signals into a direction of the user equipment, and wherein the second base station is configured to transmit the second positioning signal so as to comprise the second sequence into a direction of the user equipment. 
     
     
         21 . The wireless communications network according to  claim 20 , wherein the first base station is configured to transmit the first positioning signal to the user equipment during a first time interval and not during a second time interval following the first time interval, wherein the second base station is configured to transmit the second positioning signal to the user equipment during the second time interval and not during the first time interval. 
     
     
         22 . A method for operating a base station controlling a wireless communications network cell of a wireless communications network, the method comprising:
 using a coarse position information related to a coarse position of an user equipment to determine a direction towards the user equipment;   transmitting a positioning signal to the user equipment, the positioning signal adapted to allow for a determining of a fine position information relating to the user equipment, and directing the transmission of the positioning signal towards the user equipment for determining a fine position information relating to the user equipment;   such that the base station receives a response signal from the user equipment, the response signal comprising data related to the positioning signal and indicating a parameter of reception of the positioning signal, and determining the fine position information using the parameter of reception, such that the base station repeats determining of the a position of the user equipment in subsequent steps, such that the base station uses the fine position information of the user equipment determined in a first step as the coarse position information in a second step following the first step; and such that the base station directs the positioning signal using a beamforming technique, and such that the base station reduces a width of a second beam used in the second step when compared to a width of a first beam used in the first step; or   such that the fine position information is more accurate when compared to the coarse position information by at least 5%.   
     
     
         23 . A method for operating a wireless communications network comprising:
 operating a user equipment in the wireless communications network;   operating a first base station according to  claim 1  to control a first wireless communications network cell of the wireless communications network; such that the first base station uses a coarse position information related to a coarse position of the user equipment to determine a direction towards the user equipment; such that the first base station transmits a first positioning signal to the user equipment and directs the transmission of the first positioning signal towards the user equipment; such that the first positioning signal is adapted to allow for a determining of a fine position information relating to the user equipment and operating a second base station according to  claim 1  to control a second wireless communications network cell of the wireless communications network; such that the second base station uses the coarse position information related to the coarse position of the user equipment to determine a direction towards the user equipment; such that the second base station transmits a second positioning signal to the user equipment and directs the transmission of the second positioning signal towards the user equipment; such that the second positioning signal is adapted to allow for a determining of a fine position information relating to the user equipment the first and second base station operated so as to coordinately using a beamforming technique for transmitting the first and second positioning signal;   such that the user equipment is a first user equipment, wherein the wireless communications network comprises a second user equipment and such that the first base station transmits a third positioning signal so as to comprise the first sequence of the plurality of sequences and not the second sequence into a direction of the second user equipment; or   such that the first base station transmits the first positioning signal so as to comprise a first sequence of a plurality of predetermined sequences for position signals into a direction of the user equipment, and such that the second base station transmits the second positioning signal so as to comprise the first sequence into a direction of the user equipment and such that the first base station transmits the first positioning signal to the user equipment during a first time interval and not during a second time interval following the first time interval, such that the second base station transmits the second positioning signal to the user equipment during the second time interval and not during the first time interval; or   such that the user equipment is a first user equipment, wherein the wireless communications network comprises a second user equipment and such that the first base station transmits a third positioning signal so as to comprise the first sequence of the plurality of sequences and not the second sequence into a direction of the second user equipment.   
     
     
         24 . A non-transitory digital storage medium having a computer program stored thereon to perform the method for operating a base station controlling a wireless communications network cell of a wireless communications network, the method comprising:
 using a coarse position information related to a coarse position of an a user equipment to determine a direction towards the user equipment;   transmitting a positioning signal to the user equipment, the positioning signal adapted to allow for a determining of a fine position information relating to the user equipment, and directing the transmission of the positioning signal towards the user equipment for determining a fine position information relating to the user equipment,   such that the base station receives a response signal from the user equipment, the response signal comprising data related to the positioning signal and indicating a parameter of reception of the positioning signal, and determining the fine position information using the parameter of reception, such that the base station repeats determining of the a position of the user equipment in subsequent steps, such that the base station uses the fine position information of the user equipment determined in a first step as the coarse position information in a second step following the first step; and such that the base station directs the positioning signal using a beamforming technique, and such that the base station reduces a width of a second beam used in the second step when compared to a width of a first beam used in the first step; or   such that the fine position information is more accurate when compared to the coarse position information by at least 5%,   when said computer program is run by a computer.   
     
     
         25 . A non-transitory digital storage medium having a computer program stored thereon to perform the method for operating a wireless communications network comprising:
 operating a user equipment in the wireless communications network;   operating a first base station according to  claim 1  and operating a second base station according to  claim 1  so as to coordinately using a beamforming technique for transmitting the first and second positioning signal operating a first base station to control a first wireless communications network cell of the wireless communications network; such that the first base station uses a coarse position information related to a coarse position of the user equipment to determine a direction towards the user equipment; such that the first base station transmits a first positioning signal to the user equipment and directs the transmission of the first positioning signal towards the user equipment; such that the first positioning signal is adapted to allow for a determining of a fine position information relating to the user equipment and operating a second base station to control a second wireless communications network cell of the wireless communications network; such that the second base station uses the coarse position information related to the coarse position of the user equipment to determine a direction towards the user equipment; such that the second base station transmits a second positioning signal to the user equipment and directs the transmission of the second positioning signal towards the user equipment; such that the second positioning signal is adapted to allow for a determining of a fine position information relating to the user equipment the first and second base station operated so as to coordinately using a beamforming technique for transmitting the first and second positioning signal,   such that the user equipment is a first user equipment, wherein the wireless communications network comprises a second user equipment and such that the first base station transmits a third positioning signal so as to comprise the first sequence of the plurality of sequences and not the second sequence into a direction of the second user equipment; or   such that the first base station transmits the first positioning signal so as to comprise a first sequence of a plurality of predetermined sequences for position signals into a direction of the user equipment, and such that the second base station transmits the second positioning signal so as to comprise the first sequence into a direction of the user equipment and such that the first base station transmits the first positioning signal to the user equipment during a first time interval and not during a second time interval following the first time interval, such that the second base station transmits the second positioning signal to the user equipment during the second time interval and not during the first time interval,or   such that the user equipment is a first user equipment, wherein the wireless communications network comprises a second user equipment and such that the first base station transmits a third positioning signal so as to comprise the first sequence of the plurality of sequences and not the second sequence into a direction of the second user equipment,   when said computer program is run by a computer.   
     
     
       26. A user equipment, UE, comprising:
 a wireless interface for transmitting and/or receiving wireless signals;   wherein the UE is configured for operating in a wireless communication network in a positioning procedure;   wherein the UE is configured for:   receiving a positioning signal and determining a parameter of reception of the positioning signal, wherein the parameter of reception comprises:   a direction-of-arrival, DoA, of path components of an effective beam formed channel for transmitting the positioning signal for the positioning procedure; and   transmitting a response signal indicating information indicating the parameter of reception for a positioning of the UE   wherein the UE is configured for receiving the positioning signal as a first positioning signal and for determining the parameter of reception of the first positioning signal for a first step of the positioning procedure; and for receiving; for a later second step of the positioning procedure, a second positioning signal and for determining the parameter of reception of the second positioning signal; wherein the UE is configured for receiving the second positioning signal from a second beam that comprises a reduced width when compared to a width of a first beam used in the first step; or wherein the second beam is positioned more accurately when compared to the first beam by at least 5%.   
     
     
       27. The user equipment, UE, of  claim 26 , wherein the UE is configured for:
 receiving the positioning signal from a base station and determining a parameter of reception of the positioning signal;   transmitting the response signal to the base station, the response signal indicating information indicating the parameter of reception.   
     
     
       28. The user equipment, UE, of  claim 26 , wherein the UE is configured for:
 receiving the positioning signal from a base station and determining a parameter of reception of the positioning signal;   transmitting the response signal for a network node different from the base station and for the positioning procedure, the response signal indicating information indicating the parameter of reception.   
     
     
       29. The user equipment, UE, of  claim 26 , wherein the UE is to request the wireless communication network to determine its position; and
 to receive the positioning signal based thereon; wherein the UE is to determine the parameter of reception of the positioning signal.   
     
     
       30. The user equipment, UE, of  claim 26 , wherein the UE is to receive the positioning signal and to determine the parameter of reception of the positioning signal, wherein the UE is configured for transmitting the response signal indicating information indicating the parameter of reception for a positioning of the UE as a signal being transparent for a receiving node. 
     
     
       31. The user equipment, UE, of  claim 30 , wherein the UE is to receive the positioning signal via a Line-of-Sight-Path and not via a non-Line-of-Sight path. 
     
     
       32. The user equipment, UE, of  claim 30 , wherein the UE is to receive, for determination of a fine position, a signal that is received from at least three different base stations. 
     
     
       33. The user equipment, UE, of  claim 26 , wherein the UE is configured for:
 receiving the positioning signal and determining parameters of reception of the positioning signal, wherein the parameter of reception comprises:   an observed time difference of arrival, OTDoA, between the arrivals of different positioning signals received in a same frequency range; and   transmitting the response signal indicating information indicating the parameter of reception for a positioning of the UE.   
     
     
       34. The user equipment, UE, of  claim 26 , wherein the UE is configured for:
 receiving the positioning signal and determining parameters of reception of the positioning signal, wherein the parameter of reception comprises:   a time of arrival, ToA, and/or time difference of arrival, TDoA, for positioning signals from different base stations; and   transmitting the response signal indicating information indicating the parameter of reception for a positioning of the UE.   
     
     
       35. The user equipment, UE, of  claim 26 ,
 wherein the parameter of reception comprises:   a parameter related to a quality or a loss along a path of a multitude of line-of-sight/non-line-of-sight-paths between the user equipment and a base station.   
     
     
       36. The user equipment, UE, of  claim 26 , being configured for receiving, for a determination of a fine position, the plurality of positioning signals comprising the positioning signal; wherein the UE is to determine a parameter of reception for each of the plurality of positioning signals and to report the parameter of reception. 
     
     
       37. The user equipment, UE, of  claim 36 , wherein each of the plurality of positioning signals is a different sequence out of a pool of sequences. 
     
     
       38. Wireless communications network comprising:
 a user equipment;   a base station configured to control a wireless mobile communications network cell of a wireless mobile communications network;   wherein the base station is configured to use a coarse position information related to a coarse position of the user equipment, UE, to determine a direction towards the UE, characterized in that:   the base station being configured to transmit a positioning signal to the UE and to direct the transmission of the positioning signal towards the UE;   wherein the positioning signal is adapted to allow for a determining of a fine position information relating to the user equipment UE;   wherein the UE is configured for transmitting a response signal to a network node of the wireless mobile communications network; the response signal indicating information indicating a parameter of reception;   wherein the network node is configured to receive the response signal from the user equipment,   wherein a calculator of the wireless mobile communications network is adapted to determine the fine position information using the parameter of reception, wherein the calculator is configured to repeat determining of a position of the UE in subsequent steps, wherein the calculator is configured to use the fine position information of the UE determined in a first step as coarse position information in a second step following the first step.   
     
     
       39. The wireless communications network of  claim 38 , adapted to provide the position of the UE and/or a direction towards the UE to a network node of the wireless communications network. 
     
     
       40. A base station configured to control a wireless communications network cell of a wireless communications network; the base station comprising:
 a wireless interface for transmitting and/or receiving wireless signals;   wherein the base station is configured to use a coarse position information related to a coarse position of a user equipment to determine a direction towards the user equipment;   wherein the base station is configured to transmit a positioning signal to the user equipment and to direct the transmission of the positioning signal towards the user equipment, using a technique that allows for transmitting the positioning signal into a first direction with a first, higher signal power when compared to a second direction into which the positioning signal is transmitted with a lower signal power;   wherein the positioning signal is adapted to allow for a determining of a fine position information relating to the user equipment;   wherein the base station is configured to receive a response signal from the user equipment, the response signal comprising data related to the positioning signal and indicating a parameter of reception of the positioning signal,   and providing the parameter of reception to a calculator of the wireless communication network for determining the fine position information using the parameter of reception, wherein the base station is configured to repeat transmitting the positioning signals for determining of a position of the user equipment in subsequent steps, wherein the base station is configured to use the fine position information determined by the calculator in a later iteration of determining the position of the UE.