POSITIONING

A method, apparatus and computer readable medium are provided for determining position information of a receiver device. The method includes determining a plurality of beams and combining received multipath signals from the plurality of the beams. The received multipath signals are generated by a transmitter device. The method also includes determining, based at least in part on the combined received multipath signals, a line of sight signal and determining, based at least in part on the line of sight signal, position information of a receiver device.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to European Patent Application No. 21209413.0, filed Nov. 19, 2021, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNOLOGICAL FIELD

Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to positioning. Some relate to positioning in a wireless network.

BACKGROUND

A wireless network comprises a plurality of network nodes including terminal nodes and access nodes. Communication between the terminal nodes and the access nodes is wireless.

In some circumstances, it may be desirable to modify or enhance how a receiver device determines position information.

BRIEF SUMMARY

According to various, but not necessarily all, embodiments there is provided an apparatus comprising:

means for determining a plurality of beams;

means for combining received multipath signals from the plurality of the beams, the received multipath signals generated by a transmitter device;

means for determining, based at least in part on the combined received multipath signals, a line of sight signal; and

means for determining, based at least in part on the line of sight signal, position information of a receiver device.

In some examples, combining the received multipath signals from the plurality of the beams comprises determining a superimposed channel response for the plurality of beams.

In some examples, determining a line of sight signal comprises assuming that delays associated with the received multipath signals are on a grid having a resolution.

In some examples, the resolution is less than the sampling time.

In some examples, determining a line of sight signal comprises determining a first received multipath signal having energy above a threshold.

In some examples, determining a line of sight signal comprises employing a non-line-of-sight channel detector.

In some examples, the means are configured to:

determine a number of beams from which the received multipath signals are to be combined.

In some examples, determining a number of beams is based, at least in part, on one or more of:

a beam width of a main beam lobe and first side lobes;

the channel spread in the angle domain for multipath signals above a power threshold;

the channel spread in the angle domain for multipath signals below the power threshold.

According to various, but not necessarily all, embodiments there is provided an electronic device comprising an apparatus as described herein and a plurality of antennas.

According to various, but not necessarily all, embodiments there is provided a method comprising:

determining a plurality of beams;

combining received multipath signals from the plurality of the beams, the received multipath signals generated by a transmitter device;

determining, based at least in part on the combined received multipath signals, a line of sight signal; and

determining, based at least in part on the line of sight signal, position information of a receiver device.

In some examples, combining the received multipath signals from the plurality of the beams comprises determining a superimposed channel response for the plurality of beams.

In some examples, determining a line of sight signal comprises assuming that delays associated with the received multipath signals are on a grid having a resolution.

In some examples, the resolution is less than the sampling time.

In some examples, determining a line of sight signal comprises determining a first received multipath signal having energy above a threshold.

In some examples, determining a line of sight signal comprises employing a non-line-of-sight channel detector.

In some examples, the method comprises:

determining a number of beams from which the received multipath signals are to be combined.

In some examples, determining a number of beams is based, at least in part, on one or more of:

a beam width of a main beam lobe and first side lobes;

the channel spread in the angle domain for multipath signals above a power threshold;

the channel spread in the angle domain for multipath signals below the power threshold.

According to various, but not necessarily all, embodiments there is provided a computer program comprising instructions for causing an apparatus to perform:

determining a plurality of beams;

combining received multipath signals from the plurality of the beams, the received multipath signals generated by a transmitter device;

determining, based at least in part on the combined received multipath signals, a line of sight signal; and

determining, based at least in part on the line of sight signal, position information of a receiver device.

In some examples, combining the received multipath signals from the plurality of the beams comprises determining a superimposed channel response for the plurality of the beams.

In some examples, determining a line of sight signal comprises assuming that delays associated with the received multipath signals are on a grid having a resolution.

In some examples, the resolution is less than the sampling time.

In some examples, determining a line of sight signal comprises determining a first received multipath signal having energy above a threshold.

In some examples, determining a line of sight signal comprises employing a non-line-of-sight channel detector.

In some examples, the computer program comprising instructions for causing an apparatus to perform:

determining a number of beams from which the received multipath signals are to be combined.

In some examples, determining a number of beams is based, at least in part, on one or more of:

a beam width of a main beam lobe and first side lobes;

the channel spread in the angle domain for multipath signals above a power threshold;

the channel spread in the angle domain for multipath signals below the power threshold.

According to various, but not necessarily all, embodiments there is provided an apparatus comprising

at least one processor; and

at least one memory including computer program code;

the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least on processor, cause the apparatus at least to perform at least a part of one or more methods disclosed herein.

According to various, but not necessarily all, embodiments there is provided an apparatus comprising means for performing at least part of one or more methods disclosed herein.

According to various, but not necessarily all, embodiments there is provided examples as claimed in the appended claims.

The description of a function should additionally be considered to also disclose any means suitable for performing that function

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG.1illustrates an example of a network100comprising a plurality of network nodes including terminal nodes110, access nodes120and one or more core nodes129. The terminal nodes110and access nodes120communicate with each other. The one or more core nodes129communicate with the access nodes120.

The network100is in this example a telecommunications network, in which at least some of the terminal nodes110and access nodes120communicate with each other using transmission/reception of radio waves/signals.

The one or more core nodes129may, in some examples, communicate with each other. The one or more access nodes120may, in some examples, communicate with each other.

The one or more terminal nodes110may, in some examples, communicate with each other.

The network100may be a cellular network comprising a plurality of cells122at least one served by an access node120. In this example, the interface between the terminal nodes110and an access node120defining a cell122is a wireless interface124.

The access node(s)120is a cellular radio transceiver. The terminal nodes110are cellular radio transceivers.

In the example illustrated the cellular network100is a third generation Partnership Project (3GPP) network in which the terminal nodes110are user equipment (UE) and the access nodes120are base stations (for example, gNBs).

Functionality of a base station may be distributed between a central unit (CU), for example a gNB-CU, and one or more distributed units (DU), for example gNB-DUs.

In the particular example illustrated the network100is an Evolved Universal Terrestrial Radio Access network (E-UTRAN). The E-UTRAN comprises E-UTRAN NodeBs (eNBs), providing the E-UTRA user plane and control plane (for example, RRC) protocol terminations towards the UE. The eNBs120are interconnected with each other by means of an X2 interface126. The eNBs are also connected by means of the S1 interface128to the Mobility Management Entity (MME)129.

In other examples the network100is a Next Generation (or New Radio, NR) Radio Access network (NG-RAN). The NG-RAN comprises gNodeBs (gNBs), providing the user plane and control plane (for example, RRC) protocol terminations towards the UE. The gNBs are interconnected with each other by means of an X2/Xn interface126.

The gNBs are also connected by means of the N2 interface128to the Access and Mobility management Function (AMF).

In examples, the network100can comprise a combination of E-UTRAN and NG-RAN.

In examples, a terminal node110can be configured to perform and can perform dual active protocol stack handover from a first access node120a, which can be considered a source node, to a second access node120b, which can be considered a target node.

Some examples relate to a 3GPP network.

In examples a node, such as a terminal node110, can determine positioning information from received wireless signals. However, in examples, depending on the environment between a transmitting node and the terminal node110, the received wireless signals can comprise multipath signals.

FIG.2illustrates an example of a network200.

In the example ofFIG.2, the network200is a wireless network. In examples, the network200ofFIG.2can form part of and/or can communicate with the network100ofFIG.1.

In the example ofFIG.2a transmitter device16is wirelessly transmitting signals to an electronic device32, which can be considered a receiver device21.

In the example ofFIG.2the network200can comprise any suitable type of network200. In examples, the network can be considered a short range network. For example, the network200can have a range of up to 100 metres.

In the example ofFIG.2the transmitter device16and receiver device21are any suitable Wi-Fi devices. In examples, the transmitter device16and receiver device21can be considered Wi-Fi stations (STA).

In the example ofFIG.2there is an object34in the environment of the receiver device21and the signals from the transmitter device16take a line of sight (LOS) and non line of sight (NLOS) path to the receiver device.

FIG.3illustrates an example of a method300.

One or more of the features discussed in relation toFIG.3can be found in one or more of the other FIGS. During discussion ofFIG.3, reference will be made to other FIGS. for the purposes of explanation.

In examples, method300can be performed by any suitable apparatus comprising any suitable means for performing the method300.

In examples, method300can be performed by any suitable node in network100and/or network200. For example, method300can be performed by any suitable node in network100and/or network200that receives wireless signals and determines position information.

For example, method300can be performed by a terminal node110ofFIG.1and/or receiver device21ofFIG.2.

In examples, method300can be considered a method300of determining position information20.

In examples, method300can be considered a method300of reducing errors in determining position information20.

In examples, method300can be considered a method300of mitigating ghost signals.

At block302, method300comprises determining a plurality of beams12.

In examples, determining a plurality of beams12can be performed in any suitable way using any suitable method. Any suitable number of beams12can be determined.

In examples, the plurality of beams12can be considered a plurality of beamformers.

In examples, the plurality of beams12can be considered a plurality of reception beams12and/or reception beamformers.

In examples, a beam12can be considered to comprise any suitable information to be applied to signals received by a plurality of antenna elements. For example, a beam12can comprise a vector with complex entries that provide different weights to signals received by a plurality of antenna elements.

Accordingly, in examples, determining a plurality of beams comprises determining a plurality of vectors comprising complex entries that provide weights to signals received by a plurality of antenna elements.

In examples, determining a plurality of beams12comprises determining a plurality of adjacent beams12.

By way of example, reference is made toFIG.4, which illustrates an example scenario.

In the example ofFIG.4, an electronic device32, which can be considered a receiver device21, has determined a plurality of beams12, which can be considered reception beams12. The beams12point in different directions.

In examples, the electronic device32can be considered an apparatus as described herein and/or an electronic device32comprising an apparatus as described herein.

Accordingly,FIG.4illustrates an electronic device32comprising an apparatus as described herein.

In the example ofFIG.4, the reception beams12, formed by the determined signal weightings, are schematically illustrated and marked ‘A’ to ‘E’. The main lobe and first sidelobes of the beams12‘A’ to ‘E’ are shown.

Although five beams12are shown inFIG.4, in examples any suitable number of beams12can be determined. This is shown in the example ofFIG.4by the ellipses36at either end of the set of illustrated beams12.

In examples, the plurality of beams12determined at block302can be a subset of the total number of determined beams12. For example, inFIG.4the beams ‘A’ to ‘E’ can be considered the plurality of beams12, or the beams ‘A’ to ‘C’ can be considered the plurality of beams12or the beams ‘B’ and ‘C’ can be considered the plurality of beams12or any suitable combination thereof.

In the example ofFIG.4a transmitter device16is transmitting signals to the receiver device21.

In the illustrated example, the signals can take multiple paths from the transmitter device16to the receiver device21and can therefore be considered multipath signals14.

In the illustrated example the line of sight (LOS) signal18, which is direct between the transmitter device16and the receiver device21, is indicated by a solid line and the non line of sight (NLOS) signals, which traverse, for example, via one or more reflections, are indicated by dashed lines.

In the example ofFIG.4it can be seen that the LOS signal18is received by a sidelobe of beam ‘C’ and NLOS signals are received by the mainlobes of beams ‘D’ and ‘E’.

This can cause problems, for example, for the receiver device21using the received signals to determine position information20.

Referring back toFIG.3, at block304method300comprises combining received multipath signals14from the plurality of the beams12, the received multipath signals14generated by a transmitter device16.

In examples, combining received multipath signals14from the plurality of beams12can be performed in any suitable way using any suitable method.

In examples combining received multipath signals14can be considered merging and/or superimposing and/or integrating multipath signals14and so on.

In examples, combining received multipath signals14comprises and/or can be considered combining multipath information received by and/or via the plurality of beams12.

With reference to the example ofFIG.4, the multipath signals14, including the LOS signal18, received by the beams12of the receiver device21can be combined together.

That is, in the example ofFIG.4, information received by and/or via beams ‘A’ to ‘E’, or a subset thereof, can be combined together.

In examples, combining the received multipath signals14from the plurality of beams12comprises determining a superimposed channel response for the plurality of beams12.

In examples, method300comprises mapping the superimposed channel to a received super-vector.

In examples, combining the received multipath signals14from the plurality of beams12comprises mapping the superimposed channel to a received super-vector.

The following provides an example method for combining the received multipath signals14.

In examples, in combining received multipath signals14, it is assumed that a transmitter device16, which can be considered a positioning transmitter, is sending a known reference signal to a receiver device21, which can be considered a positioning receiver, over a multipath propagation, such as an indoor multipath propagation. See, for example, the example ofFIG.4.

The receiver device21has Nr antennas/antenna elements and applies a beam/beamformer W indexed u, that is. Wu∈CNrto capture the signal, where CNris the complex vector space of ordered Nr-tuples of complex numbers.

After analogue to digital conversion, the baseband signal for beam/beamformer u, at each observed carrier k can be given by:

where hu(k)is the frequency response of a beamed channel consisting of Lumultipath signals14, each arriving with a delay du(l) and gain au(l), s and nuare the known Tx signal and the additive white gaussian noise respectively. ‘H’ used as a superscript denotes Hermitian operation.

U adjacent beams12, which can be considered the plurality of beams12, can be combined into a super-vector y(k)T, as follows:

Where ‘T’ denotes transpose. In examples, the number of beams12can be chosen such that the indices form whole numbers or a rounding function can be used on the indices.

In examples, the superimposed channel response h(k)can be determined/estimated and can be defined as follows:

Accordingly, in some examples, combining the received multipath signals14from the plurality of the beams12comprises determining a superimposed channel response for the plurality of beams12. In examples, determining a superimposed channel response can be considered to form part of block306.

In examples, the superimposed channel maps to the received super-vector via y(k),

and contains all the superimposition of the multipath signals14seen by the U adjacent beams/beamformers.

In examples, the matrix W in equation 4 can be considered a ‘mapper’ or a ‘projection’.

Referring again to the example ofFIG.3, at block306method300comprises determining, based, at least in part, on the combined received multipath signals14, a line of sight signal18.

In examples, determining, based, at least in part, on the combined received multipath signals14, a line of sight signal18can be performed in any suitable way using any suitable method.

In examples, determining, based, at least in part, on the combined received multipath signals14, a line of sight signal18comprises determining a line of sight signal18from combined multipath information received by and/or via the plurality of beams12.

With reference to the example ofFIG.4, the line of sight signal18is determined from the multipath signals14received by a plurality of beams12of the receiver device21.

In examples, a line of sight signal18can be considered a signal that travels directly from a transmitter device16to a receiver device21.

In examples, a line of sight signal18can be considered a signal that travels from a transmitter device16to a receiver device21without any redirections, such as reflections.

In examples, a line of sight signal18can be considered a direct path signal, a first signal and so on.

In examples, determining a line of sight signal18comprises assuming that delays26associated with the received multipath signals14are on a grid having a resolution24.

By way of example, reference is made to the example ofFIG.5.

FIG.5schematically illustrates a grid22of possible delays with a resolution24. The resolution24can be considered to be the period and/or distance between two points on the grid22. In the example ofFIG.5, time increases in the direction towards the right.

Any suitable resolution24can be used. In examples, the resolution24is less than the sampling time30. This is illustrated in the example ofFIG.5by the arrow, indicated as30, pointing to the right ofFIG.5.

In the example ofFIG.5, two of the points of the grid22have squares around them. This indicates that these points of the grid22have delays26associated with received multipath signals14.

Returning toFIG.3, in examples, determining a line of sight signal18comprises determining a first received multipath signal14having energy above a threshold.

In examples, a first received multipath signal14can be considered a multipath signal14having the shortest associated delay.

In examples, the threshold can be considered a detection threshold, and any suitable threshold can be used. For example, the threshold can be defined as offset against the additive white gaussian noise of the superimposed channel, or empirically set, or selected based, at least in part, on the maximum multipath signal power, for example to be an amount below the maximum multipath signal power and so on.

In examples determining a line of sight signal18comprises employing and/or using a non line of sight channel detector. Any suitable non line of sight channel detector can be used.

The following provides an example method for determining, based at least in part on the combined received multipath signals14, a line of sight signal18.

To determine a line of sight signal18, h(k)(see [Eqn 3] and [Eqn 4] can be determined/estimated by applying the gains and delay observed at each of the plurality of U beams into the superimposed beam, that is a=[a(1), . . . , a(L)] and d=[d(1), . . . , d(L)] in [Eqn 3].

In examples, it is assumed that the delays can be approximated as lying on a grid with very fine resolution (that is ds<<Ts, where ds is the resolution and Ts is the sampling time of the system).

In some examples the grid length L is not longer than the symbol duration T, that is L=T/ds. However, in examples, the grid can have any suitable length.

Without loss of generality, it is assumed that delay d(l)=l·ds. That is, in examples, it is assumed that the delay of the l-th component d(I) is an integer multiple of the resolution ds.

For example, with regard toFIG.5, it is assumed that the delays26indicated by the squares are integer values of possible delay values of the grid22.

Then, if the delay does not correspond or is not close to/is not in the neighborhood to a true channel multipath signal14, the gain a(I) will be determined/estimated as 0. This simplification reduces the channel reconstruction task to that of determining/estimating the complex entries of the vector a.

In examples, this can be performed using any suitable method. For example, this can be achieved with existing greedy approaches such as orthogonal matching pursuit-based algorithms. In examples, other approaches, such as Bayesian learning, can also be applied.

The line of sight signal18can then be determined.

In examples, the line of sight signal18is typically the first arriving multipath signal14, that is the first received multipath signal14with relevant energy, for example, x=min{1, . . . , L}, for which |a(x)|>Γ, where Γ is the detection threshold. In examples, the detection threshold can be defined as offset against the AWGN n of the superimposed channel, or empirically set, or selected as the maximum tap power, or to be y dBs below maximum multipath signal power and so on.

In examples, line of sight signal18is not present in the channel associated with each beamformer u, which means that the beamformer/channel comprises only non line of sight signals and therefore can be marked as NLOS.

Accordingly, in examples, prior to determination of line of sight signal18, a NLOS channel detector may be employed. Any suitable NLOS detector can be used. For example a NLOS detector that makes use of the previous estimate a and computes a LOS probability or binary indicator, a NLOS detector that relies on hypothesis testing, and/or a NLOS detector that employs machine learning classifier such as decision forests.

In such examples, if the channel is deemed by the detector as LOS, then the line of sight signal determination follows.

In some examples, method300comprises determining relevant reflected multipath signals.

In examples, a multipath signal14can be considered relevant if the power of the multipath signal14is above a threshold. Any suitable threshold can be used. For example, the threshold can be determined based, at least in part, on the Rx noise floor, can be determined based, at least in part, on the maximum multipath signal power and so on.

At block308, method300comprises determining, based at least in part, on the line of sight signal18, position information20of a receiver device21.

determining a plurality of beams12;
combining received multipath signals14from the plurality of beams12, the received multipath signals14generated by a transmitter device16;
determining, based at least in part on the combined received multipath signals, a line of sight signal18; and
determining, based at least in part on the line of sight signal, position information20of a receiver device21.

In examples the receiver device21is the device that performs method300.

In examples, determining, based at least in part of the line of sight signal18, position information20of a receiver device can be performed in any suitable way using any suitable method.

In examples, position information20of a receiver device21can comprise any suitable information to allow an absolute or relative position and/or location of a receiver device to be determined. For example, position information20can comprise angle of arrival and time of arrival of the line of sight signal18.

Accordingly, in examples, block308comprises determining, using any suitable method, angle of arrival and time of arrival of the line of sight signal18.

In examples, the time and angle of the line of sight signal is returned as: x·ds and ∠(a(x)), respectively.

In examples, method300comprises determining a number of beams12from which the received multipath signals14are to be combined.

In examples, determining a plurality of beams12comprises determining a number of beams12from which the received multipath signals14are to be combined.

Determining a number of beams12from which the received multipath signals14are to be combined can be performed in any suitable way using any suitable method.

In examples, determining a number of beams12is based, at least in part, on one or more of: a beam width B, b of a main beam lobe and first side lobes, the channel spread S in the angle domain for multipath signals14above a power threshold, and the channel spread s in the angle domain for multipath signals14below the power threshold. In examples, s can be considered a ‘tail spread’.

The beam width B, b of a main beam lobe and first side lobe can be considered the angular coverage of the main and first side lobes respectively. These are, in examples, antenna features and will be known be a receiver device21.

The channel spread S in the angle domain can be considered to be the difference between the narrowest and widest relevant reflection in the angle domain from a transmitter device16, a relevant reflection having power above a threshold.

The channel spread s in the angle domain can be considered to be the difference between the narrowest and widest reflection having power below the threshold.

In examples, an expected value for S and s can be determined from the channel models for which the method is being deployed, for example frequency-dependent indoor channel model.

In examples, method300comprises determining a sliding window size Z for determining how many beams12to skip for two consecutive beam bundles.

Accordingly, in examples, a number of adjacent beams12to be combined is determined and a number of beams to be skipped is determined.

By way of example, reference is made toFIGS.8and9.

FIG.8illustrates an example of beam groupings.

In the example ofFIG.8, N beams are illustrated and two different bundles34of ‘U’ beams indicated by the dotted boxes.

In the illustrated example a first bundle34of two beams (beams1and2) are to be combined and a second bundle34of two beams (beams2and3) are to be combined. The bundles are separated by one beam (Z=1).

FIG.9illustrates an example of determination of a number of beams12and bundle separator Z.

In the example ofFIG.9f( )denotes a generic function of multiple variables.

At blocks904,910and914ofFIG.9the known width of the first side lobe and the tail spread, s, is used to determine the slider Z. In the example ofFIG.9the function used is Z=min(b,s).

At blocks902,908and906ofFIG.9the known width of the main lobe and the angular spread, S, is used to determine the number of beams12, represented by ‘U’. In the example ofFIG.9the function used is U=ceil(S/B).

InFIG.9one or more channel modelling tools are used to determine S and s.

Examples of the disclosure are advantageous and provide technical benefits.

For example, examples of the disclosure allow a receiving device to mitigate the effect of non line of sight signals in determining position information.

Examples of the disclosure also provide a flexible approach in determining the line of sight signal, for example, the size of the grid, L, can be chosen based, at least in part, on the circumstances.

FIG.6illustrates an example of a method600.

In examples, the method600can be performed by any suitable apparatus comprising any suitable means for performing the method600.

In examples, method600can be performed by any suitable node in network100and/or network200. For example, method600can be performed by any suitable node in network100and/or network200that receives wireless signals and determines position information.

For example, method600can be performed by a terminal node110ofFIG.1and/or receiver device21ofFIG.2.

At blocks608,610and612multipath signals14are collected for the three beams, indicated as collect beamed signal (u−1), collect beamed signal (u) and collect beamed signal (u+i).

At block614the signals are combined and at block616the super-channel impulse response (SCIR(u−1, u, u+1) is initialized.

At block618the SCIR is detected and at block620the first path, or line of sight signal18, of the SCIR is selected.

At block622position information20of the first path of the SCIR is extracted.

In summary, in the method600, and/or in methods described herein, the channel impulse response (CIR) is estimated by combining the signals from at least three adjacent beams.

In other words, the received multipath signals as seen by any three (or more) adjacent beams are collected one super-channel impulse response (SCIR), corresponding to the superimposition of the three (or more) sparse channel responses associated with each of the beams, is estimated.

This prevents, for example, the receiver device21from misinterpreting the NLOS as LOS due to the beamforming gain of a sidelobe.

It can be considered that this approach corresponds to enhancing the main lobe (that is by combining the multiple narrow main lobes of the beamformers into a wider super-main lobe) and suppressing the sidelobes in the digital domain.

Once the SCIR is obtained, the angle and time of arrival of the first path of the SCIR are extracted and used for AOA- and/or TOA-based localization.

FIG.7illustrates an example of a method700.

In examples, the method700can be performed by any suitable apparatus comprising any suitable means for performing the method700.

In examples, method700can be performed by any suitable node in network100and/or network200. For example, method600can be performed by any suitable node in network100and/or network200that receives wireless signals and determines position information.

For example, method700can be performed by a terminal node110ofFIG.1and/or receiver device21ofFIG.2.

In examples, method700can be considered a method of determining, based at least in part on combined received multipath signals, a line of sight signal18.

At block702, the search space is selected. In the example ofFIG.7the resolution, ds, and length, L, of the grid22is determined.

At block704, the bundle size, U, of the plurality of beams12is selected and at block708mapper W is generated (see, for example, [Eqn 4]).

At block706received multipath signal samples are buffered and at block710super channel a is initialized.

Blocks706,708and710feed into block712in which channel reconstruction method(s) are used and at block714a NLOS is optionally employed.

At block716, a direct path, or line of sight signal18, is detected and at block718position information20is extracted.

Examples of the disclosure provide technical benefits. For example, examples of the disclosure allow a receiver device to mitigate the effects of ghost signals during positioning.

Furthermore, examples of the disclosure provide a flexible method which can readily be adapted according to the circumstances. For example, the resolution ds and length L of the grid, and hence search space, can be flexibly changed according to circumstances.

Furthermore, examples of the disclosure can be used for channel equalisation for data decoding, for beam tracking, for beam selection in a subsequent uplink transmission and so on.

FIG.10Aillustrates an example of a controller1130. The controller can be used in any suitable apparatus to perform at least part of one of more methods described herein. In examples the apparatus can be used in a terminal node110, and/or an electronic device32and/or a receiver device21and/or a Wi-Fi device and/or a Wi-Fi station and so on.

In examples, controller1130can be considered an apparatus1130.

Implementation of a controller1130may be as controller circuitry. The controller1130may be implemented in hardware alone, have certain aspects in software including firmware alone or can be a combination of hardware and software (including firmware).

As illustrated inFIG.10Athe controller1130may be implemented using instructions that enable hardware functionality, for example, by using executable instructions of a computer program1136in a general-purpose or special-purpose processor1132that may be stored on a computer readable storage medium (disk, memory etc.) to be executed by such a processor1132.

The processor1132is configured to read from and write to the memory1134. The processor1132may also comprise an output interface via which data and/or commands are output by the processor1132and an input interface via which data and/or commands are input to the processor1132.

The memory1134stores a computer program1136comprising computer program instructions (computer program code) that controls the operation of the apparatus when loaded into the processor1132. The computer program instructions, of the computer program1136, provide the logic and routines that enables the apparatus to perform the methods illustrated inFIGS.3and/or6and/or7and/or9. The processor1132by reading the memory1134is able to load and execute the computer program1136.

The Apparatus Therefore Comprises:

at least one processor1132; and
at least one memory1134including computer program code
the at least one memory1134and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor1132, cause the apparatus at least to perform:

determining a plurality of beams;

combining received multipath signals from the plurality of the beams, the received multipath signals generated by a transmitter device;

determining, based at least in part on the combined received multipath signals, a line of sight signal; and

determining, based at least in part on the line of sight signal, position information of a receiver device.

As illustrated inFIG.10A, the computer program1136may arrive at the apparatus via any suitable delivery mechanism1162. The delivery mechanism1162may be, for example, a machine readable medium, a computer-readable medium, a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, a computer program product, a memory device, a record medium such as a Compact Disc Read-Only Memory (CD-ROM) or a Digital Versatile Disc (DVD) or a solid state memory, an article of manufacture that comprises or tangibly embodies the computer program1136. The delivery mechanism may be a signal configured to reliably transfer the computer program1136. The apparatus may propagate or transmit the computer program1136as a computer data signal.

Computer program instructions for causing an apparatus to perform at least the following or for performing at least the following:

determining a plurality of beams;

combining received multipath signals from the plurality of the beams, the received multipath signals generated by a transmitter device;

determining, based at least in part on the combined received multipath signals, a line of sight signal; and

determining, based at least in part on the line of sight signal, position information of a receiver device.

The computer program instructions may be comprised in a computer program, a non-transitory computer readable medium, a computer program product, a machine readable medium. In some but not necessarily all examples, the computer program instructions may be distributed over more than one computer program.

Although the memory1134is illustrated as a single component/circuitry it may be implemented as one or more separate components/circuitry some or all of which may be integrated/removable and/or may provide permanent/semi-permanent/dynamic/cached storage.

In examples the memory1134comprises a random-access memory1158and a read only memory1160. In examples the computer program1136can be stored in the read only memory1158. See, for example,FIG.10B

In some examples the memory1134can be split into random access memory1158and read only memory1160.

Although the processor1132is illustrated as a single component/circuitry it may be implemented as one or more separate components/circuitry some or all of which may be integrated/removable. The processor1132may be a single core or multi-core processor.

As used in this application, the term ‘circuitry’ may refer to one or more or all of the following:

The apparatus can, in examples, comprise means for:

determining a plurality of beams;

combining received multipath signals from the plurality of the beams, the received multipath signals generated by a transmitter device;

determining, based at least in part on the combined received multipath signals, a line of sight signal; and

determining, based at least in part on the line of sight signal, position information of a receiver device.

In examples, an apparatus can comprise means for performing one or more methods, and/or at least part of one or more methods, as disclosed herein.

In examples, an apparatus can be configured to perform one or more methods, and/or at least part of one or more methods, as disclosed herein.

The above described examples find application as enabling components of: automotive systems; telecommunication systems; electronic systems including consumer electronic products; distributed computing systems; media systems for generating or rendering media content including audio, visual and audio visual content and mixed, mediated, virtual and/or augmented reality; personal systems including personal health systems or personal fitness systems; navigation systems; user interfaces also known as human machine interfaces; networks including cellular, non-cellular, and optical networks; ad-hoc networks; the internet; the internet of things; virtualized networks; and related software and services.