Abstract: A user equipment (120), a first radio network node (130) and a positioning node (110) are comprised in a Long Term Evolution system (100). The user equipment (120) receives (2000, 2010) a request for path loss related information. The user equipment (120) estimates (2020) and sends (2030, 2040) the path loss related information. Moreover, the first radio network node (110, 130) sends (2010, 2060) a request for the path loss related information. The first radio network node (110, 130) receives (2030) the path loss related information. Furthermore, the positioning node (110) sends (2000, 2050) a request for the path loss related information. The positioning node (110) receives (2040, 2080) the path loss related information. In some examples, the positioning node (110) associates (2110) the path loss related information to at least one cell area description, thereby creating a database of cell area descriptions and path loss related information associated thereto.

Abstract: Presented are methods and apparatus for generating an inaccuracy characteristic for a fingerprinting positioning algorithm calculation associated with a user equipment location. Fingerprinting positioning measurements are compared to high-accuracy positioning measurements and an error value is determined. The error values are accumulated and the inaccuracy characteristic is generated based on an inaccuracy calculation. For areas where insufficient data is available, an inaccuracy characteristic value can be interpolated or extrapolated from adjacent areas containing sufficient data.

Abstract: Systems and methods related to prioritization of location requests in a cellular communications system are disclosed. Embodiments including a method of operation of a network node in a cellular communications system to process a message related to a location request are disclosed. In some embodiments, the method of operation of the network node comprises receiving a message related to a location request and performing congestion control with respect to the message related to the location request, either prior to or during setup of a radio connection between a Radio Access Network (RAN) of the cellular communications network and a target wireless device of the location request, based on a priority assigned to the location request. In this manner, the location request can be allowed even if the target wireless device is located in a congested cell.

Abstract: Recovery control is provided for recovering data packet flow control between a network node (14) and a radio base station (18) over a radio network interface (2). The base station communicates with at least one user equipment, UE, (10) over a radio interface (3) and measures information relating to a data transmission rate over the radio interface and an amount of a downlink packet queue (22) in the base station associated with the UE communication. In one embodiment, the base station sends at least some of the measurement information to the network node. A process controller (52, 40, 84) in the network node processes the measurement information to determine a desired amount to be stored in the downlink packet queue. The process controller determines a commanded bit rate to transmit data from the network node to the downlink packet queue based on the determined desired amount and transmits data to the radio base station in accordance with the commanded bit rate.

Abstract: A method for uplink channel estimation comprises providing of a channel state model in a channel estimator. An uplink radio signal of a present time slot is obtained in the channel estimator as well as a series of transmit power control commands issued for controlling a transmit power of the uplink radio signal. A delay between the time a transmit power control command is issued and the time that the transmit power control command is applied is estimated based on measurements of the particular received uplink radio signal. Channel states are adapted based on a transmit power control command compatible with the estimated delay. After the adaptation, channel states of the present time slot are estimated in the channel estimator, by tracking the demodulated uplink radio signal with the channel state model. A channel estimator performing such method is also described.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods and arrangements 300 which are configured to determine a noise rise estimates in a radio access node of a Radio Network System 100 supporting Multi-Carrier High-Speed Packet Access transmission of user radio traffic between a radio access node and one or more User Equipments. The arrangement is provided with a combiner combining the estimated thermal noise power floors of all carriers of a set of carriers sharing the same antenna branch, into a single thermal noise power floor estimate, valid for all carriers in said set of carriers sharing the same analogue signal path. A noise rise determiner computes noise rise estimates as a quotient of the momentary received total wideband power of a carrier related to an analogue signal path, and said combined thermal noise power floor for said analogue signal path.

Abstract: Load measurements having low computational complexity are provided that give an effective load after interference suppression. The effective load after interference may be compared with the air interface load to determine interference suppression gains for different user constellations. The interference suppression gains may be stored in the form of a gain table that gives the expected interference suppression gains for different user constellations. The expected interference suppression gains may be used by a scheduler at a base station to predict the effective load for two or more candidate user constellations, and to select one of the candidate user constellations. Users are then scheduled according to the selected user constellation.

Abstract: In a method of providing load measurements in an interference suppression capable radio base station node associated with a plurality of users in a heterogeneous wireless communication system, applying interference suppression to received signals in the radio base station node, to provide interference suppressed received signals. Subsequently, estimating neighbor cell interference based on the interference suppressed received signals, and estimating a reference received total wideband power, based on the interference suppressed received signals. Then performing the steps of determining a first load measure based on the interference suppressed received signals and the estimated reference received total wideband power, and determining a second load measure based on the interference suppressed received signals, the estimated reference received total wideband power and on the estimated neighbor cell interference.

Abstract: New load measures are provided for a base station in a wireless communication network using interference suppression receivers. The new load measures are based on the estimation of neighbor cell interference and reflect the load after interference suppression. The improved load measures are used to monitor the stability of the uplink power control loops of the user terminals served by the base station.

Abstract: A method for noise rise estimation in a wireless communication system comprises measuring (210) of received total wideband power of an antenna a plurality of times. An estimate of a noise floor measure is computed (212) based on at least a number of the measured received total wideband powers of the antenna. Interference whitening of a received signal is performed (214) per user for a multitude of users. A useful signal power per user after the interference whitening, preferably Frequency Domain Equalization, is determined (216). A noise rise measure per user is calculated (220), based at least on the useful signal power per user and the noise floor measure. The calculation in turn comprises compensation of the noise rise measure per user for the effects of the interference whitening. An arrangement for noise rise estimation is adapted for such a method. A radio base station comprises such an arrangement.

Abstract: Mobile broadband traffic has been exploding in wireless networks resulting in an increase of interferences and reduced operator control. Networks are also becoming more heterogeneous putting additional demand in interference management. Scheduler schedules uplink transmissions from UEs based on a load prediction algorithm that typically assumes worst case. However, UEs do not always use full power granted, and thus, much of granted radio resources are wasted. To address these and other issues, techniques to accurately predict/estimate other cell interferences and thermal noise separately and to accurately predict/estimate load utilization probabilities, rise-over-thermals, and load factor biases are described. The described techniques are applicable in a radio network node with any number of antenna branches. The techniques can be used to schedule UEs to more fully utilize available radio resources. Extended Kalman filtering can be adapted for use in estimation providing low order computational complexity.

Abstract: Embodiments herein relate to a method in a radio base station for performing thermal noise power floor estimation in a radio communications network. The radio base station computes table entries for a table for a transcendental function evaluation, which table is of minimized size with a range of table entries defined by a smallest table entry, a largest table entry, and a number of table entries. The radio base station further estimates a thermal noise power floor by performing a transcendental function evaluation in computing a product representing a cumulative probability function, which cumulative probability function is related to the thermal noise power floor. The transcendental function evaluation is performed by using table look ups of the table with the computed table entries.

Abstract: A method for noise rise estimation in a wireless communication system comprises measuring of received total wideband power a plurality of times and computing an estimate of a noise floor measure based on a number of the measured received total wideband powers. An interference whitening is performed based on one of GRAKE, GRAKE?and chip equalizer. A useful signal power for the first user after interference whitening is determined. A first user noise floor compensation factor is derived based on combining weights for the first user used in the interference whitening. A code power to interference ratio measure for said first user is obtained. A noise rise measure is calculated, based at least on the useful signal power for the first user after interference whitening, the first user noise floor compensation factor, the code power to interference ratio measure for the first user and the noise floor measure.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for handling positioning information by sending a positioning result, which can include uncertainty information, in at least one of a graphical format and a text-encoded graphical format. Positioning result accuracy, which can be important for emergency services, is improved by avoiding conversion between positioning result formats. Positioning results can be flexibly delivered, without concern for the particular radio access technology used in a communication network. The graphical format can be a vector graphics format, such as Scalable Vector Graphics and Wireless Vector Graphics. The text-encoded graphical format can be based on the extensible Markup Language, the positioning information in the graphical and/or text-encoded graphical format can be signaled by a messaging service.

Abstract: A method for neighbor cell interference estimation in the UpLink of a CDMA communication system comprises obtaining measurements of an uplink received total wideband power (RTWP) and obtaining measurements of a load utilization of the uplink. At least a sum of the neighbor cell interference power and the noise power floor as well as a load utilization probability are jointly estimated from the measurements of an uplink RTWP and the measurements of a load utilization of the uplink. A thermal noise power floor is monitored by performing a running estimate of a long-time average uplink wideband power, preferably an estimated thermal noise power floor level or an operational level of the RTWP. A subset of the states of the estimation is selected, comprising only all states of the estimation that are associated with powers. The states of the selected subset and quantities associated therewith are scaled with a scaling factor. The scaling factor depends on the running estimate.

Abstract: Network node (110), and method (300) in a network node (110), for load control in a cell (130) in a wireless communication system (100). The method (300) comprises starting an interference cancellation process, for reducing interference between uplink signals, estimating an interference cancellation gain, relative to an interference reduced received uplink signal power resulting from the interference cancellation process, wherein the interference cancellation gain is estimated after the start of the interference cancellation process but before the interference cancellation process is completed. In addition, the method (300) comprises controlling the traffic load of the cell (130), by considering the estimated interference cancellation gain.

Abstract: In a split antenna system, a radio network node determines an association between a target wireless terminal and an antenna being used to communicate with the target wireless terminal. The radio network node provides an association information and a signal information of properties of a wireless signal used for communication between the antenna to a positioning node. The association information can include the identity of the antenna, which can be encoded in least significant bits of a position measurement included in the signal information. The positioning node determines a position of the target wireless terminal based on the association information and the signal information.

Abstract: A method for providing position determination assisting data comprises repetitions of establishing (210) of a cell relation configuration for a user equipment and performing (212) of a high-precision position determination for the user equipment. Results of the determinations belonging to the same cell relation configuration are clustered (214) in separate clustered results. An area definition is associated (220) with the clustered results by enclosing (221) the clustered results by a polygon, shrinking (222) the polygon by moving corners towards a contraction point and defining (223) the area definition as a shrunk polygon comprising a predetermined fraction of the clustered results. The contraction point is selected to be situated within the clustered results. The method also comprises creating (230) of position determination assisting data comprising a relation between the cell relation configurations and the associated area definitions.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to methods and devices relating to neighbor cell interference estimation and handling in cellular communication networks. According to one aspect, there is provided a method for interference handling performed in a radio network node for a cellular communication network. The method comprises measuring a received total wideband power, RTWP, and a load utilization experienced at the radio network node. The method further comprises performing a vector estimation of neighbor cell interference experienced at the radio network node based on the measured RTWP and the measured load utilization. The vector estimation comprises decomposition into at least two scalar component estimations. The method may further comprise obtaining and using tabulated computation support information, which is used when performing the vector estimation of neighbor cell interference. According to another aspect, there is provided a radio network node adapted to perform the method.

Abstract: Teachings herein improve selection of the positioning method(s) used to obtain positioning information responsive to a positioning request, by approaching positioning QoS holistically. Approached holistically, a joint QoS metric as taught herein takes into account the joint effect of individual QoS parameters of a positioning method, or the joint effect of multiple methods in a sequence. Processing in one or more embodiments thus includes determining a joint QoS metric for each of a plurality of candidate positioning methods or sequences, and selecting a positioning method or sequence based on those joint QoS metrics. By selecting a positioning method or sequence in this way, holistically based on joint QoS metrics rather than a piecemeal approach based on a one-by-one check of individual QoS parameters, selection proceeds flexibly according to actual QoS requirements of position-based services and/or systematically according to the joint effect of multiple positioning methods.