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Apple patents satellite signal timing checks for better location accuracy

Apple describes a method for devices to measure the time it takes for signals to travel to and from satellite networks. The device compares these timing differences against specific limits set by the network to decide when to send location data to a server.

Why it mattersThis improves how phones can pinpoint their location when using satellite connections, which is useful for areas with poor cell coverage.

In the filing’s own words

A method may include receiving, from a network node, a configuration message comprising one or more thresholds for multiple round trip time (multi-RTT) measurement reporting. The method may further include receiving downlink (DL) reference signals (RS) and transmitting uplink (UL) reference signals (RS) for the multi-RTT measurements. The method may further include determining respective differences in time between respective reception times of the one or more DL RS and determining whether or not the respective differences in time are less than the one or more thresholds for multi-RTT measurement reporting. If the respective differences in time are determined to be less than the one or more thresholds for multi-RTT measurement reporting, the method may further include transmitting, to a location management function (LMF), one or more round trip time delay (RTTD) reports for the multi-RTT measurements.

What exactly they claim (claim 1)

1. A method, comprising: receiving, from a network node, a configuration message comprising one or more thresholds for multiple round trip time (multi-RTT) measurement reporting; receiving, from the network node, a plurality of downlink (DL) reference signals (RS) for one or more multi-RTT measurements; transmitting, to the network node, a plurality of uplink (UL) RS for the one or more multi-RTT measurements, wherein respective UL RS of the plurality of UL RS are transmitted in response to receiving respective DL RS of the plurality of DL RS; determining one or more respective differences in time between respective reception times of the plurality of DL RS; and determining whether or not the one or more respective differences in time are less than the one or more thresholds for multi-RTT measurement reporting, wherein if the one or more respective differences in time are less than the one or more thresholds for multi-RTT measurement reporting, the method further comprises: transmitting, to a location management function (LMF), one or more round trip time delay (RTTD) reports for the one or more multi-RTT measurements.

Facts

Company
Apple (Apple Inc.)
Official title
Enhancement of User Equipment Location Verification in Non-Terrestrial Networks
Publication number
US20260261335A1
Application number
19155631
Filed
Feb 14, 2023
Published
Sep 3, 2026
Inventors
10
Claims
21

Classified under

H04B 7/18554 Electricity & electronicsH04W 24/10 Electricity & electronicsH04W 64/006 Electricity & electronics
Read the full filing (official PDF) ↗ Open in the Patent Tracker

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Summaries are simplified from the filing’s own abstract and first claim. A patent filing is not a product announcement.
Patent data and drawings: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Nebula is not affiliated with or endorsed by the USPTO.