Positioning method and its equipment

[0037] The technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in the embodiments of the present invention. Obviously, the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of the present invention, rather than all the embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art without creative work shall fall within the protection scope of the present invention.

[0038] An embodiment of the present invention provides a positioning method, wherein, if the serving cell of the UE corresponds to at least two radio frequency units, the positioning center obtains the information of the current access point location of the UE, and according to the location of the current access point of the UE The information selects the reference cell. The positioning center sends the information of the reference cell to the UE, and receives the UE's measurement results for the reference cell, so that when the positioning center is positioning, for example, when the positioning method of observing the arrival time difference OTDOA is adopted, the UE can be measured according to the received measurement results. Positioning, such as calculating the location of the UE.

[0039] The positioning center in the embodiment of the present invention may be any device in the communication system capable of positioning the UE. Taking the LTE system as an example, the positioning center may be an Enhanced Serving Mobile Location Centre (E-SMLC). The present invention is not limited to this, for example, it may also be a mobile location center (MLC) in other communication systems.

[0040] In the embodiment of the present invention, the location information of the current access point of the UE may be related information about the geographic location of any antenna of the current access point. For example, the foregoing related information is a configured estimated geographical position of the antenna. ) Information, which can include but is not limited to one or a combination of the following: accuracy, latitude, height, or direction of the antenna. The radio frequency units corresponding to the serving cell of the UE are far apart, and the antennas of the radio frequency unit are very close. The approximate geographic location information of any antenna of the radio frequency unit that the UE accesses is sufficient to distinguish different radio frequency units . The positioning center can determine the radio frequency unit that the UE accesses according to the location information of the current access point of the UE, that is, the current access point of the UE.

[0041] Such as figure 1 As shown, another embodiment of the present invention provides a positioning method, wherein the serving cell of the UE corresponds to at least two radio frequency units (S110), the positioning center obtains the location information of the current access point of the UE (S120), and then The reference cell is selected according to the location information of the current access point of the UE (S130). Optionally, this embodiment is suitable for a positioning method that adopts OTDOA observation of the time difference of arrival.

[0042] The cell corresponding to the at least two radio frequency units may also be referred to as a cell with a remote radio frequency scenario, that is, at least two radio frequency units share the cell identity of the cell. For example, the serving cell of the UE corresponding to a local radio frequency unit and a remote radio unit is a cell with a remote radio frequency scenario, and the serving cells of the UE corresponding to two remote radio units are also a cell with a remote radio frequency scenario. The embodiment of the present invention uses a cell identifier as an example. In fact, other cells such as a cell index can be used to distinguish different cells without affecting the implementation of the embodiment of the present invention.

[0043] Further, the positioning center may also send the information of the reference cell to the UE, and receive the measurement result of the UE for the reference cell, thereby completing the positioning of the UE according to the measurement result (S140-S150).

[0044] The location information of the current access point of the UE in this embodiment is information about the approximate geographic location of any antenna of the current access point, such as the accuracy, latitude, height, or direction of any antenna of the radio frequency unit that the UE accesses One or more of the information.

[0045] In the positioning method provided in this embodiment, the positioning center can obtain and use the location information of the UE’s current access point to determine the reference cell, thereby avoiding the positioning center’s wrong selection of the UE’s neighboring cells and positioning errors of the UE, making the positioning The center can select a suitable reference cell to complete the precise positioning of the UE.

[0046] Other embodiments of the present invention also provide multiple methods for the positioning center to determine that the serving cell of the UE corresponds to at least two radio frequency units, and the positioning center can further determine the radio frequency unit information. These methods can also be combined in S110 of the foregoing embodiment of the present invention.

[0047] Such as figure 2 As shown, the operation management equipment (Operator and Manager, OAM) configures the positioning center with a correspondence between a cell and a radio unit under a base station (S210), where the correspondence may include the correspondence between a cell and a local radio unit and/or Correspondence between the cell and the remote radio unit. For example, if at least one cell under the base station can correspond to at least two radio frequency units, the OAM will configure the corresponding relationship between the cell and each radio frequency unit in the positioning center. If the positioning center finds that the cell identity or cell index of the serving cell of the UE corresponds to at least two radio frequency units in the configured correspondence relationship (S220), it indicates that the serving cell of the UE is a cell with a remote radio frequency scenario. If OAM configures the corresponding relationship and also configures the information of the remote radio unit and/or the local radio unit, then the positioning center can also obtain the cell identity or cell index corresponding to the serving cell from the auxiliary information of the corresponding relationship. Information about the radio frequency unit.

[0048] The positioning center can also first determine the cells corresponding to at least two radio frequency units under the base station by actively querying the base station, or the positioning center does not actively query, but waits for the base station to report information, that is, by receiving the message from the base station to determine the corresponding at least Then, the positioning center determines whether the cells corresponding to at least two radio frequency units under the base station include the serving cell of the UE.

[0049] Such as image 3 In the illustrated method for determining cells corresponding to at least two radio frequency units, the positioning center sends a second query request message to the base station (S310). The second query request message is used to request to query whether there are cells corresponding to at least two radio frequency units under the base station.

[0050] After receiving the second query request message, the base station sends a second query response message to the positioning center (S320). The second query response message includes cell identities of cells corresponding to at least two radio frequency units under the base station. Wherein, both the second query request message and the second query response message may be positioning protocol messages, that is, messages sent through the positioning protocol. For example, LTE Positioning Protocol A (LPPa) or other positioning protocols can be used.

[0051] Preferably, the second query request message may be an OTDOA information request message (OTDOA INFORMATION REQUEST) including an indication field requesting the query, and the second query response message may be an OTDOA information response message (OTDOA INFORMATION RESPONSE) carrying a cell identity.

[0052] Preferably, the second query request message can be requested to query whether there are cells corresponding to at least two radio frequency units under the base station by sending timing, preset conditions or other factors. The cell identifier included in the second query response message is the cell identifier of the cell corresponding to the at least two radio frequency units under the base station.

[0053] The positioning center may then confirm whether the cells corresponding to the at least two radio frequency units include the serving cell of the UE according to the received second query response message (S330).

[0054] Optionally, the second query response message further includes information about the location of the access point corresponding to the cell corresponding to the at least two radio frequency units, where the location of the access point includes the remote radio unit of the cell and the local radio unit (if If it exists).

[0055] If the positioning center does not receive the second query response message or the received second query response message includes an indication of query failure, it can be determined that there is no cell corresponding to at least two radio frequency units under the base station.

[0056] Preferably, the positioning center can periodically perform S310, so that the positioning center can more accurately grasp the information of the cells corresponding to at least two radio frequency units under the base station.

[0057] Such as Figure 4 In the illustrated method for determining a cell with a remote radio frequency scenario, the positioning center receives a notification message sent by a base station (S410), and the notification message may include the cell identifier of each cell under the base station and the access point corresponding to each cell Location information. Preferably, the notification message may be a message sent through a positioning protocol. For example, it may be a message sent by using LTE Positioning Protocol A (LPPa) or other positioning protocols.

[0058] Optionally, the base station can also use the existing OTDOA information response message to carry the cell identity of each cell under the base station and/or the location information of the access point corresponding to each cell, that is, the base station does not need to wait to receive the OTDOA information of the positioning center The request message includes the cell identity of each cell under the base station and/or the location information of the access point corresponding to each cell to the positioning center.

[0059] The positioning center judges whether there is one or some cells corresponding to more than one access point location according to the received cell identification and access point location information (S420), if so, this type is related to more than one access point location. The cell corresponding to the point position is a cell with a remote radio frequency scenario, that is, a cell corresponding to at least two radio frequency units.

[0060] The positioning center may further determine whether the serving cell of the UE is included in the cells corresponding to the at least two radio frequency units when needed or when determining the cell identity of the serving cell of the UE (S430).

[0061] The following embodiments of the present invention also provide a method for the positioning center to obtain the information of the current access point location of the UE. For example, the location information of the current access point of the UE may be that of any antenna of the radio frequency unit that the UE accesses. One or more of accuracy, latitude, altitude, or direction information. These methods can also be combined in S120 of the foregoing embodiment of the present invention. For example, the positioning center may query the base station for the current access point location of the UE through a positioning protocol, and receive information about the current access point location of the UE sent by the base station. The positioning center may also determine the current access point location information of the UE according to the radio frequency unit information obtained from the UE.

[0062] Such as Figure 5 In the illustrated method for acquiring the information of the current access point location of the UE, the positioning center sends a first query request message to the base station (S510), and the first query request message is used to request to query the current access point location of the UE. Optionally, the first query request message may be an uplink positioning transmission message related to the UE (UPLINK UE ASSOCIATED LPPA TRANSPORT). The base station sends a first query response message to the positioning center, and the positioning center receives the first query response message sent by the base station (S520). The first query response message includes the location information of the current access point of the UE. Optionally, the first query response message may be a UE-related downlink positioning transmission message (DOWNLINK UE ASSOCIATED LPPA TRANSPORT).

[0063] Such as Image 6 In the method for acquiring information about the current access point location of the UE, the positioning center receives radio frequency unit information sent by the UE (S610), where the radio frequency unit information is used to indicate the radio frequency unit that the UE accesses. For example, it may be the identifier of the radio frequency unit that the UE accesses, or the index information of the radio frequency unit. Optionally, after receiving the measurement request message sent by the positioning center, the UE sends an OTDOA auxiliary information request message to the positioning center, where the OTDOA auxiliary information request message includes radio frequency unit information.

[0064] After receiving the radio frequency unit information, the positioning center can determine the current access point location of the UE according to the mapping relationship between the radio frequency unit information and the location of the access point (S620).

[0065] Preferably, the radio frequency unit information is associated with the current access point location of the UE. For example, a mapping relationship between the radio frequency unit information and the location of the access point is stored in the positioning center or an external database that can be queried by the positioning center. After the positioning center receives the radio frequency unit information, it searches according to the radio frequency unit information, and the obtained location information of the access point is the location information of the current access point of the UE.

[0066] Such as Figure 7a The mapping relationship between the radio frequency unit information and the location of the access point is shown. When there is a one-to-one relationship between radio frequency units and their numbers, the radio frequency unit information sent by the UE to the positioning center may be a unique number corresponding to each radio frequency unit. Such as Figure 7b As shown in the mapping relationship between the radio frequency unit information and the location of the access point, the numbers of radio frequency units corresponding to different cells may be the same, and the radio frequency unit information sent by the UE to the positioning center may be the number of the radio frequency unit corresponding to the radio frequency unit The combination of the cell identifier (or cell index) of the cell. In the case that the radio frequency unit information includes the radio frequency unit number and cell ID, the UE can send the complete radio frequency unit information to the positioning center in one message, or it can send the radio frequency unit number and cell ID to the positioning center through different messages. center. Those skilled in the art can understand that whether there is a one-to-one relationship between the above-mentioned radio frequency units and their numbers may be a one-to-one configuration that can be guaranteed in a certain geographic range or a certain number of base stations, rather than an infinite number of base stations or One-to-one configuration of radio frequency unit.

[0067] Optionally, before sending the radio frequency unit information, the UE first receives radio frequency unit indication information from the base station (S600). For example, when the UE accesses, it receives the radio frequency unit indication information sent by the base station. The radio frequency unit indication information is used to indicate the radio frequency unit that the UE accesses. For example, it may be the identifier of the radio frequency unit that the UE accesses, or index information, etc. . Optionally, the radio frequency unit information is carried in the system message sent by the base station, or indicated by the physical layer code of the system message sent by the base station. Wherein, the radio frequency unit indication information sent by the base station to the UE may only be the number assigned by the base station for the radio frequency unit, or it may be a combination of the number of the radio frequency unit and the cell identifier (or cell index) of the cell corresponding to the radio frequency unit. Further, the internal database of the base station or an external database that can be queried by the base station may store the mapping relationship between the indication information of the radio frequency unit and the location of the access point. It should be noted that the radio frequency unit indication information may be the radio frequency unit information, or the radio frequency unit number part in the radio frequency unit information. If the base station and the positioning center use the same method to number the radio frequency units, or the stored mapping relationship content is the same, the base station sends the radio frequency unit indication information to the UE, and the UE may send the radio frequency unit indication information to the positioning center as radio frequency unit information.

[0068] Such as Figure 8 As shown, another embodiment of the present invention provides a network device. The network device 80 includes a determining unit 801 and a transceiver unit 802. Wherein, the determining unit 801 is configured to select a reference cell according to the location information of the current access point of the UE. The transceiving unit 802 is configured to obtain the location information of the current access point of the UE when the serving cell of the UE corresponds to at least two radio frequency units, and send the information of the reference cell selected by the determining unit 802 to the UE, and receive the UE’s reference to the reference cell Measurement results. Optionally, the network-side device provided in this embodiment is suitable for a positioning method using OTDOA observation.

[0069] The transceiving unit 802 can obtain the location information of the current access point of the UE in various ways.

[0070] For example, the transceiver unit 802 is configured to query the base station for the location of the UE's current access point, and receive the location information of the UE's current access point sent by the base station. Optionally, the transceiver unit 802 may implement the above-mentioned query through a positioning protocol. For example, the transceiver unit 802 is configured to send a first query request message, the first query request message is used to request to query the location of the current access point of the UE, and the first query request message belongs to an uplink positioning transmission message related to the UE. The transceiver unit 802 is also configured to receive a first query response message sent by the base station, the first query response message includes the location information of the current access point of the UE, and the first query response message belongs to the downlink positioning transmission related to the UE news.

[0071] For another example, the transceiver unit 802 is configured to receive radio frequency unit information sent by the UE, and determine the location of the current access point of the UE according to the mapping relationship between the radio frequency unit information and the location of the access point. The radio frequency unit information indicates that the UE accesses The radio frequency unit. Optionally, the transceiver unit 802 is configured to receive an OTDOA auxiliary information request message of the positioning center, where the OTDOA auxiliary information request message includes radio frequency unit information.

[0072] Further, the determining unit 801 is further configured to determine whether the serving cell of the UE corresponds to at least two radio frequency units, and if so, trigger the transceiver unit 802 to obtain the location information of the current access point of the UE. Wherein, the determining unit 801 may implement multiple methods to determine whether the serving cell of the UE corresponds to at least two radio frequency units.

[0073] For example, the transceiver unit 802 is further configured to send a second query request message to the base station and receive a second query response message sent by the base station. The second query request message and the second query response message are positioning protocol messages. The query request message is used to request to query whether the serving cell of the UE corresponds to at least two radio frequency units, and the second query response message carries the cell identities of the cells corresponding to the at least two radio frequency units under the base station. The determining unit 801 is further configured to determine whether the cell identity carried in the second query response message includes the cell identity of the serving cell of the UE. If it is, the transceiver unit 802 is triggered. Optionally, the foregoing second query response message further includes information about the locations of the access points corresponding to the cells corresponding to the at least two radio frequency units.

[0074] For another example, the transceiver unit 802 is further configured to receive a notification message sent by a base station. The notification message is a positioning protocol message. The notification message includes the cell identity of each cell under the base station and the access point corresponding to each cell. location information. The determining unit 801 is further configured to determine the cell identities of cells corresponding to the positions of more than one access point, and determine whether these cell identities include the cell identities of the serving cell of the UE. If it is, the transceiver unit 802 is triggered.

[0075] For another example, the determining unit 801 is further configured to determine whether the correspondence between the cell and the radio frequency unit under the base station configured by OAM includes the correspondence between the serving cell of the UE and the at least two radio frequency units. If it is, the transceiver unit 802 is triggered.

[0076] The network device provided in this embodiment may be any device that locates the UE in the communication system, such as E-SMLC in the LTE system. For the actions of the positioning center that the network device provided in this embodiment can be used to implement, refer to other embodiments of the present invention, which will not be repeated here.

[0077] The network device provided in this embodiment can obtain and use the location information of the UE’s current access point to determine the reference cell, thereby avoiding the wrong selection of the UE’s neighboring cells and the positioning error of the UE, and can select a suitable reference cell. It can also complete the precise positioning of the UE.

[0078] Such as Picture 9 As shown, another embodiment of the present invention also provides a user equipment 90, including a sending unit 901, a receiving unit 902, and a measuring unit 903. The sending unit 901 is configured to send radio frequency unit information to the positioning center, and the above radio frequency unit information indicates the radio frequency unit that the UE accesses. The receiving unit 902 is configured to receive reference cell information sent by the positioning center. The reference cell is selected based on the location of the UE's current access point, and the location of the UE's current access point is determined by the positioning center based on the radio frequency unit information. The measuring unit 903 is used for measuring the reference cell, and the sending unit 901 is also used for sending the measurement result of the measuring unit 903 to the positioning center.

[0079] Optionally, the receiving unit 902 is further configured to receive information sent by the base station indicating the radio frequency unit that the UE accesses. The information sent by the base station indicating the radio frequency unit that the UE accesses is the unique identifier of the radio frequency unit that the UE accesses, or a combination of the cell identifier of the cell that the UE accesses and the identifier of the radio frequency unit.

[0080] The UE provided in this embodiment can provide the location information of the current access point to the positioning center, so that the positioning center selects a suitable reference cell to complete precise positioning of the UE.

[0081] Such as Picture 10 As shown, another embodiment of the present invention also provides a network device 100, including a processing unit 1001, configured to send the location information of the current access point of the UE to the positioning center, and the location information of the current access point of the UE is used Select the reference cell in the positioning center.

[0082] For example, the processing unit 1001 is configured to receive a first query request message sent by the positioning center, and send a first query response message to the positioning center. The first query request message is used to request to query the current access point location of the UE, and the first query request message belongs to an uplink positioning transmission message related to the UE; the first query response message includes the current access point of the UE. The location information of the entry point, and the above-mentioned first query response message belongs to a downlink positioning transmission message related to the UE.

[0083] The network device provided in this embodiment may be a base station. For the actions of the base station that the network device provided in this embodiment can be used to implement, reference may be made to other embodiments of the present invention, which will not be repeated here.

[0084] The network device provided in this embodiment can provide the location information of the current access point to the positioning center, so that the positioning center selects a suitable reference cell to complete precise positioning of the UE.

[0085] For more optional methods of applying the equipment provided in the foregoing embodiments, reference may be made to the methods provided in other embodiments of the present invention, which will not be repeated here.

[0086] Those of ordinary skill in the art can understand that all or part of the steps in the method of the above-mentioned embodiments can be implemented by a program instructing relevant hardware. The program can be stored in a computer readable storage medium. Media, such as: ROM/RAM, floppy disk, optical disk, etc.

[0087] The above are only the preferred embodiments of the present invention. It should be pointed out that for those of ordinary skill in the art, without departing from the principle of the present invention, several improvements and modifications can be made, and these improvements and modifications should also be regarded as The protection scope of the present invention.