Positioning support device and positioning support method

Abstract

To improve the success rate of satellite positioning in a roaming environment.SOLUTION: A positioning support device according to one aspect assists satellite positioning of a communication terminal connected to a communication network of a roaming destination telecommunication carrier. The positioning support device includes: an identification code acquisition unit that acquires, from the communication terminal, a cell identification code indicating a base station for which the communication terminal is in its service area; a storage unit that stores representative position data in which at least a portion of the cell identification code, regional information indicating location areas of base stations, and representative position information indicating representative locations for the respective location areas are associated; a location information acquisition unit that identifies, from the representative position data, a record including a cell identification code that partially matches the cell identification code that is acquired from the communication terminal, and acquires the representative position information included in the identified record; an assist data acquisition unit that acquires assist data including information regarding a positioning satellite corresponding to the acquired representative position information; and a transmitting unit that transmits the acquired assist data to the communication terminal.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a positioning assistance device and a positioning assistance method. [Background technology]

[0002] As communication terminals such as mobile phones become more powerful, communication terminals equipped with satellite positioning functions using satellite positioning systems such as the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) are becoming increasingly popular. When performing satellite positioning on a communication terminal, standalone positioning methods that perform positioning by receiving only radio waves from positioning satellites have problems such as long positioning times. For this reason, network-assisted methods are widely adopted, which shorten positioning times by receiving orbital information (assist data) of positioning satellites provided by a positioning assistance device and performing satellite positioning. In the network-assisted method, the positioning assistance device determines the approximate location (approximate position) of the communication terminal based on the communication area of ​​the communication terminal, and transmits assist data related to the positioning satellites corresponding to the determined approximate position to the communication terminal.

[0003] The success rate of satellite positioning depends heavily on the approximate location of the communication terminal determined by the positioning assistance device. It is generally said that satellite positioning rarely succeeds when the determined approximate location is more than 150 km away from the actual location of the communication terminal. Here, since the location information of base stations in a company's communication network is registered in a database, it is possible to easily determine the approximate location of a communication terminal connected to that base station. On the other hand, if a communication terminal is roaming to another company's communication network, it is not easy to determine the location of the base station in which the communication terminal is located. In this case, the positioning assistance device determines the approximate location of the communication terminal from limited information, such as the country information of the base station, and generates assist data, which reduces the accuracy of the assist data. A decrease in the accuracy of the assist data reduces the success rate of satellite positioning by the communication terminal.

[0004] For example, Patent Document 1 listed below is known as a technology for improving the success rate of satellite positioning in a roaming environment. Patent Document 1 describes a positioning assistance device that acquires approximate position information corresponding to the communication area of ​​a communication terminal by referring to an approximate position information DB that stores information indicating a communication area and approximate position information in association with each other, and transmits assist data corresponding to the acquired approximate position information to the communication terminal. This positioning assistance device receives positioning result information indicating the result of satellite positioning using the assist data from the communication terminal, and updates the approximate position information corresponding to the communication area based on the positioning result information. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2011-242285 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] In the positioning assistance device described in Patent Document 1, when satellite positioning using assist data is successful, approximate location information corresponding to the communication area is updated, so accurate approximate location information corresponding to the communication area can be obtained even in a roaming environment. However, when a communication terminal is in a communication area where satellite positioning has not been successful in the past, accurate approximate location information cannot be obtained, making it difficult to perform satellite positioning with a high success rate.

[0007] Therefore, an object of the present disclosure is to improve the success rate of satellite positioning in a roaming environment. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] According to one aspect, a positioning assistance device assists satellite positioning of a communication terminal connected to a communication network of a roaming telecommunications carrier. The positioning assistance device includes: an identification code acquisition unit that acquires, from the communication terminal, a cell identification code indicating a base station within the service area of ​​the communication terminal; a storage unit that stores representative position data in which at least a portion of the cell identification code, regional information indicating locations of the base stations, and representative position information indicating representative locations for each location area are associated; a location information acquisition unit that identifies, from the representative position data, a record including a cell identification code that partially matches the cell identification code acquired from the communication terminal, and acquires the representative position information included in the identified record; an assist data acquisition unit that acquires assist data including information regarding a positioning satellite corresponding to the acquired representative position information; and a transmitter that transmits the acquired assist data to the communication terminal. [Effects of the Invention]

[0009] According to the present disclosure, it is possible to improve the success rate of satellite positioning in a roaming environment. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of a positioning system according to an embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of a positioning support device according to an embodiment. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of cell learning data. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the format of ECGI. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of the representative position data. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of updated cell learning data. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a sequence chart showing a positioning method according to an embodiment. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of the positioning support device. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0011] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following description, the same or equivalent elements are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description will not be repeated.

[0012] Fig. 1 is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of a positioning system 1 according to an embodiment. As shown in Fig. 1, the positioning system 1 includes a communication terminal 2, a base station 3, a packet switching device 5, a positioning support device 10, and a packet switching device 11. The positioning support device 10 is a device that supports satellite positioning of the communication terminal 2. Satellite positioning refers to measuring accurate position information of the communication terminal 2 using a satellite positioning system such as the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS). A positioning satellite refers to an artificial satellite that constitutes the satellite positioning system.

[0013] The communication terminal 2 is a mobile terminal with communication functions, such as a tablet terminal, a smartphone, a notebook computer, or a PDA (Personal Digital Assistance). As described above, the communication terminal 2 performs communication using a base station 3 provided by a telecommunications carrier. The communication terminal 2 also has a function of performing satellite positioning using assist data including orbital information of positioning satellites.

[0014] The base station 3 provides a communication area C1 by transmitting radio waves within a specific range. A communication terminal 2 located within the communication area C1 can communicate by transmitting and receiving information via the base station 3. Each base station 3 is assigned a unique cell identification code, and it is possible to identify the base station 3 to which the communication terminal 2 is connected from this cell identification code.

[0015] The packet switching device 5 is connected to the base station 3 and controls packet communication. The packet switching device 5 is a gateway device such as an MME (Mobility Management Entity) or an AMF (Access and Mobility Management Function), and relays communication between mobile communication networks N1 and N2, which will be described later.

[0016] 1, the positioning support device 10 includes a positioning support server 12 and a database 13. The positioning support device 10 and a packet switching device 11 are included in the same mobile communication network N1, and the communication terminal 2 has a function of connecting to the mobile communication network N1.

[0017] 1, a communication terminal 2 is in a state of roaming out from a mobile communication network N1, for example, when used overseas, and is communicating by connecting to a base station 3 in a mobile communication network N2 that is different from the mobile communication network N1. That is, the base station 3 and the packet switching device 5 belong to the mobile communication network N2, and the communication terminal 2 is connected to the base station 3 of the communication carrier to which the communication terminal 2 is roaming. The positioning assistance device 10 provides assist data to the communication terminal 2 in response to a request from the communication terminal 2 that is roaming and connected to the base station 3 of the mobile communication network N2.

[0018] The communication terminal 2 performs satellite positioning using a network-assisted method. In satellite positioning, the position of the communication terminal 2 is measured using the distances from four or more positioning satellites to the communication terminal 2, and accurate position information (latitude, longitude, and altitude) of the communication terminal 2 is obtained. Therefore, to perform satellite positioning, orbital information of four or more positioning satellites existing above the communication terminal 2 is required. The positioning assistance device 10 reduces the processing time and processing load of the satellite positioning by the communication terminal 2 by providing the communication terminal 2 with assist data including the orbital information of the positioning satellites.

[0019] Orbit information of the positioning satellites is acquired from an assist data provider (not shown) that manages activation information of the positioning satellites, based on the rough position (approximate location) of the communication terminal 2. Generally, the location information of the base station 3 in which the communication terminal 2 is located is used as the approximate location of the communication terminal 2. Because the location of the base station 3 is fixed, if the location information of the base station 3 is stored in the positioning assistance device 10, the rough location of the communication terminal 2 connected to the communication area in which the communication terminal 2 is located can be identified.

[0020] If the base station 3 belongs to the mobile communication network N1, the position information of the base station 3 is available, and thus the assist data can be easily acquired. However, if the communication terminal 2 is roaming out, the base station 3 in which the communication terminal 2 is located is installed by another mobile communication network N2, and therefore the accurate position information of the base station 3 is not stored in the database 13 of the mobile communication network N1. Therefore, if the approximate position of the communication terminal is acquired based on information provided by the communication terminal 2 (for example, information identifying the country in which the communication terminal 2 is located and the communication carrier), the difference between the approximate position of the communication terminal 2 and the actual position will be large, and therefore, if satellite positioning is performed using this approximate position information, the success rate of the satellite positioning will be low. The following description will explain a positioning assistance device 10 that can improve the success rate of satellite positioning.

[0021] As described above, the positioning assistance device 10 includes the positioning assistance server 12 and the database 13. The positioning assistance server 12 has a function of transmitting assist data to the communication terminal 2 in response to a request from the communication terminal 2.

[0022] Packet switching device 11 controls packet communication between mobile communication networks N1 and N2. Packet switching device 11 is a gateway device such as an MME (Mobility Management Entity) or AMF (Access and Mobility Management Function), and has the function of connecting mobile communication networks N1 and N2. A communication terminal 2 located in the range of a base station 3 belonging to mobile communication network N2 communicates with various devices belonging to mobile communication network N1 via packet switching device 5 and packet switching device 11. Packet switching device 11 relays signals between communication terminal 2 and devices belonging to mobile communication network N1.

[0023] The positioning support device 10 and the packet switching device 11 are connected by wired communication, and the communication terminal 2 and the base station 3 are connected by wireless communication.

[0024] 2 is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of the positioning support server 12. The positioning support server 12 is a computer or workstation equipped with a processor, a storage device, a communication device, etc. The positioning support server 12, for example, loads a program stored in the storage device and executes the loaded program on the processor, thereby realizing various functions described below.

[0025] 2, the positioning assistance server 12 includes a data acquisition unit 21, an identification code acquisition unit 22, a location information acquisition unit 23, an assist data acquisition unit 24, a transmission unit 25, a positioning result acquisition unit 26, a learning unit 27, and a storage unit 28. In FIG. 2, the data acquisition unit 21, the identification code acquisition unit 22, the location information acquisition unit 23, the assist data acquisition unit 24, the transmission unit 25, the positioning result acquisition unit 26, the learning unit 27, and the storage unit 28 are realized by a single positioning assistance server 12, but these functional elements may be distributed and arranged in multiple devices. For example, the positioning assistance device 10 may include a learning server separate from the positioning assistance server 12, and the learning server may have the function of the learning unit 27.

[0026] The data acquiring unit 21 accesses the database 13 and periodically acquires the cell learning data D1 and the representative position data D2 stored in the database 13. Fig. 3 shows an example of the cell learning data D1. As shown in Fig. 3, the cell learning data D1 associates a cell identification code indicating a base station with the position information of the base station.

[0027] The cell identification code is an identifier for identifying a base station. The cell identification code is, for example, the E-UTRAN Cell Global Identifier (ECGI) used in the LTE (Long Term Evolution) standard, or the NR Cell Global Identifier (NCGI) used in the 5G standard. FIG. 4 shows the format of the ECGI. As shown in FIG. 4, the ECGI includes a Mobile Country Code (MCC) indicating a country name, a Mobile Network Code (MNC) indicating a telecommunications carrier, and an E-UTRAN Cell Identifier (ECI) indicating a base station 3. The MCC and MNC are 12-bit identification codes. The ECI is a 28-bit identification code including an eNB ID and a Cell ID indicating a base station. That is, the ECGI is a 52-bit identification code including country information, telecommunications carrier information, and base station information.

[0028] For ease of explanation, the identification code is expressed in eight-digit binary notation in Figure 3. In the following explanation, it is assumed that the first two digits of the eight-digit cell identification code are country information indicating the country, the next two digits are telecommunications carrier information indicating the telecommunications carrier, the next two digits are area information indicating the area where the base station is located, and the last two digits are base station information indicating the base station.

[0029] The location information in the cell learning data D1 indicates the location of the base station 3. For example, the location information includes the latitude, longitude, and altitude of the base station 3 and is associated with a cell identification code. The location information of the base station can be obtained, for example, by inquiring of the telecommunications carrier that manages the base station 3. However, since only a limited number of telecommunications carriers provide the location information of the base station 3, it is not easy to register the accurate location information of the base station 3 in the cell learning data D1. Therefore, the cell learning data D1 registers location information of a communication terminal that was previously measured by satellite positioning performed within the same cell.

[0030] On the other hand, if satellite positioning has never been performed in a cell with the same cell ID in the past, the position information of the base station 3 is not registered in the cell learning data D1. In this case, the positioning assistance server 12 acquires a representative position using the representative position data D2 and generates assist data corresponding to the representative position. In other words, the representative position data D2 is used when the position information of the base station 3 is not registered in the cell learning data D1.

[0031] FIG. 5 shows an example of the representative location data D2. As shown in FIG. 5, the representative location data D2 includes at least a portion of a cell identification code, country information indicating the country name, communication carrier information indicating the communication carrier, area information indicating the location area of ​​the base station, and representative location information indicating the representative location for each location area. The representative location data D2 is registered by the administrator of the mobile communication network N1. Unlike the cell learning data D1, the representative location data D2 stores only a portion of the cell identification code. The "*" in the cell identification code shown in FIG. 5 indicates an arbitrary code (numerical value). As described above, "including a portion of the cell identification code" means that a portion of the cell identification code stored in the representative location data D2 is an arbitrary code. Note that the representative location data D2 may include all digits of the cell identification code. The country information and communication carrier information of the base station corresponding to the cell identification code can be obtained by querying a management database (not shown) for subscriber information.

[0032] As described above, if location information of the base station 3 is not provided by other telecommunications carriers, it is difficult to register accurate location information of the base station 3. However, since cell identification codes are generally assigned according to a specific rule, it is often possible to estimate the general area where the base station 3 is installed from the cell identification code. Note that an area refers to a geographical area within a country.

[0033] If there is a regularity as described above, the telecommunications carrier of the mobile communication network N1 registers the country information, telecommunications carrier information, and region information corresponding to the cell identification code in the representative location data D2 based on that regularity. For example, if the cell identification code is "1010 10**," "JP," corresponding to the "10" in the first and second digits of the cell identification code, is registered as the country information, "telecommunications carrier A," corresponding to the "10" in the third and fourth digits of the cell identification code, is registered as the telecommunications carrier information, and "Tohoku region," corresponding to the "10" in the fifth and sixth digits of the cell identification code, is registered as the region information. As shown in FIG. 5, in the representative location data D2, multiple region information may be associated with one telecommunications carrier. For example, "telecommunications carrier A" is associated with different region information, "Tohoku region" and "Kyushu region."

[0034] Furthermore, the representative position data D2 registers a representative position for each region. The representative position is a geographical position within the location area identified by the region information. For example, in the example shown in FIG. 5, the "Tohoku region" and the "Kyushu region" are associated with (X4, Y4, Z4) and (X5, Y5, Z5), respectively. For example, the representative position is the position of a landmark present in the region. Note that the representative position may also be the position of a branch office of a telecommunications carrier present in the region. As described above, multiple pieces of region information are associated with one telecommunications carrier.

[0035] To perform satellite positioning, communication terminal 2 transmits an assist data request requesting the transmission of assist data to positioning assistance server 12 via base station 3, packet switching device 5 of mobile communication network N2, and packet switching device 11 of mobile communication network N1. The assist data request includes a cell identification code indicating the base station 3 within the coverage area of ​​communication terminal 2. Identification code acquisition unit 22 acquires the cell identification code from communication terminal 2 within the coverage area of ​​base station 3 of mobile communication network N2.

[0036] When the location information acquisition unit 23 acquires a cell identification code from the communication terminal 2, it searches for the cell identification code from the cell learning data D1. If the cell learning data D1 contains a record including a cell identification code that is identical (matches) the cell identification code acquired from the communication terminal 2, the location information acquisition unit 23 extracts the record from the cell learning data D1 and acquires the location information of the base station 3 included in the extracted record. For example, if the cell identification code received from the communication terminal 2 is "0000 1100", the location information acquisition unit 23 acquires the location information (X1, Y1, Z1) of the base station 3 from the cell learning data D1 shown in FIG. 3.

[0037] On the other hand, if the same cell identification code as the cell identification code acquired from the communication terminal 2 does not exist in the cell learning data D1, it is not possible to acquire accurate location information of the base station 3. Therefore, the location information acquisition unit 23 acquires the representative position of the area where the base station 3 is located from the representative position data D2. For example, the location information acquisition unit 23 identifies a record from the representative position data D2 that includes a cell identification code that partially matches the cell identification code acquired from the communication terminal 2, and acquires the representative position included in that record.

[0038] As described above, when the cell identification code includes country information, telecommunications carrier information, region information, and base station information, including a cell identification code that partially matches the cell identification code received from the communication terminal 2 means that the country information, telecommunications carrier information, and region information of the cell identification code received from the communication terminal 2 match the country information, telecommunications carrier information, and region information of the cell identification code registered in the representative location data D2. For example, when the cell identification code received from the communication terminal 2 is "1011 0011," the location information acquisition unit 23 acquires, from the representative location data D2, the representative location information (X6, Y6, Z6) included in a record that includes the cell identification code "1011 00**" that partially matches the identification code.

[0039] The assist data acquisition unit 24 acquires assist data using the position information or representative position information of the base station 3 acquired by the position information acquisition unit 23. That is, if the cell identification code identical to the cell identification code acquired from the communication terminal 2 is present in the cell learning data D1, the assist data acquisition unit 24 acquires assist data using the position information of the base station 3 as approximate position information. If the cell learning data D1 does not contain the same cell identification code as the cell identification code acquired from the communication terminal 2 and the representative position data D2 contains a cell identification code that partially matches the cell identification code acquired from the communication terminal 2, the assist data acquisition unit 24 acquires assist data using the representative position of the area where the base station 3 is located as approximate position information. The assist data acquisition unit 24 acquires assist data corresponding to the position information or representative position information from an assist data provider that manages the activation information of positioning satellites. The assist data includes orbit information of the positioning satellites corresponding to the position information or representative position information.

[0040] The transmitter 25 transmits the assist data acquired by the assist data acquirer 24 to the communication terminal 2. Upon receiving the assist data, the communication terminal 2 receives signals from four or more positioning satellites identified by the assist data and identifies the position of the communication terminal 2.

[0041] The positioning result acquisition unit 26 acquires information indicating the positioning result using the assist data from the communication terminal 2. The information indicating the positioning result includes information indicating whether the satellite positioning was successful. If the satellite positioning was successful, the positioning result acquisition unit 26 acquires the location information of the communication terminal 2 acquired by the satellite positioning.

[0042] When satellite positioning using assist data acquired using the representative position is successful, the learning unit 27 updates the cell learning data D1 using the position information of the communication terminal 2. For example, the learning unit 27 adds to the cell learning data D1 a record in which the cell identification code received from the communication terminal 2 is associated with the position information of the communication terminal 2 acquired by satellite positioning. For example, if the cell identification code received from the communication terminal 2 is "1011 0011" and the position information of the communication terminal 2 acquired by satellite positioning is (X7, Y7, Z7), as shown in FIG. 6 , the learning unit 27 accesses the database 13 and adds a record including the cell identification code "1011 0011" to the cell learning data D1 of the database 13. This makes it possible to provide accurate assist data to another communication terminal when an assist data request signal is received from the other communication terminal connected to the base station with the cell identification code "1011 0011."

[0043] Next, a positioning method according to an embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 7. Fig. 7 is a sequence chart showing a positioning method according to an embodiment. The positioning method shown in Fig. 7 is executed using the positioning system 1 described above.

[0044] 7, in the positioning method according to one embodiment, first, the data acquiring unit 21 of the positioning assistance server 12 requests the database 13 for cell learning data D1 and representative position data D2 (step ST1). In response to the request from the positioning assistance server 12, the database 13 transmits the cell learning data D1 and representative position data D2 to the positioning assistance server 12 (step ST2). The data acquiring unit 21 stores the received cell learning data D1 and representative position data D2 in the storage unit 28 (step ST3). Note that the data acquiring unit 21 periodically requests the database 13 for the cell learning data D1 and representative position data D2, and updates the cell learning data D1 and representative position data D2 stored in the storage unit 28.

[0045] Next, in order to perform satellite positioning, the communication terminal 2 transmits an assist data request to the positioning assistance server 12, requesting the transmission of assist data (step ST4). Here, the assist data request transmitted to the positioning assistance server 12 includes the cell identification code of the base station 3 within the coverage area of ​​the communication terminal 2. The cell identification code is an identification code, such as ECGI or NCGI, for identifying the base station 3 to which the communication terminal 2 is connected, and includes country information, communication carrier information, and base station information. The identification code acquisition unit 22 receives the assist data request transmitted from the communication terminal 2.

[0046] Next, the location information acquisition unit 23 searches the cell learning data D1 (step ST5) and determines whether or not there is a record including a cell identification code that is identical (matches) with the cell identification code of the base station 3 (step ST6). If the cell learning data D1 includes a cell identification code that is identical with the cell identification code of the base station 3, the location information acquisition unit 23 acquires the location information of the base station 3 that corresponds to the cell identification code from the cell learning data D1 (step ST7).

[0047] On the other hand, if the cell learning data D1 does not contain a record including the same cell identification code as the cell identification code of the base station 3, the location information acquisition unit 23 searches the representative position data D2 (step ST8) and determines whether or not the representative position data D2 contains a record including a cell identification code that partially matches the cell identification code of the base station 3 (step ST9).If the representative position data D2 contains a record including a cell identification code that partially matches the cell identification code of the base station 3, the location information acquisition unit 23 identifies a record including a cell identification code that partially matches the cell identification code of the base station 3 from the representative position data D2, and acquires the representative position information contained in the identified record (step ST10).

[0048] On the other hand, the process ends if the representative location data D2 does not contain a record containing a cell identification code that partially matches the cell identification code of the base station 3. Note that if the representative location data D2 does not contain a record containing a cell identification code that partially matches the cell identification code of the base station 3, the representative location set for each country may be acquired as approximate location information.

[0049] When the position information or representative position information of the base station 3 is acquired by the position information acquisition unit 23, the assist data acquisition unit 24 acquires assist data using the position information or representative position information of the base station 3 as approximate position information (step ST11). For example, the assist data acquisition unit 24 acquires assist data corresponding to the position information or representative position information from an assist data provider that manages startup information of positioning satellites.

[0050] Next, the transmitter 25 transmits the acquired assist data to the communication terminal 2 (step ST12). The assist data transmitted to the communication terminal 2 includes the position information of the base station 3 or the orbital information of four or more positioning satellites that exist above the position corresponding to the representative position information.

[0051] Upon receiving the assist data, the communication terminal 2 performs satellite positioning using the received assist data (step ST13). For example, the communication terminal 2 measures accurate position information (latitude, longitude, and altitude) of the communication terminal 2 using the distances between the communication terminal 2 and four or more positioning satellites included in the assist data.

[0052] After performing satellite positioning, the communication terminal 2 transmits information indicating the result of the satellite positioning to the positioning assistance server 12 (step ST14). The information indicating the result of the satellite positioning includes information indicating whether the satellite positioning was successful. If the satellite positioning was successful, the information indicating the result of the satellite positioning further includes the location information of the communication terminal 2 obtained by the satellite positioning.

[0053] The positioning result acquisition unit 26 acquires information indicating the result of the satellite positioning from the communication terminal 2 and determines whether the satellite positioning has been successful (step ST15). If the satellite positioning by the communication terminal 2 has been successful, the learning unit 27 transmits update data, in which the cell identification code of the base station 3 received from the communication terminal 2 is associated with the location information of the communication terminal 2, to the database 13 (step ST16). Based on the received update data, the database 13 adds a record, in which the cell identification code of the base station 3 is associated with the location information of the communication terminal 2, to the cell learning data D1, and updates the cell learning data D1 (step ST17).

[0054] On the other hand, if satellite positioning fails, it is assumed that the accuracy of the position information or representative position information of the base station 3 was low. In this case, the series of processes ends without updating the cell learning data D1.

[0055] As described above, the positioning assistance device 10 acquires a representative position corresponding to the area where the base station 3 is located based on a partial match between the cell identification code received from the communication terminal 2 and the cell identification code stored in the representative position data D2, and transmits assist data corresponding to the representative position to the communication terminal 2. Because the cell identification code is assigned according to a specific rule, even if the exact location of the base station 3 is unknown from the cell identification code, the approximate area where the base station 3 is installed can be estimated from the cell identification code. It is generally said that satellite positioning is rarely successful when the determined approximate location is more than 150 km away from the actual location of the communication terminal. In contrast, the positioning assistance device 10 acquires assist data using the representative position of the area where the base station 3 is estimated to be installed as the approximate location, thereby improving the success rate of satellite positioning using the assist data.

[0056] Furthermore, the positioning assistance device 10 searches for representative position data D2 when the cell learning data D1 does not contain a cell identification code that matches the cell identification code of the base station 3. By preferentially using the information in the cell learning data D1 in which accurate position information of the base station is registered, the success rate of satellite positioning of the communication terminal 2 can be improved.

[0057] Furthermore, when satellite positioning using assist data acquired using the representative position information is successful, the positioning assistance device 10 adds a record associating the cell identification code of the base station 3 with the position information of the communication terminal 2 to the cell learning data D1, thereby updating the cell learning data D1. As a result, when an assist data request signal is received from another communication terminal connected to the same base station 3, assist data using highly accurate position information can be provided to the other communication terminal. This makes it possible to improve the success rate of satellite positioning of the communication terminal 2.

[0058] The block diagrams used to explain the above embodiments show functional blocks. These functional blocks (components) are realized by any combination of hardware and / or software. Furthermore, the method for realizing each functional block is not particularly limited. That is, each functional block may be realized using a single device that is physically or logically coupled, or may be realized using two or more physically or logically separated devices that are connected directly or indirectly (for example, by wire, wirelessly, etc.) and these multiple devices. The functional block may also be realized by combining the single device or multiple devices with software.

[0059] Functions include, but are not limited to, judgment, determination, discrimination, calculation, computation, processing, derivation, investigation, search, confirmation, reception, transmission, output, access, resolution, selection, selection, establishment, comparison, assumption, expectation, consideration, broadcasting, notifying, communicating, forwarding, configuring, reconfiguring, allocating, mapping, and assignment. For example, a functional block (component) that performs transmission is called a transmitting unit or transmitter. As mentioned above, there are no particular limitations on how these functions are implemented.

[0060] 8 is a diagram showing an example of the hardware configuration of the above-mentioned positioning support device 10. The above-mentioned positioning support device 10 may be physically configured as a computer device including a processor 1001, a memory 1002, a storage 1003, a communication device 1004, an input device 1005, an output device 1006, a bus 1007, etc.

[0061] In the following description, the term "apparatus" can be interpreted as a circuit, a device, a unit, etc. The hardware configuration of the positioning assistance apparatus 10 may be configured to include one or more of the apparatuses shown in the drawings, or may be configured to exclude some of the apparatuses.

[0062] Each function in the positioning assistance device 10 is realized by loading predetermined software (programs) onto hardware such as the processor 1001 and memory 1002, causing the processor 1001 to perform calculations, control communication via the communication device 1004, and control at least one of reading and writing data in the memory 1002 and storage 1003.

[0063] The processor 1001 controls the entire computer by running, for example, an operating system, and may be configured as a central processing unit (CPU) including an interface with peripheral devices, a control device, an arithmetic unit, a register, etc.

[0064] The processor 1001 also reads programs (program codes), software modules, data, etc. from at least one of the storage 1003 and the communication device 1004 into the memory 1002 and executes various processes in accordance with the programs. The programs used are those that cause a computer to execute at least some of the operations described in the above-described embodiments. For example, at least one of the functional units of the positioning assistance device 10 may be implemented by a control program stored in the memory 1002 and running on the processor 1001, and similar implementations may be made for other functional blocks. While the above-described various processes have been described as being executed by one processor 1001, they may also be executed simultaneously or sequentially by two or more processors 1001. The processor 1001 may be implemented by one or more chips. The programs may also be transmitted from a network via a telecommunications line.

[0065] The memory 1002 is a computer-readable recording medium and may be configured, for example, by at least one of a read-only memory (ROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), an electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), a random access memory (RAM), etc. The memory 1002 may also be called a register, a cache, a main memory (primary storage device), etc. The memory 1002 can store executable programs (program codes), software modules, etc. for implementing the accompanying determination method according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0066] Storage 1003 is a computer-readable recording medium, and may be, for example, at least one of an optical disk such as a CD-ROM (Compact Disc ROM), a hard disk drive, a flexible disk, a magneto-optical disk (e.g., a compact disk, a digital versatile disk, a Blu-ray disc), a smart card, a flash memory (e.g., a card, a stick, a key drive), a floppy disk, a magnetic strip, etc. Storage 1003 may also be referred to as an auxiliary storage device. The above-mentioned storage medium may be, for example, a database, a server, or other appropriate medium including at least one of memory 1002 and storage 1003.

[0067] The communication device 1004 is hardware (transmission / reception device) for communicating between computers via at least one of a wired network and a wireless network, and is also referred to as, for example, a network device, a network controller, a network card, or a communication module. The communication device 1004 may be configured to include a high-frequency switch, a duplexer, a filter, a frequency synthesizer, etc. to realize at least one of frequency division duplex (FDD) and time division duplex (TDD). For example, the above-mentioned dialogue unit 101 and the like may be realized by the communication device 1004. The communication device 1004 may be implemented with a transmitter and a receiver that are physically or logically separated from each other.

[0068] The input device 1005 is an input device (for example, a keyboard, a mouse, a microphone, a switch, a button, a sensor, etc.) that receives input from the outside. The output device 1006 is an output device (for example, a display, a speaker, an LED lamp, etc.) that outputs to the outside. The input device 1005 and the output device 1006 may be integrated into one device (for example, a touch panel).

[0069] Furthermore, each device, such as the processor 1001 and the memory 1002, is connected by a bus 1007 for communicating information. The bus 1007 may be configured using a single bus, or may be configured using different buses between each device.

[0070] The positioning assistance device 10 may also be configured to include hardware such as a microprocessor, a digital signal processor (DSP), an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a programmable logic device (PLD), or a field programmable gate array (FPGA), and some or all of the functional blocks may be realized by the hardware. For example, the processor 1001 may be implemented using at least one of these pieces of hardware.

[0071] The notification of information is not limited to the aspects / embodiments described in the present disclosure and may be performed using other methods. For example, the notification of information may be performed by physical layer signaling (e.g., Downlink Control Information (DCI), Uplink Control Information (UCI)), higher layer signaling (e.g., Radio Resource Control (RRC) signaling, Medium Access Control (MAC) signaling, broadcast information (Master Information Block (MIB), System Information Block (SIB))), other signals, or a combination thereof. Furthermore, the RRC signaling may be referred to as an RRC message, and may be, for example, an RRC Connection Setup message, an RRC Connection Reconfiguration message, or the like.

[0072] The order of the procedures, sequences, flowcharts, etc. of each aspect / embodiment described in this disclosure may be changed unless it is consistent. For example, the methods described in this disclosure present elements of various steps using an example order, and are not limited to the particular order presented.

[0073] Input and output information may be stored in a specific location (for example, memory) or may be managed using a management table. Input and output information may be overwritten, updated, or added to. Output information may be deleted. Input information may be sent to another device.

[0074] The determination may be made based on a value represented by one bit (0 or 1), a Boolean value (true or false), or a numerical comparison (e.g., comparison with a predetermined value).

[0075] Each aspect / embodiment described in this disclosure may be used alone, in combination, or switched depending on the implementation. Furthermore, notification of predetermined information (e.g., notification that "X is true") is not limited to being done explicitly, but may be done implicitly (e.g., by not notifying the predetermined information).

[0076] Although the present disclosure has been described in detail above, it is clear to those skilled in the art that the present disclosure is not limited to the embodiments described herein. The present disclosure can be implemented in modified and altered forms without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure as defined by the claims. Therefore, the description of the present disclosure is intended to be illustrative and does not have any limiting meaning on the present disclosure.

[0077] Software shall be construed broadly to mean instructions, instruction sets, code, code segments, program code, programs, subprograms, software modules, applications, software applications, software packages, routines, subroutines, objects, executable files, threads of execution, procedures, functions, etc., whether referred to as software, firmware, middleware, microcode, hardware description language, or otherwise.

[0078] Software, instructions, information, etc. may also be transmitted or received over a transmission medium. For example, if software is transmitted from a website, server, or other remote source using wired technologies (such as coaxial cable, fiber optic cable, twisted pair, Digital Subscriber Line (DSL)), and / or wireless technologies (such as infrared, microwave), these wired and / or wireless technologies are included within the definition of transmission media.

[0079] The information, signals, etc. described in this disclosure may be represented using any of a variety of different technologies. For example, data, instructions, commands, information, signals, bits, symbols, chips, etc. that may be referred to throughout the above description may be represented by voltages, currents, electromagnetic waves, magnetic fields or magnetic particles, optical fields or photons, or any combination thereof.

[0080] Note that terms explained in this disclosure and terms necessary for understanding this disclosure may be replaced with terms having the same or similar meanings. For example, at least one of a channel and a symbol may be a signal (signaling). Furthermore, a signal may be a message. Furthermore, a component carrier (CC) may be called a carrier frequency, a cell, a frequency carrier, etc.

[0081] Furthermore, the information, parameters, etc. described in the present disclosure may be expressed using absolute values, may be expressed using relative values ​​from a predetermined value, or may be expressed using other corresponding information. For example, a radio resource may be indicated by an index.

[0082] The names used for the above-described parameters are not intended to be limiting in any way. Furthermore, the mathematical expressions using these parameters may differ from those explicitly disclosed in this disclosure. The various channels (e.g., PUCCH, PDCCH, etc.) and information elements may be identified by any suitable names, and therefore the various names assigned to these various channels and information elements are not intended to be limiting in any way.

[0083] In this disclosure, the terms "Mobile Station (MS)," "user terminal," "User Equipment (UE)," "terminal," etc. may be used interchangeably.

[0084] A mobile station may also be referred to by those skilled in the art as a subscriber station, mobile unit, subscriber unit, wireless unit, remote unit, mobile device, wireless device, wireless communication device, remote device, mobile subscriber station, access terminal, mobile terminal, wireless terminal, remote terminal, handset, user agent, mobile client, client, or some other suitable terminology.

[0085] As used in this disclosure, the terms "determining" and "determining" may encompass a wide variety of actions. "Determining" and "determining" may include, for example, judging, calculating, computing, processing, deriving, investigating, looking up, searching, inquiring (e.g., searching in a table, database, or other data structure), ascertaining, and the like. "Determining" and "determining" may also include receiving (e.g., receiving information), transmitting (e.g., sending information), input, output, accessing (e.g., accessing data in memory), and the like. Furthermore, "judgment" and "decision" can include regarding resolving, selecting, choosing, establishing, comparing, etc. as having been "judged" or "decided." In other words, "judgment" and "decision" can include regarding some action as having been "judged" or "decided." Furthermore, "judgment (decision)" can be interpreted as "assuming," "expecting," "considering," etc.

[0086] The terms "connected," "coupled," or any variation thereof, refer to any direct or indirect connection or coupling between two or more elements, and may include the presence of one or more intermediate elements between two elements that are "connected" or "coupled" to each other. The coupling or connection between elements may be physical, logical, or a combination thereof. For example, "connected" may be read as "access." As used in this disclosure, two elements may be considered to be "connected" or "coupled" to each other using one or more wires, cables, and / or printed electrical connections, as well as electromagnetic energy having wavelengths in the radio frequency range, microwave range, and optical (both visible and invisible) range, as some non-limiting and non-exhaustive examples.

[0087] As used in this disclosure, the phrase "based on" does not mean "based only on," unless expressly stated otherwise. In other words, the phrase "based on" means both "based only on" and "based at least on."

[0088] Any reference to an element using a designation such as "first," "second," etc., used in this disclosure does not generally limit the quantity or order of those elements. These designations may be used in this disclosure as a convenient way to distinguish between two or more elements. Thus, a reference to a first and a second element does not imply that only two elements may be employed or that the first element must in some way precede the second element.

[0089] When used in this disclosure, the terms "include," "including," and variations thereof are intended to be inclusive, similar to the term "comprising." Furthermore, when used in this disclosure, the term "or" is not intended to be an exclusive or.

[0090] In this disclosure, where articles are added by translation, such as a, an, and the in English, the disclosure may include that the nouns following these articles are in the plural form.

[0091] In the present disclosure, the term "A and B are different" may mean "A and B are different from each other." The term may also mean "A and B are each different from C." Terms such as "separate" and "coupled" may also be interpreted in the same way as "different."

[0092] The positioning assistance device 10 and the positioning assistance method of the present disclosure may have the following configuration.

[0093] [1] A positioning support device that supports satellite positioning of a communication terminal connected to a communication network of a roaming communication carrier, an identification code acquisition unit that acquires, from the communication terminal, a cell identification code that indicates a base station in which the communication terminal is located; a storage unit that stores representative position data in which at least a portion of the cell identification code, area information indicating an area where the base station is located, and representative position information indicating a representative position for each of the area where the base station is located are associated with each other; a location information acquisition unit that identifies a record including the cell identification code that partially matches the cell identification code acquired from the communication terminal from the representative location data, and acquires the representative location information included in the identified record; an assist data acquisition unit that acquires assist data including information about a positioning satellite corresponding to the acquired representative position information; a transmitting unit that transmits the acquired assist data to the communication terminal; A positioning assistance device comprising:

[0094] [2] The positioning support device described in [1], wherein the cell identification code is an E-UTRAN Cell Global Identifier (ECGI) or an NR Cell Global Identifier (NCGI).

[0095] [3] The storage unit further stores cell learning data in which the cell identification code and location information of the base station are associated with each other; The positioning support device described in [1] or [2], wherein the location information acquisition unit acquires the representative location information from the representative location data when the cell identification code matching the cell identification code acquired from the communication terminal does not exist in the cell learning data.

[0096] [4] a positioning result acquisition unit that receives, from the communication terminal, position information of the communication terminal acquired by satellite positioning using the assist data; and a learning unit that adds to the cell learning data a record in which the cell identification code received from the communication terminal and location information of the communication terminal are associated with each other; The positioning assistance device according to claim [3], further comprising:

[0097] [5] A positioning support device described in any one of [1] to [4], wherein the representative position data further includes information indicating a telecommunications carrier that manages the base station, and multiple representative positions are associated with one telecommunications carrier.

[0098] [6] A positioning support method for supporting satellite positioning of a communication terminal connected to a communication network of a roaming destination communication carrier, comprising: acquiring, from the communication terminal, a cell identification code indicating a base station in which the communication terminal is located; a step of referring to a storage unit that stores representative position data in which at least a portion of the cell identification code, regional information indicating a location area of ​​a base station, and representative position information indicating a representative position for each location area are associated, identifying a record from the representative position data that includes the cell identification code that partially matches the cell identification code acquired from the communication terminal, and acquiring the representative position information included in the identified record; acquiring assist data including information about a positioning satellite corresponding to the acquired representative position information; transmitting the acquired assist data to the communication terminal; A positioning assistance method comprising:

[0099] [7] The storage unit further stores cell learning data in which the cell identification code and location information of the base station are associated with each other; The positioning support method described in [6], wherein when the cell identification code that matches the cell identification code acquired from the communication terminal does not exist in the cell learning data, the representative location information is acquired from the representative location data.

[0100] [8] receiving, from the communication terminal, location information of the communication terminal acquired by satellite positioning using the assist data; adding a record in which the cell identification code received from the communication terminal and location information of the communication terminal are associated with each other to the cell learning data; The positioning assistance method according to claim [7], further comprising: [Explanation of symbols]

[0101] 2...communication terminal, 3...base station, 10...positioning assistance device, 24...assist data acquisition unit, 25...transmission unit, 27...learning unit, 28...storage unit, D1...cell learning data, D2...representative position data.

Claims

1. A positioning support device that supports satellite positioning of a communication terminal connected to a communication network of a roaming destination communication carrier, an identification code acquisition unit that acquires, from the communication terminal, a cell identification code that indicates a base station in which the communication terminal is located; a storage unit that stores representative position data in which at least a portion of the cell identification code, area information indicating an area where the base station is located, and representative position information indicating a representative position for each of the area where the base station is located are associated with each other; a location information acquisition unit that identifies a record including the cell identification code that partially matches the cell identification code acquired from the communication terminal from the representative location data, and acquires the representative location information included in the identified record; an assist data acquisition unit that acquires assist data including information about a positioning satellite corresponding to the acquired representative position information; a transmitting unit that transmits the acquired assist data to the communication terminal; A positioning assistance device comprising:

2. The positioning assistance device according to claim 1 , wherein the cell identification code is an E-UTRAN Cell Global Identifier (ECGI) or an NR Cell Global Identifier (NCGI).

3. the storage unit further stores cell learning data in which the cell identification code is associated with location information of the base station; The positioning support device according to claim 1, wherein the location information acquisition unit acquires the representative location information from the representative location data when the cell identification code that matches the cell identification code acquired from the communication terminal does not exist in the cell learning data.

4. a positioning result acquisition unit that receives, from the communication terminal, position information of the communication terminal acquired by satellite positioning using the assist data; a learning unit that adds to the cell learning data a record in which the cell identification code received from the communication terminal and location information of the communication terminal are associated with each other; The positioning assistance device according to claim 3 , further comprising:

5. The positioning support device according to claim 1 , wherein the representative position data further includes information indicating a telecommunications carrier that manages the base station, and a plurality of representative positions are associated with one telecommunications carrier.

6. A positioning support method for supporting satellite positioning of a communication terminal connected to a communication network of a roaming destination communication carrier, comprising: acquiring, from the communication terminal, a cell identification code indicating a base station in which the communication terminal is located; a step of referring to a storage unit that stores representative position data in which at least a portion of the cell identification code, regional information indicating a location area of ​​a base station, and representative position information indicating a representative position for each location area are associated, identifying a record from the representative position data that includes the cell identification code that partially matches the cell identification code acquired from the communication terminal, and acquiring the representative position information included in the identified record; acquiring assist data including information about a positioning satellite corresponding to the acquired representative position information; transmitting the acquired assist data to the communication terminal; A positioning assistance method comprising:

7. the storage unit further stores cell learning data in which the cell identification code is associated with location information of the base station; The positioning support method according to claim 6, wherein when the cell identification code that matches the cell identification code acquired from the communication terminal does not exist in the cell learning data, the representative location information is acquired from the representative location data.

8. receiving, from the communication terminal, location information of the communication terminal acquired by satellite positioning using the assist data; adding a record in which the cell identification code received from the communication terminal and location information of the communication terminal are associated with each other to the cell learning data; The method of claim 7 further comprising:

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