5G Positioning Pulse Allocation for Low-Power TOA Localization

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Solution Overview

Problem

High power consumption in terminal devices due to the need for real-time RRC connection for high-precision positioning in 5G networks, such as UTDOA and OTDOA, and the lack of efficient positioning methods in idle or inactive modes.

Innovation Solution

A positioning method involving interactions between a positioning terminal, at least three network devices, and an LMF to perform clock synchronization and resource allocation without requiring an RRC connection, allowing the terminal to send positioning pulses periodically and enter a dormant state to reduce power consumption.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If the terminal device maintains a real-time RRC connection to a network device for positioning, then positioning precision is improved, but power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepositioning precisionVSAvoidpower consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The terminal device transmits positioning pulses periodically at predetermined intervals rather than maintaining continuous RRC connection. This periodic transmission approach allows the terminal to achieve positioning functionality while entering dormant states between transmissions, significantly reducing power consumption compared to continuous connection methods.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The invention extracts the essential positioning function from the continuous RRC connection framework. By separating the positioning pulse transmission from the continuous connection maintenance, the terminal can perform positioning operations without sustaining full RRC connection, thus reducing power consumption while preserving positioning precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Use of energy by moving object

If the terminal device transmits positioning pulses periodically without RRC connection, then power consumption is reduced, but information exchange complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower consumptionVSAvoidinformation exchange complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The network device performs preliminary actions by allocating positioning resources and configuring transmission parameters before the terminal needs to send positioning pulses. This pre-configuration eliminates the need for complex real-time negotiation during pulse transmission, simplifying the information exchange process while maintaining low power consumption operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The LMF (Location Management Function) acts as an intermediary that coordinates between the terminal device and network devices. It manages the positioning resource allocation, TOA (Time of Arrival) measurement coordination, and location calculation, thereby simplifying the information exchange complexity between the terminal and network while enabling periodic low-power operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP4236505B1Location method and communication apparatus
Publication Date: 2026.01.28 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD
  • EP4236505B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4236505B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP4236505B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

This application discloses a positioning method and a communication apparatus, and relates to the field of communication technologies. After receiving a first message from a network device, a positioning terminal sends access request information to the network device based on the first message. The network device receives first request information, and sends the access request information to a location management function LMF. The LMF determines, based on the access request information, positioning resource allocation information needed for the positioning terminal, and sends the positioning resource allocation information to the network device. The network device sends the positioning resource allocation information to the positioning terminal, to enable the positioning terminal to determine a positioning pulse based on the positioning resource allocation information, and send the positioning pulse to a network device in a range of a neighborhood of the positioning terminal. The network device in the range of the neighborhood of the positioning terminal obtains time of arrival TOA, and sends the TOA to the LMF, to determine location information of the positioning terminal. In this manner, information exchanged between the positioning terminal and the LMF is reduced, and therefore, a power consumption loss of the positioning terminal is reduced.