Access Terminal Location Approximation in CDMA 1x Networks
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current wireless communication systems face challenges in providing always-available and highly accurate positioning information while efficiently managing battery resources, as existing methods often rely solely on the current serving base station and consume significant power.
Innovation Solution
A wireless access terminal retrieves and stores system information from multiple base stations, including prior serving stations, along with timestamps, to enable accurate localization by analyzing this information and reduce power consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If positioning is performed using only the current serving base station, then power consumption is reduced, but positioning accuracy and availability deteriorate when moving between base stations
Solution Approach 1:
The access terminal performs preliminary actions by retrieving and storing system information from multiple base stations (current serving and prior serving) before positioning is actually needed. This advance preparation enables accurate positioning calculations to be performed later using stored data, avoiding the need for continuous active scanning and reducing real-time power consumption while maintaining positioning accuracy.
2Measurement precision
If system information from multiple base stations is retrieved and stored, then positioning accuracy is improved, but memory usage and device complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential system information parameters needed for positioning (such as base station identifiers, system parameters, and timing information) from the complete base station system information. By storing only these extracted critical elements rather than full system information, the solution achieves accurate positioning while minimizing memory requirements and device complexity.
3Measurement precision
If GPS and trilateration techniques are used for positioning, then positioning accuracy is improved, but battery consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using power-intensive GPS satellite signals or continuous trilateration calculations, the patent creates a copy of the positioning functionality by storing system information from multiple base stations locally. This allows the terminal to perform positioning calculations using stored data copies rather than continuously acquiring fresh signals, significantly reducing battery consumption while maintaining positioning capability.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
Apparatus and methods are disclosed for determining a position of an access terminal within a wireless communication network. In some examples, the access terminal retrieves system information from its current serving cell and stores the retrieved system information in memory along with an associated timestamp. Over time, as the access terminal moves about the network, it can accumulate this system information for a plurality of base stations within its memory. By utilizing the system information for a plurality of base stations rather than only the current serving base station, as well as the associated timestamps, additional position information can be provided to the access terminal. Other aspects, embodiments, and features are also claimed and described.