Assistance Data Provision for Satellite Positioning

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional GNSS positioning methods require sufficient carrier phase measurements for double-difference integer ambiguity resolution and baseline tracking, which can be challenging in mobile station-based approaches, especially when ensuring continuity and accuracy of assistance data for satellite signal-based positioning.

Innovation Solution

The method involves generating and transmitting a sequence of interlinked messages containing assistance data for satellite signal-based positioning, ensuring pseudo-periodic or periodic transmission of carrier-phase measurements and other types of assistance data, with continuity indicators to maintain data integrity and support high-accuracy positioning calculations in wireless communication terminals.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional GNSS positioning methods are used with standalone receivers, then the receivers can operate independently without network assistance, but the Time-To-First-Fix is prolonged and positioning accuracy is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepositioning accuracyVSAvoidTime-To-First-Fix
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The network generates and transmits assistance data including ephemeris parameters, almanac parameters, and carrier phase measurements before the mobile station performs positioning calculations. This preliminary provision of data allows the receiver to skip the lengthy signal acquisition and parameter decoding phases, directly computing position with pre-provided satellite orbital and clock information.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

A network element acts as an intermediary between the satellite system and the mobile station. The network receives raw satellite signals, processes them to extract positioning-relevant parameters, and delivers processed assistance data to the mobile station. This intermediary processing relieves the mobile station of complex signal acquisition tasks and provides optimized data for rapid positioning.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Stability of the object's composition

If carrier phase measurements are transmitted periodically, then continuity of data can be maintained, but data loss may occur during handover between network elements

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata continuityVSAvoiddata integrity
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system maintains continuous transmission of assistance data through the network to the mobile station throughout the positioning session. Rather than transmitting data only when needed, the network provides continuous streams of updated ephemeris, almanac, and carrier phase measurements, ensuring the receiver always has current data without interruption during network handovers.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Solution Approach 2:

The network element prepares and buffers assistance data in advance before potential handover events. By pre-generating and storing multiple sets of assistance data corresponding to different time intervals, the network ensures that if a handover occurs, the mobile station can seamlessly switch to a new network element that already has the required data ready, preventing any gap in data supply.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Productivity

If the network generates and transmits assistance data, then positioning accuracy and speed are improved, but network complexity and processing requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepositioning speedVSAvoidnetwork processing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The network extracts only the essential positioning parameters from the complete satellite signal spectrum. Instead of transmitting all raw satellite data or processing all available information, the network selectively extracts and transmits only the critical elements needed for positioning: ephemeris parameters, almanac parameters, and carrier phase measurements. This extraction approach provides sufficient assistance data while minimizing network processing burden.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The network provides more assistance data than the minimum required for basic positioning, including both ephemeris and almanac parameters along with carrier phase measurements. This excessive provision of data ensures the mobile station has all necessary information for high-accuracy differential positioning without needing to request additional data, simplifying the interaction while improving positioning performance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentEP2126602B1Assistance data provision
Publication Date: 2012.10.31 NOKIA CORP
  • EP2126602B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2126602B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2126602B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

For supporting the provision of a continuous stream of assistance data for a satellite signal based positioning, a sequence of interlinked messages comprising assistance data is generated. The messages are provided for transmission to a wireless communication terminal. The wireless communication terminal receives the sequence of interlinked messages and provides the assistance data in the received messages for use in positioning computations.