Base Station Location in GPS-Denied Areas
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Solution Overview
Problem
Base stations deployed in locations without access to GPS signals, such as urban or indoor areas, face challenges in determining their location for spectrum management, security, and E911 services, as traditional GPS-based methods are unreliable in these environments.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a method where an unknown base station uses signal measurements and location information from other base stations and user devices to determine its location through techniques like triangulation, trilateration, or multi-lateration, by exchanging signals and processing positioning measurements with nearby known base stations and user devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If GPS-based location determination is used, then location accuracy is improved, but GPS signal availability deteriorates in urban and indoor environments
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses known base stations as intermediary reference points to enable location determination of unknown base stations. Instead of directly using GPS signals at the unknown base station, the system mediates through signal measurements between the unknown base station, known base stations, and user devices to triangulate the location.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the GPS satellite-based electromagnetic signal system with a terrestrial radio signal-based measurement system. User devices and base stations exchange radio signals and perform signal strength measurements, time difference of arrival measurements, or angle of arrival measurements to determine location without relying on GPS infrastructure.
2Adaptability or versatility
If signal exchange and processing measurements between multiple base stations and user devices is implemented, then location determination capability is improved in GPS-denied areas, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes user devices serve multiple functions: they act as communication endpoints for base station signals, as measurement instruments for signal strength and timing, and as location sources when their own GPS positions are available. This multi-functionality reduces the need for dedicated measurement equipment and simplifies the overall system architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables base stations to self-determine their locations through automated signal exchange and measurement processing. The unknown base station initiates or participates in measurement procedures with known base stations and user devices, and the location is calculated automatically without requiring manual surveying or external intervention.
Data Source
AI summary
A device may determine to initiate a location determination for a base station. The device may identify a set of positioning measurements associated with the location determination. The device may identify a set of other devices to be associated with the set of positioning measurements. The device may provide configuration information for the set of positioning measurements to the set of other devices. The device may determine information associated with the set of positioning measurements based on providing the configuration information. The device may determine a location in which the base station is located based on determining the information associated with the set of positioning measurements.