Broadcast Location Assistance Data for Capability-Aware Wireless Delivery

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for broadcasting location assistance data to mobile devices in wireless networks are inefficient and resource-intensive, as they often require individual transmission to each device, leading to delays and excessive resource consumption.

Innovation Solution

A location server determines the capability of user equipment to receive broadcasted location assistance data and adjusts the type and ciphering of data accordingly, enabling efficient broadcast to multiple devices based on their support levels.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If location assistance data is sent individually to each mobile device, then the data can be delivered to specific devices, but it results in significant delay and consumes significant network resources and battery power

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata delivery reliabilityVSAvoiddata delivery delay
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple individual data transmissions into a single broadcast transmission. The location server aggregates assistance data and transmits it to multiple user equipments simultaneously through a group communication mechanism, eliminating the need for separate transmissions to each device and thereby reducing delay while maintaining data delivery reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The broadcast mechanism serves multiple user equipments simultaneously with a single transmission. The location assistance data is designed to be universally applicable to multiple devices in the broadcast group, allowing one transmission to fulfill the data delivery function for all recipient devices at once.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Reliability

If location assistance data is sent individually to each mobile device, then specific devices can receive the data, but it consumes significant network resources and battery power

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata delivery reliabilityVSAvoidnetwork resource consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple individual transmission operations into a single broadcast operation. By combining the data delivery function for multiple user equipments into one transmission event, the network resource consumption is significantly reduced compared to sending separate transmissions to each device individually.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The single broadcast transmission performs the data delivery function for multiple devices simultaneously. This multi-functional approach allows the network to serve multiple user equipments with one transmission, thereby reducing overall network resource consumption while maintaining reliable data delivery.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Loss of energy

If location assistance data is broadcast to many mobile devices, then resource consumption is reduced, but not all mobile devices support broadcast reception

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenetwork resource consumptionVSAvoiddevice compatibility
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a dynamic transmission approach where the location server adapts the data delivery method based on device capabilities. The system determines whether to use broadcast or individual transmission modes dynamically, switching between these modes to accommodate different device support levels while optimizing network resource usage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies different transmission strategies to different user equipments based on their individual capabilities. Devices that support broadcast reception receive data through the efficient broadcast channel, while devices that do not support broadcast receive data through individual transmissions, ensuring compatibility while optimizing overall system performance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

4Productivity

If broadcast location assistance data is used, then transmission efficiency is improved, but ciphering support is not available for all broadcast implementations

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetransmission efficiencyVSAvoiddata security
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic security adaptation where the ciphering mechanism is applied conditionally based on broadcast implementation capabilities. When ciphering is supported by the broadcast infrastructure, the system enables encrypted transmission to maintain security. When ciphering is not supported, the system transitions to individual transmissions with point-to-point ciphering, thus maintaining data security while adapting to different broadcast capabilities.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies different security measures to different transmission channels based on their capabilities. Broadcast transmissions use ciphering when the broadcast infrastructure supports it, while individual transmissions use ciphering universally. This localized approach to security ensures that data protection is maintained across all transmission methods while allowing the more efficient unciphered broadcast to be used where supported.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP3756391B1Systems and methods for efficiently supporting broadcast of location assistance data in a wireless network
Publication Date: 2026.04.08 QUALCOMM INC
  • EP3756391B1 patent drawingFigure 1A
  • EP3756391B1 patent drawingFigure 1B
  • EP3756391B1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

Techniques are discussed herein for efficiently supporting broadcast of location assistance data (AD) in a wireless network to assist in locating a user equipment (UE). A location server (LS) may send some location AD, which may be optionally ciphered, to base stations for broadcast in cells supported by the base stations. Capability information provided by a UE to the LS indicating a level of support by the UE for receiving broadcast AD and supporting ciphering may enable the LS to determine whether, and what type of, additional AD needs to be sent to the UE by point to point means. An LS may use capability information received from a large number of UEs to assist in determining the types of location assistance data to be broadcast and usage of ciphering.