Broadcast Positioning Assistance Data via SIBs
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for broadcasting positioning assistance data to mobile devices in cellular networks are inefficient, leading to significant delays and resource consumption, as they require individual data transmission to each device, which can strain network and device resources, including battery life.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a method to broadcast positioning assistance data in downlink messages using system information blocks (SIBs) with key encryption, allowing mobile devices to receive cipher keys separately for decrypting the broadcasted data, thereby reducing individual data transmission and optimizing resource usage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If assistance data is transmitted individually to each mobile device, then the data can be delivered directly to the specific device, but it results in significant delay and consumes significant network and device resources
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple individual assistance data transmissions into a single broadcast message that can be received by multiple mobile devices simultaneously. The location server generates a unified assistance data message containing positioning information for multiple devices, which is then broadcast through the network, eliminating the need for separate individual transmissions and significantly reducing overall transmission delay.
Solution Approach 2:
The broadcast assistance data message is designed to serve multiple mobile devices universally. Instead of creating customized messages for each device, the system generates a universal assistance data message that contains positioning information applicable to multiple devices in a service area, allowing one message to fulfill multiple delivery functions.
2Reliability
If assistance data is transmitted individually to each mobile device, then the data can be delivered directly to the specific device, but it consumes significant network and device resources including battery use
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple individual data transmission operations into a single broadcast operation. Mobile devices receive assistance data through a single broadcast message rather than engaging in multiple individual transmission cycles, reducing the energy consumed by radio frequency operations, signal processing, and protocol handling in each device.
3Productivity
If assistance data is broadcast to many or all mobile devices, then network and device resources are conserved, but the data must be encrypted to protect security
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the assistance data transmission into two distinct parts: an encrypted assistance data message and separate cipher key information. The assistance data is encrypted using a first key, while the cipher key is transmitted through a different mechanism (such as dedicated signaling or a separate channel). This segmentation allows the broadcast to be efficient while maintaining security, as devices can decrypt the data using keys obtained through alternative lower-complexity channels.
4Productivity
If assistance data is broadcast to many or all mobile devices, then resource consumption is reduced, but delay in receiving the data may occur
Solution Approach 1:
The location server performs preliminary actions by generating and preparing the encrypted assistance data message in advance, including selecting appropriate encryption keys and formatting the data for broadcast. The cipher key is also prepared and made available to mobile devices through dedicated signaling before or concurrent with the broadcast. This preliminary preparation ensures that when the broadcast occurs, mobile devices can immediately process and decrypt the data without additional delay.
Data Source
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AI summary
Disclosed are methods and systems for broadcasting positioning assistance data (PAD) to subscriber devices in a wireless network. In one aspect, a location server may encode and optionally cipher PAD and transfer the encoded and optionally ciphered PAD to a base station for broadcast in a system information block (SIB) in at least one cell. In an aspect, the PAD may be segmented by the location server or by the base station with each PAD segment broadcast in a separate SIB. Cipher key information for ciphered PAD may be transferred by the location server to a network node and provided to a subscriber device using a mobility management procedure. A subscriber device may receive, optionally decipher and decode PAD in SIBs broadcast by a base station and may use the PAD to assist location of the subscriber device.