Bidirectional Capability Exchange for Location Services

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current wireless communication systems lack the ability for terminals to exchange capability and subscription information, leading to users being unable to obtain desired location-based services due to hardware, software, or subscription limitations, and lack of information on available assistance data from assistance servers.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a method for terminals to exchange capability and subscription information, including supported GNSSs, signals, measurement types, positioning methods, costs, and cost structures, allowing users to select and subscribe to services on behalf of other terminals and assistance servers to provide accurate positioning data.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the terminal reports its capabilities to the assistance server using existing SUPL protocols, then the terminal can receive assistance data for positioning, but the assistance server cannot report its capabilities to the terminal, limiting service selection options

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveservice selection capabilityVSAvoidassistance server capability information
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies inversion by reversing the traditional capability reporting direction. Instead of only the terminal reporting its capabilities to the assistance server, the assistance server now reports its capabilities (supported positioning methods, accuracy levels, cost structures) to the terminal. This bidirectional capability exchange enables the terminal to make informed service selections based on both its own capabilities and the assistance server's capabilities.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Measurement precision

If the terminal requests location services with specific quality requirements, then the user can obtain desired service quality, but the user may be unable to receive necessary information to obtain the desired service due to lack of capability exchange

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepositioning accuracyVSAvoidservice capability information
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by having the assistance server report its capabilities to the terminal before the terminal requests positioning services. This advance information exchange allows the terminal to pre-determine which positioning methods and quality levels are available, enabling informed service selection and request formulation without losing critical capability information.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Productivity

If one terminal queries the position of another terminal periodically, then location information can be obtained, but there is no interaction between the two terminals preventing service capability negotiation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelocation query efficiencyVSAvoidservice negotiation capability
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies feedback by establishing a bidirectional communication mechanism where both terminals can exchange capability information. The target terminal (second terminal) reports its capabilities and subscription status to the requesting terminal (first terminal), enabling the requesting terminal to adapt its service requests based on the target terminal's actual capabilities, thus creating a feedback loop for service negotiation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP2277331B1Method and system for obtaining services
Publication Date: 2018.12.19 NOKIA TECHNOLOGIES OY
  • EP2277331B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2277331B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2277331B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A method for obtaining a service by a first terminal related to a network entity,the method comprising receiving information indicative of capabilities related to the network entity; and selecting one or more of the capabilities.