Conditional RSTD Measurement Termination for NB-IoT Positioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current techniques for determining the position of Narrowband Internet of Things (NB-IoT) user equipment using Observed Time Difference of Arrival (OTDOA) require excessive processing effort and power consumption due to the need for multiple reference signal time difference (RSTD) measurements, particularly in dense cell deployments, which can drain battery life unnecessarily.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a method where the network assists NB-IoT devices by providing a list of reference and neighbor cells along with a rule for conditional termination of RSTD measurements, allowing devices to stop measuring once a predetermined number or quality of measurements is reached, thereby reducing unnecessary computations and power consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If multiple RSTD measurements are performed to improve positioning accuracy, then positioning precision is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial action by performing RSTD measurements only when necessary and stopping when a predetermined number of measurements is reached or adequate quality is achieved, rather than continuously measuring all available cells. This reduces power consumption while maintaining sufficient positioning accuracy through the rule-based termination condition.
2Measurement precision
If multiple RSTD measurements are performed to improve positioning accuracy, then positioning precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent reduces processing effort by performing only a partial set of RSTD measurements based on predetermined rules rather than exhaustively measuring all available cells. The network provides assistance information and termination rules that guide the UE to perform measurements only when needed, reducing computational complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The network acts as an intermediary by providing assistance information including cell lists and measurement termination rules to the UE. This intermediary guidance reduces the processing burden on the UE by pre-defining which measurements to perform and when to stop, rather than requiring the UE to independently determine all measurement parameters.
3Reliability
If RSTD measurements are performed on all cells to ensure positioning reliability, then reliability is improved, but loss of time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs RSTD measurements partially based on predetermined rules rather than exhaustively measuring all cells. The measurement process terminates when a predetermined number of measurements is reached or adequate quality is achieved, reducing measurement time while maintaining sufficient positioning reliability through network-provided guidance.
4Reliability
If RSTD measurements are performed on all cells to ensure positioning reliability, then reliability is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs RSTD measurements only partially based on predetermined termination rules rather than exhaustively measuring all available cells. This reduces power consumption significantly while maintaining positioning reliability through network-provided assistance information and termination conditions that ensure sufficient measurements are performed.
Data Source
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AI summary
Methods and device for use in a wireless device of reporting positioning measurements comprises receiving network assistance information from a network node. The network assistance information is for assisting the wireless device in performing Observed Time Difference Of Arrival (OTDOA), and comprises: a list of reference cells; a list of neighbor cells; and a rule for terminating Reference Signal Time Difference (RSTD) measurements. The method further comprises performing RSTD measurement between a cell in the reference cell list and a cell in the neighbor cell list. Upon determining the RSTD measurement satisfies the rule for terminating RSTD measurements, the method includes reporting the RSTD measurements to the network node. Upon determining the RSTD measurement does not satisfy the rule for terminating RSTD measurements, performing another RSTD measurement between the cell in the reference cell list and a cell in the neighbor cell list.