Femtocell Location Registration for E911 Accuracy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current wireless communication systems, particularly femtocells, face challenges in accurately determining the location of mobile devices for emergency 911 calls, especially for devices without GPS capability, which can lead to inaccuracy and processing delays.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that register the location of a femtocell, process calls within its coverage area, determine the femtocell's location, and if necessary, the mobile device's location, to report it accurately to public safety access points, using techniques like assisted GPS, time delay of arrival, and triangulation for enhanced location-based services.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If femtocell location registration is used for E911 calls, then location accuracy is improved for devices without GPS, but processing complexity increases due to multiple location determination methods
Solution Approach 1:
The femtocell's location is pre-registered in the network database before any emergency call occurs. When an E911 call is made through the femtocell, the system first checks the database for the registered femtocell location. This preliminary action eliminates the need for complex real-time location determination methods (such as triangulation or time delay of arrival calculations) when the mobile device lacks GPS capability, thereby reducing processing complexity while maintaining location accuracy.
2Measurement precision
If multiple location determination methods are implemented, then location accuracy is improved, but processing time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system pre-registers and stores the femtocell location information in the network database during normal operation. During an emergency call, this pre-stored information is immediately retrieved, avoiding the time-consuming processes of real-time triangulation, time delay of arrival calculations, or other complex location determination methods. This preliminary preparation significantly reduces processing time while ensuring accurate location reporting.
Solution Approach 2:
The network database serves as an intermediary that stores and provides femtocell location information. Instead of directly performing complex location calculations during emergency calls, the system queries this intermediary database for the pre-registered femtocell location. This intermediary mechanism streamlines the location determination process, reducing both processing time and complexity while maintaining accuracy.
3Ease of operation
If femtocell location is used instead of mobile device location, then location reporting is simplified, but location precision may be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The location determination process is segmented into multiple approaches based on device capability: (1) For devices with GPS, the mobile device's own GPS location is used, providing high precision. (2) For devices without GPS, the pre-registered femtocell location is used, providing sufficient accuracy for emergency response. (3) For devices that can connect to other femtocells, the serving femtocell's location is used. This segmentation allows the system to optimize between simplicity and precision based on the specific situation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies a tiered approach where the femtocell location serves as a sufficient approximation for emergency response purposes, even if it is not as precise as GPS. The registered femtocell location provides the necessary level of accuracy for dispatching emergency services, and more precise methods are only employed when specifically needed and feasible.
Data Source
AI summary
When a call is placed within a femtocell area of coverage, the location of the femtocell is used as the location of the mobile device. The location of the femtocell is stored in the network, and if the call is placed through the femtocell, the location of the femtocell is used to determine the location of the mobile device.