Generic Positioning Methods for 5G UE Location

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current 5G control plane location solutions do not support UEs with unknown serving Radio Access Technologies (RATs) or those that change RATs during a location session, leading to incomplete location support and potential session restarts or abandonment.

Innovation Solution

Implementing generic positioning methods that use a common set of procedures, messages, and parameters applicable across multiple RATs, including NR, LTE, and WiFi, to enable location determination for UEs with unknown or changing RATs.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If current control plane location solutions are used, then location support is provided for known RATs, but location support fails for UEs with unknown or changing RATs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelocation support coverageVSAvoidlocation session continuity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a universal location management approach where the location server handles multiple RAT types (NR, LTE, WiFi) through a common control plane framework. The location server is designed to receive location requests and manage positioning sessions regardless of the specific RAT being used, making the system versatile across different radio access technologies while maintaining reliable location support for UEs with unknown or changing RATs

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Ease of manufacture

If separate positioning domains are implemented for different RATs, then specific RAT optimization is achieved, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimplementation complexityVSAvoidpositioning domain structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the control plane location management functions into a unified location server that handles multiple RATs (NR, LTE, WiFi) through common procedures and message structures. While separate positioning domains exist for specific RAT optimizations, the control plane provides a unified framework that reduces implementation complexity by reusing common location request handling, session management, and measurement collection procedures across different RATs

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP4213551B1Systems and methods for locating a user equipment using generic position methods for a 5g network

Publication Date: 2026.01.21 QUALCOMM INC

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AI summary

Techniques are disclosed in which generic position methods in a wireless network allow positioning of a target user equipment (UE) that is served by any one (or more) of a number of different Radio Access Technologies (RATs) and that allow measurements by the UE of access nodes belonging to different RATs and/or measurements of the UE by access nodes for different RATs. With a generic position method, a common set of procedures, messages, and parameters may be defined that are applicable to multiple RATs and that do not require a location server to know in advance the serving RAT for a target UE.