GNSS Positioning Correction via Base Station Broadcast Segmentation

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for increasing positioning accuracy of mobile user equipment using global navigation satellite systems, such as RTK systems, are inefficient and costly, especially for applications like autonomous driving and precision farming, as they require per-user data transmission and are impractical for widespread coverage.

Innovation Solution

The method involves transmitting correction information from base station entities of a mobile communication network to mobile user equipment, using multiple reference points within the radio coverage area, allowing for efficient broadcast of correction data that can be interpolated for precise positioning even outside the primary geographical validity areas, reducing costs and improving coverage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If per-user data transmission is used to provide correction information, then positioning accuracy is improved, but transmission cost and infrastructure requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepositioning accuracyVSAvoidtransmission cost
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The service area is divided into multiple geographical validity areas, each with its own correction information set. Base stations transmit correction information for specific local areas rather than providing individualized per-user correction data, enabling efficient broadcast transmission while maintaining positioning accuracy for multiple users simultaneously.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Base stations perform multiple functions: they provide cellular communication services and simultaneously broadcast correction information for positioning. This allows the existing base station infrastructure to serve dual purposes, reducing the need for separate dedicated correction transmission infrastructure and lowering overall system costs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Measurement precision

If per-user data transmission is used to provide correction information, then positioning accuracy is improved, but device complexity and infrastructure requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepositioning accuracyVSAvoidinfrastructure requirements
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Existing base stations are utilized to broadcast correction information, eliminating the need for separate dedicated correction transmission infrastructure. The base stations leverage their existing coverage areas and transmission capabilities to provide positioning correction services to multiple users within their geographical validity areas.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses the existing cellular network infrastructure that already provides coverage and transmission capabilities. Rather than building new dedicated infrastructure, the patent makes the existing base stations serve the additional function of broadcasting correction information, reducing overall infrastructure complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Productivity

If single geographical correction is provided, then transmission efficiency is improved, but positioning accuracy outside the correction area decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetransmission efficiencyVSAvoidpositioning accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The service area is segmented into multiple geographical validity areas, each with its own correction information. This allows the system to maintain efficient broadcast transmission for each local area while ensuring that users throughout the broader region receive accurate correction data relevant to their specific location.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different correction information is provided for different geographical areas within the base station's coverage. Each geographical validity area has correction data optimized for its local characteristics, ensuring high positioning accuracy for users in each specific area while maintaining overall transmission efficiency through localized broadcasts.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP3589979B1Method, devices, system and computer program product for increasing the positioning accuracy of a mobile user equipment by using data of a global navigation satellite system
Publication Date: 2022.10.26 DEUTSCHE TELEKOM AG
  • EP3589979B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3589979B1 patent drawingFigure 2~4
  • EP3589979B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

The invention relates to a method to increase the positioning accuracy of a mobile user equipment entity being connected to a mobile communication network by using data of a global navigation satellite system, wherein the mobile communication network comprises a plurality of base station entities and a plurality of reference stations, and wherein the global navigation satellite system comprises a plurality of satellites, wherein the method comprises the following steps: - in a first step, a specific reference station of the plurality of reference stations receives - from multiple satellites of the plurality of satellites of the global navigation satellite system - at least a first satellite radio signal, the specific reference station being associated to a specific base station entity of the plurality of base station entities of the mobile communication network, - in a second step, subsequent to the first step, the specific reference station or a server entity of the mobile communication network calculates correction information based on the first satellite radio signal received by the specific reference station, wherein the correction information comprises a first set of correction information indicating a first geographical correction and at least a second set of correction information indicating a second geographical correction, wherein the first geographical correction differs from the second geographical correction, -- in a third step, subsequent to the second step, the correction information is transmitted, by the specific base station entity of the plurality of base station entities, to the mobile user equipment entity, - in a fourth step, the mobile user equipment entity receives - from multiple satellites of the plurality of satellites of the global navigation satellite system - a second satellite radio signal, - in a fifth step, subsequent to the third step, the position of the mobile user equipment entity is determined based on the second satellite radio signal and, depending on the location of the mobile user equipment entity, at least one of the first geographical correction and the second geographical correction.