Idle-State Network Positioning for Low-Power UE Location

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing positioning methods for user equipment (UE) in wireless communication systems require over-the-air messaging that increases power consumption and bandwidth usage, particularly when transitioning to a connected state for location estimation, which strains network resources.

Innovation Solution

A network-assisted positioning technique that allows UE to perform random access procedures while remaining in an idle state, reducing the need for transitioning to a connected state, thereby minimizing power consumption and bandwidth usage by eliminating the setup of signaling and data connections.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If the UE transitions to a connected state to obtain location estimation, then positioning accuracy is improved, but power consumption and bandwidth usage increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepositioning accuracyVSAvoidUE power consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The network performs positioning measurements and obtains location estimation information while the UE is in idle state, before the UE needs to access the network for other services. This preliminary action avoids the need for the UE to transition to connected state solely for positioning, thereby reducing power consumption while maintaining positioning accuracy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The network acts as an intermediary that performs positioning measurements on behalf of the UE. The network node measures positioning information and provides location estimation to the UE without requiring the UE to establish a full connected state, thus reducing the energy burden on the UE while still achieving accurate positioning.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Measurement precision

If the UE transitions to a connected state for location estimation, then positioning accuracy is improved, but network bandwidth and inter-node signaling load increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepositioning accuracyVSAvoidOTA bandwidth and signaling load

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The network performs positioning measurements and obtains location estimation information while the UE is in idle state, before the UE needs to access the network for other services. This preliminary action avoids the need for the UE to transition to connected state solely for positioning, thereby reducing power consumption while maintaining positioning accuracy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The positioning function is extracted from the UE's connected state requirements and performed independently by the network node. The network obtains positioning measurements and provides location estimation without requiring the UE to establish a full connected state, thus reducing the energy burden on the UE while still achieving accurate positioning.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentUS20260032639A1Network assisted positioning without service request procedure

Publication Date: 2026.01.29 QUALCOMM INC

AI summary

Techniques for determining the location of user equipment (UE) are provided. An example of a method for responding to an over-the-air paging message with a UE includes: receiving the over-the-air paging message; performing access using a common resource; and receiving an acknowledgement message including an indication to remain in an idle state in response to performing access.