Device Locationing via Implicit Beamforming and Signal Analysis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current cellular networks face challenges in accurately determining the location of mobile communication devices within their geographic coverage area, particularly when these devices roam across multiple cells or switch between cellular and wireless local area networks, which hampers the provision of location-based services.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of an implicit beamforming technique that allows communication devices to determine the location of mobile communication devices by analyzing characteristics such as amplitudes, phases, and frequencies of communication signals received over multiple signal pathways, using properties like Angle of Arrival and Time of Flight to estimate the device's location.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If traditional cellular network location methods are used, then the device can communicate across multiple cells and networks, but the location determination accuracy deteriorates when devices roam or switch networks
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from traditional 2D location estimation methods to 3D spatial characterization by incorporating angle of arrival (AoA) measurements across multiple antenna elements. This dimensional expansion enables precise location determination regardless of device movement or network switching, as the multi-dimensional signal space provides robust geometric relationships for triangulation and multilateration algorithms.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces communication signals as intermediaries that carry location information between the mobile device and base station. By embedding location determination functionality within existing communication signal exchanges (uplink and downlink signals), the system achieves accurate location tracking without requiring separate measurement protocols, thus maintaining adaptability while improving precision.
2Measurement precision
If beamforming techniques are implemented to improve location determination, then location precision improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the communication signal serve multiple functions simultaneously: data transmission and location determination. By extracting AoA information from existing uplink and downlink communication signals without requiring separate dedicated measurement signals, the system achieves precise location determination while avoiding additional processing complexity. The same signal pathway is universally used for both communication and localization purposes.
3Measurement precision
If multiple signal pathways are analyzed for location determination, then location precision improves, but the processing time and energy consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs angle of arrival measurements and signal characteristic analysis continuously during normal communication operations, before explicit location determination is needed. By maintaining pre-computed signal parameters and AoA estimates from ongoing uplink and downlink transmissions, the system can rapidly determine location when required without performing time-consuming real-time analysis from scratch, thus reducing processing time while maintaining precision.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This method enables precise location determination of mobile communication devices, facilitating the provision of location-based services and ensuring seamless communication across different network environments.
Implementation Method 1
a communication signal is communicated within the communication network and/or between the communication network and another communication network
Implementation Method 2
The communication devices can be implemented to utilize, for example, an implicit beamforming technique to receive the one or more communication signals over multiple signal pathways. The communication devices can determine one or more characteristics of the one or more communication signals that are received over the multiple signal pathways
Implementation Method 3
The communication devices can determine one or more properties of the one or more communication signals based upon the one or more characteristics, such as properties that can represent, for example, Angle of Arrival (AoA) and/or Time of Flight (ToF) to provide some examples
Implementation Method 4
properties that can represent, for example, Angle of Arrival (AoA) and/or Time of Flight (ToF)
Data Source
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AI summary
A communication network of the present disclosure can determine one or more locations of communication devices within its geographic coverage area based upon one or more communication signals that are communicated within the communication network and/or between the communication network and another communication network. The communication devices within the communication network can be implemented to utilize, for example, an implicit beamforming technique to receive the one or more communication signals over multiple signal pathways. The communication devices can determine one or more characteristics of these various communication signals that are received over the multiple signal pathways to assist in determining the one or more locations. Thereafter, the communication devices can determine one or more properties of the various communication signals based upon the one or more characteristics to determine the one or more locations.