Indoor Positioning via Cellular Network Mapping Data Integration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing navigation systems face challenges in providing accurate indoor positioning for mobile stations, as satellite signals are unreliable indoors, and current methods require mobile stations to leave cellular networks to access local mapping data, which can be inefficient and inconvenient.
Innovation Solution
A method where a positioning server within a cellular network obtains local mapping data from a mapping server to provide positioning assistance data to mobile stations, allowing for indoor positioning using wireless signal transmitters and local context information, integrating with existing cellular network protocols like LTE Positioning Protocol (LPP) for efficient location determination.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If mobile stations access external networks to obtain local mapping data, then positioning accuracy is improved, but network access complexity and operation convenience deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a positioning server as an intermediary component within the cellular network that automatically obtains local mapping data from external mapping servers and delivers it to mobile stations. This mediator handles the complex network access and data retrieval processes, allowing mobile stations to receive positioning assistance data without directly accessing external networks, thus maintaining positioning accuracy while simplifying user operation.
2Loss of information
If mobile stations leave cellular network to access mapping data, then local context information is obtained, but network efficiency and time consumption worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The positioning server performs preliminary actions by proactively obtaining local mapping data from mapping servers and storing it in advance within the cellular network infrastructure. When mobile stations require positioning assistance, the data is already available and can be quickly delivered, eliminating the need for mobile stations to perform time-consuming external network access and data retrieval operations.
3Adaptability or versatility
If satellite positioning is used outdoors, then positioning service is provided, but indoor positioning reliability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by providing different positioning solutions tailored to specific environments. For outdoor scenarios, satellite positioning is used, while for indoor scenarios, the system switches to using local mapping data combined with wireless signal measurements. The positioning server delivers environment-appropriate assistance data, ensuring high reliability in both outdoor and indoor contexts through localized optimization.
Data Source
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AI summary
Techniques are provided which may be implemented using various methods and/or apparatuses for use in providing positioning assistance data with local mapping data to mobile stations. For example, positioning assistance data may comprise and/or otherwise be based, at least in part, on local mapping data which may relate to a current location of the mobile station. Such positioning assistance data may, for example, be provided to a mobile station by a first server within a cellular network.