Indoor UE Positioning Using an Auxiliary Device Relay
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing positioning technologies for user equipment (UE) indoors suffer from inaccurate location calculations due to weak signal strength caused by building obstructions or network dead angles, leading to imprecise location information.
Innovation Solution
Utilize another UE, referred to as auxiliary or help UE, to determine relative location with the target UE, enabling the network element to calculate more accurate location information by leveraging the auxiliary UE's measurement data.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If target UE collects signal strength from surrounding base stations for positioning, then positioning service can be provided, but positioning accuracy deteriorates when signal strength is weak due to building obstructions or network dead angles
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an auxiliary UE as an intermediary to perform positioning measurements when the target UE cannot obtain adequate signal strength from base stations. The auxiliary UE, positioned in a location with better signal reception, collects measurement data and transmits it to the network side, which then uses this data to calculate the target UE's location. This mediator approach resolves the contradiction by bypassing the weak signal condition at the target UE while still achieving positioning accuracy.
2Measurement precision
If target UE positions itself directly using surrounding base station signals, then positioning process is simple, but positioning accuracy deteriorates in indoor environments with building blockings
Solution Approach 1:
The auxiliary UE serves as a mediator that performs the complex measurement and data collection tasks in environments where direct positioning fails. The target UE maintains its simple function of requesting positioning service, while the auxiliary UE handles the complex task of collecting reliable measurement data from base stations and transmitting it to the network side for location calculation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent shifts the measurement dimension from the target UE's location (where signals are blocked) to the auxiliary UE's location (where signals are accessible). By changing the spatial dimension of the measurement point, the system obtains positioning data without requiring the target UE to be in a position with direct base station visibility.
3Productivity
If conventional positioning methods are used with weak signals, then positioning service is maintained, but the calculated location information becomes imprecise
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements a feedback mechanism where the network side evaluates the quality of measurement data received from the target UE. When the data quality is insufficient (indicating weak signals), the network side triggers the deployment of an auxiliary UE to collect better quality measurement data, thereby ensuring positioning service availability while maintaining location information precision.
Data Source
AI summary
A user equipment positioning method includes sending, by a first network element, a first positioning request message to a second network element. The first positioning request message indicates the second network element to position first user equipment (UE) through second UE. The method also includes receiving, by the first network element, a first positioning request response message sent by the second network element. The first positioning request response message includes first location information of the first UE.