Contention-Based Positioning for IoT Devices Without Authentication

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current 5G wireless systems face challenges in providing accurate positioning for low-complexity, low-power devices in IoT applications without requiring device authentication, especially in scenarios where devices need to know their own location without sharing it with the network, and existing positioning procedures are inefficient due to signaling overhead and collision issues in contention-based access.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of a contention-based positioning method that allows user equipment to acquire its own positioning without dedicated resources or authentication, using a contention-based access to positioning resources and incorporating mechanisms to handle collisions, such as restricted contention-based access resources and power ramping, to ensure accurate location determination without excessive signaling overhead.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If contention-based access is used for positioning, then device complexity and authentication requirements are reduced, but collision probability increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepositioning procedure complexityVSAvoidpositioning accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The positioning resources are segmented into multiple random access channels (RACH) and preambles, allowing devices to select from divided resources. This segmentation reduces collision probability while maintaining low device complexity, as devices can choose from multiple segmented options rather than competing for a single resource.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adjusts contention parameters such as the number of RACH occasions, preambles per occasion, and power ramping steps based on network conditions and collision detection. This dynamic adjustment allows the system to maintain reliability while keeping the positioning procedure simple for devices.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Productivity

If multiple devices transmit positioning messages simultaneously, then positioning efficiency improves, but collision probability increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepositioning efficiencyVSAvoidmessage collision

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system introduces additional dimensions for resource differentiation beyond simple time-frequency resources, including multiple RACH occasions, multiple preambles per occasion, and power levels. This multi-dimensional resource space allows multiple devices to transmit simultaneously with reduced collision probability, improving positioning efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The network provides feedback to devices about collision detection and resource selection success. Devices use this feedback to adjust their transmissions, such as selecting different preambles or adjusting power levels, thereby reducing collisions while maintaining high positioning efficiency through iterative refinement.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Reliability

If authentication is required for positioning, then positioning reliability improves, but device complexity and power consumption increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepositioning reliabilityVSAvoiddevice power consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The authentication step is extracted and removed from the positioning procedure for idle/inactive devices. The system provides positioning resources directly to devices without requiring full authentication, thereby reducing power consumption and device complexity while maintaining sufficient positioning reliability through alternative mechanisms such as network-controlled resource allocation and collision management.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

4Measurement precision

If dedicated positioning resources are allocated, then positioning accuracy improves, but signaling overhead increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepositioning accuracyVSAvoidsignaling overhead

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses universal random access resources that serve multiple purposes: normal random access for connection establishment and positioning message transmission. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate dedicated positioning resources, reducing signaling overhead while maintaining positioning accuracy through proper resource configuration and collision management.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS20240406924A1User equipment contention-based positioning without authentication

Publication Date: 2024.12.05 NOKIA TECHNOLOGIES OY

AI summary

Systems, methods, apparatuses, and computer program products for contention-based positioning without requiring device authentication are provided. For example, a method can include sending, by a user equipment, a positioning message to a serving network element in a network that includes multiple network elements including both the serving network element itself and at least one other network element. The positioning message can be sent as a contention-based message. The method can also include receiving, by the user equipment, a positioning response from the serving network element. Content of the positioning response can be contingent on a collision result of the contention-based message.