Location Continuity Service for Mobile Devices Across Networks
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing location-based services face challenges in maintaining accurate and continuous location determination of mobile devices as they move between different radio access networks, leading to disruptions in services such as emergency calls and navigation, due to the limitations of specific location determination techniques suited for particular networks.
Innovation Solution
A Location Continuity Service (LCS) with a Location Continuity Application Server (LCAS) that reconciles location data from multiple access networks, using techniques like TDOA, AGPS, and others, to provide continuous and accurate location information across network changes, ensuring seamless service delivery.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a mobile device uses a single location determination technique suited for a specific access network, then the location determination works well within that network, but the location continuity is disrupted when the device moves to a different access network
Solution Approach 1:
The location continuity application server implements multiple location determination techniques (TDOA, AGPS, E-OTD, CI, etc.) to serve different access network types (GSM, UMTS, WiMAX, WiFi). This multi-functional approach allows the system to adapt to various network environments while maintaining continuous location tracking, resolving the contradiction between reliability and adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically selects and switches between different location determination techniques based on the current access network type and available techniques. The location continuity application server monitors network changes and adjusts the location determination method in real-time, ensuring continuous location tracking across network transitions.
2Reliability
If the system switches location determination techniques when the mobile device moves between access networks, then the location continuity is maintained, but the service disruption occurs during the switching process
Solution Approach 1:
The location continuity application server pre-establishes connections with multiple access networks and pre-loads location determination techniques before the mobile device actually moves between networks. This preliminary preparation ensures that when a network transition occurs, the location tracking can continue seamlessly without service disruption.
Solution Approach 2:
The system maintains continuous location determination by keeping multiple location tracking processes running simultaneously across different access networks. The location continuity application server ensures that location tracking never stops by overlapping the operation of different location determination techniques, eliminating gaps during network transitions.
3Measurement precision
If the system uses multiple location determination techniques simultaneously, then the location accuracy and continuity improve, but the system resource usage and costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The location continuity application server dynamically adjusts the parameters of location determination techniques based on current network conditions and service requirements. When high accuracy is needed, more techniques are activated; when resource conservation is prioritized, fewer techniques are used. This parameter adjustment resolves the contradiction between measurement precision and resource consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses a selective approach to location determination techniques, activating only the necessary number of techniques based on current needs rather than running all techniques continuously. This partial action approach maintains sufficient location accuracy while reducing unnecessary resource consumption and costs.
Data Source
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AI summary
A location continuity service having a location continuity application server ("LCAS") that utilizes location data generated by multiple networks to determine the location of a mobile device is disclosed. The LCAS specifies a suitable reconciliation process that identifies two or more location estimation techniques that are implemented by different access networks and indicates how to utilize the location data produced by the identified estimation techniques. The LCAS interacts with various access networks identified by the reconciliation process in order to receive location data (e.g., positioning measurements and/or estimated locations) generated by the access networks and analyzes the received data to determine the location of a mobile device and provide the determined location to a location-based service. in some examples, an LCAS also provides location continuity when a mobile device moves between a home communications system and a visited communications system.