LTE Mobile Terminal Positioning via Uplink SRS Measurement

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current positioning technologies in LTE systems, such as A-GPS, OTDOA, and CellId + RTT, require additional devices or network coordination, and often fail to provide accurate location information, especially with CellId + RTT offering positioning accuracy greater than 500 meters, which is insufficient for most users.

Innovation Solution

A method and system that uses SRS measurement by a mobile terminal sent to a serving cell/NodeB and neighboring cells/NodeBs, where resource reservation notifications are sent to reserve measurement resources, allowing the mobile terminal to be accurately positioned without additional devices or network coordination, using received signal strength indicators and timing advances.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If A-GPS positioning is used, then positioning accuracy is improved, but the wireless terminal requires additional GPS receiver hardware and must be able to face three satellites simultaneously

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepositioning accuracyVSAvoidterminal hardware requirements
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the positioning function from the terminal device and relocates it to the network side. The terminal only needs to send uplink reference signals, while the network side performs the complete positioning calculation process, eliminating the need for GPS receivers and complex terminal capabilities.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The network side acts as an intermediary between the terminal and the positioning function. Instead of the terminal directly performing positioning operations or requiring GPS hardware, the network side mediates the process by receiving uplink signals and calculating position information.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Measurement precision

If OTDOA positioning is used, then positioning accuracy is improved, but the wireless terminal must support OTDOA measurement capability

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepositioning accuracyVSAvoidterminal capability requirements
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the positioning measurement and calculation functions from the terminal and relocates them to the network side. The terminal only transmits uplink reference signals, while all positioning measurements and calculations are performed by the network, eliminating the need for OTDOA measurement support in the terminal.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Measurement precision

If CellId + RTT positioning is used, then positioning accuracy is improved from CellId alone, but the positioning accuracy is still greater than 500 meters which is insufficient for most users

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepositioning accuracyVSAvoidpositioning accuracy sufficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the measurement parameters from downlink-based CellId and RTT measurements to uplink-based SRS signal measurements. By utilizing uplink reference signals and performing measurements at the network side, the system achieves much higher positioning accuracy that satisfies user requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

4Ease of operation

If existing positioning methods are used, then positioning service is provided, but additional devices or network coordination are required which increases system complexity

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepositioning service availabilityVSAvoidsystem coordination requirements
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The network side performs positioning measurements and calculations autonomously using uplink reference signals from the terminal. This self-service approach at the network side eliminates the need for complex coordination with multiple network entities or additional positioning devices, simplifying the overall system while maintaining service availability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP2919537B1Method and system for positioning mobile terminal in LTE system
Publication Date: 2019.07.17 ZTE CORP
  • EP2919537B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2919537B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2919537B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Provided is a method for positioning a mobile terminal in an LTE system, wherein the method comprises: a serving cell/base station sends respectively resource reservation notification messages to multiple neighbouring cells/base stations thereof, to notify the neighbouring cells/base stations to reserve measurement resources for SRS measurement of a mobile terminal; the mobile terminal sends SRSs to the serving cell/base station and the neighbouring cells/base stations by using the measurement resources respectively, so that the serving cell/base station and the neighbouring cells/base stations perform SRS measurement; and the serving cell/base station positions the mobile terminal according to results of the SRS measurement. Also provided is a corresponding system. By means of the solution provided in the present invention, the mobile terminal may be accurately positioned without adding any device, without coordination of the network side, and without any additional network device, and the mobile terminal does not need to meet any extra functional requirement.