Mobile Location Center Concurrent GNSS Terrestrial Positioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional wireless communication systems rely heavily on GNSS measurements for determining mobile device locations, which can be inaccurate in urban or indoor environments, and often use terrestrial measurements only when GNSS fails, leading to time-consuming and less accurate location determination.
Innovation Solution
A method and system where a Mobile Location Center concurrently requests and processes GNSS and terrestrial measurements in parallel to calculate multiple location determinations, selecting the most accurate hybrid location when individual GNSS or terrestrial measurements do not meet predetermined accuracy thresholds.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional systems rely on GNSS measurements for location determination, then location accuracy is improved in open environments, but location determination fails or becomes inaccurate in urban or indoor environments where satellite access is obscured
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple location determination systems (GNSS, terrestrial cellular network measurements, and Wi-Fi positioning) into a unified location determination mechanism. The system concurrently requests and processes measurements from all available sources, then integrates these measurements to determine location, ensuring reliable operation across diverse environments including urban canyons and indoor settings where individual systems would fail
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite location determination approach by integrating measurements from heterogeneous sources (satellite-based GNSS, terrestrial cellular base stations, and Wi-Fi access points) into a unified location estimate. This composite method leverages the strengths of each individual system while compensating for their respective weaknesses, achieving robust location determination across all environments
2Device complexity
If conventional systems use terrestrial measurements only when GNSS fails, then system complexity is reduced, but location determination becomes time-consuming and less accurate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by concurrently requesting and processing measurements from multiple location determination systems (GNSS, terrestrial cellular, and Wi-Fi) simultaneously from the outset, rather than sequentially falling back from one system to another. This parallel processing approach eliminates waiting time and ensures the fastest possible location determination while maintaining manageable system complexity through coordinated multi-system operation
3Ease of operation
If conventional systems use linear sequential approach to request and use GNSS and terrestrial measurements, then processing simplicity is maintained, but location determination accuracy and speed are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamic location determination process that adapts to available measurements and environmental conditions. The system concurrently processes multiple measurement types and dynamically selects or combines results based on quality metrics, signal availability, and environmental context. This dynamic approach maintains processing simplicity through automated decision-making while significantly improving location determination accuracy and speed compared to static linear sequential methods
Data Source
AI summary
A method for a mobile location center (MLC) to determine a location of a mobile device in a wireless communication network includes receiving a request to determine the location of the mobile device; concurrently requesting global navigation satellite system (GNSS) measurements from the mobile device and terrestrial measurements from transceivers in the wireless communication network, and receiving the GNSS measurements and at least one of the terrestrial measurements. A GNSS location of the mobile device is calculated as a function of the GNSS measurements, and the calculated GNSS location is determined to be the location of the mobile device when the calculated GNSS location meets a predetermined accuracy threshold. A terrestrial location of the mobile device is calculated as a function of the terrestrial measurements, and the calculated terrestrial location is determined to be the location of the mobile device when the calculated terrestrial location meets the predetermined accuracy threshold.