Mobile Location Center Gateway Multi-PLMN Positioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current positioning technologies are inadequate for terminal devices accessing multiple Public Land Mobile Networks (PLMNs), leading to inefficiencies and inaccuracies in positioning.
Innovation Solution
A positioning method and communications apparatus that utilize a mobile location center gateway to determine a target PLMN based on positioning requests, configuration information, and access technology types, and then send positioning requests to appropriate Location Management Function (LMF) elements within those PLMNs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If current positioning technology is used for terminal devices accessing multiple PLMNs, then positioning can be performed, but positioning accuracy and efficiency deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the positioning process by introducing a location management function (LMF) that selectively determines which PLMN's positioning resources to use. The LMF divides the positioning task into: (1) receiving positioning request, (2) determining target PLMN based on configuration information and access technology type, (3) sending request to selected LMF in target PLMN. This segmentation enables accurate positioning in multi-PLMN scenarios by choosing the most appropriate positioning resources.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of PLMN selection by introducing configuration information (including priority configuration of access technology types and connection statuses) that dynamically determines which PLMN to use for positioning. The LMF adjusts the target PLMN selection based on terminal device's access technology type (3GPP/non-3GPP), connection status, and priority configurations, thereby optimizing positioning accuracy for different scenarios.
2Measurement precision
If positioning requests are sent to multiple PLMNs to improve accuracy, then positioning accuracy improves, but communication resources and positioning time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-configuring priority information for different access technology types and connection statuses before positioning occurs. The LMF uses these pre-configured priorities to quickly determine the target PLMN without needing to query multiple PLMNs or perform complex real-time evaluations. This preliminary configuration enables fast, accurate PLMN selection that reduces positioning time while maintaining accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The LMF performs self-service by autonomously determining the target PLMN based on the terminal device's configuration information, access technology type, and connection status. The system uses pre-configured priority information to automatically select the most appropriate PLMN without external intervention or complex multi-PLMN coordination, thereby reducing positioning time and communication overhead while maintaining high positioning accuracy.
3Measurement precision
If positioning requests are sent to multiple PLMNs to improve accuracy, then positioning accuracy improves, but communication resources increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the PLMN selection logic into a dedicated LMF that uses pre-configured priority information to determine the target PLMN. Instead of querying or coordinating with multiple PLMNs, the LMF extracts only the necessary positioning request and sends it to the single selected target PLMN. This extraction approach reduces communication resources by eliminating unnecessary signaling with non-target PLMNs while maintaining positioning accuracy through intelligent selection.
Data Source
AI summary
A positioning method includes: receiving, by a mobile location center gateway, a first positioning request for positioning a terminal device from a location service client; determining, by the mobile location center gateway, a first target public land mobile network (PLMN) based on the first positioning request, where the first target PLMN is for providing a location service for the terminal device; and sending, by the mobile location center gateway, a second positioning request to a first location management function (LMF) in the first target PLMN, where the second positioning request requests the first LMF to provide a location service for the terminal device.