Mobile Terminal Location via Base Station Field Strength
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Solution Overview
Problem
Locating mobile terminals in multi-cell radio systems is challenging due to their mobility and the need to minimize disruption to regular radio base station operations, especially when they do not emit periodic identification signals, leading to high energy consumption and additional infrastructure costs.
Innovation Solution
A method where the reception field strength of a mobile terminal's data transmission is recorded at multiple points, processed centrally, and used to determine its location by temporarily switching radio base stations to the terminal's radio channel, allowing location without impairing regular operations and avoiding the need for separate measurement infrastructure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If mobile terminals transmit identification signals continuously or quasi-continuously to enable location detection, then location detection capability is improved, but energy consumption of mobile terminals increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of having mobile terminals transmit identification signals continuously, the patent inverts the approach by having radio base stations transmit test messages and having mobile terminals respond only when necessary. This reversal of the traditional active scanning approach allows location detection while minimizing mobile terminal energy consumption, as terminals remain in passive reception mode most of the time and only transmit brief response messages when prompted by base station test messages.
2Measurement precision
If radio base stations are permanently set to the same radio channel for location purposes, then location capability across multiple base stations is improved, but data throughput in the radio arrangement decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic channel switching in radio base stations. Base stations temporarily switch to a common test message channel when location determination is needed, then return to their regular operating channels. This dynamic approach allows location functionality to be added without permanently sacrificing data throughput, as the channel switching occurs only during brief location measurement intervals rather than being a permanent configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
The location determination process operates periodically rather than continuously. Base stations transmit test messages at specific intervals on a common channel, perform location calculations using received responses, then return to normal data transmission. This periodic operation minimizes the time base stations spend on location activities, thereby preserving overall data throughput while still enabling location functionality.
3Measurement precision
If separate measuring devices are deployed to locate mobile terminals, then location measurement capability is improved, but infrastructure investment and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes existing radio base stations multi-functional by enabling them to perform both their primary data transmission function and secondary location determination function using the same hardware infrastructure. Base stations transmit both data messages and location test messages, and receive both data responses and location responses, eliminating the need for separate dedicated measuring devices and reducing overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the location determination functionality into the existing radio base station infrastructure. Rather than deploying separate measuring devices, the system combines location test message transmission and reception with regular data transmission and reception operations, utilizing the same radio channels and processing resources for both purposes.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables accurate location of mobile terminals with minimal disruption to radio base stations and without additional measurement infrastructure, supporting both active and passive operation modes, and allowing location across multiple radio channels used by different base stations.
Implementation Method 1
the reception field strength of at least one data transmission of the mobile terminal device is recorded at a number of measuring points
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
The invention relates to a method and an arrangement for locating a mobile terminal (MEG) in a multicell radio arrangement comprising a plurality of radio base stations (FBl, FB2, FB3), wherein the received field strength of a data transmission (AN) of the mobile terminal (MEG) is detected at a plurality of measuring points, and wherein the location of the mobile terminal (MEG) is determined by an evaluation of the measured values. The radio base stations (FBl, FB2, FB3) are used for the measurement. Firstly, the mobile terminal (MEG) is switched into an active state, then a plurality or all of the radio base stations (FB1, FB2, FB3) are set to the radio channel used by the mobile terminal (MEG) to be located, and the mobile terminal (MEG) is prompted to emit a response message (AN) as a result of the communication of a test data transmission (TD). The received field strength of the received response message (AN) is measured by the radio base stations (FBl, FB2, FB3) and communicated to a central device (LS), after which the location of the mobile terminal (MEG) is determined by the central device (LS) on the basis of the measured values.