Mobile Terminal Positioning Using Multi-Network Auxiliary Data

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Solution Overview

Problem

The precision of mobile terminal positioning in base station positioning services is not high due to the large radius and sparse distribution of cells, leading to positioning accuracy of thousands of meters in some areas.

Innovation Solution

A method where a mobile terminal reports auxiliary positioning information, including network identifiers of different wireless networks, to a server, which uses the coverage area relationships to narrow the positioning range and improve accuracy, and the mobile terminal performs targeted network searches based on auxiliary search information provided by the server.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If single cell ID positioning technology is used, then the positioning service can be provided, but the positioning precision is low due to large cell radius and sparse base station distribution

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepositioning precisionVSAvoidpositioning system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines positioning information from multiple wireless networks (cellular networks and WLAN networks) to determine the terminal's location. By merging data from different network types and multiple base stations/access points, the system achieves higher positioning precision than single cell ID positioning while managing complexity through coordinated multi-network operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Measurement precision

If full-band network search is performed to obtain auxiliary positioning information, then positioning precision is improved, but positioning time and energy consumption increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepositioning precisionVSAvoidpositioning time
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The server performs preliminary work by maintaining databases of base station and access point location information, and by pre-processing auxiliary search information. The terminal receives targeted auxiliary search information from the server that guides the network search process, reducing the need for exhaustive full-band searches while still achieving accurate positioning through pre-prepared location data.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Measurement precision

If auxiliary positioning information from multiple wireless networks is reported, then positioning accuracy is enhanced, but information processing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepositioning accuracyVSAvoidinformation processing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The server acts as an intermediary that receives auxiliary positioning information from multiple wireless networks, processes the data, and determines the terminal's location. By centralizing the information processing on the server rather than requiring the terminal to process all the data locally, the system achieves high positioning accuracy while managing complexity through the intermediary server that coordinates the multi-network information.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP3255941B1Mobile terminal positioning method and apparatus
Publication Date: 2020.10.21 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD
  • EP3255941B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3255941B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3255941B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

Embodiments of the present invention disclose a mobile terminal positioning method, apparatus, device, and server. When being applicable to a mobile terminal, the method includes: obtaining auxiliary positioning information, where the auxiliary positioning information includes network identifiers of different wireless networks found by the mobile terminal; reporting the auxiliary positioning information to a server, so that the server obtains current location information of the mobile terminal according to the auxiliary positioning information; and receiving the current location information delivered by the server. Therefore, the server may obtain more available information from the mobile terminal, and a coverage area relationship between multiple wireless networks in a same area may be used to narrow a positioning range, so as to obtain a more accurate location of the mobile terminal. This resolves a technical problem that positioning precision of a mobile terminal is not high in a base station positioning service.