Network-Assisted Integrity KPIs for 5G Positioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current wireless communication networks, particularly in 5G/NR, lack network-assisted integrity reporting for positioning estimation, which is crucial for high-reliability use cases like autonomous driving and emergency services, as they do not provide adequate support for assessing the integrity of positioning data, leading to potential errors and safety issues.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a system that generates, configures, and utilizes integrity parameters associated with positioning measurements and calculations, where network nodes and wireless devices exchange integrity Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to ensure accurate and reliable positioning, including alert limits, integrity risks, and protection levels, to enhance the trustworthiness of location data.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If positioning measurements are performed in 5G/NR networks without network-assisted integrity reporting, then positioning speed and coverage are improved, but positioning integrity and reliability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements integrity feedback mechanisms where the network provides integrity information (such as integrity indicators, protection levels, and alert limits) to the wireless device based on positioning measurements. This feedback loop enables the device to assess positioning integrity and reliability, resolving the contradiction by maintaining fast positioning while ensuring through verification that the positioning results meet required integrity thresholds for safety-critical applications.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces integrity reporting mechanisms as an intermediary layer between positioning measurements and positioning results. Network nodes (gNBs, LMFs) act as mediators that generate, transmit, and process integrity information (integrity KPIs, protection levels, alert limits) to verify positioning accuracy. This intermediary integrity assessment layer enables the system to maintain high positioning speed while adding reliability verification without significantly impacting performance.
2Reliability
If integrity parameters and thresholds are strictly enforced for positioning, then positioning reliability is improved, but system complexity and computational overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments integrity assessment into multiple independent components: network-generated integrity indicators, device-calculated protection levels, and threshold-based alert limits. Each component can be computed and verified separately, reducing the complexity burden on any single element. The wireless device receives segmented integrity information from the network and processes each segment independently to determine overall positioning reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements preliminary integrity assessment where the network pre-calculates and transmits integrity parameters (such as expected positioning accuracy, protection levels, and alert limits) before actual positioning occurs. This preliminary provision of integrity information allows the wireless device to perform simpler verification computations rather than complex real-time integrity analysis, reducing device complexity while maintaining high reliability.
3Reliability
If network-assisted integrity reporting is implemented, then positioning integrity is improved, but signaling overhead and network resource consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges integrity reporting with existing positioning signaling protocols (such as LPP - Location Protocol). Integrity indicators, protection levels, and alert limits are combined and transmitted within the same signaling messages used for positioning information exchange between the network and wireless device. This merging approach delivers comprehensive integrity information without requiring separate dedicated signaling channels, thereby improving positioning integrity while minimizing additional signaling overhead.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent designs integrity reporting mechanisms that serve multiple functions simultaneously: providing positioning integrity assessment, enabling reliability verification, supporting safety-critical applications, and facilitating network optimization. The same integrity parameters (protection levels, alert limits) are used across different positioning methods (OTDOA, UTDOA, sensor-based positioning) and application scenarios, reducing the need for application-specific integrity signaling and minimizing overall network resource consumption.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for generating and configuring integrity parameters associated with positioning measurements and calculations are provided herein. Integrity KPIs can be determined to assess the integrity level of a RAT-dependent positioning estimation. A network node obtains a quality of service (QoS) for a positioning application and determines an integrity key performance indicator (KPI) associated with the QoS. A wireless device receives the KPI associated with the QoS and monitors it while performing positioning measurements.