Network-Based UE Positioning Without GPS
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wireless communication networks face challenges in accurately determining the location of user equipment (UEs) without Global Positioning System (GPS) capability or in environments where GPS signals are unavailable.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of network-based positioning techniques using measurements such as power headroom, observed time difference of arrival (OTDOA), spatial direction, downlink and uplink timing, and pilot measurements, which are compared or interpolated against a database to estimate the UE's location.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If GPS capability is used for location estimation, then location accuracy is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces network entities (location servers, base stations) as intermediaries to perform location estimation. Instead of requiring the UE to have GPS capability, the network entities collect measurements (OTDOA, timing, power headroom) and process them to determine location, thereby eliminating the need for complex GPS hardware in the UE while maintaining location accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical/satellite-based GPS system with a network-based positioning system using wireless communication measurements. By substituting GPS with network measurements (OTDOA, timing differences, power headroom), the system achieves location estimation without requiring specialized GPS hardware, thus reducing device complexity.
2Measurement precision
If GPS capability is required for location services, then location estimation accuracy is improved, but adaptability to different environments deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the measurement parameters from satellite-based (GPS) to network-based parameters (OTDOA, timing measurements, power headroom, spatial direction). This parameter change enables the system to function in environments where GPS is unavailable (indoor, urban canyons) while maintaining location estimation capability through alternative network measurements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent makes the location estimation system universal by enabling any UE (regardless of whether it has GPS capability) to receive location services through network-based measurements. The location server can serve both GPS-capable and non-GPS-capable UEs, and can operate in various environments (outdoor, indoor, urban) by selecting appropriate measurement types, thus achieving multi-functionality and broad adaptability.
3Device complexity
If network-based measurements are used for positioning, then device complexity is reduced, but measurement precision may deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple types of network measurements (OTDOA, timing measurements, power headroom, spatial direction) to achieve accurate location estimation. By combining these different measurement types and processing them together at the location server, the system compensates for the limitations of individual measurements and achieves precision comparable to or better than GPS, while keeping UE device complexity low.
4Measurement precision
If multiple measurement types are collected for location estimation, then location accuracy is improved, but data processing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the complex data processing functions from the UE and relocates them to the network entities (location servers). The UE only performs simple measurement collection, while the location server handles the complex tasks of processing multiple measurement types, pattern matching, interpolation, and location determination. This extraction significantly reduces the processing complexity burden on the UE device.
Data Source
AI summary
Techniques for supporting positioning of user equipments (UEs) with network-based measurements are described. In one design, a network entity (e.g., a location server) may obtain at least one measurement for a UE, e.g., a power headroom measurement, a spatial direction measurement, an uplink timing measurement, an uplink pilot measurement, an observed time difference of arrival (OTDOA) measurement, or a combination thereof. The network entity may determine a location estimate for the UE based on the at least one measurement for the UE and a database of measurements for different locations, e.g., using pattern matching or interpolation. In one design, the network entity may receive measurements and locations of a plurality of UEs and may update the database based on the measurements and locations of these UEs. The database may also be updated based on measurements obtained by test UEs during test drives.