5G NR Cell Type Signaling for Accurate Positioning Selection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current positioning technologies in 5G new radio (NR) struggle to improve positioning performance, particularly in determining the appropriate positioning method based on the indoor or outdoor location of a terminal device, leading to inefficiencies and increased signaling overheads.
Innovation Solution
A communication method and apparatus that utilizes a TRP information request and response mechanism to determine the cell type of an access network device, allowing the positioning device to select a more applicable positioning method based on whether the cell is indoor or outdoor, thereby reducing signaling overheads and improving positioning precision.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the positioning device requests cell type information through a new message definition, then positioning precision is improved, but signaling overhead increases and message resources are consumed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the cell type information request with the existing TRP information request message. The positioning device sends both the TRP information request and cell type information request together in a single message, and the access network device returns both TRP information and cell type information in a single response message. This merging approach avoids defining new messages while still obtaining the necessary cell type information for positioning method selection.
Solution Approach 2:
The existing TRP information request and response messages are enhanced to serve multiple functions: they simultaneously carry TRP information and cell type information. This multi-functionality allows the same message structure to provide both location-related and environment-related information, eliminating the need for separate message definitions and reducing signaling overhead.
2Loss of information
If the positioning device selects positioning methods without cell type information, then signaling overhead is reduced, but positioning precision deteriorates due to inability to choose appropriate positioning method for indoor or outdoor scenarios
Solution Approach 1:
The access network device pre-determines and provides cell type information (indoor or outdoor) to the positioning device before positioning method selection is made. This preliminary provision of environment information enables the positioning device to select the most appropriate positioning method in advance, ensuring high positioning precision while using existing message structures to minimize signaling overhead.
3Ease of manufacture
If existing TRP information elements are used to carry cell type information, then message resources are saved and practicability is improved, but the complexity of information parsing increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extends existing TRP information elements by adding a cell type parameter to the information structure. The access network device includes cell type information (indicating indoor or outdoor cell) within the existing TRP information response message framework. This parameter extension allows the use of established message structures while providing new functionality, and the standardized parameter format simplifies parsing compared to creating entirely new message types.
Data Source
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AI summary
Embodiments of this application disclose a communication method and a communication apparatus that are used for positioning. The method includes: A positioning device sends a request to an access network device, where the request is used to request information about a cell type of the access network device; and the cell type includes an indoor cell or an outdoor cell; or the cell type includes any one of the following: a macro cell, a micro cell, or a lampsite cell. The positioning device receives the information about the cell type from the access network device. The request may be sent to the access network device by using a transmission reception point TRP information request message, and the information about the cell type may be received by using a TRP information response message. The TRP information request message may include a TRP information type item, and the information about the cell type of the access network device may be requested by using the TRP information type item. The positioning device may select a more applicable positioning method for a terminal device based on the information about the cell type, to ensure positioning precision of the terminal device, and improve positioning performance.