Unsolicited Position Assistance Data Broadcasting for UE Power Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current positioning technologies in 3GPP systems, such as GNSS and OTDOA, face inefficiencies due to high power consumption and redundant message exchanges, particularly in UE-based and UE-assisted positioning methods, where assistance information is often unicast and repeatedly sent, leading to energy waste and limited battery life in mobile devices.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a broadcasting scheme that sends unsolicited position assistance messages, such as GNSS ephemeris, OTDOA assistance data, and eNB position data, via new System Information Block (SIB) messages or NAS level messages, allowing UEs to receive essential positioning information without requesting it, thereby reducing power consumption and message exchanges.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If assistance information is unicast to each UE, then positioning accuracy is improved, but power consumption increases and message exchanges become redundant
Solution Approach 1:
The assistance information is segmented into cell-specific parameters that are broadcast per cell rather than being unicast to each UE. This allows multiple UEs in the same cell to share the same assistance data, reducing redundant transmissions and power consumption while maintaining positioning accuracy through cell-specific optimization.
Solution Approach 2:
The network automatically broadcasts assistance information without requiring UEs to request it. This self-service mechanism eliminates the need for UE-initiated assistance requests and reduces the number of message exchanges, thereby reducing power consumption while ensuring UEs receive necessary positioning data.
2Reliability
If assistance information is repeatedly sent to each UE, then positioning reliability is improved, but message exchanges increase and energy is wasted
Solution Approach 1:
Assistance information is broadcast periodically at the cell level rather than being repeatedly unicast to each UE. This periodic broadcasting ensures reliability by providing updated information at regular intervals while avoiding redundant one-to-one transmissions that waste energy.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple UEs in the same cell merge their assistance information needs into a single broadcast transmission. This combining approach maintains positioning reliability for all UEs in the cell while dramatically reducing the total number of message exchanges and associated energy consumption compared to individual unicast transmissions.
3Measurement precision
If UEs request assistance information before positioning, then positioning accuracy is improved, but message exchanges increase and battery life is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The network performs preliminary action by proactively broadcasting assistance information before UEs need it for positioning. This eliminates the need for UEs to initiate assistance requests, reducing message exchanges and extending battery life while ensuring accurate positioning data is available when needed.
Data Source
AI summary
A method of providing position assistance to a UE, the method comprising providing, by a location server, at least one unsolicited message, each message comprising one of data selected from a list comprising GNSS ephemeris assistance data, GNSS acquisition assistance data, OTDOA assistance data and eNB position data for a predefined area.