Positioning Assistance Validity Checks for Low-Latency Terminal Location

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing positioning methods require the terminal device to acquire assistance information from the network device immediately upon demand, leading to unnecessary delays in the positioning process.

Innovation Solution

The network device configures assistance information in advance and provides validity conditions, allowing the terminal device to determine if the assistance information is still valid before using it, thereby reducing the need for repeated acquisitions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the terminal device acquires assistance information from the network device immediately upon each positioning demand, then the positioning can be performed without using expired assistance information, but the positioning delay increases due to repeated signaling interactions

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepositioning accuracyVSAvoidpositioning delay
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The network device performs preliminary action by providing validity condition information along with assistance information in advance. This allows the terminal device to determine whether previously acquired assistance information is still valid without needing to request new assistance information immediately, thereby reducing positioning delay while ensuring positioning accuracy is maintained by using valid assistance information.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If the terminal device re-acquires assistance information each time positioning is needed, then the assistance information remains current and valid, but the signaling interaction complexity and frequency increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveassistance information validityVSAvoidsignaling interaction complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The terminal device performs self-service by autonomously determining the validity of assistance information using the validity condition information provided by the network device. Instead of requiring the network device to manage assistance information validity or force the terminal to repeatedly request updates, the terminal device independently checks whether previously acquired assistance information remains valid, reducing signaling interaction complexity while maintaining information validity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Speed

If the terminal device stores assistance information for later use, then the positioning speed improves by avoiding re-acquisition, but the risk of using expired or invalid assistance information increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepositioning speedVSAvoidassistance information validity
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The network device provides feedback in the form of validity condition information (such as validity time, valid area, or triggering events) that enables the terminal device to determine whether stored assistance information remains valid. This feedback mechanism allows the terminal device to confidently use stored assistance information for faster positioning while ensuring reliability by checking validity conditions before use.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP4340399B1Communication method and apparatus
Publication Date: 2026.04.22 GUANGDONG OPPO MOBILE TELECOMMUNICATIONS CORP LTD
  • EP4340399B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4340399B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP4340399B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

The present application provides a communication method and apparatus. The method comprises: a terminal device receives first information sent from a network device, the first information being used for indicating validity conditions of auxiliary information configured for the terminal device by the network device, and the auxiliary information being used for positioning; and then, the terminal device determines, according to the first information, whether the auxiliary information is valid when performing positioning. In this way, when positioning is required, the terminal device can determine, by means of the first information, whether the auxiliary information obtained is valid, and before the validity of the auxiliary information expires, the terminal device uses the obtained auxiliary information to perform positioning, without needing to acquire the auxiliary information again, thereby reducing positioning delay.