RAN-Based Periodic Location Reporting for Wireless Networks
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current techniques for providing location services in wireless networks are inefficient, leading to increased network traffic and prolonged response times, particularly in periodic location reporting scenarios.
Innovation Solution
Implementing RAN-based periodic location reporting, where a wireless device communicates with the RAN to schedule and control location reporting events, reducing the need for frequent signaling between network entities and enabling faster location estimate delivery to clients.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional network-based periodic location reporting is used, then location services can be provided, but network traffic increases and response time prolongs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the location reporting function by introducing a location cache that stores location estimates locally at the RAN side, separating the location estimation process from the reporting process. This allows the RAN to independently manage location reporting without continuous core network involvement, reducing response time while maintaining service reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a location cache as an intermediary component between the location estimate source and the reporting destination. This cache buffers location estimates and enables local retrieval, eliminating the need for real-time core network queries and reducing response time while maintaining accurate location service provision
2Reliability
If traditional network-based periodic location reporting is used, then location services can be provided, but network traffic increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the location reporting function from the core network to the RAN side by introducing a location cache. This cache stores location estimates locally, allowing the RAN to serve location requests without generating additional core network traffic, thus reducing overall network traffic while maintaining reliable location service provision
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements preliminary action by pre-storing location estimates in the location cache before they are needed. This allows the RAN to immediately retrieve and report location information without requesting updates from the core network, reducing network traffic while ensuring location services remain reliable
Data Source
Figure 1A
Figure 1B
Figure 2A
AI summary
A user equipment (UE) communicating with a radio access network (RAN) sends to a network entity (e.g., an MSC/SGSN) a request for periodic reporting of the UE location to a client entity. After the request is approved, the MSC/SGSN sends to the RAN signaling to initiate periodic location reporting for the UE. The RAN may request a positioning center (e.g., a SAS) to send assistance data to the UE. The RAN may coordinate and control the periodic location reporting or may pass the control over to the positioning center. For each location reporting, the UE sends location information (e.g., measurements made by the UE or a location estimate computed by the UE) to the RAN. The SAS computes a location estimate if the UE sends measurements. The RAN then sends the location estimate for the UE to the MSC/SGSN, which forwards the location estimate toward the client entity.