Relative Angle Positioning With Linear Arrays at Close Range
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional angle-based positioning methods using linear antenna arrays suffer from inaccuracies when a terminal device approaches the network device, leading to increased positioning errors due to inaccurate direction angle estimation, especially when using planar or horizontal antenna arrays.
Innovation Solution
A relative angle-based positioning method that utilizes a network device to determine angle measurement information based on a set reference direction and the terminal device's direction relative to it, employing conical surfaces instead of planes to improve accuracy, allowing flexible selection of the reference direction and supporting linear array antennas.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If absolute angle information is used for positioning, then positioning method is established, but positioning accuracy deteriorates when terminal device is close to network device
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the parameter representation from absolute angles to relative angles. Specifically, it uses the angle between the terminal device direction and a reference direction (such as antenna array orientation) as the positioning parameter. This parameter transformation maintains accuracy even when the terminal device is close to the network device, avoiding the singularity problem of absolute angle measurement.
2Measurement precision
If planar antenna array is used for positioning, then direction angle and pitch angle can be estimated, but construction cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the necessary angular information for positioning by using relative angle measurement with respect to a reference direction. Instead of requiring a planar array to measure both direction angle and pitch angle independently, the system uses a linear array with reference direction to achieve positioning, removing the unnecessary complexity of planar array structure while maintaining sufficient positioning capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a reference direction dimension to transform the positioning problem. By measuring the angle relative to a known reference direction (such as antenna array orientation), the system converts a two-dimensional angle estimation problem into a one-dimensional relative angle measurement, enabling linear array to achieve positioning accuracy previously requiring planar arrays.
3Ease of manufacture
If linear antenna array is used for positioning, then construction cost decreases, but positioning accuracy deteriorates when pitch angle is close to 90 degrees
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the positioning parameter from absolute pitch angle to relative angle with respect to reference direction. This parameter change eliminates the singularity issue when pitch angle approaches 90 degrees, as the relative angle measurement remains well-defined and accurate regardless of the terminal device's elevation, maintaining positioning accuracy while using cost-effective linear arrays.
4Reliability
If absolute direction reference is used for positioning, then standard positioning method is implemented, but flexibility in reference direction selection is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the reference direction dynamic and configurable rather than fixed. The reference direction can be set according to different scenarios (e.g., antenna array orientation, geographic north, or any arbitrary direction), allowing the positioning system to adapt to various deployment configurations while maintaining a standardized relative angle measurement approach.
Data Source
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AI summary
This application provides a relative angle-based positioning method and an apparatus. In the method, a network device can flexibly select a reference direction, and support linear array-based angle positioning. Therefore, a problem that positioning is inaccurate when a terminal device approaches the network device does not exist, and positioning accuracy of the terminal device is improved. The method includes: A network device participating in positioning exchanges an uplink positioning configuration with a positioning center, a terminal device, and a serving cell that participate in positioning. The network device participating in positioning receives a first reference signal sent by the terminal device. The network device participating in positioning determines angle measurement information based on the first reference signal. The network device participating in positioning reports the angle measurement information to the positioning center, where the angle measurement information includes a set reference direction and an angle of a direction of the terminal device relative to the set reference direction. The positioning center determines a location of the terminal device based on the received angle measurement information.