Remote Radio Head Positioning via Frequency Manipulation

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Current wireless communication networks using remote radio head devices face challenges in providing accurate location determination of wireless devices, especially indoors, due to the coarse granularity of location determination and the limitations of satellite-based positioning systems like GPS.

Innovation Solution

A method involving a network node connected to multiple remote radio head devices via a combiner, which receives an uplink signal and compares its carrier frequency with different manipulation schemes (such as fixed frequency offsets, frequency shift keying, and frequency hopping) to provide proximity indications, allowing for more accurate positioning of wireless devices.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Area of stationary object

If multiple remote radio head devices are deployed to improve coverage and capacity, then network coverage and capacity are improved, but location determination granularity becomes too coarse to meet positioning accuracy requirements

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenetwork coverageVSAvoidlocation determination accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The invention segments the location determination process by assigning different frequency manipulation schemes to different remote radio head devices. Each RHD's unique frequency manipulation creates a distinct signal signature that allows the network to identify which specific RHD a wireless device is connected to, thereby achieving fine-grained location determination at the RHD level rather than cell level.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The invention applies local quality by making each remote radio head device have a unique frequency manipulation scheme (different frequency offsets, modulation schemes, or hopping patterns). This local differentiation allows the system to distinguish between signals from different RHDs, enabling precise location determination without requiring additional infrastructure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Loss of time

If remote radio head devices are used to avoid handovers and reduce overhead, then handover overhead is reduced, but positioning accuracy deteriorates due to single cell granularity

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehandover overheadVSAvoidpositioning accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of timeVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The invention introduces frequency manipulation schemes as an intermediary mechanism that carries location information within the existing cellular communication framework. By embedding RHD identification information in the frequency domain characteristics of uplink signals, the system achieves accurate positioning without requiring handovers or additional positioning infrastructure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Measurement precision

If satellite-based positioning systems like GPS are used to achieve accurate positioning, then positioning accuracy is improved, but the system becomes unavailable indoors and requires additional infrastructure

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepositioning accuracyVSAvoidindoor/outdoor availability
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The invention enables the wireless communication network to determine device locations using only its own infrastructure (remote radio head devices and combiner). The system serves its own positioning needs by extracting location information from uplink signals through frequency manipulation comparison, eliminating dependency on external satellite systems like GPS and enabling indoor positioning capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP3130185B1Determining position of a wireless device using remote radio head devices
Publication Date: 2018.01.17 TELEFONAKTIEBOLAGET LM ERICSSON (PUBL)
  • EP3130185B1 patent drawingFigure 1A~1C
  • EP3130185B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3130185B1 patent drawingFigure 4A~5B

AI summary

It is presented a method for assisting the determining of a position of a wireless device, the method being performed in a network node connected to a plurality of remote radio head devices via a combiner. The method comprises the steps of: receiving an uplink signal via the combiner; comparing a carrier frequency of the uplink signal with a set of manipulation schemes for a carrier frequency of uplink signals, wherein the manipulation schemes are different for at least some of the plurality of remote radio head devices; and providing a proximity indication that the position of the wireless device is in the vicinity of a remote radio head device the frequency manipulation scheme of which best matches the uplink signal. A corresponding network node, computer program, and computer program product are also presented.