Remote Radio Head Positioning via Virtual Cell IDs
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for determining the position of wireless devices using remote radio head devices with multiple antennas face challenges in granularity and cost, particularly in indoor environments where satellite-based positioning is unavailable and require additional hardware for accurate location estimation.
Innovation Solution
The method involves using multiple antenna devices at remote radio head devices to transmit different cell IDs for positioning, allowing for improved location determination without additional hardware, by dynamically configuring cell configurations and utilizing existing indoor cabling for cost-effective signal transmission.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If multiple remote radio head devices share the same cell to provide coverage in different parts of the building, then coverage is improved and handovers are avoided, but the granularity of location determination becomes too large
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the single cell into multiple virtual cells by assigning different virtual cell IDs to different remote radio head devices. Each remote radio head device transmits positioning signals with its unique virtual cell ID, allowing the wireless device to determine its location with finer granularity while maintaining coverage across multiple areas.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a new dimension for location determination by using virtual cell IDs as an additional identifier beyond physical cell IDs. This allows positioning information to be extracted from the virtual cell ID dimension, enabling precise location determination without requiring separate physical cells.
2Measurement precision
If additional hardware is deployed to transmit virtual base station identification data for position determination, then position estimation accuracy is improved, but cost and system complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the existing remote radio head devices perform multiple functions: they simultaneously provide coverage, avoid handovers, and enable position determination. By using the same infrastructure for multiple purposes, no additional hardware is required, and the system achieves accurate positioning using existing resources.
Solution Approach 2:
The remote radio head devices themselves provide the positioning information by transmitting signals with their virtual cell IDs. The system uses its own existing infrastructure to determine positions without requiring external or additional dedicated positioning hardware, making the system self-sufficient.
3Measurement precision
If satellite based positioning such as GPS is used for location determination, then position accuracy is improved, but it becomes unavailable in indoor environments
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses remote radio head devices as intermediaries to provide positioning signals in indoor environments where satellite-based positioning is unavailable. These radio head devices transmit positioning signals that wireless devices can receive and use to determine their location, effectively replacing GPS functionality in indoor settings.
4Productivity
If many small cells are deployed to provide better capacity and throughput, then capacity is improved, but coverage may not be sufficient and cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple remote radio head devices into a single logical cell, allowing them to share resources and provide coordinated coverage. This combining approach maintains the capacity benefits of multiple radio heads while achieving the coverage characteristics of a larger cell, avoiding the need for numerous separate small cells.
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 2~3
Figure 4A~4C
AI summary
It is presented a method for determining a position of a wireless device, the method being performed in a network node connected to a plurality of remote radio head devices each comprising a first antenna device which can be used for a first MIMO, multiple input multiple output, stream and a second antenna device which can be used for a second MIMO stream. The method comprises the steps of: sending a first cell identifier for transmission on both the first antenna device and the second antenna device of each one of the remote radio head devices; sending a second cell identifier, for transmission on an antenna device of only a specific remote radio head device; receiving a measurement report from the wireless device associated with the second cell identifier; and determining a position of the wireless device based on the received measurement report.