Server UE Positioning in 5G Sidelink Networks
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Solution Overview
Problem
In 5G NR mobile communication networks, existing positioning methods for user equipments (UEs) are ineffective in out-of-coverage and partial-coverage scenarios, and instrumenting all UEs with knowledge of each other's positions is impractical, especially in large groups of moving UEs, due to excessive overhead in transmitting high-precision location information.
Innovation Solution
A distinguished UE functions as a 'server UE' to facilitate positioning by storing information about peer UEs, providing assistance data, collecting measurements, and computing location estimates for target UEs via sidelink interfaces, reducing the necessary signaling and controlling information distribution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If all UEs are instrumented with knowledge of each other's positions to facilitate positioning, then positioning accuracy is improved, but signaling overhead increases excessively
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a server UE as an intermediary that centralizes the storage and distribution of positioning assistance data. Instead of all UEs needing to exchange position information directly (many-to-many communication), the server UE acts as a hub that receives, stores, and distributes positioning data to requesting UEs. This mediator approach maintains positioning accuracy while dramatically reducing the signaling overhead by converting many-to-many communication into one-to-many communication patterns.
2Adaptability or versatility
If existing positioning methods based on cellular network server communication are used, then positioning can be achieved in full coverage scenarios, but positioning becomes infeasible in out-of-coverage and partial-coverage scenarios
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables UEs to perform positioning operations autonomously by designating one UE in the group as a server UE. This server UE locally stores positioning assistance data and serves other UEs in the group without requiring external cellular network infrastructure. This self-service mechanism allows the positioning system to function independently in out-of-coverage and partial-coverage scenarios, significantly improving adaptability while maintaining reliability through local resource utilization.
3Loss of information
If high-precision location information is transmitted in a many-to-many fashion among all UEs, then positioning information availability is improved, but system complexity and overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
The server UE performs multiple functions: it acts as a positioning data repository, a data distribution hub, and a coordination point for positioning operations. By consolidating these functions in a single UE, the system eliminates the need for complex many-to-many information exchange protocols while ensuring all UEs have access to necessary positioning data. This multi-functional approach reduces system complexity while maintaining information availability.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods of positioning UEs based on a sidelink interface are proposed, in an environment where the locations of multiple UEs may not be known to one another. The positioning methods are facilitated by a distinguished server UE, which may store information about the locations and/or configurations of one or more peer UEs and function as a positioning server to provide assistance data, collect measurements, and in some cases compute a location estimate for one or more peer UEs.