Base Station Location Estimation Using TDOA Measurements
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current wireless communication systems face challenges in determining accurate base station locations without access to network control plane signaling, limiting the ability of location-based services providers to use Observed Time-Difference Of Arrival (OTDOA) measurements for mobile station positioning.
Innovation Solution
Methods and apparatus that utilize time-difference-of-arrival (TDOA) measurements from mobile stations with known locations to compute estimated base station positions, allowing for the construction of a database of base station coordinates without reliance on network operators, using iterative least squares algorithms and timestamp information to account for clock drift.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If base station locations are determined using traditional methods requiring network control plane signaling, then accurate position data can be obtained, but dependency on network operators increases and service independence decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses mobile stations as intermediary devices to collect TDOA measurements and compute base station locations. Instead of directly accessing network control plane signaling, the system employs mobile stations that already have known positions (from GPS or other positioning methods) to measure time differences of arrival of base station signals and calculate base station positions independently, thereby reducing dependency on network operators while maintaining accuracy
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables location-based services to determine base station positions autonomously using publicly available TDOA measurements from mobile stations and known mobile station positions. The computation of base station locations is performed self-service style without requiring network operator intervention or access to proprietary network signaling, allowing service providers to independently build and maintain location databases
2Measurement precision
If TDOA measurements are collected from multiple mobile stations to improve base station position accuracy, then measurement precision increases, but system complexity and data processing requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs iterative least squares algorithms that use feedback from multiple TDOA measurements to progressively refine base station position estimates. The system collects TDOA measurements from multiple mobile stations with known positions, processes these measurements through iterative computation, and adjusts position estimates based on the accumulated feedback data, thereby improving accuracy while managing complexity through systematic mathematical processing
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the base station position determination problem into individual TDOA measurements from separate mobile stations. Each mobile station provides an independent measurement that can be processed separately, and the results are combined through least squares computation. This segmentation allows the complex problem of determining base station positions to be broken down into manageable individual measurements that can be processed systematically
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and apparatus for determining a position estimate for a base station transceiver node in a wireless communication system are disclosed. An exemplary method comprises obtaining a first set of time-difference-of-arrival (TDOA) measurement data from a first plurality of mobile stations, the first set of TDOA measurement data corresponding to transmissions received at the first plurality of mobile stations from the first base station transceiver node and a second base station transceiver node, obtaining first mobile station location data identifying a mobile station position corresponding to each TDOA measurement represented in the first set of TDOA measurement data, and computing an estimated position for the base station transceiver node as a function of the first mobile station location data and the first set of TDOA measurement data.