Terrestrial Positioning System for Indoor Location Accuracy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current location-based technologies, such as GPS, face challenges in indoor and urban areas due to signal availability and accuracy limitations, and devices require efficient and reliable methods to determine their location without high power consumption.
Innovation Solution
A terrestrial positioning system (TPS) is deployed using positioning apparatuses that register with a management function via an access network node, transmitting location information messages to mobile devices for triangulation or multilateration, allowing devices to determine their location using physical layer parameters.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If GPS is used for location determination, then absolute geographic location can be obtained, but GPS signals are not always available in indoor or urban areas
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces terrestrial positioning apparatus as intermediary elements that relay location information. These apparatus receive signals from GPS satellites and retransmit processed location data via wireless communication networks, enabling devices to obtain location information indirectly when direct GPS signals are blocked by buildings or terrain.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the direct satellite-to-device signal path with a terrestrial-based wireless communication system. Instead of relying solely on electromagnetic signals from space, the system uses ground-based infrastructure (positioning apparatus and network nodes) to transmit location information through conventional wireless networks that penetrate buildings and urban environments more effectively.
2Measurement precision
If GPS is used for location determination, then location information can be obtained, but power consumption is high for battery limited devices
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables mobile devices to autonomously determine their location by receiving and processing location information from multiple positioning apparatus. The device performs local calculations using received signal data without requiring continuous high-power GPS reception, reducing energy consumption while maintaining positioning capability.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of continuously receiving GPS signals, the system uses periodic transmissions from terrestrial positioning apparatus through wireless networks. Devices can enter low-power states between position updates, waking only when location information is needed, thereby significantly reducing average power consumption compared to continuous GPS operation.
3Ease of operation
If 3GPP or Wi-Fi positioning techniques are used, then location can be obtained by mobile devices, but accuracy is limited because positioning information is only provided at the cell or access point level
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the coverage area into multiple zones with distributed positioning apparatus. Each apparatus provides location information for its specific coverage zone, enabling finer spatial resolution. Mobile devices can triangulate or multilaterate using signals from multiple segmented positioning nodes, achieving accuracy beyond what single cell or access point level systems可以提供.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from two-dimensional cell-based positioning to three-dimensional positioning by deploying positioning apparatus at multiple heights and locations. This enables vertical positioning capability and more precise horizontal location determination through spatial diversity, moving beyond the limitations of flat, cell-level granularity.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and apparatus for estimating a location using a network function. In the method, at least one positioning apparatus registers to a management function by sending a registration message and transmit a location information message containing an indication of geographic location of said positioning apparatus; the management function gets the at least one positioning apparatus registered according to the received registration message, and sends a response message including information associated with a transmission of the location information message to the at least one positioning apparatus. The location information message is transmitted by the at least one positioning apparatus to a mobile device according to the information included in the response message.