Timed Fingerprint Locating for Wireless Network Positioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional methods for determining the location of user equipment (UE) in wireless networks face significant errors due to propagation delays, particularly in distributed antenna systems and low-power wireless radio cells, leading to inaccuracies in location calculations.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of timed fingerprint locating (TFL) technology, which compensates for signal path propagation delays by determining differential propagation delay values through statistical analysis of UE locations, allowing for high-accuracy location estimates using assisted GPS and other global navigation satellite systems.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If traditional timing delay measurement methods are used for UE location determination, then the location calculation process is simple, but significant errors occur due to propagation delays in distributed antenna systems and low-power wireless radio cells
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a fingerprint database as an intermediary component that stores pre-measured timing delay values from multiple reference points. Instead of directly measuring propagation delays during location determination, the system uses this database to look up and compare timing characteristics, thereby eliminating the need for complex real-time propagation delay compensation while achieving accurate location determination through pattern matching
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary measurements of timing delays between multiple reference points and stores these values in a fingerprint database before actual location determination occurs. This pre-characterization of the wireless environment allows the system to account for propagation delays in advance, eliminating the need for complex real-time corrections during operational location tracking
2Measurement precision
If propagation delay compensation is implemented to improve location accuracy, then location determination precision improves, but the system complexity increases due to distributed antenna systems and low-power wireless radio cells
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses the existing timing delay measurements that are already being taken for other network functions (such as signal synchronization and quality assessment) and repurposes them for location determination. By leveraging these already-available measurements and storing them in the fingerprint database, the system avoids the need for additional dedicated measurement infrastructure, thereby achieving high accuracy without proportionally increasing system complexity
Data Source
AI summary
A location of user equipment (UE) in a wireless network is determined. Geometric calculations are leveraged for an overlaid bin grid framework mapping the wireless network area to store differential values for each frame of the bin grid framework for each pair of relevant NodeBs. A timing offset can be determined, such that when a time value from a target UE is accessed, the location can be quickly determined. The target UE time value can be searched for in the pre-computed differential value data set indexed by a relevant NodeB site pair to return a set of frames (forming a hyperbola between the site pair) that can be intersected with a second set of frames for a second NodeB site pair for the same UE. The intersecting frames can represent the location of the UE in the wireless network and timing in the network is correctable based on the data.