Cellular Geolocation Using Timing Advance Data
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for tracking cellular assets require devices to constantly monitor their network environment, leading to significant battery power consumption and reduced battery life.
Innovation Solution
The use of timing advance (TA) data collected through control-plane signaling to determine the geolocation of low-power devices without requiring them to engage in a user-plane session, thereby reducing power consumption and prolonging battery life.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If devices constantly monitor their network environment to provide feedback to a server for location tracking, then location accuracy is improved, but battery power consumption increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the location measurement function from the device itself and relocates it to the network infrastructure. Network elements (base stations, towers) that already exist and consume power for communication purposes are utilized to perform timing advance measurements and determine device locations, thereby eliminating the need for devices to actively monitor and report their environment.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces network elements as intermediaries between the device and the location server. These intermediaries (base stations, network elements) collect timing advance data from devices and provide location information to the server, acting as a mediator that enables location tracking without requiring direct device-to-server communication for location updates.
2Productivity
If devices engage in user-plane sessions for communication, then data transmission capability is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the control-plane signaling serve multiple functions: it not only handles device registration and network management but also enables location measurement through timing advance data collection. This multi-functionality allows the network to extract location information from existing control-plane communications without requiring separate user-plane sessions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses partial action by utilizing only the control-plane signaling that is already necessary for device operation, rather than requiring full user-plane sessions. The timing advance measurements are obtained as a byproduct of normal control-plane communication, providing location information with minimal additional power expenditure from the device.
Data Source
AI summary
Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a network device that comprises a processing system including a processor and a memory storing instructions that, when executed by the processing system, facilitate performance of operations. The operations include obtaining timing advance data regarding a communication device served by the network; the timing advance data is collected by a network element coupled to the network device, and the network element communicates with the communication device using control-plane signaling. The timing advance data is processed using location data regarding the network element to determine a geolocation of the communication device. The geolocation is stored at a storage device; the network device and storage device are included in a secure portion of the network. The geolocation is provided to equipment of a network customer accessing the secure portion of the network via a secure interface. Other embodiments are disclosed.