Timing Compensation for Positioning Reference Units
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Solution Overview
Problem
In radio systems, determining the position of a target device with changing location is challenging due to accumulating timing errors in networks of positioning reference units (PRUs) without direct line-of-sight to accurate timing references, leading to positioning inaccuracies.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus and method that compute and update timing errors between PRUs, modifying timing information to compensate for these errors by subtracting the timing errors from the received timestamps, ensuring accurate positioning even in environments with limited or no direct coverage to external timing references.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If timing information is received from positioning reference units without direct timing error compensation, then positioning can be performed in environments with limited coverage, but positioning accuracy deteriorates due to accumulating timing errors
Solution Approach 1:
The patent computes and stores timing errors between positioning reference units in advance, before actual positioning occurs. When a positioning request is received, the pre-computed timing errors are retrieved and applied to compensate the timing information, eliminating the need for real-time error calculation and ensuring accurate positioning even in environments with limited coverage
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces timing error compensation as an intermediary mechanism between positioning reference units and the positioning function. By computing timing errors between PRUs and using these errors to adjust received timing information, the system mediates the timing discrepancies that would otherwise accumulate and degrade positioning accuracy
2Measurement precision
If timing errors are compensated by computing and updating timing errors between PRUs, then positioning accuracy is improved, but device complexity increases due to additional error computation and update mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs timing error computation in advance and stores the results for later use. This preliminary action eliminates the need for complex real-time error calculation during positioning operations, reducing the computational burden and device complexity while maintaining high positioning accuracy
Solution Approach 2:
The positioning system compensates for its own timing errors by computing and applying corrections internally. The system serves itself by identifying and correcting its own timing discrepancies between PRUs, eliminating the need for external timing reference infrastructure and reducing overall system complexity
3Measurement precision
If timing error compensation is implemented, then positioning accuracy in limited coverage environments is enhanced, but loss of time occurs due to error computation and update processes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent computes timing errors in advance and stores them for rapid retrieval during positioning operations. This preliminary computation eliminates time loss during actual positioning, as the system simply retrieves pre-computed errors rather than calculating them in real-time, thus enhancing positioning accuracy without sacrificing response time
Data Source
AI summary
Example embodiments relate to an apparatus, method and computer program for timing compensation, for example timing compensation in relation to timing information provided by one or more positioning reference units (PRUs). An example method may involve providing data representing a timing error associated with a first position reference unit located at a first known position, with respect to a second position reference unit located at a second known position. The method may also comprise modifying timing information received from the first position reference unit, the modifying being based on at least the first timing error.