TSN-Synchronized Wireless Positioning for Low-Latency Motion Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing wireless location solutions fail to meet the high accuracy and low latency requirements for certain industrial and safety applications, such as smart factories and public safety scenarios, due to limitations in current 4G/LTE standards.

Innovation Solution

A wireless network configured within the Time-Sensitive Networking (TSN) framework, where user equipment (UE) and base stations are synchronized with a TSN clock to perform positioning measurements at a specific time point, enabling low-latency and high-availability position determination.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If current 4G/LTE wireless location solutions are used, then general coverage and connectivity are maintained, but positioning accuracy and latency performance deteriorate and fail to meet industrial control requirements

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepositioning accuracyVSAvoidavailability for industrial control
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the timing and synchronization parameters of wireless communications by integrating TSN framework, establishing precise time points for positioning measurements and changing the operational parameters to achieve both high accuracy and reliability simultaneously

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Measurement precision

If positioning measurements are performed continuously to improve accuracy for moving objects, then location precision improves, but latency and time consumption worsen due to rapid deterioration of accuracy

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelocation accuracyVSAvoidlatency
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary synchronization with TSN framework before positioning measurements, pre-establishing time points and coordination mechanisms so that when measurements are taken, they achieve high accuracy without requiring continuous measurements, thus reducing latency

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent maintains continuous positioning capability through TSN-synchronized time points, ensuring that positioning measurements can be continuously updated at precise intervals without gaps, maintaining accuracy for moving objects while optimizing time usage

Inventive Principle:
Principle #20Continuity of useful action

3Loss of time

If TSN synchronization is integrated with wireless networks to achieve precise timing, then positioning accuracy and latency performance improve, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepositioning latencyVSAvoidnetwork synchronization complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of timeVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent makes the TSN synchronization framework universal across multiple network elements including base stations, UEs, and location servers, allowing a single synchronization mechanism to serve multiple functions and reduce overall system complexity despite the precision requirements

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP4136900B1Time sensitive networking for positioning
Publication Date: 2025.12.17 QUALCOMM INC
  • EP4136900B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4136900B1 patent drawingFigure 2A
  • EP4136900B1 patent drawingFigure 2B

AI summary

A wireless network including user equipment (UE) and base stations is configured to perform position determination with low latency and high availability within the Time-Sensitive Networking (TSN) framework. For example, the UE may be integrated as a sensor in a motion control system or similar applications. The UE and base stations are synchronized with the TSN clock, and are configured to perform positioning measurements at a specific time point within the TSN framework. The time point, for example, may be a global sampling point, at which all sensor nodes in the TSN framework perform position measurements. A location server may be provided with the positioning measurements or a position estimate from the UE and provide the position estimate to an external client, such as a motion controller in a motion control system.