UE Location Tracking in Inactive State via Pre-configured Positioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current 3GPP standards face challenges in maintaining accurate user equipment positioning during low or zero network activity periods, leading to increased latency, power consumption, and signaling overhead due to frequent state transitions between connected and inactive states, particularly in low-activity scenarios like massive machine-type communications.
Innovation Solution
The solution involves configuring user equipment to perform positioning measurements and report location information during inactive states, using early data transmission and machine learning to predict locations, thereby decoupling positioning procedures from radio access network state transitions and reducing signaling overhead between the RAN and core network.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If the user equipment transitions to inactive state during low activity periods, then power consumption is reduced, but location tracking accuracy deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The network entity configures positioning measurement parameters and RNA information in advance before the UE transitions to inactive state. This preliminary configuration enables the UE to perform positioning measurements autonomously during inactive periods without requiring real-time network intervention, thus maintaining location tracking accuracy while reducing power consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The UE is empowered to autonomously perform positioning measurements and report location information during inactive state based on pre-configured parameters. This self-service mechanism eliminates the need for continuous network-controlled positioning procedures, significantly reducing power consumption while maintaining acceptable location tracking accuracy through the UE's own capabilities.
2Measurement precision
If the user equipment remains in connected state for continuous location tracking, then location tracking accuracy is maintained, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of continuous connected state, the UE transitions to inactive state periodically during low activity periods. Positioning measurements are performed periodically based on pre-configured parameters and RNA information, allowing the network to maintain location awareness while the UE conserves energy by remaining in inactive state during intervals between measurements.
3Speed
If frequent state transitions occur between connected and inactive states, then location tracking responsiveness is improved, but signaling overhead increases
Solution Approach 1:
The network entity performs preliminary configuration of positioning measurement parameters, RNA information, and reporting configurations before the UE enters inactive state. This advance preparation eliminates the need for frequent signaling exchanges during state transitions, as the UE can autonomously perform measurements and reports using pre-configured parameters, thus reducing signaling overhead while maintaining responsiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The RNA acts as an intermediary mechanism that enables the UE to perform positioning measurements autonomously within the notification area without requiring direct network control. This intermediary approach allows the UE to maintain location tracking responsiveness while minimizing signaling overhead by eliminating the need for frequent network-UE coordination during inactive periods.
4Duration of action of stationary object
If positioning measurements are performed during inactive state, then location tracking continuity is maintained, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The UE's existing positioning measurement capabilities, originally designed for connected state, are extended to function during inactive state as well. By reusing existing measurement functions and adding the capability to operate autonomously with pre-configured parameters, the system maintains location tracking continuity without requiring entirely new device functionality, thus limiting the increase in device complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
In accordance with some example embodiments, a method may include transmitting, by a network entity, at least one positioning measurement configuration associated with at least one radio access network notification area to a user equipment. The method may further include receiving, by the network entity, at least one location message. The method may further include transmitting, by the network entity, at least one location message response The at least one location message response comprises at least one last known location of the user equipment transmitted to the location management entity or at least one last location-associated measurement by the user equipment transmitted to the location management entity.