UE Positioning via Characteristic Comparison in RAN

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional positioning procedures in radio telecommunication networks are not always optimal, particularly in improving the accuracy of positioning User Equipment (UE) in Radio Access Networks (RAN).

Innovation Solution

A system and method where a first UE receives information from a network node to determine the position of a second UE based on a set of characteristics, performs a comparison with its own characteristics, and sends the determined position back to the network node.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If conventional positioning procedures are used, then the positioning process is simple, but the positioning accuracy is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepositioning accuracyVSAvoidpositioning procedure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by having the first UE determine and store characteristics of the second UE before the actual positioning measurement. This includes obtaining device characteristics such as device type, antenna configuration, and capability information in advance, which are then used to identify the target UE and improve positioning accuracy without adding complexity to the core measurement process

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The first UE acts as an intermediary between the network node and the second UE. It receives the positioning request from the network node, determines characteristics of the second UE, identifies the target UE based on these characteristics, and returns the position information. This intermediary approach enables enhanced positioning accuracy through characteristic-based identification while keeping the network node and target UE simple

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Measurement precision

If non-unique characteristics are used for UE identification, then positioning accuracy is improved, but the risk of identifying wrong UE increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveUE identification accuracyVSAvoidUE identification reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The identification process is segmented into multiple independent steps: first obtaining device characteristics (device type, antenna configuration, capability information), then using these characteristics to identify the target UE, and finally verifying the identification by returning position information. This segmentation allows the system to use non-unique characteristics while maintaining reliability through a structured multi-step verification process

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback by having the first UE return the determined position information to the network node, which can then verify the correctness of the identification. This feedback mechanism ensures that even if non-unique characteristics lead to potential misidentification, the network can detect and correct errors, thereby maintaining high reliability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP4572448A1positioning
Publication Date: 2025.06.18 NOKIA TECHNOLOGIES OY
  • EP4572448A1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4572448A1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP4572448A1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

Certain examples provide first User Equipment, UE, (110_1) comprising: means (11) for receiving, from a network node (140), information indicative of: i) a request (202) to determine information indicative of a position (P110_2) of a second UE (110_2) based at least in part on a set of one or more characteristics (C110_2) of the second UE, wherein each characteristic of the set is a non-unique characteristic that more than one UE can have, and ii) the set of one or more characteristics of the second UE; means (11) for determining a set of one or more characteristics (C110_i) of a UE (110_i), wherein the determination is performed based at least in part on the received information; means for performing a comparison of: the determined set of one or more characteristics of the UE, with the received set of one or more characteristics of the second UE; means (11) for determining a position of the UE, wherein the determination of the position is performed based at least in part on the comparison; and means (11) for sending, to the network node, information indicative of the position of the second UE, wherein the position of the second UE is defined as the position of the UE.