Uplink Location Reporting for IoT Wireless Networks
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current location services in wireless networks, particularly for IoT devices, are resource-intensive and battery-draining due to frequent assignment and release of location servers and the need for real-time authentication and signaling connections, which is unsustainable for networks supporting millions of devices.
Innovation Solution
Implementing uplink high efficiency transport of location information by permanently assigning a location server, omitting core network involvement, and performing location computation in batch mode, reducing the need for real-time authentication and direct UE-LS interaction, and using a temporary UL signaling channel for data transfer.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If traditional control plane location solutions are used for periodic location reporting, then location accuracy is maintained, but network resource consumption and battery usage increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic location reporting where the UE sends location information at predetermined intervals without establishing full signaling connections. The network configures periodic reporting parameters including time intervals and triggers, allowing the UE to enter idle states between reports, significantly reducing battery consumption while maintaining location tracking accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the essential location reporting function from the traditional control plane signaling path. By using user plane transport for location information and omitting core network involvement for periodic reports, the solution removes unnecessary authentication and signaling overhead while preserving location accuracy through selective use of control plane resources.
2Measurement precision
If traditional control plane location solutions are used for periodic location reporting, then location accuracy is maintained, but network resource consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The network configures periodic location reporting intervals, allowing UEs to report location information at optimized times without establishing full signaling connections. This periodic approach reduces network signaling overhead and resource consumption while maintaining the ability to track location accurately through configured reporting triggers and intervals.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a simplified reporting mechanism that acts as an intermediary between the UE and the location server. By using pre-configured reporting parameters and optional network triggers, the system mediates location information transfer without requiring full control plane signaling, improving network resource efficiency while preserving location accuracy.
3Reliability
If real-time authentication and signaling connections are established for each location report, then location security is maintained, but device complexity and overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary authentication where the UE authenticates with the network once during initial connection or registration. This pre-authentication allows the UE to send periodic location reports without repeating the full authentication process, reducing signaling overhead and device complexity while maintaining security through the use of pre-established security contexts and optional network triggers.
Data Source
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AI summary
Uplink high efficiency transport of location information from a user equipment (UE) may include initiating a periodic or triggered location session in a UE by a location server (LS) in a wireless network. The UE may enter an idle state and monitor for a triggering event. After detecting an event, the UE may obtain location information, determine a nearby base station, and obtain a temporary signaling channel from the base station. The UE transmits the location information to the base station and includes a UE identification (ID), an ID for the LS, and an authentication code (AC). The location information may be ciphered but other information is unciphered. The base station transfers the received information to the LS which may authenticate the UE ID using the AC, determine the UE location using the location information and transfer the UE location to an external client.