User Equipment Relative Positioning via D2D and Network Assistance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing techniques for determining the relative position of user equipment in mobile communication systems are inefficient and lack accuracy, particularly when relying solely on device-to-device communication, leading to high signaling overhead and power consumption.
Innovation Solution
Combining device-to-device communication with network assistance from a radio access network node, such as an eNodeB, to determine the relative position of user equipment by utilizing device-to-device signaling messages and positioning reference signals, with the network node providing resource and power information to improve accuracy and efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If multilateration-based techniques such as OTDOA are used to determine relative position, then position determination capability is provided, but signaling overhead and power consumption become large
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and utilizes existing device-to-device communication signals (D2D data packets, synchronization signals) that are already being transmitted for communication purposes, rather than introducing entirely new positioning signals. This extraction approach allows position determination to be performed using signals that would otherwise be wasted for positioning purposes, thereby reducing additional power consumption and signaling overhead.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables communication signals to serve dual purposes: maintaining device-to-device communication while simultaneously providing positioning information. The same D2D signals used for data transmission and synchronization are also utilized for relative position determination, eliminating the need for separate dedicated positioning signals and reducing overall system resource consumption.
2Measurement precision
If multilateration-based techniques such as OTDOA are used to determine relative position, then position determination capability is provided, but signaling overhead becomes large
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts positioning information from existing device-to-device communication signals that are already present in the system. By utilizing D2D data packets, synchronization signals, and other communication signals for positioning purposes, the patent avoids the need for additional dedicated positioning signaling, thereby reducing signaling overhead while maintaining position determination capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent makes communication signals multi-functional by enabling them to serve both communication and positioning purposes simultaneously. The same signals used for device-to-device data transmission and synchronization are also exploited for relative position determination, eliminating the need for separate positioning signal structures and reducing overall signaling overhead.
3Measurement precision
If device-to-device communication messages are used for position determination, then positioning information can be obtained, but accuracy and efficiency are insufficient without network assistance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces the network (radio access network node) as an intermediary that facilitates the positioning process by providing assistance information to user equipment. The network supplies reference information about other D2D devices, resource allocations, and transmission parameters, enabling more accurate position determination without requiring complex peer-to-peer coordination between all devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements preliminary actions by having the network provide assistance information in advance before the actual position determination takes place. The radio access network node pre-configures D2D communication parameters, resource allocations, and transmission power settings, which simplifies the subsequent positioning measurements and reduces the complexity of real-time positioning calculations.
Data Source
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AI summary
A user equipment (2) comprises a wireless interface (20) for communication with a cellular communication network. The wireless interface (20) is operative for a device-to-device transmission and/or a device-to-device reception in a position determining procedure in which a relative position of the user equipment (2) and at least one further user equipment (3, 4) is determined. The user equipment (2) is operative to communicate with a radio access network node (11) of the cellular communication network for network assistance in the position determining procedure.