User Plane Positioning Signaling Latency Reduction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current wireless network technologies face challenges in quickly locating terminal devices due to latency issues in the control plane message forwarding, which affects the efficiency of positioning services.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a positioning method that utilizes the user plane to transmit positioning signaling and location information, thereby reducing latency by avoiding detours through the control plane and leveraging the shorter path and lower transmission latency of the user plane.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of time

If positioning signaling is transmitted through the control plane, then positioning services can be provided, but latency increases due to message forwarding detours

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelatency in determining locationVSAvoidcontrol plane message forwarding path
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of timeVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a user plane session as an intermediary transmission path between the terminal device and access network device. By establishing a dedicated user plane session for positioning signaling, the system avoids the traditional control plane forwarding detour, enabling direct communication that reduces latency while maintaining positioning functionality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the control plane message forwarding mechanism with a user plane-based transmission mechanism. This substitution involves using user plane sessions to carry positioning signaling directly, eliminating the need for control plane involvement in the signaling transmission process, thereby reducing latency and simplifying the forwarding path.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Speed

If user plane is used to transmit positioning signaling, then latency is reduced, but session establishment complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetransmission speed of positioning dataVSAvoidsession establishment process
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent leverages the existing user plane session infrastructure for multiple purposes. The user plane session, originally designed for data transmission, is also utilized for carrying positioning signaling. This multi-functionality approach allows the system to benefit from the established user plane pathways without requiring entirely new transmission mechanisms, thereby reducing the complexity burden of session establishment.

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

Solution Approach 2:

The patent performs session establishment in advance before positioning signaling is required. By pre-establishing the user plane session for positioning purposes, the system avoids the need for complex real-time session setup during positioning operations. This preliminary action simplifies the overall process by preparing the transmission path beforehand.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP4247013B1Positioning method, communication apparatus and communication system
Publication Date: 2025.04.23 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD
  • EP4247013B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4247013B1 patent drawingFigure 2
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AI summary

Embodiments of this application provide a positioning method, a communication apparatus, and a communication system. The method includes: A terminal device receives a first message from a location management network element by using a session, where the first message is used to request location information of the terminal device. The terminal device sends the first message to an access network device. The terminal device receives the location information from the access network device. The terminal device sends the location information to the location management network element by using the session. In this solution, positioning signaling used for positioning and the location information of the terminal device are transmitted through a user plane. Because the user plane has a short path and a low transmission latency, the positioning signaling used for positioning and the location information of the terminal device can be quickly transmitted, and a latency in locating a location of the terminal device can be further reduced, so that the location of the terminal device is quickly located.