Vertical Positioning Model Using Measurement Report Signatures

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current vertical positioning technologies, such as barometer-based methods, fail to provide absolute altitude information to network devices, limiting their ability to accurately determine the vertical position of mobile terminals within wireless networks.

Innovation Solution

A method for constructing a vertical positioning model using GPS information, minimization of drive tests (MDT) protocols, and 3D electronic maps to associate measurement reports from mobile terminals with building signatures, enabling network devices to calculate vertical information through vector product algorithms and dimension reduction techniques.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If barometer-based vertical positioning is used, then the measured terminal can obtain relative altitude information, but the network device cannot obtain the vertical position of the measured terminal

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevertical position measurementVSAvoidpositioning system architecture

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a positioning server as an intermediary component that receives measurement reports from both the terminal and the network device, performs correlation analysis, and outputs vertical position information. This mediator architecture enables the network device to obtain vertical positioning data without requiring complex onboard processing at the terminal or network device sides.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces direct hardware-based vertical sensing at the terminal with a signal-processing-based approach. By substituting physical measurement mechanisms with computational methods (correlation analysis of measurement reports), the system enables vertical positioning capability in network devices without adding complex hardware.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Loss of information

If traditional positioning methods are used, then horizontal position can be obtained, but vertical position information remains unavailable to network devices

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevertical position informationVSAvoidpositioning information completeness

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extends traditional 2D horizontal positioning to 3D vertical positioning by introducing altitude as an additional dimension. Through correlation analysis of measurement reports containing timing and signal strength information, the system extracts vertical position data, completing the three-dimensional positioning capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent performs preliminary collection and processing of measurement reports before vertical position calculation. By pre-gathering timing advance values, signal strength measurements, and cell identification data, the system prepares the necessary information foundation for subsequent vertical position derivation, improving overall positioning efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Measurement precision

If barometer-based positioning is implemented, then terminal-side altitude measurement is possible, but absolute altitude and network-side vertical position remain unobtainable

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvealtitude measurement accuracyVSAvoidvertical information acquisition

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent enables the network device to self-derive vertical position information by processing measurement reports it already receives for other purposes. The positioning server utilizes existing signaling infrastructure and measurement data, allowing the network to obtain vertical positioning capability without additional dedicated measurement mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent makes existing measurement report mechanisms serve multiple functions: traditional horizontal positioning, signal quality assessment, and now vertical position determination. By enabling the same measurement infrastructure to support multiple positioning dimensions, the system improves ease of operation while maintaining measurement precision.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP3817467B1Method for constructing vertical positioning model, and vertical positioning method and device

Publication Date: 2023.10.04 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD

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AI summary

Embodiments of this application disclose a method for constructing a vertical positioning model, to enable a network device to obtain vertical information of a mobile terminal based on a vertical positioning model, thereby improving efficiency of obtaining the vertical information of the mobile terminal by the network device. The method in the embodiments of this application includes: determining, in measurement reports MRs of a mobile terminal, a signature feature of measurement report call information MRCALL, where the signature feature of the MRCALL is proportions of appearance of cells in one call of the mobile terminal; obtaining a round test signature feature of a target building, where the round test signature feature is proportions of the cells in the target building, and location information of the target building corresponds to information about a current location of the mobile terminal; and constructing a vertical positioning model based on the signature feature of the MRCALL, the round test signature feature, and height information of the target building, where the vertical positioning model is used to measure vertical information of a target mobile terminal.