Virtual PRU Positioning for Private Anchor Location Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wireless communication systems, particularly 5G NR, face challenges in maintaining privacy and security of network nodes' locations during UE-based positioning, as accurate locations of anchors and PRUs are often required, which can be difficult to protect, especially for moving anchors.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of virtual positioning reference units (VPRUs) and virtual anchors, which generate measurements and assistance data without disclosing actual locations, allowing UEs to perform high-accuracy positioning while preserving network node privacy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If accurate locations of anchors and PRUs are disclosed for UE-based positioning, then positioning accuracy is improved, but privacy and security of network nodes deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates virtual copies (virtual anchors and virtual PRUs) that replicate the positioning functionality of physical anchors and PRUs without exposing their true locations. These virtual entities contain all necessary positioning information and measurement capabilities, allowing UEs to perform accurate positioning while interacting with fictitious rather than real network node locations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces virtual anchors and virtual PRUs as intermediary entities between UEs and physical network nodes. These intermediaries handle all positioning measurements and data exchanges, preventing direct exposure of physical node locations to UEs while maintaining positioning accuracy through the virtual representation layer.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If virtual anchors and VPRUs are used for positioning, then privacy and security of network nodes is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes virtual anchors and virtual PRUs multi-functional entities that simultaneously provide positioning measurements, location information, and privacy protection. These universal entities can serve multiple UEs and multiple physical anchors/PRUs, reducing the need for separate mechanisms for each function and thereby managing system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
By creating simplified virtual copies rather than implementing complex privacy-preserving protocols at each physical node, the patent reduces overall system complexity. The virtual entities consolidate the complexity into a manageable representation layer that handles privacy protection uniformly across all positioning operations.
3Adaptability or versatility
If virtual positioning reference units are implemented, then adaptability to moving anchors is improved, but measurement and detection difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic virtual anchors and virtual PRUs that can automatically update their position information and measurements in real-time as physical anchors and PRUs move. This dynamic adaptation allows the system to maintain accurate positioning capabilities for moving targets without requiring manual reconfiguration or complex tracking mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
By maintaining virtual copies that mirror the dynamic behavior of physical anchors and PRUs, the patent simplifies the measurement process. UEs measure against stable virtual entities rather than directly tracking moving physical nodes, reducing measurement complexity while maintaining adaptability to movement through the virtual representation layer.
Data Source
AI summary
Aspects presented herein may enable a UE to perform positioning using virtual anchors and/or positioning reference units. In one aspect, a UE transmits a request for assistance data for performing UE-based positioning, where the request includes at least one of location information of the UE or a list of anchors observed by the UE. The UE receives the assistance data for the UE-based positioning, where the assistance data includes a list of virtual anchors and a list of positioning reference units (PRUs) that includes a set of virtual PRUs (VPRUs), where the list of virtual anchors and the list of PRUs are selected based on at least one of the location information of the UE or the list of anchors observed by the UE. The UE performs the UE-based positioning using at least one virtual anchor and at least one VPRU in the assistance data.