POSITION DETERMINATION OF NETWORK ELEMENTS AND USER EQUIPMENT IN INDOOR ENVIRONMENT

• US 20170230802A1
• Filed: 08/12/2014
• Published: 08/10/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 08/12/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nokia Solutions and Networks US LLC (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Solutions and Networks US LLC (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: LAKSHMI NARAYANAN, Ram, VELAYUTHAM, Somasundaram
• Granted Patent: US 10,390,184 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 5/00 Measuring height; Measuring distances transverse to line of sight; Levelling between separated points; Surveyors' levels G01C3/20, G01C3/30 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/49 whereby the further system is an inertial position system, e.g. loosely-coupled
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0027 of actual mobile position, i.e. position determined on mobile
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0289 of multiple transceivers, e.g. in ad hoc networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/02 Arrangements for optimising operational condition
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/08 Testing, supervising or monitoring using real traffic
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/10 Scheduling measurement reports ; Arrangements for measurement reports
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/021 Services related to particular areas, e.g. point of interest [POI] services, venue services or geofences
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/023 using mutual or relative location information between multiple location based services [LBS] targets or of distance thresholds
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/027 using movement velocity, acceleration information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/33 for indoor environments, e.g. buildings
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/00 Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/003 locating network equipment

Abstract

Determination of the position of devices may be useful in various communication systems. For example, wireless communication systems that support emergency services may benefit from being able to make a vertical position determination of user equipment and/or network elements within a building or in other indoor environments, such as caves. A method can be implemented by a processor of a base station. The method can include receiving from at least one user equipment, at least one report based on at least a signal strength of a wireless connection between the at least one user equipment and the base station. The method can also include determining a vertical position of the base station, from the at least one report.

Claims

1. A method implemented by a processor of a base station, comprising:

receiving from at least one user equipment, at least one report based on at least a signal strength of a wireless connection between the at least one user equipment and the base station; and

determining a vertical position of the base station, from the at least one report.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining a horizontal position of the base station from the at least one report from the at least one user equipment.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the vertical position is determined based on user equipment sensor data.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining the vertical position further comprises determining a relative position of the base station with respect to another base station.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining the vertical position is performed to a floor-level accuracy.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

storing the vertical position, wherein the vertical position is stored with floor level precision.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

requesting the at least one report by sending a location determination needed message.

8. A method implemented by a processor of a user equipment, comprising:

initiating relative movement detection; and

reporting, to a base station, a location of the user equipment, based on the relative movement detection, for determination of a location of the base station.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

receiving an indication from the base station that the determination of the base station is complete; and

terminating the relative movement detection in response to the indication.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the report to the base station includes three-dimensional location information.

11. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

receiving two-dimensional location information from another base station, wherein the three-dimensional location information is based on the two-dimensional location information.

12. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

receiving an indication from the base station that determination of the location is needed, wherein the initiation of relative movement detection is responsive to the indication.

13. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

maintaining information regarding a reporting trigger with respect to the relative movement detection; and

sending a further report to the base station when the reporting trigger is met.

14. An apparatus, comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one memory including computer program code,

wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are configured to, with the at least one processor, cause a base station at least to

receive from at least one user equipment, at least one report based on at least a signal strength of a wireless connection between the at least one user equipment and the base station; and

determine a vertical position of the base station, from the at least one report.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are configured to, with the at least one processor, cause a base station at least to determine a horizontal position of the base station from the at least one report from the at least one user equipment.

16. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the vertical position is determined based on user equipment sensor data.

17. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are configured to, with the at least one processor, cause a base station at least to determine the vertical position by determining a relative position of the base station with respect to another base station.

18. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are configured to, with the at least one processor, cause a base station at least to determine the vertical position to a floor-level accuracy.

19. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are configured to, with the at least one processor, cause a base station at least to store the vertical position with floor level precision.

20. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are configured to, with the at least one processor, cause a base station at least to request the at least one report by sending a location determination needed message.