Positioning method, apparatus, and system

• US 9,801,088 B2
• Filed: 07/01/2015
• Issued: 10/24/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 01/04/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. (Huawei Investment & Holding Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. (Huawei Investment & Holding Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Xiao, Dengkun, Cui, Jie, Li, Hong, Yasir, Mir, Zhu, Jiangbo
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Steven H
• Application Number:
  US14/789,254
• Publication Number:
  US 20150304877A1
• Time in Patent Office: 846 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0018 Transmission from mobile station to base station
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0036 of measured values, i.e. measurement on mobile and position calculation on base station
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0063 of measured values, i.e. measurement on base station and position calculation on mobile
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/021 Calibration, monitoring or correction G01S5/0252 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0236 Assistance data, e.g. base station almanac
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/10 Scheduling measurement reports ; Arrangements for measurement reports
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/08 Access point devices

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention relate to the field of communications, and provide a positioning method, apparatus, and system, so as to improve positioning precision. The method includes: determining, by a server, a positioning measurement parameter, and generating measurement configuration information carrying the positioning measurement parameter, where the positioning measurement parameter is a parameter that the server requests a terminal to measure and is used to position the terminal; sending, by the server, the measurement configuration information to the terminal through a base station; receiving, by the server through the base station, configuration response information returned by the terminal, where the configuration response information carries a positioning response parameter, and the positioning response parameter is a measurement result generated after the terminal measures the positioning measurement parameter; and positioning, by the server, the terminal according to the positioning response parameter carried in the configuration response information.

Claims

1. A server, comprising:

a processor, configured to;

send, through a transmitter, a request message to obtain scenario information of a terminal to a base station,

obtain, through a receiver, the scenario information of the terminal from a response message of the base station, so as to determine the scenario information of the terminal among a plurality of possible scenario information, the plurality of possible scenario information including carrier aggregation (CA) scenario information, coordinated multi-point (CoMP) scenario information, minimization of drive tests (MDT) scenario information, wide area network (WAN) scenario information, and wireless fidelity (WiFi) scenario information,

determine a positioning measurement parameter according to the scenario information of the terminal determined by the processor,

generate measurement configuration information carrying the positioning measurement parameter, and

send the measurement configuration information to the terminal through the transmitter,

wherein the positioning measurement parameter is a parameter that the server requests the terminal to measure and is used to position the terminal, and the positioning measurement parameter determined by the processor comprises some or all of the following parameters which are selectively chosen depending on the scenario information of the terminal determined by the processor;

a precoding matrix indicator (PMI)/rank indicator (RI) characteristic and the number of multiple paths of the terminal, a handover failure rate measured by the terminal, a radio link failure rate measured by the terminal, a signal to interference plus noise ratio of the terminal, and a number of cells from which the terminal receives strong interference;

the transmitter, configured to send the measurement configuration information generated by the processor to the terminal through the base station; and

a receiver, configured to receive, through the base station, configuration response information returned by the terminal, wherein the configuration response information carries a positioning response parameter, and the positioning response parameter is a measurement result generated after the terminal measures the positioning measurement parameter, wherein

the processor is further configured to position the terminal according to the positioning response parameter carried in the configuration response information received by the receiver,

wherein

the processor is configured to, if the scenario information of the terminal comprises the CA scenario information, determine the signal to interference plus noise ratio of the terminal, the number of cells from which the terminal receives strong interference, and the PMI/RI characteristic and the number of multiple paths of the terminal as positioning measurement parameters.

2. The server according to claim 1, wherein,

if the scenario information of the terminal comprises:

the CoMP scenario information, the processor is configured to determine the signal to interference plus noise ratio of the terminal, the number of cells from which the terminal receives strong interference, and the PMI/RI characteristic and the number of multiple paths of the terminal as the positioning measurement parameters; and

if the scenario information of the terminal comprises;

the MDT scenario information, the processor is configured to determine the handover failure rate measured by the terminal and the radio link failure rate measured by the terminal as the positioning measurement parameters.

3. The server according to claim 2, wherein,

if the scenario information of the terminal comprises:

the CA scenario information, the processor is further configured to determine a number of carriers used by the terminal and an angle of rotation relative to a true north direction as the positioning measurement parameters, wherein the angle of rotation is measured by a gyroscope of the terminal;

if the scenario information of the terminal comprises;

the CoMP scenario information, the processor is further configured to determine a number of measurement access point(s) used by the terminal and signal strength, and the angle of rotation relative to the true north direction as the positioning measurement parameters, wherein the angle of rotation is measured by the gyroscope of the terminal; and

if the scenario information of the terminal comprises;

the wide area network (WAN) or wireless fidelity (WiFi) scenario information, the processor is further configured to determine the number of access point(s) and access point identification(s) as the positioning measurement parameters, wherein the access point(s) and the access point identification(s) are detected by the terminal.

4. The server according to claim 1, wherein,

the positioning measurement parameter further comprises at least one of the following parameters or parameter combinations:

a number of carriers used by the terminal, a number of measurement access point(s) used by the terminal and signal strength, an angle of rotation relative to a true north direction, and a number of access point(s) and access point identification(s), wherein the angle of rotation is measured by a gyroscope of the terminal, and the access point(s) and the access point identification(s) are detected by the terminal.

5. The server according to claim 1, wherein,

the transmitter is configured to send the measurement configuration information to the base station, so that after receiving the measurement configuration information, the base station generates first measurement configuration information, and sends the first measurement configuration information to a corresponding terminal, wherein the first measurement configuration information is information that is generated according to the positioning measurement parameter by the base station after receiving the measurement configuration information sent by the server and obtaining the positioning measurement parameter by parsing the measurement configuration information, and that requests the terminal to measure the positioning measurement parameter;

and the first measurement configuration information carries the positioning measurement parameter.

6. The server according to claim 1, wherein,

the processor is further configured to save positioning parameter values that correspond to all rasters after a network is rasterized;

and

the processor is further configured to position the terminal by comparing the positioning response parameter with the positioning parameter values that correspond to all rasters after a network is rasterized, using a raster with a positioning parameter value closest to the positioning response parameter as a matched raster, and using a position of the matched raster as a position of the terminal.

7. A terminal, comprising:

a receiver, configured to

receive, through a base station, a request message from a server requesting scenario information of the terminal, to thereby identify the scenario information of the terminal among a plurality of possible scenario information, the plurality of possible scenario information including carrier aggregation (CA) scenario information, coordinated multi-point (CoMP) scenario information, minimization of drive tests (MDT) scenario information, wide area network (WAN) scenario information, and wireless fidelity (WiFi) scenario information, and

obtain measurement configuration information from the server through the base station, wherein the measurement configuration information carries a positioning measurement parameter, the positioning measurement parameter is a parameter that the server determines according to the scenario information of the terminal and requests the terminal to measure and is used to position the terminal, and the positioning measurement parameter comprises some or all of the following parameters which are selectively chosen depending on the scenario information of the terminal;

a precoding matrix indicator (PMI)/rank indicator (RI) characteristic and the number of multiple paths of the terminal, a handover failure rate measured by the terminal, a radio link failure rate measured by the terminal, a signal to interference plus noise ratio of the terminal, and a number of cells from which the terminal receives strong interference;

a processor, configured to perform measurement according to the positioning measurement parameter carried in the measurement configuration information received by the receiver, to obtain a positioning response parameter, and generate configuration response information carrying the positioning response parameter, wherein the positioning response parameter is a measurement result generated after the terminal measures the positioning measurement parameter; and

a transmitter, configured to send the configuration response information generated by the processor to the server through the base station, wherein the configuration response information carries the positioning response parameter,

wherein

if the scenario information of the terminal comprises the CA scenario information, the positioning measurement parameter received by the receiver comprises;

the signal to interference plus noise ratio of the terminal, the number of cells from which the terminal receives strong interference, and the PMI/RI characteristic and the number of multiple paths of the terminal.

8. The terminal according to claim 7, wherein,

if the scenario information of the terminal comprises:

the CoMP scenario information, the positioning measurement parameter received by the receiver comprises;

the signal to interference plus noise ratio of the terminal, the number of cells from which the terminal receives strong interference, and the PMI/RI characteristic and the number of multiple paths of the terminal;

or

if the scenario information of the terminal comprises;

the MDT scenario information, the positioning measurement parameter received by the receiver comprises;

the handover failure rate measured by the terminal and the radio link failure rate measured by the terminal.

9. The terminal according to claim 8, wherein,

if the scenario information of the terminal comprises:

the CA scenario information, the positioning measurement parameter received by the receiver further comprises;

a number of carriers used by the terminal and an angle of rotation relative to a true north direction, wherein the angle of rotation is measured by a gyroscope of the terminal;

or

if the scenario information of the terminal comprises;

the CoMP scenario information, the positioning measurement parameter received by the receiver further comprises;

a number of measurement access point(s) used by the terminal and signal strength, and an angle of rotation relative to a true north direction, wherein the angle of rotation is measured by a gyroscope of the terminal;

or

if the scenario information of the terminal comprises;

the wide area network WAN or wireless fidelity WiFi scenario information, the positioning measurement parameter received by the receiver further comprises;

a number of access point(s) and access point identification(s), wherein the access point(s) and the access point identification(s) are detected by the terminal.

10. The terminal according to claim 7, wherein the positioning measurement parameter received by the receiver further comprises at least one of the following parameters or parameter combinations:

a number of carriers used by the terminal, a number of measurement access point(s) used by the terminal and signal strength, an angle of rotation relative to a true north direction, and a number of access point(s) and access point identification(s), wherein the angle of rotation is measured by a gyroscope of the terminal, and the access point(s) and the access point identification(s) are detected by the terminal.

11. The terminal according to claim 7, wherein,

when the measurement configuration information comprises first measurement configuration information, the receiver is further configured to receive the first measurement configuration information sent by the base station, wherein the first measurement configuration information is information that is generated according to the positioning measurement parameter by the base station after receiving the measurement configuration information sent by the server and obtaining the positioning measurement parameter by parsing the measurement configuration information, and that requests the terminal to measure the positioning measurement parameter, and the first measurement configuration information carries the positioning measurement parameter;

the configuration response information comprises first configuration response information; and

the transmitter is configured to send the first configuration response information to the base station, so that after receiving the first configuration response information, the base station generates configuration response information to be sent to the server, and sends the configuration response information to the server, wherein the configuration response information carries the positioning response parameter.

12. A base station, comprising:

a receiver, configured to

receive, from a server, a request message to obtain scenario information of a terminal among a plurality of possible scenario information, the plurality of possible scenario information including carrier aggregation (CA) scenario information, coordinated multi-point (CoMP) scenario information, minimization of drive tests (MDT) scenario information, wide area network (WAN) scenario information, and wireless fidelity (WiFi) scenario information,

receive measurement configuration information from the server, wherein the measurement configuration information carries a positioning measurement parameter, the positioning measurement parameter is a parameter that the server determines according to the scenario information of the terminal and requests the terminal to measure and is used to position the terminal, and the positioning measurement parameter comprises some or all of the following parameters which are selectively chosen depending on the scenario information of the terminal;

a precoding matrix indicator PMI/rank indicator RI characteristic and the number of multiple paths of the terminal, a handover failure rate measured by the terminal, a radio link failure rate measured by the terminal, a signal to interference plus noise ratio of the terminal, and a number of cells from which the terminal receives strong interference; and

a transmitter, configured to send the request message received by the receiver to the terminal and to send the measurement configuration information received by the receiver to the terminal, wherein

the receiver is further configured to receive configuration response information sent by the terminal, wherein the configuration response information carries a positioning response parameter, and the positioning response parameter is a measurement result generated after the terminal measures the positioning measurement parameter; and

the transmitter is further configured to send the configuration response information received by the receiver to the server,

wherein

if the scenario information of the terminal comprises the CA scenario information, the positioning measurement parameter received by the receiver comprises;

the signal to interference plus noise ratio of the terminal, the number of cells from which the terminal receives strong interference, and the PMI/RI characteristic and the number of multiple paths of the terminal.

13. The base station according to claim 12, further comprising:

a processor, configured to parse the measurement configuration information received by the receiver, to obtain the positioning measurement parameter, wherein

the processor is further configured to generate first measurement configuration information, and add the positioning measurement parameter to the first measurement configuration information;

the transmitter being configured to send the measurement configuration information received by the receiver to the terminal comprises;

sending the first measurement configuration information generated by the processor to the terminal;

the receiver being configured to receive configuration response information sent by the terminal comprises;

receiving first configuration response information sent by the terminal, wherein the first configuration response information carries the positioning response parameter;

the processor is further configured to parse the first configuration response information received by the receiver, to obtain the positioning response parameter;

the processor is further configured to generate configuration response information sent to the server, and add the positioning response parameter to the configuration response information; and

the transmitter being configured to send the configuration response information received by the receiver to the server comprises;

sending the configuration response information generated by the processor to the server.

14. The base station according to claim 12, wherein,

if the scenario information of the terminal comprises:

the CoMP scenario information, the positioning measurement parameter received by the receiver comprises;

the signal to interference plus noise ratio of the terminal, the number of cells from which the terminal receives strong interference, and the PMI/RI characteristic and the number of multiple paths of the terminal;

or

if the scenario information of the terminal comprises;

the MDT scenario information, the positioning measurement parameter received by the receiver comprises;

the handover failure rate measured by the terminal and the radio link failure rate measured by the terminal.

15. The base station according to claim 14, wherein,

if the scenario information of the terminal comprises:

the CA scenario information, the positioning measurement parameter received by the receiver further comprises;

a number of carriers used by the terminal and an angle of rotation relative to a true north direction, wherein the angle of rotation is measured by a gyroscope of the terminal;

or

if the scenario information of the terminal comprises;

the CoMP scenario information, the positioning measurement parameter received by the receiver further comprises;

a number of measurement access point(s) used by the terminal and signal strength, and an angle of rotation relative to a true north direction, wherein the angle of rotation is measured by a gyroscope of the terminal;

or

if the scenario information of the terminal comprises;

the wide area network (WAN) or wireless fidelity (WiFi) scenario information, the positioning measurement parameter received by the receiver further comprises;

a number of access point(s) and access point identification(s), wherein the access point(s) and the access point identification(s) are detected by the terminal.

16. The base station according to claim 12, wherein the positioning measurement parameter received by the receiver further comprises at least one of the following parameters or parameter combinations:

a number of carriers used by the terminal, a number of measurement access point(s) used by the terminal and signal strength, an angle of rotation relative to a true north direction, and the number of access point(s) and access point identification(s), wherein the angle of rotation is measured by a gyroscope of the terminal, and the access point(s) and the access point identification(s) are detected by the terminal.

17. A positioning system, comprising:

a server; and

a base station, wherein

the server comprises;

a processor, configured to

send, through a transmitter, a request message to obtain scenario information of a terminal to the base station,

obtain, through a receiver, the scenario information of the terminal from a response message fed back by the base station, so as to determine the scenario information of the terminal among a plurality of possible scenario information, the plurality of possible scenario information including carrier aggregation (CA) scenario information, coordinated multi-point (CoMP) scenario information, minimization of drive tests (MDT) scenario information, wide area network (WAN) scenario information, and wireless fidelity (WiFi) scenario information,

determine a positioning measurement parameter according to the scenario information of the terminal determined by the processor,

generate measurement configuration information carrying the positioning measurement parameter, and

send the measurement configuration information to the terminal through the transmitter,

wherein the positioning measurement parameter is a parameter that the server requests the terminal to measure and is used to position the terminal, and the positioning measurement parameter determined by the processor comprises some or all of the following parameters which are selectively chosen depending on the scenario information of the terminal determined by the processor;

a precoding matrix indicator (PMI)/rank indicator (RI) characteristic and the number of multiple paths of the terminal, a handover failure rate measured by the terminal, a radio link failure rate measured by the terminal, a signal to interference plus noise ratio of the terminal, and a number of cells from which the terminal receives strong interference;

the transmitter, configured to send the measurement configuration information generated by the processor to the terminal through the base station; and

a receiver, configured to receive, through the base station, configuration response information returned by the terminal, wherein the configuration response information carries a positioning response parameter, and the positioning response parameter is a measurement result generated after the terminal measures the positioning measurement parameter,

wherein

the processor is further configured to position the terminal according to the positioning response parameter carried in the configuration response information received by the receiver, and

the processor is further configured to, if the scenario information of the terminal comprises the CA scenario information, determine the signal to interference plus noise ratio of the terminal, the number of cells from which the terminal receives strong interference, and the PMI/RI characteristic and the number of multiple paths of the terminal as positioning measurement parameters; and

the base station comprises;

a base receiver, configured to receive the measurement configuration information sent by the server,

a base transmitter, configured to send the measurement configuration information received by the base receiver to the terminal, wherein

the base receiver is further configured to receive configuration response information sent by the terminal, wherein the configuration response information carries a positioning response parameter, and the positioning response parameter is a measurement result generated after the terminal measures the positioning measurement parameter; and

the base transmitter is further configured to send the configuration response information received by the base receiver to the server.