CN1382361A

CN1382361A - Method and network for providing to positioning data

Info

Publication number: CN1382361A
Application number: CN 00814850
Authority: CN
Inventors: B·萨哈; S·阿米尔约
Original assignee: Ericsson Inc
Current assignee: Ericsson Inc
Priority date: 1999-09-03
Filing date: 2000-08-31
Publication date: 2002-11-27
Also published as: WO2001019122A1; EP1212917A1; KR20020057954A; AU7345900A; BR0013736A

Abstract

In a wireless communications network (10), a method of providing Time of Arrival (TOA) positioning data that minimizes the use of traffic channels within the network. The method comprising the steps of assigning a signaling channel (62) to an idle mobile station (12) within the network (10), causing a handover (68) of the mobile station (12) directly from the signaling channel (62) to a traffic channel (66), causing the mobile station (12) to generate an access burst during handover (68), and utilizing the access burst to provide TOA positioning data for the mobile station (12).

Description

Be used to provide the method and the network of locator data

Technical field

Present invention relates in general to cellular communication and application, particularly relate to a kind of method that (TOA) the locator data time of advent is provided, it reduces to minimum degree with the use of Traffic Channel in the wireless network.

Background of invention

For the increase of wireless (or honeycomb) communication requirement, produced the advanced communication system (ACS) that high quality of service can be provided for the user who accelerates.These systems comprise such as the analogue system of Advanced Mobile Phone System (AMPS) with such as the digital system of global system for mobile communications (GSM) and digital AMPS (D-AMPS).For realizing these systems, to move in the limit interferences environment based on the communicator of honeycomb, its relies on frequency to reuse scheme capacity and quality are reached to greatest extent.For example time division multiple access (TDMA) agreement in frequency division multiple access in the analogue system (FDMA) and the digital system is used to this purpose.

Because bandwidth is Limited resources (on the meaning of physics and management), so often use the scheme of in user as much as possible, dividing available network resource.Manage to make allocated bandwidth efficient to reach so to greatest extent scheme, relate to the combination of TDMA and FDMA (TDMA/FDMA) for one.For example the 25MHZ bandwidth can be divided into 124 carrier frequency, the one or more carrier frequency in each base station in the network are separately distributed in 200kHz ground at interval.And then use the TDMA scheme that each carrier frequency is separated in time again.Channel and then can be divided into the private subchannel of distributing to travelling carriage again.

Traffic Channel is also referred to as communication or transmission channel usually, is used for uploading sending voice and data (common non-order) signal at network.Use among the GSM multi-frame or one group 26 independently tdma frame define Traffic Channel.In 26 frames, common 24 will be used for language and data, and one as control channel, and one need not.

Control channel is also referred to as signaling or common signal channel usually, and it can be moved by idle pulley by idle pulley and the access of dedicated mode travelling carriage and use common signal channel that the signaling information of request is exchanged for dedicated mode.Radio transmission and out of Memory that mobile system monitoring in the dedicated mode is used to switch from the service base transceiver station.Common signal channel is limited in the multi-frame of a 51-frame, so that the special mobile platform uses the special mobile platform of multi-frame Traffic Channel (TCH) structure of 26-frame can monitor control channel.

In other system such as code division multiple access (CDMA) or FDMA, use other method.Except divide bandwidth in the user, Traffic Channel is designated or distribute to incoming call.Can use diverse ways and agreement to improve the number of channel efficiency, quality of connection and the potential channel that the user can use in a base station operation zone.Transmission channel in the system is convenient to communication.

Along with the increase that wireless network uses, determine that in network user's the position or the importance of location are also increasing.Location algorithm and system just are developed, and are used for calculating and reflection user block demarcation position.Simultaneously, as far back as calendar year 2001 location just by government organs (as, FCC) order goes to carry out as a standard.

The time of advent, (TOA) location mechanism was based on the time of advent (TOA) measurement of collection from the access burst calculating of travelling carriage generation.Access burst produces during minizone or intra-cell are changed, and serviced and contiguous base transceiver station (BTS) reception and measurement.Use access burst to come positioning mobile station need monitor the TOA of the additional hardware at BTS place with accurate measurement burst.

In the present TOA localization method, the travelling carriage in the idle pulley (MS) (being also referred to as mobile wireless electric unit, travelling carriage or cell phone) is at first distributed a signaling channel before carrying out paging, checking, password.In these areas, Serving Mobile Location Center (SMLC) distributes one first Traffic Channel by mobile switching centre (MSC) order base station controller (BSC) then.This process often is called the location call setup.SMLC instructs BSC to carry out location switching (being that sham cut is changed) to another Traffic Channel subsequently, so that access burst is switched to the one group of location management unit (LMU) that obtains MS TOA location from MS.

It is poor efficiency that transmission channel is used for locating by this way, and wastes valuable Internet resources.Use for the Traffic Channel of the travelling carriage that is positioned at idle pulley causes load bigger on the network.Therefore, a kind of method that reduces the Traffic Channel use during locating will provide lot of advantages.

Summary of the invention

The invention provides the method that (TOA) the locator data time of advent is provided in cordless communication network, it reduces to minimum degree with the use of Traffic Channel in the network.The present invention provides a kind of new solution for the TOA location, and wherein idle MS at first is assigned with a signaling channel, is directly switch to a Traffic Channel then.Serving Mobile Location Center (SMLC) by Mobile Servicing Center (MSC) order base station controller (BSC) carry out the directly switching of the location from signaling channel to the Traffic Channel that keeps for this purpose (as, sham cut is changed).Reducing offered load under the situation that does not take unnecessary Internet resources is an advantage provided by the invention.

Disclose the method that (TOA) the locator data time of advent is provided in one embodiment, it reduces to minimum degree with the use of Traffic Channel in the cordless communication network.The method comprising the steps of distributes to idle MS to a signaling channel in network, and impels travelling carriage directly to switch to Traffic Channel from signaling channel.The SMLC order BSC that communicates by letter with BSC carries out and switches.Be that SMLC sends the location switching command to BSC by MSC.The BSC that serves then carries out the switching from the signaling channel to the Traffic Channel.

The step that this method also comprises is to impel MS to produce access burst between transfer period.Carry out this step by switching access burst to one group with one of location management unit (LMU) transmission in one embodiment from MS, access burst is used for MS TOA is provided locator data.

A kind of method that (TOA) the locator data time of advent is provided for MS is also disclosed, cordless communication network has a Serving Mobile Location Center (SMLC), and it can be coupled communicatedly and be used for comes order base station controller (BSC) to serve by travelling carriage controller (MSC).The step that this method comprises is to make location service (LCS) information request (TOA) send to MSC from SMLC.Next, produce positional information order (TOA), and send to BSC from MSC.This step can be carried out by positional information (TOA) is reported to MSC.After reporting step, then from MSC to SMLC, send the step of LCS report information (TOA) then.

The step that this method can further comprise is to make the LCS information request send to a plurality of location management unit (LMU) that are suitable for measuring the TOA access burst that is produced by MS from MSC.LMU is relayed to MSC with LCS information response then.In case this response is sent out, SMLC just carries out the location confirmation that once is sent to MSC subsequently.

The step that this method can also comprise is, a Separate Dedicated Control Channel (SDCCH) is distributed to MS, send a switching command to MS, the MS of execution from SDCCH to the Traffic Channel switches, and make MS produce an access burst during this switch step, so that a plurality of LMU energy measurement is used for the access burst TOA of MS location.These steps are accompanied by the step of distributing a timer into the generation that inserts burst between transfer period.If distribute to the time expiration of timer before the successful switch, then the handoff failure signal sends to BTS from MS, and BTS communicates by letter with BSC in order further to order subsequently.

A technological merit of the present invention is included in locatees less use Traffic Channel between transfer period.Therefore network load has reduced.

Another technological merit is for each TOA Location Request of idle pulley MS request, to carry out intra-cell with less complexity and less time and change.

The accompanying drawing summary

In conjunction with detailed description, will more clearly understand These characteristics of the present invention and advantage to accompanying drawing.Wherein:

Fig. 1 represents a GSM network, wherein can use the present invention.

Fig. 2 shows the logical construction according to the TOA localization method of an embodiment.

Fig. 3 a describes when the multiplexing of travelling carriage during at idle pulley.

Fig. 3 b shows when the multiplexing of travelling carriage during at dedicated mode.

Fig. 4 represents the signaling during the call setup of TOA location.

Fig. 5 shows the present invention according to an embodiment, and

Fig. 6 is a signaling diagram, the step that expression uses the localization method based on the time of advent (TOA) to come positioning mobile station.Unless other indication is arranged, otherwise corresponding numbers and symbols is applicable to counterpart in the detailed description among the figure.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED

Go through the structure of various embodiments of the present invention below and when using, be to be understood that a lot of suitable inventive concepts that the present invention proposes, they can be embodied in the wide diversity of special context.Particular embodiment in this discussion only is the explanation structure and uses specific process of the present invention, and do not delimit scope of the present invention.

In order to understand the present invention better, with reference to figure 1, it represents a GSM network 10, wherein can use the present invention.Travelling carriage 12 comprises mobile device 22, and it comprises a terminal such as a cell phone and a subscriber identification module (SIM) 24.SIM24 comprises international mobile subscriber identification (IMSI), the key that is used for authentication for GSM network 10 identification users, and out of Memory.Mobile device 22 is discerned (IMEI) unique identification by international mobile device.IMEI and IMSI are independently, therefore allow the mobility of individual subscriber.

BSS14 comprises two parts, i.e. base transceiver station (BTS) 26 and base station controller (BSC) 28.BTS26 communicates by letter with BSC28 by standardized A bi positional interface 30, allows to operate between parts.BTS26 is equipped with the radio link protocol that radio set is used for determining a sub-district and processing and travelling carriage 12.At a metropolitan area, can arrange a large amount of BTS26.The BSC28 management is used for the radio resource of one or more BTS26, and several BSC positions 28 in BSS14 can be arranged.BSC28 controls radio channel foundation, frequency agility and switches BSC28 being connected between the MSC30 that travelling carriage 12 and network subsystem 16 are provided.

The central unit of network subsystem 16 is mobile switching centres (MSC) 30, a standard switching node of its effect and public switched telephone network (PSTN) is the same, and provide the control mobile subscriber required repertoire, upgrade, switch as registration, discriminating, position, and to roamer's call routing.These business and several functional entitys are provided together, and they constitute network subsystem 16 jointly.

MSC30 provides the connection that is connected to such as comprising PSTN or integrated services digital network (LSDN).Attaching position register (HLR) 34 and VLR Visitor Location Register (VLR) 36 and MSC30 provide call routing and roaming capacity for GSM network 10 jointly.Particularly, HLR34 is included in the management information of the user of registration in the corresponding GSN network 10, also comprises the position that travelling carriage 12 is present simultaneously.Similarly, VLR36 comprises from HLR34 and selecting, for calling out control and being provided for being currently located at the required management information of customer service by each travelling carriage in the geographic area of VLR36 control.Other register is used for discriminating and security purpose and network subsystem 16.

The invention provides the method for travelling carriage 12 location in GSM network 10 or other Public Land Mobile Nerwork (PLMN), it is more efficient than the localization method with former technology.According to one embodiment of the invention, the system that is used for TOA location shows usually and is expressed as 40 of Fig. 2.System 40 can transmit (TOA) the locator data time of advent for the request broker 54 of at least one peripheral operation and maintenance.Request broker 54 sends Location Request by GMLC (GMLC) 52, GMLC52 provides the interface of request broker 54 to system 40, GMLC52 also comprises the desired ability of location service enabled (LCS) function, other entity interaction effect in it and the system 40, thus determine the position of MS12.

Therefore, GMLC52 is the Ingress node that outside LCS client is provided for inserting PLMN46.GMLC52 can be from attaching position register (HLR) 36 request route selection informations.After registration was authorized, GMLC52 sent Location Request to VMSC30, and from VMSC30 receiving position data.In case Location Request is handled by VMSC30, VMSC30 just communicates by letter with BSC28 and Serving Mobile Location Center (SMLC) 50.SMLC50 comprises algorithm, method and supports the required system of LCS.The Total tune and the scheduling of MS12 location resource requirement carried out in the SMLC50 management.It also calculates final location estimate in the level of accuracy grade of regulation.

And SMLC50 controls many radio interface measurement purpose LMU48 that are used to obtain, and locatees MS12 with location in the zone of system's 40 services or help.SMLC50 is given measurement capability and the type that its each LMU48 produces.Although in system 40, only shown a LMU48, have at least three such LMU to be used to triangulation and the location of MS12 afterwards that TOA measures.Therefore, LMU48 is the representative of a plurality of LMU, and it is normally used for TOA and measures.Signaling between SMLC50 and LMU48 transmits by the MSC30 of service LMU48.The measurement that is turned back to SMLC50 by LMU48 has the general state that can be used for more than one localization method.

Alternately, the function of SMLC50 and GMLC52 can be combined in identical physical node, is combined in existing physical node or resides in the different nodes of system 40.SMLC50 and GLMC52 do not interconnect, but provide communication by VMSC30.When VMSC30 with GMLC52 in different PLMN positions 46 time, they interconnect by air interface.

With reference to figure 3a, switch to be shown as and relate to according to 60 the location of being expressed as generally of prior art, subsequently to the change of second Traffic Channel 66 from signaling channel (as, independent dedicated channel (SDCCH)) 62 to first Traffic Channels (TCH) 64.During idle pulley, travelling carriage 12 is dispensed on a SDCCH62 in the network 10.Subsequently, the switching of 64 execution travelling carriages 12 from signaling channel to the retained business channel.When travelling carriage placed dedicated mode, the location switching also can occur, shown in Fig. 3 b.At dedicated mode, Traffic Channel 64 has been assigned with, so that the distribution to second Traffic Channel 66 directly occurs between transfer period.Therefore, second Traffic Channel 66 switched for system 40 location and kept and distribute.The access burst 68 that MS12 produces between transfer period is used for MS12 provides TOA locator data.

Whole localization process processes have been described present TOA localization method shown in Fig. 3 a and 3b.Existing TOA localization method allows the MS12 in idle pulley at first to be assigned with a signaling channel (SDCCH) at paging, discriminating, password before carrying out.SMLC50 serves 12 by MSC30 order BSC28, to set up Traffic Channel 64 (or location call setup).SMLC50 switches (or camouflage is switched) with the location that post command BSC28 carries out another Traffic Channel 66, be used for sending to LMU48 from MS12 switching access burst 68, be used to measure the TOA of this access burst, the method that switch this execution location is a poor efficiency, because it has taken two traffic channel resources, 64 and 66.

As discussed above, present TOA location is provided at one of transmission and is used to the LCS message command message of the TOA location of idle pulley MS12 to set up the location calling before.With reference now to Fig. 4,, during the call setup of TOA location, the signaling sequence that is used for TOA localization method of the present invention is typically expressed as 70.Start call setup 70 (step 72), wherein SMLC50 is used to distribute a Traffic Channel 64, and MSC30 subsequently communicates by letter.Then, the distribution (step 74) of checking Traffic Channel 64 during sending message from described MSC30 to BSC28.

When traffic channel assignments (step 74), channel activates (step 76) serviced BSC28 in 12 and carries out, and is sent to BTS26.BTS26 is used to a channel activation confirmation is sent to BSC28 (step 78) subsequently.An assignment commands sends to MS12 (step 80) from BSC28 subsequently.Set up indication subsequently and be performed (step 82), and sent to BSC28 from BTS26.Set up indication (step 82) afterwards, MS12 carries out finish (step 84) of distributing.The distribution service channel is confirmed to send to SMLC50 from MSC30 subsequently.

With reference to figure 5, wherein show and be expressed as 90 simplification procedure chart of the present invention generally.Basically is understood the method that (TOA) the locator data time of advent is provided, and it reduces to minimum degree with the use of Traffic Channel in the network.Signaling channel 62 is assigned to the idle mobile stations 12 in the network.The directly switching 68 of 66 execution MS12 subsequently from signaling channel 62 to Traffic Channel.MS12 is used for producing an access burst during switching 68 subsequently, and this access burst is used to MS12 that TOA is provided locator data.

The inventive method has been saved the distribution of second Traffic Channel during (68) are switched in the location, and therefore reduces the use of Traffic Channel in the network.And, need not second Traffic Channel of additional allocation can be implemented to same channel or the intra-cell from the signaling channel to the Traffic Channel is changed.The complexity that this has caused reducing the TOA localization method has reduced the time that is used for from each TOA Location Request of idle pulley MS, and reduces the signal of TOA localization method.

Fig. 6 is a signaling diagram, illustrates according to one embodiment of the invention, and using the localization method based on the time of advent (TOA) is the MS12 localization step.When Serving Mobile Location Center (SMLC) 50 receives from the Location Request of location-based service (LCS), just LCS information request (TOA) is sent (step 105) to travelling carriage controller (MSC) 30.Same SMLC50 is responsible for carrying out Location Request.Should be pointed out that more than one SMLC50 can be positioned in interior each PLMN46 of network.In case MSC30 receives the LCS information request that is used for the TOA location, MSC30 (step 110) just sends to the positional information order that is used for the TOA location base station controller (BSC) 28 of the described travelling carriage of service.BSC28 sends to MS12 controller 30 (step 115) to the location information report that is used for the TOA location subsequently.The location information report that is used for the TOA location subsequently sends to SMLC50 (step 120) from travelling carriage controller 30.

In case SMLC50 receives the LCS report information that is used for the TOA location from MSC30, the LCS information request just sends to MSC30 (step 125) from SMLC50 subsequently.Subsequently, LCS information request (step 130) is sent to a plurality of location management unit 48 from MSC30.LMUS48 is responsible for obtaining location survey and these measurements is offered SMLC50, is used to calculate the position of MS12.All are gone to and send by air interface from communicating by letter of LMUS48.Therefore, each LMU48 is and a relevant base station controller (BTS) 26 radio communications.SMLC50 is responsible for selecting to obtain the LMUS48 of location survey.Therefore, be that SMLC50 sends to each selected LMUS48 (step 130) to the LCS information request message.

In case LMUS48 receives LCS information request (step 130), BSC28 just prepares to begin location switching 68 processes subsequently.When BSC28 sent to MS12 (step 135) to switching (HO) command messages, generation was switched in the location, promptly ordered MS12 to carry out the switching of a serving BTS 26 or a target BTS (not shown) on the channel of regulation.Switching command message also instruct MS 12 should begin to send the tdma frame number of access burst, inserts (step 145) when beginning to send access burst in the message when MS12 is switching, and LMU48 carries out the time of advent (TOA) of access burst and measures.Because being the location, this switching switches, rather than the relevant switching of radio, so will can not responding to switch, BTS 26 inserts message.To stop to send access burst (step 150) during the timer expiration of MS12 in MS12.After this, MS12 turns back to the old channel of distributing to it, and sends handoff failure information (step 155) to BSC28.

By LCS information answer (step 165), TOA measures and is forwarded to SMLC50 from LMUS48, is used to help to calculate the geographical position of MS12.After SMLC50 calculated the position of MS12, this position just was sent to the LCS client of request location.Should be pointed out that this request client can be positioned at MS12, MS30 or external node 54, as an intelligent position (IN) intranodal.In case LCS receives information requested, the position confirming performance just sends to MSC30 (step 170) from SMLC50.

Although the embodiment with reference to explanation has been described the present invention, this description does not also mean that limited significance.The various modifications of the embodiment that illustrates, merge with other embodiment of the present invention be conspicuous for those skilled in the art with reference to this description.Therefore, this claim of adding with regard to meaning comprises any such modification or embodiment.

Claims

1. a kind of method of (TOA) the locator data time of advent is provided in wireless communication networks, and this method can make the use of Traffic Channel in the network reduce to minimum degree, and described method comprises step:

Signaling channel is distributed to idle mobile stations in the network;

Impel described travelling carriage directly to switch to Traffic Channel from described signaling channel;

Impel described travelling carriage between described transfer period, to produce an access burst; And

Utilize described access burst to provide TOA locator data for described travelling carriage.

2. according to the process of claim 1 wherein that described allocation step is to carry out by the switching that the base station controller (BSC) that impels the described travelling carriage of service is carried out from described signaling channel to described Traffic Channel.

3. according to the method for claim 2, wherein said allocation step is to carry out by impelling Serving Mobile Location Center (SMLC) command service of communicating by letter with described BSC to carry out to switch after specified time period in the described BSC of described travelling carriage.

4. according to the method for claim 3, wherein said allocation step is carried out by the location switching command is sent to described BSC by described MSC.

5. according to the process of claim 1 wherein that the described step of impelling described travelling carriage to produce an access burst is by carrying out from the location management unit (LMU) that described travelling carriage sends to the configuration that is used for the TOA measurement switching access burst.

6. in wireless communication networks, the method of (TOA) the locator data time of advent is provided for travelling carriage (MS), described network has Serving Mobile Location Center (SMLC), it can be coupled and be used for the base station controller (BSC) by the described MS of travelling carriage controller (MSC) command service communicatedly, and described method comprises step:

Impel location-based service (LCS) information request (TOA) to send to described MSC from described SMLC;

Impel positional information order (TOA) generation and send to described BSC from described MSC;

Impel the LCS information request to send to a plurality of location management unit (LMU) from described MSC, it is used to measure the TOA access burst that described MS produces;

Distribute a Separate Dedicated Control Channel (SDCCH) for described MS;

Send a switching command for described MS;

The switching of the described MS of execution from described SDCCH to Traffic Channel; And

Impel described MS during described switch step, to produce access burst, so that described a plurality of LMU energy measurement is used to locate the TOA of the described access burst of described MS.

7. according to the method for claim 6, wherein impel positional information order (TOA) to produce and also comprise step from the described step that described MSC sends to described BSC: (TOA) reports to described MSC positional information.

8. according to the method for claim 7, wherein said reporting step heel is along with the step that sends LCS report information (TOA) from described MSC to described SML.

9. according to the method for claim 6, wherein said method also comprises step: request is from the LCS information of described MSC.

10. according to the method for claim 10, wherein said forwarding step heel is along with the step from described a plurality of LMU to described MSC relaying LCS information answer.

11. according to the method for claim 11, the step that wherein said relaying step heel is confirmed along with executing location, described location confirmation is carried out by described SMLC.

12. according to the method for claim 6, wherein said forwarding step is accompanied by to described switching and distributes a step that is used for the timer of TOA location.

13. according to the method for claim 14, the step heel of a timer of wherein said distribution is along with impelling switching signal to send to the step of described a plurality of LMU when the described timer expiration.