US-12618981-B2 - Positioning integrity in wireless networks

US12618981B2US 12618981 B2US12618981 B2US 12618981B2US-12618981-B2

Abstract

A first apparatus comprises a GNSS receiver configured to receive GNSS signals, a mobile communication transceiver configured to operate in a mobile communication network, wherein the first apparatus is configured to determine at least one parameter based on the received GNSS signals or use at least one parameter determined by a second or third apparatus based on GNSS measurements, wherein the first apparatus is configured to receive with the mobile communication transceiver an information message from a second apparatus or a third apparatus of the mobile communication network, the information message comprising an integrity information describing an integrity status of the GNSS signals, wherein the first apparatus is configured to at least one out of determine the at least one parameter in dependence on the integrity information, report the at least one parameter taking into account the integrity information, take a specific action in dependence on the integrity information.

Inventors

Birendra Ghimire
Mohammad ALAWIEH
NORBERT FRANKE
Ivana LUKCIN
Johannes Rossouw VAN DER MERWE

Assignees

FRAUNHOFER-GESELLSCHAFT ZUR FOERDERUNG DER ANGEWANDTEN FORSCHUNG E.V.

Dates

Publication Date: 20260505
Application Date: 20230418
Priority Date: 20201020

Claims (19)

1 . First apparatus, comprising: a GNSS receiver configured to receive GNSS signals, a mobile communication transceiver configured to operate in a mobile communication network, wherein the first apparatus is configured to determine at least one parameter based on the received GNSS signals or use at least one parameter determined by a second or third apparatus based on GNSS measurements, wherein the first apparatus is configured to receive with the mobile communication transceiver a first information message from a second apparatus of the mobile communication network, the first information message comprising a first integrity information describing an integrity status of the GNSS signals, wherein the first apparatus is configured to determine the at least one parameter in dependence on the first integrity information, and report the at least one parameter taking into account the first integrity information, wherein the report of the at least one parameter comprises a quality and uncertainty, wherein the first integrity information received with the first information message is based on a second integrity information from a third apparatus, the second integrity information describing the integrity status of the GNSS signals in the geographical or logical area in which first apparatus is located.
2 . First apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one parameter is at least one out of a position of the first apparatus, a velocity of the first apparatus, a system time, GNSS measurements.
3 . First apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the first apparatus is configured to determine the at least one parameter further based on measurements from at least one out of the following radio signals, IMU, accelerometer, gyroscope, barometer, pedometer, tachometer, odometer, speedometer, magnetometer, camera, lidar.
4 . First apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the integrity information describes the integrity status of the GNSS signals in a geographical or logical area the apparatus is located.
5 . First apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the integrity status is at least one out of an integrity event, an integrity alert.
6 . First apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the first apparatus is configured to report measurements relevant for integrity to the second apparatus.
7 . First apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the first apparatus is configured to receive the information message from the second apparatus via a downlink channel, or wherein the first apparatus is configured to receive the information message from the third apparatus via a sidelink channel or a downlink channel.
8 . First apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the information message is transmitted using a location positioning protocol, LPP, provide message.
9 . First apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the first apparatus is a UE.
10 . Second apparatus, comprising: a mobile communication transceiver configured to operate in a mobile communication network, wherein the second apparatus is configured to transmit with the mobile communication transceiver an information message to a first apparatus or a group of first apparatuses of the mobile communication network, the information message comprising an integrity information describing an integrity status of the GNSS signals in a geographical or logical area in which the first apparatus or group of first apparatuses is located, wherein the second apparatus is configured to receive a report of at least one parameter from the first apparatus, wherein the at least one parameter is determined by the first apparatus based on GNSS signals received by the first apparatus and in dependence on the integrity information, wherein the report of the at least one parameter comprises a quality and uncertainty, wherein the information message is a first information message, wherein the integrity information is a first integrity information, wherein the second apparatus is configured to receive from a third apparatus a second information message comprising a second integrity information describing the integrity status of the GNSS signals in the geographical or logical area in which first apparatus is located, wherein the first integrity information transmitted with the first information message is based on the second integrity information.
11 . Second apparatus according to claim 10 , wherein the second apparatus comprises a GNSS receiver or another receiver capable of detecting an integrity status of GNSS signals, wherein the second apparatus is configured to determine with the GNSS receiver or the other receiver an integrity status of the GNSS signals and to derive the integrity information from the determined status.
12 . Second apparatus according to claim 10 , wherein the second apparatus is configured to receive from a third apparatus a third information message, the third information message comprising a reported position and/or time of the third apparatus, and a portion of GNSS signals received by the third apparatus or measurements of the GNSS signals received by the third apparatus, wherein the second apparatus is configured to determine the integrity status of the GNSS signals based on the reported position of the third apparatus, and the portion of GNSS signals received by the third apparatus or the measurements of the GNSS signals received by the third apparatus.
13 . Second apparatus according to claim 11 , wherein the integrity status is at least one out of an integrity event, an integrity alert.
14 . Second apparatus according to claim 10 , wherein the second apparatus is configured to transmit an integrity information request message to the third apparatus, the integrity information request message requesting the third apparatus to transmit the second information message comprising the second integrity information, or wherein the second information message is transmitted using a location positioning protocol, LPP, provide message, or wherein the second apparatus is configured to transmit the second integrity information as the first integrity information with the first information message, or wherein the apparatus is configured to derive the first integrity information from the second integrity information, or wherein the second apparatus is configured to receive from a group of third apparatuses a group of second information messages comprising second integrity information, each describing the integrity status of the GNSS signals, wherein the second apparatus is configured to derive the first integrity information from the group of second integrity information, or wherein the second apparatus is configured to detect an integrity event or integrity alert based on the second information message or group of second information messages.
15 . Second apparatus according to claim 10 , wherein the second apparatus is one out of the following: a base station, an LMF, an NG-RAN node, a local LMF functionality in a NG-RAN node, a TRP, an AMF, an NRF, an external server accessing the mobile communication network via a NRF or a gateway, an NG-RAN node based on transparent satellite, an NG-RAN node based on regenerative satellite with or without inter-satellite link.
16 . Second apparatus according to claim 10 , wherein the second apparatus is configured to transmit the information message to the first apparatus via a different second apparatus.
17 . Second apparatus according to claim 10 , wherein the second apparatus is configured to transmit the integrity information to the first apparatus as one out of dedicated control signaling, user data, control signaling as SIB sent to a group of UEs, multicast to a group of UE, broadcast, unicast.
18 . Method for operating a first apparatus, the method comprising: receiving GNSS signals, operating in a mobile communication network, determining at least one parameter based on the received GNSS signals, receiving a first information message from a second apparatus of the mobile communication network, the first information message comprising a first integrity information describing an integrity status of the GNSS signals, and determining the at least one parameter in dependence on the first integrity information and reporting the at least one parameter taking into account the first integrity information, wherein the report of the at least one parameter comprises a quality and uncertainty, wherein the first integrity information received with the first information message is based on a second integrity information of a third apparatus, the second integrity information describing the integrity status of the GNSS signals in the geographical or logical area in which first apparatus is located.
19 . Method for operating a second apparatus, the method comprising: operating in a mobile communication network, transmitting an information message to a first apparatus or a group of first apparatuses of the mobile communication network, the information message comprising an integrity information describing an integrity status of the GNSS signals in a geographical or logical area in which the first apparatus or group of first apparatuses is located, wherein the information message is a first information message, wherein the integrity information is a first integrity information, receiving from a third apparatus a second information message comprising a second integrity information describing the integrity status of the GNSS signals in the geographical or logical area in which first apparatus is located, wherein the first integrity information transmitted with the first information message is based on the second integrity information.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application is a continuation of copending International Application No. PCT/EP2021/079110, filed Oct. 20, 2021, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety, and additionally claims priority from European Application No. EP 20 202 849.4, filed Oct. 20, 2020, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Embodiments of the present application relate to the field of wireless communication, and more specifically, to positioning integrity in wireless networks. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of an example of a terrestrial wireless network 100 including, as is shown in FIG. 1(a), a core network 102 and one or more radio access networks RAN1, RAN2, . . . RANN. FIG. 1(b) is a schematic representation of an example of a radio access network RANn that may include one or more base stations gNB1 to gNB5, each serving a specific area surrounding the base station schematically represented by respective cells 1061 to 1065. The base stations are provided to serve users within a cell. The term base station, BS, refers to a gNB in 5G networks, an eNB in UMTS/LTE/LTE-A/LTE-A Pro, or just a BS in other mobile communication standards. A user may be a stationary device or a mobile device. The wireless communication system may also be accessed by mobile or stationary IoT devices which connect to a base station or to a user. The mobile devices or the IoT devices may include physical devices, ground based vehicles, such as robots or cars, aerial vehicles, such as manned or unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), the latter also referred to as drones, buildings and other items or devices having embedded therein electronics, software, sensors, actuators, or the like as well as network connectivity that enables these devices to collect and exchange data across an existing network infrastructure. FIG. 1(b) shows an exemplary view of five cells, however, the RANn may include more or less such cells, and RANn may also include only one base station. FIG. 1(b) shows two users UE1 and UE2, also referred to as user equipment, UE, that are in cell 1062 and that are served by base station gNB2. Another user UE3 is shown in cell 1064 which is served by base station gNB4. The arrows 1081, 1082 and 1083 schematically represent uplink/downlink connections for transmitting data from a user UE1, UE2 and UE3 to the base stations gNB2, gNB4 or for transmitting data from the base stations gNB2, gNB4 to the users UE1, UE2, UE3. Further, FIG. 1(b) shows two IoT devices 1101 and 1102 in cell 1064, which may be stationary or mobile devices. The IoT device 1101 accesses the wireless communication system via the base station gNB4 to receive and transmit data as schematically represented by arrow 1121. The IoT device 1102 accesses the wireless communication system via the user UE3 as is schematically represented by arrow 1122. The respective base station gNB1 to gNB5 may be connected to the core network 102, e.g., via the S1 interface, via respective backhaul links 1141 to 1145, which are schematically represented in FIG. 1(b) by the arrows pointing to “core”. The core network 102 may be connected to one or more external networks. Further, some or all of the respective base station gNB1 to gNB5 may connected, e.g., via the S1 or X2 interface or the XN interface in NR, with each other via respective backhaul links 1161 to 1165, which are schematically represented in FIG. 1(b) by the arrows pointing to “gNBs”. For data transmission a physical resource grid may be used. The physical resource grid may comprise a set of resource elements to which various physical channels and physical signals are mapped. For example, the physical channels may include the physical downlink, uplink and sidelink shared channels (PDSCH, PUSCH, PSSCH) carrying user specific data, also referred to as downlink, uplink and sidelink payload data, the physical broadcast channel (PBCH) carrying for example a master information block (MIB), the physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) carrying for example a system information block (SIB), the physical downlink, uplink and sidelink control channels (PDCCH, PUCCH, PSSCH) carrying for example the downlink control information (DCI), the uplink control information (UCI) and the sidelink control information (SCI). For the uplink, the physical channels, or more precisely the transport channels according to 3GPP, may further include the physical random access channel (PRACH or RACH) used by UEs for accessing the network once a UE is synchronized and has obtained the MIB and SIB. The physical signals may comprise reference signals or symbols (RS), synchronization signals and the like. The resource grid may comprise a frame or radio frame having a certain duration in the time domain and having a given bandwidth in the frequency domain. The frame may have a certain number of subframes of a predefined length, e.g., 1 ms. Each subframe may include one or mo