Positioning Protocol Architecture

Last updated on Apr 9, 2023

Introduction:

Positioning is an essential requirement for many location-based services such as navigation, asset tracking, and emergency services. The 5G NR (New Radio) standard provides several mechanisms for positioning, including GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System), LTE (Long Term Evolution) positioning, and NR positioning. To support these positioning mechanisms, 5G NR uses a positioning protocol architecture that defines how the positioning information is exchanged between the mobile device and the network. In this article, we will discuss the positioning protocol architecture of 5G NR in detail.

Positioning Protocol Architecture:

The positioning protocol architecture of 5G NR consists of three main components: the User Equipment (UE), the Radio Access Network (RAN), and the Positioning Services (PS) network. These components work together to enable the exchange of positioning information between the mobile device and the network.

User Equipment (UE):

The UE is the mobile device that is used to communicate with the network. It contains the necessary hardware and software to support positioning, including GNSS receivers and LTE/NR modems. The UE is responsible for collecting positioning information from the available positioning sources and sending it to the network.

Radio Access Network (RAN):

The RAN is the network infrastructure that provides the wireless connectivity between the UE and the core network. It consists of base stations, such as gNodeB in 5G NR, that provide radio coverage in a specific geographical area. The RAN is responsible for receiving the positioning information from the UE and forwarding it to the PS network.

Positioning Services (PS) Network:

The PS network is responsible for processing the positioning information received from the UE and providing the location-based services to the applications. The PS network consists of several components, including the Positioning Protocol (PP) layer, the Application Programming Interface (API) layer, and the Location Server (LS).

Positioning Protocol (PP) Layer:

The PP layer is responsible for managing the exchange of positioning information between the UE and the PS network. It consists of several protocols, including the Positioning Protocol (PP), the Control Plane (CP), and the User Plane (UP). The PP is responsible for managing the positioning information exchanged between the UE and the network. The CP is responsible for controlling the signaling messages between the UE and the network, and the UP is responsible for transmitting the positioning information between the UE and the network.

Application Programming Interface (API) Layer:

The API layer provides a standardized interface for applications to access the positioning services provided by the PS network. It consists of several APIs, including the Positioning Application Programming Interface (PAI) and the Location Application Programming Interface (LAI). The PAI provides a standardized interface for applications to access the positioning information provided by the UE and the network. The LAI provides a standardized interface for applications to access the location-based services provided by the PS network.

Location Server (LS):

The LS is responsible for storing the positioning information received from the UE and the network and providing the location-based services to the applications. It consists of several components, including the Database Management System (DBMS), the Location Middleware, and the Location Application Server (LAS). The DBMS is responsible for storing the positioning information received from the UE and the network. The Location Middleware is responsible for processing the positioning information and providing it to the LAS. The LAS is responsible for providing the location-based services to the applications.

Positioning Methods:

The 5G NR standard provides several positioning methods, including GNSS positioning, LTE positioning, and NR positioning. These positioning methods are designed to work together to provide a seamless and accurate positioning experience for the users.

GNSS Positioning:

GNSS positioning is the most common positioning method used in mobile devices today. It uses a constellation of satellites to determine the location of the device.

The UE receives signals from the GNSS satellites and uses the received signal strength and timing to determine its location. The positioning information is then sent to the network for further processing and to provide location-based services to the applications.

LTE Positioning:

LTE positioning uses the existing LTE network infrastructure to provide positioning information to the UE. It relies on the timing advance (TA) measurement, which measures the time it takes for the signal to travel from the base station to the UE. The TA measurement is then used to calculate the distance between the UE and the base station, which is used to determine the UE's location.

NR Positioning:

NR positioning is a new positioning method introduced in the 5G NR standard. It uses the NR network infrastructure to provide positioning information to the UE. It relies on the Time Difference of Arrival (TDoA) measurement, which measures the time difference between the arrival of the signal at different base stations. The TDoA measurement is then used to calculate the distance between the UE and the base stations, which is used to determine the UE's location.

Conclusion:

The 5G NR standard provides several mechanisms for positioning, including GNSS positioning, LTE positioning, and NR positioning. These positioning methods are designed to work together to provide a seamless and accurate positioning experience for the users. To support these positioning methods, the 5G NR standard defines a positioning protocol architecture that defines how the positioning information is exchanged between the mobile device and the network. The positioning protocol architecture consists of three main components: the UE, the RAN, and the PS network. These components work together to enable the exchange of positioning information between the mobile device and the network, providing location-based services to the applications. The 5G NR positioning protocol architecture is a critical component of the 5G NR standard, enabling the delivery of a range of location-based services and applications, such as navigation, asset tracking, and emergency services.