Sounding signals for sub-meter base station localization
Systems and methods are disclosed for providing base station localization. In one embodiment the system includes a network including a base station such as a 5G gNodeB (gNB); a Hetnet Gateway (HNG) in communication with the gNB, wherein the HNG includes a location server and wherein the HNG virtualizes and abstracts a collection of base stations and provides a complex network under its purview as a simple base station to a mobile packet core network; a plurality of Hyper Sync Network (HSN) nodes in communication with the gNB and the HNG, wherein the plurality of HSN nodes listen to User Equipments (UEs) to locate the UEs and to synchronize clocks on the gNB with the collection of HSN nodes or other gNBs; and an Evolved Serving Mobile Location Center (E-SMLC) server in communication with the HNG and for reporting the location of a UE.
1 . A system providing a base station with localization of users, comprising;
a network including a base station;
a plurality of Hyper Sync Network (HSN) nodes in communication with the base station and in a HSN mesh network, wherein the plurality of HSN nodes listen to User Equipments (UEs) to locate the UEs and to synchronize clocks on the base station with the collection of HSN nodes or other base stations; and
a location server for reporting the location of a UE to the UE using the plurality of HSN nodes in response to a request from the UE.
2 . The system of claim 1 wherein the base station comprises at least one of a 4G eNodeB and a 5G gNodeB (gNB), and further comprising an Evolved Serving Mobile Location Center (E-SMLC) server for reporting the location of the UE to the UE.
3 . The system of claim 1 further comprising location based services intelligence and algorithms hosted within the network.
4 . The system of claim 1 wherein the network keeps clocks on the base station and HSN nodes synchronized using a wireless channel.
5 . The system of claim 1 wherein the base station receives instructions to schedule a Sounding Reference Signal (SRS) transmission for a particular UE of interest.
6 . The system of claim 5 wherein the HSN nodes listen to the SRS transmission and estimate a delay in receiving the signal against a common reference of time.
7 . The system of claim 6 wherein the HSN nodes report the delay as metadata.
8 . The system of claim 7 wherein at least one of the network or the base station pinpoints the location of the UE and conveys this information to the E-SMLC as a location relative to the base station's location.
9 . The system of claim 1 wherein the HSN node comprises a listen only base station for maintaining time synchronization and an arrival time of UE signals.
10 . The method of claim 1 wherein the HSN node comprises a listen only base station for maintaining time synchronization and an arrival time of UE signals.
11 . A method for providing base station localization, the method comprising;
receiving, from an Evolved Serving Mobile Location Center (E-SMLC) server located in a network, a request for a location of a User Equipment (UE);
scheduling a Sounding Reference Signal (SRS) transmission for the UE;
issuing instructions to a plurality of Hyper Sync Network (HSN) nodes to listen for the SRS transmission from the UE;
listening, by the HSN nodes, for the SRS transmission and estimating a delay in receiving the transmission against a reference time;
reporting, by the HSN nodes, the delay as metadata;
determining, from the metadata, a location of the UE relative a location of the base station; and
reporting the location of the UE.
12 . The method of claim 11 wherein the base station comprises at least one of a 4G eNodeB and a 5G gNodeB (gNB).
13 . The method of claim 11 further comprising hosting location based services intelligence and algorithms.
14 . The method of claim 11 further comprising keeping clocks on the base station and HSN nodes synchronized using a wireless channel.
15 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium containing instructions for providing a base station with localization of users which, when executed, cause a system to perform steps comprising:
receiving, from an Evolved Serving Mobile Location Center (E-SMLC) server located in a network, a request for a location of a User Equipment (UE);
scheduling a Sounding Reference Signal (SRS) transmission for the UE;
issuing instructions to a plurality of Hyper Sync Network (HSN) nodes to listen for the SRS transmission from the UE;
listening, by the HSN nodes, for the SRS transmission and estimating a delay in receiving the transmission against a reference time;
reporting, by the HSN nodes, the delay as metadata;
determining, from the metadata, a location of the UE relative a location of the base station; and
reporting the location of the UE.
16 . The computer readable medium of claim 15 further comprising instructions wherein the base station comprises a one of a 4G eNodeB and a 5G gNodeB (gNB).
17 . The computer-readable medium of claim 15 further comprising instructions for keeping clocks on the base station and HSN nodes synchronized using a wireless channel.
18 . The computer-readable medium of claim 15 further comprising instructions wherein the HSN node comprises a listen only base station for maintaining time synchronization and an arrival time of UE signals.