Aspects of Geo-Location in Mobile

Networks
White Paper

Prepared by:
Irina Cotanis

Date:
17 November 2010

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Rev 17 Nov 2010

Ascom (2010)
All rights reserved. TEMS is a trademark of Ascom. All other trademarks are the property of their respective holders.

Contents

Ascom (2010)

Introduction ................................................................ 3

UE localization beyond networks LCS

function ....................................................................... 3

2.1
2.2
2.3

3GPP LCS specifications ......................................................3

Accuracy aspects in 3GPP LCS...............................................4
Beyond LCS scope and context ..............................................5

Generalities on geo-location techniques in

mobile networks ........................................................ 6

Using OTODA geo-location technique in

WCDMA ....................................................................... 9

4.1
4.2
4.3

Geo-location in WCDMA...........................................................9
OTODA technique .....................................................................9
Accuracy related aspects.......................................................10

Conclusions ............................................................. 10

References................................................................ 11

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Introduction

The UE geo-location became lately an important topic for the operators

who need to provide a large number of services at low OPEX and CAPEX
costs. An important leverage for achieving this goal is to be able to easily
access geo-location information of a particular service as well as to perform
area focused and driven trouble shooting and optimization.
The paper presents some general aspects on localization services (LCS)
as well as 3GPP work in this area. In addition, the paper shows the need
and the means of going beyond the LCS as defined by 3GPP. Geo-location
techniques that could be used, the required parameters as well as the
limitations involved by any of the presented methods are discussed. The
paper also describes in more detail the multilateration technique which is
suitable for geo-location estimate solutions implemented in network
monitoring tools for WCDMA networks. These solutions are more likely to
be used for the geo-location of network problems as well as optimization.

UE localization beyond networks

LCS function

The myriad of services that have become available to subscribers with the
deployment of 3G networks has increased the need for LCS. In the last few
years, 3GPP standardization efforts have uncovered a series of aspects
related to LCS, from stage 1 (service description [1] (Release 9)) to stage 2
(functional description [2], [3]), and just recently, the updated functional
specifications required for user equipment (UE) [4] (Release 10).

2.1

3GPP LCS specifications

3GPP specifies that the LCS function is to be based on measuring radio

signals to determine the geographic position and velocity of the UE and that
the position information may be requested by and reported to a client
(application) associated with the UE, or by a client within or attached to the
Core Network (CN).
The Radio Network Controller (RNC) needs to manage the overall
coordination and scheduling of resources required to perform positioning of
a UE; which may even include calculating the final position, velocity
estimate, and accuracy. The UE positioning function provisioning could be
performed through support of specified localization technique(s) in Node B,
the RNC, and the Satellite Augmentation System (SAS) if this is available
to the network [4]. In the latter case, network-based localization is possible;
otherwise, UE-based localization can be accomplished.
The localization calculation is performed by a Localization Measurement
Unit (LMU) or, for increased accuracy, by a combination of several LMUs.
The LMU could be a stand-alone unit or it could be integrated in a Node B.
Regardless of the LMU location, communication protocols must be
established between the LMUs and all the other elements involved (UE,
Radio Network Controller (RNC), and/or SAS) on different interfaces such
as Uu, Iub, and Iur. Depending on the selected positioning technique, the

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UE performs specific measurements that are used by the LMU for

estimating the UE location. The UE could extend its support to the LMU if it
is designed with LCS capabilities.
The reporting standard format (geographical coordinates) is specified to
include the estimated errors (uncertainty) of the position and velocity of the
UE and, if available, the positioning method (or list of methods) used to
obtain the position estimate [4]. It should be noted that the uncertainty of
the position measurement is dependent on the network implementation and
might vary between networks, as well as between one area within a
network and another. The uncertainty may be hundreds of meters in some
areas and only a few meters in others [4].

2.2

Accuracy aspects in 3GPP LCS

General impacting factors

The accuracy that can be provided with various positioning technologies
depends on a number of factors, many of which are dynamic in nature and
will thus vary with the radio environment (signal attenuation and multipath
propagation), network topography (density of Node Bs), geography, and
available positioning equipment.
Due to this variability, accuracy could be expressed in ranges of values
along with their probabilities (or certainty levels).

Horizontal accuracy
Different services require different levels of positioning accuracy, and the
range may vary from tens of meters (navigation services) to kilometers
(fleet management). However, the majority of attractive value-added
location services are enabled when location accuracies of between 25m
and 200m can be provided.
Accuracy requirements for some examples of LCS are provided in Table 1
[1]. However, it should be noted that accuracy requirements for LCS are
also dependent on regional regulatory bodies [1].
Table 1. Accuracy requirements for different LCS

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LCS application

Accuracy requirements

Weather reports, news, traffic information

regional / district

Up to 200km / up to 20km

Vehicle asset management, targeted

congestion avoidance advice

Up to 1km

Rural and suburban emergency services

500m to 1km

U.S. FCC mandate for wireless emergency

calls using network-based positioning methods
Urban SOS, localized advertising, home zone
pricing, network maintenance, network demand
monitoring, asset tracking

100m (67%); 300m (95%)

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U.S. FCC mandate (99-245) for wireless

emergency calls using handset-based
positioning methods

50m (67%), 150m (95%)

Vertical accuracy
Vertical accuracy is also specified for LCS [1]. The vertical accuracy may
range from about ten meters (which would provide resolution within one
floor of a building) to hundreds of meters.

Accuracy representation forms

It is expected that several estimates for a fixed UE position can be
achieved; therefore, the distribution of locations can be described by
normal statistical parameters, and it is suggested that a small proportion of
location estimates may lie outside of the acceptable Quality of Service
(QoS) parameters for specific services (as determined by the network
operator). In addition, it is recommended that information on the confidence
level that can be associated with a location estimate be obtained.

Accuracy negotiation
Accuracy is application driven and is one of the negotiable Quality of
Service (QoS) parameters. The precision of the location should be network
design dependent (i.e., precision should be the operators choice). This
precision requirement may vary from one part of a network to another.
Whether horizontal or vertical, the required accuracy should satisfy (or
approach as closely as possible) the requested or negotiated accuracy
when other QoS parameters are not in conflict.

2.3

Beyond LCS scope and context

The 3GPP specifications related to LCS function are expected to add value
to operators not only for service localization, emergency call service, or
home location billing, but also for services that go beyond the scope of
LCS, particularly UTRAN internal utilization such as location-assisted
handover. In addition, network operators need UE positioning for network
optimization and troubleshooting such as dropped and blocked
calls/sessions and detection of coverage holes.
However, implementation of the 3GPP specifications involves a high level
of complexity that has already pushed the LCS feature to Release 10, while
still leaving it quite open and loose on aspects such as selected
architecture (network-based, UEbased, and/or UE assisted), positioning
technique selection, and accuracy. Therefore, the implementation decision
and choices are very much dependent on infrastructure vendors, as well as
phone vendors, who need to develop UE with LCS capabilities.
In addition, as was observed in paragraph 1.1., the LCS function involves
extensive resource usage and definition of reporting protocols between
existing network elements (e.g., UE, Node B, RNC) and/or additional
elements (e.g., LMU, SAS), as well as a flexible UE positioning architecture
and functions that would allow accommodation of several techniques of

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measurement and processing to ensure that evolution follows changing

service requirements and takes advantage of advancing technology.
Therefore, for troubleshooting and optimization, network operators could
use more straightforward approaches to UE geo-location, particularly
solutions implemented in testing tools such as the TEMS Visualization
network event based tool. As an network event based tool, TEMS
Visualization can only use parameters reported by the UE (such as Ec/No,
cell ID, propagation delay, and Tm value representing Node B reception
time related to UE time reference) or parameters reported by the network
during different events (such as RRC_Measurement_Reports at soft
handovers or during periodic measurements, and call setup). Details are on
this solution, it performance and uses cases are provided in [5].
As with the 3GPP specification [1], the accuracy of the UE localization
estimation performed by network testing tools is highly dependent on the
technique used, as well as on the reported UE measurements on which the
technique relies. The UE measurements could be impacted by the position
of the UE within the coverage area and the activity of the UE. However, as
with LCS cases, different use cases for the UE geo-location (e.g., coverage
holes detection, dropped events positioning) require different accuracy
ranges and/or distributions. Some use cases are presented and discussed
in paragraph 6.

Generalities on geo-location
techniques and parameters in mobile
networks

A geo-location technique represents a principle and/or algorithm on which

the estimation of geographical position is based. In the mobile network
case [5], these techniques can be classified in three main categories.
Adding new parameters or tuning any of these main categories, as well as
combining them, results in derivates and accuracy improvements.
1. Triangulation (or AOA, angle of arrival) when AOA between the
transmitter base station) and receiver (UE) and the direction of
arrival is known. The AOA is generally determined by using multiple
antennas at the base station (array signal processing). The geolocation estimate is generally determined based on sine theorem (or
law) [12] and maximum likelihood estimation.
2. Trilateration (or TOA, time of arrival), when the absolute time of
arrival from the transmitter (base station/UE) to the receiver
(UE/base station) is known (e.g., TA in GSM, RTT in WCDMA). In
this case, the solution of the UE geo-location is given by the
population of points representing the intersection of circles
described by different times of arrival. The accuracy of the
positioning depends on the number of circles that are available,
particularly the number of transmitters.
3. Multilateration (or TDOA, time difference of arrival) when only the
time difference of arrivals from two different transmitters is known

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(e.g., TDOA in WCDMA). In this case, the solution of the UE geolocation is given by the population of points representing the
intersection of pairs of hyperbola. See paragraph 3 for more
information.
4. Cell ID based, which estimates the UE position based on the
knowledge of serving Node Bs. Accuracy of the estimation depends
on the coverage area of the cells and improvements (such as
adding Round Trip Time (RTT) or Received Signal Code Power
(RSCP) parameters for WCDMA, or Time Advance (TA) and
Received Signal Strength (RSSI) for GSM) needed in order to
significantly decrease the estimation error, which might be
unacceptable depending on the size of the cell area.
The main derivates of the three main categories are:
1. GPS-based techniques such as: GPS-based TOA and E-OTD (in
GSM) and GPS-based TDOA (in WCDMA). As expected, adding
GPS information to the above-mentioned categories increases the
accuracy.
2. Prediction/propagation-based techniques when propagation profiles
and/or databases are available (such as propagation database
correlation) or are pre-built based on extensive measurements or
pre-measurements (such as the measurement pilot correlation
method, which uses pre-measured samples of RSCP of visible
pilots). These techniques could increase accuracy significantly, at
the price of being quite costly and complex to implement. Therefore,
they are not mentioned in the 3GPP specifications.
The geo-location techniques used in mobile networks are based on the
following parameters (and/or combinations of the following parameters):
1. RSCP (in WCDMA). This is the received power on one scrambling
code measured on the Common Pilot Channel (CPICH). It is
measured by the UE in both idle and active modes.
2. RSSI (in GSM, WCDMA). The received wideband power, including
thermal noise and noise generated in the receiver. Measured by the
UE in active mode only, it represents the downlink interference level
at the UE side.
3. SFN-SFN. The observed time difference (in WCDMA) representing
the time difference of System Frame Numbers (SFNs) between two
cells:
TCPICHRxj TCPICHRxi
where TCPICHRxj is the time when the UE receives one Primary
CPICH slot from Cell j and TCPICHRxi is the time when the UE
receives the Primary CPICH slot from Cell I, which is the cell closest
in time to TCPICHRxj.
This is measured by the UE in both idle and active modes.
4. RTT (in WCDMA), TA (in GSM):

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RTT = TRX TTX

where TTX is the time of transmission of the beginning of a downlink
Dedicated Physical Channel (DPCH) frame to a UE, and TRX is the
time of reception of the beginning (the first detected path, in time) of
the corresponding uplink Dedicated Physical Control Channel
(DPCCH) frame from the UE.
The measurements are taken in active mode only and they are
possible on a downlink DPCH transmitted from Node B and an
uplink Dedicated Physical Data Channel (DPDCH) received in the
same Node B.
5. Angle of arrival (AoA) of the signals from the mobile station at
several Radio Base Stations (RBS) or Node Bs. The positioning
accuracy could be poor, especially if no other information is
available.
The various technologies and different parameters used as input to the
geo-location methods as well as the tuning elements are expected to show
different accuracy values. Table 2 provides as guidance some rough
estimates of the accuracy range for different geo-location technologies
used in mobile networks [6]-[8]. This guidance is providing indication on the
accuracy limitations of each of technologies. For example, it should be not
expected an average (or median) accuracy of about 20m if the geo-location
technology used is Cell ID, or of 30m for the TDOA technology. On the
other hand, it is well-known that the geo-location technologies are strongly
dependent on the conditions of the measurement scenario and area.
Therefore, the guidance should be interpreted that these rough estimates
might be either over or under performed in some test scenarios. For
example, for the Cell ID+TA technology, the geo-location accuracy could
reach 100m [9], if the UE is very close to the cell sites location. Similarly,
geo-location based on TDOA technique might exhibit a median error up to
600m in a suburban area characterized by larger cells and therefore less
data available for the geo-location estimates calculation [5]. However, these
cases might occur less frequently and therefore they do not necessarily
represent the main trend of the majority of geo-location estimates.
Table 2. Rough estimates of geo-location accuracy ranges
Technology
Rough errors estimate ranges
Cell ID
Depends on the cell size
Cell ID +TA
300 to 500m
TDOA
100 to 300m
AOA
200 to 400m
EOTD (TDOA with AGPS)
20 to 200m
GPS/AGPS
5 to 30m

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Using OTODA geo-location technique

in WCDMA

4.1

Geo-location in WCDMA

As already mentioned, for troubleshooting and optimization, network

operators could use as geo-location solution testing and monitoring tools
such as the TEMS Visualization network event based tool [5]. However, the
main limitation is the fact that used geo-location technique is strictly
dependent on the data made available from the network. The current
WCDMA release provides data such as Ec/Io of observed cells, cell ID,
propagation delay, and Tm value representing Node B reception time
related to UE time reference) reported during different events (such as call
set-up, RRC_Measurement_Reports at soft handovers or during periodic
measurements, and call setup).
Therefore, the geo-location technique for WCDMA case in a network
testing and monitoring tool needs to use multilateration based on TDOA
values.

4.2

OTODA technique

The multilateration technique estimates the position of an object based on

the Time Difference Of Arrival (TDOA) of a signal emitted from the object to
three or more receivers. It also refers to the case of locating a receiver by
measuring the TDOA of a signal transmitted from three or more
synchronized transmitters [6]. The latter case represents the case of UE
positioning based on OTDOA (Observed TDOA) in WCDMA networks. The
term Observed is used because TDOA actually represents the perceived
time difference between signals coming from two Node Bs to the UE.
The primary standard OTDOA measurement is the "SFN-SFN observed
time difference," which is observed at the UE [4]. These measurements,
together with the involved Node B synchronization information, are used to
calculate an estimate of the position of the UE. Each OTDOA measurement
for a pair of downlink transmissions describes a curve of constant
difference along which the UE may be located. The curve of constant
difference is represented in space by a hyperbola. The foci of the hyperbola
are defined by the positions of the two Node Bs for which the OTDOA is
determined. When multiple Node Bs are used, multiple hyperbolas are
formed, and the intersection of the set of hyperbolas provides the estimated
location of the UE. Therefore, the technique requires at least three Node Bs
in order to estimate deterministic UE position, as shown in Figure 1.
As also can be seen in Figure 1, the calculation of the intersection of two
hyperbolas (three Node Bs available) could generate two possible solutions
for the estimated UE location. The optimal solution is selected after running
optimization techniques, as depicted. In a scenario in which more Node Bs
are available, the UE position can be determined with higher accuracy due
to the intersection of more hyperbolas.

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Only in an ideal case would the intersection be a single point. In reality, due
to various errors, the solution will be a cloud of points, in which case
advanced optimization techniques would be required. In addition, after a
coarse optimization is applied, a least squares method or an extended
Kalman filter could be used for finer optimization and, therefore, a more
accurate estimate of the UE position.

Figure 1. Calculation of the intersection of two hyperbolas (three Node Bs available)

3GPP specifies [4] two operational modes for the OTDOA technique: UEassisted OTDOA and UE-based OTDOA. The two modes differ in where
the actual position calculation is carried out.
In the UE-assisted mode, the UE measures the difference in time of arrival
of several cells and signals the measurement results to the network, where
the RNC or the SAS carries out the position calculation.
In the UE-based mode, the UE makes the measurements and also carries
out the position calculation, and thus requires additional information (such
as the position of the measured Node Bs) for the position calculation.

4.3

Accuracy related aspects

The accuracy of the position estimates performed with the OTDOA

technique depends on the following main factors:
1. The relative space distribution of the involved Node Bs. The
geometry of the space distribution of the Node B positions may
affect the accuracy of the UE geo-location estimate; the best results
would be achieved if the Node Bs equally surrounded the UE. If
they do not, accuracy is reduced, which is sometimes termed the
Geometric Dilution of Position (GDP). This is caused by the fact that
the hyperbola intersection may occur in the asymptotic region of the
curve; therefore, an infinite number of points verify the intersections
equations.
2. The relative distance between the involved Node Bs. Overshooting
cells are prone to causing hyperbola intersections in the asymptotic
region of the hyperbola; thereby increasing the GDP effect.

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3. The precision of Node Bs reference clocks relative to each other,

including time drift.
4. The effects of multipath radio propagation that could impact the UE
measurements of precise times of arrival of signals received from
the observed Node Bs.
In order to encompass all these factors, a large number of measurements
are required for the synchronization as well as for the OTDOA calculations.
The synchronization should consider a dynamic tuning to compensate for
the time drift. In addition, a validity test could be run on the geometric
location of the Node Bs considered in the UE position estimation.

Conclusions

The myriad of services that have become available to subscribers with the
deployment of 3G networks has increased the need for localization of
services (LCS). The paper presents challenges of the implementation of the
LCS feature in the network as well as recommended accuracy values. The
need for a straightforward approach, especially in the use cases such as
network troubleshooting and optimization is discussed. Different geolocation technologies and parameters, as well as their limitations and
accuracy ranges are explained. The paper focuses then on the OTDOA
technology, as the main geo-location solution in network testing and
monitoring tools.

6
[1]

3GPP TS 22.071: "Location Services (LCS); Service description,

Stage 1."

[2]

3GPP TS 23.271: "Location Services (LCS) Functional description,

Stage 2."

[3]

3GPP TS 23.171: "Functional stage 2 description of location

services in UMTS."

[4]

3GPP TS 25.305 V10.0.0 (2010-09): Stage 2 functional

specification of User Equipment (UE) positioning in UTRAN.

[5].

I. Cotanis, Geo-location in WCDMA with TEMS Visualization

Solution, white paper, Ascom Network Testing, November 2010
Shay Horovitz, Localization based services for mobile devices,
Embedded Computing Seminar
Mohammad S. Sharawi et el., Investigation into the performance of
EOTD for GSM users in Telematics applications, Proceedings of
SPIE, vol. 5084, Aug. 2003,
Shu Wang, et el, LBS for Mobile Technologies and Standards,
WCNC 2008
N. Stobie, Le Le, TEMS Visualization 4.1 GSM Estimated
Positioning Accuracy , TEMS Report, October 2007

[6].
[7].

[8].
[9].

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References

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