COLLECTIVE LOCATION REPORTING OF A GROUP OF MOBILE DEVICES

Abstract

A method (10) is provided for providing location information of a group of mobile devices (20A-20C) of a wireless network (21-23) to a network node (40) of the wireless network (21-23), the method (10) comprising: repetitively transmitting, by at least one mobile device (20A-20C) of the group of mobile devices (20A-20C), a location information (11, 11 A) of the respective mobile device (20A-20C) at a respective reporting frequency (f.sub.A-f.sub.C), which depends on an energy balance of the respective mobile device (20A-20C). A corresponding method (30) of operating a network node (40), a mobile device (20A-20C) and a network node (40) are also provided.

Claims

1. A method of providing location information of a group of mobile devices of a wireless network to a network node of the wireless network, the method comprising: repetitively transmitting, by at least one mobile device of the group of mobile devices, a location information of the respective mobile device at a respective reporting frequency; and receiving, by the at least one mobile device and from the network node, a reporting configuration, wherein the respective reporting frequency of the respective mobile device depends on an energy balance of the respective mobile device wherein the reporting configuration comprises the reporting frequency of the respective mobile device, and a reporting start time of the respective mobile device, and wherein the location information is transmitted by the at least one mobile device in accordance with the reporting start time.

2. (canceled)

3. The method ( ) of claim 1, wherein the reporting configuration for the respective mobile device comprises the reporting frequency of the respective mobile device in dependence of the energy balance of the respective mobile device.

4. (canceled)

5. The method claim 1, further comprising: transmitting, by the at least one mobile device and to the network node, one or more parameters indicative of the energy balance of the respective mobile device.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the one or more parameters indicative of the energy balance of the respective mobile device comprise a battery status.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the one or more parameters indicative of the energy balance of the respective mobile device comprise a radio link status.

8. A mobile device of a group of mobile devices, comprising: a processor configured to repetitively transmit location information of the mobile device at a respective reporting frequency, wherein the respective reporting frequency depends on an energy balance of the mobile device, wherein the processor is further configured to receive a reporting configuration, wherein the reporting configuration comprises the respective reporting frequency, and a reporting start time, and wherein the location information is transmitted by the mobile device in accordance with the reporting start time.

9. (canceled)

10. A method of operating a network node, comprising: repetitively receiving, from each mobile device of a group of mobile devices of a wireless network, a respective location information of the each mobile device at a respective reporting frequency; determining a location information of the group of mobile devices depending on the respective location information of each of the mobile devices of the group of mobile devices; setting the respective reporting frequency of each of the mobile devices of the group of mobile devices depending on an energy balance of the respective mobile device; and transmitting, to each mobile device of the group, a reporting configuration for the respective mobile device, wherein the reporting configuration for the respective mobile device comprises the respective reporting frequency of the respective mobile device, and a reporting start time of the respective mobile device.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein setting the respective reporting frequency of the respective mobile device of the group of mobile devices comprises: setting the respective reporting frequency of the respective mobile device depending on a comparison of the energy balance of the respective mobile device with energy balances of one or more further mobile devices of the group of mobile devices.

12. (canceled)

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the reporting configuration for the respective mobile device comprises the respective reporting frequency of the respective mobile device in dependence of the energy balance of the respective mobile device.

14. (canceled)

15. The method of claim 10, wherein repetitively receiving the location information from each mobile device of the group of mobile devices comprises; receiving the location information from the mobile devices of the group of mobile devices in an interleaved manner in time domain.

16. The method of claim 10, further comprising: receiving, from each mobile device of the group of mobile devices, one or more parameters indicative of the energy balance of the respective mobile device, wherein setting the reporting frequency of each mobile device of the group of mobile devices comprises setting the reporting frequency of the respective mobile device depending on the one or more parameters.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the one or more parameters indicative of the energy balance of the respective mobile device comprise at least one of a battery status or a radio link status.

18. (canceled)

19. The method of claim 16, further comprising: performing a threshold comparison between the one or more parameters of the respective mobile device and one or more respective thresholds, wherein setting the reporting frequency of each mobile device of the group of mobile devices comprises setting the reporting frequency of the respective mobile device depending on the threshold comparison.

20. The method of claim 10, wherein setting the reporting frequency of each mobile device of the group of mobile devices comprises; setting the reporting frequency of the respective mobile device of the group of mobile devices depending on a target location of the group of mobile devices.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein setting the reporting frequency of each mobile device of the group of mobile devices comprises: setting the reporting frequency of the respective mobile device depending on a distance between a location of the group of mobile devices associated with the location information of the group of mobile devices and the target location.

22. The method of claim 10, wherein setting the reporting frequency of each mobile device of the group of mobile devices comprises; setting the reporting frequency of a mobile device of the group of mobile devices to zero if the energy balance of the mobile device is below a predefined threshold.

23. The method of claim 10, further comprising: repetitively retrieving, for one or more mobile devices of the group of mobile devices and from a core network node of the wireless network, a further location information of the respective mobile device.

24. A network node, comprising a processor configured to perform operations comprising: repetitively receiving, from each mobile device of a group of mobile devices of a wireless network, a location information of the respective mobile device at a respective reporting frequency, determining a location information of the group of mobile devices depending on the location information of the mobile devices of the group of mobile devices, and setting the reporting frequency of the respective mobile device of the group of mobile devices depending on an energy balance of the respective mobile device, and transmitting, to each mobile device of the group, a reporting configuration for the respective mobile device, wherein the reporting configuration for the respective mobile device comprises the respective reporting frequency of the respective mobile device, and a reporting start time of the respective mobile device.

25. (canceled)

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0074] Embodiments of the invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which the same or similar reference numerals designate the same or similar elements.

[0075] FIG. 1 illustrates schematically, within a high-level architecture of a wireless network, both direct location reporting between mobile devices and a network node, and network-provided positioning service.

[0076] FIGS. 2-4 illustrate schematically methods according to various embodiments.

[0077] FIG. 5 illustrates schematically a location information as defined in methods according to various embodiments.

[0078] FIG. 6 illustrates schematically a reporting configuration as defined in methods according to various embodiments.

[0079] FIG. 7 illustrates schematically a mobile device according to an embodiment.

[0080] FIG. 8 illustrates schematically a network node according to an embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0081] Exemplary embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the drawings. While some embodiments will be described in the context of specific fields of application, the embodiments are not limited to this field of application. Further, the features of the embodiments may be combined with each other unless specifically stated otherwise.

[0082] The drawings are to be regarded as being schematic representations and elements illustrated in the drawings are not necessarily shown to scale. Rather, the elements are represented such that their function and general purpose become apparent to a person skilled in the art.

[0083] FIG. 1 illustrates schematically, within a high-level architecture of a wireless network 21-23, both direct location reporting between mobile devices 20A-20C and a network node 40, as well as a network-provided positioning service, which collects and provides further mobility-dependent location information of the mobile devices 20A-20C, and which thus realizes an indirect location reporting scheme.

[0084] The mobile devices 20A-20C shown at the left-hand side of FIG. 1 may, for example, represent IoT devices which accompany boxes or trays used for providing a delivery/logistics service. FIG. 1 also depicts a delivery service entity 24 having WAN connectivity to the network node 40. The delivery service entity 24 is configured to specify respective target locations for the boxes or trays, or for groups thereof.

[0085] The wireless network 21-23 shown in the center of FIG. 1 comprises MME 21, E-SMLC 22 and SCEF 23 entities, and provides WAN connectivity between the mobile devices 20A-20C and the network node 40.

[0086] The network-provided positioning service rendered by the wireless network 21-23 is indicated in FIG. 1 by respective arrows extending from the MME 21 to the mobile devices 20A-20C and the network node 40.

[0087] Operation of the network-provided positioning service is as follows: Every time a particular mobile device 20A-20C gives rise to a TAU, for example due to mobility of the mobile device and/or expiry of a corresponding network-configured timer, a NAS message is sent to the network, in particular to the MME entity 21. A corresponding location information of the particular mobile device 20A-20C is derived/estimated by the MME 21 based on from where the NAS message was sent. In particular, this location information is provided by an eNB (not shown), and may be a cell ID from where the TAU was sent, or a more detailed location derived by the eNB, e.g. a sector ID of the cell or an estimated position of the mobile device 20A-20C. Such mobility-dependent location information may be subscribed to via a corresponding SCEF 23 for one or more indicated mobile devices 20A-20C. In response, the network's positioning service provides a further location information for the indicated mobile devices 20A-20C to the subscribing entity upon availability. For example, if the network node 40 subscribes to location information of mobile devices 20A-20C of interest via a corresponding interface of the SCEF 23, then the network node 40 participates in receiving any updated location information for said mobile devices 20A-20C.

[0088] With continued reference to FIG. 1, the wireless network 21-23 also enables, via the provided WAN connectivity, a direct location reporting between the mobile devices 20A-20C and the network node 40, which is indicated by a further arrow extending between these entities end-to-end.

[0089] Alternatively or additionally to retrieving location information for particular mobile devices 20A-20C via the SCEF 23 entity, the location information may be communicated using a normal user plane path via a PDN gateway, PGW (not shown).

[0090] In the following, method 10 defining the direct location reporting from the protocol perspective of the mobile devices 20A-20C, as well as method 30 defining the same from the protocol perspective of the network node 40 are described in more detail. In this context, the term communicating as used in the following may be interpreted as transmitting or receiving, depending on the respective protocol perspective.

[0091] FIGS. 2-4 illustrate schematically methods 10, 30 according to various embodiments.

[0092] At the top of FIGS. 2-4, a simplified network architecture comprising mobile devices 20A-20C, the wireless network 21-23, the network node 40 and the delivery service entity 24 is depicted. The solid lines connecting these entities represent the WAN connectivity provided by the wireless network 21-23.

[0093] Method 10 is for providing location information of the group of mobile devices 20A-20C of the wireless network 21-23 to the network node 40 of the wireless network 21-23, while method 30 is a corresponding method of operating the network node 40.

[0094] As may be taken from the top half of FIG. 2, methods 10, 30 comprise repetitively communicating, i.e. transmitting or receiving, from at least one mobile device 20A-20C of the group of mobile devices 20A-20C to the network node 40 of the wireless network 21-23, a location information 11 of the respective mobile device 20A-20C at a respective reporting frequency f.sub.A-f.sub.C. Initially, the reporting frequencies f.sub.A-f.sub.C correspond to a default frequency, for example every five minutes. Therefore, all initial reporting frequencies f.sub.A, f.sub.B, f.sub.C are identical. For method 30, this may comprise receiving the location information 11, 11A from the mobile devices 20A-20C of the group of mobile devices 20A-20C in an interleaved manner, as can be taken from in FIG. 2, too.

[0095] Method 30 further comprises determining a location information of the group of mobile devices 20A-20C depending on the location information 11 of the mobile devices 20A-20C of the group of mobile devices 20A-20C. In other words, the respective location information 11, 11A of each of the mobile devices 20A-20C of the group of mobile devices 20A-20C is regarded as the location information of the group. For example, a most recent location information of any of the mobile devices 20A-20C of the group may be considered as the location information of the group.

[0096] In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2, the network node 40 additionally receives, from the delivery service entity 24, a target location 13 of the group of mobile devices 20A-20C.

[0097] Based on the location information 11 repetitively received from the mobile devices 20A-20C, and on the target location 13 of the group of mobile devices 20A-20C received from the delivery service entity 24, if available, the respective reporting frequency f.sub.A-f.sub.C of each mobile device 20A-20C of the group of mobile devices 20A-20C is set depending on an energy balance of the respective mobile device 20A-20C. In doing so, the network node 40 also considers the number of mobile devices 20A-20C of the group in order to achieve a predefined overall group reporting rate.

[0098] In method 30, setting the reporting frequency f.sub.A-f.sub.C of the respective mobile device 20A-20C of the group of mobile devices 20A-20C may depend on one or more parameters 11B, 11C received from each mobile device 20A-20C of the group, which are indicative of the energy balance of the respective mobile device 20A-20C.

[0099] Additionally, setting the reporting frequency f.sub.A-f.sub.C of the respective mobile device 20A-20C may depend on a threshold comparison performed between the one or more parameters 11B, 11C of the respective mobile device 20A-20C and one or more respective thresholds.

[0100] Additionally or alternatively, setting the reporting frequency f.sub.A-f.sub.C of the respective mobile device 20A-20C may depend on a target location 13 of the group of mobile devices 20A-20C, in particular on a distance between a location of the group of mobile devices 20A-20C associated with the location information of the group of mobile devices and the target location 13.

[0101] Additionally or alternatively, setting the reporting frequency f.sub.A-f.sub.C of the respective mobile device 20A-20C may depend on a comparison of the energy balance of the respective mobile device 20A-20C with energy balances of one or more further mobile devices 20A-20C of the group of mobile devices 20A-20C.

[0102] The respective reporting frequency f.sub.A-f.sub.C of the respective mobile device 20A-20C may be set in any of the above ways.

[0103] With continuing reference to FIG. 2, methods 10, 30 comprise communicating, i.e. transmitting or receiving, from the network node 40 and to each mobile device 20A-20C of the group, a reporting configuration 12 for the respective mobile device 20A-20C. The reporting configuration 12 for the respective mobile device 20A-20C comprises the respective reporting frequency 12A, f.sub.A-f.sub.C of the respective mobile device 20A-20C, in particular in dependence of the energy balance of the respective mobile device 20A-20C, and optionally a reporting start time 12B of the respective mobile device 20A-20C. The respective reporting frequencies f.sub.A, f.sub.B, and f.sub.C may, for example, amount to every 10, 15, and 15 minutes.

[0104] Upon configuration of the respective mobile devices 20A-20C based on their respective reporting configuration 12, which includes a respective reporting frequency f.sub.A-f.sub.C, and according to method 10, at least one mobile device 20A-20C of the group of mobile devices 20A-20C repetitively transmits a location information 11, 11A of the respective mobile device 20A-20C at the respective reporting frequency f.sub.A-f.sub.C, which depends on an energy balance of the respective mobile device 20A-20C.

[0105] If also provided, the location information 11 is transmitted by the at least one mobile device 20A-20C in accordance with the reporting start time 12B.

[0106] FIG. 3 corresponds to FIG. 2 except for the bottom half, which illustrates that for the particular mobile device 20C, direct location reporting according to methods 10, 30 has been selectively deactivated. In other terms, according to method 30, the reporting frequency f.sub.C of mobile device 20C of the group of mobile devices 20A-20C has been set to zero as the energy balance of the mobile device 20A-20C has fallen below a predefined threshold. Such a predefined threshold may, for example, be defined for operational reasons.

[0107] Alternatively or additionally, a threshold may arise from a certain reporting frequency observable over time for the mobile device 20C provided via the network's positioning function and owing to mobility and/or configuration of the mobile device 20C. Given a certain reporting frequency available from this network function, it may make sense to deploy direct location reporting only selectively, as will be shown in FIG. 4.

[0108] FIG. 4 illustrates parallel deployment of direct location reporting and the wireless network's positioning service for different mobile devices 20A-20C. As in FIG. 3, direct location reporting has been selectively deactivated for the mobile device 20C. By contrast, however, the network node 40 repetitively retrieves, for the mobile device 20C of the group of mobile devices 20A-20C and from a core network node 21 of the wireless network 21-23, a further location information 14B of the mobile device 20C. The further location information 14B results from a TAU message 14A received by the wireless network 21-23 for the mobile device 20C. As mobile device 20C is configured not to perform any direct location reporting to network node 40, receiving the TAU message 14A prevents the wireless network 21-23 from de-registration of the mobile device 20C due to inactivity.

[0109] FIG. 5 illustrates schematically a location information 11 as defined in methods 10, 30 according to various embodiments.

[0110] According to FIG. 5, the location information 11 of a respective mobile device of a group of mobile devices 20A-20C comprises an actual location information 11A, and as well one or more parameters 11B, 11C indicative of the energy balance of the respective mobile device 20A-20C, namely a battery status 11B and a radio link status 11C.

[0111] In other words, according to the embodiment depicted in FIG. 5, the location information 11A, the battery status 11B and the radio link status 11C are jointly and repetitively communicated, from at least one mobile device 20A-20C of the group of mobile devices 20A-20C to the network node 40, at a respective reporting frequency f.sub.A-f.sub.C.

[0112] As an example, it is assumed that three mobile devices 20A-20C accompany respective boxes or trays used in a delivery/logistics service. Based on the reported location information 11, 11A, 11B, 11C of the mobile devices 20A-20C, the network node 40 deduces that the mobile devices 20A-20C can be assigned to a group for location reporting purposes, owing to similar mobility patterns, and may be configured with respect to their individual location reporting. The mobile devices 20A-20C have reported the following at a default reporting frequency/rate of every 5 minutes: [0113] Mobile device 20A: Battery status=3 (good), Link status=3 (good) [0114] Mobile device 20B: Battery status=3 (good), Link status=2 (average) [0115] Mobile device 20C: Battery status=0 (poor), Link status=3 (good)

[0116] According to the example, a classification may be made by the network node 40 based on a threshold comparison performed between the battery status 11B and the link status 11C of the respective mobile device 20A-20C and one or more respective thresholds, and the respective reporting frequency f.sub.A-f.sub.C of the respective mobile device 20A-20C may be set depending on the threshold comparison. In the example, the threshold comparison may look like this: [0117] 1. Battery status>2Link status>2.Math.Reporting frequency/rate=every 10 minutes [0118] 2. Battery status>2Link status>1.Math.Reporting frequency/rate=every 15 minutes [0119] 3. Battery status>1Link status>1.Math.Reporting frequency/rate=every 20 minutes [0120] 4. Battery status<1.Math.Reporting frequency/rate=zero, until the other mobile devices 20A, 20B of the group report a poor battery status

[0121] An activity frequency/rate of every 30 minutes is required to stay registered in the wireless network 21-23. Such an activity could be a direct location reporting or a Tracking Area Update.

[0122] For each of the respective mobile devices 20A-20C, the network node 40 determines the following configuration information 12, based on the first match of the above threshold comparison list: [0123] Mobile device 20A: reporting frequency/rate=every 10 minutes [0124] Mobile device 20B: reporting frequency/rate=every 15 minutes [0125] Mobile device 20C: reporting frequency/rate=zero.

[0126] In other terms, the network node 40 sets the reporting frequency f.sub.A-f.sub.C of the mobile device 20C of the group of mobile devices 20A-20C to zero as the energy balance of the mobile device 20C falls below the predefined threshold of 1, as defined for operational reasons.

[0127] As will be appreciated from the above, the centrally coordinated setting of the reporting frequency helps to balance a trade-off between individual energy conservation constraints imposed by the mobile devices, as well as on the other hand global reporting needs for the group of mobile devices to achieve accurate location reporting.

[0128] FIG. 6 illustrates schematically a reporting configuration 12 as defined in methods 10, 30 according to various embodiments.

[0129] The reporting configuration 12 for the respective mobile device 20A-20C comprises the respective reporting frequency 12A, f.sub.A-f.sub.C and a respective reporting start time 12B of the respective mobile device 20A-20C.

[0130] This enables communicating the respective location information 11 of the respective mobile device 20A-20C from the at least one mobile device 20A-20C to the network node 40 in accordance with the respective reporting frequency 12A, f.sub.A-f.sub.C and reporting start time 12B.

[0131] FIG. 7 illustrates schematically a mobile device 20A-20C according to an embodiment.

[0132] The mobile device 20A-20C comprises a processor 201. The processor 201 is configured to repetitively transmit location information 11 of the mobile device 20A-20C at a respective reporting frequency f.sub.A-f.sub.C, which depends on an energy balance of the respective mobile device 20A-20C. Additionally, the processor 201 may further be configured to perform the method 10 of providing location information of a group of mobile devices 20A-20C of a wireless network 21-23 to a network node 40 of the wireless network 21-23.

[0133] FIG. 8 illustrates schematically a network node 40 according to an embodiment.

[0134] The network node 40 comprises a processor 401 which is configured to perform method steps, in particular of the method 30 according to embodiments.

[0135] As illustrated in FIG. 8, in a first step, a location information 11, 11A of the respective mobile device 20A-20C is repetitively received, from each mobile device 20A-20C of a group of mobile devices 20A-20C of a wireless network 21-23, at a respective reporting frequency f.sub.A-f.sub.C.

[0136] In a second step, a location information of the group of mobile devices 20A-20C is determined depending on the location information 11, 11A of the mobile devices 20A-20C of the group of mobile devices 20A-20C.

[0137] In a third step, the reporting frequency f.sub.A-f.sub.C of each mobile device 20A-20C of the group of mobile devices 20A-20C is set depending on an energy balance of the respective mobile device 20A-20C.

[0138] While methods and devices according to various embodiments have been described in a context of LTE/4G cellular networks, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that these embodiments may similarly be deployed in other wireless networks. For illustration, this may apply to 5G networks with different functional entities/functional distribution and different identifiers for these functional entities.