Abstract
This review paper presents within a common framework the mobile station positioning methods applied in 2G, 3G, and 4G cellular networks, as well as the structure of the related 3GPP technical specifications. The evolution path through the generations is explored in three steps at each level: first, the new network elements supporting localization features are introduced; then, the standard localization methods are described; finally, the protocols providing specific support to mobile station positioning are studied. To allow a better understanding, this paper also brings a brief review of the cellular networks evolution paths.
Highlights
At first, the main drive behind the development of positioning techniques to support location services (LCS) in cellular networks was the need to locate any mobile station (MS) originating emergency calls
To allow a better comparison, the same structure is used for all generations: we describe, first, the new network elements, the standard localization methods, and the most important protocols supporting enhanced LCS functions
As High-Speed Downlink Packet Access (HSDPA) runs on Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) systems with 5 MHz carriers, the maximum achievable rate is much higher than that in the 1.23 MHz 1xEVDO carrier: up to 14 Mbps (note that even though the HSDPA downlink rate is 6 times the 1xEVDO downlink rate, the HSDPA spectral efficiency (2.88 bits/Hz) is only 48% higher than 1xEVDO’s (1.95 bits/Hz); this comparison is not taking into account the fact that HSDPA runs on a UMTS carrier shared by PS data and CS voice, while the 1xEVDO carrier is reserved for PS data)
Summary
The main drive behind the development of positioning techniques to support location services (LCS) in cellular networks was the need to locate any mobile station (MS) originating emergency calls. On the GSM family, High-Speed Downlink Packet Access (HSDPA) significantly improved UMTS downlink data rates, using fast physical layer retransmission and other techniques similar to those already adopted in 1xEVDO, such as AMC and improved scheduling algorithms to increase cell throughput [10]. The 3GPP is an ensemble of six standardization groups: ARIB (Association of Radio Industries and Businesses), ATIS (Alliance for Telecommunications Industry Solutions), CCSA (China Communications Standards Association), ETSI (European Telecommunications Standard Institute), TTA (Telecommunications Technology Association), and TTC (Telecommunication Technology Committee) Those groups are referred to as 3GPP Organizational Partners, and they work together to issue technical specifications (TSs) and technical reports (TRs) regarding the radio access network, the core network, and services of GSM/GPRS/EDGE, UMTS, and LTE mobile telephony cellular systems. The one-digit numbers “w” and “u” identify the TS version within release “zz.” A full list of 3GPP specifications grouped by release is available in [15]
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