Positioning of Devices in LTE Networks. Part 1. Evaluating Signal Bandwidth's Impact on Coordinate Accuracy

Purpose. The positioning accuracy of device plays an important role in providing navigation and geolocation services, such as emergency calls, traffic management, and in new fields of IoT applications. Despite the high accuracy of global navigation satellite systems (GNSS) like GPS and GLONASS, their application indoors is limited due to the lack of direct line-of-sight. This highlights the need to develop alternative positioning methods based on communication networks. The objective of this study is to analyze the impact of signal bandwidth on the positioning accuracy of the OTDoA PRS method. Methods. The study involves modeling signals transmitted from multiple base stations with different power levels and delays, as well as performing correlation by the UE with PRS (Positioning Reference Signal) to determine delay times and construct hyperbolas of constant delay intervals. The accuracy assessment is performed using the root mean square error (RMSE) calculation, and the analysis is based on a simulation scenario implemented in the LTE System Toolbox in MATLAB. Novelty. The novelty of the research lies in the comprehensive analysis of the influence of signal bandwidth, on the accuracy of the OTDoA PRS method. For the first time, Reference Measurement Channel (RMC) configurations from R.5 to R.9 are used for constructing hyperbolas, allowing for the optimization of signal parameters to improve positioning accuracy. Results. The study demonstrates that increasing the signal bandwidth and optimizing the eNB arrangement minimizes the RMSE. As the distance between the base station and the user equipment increases, the amplitudes of the correlative peaks of PRS signals are reduced, and the positioning accuracy decreases. Practical relevance. The results of the study can be used to optimize the architecture of LTE and 5G networks in conditions where GNSS usage is limited. The proposed approaches can also be applied in the development of algorithms for telecommunications equipment to ensure accurate positioning of UE.