Title:
Positioning System Manager for Maximizing the Performance of Location-based Services via an Integrated Solution

Description:
Different positioning technologies have their advantages and disadvantages in different environments, whereas integrated solutions can meet a wider range of requirements by exploiting the network and device resources efficiently. This is because different positioning methods perform differently according to a number of aspects, such as the device capabilities (some devices are not GPS-enabled), the radio signal propagation environment they are in (urban/rural areas), availability of WiFi access point (whether they are outdoors or indoors), geographical features, etc. Moreover, different positioning methods have different drawbacks and limitations. For example, the GPS provides very high accuracy levels. However, it is very battery expensive. Cell-ID, on the other hand, provides low accuracy positioning but is highly battery efficient. Network-centric positioning provides even more battery efficient positioning with lower accuracy levels. It can be concluded that there is no single positioning method that performs well in all circumstances.

The goal of this thesis is to develop a framework that automatically detects the most efficient positioning method to be used, whether device-centric or network-centric (where the network-centric positioning is to be realized via the Evolved Packet Core). This decision is to be made based on the given LBS Quality of Service (QoS) parameters of a certain LBS application, defining the minimum acceptable QoS for the offered LBS. Other aspects that could affect the positioning performance like radio signal propagation environment, indoors/outdoors, geographical environment, UE capabilities, geometry of the base station should be taken into consideration. This framework should be adaptive/flexible and capable of learning about and adapting to the aforementioned criteria for choosing the most efficient positioning method to be used. LBS QoS parameters as well as other aspects that affect the positioning performance should be investigated and discussed in the thesis. A Positioning System Manager framework should be realized within the scope of this thesis to achieve the aforementioned functionality.

Prerequisites:

• Interest in working in LTE core network and Location-based Services
• Good – Very Good Java Programming skills
• Good understanding of mobile communication, positioning technologies and communication networks

Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Axel Küpper [1], Mohamed Salem [2], Bersant Deva [3]

Type: Master Thesis

Duration: 6 months