UE Provided Location Information

Description

UE Provided Location Information (UPLI) is a service capability introduced in 3GPP specifications, primarily in TS 23.271, that allows a UE to autonomously determine and report its geographical position or provide raw measurement data to the network. Unlike traditional network-based location methods like Observed Time Difference of Arrival (OTDOA) or Enhanced Cell ID (E-CID), UPLI shifts the computation burden to the UE. The UE can utilize its internal capabilities such as Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) receivers (e.g., GPS, Galileo), inertial sensors (accelerometers, gyroscopes), Wi-Fi access point measurements, or Bluetooth beacons to calculate its location.

The process typically involves the network requesting location information via control plane or user plane protocols, such as LTE Positioning Protocol (LPP) or SUPL (Secure User Plane Location). The UE responds with either a computed position estimate (latitude, longitude, altitude, uncertainty) or with measurement data (e.g., GNSS pseudoranges, Wi-Fi RSSI) that the network's Location Server (e.g., Evolved Serving Mobile Location Center - E-SMLC) can use to compute the location. In 5G, this is extended with the Location Management Function (LMF) and New Radio Positioning Protocol (NRPPa).

UPLI supports various QoS parameters, including accuracy, response time, and velocity. It enables hybrid location determination, where UE-provided data is combined with network measurements for improved reliability, especially in challenging environments like indoors or urban canyons. The feature is integral to emergency services (e.g., E911, eCall), where rapid and accurate location is critical, as well as for commercial applications like navigation, asset tracking, and location-based advertising. It also aids in regulatory compliance for location reporting.

Purpose & Motivation

UPLI was developed to address limitations in network-centric location technologies, which can be infrastructure-intensive, less accurate in certain environments, and may not scale efficiently for mass-market services. Prior methods relied heavily on network measurements, which could be impacted by deployment density, signal propagation conditions, and required significant signaling overhead. The proliferation of smartphones with advanced GNSS and sensor capabilities presented an opportunity to leverage UE resources for more accurate and efficient positioning.

Its creation was motivated by the growing demand for high-accuracy location services for emergency response, commercial applications, and Internet of Things (IoT) tracking. For emergency services, faster and more reliable location information can save lives. For commercial use, it enables innovative applications like augmented reality, geofencing, and personalized services. UPLI also reduces network signaling load by allowing the UE to compute location locally, which is particularly beneficial for IoT devices with constrained battery life or in scenarios with limited network coverage. It represents a shift towards a more collaborative positioning ecosystem.

Key Features

• UE-based location calculation using GNSS, sensors, or Wi-Fi
• Support for both control plane (LPP) and user plane (SUPL) delivery
• Hybrid location methods combining UE and network data
• Configurable QoS parameters for accuracy and latency
• Use for emergency services (e.g., E911, eCall) and commercial applications
• Reduced network signaling overhead compared to network-based methods

Evolution Across Releases

Defining Specifications