From China Mobile Research Institute
According to the new concept of "5G+Ubiquitous Wireless Networking", China Mobile Research Institute and China Mobile Beijing have recently worked with JD Logistics, Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. and Blue IoT (Beijing) Technology Co., Ltd. (a wholly-owned subsidiary of Tsingoal), and built the industry's first indoor decimeter-level positioning network based on "5G+Bluetooth AOA" in JD Asia No.1 Park, Daxing District, Beijing.
As an important part of the 5G indoor coverage solution, the innovative "5G+Ubiquitous Wireless Networking" solution is established on operators’ indoor pico base stations. By connecting to indoor positioning devices based on the ubiquitous wireless networks via PoE, 5G pico base stations become a center for gathering information from mobile cellular networks and ubiquitous wireless networks. At the end of 2019, China Mobile Research Institute demonstrated a prototype for smart factories in cooperation with the industry. The current application has achieved deep integration of Bluetooth AOA positioning network with indoor 5G communication network meeting the dual needs of verticals for indoor 5G communication and decimeter-level positioning, which is the first commercial landing of "5G+Ubiquitous Wireless Networking".
The pilot project is located in No. 2 Warehouse, Daxing JD Asia No.1 Park, with an area of 24,000 m2 and a floor height of 7-15 m, where the high-density picking area has clear requirements for indoor centimeter-level positioning. In this project, signals from indoor 5G pico base stations and Bluetooth AOA positioning base stations are tightly coupled for data return. In addition, pico base stations support the ability to supply power to Bluetooth AOA base stations. Bluetooth positioning terminals worn by warehouse racks and staff broadcast Bluetooth signals in real-time, and collect data through Bluetooth positioning base stations. Pico base stations transmit them back to local MEC for position information solution and calculation, which realizes indoor decimeter-level positioning and real-time 5G bandwidth data service capabilities.
China Mobile Research Institute is committed to promoting the opening of external interfaces of pico base stations and has carried out standardization work in CCSA and Precision Positioning Alliance. In the first half of this year, China Mobile Research Institute has carried out research and application of the "5G+Bluetooth AOA" solution with the industry. The current project implemented in Jingdong Park is the first successful case. In the future, the concept of "5G+Ubiquitous Wireless Networking" will support access of more ubiquitous wireless communication devices to 5G pico base stations, and achieve the goal of "Indoor positioning services will be provided at any places where there is 5G."
