Precise UE positioning in UMTS using cumulative virtual blanking

The current observed time difference of arrival technique for finding the position of a mobile in a UMTS network suffers from a severe near-far problem when the UE is close to a node B. We describe a new technique, called cumulative virtual blanking, for overcoming this problem efficiently, without disrupting the normal operation of the network. Early results from a network-based trial indicate positioning accuracy of the order of 20 m in a rural environment.