Integrated Localization and Communication in 3GPP Industrial Environments

Integrated localization and communication (ILC) will be a key enabler for providing accurate location information and high data rate in next generation networks. This paper proposes a transmission frame structure and a soft information (SI)-based localization algorithm for position-assisted communications. The proposed ILC achieves improved localization accuracy and enhanced communication rate simultaneously by accounting for the statistical characteristics of the wireless environment. Results in 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) industrial scenarios show that the SI-based localization algorithm can achieve decimeter-level accuracy. Moreover, the position-assisted communication enhances the achievable rate, especially in scenarios with high mobility.