Time and frequency resource level muting of reconfigurable intelligent surfaces

Abstract

This invention discloses a technique for wireless communication. In one embodiment, a wireless communication method performed by a base station (BS) includes obtaining a resource-level silent dot map for a reconfigurable intelligent surface (RIS), wherein the resource-level silent dot map identifies a time and frequency resource set during which the RIS should be enabled to reflect a transmitted beam or disabled to reflect a transmitted beam; and requesting the RIS to be enabled or disabled based on the resource-level silent dot map.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] Cross-referencing of related patents

[0002] This patent application claims priority to Greek patent application No. 20210100004, filed on January 4, 2021, entitled “TIME AND FREQUENCY RESOURCE LEVEL MUTING OF RECONFIGURABLE INTELLIGENT SURFACES”, which has been assigned to the assignee of this application and whose entire contents are incorporated herein by reference.

[0003] The various forms disclosed herein generally relate to wireless communication. Prior Technology

[0004] Wireless communication systems have evolved through generations, including first-generation analog wireless telephony (1G), second-generation (2G) digital wireless telephony (including temporary 2.5G and 2.75G networks), third-generation (3G) high-speed data, internet-enabled wireless services, and fourth-generation (4G) services (e.g., Long Term Evolution, LTE, or WiMax). Currently, many different types of wireless communication systems are in use, including cellular systems and personal communications service (PCS) systems. Known examples of cellular systems include the Advanced Mobile Phone System (AMPS) and digital cellular systems based on Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA), Frequency Division Multiple Access (FDMA), Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA), and Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM).

[0005] The fifth-generation (5G) wireless standard, known as New Radio (NR), requires higher data transmission speeds, more connections, better coverage, and other improvements. Designed according to the Next Generation Mobile Networks Alliance (NGC) standard, 5G should deliver data rates of tens of megabits per second to each of tens of thousands of users, or 1 gigabit per second to dozens of employees in an office. To support large-scale sensor deployments, it should support hundreds of thousands of simultaneous connections. Therefore, the spectral efficiency of 5G mobile communications should be significantly improved compared to the current 4G standard. Furthermore, transmission efficiency should be improved and latency greatly reduced compared to the current standard. Summary of the Invention

[0006] The following is a simplified summary of the invention relating to one or more of the embodiments disclosed herein. Therefore, the following summary should not be considered a broad overview relating to all anticipated embodiments, nor should it be thought to identify key or essential elements relating to all anticipated embodiments or to define the scope associated with any particular embodiment. Thus, the following summary has the sole purpose of presenting, in a simplified form, certain concepts relating to one or more embodiments of the mechanism disclosed herein, prior to the detailed embodiments presented below.

[0007] In some cases, a wireless communication method performed by a base station (BS) includes obtaining a resource-level silent dot map for a reconfigurable intelligent surface (RIS), wherein the resource-level silent dot map identifies a time and frequency resource set during which the RIS should be enabled to reflect a transmitted beam or disabled to reflect a transmitted beam; and requesting the RIS to be enabled or disabled based on the resource-level silent dot map.

[0008] In some cases, a wireless communication method performed by user equipment (UE) includes obtaining a resource-level silent dot map for a RIS, wherein the resource-level silent dot map identifies a time and frequency resource set during which the RIS will be enabled to reflect a transmitted beam or disabled to reflect a transmitted beam; receiving a first reference signal; and determining, based on the resource-level silent dot map, whether the first reference signal was received from a BS or from the RIS.

[0009] In some embodiments, a BS includes a memory, at least one transceiver, and at least one processor communicatively coupled to the memory and the at least one transceiver, the at least one processor being configured to obtain a resource-level silent dot map for a RIS, wherein the resource-level silent dot map identifies a time and frequency resource set during which the RIS should be enabled to reflect a transmit beam or disabled to reflect a transmit beam, and causes the at least one transceiver to send a request to the RIS to enable or disable the RIS according to the resource-level silent dot map.

[0010] In some embodiments, a UE includes a memory, at least one transceiver, and at least one processor communicatively coupled to the memory and the at least one transceiver, the at least one processor being configured to obtain a resource-level silent dot map for a RIS, wherein the resource-level silent dot map identifies a time and frequency resource set during which the RIS will be enabled to reflect a transmit beam or disabled to reflect a transmit beam; receive a first reference signal; and determine, based on the resource-level silent dot map, whether the first reference signal is received from a BS or from the RIS.

[0011] In some forms, a BS includes components for obtaining a resource-level silent dot map for a RIS, wherein the resource-level silent dot map identifies a time and frequency resource set during which the RIS should be enabled to reflect a transmit beam or disabled to reflect a transmit beam, and components for requesting to enable or disable the RIS based on the resource-level silent dot map.

[0012] In some cases, a UE includes components for obtaining a resource-level silent dot map for a RIS, wherein the resource-level silent dot map identifies a time and frequency resource set during which the RIS will be enabled to reflect a transmit beam or disabled to reflect a transmit beam; components for receiving a first reference signal; and components for determining, based on the resource-level silent dot map, whether the first reference signal is received from a BS or from a RIS.

[0013] In some forms, a non-transitory computer-readable media storage instruction set includes one or more instructions that, when executed by one or more processors of the BS, enable the BS to obtain a resource-level silent dot map for the RIS, wherein the resource-level silent dot map identifies a time and frequency resource set during which the RIS should be enabled to reflect a transmit beam or disabled to reflect a transmit beam, and enables or disables the RIS according to a resource-level silent dot map request.

[0014] In some forms, a non-transitory computer-readable media storage instruction set includes one or more instructions, when executed by one or more processors of the UE, causing the UE to obtain a resource-level silent dot map for the RIS, wherein the resource-level silent dot map identifies a time and frequency resource set during which the RIS will be enabled to reflect a transmitted beam or disabled to reflect a transmitted beam; receives a first reference signal; and determines, based on the resource-level silent dot map, whether the first reference signal is received from the BS or from the RIS.

[0015] Based on the diagrams and detailed description, other objects and advantages associated with the states disclosed herein will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Simple Explanation of the Diagram

[0016] The diagrams are presented to help describe the various states disclosed herein, and are provided for the purpose of illustrating the states only and not limiting them.

[0017] Figure 1 illustrates an example wireless communication system of various types according to this disclosure.

[0018] Figures 2A and 2B illustrate example wireless network architectures of various forms according to this disclosure.

[0019] Figures 3A to 3C are simplified block diagrams of several example forms of components that can be adopted in user equipment (UE), base stations, and network entities and configured to support communications as taught herein.

[0020] Figures 4A to 4D are diagrams illustrating example frame structures and channels within various forms according to this disclosure.

[0021] Figures 5A, 5B, and 5C illustrate various modes of DL PRS resources within time slots according to the present disclosure.

[0022] Figures 6A and 6B show examples of various DL PRS resource repeat and beam scanning options according to this disclosure.

[0023] Figures 7A to 7C show examples of various TRP-based PRS silent options according to this disclosure.

[0024] Figure 8 illustrates a system for time and frequency-level quiescence for reconfigurable smart surfaces (RIS) based on some state patterns.

[0025] Figure 9 illustrates a system for time and frequency resource level silencing for RIS according to some states.

[0026] Figures 10A to 10C show examples of time and frequency resource-level silencing of RIS according to some state.

[0027] Figures 11 and 12 are flowcharts of example processes associated with the time and frequency resource level silence of RIS according to some state. Implementation

[0028] Various forms of this disclosure are provided in the following description and related diagrams for illustrative purposes. Alternative forms may be designed without departing from the scope of this disclosure. Furthermore, conventional elements of this disclosure will not be described in detail or will be omitted so as not to obscure the relevant details of this disclosure.

[0029] The terms “exemplary” and / or “example” are used herein to mean “serving as an example, instance, or illustration.” Any variant described herein as “exemplary” and / or “example” is not necessarily to be construed as being more preferred or advantageous than other variants. Similarly, the term “various variants” in this disclosure does not require that all variants of this disclosure include the features, advantages, or modes of operation discussed.

[0030] Those skilled in the art will understand that any of a variety of different technologies and techniques can be used to represent the information and signals described below. For example, data, instructions, commands, information, signals, bits, symbols, and chips that may be referenced throughout this specification may be represented by voltage, current, electromagnetic waves, magnetic fields or particles, light fields or particles, or any combination thereof, depending in part on the specific application, in part on the required design, and in part on the appropriate technology, etc.

[0031] Furthermore, many styles are described based on sequences of actions performed, for example, by elements of a computing device. It will be appreciated that the various actions described herein can be performed by specific circuitry (e.g., application-specific integrated circuits, ASICs), by program instructions being executed by one or more processors, or by a combination of both. Additionally, the sequences of actions described herein can be considered entirely embodied in any form of non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a corresponding set of computer instructions that, when executed, will cause or instruct the associated processor of the device to perform the functionality described herein. Therefore, the various styles disclosed herein can be embodied in many different forms, all of which are considered to be within the scope of the claimed object. Furthermore, for each style described herein, the corresponding form of any such style may be described herein as, for example, "logic" "configured" to perform the described actions.

[0032] As used herein, unless otherwise stated, the terms “User Equipment” (UE) and “Base Station” are not intended to be specific or otherwise limited to any particular radio access technology (RAT). Generally, a UE can be any wireless communication device used by a user to communicate over a wireless communication network (e.g., mobile phone, router, tablet, laptop, consumer asset tracking device, wearable device (e.g., smartwatch, glasses, augmented reality (AR) / virtual reality (VR) headset, etc.), vehicle (e.g., car, motorcycle, bicycle, etc.), Internet of Things (IoT) device, etc.). A UE can be mobile or (e.g., at certain times) stationary and can communicate with a radio access network (RAN). As used herein, the term “UE” is interchangeably referred to as “access terminal” or “AT”, “client device”, “wireless device”, “subscriber equipment”, “subscriber terminal”, “subscriber station”, “user terminal” or “UT”, “mobile device”, “mobile terminal”, “mobile station”, or variations thereof. Typically, a UE can communicate with the core network via the RAN, and the UE can connect to external networks such as the Internet and other UEs via the core network. Of course, other mechanisms for connecting the UE to the core network and / or the Internet are also possible, such as via wired access networks, wireless local area networks (WLANs) (e.g., based on the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11 standard).

[0033] A base station may operate according to one of several RATs (Radio Access Points) used to communicate with the UE, depending on the network in which it is deployed, and may be alternatively referred to as an access point (AP), network node, NodeB, evolved NodeB (eNB), next-generation eNB (ng-eNB), new radio (NR) NodeB (also known as gNB or gNodeB), etc. The base station may primarily be used to support the UE's radio access, including supporting data, voice, and / or transmission connections for the supported UE. In some systems, the base station may provide purely edge node transmission functionality, while in others, it may provide additional control and / or network management functions. The UE can send signals to the base station via a communication link, referred to as an uplink (UL) channel (e.g., reverse flow channel, reverse control channel, access channel, etc.). The base station can send signals to the UE via a communication link, referred to as a downlink (DL) or forward link channel (e.g., paging channel, control channel, broadcast channel, forward flow channel, etc.). As used in this article, the term traffic channel (TCH) can refer to an uplink / reverse or downlink / forward traffic channel.

[0034] The term "base station" can refer to a single entity transmit-reception point (TRP) or multiple entity TRPs, which may be co-located or non-co-located. For example, when the term "base station" refers to a single entity TRP, the entity TRP can be the antenna of the base station corresponding to a cell (or several cell sectors) of the base station. When the term "base station" refers to multiple co-located entity TRPs, the entity TRPs can be the antenna array of the base station (e.g., in a multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) system, or where the base station employs beamforming). When the term "base station" refers to multiple non-co-located entity TRPs, the entity TRPs can be a distributed antenna system (DAS) (a network of spatially separated antennas connected to a common source via a transmission medium) or a remote radio head (RRH) (a remote base station connected to the serving base station). Alternatively, non-co-located entity TRPs can be the serving base station receiving measurement reports from the UE and neighboring base stations where the UE is measuring its RF signals. Because, as used herein, the TRP is the point at which a base station transmits and receives wireless signals, references to transmissions from or receptions from a base station should be understood as referring to the specific TRP of the base station.

[0035] In some implementations that support UE positioning, the base station may not support the UE's radio access (e.g., it may not support the UE's data, voice, and / or transmission connections), but instead sends reference signals to the UE for measurement by the UE, and / or can receive and measure signals sent by the UE. Such a base station may be referred to as a positioning beacon (e.g., when sending signals to the UE) and / or as a location measurement unit (e.g., when receiving and measuring signals from the UE).

[0036] An “RF signal” comprises electromagnetic waves of a given frequency that transmit information through space between a transmitter and a receiver. As used herein, a transmitter may send a single “RF signal” or multiple “RF signals” to a receiver. However, due to the propagation characteristics of RF signals through multipath channels, a receiver may receive multiple “RF signals” corresponding to each transmitted RF signal. The same RF signal transmitted on different paths between the transmitter and receiver can be referred to as a “multipath” RF signal.

[0037] Figure 1 illustrates an example wireless communication system 100. The wireless communication system 100 (which may also be referred to as a wireless wide area network (WWAN)) may include various base stations 102 and various UEs 104. Base stations 102 may include megacell base stations (high-power cellular base stations) and / or small cell base stations (low-power cellular base stations). In one embodiment, the megacell base station may include an eNB and / or ng-eNB where the wireless communication system 100 corresponds to an LTE network or a gNB where the wireless communication system 100 corresponds to an NR network, or a combination of both, and the small cell base station may include femtocells, picocells, microcells, etc.

[0038] Base station 102 can form a RAN with core network 170 (e.g., an evolved packet core (EPC) or a 5G core (5GC)) via backhaul link 122 and core network 170. In addition to other functions, base station 102 can also perform functions related to: transmitting user data, radio channel encryption and decryption, integrity protection, header compression, mobility control functions (e.g., handover, dual connectivity), inter-cell interference coordination, connection establishment and release, load balancing, distribution of non-access stratum (NAS) messages, NAS node selection, synchronization, RAN sharing, multimedia broadcast multicast service (MBMS), subscriber and device tracking, RAN information management (RIM), paging, location services, and delivering warning messages. Base stations 102 can communicate with each other directly or indirectly (e.g., via EPC / 5GC) on a backhaul link 134, which can be wired or wireless.

[0039] Base station 102 can wirelessly communicate with UE 104. Each base station 102 can provide communication coverage for its respective geographical coverage area 110. Typically, each base station 102 in each coverage area 110 can support one or more cells. A "cell" is a logical communication entity used to communicate with a base station (e.g., via some frequency resources, referred to as carrier frequency, component carrier, carrier, frequency band, etc.) and can be associated with an identification code (e.g., physical cell identifier (PCI), virtual cell identifier (VCI), cell global identifier (CGI)) to distinguish cells operating via the same or different carrier frequencies. In some cases, different cells can be configured according to different protocol types providing access for different types of UEs (e.g., machine-type communication (MTC), narrowband IoT (NB-IoT), enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB), or others). Because a particular base station supports a cell, the term "cell" can refer to one or both of a logical communication entity and the base station that supports that logical communication entity, depending on the context. In some cases, the term "cell" can also refer to the geographical coverage area (e.g., a sector) of a base station, as long as a carrier frequency can be detected and used for communication within certain portions of the geographical coverage area 110.

[0040] While the geographic coverage areas 110 of adjacent giant cell base stations 102 may partially overlap (e.g., in a handover area), some geographic coverage areas 110 may substantially overlap with larger geographic coverage areas 110. For example, a small cell base station 102' may have a coverage area 110' that substantially overlaps with the coverage areas 110 of one or more giant cell base stations 102. A network that includes both small cell base stations and giant cell base stations may be referred to as a heterogeneous network. A heterogeneous network may also include home eNBs (HeNBs) that can provide service to a restricted group called a closed subscriber group (CSG).

[0041] The communication link 120 between base station 102 and UE 104 may include uplink (also known as reverse link) transmission from UE 104 to base station 102 and / or downlink (also known as forward link) transmission from base station 102 to UE 104. The communication link 120 may use MIMO antenna techniques, including spatial multiplexing, beamforming, and / or transmit diversity. The communication link 120 may use one or more carrier frequencies. Carrier allocation may be asymmetrical relative to the downlink and uplink (e.g., more or fewer carriers may be allocated to the downlink compared to the uplink).

[0042] The wireless communication system 100 may also include a wireless local area network (WLAN) access point (AP) 150, which communicates with a WLAN station (STA) 152 via a communication link 154 in unlicensed spectrum (e.g., 5 GHz). When communicating in unlicensed spectrum, the WLAN STA 152 and / or WLAN AP 150 may perform a clear channel assessment (CCA) or listen before talk (LBT) procedure before communication to determine whether the channel is available.

[0043] Small cell base station 102' can operate in licensed and / or unlicensed spectrum. When operating in unlicensed spectrum, small cell base station 102' can employ LTE or NR technology and use the same 5 GHz unlicensed spectrum as WLAN AP 150. Employing LTE / 5G in unlicensed spectrum can increase coverage and / or capacity of the access network. NR in unlicensed spectrum can be referred to as NR-U. LTE in unlicensed spectrum can be referred to as LTE-U, licensed assisted access (LAA), or MulteFire.

[0044] The wireless communication system 100 may also include a millimeter-wave (mmW) base station 180, which can communicate with the UE 182 at mmW and / or near-mmW frequencies. Extremely high frequency (EHF) is a portion of the electromagnetic spectrum that contains radio frequency (RF). EHF has a range between 30 GHz and 300 GHz and wavelengths between 1 mm and 10 mm. Radio waves in this band can be referred to as millimeter waves. Near-mmW can extend to frequencies up to 3 GHz with wavelengths of 100 mm. The super high frequency (SHF) band extends between 3 GHz and 30 GHz and is also known as centimeter waves. Communication using mmW / near-mmW radio bands has high path loss and relatively short range. The mmW base station 180 and the UE 182 can utilize beamforming (transmit and / or receive) on the mmW communication link 184 to compensate for the extremely high path loss and short range. Furthermore, it should be understood that in alternative configurations, one or more base stations 102 may also use mmW or near-mmW and beamforming for transmission. Therefore, it should be understood that the foregoing description is merely an example and should not be construed as limiting to the various forms disclosed herein.

[0045] Transmit beamforming is a technique for focusing RF signals in a specific direction. Traditionally, when a network node (e.g., a base station) broadcasts an RF signal, it broadcasts the signal in all directions (omnidirectional). With transmit beamforming, the network node determines the location of a given target device (e.g., a UE) relative to the transmitting network node and projects a stronger downlink RF signal in that specific direction, thus providing the receiving device with a faster (in terms of data rate) and stronger RF signal. To change the directivity of the RF signal during transmission, the network node can control the phase and relative amplitude of the RF signal at each of one or more transmitters broadcasting the RF signal. For example, the network node can use an antenna array (called a "phased array" or "antenna array") that generates an RF beam that can be "steered" to point in different directions without actually moving the antennas. Specifically, RF currents from the transmitters are fed to the individual antennas with the correct phase relationship, causing the radio waves from the respective antennas to combine to increase radiation in the desired direction while canceling out radiation in undesired directions.

[0046] Transmit beams can be quasi-co-located, meaning they appear to have the same parameters in the receiver (e.g., UE), regardless of whether the transmit antennas of the network nodes themselves are physically co-located. In NR, there are four types of quasi-co-location (QCL) relationships. Specifically, a given type of QCL relationship means that certain parameters of the target reference RF signal for the target beam can be derived from information about the source reference RF signal of the source beam. If the source reference RF signal is QCL type A, the receiver can use the source reference RF signal to estimate the Doppler shift, Doppler spread, average delay, and delay spread of the target reference RF signal transmitted on the same channel. If the source reference RF signal is QCL type B, the receiver can use the source reference RF signal to estimate the Doppler shift and Doppler spread of the target reference RF signal transmitted on the same channel. If the source reference RF signal is QCL type C, the receiver can use the source reference RF signal to estimate the Doppler shift and average delay of the target reference RF signal transmitted on the same channel. If the source reference RF signal is QCL type D, the receiver can use the source reference RF signal to estimate the spatial reception parameters of the target reference RF signal transmitted on the same channel.

[0047] In receive beamforming, a receiver uses a receive beam to amplify an RF signal detected on a given channel. For example, a receiver may increase the gain setting and / or adjust the phase setting of the antenna array in a specific direction to amplify the RF signal received from that direction (e.g., increase the gain level of that RF signal). Therefore, when a receiver is said to be beamforming in a certain direction, it means that the beam gain in that direction is high relative to the beam gain along other directions, or that the beam gain in that direction is the highest compared to the beam gain of all other receive beams available to the receiver in that direction. This results in a stronger received signal strength (e.g., reference signal received power (RSRP), reference signal received quality (RSRQ), signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio (SINR), etc.) of the RF signal received from that direction.

[0048] The receive beam can be spatially correlated. Spatial correlation means that the parameters of the transmit beam of the second reference signal can be derived from information about the receive beam of the first reference signal. For example, the UE can use a specific receive beam to receive one or more reference downlink reference signals from the base station (e.g., positioning reference signals (PRS), tracking reference signals (TRS), phase tracking reference signals (PTRS), cell-specific reference signals (CRS), channel state information reference signals (CSI-RS), primary synchronization signals (PSS), secondary synchronization signals (SSS), synchronization signal blocks (SSB), etc.). Then, the UE can form a transmit beam based on the parameters of the receive beam to transmit one or more uplink reference signals (e.g., uplink positioning reference signals (UL-PRS), sounding reference signals (SRS), demodulation reference signals (DMRS), PTRS, etc.) to the base station.

[0049] Note that a "downlink" beam can be either a transmit or receive beam, depending on the entity forming it. For example, if a base station is forming a downlink beam to transmit a reference signal to a UE, then the downlink beam is a transmit beam. However, if a UE is forming a downlink beam, then it is a receive beam used to receive downlink reference signals. Similarly, an "uplink" beam can be either a transmit or receive beam, depending on the entity forming it. For example, if a base station is forming an uplink beam, then it is an uplink receive beam, and if a UE is forming an uplink beam, then it is an uplink transmit beam.

[0050] In 5G, the spectrum in which wireless nodes (e.g., base stations 102 / 180, UE 104 / 182) operate is divided into several frequency ranges: FR1 (from 450 to 6000 MHz), FR2 (from 24250 to 52600 MHz), FR3 (above 52600 MHz), and FR4 (between FR1 and FR2). In multi-carrier systems (such as 5G), one carrier frequency is called the “primary carrier” or “anchor carrier” or “primary serving cell” or “PCell,” while the remaining carrier frequencies are called “secondary carriers” or “secondary serving cells” or “SCell.” In carrier aggregation, the anchor carrier is the carrier operating on the primary frequency (e.g., FR1) used by UE 104 / 182 and the cells in which UE 104 / 182 performs the initial radio resource control (RRC) connection establishment procedure or initiates the RRC connection re-establishment procedure. The primary carrier carries all public and UE-specific control channels and can be a carrier in a licensed frequency (however, not always). The secondary carrier is a carrier operating on a second frequency (e.g., FR2) that can be configured once an RRC connection is established between the UE 104 and the anchor carrier, and can be used to provide additional radio resources. In some cases, the secondary carrier can be a carrier in an unlicensed frequency. The secondary carrier may contain only the necessary transmission information and signals; for example, since the primary uplink and downlink carriers are typically UE-specific, those UE-specific information and signals may not be present in the secondary carrier. This means that different UE 104 / 182 cells can have different downlink primary carriers. The same applies to uplink primary carriers. The network can change the primary carrier of any UE 104 / 182 at any time. This is done, for example, to balance the load on different carriers. Because a “serving cell” (whether PCell or SCell) corresponds to a carrier frequency / component carrier on which some base station is communicating, the terms “cell,” “serving cell,” “component carrier,” “carrier frequency,” etc., are used interchangeably.

[0051] For example, still referring to Figure 1, one of the frequencies used by the megacell base station 102 may be an anchor carrier (or "PCell"), and other frequencies used by the megacell base station 102 and / or mmW base station 180 may be secondary carriers ("SCell"). Simultaneous transmission and / or reception on multiple carriers allows the UE 104 / 182 to significantly increase its data transmission and / or reception rates. For example, compared to the rate achieved by a single 20 MHz carrier, two aggregated 20 MHz carriers in a multi-carrier system would theoretically result in a doubling of the data rate (i.e., 40 MHz).

[0052] The wireless communication system 100 may also include a UE 164, which can communicate with the megacell base station 102 via communication link 120 and / or with the mmW base station 180 via mmW communication link 184. For example, the megacell base station 102 may support PCells and one or more SCells for the UE 164, and the mmW base station 180 may support one or more SCells for the UE 164.

[0053] In the example of Figure 1, one or more satellite positioning system (SPS) space vehicles (SVs) 112 (e.g., satellites) can serve as independent sources of location information for any of the illustrated UEs (shown as a single UE 104 in Figure 1 for simplicity). UE 104 may include one or more dedicated SPS receivers specifically designed to receive signals used to derive geographic location information from SV 112. The SPS typically includes a transmitter system (e.g., SV 112) positioned such that receivers (e.g., UE 104) can determine their location on or above the Earth based at least in part on signals 124 received from that transmitter. Such transmitters typically transmit signals 124 marked with a set number of repeating pseudo-random noise (PN) codes. While typically located in SV 112, transmitters may sometimes be located at ground control stations, base stations 102, and / or other UEs 104.

[0054] The use of SPS signals can be enhanced by various satellite-based augmentation systems (SBAS), which can be associated with or otherwise enabled by one or more global and / or regional navigation satellite systems. For example, SBAS can include augmentation systems that provide integrity information, differential correction, etc., such as the Wide Area Augmentation System (WAAS), the European Geostationary Navigation Overlay Service (EGNOS), the Multi-functional Satellite Augmentation System (MSAS), GPS-assisted geo-augmented navigation, or the GPS and Geo-augmented Navigation system (GAGAN). Therefore, as used herein, SPS can include any combination of one or more global and / or regional navigation satellite systems and / or augmentation systems, and SPS signals can include SPS, SPS-like signals, and / or other signals associated with one or more such SPS.

[0055] The wireless communication system 100 may also include one or more UEs, such as UE 190, which are indirectly connected to one or more communication networks via one or more device-to-device (D2D) peer-to-peer (P2P) links (referred to as "side links"). In the example of Figure 1, UE 190 has a D2D P2P link 192 connected to one of UEs 104 connected to one of base stations 102 (e.g., through which UE 190 can indirectly obtain cellular connectivity), and a D2D P2P link 194 connected to a WLAN STA 152 connected to a WLAN AP 150 (through which UE 190 can indirectly obtain WLAN-based network connectivity). In the example, D2D P2P links 192 and 194 can be supported by any known D2D RAT, such as LTE Direct (LTE-D), WiFi Direct (WiFi-D), Bluetooth®, etc.

[0056] Figure 2A illustrates an example wireless network architecture 200. For example, the 5GC 210 (also known as the Next Generation Core (NGC)) can functionally be considered as control plane functions 214 (e.g., UE registration, authentication, network access, gateway selection, etc.) and user plane functions 212 (e.g., UE gateway functions, access to the data network, IP routing, etc.), which work together to form the core network. A user plane interface (NG-U) 213 and a control plane interface (NG-C) 215 connect the gNB 222 to the 5GC 210, specifically to control plane functions 214 and user plane functions 212. In an additional configuration, the ng-eNB 224 can also connect to the 5GC 210 and control plane functions 214 via NG-C 215, and to user plane functions 212 via NG-U 213. Furthermore, the ng-eNB 224 can communicate directly with the gNB 222 via a backhaul connection 223. In some configurations, the new RAN 220 may have only one or more gNBs 222, while other configurations include one or more of ng-eNBs 224 and gNBs 222. The gNB 222 or ng-eNB 224 can communicate with the UE 204 (e.g., any UE described in Figure 1). Another optional configuration may include a location server 230, which can communicate with the 5GC 210 to provide location assistance to the UE 204. The location server 230 may be implemented as multiple separate servers (e.g., physically separate servers, different software modules on a single server, different software modules distributed across multiple physical servers, etc.), or alternatively, each server may correspond to a single server. The location server 230 may be configured to support one or more location services for the UE 204, which may connect to the location server 230 via the core network, the 5GC 210, and / or via the Internet (not shown). Furthermore, the location server 230 can be integrated into the core network components, or alternatively, it can be located outside the core network.

[0057] Figure 2B illustrates another example wireless network architecture 250. For example, 5GC 260 can be functionally viewed as a control plane function provided by access and mobility management function (AMF) 264 and a user plane function provided by user plane function (UPF) 262, which cooperate to form the core network (i.e., 5GC 260). User plane interface 263 and control plane interface 265 connect ng-eNB 224 to 5GC 260, and specifically to UPF 262 and AMF 264, respectively. In an additional configuration, gNB 222 can also connect to 5GC 260 via control plane interface 265 to AMF 264 and user plane interface 263 to UPF 262. Furthermore, ng-eNB 224 can communicate directly with gNB 222 via backhaul connection 223, with or without direct connectivity between gNB and 5GC 260. In some configurations, the new RAN 220 may have only one or more gNB 222s, while other configurations include one or more of ng-eNB 224 and gNB 222. The gNB 222 or ng-eNB 224 can communicate with UE 204 (e.g., any UE described in Figure 1). The base station of the new RAN 220 communicates with the AMF 264 via the N2 interface and with the UPF 262 via the N3 interface.

[0058] The AMF264's functions include registration management, connection management, reachability management, mobility management, lawful interception, transmission of session management (SM) messages between UE 204 and the session management function (SMF) 266, transparent proxy service for routing SM messages, access authentication and access authorization, transmission of short message service (SMS) messages between UE 204 and the short message service function (SMF) (not shown), and security anchor functionality (SEAF). The AMF 264 also interacts with the authentication server function (AUSF) (not shown) and UE 204, and receives the intermediate key established as a result of the UE 204 authentication process. In the case of authentication based on the UMTS (Universal Mobile Telecommunications System) subscriber identity module (USIM), the AMF 264 retrieves security material from the AUSF. The AMF 264's functions also include security context management (SCM). The SCM receives a key from the SEAF, which is used to derive an access network-specific key. The AMF 264 also includes functions for location service management for regulatory services, transmission of location service messages between the UE 204 and the location management function (LMF) 270 (which acts as a location server 230), transmission of location service messages between the new RAN 220 and the LMF 270, allocation of EPS bearer identifiers for interaction with the Evolved Packet System (EPS), and UE 204 mobility event notification. Additionally, the AMF 264 supports functions for non-3GPP (3rd Generation Partnership Project) access networks.

[0059] The functions of UPF 262 include: acting as an anchor point for intra / inter-RAT mobility (where applicable), acting as an external protocol data unit (PDU) session point interconnected with a data network (not shown), providing packet routing and forwarding, packet inspection, user plane policy rule enforcement (e.g., gating, redirection, traffic steering), lawful interception (user plane collection), traffic usage reporting, user plane quality of service (QoS) processing (e.g., uplink / downlink rate enhancement, reflected QoS marking in downlink), uplink traffic verification (service data flow (SDF) to QoS flow mapping), transport level packet marking in uplink and downlink, downlink packet buffering and downlink data notification triggering, and conveying and forwarding one or more "end markers" to the source RAN node. UPF 262 can also support the transmission of location service messages on the user plane between UE 204 and a location server such as a secure user plane location (SUPL) location platform (SLP) 272.

[0060] The functions of SMF 266 include session management, UE Internet Protocol (IP) address allocation and management, selection and control of user plane functions, configuration of traffic steering at UPF 262 to route traffic to appropriate destinations, control of QoS and partial policy enforcement, and downlink information notification. The interface through which SMF 266 communicates with AMF 264 is called the N11 interface.

[0061] Another alternative configuration may include an LMF 270, which can communicate with the 5GC 260 to provide location assistance to the UE 204. The LMF 270 may be implemented as multiple separate servers (e.g., physically separate servers, different software modules on a single server, different software modules distributed across multiple physical servers, etc.), or alternatively, each server may correspond to a single server. The LMF 270 may be configured to support one or more location services for the UE 204, which may connect to the LMF 270 via the core network, the 5GC 260, and / or via the Internet (not shown). The SLP 272 can support similar functions to the LMF 270, but the LMF 270 can communicate with the AMF 264, the new RAN 220 and UE 204 through the control plane (e.g., using interfaces and protocols designed to transmit messages rather than voice or data), while the SLP 272 can communicate with the UE 204 and external clients (not shown in Figure 2B) through the user plane (e.g., using protocols designed to carry voice and / or data, such as the transmission control protocol (TCP) and / or IP).

[0062] Figures 3A, 3B, and 3C illustrate several example components (represented by corresponding blocks) that can be incorporated into UE 302 (which may correspond to any UE described herein), base station 304 (which may correspond to any base station described herein), and network entity 306 (which may correspond to or embody any network functions described herein, including location server 230 and LMF 270) to support the file transfer operations described herein. It will be understood that these components can be implemented in different types of devices in different implementations (e.g., in an ASIC, in a system-on-chip (SoC)). The components shown can also be incorporated into other devices in a communication system. For example, other devices in the system may include components similar to those described for providing similar functionality. Furthermore, a given device may contain one or more of these components. For example, a device may include multiple transceiver components that enable the device to operate on multiple carriers and / or communicate via different technologies.

[0063] UE 302 and base station 304 each include Wireless Wide Area Network (WWAN) transceivers 310 and 350, respectively, providing components (e.g., components for transmitting, components for receiving, components for measuring, components for tuning, components for suppressing transmission, etc.) for communication via one or more wireless communication networks (not shown), such as NR networks, LTE networks, GSM networks, etc. The WWAN transceivers 310 and 350 can be connected to one or more antennas 316 and 356, respectively, for communication with other network nodes, such as other UEs, access points, base stations (e.g., eNB, gNB), via at least one designated RAT (e.g., NR, LTE, GSM, etc.) on an associated wireless communication medium (e.g., certain sets of time / frequency resources in a specific spectrum). The WWAN transceivers 310 and 350 can be configured differently according to a specified RAT to transmit and encode signals 318 and 358 (e.g., messages, indications, information, etc.), and conversely, to receive and decode signals 318 and 358 (e.g., messages, indications, information, pilots, etc.). Specifically, the WWAN transceivers 310 and 350 each include one or more transmitters 314 and 354 for transmitting and encoding signals 318 and 358, and one or more receivers 312 and 352 for receiving and decoding signals 318 and 358, respectively.

[0064] UE 302 and base station 304, in at least some cases, also include wireless local area network (WLAN) transceivers 320 and 360, respectively. The WLAN transceivers 320 and 360 can be connected to one or more antennas 326 and 366, respectively, and provide components (e.g., components for transmitting, components for receiving, components for measuring, components for tuning, components for preventing transmission, etc.) for communicating with other network nodes, such as other UEs, access points, base stations, etc., over an associated wireless communication medium via at least one designated RAT (e.g., WiFi, LTE-D, Bluetooth®, etc.). The WLAN transceivers 320 and 360 can be configured differently according to the designated RAT to transmit and encode signals 328 and 368 (e.g., messages, indications, information, etc.), and conversely, to receive and decode signals 328 and 368 (e.g., messages, indications, information, pilots, etc.), respectively. Specifically, the WLAN transceivers 320 and 360 each include one or more transmitters 324 and 364 for transmitting and encoding signals 328 and 368, respectively, and one or more receivers 322 and 362 for receiving and decoding signals 328 and 368, respectively.

[0065] A transceiver circuit including at least one transmitter and at least one receiver may, in some embodiments, include an integrated device (e.g., transmitter and receiver circuitry embodied as a single communication device), in some embodiments, include separate transmitter and receiver devices, or may be embodied in other ways in other embodiments. As described herein, in one instance, the transmitter may include or be coupled to multiple antennas (e.g., antennas 316, 326, 356, 366), such as an antenna array, which allows the respective device to perform transmit "beamforming". Similarly, as described herein, the receiver may include or be coupled to multiple antennas (e.g., antennas 316, 326, 356, 366), such as an antenna array, which allows the respective device to perform receive "beamforming". In another instance, the transmitter and receiver may share the same multiple antennas (e.g., antennas 316, 326, 356, 366), such that each device can only receive or transmit at a given time, rather than simultaneously receiving and transmitting. The wireless communication equipment of UE 302 and / or base station 304 (e.g., one or both of transceivers 310 and 320 and / or 350 and 360) may also include network listen modules (NLMs) for performing various measurements.

[0066] UE 302 and base station 304, in at least some cases, also include Satellite Positioning System (SPS) receivers 330 and 370. These SPS receivers 330 and 370 may be connected to one or more antennas 336 and 376, respectively, and may provide components for receiving and / or measuring SPS signals 338 and 378, such as Global Positioning System (GPS) signals, Global Navigation Satellite System (GLONASS) signals, Galileo signals, BeiDou signals, Navigation Satellite System (NAVIC), Quasi-Zenith Satellite System (QZSS), etc. The SPS receivers 330 and 370 may include any suitable hardware and / or software for receiving and processing SPS signals 338 and 378, respectively. Where appropriate, the SPS receivers 330 and 370 request information and operation from other systems and perform calculations necessary to determine the location of UE 302 and base station 304 using measurements obtained through any suitable SPS algorithm.

[0067] Base station 304 and network entity 306 each include at least one network interface 380 and 390, providing components for communicating with other network entities (e.g., components for transmitting, components for receiving, etc.). For example, network interfaces 380 and 390 (e.g., one or more network access ports) can be configured to communicate with one or more network entities via wire-based or wireless backhaul connections. In some embodiments, network interfaces 380 and 390 may be implemented as transceivers configured to support wire-based or wireless signal communication. This communication may involve, for example, transmitting and receiving: messages, parameters, and / or other types of information.

[0068] UE 302, base station 304, and network entity 306 also include other components that can be used in conjunction with the operations disclosed herein. UE 302 includes processor circuitry that implements processing system 332 for providing functions related to, for example, wireless positioning, and for providing other processing functions. Base station 304 includes processing system 384 for providing functions related to, for example, wireless positioning as described herein, and for providing other processing functions. Network entity 306 includes processing system 394 for providing functions related to, for example, wireless positioning as described herein, and for providing other processing functions. Processing systems 332, 384, and 394 can therefore provide components for processing, such as components for determining, components for calculating, components for receiving, components for transmitting, components for indicating, etc. In one embodiment, the processing systems 332, 384, and 394 may include, for example, one or more general-purpose processors, multi-core processors, ASICs, digital signal processors (DSPs), field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), or other programmable logic devices or processing circuits.

[0069] UE 302, base station 304, and network entity 306 each include memory circuitry implementing memory components 340, 386, and 396 (e.g., each includes a memory device) for maintaining information (e.g., information indicating reserved resources, thresholds, parameters, etc.). These memory components 340, 386, and 396 can therefore provide components for storage, retrieval, maintenance, etc. In some cases, UE 302, base station 304, and network entity 306 may each include positioning modules 342, 388, and 398. These positioning modules 342, 388, and 398 may be hardware circuitry, respectively, as part of or coupled to processing systems 332, 384, and 394, which, when executed, enable UE 302, base station 304, and network entity 306 to perform the functions described herein. In other configurations, the positioning modules 342, 388, and 398 may be external to the processing systems 332, 384, and 394 (e.g., part of a modem processing system, integrated with another processing system, etc.). Alternatively, the positioning modules 342, 388, and 398 may be memory modules stored in the memory components 340, 386, and 396, respectively, which, when executed by the processing systems 332, 384, and 394 (or the modem processing system, another processing system, etc.), enable the UE 302, base station 304, and network entity 306 to perform the functions described herein. Figure 3A illustrates the possible locations of the positioning module 342, which may be part of the WWAN transceiver 310, memory component 340, processing system 332, or any combination thereof, or may be a standalone component. Figure 3B shows the possible locations of the positioning module 388, which may be part of the WWAN transceiver 350, memory component 386, processing system 384, or any combination thereof, or may be a standalone component. Figure 3C shows the possible locations of the positioning module 398, which may be part of the network interface 390, memory component 396, processing system 394, or any combination thereof, or may be a standalone component.

[0070] UE 302 may include one or more sensors 344 coupled to the processing system 332 to provide components for sensing or detecting activity and / or orientation information independent of motion data derived from signals received by the WWAN transceiver 310, WLAN transceiver 320, and / or SPS receiver 330. As an example, the sensor 344 may include an accelerometer (e.g., a micro-electrical mechanical systems (MEMS) device), a gyroscope, a geomagnetic sensor (e.g., a compass), an altimeter (e.g., a barometric altimeter), and / or any other type of activity detection sensor. Furthermore, the sensor 344 may include multiple different types of devices and combine their outputs to provide motion information. For example, the sensor 344 may use a combination of a multi-axis accelerometer and an orientation sensor to provide the ability to calculate position in a 2D and / or 3D coordinate system.

[0071] Additionally, UE 302 includes a user interface 346 that provides components for providing instructions to the user (e.g., auditory and / or visual instructions) and / or for receiving user input (e.g., user actions toward sensing devices such as keyboards, touchscreens, microphones, etc.). Although not shown, base station 304 and network entity 306 may also include user interfaces.

[0072] Referring more specifically to processing system 384, in the downlink, IP packets from network entity 306 can be provided to processing system 384. Processing system 384 can implement the functions of the RRC layer, packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) layer, radio link control (RLC) layer, and medium access control (MAC) layer. The processing system 384 can provide RRC layer functions associated with broadcasting system information (e.g., master information block (MIB) and system information blocks (SIB)), RRC connection control (e.g., RRC connection paging, RRC connection establishment, RRC connection modification, and RRC connection release), inter-RAT mobility, and measurement configuration for UE measurement reports; PDCP layer functions associated with header compression / decompression, security (encryption, decryption, integrity protection, integrity verification), and handover support functions; RLC layer functions associated with upper-layer PDU transmission, error correction via automatic repeat request (ARQ), RLC service data unit sequencing, segmentation and reassembly, RLC data PDU resegmentation, and RLC data PDU reordering; and MAC layer functions associated with mapping between logical channels and transport channels, scheduling information reporting, error correction, priority processing, and logical channel priority ordering.

[0073] The transmitter 354 and the receiver 352 can implement Layer 1 (L1) functions associated with various signal processing functions. Layer 1, including the physical (PHY) layer, can include error detection on the transmission channel, forward error correction (FEC) encoding / decoding on the transmission channel, interleaving, rate matching, mapping to the physical channel, modulation / demodulation of the physical channel, and MIMO antenna processing. The transmitter 354 processes the mapping to the signal constellation based on various modulation schemes (e.g., binary phase-shift keying (BPSK), quadrature phase-shift keying (QPSK), M-phase-shift keying (M-PSK), and M-quadrature amplitude modulation (M-QAM)). The encoded and modulated symbols can then be segmented into parallel streams. Each stream can then be mapped to an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) subcarrier, multiplexed with a reference signal (e.g., a pilot) in the time and / or frequency domains, and then combined using an inverse fast Fourier transform (IFFT) to produce a physical channel carrying a time-domain OFDM symbol stream. The OFDM symbol stream is spatially pre-coded to generate multiple spatial streams. The channel estimate from the channel estimator can be used to determine the coding and modulation scheme, as well as for spatial processing. The channel estimate can be derived from the reference signal and / or channel condition feedback transmitted by UE 302. Each spatial stream can then be provided to one or more different antennas 356. The transmitter 354 can then modulate the RF carrier with the corresponding spatial stream for transmission.

[0074] At UE 302, receiver 312 receives signals via its respective antenna 316. Receiver 312 recovers the information modulated onto the RF carrier and provides this information to the processing system 332. Transmitter 314 and receiver 312 implement Layer 1 functions associated with various signal processing functions. Receiver 312 can perform spatial processing on the information to recover any spatial stream destined for UE 302. If multiple spatial streams are destined for UE 302, they can be combined by receiver 312 into a single OFDM symbol stream. Receiver 312 then uses a fast Fourier transform (FFT) to convert the OFDM symbol stream from the time domain to the frequency domain. The frequency domain signal includes a separate OFDM symbol stream for each subcarrier of the OFDM signal. By determining the most probable signal constellation point transmitted by base station 304, the symbols on each subcarrier, as well as the reference signal, can be recovered and demodulated. These soft decisions can be based on channel estimates calculated by a channel estimator. The soft decision is then decoded and deinterleaved to recover the data and control signals originally transmitted by base station 304 on the physical channel. The data and control signals are then provided to processing system 332, which implements Layer 3 (L3) and Layer 2 (L2) functions.

[0075] In the uplink, the processing system 332 provides demultiplexing, packet reassembly, decryption, header decompression, and control signal processing between the transport and logical channels to recover IP packets from the core network. The processing system 332 is also responsible for error detection.

[0076] Similar to the functions described in conjunction with downlink transmissions by base station 304, processing system 332 provides RRC layer functions associated with system information (e.g., MIB, SIB) acquisition, RRC connection, and measurement reporting; PDCP layer functions associated with header compression / decompression and security (encryption, decryption, integrity protection, integrity verification); RLC layer functions associated with upper-layer PDU transmission, error correction via ARQ, RLC SDU reordering, segmentation and reassembly, RLC data PDU resegmentation, and RLC data PDU reordering; and MAC layer functions associated with mapping between logical channels and transport channels, multiplexing MAC SDUs to transport blocks (TBs), demultiplexing MAC SDUs from TBs, scheduling information reporting, error correction via HARQ (Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request), priority processing, and logical channel priority ordering.

[0077] The channel estimate derived by the channel estimator from the reference signal or feedback transmitted by the base station 304 can be used by the transmitter 314 to select appropriate coding and modulation schemes and facilitate spatial processing. The spatial stream generated by the transmitter 314 can be provided to different antennas 316. The transmitter 314 can then use the corresponding spatial stream to modulate the RF carrier for transmission.

[0078] Uplink transmissions are processed at base station 304 in a manner similar to that described in conjunction with the receiver function at UE 302. Receiver 352 receives signals via its respective antenna 356. Receiver 352 recovers the information modulated onto the RF carrier and provides this information to processing system 384.

[0079] In the uplink, the processing system 384 provides demultiplexing, packet reassembly, decryption, header decompression, and control signal processing between the transport and logical channels to recover IP packets from the UE 302. IP packets from the processing system 384 can be provided to the core network. The processing system 384 is also responsible for error detection.

[0080] For convenience, Figures 3A-C illustrate UE 302, base station 304, and / or network entity 306, including various components that can be configured according to the various examples described herein. However, it will be understood that the blocks shown may have different functions in different designs.

[0081] The various components of UE 302, base station 304, and network entity 306 can communicate with each other via data buses 334, 382, ​​and 392, respectively. The components of Figures 3A-C can be implemented in various ways. In some embodiments, the components shown in Figures 3A-C can be implemented in one or more circuits, such as, for example, one or more processors and / or one or more ASICs (which may include one or more processors). Here, each circuit may use and / or incorporate at least one memory component for storing information or executable code used by the circuit to provide that function. For example, some or all of the functions represented by blocks 310-346 can be implemented by the processor and memory components of UE 302 (e.g., by the execution of appropriate code and / or by the appropriate configuration of the processor components). Similarly, some or all of the functions represented by blocks 350-388 can be implemented by the processor and memory components of base station 304 (e.g., by the execution of appropriate code and / or by the appropriate configuration of the processor components). Furthermore, some or all of the functions represented by blocks 390 to 398 can be implemented by the processor and memory components of network entity 306 (e.g., by executing appropriate code and / or by appropriate configuration of the processor components). For simplicity, various operations, actions, and / or functions are described herein as being performed "by the UE," "by the base station," "by the network entity," etc. However, as will be understood, such operations, actions, and / or functions can actually be performed by specific components or combinations of components of UE 302, base station 304, network entity 306, etc., such as processing systems 332, 384, and 394, transceivers 310, 320, 350, and 360, memory components 340, 386, and 396, positioning modules 342, 388, and 398, etc.

[0082] Various frame structures can be used to support downlink and uplink transmission between network nodes (e.g., base stations and UEs). Figure 4A is Figure 400, illustrating an example of a downlink frame structure according to the present disclosure. Figure 4B is Figure 430, illustrating an example of a channel within a downlink frame structure according to the present disclosure. Figure 4C is Figure 450, illustrating an example of an uplink frame structure according to the present disclosure. Figure 4D is Figure 470, illustrating an example of a channel within an uplink frame structure according to the present disclosure. Other wireless communication technologies may have different frame structures and / or different channels.

[0083] Figure 4A is Figure 400 illustrating an example of a downlink frame structure according to various embodiments of this disclosure. LTE (and in some cases NR) utilizes OFDM in the downlink and single-carrier frequency division multiplexing (SC-FDM) in the uplink. However, unlike LTE, NR can also optionally use OFDM in the uplink. OFDM and SC-FDM divide the system bandwidth into multiple (K) orthogonal subcarriers, which are often referred to as tones, bins, etc. Each subcarrier can be modulated with data. Typically, modulation symbols are transmitted in the frequency domain using OFDM and in the time domain using SC-FDM. The spacing between adjacent subcarriers can be fixed, and the total number of subcarriers (K) can depend on the system bandwidth. For example, the subcarrier spacing can be 15 kHz, and the minimum resource allocation (resource block) can be 12 subcarriers (or 180 kHz). Therefore, for system bandwidths of 1.25, 2.5, 5, 10, or 20 MHz, the nominal FFT size is equal to 128, 256, 512, 1024, or 2048, respectively. The system bandwidth can also be divided into subbands. For example, a subband can cover 1.08 MHz (i.e., 6 resource blocks), and for system bandwidths of 1.25, 2.5, 5, 10, or 20 MHz, there can be 1, 2, 4, 8, or 16 subbands, respectively.

[0084] LTE supports a single set of parameters (subcarrier spacing (SCS), symbol length, etc.). In contrast, NR can support multiple sets of parameters (µ), for example, subcarrier spacings of 15kHz (µ=0), 30kHz (µ=1), 60kHz (µ=2), 120kHz (µ=3), and 240kHz (µ=4) or higher may be available. Within each subcarrier spacing, there are 14 symbols per time slot. For a 15kHz SCS (µ=0), there is one time slot per subframe, 10 time slots per frame, a time slot duration of 1 millisecond (ms), a symbol duration of 66.7 microseconds (µs), and a maximum nominal system bandwidth (in MHz) of 50 with a 4K FFT size. For a 30 kHz SCS (µ=1), there are 2 time slots per subframe, 20 time slots per frame, a time slot duration of 0.5 ms, a symbol duration of 33.3 µs, and a maximum nominal system bandwidth (in MHz) of 100, which is the size of a 4K FFT. For a 60 kHz SCS (µ=2), there are 4 time slots per subframe, 40 time slots per frame, a time slot duration of 0.25 ms, a symbol duration of 16.7 µs, and a maximum nominal system bandwidth (in MHz) of 200, which is the size of a 4K FFT. For a 120 kHz SCS (µ=3), there are 8 time slots per subframe, 80 time slots per frame, a time slot duration of 0.125 ms, a symbol duration of 8.33 µs, and a maximum nominal system bandwidth (in MHz) of 400, which is the size of a 4K FFT. For a 240 kHz SCS (µ=4), there are 16 time slots per subframe, 160 time slots per frame, a time slot duration of 0.0625 ms, a symbol duration of 4.17 µs, and a maximum nominal system bandwidth (in MHz) of 800 with a 4K FFT size.

[0085] In the examples in Figures 4A to 4D, a parameter set of 15 kHz was used. Therefore, in the time domain, a 10 ms frame was divided into 10 subframes of equal size, each subframe being 1 ms, and each subframe comprising one time slot. In Figures 4A to 4D, time is represented horizontally (on the X-axis) increasing from left to right, while frequency is represented vertically (on the Y-axis) increasing (or decreasing) from bottom to top.

[0086] A resource grid can be used to represent multiple time slots, each of which includes one or more concurrent time resource blocks (RBs) (also known as "physical RBs" (PRBs) in the frequency domain). The resource grid is also divided into multiple resource elements (REs). One RE can correspond to one symbol length in the time domain and one subcarrier in the frequency domain. In the parameter sets of Figures 4A to 4D, for a normal cyclic prefix, an RB can contain 12 consecutive subcarriers in the frequency domain and seven consecutive symbols in the time domain, for a total of 84 REs. For an extended cyclic prefix, an RB can contain 12 consecutive subcarriers in the frequency domain and six consecutive symbols in the time domain, for a total of 72 REs. The number of bits carried by each RE depends on the modulation scheme.

[0087] Some REs carry downlink reference (pilot) signals (DL-RS). DL-RS can include PRS, TRS, PTRS, CRS, CSI-RS, DMRS, PSS, SSS, SSB, etc. Figure 4A shows an example location of an RE carrying a PRS (labeled "R").

[0088] The set of resource elements (REs) used to transmit PRS is called a "PRS resource". The set of resource elements can span multiple PRBs in the frequency domain and 'N' (such as one or more) consecutive symbols in a time slot in the time domain. In a given OFDM symbol in the time domain, the PRS resource occupies a consecutive PRB in the frequency domain.

[0089] The transmission of PRS resources within a given PRB has a specific comb tooth size (also known as "comb tooth density"). The comb tooth size 'N' represents the subcarrier spacing (or frequency / frequency modulation spacing) within each symbol of the PRS resource configuration. Specifically, for a comb tooth size 'N', the PRS is transmitted in every N subcarriers of a symbol in the PRB. For example, for comb tooth-4, for each symbol of the PRS resource configuration, every four subcarriers corresponding to REs (such as subcarriers 0, 4, and 8) are used to transmit the PRS resource. Currently, DL-PRS supports comb tooth sizes of comb tooth-2, comb tooth-4, comb tooth-6, and comb tooth-12. Figure 4A shows an example PRS resource configuration for comb tooth-6 (which spans six symbols). That is, the position of the shaded REs (labeled "R") indicates the comb tooth-6 PRS resource configuration.

[0090] Currently, DL-PRS resources can span 2, 4, 6, or 12 consecutive symbols within a time slot, with a fully frequency-domain interleaved mode. DL-PRS resources can be configured in flexible (FL) symbols of downlinks or time slots in any higher-layer configuration. For all REs of a given DL-PRS resource, there may be a constant energy per resource element (EPRE). The following are the inter-symbol frequency offsets for comb sizes 2, 4, 6, and 12 across 2, 4, 6, and 12 symbols. 2-symbol comb teeth-2: {0,1}; 4-symbol comb teeth-2: {0,1,0,1}; 6-symbol comb teeth-2: {0,1,0,1,0,1}; 12-symbol comb teeth-2: {0,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,1}; 4-symbol comb teeth-4: {0,2,1,3}; 12-symbol comb teeth-4: {0,2,1,3,0,2,1,3,0,2,1,3}; 6-symbol comb teeth-6: {0,3,1,4,2,5}; 12-symbol comb teeth-6: {0,3,1,4,2,5,0,3,1,4,2,5}; 12-symbol comb teeth-12: {0,6,3,9,1,7,4,10,2,8,5,11}.

[0091] A "PRS resource set" is a collection of PRS resources used for PRS signal transmission, where each PRS resource has a PRS resource ID. Furthermore, PRS resources within a PRS resource set are associated with the same Time Retention Port (TRP). A PRS resource set is identified by its PRS resource set ID and can be associated with a specific TRP (identified by its TRP ID). Additionally, PRS resources within a PRS resource set share the same periodicity, a common silent mode configuration, and the same repetition factor (such as "PRS-ResourceRepetitionFactor") across time slots. Periodicity refers to the time from the first repetition of the first PRS resource in the first PRS instance to the same first repetition of the same first PRS resource in the next PRS instance. The periodicity can have a length selected from 2^µ*{4, 5, 8, 10, 16, 20, 32, 40, 64, 80, 160, 320, 640, 1280, 2560, 5120, 10240} time slots, where µ = 0, 1, 2, 3. The repetition factor can have a length selected from {1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 16, 32} time slots.

[0092] In a PRS resource set, a PRS resource ID is associated with a single beam (or beam ID) transmitted from a single TRP (where a TRP can transmit one or more beams). That is, each PRS resource in a PRS resource set can be transmitted on a different beam, and thus, an "RS resource," or simply a "resource," can also be referred to as a "beam." Note that this does not affect whether the TRP and the beam on which the PRS is transmitted are known to the UE.

[0093] A “PRS instance” or “PRS occasion” is an instance of a periodically repeating time window (such as a group of one or more consecutive time slots) for the expected transmission of a PRS. A PRS occasion may also be referred to as a “PRS location occasion”, “PRS location instance”, “location occasion”, “location instance”, “location repetition”, or simply “occurrence”, “instance”, or “repetition”.

[0094] A “positioning frequency layer” (also simply “frequency layer”) is a collection of one or more PRS resource sets spanning one or more TRPs, where these TRPs share the same values ​​for certain parameters. Specifically, the collection of PRS resource sets has the same subcarrier spacing and cyclic prefix (CP) type (meaning the PRS also supports all parameter sets supported by PDSCH), the same point A, the same downlink PRS bandwidth value, the same starting PRB (and center frequency), and the same comb size. The point A parameter is taken from the parameter “ARFCN-ValueNR” (where “ARFCN” stands for “Absolute Radio Channel Number”), an identifier / code that specifies a pair of physical radio channels used for transmission and reception. The downlink PRS bandwidth can have a granularity of 4 PRBs, a minimum of 24 PRBs, and a maximum of 272 PRBs. Currently, a maximum of four frequency layers are defined, and each TRP within each frequency layer can be configured with a maximum of two PRS resource sets.

[0095] The concept of a frequency layer is somewhat similar to that of component carriers and bandwidth parts (BWPs), but the difference is that component carriers and BWPs are used by a single base station (or a megacell or smallcell base station) to transmit data channels, while a frequency layer is used by several (usually three or more) base stations to transmit PRS (Personal Signals). When a UE communicates its positioning capabilities to the network, such as during an LTE positioning protocol (LPP) session, the UE can indicate the number of frequency layers it can support. For example, the UE can indicate whether it can support one or four positioning frequency layers.

[0096] Figure 4B is Figure 430 illustrating an example of a channel within a downlink frame structure according to various configurations disclosed herein. Figure 4B shows examples of various channels within a downlink time slot of a radio frame. In NR, the channel bandwidth, or system bandwidth, is divided into multiple BWPs. A BWP is a set of consecutive PRBs selected from a consecutive subset of common RBs with a given set of parameters on a given carrier. Generally, a maximum of four BWPs can be specified for both the downlink and uplink. That is, a UE can configure a maximum of four BWPs on the downlink and a maximum of four BWPs on the uplink. At any given time, only one BWP (uplink or downlink) may be active, meaning that the UE can only receive or transmit through one BWP at a time. On the downlink, the bandwidth of each BWP should be equal to or greater than the bandwidth of the SSB, but it may or may not include the SSB.

[0097] Referring to Figure 4B, the UE uses the Primary Synchronization Signal (PSS) to determine subframe / symbol timing and physical layer identification. The UE uses the Secondary Synchronization Signal (SSS) to determine the physical layer cell identification group number and radio frame timing. Based on the physical layer identification and physical layer cell identification group number, the UE can determine the PCI. Based on this PCI, the UE can determine the location of the aforementioned DL-RS. The physical broadcast channel (PBCH) carrying the MIB can be logically packetized with the PSS and SSS to form an SSB (also known as SS / PBCH). The MIB provides many RBs in the downlink system bandwidth and system frame number (SFN). The physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) carries user data and broadcast system information not transmitted via the PBCH, such as System Information Blocks (SIBs) and paging messages.

[0098] The physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) carries downlink control information (DCI) within one or more control channel elements (CCEs). Each CCE includes one or more RE group (REG) bundles (potentially spanning multiple symbols in the time domain). Each REG bundle contains one or more REGs, and each REG corresponds to 12 resource elements (one resource block) in the frequency domain and one OFDM symbol in the time domain. The physical resource set used to carry the PDCCH / DCI is called a control resource set (CORESET) in NR. In NR, the PDCCH is restricted to a single CORESET and transmitted along with its own DMRS. This enables UE-specific beamforming for the PDCCH.

[0099] In the example of Figure 4B, each BWP has a CORESET, and the CORESET spans three symbols in the time domain (although it may only have one or two symbols). Unlike the LTE control channel, which occupies the entire system bandwidth, in NR, the PDCCH channel is located in a specific region (i.e., the CORESET) in the frequency domain. Therefore, the frequency components of the PDCCH shown in Figure 4B are depicted as spanning fewer than a single BWP in the frequency domain. Note that although the CORESET shown is continuous in the frequency domain, it does not have to be. Furthermore, the CORESET may span fewer than three symbols in the time domain.

[0100] The DCI within the PDCCH carries information about uplink resource allocation (permanent and non-permanent) and a description of downlink data to be sent to the UE, referred to as uplink and downlink grants, respectively. More specifically, the DCI indicates resources scheduled for downlink data channels (e.g., PDSCH) and uplink data channels (e.g., PUSCH). Multiple (e.g., up to 8) DCIs can be configured in the PDCCH, and these DCIs can have one of several formats. For example, uplink scheduling, downlink scheduling, and uplink transmit power control (TPC) have different DCI formats. The PDCCH can be transmitted by 1, 2, 4, 8, or 16 CCEs to accommodate different DCI payload sizes or write rates.

[0101] Figure 4C is Figure 450 illustrating an example of an uplink frame structure according to various configurations disclosed herein. As shown in Figure 4C, some REs (labeled "R") carry DMRS for channel estimation at the receiver (e.g., base station, another UE, etc.). The UE may additionally transmit SRS in, for example, the last symbol of a time slot. The SRS may have a comb structure, and the UE may transmit the SRS on one of the comb teeth. In the example of Figure 4C, the SRS shown is a comb tooth-2 on one symbol. The base station can use the SRS to obtain Channel State Information (CSI) for each UE. The CSI describes how the RF signal propagates from the UE to the base station and represents the combined effects of scattering, fading, and power attenuation with distance. The system uses the SRS for resource scheduling, link adaptation, massive MIMO, beam management, etc.

[0102] Currently, SRS resources can span 1, 2, 4, 8, or 12 consecutive symbols within a time slot, with comb tooth sizes of comb-2, comb-4, or comb-8. The following are the symbol-to-symbol frequency offsets for the currently supported SRS comb tooth patterns. 1-Symbol comb tooth-2: {0}; 2-Symbol comb tooth-2: {0,1}; 4-Symbol comb tooth-2: {0,1,0,1}; 4-Symbol comb tooth-4: {0,2,1,3}; 8-Symbol comb tooth-4: {0,2,1,3,0,2,1,3}; 12-Symbol comb tooth-4: {0,2,1,3,0,2,1,3,0,2,1,3}; 4-Symbol comb tooth-8: {0,4,2,6}; 8-Symbol comb tooth-8: {0,4,2,6,1,5,3,7}; 12-Symbol comb tooth-8: {0,4,2,6,1,5,3,7,0,4,2,6}.

[0103] The set of resource elements used for transmitting SRS is called an "SRS resource" and can be identified by the parameter "SRS-ResourceId". The set of resource elements can span multiple PRBs in the frequency domain and N (e.g., one or more) consecutive symbols within a time slot in the time domain. In a given OFDM symbol, SRS resources occupy consecutive PRBs. An "SRS resource set" is the set of SRS resources used for SRS signal transmission and is identified by the SRS resource set ID ("SRS-ResourceSetId").

[0104] Typically, the UE transmits the SRS to enable the receiving base station (serving base station or neighboring base station) to measure the channel quality between the UE and the base station. However, the SRS can also be used as an uplink positioning reference signal in uplink positioning procedures such as UL-TDOA, multi-RTT, and DL-AoA.

[0105] Several enhancements to the previously defined SRS (also known as "UL-PRS") for positioning are proposed, such as new interleaving patterns in SRS resources (except for single-symbol / comb-2), new comb-type SRS, new SRS sequences, a larger set of SRS resources per component carrier, and a larger number of SRS resources per component carrier. Furthermore, the parameters "SpatialRelationInfo" and "PathLossReference" will be configured based on the downlink reference signal or SSB from the adjacent TRP. Additionally, an SRS resource can be transmitted outside the active BWP, and an SRS resource can span multiple component carriers. Furthermore, the SRS can be configured for RRC connected state and transmitted only within the active BWP. Furthermore, there may be no frequency hopping, no repetition factor, a single antenna port, and new SRS lengths (e.g., 8 and 12 symbols). Open-loop power control can also be used instead of closed-loop power control, and comb-8 (i.e., one SRS transmitted every eight subcarriers in the same symbol) can be used. Finally, the UE can transmit from multiple SRS resources for UL-AoA using the same transmit beam. All of these are additional features of the current SRS framework, which is configured via RRC high-level messaging (and may be triggered or started via MAC control element (CE) or DCI).

[0106] Figure 4D is Figure 470 illustrating examples of channels within the uplink frame structure of various types according to the present disclosure. Figure 4D illustrates examples of various channels within the uplink time slots of frames of various types according to the present disclosure. A random-access channel (RACH), also known as a physical random-access channel (PRACH), can be configured within one or more time slots within a frame based on the PRACH. A PRACH can include six consecutive RB pairs within a time slot. The PRACH allows the UE to perform initial system access and achieve uplink synchronization. A physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) can be located at the edge of the uplink system bandwidth. This PUCCH carries uplink control information (UCI), such as scheduling requests, CSI reports, channel quality indicators (CQI), precoding matrix indicators (PMI), rank indicators (RI), and HARQ ACK / NACK feedback. The physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH) of this entity carries data and can be additionally used to carry buffer status report (BSR), power headroom report (PHR), and / or UCI.

[0107] Note that the terms “location reference signal” and “PRS” generally refer to specific reference signals used for positioning in NR and LTE systems. However, as used herein, the terms “location reference signal” and “PRS” can also refer to any type of reference signal that can be used for positioning, such as, but not limited to, PRS, TRS, PTRS, CRS, CSI-RS, DMRS, PSS, SSS, SSB, SRS, UL-PRS, etc., as defined in LTE and NR. Furthermore, unless otherwise stated, the terms “location reference signal” and “PRS” can refer to downlink or uplink positioning reference signals as indicated by the context. If further differentiation of the type of PRS is required, downlink positioning reference signals can be referred to as “DL-PRS”, and uplink positioning reference signals (such as SRS, PTRS used for positioning) can be referred to as “UL-PRS”. Additionally, for signals that can be transmitted in both the uplink and downlink (e.g., DMRS, PTRS), “UL” or “DL” can be added before the signal to distinguish the direction. For example, “UL-DMRS” can be distinguished from “DL-DMRS”.

[0108] Figures 5A, 5B, and 5C illustrate various modes of DL PRS resources within a time slot. Figure 5A shows the "comb-2, 6-symbol" mode with DL-PRS-ResourceSymbolOffset=4, and Figure 5B shows the "comb-6, 12-symbol" mode with DL-PRS-ResourceSymbolOffset=6. Figure 5C illustrates various other allowed modes, where "comb-N" indicates that the mode in any symbol is repeated once for every N frequency bands, "M symbols" indicates that the mode spans M consecutive symbols within the time slot, and DL-PRS-ResourceSymbolOffset refers to the number of symbols transmitted in the time slot before the PRS resource is transmitted according to the mode. In 5G, DL-PRS resources span 2, 4, 6, or 12 consecutive symbols within time slots, with a fully frequency-domain interleaved mode. This DL-PRS resource can be configured in any higher-layer configured DL or time slot pre-loaded (FL) symbol. For all REs of a given DLPRS resource, there exists a constant energy per resource element (EPRE). The table below lists some permitted DLPRS resource patterns within a time slot. Table 1 2 symbols 4 symbols 6 symbols 12 symbols Comb-2 {0,1} {0,1,0,1} {0,1,0,1,0,1} {0,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,1} Comb teeth - 4 NA {0,2,1,3} NA {0,2,1,3,0,2,1,3,0,2,1,3} Comb teeth - 6 NA NA {0,3,1,4,2,5} {0,3,1,4,2,5,0,3,1,4,2,5} Comb teeth - 12 NA NA NA {0,6,3,9,1,7,4,10,2,8,5,11}

[0109] Figures 6A and 6B illustrate examples of DL PRS resource repetition and beam scanning options. Because a beam scanning is being used for other reasons or by a combining transmitter and it is desired to transmit at least one DL PRS in each beam, DL PRS resource transmissions can be repeated multiple times, for example, to combine gains to extend coverage. The PRS-ResourceRepetitionFactor parameter defines the number of times each PRS resource is repeated for a single instance of the PRS resource set. Typical values ​​for PRS-ResourceRepetitionFactor are 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 16, and 31. The PRS-ResourceTimeGap parameter indicates the offset (in timeslots) between two repeated instances of DL PRS resources corresponding to the same PRS resource ID within a single instance of the DL PRS resource set. Typical values ​​for PRS-ResourceTimeGap are 1, 2, 4, 8, 16, and 32. Figure 6A shows the results when PRS-ResourceRepetitionFactor=4 and PRS-ResourceTimeGap=1. Figure 6B shows the results when PRS-ResourceRepetitionFactor=4 and PRS-ResourceTimeGap=4. The duration spanned by a DL PRS resource set containing repeating DL PRS resources should not exceed the PRS-periodicity. Depending on the UE implementation, the UE may or may not support RX beam scanning.

[0110] Figures 7A, 7B, and 7C illustrate examples of TRP-based PRS silencing options. In Figures 7A and 7B, the first TRP (TRP1) and the second TRP (TRP2) both send DL PRS using a comb-2, 2-symbol format, interleaved with each other. Similarly, the third TRP (TRP3) and the fourth TRP (TRP4) both send DL PRS using a comb-2, 2-symbol format, interleaved with each other. In the examples of Figures 7A and 7B, TRP1 through TRP4 also use the same symbol offset. The examples shown in Figures 7A and 7B illustrate two PRS timings, and each PRS timing includes two repetitions; however, the same concepts described herein can be applied to PRS configurations with other numbers of timings, repetitions, or both.

[0111] Figure 7A illustrates the PRS silence at each timing point. The dot plot indicates during which the DL PRS transmission should be in the active state (“1”) or silent state (“0”). For TRP1 and TRP2, the dot plot value is {1,0}, indicating that the PRS transmission is in the active state during both repetitions within the first timing point and in the silent state during both repetitions within the second timing point. For TRP3 and TRP4, the dot plot value is {0,1}, indicating that the PRS transmission is in the silent state during both repetitions within the first timing point and in the active state during both repetitions within the second timing point.

[0112] Figure 7B illustrates the PRS silence during each repetition. The dot plot indicates during which the DL PRS transmission should be in an active state (“1”) or a silent state (“0”). For TRP1 and TRP2, the dot plot value is {1,0}, indicating that the PRS transmission is active during the first repetition of each timing and silent during the second repetition of each timing. For TRP3 and TRP4, the dot plot value is {0,1}, indicating that the PRS transmission is silent during the first repetition of each timing and active during the second repetition of each timing.

[0113] Figure 7C illustrates per-timing and per-repetition PRS silence. The timing dot plot indicates the timing when DL PRS transmission should be in an active state (“1”) or a silent state (“0”), and the repetition dot plot indicates during the repetition when DL PRS transmission should be in an active state (“1”) or a silent state (“0”). As shown in Figure 7C, DL PRS transmission is initiated only when both the timing dot plot and the repetition dot plot contain an active indication. Using the example dot plot shown in Figure 7C, where the timing dot plot value is {0,1} and the repetition dot plot value is {0,0,1,0}, DL PRS is initiated only during the third repetition within the second timing. Figure 7C shows a PRS configuration with PRS-ResourceTimeGap=1 (e.g., as shown in Figure 6A), but the same principle applies to PRS configurations with PRS-ResourceTimeGap values ​​other than 1 (e.g., as shown in Figure 6B).

[0114] Figure 8 illustrates a system 800 for time and frequency resource-level silencing of a reconfigurable smart surface (RIS) 802, according to several configurations. A RIS is an artificial structure with engineered electromagnetic (EM) properties that can acquire wireless signals from a transmitter and passively beam them to a desired receiver. The RIS can be configured to reflect shock waves in a desired direction. In the example shown in Figure 8, the first BS 102a controls the RIS 802, but the second BS 102b does not control the RIS 802. Enhancements to system 800 can provide technical advantages in many scenarios.

[0115] For example, in Figure 8, the first BS 102a is attempting to communicate with the first UE 104a behind an obstacle 804 (e.g., a building, hill, or other obstacle), and therefore cannot receive what should be the LOS beam, i.e., transmit beam 2, from the first BS 102a. In this scenario, the first BS 102a can instead use transmit beam 1 to guide the signal to the RIS 802, which is configured to reflect the incoming transmit beam 1 back to the first UE 104a and bypass the obstacle 804. It should be noted that the first BS 102a can configure the RIS 802 for use by the UE in the UL, for example, so that the first UE 104a can use the RIS 802 to bounce the UL signal back to the first BS 102a, thereby bypassing the obstacle 804.

[0116] In another scenario, the first BS 102a may be aware of obstacles, such as obstacle 804 in Figure 8, which may create blind spots. These blind spots are geographical areas where signals from BS 102a are attenuated, making them difficult for the UE to detect. In this scenario, BS 102a can bounce the signal from RIS 802 into the blind spot to provide coverage for any devices that may be present, including those not currently detected by BS 102a.

[0117] Another scenario where System 800 offers a technological advantage is in scenarios involving low-level (e.g., low-power, low-bandwidth, low-antenna-count, low-baseband-processing-capability) UEs, such as “NR light” or “NR RedCap” UEs, which may be unable to hear or detect PRS transmitted from non-serving gNBs, especially for gNBs located far from the UE. Similarly, the SRS measurement of SRS from low-level UEs by non-serving gNBs may be poor. In some cases, the same problem may exist for UEs that are not low-level UEs. Regardless of the reason, when a UE cannot detect a sufficient number of location signals from different TRPs, the use of RIS 802 can provide one or more additional location signals from a single TRP. When multiple location signals are provided by the same TRP, the network synchronization error problem between TRPs becomes irrelevant, and the barrier to high-precision positioning is avoided. An example of this specific scenario is shown in Figure 8.

[0118] Figure 9 illustrates a system 900 for time and frequency resource-level silencing of RIS according to some patterns. The top of Figure 9 shows the geographical locations of the entities involved in the example scenario, and the bottom of Figure 9 shows the timing of signal transmission and reflection in this example scenario.

[0119] In Figure 9, the serving gNB (SgNB) or other type of serving base station sends a set of location reference signals to the target UE. The first PRS 902 points to the first RIS (RIS1), the second PRS 904 points to the second RIS (RIS2), and the third PRS 906 points to the target UE. Referring now to the bottom of Figure 9, the third PRS 906 arrives at the UE first at time ToA (SgNB). The first PRS 902 arrives at RIS1 at time Tprop (SgN→RIS1), and RIS1 sends a reflected PRS signal 908, which arrives at the UE at time ToA (RIS1). The second PRS 904 arrives at RIS2 at time Tprop (SgN→RIS2), and RIS2 sends a reflected PRS signal 910, which arrives at the UE at time ToA (RIS2). The UE measures the arrival time (Rx) of each of the PRS signals 906, 908, and 910. The UE is provided with a pair of PRS transmissions and a PRS real time difference (PRTD).

[0120] RSTD is the difference between the time a reference signal arrives at the UE and the time another reference signal arrives at the UE. Therefore, RSTD is the difference between a reference ToA and another reference ToA.

[0121] In the example shown in Figure 9, the UE can calculate the value of ToA (=Rx-Tx) for each of the third PRS 906, the reflected PRS signal 908, and the reflected PRS signal 910, namely ToA(SgNB), ToA(RIS1), and ToA(RIS2), as well as the RSTD value for each pair. For example, the UE can use the following equation to calculate the RSTD between SgNB and RIS1: RSTD(SgNB,RIS1) = ToA(SgNB)–ToA(RIS1) =(Rx(SgNB)–Tx(SgNB))–((Rx(RIS1)–Tx(RIS1)) = Rx(SgNB)–Rx(RIS1)–PRTD+Tprop(SgNB→RIS1) in, Rx(SgNB) is the time when the UE receives PRS 906. Rx(RIS1) is the time when the UE receives PRS 908. PRTD is the transmission time offset between PRS 906 and PRS 908, and Tprop(SgNB→RIS1) is the time when PRS 902 arrives at RIS1. Note that the transmission time for each PRS is not required. In this example, the equation will calculate the difference between the time taken for PRS 906 to travel from SgNB to UE and the time taken for PRS 908 to travel from RIS1 to UE.

[0122] For UE-assisted positioning, the UE may report RSTD but not PRTD, and the network will calculate the UE's location based on PRTD data known to the network but unknown to the UE. However, for the UE to perform UE-based positioning (the opposite of UE-assisted positioning), RSTD calculation requires knowledge of the PRTD value. In some cases, the PRTD value is communicated to the UE via auxiliary data provided by the location server. In some cases, the UE can use the received PRTD value as the "expected RSTD," which informs the UE where it should search for the PRS. In some cases, a "PRTD uncertainty" value can be provided to the UE, which the UE can use to help select its PRS search window. In some cases, Tprop (SgNB→RIS1) can be estimated using Radio Access Technology (RAT) methods (e.g., NR-based positioning) or RAT-independent methods (e.g., high-precision PRS or other hybrid positioning methods).

[0123] In some cases, the UE can know the geographical locations of RIS1 and RIS2. In this case, the UE can estimate its own location using the RSTD values ​​of the SgNB, RIS1, and RIS2 pairs through triangulation techniques.

[0124] In the example shown in Figure 9, the SgNB may have configured RIS1 to reflect incoming PRS signals 902 in the intended direction, for example, via link 912 between the SgNB and RIS1. In some cases, it may not be necessary to configure RIS1 for this purpose, for example, because RIS1 is already properly configured to reflect incoming PRS signals in the intended direction, because RIS1 cannot be configured by the SgNB but provides a suitable reflected signal anyway, or because RIS1 is configured by an entity other than the SgNB. The same may be true for RIS2, for example, via link 914 between the SgNB and RIS2. The intended direction of the reflected signal can be chosen for various reasons, such as sending a signal to a target UE at a known location, sending a signal to a target area (e.g., the LOS signal from the SgNB is blocked by a known obstacle) regardless of whether the target UE is in that area, other reasons, or some combination thereof. The SgNB may not know the location of the target UE and may not know if any UE is in the target area. The SgNB relies on the UE to measure the RIS reflected signal.

[0125] The signal received by the RIS from the serving base station can be omnidirectional or beamformed, and the reflected beam generated by the RIS can also be omnidirectional or beamformed in nature. When the RIS receives a signal from the serving base station, it may generate a reflected signal that is wider, narrower, or the same width in the transmission profile. For example, the SgNB may send a narrow-beamformed PRS to the RIS1, and the RIS1 may reflect a more widely dispersed signal to the UE, such as when the UE's location is not precisely known. Similarly, the RIS1 may reflect a more concentrated signal to the target UE, such as when the UE's location has been estimated with some confidence and a narrower beam will provide a better signal-to-noise ratio to the target UE.

[0126] In some scenarios, the SgNB can dynamically control the behavior of the RIS under its control while transmitting multiple PRS signals. In the scenario shown in Figure 9, for example, the SgNB can control RIS2 to disable it when the SgNB transmits PRS signal 902 to RIS1, control RIS1 to disable it when the SgNB transmits PRS signal 904 to RIS2, and control both RIS1 and RIS2 so that both are disabled when the SgNB directly transmits PRS signal 906 to the UE. In this way, the SgNB can reduce or eliminate the possibility that the target UE will receive a reflection from the RIS when reflection is not required, for example, ensuring that PRS signal 906 is not reflected from RIS1 or RIS2 and reaches the target UE. Note that the transmission order of the PRS signals is illustrative rather than restrictive: for example, in some scenarios, the SgNB can transmit PRS first to the target UE, then to RIS2, then to RIS1, or in any other order. It should also be noted that although Figure 9 shows an example using two RISs, the same concept can be applied to any number of RISs greater than zero.

[0127] Figures 10A, 10B, and 10C illustrate examples of time and frequency resource-level silencing of RIS according to some patterns. In Figures 10A and 10B, both the first TRP (TRP1) and the second TRP (TRP2) send DL PRS using a comb-2, 2-symbol format, interleaved with each other, and the RIS (e.g., RIS 802 in Figure 8) is available in the network. In the examples shown in Figures 10A and 10B, two PRS timings are illustrated, and each PRS timing includes two repetitions; however, the same concepts described herein can be applied to PRS configurations with other numbers of timings, repetitions, or both.

[0128] Figure 10A illustrates time and frequency resource-level silence according to a given pattern. In the pattern shown in Figure 10A, the PRS dot plot indicates during which DL PRS transmission should be in an active state (“1”) or a silent state (“0”). For TRP1 and TRP2, the dot plot value is {1,0}, indicating that the PRS transmission is active during both repetitions within the first pattern and silent during both repetitions within the second pattern. The RIS dot plot indicates during which RIS should be on (“1”) or off (“0”) of an active DL PRS transmission. For RIS, the dot plot value is {1,0}, indicating that RIS is on (activated) during the first active PRS transmission – in this example, the first PRS repetition of the first PRS pattern – and off (not activated or disabled) for the second active PRS transmission – in this example, the second PRS repetition of the first PRS pattern. In the example shown in Figure 10A, the state of the RIS is determined by performing a logical AND operation between the PRS dot plot and the RIS dot plot. Since PRS transmissions are muted during all PRS repetitions in the second PRS timing, the RIS is also off during all PRS repetitions in the second PRS timing. In another state, the RIS dot plot identifies PRS repetitions during which the RIS is on or off, regardless of the PRS timing. In this state, the RIS can be on during the first PRS repetition of the second PRS timing, but since the PRS signal is muted, there is no PRS signal for the RIS to reflect.

[0129] Figure 10B illustrates time and frequency resource-level silence according to another pattern. In the pattern shown in Figure 10B, the PRS dot plot indicates during which DL PRS transmission should be in an active state (“1”) or a silent state (“0”). For TRP1 and TRP2, the dot plot value is {1,0}, indicating that the PRS transmission is active during the first repetition of each timing and silent during the second repetition of each timing. The RIS dot plot indicates during which DL PRS transmission should RIS be on (“1”) or off (“0”). For RIS, the dot plot value is {0,1}, indicating that RIS is off during the first active PRS transmission—in this example, the second PRS repetition of the first PRS timing—and off for the second active PRS transmission—in this example, the second PRS repetition of the second PRS timing. In the example shown in Figure 10B, the state of the RIS is determined by performing a logical AND operation between the PRS dot plot and the RIS dot plot. Since PRS transmission is muted during the first PRS repetition of all PRS times, the RIS is also off during all PRS repetitions of all PRS times. In another state, the RIS dot plot identifies the PRS repetitions during which the RIS is on or off, regardless of the PRS time. In this state, the RIS can be on during the second PRS repetition of the second PRS time, but since the PRS signal is muted, there is no PRS signal for the RIS to reflect.

[0130] Figure 10C illustrates a PRS-based RIS silence according to another configuration. In the configuration shown in Figure 10C, the PRS timing dot plot indicates the timing during which the DL PRS transmission should be initiated (“1”) or silenced (“0”), the PRS repeat dot plot indicates the timing during which the DL PRS transmission should be initiated (“1”) or silenced (“0”), and the RIS dot plot indicates the PRS repeat during which the RIS should be turned on (“1”) or off (“0”). In the configuration shown in Figure 10C, the DL PRS transmission is initiated only when both the PRS timing dot plot and the PRS repeat dot plot contain an initiation indication. Using the example dot plot shown in Figure 10C, where the PRS timing dot plot values ​​are {0,1} and the PRS repeat dot plot values ​​are {0,1,1,0}, the DL PRS is initiated only during the second and third PRS repeats within the second PRS timing. The RIS dot matrix is ​​{0,1,0,0}, therefore RIS is only activated during the second PRS repetition within the second PRS timing. In the example shown in Figure 10C, the state of RIS is determined by performing a logical AND operation between the PRS repetition dot matrix and the RIS dot matrix, and since PRS transmissions are silenced during all PRS repetitions in the first PRS timing, RIS is also off during all PRS repetitions in the first PRS timing. In another state, the RIS dot matrix identifies the PRS repetitions during which RIS is on or off, regardless of the PRS timing. In this state, RIS can be activated during the second PRS repetition of the first PRS timing, but since the PRS signal is silenced, there is no PRS signal for RIS to reflect. Figure 10C shows a PRS configuration with PRS-ResourceTimeGap=1 (e.g., as shown in Figure 6A), but the same principle applies to PRS configurations with PRS-ResourceTimeGap values ​​other than 1 (e.g., as shown in Figure 6B).

[0131] Figure 11 is a flowchart of an example process 1100 associated with time and frequency resource level silence of a RIS according to some states. In some embodiments, one or more process blocks of Figure 11 may be executed by a BS (e.g., BS 102 of Figure 1, BS 304 of Figure 4). In some embodiments, one or more process blocks of Figure 11 may be executed by another device or a group of devices separate from or including the BS. Additionally or alternatively, one or more processing blocks of Figure 11 may be executed by one or more components of BS 304, such as processing system 384, memory 386, WWAN transceiver 350, WLAN transceiver 360, and network interface 380.

[0132] As shown in Figure 11, process 1100 may include obtaining a resource-level silent dot map for the Reconfigurable Smart Surface (RIS), wherein the resource-level silent dot map identifies a time and frequency resource set during which the RIS should be enabled to reflect a transmit beam or disabled to reflect a transmit beam (box 1102). For example, the BS may obtain the resource-level silent dot map for the Reconfigurable Smart Surface (RIS) from a Radio Access Network (RAN) node or a core network node.

[0133] As further shown in Figure 11, process 1100 may include enabling or disabling the RIS based on a resource-level silent dot matrix (box 1104). For example, as described above, a BS can request to enable or disable the RIS based on a resource-level silent dot matrix. In some states, the RIS is enabled or disabled based on the values ​​of bits in the dot matrix. In some states, the BS requests to enable or disable the RIS by sending a message to the RIS instructing it to be enabled or disabled. In some states, the RIS can enable or disable itself in response to receiving the message; for example, the RIS always honors the request. In other states, the RIS may be able to decide whether to honor the request. For example, in cases where the RIS is controlled by multiple TRPs or BSs, the RIS may be unable to honor a specific request to disable or enable itself, and therefore may choose to ignore that specific request. For example, one TRP may request the RIS to disable itself, while another TRP may request the RIS to enable itself within the same time interval. In this scenario, the RIS can be configured to give higher priority to enable requests, higher priority to disable requests, and higher priority to requests from a TRP than requests from another TRP, etc. In some cases, RIS can communicate with the requesting entity whether it has fulfilled the request, for example, whether it has performed the requested operation.

[0134] In some formats, at least one of the time and frequency resource sets includes a set of time and frequency resources reserved for transmitting a Positioning Reference Signal (PRS). In some formats, each bit of the resource-level silent dot plot represents a PRS timing that enables or disables the RIS. In some formats, each bit of the resource-level silent dot plot represents a PRS repetition that enables or disables the RIS within each PRS timing during its period. In some formats, the RIS is enabled or disabled based on a combination of bit values ​​in the dot plot and the value of another indicator associated with the silent or enabled transmission of the PRS. In some formats, each bit of the resource-level silent dot plot represents a RIS, and the RIS and the specified PRS have a known association.

[0135] In some states, at least one of the time and frequency resource sets includes a set of time and frequency resources reserved for receiving a probe reference signal (SRS). In some states, each bit of the resource-level silent dot plot represents an SRS timing that enables or disables RIS. In some states, each bit of the resource-level silent dot plot represents an SRS repetition that enables or disables RIS within each SRS timing during its period.

[0136] In some cases, enabling or disabling RIS based on a resource-level silent dot matrix may include configuring the RIS to reflect received signals to the user equipment (UE), and process 1100 may also include sending a first positioning reference signal (PRS) to the UE (block 1106), optionally configuring the RIS to reflect received signals to the UE (block 1108), and sending a second PRS to the RIS (block 1110).

[0137] The process 1100 may optionally include instructing the UE on the transmission time offset between the first PRS and the second PRS (block 1112). In some cases, instructing the transmission time offset between the first PRS and the second PRS includes providing the transmission time offset via explicit communication, instructing the transmission time offset based on a PRS mapping, or a combination thereof.

[0138] The process 1100 may optionally include receiving downlink reference signal time difference (RSTD) measurements for the first PRS and the second PRS from the UE (block 1114), and calculating the estimated location of the UE based on the RSTD measurements (block 1116). In some cases, receiving the downlink reference signal time difference (RSTD) measurements for the first PRS and the second PRS includes receiving the reception time, arrival time, or a combination thereof for the first PRS and the second PRS.

[0139] In some cases, process 1100 may optionally include receiving the estimated location of the UE from the UE (box 1118).

[0140] Although Figure 11 shows example blocks of process 1100, in some embodiments, process 1100 may include additional blocks, fewer blocks, different blocks, or blocks arranged differently compared to those depicted in Figure 11. Additionally or alternatively, two or more blocks of process 1100 may be executed in parallel.

[0141] Figure 12 is a flowchart of an example process 1200 associated with time and frequency resource level silence of RIS according to some state. In some embodiments, one or more process blocks of Figure 12 may be executed by a UE (e.g., UE 104 of Figure 1, UE 302 of Figure 3A). In some embodiments, one or more process blocks of Figure 12 may be executed by another device or group of devices separate from or including the UE. Additionally or alternatively, one or more processing blocks of Figure 12 may be executed by one or more components of UE 302, such as processing system 332, memory 340, WWAN transceiver 310, WLAN transceiver 320, and user interface 346.

[0142] As shown in Figure 12, process 1200 may include obtaining a resource-level silent dot map for a reconfigurable smart surface (RIS), wherein the resource-level silent dot map identifies a time and frequency resource set during which the RIS will be enabled to reflect a transmitted beam or disabled to reflect a transmitted beam (box 1202). For example, as described above, the UE may obtain a resource-level silent dot map for a reconfigurable smart surface (RIS), wherein the resource-level silent dot map identifies a time and frequency resource set during which the RIS will be enabled to reflect a transmitted beam or disabled to reflect a transmitted beam.

[0143] As further shown in Figure 12, process 1200 may include receiving a first reference signal (block 1204). For example, as described above, the UE may receive the first reference signal.

[0144] As further shown in Figure 12, process 1200 may include determining whether the first reference signal is received from the BS or the RIS based on the resource-level silent dot map (block 1206). As described above, for example, the UE may determine whether the first reference signal is received from the BS or the RIS based on the resource-level silent dot map.

[0145] In some cases, process 1200 may optionally include calculating the arrival time (ToA) from the TRP or from the RIS, as determined by the resource-level silent dot plot (box 1208).

[0146] In some cases, the first reference signal includes a first positioning reference signal (PRS), and the method optionally includes receiving a second PRS (block 1210), wherein one of the first and second PRS signals is received from a base station (BS), and the other of the first and second PRS signals is received from a RIS; and sending a downlink reference signal time difference (RSTD) measurement for the first PRS and the second PRS to the BS (block 1212).

[0147] In some embodiments, process 1200 optionally includes obtaining the transmission time offset between the first PRS and the second PRS (box 1214); calculating the estimated location of the UE based on the RSTD measurement and the transmission time offset between the first PRS and the second PRS (box 1216); and transmitting the estimated location of the UE to the BS (box 1218). In some embodiments, obtaining the transmission time offset between the first PRS and the second PRS includes receiving the transmission time offset via explicit transmission, determining the transmission time offset based on the PRS mapping, or a combination thereof. In some embodiments, transmitting the downlink reference signal time difference (RSTD) measurement for the first PRS and the second PRS includes transmitting the reception time, arrival time, or a combination thereof for the first PRS and the second PRS.

[0148] Although Figure 12 shows example blocks of process 1200, in some embodiments, process 1200 may include additional blocks, fewer blocks, different blocks, or blocks arranged differently compared to those depicted in Figure 12. Additionally or alternatively, two or more blocks of process 1200 may be executed in parallel.

[0149] The techniques described in this paper offer numerous technical advantages. Because these techniques allow localization to be performed using only a single SgNB, they are suitable for lower-layer UEs since neighboring cells do not need to be measured. Since network synchronization errors are not a problem for single-cell localization methods such as those disclosed herein, these methods have the potential for higher accuracy than conventional methods that require neighboring cell measurements. Note that, in some cases, these techniques can also be applied in combination with conventional techniques that require neighboring cell measurements.

[0150] As can be seen in the detailed description above, different features are combined together in the examples. This method of disclosure should not be construed as an intention to have more features than are expressly mentioned in each clause. Rather, the various forms of this disclosure may include fewer features than those of the individual example clauses disclosed. Therefore, the following clauses should be considered as incorporated into the specification, where each clause can be considered a separate example on its own. Although each subsidiary clause may be referenced in its respective clause to a specific combination with one of the other clauses, the form of that subsidiary clause is not limited to that specific combination. It should be understood that other example clauses may also include combinations of subsidiary clause forms with the subject matter of any other subsidiary or independent clauses, or combinations of any feature with other subsidiary and independent clauses. The various forms of this disclosure expressly include these combinations unless expressly stated or it can be readily inferred that a particular combination is not intentional (e.g., contradictory forms, such as defining elements as insulators and conductors). Furthermore, even if a clause does not directly depend on an independent clause, the various forms of the clause may be included in any other independent clause.

[0151] Examples of implementation methods are described in the following numbered clauses:

[0152] Article 1: A wireless communication method performed by a base station (BS), the method comprising obtaining a resource-level silent dot map for a reconfigurable smart surface (RIS), wherein the resource-level silent dot map identifies a time and frequency resource set during which the RIS should be enabled to reflect a transmitted beam or disabled to reflect a transmitted beam; and enabling or disabling the RIS according to the resource-level silent dot map.

[0153] Article 2: As described in Article 1, wherein RIS is enabled or disabled based on the value of the bit in the dot matrix.

[0154] Article 3: The method according to Articles 1 to 2, wherein at least one of the time and frequency resource sets includes a set of time and frequency resources reserved for transmitting a Positioning Reference Signal (PRS).

[0155] Article 4: As described in Article 3, each bit of the resource-level silent bitmap represents the PRS timing for enabling or disabling RIS.

[0156] Article 5: The method according to any one of Articles 3 to 4, wherein each bit of the resource-level silent bitmap represents enabling or disabling RIS PRS repetition during each PRS timing period.

[0157] Article 6: The method according to any one of Articles 3 to 5, wherein the IS is enabled or disabled based on the combination of the value of a bit in the bitmap and the value of another indicator associated with the silent or enabled transmission of the PRS.

[0158] Article 7: The method according to any one of Articles 3 to 6, wherein each bit of the resource-level silent bitmap represents a RIS, and the RIS and the specified PRS have a known association.

[0159] Article 8: The method according to Articles 1 to 7, wherein at least one of the time and frequency resource sets includes a set of time and frequency resources reserved for receiving a sounding reference signal (SRS).

[0160] Article 9: As described in Article 8, each bit of the resource-level silent bitmap represents the timing of enabling or disabling the SRS of RIS.

[0161] Article 10: The method according to any one of Articles 8 to 9, wherein each bit of the resource-level silent bitmap represents enabling or disabling SRS repetition of RIS during each SRS timing period.

[0162] Article 11: The method according to any one of Articles 1 to 10, wherein enabling or disabling RIS according to a resource-level silent dot map may include configuring RIS to reflect received signals to a user equipment (UE), and wherein the method further includes: sending a first positioning reference signal (PRS) to the UE; and sending a second PRS to the RIS.

[0163] Article 12: The method according to Article 11 further includes: receiving downlink reference signal time difference (RSTD) measurements from the UE for the first PRS and the second PRS.

[0164] Article 13: The method described in Article 12 further includes calculating the estimated location of the UE based on RSTD measurements.

[0165] Article 14: The method according to any one of Articles 12 to 13 further includes receiving the estimated location of the UE from the UE.

[0166] Article 15: The method according to any one of Articles 12 to 14 further includes configuring the RIS to reflect the received signal to the UE before transmitting the second PRS.

[0167] Article 16: The method described in Article 15 further includes configuring the RIS to prevent the received signal from being reflected back to the UE before sending the first PRS.

[0168] Article 17: The method according to any one of Articles 12 to 16 further includes: indicating to the UE the transmission time offset between the first PRS and the second PRS before receiving the RSTD measurement.

[0169] Article 18: The method according to Article 17, wherein indicating the transmission time offset between the first PRS and the second PRS includes providing the transmission time offset via explicit communication, indicating the transmission time offset based on the PRS mapping, or a combination thereof.

[0170] Article 19: The method according to any one of Articles 12 to 18, wherein receiving the downlink reference signal time difference (RSTD) measurement for the first PRS and the second PRS includes receiving the reception time, arrival time or a combination thereof for the first PRS and the second PRS.

[0171] Article 20: A wireless communication method performed by a user equipment (UE), the method comprising obtaining a resource-level silent dot map for a reconfigurable smart surface (RIS), wherein the resource-level silent dot map identifies a time and frequency resource set during which the RIS will be enabled to reflect a transmitted beam or disabled to reflect a transmitted beam; receiving a first reference signal; and determining, based on the resource-level silent dot map, whether the first reference signal was received from a base station (BS) or from the RIS.

[0172] Article 21: The method described in Article 20 further includes calculating the arrival time (ToA) or reference signal time difference (RSTD) from the BS or RIS, as determined by the resource-level silent dot plot.

[0173] Article 22: The method according to any one of Articles 20 to 21, wherein the first reference signal includes a first positioning reference signal (PRS), and wherein the method further includes receiving a second PRS, wherein one of the first PRS and the second PRS signal is received from a base station (BS), and the other of the first PRS and the second PRS signal is received from a RIS; and transmitting downlink reference signal time difference (RSTD) measurements for the first PRS and the second PRS to the BS.

[0174] Article 23: The method according to Article 22 further includes obtaining the transmission time offset between the first PRS and the second PRS; calculating the estimated location of the UE based on the RSTD measurement and the transmission time offset between the first PRS and the second PRS; and transmitting the estimated location of the UE to the BS.

[0175] Article 24: The method according to Article 23, wherein determining the transmission time offset between the first PRS and the second PRS includes receiving the transmission time offset via explicit transmission, determining the transmission time offset based on the PRS mapping, or a combination thereof.

[0176] Article 25: The method according to any one of Articles 22 to 24, wherein transmitting the downlink reference signal time difference (RSTD) measurement for the first PRS and the second PRS includes transmitting the reception time, arrival time or a combination thereof for the first PRS and the second PRS.

[0177] Article 26: An apparatus comprising a memory and at least one processor communicatively coupled to the memory, the memory and the at least one processor being configured to perform a method according to any one of Articles 1 to 25.

[0178] Article 27: An apparatus comprising components for performing the method according to any one of Articles 1 to 25.

[0179] Article 28: A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing computer-executable instructions, the computer-executable instructions including at least one instruction for causing a computer or processor to perform a method according to any one of Articles 1 to 25.

[0180] Additional states should include at least the following:

[0181] In one instance, a wireless communication method performed by a base station (BS) includes obtaining a resource-level silent dot map for a reconfigurable smart surface (RIS), wherein the resource-level silent dot map identifies a time and frequency resource set during which the RIS should be enabled to reflect a transmitted beam or disabled to reflect a transmitted beam; and requesting the RIS to be enabled or disabled based on the resource-level silent dot map.

[0182] In some cases, RIS requests to be enabled or disabled based on the value of the bit in the dot matrix.

[0183] In some cases, at least one of the time and frequency resource sets includes a set of time and frequency resources reserved for transmitting a Positioning Reference Signal (PRS).

[0184] In some cases, each element of the resource-level silent bitmap represents the PRS timing for enabling or disabling RIS.

[0185] In some cases, each element of the resource-level silent bitmap represents whether RIS PRS repetition is enabled or disabled during each PRS timing period.

[0186] In some cases, RIS is requested to be enabled or disabled based on a combination of the bit values ​​in the bitmap and the value of another indicator associated with the silent or enabled PRS transmission.

[0187] In some cases, each bit of the resource-level silent bitmap represents a RIS, and the RIS and the specified PRS have a known association.

[0188] In some cases, at least one of the time and frequency resource sets includes a set of time and frequency resources reserved for receiving a sounding reference signal (SRS).

[0189] In some cases, each element of the resource-level silent bitmap represents the timing of enabling or disabling RIS's SRS.

[0190] In some cases, each bit of the resource-level silent bitmap represents whether RIS SRS repetition is enabled or disabled during each SRS timing period.

[0191] In some cases, enabling or disabling the RIS based on a resource-level silent dot matrix request includes configuring the RIS to reflect received signals to the user equipment (UE), and the method further includes: sending a first positioning reference signal (PRS) to the UE; and sending a second PRS to the RIS.

[0192] In some cases, the method includes receiving downlink reference signal time difference (RSTD) measurements from the UE for the first PRS and the second PRS.

[0193] In some cases, the method includes calculating the estimated location of the UE based on RSTD measurements.

[0194] In some cases, the method includes receiving the estimated location of the UE from the UE.

[0195] In some cases, the method includes configuring the RIS to reflect the received signal back to the UE before sending the second PRS.

[0196] In some cases, the method includes configuring the RIS to prevent the received signal from being reflected back to the UE before sending the first PRS.

[0197] In some cases, the method includes instructing the UE on the transmission time offset between the first PRS and the second PRS before receiving the RSTD measurement.

[0198] In some cases, indicating the transmission time offset between the first PRS and the second PRS includes providing the transmission time offset via explicit messaging, indicating the transmission time offset based on the PRS mapping, or a combination thereof.

[0199] In some cases, receiving the downlink reference signal time difference (RSTD) measurement for the first PRS and the second PRS includes receiving the reception time, arrival time, or a combination thereof for the first PRS and the second PRS.

[0200] In one instance, a wireless communication method performed by a user equipment (UE) includes obtaining a resource-level silent dot map for a reconfigurable smart surface (RIS), wherein the resource-level silent dot map identifies a time and frequency resource set during which the RIS will be enabled to reflect a transmitted beam or disabled to reflect a transmitted beam; receiving a first reference signal; and determining, based on the resource-level silent dot map, whether the first reference signal was received from a base station (BS) or from the RIS.

[0201] In some cases, the method includes calculating the arrival time (ToA) from the BS or the reference signal time difference (RSTD) as determined by a resource-level silent dot plot.

[0202] In some cases, the first reference signal includes a first positioning reference signal (PRS), and the method further includes receiving a second PRS, wherein one of the first PRS and the second PRS signal is received from a base station (BS), and the other of the first PRS and the second PRS signal is received from a RIS; and sending a downlink reference signal time difference (RSTD) measurement for the first PRS and the second PRS to the BS.

[0203] In some cases, the method includes obtaining the transmission time offset between the first PRS and the second PRS; calculating the estimated location of the UE based on the RSTD measurement and the transmission time offset between the first PRS and the second PRS; and transmitting the estimated location of the UE to the BS.

[0204] In some cases, determining the transmission time offset between the first PRS and the second PRS includes receiving the transmission time offset via explicit transmission, determining the transmission time offset based on the PRS mapping, or a combination thereof.

[0205] In some cases, transmitting the downlink reference signal time difference (RSTD) measurement for the first PRS and the second PRS includes transmitting the reception time, arrival time, or a combination thereof for the first PRS and the second PRS.

[0206] In one embodiment, a base station (BS) includes a memory, at least one transceiver, and at least one processor communicatively coupled to the memory and the at least one transceiver, the at least one processor being configured to obtain a resource-level silent dot map for a reconfigurable smart surface (RIS), wherein the resource-level silent dot map identifies a time and frequency resource set during which the RIS should be enabled to reflect a transmitted beam or disabled to reflect a transmitted beam, and causes the at least one transceiver to send a request to enable or disable the RIS according to the resource-level silent dot map.

[0207] In some cases, RIS requests to be enabled or disabled based on the bit values ​​in the resource-level silent bitmap.

[0208] In some cases, at least one of the time and frequency resource sets includes a set of time and frequency resources reserved for transmitting a Positioning Reference Signal (PRS).

[0209] In some cases, each element of the resource-level silent bitmap represents the PRS timing for enabling or disabling RIS.

[0210] In some cases, each element of the resource-level silent bitmap represents whether RIS PRS repetition is enabled or disabled during each PRS timing period.

[0211] In some cases, RIS is requested to be enabled or disabled based on a combination of bit values ​​in the resource-level silent bitmap and the value of another indicator associated with the silent or enabled transmission of PRS.

[0212] In some cases, each bit of the resource-level silent bitmap represents a RIS, and the RIS and the specified PRS have a known association.

[0213] In some cases, at least one of the time and frequency resource sets includes a set of time and frequency resources reserved for receiving a sounding reference signal (SRS).

[0214] In some cases, each element of the resource-level silent bitmap represents the timing of enabling or disabling RIS's SRS.

[0215] In some cases, each bit of the resource-level silent bitmap represents whether RIS SRS repetition is enabled or disabled during each SRS timing period.

[0216] In some cases, enabling or disabling the RIS according to a resource-level silent dot map request includes configuring the RIS to reflect received signals to the user equipment (UE), and the at least one processor is further configured to cause the at least one transceiver to send a first positioning reference signal (PRS) to the UE; and to cause the at least one transceiver to send a second PRS to the RIS.

[0217] In some cases, the at least one processor is also configured to receive downlink reference signal time difference (RSTD) measurements for the first PRS and the second PRS from the UE.

[0218] In some cases, the at least one processor is also configured to calculate the estimated location of the UE based on RSTD measurements.

[0219] In some cases, the at least one processor is also configured to receive the estimated location of the UE from the UE.

[0220] In some cases, the at least one processor is also configured to send a request to the RIS to configure the RIS to reflect the received signal to the UE before the at least one transceiver sends the second PRS.

[0221] In some cases, the at least one processor is also configured to, before sending the first PRS, send a request to the RIS to configure the RIS so as not to reflect the received signal back to the UE.

[0222] In some cases, the at least one processor is also configured to indicate to the UE the transmission time offset between the first PRS and the second PRS before receiving the RSTD measurement.

[0223] In some cases, the at least one processor is configured to provide the transmission time offset via explicit signaling, indicate the transmission time offset based on the PRS mapping, or a combination thereof when indicating the transmission time offset between the first PRS and the second PRS.

[0224] In some cases, the at least one processor, upon receiving the downlink reference signal time difference (RSTD) measurement for the first PRS and the second PRS, is configured to receive the reception time, arrival time, or a combination thereof for the first PRS and the second PRS.

[0225] In one embodiment, a user equipment (UE) includes a memory, at least one transceiver, and at least one processor communicatively coupled to the memory and the at least one transceiver, the at least one processor being configured to obtain a resource-level silent dot map for a reconfigurable smart surface (RIS), wherein the resource-level silent dot map identifies a time and frequency resource set during which the RIS will be enabled to reflect a transmitted beam or disabled to reflect a transmitted beam; receive a first reference signal; and determine, based on the resource-level silent dot map, whether the first reference signal is received from a base station (BS) or from the RIS.

[0226] In some cases, the at least one processor is also configured to calculate the arrival time (ToA) or reference signal time difference (RSTD) from the BS or RIS, as determined by a resource-level silent dot plot.

[0227] In some configurations, the first reference signal includes a first positioning reference signal (PRS), and the at least one processor is further configured to receive a second PRS, wherein one of the first PRS and the second PRS signal is received from a base station (BS), and the other of the first PRS and the second PRS signal is received from a RIS; and to cause the at least one transceiver to send downlink reference signal time difference (RSTD) measurements for the first PRS and the second PRS to the BS.

[0228] In some cases, the at least one processor is further configured to obtain the transmission time offset between the first PRS and the second PRS; calculate the estimated location of the UE based on the RSTD measurement and the transmission time offset between the first PRS and the second PRS; and cause at least one transceiver to transmit the estimated location of the UE to the BS.

[0229] In some cases, the at least one processor is configured to receive the transmission time offset via explicit signaling, determine the transmission time offset based on the PRS mapping, or a combination thereof, when determining the transmission time offset between the first PRS and the second PRS.

[0230] In some cases, when the at least one processor causes the at least one transceiver to transmit the downlink reference signal time difference (RSTD) measurement for the first PRS and the second PRS, the at least one transceiver is configured to cause the at least one transceiver to transmit the reception time, arrival time, or a combination thereof for the first PRS and the second PRS.

[0231] In one embodiment, a base station (BS) includes components for obtaining a resource-level silent dot map for a reconfigurable smart surface (RIS), wherein the resource-level silent dot map identifies a time and frequency resource set during which the RIS should be enabled to reflect a transmitted beam or disabled to reflect a transmitted beam, and components for requesting to enable or disable the RIS based on the resource-level silent dot map.

[0232] In one embodiment, a user equipment (UE) includes components for obtaining a resource-level silent dot map for a reconfigurable smart surface (RIS), wherein the resource-level silent dot map identifies a time and frequency resource set during which the RIS will be enabled to reflect a transmitted beam or disabled to reflect a transmitted beam; components for receiving a first reference signal; and components for determining, based on the resource-level silent dot map, whether the first reference signal is received from a base station (BS) or from the RIS.

[0233] In one instance, a non-transitory computer-readable media storage instruction set includes one or more instructions, when executed by one or more processors of a base station (BS), enabling the BS to obtain a resource-level silent dot map for a reconfigurable smart surface (RIS), wherein the resource-level silent dot map identifies a time and frequency resource set during which the RIS should be enabled to reflect a transmitted beam or disabled to reflect a transmitted beam, and enables or disables the RIS according to a resource-level silent dot map request.

[0234] In one instance, a non-transitory computer-readable media storage instruction set includes one or more instructions, when executed by one or more processors of a user equipment (UE), enabling the UE to obtain a resource-level silent dot map for a reconfigurable smart surface (RIS), wherein the resource-level silent dot map identifies a time and frequency resource set during which the RIS will be enabled to reflect a transmitted beam or disabled to reflect a transmitted beam; receives a first reference signal; and determines, based on the resource-level silent dot map, whether the first reference signal is received from a base station (BS) or from the RIS.

[0235] Those skilled in the art will understand that information and signals can be represented using any of a variety of different technologies and techniques. For example, data, instructions, commands, information, signals, bits, symbols, and chips that may be mentioned throughout the foregoing description can be represented by voltage, current, electromagnetic waves, magnetic fields or magnetic particles, light fields or light particles, or any combination thereof.

[0236] Furthermore, those skilled in the art will understand that the various illustrative logic blocks, modules, circuits, and algorithm steps described in conjunction with the various forms disclosed herein can be implemented as electronic hardware, computer software, or a combination of both. To clearly illustrate this interchangeability between hardware and software, the various illustrative components, blocks, modules, circuits, and steps have been generally described above in their functional forms. Whether such functionality is implemented as hardware or software depends on the specific application and the design constraints imposed on the entire system. Those skilled in the art may implement the described functionality in different ways for each specific application, but such implementation decisions should not be construed as departing from the scope of this disclosure.

[0237] The various illustrative logic blocks, modules, and circuits described in conjunction with the various forms disclosed herein can be implemented or executed using a general-purpose processor, DSP, ASIC, FPGA, or other programmable logic device, discrete gate or transistor logic, discrete hardware component, or any combination thereof, designed to perform the functions described herein. The general-purpose processor may be a microprocessor, but alternatively, the processor may be any conventional processor, controller, microcontroller, or state machine. The processor may also be implemented as a combination of computing devices, such as a combination of a DSP and a microprocessor, multiple microprocessors, one or more microprocessors combined with a DSP core, or any other such configuration.

[0238] The steps of the methods, sequences, and / or algorithms described herein can be directly embodied in hardware, in a software module executed by a processor, or a combination of both. The software module can reside in random access memory (RAM), flash memory, read-only memory (ROM), erasable programmable ROM (EPROM), electrically erasable programmable ROM (EEPROM), registers, hard disks, removable magnetic disks, CD-ROMs, or any other form of storage media known in the art. Example storage media is coupled to a processor such that the processor can read information from and write information to the storage media. Alternatively, the storage media can be integrated with the processor. The processor and storage media can reside in an ASIC. The ASIC can reside in a user terminal (e.g., a UE). Alternatively, the processor and storage media can reside as discrete components in the user terminal.

[0239] In one or more example formats, the described functionality can be implemented in hardware, software, firmware, or any combination thereof. If implemented in software, the functionality can be stored as one or more instructions or code on or transmitted via a computer-readable medium. Computer-readable medium includes both computer storage media and communication media, wherein the communication media includes any media that facilitates the transfer of computer programs from one place to another. Storage media can be any available media accessible by a computer. By way of example, and not limitation, such computer-readable media can include RAM, ROM, EEPROM, CD-ROM or other optical disk storage, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or any other media that can be used to carry or store desired program code having an instruction or data structure form and is accessible by a computer. Furthermore, any connection is appropriately referred to as computer-readable media. For example, if software is transmitted from a website, server, or other remote source using coaxial cable, fiber optic cable, twisted pair, digital subscriber line (DSL), or wireless technologies such as infrared, radio, and microwave, then coaxial cable, fiber optic cable, twisted pair, DSL, or wireless technologies such as infrared, radio, and microwave are all included in the definition of media. As used herein, disks and optical discs include compact discs (CDs), laser discs, optical discs, digital versatile discs (DVDs), floppy disks, and Blu-ray discs, where magnetic disks typically reproduce data magnetically, while optical discs reproduce data optically via lasers. The above combinations should also be included within the scope of computer-readable media.

[0240] Although the foregoing disclosure illustrates an illustrative form of this disclosure, it should be noted that various changes and modifications may be made herein without departing from the scope of this disclosure as defined by the appended claims. The functions, steps, and / or actions of the method claims according to the form of this disclosure described herein do not need to be performed in any particular order. Furthermore, although elements of this disclosure may be described or claimed in the singular, plural forms are contemplated unless explicitly stated otherwise.

[0241] 100: Wireless Communication System 102: Base Station 102': Base station 104: User Equipment 110: Coverage Area 110': Coverage area 112: Spacecraft 120: Communication Link 122: Backhaul Link 124: Signal 134: Backhaul Link 150: Access Point 152: WLAN station 154: Communication Link 164: User Equipment 170: Core Network 172: Server 180: Base station 182: User Equipment 184: Communication Link 190: User Equipment 192: D2D P2P Link 194: D2D P2P Link 200: Wireless Network Architecture 204: User Equipment 210: 5G Core 212: User plane functionality 213: User Interface 214: Control Plane Functions 215: Control Plane Interface 220: New Radio Access Network 222:gNB 223: Return Link 224:ng-eNB 230: Location Server 250: Wireless Network Structure 260:5GC 262: User plane functionality 263: User Interface 264: Access and mobility management functions 265: Control Plane Interface 266: Session Management Function 270: Location Management Function 272: Location Platform 302: User Equipment 310: Transceiver 312: Receiver 314: Transmitter 316: Antenna 318: Signal 320: Transceiver 322: Receiver 324: Transmitter 326: Antenna 328: Signal 330: Receiver 332: Processing System 334: Busbar 336: Antenna 338: Signal 340: Memory Components 342: Positioning Module 344: Sensor 346: User Interface 304: Base Station 350: Transceiver 352: Receiver 354: Transmitter 356: Antenna 358: Signal 360: Transceiver 362: Receiver 364: Transmitter 366: Antenna 368: Signal 370: Receiver 376: Antenna 378: Signal 380: Network Interface 382: Busbar 384: Processing System 386: Memory Components 388: Positioning Module 306: Network Entity 390: Network Interface 392: Busbar 394: Processing System 396: Memory Components 398: Positioning Module 400: Example Diagram 430: Example Diagram 450: Example Diagram 470: Example Diagram 800: System 802: Reconfigurable Smart Surface 804: Obstacles 102a: Base Station 102b: Base Station 104a: User Equipment 900: System 902: Positioning Reference Signal 904: Positioning Reference Signal 906: Positioning Reference Signal 908: Positioning Reference Signal 910: Positioning Reference Signal 912: Link 914: Link 1100: Process 1102: Box 1104: Box 1106: Box 1108: Box 1110: Box 1112: Box 1114: Box 1116: Frame 1118: Box 1200: Process 1202: Box 1204: Box 1206: Box 1208: Box 1210: Box 1212: Box 1214: Box 1216: Box 1218: Box

Claims

1. A wireless communication method performed by a base station (BS), the method comprising: Obtain a resource-level silent dot map for a reconfigurable intelligent surface (RIS), wherein the resource-level silent dot map identifies time and frequency resource sets, during which the RIS should be enabled to reflect transmitted beams or disabled to reflect transmitted beams; and enable or disable the RIS according to the resource-level silent dot map request.

2. The method as described in request item 1, wherein, At least one of the time and frequency resource sets includes time and frequency resource sets reserved for transmitting positioning reference signals (PRS) or for receiving sounding reference signals (SRS).

3. The method as described in request item 2, wherein, Each bit of the resource-level silent dot plot represents a PRS timing between enabling or disabling the RIS, a PRS repetition between enabling or disabling the RIS within each PRS timing, an SRS timing between enabling or disabling the RIS, an SRS repetition between enabling or disabling the RIS within each SRS timing, or a combination thereof.

4. The method as described in request item 2, wherein, The RIS is requested to be enabled or disabled based on the value of a bit in the dot matrix and the combination of the value of another indicator associated with the silent or enabled transmission of the PRS.

5. The method as described in request item 2, wherein, Each bit of the resource-level silent bitmap represents and specifies a RIS with a known association to the PRS or SRS.

6. The method as described in request item 1, wherein, Requesting to enable or disable the RIS according to the resource-level silent dot matrix includes configuring the RIS to reflect received signals to user equipment (UE), and the method further includes: sending a first positioning reference signal (PRS) to the UE; and sending a second PRS to the RIS.

7. The method as described in claim 6, further comprising: The system receives downlink reference signal time difference (RSTD) measurements for the first PRS and the second PRS from the UE and calculates the estimated location of the UE based on the RSTD measurements; or it receives the estimated location of the UE from the UE.

8. The method as described in claim 7, further comprising: Before sending the second PRS, the RIS is configured to either reflect the received signal to the UE or not reflect the received signal to the UE.

9. The method as described in claim 7, further comprising: Before receiving the RSTD measurement, the UE is informed of the transmission time offset between the first PRS and the second PRS.

10. The method as described in claim 7, wherein, Receiving the downlink reference signal time difference (RSTD) measurement for the first PRS and the second PRS includes receiving the reception time, arrival time, or a combination thereof for the first PRS and the second PRS.

11. A wireless communication method performed by a user equipment (UE), the method comprising: Obtain a resource-level silent dot map for a reconfigurable smart surface (RIS), wherein the resource-level silent dot map identifies a set of time and frequency resources, during which the RIS will be enabled to reflect a transmitted beam or disabled to reflect a transmitted beam; receive a first reference signal; and determine, based on the resource-level silent dot map, whether the first reference signal is received from a base station (BS) or from the RIS.

12. The method of claim 11 further includes calculating the time of arrival (ToA) or reference signal time difference (RSTD) from the BS or from the RIS, as determined by the resource-level silent dot plot.

13. The method as described in claim 11, wherein, The first reference signal includes a first positioning reference signal (PRS), and the method further includes: receiving a second PRS, wherein one of the first PRS and the second PRS is received from a base station (BS), and the other of the first PRS and the second PRS is received from the RIS; and sending a downlink reference signal time difference (RSTD) measurement to the BS for the first PRS and the second PRS.

14. The method as described in claim 13, further comprising: Obtain the transmission time offset between the first PRS and the second PRS; The estimated location of the UE is calculated based on the RSTD measurement and the transmission time offset between the first PRS and the second PRS; and the estimated location of the UE is transmitted to the BS.

15. The method as described in claim 13, wherein, Sending the downlink reference signal time difference (RSTD) measurement for the first PRS and the second PRS includes sending the reception time, arrival time, or a combination thereof for the first PRS and the second PRS.

16. A base station (BS) for wireless communication, comprising: Memory; At least one transceiver; The system includes at least one processor communicatively coupled to the memory and the at least one transceiver, the at least one processor being configured to: obtain a resource-level silent dot map for a reconfigurable smart surface (RIS), wherein the resource-level silent dot map identifies a set of time and frequency resources, during which the RIS should be enabled to reflect a transmit beam or disabled to reflect a transmit beam; and cause the at least one transceiver to send a request to enable or disable the RIS to the RIS based on the resource-level silent dot map.

17. The BS as described in claim 16, wherein, At least one of the time and frequency resource sets includes a time and frequency resource set reserved for transmitting a positioning reference signal (PRS) or for receiving a detection reference signal (SRS).

18. The BS as described in claim 17, wherein, Each bit of the resource-level silent dot plot represents a PRS timing between enabling or disabling the RIS, a PRS repetition between enabling or disabling the RIS within each PRS timing, an SRS timing between enabling or disabling the RIS, an SRS repetition between enabling or disabling the RIS within each SRS timing, or a combination thereof.

19. The BS as described in claim 17, wherein, The RIS is requested to be enabled or disabled based on the combination of the bit values ​​in the resource-level silent bitmap and the values ​​of another indicator associated with the silent or enabled transmission of the PRS.

20. The BS as described in claim 17, wherein, Each bit of the resource-level silent bitmap represents and specifies a RIS with a known association to the PRS or SRS.

21. The BS as described in claim 16, wherein, Enabling or disabling the RIS according to the resource-level silent dot matrix request includes configuring the RIS to reflect received signals to a user equipment (UE), and wherein the at least one processor is further configured to: cause the at least one transceiver to send a first positioning reference signal (PRS) to the UE; and cause the at least one transceiver to send a second PRS to the RIS.

22. The BS as described in claim 21, wherein, The at least one processor is further configured to: receive downlink reference signal time difference (RSTD) measurements for the first PRS and the second PRS from the UE, and calculate the estimated location of the UE based on the RSTD measurements; or receive the estimated location of the UE from the UE.

23. The BS as described in claim 22, wherein, The at least one processor is further configured to send a request to the RIS to configure the RIS to either reflect the received signal to the UE or not reflect the received signal to the UE before the at least one transceiver sends the second PRS.

24. The BS as described in claim 22, wherein, The at least one processor is further configured to indicate to the UE the transmission time offset between the first PRS and the second PRS before receiving the RSTD measurement.

25. The BS as described in claim 22, wherein, When the at least one processor receives the downlink reference signal time difference (RSTD) measurement for the first PRS and the second PRS, it is configured to receive the reception time, arrival time, or a combination thereof for the first PRS and the second PRS.

26. A user equipment (UE), comprising: Memory; At least one transceiver; The system includes at least one processor communicatively coupled to the memory and the at least one transceiver, the at least one processor being configured to: obtain a resource-level silent dot map for a reconfigurable smart surface (RIS), wherein the resource-level silent dot map identifies a set of time and frequency resources, during which the RIS will be enabled to reflect a transmit beam or disabled to reflect a transmit beam; receive a first reference signal; and determine, based on the resource-level silent dot map, whether the first reference signal is received from a base station (BS) or from the RIS.

27. The UE as described in request item 26, wherein, The at least one processor is further configured to calculate the arrival time (ToA) or reference signal time difference (RSTD) from the BS or the RIS, as determined by the resource-level silent dot plot.

28. The UE as described in request item 26, wherein, The first reference signal includes a first positioning reference signal (PRS), and wherein the at least one processor is further configured to: receive a second PRS, wherein one of the first PRS and the second PRS is received from a base station (BS), and the other of the first PRS and the second PRS is received from the RIS; and cause the at least one transceiver to send downlink reference signal time difference (RSTD) measurements for the first PRS and the second PRS to the BS.

29. The UE as described in request item 28, wherein, The at least one processor is further configured to: obtain the transmission time offset between the first PRS and the second PRS; calculate the estimated location of the UE based on the RSTD measurement and the transmission time offset between the first PRS and the second PRS; and cause the at least one transceiver to transmit the estimated location of the UE to the BS.

30. The UE as described in request item 28, wherein, When the at least one processor causes the at least one transceiver to transmit the downlink reference signal time difference (RSTD) measurement for the first PRS and the second PRS, the at least one transceiver is configured to cause the at least one transceiver to transmit the reception time, arrival time, or a combination thereof for the first PRS and the second PRS.

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