Reference carrier phase for positioning reference signals

Abstract

A method for providing positioning reference signal information includes: wirelessly transmitting from an apparatus a positioning reference signal comprising a carrier signal having a carrier phase; and transmitting from the apparatus an indication of a reference carrier phase of the positioning reference signal, the reference carrier phase comprising the phase of the carrier signal of the positioning reference signal at a reference transmission time of the positioning reference signal.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] [Cross-references to related applications]

[0002] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Application No. 17 / 401,266, filed on August 12, 2021, entitled “REFERENCE CARRIER PHASE FOR POSITIONING REFERENCE SIGNALS,” which has been assigned to the assignee of this application, and the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference for all purposes.

[0003] The field of this invention is the positioning of reference signals, and more specifically, the field of this invention is the reference carrier phase for positioning reference signals. Prior Technology

[0004] Wireless communication systems have evolved through several 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, wireless services with internet capabilities, fourth-generation (4G) services (e.g., LTE or WiMax), and fifth-generation (5G) services. Currently, many different types of wireless communication systems are in use, including cellular and Personal Communication Services (PCS) systems. Known examples of cellular systems include the Cellular Analog Advanced Mobile Telephone System (AMPS), and digital cellular systems based on Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA), Frequency Division Multiple Access (FDMA), Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access (OFDMA), Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA), and TDMA variants of the Global System for Mobile Access (GSM).

[0005] Fifth-generation (5G) mobile standards require higher data transfer speeds, a larger number of connections, better coverage, and other improvements. According to the Next Generation Mobile Networks Alliance, the 5G standard is designed to provide tens of megabits per second (Mbps) of data to each of tens of thousands of users, including 1 gigabit per second (Gbps) to dozens of workers on an office floor. It should support hundreds of thousands of simultaneous connections to support large-scale sensor deployments. Therefore, the spectral efficiency of 5G mobile communications should be significantly improved compared to the current 4G standard. Furthermore, signaling efficiency should be enhanced, and latency should be significantly reduced compared to the current standard. Summary of the Invention

[0006] In one embodiment, an apparatus includes: a transmitter; a memory; and a processor communicatively coupled to the transmitter and the memory and configured to: wirelessly transmit via the transmitter a positioning reference signal including a carrier signal with a carrier phase; and transmit via the transmitter an indication of a reference carrier phase of the positioning reference signal, the reference carrier phase including the phase of the carrier signal of the positioning reference signal at a reference transmission time of the positioning reference signal.

[0007] In one embodiment, a method of providing positioning reference signal information includes: wirelessly transmitting from an apparatus a positioning reference signal comprising a carrier signal having a carrier phase; and transmitting from the apparatus an indication of a reference carrier phase of the positioning reference signal, the reference carrier phase comprising the phase of the carrier signal of the positioning reference signal at a reference transmission time of the positioning reference signal.

[0008] In one embodiment, an apparatus includes: a transceiver; a memory; and a processor communicatively coupled to the transceiver and the memory and configured to: obtain a first carrier phase indication corresponding to a positioning reference signal receiver, the first carrier phase indication indicating a first measured carrier phase of a positioning reference signal; transmit the first carrier phase indication via the transceiver; and at least one of the following operations: transmit a second carrier phase indication via the transceiver, the second carrier phase indication indicating whether the first carrier phase indication includes a reference carrier phase of the positioning reference signal, the reference carrier phase including the phase of the carrier signal of the positioning reference signal at a reference transmission time of the positioning reference signal; or transmit a third carrier phase indication via the transceiver, the third carrier phase indication indicating a second measured carrier phase of the positioning reference signal such that one of the first measured carrier phase and the second measured carrier phase includes the reference carrier phase of the positioning reference signal, and the other of the first measured carrier phase and the second measured carrier phase does not include a phase value corresponding to the reference carrier phase of the positioning reference signal.

[0009] In one embodiment, a method for providing carrier phase information includes: obtaining at a first device a first carrier phase indication corresponding to a positioning reference signal receiver, the first carrier phase indication indicating a first measured carrier phase of a positioning reference signal; transmitting the first carrier phase indication to a second device; and at least one of the following operations: transmitting to the second device a second carrier phase indication indicating whether the first carrier phase indication includes a reference carrier phase of the positioning reference signal, the reference carrier phase including the phase of the carrier signal of the positioning reference signal at a reference transmission time of the positioning reference signal; or transmitting to the second device a third carrier phase indication indicating a second measured carrier phase of the positioning reference signal such that one of the first measured carrier phase and the second measured carrier phase includes the reference carrier phase of the positioning reference signal, and the other of the first measured carrier phase and the second measured carrier phase does not include a phase value corresponding to the reference carrier phase of the positioning reference signal. Simple Explanation of the Diagram

[0010] Figure 1 is a simplified illustration of an example wireless communication system.

[0011] Figure 2 is a block diagram of the components of the example user equipment shown in Figure 1.

[0012] Figure 3 is a block diagram of the components of an example transmit / receive point.

[0013] Figure 4 is a block diagram of the components of an example server, and various embodiments of this example server are shown in Figure 1.

[0014] Figure 5 is a simplified diagram of a ground-based positioning system.

[0015] Figure 6 is a simplified block diagram of an example device for carrier phase acquisition and reporting.

[0016] Figure 7 is a simplified block diagram of the positioning reference signal transmitter.

[0017] Figure 8 is a simplified diagram of the process and signaling flow used to measure carrier phase and determine position information.

[0018] Figure 9 is a timing diagram of an example transmission configuration used for locating reference signals.

[0019] Figure 10 is a simplified timing diagram of two opportunities for the resource set.

[0020] Figure 11 is a timing diagram of the carrier signal and the code phase modulation signal.

[0021] Figure 12 shows an example initial carrier phase value message indicating the absolute carrier phase value.

[0022] Figure 13 is another example of an initial carrier phase value message indicating absolute and relative carrier phase values.

[0023] Figure 14 shows an example carrier phase measurement message.

[0024] Figure 15 shows another example of carrier phase measurement information.

[0025] Figure 16 is a block flowchart of a method for providing positioning reference signal information.

[0026] Figure 17 is a block flowchart of a method for providing carrier phase information. Implementation

[0027] This paper discusses techniques for performing carrier phase-based positioning using terrestrial positioning signals. For example, a base station transmits different Positioning Reference Signal (PRS) bursts to a target device (e.g., a target user equipment (UE)) and a reference device. The base station also transmits an indication of the reference carrier signal phase (e.g., the initial carrier signal phase) of the PRS burst, such as the phase of the carrier signal at a reference point (e.g., the beginning of a time slot, subframe, or frame at the PRS transmitter). The base station may send an indication of the reference phase to positioning entities (e.g., in a location server, target device, etc.). For example, the base station may determine the reference phase when transmitting the PRS burst and send an indication of the determined reference phase to the target device and / or other entities. As another example, the base station may predict the reference phase and send an indication of the predicted reference phase to the target device and / or other entities. As yet another example, the base station may control the reference phase and send an indication of the controlled reference phase to the target device and / or other entities. The target device and reference device measure the PRS burst and provide an indication of the PRS measurement to the positioning entities. The positioning entity can use measurements of the target device corresponding to one or more PRS transmitters and / or one or more reference devices to determine the position information (e.g., position estimation) for the target device. However, other configurations can also be used.

[0028] The projects and / or technologies described herein may provide one or more of the following capabilities, as well as others not mentioned. High-precision positioning can be achieved using ground-based positioning reference signals. Carrier phase-based positioning can be achieved using ground-based positioning reference signals. Other capabilities may be provided, as well as any capabilities discussed that are not required, let alone all, of the capabilities discussed, in every implementation according to this disclosure.

[0029] For many applications, including emergency calls, personal navigation, consumer asset tracking, and locating friends or family members, obtaining the location of mobile devices accessing wireless networks can be useful. Existing positioning methods include those based on measuring radio signals transmitted from a variety of devices or entities, including satellite vehicles (SVs) and terrestrial radio sources (such as base stations and access points) within the wireless network. It is anticipated that the standardization of 5G wireless networks will include support for various positioning methods that can utilize reference signals transmitted by base stations in a manner similar to how LTE wireless networks currently use Positioning Reference Signals (PRS) and / or Cell-Specific Reference Signals (CRS) for positioning decisions.

[0030] This description may refer to sequences of actions performed, for example, by elements of a computing device. The various actions described herein may be performed by specific circuitry (e.g., an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC)), program instructions executed by one or more processors, or a combination of both. The sequences of actions described herein may be embodied in a non-transitory computer-readable medium having a corresponding set of computer instructions stored thereon, which, when executed, cause the associated processor to perform the functions described herein. Therefore, the various forms described herein may be embodied in a variety of different forms, all of which are within the scope of this disclosure, including the claimed technical subject matter.

[0031] As used herein, unless otherwise stated, the terms “User Equipment” (UE) and “Base Station” are not specific to or otherwise limited to any particular Radio Access Technology (RAT). Typically, such 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 computer, laptop computer, consumer asset tracking device, Internet of Things (IoT) device, etc.). The UE can be mobile or can (e.g., at certain times) be stationary, and can communicate with a Radio Access Network (RAN). As used herein, the term “UE” can be interchangeably referred to as “Access Terminal” or “AT,” “Client Device,” “Wireless Device,” “Subscriber Device,” “Subscriber Terminal,” “Subscriber Station,” “User Terminal” or “UT,” “Mobile Terminal,” “Mobile Station,” “Mobile Device,” or variations thereof. Typically, a UE can communicate with the core network via the RAN, and through the core network, the UE can connect to external networks such as the Internet and other UEs. Of course, other mechanisms for connecting to the core network and / or the Internet are also possible for the UE, such as wired access networks, WiFi networks (e.g., based on IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) 802.11, etc.).

[0032] A base station can operate according to one of several RATs to communicate with the UE (depending on the network in which it is deployed). Examples of base stations include Access Points (APs), Network Nodes, Node Bs, Evolved Node Bs (eNBs), or Generic Node Bs (gNodeBs, gNBs). Additionally, in some systems, a base station can provide purely edge node signaling functions, while in others it can provide additional control and / or network management functions.

[0033] The UE can be implemented by any of several types of devices, including but not limited to printed circuit (PC) cards, compact flash devices, external or internal modems, wireless or wired telephones, smartphones, tablet devices, consumer asset tracking devices, asset tags, etc. The communication link through which the UE sends signals to the RAN is referred to as an uplink channel (e.g., reverse traffic channel, reverse control channel, access channel, etc.). The communication link through which the RAN sends signals to the UE is referred to as a downlink or forward link channel (e.g., paging channel, control channel, broadcast channel, forward traffic channel, etc.). As used herein, the term traffic channel (TCH) can refer to an uplink / reverse or downlink / forward traffic channel.

[0034] As used herein, the terms "cell" or "sector" may correspond to one of a plurality of cells of a base station or the base station itself, depending on the context. The term "cell" can refer to a logical communication entity used for communication with a base station (e.g., on a carrier) and can be associated with identifiers (e.g., Entity Cell Identifier (PCID), Virtual Cell Identifier (VCID)) used to distinguish adjacent cells operating via the same or different carriers. In some examples, a carrier may support multiple cells and different cells may be configured according to different protocol types that can provide access for different types of devices (e.g., Machine-Type Communication (MTC), Narrowband Internet of Things (NB-IoT), Enhanced Mobile Broadband (eMBB), or other protocol types). In some examples, the term "cell" can refer to a portion of a geographic coverage area (e.g., a sector) on which a logical entity operates.

[0035] Referring to Figure 1, examples of communication system 100 include UE 105, UE 106, radio access network (RAN) (here, fifth-generation (5G) next-generation (NG) RAN (NG-RAN)) 135, 5G core network (5GC) 140, and server 150. UE 105 and / or UE 106 can be, for example, IoT devices, location tracker devices, cellular phones, vehicles (e.g., cars, trucks, buses, boats, etc.) or other devices. The 5G network can also be referred to as a new radio (NR) network; NG-RAN 135 can be referred to as 5G RAN or NR RAN; and 5GC 140 can be referred to as NG core network (NGC). Standardization of NG-RAN and 5GC is underway within the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP). Accordingly, NG-RAN 135 and 5GC 140 can conform to current or future standards from 3GPP for 5G support. NG-RAN 135 can be another type of RAN, such as 3G RAN, 4G LTE RAN, etc. UE 106 can be similarly configured and coupled to UE 105 to send signals to and / or receive signals from similar other entities in system 100, but for simplicity, such signaling is not shown in Figure 1. Similarly, for simplicity, the discussion focuses on UE 105. Communication system 100 can use information from constellation 185 containing satellite vehicles (SVs) 190, SV 191, SV 192, and SV 193 for satellite positioning systems (SPS) (e.g., Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS)), such as GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, or BeiDou, or some other local or regional SPS, such as the Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS), the European Geostationary Navigation Coverage Service (EGNOS), or a Wide Area Augmentation System (WAAS). The following describes additional components of the communication system 100. The communication system 100 may include additional or alternative components.

[0036] As shown in Figure 1, NG-RAN 135 includes NR NodeBs (gNBs) 110a and 110b and a next-generation eNodeB (ng-eNB) 114, and 5GC 140 includes Access and Mobility Management Functions (AMF) 115, Session Management Functions (SMF) 117, Location Management Functions (LMF) 120, and Gateway Mobile Location Center (GMLC) 125. gNBs 110a, 110b, and ng-eNB 114 are communicatively coupled to each other, each configured to communicate bidirectionally with UE 105, and each communicatively coupled to AMF 115 and configured to communicate bidirectionally with AMF 115. gNBs 110a, 110b, and ng-eNB 114 can be referred to as base stations (BSs). AMF 115, SMF 117, LMF 120, and GMLC 125 are communicatively coupled to each other, and GMLC is communicatively coupled to an external client 130. SMF 117 can be used as the initial contact point for Service Control Functions (SCF) (not shown) to create, control, and delete media sessions. Base stations (such as gNB 110a, 110b, and / or ng-eNB 114) can be macrocells (e.g., high-power cellular base stations), small cells (e.g., low-power cellular base stations), or access points (e.g., short-range base stations configured to communicate with short-range technologies such as WiFi, WiFi Direct (WiFi-D), Bluetooth®, Bluetooth®-Low (BLE), Zigbee, etc.). One or more base stations (e.g., one or more of gNB 110a, 110b, and / or ng-eNB 114) can be configured to communicate with UE 105 via multiple carriers. Each of gNB 110a, 110b, and / or ng-eNB 114 can provide communication coverage for a corresponding geographic area (e.g., cell). Each cell can be divided into multiple sectors based on the base station antennas.

[0037] Figure 1 provides a general illustration of the various components, any or all of which may be used as appropriate, and each component may be copied or omitted as needed. Specifically, although one UE 105 is shown, many UEs (e.g., hundreds, thousands, millions, etc.) may be utilized in the communication system 100. Similarly, the communication system 100 may include a larger (or smaller) number of SVs (i.e., more or fewer than the four SVs 190-193 shown), gNBs 110a and 110b, ng-eNB 114, AMF 115, external client 130, and / or other components. The connections between the various components in the communication system 100 shown include data and signaling connections, which may include additional (intermediate) components, direct or indirect entities and / or wireless connections and / or additional networks. Furthermore, components may be rearranged, combined, separated, replaced, and / or omitted according to desired functionality.

[0038] Although Figure 1 illustrates a 5G-based network, similar network implementations and configurations can be used for other communication technologies, such as 3G, Long Term Evolution (LTE), etc. The implementations described herein (whether for 5G technology and / or for one or more other communication technologies and / or protocols) can be used to transmit (or broadcast) directional synchronization signals at a UE (e.g., UE 105), receive and measure directional signals, and / or provide location assistance to UE 105 (via GMLC 125 or other location servers), and / or calculate the location of UE 105 at a location-capable device (such as UE 105, gNB 110a, 110b, or LMF 120) based on measurements of such directional transmissions received at UE 105. The Gateway Movement Location Center (GMLC) 125, Location Management Function (LMF) 120, Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF) 115, SMF 117, ng-eNB (eNodeB) 114, and gNB (gNodeB) 110a, 110b are examples, and in various embodiments, various other location server functions and / or base station functions may be replaced by or included respectively.

[0039] System 100 is capable of wireless communication because its components can communicate directly or indirectly (e.g., via gNB 110a, 110b, ng-eNB 114 and / or 5GC 140 (and / or one or more other devices not shown, such as one or more other base transceiver stations)) (at least sometimes using a wireless connection). For indirect communication, the communication can be altered during transmission from one entity to another, for example, by changing the header information of data packets, changing the format, etc. UE 105 may include multiple UEs and may be mobile wireless communication devices, but can communicate wirelessly and via wired connections. UE 105 may be any of the various devices, such as a smartphone, tablet computer, vehicle-based device, etc., but these are examples, as UE 105 is not required to be any of these configurations, and other configurations of the UE can be used. Other UEs may include wearable devices (e.g., smartwatches, smart jewelry, smart glasses, or head-mounted displays, etc.). Other UEs, whether currently existing or developed in the future, may also be used. In addition, other wireless devices (whether active or not) can be implemented within system 100 and can communicate with each other and / or with UE 105, gNB 110a, 110b, ng-eNB 114, 5GC 140, and / or external client 130. For example, such other devices may include Internet of Things (IoT) devices, medical devices, home entertainment and / or automation devices, etc. 5GC 140 can communicate with external client 130 (e.g., a computer system), for example, to allow external client 130 to request and / or receive location information about UE 105 (e.g., via GMLC 125).

[0040] UE 105 or other devices can be configured to communicate in various networks and / or for various purposes and / or use various technologies (e.g., 5G, Wi-Fi communication, multiple frequencies of Wi-Fi communication, satellite positioning, one or more types of communication (e.g., GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications), CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access), LTE (Long Term Evolution), V2X (vehicle-to-everything, such as V2P (vehicle to pedestrian), V2I (vehicle to infrastructure), V2V (vehicle to vehicle) etc.), IEEE (e.g., 802.11p). V2X communication can be cellular (C-V2X) and / or WiFi (e.g., DSRC (Dedicated Short Range Connectivity)). System 100 can support operation on multiple carriers (waveform signals of different frequencies). A multi-carrier transmitter can transmit modulated signals simultaneously on multiple carriers. Each modulated signal can be a Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) signal, Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) signal, Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access (OFDMA) signal, Single Carrier Frequency Division Multiple Access (SC-FDMA) signal, etc. Each modulated signal can be transmitted on different carriers and can carry pilots, information, data, etc. UEs 105 and 106 can communicate with each other via UE-to-UE side-link (SL) communication by transmitting on one or more side-link channels (such as the Physical Side-Link Synchronization Channel (PSSCH), Physical Side-Link Broadcast Channel (PSBCH), or Physical Side-Link Control Channel (PSCCH)).

[0041] UE 105 may include and / or may be referred to as a device, mobile device, wireless device, mobile terminal, terminal, mobile station (MS), Secure User Plane Location Enabled (SUPL) terminal (SET), or some other name. Furthermore, UE 105 may correspond to a mobile phone, smartphone, laptop computer, tablet device, PDA, consumer asset tracking device, navigation device, Internet of Things (IoT) device, health monitor, security system, smart city sensor, smart meter, wearable tracker, or some other portable or mobile device. Typically, but not necessarily, UE 105 may support wireless communications using one or more Radio Access Technologies (RATs), such as Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM), Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA), Wideband CDMA (WCDMA), LTE, High-Speed ​​Packet Data (HRPD), IEEE 802.11 WiFi (also known as Wi-Fi), Bluetooth® (BT), WiMAX, 5G New Radio (NR) (e.g., using NG-RAN 135 and 5GC 140), etc. UE 105 can support wireless communication using a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN), which can be connected to other networks (e.g., the Internet) using, for example, Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) or packet cable. Using one or more of these RATs can allow UE 105 to communicate with external client 130 (e.g., via an element of 5GC 140 not shown in FIG. 1, or possibly via GMLC 125) and / or allow external client 130 to receive location information about UE 105 (e.g., via GMLC 125).

[0042] UE 105 may include a single entity or may include multiple entities, such as in a personal area network, where the user may use audio, video, and / or data I / O (input / output) devices and / or body sensors, as well as separate wired or wireless modems. The estimation of the location of UE 105 may be referred to as location, location estimate, location fix, fix, position, position estimate, or position fix, and may be geographical, thus providing location coordinates (e.g., latitude and longitude) for UE 105, which may or may not include an altitude component (e.g., altitude above sea level, altitude above ground level, floor elevation, or basement elevation, or depth below ground level, floor elevation, or basement elevation). Alternatively, the location of UE 105 may be represented as a city-specific location (e.g., as a postal address or the naming of a point or area within a building, such as a specific room or floor). The location of UE 105 can be represented as an area or volume within which UE 105 is expected to be located with a certain probability or confidence level (e.g., 67%, 95%, etc.) (defined geographically or in an urban context). The location of UE 105 can be represented as a relative location, including, for example, distance and direction from a known location. A relative location can be represented as relative coordinates (e.g., X, Y (and Z) coordinates) defined relative to an origin at a known location, which can be, for example, geographically, in an urban term, or by reference to a point, area, or volume indicated, for example, on a map, floor plan, or building plan. In the description contained herein, unless otherwise indicated, the use of the term "location" may include any of these variations. When calculating the location of the UE, local x, y, and possibly z coordinates are typically solved, and then, if necessary, the local coordinates are converted to absolute coordinates (e.g., for latitude, longitude, and altitude above or below mean sea level).

[0043] UE 105 can be configured to communicate with other entities using one or more of various technologies. UE 105 can be configured to indirectly connect to one or more communication networks via one or more device-to-device (D2D) peer-to-peer (P2P) links. D2D P2P links can be supported using any suitable D2D radio access technology (RAT) such as LTE Direct (LTE-D), WiFi Direct (WiFi-D), Bluetooth®, etc. One or more UEs in a UE group utilizing D2D communication can be within the geographic coverage area of ​​a Transmit / Receive Point (TRP) (such as one or more of gNB 110a, 110b, and / or ng-eNB 114). Other UEs in such a group may be outside such geographic coverage area or may otherwise be unable to receive transmissions from a base station. A UE group communicating via D2D communication can utilize a one-to-many (1:M) system, where each UE can transmit to other UEs in the group. TRPs can facilitate the scheduling of resources for D2D communication. In other cases, D2D communication can be performed between UEs without involving TRP. One or more UEs in a group of UEs using D2D communication can be within the geographical coverage area of ​​the TRP. Other UEs in such a group can be outside such geographical coverage area or otherwise unable to receive transmissions from the base station. A group of UEs communicating via D2D communication can utilize a one-to-many (1:M) system, where each UE can transmit to other UEs in the group. TRP can facilitate the scheduling of resources for D2D communication. In other cases, D2D communication can be performed between UEs without involving TRP.

[0044] The base stations (BS) in NG-RAN 135 shown in Figure 1 include NR nodes B, referred to as gNBs 110a and 110b. Each pair of gNBs 110a and 110b in NG-RAN 135 can be interconnected via one or more other gNBs. Access to the 5G network is provided to UE 105 via wireless communication between UE 105 and one or more of gNBs 110a and 110b. gNBs 110a and 110b can use 5G to provide wireless communication access to 5GC 140 on behalf of UE 105. In Figure 1, although it is assumed that the serving gNB for UE 105 is gNB 110a, another gNB (e.g., gNB 110b) can act as the serving gNB if UE 105 moves to another location, or it can act as a secondary gNB to provide additional throughput and bandwidth to UE 105.

[0045] The base station (BS) in NG-RAN 135 shown in Figure 1 may include ng-eNB 114, also known as Next Generation Evolved Node B. ng-eNB 114 may be connected to one or more of the gNBs 110a and 110b in NG-RAN 135 via one or more other gNBs and / or one or more other ng-eNBs. ng-eNB 114 may provide LTE radio access and / or evolved LTE (eLTE) radio access to UE 105. One or more of the gNBs 110a, 110b and / or ng-eNB 114 may be configured as location-only beacons, which may transmit signals to assist in determining the location of UE 105, but may not receive signals from UE 105 or from other UEs.

[0046] Each of the gNBs 110a, 110b, and / or the ng-eNB 114 may include one or more TRPs. For example, although each sector within a cell of the BS may include a TRP, multiple TRPs may share one or more components (e.g., a shared processor, but with separate antennas). System 100 may exclusively include macro TRPs, or system 100 may have different types of TRPs, such as macro TRPs, pico TRPs, and / or femto TRPs. Macro TRPs may cover a relatively large geographic area (e.g., a radius of several kilometers) and may allow unrestricted access to terminals with service subscriptions. Pico TRPs may cover a relatively small geographic area (e.g., a pico cell) and may allow unrestricted access to terminals with service subscriptions. Femto or home TRPs may cover a relatively small geographic area (e.g., a femto cell) and may allow restricted access to terminals associated with that femto cell (e.g., terminals for users in a residence).

[0047] Each of the gNBs 110a, 110b, and / or ng-eNB 114 may include a Radio Unit (RU), a Distributed Unit (DU), and a Central Unit (CU). For example, the gNB 110b includes RU 111, DU 112, and CU 113. RU 111, DU 112, and CU 113 divide the functionality of the gNB 110b. Although the gNB 110b is shown as having a single RU, a single DU, and a single CU, the gNB may include one or more RUs, one or more DUs, and / or one or more CUs. The interface between CU 113 and DU 112 is referred to as the F1 interface. RU 111 is configured to perform digital front-end (DFE) functions (e.g., analog-to-digital conversion, filtering, power amplification, transmit / receive) and digital beamforming, and includes a portion of the physical (PHY) layer. RU 111 may perform DFE using massive MIMO and may be integrated with one or more antennas of the gNB 110b. DU 112 carries the Radio Link Control (RLC), Media Access Control (MAC), and Physical Layer of gNB 110b. A DU can support one or more cells, and each cell is supported by a single DU. The operation of DU 112 is controlled by CU 113. Although CU 113 is configured to perform functions such as forwarding user data, mobility control, radio access network sharing, location, and session management, some functions are specifically allocated to DU 112. CU 113 carries the Radio Resource Control (RRC), Service Data Adaptation Protocol (SDAP), and Packet Data Convergence Protocol (PDCP) of gNB 110b. UE 105 can communicate with CU 113 via the RRC, SDAP, and PDCP layers, with DU 112 via the RLC, MAC, and PHY layers, and with RU 111 via the PHY layer.

[0048] As mentioned, although Figure 1 depicts a node configured to communicate according to the 5G communication protocol, nodes configured to communicate according to other communication protocols (such as, for example, the LTE protocol or the IEEE 802.11x protocol) can be used. For example, in an evolved packet system (EPS) providing LTE radio access to UE 105, the RAN may include an evolved Universal Mobile Communications System (UMTS) Terrestrial Radio Access Network (E-UTRAN), which may include base stations, each including an evolved Node B (eNB). The core network for the EPS may include an evolved packet core (EPC). The EPS may include E-UTRAN plus EPC, where E-UTRAN corresponds to NG-RAN 135 in Figure 1 and EPC corresponds to 5GC 140 in Figure 1.

[0049] gNB 110a, 110b, and ng-eNB 114 can communicate with AMF 115, which in turn communicates with LMF 120 for positioning functions. AMF 115 supports the mobility of UE 105 (including cell changes and handovers) and can participate in supporting signaling connections to UE 105 and providing possible data and voice bearers for UE 105. LMF 120 can communicate directly with UE 105, for example, via wireless communication, or directly with gNB 110a, 110b, and / or ng-eNB 114. LMF 120 can support the positioning of UE 105 when UE 105 accesses NG-RAN 135, and can support positioning procedures / methods such as Auxiliary GNSS (A-GNSS), Observed Time Difference of Arrival (OTDOA) (e.g., Downlink (DL) OTDOA or Uplink (UL) OTDOA), Round Trip Time (RTT), Multi-Cell RTT, Real-Time Kinematic (RTK), Precise Point Positioning (PPP), Differential GNSS (DGNSS), Enhanced Cell ID (E-CID), Angle of Arrival (AoA), Angle of Departure (AoD), and / or other positioning methods. LMF 120 can process location service requests for UE 105 received, for example, from AMF 115 or GMLC 125. LMF 120 can connect to AMF 115 and / or GMLC 125. LMF 120 can be referred to by other names such as Location Manager (LM), Location Function (LF), Commercial LMF (CLMF), or Value-Added LMF (VLMF). The node / system implementing LMF 120 can additionally or alternatively implement other types of location support modules, such as Enhanced Serving Mobile Location Center (E-SMLC) or Secure User Plane Location (SUPL) Location Platform (SLP). At least a portion of the location functionality (including the derivation of UE 105's location) can be performed at UE 105 (e.g., using signal measurements obtained by UE 105 of signals transmitted by radio nodes such as gNB 110a, 110b, and / or ng-eNB 114, and / or auxiliary data provided to UE 105, for example, by LMF 120). AMF 115 can serve as a control node for handling signaling between UE 105 and 5GC 140, and can provide QoS (Quality of Service) streaming and session management. AMF 115 can support UE 105 mobility (including cell changes and handovers) and can participate in supporting signaling connections to UE 105.

[0050] Server 150 (e.g., a cloud server) is configured to obtain the location estimate of UE 105 and provide it to external client 130. Server 150 may be configured, for example, to run a microservice / service that obtains the location estimate of UE 105. Server 150 may, for example, pull the location estimate from one or more of UE 105, gNB 110a, 110b (e.g., via RU 111, DU 112, and CU 113) and / or ng-eNB 114 and / or LMF 120 (e.g., by sending a location request to each of the above). As another example, UE 105, GNB 110a, 110b (e.g., via RU 111, DU 112, and CU 113) and / or LMF 120 may push the location estimate of UE 105 to server 150.

[0051] GMLC 125 can support location requests for UE 105 received from external client 130 via server 150, and can forward such location requests to AMF 115 for forwarding to LMF 120, or can forward location requests directly to LMF 120. Location responses (e.g., containing location estimates for UE 105) from LMF 120 can be returned to GMLC 125 directly or via AMF 115, and GMLC 125 can then return the location response (e.g., containing location estimates) to external client 130 via server 150. Although GMLC 125 is shown connected to both AMF 115 and LMF 120, in some implementations, GMLC 125 may not be connected to either AMF 115 or LMF 120.

[0052] As further illustrated in Figure 1, the LMF 120 can communicate with gNB 110a, 110b, and / or ng-eNB 114 using the new Radio Positioning Protocol A (which may be referred to as NPPa or NRPPa) defined in 3GPP Technical Specification (TS) 38.455. NRPPa can be the same as, similar to, or an extension of the LTE Positioning Protocol A (LPPa) defined in 3GPP TS 36.455, wherein NRPPa messages are forwarded between gNB 110a (or gNB 110b) and LMF 120 and / or between ng-eNB 114 and LMF 120 via AMF 115. As further illustrated in Figure 1, the LMF 120 and UE 105 can communicate using the LTE Positioning Protocol (LPP) defined in 3GPP TS 36.355. LMF 120 and UE 105 may also communicate using a new radio positioning protocol (which may be referred to as NPP or NRPP), which may be the same as, similar to, or an extension of LPP. Here, LPP and / or NPP messages can be forwarded between UE 105 and LMF 120 via AMF 115 and the serving gNB 110a, 110b, or serving ng-eNB 114 for UE 105. For example, LPP and / or NPP messages can be forwarded between LMF 120 and AMF 115 using the 5G Location Services Application Protocol (LCS AP), and between AMF 115 and UE 105 using the 5G Non-Access Layer (NAS) protocol. The LPP and / or NPP protocols can be used to support the positioning of UE 105 using UE-assisted and / or UE-based positioning methods (such as A-GNSS, RTK, OTDOA, and / or E-CID). The NRPPa protocol can be used to support the location of UE 105 using network-based location methods such as E-CID (e.g., when used with measurements obtained from gNB 110a, 110b, or ng-eNB 114), and / or can be used by LMF 120 to obtain location-related information from gNB 110a, 110b, and / or ng-eNB 114, such as defining parameters of directional SS (synchronization signal) or PRS transmissions from gNB 110a, 110b, and / or ng-eNB 114. LMF 120 can be co-located or integrated with gNB or TRP, or can be arranged remotely from gNB and / or TRP, and configured to communicate directly or indirectly with gNB and / or TRP.

[0053] Using a UE-assisted positioning method, UE 105 can obtain location measurements and send them to a location server (e.g., LMF 120) to calculate a location estimate for UE 105. For example, location measurements may include one or more of the following for gNB 110a, 110b, ng-eNB 114, and / or WLAN AP: Received Signal Strength Indication (RSSI), Round-Trip Time (RTT), Reference Signal Time Difference (RSTD), Reference Signal Received Power (RSRP), and / or Reference Signal Received Quality (RSRQ). Location measurements may also, or alternatively, include measurements of GNSS pseudorange, code phase, and / or carrier phase for SV 190-193.

[0054] Using a UE-based positioning method, UE 105 can obtain a location measurement (e.g., which may be the same as or similar to the location measurement of a UE-assisted positioning method) and can calculate the location of UE 105 (e.g., by means of auxiliary data received from a location server such as LMF 120 or broadcast by gNB 110a, 110b, ng-eNB 114 or other base stations or APs).

[0055] Using a network-based positioning method, one or more base stations (e.g., gNB 110a, 110b, and / or ng-eNB 114) or APs can obtain location measurements (e.g., measurements of RSSI, RTT, RSRP, RSRQ, or Time of Arrival (ToA) for signals transmitted by UE 105) and / or can receive measurements obtained by UE 105. One or more base stations or APs can send the measurements to a location server (e.g., LMF 120) for calculating a location estimate for UE 105.

[0056] The information provided to the LMF 120 by the gNB 110a, 110b and / or ng-eNB 114 using NRPPa may include timing and configuration information for directional SS or PRS transmissions, as well as location coordinates. The LMF 120 may provide some or all of this information to the UE 105 as supplementary data in LPP and / or NPP messages via NG-RAN 135 and 5GC 140.

[0057] The LPP or NPP message sent from LMF 120 to UE 105 can instruct UE 105 to perform any of a variety of tasks according to the desired function. For example, the LPP or NPP message may contain instructions for UE 105 to obtain measurements for GNSS (or A-GNSS), WLAN, E-CID and / or OTDOA (or some other positioning method). In the case of E-CID, LPP or NPP messages can instruct UE 105 to obtain one or more measurements of directional signals transmitted within a specific cell supported by one or more of gNBs 110a, 110b, and / or ng-eNB 114 (or by some other type of base station such as eNB or WiFi AP). UE 105 can send the measurements back to LMF 120 via serving gNB 110a (or serving ng-eNB 114) and AMF 115 in an LPP or NPP message (e.g., within a 5G NAS message).

[0058] As mentioned, although the communication system 100 is described in relation to 5G technology, the communication system 100 can be implemented to support other communication technologies (such as GSM, WCDMA, LTE, etc.) for supporting and interacting with mobile devices such as UE 105 (e.g., providing voice, data, location, and other functions). In some such embodiments, 5GC 140 can be configured to control different air interfaces. For example, 5GC 140 can use non-3GPP interoperability features (N3IWF, not shown in Figure 1) in 5GC 140 to connect to a WLAN. For example, the WLAN can support IEEE 802.11 WiFi access for UE 105 and may include one or more WiFi APs. Here, N3IWF can connect to the WLAN and other elements in 5GC 140, such as AMF 115. In some embodiments, both NG-RAN 135 and 5GC 140 can be replaced by one or more other RANs and one or more other core networks. For example, in EPS, NG-RAN 135 can be replaced by E-UTRAN containing eNB, and 5GC 140 can be replaced by EPC containing Mobility Management Entity (MME) (instead of AMF 115), E-SMLC (instead of LMF 120), and GMLC similar to GMLC 125. In such EPS, E-SMLC can use LPPa (instead of NRPPa) to send and receive location information from eNB in ​​E-UTRAN, and can use LPP to support the location of UE 105. In these other embodiments, the location of UE 105 using directional PRS can be supported in a manner similar to that described herein for 5G networks, except that in some cases, the functions and procedures described herein for gNB 110a, 110b, ng-eNB 114, AMF 115, and LMF 120 can be alternatively applied to other network elements, such as eNB, WiFi Ap, MME, and E-SMLC.

[0059] As mentioned, in some embodiments, the positioning function may be implemented at least in part using directional SS or PRS beams transmitted by base stations (such as gNB 110a, 110b and / or ng-eNB 114) within range of the UE whose location is to be determined (e.g., UE 105 in FIG. 1). In some cases, the UE may use directional SS or PRS beams from multiple base stations (such as gNB 110a, 110b, ng-eNB 114, etc.) to calculate the UE's location.

[0060] Referring also to Figure 2, UE 200 is an example of one of UEs 105 and 106, and includes a computing platform comprising: a processor 210, memory 211 including software (SW) 212, one or more sensors 213, a transceiver interface 214 for transceivers 215 (which includes a wireless transceiver 240 and a wired transceiver 250), a user interface 216, a satellite positioning system (SPS) receiver 217, a camera 218, and a positioning device (PD) 219. The processor 210, memory 211, sensors 213, transceiver interface 214, user interface 216, SPS receiver 217, camera 218, and positioning device 219 can be communicatively coupled to each other via a bus 220 (e.g., which can be configured for optical and / or electrical communication). One or more of the illustrated devices (e.g., camera 218, positioning device 219, and / or one or more of sensors 213, etc.) may be omitted from UE 200. Processor 210 may include one or more smart hardware devices, such as a central processing unit (CPU), microcontroller, application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), etc. Processor 210 may include multiple processors, including a general-purpose / application processor 230, a digital signal processor (DSP) 231, a modem processor 232, a video processor 233, and / or a sensor processor 234. One or more of processors 230-234 may include multiple devices (e.g., multiple processors). For example, sensor processor 234 may include processors for, for example, RF (radio frequency) sensing (where one or more (cellular) wireless signals are transmitted and reflected for identification, mapping, and / or tracking of objects) and / or ultrasound, etc. Modem processor 232 may support dual SIM / dual connectivity (or even more SIMs). For example, an original equipment manufacturer (OEM) can use a SIM (User Identity Module or User Identifier Module), and an end user of UE 200 can use another SIM for connectivity. Memory 211 is a non-transitory storage medium, which may include random access memory (RAM), flash memory, optical disk memory, and / or read-only memory (ROM), etc. Memory 211 stores software 212, which may be processor-readable and processor-executable software code containing instructions configured to cause processor 210 to perform the various functions described herein when executed. Alternatively, software 212 may not be executed directly by processor 210, but may be configured to cause processor 210 to perform functions (e.g., when compiled and executed). The description may refer to processor 210 performing functions, but this includes other implementations, such as processor 210 executing software and / or firmware. This description may simply refer to processor 210 performing functions as processor 210 performing functions. This description may refer to the performance of functions by one or more appropriate components of UE 200 as UE 200 performance of functions.In addition to and / or replacing memory 211, processor 210 may include memory with stored instructions. The functionality of processor 210 is discussed in more detail below.

[0061] The configuration of UE 200 shown in Figure 2 is an example, not a limitation, of the present disclosure which includes the scope of the claims, and other configurations may be used. For example, an example configuration of the UE includes one or more of processors 230-234 of processor 210, memory 211, and wireless transceiver 240. Other example configurations include one or more of processors 230-234 of processor 210, memory 211, wireless transceiver, and one or more of sensors 213, user interface 216, SPS receiver 217, camera 218, PD 219, and / or wired transceiver.

[0062] UE 200 may include a modem processor 232, which may be capable of performing baseband processing on signals received and down-converted by transceiver 215 and / or SPS receiver 217. The modem processor 232 may perform baseband processing on signals to be up-converted for transmission by transceiver 215. Alternatively, baseband processing may be performed by a general-purpose / application processor 230 and / or DSP 231. However, other configurations may be used to perform baseband processing.

[0063] UE 200 may include sensors 213, which may include one or more of various types of sensors, such as one or more inertial sensors, one or more magnetometers, one or more environmental sensors, one or more optical sensors, one or more weight sensors, and / or one or more radio frequency (RF) sensors. An inertial measurement unit (IMU) may include, for example, one or more accelerometers (e.g., collectively responding to acceleration in three dimensions of UE 200) and / or one or more gyroscopes (e.g., three-dimensional gyroscopes). Sensor 213 may include one or more magnetometers (e.g., three-dimensional magnetometers) for determining orientation (e.g., relative to magnetic north and / or true north), which may be used for any of a variety of purposes, such as supporting one or more compass applications. Environmental sensors may include, for example, one or more temperature sensors, one or more atmospheric pressure sensors, one or more ambient light sensors, one or more camera imagers, and / or one or more microphones. Sensor 213 can generate analog and / or digital signal indications that can be stored in memory 211 and processed by DSP 231 and / or general / application processor 230 to support one or more applications, such as, for example, applications involving positioning and / or navigation operations.

[0064] Sensor 213 can be used for relative position measurement, relative position determination, motion determination, etc. Information detected by sensor 213 can be used for motion detection, relative displacement, dead reckoning, sensor-based position determination, and / or sensor-assisted position determination. Sensor 213 can be used to determine whether UE 200 is stationary or mobile and / or whether to report certain useful information about the mobility of UE 200 to LMF 120. For example, based on information obtained / measured by sensor 213, UE 200 can notify / report to LMF 120 that UE 200 has detected movement or that UE 200 has moved, and report relative displacement / distance (e.g., via dead reckoning or sensor-based or sensor-assisted position determination enabled by sensor 213). In another example, for relative positioning information, the sensor / IMU can be used to determine the angle and / or orientation of another device relative to UE 200, etc.

[0065] The IMU can be configured to provide measurements of the UE 200's direction of motion and / or velocity, which can be used for relative position determination. For example, one or more accelerometers and / or one or more gyroscopes of the IMU can separately detect the UE 200's linear acceleration and rotational velocity. The linear acceleration and rotational velocity measurements of the UE 200 can be integrated over time to determine the UE 200's instantaneous direction of motion and displacement. The instantaneous direction of motion and displacement can be integrated to track the UE 200's position. For example, the UE 200's reference position can be determined at a certain moment, for example, using the SPS receiver 217 (and / or by some other means), and measurements taken after that moment from the accelerometers and gyroscopes can be used for dead reckoning to determine the UE 200's current position based on its movement (direction and distance) relative to the reference position.

[0066] A magnetometer can determine the magnetic field strength in different directions, which can be used to determine the orientation of the UE 200. For example, this orientation can be used to provide a digital compass for the UE 200. The magnetometer may include a two-dimensional magnetometer configured to detect and provide indications of magnetic field strength in two orthogonal dimensions. The magnetometer may also include a three-dimensional magnetometer configured to detect and provide indications of magnetic field strength in three orthogonal dimensions. The magnetometer can provide components for sensing magnetic fields and, for example, providing indications of the magnetic field to the processor 210.

[0067] Transceiver 215 may include a wireless transceiver 240 and a wired transceiver 250, which are configured to communicate with other devices via wireless and wired connections, respectively. For example, wireless transceiver 240 may include a wireless transmitter 242 and a wireless receiver 244 coupled to antenna 246 for transmitting (e.g., on one or more uplink channels and / or one or more sidelink channels) and / or receiving (e.g., on one or more downlink channels and / or one or more sidelink channels) wireless signals 248 and converting signals from wireless signals 248 to wired (e.g., electrical and / or optical) signals and from wired (e.g., electrical and / or optical) signals to wireless signals 248. Wireless transmitter 242 includes suitable components (e.g., a power amplifier and a digital-to-analog converter). Wireless receiver 244 includes suitable components (e.g., one or more amplifiers, one or more frequency filters, and an analog-to-digital converter). Wireless transmitter 242 may include multiple transmitters that can be used as discrete components or combined / integrated components, and / or wireless receiver 244 may include multiple receivers that can be used as discrete components or combined / integrated components. Wireless transceiver 240 may be configured to transmit signals according to various Radio Access Technologies (RATs) such as: 5G New Radio (NR), GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications), UMTS (Universal Mobile Telecommunications System), AMPS (Advanced Mobile Telephone System), CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access), WCDMA (Wideband CDMA), LTE (Long Term Evolution), LTE Direct (LTE-D), 3GPP LTE-V2X (PC5), IEEE 802.11 (including IEEE 802.11p), WiFi, WiFi Direct (WiFi-D), Bluetooth®, Zigbee, etc. New Radio may use mm wave frequencies and / or frequencies below 6 GHz. Wired transceiver 250 may include a wired transmitter 252 and a wired receiver 254 configured for wired communication, for example, a network interface for communicating with NG-RAN 135 to send and receive communications from NG-RAN 135. The wired transmitter 252 may include multiple transmitters that can be discrete components or combined / integrated components, and / or the wired receiver 254 may include multiple receivers that can be discrete components or combined / integrated components. Wired transceiver 250 may be configured, for example, for optical and / or electrical communication. Transceiver 215 may be communicatively coupled to transceiver interface 214, for example, via optical and / or electrical connections. Transceiver interface 214 may be at least partially integrated with transceiver 215.The wireless transmitter 242, wireless receiver 244, and / or antenna 246 may each include multiple transmitters, multiple receivers, and / or multiple antennas for transmitting and / or receiving appropriate signals, respectively.

[0068] User interface 216 may include one or more of a number of devices, such as, for example, a speaker, microphone, display device, vibration device, keyboard, touch screen, etc. User interface 216 may include more than one of these devices. User interface 216 may be configured to allow a user to interact with one or more applications loaded on UE 200. For example, user interface 216 may store indications of analog and / or digital signals in memory 211 to be processed by DSP 231 and / or general / application processor 230 in response to actions from the user. Similarly, applications loaded on UE 200 may store indications of analog and / or digital signals in memory 211 to present output signals to the user. User interface 216 may include audio input / output (I / O) devices, including, for example, speakers, microphones, digital-analog circuitry, analog-digital circuitry, amplifiers, and / or gain control circuitry (including more than one of these devices). Other configurations of the audio I / O devices may be used. Alternatively, the user interface 216 may include one or more touch sensors responsive to touch and / or pressure, for example, on the keyboard and / or touchscreen of the user interface 216.

[0069] SPS receiver 217 (e.g., a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver) may be able to receive and acquire SPS signal 260 via SPS antenna 262. SPS antenna 262 is configured to convert SPS signal 260 from a wireless signal to a wired signal (e.g., an electrical or optical signal) and may be integrated with antenna 246. SPS receiver 217 may be configured to process the acquired SPS signal 260, in whole or in part, to estimate the location of UE 200. For example, SPS receiver 217 may be configured to use SPS signal 260 to determine the location of UE 200 via trilateration. General-purpose / application processor 230, memory 211, DSP 231, and / or one or more dedicated processors (not shown) may be used in conjunction with SPS receiver 217 to process the acquired SPS signal, in whole or in part, and / or calculate the estimated location of UE 200. Memory 211 may store indications (e.g., measurements) of the SPS signal 260 and / or other signals used to perform positioning operations (e.g., signals acquired from the wireless transceiver 240). General-purpose / application processor 230, DSP 231 and / or one or more dedicated processors and / or memory 211 may provide or support a positioning engine for processing measurements to estimate the position of UE 200.

[0070] UE 200 may include a camera 218 for capturing still or moving images. Camera 218 may include, for example, an imaging sensor (e.g., a charge-coupled device or CMOS (complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor) imager), a lens, analog-to-digital circuitry, a frame buffer, etc. Additional processing, conditioning, encoding, and / or compression of the signals representing the captured images may be performed by a general-purpose / application processor 230 and / or a DSP 231. Alternatively, video processor 233 may perform conditioning, encoding, compression, and / or manipulation of the signals representing the captured images. Video processor 233 may decode / decompress stored image data for presentation on a display device (not shown), such as user interface 216.

[0071] Positioning device (PD) 219 can be configured to determine the location of UE 200, the movement of UE 200, and / or the relative location and / or time of UE 200. For example, PD 219 can communicate with and / or include part or all of SPS receiver 217. Although PD 219 may work in conjunction with processor 210 and memory 211 as appropriate to perform at least a portion of one or more positioning methods, the description herein may refer to PD 219 being configured to perform according to a positioning method or PD 219 performing according to a positioning method. PD 219 may also be configured, or alternatively, to determine the location of UE 200 using ground-based signals (e.g., at least some of the signals in signal 248) for trilateration, for assisting in the acquisition and use of SPS signal 260, or both. PD 219 can be configured to determine the location of UE 200 based on the cell of the serving base station (e.g., cell center) and / or another technology such as E-CID. PD 219 can be configured to determine the location of UE 200 using image recognition combined with one or more images from camera 218 and the known location of landmarks (e.g., natural landmarks such as mountains and / or artificial landmarks such as buildings, bridges, streets, etc.). PD 219 can be configured to determine the location of UE 200 using one or more other techniques (e.g., relying on the UE's self-reported location (e.g., part of the UE's location beacon)), and can use a combination of techniques (e.g., SPS and terrestrial positioning signals) to determine the location of UE 200. PD 219 may include one or more sensors 213 (e.g., gyroscopes, accelerometers, magnetometers, etc.) that can sense the orientation and / or motion of UE 200 and provide indications thereof, and processor 210 (e.g., general-purpose / application processor 230 and / or DSP 231) can be configured to use these indications to determine the motion of UE 200 (e.g., velocity vector and / or acceleration vector). PD 219 can be configured to provide indication of uncertainties and / or errors in the determined positioning and / or motion. The functionality of PD 219 can be provided in various ways and / or configurations, for example, by another component of general-purpose / application processor 230, transceiver 215, SPS receiver 217 and / or UE 200, and can be provided by hardware, software, firmware or various combinations thereof.

[0072] Referring also to Figure 3, examples of the TRP 300 for gNB 110a, 110b and / or ng-eNB 114 include a computing platform comprising a processor 310, memory 311 including software (SW) 312, and a transceiver 315. The processor 310, memory 311 and transceiver 315 may be communicatively coupled to each other via a bus 320 (which may be configured, for example, for optical and / or electrical communications). One or more of the devices shown (e.g., wireless transceivers) may be omitted from the TRP 300. The processor 310 may include one or more intelligent hardware devices, such as a central processing unit (CPU), microcontroller, application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), etc. The processor 310 may include multiple processors (e.g., including a general-purpose / application processor, DSP, modem processor, video processor and / or sensor processor as shown in Figure 2). Memory 311 may be a non-transitory storage medium, including random access memory (RAM), flash memory, optical disk memory, and / or read-only memory (ROM). Memory 311 stores software 312, which may be processor-readable and processor-executable software code containing instructions configured to cause processor 310 to perform the various functions described herein when executed. Alternatively, software 312 may not be directly executed by processor 310, but may be configured to cause processor 310 to perform functions (e.g., when compiled and executed).

[0073] This description may refer to processor 310 performing functions, but this includes other implementations, such as processor 310 executing software and / or firmware. This description may simply refer to processor 310 performing functions as one or more processors contained in processor 310 performing functions. This description may also simply refer to TRP 300 (and therefore one of gNB 110a, 110b and / or ng-eNB 114) performing functions (e.g., processor 310 and memory 311) as TRP 300 performing the function. In addition to and / or in place of memory 311, processor 310 may include memory with stored instructions. The functionality of processor 310 is discussed more fully below.

[0074] Transceiver 315 may include a wireless transceiver 340 and / or a wired transceiver 350, which are configured to communicate with other devices via wireless and wired connections, respectively. For example, wireless transceiver 340 may include a wireless transmitter 342 and a wireless receiver 344 coupled to one or more antennas 346 for transmitting (e.g., on one or more uplink channels and / or one or more downlink channels) and / or receiving (e.g., on one or more downlink channels and / or one or more uplink channels) wireless signals 348 and converting signals from wireless signals 348 to wired (e.g., electrical and / or optical) signals and from wired (e.g., electrical and / or optical) signals to wireless signals 348. Therefore, wireless transmitter 342 may include multiple transmitters that can be discrete components or combined / integrated components, and / or wireless receiver 344 may include multiple receivers that can be discrete components or combined / integrated components. The wireless transceiver 340 can be configured to transmit signals according to various Radio Access Technologies (RATs) such as UE 200, one or more other UEs, and / or one or more other devices: 5G New Radio (NR), GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications), UMTS (Universal Mobile Telecommunications System), AMPS (Advanced Mobile Telephone System), CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access), WCDMA (Wideband CDMA), LTE (Long Term Evolution), LTE Direct (LTE-D), 3GPP LTE-V2X (PC5), IEEE 802.11 (including IEEE 802.11p), WiFi, WiFi Direct (WiFi-D), Bluetooth®, Zigbee, etc. The wired transceiver 350 may include a wired transmitter 352 and a wired receiver 354 configured for wired communication, for example, it can be used as a network interface to communicate with NG-RAN 135 to send and receive communications to, for example, LMF 120 and / or one or more other network entities. Wired transmitter 352 may include multiple transmitters that can be used as discrete components or combined / integrated components, and / or wired receiver 354 may include multiple receivers that can be used as discrete components or combined / integrated components. Wired transceiver 350 may be configured, for example, for optical communication and / or electrical communication.

[0075] The configuration of TRP 300 shown in Figure 3 is an example, not a limitation, of the present disclosure, which includes the scope of the claims, and other configurations may be used. For example, the description herein discusses TRP 300 being configured to perform certain functions or TRP 300 performing certain functions, but one or more of these functions may be performed by LMF 120 and / or UE 200 (i.e., LMF 120 and / or UE 200 may be configured to perform one or more of these functions).

[0076] Referring also to Figure 4, server 400 (which is an example of LMF 120) includes a computing platform comprising a processor 410, memory 411 including software (SW) 412, and transceiver 415. The processor 410, memory 411, and transceiver 415 are communicatively coupled to each other via bus 420 (which can be configured, for example, for optical and / or electrical communications). One or more of the devices shown (e.g., wireless transceivers) may be omitted from server 400. Processor 410 may include one or more intelligent hardware devices, such as a central processing unit (CPU), microcontroller, application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), etc. Processor 410 may include multiple processors (e.g., including general-purpose / application processors, DSPs, modem processors, video processors, and / or sensor processors as shown in Figure 2). Memory 411 is a non-transitory storage medium that may include random access memory (RAM), flash memory, optical disk memory, and / or read-only memory (ROM), etc. Memory 411 stores software 412, which may be processor-readable and processor-executable software code containing instructions configured to cause processor 410 to perform the various functions described herein when executed. Alternatively, software 412 may not be executed directly by processor 410, but may be configured to cause processor 410 to perform functions (e.g., when compiled and executed). This description may refer to processor 410 performing functions, but this includes other implementations, such as processor 410 executing software and / or firmware. This description may simply refer to one or more processors contained in processor 410 performing functions as processor 410 performing functions. This description may simply refer to one or more appropriate components of server 400 performing functions as server 400 performing the function. In addition to and / or in place of memory 411, processor 410 may include memory with stored instructions. The functionality of processor 410 is discussed more fully below.

[0077] Transceiver 415 may include a wireless transceiver 440 and / or a wired transceiver 450, which are configured to communicate with other devices via wireless and wired connections, respectively. For example, wireless transceiver 440 may include a wireless transmitter 442 and a wireless receiver 444 coupled to one or more antennas 446 for transmitting (e.g., on one or more downlink channels) and / or receiving (e.g., on one or more uplink channels) wireless signals 448 and converting signals from wireless signals 448 to wired (e.g., electrical and / or optical) signals and from wired (e.g., electrical and / or optical) signals to wireless signals 448. Therefore, wireless transmitter 442 may include multiple transmitters that can be discrete components or combined / integrated components, and / or wireless receiver 444 may include multiple receivers that can be discrete components or combined / integrated components. Wireless transceiver 440 can be configured to transmit signals according to various Radio Access Technologies (RATs) such as UE 200, one or more other UEs, and / or one or more other devices: 5G New Radio (NR), GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications), UMTS (Universal Mobile Telecommunications System), AMPS (Advanced Mobile Telephone System), CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access), WCDMA (Wideband CDMA), LTE (Long Term Evolution), LTE Direct (LTE-D), 3GPP LTE-V2X (PC5), IEEE 802.11 (including IEEE 802.11p), WiFi, WiFi Direct (WiFi-D), Bluetooth®, Zigbee, etc. Wired transceiver 450 may include a wired transmitter 452 and a wired receiver 454 configured for wired communication, for example, it can be used as a network interface to communicate with NG-RAN 135 to send and receive communications to, for example, TRP 300 and / or one or more other network entities. Wired transmitter 452 may include multiple transmitters that can be used as discrete components or combined / integrated components, and / or wired receiver 454 may include multiple receivers that can be used as discrete components or combined / integrated components. Wired transceiver 450 may be configured, for example, for optical communication and / or electrical communication.

[0078] The description herein may refer to processor 410 performing the function, but this includes other implementations, such as processor 410 executing software (stored in memory 411) and / or firmware. The description herein may be simply referred to as server 400 performing the function, whereby one or more appropriate components of server 400 (e.g., processor 410 and memory 411) perform the function.

[0079] The configuration of server 400 shown in Figure 4 is an example, not a limitation, of the present disclosure which includes the scope of the claims, and other configurations may be used. For example, wireless transceiver 440 may be omitted. Alternatively or additionally, the description herein discusses server 400 being configured to perform certain functions or server 400 performing certain functions, but one or more of these functions may be performed by TRP 300 and / or UE 200 (i.e., TRP 300 and / or UE 200 may be configured to perform one or more of these functions).

[0080] [, Positioning technology , ] [, , ]

[0081] For terrestrial positioning of UEs in cellular networks, techniques such as Advanced Forward Link Trilateral Measurement (AFLT) and Observational Time Difference of Arrival (OTDOA) typically operate in a "UE-assisted" mode. In this mode, the UE measures reference signals (e.g., PRS, CRS, etc.) transmitted by the base station and then provides them to a location server. The location server then calculates the UE's location based on this measurement and the known location of the base station. Because these techniques use a location server rather than the UE itself to calculate the UE's location, they are not frequently used in applications such as car or mobile phone navigation (which typically relies on satellite-based positioning instead).

[0082] UEs can use a Satellite Positioning System (SPS) (Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS)) to achieve high-precision positioning using Precise Point Positioning (PPP) or Real-Time Kinematic (RTK) technologies. These technologies utilize ancillary data, such as measurements from ground-based stations. LTE Release 15 allows encryption of this data, enabling UEs subscribed to the service to exclusively access this information. This ancillary data changes over time. Therefore, a UE subscribed to the service may not easily "break the encryption" by transmitting the data to other UEs who have not yet paid for their subscription. The data will need to be retransmitted each time the ancillary data changes.

[0083] In UE-assisted positioning, the UE sends measurements (e.g., TDOA, Angle of Arrival (AoA), etc.) to a positioning server (e.g., LMF / eSMLC). The positioning server has a Base Station Almanac (BSA) containing multiple "entries" or "records," one record per cell, where each record contains the geographic cell location, but may also include other data. Identifiers of the "records" within the multiple "records" in the BSA can be referenced. The BSA and the measurements from the UE can be used to calculate the UE's positioning.

[0084] In conventional UE-based positioning, the UE calculates its own location, thus avoiding sending measurements to the network (e.g., a location server), which improves latency and scalability. The UE uses relevant BSA record information from the network (e.g., the location of the gNB (more broadly, the base station)). The BSA information can be encrypted. However, since the frequency of changes in BSA information is much less than, for example, PPP or RTK auxiliary data described above, it may be easier to make BSA information available to UEs that have not subscribed to and paid for decryption keys (compared to PPP or RTK information). The transmission of reference signals by the gNB makes BSA information potentially accessible for crowd-sourcing or war-driving, thus essentially enabling BSA information to be generated based on on-site and / or out-of-range observations.

[0085] Positioning technology can be characterized and / or evaluated based on one or more criteria, such as positioning decision accuracy and / or latency. Latency is the time elapsed between the event that triggers a decision on location-related data and the availability of that data at the positioning system interface (e.g., the LMF 120 interface). The latency of the availability of location-related data during positioning system initialization is called the First Time To Fix (TTFF), and is greater than the latency after the TTFF. The reciprocal of the time elapsed between two consecutive availability periods of location-related data is called the update rate, i.e., the rate at which location-related data is generated after the first fix. Latency can depend on, for example, the processing capacity of the UE. For example, the UE can report its processing capacity per T time units (e.g., T ms) (assuming a 272 PRB (Entity Resource Block) allocation) as the duration of the DL PRS symbol (in time units, e.g., milliseconds). Other examples of capabilities that may affect latency are the number of TRPs the UE can process from its PRS, the number of PRSs the UE can process, and the UE's bandwidth.

[0086] One or more of many different positioning techniques (also known as positioning methods) can be used to determine the location of an entity (such as one of UEs 105 and 106). Known positioning techniques include RTT, multiple RTT, OTDOA (also known as TDOA and including UL-TDOA and DL-TDOA), Enhanced Cell Identifier (E-CID), DL-AoD, UL-AoA, etc. RTT uses the time it takes for a signal to travel from one entity to another and back to determine the distance between two entities. The distance, plus the known location of the first entity and the angle between the two entities (e.g., azimuth), can be used to determine the location of the second entity. In multiple RTT (also known as multi-cell RTT), multiple distances from one entity (e.g., UE) to other entities (e.g., TRP) and the known locations of the other entities can be used to determine the location of an entity. In TDOA, the travel time difference between an entity and other entities can be used to determine the relative distance to other entities, and those relative distances, combined with the known locations of the other entities, can be used to determine the location of an entity. Angle of arrival and / or angle of departure can be used to aid in determining the location of an entity. For example, the distance between the angle of arrival or angle of departure of a signal and a device (determined using the signal (e.g., signal travel time, signal received power, etc.)) and the known location of one of the devices can be used to determine the location of another device. The angle of arrival or angle of departure can be an azimuth angle relative to a reference direction (such as true north). The angle of arrival or angle of departure can be a zenith angle relative to the entity directly upwards (i.e., radially outwards from the Earth's center). E-CID uses the identity of the serving cell, timing advance (i.e., the difference between the reception time and transmission time at the UE), estimated timing and power of detected neighboring cell signals, and possible angles of arrival (e.g., the angle of arrival of signals from a base station at the UE, and vice versa) to determine the location of the UE. In TDOA, the time difference of arrival of signals from different sources at the receiving device, along with the known location of the sources and the known offset of the transmission time from the sources, is used to determine the location of the receiving device.

[0087] In network-centric RTT estimation, the serving base station instructs the UE to scan / receive RTT measurement signals (e.g., PRS) on serving cells of two or more adjacent base stations (and typically the serving base station, as at least three base stations are required). One or more base stations transmit RTT measurement signals on low-reuse resources allocated by the network (e.g., resources used by the base stations to transmit system information), such as the location server of an LMF 120. The UE records the arrival time (also referred to as receive time, reception time, or Time of Arrival (ToA)) of each RTT measurement signal relative to the UE's current downlink timing (e.g., derived by the UE from DL signals received from its serving base station), the time of arrival of common or individual RTT response messages (e.g., SRS (Sound Reference Signal) for positioning, i.e., UL-PRS) to one or more base stations (e.g., when instructed by its serving base station), and the time difference between the ToA of the RTT measurement signal and the transmission time of the RTT response message in the payload of each RTT response message. (i.e., UE T Rx -Tx or UE Rx -Tx). The RTT response message will include a reference signal, which the base station can use to infer the ToA of the RTT response. This is achieved by comparing the transmission time of the RTT measurement signal from the base station with the ToA of the RTT response at the base station. Time difference with UE report By comparing the data, the base station can deduce the propagation time between the base station and the UE. Based on this propagation time, the base station can determine the distance between the UE and the base station by assuming the speed of light during that propagation time.

[0088] UE-centric RTT estimation is similar to a network-based approach, except that the uplink RTT measurement signal is transmitted by the UE (e.g., when directed by a serving base station) and received by multiple base stations near the UE. Each involved base station responds using a downlink RTT response message, which may include the time difference between the ToA of the RTT measurement signal at the base station and the transmission time of the RTT response message from the base station in the RTT response message payload.

[0089] For both network-centric and UE-centric processes, the party performing RTT calculation (network or UE) typically (but not always) transmits a first message or signal (e.g., an RTT measurement signal), while the other party responds using one or more RTT response messages or signals, which may include the difference between the ToA of the first message or signal and the transmission time of the RTT response message or signal.

[0090] Multiple RTT (Round-Trip Toll) technology can be used to determine location. For example, a first entity (e.g., a UE) can send one or more signals (e.g., unicast, multicast, or broadcast from a base station), and multiple second entities (e.g., other TSPs such as the base station and / or the UE) can receive signals from the first entity and respond to those received signals. The first entity receives responses from multiple second entities. The first entity (or another entity such as an LMF) can use the responses from the second entities to determine the distance to the second entities, and can use multiple distances and the known locations of the second entities to determine the location of the first entity through trilateration.

[0091] In some cases, additional information can be obtained in the form of the angle of arrival (AoA) or angle of departure (AoD) defining a straight-line direction (e.g., which can be in a horizontal plane or three dimensions) or a possible range of directions (e.g., from the location of the base station for the UE). The intersection of the two directions can provide another estimate of the UE's position.

[0092] For positioning techniques that use PRS (Positioning Reference Signal) signals (e.g., TDOA and RTT), the distance from the UE to the TRP is determined by measuring the PRS signals transmitted by multiple TRPs and using the signal arrival time, known transmission time, and the known location of the TRP. For example, RSTD (Reference Signal Time Difference) can be determined for PRS signals received from multiple TRPs, and RSTD is used in TDOA technology to determine the UE's location. The Positioning Reference Signal can be referred to as the PRS or PRS signal. PRS signals are typically transmitted using the same power, and PRS signals with the same signal characteristics (e.g., the same frequency shift) may interfere with each other, causing a PRS signal from a more distant TRP to be overwhelmed by a PRS signal from a closer TRP, making the signal from the more distant TRP undetectable. PRS muting can be used to help reduce interference by muting some PRS signals (e.g., reducing the power of the PRS signal to zero, and therefore not transmitting the PRS signal). In this way, the UE can more easily detect the weaker PRS signal (at the UE) without interference from a stronger PRS signal. The term RS and its variations (e.g., PRS, SRS, CSI-RS (Channel State Information Reference Signal)) can refer to one or more reference signals.

[0093] Positioning Reference Signals (PRS) include downlink PRS (DL PRS, often simply referred to as PRS) and uplink PRS (UL PRS) (which may be referred to as SRS (Sound Reference Signal) for positioning). PRS may include frequency-layer PRS resources or sets of PRS resources. PRS may include PN codes (pseudo-random codes) or be generated using PN codes (e.g., by modulating carrier signals using PN codes), allowing the PRS source to act as a pseudo-satellite. PN codes can be unique for a PRS source (at least within a specified area, such that the same PRS from different PRS sources does not overlap). PRS may include frequency-layer PRS resources or sets of PRS resources. The DL PRS positioning frequency layer (or simply frequency layer) is a collection of DL PRS resource sets with PRS resources from one or more TRPs, which share common parameters configured through higher-layer parameters DL-PRS-PositioningFrequencyLayer, DL-PRS-ResourceSet, and DL-PRS-Resource configuration. Each frequency layer has a DL PRS resource set and a DL PRS subcarrier spacing (SCS) for the DL PRS resources within that frequency layer. Each frequency layer also has a DL PRS cyclic prefix (CP) for the DL PRS resource set and the DL PRS resources within that frequency layer. In 5G, a resource block occupies 12 consecutive subcarriers and a specified number of symbols. A common resource block is a set of resource blocks occupying the channel bandwidth. A bandwidth portion (BWP) is a consecutive set of common resource blocks and may include all common resource blocks or a subset of common resource blocks within the channel bandwidth. Furthermore, the DL PRS point A parameter defines the frequency of a reference resource block (and the lowest subcarrier of the resource block), where DL PRS resources belonging to the same DL PRS resource set have the same point A, and all DL PRS resource sets belonging to the same frequency layer have the same point A. Frequency layers also have the same DL PRS bandwidth, the same starting PRB (and center frequency), and the same comb size value (i.e., the frequency of the PRS resource element for each symbol, such that for comb N, each Nth resource element is a PRS resource element). A PRS resource set is identified by a PRS resource set ID and can be associated with a specific TRP (identified by a cell ID) transmitted by the antenna panel of a base station. The PRS resource ID in the PRS resource set can be associated with an omnidirectional signal and / or with a single beam (and / or beam ID) transmitted from a single base station (where a base station can transmit one or more beams). Each PRS resource in the PRS resource set can be transmitted on a different beam, and therefore, a PRS resource (or simply a resource) can also be referred to as a beam. This makes no indication whether the UE knows the base station and beam transmitting the PRS on it.

[0094] The TRP can be configured, for example, by instructions received from a server and / or by software within the TRP to transmit DL PRS according to a schedule. According to the schedule, the TRP can transmit DL PRS intermittently (e.g., periodically at consistent intervals from the start of the initial transmission). The TRP can be configured to transmit one or more PRS resource sets. A resource set is a collection of PRS resources spanning a TRP, where these resources span time slots and have the same period, a common silence mode configuration (if present), and the same repetition factor. Each of the PRS resource sets comprises multiple PRS resources, where each PRS resource comprises multiple OFDM (Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing) resource elements (REs) in multiple resource blocks (RBs) that can be within N (or more) consecutive symbols in a time slot. PRS resources (or generally reference signal (RS) resources) may be referred to as OFDM PRS resources (or OFDM RS resources). An RB is a collection of REs spanning a number of one or more consecutive symbols in the time domain and a number (12 for 5G RBs) of consecutive subcarriers in the frequency domain. Each PRS resource is configured with RE offset, slot offset, symbol offset within the slot, and multiple consecutive symbols that the PRS resource can occupy within the slot. The RE offset defines the initial RE offset of the first symbol within the DL PRS resource at a given frequency. The relative RE offsets of the remaining symbols within the DL PRS resource are defined based on the initial offset. The slot offset is the offset of the starting slot of the DL PRS resource relative to the slots of the corresponding resource set. The symbol offset determines the starting symbol of the DL PRS resource within the starting slot. Transmitted REs can be repeated across slots, with each transmission being called a repetition, allowing multiple repetitions to exist within a PRS resource. DL PRS resources in a DL PRS resource set are associated with the same TRP, and each DL PRS resource has a DL PRS resource ID. The DL PRS resource ID in a DL PRS resource set is associated with a single beam transmitted from a single TRP (however, a TRP can transmit one or more beams).

[0095] PRS resources can also be defined using quasi-co-location and starting PRB parameters. The quasi-co-location (QCL) parameter defines any quasi-co-location information between the DL PRS resource and other reference signals. The DL PRS can be configured with QCL type D for DL ​​PRS or SS / PBCH (Synchronization Signal / Physical Broadcast Channel) blocks from serving or non-serving cells. The DL PRS can also be configured with QCL type C for SS / PBCH blocks from serving or non-serving cells. The starting PRB parameter defines the starting PRB index of the DL PRS resource relative to reference point A. The starting PRB index has a PRB granularity and can have a minimum value of 0 and a maximum value of 2176 PRBs.

[0096] A PRS resource set is a collection of PRS resources that span time slots and have the same period, the same silence mode configuration (if present), and the same repetition factor. Each time all repetitions of all PRS resources in a PRS resource set are configured for transmission, it is called an "instance". Therefore, an "instance" of a PRS resource set is a specified number of repetitions for each PRS resource and a specified number of PRS resources within the PRS resource set, such that an instance is completed once the specified number of repetitions have been transmitted for each of the specified number of PRS resources. An instance can also be referred to as an "opportunity". DL PRS configuration, including DL PRS transmission scheduling, can be provided to the UE to facilitate (or even enable) the UE to measure DL PRS.

[0097] Multiple frequency layers of a PRS can be aggregated to provide a larger effective bandwidth than any single layer can provide. Multiple frequency layers (which can be consecutive and / or separate) of component carriers satisfying criteria such as Quasi-Co-location (QCL) and having the same antenna port can be combined to provide a larger effective PRS bandwidth (for DL ​​PRS and UL PRS), thereby increasing the accuracy of time of arrival measurements. Combining involves combining PRS measurements on individual bandwidth segments into a unified segment, such that the combined PRS can be considered as derived from a single measurement. As different frequency layers are QCL, they behave similarly, resulting in a larger effective bandwidth for PRS combination. The larger effective bandwidth (which may be referred to as the bandwidth of the aggregated PRS or the frequency bandwidth of the aggregated PRS) provides better time-domain resolution (e.g., the time-domain resolution of TDOA). Aggregated PRS includes the collection of PRS resources, and each PRS resource in the aggregated PRS can be referred to as a PRS component, and each PRS component can be transmitted on different component carriers, frequency bands, or frequency layers, or on different portions of the same frequency band.

[0098] RTT positioning is an active positioning technology because RTT uses positioning signals sent from the TRP to the UE and positioning signals sent from the UE (which is participating in RTT positioning) to the TRP. The TRP can send a DL PRS signal received by the UE, and the UE can send SRS (Probe Reference Signal) signals received by multiple TRPs. The Probe Reference Signal can be referred to as SRS or SRS signal. In 5G multi-RTT, coordinated positioning can be used where the UE sends a single UL-SRS for positioning received by multiple TRPs, instead of sending separate UL-SRS for positioning for each TRP. A TRP participating in multi-RTT typically searches for UEs currently residing on that TRP (the served UE, where the TRP is the serving TRP) and also searches for UEs residing on neighboring TRPs (neighbor UEs). A neighboring TRP can be a TRP of a single BTS (Base Transceiver Station) (e.g., gNB), or it can be a TRP of a BTS and individual TRPs of each BTS. For RTT positioning (including multi-RTT positioning), the DL-PRS signal and the UL-SRS signal in the PRS / SRS signal pair used to determine the RTT (and therefore the distance between the UE and the TRP) can occur close to each other in time, so that errors caused by UE movement and / or UE clock drift and / or TRP clock drift are within acceptable limits. For example, the signals in the PRS / SRS signal pair can be transmitted from the TRP and the UE respectively within approximately 10 ms. When the SRS signal for positioning is transmitted by the UE, and when the PRS and SRS signals for positioning are transmitted close to each other in time, it has been found that radio frequency (RF) signal congestion (which may lead to excessive noise, etc.) may occur, especially if many UEs attempt to locate in parallel and / or computational congestion may occur at the TRP where multiple UEs are attempting to measure in parallel.

[0099] RTT positioning can be UE-based or UE-assisted. In UE-based RTT, UE 200 determines the RTT and the corresponding distance to each of the TRPs 300, as well as the UE 200's location, based on the distance to the TRP 300 and the known location of the TRP 300. In UE-assisted RTT, UE 200 measures positioning signals and provides measurement information to the TRP 300, and the TRP 300 determines the RTT and distance. The TRP 300 provides the distance to a location server (e.g., server 400), and the server determines the UE 200's location, for example, based on the distance to different TRPs 300. The RTT and / or distance can be determined by the TRP 300 receiving signals from the UE 200, by the TRP 300 combined with one or more other devices (e.g., one or more other TRPs 300 and / or server 400), or by one or more devices other than the TRP 300 receiving signals from the UE 200.

[0100] 5G NR supports various positioning technologies. Supported NR native positioning methods include DL-only positioning, UL-only positioning, and DL+UL positioning. Downlink-based positioning methods include DL-TDOA and DL-AoD. Uplink-based positioning methods include UL-TDOA and UL-AoA. Combined DL+UL positioning methods include RTT with one base station and RTT with multiple base stations (multi-RTT).

[0101] Location estimation (e.g., for a UE) may be referred to by other names such as location estimate, location, position, location fix, or fix. Location estimation can be geodetic, including coordinates (e.g., latitude, longitude, and possible altitude), or it can be urban, including some other verbal description of a street address, postal address, or location. Location estimation can further be defined relative to another known location or in absolute terms (e.g., using latitude, longitude, and possible altitude). Location estimation may include anticipated errors or uncertainties (e.g., by including the area or volume within which the location is expected to be included at a specified or preset confidence level).

[0102] [Carrier phase-based positioning]

[0103] Referring also to Figure 5, a ground-based positioning system 500 using PRS carrier phase measurement includes a target device 510, a reference device 520, a positioning entity 530, a base station 540, and a base station 550. Base stations 540 and 550 transmit their respective PRS 541 and 551 to the target device 510 and reference device 520, respectively, wherein PRS 541 and 551 include PN (pseudo-random noise) codes carried by carrier signals having carrier phase. The PN codes can be correlated to obtain code phase measurements (from which pseudorange measurements can be determined), and the carrier phase can be measured to determine the carrier phase measurement. Using carrier phase measurements other than pseudorange measurements, positioning accuracy of the target device 510 can be achieved from approximately 0.01 m to approximately 0.1 m. The measurement error of the code phase measurement may be from approximately 0.3 m to approximately 3.0 m, while the carrier phase measurement error may be approximately 0.002 m. In addition to the target device 510, a reference device 520 can be used to measure signals 541 and 551 in order to eliminate or mitigate measurement errors, such as base station clock errors. The target device 510 can be, for example, a UE, but other forms of target devices can be used. The reference device 520 can be, for example, a UE or a TRP, but other forms of reference devices can be used.

[0104] For carrier phase-based positioning, the range (distance) from the carrier signal source to the carrier signal receiver is determined by multiplying the total carrier phase (number of cycles, including partial cycles if any) between the source and receiver by the wavelength of the carrier signal. The total carrier phase can be expressed as an integer between the source and receiver. One complete cycle plus fractional carrier phase Divide by Fractional carrier phase It is given by the following formula: (1) in, It is the initial carrier phase at the transmitter (carrier signal source), and The carrier phase is measured at the receiver. Although the initial phase is shown in equation (1) and discussed here as an example, any reference phase can be used, where the measured carrier phase is relative to the reference phase. Therefore, the range It can be given by the following formula: (2) In system 500, base stations 540 and 550 (as shown, for example, TRP) broadcast PRS 541 and 551 in bursts over time, and target device 510 and reference device 520 measure PRS 541 and 551. The initial carrier phase of PRS 541 and 551 is the carrier phase at the time when the first symbol of PRS 541 and 551 is transmitted at base stations 540 and 550, respectively. A reference carrier phase different from the initial carrier phase can be used, for example, a time slot, a subframe, or the start of a frame. If both target device 510 and reference device 520 measure the same PRS resource at the same PRS timing for PRS 541, and both target device 510 and reference device 520 measure the same PRS resource at the same PRS timing for PRS 551, the knowledge of the initial phase can be eliminated by using measurements from both target device 510 and reference device 520 in a dual-increment scheme. The requirements are discussed further below. Raw carrier phase measurements can be provided to the positioning entity 530 by the target device 510 and the reference device 520, and the positioning entity can process the carrier phase measurements to determine the distance between the target device 510 and each of the base stations 540 and 550. Specifically, one or more RSTD measurements can be provided, based on which the range between the source (e.g., base stations 540 and 550) and the receiver (e.g., the target device 510) can be determined. As shown, the positioning entity 530 can be separate from the target device 510 and the reference device 520, or it can be included in the target device 510 and / or the reference device 520 (e.g., TRP). For example, the positioning entity 530 can be implemented by processor 310 and memory 311, processor 410 and memory 411, and / or by one or more other processors and corresponding memories (e.g., the target device 510).

[0105] In the case where the same PRS resources at the same PRS timing are measured in each of PRS 541 and 551 respectively, the pseudorange between the receiver (e.g., target device 510 or reference device 520) and the source (e.g., base station 540 or base station 550) is determined based on code phase measurement. and carrier phase distance It can be given by the following formula: (3) (4) in, It is the distance between the transmitter (e.g., a base station) and the receiver (e.g., target device 510 and reference device 520, respectively). It's the speed of light. It is the carrier signal wavelength. It is the carrier phase integer ambiguity (period). This is transmitter range error (e.g., base station location error). It is the transmitter clock error. It is the receiver clock error. It is pseudo-range noise and multipath, and This includes carrier phase noise and multipath. For simplicity, atmospheric propagation errors are not shown in equations (3) and (4), as these errors are negligible for ground-based positioning. The single difference (SD) between receivers can be determined. The difference between the pseudorange and carrier phase distances of the PRS 541 from base station 540 to target device 510 and to reference device 520 can be determined by the following formula: (5) (6) The transmitter clock error can be eliminated by subtracting the measurement of the reference device 520 from the measurement of the target device 510. The transmitter range error can be eliminated by utilizing precise knowledge of the positions of the target device 510 and the reference device 520. Furthermore, if the same initial phase is used (due to the same PRS resources for measuring the same PRS timing), the initial phase can be eliminated from consideration because: (7) in, It is the carrier phase from the first transmitter (e.g., base station 540) to the target device 510, and This refers to the carrier phase from the first transmitter to the reference device 520. Furthermore, the single difference between the transmitters (e.g., base stations 540 and 550) can be determined by the following formula: (8) (9) Receiver clock errors in the receiver can be eliminated by subtracting measurements taken by the same receiver from signals from different transmitters. And common hardware deviations.

[0106] The dual-increment scheme can be applied to signal measurement in a ground-based positioning system 500. The dual-increment scheme uses the difference between transmitter and receiver measurements to determine the position information for the target device 510. The dual difference between pseudorange and carrier phase distance can be determined using the following formula: (10) (11) The double-difference (DD) operation determines a first difference (indicated by SD indicator 560) between measurements of the same signal (here, signal 541 from the first base station 540) received from the first ground-based transmitter at the target device 510 and the reference device 520, a second difference (indicated by SD indicator 570) between measurements of the same signal (here, signal 551 from the second base station 550) received from the second ground-based transmitter at the target device 510 and the reference device 520, and a third difference (indicated by DD indicator 580) between the first and second differences. By determining the double difference, transmitter clock errors can be eliminated. and receiver clock error And it can reduce transmitter range error. Furthermore, if the positions of the first base station 540 and the second base station 550 are known with high precision, then the range error corresponding to the transmitter can be removed. This simplifies equations (10) and (11). Therefore, equations (10) and (11) are simplified to... (12) (13) Any known Integer Fuzzy Resolver (IAR) technique can be used to estimate Item. For example, using and Based on the measurement and the rough location of the receiver, it is possible to perform... The initial estimate, and IAR technology can use the initial estimate and / or and To analyze the measurement Ambiguity. If the initial phases of the signals used to determine the double difference are uncorrelated, for example, identical due to measurements of the same PRS resource at the same PRS timing, or if the initial phases are known in other ways (even if different), then ambiguity can be used. The measurement. Signals 541 and 551 transmitted by base stations 540 and 550 may be burst RF reference signals, wherein multiple transmissions of each signal are separated in time and / or frequency. For example, signals 541 and 551 may be a PRS having multiple PRS resources transmitted within a PRS timing (e.g., PRS resource repetition and / or different PRS resources) and / or multiple PRS resources transmitted across PRS timings. Different PRS transmissions may not have phase coherence. If both target device 510 and reference device 520 receive exactly the same PRS resources (the same PRS resources in the same PRS timing), the initial phase The measurements performed by the target device 510 and the reference device 520 are identical, and therefore can be eliminated by the double-difference scheme described above. If the target device 510 and the reference device 520 measure the carrier phase using different PRS resources (e.g., the same PRS resources in different repetitions, the same PRS resources in different timings, or PRS resources of different subcarriers), then the initial phase... The target device 510 and reference device 520 will typically be different. Therefore, the double-difference scheme will not eliminate the initial phase; however, if the initial phase of the PRS resources measured by the target device 510 and reference device 520 is known in other ways, for example, provided by base stations 540 and 550, then the double-difference phase measurement at the target device 510 can be determined. That is, the initial phase of each signal in the transmitted signals can be used. The knowledge is based on the carrier phase measurements of signals from the first base station 540 and the second base station 550 by the target device 510 and the reference device 520 to determine Item, use the following formula: (13) in, It is in time The carrier phase is measured at the location. Furthermore, for TDOA-based positioning, the carrier phase can be used... Based on the knowledge of the positions of the reference device 520, the first base station 540, and the second base station 550, the RSTD at the target device 510 is determined according to the following formula: (14) (15) in, It is the actual RSTD of signals 541 and 551 at reference device 520. It is the RSTD measurement of signals 542 and 551 at the target device 510, and The RSTD of signals 541 and 551 at the reference device 520 is a very accurate RSTD, which can be used to determine the precise range from the first base station 540 to the target device 510, and multiple such ranges can be used to determine the position of the target device 510 with high precision.

[0107] Referring again to Figure 3, the description herein may refer to the processor 310 performing functions, but this includes other implementations, such as the processor 310 executing software (stored in memory 311) and / or firmware. The description herein may be simply referred to as the TRP 300 performing functions, whereby one or more suitable components of the TRP 300 (e.g., processor 310 and memory 311) perform functions.

[0108] Referring to Figure 6 and further to Figure 2, an apparatus 600 for obtaining and potentially reporting carrier phase measurements includes a processor 610, a transceiver 620, and a memory 630, which are communicatively coupled to each other via a bus 640. Apparatus 600 may include some or all of the components shown in Figure 6 and may include one or more other components (such as any of the components shown in Figure 2) such that UE 200 may be an example of apparatus 600. Target device 510 and reference device 520 may each be an example of apparatus 600. Processor 610 may include one or more components of processor 210. Transceiver 620 may include one or more components 215 of transceiver 215, such as wireless transmitter 242 and antenna 246, or wireless receiver 244 and antenna 246, or wireless transmitter 242, wireless receiver 242, and antenna 246. Additionally or alternatively, transceiver 620 may include wired transmitter 252 and / or wired receiver 254. Transceiver 620 may include an SPS receiver 217 and an SPS antenna 262. Transceiver 620 includes a PLL 622 (phase-locked loop) configured to track the phase of an input signal received by transceiver 620. Memory 630 may be configured similarly to memory 211, for example, including processor-readable instructions configured to enable processor 610 to perform functions. Alternatively, the device may be a TRP or another device, or part of a TRP or another device, for example, where transceiver 620 is configured similarly to transceiver 315.

[0109] The description herein may refer to processor 610 performing functions, but this includes other implementations, such as processor 610 executing software (stored in memory 630) and / or firmware. The description herein may simply refer to the functioning of one or more suitable components of appliance 600 (e.g., processor 610 and memory 630) as appliance 600 performing functions. Processor 610 (possibly in combination with memory 630 and transceiver 620, as appropriate) includes a carrier phase acquisition unit 650 and may include a carrier phase reporting unit 660. Carrier phase acquisition unit 650 may be configured to acquire a measurement of the carrier phase of the PRS (e.g., determine the measurement of the PRS received by appliance 600 and / or receive the measurement of the PRS from other entities). The measurement may or may not include an initial phase value of the carrier phase of the PRS. Furthermore or alternatively, carrier phase acquisition unit 650 may be configured to acquire (e.g., receive) one or more indications of the initial carrier phase of the PRS. Thus, appliance 600 may acquire an initial carrier phase indication without acquiring a carrier phase measurement. The carrier phase reporting unit 660 can be configured to report one or more measurements of the carrier phase, such that a receiver of the carrier phase measurement can determine whether the carrier phase measurement includes the initial carrier phase. Alternatively, the carrier phase reporting unit 660 can be configured to report one or more indications of the initial carrier phase. The functions of the carrier phase acquisition unit 650 and the carrier phase reporting unit 660 are further discussed herein, and this description may generally refer to the processor 610 or the appliance 600 as performing any of the functions of the carrier phase acquisition unit 650 or the carrier phase reporting unit 660, wherein the appliance 600 is configured to perform the functions.

[0110] Referring to Figure 7, and further to Figures 3-5, the PRS transmitter 700 includes a processor 710, a transmitter 720, and a memory 730, which are communicatively coupled to each other via a bus 740. The PRS transmitter 700 is an apparatus configured to transmit PRS and to transmit an indication of the initial carrier phase of the PRS transmission from the PRS transmitter. The PRS receiver 700 may be, for example, a UE transmitting SL-PRS or UL-PRS, or a TRP transmitting DL-PRS or SL-PRS (e.g., a first base station 540 or a second base station 550), or another device, or part of a UE, TRP, or another device. The PRS transmitter may include one or more other components, such as a receiver (e.g., a wireless receiver and / or a wired receiver, such as those shown in Figures 2 and / or 3). Transmitter 720 includes a wireless transmitter and antenna (e.g., wireless transmitter 242 and antenna 246, or wireless transmitter 342 and antenna 346), and may include a wired transmitter (e.g., wired transmitter 252 and / or wired transmitter 352). Transmitter 720 includes an oscillator 722, such as a crystal oscillator (XO), for generating one or more signals including a carrier signal. Memory 730 may be configured similarly to memory 211 and / or memory 311, for example, including software having processor-readable instructions configured to enable processor 710 to perform functions.

[0111] The description herein may refer to the processor 710 performing functions, but this includes other implementations, such as the processor 710 executing software (stored in memory 730) and / or firmware. The description herein may refer to the performance of functions by one or more suitable components of the PRS transmitter 700 (e.g., processor 710 and memory 730) simply as the PRS transmitter 700 performing functions. The description herein may refer to the PRS transmitter 700 as a PRS source or PRS transmission source. The processor 710 (possibly in combination with memory 730 and transmitter 720, as appropriate) includes a PRS transmission unit 750 and an initial carrier phase unit 760. The PRS transmission unit 750 is configured to determine the PRS configuration (e.g., in combination with server 400) and transmits PRS according to the determined configuration. The initial carrier phase unit 760 is configured to transmit an indication of the initial carrier phase for PRS (e.g., PRS resources) transmissions performed by the PRS transmitter 700. The initial carrier phase indication can be transmitted to the positioning entity 530 (e.g., in the TRP 300, server 400, UE, etc.) and / or the device 600 (e.g., UE or TRP). The functions of the PRS transmission unit 750 and the initial carrier phase unit 760 are further discussed herein, and this description may generally refer to the processor 710 or the PRS transmitter 700 as performing any function of the PRS transmission unit 750 or the initial carrier phase unit 760, wherein the PRS transmitter 700 is configured to perform the function.

[0112] Referring to Figure 8, and further referring to Figures 1-7, the signaling and process flow 800 for measuring carrier phase and determining location information based on carrier phase measurements includes the stages shown. The positioning entity 530 may be a separate entity or part of an entity (e.g., UE, TRP, server). The positioning entity 530 includes: a receiver (e.g., a wireless receiver and antenna and / or a wired receiver, such as wireless receiver 444 and antenna 446 and / or wired receiver 454) for receiving PRS measurements; and a processor and memory (e.g., processor 410 and memory 411) for processing the PRS measurements to determine location information (e.g., range, location estimate, etc.).

[0113] At stage 810, the PRS transmitter 700 (e.g., PRS transmission unit 750) transmits PRS 812 to the target device and PRS 814 to the reference device 520, and may transmit PRS 816 to the intermediate node 805. The PRS transmission unit 750 may coordinate with the server 400 to determine the PRS configuration for each of PRS 812, 814, and 816, which may be the same or different. PRS 812 may be transmitted, for example, via a Uu interface (Uu-PRS (e.g., DL-PRS)), where the PRS transmitter 700 is a TRP and the target device 510 is a UE, or if both the PRS transmitter 700 and the target device 510 are UEs, then PRS 812 may be transmitted as an SL-PRS. PRS 814 can be transmitted via a Uu interface (Uu-PRS (e.g., UL-PRS)), where PRS transmitter 700 is a UE and reference device 520 is a TRP. PRS 816 can be transmitted via a suitable interface such as DL-PRS, UL-PRS, or SL-PRS, depending on the type of device of PRS transmitter 700 and intermediate node 805 (e.g., Uu interface and DL-PRS if PRS transmitter 700 is a TRP and intermediate node 805 is a UE, or a suitable interface and format for transmitting PRS from TRP to TRP). Referring also to FIG9, the transmitted PRS may include multiple PRS resources repeatedly transmitted in multiple time slots at multiple times. Here, transmission schedule 900 has a comb-2 transmission, six symbols per repetition, and two repetitions per time slot. Transmission schedule 900 is used for two time slots, which is part of a larger transmission schedule for transmitting signals. Here, transmission schedule 900 indicates the positioning reference signals from two TRPs (TRP1 and TRP2) to be carried by symbols 3-8 of each of the first time slot 901 and the second time slot 902. In this example, the transmission schedule is used for two time slots of a subframe. In the time domain, frame 910 (e.g., 10 ms) can be divided into 10 equal-sized subframes 920 (e.g., each 1 ms), as shown here. In this example, each subframe 920 includes two consecutive time slots, e.g., time slots 901 and 902 (each time slot is 0.5 ms). Referring also to FIG10, the example transmission schedule 1000 includes multiple times 1001 and 1002, each time slot including four PRS resources R1, R2, R3, and R4 that repeat across four time slots in each time slot. As mentioned above, the bursty nature of the PRS resources results in different initial carrier phases for the PRS resources (e.g., different PRS resources or the same PRS resources in different times).

[0114] At stage 820, the PRS transmitter 700 (e.g., initial carrier phase unit 760) determines the initial carrier phase value (ICPV) for each of the PRS 812, 814. For example, the initial carrier phase unit 760 can determine the ICPV of PRS 811 as the initial carrier phase by monitoring the transmission of PRS 812 and observing the carrier phase at the beginning of the transmission of PRS 814. Referring also to FIG11, the carrier signal 1110 is generated by the oscillator 722 of the PRS transmitter 700. The carrier signal 1112 (also referred to as the carrier wave or carrier) is a waveform used to modulate the signal to generate a new signal. Here, the code phase modulation signal 1120 is used by the PRS transmitter 700 to modulate the carrier signal 1110 to generate PRS 1130 (e.g., PRS 812, 814, 816), which includes the code phase modulation information 1120 and the carrier signal 1116. The code phase modulation signal 1120 begins at time 1140 (also denoted as t beg). The initial carrier phase unit 760 can monitor the output of the oscillator 722 and the code phase modulation signal 1120 to determine the phase of the carrier signal 1110 at time 1140 as the initial carrier phase. As another example, the initial carrier phase unit 760 can determine the ICPV as an estimate of the initial carrier phase. The initial carrier phase unit 760 can determine the current carrier phase, for example, based on the current time tp and knowledge of the scheduled transmission time of PRS 812 (e.g., the estimated time test from the current time to the start of transmission of PRS 812). The initial carrier phase of PRS 814 is estimated, where the estimate is the ICPV. As another example, PRS transmission unit 750 can control the transmission of PRS 812 to attempt to make the initial carrier phase of PRS 811 a desired (e.g., fixed) initial carrier phase, and initial carrier phase unit 760 can determine the ICPV of PRS 812 as the desired initial carrier phase, but the actual initial carrier phase may differ from the desired initial carrier phase. Therefore, ICPV is an indication of the initial carrier phase of the PRS, such as the actual initial carrier phase, an estimate of the initial carrier phase, or the desired initial carrier phase that the PRS transmitter 700 is trying to ensure is the initial carrier phase. If the ICPV indicates an estimated initial carrier phase or a desired controlled initial carrier phase, the PRS transmitter 700 can transmit the ICPV to one or more destinations before transmitting the PRS.

[0115] At stage 830, the PRS transmitter 700 may receive one or more requests 831, 832, 833, 834 for ICPV (e.g., requests for initial carrier phase). Requests 831, 832, 833, 834 may be sent directly (as shown) to the PRS transmitter 700, and / or may be sent indirectly (e.g., via positioning entity 530 and / or one or more other means) to the PRS transmitter 700. Stage 830 may be omitted from process 800, and in addition to receiving requests for ICPV, the PRS transmitter 700 may also transmit ICPV based on one or more standards.

[0116] At stage 840, the PRS transmitter 700 (e.g., Initial Carrier Phase Unit 760) transmits ICPV indications for PRS 812 and PRS 814. The Initial Carrier Phase Unit 760 may transmit ICPV message 841 to the target device 510, ICPV message 842 to the reference device 520, ICPV message 843 to the positioning entity 530, and / or ICPV message 844 to the intermediate node 805. The intermediate node 805 may be an example of the device 600. The ICPV in any of ICPV messages 841-844 may be the actual (absolute) initial carrier phase, the estimated initial carrier phase, or the desired initial carrier phase that the PRS transmitter 700 attempts to transmit. The PRS transmitter 700 may transmit ICPV messages directly and / or indirectly (e.g., via the intermediate node 805, which may be a TRP, server, UE, etc.) to the destination (e.g., the target device 510, the reference device 520, the positioning entity 530). For example, if PRS transmitter 700 is a TRP, PRS transmitter 700 can directly transmit ICPV messages to the UE (e.g., target device 510 or reference device 520) using MAC-CE (MAC control element) and / or DCI (downlink control information). If PRS transmitter 700 is a TRP, PRS transmitter 700 can indirectly transmit ICPV messages to the UE (e.g., target device 510 or reference device) via server 400 (e.g., LMF, e.g., location entity 530) by transmitting ICPV messages to server 400 using NRPPa and having server 400 transmit ICPV messages to the UE using LPP. If PRS transmitter 700 is a TRP and location entity 530 is a UE or is in a UE, PRS transmitter 700 can use NRPPa to transmit ICPV message 843 to location entity 530. Depending on the device type of PRS transmitter 700 and intermediate node 805, PRS transmitter 700 can use an appropriate protocol to transmit ICPV message 844 to intermediate node 805.If the PRS transmitter 700 is a UE, the PRS transmitter can transmit ICPV messages directly to the server 400 using LPP; transmit ICPV messages directly to the TRP using UCI, MAC-CE, or RRC; transmit ICPV messages to the server 400 using LPP and the server 400 transmits ICPV messages to the TRP using NRPPa, thus indirectly transmitting ICPV messages to the TRP via the server; transmit ICPV messages directly to another UE using SL; transmit ICPV messages indirectly to another UE via an intermediate UE using SL between each UE; transmit ICPV messages to the TRP 300 using LPP (through the Uu interface) and the TRP 300 transmits (e.g., relay) ICPV messages to another UE using LPP, thus indirectly transmitting ICPV messages to another UE via the TRP 300; or transmit ICPV messages to the server 400 using LPP and the server 400 transmits ICPV messages to another UE using LPP, thus indirectly transmitting ICPV messages to another UE via the server 400. For example, a TRP that sends a PRS to target device 510 (e.g., a neighboring TRP of target device 510, but not a serving TRP) can indirectly transmit ICPV message 841 to target device 510.

[0117] ICPV can be indicated in any of the ICPV messages 841-844 in one or more of various ways. For example, referring also to FIG12, ICPV can indicate the absolute initial carrier phase of the PRS resource, for example, in degrees or radians. As shown in FIG12, example ICPV message 1200 provides a hierarchical structure of TRP, PRS resource set, and PRS resource to provide an indication of the initial carrier phase for the PRS resource. ICPV message 1200 includes a TRP ID field 1210, a PRS resource set ID field 1220, a PRS resource ID field 1230, a timing field 1240, and an initial carrier phase field 1250 for each entry (here for each of entries 1260, 1261, 1262, 1263, 1264, 1265, 1266, and 1267). For each of entries 1260-1263, the initial carrier phase indicated in the initial carrier phase field 1250 corresponds to a corresponding combination of the TRP ID, PRS resource set ID, timing, and PRS resource ID to identify which PRS resource corresponds to the indicated initial phase. A single TRP ID can be provided for all PRS resource sets, timings, and PRS resources corresponding to that TRP to avoid duplicate transmission of the ID, thus saving overhead. Similarly, a single PRS resource set ID can be provided for all timings and PRS resources corresponding to that PRS resource set to avoid duplicate transmission of the ID, thus saving overhead. Similarly, redundant timing IDs can be avoided. As shown in this example, the complete initial carrier phase is indicated for each PRS resource. Also as shown, the ICPV message 1200 may contain initial carrier phase values ​​for multiple timings for the same PRS resource.

[0118] As another example, ICPV can indicate relative phase, such as the phase difference between the same PRS resources in different PRS resource times. Relative phase can be indicated by the incremental value of the phase difference, which can save overhead bits used to transmit ICPV. As another example, ICPV can indicate relative phase, such as the phase difference between different PRS resources. Different PRS resources can, for example, be in the same PRS resource set. The initial carrier phase of one PRS resource can be used as the baseline in the PRS resource set, and the initial carrier phase in each other PRS resource in the set can be indicated as the difference between that PRS resource and the baseline initial carrier phase. Similarly, for an ICPV message comprising multiple ICPVs, the ICPV used for the baseline initial carrier phase can be indicated as the absolute phase, and each of one or more (e.g., all other) ICPVs in the ICPV message is indicated as the phase difference from the baseline initial carrier phase. The PRS resource used as the baseline will typically be the first PRS in time among the resources reporting the initial carrier phase, but another PRS resource (i.e., after the first PRS resource in time) can be used as the baseline. For example, referring also to FIG13, the example ICPV message 1300 includes a TRP ID field 1310, a PRS resource set ID field 1320, a PRS resource ID field 1330, a timing field 1340, and an initial carrier phase field 1350 for each entry (here for each of entries 1360 and 1361, 1362, 1363 and 1364, 1365, 1366, and 1367). In the ICPV message 1300, one PRS resource of each PRS resource set is used as a baseline with a corresponding baseline initial carrier phase, and the initial carrier phases of the other PRS resources in each PRS source set are provided as phase differences relative to the baseline initial carrier phase. For example, the initial carrier phase of entry 1360 is used as a baseline for the PRS resource sets corresponding to entries 1360-1363. Therefore, the initial carrier phase in entry 1360 is fully provided, and the initial carrier phases in entries 1361-1363 are provided as phase differences relative to the initial carrier phase in entry 1360. Other configurations of the baseline and relative initial carrier phase can be used. For example, a single baseline initial carrier phase can be used for all PRS resources corresponding to the same TRP or corresponding to the entire ICPV message.

[0119] ICPV messages 841-844 may include resolution information. For example, the PRS transmitter 700 may negotiate with the target device 510 and / or the reference device 520 to agree on the resolution of the initial carrier phase information to be provided by the PRS transmitter 700, in order to achieve a desired balance between overhead and accuracy. ICPV message 841 may indicate the resolution of the initial carrier phase value provided to the target device 510. ICPV message 842 may indicate the resolution of the initial carrier phase value provided to the reference device 520. ICPV message 843 may indicate the resolution of the initial carrier phase values ​​provided to both the target device 510 and the reference device 520.

[0120] One or more of ICPV messages 841-844 can be transmitted periodically, semi-persistently (for periodic periods triggered aperiodically), or aperiodically by the PRS transmitter 700. For aperiodic reports, the PRS transmitter 700 can respond to one or more of requests 831-834 by providing (or attempting to provide) the requested initial carrier phase information (for one or more indicated PRS resources, one or more PRS resource sets, etc.). For aperiodic or semi-persistent reports, in response to receiving a request for initial carrier phase information, the PRS transmitter 700 can, for example, determine whether to provide the requested information for each request (guarantee) or to make a best effort to provide the requested information based on the QoS provided by the PRS transmitter to the requesting device. The QoS can be pre-configured, for example, through RRC communication, and can be different for different requesting devices. The frequency at which the PRS transmitter 700 provides the initial carrier phase information and / or what initial carrier phase the PRS transmitter 700 provides can be based on QoS.

[0121] When initial carrier phase information is available and the carrier phase is measured When available, the fractional carrier phase can be determined. For example, the positioning entity 530 (which may be located in the target device 510 and / or the reference device 520) can use the measured carrier phase and the provided initial carrier phase information to determine the fractional carrier phase using equation (1). For UE-based positioning, the target device 510 can determine the fractional carrier phase. And determine the location information (e.g., range, location estimate) for the target device 510, without providing carrier phase measurement information to another entity.

[0122] At stage 850, target device 510 and / or reference device 520 may provide carrier phase measurement information to one or more other entities (e.g., for UE-assisted positioning). PLL 622 may lock and track the phase of carrier signal 1110, or downconvert the carrier phase to a local carrier frequency, and processor 610 may use digital signal processing to monitor the carrier phase (raw or local). Target device 510 may provide one or more carrier phase measurements (CPM) to positioning entity 530 in CPM message 851, and / or to intermediate node 805 in CPM information 854. Similarly, reference device 520 may provide CPM message 852 to positioning entity 530, and / or to intermediate node 805 in CPM information 853. CPM messages 851-854 provide one or more indications of the measurement type of the provided initial carrier phase measurement, specifically whether the measurement includes the initial carrier phase or whether the initial carrier phase has been excluded, for example, ICPV has been removed from the raw measurement of the carrier phase that includes the initial carrier phase. For example, referring also to FIG14, the example CPM message 1400 includes a single entry 1450 consisting of a PRS resource ID field 1410, a carrier phase field 1420 with initial carrier phase, and a carrier phase field 1430 without initial carrier phase. The carrier phase field 1420 with initial carrier phase includes the original carrier phase measurement. The value, Includes the initial carrier phase (i.e., the initial carrier phase is not considered and is removed from the measurement). The carrier phase field 1420 with the initial carrier phase includes the fractional carrier phase. The value of the initial carrier phase measurement, which takes into account the initial carrier phase (or its approximation), has been removed from the original carrier phase measurement. Including both the original and fractional carrier phase measurements in the appropriate fields of the CPM message 1400 provides an indication of whether each measurement includes the initial carrier phase. As another example, also referring to FIG15, the example CPM message 1500 includes a single entry 1550 of a PRS Resource ID field 1510, a carrier phase field 1520, and an initial carrier phase inclusion field 1530. The carrier phase field 1520 includes the value of a carrier phase measurement, which can be an original carrier phase measurement including the initial carrier phase or a fractional carrier phase measurement excluding the initial carrier phase value (i.e., the initial carrier phase or its approximation). The value in the initial carrier phase inclusion field 1530 indicates whether the carrier phase value in the carrier phase field 1520 is an original carrier phase measurement or a fractional carrier phase measurement. For example, the initial carrier phase includes a value in field 1530 that can be a single bit, where a logic "0" indicates that the carrier phase value in carrier phase field 1520 does not include the initial carrier phase (it is a fractional carrier phase), and a logic "1" indicates that the carrier phase value in carrier phase field 1520 includes the initial carrier phase (it is the original carrier phase). CPM messages 1400 and 1500 are examples, and other CPM messages can be used. For example, a CPM message will typically have more than one entry. Furthermore, a single CPM message can include carrier information including the original and fractional carrier phases (e.g., according to example CPM message 1400) and carrier information including either the original or fractional carrier phases, as well as an indication of the type of information (e.g., according to example CPM message 1500).

[0123] Intermediate node 805 can relay carrier phase information and aggregate carrier phase information from multiple CPM message sources (e.g., target device 610 and reference device 520). For example, the carrier phase acquisition unit 650 of intermediate node 805 can receive carrier phase information from CPM message 852 and / or CPM message 853. If intermediate node 805 has appropriate initial carrier phase information, for example, from ICPV message 844, intermediate node 805 can determine the fractional carrier phase based on the original carrier phase. Intermediate node 805 can collect carrier phase information from other entities without performing carrier phase measurement, or intermediate node 805 (e.g., carrier phase acquisition unit 650) can also perform carrier phase measurement on PRS 816 (or PRS 802 or 814 if the intermediate node is target device 510 or reference device 520). Intermediate node 805 (e.g., carrier phase reporting unit 660) may transmit carrier phase information (e.g., measured by intermediate node 805 and / or collected from one or more other entities) directly or indirectly to positioning entity 530 in CPM message 855, depending on the device type of intermediate node 805 and positioning entity 530. The carrier phase information in CPM message 855 may be provided, for example, in the format of example CPM message 1400 and / or example CPM message 1500, to indicate whether the carrier phase information is the raw carrier phase or a fractional carrier phase.

[0124] At stage 860, the positioning entity 530 determines the location information. The positioning entity 530 receives carrier phase measurements corresponding to the PRS transmitter 700, the target device 510, and the reference device 520, and also receives carrier phase measurements corresponding to the target device 510 and one or more other PRS transmitters and / or one or more other reference devices. The positioning entity 530 (e.g., a processor such as processor 210 and a memory such as memory 211) uses the carrier phase measurements and corresponding initial carrier phase information (if necessary) to determine the RSTD of the target device 510. For each piece of carrier phase information, the positioning entity 530 receives information indicating whether the measurement includes or excludes the initial carrier phase. For each carrier phase measurement including the initial carrier phase, the positioning entity 530 receives an indication of the initial carrier phase (which will typically differ for different PRS resources and for the same PRS resource at different times), and the positioning entity 530 calculates a carrier phase measurement excluding the initial carrier phase based on this indication, unconstrained by the same PRS resource at the same time. Location entity 530 uses carrier phase measurements with the initial carrier phase removed to determine the RSTD according to equation (15). Location entity 530 determines multiple RSTDs corresponding to different PRS transmitters 700 for target device 510. Location entity 5300 uses the RSTD of target device 510 and the known locations of different PRS receivers 700 to determine the location estimate of target device 510. Location entity 520 may provide location information to target device 510 and / or any other suitable device (e.g., a location service (LCS) client (e.g., in server 400)).

[0125] Referring to Figure 16, and further referring to Figures 1-16, the method 1600 for providing positioning reference signal information includes the stages shown. However, method 1600 is exemplary and not limiting. Method 1600 can be modified, for example, by adding, removing, rearranging, combining, performing stages simultaneously, and / or splitting a single stage into multiple stages.

[0126] At stage 1610, method 1600 includes: wirelessly transmitting from an appliance a positioning reference signal comprising a carrier signal with a carrier phase. For example, PRS transmitter 700 transmits PRS 812, 814, 816. Memory 730 (including processor-readable instructions) or processor 710 (possibly combined with memory 730, and with transmitter 720 (e.g., wireless transmitter and antenna)) may include components for wirelessly transmitting the PRS.

[0127] At stage 1620, method 1600 includes: transmitting from the device an indication of a reference carrier phase for a positioning reference signal, the reference carrier phase including the phase of the carrier signal of the positioning reference signal at a reference transmission time of the positioning reference signal. For example, PRS transmitter 700 transmits one or more of ICPV messages 841-844. One or more of ICPV messages 841-844 may be transmitted wirelessly and / or via a wired connection, and may be transmitted directly or indirectly to a destination via one or more intermediaries. Providing an indication of the initial carrier phase can be achieved using terrestrial signaling (e.g., using burst PRS) to enable high-precision carrier phase-based positioning of the target device. Memory 730 (including processor-readable instructions) or processor 710 (possibly combined with memory 730, and with transmitter 720 (e.g., wireless transmitter and antenna)) may include components for transmitting an indication of the reference carrier phase for the PRS.

[0128] Implementations of method 1600 may include one or more of the following features. In one example implementation, the indication of the reference carrier phase of the positioning reference signal indicates an absolute phase. For example, the ICPV message may indicate an absolute phase for one or more PRS resources, as shown in entries 1260-1267 of example ICPV message 1200, or as shown in entries 1360, 1364, 1366 of example ICPV message 1300. In another example implementation, the indication of the reference carrier phase of the positioning reference signal indicates the relative phase of a positioning reference signal resource in a first positioning reference signal timing relative to a positioning reference signal resource in a second positioning reference signal timing that is temporally separated from the first positioning reference signal timing. For example, as shown in example ICPV message 1300, the ICPV message may indicate the carrier phase as the relative phase of a PRS resource (e.g., Res ID111) in one timing (e.g., Occ2 in entry 1361) relative to the same PRS resource (e.g., Res ID111) in another timing (e.g., Occ1 in entry 1360). In another example implementation, the indication of the reference carrier phase of the positioning reference signal indicates the relative phase of a first positioning reference signal resource in the positioning reference signal resource set with respect to a second positioning reference signal resource in the same positioning reference signal resource set. For example, the initial carrier phase of PRS resource Res ID112 in entry 1362 is provided as a relative phase with respect to the initial carrier phase of PRS resource Res ID111 in entry 1360, wherein PRS resources Res ID111 and Res ID112 are in the same PRS resource set (Set ID 11).

[0129] Additionally or alternatively, implementations of method 1600 may include one or more of the following features. In one example implementation, method 1600 includes: transmitting a resolution indication from an appliance, the resolution indication indicating the resolution of an indication of a reference carrier phase for a positioning reference signal. For example, PRS transmitter 700 may negotiate ICPV resolution with a device (e.g., target device 510, reference device 520, etc.) and provide the resolution indication to the device, for example, in an ICPV message and / or in a separate message (e.g., at the end of resolution negotiation). In another example implementation, transmitting the indication of a reference carrier phase for a positioning reference signal includes: transmitting a plurality of indications of the reference carrier phase according to a positioning reference signal resource set and a hierarchy of positioning reference signal resources. For example, PRS transmitter 700 may transmit ICPV in a hierarchical data structure such as that shown in example ICPV messages 1200, 1300. In another example implementation, the indication of the reference carrier phase for a positioning reference signal indicates a plurality of indications of the reference carrier phase for individual positioning reference signal timings of the positioning reference signal. For example, as shown in example ICPV messages 1200 and 1300, PRS transmitter 700 can transmit multiple ICPVs corresponding to different PRS times (e.g., Occ1 and Occ2). In another example implementation, transmitting an indication of the reference carrier phase of a positioning reference signal includes: periodically transmitting a plurality of first reference carrier phase messages, at least one of which includes the reference carrier phase of the positioning reference signal; or semi-persistently transmitting a plurality of first reference carrier phase messages; or non-periodically transmitting a second reference carrier phase message including the reference carrier phase of the positioning reference signal. For example, PRS transmitter 700 can transmit ICPV messages periodically, semi-persistently, or non-periodically. The memory 730 (including processor-readable instructions) or the processor 710 (possibly combined with the memory 730, or with the transmitter 720 (e.g., a wireless transmitter and antenna 346)) may include: means for periodically transmitting a first reference carrier phase message, and / or means for half-periodically transmitting a plurality of first reference carrier phase messages, and / or means for aperiodically transmitting second reference carrier phase information.

[0130] Additionally or alternatively, implementations of method 1600 may include one or more of the following features. In one exemplary implementation, transmitting an indication of a reference carrier phase for a positioning reference signal includes: transmitting the reference carrier phase of the positioning reference signal in response to receiving a request for the reference carrier phase of the positioning reference signal. For example, the PRS transmitter 700 may transmit one or more of the ICPV messages 841-844 in response to receiving one or more of the ICPV requests 831-834 respectively. In another exemplary implementation, transmitting an indication of a reference carrier phase for a positioning reference signal includes: transmitting the reference carrier phase of the positioning reference signal to the requesting device, based on best effort or on request, in response to receiving a request for the reference carrier phase of the positioning reference signal from the requesting device and based on the quality of service provided by the appliance to the requesting device. For example, the PRS transmitter 700 may use best effort to provide ICPV messages based on QoS (e.g., payment by a user of a device such as target device 510). The PRS transmitter 700 may decide whether to respond to a request or apply best effort to respond to a request using ICPV messages. For example, if a user has a low-end (e.g., inexpensive) subscription, the PRS transmitter 700 can apply maximum effort, and if a user has a high-end (e.g., expensive) subscription, the PRS transmitter 700 can guarantee a response.

[0131] Additionally or alternatively, implementations of method 1600 may include one or more of the following features. In one example implementation, the reference transmission time of the positioning reference signal is the transmission time of the first symbol of the positioning reference signal. The reference transmission time may be the initial transmission time, wherein the indication of the reference carrier phase is a representation of the initial carrier phase of the PRS. In another example implementation, the reference transmission time of the positioning reference signal is the transmission time of one of the following: a time slot of the positioning reference signal, a sub-frame of the positioning reference signal, or a frame of the positioning reference signal. The reference transmission time may be the transmission time of a time slot, a sub-frame, or a frame, for example, the transmission time of the first symbol of a time slot, sub-frame, or frame of the PRS.

[0132] Additionally or alternatively, implementations of method 1600 may include one or more of the following features. In one example implementation, the indication of the reference carrier phase of the positioning reference signal indicates the actual reference carrier phase of the positioning reference signal when it is transmitted. For example, the PRS transmitter 700 may monitor PRS transmission and provide the observed initial carrier phase as an indication of the initial carrier phase. In another example implementation, the indication of the reference carrier phase of the positioning reference signal indicates an estimate of the reference carrier phase of the positioning reference signal. For example, the PRS transmitter 700 may calculate what the expected initial carrier phase is, for example, based on the current carrier phase and the expected (e.g., scheduled) transmission time. In another example implementation, method 1600 includes controlling the reference carrier phase of the positioning reference signal to a desired value. Memory 730 (including processor-readable instructions) or processor 710 (combined with memory and transmitter 720) may include means for controlling the reference carrier phase of the PRS.

[0133] Referring to Figure 17, and further referring to Figures 1-16, method 1700 for providing carrier phase information includes the stages shown. However, method 1700 is exemplary and not limiting. Method 1700 can be modified, for example, by adding, removing, rearranging, combining, performing stages simultaneously, and / or splitting a single stage into multiple stages.

[0134] At stage 1710, method 1700 includes: obtaining at a first device a first carrier phase indication corresponding to a positioning reference signal receiver, the first carrier phase indication indicating a first measured carrier phase of the positioning reference signal. For example, an apparatus such as target device 510, reference device 520, or intermediate node 805 may receive one or more carrier phase measurements from one or more other devices, and / or may measure the PRS to determine one or more carrier phase measurements. Memory 630 (including processor-readable instructions) or processor 610 (possibly combined with memory 630, or with transceiver 620 (e.g., wireless receiver and antenna)) may include components for obtaining the first carrier phase indication.

[0135] At stage 1720, method 1700 includes transmitting a first carrier phase indication to a second device. For example, intermediate node 805 transmits CPM message 855 to positioning entity 530. Memory 630 (including processor-readable instructions) or processor 610 (possibly combined with memory 630, or with transceiver 620 (e.g., wireless transmitter and antenna)) may include components for transmitting the first carrier phase indication.

[0136] At stage 1730, method 1700 includes at least one of the following operations: transmitting a second carrier phase indication to a second device, the second carrier phase indication indicating whether a first carrier phase indication includes a reference carrier phase of a positioning reference signal, the reference carrier phase including the phase of the carrier signal of the positioning reference signal at a reference transmission time of the positioning reference signal; or transmitting a third carrier phase indication to the second device, the third carrier phase indication indicating a second measured carrier phase of the positioning reference signal such that one of the first measured carrier phase and the second measured carrier phase includes the reference carrier phase of the positioning reference signal, and the other of the first measured carrier phase and the second measured carrier phase does not include a phase value corresponding to the reference carrier phase of the positioning reference signal. For example, intermediate node 805 may transmit CPM message 855, which includes one or more indications of the carrier phase and corresponding indications regarding whether the carrier phase is the original carrier phase or a fractional carrier phase, and / or includes one or more indications of the original carrier phase and the fractional carrier phase. For example, intermediate node 805 may transmit CPM message 855, which includes one or more entries similar to entry 1550 of example CPM message 1500 and / or one or more entries similar to entry 1450 of example CPM message 1400. The phase value corresponding to the initial carrier phase may be, for example, the actual initial carrier phase, the estimated initial carrier phase, or the controlled (set) initial carrier phase. Memory 630 (including processor-readable instructions) or processor 610 (possibly combined with memory 630, or with transceiver 620 (e.g., wireless transmitter and antenna)) may include means for transmitting a second carrier phase indication and / or means for transmitting a third carrier phase indication.

[0137] Implementations of method 1700 may include one or more of the following features. In one example implementation, obtaining a first carrier phase indication includes: receiving a positioning reference signal; and measuring the carrier phase of the positioning reference signal to determine a first measured carrier phase. For example, intermediate node 805 may receive and measure the PRS to obtain a first carrier phase indication, thereby measuring the original carrier phase. Memory 630 (including processor-readable instructions) or processor 610 (possibly combined with memory 630, or with transceiver 620 (e.g., a wireless receiver and antenna)) may include means for receiving the PRS. Processor 610 (possibly combined with memory 630, or with transceiver 620 (e.g., a wireless receiver and antenna)) may include means for measuring the carrier phase of the PRS. In another example implementation, obtaining the first carrier phase indication includes: receiving the first carrier phase indication, and wherein the method further includes: receiving a phase value corresponding to a reference carrier phase of the positioning reference signal; and subtracting the phase value corresponding to the reference carrier phase of the positioning reference signal from the first carrier phase indication based on a first measured carrier phase of the positioning reference signal including the reference carrier phase of the positioning reference signal. For example, intermediate node 805 receives ICPV message 844 from PRS transmitter 700 and subtracts ICPV from the original carrier phase measurement of the PRS corresponding to ICPV to determine the fractional carrier phase. Memory 630 (including processor-readable instructions) or processor 610 (possibly combined with memory 630, or with transceiver 620 (e.g., a wireless receiver and antenna, or possibly a wired receiver)) may include means for receiving the phase value corresponding to the reference carrier phase of the PRS. Memory 630 (including processor-readable instructions) or processor 610 (possibly combined with memory 630) may include means for subtracting the phase value from the first carrier phase indication.

[0138] [, Implementation Example , ]

[0139] Implementation examples are provided in the following numbered clauses.

[0140] Clause 1. An appliance comprising: transmitter; Memory; and The processor, communicatively coupled to the transmitter and the memory, and configured to: The transmitter wirelessly transmits a positioning reference signal containing a carrier signal with carrier phase; and The transmitter transmits an indication of the reference carrier phase of the positioning reference signal, the reference carrier phase being the phase of the carrier signal of the positioning reference signal at the reference transmission time of the positioning reference signal.

[0141] Clause 2, the apparatus of Clause 1, wherein the indication of the reference carrier phase of the positioning reference signal indicates the absolute phase.

[0142] Clause 3, the apparatus of Clause 1, wherein the indication of the reference carrier phase of the positioning reference signal indicates the relative phase of the positioning reference signal resource in the first positioning reference signal timing with respect to the positioning reference signal resource in the second positioning reference signal timing which is temporally separated from the first positioning reference signal timing.

[0143] Clause 4. An apparatus as described in Clause 1, wherein the indication of the reference carrier phase of the positioning reference signal indicates the relative phase of a first positioning reference signal resource in the positioning reference signal resource set with respect to a second positioning reference signal resource in the same positioning reference signal resource set.

[0144] Clause 5, the apparatus of Clause 1, wherein the processor is further configured to: transmit a resolution indication via the transmitter, the resolution indication indicating the resolution of the indication of the reference carrier phase of the positioning reference signal.

[0145] Clause 6. An apparatus as described in Clause 1, wherein the indication of the reference carrier phase of the positioning reference signal indicates a plurality of indications of the reference carrier phase, and the processor is further configured to transmit the plurality of indications of the reference carrier phase according to a positioning reference signal resource set and a hierarchy of positioning reference signal resources.

[0146] Clause 7. An apparatus as described in Clause 1, wherein the indication of the reference carrier phase of the positioning reference signal indicates an indication of the reference carrier phase of a plurality of individual positioning reference signal timings of the positioning reference signal.

[0147] Clause 8. Appliances as described in Clause 1, wherein: The processor is further configured to: periodically transmit a plurality of first reference carrier phase messages, at least one of the plurality of first reference carrier phase messages including the reference carrier phase of the positioning reference signal; or The processor is further configured to: semi-persistently transmit the plurality of the first reference carrier phase messages; or The processor is further configured to: transmit a second reference carrier phase message, including the reference carrier phase of the positioning reference signal, non-periodically; or Any combination thereof.

[0148] Clause 9. An apparatus as described in Clause 1, wherein the processor is further configured to: transmit the reference carrier phase of the positioning reference signal in response to a request to receive the reference carrier phase of the positioning reference signal.

[0149] Clause 10, the apparatus of Clause 9, wherein the processor is further configured to: in response to a request from the requesting device, based on best effort or on request, transmit the indication of the reference carrier phase of the positioning reference signal to the requesting device and based on the quality of service provided by the apparatus to the requesting device.

[0150] Clause 11, the apparatus of Clause 1, wherein the processor is further configured to: determine the indication of the reference carrier phase of the positioning reference signal by monitoring the carrier phase of the positioning reference signal when the positioning reference signal is transmitted by the transmitter.

[0151] Clause 12, the apparatus of Clause 1, wherein the processor is further configured to: determine an estimate of the reference carrier phase of the positioning reference signal, and the indication of the reference carrier phase of the positioning reference signal indicates the estimate of the reference carrier phase of the positioning reference signal.

[0152] Clause 13, the apparatus of Clause 1, wherein the processor is further configured to: transmit the positioning reference signal using a controlled reference carrier phase.

[0153] Clause 14. The apparatus of Clause 1, wherein the reference transmission time of the positioning reference signal is the transmission time of the first symbol of the positioning reference signal.

[0154] Clause 15. The apparatus of Clause 1, wherein the reference transmission time of the positioning reference signal is the transmission time of one of the time slots of the positioning reference signal, or the sub-frames of the positioning reference signal, or the frames of the positioning reference signal.

[0155] Clause 16. A method for providing positioning reference signal information, comprising: Wirelessly transmit a positioning reference signal containing a carrier signal with carrier phase from the device; and The device transmits an indication of the reference carrier phase of the positioning reference signal, the reference carrier phase being included in the phase of the carrier signal of the positioning reference signal at the reference transmission time of the positioning reference signal.

[0156] Clause 17, the method of Clause 16, wherein the indication of the reference carrier phase of the positioning reference signal indicates the absolute phase.

[0157] Clause 18, the method of Clause 16, wherein the indication of the reference carrier phase of the positioning reference signal indicates the relative phase of the positioning reference signal resource in the first positioning reference signal timing with respect to the positioning reference signal resource in the second positioning reference signal timing, which is temporally separated from the first positioning reference signal timing.

[0158] Clause 19, the method of Clause 16, wherein the indication of the reference carrier phase of the positioning reference signal indicates the relative phase of a first positioning reference signal resource in the positioning reference signal resource set with respect to a second positioning reference signal resource in the positioning reference signal resource set.

[0159] Clause 20, the method of Clause 16, further comprises: transmitting from the apparatus a resolution indication indicating the resolution of the indication of the reference carrier phase of the positioning reference signal.

[0160] Clause 21, the method of Clause 16, wherein transmitting the indication of the reference carrier phase of the positioning reference signal comprises: transmitting a plurality of indications of the reference carrier phase according to the positioning reference signal resource set and the hierarchy of the positioning reference signal resources.

[0161] Clause 22, the method of Clause 16, wherein the indication of the reference carrier phase of the positioning reference signal indicates an indication of the reference carrier phase of a plurality of individual positioning reference signal timings of the positioning reference signal.

[0162] Clause 23, the method of Clause 16, wherein transmitting the indication of the reference carrier phase of the positioning reference signal includes: Periodically transmit a plurality of first reference carrier phase messages, at least one of the plurality of first reference carrier phase messages including the reference carrier phase of the positioning reference signal; or Semi-persistently transmit the plurality of the first reference carrier phase messages; or A second reference carrier phase message, including the reference carrier phase of the positioning reference signal, is transmitted non-periodically.

[0163] Clause 24. The method of Clause 16, wherein transmitting the indication of the reference carrier phase of the positioning reference signal comprises: transmitting the reference carrier phase of the positioning reference signal in response to a request to receive the reference carrier phase of the positioning reference signal.

[0164] Clause 25, the method of Clause 24, wherein transmitting the indication of the reference carrier phase of the positioning reference signal comprises: transmitting the reference carrier phase of the positioning reference signal to the requesting device in response to a request for receiving the reference carrier phase of the positioning reference signal from the requesting device, based on best effort or on request, and based on the quality of service provided by the device to the requesting device.

[0165] Clause 26, the method of Clause 16, wherein the indication of the reference carrier phase of the positioning reference signal indicates the actual reference carrier phase of the positioning reference signal when it is transmitted.

[0166] Clause 27, the method of Clause 16, wherein the indication of the reference carrier phase of the positioning reference signal indicates an estimate of the reference carrier phase of the positioning reference signal.

[0167] Clause 28, the method of Clause 16, further includes: controlling the phase of the reference carrier of the positioning reference signal to a desired value.

[0168] Clause 29. The method of Clause 16, wherein the reference transmission time of the positioning reference signal is the transmission time of the first symbol of the positioning reference signal.

[0169] Clause 30, the method of Clause 16, wherein the reference transmission time of the positioning reference signal is the transmission time of one of the time slots of the positioning reference signal, or the sub-frames of the positioning reference signal, or the frames of the positioning reference signal.

[0170] Clause 31. An appliance comprising: A component for wirelessly transmitting a positioning reference signal containing a carrier signal with a carrier phase; and A component for transmitting an indication of the reference carrier phase of the positioning reference signal, the reference carrier phase being the phase of the carrier signal of the positioning reference signal at the reference transmission time of the positioning reference signal.

[0171] Clause 32, an apparatus as described in Clause 31, wherein the indication of the reference carrier phase of the positioning reference signal indicates the absolute phase.

[0172] Clause 33, the apparatus of Clause 31, wherein the indication of the reference carrier phase of the positioning reference signal indicates the relative phase of the positioning reference signal resource in the first positioning reference signal timing with respect to the positioning reference signal resource in the second positioning reference signal timing, which is temporally separated from the first positioning reference signal timing.

[0173] Clause 34. An apparatus as described in Clause 31, wherein the indication of the reference carrier phase of the positioning reference signal indicates the relative phase of a first positioning reference signal resource in the positioning reference signal resource set with respect to a second positioning reference signal resource in the same positioning reference signal resource set.

[0174] Clause 35, the apparatus of Clause 31, further includes: a component for transmitting a resolution indication indicating the resolution of the indication of the reference carrier phase of the positioning reference signal.

[0175] Clause 36. The apparatus of Clause 31, wherein the component for transmitting the indication of the reference carrier phase of the positioning reference signal comprises: a component for transmitting a plurality of indications of the reference carrier phase according to the positioning reference signal resource set and the hierarchy of the positioning reference signal resources.

[0176] Clause 37. An apparatus as described in Clause 31, wherein the indication of the reference carrier phase of the positioning reference signal indicates an indication of the reference carrier phase of a plurality of individual positioning reference signal timings of the positioning reference signal.

[0177] Clause 38. The apparatus of Clause 31, wherein the component for transmitting the indication of the reference carrier phase of the positioning reference signal comprises: A component for periodically transmitting a plurality of first reference carrier phase messages, at least one of the plurality of first reference carrier phase messages including the reference carrier phase of the positioning reference signal; or A component for semi-persistently transmitting the plurality of the first reference carrier phase messages; or A component for non-periodicly transmitting a second reference carrier phase message including the reference carrier phase of the positioning reference signal; or Any combination thereof.

[0178] Clause 39. An apparatus as described in Clause 31, wherein the component for transmitting the indication of the reference carrier phase of the positioning reference signal comprises: a component for transmitting the reference carrier phase of the positioning reference signal in response to a request to receive the reference carrier phase of the positioning reference signal.

[0179] Clause 40, the apparatus of Clause 39, wherein the component for transmitting the indication of the reference carrier phase of the positioning reference signal comprises: a component for transmitting the reference carrier phase of the positioning reference signal to the requesting device in response to a request for receiving the reference carrier phase of the positioning reference signal from the requesting device, based on a best effort or on request, and based on the quality of service provided by the apparatus to the requesting device.

[0180] Clause 41, an apparatus as described in Clause 31, wherein the indication of the reference carrier phase of the positioning reference signal indicates the actual reference carrier phase of the positioning reference signal when it is transmitted.

[0181] Clause 42, an apparatus as described in Clause 31, wherein the indication of the reference carrier phase of the positioning reference signal indicates an estimate of the reference carrier phase of the positioning reference signal.

[0182] Clause 43, the apparatus of Clause 31 further includes: a component for controlling the phase of the reference carrier of the positioning reference signal to a desired value.

[0183] Clause 44. The apparatus of Clause 31, wherein the reference transmission time of the positioning reference signal is the transmission time of the first symbol of the positioning reference signal.

[0184] Clause 45. The apparatus of Clause 31, wherein the reference transmission time of the positioning reference signal is the transmission time of one of the time slots of the positioning reference signal, or the sub-frames of the positioning reference signal, or the frames of the positioning reference signal.

[0185] Clause 46. A non-transitory processor-readable storage medium comprising processor-readable instructions for causing a processor of an apparatus to perform the following operations: Wirelessly transmit positioning reference signals containing carrier signals with carrier phase; and Transmits an indication of the reference carrier phase of the positioning reference signal, the reference carrier phase being included in the phase of the carrier signal of the positioning reference signal at the reference transmission time of the positioning reference signal.

[0186] Clause 47, the storage medium as in Clause 46, wherein the indication of the reference carrier phase of the positioning reference signal indicates the absolute phase.

[0187] Clause 48, the storage medium as in Clause 46, wherein the indication of the reference carrier phase of the positioning reference signal indicates the relative phase of the positioning reference signal resource in the first positioning reference signal timing with respect to the positioning reference signal resource in the second positioning reference signal timing, which is temporally separated from the first positioning reference signal timing.

[0188] Clause 49, the storage medium as in Clause 46, wherein the indication of the reference carrier phase of the positioning reference signal indicates the relative phase of a first positioning reference signal resource in the positioning reference signal resource set with respect to a second positioning reference signal resource in the same positioning reference signal resource set.

[0189] Clause 50, the storage medium as described in Clause 46, further includes processor-readable instructions for causing the processor to: transmit a resolution indication indicating the resolution of the indication of the reference carrier phase of the positioning reference signal.

[0190] Clause 51, the storage medium as described in Clause 46, wherein the processor-readable instructions for causing the processor to transmit the indication of the reference carrier phase of the positioning reference signal include processor-readable instructions for causing the processor to transmit a plurality of indications of the reference carrier phase according to the positioning reference signal resource set and the hierarchy of the positioning reference signal resources.

[0191] Clause 52, the storage medium as in Clause 46, wherein the indication of the reference carrier phase of the positioning reference signal indicates an indication of the reference carrier phase of a plurality of individual positioning reference signal timings of the positioning reference signal.

[0192] Clause 53, the storage medium as described in Clause 46, wherein the processor-readable instructions for causing the processor to transmit the indication of the reference carrier phase of the positioning reference signal include: Processor-readable instructions for causing the processor to periodically transmit a plurality of first reference carrier phase messages, at least one of the plurality of first reference carrier phase messages including the reference carrier phase of the positioning reference signal; or Processor-readable instructions used to cause the processor to semi-persistently transmit the plurality of the first reference carrier phase messages; or Processor-readable instructions for causing the processor to periodically transmit a second reference carrier phase message including the reference carrier phase of the positioning reference signal; or Any combination thereof.

[0193] Clause 54, the storage medium of Clause 46, wherein the processor-readable instruction for causing the processor to transmit the indication of the reference carrier phase of the positioning reference signal includes a processor-readable instruction for causing the processor to transmit the reference carrier phase of the positioning reference signal in response to receiving a request for the reference carrier phase of the positioning reference signal.

[0194] Clause 55, the storage medium as described in Clause 54, wherein the processor-readable instructions for transmitting the indication of the reference carrier phase of the positioning reference signal include processor-readable instructions for causing the processor to: transmit the reference carrier phase of the positioning reference signal to the requesting device in response to receiving a request for the reference carrier phase of the positioning reference signal from the requesting device, based on a best effort or on request, and based on the quality of service provided by the apparatus to the requesting device.

[0195] Clause 56, the storage medium as in Clause 46, wherein the indication of the reference carrier phase of the positioning reference signal indicates the actual reference carrier phase of the positioning reference signal when it is transmitted.

[0196] Clause 57, the storage medium as in Clause 46, wherein the indication of the reference carrier phase of the positioning reference signal indicates an estimate of the reference carrier phase of the positioning reference signal.

[0197] Clause 58, the storage medium as described in Clause 46, further includes: a component for controlling the phase of the reference carrier of the positioning reference signal to a desired value.

[0198] Clause 59, the storage medium as in Clause 46, wherein the reference transmission time of the positioning reference signal is the transmission time of the first symbol of the positioning reference signal.

[0199] Clause 60, the storage medium as described in Clause 46, wherein the reference transmission time of the positioning reference signal is the transmission time of one of the time slots of the positioning reference signal, or the subframes of the positioning reference signal, or the frames of the positioning reference signal.

[0200] Clause 61. An apparatus comprising: transceiver; Memory; and The processor, communicatively coupled to the transceiver and the memory, and configured to: A first carrier phase indication corresponding to the positioning reference signal receiver is obtained, the first carrier phase indication indicating the first measured carrier phase of the positioning reference signal; The first carrier phase indication is transmitted via the transceiver; and At least one of the following operations: The transceiver transmits a second carrier phase indication, which indicates whether the first carrier phase indication includes the reference carrier phase of the positioning reference signal, the reference carrier phase being included in the phase of the carrier signal of the positioning reference signal at the reference transmission time of the positioning reference signal; or The transceiver transmits a third carrier phase indication, which indicates the second measured carrier phase of the positioning reference signal, such that one of the first measured carrier phase and the second measured carrier phase includes the reference carrier phase of the positioning reference signal, and the other of the first measured carrier phase and the second measured carrier phase does not include the phase value corresponding to the reference carrier phase of the positioning reference signal.

[0201] Clause 62. The apparatus of Clause 61, wherein, in order to obtain the first carrier phase indication, the processor is further configured to: The positioning reference signal is received via the transceiver; and The carrier phase of the positioning reference signal is measured to determine the first measured carrier phase.

[0202] Clause 63. The apparatus of Clause 61, wherein, in order to obtain the first carrier phase indication, the processor is further configured to: receive the first carrier phase indication via the transceiver, and wherein the processor is further configured to: The transceiver receives the phase value corresponding to the reference carrier phase of the positioning reference signal; and The phase value corresponding to the reference carrier phase of the positioning reference signal is subtracted from the first carrier phase indication based on the first measured carrier phase of the positioning reference signal, which includes the reference carrier phase of the positioning reference signal.

[0203] Clause 64. A method for providing carrier phase information, the method comprising: A first carrier phase indication corresponding to the positioning reference signal receiver is obtained at the first device, the first carrier phase indication indicating the first measured carrier phase of the positioning reference signal; Transmit the first carrier phase indication to the second device; and At least one of the following operations: The second carrier phase indication is transmitted to the second device, the second carrier phase indication indicating whether the first carrier phase indication includes the reference carrier phase of the positioning reference signal, the reference carrier phase including the phase of the carrier signal of the positioning reference signal at the reference transmission time of the positioning reference signal; or A third carrier phase indication is transmitted to the second device, the third carrier phase indication indicating the second measured carrier phase of the positioning reference signal, such that one of the first measured carrier phase and the second measured carrier phase includes the reference carrier phase of the positioning reference signal, and the other of the first measured carrier phase and the second measured carrier phase does not include the phase value corresponding to the reference carrier phase of the positioning reference signal.

[0204] Clause 65, the method of Clause 64, wherein obtaining the first carrier phase indication comprises: Receive the positioning reference signal; and The carrier phase of the positioning reference signal is measured to determine the first measured carrier phase.

[0205] Clause 66. The method of Clause 64, wherein obtaining the first carrier phase indication comprises: receiving the first carrier phase indication, and wherein the method further comprises: Receive the phase value corresponding to the reference carrier phase of the positioning reference signal; and The phase value corresponding to the reference carrier phase of the positioning reference signal is subtracted from the first carrier phase indication based on the first measured carrier phase of the positioning reference signal, which includes the reference carrier phase of the positioning reference signal.

[0206] Clause 67. A first device comprising: A component for obtaining a first carrier phase indication corresponding to a positioning reference signal receiver, the first carrier phase indication indicating a first measured carrier phase of the positioning reference signal; Components for transmitting the first carrier phase indication to the second device; and At least one of the following components: A component for transmitting a second carrier phase indication to the second device, the second carrier phase indication indicating whether the first carrier phase indication includes the reference carrier phase of the positioning reference signal, the reference carrier phase including the phase of the carrier signal of the positioning reference signal at the reference transmission time of the positioning reference signal; or A component for transmitting a third carrier phase indication to the second device, the third carrier phase indication indicating a second measured carrier phase of the positioning reference signal such that one of the first measured carrier phase and the second measured carrier phase includes the reference carrier phase of the positioning reference signal, and the other of the first measured carrier phase and the second measured carrier phase does not include a phase value corresponding to the reference carrier phase of the positioning reference signal.

[0207] Clause 68, the first apparatus as described in Clause 67, wherein the component for obtaining the first carrier phase indication comprises: Components for receiving the positioning reference signal; and A component used to measure the carrier phase of the positioning reference signal to determine the first measured carrier phase.

[0208] Clause 69. The first device as described in Clause 67, wherein the component for obtaining the first carrier phase indication comprises: a component for receiving the first carrier phase indication, and wherein the first device further comprises: A component for receiving the phase value corresponding to the phase of the reference carrier of the positioning reference signal; and A component for subtracting the phase value corresponding to the reference carrier phase of the positioning reference signal from the first carrier phase indication based on the first measured carrier phase of the positioning reference signal, including the reference carrier phase of the positioning reference signal.

[0209] Clause 70. A non-transitory processor-readable storage medium comprising processor-readable instructions for causing a processor of a first device to perform the following operations: A first carrier phase indication corresponding to the positioning reference signal receiver is obtained, the first carrier phase indication indicating the first measured carrier phase of the positioning reference signal; Transmit the first carrier phase indication to the second device; and At least one of the following operations: The second carrier phase indication is transmitted to the second device, the second carrier phase indication indicating whether the first carrier phase indication includes the reference carrier phase of the positioning reference signal, the reference carrier phase including the phase of the carrier signal of the positioning reference signal at the reference transmission time of the positioning reference signal; or A third carrier phase indication is transmitted to the second device, the third carrier phase indication indicating the second measured carrier phase of the positioning reference signal, such that one of the first measured carrier phase and the second measured carrier phase includes the reference carrier phase of the positioning reference signal, and the other of the first measured carrier phase and the second measured carrier phase does not include the phase value corresponding to the reference carrier phase of the positioning reference signal.

[0210] Clause 71, the storage medium as described in Clause 70, wherein the processor-readable instructions for causing the processor to obtain the first carrier phase indication include processor-readable instructions for causing the processor to perform the following operations: Receive the positioning reference signal; and The carrier phase of the positioning reference signal is measured to determine the first measured carrier phase.

[0211] Clause 72. The storage medium as described in Clause 70, wherein the processor-readable instructions for causing the processor to obtain the first carrier phase indication include processor-readable instructions for causing the processor to receive the first carrier phase indication, and wherein the storage medium further includes processor-readable instructions for causing the processor to perform the following operations: Receive the phase value corresponding to the reference carrier phase of the positioning reference signal; and The phase value corresponding to the reference carrier phase of the positioning reference signal is subtracted from the first carrier phase indication based on the first measured carrier phase of the positioning reference signal, which includes the reference carrier phase of the positioning reference signal. [, , ]

[0212] [, Other considerations , ]

[0213] Other examples and implementations are within the scope of this disclosure and the appended claims. For example, due to the nature of software and computers, the functions described herein can be implemented using software, hardware, firmware, hardwiring, or any combination of these items executed by a processor. Features implementing the functions can also be located at various physical locations, including being distributed such that different parts of the functionality are implemented at different physical locations.

[0214] As used herein, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, the singular forms of “a,” “an,” and “the” also include the plural forms. As used herein, the terms “comprises,” “comprising,” “includes,” and / or “including” specify the presence of a feature, integer, step, operation, element, and / or component, but do not exclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and / or groups thereof.

[0215] As used herein, unless otherwise stated, a statement that a function or operation is “based on” a project or condition means that the function or operation is based on that project or condition and may be based on one or more projects and / or conditions in addition to that project or condition.

[0216] Furthermore, as used herein, the "or" in a list of items (which may end with "at least one of" or "one or more of") indicates a separate list, such that a list of, for example, "at least one of A, B, or C," or "one or more of A, B, or C," or "A, B, or C" means A, or B, or C, or AB (A and B), or AC (A and C), or BC (B and C), or ABC (i.e., A, B, and C), or a combination of more than one feature (e.g., AA, AAB, ABBC, etc.). Therefore, a statement that an item (e.g., a processor) is configured to perform a function relating to at least one of A or B, or a statement that an item is configured to perform function A or function B, means that the item can be configured to perform a function relating to A, or can be configured to perform a function relating to B, or can be configured to perform functions relating to both A and B. For example, the phrases "the processor is configured to measure at least one of A or B" or "the processor is configured to measure A or measure B" mean that: the processor can be configured to measure A (and may be configured to measure B, or may not be configured to measure B), or can be configured to measure B (and may be configured to measure A, or may not be configured to measure A), or can be configured to measure both A and B (and may be configured to select either or both of A and B for measurement). Similarly, descriptions of a component for measuring at least one of A or B include: a component for measuring A (which may be capable of measuring B or may not be capable of measuring B), or a component for measuring B (which may be configured to or may not be configured to measure A), or a component for measuring both A and B (which may be capable of selecting either or both of A and B for measurement). As another example, regarding an item (e.g., a processor) being configured to perform at least one of function X or function Y means that the item can be configured to perform function X, or can be configured to perform function Y, or can be configured to perform both functions X and Y. For example, the phrase "the processor is configured to measure at least one of X or Y" means that the processor can be configured to measure X (and may be configured to or may not be configured to measure Y), or can be configured to measure Y (and may be configured to or may not be configured to measure X), or can be configured to measure both X and Y (and can be configured to select which one or both of X and Y to be measured).

[0217] Substantial changes can be made to suit specific requirements. For example, custom hardware can be used, and / or specific elements can be implemented using hardware, processor-executed software (including portable software, such as small applications), or both. Furthermore, connections to other computing devices, such as network input / output devices, can be employed. Unless otherwise stated, components shown in the figures and / or discussed herein as interconnected or communicating (functionally or otherwise) are communicatively coupled. That is, they can be directly or indirectly connected to enable communication between them.

[0218] The systems and apparatus discussed above are examples. Various configurations may omit, substitute, or add processes or components as appropriate. For example, features described for certain configurations may be combined in various other configurations. Different patterns and elements of these configurations may be combined in a similar manner. Furthermore, technological developments, and therefore many of these elements, are examples and do not limit the scope of this disclosure or the claims.

[0219] A wireless communication system is a system in which communication is wirelessly transmitted between wireless communication devices (also referred to as wireless communication apparatuses) (i.e., via electromagnetic waves and / or sound waves propagating through atmospheric space, rather than via wires or other physical connections). A wireless communication system (also referred to as a wireless communication system, wireless communication network, or wireless communication network) may not enable all communication to be transmitted wirelessly, but is configured to enable at least some communication to be transmitted wirelessly. Furthermore, the term "wireless communication apparatus" or similar terms do not require that the apparatus's function is specifically or even primarily for communication, or that communication using the wireless communication apparatus is specifically or even primarily wireless, or that the apparatus is a mobile apparatus, but rather indicate that the apparatus includes wireless communication capabilities (one-way or two-way), for example, including at least one radio unit for wireless communication (each radio unit is part of a transmitter, receiver, or transceiver).

[0220] Specific details are provided in the description to offer a thorough understanding of the example configuration (including its implementation). However, the configuration can be implemented without these specific details. For example, to avoid confusion, known circuits, processes, algorithms, structures, and techniques have been shown without unnecessary detail. This description provides an example configuration and does not limit the scope, applicability, or configuration of the claims. Rather, the foregoing description of the configuration provides a description of how to implement the described techniques. Various changes can be made regarding the function and arrangement of the elements.

[0221] As used herein, the terms “processor-readable media,” “machine-readable media,” and “computer-readable media” refer to any media that participates in providing information that causes a machine to operate in a particular manner. Using a computing platform, various processor-readable media can participate in providing instructions / code to a processor for execution and / or can be used to store and / or carry such instructions / code (e.g., as signals). In many implementations, processor-readable media are physical and / or tangible storage media. Such media can take many forms, including but not limited to non-volatile and volatile media. Non-volatile media include, for example, optical discs and / or magnetic disks. Volatile media include, but are not limited to, dynamic memory.

[0222] Having described several example configurations, various modifications, alternative constructions, and equivalents can be used. For example, the above elements can be components of a larger system, where other rules can take precedence over or otherwise modify the application of this disclosure. Furthermore, multiple operations can be performed before, during, or after considering the above elements. Accordingly, the above description does not limit the scope of the patent application.

[0223] Unless otherwise indicated, as used herein, “about” and / or “approximately” when referring to measurable values ​​(such as quantity, duration of time, etc.) includes variations of ±20% or ±10%, ±5% or +0.1% from the specified value, depending on the context of the system, apparatus, circuit, method, and other implementations described herein. Unless otherwise indicated, as used herein, “substantially” when referring to measurable values ​​(such as quantity, duration of time, physical properties (such as frequency), etc.) also includes variations of ±20% or ±10%, ±5% or +0.1% from the specified value, depending on the context of the system, apparatus, circuit, method, and other implementations described herein.

[0224] A statement about a value exceeding (greater than or higher than) a first threshold is equivalent to a statement about a value satisfying or exceeding a second threshold slightly greater than the first threshold. For example, at the resolution of a computing system, the second threshold is a value higher than the first threshold. A statement about a value less than (or within or below) the first threshold is equivalent to a statement about a value less than or equal to a second threshold slightly lower than the first threshold. For example, at the resolution of a computing system, the second threshold is a value lower than the first threshold.

[0225] 100: Communication System 105, 106: User Equipment (UE) 110a, 110b: NR node B (gNB) 111: Radio Unit (RU) 112: Distributed Unit (DU) 113: Central Unit (CU) 114: Next-Generation Evolved Node B (ng-eNB) 115: Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF) 117: Session Management Function (SMF) 120: Location Management Function (LMF) 125: Gateway Movement Position Center (GMLC) 130: External Client 135: Next Generation Radio Access Network (NG-RAN) 140: 5G Core Network (5GC) 150: Server 185: Constellation 190, 191, 192, 193: Satellite Vehicle (SV) 200: User Equipment (UE) 300: Transmit / Receive Point (TRP) 400: Server 210, 310, 410: Processor 211, 311, 411: Memory 212, 312, 412: Software (SW) 213: Sensor 214: Transceiver Interface 215, 315, 415: Transceivers 216: User Interface 217: Satellite Positioning System (SPS) Receiver 218: Camera 219: Positioning Device (PD) 220, 320, 420: Busbars 230: General Purpose / Application Processor 231: Digital Signal Processor (DSP) 232: Modem Processor 233: Video Processor 234: Sensor Processor 240, 340, 440: Wireless transceivers 242, 342, 442: Wireless transmitters 244, 344, 444: Wireless receiver 246, 346, 446: Antenna 248, 348, 448: Wireless signals 250, 350, 450: Wired transceivers 252, 352, 452: Wired transmitters 254, 354, 454: Wired receivers 260: SPS signal 262: SPS Antenna 500: Positioning System 510: Target Device 520: Reference device 530: Locating Entities 540:Base station 550:Base station 541, 551: Positioning Reference Signal (PRS) 560, 570: Single Difference (SD) Indicators 580: Double Difference (DD) Indicator 600: Utensils 610: Processor 620: Transceiver 622: PLL (Phase-Locked Loop) 630: Memory 640: Busbar 650: Carrier Phase Acquisition Unit 660: Carrier Phase Reporting Unit 700: PRS transmitter 710: Processor 720: Launcher 722: Oscillator 730: Memory 740: Busbar 750: PRS Transmission Unit 760: Initial carrier phase unit 800: Process 805: Intermediate Node 810, 820, 830, 840, 850, 860: Stages 812, 814, 816: Positioning Reference Signals (PRS) 831, 832, 833, 834: Request 841, 842, 843, 844: Initial Carrier Phase Value (ICPV) Messages 851, 852, 853, 854, 855: Carrier Phase Measurement (CPM) Messages 900, 1000: Transmission Schedule 901: First Time Slot 902: Second Time Slot 910: Frame 920: Subframe 1001, 1002: Timing 1110: Carrier signal 1120: Code phase modulation signal 1130: Positioning Reference Signal (PRS) 1140: Time 1200, 1300: Initial Carrier Phase Value (ICPV) message 1210, 1310: TRP ID field 1220, 1320: PRS Resource Set ID field 1230, 1330: PRS Resource ID field 1240, 1340: Timing field 1250, 1350: Initial carrier phase field 1260-1267, 1360-1367: Entries 1400, 1500: Carrier Phase Measurement (CPM) Messages 1410, 1510: PRS Resource ID field 1420: Carrier phase field with initial carrier phase 1430: Carrier phase field without initial carrier phase 1520: Carrier Phase Field 1530: Column 1450, 1550: Entries 1600, 1700: Method 1610, 1620, 1710, 1720, 1730: Stages

Claims

1. An apparatus for providing positioning reference signal information, comprising: a transmitter; a memory; and a processor communicatively coupled to the transmitter and the memory and configured to: wirelessly transmit via the transmitter a positioning reference signal including a carrier signal with a carrier phase; and transmit via the transmitter a value indicating a reference carrier phase of the positioning reference signal, the reference carrier phase including the phase of the carrier signal of the positioning reference signal at a reference transmission time of the positioning reference signal.

2. The appliance as claimed in claim 1, wherein, The value indicating the phase of the reference carrier of the positioning reference signal indicates the absolute phase.

3. The appliance as claimed in claim 1, wherein, The value indicating the phase of the reference carrier of the positioning reference signal indicates the relative phase of the positioning reference signal resource in the first positioning reference signal timing with respect to the positioning reference signal resource in the second positioning reference signal timing, which is separated from the first positioning reference signal timing in time.

4. The appliance as claimed in claim 1, wherein, The value indicating the phase of the reference carrier of the positioning reference signal indicates the relative phase of the first positioning reference signal resource in the positioning reference signal resource set with respect to the second positioning reference signal resource in the same set.

5. The appliance as claimed in claim 1, wherein, The processor is further configured to transmit a resolution indication via the transmitter, the resolution indication indicating the resolution represented by the value of the reference carrier phase of the positioning reference signal.

6. The appliance as claimed in claim 1, wherein, The processor is configured to transmit a plurality of values ​​indicating the phase of a reference carrier via the transmitter and according to the location reference signal resource set and the hierarchy of the location reference signal resources.

7. The appliance as claimed in claim 1, wherein, The value indicating the reference carrier phase of the positioning reference signal indicates the value of the reference carrier phase of a plurality of individual positioning reference signal timings that indicate the positioning reference signal.

8. The appliance as claimed in claim 1, wherein: The processor is further configured to: periodically transmit a plurality of first reference carrier phase messages, at least one of the plurality of first reference carrier phase messages including the reference carrier phase of the positioning reference signal; or the processor is further configured to: semi-persistently transmit the plurality of first reference carrier phase messages; or the processor is further configured to: non-periodically transmit second reference carrier phase messages including the reference carrier phase of the positioning reference signal; or any combination thereof.

9. The appliance as claimed in claim 1, wherein, The processor is further configured to transmit the reference carrier phase of the positioning reference signal in response to a request to receive the reference carrier phase of the positioning reference signal.

10. The appliance as claimed in item 9, wherein, The processor is further configured to: transmit, based on best effort or on request, in response to receiving a request from the requesting device for the reference carrier phase of the positioning reference signal and based on the quality of service provided by the device to the requesting device, the value indicating the reference carrier phase of the positioning reference signal to the requesting device.

11. The appliance as claimed in claim 1, wherein, The processor is further configured to determine the value indicating the reference carrier phase of the positioning reference signal by monitoring the carrier phase of the positioning reference signal when it is transmitted by the transmitter.

12. The appliance as claimed in claim 1, wherein, The processor is further configured to: determine an estimate of the reference carrier phase of the positioning reference signal, and indicate that the value of the reference carrier phase of the positioning reference signal indicates the estimate of the reference carrier phase of the positioning reference signal.

13. The appliance as claimed in claim 1, wherein, The processor is further configured to transmit the positioning reference signal using a controlled reference carrier phase.

14. The appliance as claimed in claim 1, wherein, The reference transmission time of the positioning reference signal is the transmission time of the first symbol of the positioning reference signal.

15. The appliance as claimed in claim 1, wherein, The reference transmission time of the positioning reference signal is the transmission time of one of the time slots, subframes, or frames of the positioning reference signal.

16. A method for providing positioning reference signal information, the method comprising: wirelessly transmitting from an apparatus a positioning reference signal including a carrier signal with a carrier phase; and transmitting from the apparatus a value indicating a reference carrier phase of the positioning reference signal, the reference carrier phase including the phase of the carrier signal of the positioning reference signal at a reference transmission time of the positioning reference signal.

17. As in request item 16, wherein, The value indicating the phase of the reference carrier of the positioning reference signal indicates the absolute phase.

18. As in request item 16, wherein, The value indicating the phase of the reference carrier of the positioning reference signal indicates the relative phase of the positioning reference signal resource in the first positioning reference signal timing with respect to the positioning reference signal resource in the second positioning reference signal timing, which is separated from the first positioning reference signal timing in time.

19. As in request item 16, wherein, The value indicating the phase of the reference carrier of the positioning reference signal indicates the relative phase of the first positioning reference signal resource in the positioning reference signal resource set with respect to the second positioning reference signal resource in the same set.

20. The method of claim 16 further comprises: transmitting a resolution indication from the apparatus, the resolution indication indicating the resolution represented by the value of the reference carrier phase indicating the positioning reference signal.

21. As in request item 16, wherein, The value of transmitting the reference carrier phase indicating the positioning reference signal includes transmitting a plurality of reference carrier phase values ​​according to the positioning reference signal resource set and the hierarchy of the positioning reference signal resources.

22. As in request item 16, wherein, The value indicating the reference carrier phase of the positioning reference signal indicates the value of the reference carrier phase of a plurality of individual positioning reference signal timings that indicate the positioning reference signal.

23. As in request item 16, wherein, The transmission of the value indicating the reference carrier phase of the positioning reference signal includes: periodically transmitting a plurality of first reference carrier phase messages, at least one of the plurality of first reference carrier phase messages including the reference carrier phase of the positioning reference signal; or semi-persistently transmitting the plurality of first reference carrier phase messages; or non-periodically transmitting a second reference carrier phase message including the reference carrier phase of the positioning reference signal.

24. As in request item 16, wherein, The transmission of the value indicating the reference carrier phase of the positioning reference signal includes: transmitting the reference carrier phase of the positioning reference signal in response to a request to receive the reference carrier phase of the positioning reference signal.

25. As in request item 24, wherein, The transmission of the reference carrier phase of the positioning reference signal includes: transmitting the reference carrier phase of the positioning reference signal to the requesting device in response to receiving a request for the reference carrier phase of the positioning reference signal from the requesting device, based on the quality of service provided by the device to the requesting device, according to best effort or on request.

26. As in request item 16, wherein, The value indicating the reference carrier phase of the positioning reference signal indicates the actual reference carrier phase of the positioning reference signal when it is transmitted.

27. As in request item 16, wherein, The value indicating the phase of the reference carrier of the positioning reference signal indicates an estimate of the phase of the reference carrier of the positioning reference signal.

28. The method of claim 16 further includes: controlling the reference carrier phase of the positioning reference signal to a desired value.

29. As in request item 16, wherein, The reference transmission time of the positioning reference signal is the transmission time of the first symbol of the positioning reference signal.

30. As in request item 16, wherein, The reference transmission time of the positioning reference signal is the transmission time of one of the time slots, subframes, or frames of the positioning reference signal.

31. An apparatus for providing positioning reference signal information, comprising: a component for wirelessly transmitting a positioning reference signal including a carrier signal with a carrier phase; and a component for transmitting a value indicating a reference carrier phase of the positioning reference signal, the reference carrier phase including the phase of the carrier signal of the positioning reference signal at a reference transmission time of the positioning reference signal.

32. An apparatus for providing carrier phase information, comprising: a transceiver; a memory; and a processor communicatively coupled to the transceiver and the memory and configured to: obtain a first carrier phase indication corresponding to a positioning reference signal receiver, the first carrier phase indication indicating a first measured carrier phase of a positioning reference signal; transmit the first carrier phase indication via the transceiver; and at least one of the following operations: transmit a second carrier phase indication via the transceiver, the second carrier phase indication indicating whether the first carrier phase indication includes a reference carrier phase of the positioning reference signal, the reference carrier phase including a phase of a carrier signal of the positioning reference signal at a reference transmission time of the positioning reference signal; or transmit a third carrier phase indication via the transceiver, the third carrier phase indication indicating a second measured carrier phase of the positioning reference signal such that one of the first measured carrier phase and the second measured carrier phase includes the reference carrier phase of the positioning reference signal, and the other of the first measured carrier phase and the second measured carrier phase does not include a phase value corresponding to the reference carrier phase of the positioning reference signal.

33. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein, In order to obtain the first carrier phase indication, the processor is further configured to: receive the positioning reference signal via the transceiver; and measure the carrier phase of the positioning reference signal to determine the first measured carrier phase.

34. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein, To obtain the first carrier phase indication, the processor is further configured to: receive the first carrier phase indication via the transceiver, and wherein the processor is further configured to: receive the phase value corresponding to the reference carrier phase of the positioning reference signal via the transceiver; and subtract the phase value corresponding to the reference carrier phase of the positioning reference signal from the first carrier phase indication based on the first measured carrier phase of the positioning reference signal including the reference carrier phase of the positioning reference signal.

35. A method for providing carrier phase information, the method comprising: obtaining at a first device a first carrier phase indication corresponding to a positioning reference signal receiver, the first carrier phase indication indicating a first measured carrier phase of a positioning reference signal; transmitting the first carrier phase indication to a second device; and at least one of the following operations: transmitting to the second device a second carrier phase indication indicating whether the first carrier phase indication includes a reference carrier phase of the positioning reference signal, the reference carrier phase including a phase of a carrier signal of the positioning reference signal at a reference transmission time of the positioning reference signal; or transmitting to the second device a third carrier phase indication indicating a second measured carrier phase of the positioning reference signal such that one of the first measured carrier phase and the second measured carrier phase includes the reference carrier phase of the positioning reference signal, and the other of the first measured carrier phase and the second measured carrier phase does not include a phase value corresponding to the reference carrier phase of the positioning reference signal.

36. As in request item 35, wherein, Obtaining the first carrier phase indication includes: receiving the positioning reference signal; and measuring the carrier phase of the positioning reference signal to determine the first measured carrier phase.

37. As in request item 35, wherein, Obtaining the first carrier phase indication includes: receiving the first carrier phase indication, and wherein the method further includes: receiving the phase value corresponding to the reference carrier phase of the positioning reference signal; and subtracting the phase value corresponding to the reference carrier phase of the positioning reference signal from the first carrier phase indication based on the first measured carrier phase of the positioning reference signal including the reference carrier phase of the positioning reference signal.

38. A first apparatus for providing carrier phase information, comprising: a component for obtaining a first carrier phase indication corresponding to a positioning reference signal receiver, the first carrier phase indication indicating a first measured carrier phase of a positioning reference signal; a component for transmitting the first carrier phase indication to a second apparatus; and at least one of the following components: a component for transmitting a second carrier phase indication to the second apparatus, the second carrier phase indication indicating whether the first carrier phase indication includes a reference carrier phase of the positioning reference signal, the reference carrier phase including a phase of a carrier signal of the positioning reference signal at a reference transmission time of the positioning reference signal; or a component for transmitting a third carrier phase indication to the second apparatus, the third carrier phase indication indicating a second measured carrier phase of the positioning reference signal such that one of the first measured carrier phase and the second measured carrier phase includes the reference carrier phase of the positioning reference signal, and the other of the first measured carrier phase and the second measured carrier phase does not include a phase value corresponding to the reference carrier phase of the positioning reference signal.

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