Method and apparatus for on-demand positioning

Abstract

A positioning operation for a user equipment (UE) involves a two-step procedure with a coarse positioning followed by a fine positioning. The coarse positioning can be based on periodic reference signals from a first set of network nodes. The fine positioning is configured specific to the UE based on the coarse positioning. The fine positioning can include a directional transmission of reference signals to the UE by a second set of network nodes.

Description

[0001] Relevant application data

[0002] This application claims the benefit of Swedish patent application No. 1930269-4, filed on August 15, 2019. The entire contents of the aforementioned patent application are incorporated herein by reference. Technical Field

[0003] The technology disclosed herein generally relates to the operation of network nodes and / or wireless communication devices in wireless communication networks, and more specifically to methods and apparatus for locating devices. Background Technology

[0004] In existing wireless communication systems (e.g., 3G or 4G-based systems), device location estimation is generally considered acceptable when regulatory positioning requirements are met. For example, for emergency calls, in a 4G system, location estimation only needs to be accurate to within 50 meters. Positioning is a key feature of the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) for 5G systems such as New Radio (NR). This specification targets use cases beyond emergency call services (i.e., regulatory requirements) (such as commercial use cases), and sub-meter positioning accuracy is expected in 5G systems.

[0005] Cellular-based positioning can be downlink-based or uplink-based. In traditional systems, timing and angle measurements are common techniques in downlink-based positioning. For example, Observed Time Difference of Arrival (OTDOA) is a multilateral measurement technique in 4G systems. In this technique, the base station (eNB) transmits a Position Reference Signal (PRS). The user equipment (UE) estimates the Time of Arrival (TOA) based on the received PRS. The TOA measured from the PRS of multiple base stations is subtracted from the TOA corresponding to the reference base station to generate the OTDOA measurement. The UE reports the OTDOA measurement result or the time difference of the measurement (e.g., Reference Signal Time Difference (RSTD)) to a location server. The location server estimates the UE's location based on the RSTD report and the known coordinates of the base stations. Another technique (such as Enhanced Cell ID in LTE systems) involves the base station estimating the Angle of Arrival (AoA) of the signal transmitted by the UE. For example, the base station uses the phase difference from at least two receive antennas to estimate the AoA.

[0006] One method for uplink-based positioning in traditional systems is uplink time difference of arrival (UTDOA). Using this method, the user equipment (UE) transmits a reference signal, which is received by one or more base stations or dedicated location measurement units (LMUs). The base station (or LMU) estimates the time of arrival and reports this estimate to a location server to estimate the UE's location (e.g., if multiple base stations measure the time of arrival, the UE's location is estimated via multilateral measurement). Summary of the Invention

[0007] In traditional systems, UE positioning (especially downlink-based positioning) is based on periodic signals (e.g., Positioning Reference Signal (PRS) or other reference signals) broadcast by base stations. In NR systems, support for similar downlink-based positioning has been considered. In principle, base stations in NR systems transmit PRS, and the UE calculates the Time of Arrival (ToA) from each base station. Typically, the UE measures ToA from at least three base stations to perform positioning estimation. NR systems support beam-directed transmission, as opposed to omnidirectional or sector-based transmission in traditional systems. To provide good coverage (e.g., in multiple directions), base stations can use beam scanning operations to transmit PRS to cover all directions. Signaling overhead is a balancing factor. While base stations can operate using very narrow beams (in terms of beamwidth) for transmission, high signaling overhead will result because the resulting beam scanning operation will significantly increase the resources reserved for PRS transmission.

[0008] Given the above considerations related to coverage and overhead, a relatively wide beam can be used to transmit PRS. This setup allows for reasonable positioning accuracy, especially for emergency calls. In 5G NR systems, use cases for positioning are not limited to emergency call support and can include commercial use cases. These use cases may require various parameters for positioning results (e.g., vertical positioning, horizontal positioning, mobility, and / or latency) and various accuracy requirements (e.g., within hundreds of meters, tens of meters, or sub-meters). Traditional methods cannot meet these requirements. Furthermore, traditional positioning technologies are designed to generally support all UEs. UEs may have different UE-specific levels of positioning accuracy and / or latency.

[0009] To support high accuracy in positioning while improving coverage with low signaling overhead, the techniques described herein relate to on-demand positioning of the UE. The disclosed method enables a selected base station to orient itself toward the UE and transmit reference signals on demand in a selected beam direction identified as preferred by the UE. These directional transmissions can improve positioning accuracy and reduce positioning latency by enabling the UE to perform higher-quality positioning measurements.

[0010] According to one aspect of this disclosure, a method for locating the wireless communication device, performed by the wireless communication device, the method comprising the steps of: receiving configuration information for directional transmission from a first group of network nodes capable of being used for locating operations, the directional transmission being specific to the wireless communication device; receiving one or more directional reference signals from the first group of network nodes based on the configuration information; and performing a locating measurement on the received one or more reference signals.

[0011] According to one embodiment, before receiving the configuration information, the method includes the following steps: receiving one or more general reference signals from a second group of network nodes; performing initial positioning measurements on the one or more general reference signals; and sending a measurement report to the serving network node.

[0012] According to one embodiment, the method further includes the step of sending a beam measurement request to the serving network node to send the directional reference signal from a first group of network nodes, the first group of network nodes being selected from a second group of network nodes.

[0013] According to one embodiment of the method, the measurement report identifies the selected transmit beams from which the wireless communication device receives the general reference signal from the second group of network nodes, and the selected transmit beams indicate the preferred beams for the configuration assisting the directional transmission.

[0014] According to one embodiment, the method further includes the step of receiving one or more directional reference signals on a corresponding group transmit beam from the first group of network nodes.

[0015] According to one embodiment of the method, the configuration information includes the association between the corresponding group of transmit beams and the selected transmit beam.

[0016] According to one embodiment of the method, the configuration information includes at least the corresponding resource information of the one or more directional reference signals sent by the first group of network nodes.

[0017] According to another aspect of this disclosure, a method for facilitating the location of a wireless communication device, performed by a network node, the method comprising the steps of: transmitting a general reference signal via a first set of transmission beams; and transmitting a directional reference signal specific to the wireless communication device via a second set of transmission beams, wherein the transmission of the directional reference signal is based at least in part on information reported by the wireless communication device after receiving a periodic reference signal.

[0018] According to one embodiment of the method, information reported by the wireless communication device indicates a beam selected from the first set of transmit beams, and the second set of transmit beams includes transmit beams determined based on the selected beams.

[0019] According to one embodiment, the method further includes the step of: receiving a request to transmit the directional reference signal after transmitting the general reference signal.

[0020] According to one embodiment, the network node is a serving network node, and the method further includes the steps of: receiving a measurement report from the wireless communication device based on a general reference signal received by the wireless communication device; determining, at least in part, resources for transmitting the directional reference signal to the wireless communication device based on the measurement report; and requesting a group of neighboring network nodes to transmit the directional reference signal to the wireless communication device based at least in part on the measurement report.

[0021] According to one embodiment, the network node is a serving network node, and the method further includes the steps of: negotiating resources for transmitting directional reference signals by the set of neighboring network nodes; and sending configuration information to the wireless communication device, the configuration information indicating at least the resources determined to be used by the serving network node and the set of neighboring network nodes to transmit directional reference signals.

[0022] According to one implementation, the method includes the step of selecting the set of neighboring network nodes based at least in part on the measurement report.

[0023] According to another aspect of this disclosure, a wireless communication device configured to operate in a wireless communication network includes: a wireless interface through which wireless communication with one or more network nodes is performed; and control circuitry configured to: receive configuration information for directional transmission from a first group of network nodes capable of positioning operations, the directional transmission being specific to the wireless communication device; receive one or more directional reference signals from the first group of network nodes respectively based on the configuration information; and perform positioning measurements on the received one or more reference signals.

[0024] According to one embodiment of the wireless communication device, before receiving the configuration information, the control circuit is further configured to: receive one or more general reference signals from a second group of network nodes; perform initial positioning measurements on the one or more general reference signals; and send a measurement report to the serving network node.

[0025] According to one embodiment of the wireless communication device, the control circuit is further configured to send a beam measurement request to the serving network node to send the directional reference signal from the first group of network nodes, the first group of network nodes being selected from the second group of network nodes.

[0026] According to one embodiment of the wireless communication device, the measurement report identifies the selected transmit beams from which the wireless communication device receives general reference signals from the second group of network nodes, and the selected transmit beams indicate preferred beams for the configuration assisting the directional transmission.

[0027] According to one embodiment of the wireless communication device, the control circuit is further configured to receive the one or more directional reference signals on a corresponding group transmit beam from the first group of network nodes.

[0028] According to one embodiment of the wireless communication device, the configuration information includes the association between the corresponding group of transmit beams and the selected transmit beam.

[0029] According to one embodiment of the wireless communication device, the configuration information includes at least the corresponding resource information of the one or more directional reference signals respectively transmitted by the first group of network nodes.

[0030] According to another aspect of this disclosure, a network node configured to operate in a wireless communication network includes: an interface through which communication is performed; and control circuitry configured to: transmit a general reference signal via a first set of transmit beams; and transmit a directional reference signal specific to the wireless communication device via a second set of transmit beams, wherein the transmission of the directional reference signal is based at least in part on information reported by the wireless communication device after receiving a periodic reference signal.

[0031] According to one embodiment of the network node, information reported by the wireless communication device indicates a beam selected from the first set of transmit beams, and the second set of transmit beams includes transmit beams determined based on the selected beams.

[0032] According to one embodiment of the network node, the control circuit is further configured to receive a request to send the directional reference signal after sending the general reference signal.

[0033] According to one embodiment, the network node is a serving network node, and the control circuitry is further configured to: receive a measurement report from the wireless communication device based on a general reference signal received by the wireless communication device; determine, at least in part, resources for transmitting the directional reference signal to the wireless communication device based on the measurement report; and request a group of neighboring network nodes to transmit the directional reference signal to the wireless communication device based at least in part on the measurement report.

[0034] According to one embodiment of the network node, the control circuit is further configured to: negotiate resources for transmitting directional reference signals by the group of adjacent network nodes; and send configuration information to the wireless communication device, the configuration information indicating at least the resources determined to be used by the serving network node and the group of adjacent network nodes to transmit directional reference signals.

[0035] According to one embodiment of the network node, the control circuit is further configured to select the set of neighboring network nodes based at least in part on the measurement report. Attached Figure Description

[0036] Figure 1 This is a schematic block diagram of a representative operating network environment for wireless communication devices, also known as user equipment (UE).

[0037] Figure 2 This is a schematic block diagram of a Radio Access Network (RAN) node from a network environment.

[0038] Figure 3 This is a schematic block diagram of a UE from a network environment.

[0039] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of a location computing node from a network environment.

[0040] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of an exemplary positioning technology.

[0041] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of an exemplary positioning technology.

[0042] Figure 7a This is a signaling diagram of an exemplary implementation of the on-demand positioning process for a UE.

[0043] Figure 7b This is a signaling diagram of an exemplary implementation of the on-demand positioning process for a UE.

[0044] Figure 8 This is a flowchart of a representative method for on-demand location of wireless communication devices, executed at a service network node.

[0045] Figure 9 This is a flowchart of a representative method for on-demand location of wireless communication devices, executed at adjacent network nodes.

[0046] Figure 10 This is a flowchart of a representative method for on-demand positioning of a wireless communication device, executed at the wireless communication device. Detailed Implementation

[0047] Embodiments will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein similar reference numerals are used throughout to denote similar elements. It will be understood that the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale. Features described and / or illustrated with respect to one embodiment may be used in the same or similar manner in one or more other embodiments, and / or in combination with or in lieu of features of other embodiments.

[0048] System Architecture

[0049] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of an exemplary network environment for implementing the disclosed technology. It will be understood that the network environment shown is representative, and other environments or systems can be used to implement the disclosed technology. Moreover, various functions can be performed by a single device (such as a radio access node, user equipment, or core network node) or can be performed in a distributed manner across nodes in a computing or wireless communication environment.

[0050] The network environment is relative to an electronic device (such as a user equipment (UE) 100). As envisioned in the 3GPP standard, the UE can be a mobile wireless phone (“smartphone”). Other exemplary types of UE 100 include, but are not limited to, gaming devices, media players, tablet computing devices, computers, cameras, and Internet of Things (IoT) devices. Because aspects of the disclosed technology can be applied to non-3GPP networks, UE 100 can be more generally referred to as a wireless communication device or a radio communication device.

[0051] The network environment includes a wireless communication network 102, which can be configured according to one or more 3GPP standards (such as 3G, 4G, or 5G networks). The disclosed methods can be applied to other types of networks.

[0052] In the case that network 102 is a 3GPP network, network 102 includes a core network (CN) 104 and a radio access network (RAN) 106. Core network 104 provides an interface to data network (DN) 108. DN 108 represents operator services, internet connectivity, third-party services, etc. For simplicity, details of core network 104 are omitted, but it should be understood that core network 104 includes one or more servers carrying various network management functions, examples of which include, but are not limited to, User Plane Function (UPF), Session Management Function (SMF), Core Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF), Authentication Server Function (AUSF), Network Open Function (NEF), Network Repository Function (NRF), Policy Control Function (PCF), Unified Data Management (UDM), Application Function (AF), and Network Slice Selection Function (NSSF). Additionally, the core network 104 may include a positioning computing node 105 configured to estimate the location of the UE 100 based on measurements of downlink-based positioning reported by the UE 100, measurements of uplink-based positioning reported by the RAN 106, or a combination of both as described herein. As described below, the positioning computing node 105 may request the UE 100 and / or the RAN 106 to support bidirectional positioning. Furthermore, although in Figure 1 The location computing node 105 is shown as being included in the core network 104, but it can be included in any network node, including nodes of RAN 106 or devices such as UE 100.

[0053] RAN 106 includes multiple RAN nodes 110. In the example shown, there are three RAN nodes 110a, 110b, and 110c. There may be fewer or more than three RAN nodes 110. For a 3GPP network, each RAN node 110 may be a base station such as an evolved Node B (eNB) base station or a 5G gNB base station. RAN node 110 may include one or more Tx / Rx points (TRPs). Since aspects of the disclosed technology can be applied to non-3GPP networks, RAN node 110 may be more generally referred to as a network access node or network node, with an alternative example being a WiFi access point.

[0054] A radio link can be established between UE 100 and one of the RAN nodes 110 to provide radio radio services to UE 100. The RAN node 110 that establishes the radio link will be referred to as the serving RAN node 110 or serving base station. Other RAN nodes 110 can be within the communication range of UE 100. RAN 106 is considered to have a user plane and a control plane. The control plane is implemented using Radio Resource Control (RRC) signaling between UE 100 and RAN node 110. Another control plane may exist between UE 100 and core network 104 and is implemented using Non-Access Stratum (NAS) signaling.

[0055] For further reference Figure 2 Each RAN node 110 typically includes control circuitry 112 responsible for the overall operation of the RAN node 110, including controlling the RAN node 110 to perform the operations described herein. In an exemplary embodiment, the control circuitry may include a processor (e.g., a central processing unit (CPU), microcontroller, or microprocessor) that executes logical instructions (e.g., lines of code, software, etc.) stored in the memory (e.g., a non-transitory computer-readable medium) of the control circuitry 112 to perform the operations of the RAN node 110.

[0056] RAN node 110 also includes a radio interface 114 for establishing an over-the-air connection with UE 100. Radio interface 114 may include one or more radio transceivers and antenna assemblies to form a TRP. RAN node 110 also includes an interface 116 to core network 104. RAN node 110 also includes interfaces (not shown) to one or more adjacent RAN nodes 110 for network coordination within RAN 106.

[0057] According to another aspect, network 102 may include a location measurement unit (LMU). The LMU may be a separate node (e.g., within RAN 106 or CN 104), or the LMU may be located in the same location as RAN node 110 or be a component of RAN node 110. For example, the LMU may be a computer-based system communicatively connected to and located near RAN node 110. Alternatively, the LMU may be integrated into RAN node 110 and may be implemented by logic instructions stored in the memory of control circuitry 112.

[0058] According to another aspect, RAN node 110 may also include similar functionality to positioning computing node 105. RAN node 110 may include positioning computing node 105 with limited functionality. For example, RAN node 110 may include functionality that enables it to receive and process UE positioning measurement results. Based on the measurement and post-processing, RAN node 110 may signal and coordinate with other RAN nodes 110.

[0059] For further reference Figure 3 A schematic block diagram of UE 100 is illustrated. UE 100 includes control circuitry 118, which is responsible for the overall operation of UE 100, including controlling UE 100 to perform the operations described herein. In an exemplary embodiment, control circuitry 118 may include a processor (e.g., central processing unit (CPU), microcontroller, or microprocessor) that executes logical instructions (e.g., lines of code, software, etc.) stored in the memory of control circuitry 118 (e.g., a non-transitory computer-readable medium) or a separate memory 120 to perform the operations of UE 100.

[0060] UE 100 includes a radio interface 122 for establishing an over-the-air connection with serving base station 110, such as a radio transceiver and antenna assembly. In some cases, UE 100 may be powered by a rechargeable battery (not shown). Depending on the type of device, UE 100 may include one or more other components. Other components may include, but are not limited to, sensors, displays, input components, output components, electrical connectors, etc.

[0061] exist Figure 4 The diagram illustrates an exemplary implementation of a location computing node 105. The location computing node 105 executes logical instructions (e.g., in the form of one or more software applications) to generate a location estimate. However, it should be understood that aspects of the location computing node 105 may be distributed across nodes of the core network 104 or another computing environment.

[0062] Location computing node 105 can be implemented as a computer-based system capable of executing computer applications (e.g., software programs) that perform the functions of computing node 105. As is typical for a computer platform, location computing node 105 may include non-transitory computer-readable media (such as memory 126 for storing data, information sets, and software) and a processor 124 for executing the software. Processor 124 and memory 126 can be coupled using a local interface 127. Local interface 127 may be, for example, a data bus, network, or other subsystem with an accompanying control bus. Computing node 105 may have various input / output (I / O) interfaces for connecting to various peripheral devices during operation, as well as one or more interfaces 128. Interface 128 may include, for example, a modem and / or a network interface card. Communication interface 128 enables computing node 105 to send and receive data signals to and from other computing devices in the core network 104, RAN 106, and / or other suitable locations.

[0063] Positioning on demand

[0064] As mentioned above, conventional positioning techniques cannot achieve the required accuracy without significant latency. The latency required to obtain an accurate location can be partly based on the time needed to acquire a sufficient number of measurements from the transmission of a general reference signal that may only occur periodically. However, with increased mobility, even collecting numerous measurements based on periodic transmissions may be insufficient. Techniques for supporting accurate, low-latency positioning of wireless communication devices in an on-demand manner will be described.

[0065] In one implementation, the on-demand positioning described herein may involve identifying preferred beam pairs between a wireless communication device and a set of nodes (e.g., RAN nodes). For a serving cell with narrow beams (e.g., in terms of beamwidth) for data and control channels, beam pairs can be maintained in connected mode. These beam pairs can be maintained using Channel State Information-Reference Signals (CSI-RS). More than one cell may be utilized for positioning purposes. Neighboring cells can be measured at regular time intervals. Beam pairs for neighboring cells are typically monitored using Synchronization Signal Blocks (SSBs), which can be wider beams. Cells can still be monitored in idle or inactive modes, but at the level of a wider beam SSB.

[0066] To illustrate measurements at the SSB level, measurement gaps can be scheduled for wireless communication devices to measure neighboring cells in connected, idle, or inactive modes. Initially, these measurements are used for cell synchronization because the location and path between the transmission point (e.g., a neighboring base station) and the wireless communication device differs from the location and path between the transmission point and the serving cell. The transmission point (e.g., a neighboring base station) transmits an SSB comprising two synchronization reference signals (e.g., a primary synchronization signal (PSS) and a secondary synchronization signal (SSS)) and a broadcast channel (e.g., a physical broadcast channel (PBCH)). A beam can be used to transmit the SSB, but the beam can be different from the beams that might be used for other channels. By measuring the SSB, the wireless communication device obtains a value indicating the strength of cell reception, the cell ID of the cell, and the beam pair configuration. The beam pair configuration includes a receive beam used by the wireless communication device and a transmit beam used by the cell's transmission point.

[0067] According to the example, a wireless communication device (e.g., UE 100) may request or be requested to perform a positioning operation. For example, a node in the wireless communication network (such as positioning computing node 105 and / or RAN node 110) may trigger a positioning / localization request from the wireless communication device. Alternatively, wireless communication settings may trigger the wireless communication network to perform or support a positioning operation.

[0068] In the initial steps, the wireless communication device measures reference signals from a group of cells or network nodes. This group may include a serving network node and one or more neighboring network nodes. Network nodes may periodically transmit a common reference signal. In one example, the reference signal may be a Positioning Reference Signal (PRS), similar to a PRS in a conventional system. In another example, other existing signals typically used for auxiliary data transmission may be used for positioning purposes. For example, Channel State Information-Reference Signal (CSI-RS), Tracking Reference Signal (TRS), and / or Synchronization Signal Block (SSB) may be used as reference signals for positioning purposes. The wireless communication device may perform positioning measurements (e.g., measuring positioning parameters) on the received reference signals. Positioning measurements may be timing-based (e.g., TOA, Relative TOA (RTOA), UTDOA, etc.) and / or signal strength-based (e.g., Reference Signal Received Power (RSRP), Received Signal Strength Indication (RSSI), etc.). Positioning measurement results may be collected in measurement reports sent to the serving cell or to a positioning computing node.

[0069] In another embodiment, the network node may employ beam scanning to transmit a reference signal. Therefore, the measurement report may also include beam-related information. As mentioned above, the beam-related information may include identifiers of preferred or selected beam pairs. Beam pairs may indicate the correspondence between the network node's transmit beam and the wireless communication device's receive beam.

[0070] The wireless communication device can send measurement reports to the serving cell (e.g., a serving network node or RAN node). In another example, the measurement reports can also be sent to a positioning computing node, which may be a function of the core network or integrated with the serving network node. In another example, as described above, the serving network may include functions similar to the positioning computing node to process the received measurement reports. The wireless communication device can also send a beam measurement request indicating an expectation of on-demand positioning using a directional beaming method. Therefore, the wireless communication device can initiate a second step or second phase of the positioning operation, which includes the directional transmission of a reference signal to the wireless communication device. The first step or first phase may include the periodic transmission and measurement of the aforementioned reference signal.

[0071] In the second phase, the serving cell can coordinate directional transmissions with one or more neighboring cells. The wireless communication device and / or the serving cell can select one or more neighboring cells based on, for example, the measurement quality in the first phase. The serving cell requests one or more neighboring cells to transmit reference signals to the wireless communication device at a timing based on the desired delay. The serving cell can also report selected beam pairs, individually identified by the wireless communication device for one or more neighboring cells. Following coordination between the serving cell and one or more neighboring cells, the serving cell can send a configuration to the wireless communication device to enable reception and measurement of directional transmissions.

[0072] According to this configuration, the serving cell and one or more neighboring cells can employ beam scanning on a set of transmit beams to transmit reference signals to the wireless communication device. The set of transmit beams can be a reduced set of beams compared to the number of beams used for periodic transmission in the first step. This set of transmit beams can cover a reduced area compared to the beams used in the first step. That is, the set of transmit beams used for directional transmission can be narrower compared to the relatively wide beams used by the cell for periodic transmission. In one aspect, this set of transmit beams can be a narrow beam that scans an area substantially similar to the wider beams identified by the wireless communication device in a measurement report. In another aspect, the transmit beams used for periodic transmission can have a different antenna configuration than the set of transmit beams used for directional transmission. For example, directional transmission can employ two antenna ports, while periodic transmission can employ one port.

[0073] The wireless communication device can receive reference signals from a serving cell and one or more neighboring cells according to this configuration. For example, the configuration can specify a given timing or measurement opportunity for each cell. The configuration can also indicate the cell's beam configuration (e.g., a set of transmit beams). At a specific measurement opportunity, the wireless communication device receives the reference signal from the cell through a set of transmit beams dedicated to that wireless communication device within the cell. The wireless communication device can perform location measurements similar to those described above on the reference signals from the cell and from other cells. The wireless communication device can report the measurement results to a location computing node (e.g., a location server) for calculating a location estimate, or the wireless communication device can calculate the location estimate when, for example, the location of a transmission point within the cell is known to the wireless communication device.

[0074] refer to Figure 5 and Figure 6 The diagram illustrates an exemplary positioning technique. As described above, the positioning technique disclosed herein can be a two-step process, wherein a first step can provide coarse positioning and a second step can provide fine positioning. Figure 5 A schematic diagram of the first step is shown. For simplicity, Figure 5 This includes three RAN nodes 110; however, it should be understood that more than three RAN nodes 110 may participate in the positioning operation of UE 100. For the purposes of this description, RAN node 110a is the serving network node of the serving cell for UE 100, while RAN nodes 110b and 110c are neighboring network nodes associated with neighboring cells.

[0075] RAN node 110 can be configured to transmit a reference signal via beam scanning, and this transmission can be periodic. For example, RAN node 110 repeats the transmission of the reference signal on a set of configured beams. Figure 5 In this configuration, RAN node 110a uses transmit beams 111a to 111c to transmit reference signals; RAN node 110b uses beams 113a to 113c to transmit reference signals; and RAN node 110c uses beams 115a to 115c to transmit reference signals. UE 100 receives the corresponding reference signals and performs positioning measurements. Positioning measurements can be based on timing and / or signal strength. Additionally, UE 100 identifies preferred beams associated with each RAN node 110. UE 100 can identify preferred beams in the form of beam identifiers (IDs) based on the resource ID of the corresponding reference signal. Preferred beams can be transmit beams with optimal channel conditions and / or transmit beams associated with optimal quality positioning measurements. Preferred beams can include more than one beam. For example, UE 100 can select any transmit beam with channel conditions above a threshold and / or associated with measurements having at least a threshold quality.

[0076] UE 100 can perform positioning measurements based on the obtained measurement results. However, the positioning measurements can be coarse, and may result in a coarse positioning estimate, such as that from positioning calculation node 105. For example, transmission beams 111, 113, and 115 can be relatively wide beams covering a wide area to provide sufficient coverage while reducing signaling overhead. Therefore, the positioning measurements and / or the resulting positioning estimates may not achieve the accuracy required by UE 100. UE 100 can determine whether the coarse positioning meets its requirements. The requirements can be accuracy requirements. On the other hand, the requirements can relate to the requirements of the positioning measurements themselves. For example, the requirements can be positioning measurement quality requirements and may involve signal strength, correlation results, multipath measurements, timing measurement quality, etc. If the requirements are met, the positioning operation can be considered complete. If the positioning requirements are not met, UE 100 can send a request 130 for fine-grained positioning on demand to RAN node 110a (e.g., a serving network node). In particular, UE 100 can request directional transmissions from RAN node 110 to UE 100 that can be used for positioning operations. Directed transmissions can be specific to UE 100, such that the transmission is configured to be received by UE 100 and is intended to assist only in the location of UE 100. That is, directed transmissions are not intended for general use by any UE or other communication device in the area covered by RAN node 110.

[0077] Along with this request, UE 100 may send a measurement report to RAN node 110a, which may include positioning measurement results and preferred beams associated with RAN nodes 110a through 110c, respectively. In one aspect, the positioning request may be based on the nature of the signal used for the initial positioning measurement (e.g., based on SSB, a PRS with a small bandwidth, a PRS with a wider beam, etc.) and / or on the quality of the initial positioning measurement (e.g., low correlation value, low signal strength, etc.). The measurement report may include measurement results for preferred beams, one or more beams with measurement metrics exceeding a threshold, or measurement results for all beams. In the latter example, RAN node 110a or other network nodes may determine preferred beams based on the measurement report.

[0078] The serving network node RAN node 110a coordinates with its neighboring network nodes RAN nodes 110b to 110c. For example, RAN node 110a may exchange messages 132a to 132b with RAN nodes 110b and 110c, respectively. These messages may relate to the negotiation of the timing of directional transmission of reference signals specific to UE 100 by RAN node 110a. Furthermore, RAN node 110a may transmit preferred or selected beams reported by UE 100 to RAN nodes 110b and 110c. Alternatively, the above coordination may also be managed by the location computing node 105. Message exchange may be centralized in the location computing node 105.

[0079] Go to Figure 6 The diagram illustrates the second step of the positioning operation. In this example, UE 100 reports beams 111a, 113b, and 115c as preferred beams associated with RAN nodes 110a, 110b, and 110c, respectively. In the second step, RAN node 110, in conjunction with the first step ( Figure 5 The first step utilizes a set of transmission beams that are different from the set of transmission beams used in the second step. The second set of transmission beams can be based on the beams from the first step. For example, ... Figure 6 As shown, the set of transmit beams in the second step can be narrower than the beams in the first step. More specifically, in an implementation, the beams in the second step can be a set of narrow beams that collectively cover an area similar to the wider beam selected by UE 100. Figure 6 In this configuration, RAN node 110a may employ beam scanning on a set of transmit beams 121 (e.g., beams 121a to 121d) associated with transmit beam 111a; RAN node 110b may scan on a set of beams 123 (including beams 123a to 123d) associated with transmit beam 113b; and RAN node 110c may transmit via beam scanning using a set of beams 125 (including beams 125a to 125d) associated with beam 115c.

[0080] UE 100 performs positioning measurements (e.g., based on timing and / or signal strength) on reference signals transmitted via beam groups 121, 123, and 125, respectively. The measurements can be reported to a location server (e.g., positioning compute node 105) for positioning estimation and / or used by UE 100 to calculate the positioning estimate. By transmitting additional reference signals using relatively narrow beam groups 121, 123, and 125 directed to UE 100, UE 100 is able to acquire higher quality data (e.g., measurement results) with lower latency than that available only via periodic transmissions, which may occur, for example, every 20 ms. The measurements in the second step can refine the measurements in the first step to produce a more accurate positioning estimate for UE 100.

[0081] Go to Figure 7a This diagram illustrates an exemplary signaling diagram for on-demand two-step positioning of a wireless communication device. As shown, positioning computing node 105 can send a positioning request 140 and a cell list 142 to UE 100. Positioning request 140 can trigger UE 100 to perform positioning measurements to support positioning estimation calculations, and cell list 142 can indicate an initial set of cells or network nodes to be measured by UE 100. Alternatively, UE 100 can trigger positioning estimation itself, and therefore, positioning request 140 from positioning computing node 105 is optional. While in Figure 7a and Figure 7b While shown as a separate node, it should be understood that the location computing node 105 may be located in the same location as or integrated with RAN nodes (such as serving RAN node 110a).

[0082] Once a location operation is triggered (whether by location computing node 105 or UE 100), the first step is executed. In the first step, UE 100 receives general reference signals 144 and 146 from serving RAN node 110a and neighboring RAN node 110b. These reference signals are typically periodic and are used to support data transmission, such as synchronization, cell measurements, and channel quality measurements. Although Figure 7a and Figure 7b A single neighboring RAN node 110b is illustrated, but the location operation can include multiple neighboring network nodes, and the signaling associated with RAN node 110b can be copied accordingly for attaching neighboring network nodes.

[0083] The general reference signals 144 and 146 can be SSB, CSI-RS, PRS, or another signal that can be used for positioning, and can be transmitted by RAN nodes 110a to 110b using beam scanning on the respective group of transmit beams. In an optional step, UE 100 can perform cell measurement 148 based on the received reference signals 144 and 146. In one aspect, cell measurement 148 can include a reference signal received power (RSRP) measurement and be operated to reduce the number of cells measured for positioning from those included in cell list 142. In another aspect, UE 100 can utilize the RSRP measurement to select a corresponding preferred beam for RAN node 110. As mentioned above, the preferred beam associated with the general reference signals 144 and 146 can be a coarse beam or a wide beam, which is not specific to UE 100.

[0084] UE 100 performs positioning measurements 150 on reference signals 144, 146. Positioning measurements can be timing-based and / or signal strength-based measurements. UE 100 can send a measurement report 152 and / or a beam measurement request 154 to the serving RAN node 110a. The measurement report 152 can include the positioning measurements 150 on reference signals 144, 146. Additionally, the measurement report 152 can include the selection of RAN nodes (e.g., based on cell measurements 148) and the corresponding preferred beams identified for those RAN nodes. On the other hand, UE 100 can determine whether the positioning measurements 150 based on the general reference signals 144, 146 support a positioning estimate that meets any positioning requirements (e.g., accuracy requirements). If these requirements are met, additional steps can be bypassed. If the requirements are not met, UE 100 can request directional transmission of the reference signals via the beam measurement request 154 to refine the positioning.

[0085] As described above, the positioning computing node 105 may be located in the same location as or integrated with the serving RAN node 110a. According to another aspect, the serving RAN node 110a may also include similar functions to the positioning computing node 105. That is, the serving RAN node 110a may be a positioning computing node 105 with limited functionality. For example, the RAN node 110a may include functions that enable it to receive and process positioning measurement results in measurement report 152. Based on the measurement and post-processing, the serving RAN node 110a may signal and coordinate with other RAN nodes 110b as described below.

[0086] Based on measurement report 152 and / or in response to beam measurement request 154, serving RAN node 110a can begin preparing the second step of the on-demand two-step positioning for UE 100. For example... Figure 7a and Figure 7bAs shown, serving RAN node 110a negotiates reference signal timing 156 with neighboring RAN node 110b. In one example, serving RAN node 110a may send a request 158 ​​to neighboring RAN node 110b for a specific transmission timing. If acceptable, neighboring RAN node 110b may confirm the timing 160. If the requested timing is unacceptable, neighboring RAN node 110b may respond with a rejection, which triggers serving RAN node 110a to request a different timing. This process may be repeated until a timing is confirmed. Neighboring RAN node 110b may provide serving RAN node 110a with a list of allowed transmission timings in advance. Request 158 ​​may include a timing selected from this list. In another example, the selection of transmission timing may be performed by neighboring RAN node 110b. For example, neighboring RAN node 110b may select a timing in response to a request from serving RAN node 110a. Serving RAN node 110a may confirm or reject the timing selected by neighboring RAN node 110b. Rejection can trigger a reselection, and this reselection can be repeated until the selected timing is confirmed.

[0087] Following negotiation at point 156, the serving RAN node 110a sends configuration information 162 to the UE 100. Configuration information 162 informs the UE 100 of the timing and beam configuration for transmitting the directional reference signal via the serving RAN node 110a and neighboring RAN nodes such as neighboring RAN node 110b. The beam configuration may include the association of subsequent reference signals 164, 166 and their possible relationships with previous reference signals 144, 146. Alternatively, this may be in the form of Transmission Configuration Indicator (TCI) status information. For example, based on this beam configuration, the UE may assume that subsequent reference signals 164, 166 and previous reference signals 144, 146 have similar configurations, such as the same Quasi-Co-location Type (QCL). The serving RAN node 110a transmits the directional reference signal 164, and the neighboring RAN node 110b transmits the directional reference signal 166. The directional reference signals 164 and 166 can be transmitted using a beam scan of a set of transmit beams. As described above, the set of transmit beams can be based on the preferred beams reported by the UE 100. For example, the set of transmit beams can be a set of narrower beams (relative to the reported preferred beams) such that the beam scan of this set covers an area similar to that of the preferred beams.

[0088] Based on directional reference signals 164 and 166, UE 100 performs positioning measurements and / or estimations 168. Positioning measurements can be based on timing and / or signal strength. When the positions of the serving RAN node 110a, neighboring RAN nodes 110b, and other measured neighboring RAN nodes are known, UE 100 can calculate a positioning estimate. UE 100 can send positioning information 170 (e.g., positioning estimates and / or measurement reports) to positioning calculation node 105.

[0089] Go to Figure 7b An exemplary signaling diagram depicts another implementation of on-demand two-step positioning for wireless communication devices. For the purposes of this discussion, similar embodiments to this implementation are omitted. Figure 7a The description of the parts (indicated by similar reference numerals). According to one aspect, Figure 7a An implementation method for the directional transmission of reference signals coordinated by the serving RAN node 110a for UE 100 is described. Figure 7b In this context, the coordination and configuration of directional transmission can be handled by the positioning computing node 105. For example, after positioning measurement 150, the UE 100 can send a measurement report 153 and / or a beam measurement request 155 to the positioning computing node 105. The measurement report 153 and the beam measurement request 155 can be related to the above... Figure 7a The description of measurement report 152 and beam measurement request 154 is similar (e.g., includes similar information).

[0090] Based on measurement report 153 and / or in response to beam measurement request 155, positioning computing node 105 can coordinate the second step of the on-demand two-step positioning process for UE 100. For example... Figure 7bAs shown, the positioning computing node 105 negotiates reference signal timing with the serving RAN node 110a and neighboring RAN nodes 110b. In one example, the positioning computing node 105 may send a corresponding request 157 to the serving RAN node 110a and neighboring RAN nodes 110b for a specific transmission timing. If the requested timing is acceptable, the serving RAN node 110a and neighboring RAN nodes 110b may send a corresponding acknowledgment 159 to the positioning computing node 105. If the requested timing is unacceptable, the serving RAN node 110a and / or neighboring RAN node 110b may respond with a rejection, which triggers the positioning computing node 105 to request a different timing. This process may be repeated until the serving RAN node 110a and neighboring RAN nodes 110b acknowledge a timing. As described above, in another embodiment, the serving RAN node 110a and neighboring RAN nodes 110b may provide the positioning computing node 105 with a list of allowed transmission timings in advance. Therefore, request 157 may include a timing selected from the corresponding list. In another example, the timing of transmission can be selected by the serving RAN node 110a and the neighboring RAN node 110b. For example, the serving RAN node 110a and the neighboring RAN node 110b can select a suitable timing in response to a request from the location computing node 105. The location computing node 105 can confirm or reject the timing selected by the serving RAN node 110a and the neighboring RAN node 110b. Rejection can trigger a reselection, and this reselection can be repeated until the location computing node 105 confirms the selected timing.

[0091] Following the aforementioned coordination, the positioning computing node 105 sends configuration information 161 to the UE 100. Configuration information 161 may be similar to configuration information 162 described above. For example, configuration information 161 informs the UE 100 of the timing and beam configuration for transmitting the directional reference signal through serving RAN node 110a and neighboring RAN nodes such as neighboring RAN node 110b.

[0092] It should be understood that Figures 7a to 7b The order described above is exemplary, and alternative orders may be used within each order.

[0093] Figures 8 to 10 An exemplary processing flow illustrating steps that can be implemented by UE 100 and network node 110 is shown. Although illustrated in logical order, Figures 8 to 10 The boxes shown can be executed in a different order and / or concurrently between two or more boxes. Therefore, the illustrated flowchart can be modified (including omitting steps) and / or can be implemented in an object-oriented or state-oriented manner.

[0094] Figure 8A representative method for on-demand two-step positioning of wireless communication devices is illustrated. Figure 8 The method can be performed by a network node such as the serving RAN node 110a. The logical flow can begin at block 172, where the serving network node transmits a general reference signal via a first set of transmit beams. The general reference signal is typically periodic and is used to support data transmission, such as synchronization, cell measurements, and channel quality measurements. The first set of transmit beams may include relatively wide coarse beams configured to generally provide coverage to any UE in the area without significant signaling overhead. As described above, the transmission of the general reference signal can be the first step in a two-step positioning operation. In block 174, the serving network node receives a measurement report and / or a request for directional transmission of the reference signal from the wireless communication device. The measurement report includes positioning measurements of the general reference signal from the serving network node and positioning measurements of the general reference signal from one or more neighboring network nodes. The measurement report may also include an identifier of a preferred or selected beam associated with the serving network node and one or more neighboring network nodes. The preferred beam may be selected based on signal strength metrics or other measurement results.

[0095] In box 176, a set of neighboring network nodes is selected, and the serving network node requests a directed transmission from the selected nodes to the wireless communication device. This set of neighboring network nodes may be selected by the wireless communication device and identified in a measurement report. In another embodiment, for example, the serving network node selects neighboring network nodes based on measurements in the report.

[0096] In block 178, the serving network node negotiates resources with the set of neighboring network nodes for directional transmission. In one example, the serving network node may request a specific transmission timing from a neighboring network node, and the neighboring network node may acknowledge or reject the requested timing. Rejection may trigger a request for a different transmission timing until an acknowledgment is received. In another approach, the neighboring network node may select a transmission timing, which is subsequently acknowledged or rejected by the serving network node. In block 180, the serving network node determines resources for its own directional reference signal to be transmitted to the wireless communication device. In block 182, the serving network node sends configuration information to the wireless communication device, which may indicate the appropriate transmission timing and beam configuration for the directional reference signal from the serving network node and the selected set of neighboring network nodes. In block 184, the serving network node transmits the directional reference signal via a second set of transmission beams. The second set of transmission beams may be based on preferred beams reported by the wireless communication device from the first set of transmission beams utilized in block 172. For example, the second set of transmission beams may be a set of narrower beams associated with the preferred beams. In one example, the second set of transmit beams can collectively cover an area substantially similar to that covered by the preferred beams. The directional reference signal transmitted via the second set of transmit beams enables the wireless communication device to acquire positioning measurements that support positioning estimates with higher accuracy than measurements based on a general reference signal.

[0097] Go to Figure 9 It provides a representative method for on-demand two-step positioning of wireless communication devices. Figure 9 The method can be performed by neighboring network nodes such as RAN nodes 110b to 110c. The logical flow may begin at block 186, where the neighboring network node transmits a general reference signal via a first set of transmit beams. The general reference signal is typically periodic and is used to support data transmission, such as synchronization, cell measurements, and channel quality measurements. The first set of transmit beams may include relatively wide coarse beams configured to generally provide coverage to any UE in the area without significant signaling overhead. In block 188, the neighboring network node may receive a request from the serving network node to transmit a directional reference signal to a specific wireless communication device. This request may indicate a transmit beam selected from the first set of transmit beams, which is reported as the preferred beam by the wireless communication device.

[0098] In box 190, neighboring network nodes negotiate resources with the serving network node for directional transmission. In one example, the serving network node may request a specific transmission timing from the neighboring network node, and the neighboring network node may acknowledge or reject the requested timing. Rejection may trigger requests for different transmission timings until the neighboring network node acknowledges. In another approach, the neighboring network node may select a transmission timing, which is subsequently acknowledged or rejected by the serving network node. In box 192, the neighboring network node transmits a directional reference signal via a second set of transmission beams. The second set of transmission beams may be based on a preferred beam reported by the wireless communication device from the first set of transmission beams utilized in box 186. For example, the second set of transmission beams may be a set of narrower beams associated with the preferred beam. In one example, the second set of transmission beams may collectively cover an area substantially similar to the area covered by the preferred beam. Transmission via the second set of transmission beams is the second step in the positioning operation, which can refine the positioning of the wireless communication device.

[0099] Figure 10 A representative method for on-demand two-step positioning of wireless communication devices is illustrated. Figure 10 The method can be performed by a wireless communication device such as UE 100. The logical flow can begin at block 194, where the wireless communication device can receive a common reference signal from a set of network nodes. These reference signals are typically periodic and are used to support data transmission, such as synchronization, cell measurements, and channel quality measurements. The set of network nodes may include a serving network node and one or more neighboring network nodes. Each network node can transmit the common reference signal using a first set of transmit beams. The first set of transmit beams may include relatively wide coarse beams configured to generally provide coverage to any UE in the area without significant signaling overhead.

[0100] In box 196, the wireless communication device performs initial positioning measurements on the received general reference signal. Additionally, the wireless communication device can select a preferred beam for a group of network nodes. The positioning measurements can be based on timing or signal strength. In one example, the preferred beam can be selected based on RSRP measurements of a periodic reference signal.

[0101] In box 198, the wireless communication device may send a measurement report and / or a request for directional transmission of a reference signal to the serving network node. The measurement report may include initial positioning measurements and / or an identification of a preferred beam. The initial positioning measurements may not have sufficient quality to achieve the desired accuracy. Therefore, the wireless communication device may request a second step in the positioning operation (which is specific to and for the wireless communication device) to refine the positioning.

[0102] In block 200, the wireless communication device can receive configuration information from the serving network node. The configuration information may indicate the appropriate transmission timing and beam configuration of directional reference signals from the serving network node and a selected set of neighboring network nodes. In block 202, based on the configuration information, the wireless communication device can receive directional reference signals from the serving network node and a selected set of neighboring network nodes. Each network node can transmit the directional reference signal via a second set of transmission beams associated with a preferred beam selected by the wireless communication device. For example, the second set of transmission beams may be a set of narrower beams associated with the preferred beam. In one example, the second set of transmission beams may collectively cover an area substantially similar to the area covered by the preferred beam.

[0103] In block 204, the wireless communication device can perform positioning measurements based on the received directional reference signal. These positioning measurements can be used to calculate a positioning estimate for the wireless communication device. Because the reference signal is specific and oriented towards the wireless communication device, the positioning estimate should have greater accuracy compared to an estimate based solely on a periodic reference signal.

[0104] in conclusion

[0105] Although certain embodiments have been shown and described, it should be understood that, upon reading and understanding this specification, those skilled in the art will conceive of equivalents and modifications falling within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A method for locating a wireless communication device (100) performed by the wireless communication device (100), the method comprising the following steps: Receive (194) one or more general reference signals (144, 146) from the first group of network nodes among multiple network nodes. Perform (196) initial positioning measurement (150) on one or more general reference signals (144, 146); Send (198) measurement report (152) to the service network node (110a); Receive (200) configuration information (162) for directional transmission from a second group of network nodes among the plurality of network nodes that can be used for positioning operations, the directional transmission being associated with the wireless communication device, the second group of network nodes being identified after initial positioning measurements (150) from one or more general reference signals (144, 146) from the first group of network nodes; Based on the configuration information (162), the second group of network nodes respectively receive (202) one or more directional reference signals (164, 166) from the second group of network nodes, wherein the second group of network nodes transmits the one or more directional reference signals (164, 166) at least in part based on information reported by the wireless communication device (100) after receiving the one or more general reference signals (144, 146); and Perform (204) positioning measurement (168) on one or more received orientation reference signals (164, 166).

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the following steps: A beam measurement request (154) is sent (198) to the service network node (110a) to send the one or more directional reference signals (164, 166) from the second group of network nodes, which are selected from the first group of network nodes.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, The measurement report (152) identifies the selected transmission beams (111a, 113b, 115c) on which the wireless communication device (100) receives the general reference signals (144, 146) from the first group of network nodes respectively, and the selected transmission beams (111a, 113b, 115c) indicate the preferred beams for the configuration that assists the directional transmission.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein, The step of receiving the one or more directional reference signals (164, 166) further includes receiving the one or more directional reference signals (164, 166) on the corresponding group transmit beams from the second group of network nodes.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein, The configuration information (162) includes the association between the corresponding group of transmit beams and the selected transmit beams (111a, 113b, 115c).

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein, The configuration information includes at least the corresponding resource information of the one or more directional reference signals (164, 166) sent by the second group of network nodes.

7. A method performed by a network node (110) for facilitating the location of a wireless communication device (100), the method comprising the steps of: Transmit general reference signals (172, 186) via the first set of transmit beams (111a-111c, 113a-113c, 115a-115c); and The directional reference signals (164, 166) specific to the wireless communication device (100) are transmitted (184, 192) via a second set of transmit beams (121a-121d, 123a-123d, 125a-125d), wherein the transmission of the directional reference signals (164, 166) is based at least in part on an initial positioning measurement reported by the wireless communication device (100) after the general reference signal (144, 146) is received, and includes the transmission of the directional reference signals (164, 166) together with directional reference signals transmitted by a group of neighboring network nodes identified after the initial positioning measurement reported by the wireless communication device.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein, The initial positioning measurement reported by the wireless communication device (100) indicates the beam (111a, 113b, 115c) selected from the first group of transmitted beams (111a-111c, 113a-113c, 115a-115c), and The second group of transmit beams (121a-121d, 123a-123d, 125a-125d) includes transmit beams determined based on the selected beams.

9. The method according to claim 7 or 8, further comprising the step of: After transmitting the general reference signals (144, 146), a request to transmit the directional reference signals (164, 166) is received (174, 188).

10. The method according to claim 7, wherein, The network node is a serving network node, and the method further includes the following steps: A measurement report (174) is received from the wireless communication device (100) based on the general reference signals (144, 146) received by the wireless communication device (100); The resources for transmitting the directional reference signal (164) to the wireless communication device (100) are determined (180) at least in part based on the measurement report; and At least in part based on the measurement report, a request (176) is made to a group of neighboring network nodes to send a directional reference signal (166) to the wireless communication device (100).

11. The method of claim 10, wherein, The service network node also performs the following steps: Negotiating (178) the resources for the group of adjacent network nodes to send the directional reference signal; and The wireless communication device (100) sends configuration information (162) to the wireless communication device (182), the configuration information indicating at least the resources determined to be used by the serving network node and the set of adjacent network nodes to send the directional reference signals (164, 166).

12. The method according to claim 10, further comprising the step of: The selection (176) of the set of neighboring network nodes is based at least in part on the measurement report.

13. A wireless communication device (100) configured to operate in a wireless communication network (102), the wireless communication device comprising: Wireless interface (122), through which wireless communication with one or more network nodes (110) is performed; as well as A control circuit (118) is configured to perform the method according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

14. A network node (110) configured to operate in a wireless communication network (102), the network node comprising: Interface (114), through which communication is performed; as well as A control circuit (112) is configured to perform the method according to any one of claims 7 to 12.

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