Calculation of Downlink Positioning Reference Signal (PRS) Symbol Duration for PRS Caching Purpose

Abstract

Techniques for wireless communication are disclosed. In one aspect, a user equipment (UE) receives at least one positioning reference signal (PRS) resource from a reference transmit-receive point (TRP) and one or more neighboring TRPs, and processes the at least one PRS resource during a time window, where the length of the time window is less than or equal to an integer number of orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) symbols of the at least one PRS resource that the UE can process, buffer, or process and buffer within the time window.

Description

[0001] Cross - Reference to Related Applications

[0002] This patent application claims the priority of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63 / 010,426, filed on April 15, 2020, entitled "CALCULATION OF DOWNLINK POSITIONING REFERENCE SIGNAL (PRS) SYMBOL DURATION FOR PRS BUFFERING PURPOSES", and U.S. Non - Provisional Patent Application No. 17 / 221,581, filed on April 2, 2021, entitled "CALCULATION OF DOWNLINK POSITIONING REFERENCE SIGNAL (PRS) SYMBOL DURATION FOR PRS BUFFERING PURPOSES". Both of these applications have been assigned to the assignee, and their entire contents are hereby expressly incorporated by reference. Field of the Disclosure

[0003] Aspects of the present disclosure generally relate to wireless communication. Background Art

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

[0005] The fifth-generation (5G) wireless standard, known as New Radio (NR), requires higher data transfer speeds, more connections, and better coverage, among other improvements. According to the Next Generation Mobile Networks Alliance, the 5G standard is designed to provide a data rate of tens of megabits per second for each of tens of thousands of users, and a data rate of 1 gigabit per second for dozens of employees in an office. To support large-scale sensor deployments, hundreds of thousands of simultaneous connections should be supported. Therefore, compared with the current 4G standard, the spectral efficiency of 5G mobile communications should be significantly improved. In addition, compared with the current standard, the signaling efficiency should be improved, and the latency should be significantly reduced. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] The following presents a simplified summary related to one or more aspects disclosed herein. Accordingly, the following summary should not be considered an extensive review related to all contemplated aspects, nor should the following summary identify key or critical elements related to all contemplated aspects or delineate the scope associated with any particular aspect. Thus, the following summary has the sole purpose of presenting in a simplified form certain concepts related to one or more aspects associated with the mechanisms disclosed herein prior to the detailed description presented below.

[0007] In one aspect, a wireless communication method performed by a user equipment (UE) includes: receiving at least one positioning reference signal (PRS) resource from a reference transmit-receive point (TRP) and one or more neighboring TRPs; and processing the at least one PRS resource during a time window, wherein the length of the time window is less than or equal to an integer number of orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) symbols of the at least one PRS resource that the UE can process, buffer, or process and buffer within the time window.

[0008] In one aspect, a user equipment (UE) includes: a memory; a transceiver; and at least one processor communicatively coupled to the memory and the transceiver, the at least one processor configured to: receive at least one positioning reference signal (PRS) resource from a reference transmit-receive point (TRP) and one or more neighboring TRPs via the transceiver; and process the at least one PRS resource during a time window, wherein the length of the time window is less than or equal to an integer number of orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) symbols of the at least one PRS resource that the UE can process, buffer, or process and buffer within the time window.

[0009] In one aspect, a user equipment (UE) includes: components for receiving at least one positioning reference signal (PRS) resource from a reference transmit-receive point (TRP) and one or more neighboring TRPs; and components for processing the at least one PRS resource during a time window, wherein the length of the time window is less than or equal to an integer number of orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) symbols of the at least one PRS resource that the UE can process, buffer, or process and buffer within the time window.

[0010] In one aspect, a non-transitory computer-readable medium storing computer-executable instructions, when the computer-executable instructions are executed by a user equipment (UE), cause the UE to: receive at least one positioning reference signal (PRS) resource from a reference transmit-receive point (TRP) and one or more neighboring TRPs; and process the at least one PRS resource during a time window, wherein the length of the time window is less than or equal to an integer number of orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) symbols of the at least one PRS resource that the UE can process, buffer, or process and buffer within the time window.

[0011] Based on the drawings and the detailed description, other objects and advantages associated with the aspects disclosed herein will be apparent to those skilled in the art. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012] The drawings are provided to assist in describing aspects of the present disclosure and are provided only for illustration of the aspects and not for limitation thereof.

[0013] Figure 1 An example wireless communication system in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure is illustrated.

[0014] Figure 2A and 2B An example wireless network structure in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure is illustrated.

[0015] Figure 3A 、 3B and 3C are simplified block diagrams of several example aspects of components that may be employed and configured to support communication as taught herein in a user equipment (UE), a base station, and a network entity, respectively.

[0016] Figure 4A and 4B are diagrams illustrating an example frame structure and channels within the frame structure in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure.

[0017] Figure 5 is a diagram of an example radio frequency (RF) signal processing procedure in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure.

[0018] Figure 6FIG. is a diagram illustrating an example of slot - based positioning reference signal (PRS) processing in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure.

[0019] Figure 7 FIG. is a diagram illustrating an example of slot - based buffering in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure, where symbols are aligned towards the maximum separation that includes potential PRS in a slot.

[0020] Figure 8 FIG. is a diagram illustrating another example of slot - based buffering in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure, where symbols are aligned towards the maximum separation that includes potential PRS in a slot.

[0021] Figure 9 FIG. is a diagram illustrating an example of symbol - level PRS duration to be buffered in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure.

[0022] Figure 10 FIG. is a diagram illustrating another example of symbol - level PRS duration to be buffered in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure.

[0023] Figure 11 FIG. is a diagram illustrating an example of slot - based buffering in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure for a slot having two non - overlapping intervals, where there are potential PRS symbols at the start and end of the slot.

[0024] Figure 12 FIG. illustrates an example method of wireless communication in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0025] Aspects of the present disclosure are provided in the following description and the related drawings that are provided for illustrative purposes for various examples. Alternative aspects may be devised without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. Additionally, well - known elements of the present disclosure will not be described in detail or will be omitted so as not to obscure the relevant details of the present disclosure.

[0026] The word “exemplary” and / or “example” is used herein to mean “serving as an example, instance, or illustration.” Any aspect described herein as “exemplary” and / or “example” is not necessarily to be construed as more preferred or advantageous than other aspects. Similarly, the term “aspects of the present disclosure” does not require that all aspects of the present disclosure include the discussed feature, advantage, or mode of operation.

[0027] Those skilled in the art should understand that any one of various different technologies and techniques can be used to represent the information and signals described below. For example, the data, instructions, commands, information, signals, bits, symbols, and chips (chips) that may be referenced throughout the following description can be represented by voltages, currents, electromagnetic waves, magnetic fields or particles, optical fields or particles, or any combination thereof, depending in part on the specific application, in part on the required design, in part on the corresponding technology, etc.

[0028] In addition, many aspects are described in accordance with a sequence of actions to be performed by, for example, elements of a computing device. It will be recognized that the various actions described herein can be performed by specific circuitry (e.g., an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC)), by program instructions being executed by one or more processors, or by a combination of both. Additionally, it can be considered that the (multiple) sequences of actions described herein are fully embodied in any form of non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a corresponding set of computer instructions, which when executed, will cause or direct a processor of an associated device to perform the functions described herein. Thus, the various aspects of the present disclosure can be embodied in many different forms, all of which are expected to be within the scope of the claimed subject matter. Additionally, for each aspect described herein, any such corresponding form of an aspect herein can be described as, for example, "logic configured to" perform the described action.

[0029] As used herein, unless otherwise specified, the terms "user equipment" (UE) and "base station" are not intended to be specific or otherwise limited to any particular radio access technology (RAT). In general, a UE can be any wireless communication device used by a user to communicate via a wireless communication network (e.g., a mobile phone, router, tablet computer, laptop computer, consumer asset tracking device, wearable device (e.g., smart watch, glasses, augmented reality (AR) / virtual reality (VR) headset, etc.), vehicle (e.g., car, motorcycle, bicycle, etc.), Internet of Things (IoT) device, etc.). A UE can be mobile or (e.g., at certain times) stationary and can communicate with a radio access network (RAN). As used herein, the term "UE" can be interchangeably referred to as "access terminal" or "AT", "client device", "wireless device", "subscriber equipment", "subscriber terminal", "subscriber station", "user terminal" or "UT", "mobile device", "mobile terminal", "mobile station" or variants thereof. In general, a UE can communicate with a core network via a RAN, and a UE can connect to an external network such as the Internet and to other UEs via the core network. Of course, other mechanisms for connecting to the core network and / or the Internet are possible for a UE, such as via a wired access network, a wireless local area network (WLAN) (e.g., based on Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11 specifications, etc.).

[0030] A base station can operate according to one of several RATs for communicating with a UE, depending on the network in which it is deployed, and can alternatively be referred to as an access point (AP), network node, Node B, evolved Node B (eNB), next-generation eNB (ng-eNB), New Radio (NR) Node B (also referred to as gNB or g-node B), etc. A base station can be primarily used to support wireless access by a UE, including supporting data, voice, and / or signaling connections for the supported UE. In some systems, a base station can provide a purely edge node signaling function, while in other systems, a base station can provide other control and / or network management functions. A UE can transmit signals to a base station via a communication link, which is referred to as an uplink (UL) channel (e.g., reverse traffic channel, reverse control channel, access channel, etc.). A base station can transmit signals to a UE via a communication link, which is referred to as a downlink (DL) 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.

[0031] The term "base station" can refer to a single physical transmission-reception point (TRP), or to multiple physical TRPs, which may or may not be co-located. For example, in the case where the term "base station" refers to a single physical TRP, the physical TRP can be the antenna of the base station corresponding to a cell (or several cell sectors) of the base station. In the case where the term "base station" refers to multiple co-located physical TRPs, the physical TRPs can be an antenna array of the base station (e.g., as in a multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) system, or in the case where the base station employs beamforming). In the case where the term "base station" refers to multiple non-co-located physical TRPs, the physical TRPs can be a distributed antenna system (DAS) (a network of spatially separated antennas connected to a common source via a transport medium) or a remote radio head (RRH) (a remote base station connected to a serving base station). Alternatively, the non-co-located physical TRPs can be the serving base station that receives measurement reports from the UE and an adjacent base station whose reference radio frequency (RF) signal the UE is measuring. Since, as used herein, a TRP is the point at which a base station transmits and receives wireless signals, a reference to transmission from a base station or reception at a base station will be understood to refer to a particular TRP of the base station.

[0032] In some implementations that support UE positioning, a base station may not support wireless access by the UE (e.g., may not support data, voice, and / or signaling connections for the UE), but instead sends reference signals to the UE for the UE to measure, and / or may receive and measure signals sent by the UE. Such a base station can be referred to as a positioning beacon (e.g., when sending signals to the UE) and / or as a position measurement unit (e.g., when receiving and measuring signals from the UE).

[0033] An "RF signal" includes an electromagnetic wave of a given frequency that conveys information through the space between a transmitter and a receiver. As used herein, a transmitter can send a single "RF signal" or multiple "RF signals" to a receiver. However, due to the propagation characteristics of RF signals through a multipath channel, a receiver can receive multiple "RF signals" corresponding to each transmitted RF signal. The same RF signal transmitted on different paths between a transmitter and a receiver can be referred to as a "multipath" RF signal. As used herein, an RF signal can also be referred to as a "wireless signal" or simply as a "signal", where it is clear from the context that the term "signal" refers to a wireless signal or an RF signal.

[0034] Figure 1FIG. 0 illustrates an example wireless communication system 100 in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. The wireless communication system 100 (which may also be referred to as a wireless wide area network (WWAN)) may include various base stations 102 (labeled “BS”) and various UEs 104. The base stations 102 may include macro cell base stations (high-power cellular base stations) and / or small cell base stations (low-power cellular base stations). In one aspect, the macro cell base station may include an eNB and / or ng-eNB where the wireless communication system 100 corresponds to an LTE network, or a gNB where the wireless communication system 100 corresponds to an NR network, or a combination of both, and the small cell base station may include a femto cell, a pico cell, a micro cell, etc.

[0035] The base stations 102 may collectively form a RAN and be connected to a core network 170 (e.g., an evolved packet core (EPC) or a next generation core (NGC)) via a backhaul link 122, and to one or more location servers 172 (e.g., a location management function (LMF) or a secure user plane location (SUPL) location platform (SLP)) via the core network 170. The (multiple) location servers 172 may be part of the core network 170 or may be outside the core network 170. In addition to other functions, the base stations 102 may also perform functions related to one or more of the following: transferring user data, radio channel encryption and decryption, integrity protection, header compression, mobility control functions (e.g., handover, dual connectivity), inter-cell interference coordination, connection establishment and release, load balancing, distribution of non-access stratum (NAS) messages, NAS node selection, synchronization, RAN sharing, multimedia broadcast multicast service (MBMS), subscriber and device tracking, radio access network information management (RIM), paging, positioning, and delivery of warning messages. The base stations 102 may communicate with each other directly or indirectly (e.g., via the EPC / 5GC) on a backhaul link 134, which may be wired or wireless.

[0036] Base station 102 can communicate wirelessly with UE 104. Each of the base stations 102 can provide communication coverage for respective geographical coverage areas 110. In one aspect, the base stations 102 in each geographical coverage area 110 can support one or more cells. A "cell" is a logical communication entity used to communicate with a base station (e.g., via some frequency resources, referred to as carrier frequency, component carrier, carrier, frequency band, etc.), and can be associated with an identifier used to distinguish cells operating via the same or different carrier frequencies (e.g., physical cell identifier (PCI), enhanced cell identifier (ECI), virtual cell identifier (VCI), global cell identifier (CGI), etc.). In some cases, different cells can be configured according to different protocol types that can provide access for different types of UEs (e.g., machine type communication (MTC), narrowband IoT (NB-IoT), enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB), or others). Since a cell is supported by a specific base station, the term "cell" can refer to either the logical communication entity or the base station that supports the logical communication entity, or both, depending on the context. In addition, since a TRP is generally the physical transmission point of a cell, the terms "cell" and "TRP" can be used interchangeably. In some cases, the term "cell" can also refer to the geographical coverage area of a base station (e.g., a sector), as long as a carrier frequency can be detected and used for communication within some parts of the geographical coverage area 110.

[0037] Although the geographical coverage areas 110 of adjacent macro cell base stations 102 may partially overlap (e.g., in a handover area), some geographical coverage areas 110 may substantially overlap with a larger geographical coverage area 110. For example, a small cell base station 102' (labeled "SC" for "small cell") can have a geographical coverage area 110' that substantially overlaps with the geographical coverage areas 110 of one or more macro cell base stations 102. A network including both small cell base stations and macro cell base stations can be referred to as a heterogeneous network. The heterogeneous network can also include a home eNB (HeNB) that can provide services to a restricted group called a closed subscriber group (CSG).

[0038] The communication link 120 between the base station 102 and the UE 104 can include an uplink (also referred to as a reverse link) transmission from the UE 104 to the base station 102 and / or a downlink (DL) (also referred to as a forward link) transmission from the base station 102 to the UE 104. The communication link 120 can use MIMO antenna technologies including spatial multiplexing, beamforming, and / or transmit diversity. The communication link 120 can pass through one or more carrier frequencies. The allocation of carriers can be asymmetric with respect to the downlink and the uplink (e.g., more or fewer carriers can be allocated for the downlink compared to the uplink).

[0039] The wireless communication system 100 may further include a wireless local area network (WLAN) access point (AP) 150 that communicates with a WLAN station (STA) 152 via a communication link 154 in an unlicensed spectrum (e.g., 5 GHz). When communicating in the unlicensed spectrum, the WLAN STA 152 and / or the WLAN AP 150 may perform a clear channel assessment (CCA) or listen-before-talk (LBT) procedure before communicating to determine whether the channel is available.

[0040] The small cell base station 102' may operate in licensed and / or unlicensed spectrum. When operating in the unlicensed spectrum, the small cell base station 102' may employ LTE or NR technologies and use the same 5 GHz unlicensed spectrum as that used by the WLAN AP 150. The small cell base station 102' adopting LTE / 5G in the unlicensed spectrum may increase the coverage of the access network and / or increase the capacity of the access network. NR in the unlicensed spectrum may be referred to as NR-U. LTE in the unlicensed spectrum may be referred to as LTE-U, licensed-assisted access (LAA), or MulteFire.

[0041] The wireless communication system 100 may further include a millimeter wave (mmW) base station 180 that may operate at mmW frequencies and / or near-mmW frequencies when communicating with the UE 182. Extremely high frequency (EHF) is part of RF in the electromagnetic spectrum. EHF has a range of 30 GHz to 300 GHz and a wavelength between 1 millimeter and 10 millimeters. The radio waves in this band may be referred to as millimeter waves. Near-mmW waves may extend down to a frequency of 3 GHz with a wavelength of 100 millimeters. The super high frequency (SHF) band extends between 3 GHz and 30 GHz and is also referred to as centimeter waves. Communications using the mmW / near-mmW radio bands have high path loss and a relatively short range. The mmW base station 180 and the UE 182 may utilize beamforming (transmitting and / or receiving) on the mmW communication link 184 to compensate for the extremely high path loss and short distance. Additionally, it should be understood that in an alternative configuration, one or more of the base stations 102 may also use mmW or near-mmW and beamforming for transmission. Therefore, it should be understood that the foregoing diagrams are merely examples and should not be construed as limiting the various aspects disclosed.

[0042] Transmit beamforming is a technique used to focus RF signals in a specific direction. Traditionally, when a network node (e.g., a base station) broadcasts an RF signal, the signal is broadcast in all directions (omnidirectionally). With transmit beamforming, the network node determines the location (relative to the transmitting network node) where a given target device (e.g., a UE) is located and projects a stronger downlink RF signal in that specific direction, thereby providing a faster (in terms of data rate) and stronger RF signal to the receiving device(s). To change the directivity of the RF signal during transmission, the network node can control the phase and relative amplitude of the RF signal at each of one or more transmitters that broadcast the RF signal. For example, the network node can use an array of antennas (referred to as a "phased array" or "antenna array") that creates a beam of RF waves. The beam can be "steered" to point in different directions without physically moving the antennas. Specifically, RF currents from the transmitters are fed to the respective antennas in the correct phase relationship so that the radio waves from the individual antennas add together to increase the radiation in the desired direction while canceling to suppress the radiation in the undesired directions.

[0043] Transmit beams can be quasi-co-located, which means they appear to have the same parameters in a receiver (e.g., a UE), regardless of whether the transmit antennas of the network node itself are physically co-located. In NR, there are four types of quasi-co-location (QCL) relationships. Specifically, a given type of QCL relationship means that certain parameters of a second reference RF signal for a second beam can be derived from information about a source reference RF signal for a source beam. Thus, if the source reference RF signal is of QCL type A, the receiver can use the source reference RF signal to estimate the Doppler shift, Doppler spread, average delay, and delay spread of a second reference RF signal transmitted on the same channel. If the source reference RF signal is of QCL type B, the receiver can use the source reference RF signal to estimate the Doppler shift and Doppler spread of a second reference RF signal transmitted on the same channel. If the source reference RF signal is of QCL type C, the receiver can use the source reference RF signal to estimate the Doppler shift and average delay of a second reference RF signal transmitted on the same channel. If the source reference RF signal is of QCL type D, the receiver can use the source reference RF signal to estimate the spatial reception parameters of a second reference RF signal transmitted on the same channel.

[0044] In receive beamforming, the receiver uses receive beams to amplify RF signals detected on a given channel. For example, the receiver can increase the gain setting and / or adjust the phase setting of the antenna array in a specific direction to amplify the RF signal received from that direction (e.g., increase the gain level of the RF signal). Thus, when it is said that the receiver beamforms in a certain direction, this means that the beam gain in that direction is high relative to the beam gains in other directions, or that the beam gain in that direction is the highest compared to all other receive beams available to the receiver in that direction. This results in a stronger received signal strength for the RF signal received from that direction (e.g., reference signal received power (RSRP), reference signal received quality (RSRQ), signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio (SINR), etc.).

[0045] Transmit and receive beams can be spatially related. Spatial relationship means that the parameters of the second beam (e.g., transmit or receive beam) of the second reference signal can be derived from the information of the first beam (e.g., receive beam or transmit beam) of the first reference signal. For example, a UE can use a specific receive beam to receive a reference downlink reference signal (e.g., synchronization signal block (SSB)) from a base station. Then, the UE can form a transmit beam for transmitting an uplink reference signal (e.g., sounding reference signal (SRS)) to the base station based on the parameters of the receive beam.

[0046] Note that a "downlink" beam can be a transmit beam or a receive beam, depending on the entity forming it. For example, if a base station is forming a downlink beam to send a reference signal to a UE, the downlink beam is a transmit beam. However, if a UE is forming a downlink beam, it is a receive beam for receiving a downlink reference signal. Similarly, an "uplink" beam can be a transmit beam or a receive beam, depending on the entity forming it. For example, if a base station is forming an uplink beam, it is an uplink receive beam, and if a UE is forming an uplink beam, it is an uplink transmit beam.

[0047] In 5G, the spectrum in which wireless nodes (e.g., base station 102 / 180, UE 104 / 182) operate is divided into multiple frequency ranges, FR1 (from 450 to 6000 MHz), FR2 (from 24250 to 52600 MHz), FR3 (above 52600 MHz), and FR4 (between FR1 and FR2). The mmW band generally includes the FR2, FR3, and FR4 frequency ranges. Thus, the terms "mmW" and "FR2" or "FR3" or "FR4" can generally be used interchangeably.

[0048] In a multi-carrier system such as 5G, one carrier frequency is referred to as the "primary carrier" or "anchor carrier" or "primary serving cell" or "PCell", while the remaining carrier frequencies are referred to as "secondary carriers" or "secondary serving cells" or "SCells". In carrier aggregation, the anchor carrier is the carrier operating on the primary frequency (e.g., FR1) used by the UE 104 / 182 and the cell in which the UE 104 / 182 either performs the initial radio resource control (RRC) connection establishment procedure or initiates the RRC connection re-establishment procedure. The primary carrier carries all common and UE-specific control channels and can be a carrier in an authorized frequency (however, this is not always the case). The secondary carrier is a carrier operating on a second frequency (e.g., FR2) that can be configured once an RRC connection is established between the UE 104 and the anchor carrier and can be used to provide additional radio resources. In some cases, the secondary carrier can be a carrier in an unlicensed frequency. The secondary carrier can contain only the necessary signaling information and signals. For example, since the primary uplink and downlink carriers are generally UE-specific, those information and signals specific to the UE may not be present in the secondary carrier. This means that different UEs 104 / 182 in the cell can have different downlink primary carriers. The same is true for the uplink primary carrier. The network is able to change the primary carrier of any UE 104 / 182 at any time. For example, this is done to balance the load across different carriers. Since a "serving cell" (whether a PCell or an SCell) corresponds to the carrier frequency / component carrier on which some base station is communicating, the terms "cell", "serving cell", "component carrier", "carrier frequency", etc. can be used interchangeably.

[0049] For example, still referring to Figure 1 , one of the frequencies utilized by the macro cell base station 102 can be the anchor carrier (or "PCell"), while the other frequencies utilized by the macro cell base station 102 and / or the mmW base station 180 can be secondary carriers ("SCells"). The simultaneous transmission and / or reception of multiple carriers enables the UE 104 / 182 to significantly increase its data transmission and / or reception rate. For example, compared to the rate achieved with a single 20 MHz carrier, two 20 MHz aggregated carriers in a multi-carrier system would theoretically result in a two-fold increase in the data rate (i.e., 40 MHz).

[0050] The wireless communication system 100 may also include a UE 164, which may communicate with the macro cell base station 102 via the communication link 120 and / or communicate with the mmW base station 180 via the mmW communication link 184. For example, the macro cell base station 102 may support a PCell and one or more SCell for the UE 164, and the mmW base station 180 may support one or more SCell for the UE 164.

[0051] In Figure 1 the example of, one or more space vehicles (SVs) 112 of a satellite positioning system (SPS) in Earth orbit (e.g., satellites) may be used as an independent source of location information for any of the illustrated UEs (shown as a single UE 104 for simplicity in Figure 1 ). The UE 104 may include one or more dedicated SPS receivers specifically designed to receive SPS signals 124 for deriving geographic location information from the SV 112. SPS generally includes a transmitter system (e.g., the SV 112) positioned such that receivers (e.g., the UE 104) determine their position on or above the Earth at least in part based on signals received from the transmitter (e.g., the SPS signal 124). Such transmitters generally send signals marked with a repeating pseudorandom noise (PN) code of a set number of chips. Although generally located in the SV 112, the transmitter may sometimes be located at a ground control station, the base station 102, and / or other UEs 104.

[0052] The use of the SPS signal 124 may be enhanced by various satellite-based augmentation systems (SBAS), where the satellite-based augmentation systems (SBAS) may be associated with or otherwise support the use with one or more global and / or regional navigation satellite systems. For example, the SBAS may include an augmentation system(s) that provides integrity information, differential corrections, etc., such as the Wide Area Augmentation System (WAAS), the European Geostationary Navigation Overlay Service (EGNOS), the Multi-functional Satellite Augmentation System (MSAS), the Global Positioning System (GPS)-aided Geo Augmented Navigation or the GPS and Geo Augmented Navigation System (GAGAN), etc. Thus, as used herein, SPS may include any combination of one or more global and / or regional navigation satellite systems and / or augmentation systems, and the SPS signal 124 may include SPS, SPS-like, and / or other signals associated with such one or more SPSs.

[0053] The wireless communication system 100 may also include one or more UEs such as UE 190, which is indirectly connected to one or more communication networks via one or more device-to-device (D2D) point-to-point (P2P) links (referred to as "side links"). In Figure 1 the example, UE 190 has a D2D P2P link 192 with one of the UEs 104 connected to one of the base stations 102 (e.g., through which UE 190 can indirectly obtain cellular connectivity), and has a D2D P2P link 194 with the WLAN STA 152 connected to the WLAN AP 150 (through which UE 190 can indirectly obtain WLAN-based network connectivity). In the example, the D2D P2P links 192 and 194 may be supported by any well-known D2D RAT, such as LTE Direct (LTE-D), WiFi Direct (WiFi-D), and so on.

[0054] Figure 2A An example wireless network structure 200 is illustrated. For example, the 5GC 210 (also referred to as the Next Generation Core (NGC)) may be functionally regarded as a control plane (C-plane) function 214 (e.g., UE registration, authentication, network access, gateway selection, etc.) and a user plane (U-plane) function 212 (e.g., UE gateway function, access to data networks, IP routing, etc.), which operate in cooperation to form the core network. The user plane interface (NG-U) 213 and the control plane interface (NG-C) 215 connect the gNB 222 to the 5GC 210, and specifically connect to the user plane function 212 and the control plane function 214 respectively. In an additional configuration, the ng-eNB 224 may also be connected to the 5GC 210 via the NG-C 215 to the control plane function 214 and the NG-U 213 to the user plane function 212. In addition, the ng-eNB 224 may communicate directly with the gNB 222 via the backhaul connection 223. In some configurations, the Next Generation RAN (NG-RAN) 220 may have one or more gNBs 222, while other configurations include one or more of both the ng-eNB 224 and the gNB 222. The gNB 222 or the ng-eNB 224 (or both the gNB 222 and the ng-eNB 224) may communicate with one or more UEs 204 (e.g., any UE described herein).

[0055] Another optional aspect may include a location server 230, which may communicate with the 5GC 210 to provide location assistance for the UE 204. The location server 230 may be implemented as multiple separate servers (e.g., physically separate servers, different software modules on a single server, different software modules distributed across multiple physical servers, etc.), or alternatively, each server may correspond to a single server. The location server 230 may be configured to support one or more location services for the UE 204, and the UE 204 may be connected to the location server 230 via the core network, the 5GC 210, and / or via the Internet (not shown). Additionally, the location server 230 may be integrated into a component of the core network, or alternatively may be external to the core network (e.g., a third-party server such as an original equipment manufacturer (OEM) server or a service host).

[0056] Figure 2B Another example wireless network structure 250 is illustrated. For example, 5GC 260 (which may correspond to Figure 2AThe 5GC 210) can be functionally regarded as the control plane function provided by the Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF) 264, and the user plane function provided by the User Plane Function (UPF) 262, which cooperate to form the core network (i.e., 5GC 260). The functions of the AMF 264 include registration management, connection management, reachability management, mobility management, lawful interception, conveyance of Session Management (SM) messages between one or more UEs 204 (e.g., any UE described herein) and the Session Management Function (SMF) 266, transparent proxy service for routing SM messages, access authentication and access approval, Short Message Service (SMS) message conveyance between the UE 204 and the Short Message Service Function (SMSF) (not shown), and the Security Anchor Function (SEAF). The AMF 264 also interacts with the Authentication Server Function (AUSF) (not shown) and the UE 204, and receives the intermediate key established as a result of the UE 204 authentication process. In the case of authentication based on a UMTS (Universal Mobile Telecommunications System) Subscriber Identity Module (USIM), the AMF 264 retrieves the security material from the AUSF. The functions of the AMF 264 also include Security Context Management (SCM). The SCM receives the key from the SEAF, which is used to derive the keys for the specific access network. The functions of the AMF 264 also include location service management for regulatory services, conveyance of location service messages between the UE 204 and the Location Management Function (LMF) 270 (which acts as the location server 230), conveyance of location service messages between the NG-RAN 220 and the LMF 270, EPS bearer identifier allocation for interaction with the Evolved Packet System (EPS), and UE 204 mobility event notification. Additionally, the AMF 264 also supports the functions of non-3GPP (Third Generation Partnership Project) access networks.

[0057] The functions of the UPF 262 include: acting as an anchor point for in-RAT / inter-RAT mobility (when applicable), acting as an external protocol data unit (PDU) session point for interconnecting with a data network (not shown), providing packet routing and forwarding, packet inspection, user plane policy rule enforcement (e.g., gating, redirection, traffic steering), lawful interception (user plane collection), traffic usage reporting, handling of quality of service (QoS) for the user plane (e.g., uplink / downlink rate enforcement, reflected QoS marking in the downlink), uplink traffic verification (service data flow (SDF) to QoS flow mapping), transport-level packet marking in the uplink and downlink, downlink packet buffering and downlink data notification triggering, and transmitting and forwarding one or more "end markers" to the source RAN node. The UPF 262 may also support transferring location service messages on the user plane between the UE 204 and a location server such as the SLP 272.

[0058] The functions of the SMF 266 include session management, UE Internet Protocol (IP) address allocation and management, selection and control of user plane functions, configuration of traffic steering at the UPF 262 to route traffic to the appropriate destination, control of QoS and partial policy enforcement, and downlink data notification. The interface through which the SMF 266 communicates with the AMF 264 is called the N11 interface.

[0059] Another optional aspect may include the LMF 270, which may communicate with the 5GC 260 to provide location assistance for the UE 204. The LMF 270 may be implemented as multiple separate servers (e.g., physically separate servers, different software modules on a single server, different software modules distributed across multiple physical servers, etc.), or alternatively, each server may correspond to a single server. The LMF 270 may be configured to support one or more location services for the UE 204, and the UE 204 may be connected to the LMF 270 via the core network, the 5GC 260, and / or via the Internet (not shown). The SLP 272 may support similar functions to the LMF 270, but the LMF 270 may communicate with the AMF 264, the NG-RAN 220, and the UE 204 through the control plane (e.g., using interfaces and protocols designed to convey signaling messages rather than voice or data), and the SLP 272 may communicate with the UE 204 and an external client ( Figure 2B (not shown in the figure) through the user plane (e.g., using protocols designed to carry voice and / or data, such as Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) and / or IP).

[0060] The user plane interface 263 and the control plane interface 265 connect the 5GC 260, in particular the UPF 262 and the AMF 264, respectively, to one or more gNBs 222 and / or ng-eNBs 224 in the NG-RAN 220. The interface between the gNB(s) 222 and / or ng-eNB(s) 224 and the AMF 264 is referred to as the "N2" interface, and the interface between the gNB(s) 222 and / or ng-eNB(s) 224 and the UPF 262 is referred to as the "N3" interface. The gNB(s) 222 and / or ng-eNB(s) 224 of the NG-RAN 220 may communicate directly with each other via a backhaul connection 223 referred to as an "Xn-C" interface. One or more of the gNBs 222 and / or ng-eNBs 224 may communicate with one or more UEs 204 via a wireless interface referred to as a "Uu" interface.

[0061] The functionality of the gNB 222 is divided between the gNB Central Unit (gNB-CU) 226 and one or more gNB Distributed Units (gNB-DU) 228. The interface 232 between the gNB-CU 226 and one or more gNB-DUs 228 is referred to as the "F1" interface. The gNB-CU 226 is a logical node that includes base station functions for transferring user data, mobility control, radio access network sharing, positioning, session management, etc., except for those functions specifically assigned to the gNB-DU 228. More specifically, the gNB-CU 226 hosts the Radio Resource Control (RRC), Service Data Adaptation Protocol (SDAP), and Packet Data Convergence Protocol (PDCP) protocols of the gNB 222. The gNB-DU 228 is a logical node that hosts the Radio Link Control (RLC), Medium Access Control (MAC), and Physical (PHY) layers of the gNB 222. Its operation is controlled by the gNB-CU 226. One gNB-DU 228 can support one or more cells, and one cell is supported by only one gNB-DU 228. Therefore, the UE 204 communicates with the gNB-CU 226 via the RRC, SDAP, and PDCP layers, and communicates with the gNB-DU 228 via the RLC, MAC, and PHY layers.

[0062] Figure 3A , Figure 3B and Figure 3C Several example components (represented by corresponding blocks) that may be incorporated into a UE 302 (which may correspond to any UE described herein), a base station 304 (which may correspond to any base station described herein), and a network entity 306 (which may correspond to or embody any network function described herein, including location server 230 and LMF 270, or may alternatively be independent ofFigure 2A and 2B the NG-RAN 220 and / or 5GC 210 / 260 infrastructure described in (such as a private network) to support the file transfer operations described herein. It will be understood that these components may be implemented in different types of devices in different implementations (e.g., in an ASIC, in a system-on-chip (SoC)). The illustrated components may also be incorporated into other devices in the communication system. For example, other devices in the system may include components similar to those described for providing similar functions. And, a given device may include one or more of these components. For example, a device may include a plurality of transceiver components that enable the device to operate on multiple carriers and / or communicate via different technologies.

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

[0064] UE 302 and base station 304 also at least in some cases respectively include at least one short-range wireless transceiver 320 and 360. The short-range wireless transceivers 320 and 360 may be respectively connected to one or more antennas 326 and 366 and communicate on a relevant wireless communication medium via at least one specified RAT (e.g., WiFi, LTE-D, PC5, dedicated short-range communication (DSRC), wireless access in vehicular environments (WAVE), near-field communication (NFC), etc. provide components (e.g., components for transmitting, receiving, measuring, tuning, suppressing transmission, etc.) for communicating with other network nodes, such as other UEs, access points, base stations, etc. The short-range wireless transceivers 320 and 360 can be differently configured according to the specified RAT for respectively transmitting and encoding signals 328 and 368 (e.g., messages, indications, information, etc.), and conversely, for respectively receiving and decoding signals 328 and 368 (e.g., messages, indications, information, pilots, etc.). Specifically, the short-range wireless transceivers 320 and 360 respectively include one or more transmitters 324 and 364 for respectively transmitting and encoding signals 328 and 368, and one or more receivers 322 and 362 for respectively receiving and decoding signals 328 and 368. As a specific example, the short-range wireless transceivers 320 and 360 can be WiFi transceivers, transceivers, and / or transceivers, NFC transceivers or vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) and / or vehicle-to-everything (V2X) transceivers.

[0065] The transceiver circuit including at least one transmitter and at least one receiver can include an integrated device (e.g., a transmitter circuit and a receiver circuit embodied as a single communication device) in some implementations, can include separate transmitter devices and separate receiver devices in some implementations, or can be embodied in other ways in other implementations. In one aspect, the transmitter can include or be coupled to a plurality of antennas (e.g., antennas 316, 326, 356, 366), such as an antenna array, which allows the corresponding device to perform transmit "beamforming" as described herein. Similarly, the receiver can include or be coupled to a plurality of antennas (e.g., antennas 316, 326, 356, 366), such as an antenna array, which allows the corresponding device to perform receive beamforming as described herein. In one aspect, the transmitter and the receiver can share the same plurality of antennas (e.g., antennas 316, 326, 356, 366), such that the corresponding device can only receive or transmit at a given time, rather than receive and transmit simultaneously. The wireless communication devices of the UE 302 and / or the base station 304 (e.g., one or both of the transceivers 310 and 320 and / or 350 and 360) can also include a network listening module (NLM) for performing various measurements, etc.

[0066] UE 302 and base station 304 also include satellite positioning system (SPS) receivers 330 and 370 at least in some cases. The SPS receivers 330 and 370 can be respectively connected to one or more antennas 336 and 376, and can provide components for receiving and / or measuring SPS signals 338 and 378, such as Global Positioning System (GPS) signals, Global Navigation Satellite System (GLONASS) signals, Galileo signals, Beidou signals, Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (NAVIC), Quasi-Zenith Satellite System (QZSS), etc. The SPS receivers 330 and 370 can include any suitable hardware and / or software for receiving and processing SPS signals 338 and 378 respectively. Depending on the situation, the SPS receivers 330 and 370 request information and operations from other systems, and use measurements obtained through any suitable SPS algorithm to perform calculations necessary for determining the positions of UE 302 and base station 304.

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

[0068] In one aspect, at least one WWAN transceiver 310 and / or at least one short-range wireless transceiver 320 can form the (wireless) communication interface of UE 302. Similarly, at least one WWAN transceiver 350, at least one short-range wireless transceiver 360, and / or at least one network interface 380 can form the (wireless) communication interface of base station 304. Similarly, at least one network interface 390 can form the (wireless) communication interface of network entity 306. Various wireless transceivers (e.g., transceivers 310, 320, 350, and 360) and wired transceivers (e.g., network interfaces 380 and 390) can generally be characterized as at least one transceiver, or alternatively, characterized as at least one communication interface. Therefore, whether a particular transceiver or communication interface involves a wired or wireless transceiver or communication interface respectively can be inferred from the type of communication performed (e.g., backhaul communication between network devices or servers will generally involve signaling via at least one wired transceiver).

[0069] UE 302, base station 304, and network entity 306 also include other components that can be used in conjunction with the operations disclosed herein. UE 302, base station 304, and network entity 306 each include at least one processor 332, 384, and 394, respectively, for providing functions related to, for example, wireless communication and for providing other processing functions. Processors 332, 384, and 394 can thus provide components for processing, such as components for determining, for calculating, for receiving, for transmitting, for indicating, etc. In one aspect, processors 332, 384, and 394 can include, for example, at least one general-purpose processor, a multi-core processor, a central processing unit (CPU), an ASIC, a digital signal processor (DSP), a field-programmable gate array (FPGA), other programmable logic devices or processing circuits, or various combinations thereof.

[0070] UE 302, base station 304, and network entity 306 each include memory circuit-implemented memory components 340, 386, and 396 (e.g., each including a memory device) for maintaining information (e.g., information indicating reserved resources, thresholds, parameters, etc.). Memory components 340, 386, and 396 can thus provide components for storing, for retrieving, for maintaining, etc. In some cases, UE 302, base station 304, and network entity 306 can each include positioning components 342, 388, and 398, respectively. The positioning components 342, 388, and 398 can be hardware circuits that are part of or coupled to processors 332, 384, and 394, respectively, which when executed cause UE 302, base station 304, and network entity 306 to perform the functions described herein. In other aspects, the positioning components 342, 388, and 398 can be external to the processors 332, 384, and 394 (e.g., part of a modem processing system, integrated with another processing system, etc.). Alternatively, the positioning components 342, 388, and 398 can be memory modules stored in the memory components 340, 386, and 396, respectively, which when executed by the processors 332, 384, and 394 (or a modem processing system, another processing system, etc.) cause UE 302, base station 304, and network entity 306 to perform the functions described herein. Figure 3A The possible locations of the positioning component 342 are illustrated. For example, it can be part of at least one WWAN transceiver 310, memory component 340, at least one processor 332, or any combination thereof, or can be an independent component. Figure 3B The possible locations of the positioning component 388 are illustrated. It can be part of at least one WWAN transceiver 350, memory component 386, at least one processor 384, or any combination thereof, or can be an independent component.Figure 3C Illustrated is a possible location of the positioning component 398, e.g., it can be part of at least one network interface 390, memory component 396, at least one processor 394, or any combination thereof, or can be a stand-alone component.

[0071] The UE 302 can include one or more sensors 344 that are coupled to the at least one processor 332 to provide components for sensing or detecting activities and / or orientation information independent of motion data, the orientation information being independent of motion data derived from signals received from at least one WWAN transceiver 310, at least one short-range wireless transceiver 320, and / or SPS receiver 330. As an example, the (multiple) sensors 344 can include an accelerometer (e.g., a microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) device), gyroscope, geomagnetic sensor (e.g., a compass), altimeter (e.g., a barometric altimeter), and / or any other type of motion detection sensor. Additionally, the (multiple) sensors 344 can include multiple different types of devices and combine their outputs to provide motion information. For example, the (multiple) sensors 344 can use a combination of a multi-axis accelerometer and an orientation sensor to provide the ability to calculate a position in a two-dimensional (2D) and / or three-dimensional (3D) coordinate system.

[0072] Additionally, the UE 302 includes a user interface 346 that provides components for providing an indication to the user (e.g., an auditory and / or visual indication) and / or for receiving user input (e.g., when the user activates a sensing device such as a keyboard, touch screen, microphone, etc.). Although not shown, the base station 304 and network entity 306 can also include a user interface.

[0073] Referring in more detail to at least one processor 384, in the downlink, IP packets from network entity 306 can be provided to at least one processor 384. The at least one processor 384 can implement functions for the RRC layer, packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) layer, radio link control (RLC) layer, and medium access control (MAC) layer. The at least one processor 384 can provide RRC layer functions associated with the broadcast of system information (e.g., master information block (MIB), system information block (SIB)), RRC connection control (e.g., RRC connection paging, RRC connection establishment, RRC connection modification, and RRC connection release), inter-RAT mobility, and measurement configuration for UE measurement reporting; PDCP layer functions associated with header compression / decompression, security (encryption, decryption, integrity protection, integrity verification), and handover support functions; RLC layer functions associated with the transfer of upper layer PDUs, error correction via automatic repeat request (ARQ), concatenation, segmentation, and reassembly of RLC service data units (SDUs), re-segmentation of RLC data PDUs, and re-ordering of RLC data PDUs; and MAC layer functions associated with the mapping between logical channels and transport channels, scheduling information reporting, error correction, priority handling, and logical channel prioritization.

[0074] The transmitter 354 and the receiver 352 can implement layer 1 (L1) functions associated with various signal processing functions. Layer 1, including the physical (PHY) layer, can include error detection on the transport channel, forward error correction (FEC) encoding / decoding of the transport channel, interleaving, rate matching, mapping to the physical channel, modulation / demodulation of the physical channel, and MIMO antenna processing. The transmitter 354 processes the mapping to the signal constellation based on various modulation schemes (e.g., binary phase shift keying (BPSK), quadrature phase shift keying (QPSK), M-phase shift keying (M-PSK), M-quadrature amplitude modulation (M-QAM)). The encoded and modulated symbols can then be split into parallel streams. Each stream can then be mapped to orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) subcarriers, multiplexed with reference signals (e.g., pilots) in the time domain and / or frequency domain, and then combined using the inverse fast Fourier transform (IFFT) to generate a physical channel carrying a time-domain OFDM symbol stream. The OFDM symbol stream is precoded spatially to generate multiple spatial streams. Channel estimation according to the channel estimator can be used to determine the coding and modulation schemes, as well as for spatial processing. The channel estimation can be derived from reference signals and / or channel condition feedback that can be sent by the UE 302. Each spatial stream can then be provided to one or more different antennas 356. The transmitter 354 can modulate the RF carrier with the corresponding spatial stream for transmission.

[0075] At the UE 302, the receiver 312 receives signals via respective antenna(s) 316. The receiver 312 recovers the information modulated onto the RF carrier and provides the information to the at least one processor 332. The transmitter 314 and the receiver 312 implement layer 1 functions associated with various signal processing functions. The receiver 312 may perform spatial processing on the information to recover any spatial streams destined for the UE 302. If multiple spatial streams are destined for the UE 302, they may be combined by the receiver 312 into a single OFDM symbol stream. The receiver 312 then uses a fast Fourier transform (FFT) to convert the OFDM symbol stream from the time domain to the frequency domain. The frequency domain signal includes a separate OFDM symbol stream for each subcarrier of the OFDM signal. By determining the most likely signal constellation points transmitted by the base station 304, the symbols and reference signals on each subcarrier can be recovered and demodulated. These soft decisions may be based on channel estimates computed by a channel estimator. The soft decisions are then decoded and deinterleaved to recover the data and control signals originally transmitted by the base station 304 on the physical channel. The data and control signals are then provided to the at least one processor 332 that implements layer 3 (L3) and layer 2 (L2) functions.

[0076] In the uplink, the at least one processor 332 provides demultiplexing between transport and logical channels, packet reassembly, decryption, header decompression, and control signal processing to recover IP packets from the core network. The at least one processor 332 is also responsible for error detection.

[0077] Similar to the functions described in connection with the downlink transmission by the base station 304, the at least one processor 332 provides RRC layer functions associated with system information (e.g., MIB, SIB) acquisition, RRC connection, and measurement reporting; PDCP layer functions associated with header compression / decompression and security (encryption, decryption, integrity protection, integrity verification); RLC layer functions associated with upper layer PDU transfer, error correction via ARQ, concatenation, segmentation, and reassembly of RLC SDUs, re-segmentation of RLC data PDUs, and reordering of RLC data PDUs; and MAC layer functions associated with mapping between logical and transport channels, multiplexing of MAC SDUs onto transport blocks (TBs), demultiplexing of MAC SDUs from TBs, scheduling information reporting, error correction via HARQ (hybrid automatic repeat request), prioritization, and logical channel prioritization.

[0078] Channel estimates derived by the channel estimator from reference signals or feedback transmitted by the base station 304 may be used by the transmitter 314 to select appropriate coding and modulation schemes and to facilitate spatial processing. The spatial streams generated by the transmitter 314 may be provided to different antenna(s) 316. The transmitter 314 may modulate the RF carrier with the respective spatial streams for transmission.

[0079] The uplink transmission is processed at the base station 304 in a manner similar to that described in connection with the receiver function at the UE 302. The receiver 352 receives signals via its respective antenna(s) 356. The receiver 352 recovers the information modulated onto the RF carrier and provides the information to the at least one processor 384.

[0080] In the uplink, the at least one processor 384 provides demultiplexing between transport and logical channels, packet reassembly, decryption, header decompression, control signal processing to recover IP packets from the UE 302. The IP packets from the processor 384 can be provided to the core network. The at least one processor 384 is also responsible for error detection.

[0081] For convenience, Figure 3A 、 3B UE 302, base station 304, and / or network entity 306 are illustrated in 3C, including various components that can be configured according to the various examples described herein. However, it will be understood that the illustrated components can have different functions in different designs.

[0082] The respective components of UE 302, base station 304, and network entity 306 can communicate with each other via data buses 334, 382, and 392, respectively. In one aspect, the data buses 334, 382, and 392 can respectively form or be part of the communication interfaces of UE 302, base station 304, and network entity 306. For example, in the case where different logical entities are embodied in the same device (e.g., the gNB and location server functions are incorporated into the same base station 304), the data buses 334, 382, and 392 can provide communication between them.

[0083] Figure 3A 、 3B and the components of 3C can be implemented in various ways. In certain implementations, Figure 3A 、 3BThe components of 3C can be implemented in one or more circuits, such as one or more processors and / or one or more ASICs (which may include one or more processors). Here, each circuit can use and / or incorporate at least one memory component for storing information or executable code used by the circuit to provide the function. For example, some or all of the functions represented by blocks 310 to 346 can be implemented by the processor and (multiple) memory components of UE 302 (e.g., by execution of appropriate code and / or by appropriate configuration of the processor components). Similarly, some or all of the functions represented by blocks 350 to 388 can be implemented by the processor and (multiple) memory components of base station 304 (e.g., by execution of appropriate code and / or by appropriate configuration of the processor components). And, some or all of the functions represented by blocks 390 to 398 can be implemented by the processor and (multiple) memory components of network entity 306 (e.g., by execution of appropriate code and / or by appropriate configuration of the processor components). For simplicity, various operations, actions, and / or functions are described herein as "performed by the UE", "performed by the base station", "performed by the network entity", etc. However, as will be understood, such operations, actions, and / or functions can actually be performed by specific components or combinations of components of UE 302, base station 304, network entity 306, etc., such as processors 332, 384, and 394, transceivers 310, 320, 350, and 360, memory components 340, 386, and 396, positioning components 342, 388, and 398, etc.

[0084] In some designs, network entity 306 can be implemented as a core network component. In other designs, network entity 306 can operate differently from a network operator or cellular network infrastructure (e.g., NG RAN 220 and / or 5GC 210 / 260). For example, network entity 306 can be a component of a private network that can be configured to communicate with UE 302 via base station 304 or independently of base station 304 (e.g., via a non-cellular communication link, such as WiFi).

[0085] NR supports a variety of cellular network-based positioning technologies, including downlink-based, uplink-based, and downlink- and uplink-based positioning methods. Downlink-based positioning methods include Observed Time Difference of Arrival (OTDOA) in LTE, Downlink Time Difference of Arrival (DL-TDOA) in NR, and Downlink Angle of Departure (DL-AoD) in NR. During the OTDOA or DL-TDOA positioning process, the UE measures the differences in the time of arrival (ToA) of reference signals (e.g., positioning reference signals (PRS)) received from base stations, which are called reference signal time difference (RSTD) or time difference of arrival (TDOA) measurements, and reports them to the positioning entity. More specifically, the UE receives the identifiers (IDs) of the reference base station (e.g., serving base station) and multiple non-reference base stations in the assistance data. The UE then measures the RSTD between each of the reference base station and the non-reference base stations. Based on the known locations of the involved base stations and the RSTD measurements, the positioning entity can estimate the location of the UE.

[0086] For DL-AoD positioning, the positioning entity uses the beam reports of the UE from the received signal strength measurements of multiple downlink transmission beams to determine the (multiple) angles between the UE and the (multiple) transmitting base stations. Then, the positioning entity can estimate the location of the UE based on the determined (multiple) angles and the (multiple) known locations of the (multiple) transmitting base stations.

[0087] Uplink-based positioning methods include Uplink Time Difference of Arrival (UL-TDOA) and Uplink Angle of Arrival (UL-AoA). UL-TDOA is similar to DL-TDOA but is based on uplink reference signals (e.g., sounding reference signals (SRS)) transmitted by the UE. For UL-AoA positioning, one or more base stations measure the received signal strength of one or more uplink reference signals (e.g., SRS) received from the UE on one or more uplink reception beams. The positioning entity uses the signal strength measurements and the (multiple) angles of the (multiple) reception beams to determine the (multiple) angles between the (multiple) UE and the (multiple) base stations. Based on the determined (multiple) angles and the (multiple) known locations of the (multiple) base stations, the positioning entity can then estimate the location of the UE.

[0088] Downlink- and uplink-based positioning methods include Enhanced Cell ID (E-CID) positioning and Multi-Round Trip Time (RTT) positioning (also known as "Multi-Cell RTT"). During the RTT process, an initiator (base station or UE) sends an RTT measurement signal (e.g., PRS or SRS) to a responder (UE or base station), and the responder (UE or base station) sends an RTT response signal (e.g., SRS or PRS) back to the initiator. The RTT response signal includes the difference between the ToA of the RTT measurement signal and the transmission time of the RTT response signal, which is called the Received Transmission (Rx-Tx) time difference. The initiator calculates the difference between the transmission time of the RTT measurement signal and the ToA of the RTT response signal, which is called the Transmission to Receive (Tx-Rx) time difference. The propagation time (also known as "time of flight") between the initiator and the responder can be calculated based on the Tx-Rx and Rx-Tx time differences. Based on the propagation time and the known speed of light, the distance between the initiator and the responder can be determined. For multi-RTT positioning, the UE performs RTT processes with multiple base stations so that its location can be determined based on the known locations of the base stations (e.g., using multilateration). The RTT and multi-RTT methods can be combined with other positioning techniques (such as UL-AoA and DL-AoD) to improve location accuracy.

[0089] The E-CID positioning method is based on Radio Resource Management (RRM) measurements. In E-CID, the UE reports the serving cell ID, the Time Advance (TA), and the identifiers, estimated times, and signal strengths of the detected neighboring base stations. Then the location of the UE is estimated based on this information and the known locations of the (multiple) base stations.

[0090] To assist the positioning operation, a location server (e.g., location server 230, LMF 270, SLP 272) can provide auxiliary data to the UE. For example, the auxiliary data can include the identifier of the base station (or the cell / TRP of the base station) from which it measures the reference signal, reference signal configuration parameters (e.g., the number of consecutive positioning subframes, the period of the positioning subframes, the mute sequence, the hopping sequence, the reference signal identifier, the reference signal bandwidth, etc.) and / or other parameters applicable to a specific positioning method. Alternatively, the auxiliary data can directly originate from the base station itself (e.g., in a periodically broadcast overhead message, etc.). In some cases, the UE may be able to detect neighboring network nodes on its own without using the auxiliary data.

[0091] In the case of OTDOA or DL-TDOA positioning procedures, the assistance data may also include the expected RSTD value and the associated uncertainty or search window around the expected RSTD. In some cases, the value range of the expected RSTD may be + / - 500 microseconds (μs). In some cases, when any resources used for positioning measurements are in FR1, the uncertainty value range of the expected RSTD may be + / - 32 μs. In other cases, when all resources used for (multiple) positioning measurements are in FR2, the uncertainty value range of the expected RSTD may be + / - 8 μs.

[0092] A location estimate may be referred to by other names, such as a place estimate, location, place, place fix, fixed point, etc. A location estimate may be geodetic and include coordinates (e.g., latitude, longitude, and possibly altitude), or it may be civic and include a street address, postal address, or some other verbal description of the location. A location estimate may also be defined relative to some other known location, or in absolute terms (e.g., using latitude, longitude, and possibly altitude). A location estimate may include an expected error or uncertainty (e.g., by including a region or volume within which the location is expected to be included at a certain specific or default confidence level).

[0093] Various frame structures may be used to support downlink and uplink transmissions between network nodes (e.g., base stations and UEs). Figure 4A FIG. 400 is a diagram illustrating an example of a downlink frame structure in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. Figure 4B FIG. 430 is a diagram illustrating an example of channels within a downlink frame structure in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. Other wireless communication technologies may have different frame structures and / or different channels.

[0094] LTE (and in some cases NR) utilizes OFDM on the downlink and single-carrier frequency-division multiplexing (SC-FDM) on the uplink. However, different from LTE, NR can also choose to use OFDM on the uplink. OFDM and SC-FDM divide the system bandwidth into multiple (K) orthogonal subcarriers, which are usually also referred to as tones, bins, etc. Each subcarrier can be modulated with data. Generally, modulation symbols are transmitted with OFDM in the frequency domain and with SC-FDM in the time domain. The interval between adjacent subcarriers can be fixed, and the total number (K) of subcarriers can depend on the system bandwidth. For example, the subcarrier interval can be 15 kilohertz (kHz), and the minimum resource allocation (resource block) can be 12 subcarriers (or 180 kHz). Therefore, for system bandwidths of 1.25, 2.5, 5, 10, or 20 megahertz (MHz), the nominal FFT sizes can be equal to 128, 256, 512, 1024, or 2048 respectively. The system bandwidth can also be divided into subbands. For example, one subband can cover 1.08 MHz (i.e., 6 resource blocks), and for system bandwidths of 1.25, 2.5, 5, 10, or 20 MHz, there can be 1, 2, 4, 8, or 16 subbands respectively.

[0095] LTE supports a single numerology (subcarrier spacing (SCS), symbol length, etc.). In contrast, NR can support multiple numerologies (μ), e.g., 15 kHz (μ = 0), 30 kHz (μ = 1), 60 kHz (μ = 2), 120 kHz (μ = 3), and 240 kHz (μ = 4) or higher subcarrier spacings may be available. In each subcarrier spacing, there are 14 symbols per time slot. For 15 kHz SCS (μ = 0), there is 1 time slot per subframe, 10 time slots per frame, the time slot duration is 1 millisecond (ms), the symbol duration is 66.7 microseconds (μs), and the maximum nominal system bandwidth (in MHz) with a 4K FFT size is 50. For 30 kHz SCS (μ = 1), there are 2 time slots per subframe, 20 time slots per frame, the time slot duration is 0.5 ms, the symbol duration is 33.3 μs, and the maximum nominal system bandwidth (in MHz) with a 4K FFT size is 100. For 60 kHz SCS (μ = 2), there are 4 time slots per subframe, 40 time slots per frame, the time slot duration is 0.25 ms, the symbol duration is 16.7 μs, and the maximum nominal system bandwidth (in MHz) with a 4K FFT size is 200. For 120 kHz SCS (μ = 3), there are 8 time slots per subframe, 80 time slots per frame, the time slot duration is 0.125 ms, the symbol duration is 8.33 μs, and the maximum nominal system bandwidth (in MHz) with a 4K FFT size is 400. For 240 kHz SCS (μ = 4), there are 16 time slots per subframe, 160 time slots per frame, the time slot duration is 0.0625 ms, the symbol duration is 4.17 μs, and the maximum nominal system bandwidth (in MHz) with a 4K FFT size is 800.

[0096] In Figure 4A and 4B 's example, the numerology of 15 kHz is used. Thus, in the time domain, a 10 ms frame is divided into 10 subframes of the same size, each subframe being 1 ms, and each subframe includes one time slot. In Figure 4A and 4B , time is represented horizontally (on the X-axis), with time increasing from left to right, while frequency is represented vertically (on the Y-axis), with frequency increasing (or decreasing) from bottom to top.

[0097] A resource grid can be used to represent multiple time slots, each time slot including one or more time-concurrent resource blocks (RBs) (also called "physical RBs" (PRBs) in the frequency domain). The resource grid is also divided into multiple resource elements (REs). One RE can correspond to one symbol length in the time domain and one subcarrier in the frequency domain. In Figure 4A and 4BIn the mathematical set, for the nominal cyclic prefix, an RB can contain 12 consecutive subcarriers in the frequency domain and seven consecutive symbols in the time domain, for a total of 84 REs. For the extended cyclic prefix, an RB can contain 12 consecutive subcarriers in the frequency domain and six consecutive symbols in the time domain, for a total of 72 REs. The number of bits carried by each RE depends on the modulation scheme.

[0098] Some REs carry downlink reference (pilot) signals (DL-RS). The DL-RS can include positioning reference signals (PRS), tracking reference signals (TRS), phase tracking reference signals (TRS), cell-specific reference signals (CRS), channel state information reference signals (CSI-RS), demodulation reference signals (DMRS), primary synchronization signals (PSS), secondary synchronization signals (SSS), synchronization signal blocks (SSB), etc. Figure 4A The figure illustrates an example position of the REs carrying the PRS (marked as "R").

[0099] The cluster of resource elements (REs) used for PRS transmission is called a "PRS resource". The cluster of resource elements can span multiple PRBs in the frequency domain and 'N' (such as one or more) consecutive symbols within a time slot in the time domain. In a given OFDM symbol in the time domain, the PRS resource occupies consecutive PRBs in the frequency domain.

[0100] The transmission of the PRS resource within a given PRB has a specific comb size (also called "comb density"). The comb size 'N' represents the subcarrier spacing (or frequency / tone spacing) within each symbol of the PRS resource configuration. Specifically, for a comb size 'N', the PRS is transmitted in every Nth subcarrier of the symbols of the PRB. For example, for a comb-4, for each symbol of the PRS resource configuration, the REs corresponding to every fourth subcarrier (such as subcarriers 0, 4, 8) are used to transmit the PRS of the PRS resource. Currently, the DL-PRS supports comb sizes of comb-2, comb-4, comb-6, and comb-12. Figure 4A The figure illustrates an example PRS resource configuration for a comb-6 (which spans six symbols). That is, the positions of the shaded REs (marked as "R") indicate the comb-6 PRS resource configuration.

[0101] Currently, DL-PRS resources can span 2, 4, 6, or 12 consecutive symbols within a time slot and have a full frequency-domain interleaving pattern. DL-PRS resources can be configured in any higher-layer-configured downlink or flexible (FL) symbols of a time slot. For all the REs of a given DL-PRS resource, there may be a constant energy per resource element (EPRE). The following are the symbol-to-symbol frequency offsets for comb sizes 2, 4, 6, and 12 over 2, 4, 6, and 12 symbols. 2-symbol comb-2: {0, 1}; 4-symbol comb-2: {0, 1, 0, 1}; 6-symbol comb-2: {0, 1, 0, 1, 0, 1}; 12-symbol comb-2: {0, 1, 0, 1, 0, 1, 0, 1, 0, 1, 0, 1}; 4-symbol comb-4: {0, 2, 1, 3}; 12-symbol comb-4: {0, 2, 1, 3, 0, 2, 1, 3, 0, 2, 1, 3}; 6-symbol comb-6: {0, 3, 1, 4, 2, 5}; 12-symbol comb-6: {0, 3, 1, 4, 2, 5, 0, 3, 1, 4, 2, 5}; and 12-symbol comb-12: {0, 6, 3, 9, 1, 7, 4, 10, 2, 8, 5, 11}.

[0102] A "PRS resource set" is a set of PRS resources for the transmission of PRS signals, where each PRS resource has a PRS resource ID. Additionally, the PRS resources in a PRS resource set are associated with the same TRP. A PRS resource set is identified by a PRS resource set ID and can be associated with a specific TRP (identified by a TRP ID). Furthermore, the PRS resources in a PRS resource set have the same periodicity, a common silent mode configuration, and the same repetition factor across time slots (such as "resource repetition factor (PRS-ResourceRepetitionFactor)"). Periodicity is the time from the first repetition of the first PRS resource of the first PRS instance to the same first repetition of the same first PRS resource of the next PRS instance. The periodicity can have a length selected from 2^μ*{4, 5, 8, 10, 16, 20, 32, 40, 64, 80, 160, 320, 640, 1280, 2560, 5120, 10240} time slots, where μ = 0, 1, 2, 3. The repetition factor can have a length selected from {1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 16, 32} time slots.

[0103] The PRS resource ID in the PRS resource set is associated with a single beam (or beam ID) transmitted from a single TRP (where the TRP can transmit one or more beams). That is, each PRS resource in the PRS resource set can be transmitted on a different beam, and thus, the "RS resource" or simply "resource" can also be referred to as "beam". Note that this does not affect whether the TRP and the beam on which the PRS is transmitted are known to the UE.

[0104] A "PRS instance" or "PRS occasion" is an instance of a time window (such as a group of one or more consecutive time slots) in which the PRS is expected to be transmitted periodically. The PRS occasion can also be referred to as "PRS positioning occasion", "PRS positioning instance", "positioning occasion", "positioning instance", "positioning repetition", or simply "occasion", "instance", or "repetition".

[0105] A "positioning frequency layer" (also simply referred to as "frequency layer") is a cluster of one or more PRS resource sets across one or more TRPs that have the same values for certain parameters. Specifically, the cluster of PRS resource sets has the same subcarrier spacing and cyclic prefix (CP) type (meaning that the PRS also supports all numerology sets supported by the PDSCH), the same point A, the same downlink PRS bandwidth value, the same starting PRB (and center frequency), and the same comb size. The point A parameter takes the value of the parameter "ARFCN-ValueNR" (where "ARFCN" stands for "absolute radio frequency channel number"), which is an identifier / code that specifies a pair of physical radio channels for transmission and reception. The downlink PRS bandwidth can have a granularity of 4 PRBs, a minimum of 24 PRBs, and a maximum of 272 PRBs. Currently, a maximum of four frequency layers are defined, and each TRP in each frequency layer can be configured with a maximum of two PRS resource sets.

[0106] The concept of a frequency layer is somewhat similar to the concept of a component carrier and a bandwidth part (BWP), but the difference is that a component carrier and a BWP are used by a base station (or a macro cell base station and a small cell base station) to transmit data channels, while a frequency layer is used by several (usually three or more) base stations to transmit PRS. When the UE transmits its positioning capabilities to the network, such as during an LTE positioning protocol (LPP) session, the UE can indicate the number of frequency layers it can support. For example, the UE can indicate whether it can support one or four positioning frequency layers.

[0107] Figure 4BIllustrated is an example of various channels within the downlink time slots of a radio frame. In NR, the channel bandwidth or system bandwidth is divided into multiple BWPs. A BWP is a set of consecutive PRBs selected from a consecutive subset of common RBs for a given numerology set on a given carrier. Typically, up to four BWPs can be specified in the downlink and uplink. That is, a UE can be configured with up to four BWPs on the downlink and up to four BWPs on the uplink. At a given time, only one BWP (either uplink or downlink) may be active, meaning that the UE can only receive or transmit through one BWP at a time. On the downlink, the bandwidth of each BWP should be equal to or greater than the bandwidth of the SSB, but it may or may not contain that SSB.

[0108] Reference Figure 4B , the UE uses the Primary Synchronization Signal (PSS) to determine subframe / symbol timing and the physical layer identity. The UE uses the Secondary Synchronization Signal (SSS) to determine the physical layer cell identity group number and radio frame timing. Based on the physical layer identity and the physical layer cell identity group number, the UE can determine the PCI. Based on this PCI, the UE can determine the location of the above DL-RS. The Physical Broadcast Channel (PBCH) carrying the MIB can be logically grouped with the PSS and SSS to form the SSB (also known as SS / PBCH). The MIB provides a number of RBs in the downlink system bandwidth and the System Frame Number (SFN). The Physical Downlink Shared Channel (PDSCH) carries user data, broadcast system information not sent through the PBCH, such as System Information Blocks (SIBs) and paging messages.

[0109] The Physical Downlink Control Channel (PDCCH) carries downlink control information (DCI) within one or more Control Channel Elements (CCEs). Each CCE includes one or more RE groups (REGs) bundled (possibly spanning multiple symbols in the time domain). Each REG bundle includes one or more REGs, and each REG corresponds to 12 resource elements in the frequency domain (one resource block) and one OFDM symbol in the time domain. The physical resource set used to carry the PDCCH / DCI is called a Control Resource Set (CORESET) in NR. In NR, the PDCCH is restricted to a single CORESET and is transmitted together with its own DMRS. This enables per-UE beamforming for the PDCCH.

[0110] In Figure 4B 's example, each BWP has one CORESET, and the CORESET spans three symbols in the time domain (although it may be only one or two symbols). Different from the LTE control channel that occupies the entire system bandwidth, in NR, the PDCCH channel is located in a specific region in the frequency domain (i.e., the CORESET). Therefore, Figure 4BThe frequency components of the PDCCH shown are illustrated as less than a single BWP in the frequency domain. Note that although the illustrated CORESET is continuous in the frequency domain, it need not be. Additionally, the CORESET may span less than three symbols in the time domain.

[0111] The DCI within the PDCCH carries information regarding uplink resource allocation (permanent and non-permanent) and a description of the downlink data being sent to the UE, referred to as uplink grant and downlink grant, respectively. More specifically, the DCI indicates the resources scheduled for the downlink data channel (e.g., PDSCH) and the uplink data channel (e.g., PUSCH). Multiple (e.g., up to 8) DCIs can be configured in the PDCCH, and these DCIs can have one of multiple formats. For example, different DCI formats for uplink scheduling, for downlink scheduling, for uplink transmit power control (TPC), etc. The PDCCH can be conveyed by 1, 2, 4, 8, or 16 CCEs to accommodate different DCI payload sizes or coding rates.

[0112] Note that the terms "positioning reference signal" and "PRS" typically refer to the specific reference signals used for positioning in NR and LTE systems. However, as used herein, the terms "positioning reference signal" and "PRS" can also refer to any type of reference signal that can be used for positioning, such as but not limited to the PRS, TRS, PTRS, CRS, CSI-RS, DMRS, PSS, SSS, SSB, SRS, UL-PRS, etc. defined in LTE and NR. Additionally, unless otherwise specified, the terms "positioning reference signal" and "PRS" can refer to a downlink or uplink positioning reference signal as indicated by the context. If further differentiation of the type of PRS is needed, the downlink positioning reference signal can be referred to as "DL-PRS", and the uplink positioning reference signals (such as SRS, PTRS used for positioning) can be referred to as "UL-PRS". Additionally, for signals that can be sent in both the uplink and downlink (e.g., DMRS, PTRS), "UL" or "DL" can be prefixed to the signal to distinguish the direction. For example, "UL-DMRS" can be distinguished from "DL-DMRS".

[0113] Figure 5FIG. 500 is a diagram of an example radio frequency (RF) signal processing procedure according to aspects of the present disclosure. To identify the time of arrival (ToA) of an RF signal (e.g., positioning reference signal (PRS)), a receiver (e.g., a UE) first caches and then jointly processes all resource elements (REs) on the channel over which a transmitter (e.g., a base station) is transmitting the RF signal. The receiver then performs an inverse Fourier transform (FFT) to convert the received RF signal into the time domain. The conversion of the received RF signal into the time domain is referred to as the estimation of the channel energy response (CER) or the channel impulse response (CIR). The CER shows the peaks over time on the channel, and thus the earliest "significant" peak should correspond to the ToA of the RF signal. Typically, the receiver will use a noise-related quality threshold to filter out spurious local peaks, and thus may correctly identify significant peaks on the channel. For example, the receiver may select the ToA estimate as the earliest local maximum of the CER that is at least "X" decibels (dB) higher than the median of the CER and at most "Y" dB lower than the main peak on the channel.

[0114] Thus, referring to Figure 5 , at the fast Fourier transform (FFT) stage 510, a receiver (e.g., any UE described herein) receives / measures and caches a time-domain RF signal (e.g., PRS) and converts it into a frequency-domain signal. At the correlation stage 520, the receiver generates a frequency-domain channel impulse response from the frequency-domain signal based on a scrambling sequence. At the inverse fast Fourier transform (IFFT) stage 530, the receiver generates a time-domain channel impulse response from the frequency-domain channel impulse response output from the correlation stage 520. At the earliest peak detection stage 540, the receiver generates a detection indication and the ToA of the time-domain RF signal received at the FFT stage 510 based on the time-domain channel impulse response received from the IFFT stage 530.

[0115] In the case where the receiver is a UE, the UE may receive the time-domain RF signal at one or more antennas 316. Depending on the hardware implementation of the UE, the subsequent stages (i.e., the FFT stage 510, the correlation stage 520, the IFFT stage 530, the earliest peak detection stage 540) may be performed by one or more receivers 312, at least one WWAN transceiver 310, and / or at least one processor 332. Similarly, in the case where the receiver is a base station, the base station may receive the time-domain RF signal at one or more antennas 356. Depending on the hardware implementation of the base station, the subsequent stages may be performed by one or more receivers 352, at least one WWAN transceiver 350, and / or at least one processor 384.

[0116] As described above, the receiver requires a certain amount of time to buffer and process RF signals, such as PRS. The amount of time required can depend on various factors, such as the capabilities of the receiver, the number of REs carrying the RF signal, the bandwidth of the RF signal, etc.

[0117] Since the receiver receives RF signals over time (e.g., over one or more symbols, time slots, subframes, etc.), but then needs to process the RF signal based on each time slot, each subframe, etc., buffering is required. For example, in the case where the UE is measuring DL-PRS resources (which include a certain number of symbols within a time slot) to determine the ToA of the PRS resource, the UE needs to buffer and then process at least all the symbols of the time slot that may contain PRS REs in order to determine the ToA of the PRS resource. Thus, the receiver stores the received / measured RF signal in a buffer during reception for subsequent processing of the RF signal.

[0118] There are two separate capabilities for DL-PRS processing, one related to the number of PRS resources and one related to the number of PRS symbols. These two capabilities are (1) a limit on the maximum number "N1" of DL-PRS resources that the UE is expected to measure across all TRPs and frequency layers within a measurement window of "T1" ms, which is reported as a list of duplets {N1, T1}, and (2) a limit on the maximum number "N2" of symbols of the PRS resources that include the maximum bandwidth that the UE is expected to measure within a measurement window of "T2" ms, which is reported as a list of duplets {N2, T2}.

[0119] Assuming a UE capacity allocation of 272 PRBs, the duration of the DL-PRS symbol is given in milliseconds that the UE can process per "T" ms. In addition, a limit on the maximum number of DL-PRS resources configured for the UE across all TRPs within the measurement window is defined. This limit can be signaled as UE capability.

[0120] The UE can report its DL-PRS processing capability for the maximum DL-PRS bandwidth in MHz. The UE is not expected to support a DL-PRS bandwidth exceeding the reported DL-PRS bandwidth value. In addition, the UE signals its DL-PRS processing capability per frequency band. In addition, the DL-PRS processing capability of the UE is defined for a single positioning frequency layer. The DL-PRS processing capability of the UE is agnostic to the DL-PRS comb factor configuration.

[0121] If the UE is configured by a higher layer (e.g., LTE Positioning Protocol (LPP)) to receive PRS symbols with a period "P", the symbol duration "K" (i.e., the number of symbols that the UE needs to buffer and process in order to measure the PRS) is calculated as follows:

[0122] K = ∑ s∈S K S

[0123]

[0124] where "S" is the smallest set of consecutive time slots within a PRS period in the positioning frequency layer that contains all PRSs across the TRPs, μ is the set of parameters of the PRS resources in the positioning frequency layer, is the number of symbols per time slot, and is the minimum interval in milliseconds within time slot "s" that covers the union of the potential PRS symbols from all TRPs, where each potential PRS symbol is determined by the parameters "nr-DL-PRS-ExpectedRSTD" and "nr-DL-PRS-ExpectedRSTD-Uncertainty" and the PRS symbol occupancy within time slot "s".

[0125] A "potential" PRS symbol is the time-domain duration during which the UE expects to receive the PRS, as provided by the parameters "nr-DL-PRS-ExpectedRSTD" and "nr-DL-PRS-ExpectedRSTD-Uncertainty" and the PRS symbol occupancy within time slot "s". For example, if a two-symbol PRS is configured in symbols "3" and "4" (see, for example, Figure 4A ), where "nr-DL-PRS-ExpectedRSTD" is "0" and "nr-DL-PRS-ExpectedRSTD-Uncertainty" is 32 microseconds (μs) in the 30 Khz SCS parameter set, then the PRS can actually be received as early as in symbols "2" and "3" or as late as in symbols "4" and "5" (since 32 μs is approximately one symbol duration in 30 KHz SCS). Thus, in this example, the potential PRS symbols are symbols "2" to "5" because this is the time-domain region during which the UE expects to receive the PRS based on the configuration and the auxiliary data (i.e., "nr-DL-PRS-ExpectedRSTD" and "nr-DL-PRS-ExpectedRSTD-Uncertainty").

[0126] Figure 6 is FIG. 600 illustrating an example of time-slot-based PRS processing in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. Figure 6 Illustrates three consecutive time slots 610 during which the UE expects to receive / measure PRSs from a reference cell (or TRP) and an adjacent cell (or TRP). Figure 6Each block shown represents the symbol duration in which the UE expects to receive PRS from the corresponding cell. This may also be referred to as the expected PRS symbol occupancy within slot 610. For the reference cell, the UE expects to receive PRS from this cell during block 612. Due to the uncertainty of when the UE can receive PRS from an adjacent cell (as indicated by "nr-DL-PRS-ExpectedRSTD-Uncertainty"), the PRS from the adjacent cell is shown as two different blocks, where block 614 represents the earliest time period in which the UE expects to receive PRS from the adjacent cell, and block 616 represents the latest time period in which the UE expects to receive PRS from the adjacent cell. It will be understood that the UE may receive PRS from the adjacent cell at any time between the start of block 614 and the end of block 616.

[0127] Therefore, in Figure 6 the duration 620 of the PRS symbols to be cached and processed extends from the start of block 614 that overlaps with the start of the first slot 610 to the end of block 616 that overlaps with the end of the third slot 610. However, it will be understood that this requires the UE to cache and process the entire second slot 610, even if no PRS is received in that slot 610.

[0128] Assuming the slot-level caching described above, in a set of slots "S", any slot "s" in which there is a potential PRS needs to be counted. In the interval in should be rounded to the start of the symbol earlier than and should be rounded to the end of the symbol later than Accordingly, in one aspect, the above slot-level caching may be modified such that if the UE is configured by a higher layer (e.g., LPP) to receive PRS symbols (irrespective of the period "P"), the symbol duration "K" (i.e., the number of symbols that the UE needs to cache / process in order to measure PRS) is calculated as follows:

[0129] K = ∑ s∈S K S

[0130]

[0131] where "S" is the smallest set (not necessarily contiguous) of time slots within a PRS period in a positioning frequency layer that contains all potential PRSs across the TRP, and where each potential PRS symbol is determined by the parameters "nr-DL-PRS-ExpectedRSTD" and "nr-DL-PRS-ExpectedRSTD-Uncertainty" and the PRS symbol occupancy within time slot "s". The parameter μ remains the set of parameters for the PRS resources in the positioning frequency layer, and remains the number of symbols per time slot. However, is the smallest integer spacing of OFDM symbols for a given set of parameters μ within time slot "s", where time slot "s" covers the union of potential PRS symbols from all cells / TRPs, and where each potential PRS symbol is determined by the parameters "nr-DL-PRS-ExpectedRSTD", "nr-DL-PRS-ExpectedRSTD-Uncertainty", and the PRS symbol occupancy within time slot "s".

[0132] When using integer values in the previous equation, the previous equation simplifies to:

[0133]

[0134]

[0135] Figure 7 FIG. 700 is a diagram illustrating an example of a time-slot based buffer with OFDM symbol alignment having a maximum spacing towards potential PRSs within a time slot, in accordance with aspects of the present invention. Figure 7 Illustrates a single time slot 710 during which the UE expects to receive / measure PRSs from a reference cell (or TRP) and neighboring cells (or TRPs). As Figure 6 such, Figure 7 each block shown represents the symbol duration during which the UE expects to receive a PRS from the corresponding cell. For the reference cell, the UE expects to receive a PRS from that cell during block 712. Due to the uncertainty (as indicated by "nr-DL-PRS-ExpectedRSTD-Uncertainty") as to when the UE can receive a PRS from a neighboring cell, the PRS from the neighboring cell is shown as two different blocks, where block 714 represents the earliest time period during which the UE expects to receive a PRS from the neighboring cell, and block 716 represents the latest time point during which the UE expects to receive a PRS from the neighboring cell. It will be understood that the UE can receive a PRS from the neighboring cell at any time between the start of block 714 and the end of block 716.

[0136] As Figure 7As shown, based on the slot-based buffering with OFDM symbol alignment towards the maximum interval containing potential PRS in slot 710, the PRS symbol duration 720 to be buffered in a symbol-aligned manner extends from the start of the symbol including the start of block 714 (representing the earliest time point when the UE expects to receive PRS from an adjacent cell) and extends to the end of the last symbol of block 716 (representing the latest time point when the UE expects to receive PRS from an adjacent cell).

[0137] Figure 8 FIG. 800 is a diagram illustrating another example of slot-based buffering with OFDM symbol alignment towards the maximum interval containing potential PRS in a slot according to an aspect of the present invention. Figure 8 Illustrated are three consecutive slots 810 during which the UE expects to receive / measure PRS from a reference cell (or TRP) and an adjacent cell (or TRP). As Figure 6 such, Figure 8 each block shown represents the symbol duration during which the UE expects to receive PRS from the corresponding cell. For the reference cell, the UE expects to receive PRS from this cell during block 812. Due to the uncertainty of when the UE can receive PRS from an adjacent cell (as indicated by "nr-DL-PRS-ExpectedRSTD-Uncertainty"), the PRS from the adjacent cell is shown as two different blocks, where block 814 represents the earliest time point when the UE expects to receive PRS from the adjacent cell, and block 816 represents the latest time point when the UE expects to receive PRS from the adjacent cell. It will be understood that the UE can receive PRS from the adjacent cell at any time between the start of block 814 and the end of block 816.

[0138] Contrary to the example of Figure 6 there are two durations 820 of PRS symbols to be buffered and processed. The first duration 820 extends from the start of block 714 overlapping with the start of the first slot 810 to the end of block 816 in the second slot 810, while the second duration 820 extends from the start of block 814 starting in the second slot 810 to the end of block 816 extending beyond the end of the third slot 810.

[0139] In some cases, it can be expected that the UE performs resource-specific buffering. If the UE is configured by a higher layer to receive PRS symbols in frequency layer i, for the purpose of the UE's PRS processing capability within a "T" ms window, the duration of the PRS symbol is calculated as follows. For each "T" ms window, the time-domain search window for the PRS instance of PRS resource j is determined as where is the minimum separation in the number of OFDM symbols for an integer number of parameter sets μ of the positioning frequency layer, which positioning frequency layer includes the separation determined by "nr-DL-PRS-ExpectedRSTD", "nr-DL-PRS-ExpectedRSTD-Uncertainty", and the configured PRS symbol occupancy. The union of the search windows across all resources of the positioning frequency layer, i.e., the number of PRS symbols that the UE expects to buffer within a "T" ms window, is denoted as equals:

[0140]

[0141] The PRS duration within the "T" ms window is the duration of

[0142] If the UE is configured by higher layers to receive PRS symbols in frequency layer i, for the purpose of the UE's PRS processing capability within a "T" ms window, the duration of the PRS symbol is calculated as follows. For each "T" ms window, the time-domain search window for the PRS instance of PRS resource j is determined as where is the minimum separation in the number of OFDM symbols for an integer number of parameter sets μ of the positioning frequency layer, which includes the separation determined by "nr-DL-PRS-ExpectedRSTD", "nr-DL-PRS-ExpectedRSTD-Uncertainty", and the configured PRS symbol occupancy. For PRS resources from the reference TRP, is the minimum separation in the number of OFDM symbols for an integer number of parameter sets μ of the positioning frequency layer, which includes the separation determined by the configured PRS symbol occupancy. The union of the search windows across all resources of the positioning frequency layer, i.e., the number of PRS symbols that the UE expects to buffer within a "T" ms window, is denoted as equals:

[0143]

[0144] The PRS duration within the "T" ms window is the duration of

[0145] Figure 9 FIG. 900 is a diagram illustrating an example of the symbol-level PRS duration to be buffered according to an aspect of the present disclosure. Figure 9Each block shown represents the symbol duration during which the UE expects to receive PRS from the corresponding cell. This may also be referred to as the expected PRS symbol occupancy within slot 910 for that cell. For the reference cell, the UE expects to receive PRS from that cell during block 912. As in the figure above, due to the uncertainty of when the UE can receive PRS from an adjacent cell, the PRS from an adjacent cell is shown as two different blocks, where block 914 represents the earliest time point at which the UE expects to receive PRS from the adjacent cell, and block 916 represents the latest time point at which the UE expects to receive PRS from the adjacent cell. It will be understood that the UE may receive PRS from the adjacent cell at any time between the start of block 914 and the end of block 916. Additionally, Figure 9 the three adjacent cells mentioned in

[0146] may be the same adjacent cell or different adjacent cells. Figure 9 In the example of Figure 9 the vertical line represents the expected PRS symbol occupancy within slot 910 for a particular cell (i.e., the duration 920 of the PRS symbol during which the UE expects to receive PRS from the cell). In the example of

[0147] Figure 10 FIG. 1000 is a diagram illustrating another example of the symbol-level PRS duration to be cached according to aspects of the present disclosure. As in the figure above, Figure 10 each block shown represents the symbol duration during which the UE expects to receive PRS from the corresponding cell. For the reference cell, the UE expects to receive PRS from that cell during block 1012. Due to the uncertainty of when the UE can receive PRS from an adjacent cell, the PRS from an adjacent cell is shown as two different blocks, where block 1014 represents the earliest time point at which the UE expects to receive PRS from the adjacent cell, and block 1016 represents the latest time point at which the UE expects to receive PRS from the adjacent cell. It will be understood that the UE may receive PRS from the adjacent cell at any time between the start of block 1014 and the end of block 1016 within slot 1010. Additionally, Figure 10 the three adjacent cells mentioned in

[0148] may be the same adjacent cell or different adjacent cells. Figure 10 In the example of Figure 10In the example, there are three such durations 1020 because the PRS expected from the reference cell overlaps with the PRS expected from one of the neighboring cells. Therefore, the number of PRS symbols that the UE expects to cache is the sum of the three PRS durations 1020.

[0149] As another alternative for slot-level caching, if any slot contains any potential PRS symbols (based on the "nr-DL-PRS-ExpectedRSTD-Uncertainty" parameter), then for the purpose of cache calculation, the entire slot is counted as part of the PRS duration. In this case, within the slot, the intervals of the PRS duration can be: (1) for a slot with two non-overlapping intervals, where the potential PRS symbols are at the start and end of the slot (as Figure 11 shown), the union of [0, T1] and [T2, end of slot], or (2) in other cases, (as described above).

[0150] Figure 11 FIG. 1100 is a diagram illustrating an example of slot-based caching according to aspects of the present disclosure, the caching being for a slot with two non-overlapping intervals, where there are potential PRS symbols at the start and end of the slot. Figure 11 FIG. 11 illustrates three consecutive slots 1110 during which the UE expects to receive / measure PRS from a reference cell (or TRP) and a neighboring cell (or TRP). As in the above figure, Figure 11 each block shown represents the symbol duration during which the UE expects to receive PRS from the corresponding cell. For the reference cell, the UE expects to receive PRS from this cell during block 1112. Due to the uncertainty of when the UE can receive PRS from the neighboring cell (as indicated by "nr-DL-PRS-ExpectedRSTD-Uncertainty"), the PRS from the neighboring cell is shown as two different blocks, block 1114 represents the earliest time point at which the UE expects to receive PRS from the neighboring cell, and block 1116 represents the latest time point at which the UE expects to receive PRS from the neighboring cell. It will be understood that the UE can receive PRS from the neighboring cell at any time between the start of block 1114 and the end of block 1116 in slot 1110.

[0151] In Figure 11 the example, there are two PRS symbol durations 1120 to be cached and processed, the first extending from the start of block 1114 that overlaps with the start of the first slot 1110 to the end of block 1116 in the second slot 1110, and the second extending from the start of block 1114 in the second slot 1110 to the end of block 1116 that extends beyond the end of the third slot 1110.

[0152] As Figure 11 shown, the second (middle) time slot 1110 includes two disjoint intervals with potential PRS symbols at the start and end of the time slot 1110. Based on the above rules, the UE correlates the time window for buffering the expected PRS for the second time slot 1110 with the start of the second time slot 1110 to time "T1" and from time "T2" to the end of the second time slot 1110. Conversely, the UE determines the duration 1120 of the PRS symbols for the first time slot 1110 as wherein are one or more symbols before the start of the first time slot 1110 (corresponding to the vertical dashed line before the start of the first time slot), and is the last symbol of the first time slot 1110. Similarly, the UE determines the duration 1120 of the PRS symbols for the third time slot 1110 as wherein is the first symbol of the third time slot 1110, and are one or more symbols after the end of the third time slot 1110 (corresponding to the vertical dashed line after the end of the third time slot 1110).

[0153] In one aspect, the UE may report, as part of the UE's capabilities, how the DL-PRS duration is determined for the purpose of PRS buffering. That is, the UE may send an indication that it is capable of symbol-level or time-slot-level PRS buffering and processing. The UE may report this capability to a location server (e.g., location server 230, LMF 270, SLP 272) in higher-layer signaling (e.g., LPP signaling).

[0154] Figure 12 FIG. illustrates an example method 1200 of wireless communication according to aspects of the present disclosure. In one aspect, method 1200 may be performed by a UE (e.g., any UE described herein).

[0155] At 1210, the UE receives at least one PRS resource from a reference TRP and one or more neighboring TRPs. In one aspect, operation 1210 may be performed by at least one WWAN transceiver 310, at least one processor 332, memory component 340, and / or positioning component 342, any or all of which may be considered components for performing the operation.

[0156] At 1220, the UE processes the at least one PRS resource during a time window, where the length of the time window is less than or equal to an integer number of orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) symbols of the at least one PRS resource that the UE is capable of processing, buffering, or processing and buffering within the time window. In one aspect, operation 1220 may be performed by at least one WWAN transceiver 310, at least one processor 332, memory component 340, and / or positioning component 342, any or all of which may be considered components for performing the operation.

[0157] It will be appreciated that the technical advantages of method 1200 include reduced power consumption and reduced latency at the UE.

[0158] As can be seen in the above detailed description, different features are combined in the examples. This manner of disclosure should not be construed as intending that the example clauses have more features than are expressly recited in each clause. Rather, various aspects of the present disclosure may include fewer than all of the features of the individual example clauses disclosed. Accordingly, the following clauses are to be considered incorporated in the description, where each clause by itself may be a separate example. Although each dependent clause may be recited in the clauses in a particular combination with one of the other clauses, the (multiple) aspects of that dependent clause are not limited to that particular combination. It should be understood that other example clauses may also include combinations of the (multiple) aspects of the dependent clause with the subject matter of any other dependent or independent clause, or any feature with other dependent and independent clauses. The various aspects disclosed herein expressly include these combinations, unless expressly stated or readily inferred that a particular combination is not intended (e.g., contradictory aspects, such as defining an element as both an insulator and a conductor). Additionally, even if a clause does not directly depend on an independent clause, it may be intended that the aspects of the clause be included in any other independent clause.

[0159] Example implementations are described in the following numbered clauses:

[0160] Clause 1. A method of wireless communication performed by a user equipment (UE), comprising: receiving at least one positioning reference signal (PRS) resource from a reference transmit-receive point (TRP) and one or more adjacent TRPs; and processing the at least one PRS resource during a time window, where the length of the time window is less than or equal to an integer number of orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) symbols of the at least one PRS resource that the UE is capable of processing, buffering, or processing and buffering within the time window.

[0161] Clause 2. The method of clause 1, wherein the integer number of OFDM symbols is determined based on a positioning frequency layer of the at least one PRS resource.

[0162] Clause 3. The method according to any one of Clauses 1 to 2, wherein the length of the time window is based on a parameter set of the at least one PRS resource and a minimum interval of the integer number of OFDM symbols for the parameter set within a time slot covering the union of potential PRS symbols.

[0163] Clause 4. The method according to any one of Clauses 1 to 3, wherein the time window is calculated as:

[0164]

[0165] where S is a set of time slots within a period of PRS in a positioning frequency layer containing potential PRS, μ is a parameter set of PRS resources in the positioning frequency layer, and is the interval of the integer number of OFDM symbols for the parameter set μ within a time slot s covering the union of potential PRS symbols.

[0166] Clause 5. The method according to Clause 4, wherein the set of time slots is determined based on expected reference signal time difference (RSTD) parameters and expected RSTD uncertainty parameters for the one or more neighboring cells, and PRS symbol occupancy within the time slot s.

[0167] Clause 6. The method according to any one of Clauses 4 to 5, wherein the interval of the integer number of OFDM symbols for the parameter set μ is based on expected RSTD parameters and expected RSTD uncertainty parameters for the one or more neighboring cells, and PRS symbol occupancy within the time slot s.

[0168] Clause 7. The method according to any one of Clauses 4 to 6, wherein the potential PRS includes PRS expected to be received within a symbol duration based on: expected RSTD parameters and expected RSTD uncertainty parameters for the one or more neighboring cells, and PRS symbol occupancy within the time slot s.

[0169] Clause 8. The method according to any one of Clauses 1 to 7, further comprising: determining a time-domain search window for a PRS resource j of the at least one PRS resource as wherein: for a PRS resource from a neighboring TRP among the one or more neighboring TRPs, is the minimum interval of the integer number of OFDM symbols for the parameter set μ of the positioning frequency layer, the positioning frequency layer including an interval based on: expected RSTD parameters and expected RSTD uncertainty parameters for the one or more neighboring cells, and configured PRS symbol occupancy of the time slot; and for a PRS resource from the reference TRP, is the minimum separation of this integer number of OFDM symbols for a parameter set μ of a positioning frequency layer, the positioning frequency layer including a separation determined by occupation of the configured PRS symbols of the time slot.

[0170] Clause 9. The method as in Clause 8, wherein the integer number of OFDM symbols is the union of time domain search windows across all resources of a positioning frequency layer.

[0171] Clause 10. The method as in any one of Clauses 1 to 9, wherein, based on a time slot containing any potential PRS symbols, all symbols of the time slot are included in the integer number of OFDM symbols.

[0172] Clause 11. The method as in any one of Clauses 1 to 10, wherein, for a time slot containing two or more non - overlapping intervals with potential PRS symbols, the integer number of OFDM symbols includes the union of: the duration from the first symbol of the time slot to the last symbol of the first PRS resource expected to be received during the time slot, and the duration from the second symbol of the time slot to the last symbol of the time slot, during which the first symbol of the second PRS resource is expected to be received.

[0173] Clause 12. The method as in any one of Clauses 1 to 11, wherein, for a time slot not containing two or more non - overlapping intervals with potential PRS symbols, the integer number of OFDM symbols includes the first symbol of the time slot where PRS is expected to be received to the last symbol of the time slot where PRS is expected to be received.

[0174] Clause 13. The method as in any one of Clauses 1 to 12, further comprising: sending an indication of the integer number of OFDM symbols to a location server as the UE's capability.

[0175] Clause 14. The method as in any one of Clauses 1 to 13, further comprising: sending an indication that the UE is capable of symbol - level PRS caching or time - slot - level PRS caching to a location server.

[0176] Clause 15. An apparatus includes a memory, a transceiver, and at least one processor communicatively coupled to the memory and the transceiver, the memory, the transceiver, and the processor being configured to perform the method according to any one of Clauses 1 to 14.

[0177] Clause 16. An apparatus includes components for performing the method according to any one of Clauses 1 to 14.

[0178] Clause 17. A non - transitory computer - readable medium storing computer - executable instructions, the computer - executable instructions including at least one instruction for causing a computer or a processor to perform the method according to any one of Clauses 1 to 14.

[0179] Those skilled in the art should understand that any one of a variety of different technologies and techniques can be used to represent information and signals. For example, data, instructions, commands, information, signals, bits, symbols, and chips that may be mentioned throughout the above description can be represented by voltage, current, electromagnetic waves, magnetic fields or magnetic particles, optical fields or optical particles, or any combination thereof.

[0180] In addition, those skilled in the art should understand that the various illustrative logical blocks, modules, circuits, and algorithmic steps described in connection with the aspects disclosed herein can be implemented as electronic hardware, computer software, or a combination of both. To clearly illustrate this interchangeability of hardware and software, the various illustrative components, blocks, modules, circuits, and steps have been generally described in terms of their functionality above. Whether this functionality is implemented as hardware or software depends on the particular application and the design constraints imposed on the overall system. Skilled artisans may implement the described functionality in different ways for each particular application, but such implementation decisions should not be construed as causing a departure from the scope of the present disclosure.

[0181] The various illustrative logical blocks, modules, and circuits described in connection with the aspects disclosed herein can be implemented or executed with a general-purpose processor, DSP, ASIC, FPGA, or other programmable logic device, discrete gate or transistor logic, discrete hardware components, or any combination designed to perform the functions described herein. A general-purpose processor may be a microprocessor, but in an alternative aspect, the processor may be any conventional processor, controller, microcontroller, or state machine. The processor may also be implemented as a combination of computing devices, e.g., a combination of a DSP and a microprocessor, a plurality of microprocessors, a combination of one or more microprocessors with a DSP core, or any other such configuration.

[0182] The methods, sequences, and / or algorithms described in connection with the aspects disclosed herein can be embodied directly in hardware, in software modules executed by a processor, or in a combination of both. The software modules may reside in random access memory (RAM), flash memory, read-only memory (ROM), erasable programmable ROM (EPROM), electrically erasable programmable ROM (EEPROM), registers, hard disk, removable disk, CD-ROM, or any other form of storage medium known in the art. An example storage medium is coupled to the processor such that the processor can read information from, and write information to, the storage medium. In an alternative aspect, the storage medium may be integrated with the processor. The processor and the storage medium may reside in an ASIC. The ASIC may reside in a user terminal (e.g., a UE). In an alternative aspect, the processor and the storage medium may exist as discrete components in the user terminal.

[0183] In one or more example aspects, the described functionality may be implemented in hardware, software, firmware, or any combination thereof. If implemented in software, the functionality may be stored on or transmitted via a computer-readable medium as one or more instructions or code. A computer-readable medium includes both a computer storage medium and a communication medium including any medium that facilitates transfer of a computer program from one place to another. The storage medium may be any available medium that can be accessed by a computer. By way of example, and not limitation, such computer-readable medium can comprise RAM, ROM, EEPROM, CD-ROM or other optical disk storage, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or any other medium that can be used to carry or store desired program code in the form of instructions or data structures and that can be accessed by a computer. Also, any connection is properly termed a computer-readable medium. For example, if software is transmitted from a website, server, or other remote source using a coaxial cable, fiber optic cable, twisted pair, DSL, or wireless technologies such as infrared, radio, and microwave, then the coaxial cable, fiber optic cable, twisted pair, DSL, or wireless technologies such as infrared, radio, and microwave are included in the definition of medium. As used herein, disk and disc include compact disc (CD), laser disc, optical disc, digital versatile disc (DVD), floppy disk, and Blu-ray disc where disks usually reproduce data magnetically, while discs reproduce data optically by laser. Combinations of the above should also be included within the scope of computer-readable medium.

[0184] Although the foregoing disclosure shows illustrative aspects of the present disclosure, it should be noted that various changes and modifications can be made herein without departing from the scope of the present disclosure as defined by the appended claims. The functions, steps, and / or acts of the method claims according to the aspects of the present disclosure described herein need not be performed in any particular order. Additionally, although the elements of the present disclosure may be described or claimed in the singular, the plural is contemplated unless expressly limited to the singular.

Claims

1. A method for wireless communication performed by a user equipment UE, comprising: receiving at least one positioning reference signal PRS resource from a reference transmit-receive point TRP and one or more neighboring TRPs; and processing the at least one PRS resource during a time window, wherein a length of the time window is less than or equal to an integer number of orthogonal frequency division multiplexing OFDM symbols of the at least one PRS resource that the UE can process, cache, or process and cache within the time window, wherein the length of the time window is based on a minimum interval corresponding to the integer number of OFDM symbols within a time slot covering a union of potential PRS symbols, wherein the minimum interval corresponding to the integer number of OFDM symbols is based on a parameter set of the at least one PRS resource, and wherein the integer number of OFDM symbols is determined based on a positioning frequency layer of the at least one PRS resource.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the time window is calculated as: where S is a set of time slots within a period of the PRS in the positioning frequency layer containing the potential PRS, μ is a set of parameters of the PRS resources in the positioning frequency layer, and is an interval corresponding to the integer number of OFDM symbols for the set of parameters μ within the time slot s covering the union of the potential PRS symbols.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the set of time slots is determined based on an expected reference signal time difference RSTD parameter and an expected RSTD uncertainty parameter for the one or more neighboring cells, and PRS symbol occupancy within a time slot s.

4. The method according to claim 2, wherein the interval of the integer number of OFDM symbols for the parameter set μ is based on the expected RSTD parameter and the expected RSTD uncertainty parameter for the one or more neighboring cells, and PRS symbol occupancy within a time slot s.

5. The method according to claim 2, wherein potential PRS includes PRS expected to be received within a symbol duration based on the expected RSTD parameter and the expected RSTD uncertainty parameter for the one or more neighboring cells.

6. The method according to claim 1, further comprising: The time-domain search window of the PRS resource j of the at least one PRS resource is Where: For the PRS resources from an adjacent TRP among the one or more adjacent TRPs, is the minimum separation of the integer number of OFDM symbols for the parameter set μ of the positioning frequency layer, the positioning frequency layer including a separation based on: the expected RSTD parameter and the expected RSTD uncertainty parameter for the one or more adjacent cells, and the configured PRS symbol occupancy of a time slot; and For the PRS resource from the reference TRP, is the minimum separation of the integer number of OFDM symbols for the parameter set μ of the positioning frequency layer, the positioning frequency layer including the separation determined by the occupation of the configured PRS symbols of the time slot.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the integer number of OFDM symbols is a union of time domain search windows across all resources of a positioning frequency layer.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein, based on a time slot containing any potential PRS symbols, all symbols of the time slot are included in the integer number of OFDM symbols.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein, for a time slot containing two or more non-overlapping intervals with potential PRS symbols, the integer number of OFDM symbols includes a union of: a duration from a first symbol of the time slot to a last symbol of a first PRS resource expected to be received during the time slot, and a duration from a second symbol of the time slot to a last symbol of the time slot, during which a first symbol of a second PRS resource is expected to be received.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein, for a time slot not containing two or more non-overlapping intervals with potential PRS symbols, the integer number of OFDM symbols includes a first symbol of the time slot where PRS is expected to be received to a last symbol of the time slot where PRS is expected to be received.

11. The method according to claim 1, further comprising: sending an indication of the integer number of OFDM symbols to a location server as the capability of the UE.

12. The method according to claim 1, further comprising: sending an indication to a location server that the UE is capable of symbol-level PRS caching or slot-level PRS caching.

13. A user equipment (UE), comprising: a memory; a transceiver; and a processor communicatively coupled to the memory and the transceiver, the processor configured to: receive at least one positioning reference signal (PRS) resource from a reference transmit-receive point (TRP) and one or more adjacent TRPs via the transceiver; and process the at least one PRS resource during a time window, wherein the length of the time window is less than or equal to an integer number of orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) symbols of the at least one PRS resource that the UE is capable of processing, caching, or processing and caching within the time window, wherein the length of the time window is based on a minimum interval corresponding to the integer number of OFDM symbols within a time slot covering the union of potential PRS symbols, wherein the minimum interval corresponding to the integer number of OFDM symbols is based on a parameter set of the at least one PRS resource, and wherein the integer number of OFDM symbols is determined based on a positioning frequency layer of the at least one PRS resource.

14. The UE according to claim 13, wherein the time window is calculated as: where S is a set of time slots within a period of the PRS in the positioning frequency layer containing the potential PRS, μ is a set of parameters of the PRS resources in the positioning frequency layer, and is an interval corresponding to the integer number of OFDM symbols for the set of parameters μ within the time slot s covering the union of the potential PRS symbols.

15. The UE according to claim 14, wherein the set of time slots is determined based on an expected reference signal time difference (RSTD) parameter and an expected RSTD uncertainty parameter for the one or more adjacent cells, and PRS symbol occupancy within time slot s.

16. The UE according to claim 14, wherein the interval of the integer number of OFDM symbols for the parameter set μ is based on an expected RSTD parameter and an expected RSTD uncertainty parameter for the one or more adjacent cells, and PRS symbol occupancy within time slot s.

17. The UE according to claim 14, wherein potential PRS includes PRS expected to be received within a symbol duration based on an expected RSTD parameter and an expected RSTD uncertainty parameter for the one or more adjacent cells.

18. The UE according to claim 13, wherein the processor is further configured to: Determine that the time-domain search window of the PRS resource j of the at least one PRS resource is wherein: For PRS resources from an adjacent TRP among the one or more adjacent TRPs, is the minimum separation of the integer number of OFDM symbols for the parameter set μ of the positioning frequency layer, the positioning frequency layer including a separation based on: the expected RSTD parameter and the expected RSTD uncertainty parameter for the one or more adjacent cells, and the configured PRS symbol occupancy of a time slot; and For the PRS resource from the reference TRP, is the minimum separation of the integer number of OFDM symbols for the parameter set μ of the positioning frequency layer, the positioning frequency layer including the separation determined by the occupation of the configured PRS symbols of the time slot.

19. The UE according to claim 18, wherein the integer number of OFDM symbols is the union of time domain search windows across all resources of the positioning frequency layer.

20. The UE according to claim 13, wherein, based on a time slot containing any potential PRS symbols, all symbols of the time slot are included in the integer number of OFDM symbols.

21. The UE according to claim 13, wherein, For a time slot that includes two or more non - overlapping intervals with potential PRS symbols, the integer number of OFDM symbols includes the union of the following: the duration from the first symbol of the time slot to the last symbol of the first PRS resource expected to be received during the time slot, and the duration from the second symbol of the time slot to the last symbol of the time slot, during which the first symbol of the second PRS resource is expected to be received.

22. The UE according to claim 13, wherein, For a time slot that does not include two or more non - overlapping intervals with potential PRS symbols, the integer number of OFDM symbols includes the first symbol of the time slot where the PRS is expected to be received to the last symbol of the time slot where the PRS is expected to be received.

23. The UE according to claim 13, wherein the processor is further configured to: Cause the transceiver to send an indication of the integer number of OFDM symbols to a location server as the capability of the UE.

24. The UE according to claim 13, wherein the processor is further configured to: Cause the transceiver to send an indication that the UE is capable of symbol - level PRS caching or time - slot - level PRS caching to a location server.

25. A user equipment UE, comprising: Components for receiving at least one positioning reference signal PRS resource from a reference transmit - receive point TRP and one or more adjacent TRPs; and Components for processing the at least one PRS resource during a time window, where the length of the time window is less than or equal to the integer number of orthogonal frequency - division multiplexing OFDM symbols of the at least one PRS resource that the UE can process, cache, or process and cache within the time window, where the length of the time window is based on the minimum interval corresponding to the integer number of OFDM symbols within a time slot covering the union of potential PRS symbols, where the minimum interval corresponding to the integer number of OFDM symbols is based on the parameter set of the at least one PRS resource, and where the integer number of OFDM symbols is determined based on the positioning frequency layer of the at least one PRS resource.

26. A non - transitory computer - readable medium storing computer - executable instructions that, when executed by a user equipment UE, cause the UE to: Receive at least one positioning reference signal PRS resource from a reference transmit - receive point TRP and one or more adjacent TRPs; and Process the at least one PRS resource during a time window, wherein a length of the time window is less than or equal to an integer number of orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) symbols of the at least one PRS resource that the UE can process, buffer, or process and buffer within the time window, wherein the length of the time window is based on a minimum interval corresponding to the integer number of OFDM symbols within a time slot covering a union of potential PRS symbols, wherein the minimum interval corresponding to the integer number of OFDM symbols is based on a parameter set of the at least one PRS resource, and wherein the integer number of OFDM symbols is determined based on a positioning frequency layer of the at least one PRS resource.

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