UE receive-send time difference measurement report

Abstract

A positioning method includes: measuring IB PRS resources on a first frequency band at a UE; sending OB PRS resources from the UE to a receiving device on a second frequency band; and at least one of the following: sending a receive-send time difference indication and a frequency band indication indicating the second frequency band from the UE based on the second frequency band being different from the first frequency band, the receive-send time difference indication indicating the difference between an arrival time of the IB PRS resources and a departure time of the OB PRS resources; or sending the receive-send time difference indication from the UE without sending a frequency band indication based on the second frequency band being implicit.

Description

Background Art

[0001] Wireless communication systems have evolved over many generations, including first generation analog wireless telephone service (1G), second generation (2G) digital wireless telephone service (including temporary 2.5G and 2.75G networks), third generation-generation (3G) high-speed data Internet-enabled wireless services, fourth generation (4G) services (e.g., Long Term Evolution (LTE) or WiMax), fifth generation (5G) services, and the like. There are many different types of wireless communication systems in use today, including cellular and personal communications service (PCS) systems. Examples of known cellular systems include the cellular analog Advanced Mobile Phone System (AMPS) and digital cellular systems based on code division multiple access (CDMA), frequency division multiple access (FDMA), orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA), time division multiple access (TDMA), variations of TDMA's Global System for Mobile Access (GSM), and the like.

[0002] The fifth generation (5G) mobile standard calls for higher data speeds, more connections and better coverage, among other improvements. The 5G standard according to the Next Generation Mobile Networks Alliance aims to provide data rates of tens of megabits per second to tens of thousands of users and one gigabit per second to thousands of employees on an office floor. To support large sensor deployments, hundreds of thousands of simultaneous connections should be supported. Therefore, the spectral efficiency of 5G mobile communications should be significantly improved compared to the current 4G standard. In addition, signaling efficiency should be improved and latency should be significantly reduced compared to the current standard. Summary of the invention

[0003] An example UE (user equipment) includes: at least one transceiver; a memory; and at least one processor communicatively coupled to the at least one transceiver and the memory, wherein the at least one processor: is configured to measure an inbound (IB) positioning reference signal (PRS) resource received via the at least one transceiver on a first frequency band; is configured to send an outbound (OB) PRS resource to a receiving device via the at least one transceiver on a second frequency band; and is configured to at least one of: send a receive-transmit time difference indication and a frequency band indication indicating the second frequency band via the at least one transceiver and based on the second frequency band being different from the first frequency band, the receive-transmit time difference indication indicating a difference between an arrival time of an IB PRS resource and a departure time of an OB PRS resource; or send the receive-transmit time difference indication via the at least one transceiver without the frequency band indication based on the second frequency band being implicit.

[0004] Another example UE includes: a component for measuring IB PRS resources on a first frequency band; a component for sending OB PRS resources to a receiving device on a second frequency band; and at least one of the following components: a component for sending a receive-transmit time difference indication and a frequency band indication indicating the second frequency band based on that the second frequency band is different from the first frequency band, the receive-transmit time difference indication indicating the difference between the arrival time of the IB PRS resources and the departure time of the OB PRS resources; or a component for sending the receive-transmit time difference indication without the frequency band indication based on that the second frequency band is implicit.

[0005] An exemplary positioning method includes: measuring IB PRS resources on a first frequency band at a UE; sending OB PRS resources from the UE to a receiving device on a second frequency band; and at least one of the following: sending a receive-transmit time difference indication and a frequency band indication indicating the second frequency band from the UE based on the second frequency band being different from the first frequency band, the receive-transmit time difference indication indicating the difference between the arrival time of the IB PRS resources and the departure time of the OB PRS resources; or sending the receive-transmit time difference indication from the UE without sending the frequency band indication based on the second frequency band being implicit.

[0006] An exemplary non-transitory processor-readable storage medium includes processor-readable instructions for causing one or more processors of a UE to perform the following operations: measuring IB PRS resources on a first frequency band; sending OB PRS resources to a receiving device on a second frequency band; and at least one of the following: sending a receive-transmit time difference indication and a frequency band indication indicating the second frequency band based on the second frequency band being different from the first frequency band, the receive-transmit time difference indication indicating the difference between an arrival time of the IB PRS resources and a departure time of the OB PRS resources; or sending the receive-transmit time difference indication without the frequency band indication based on the second frequency band being implicit. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0007] Figure 1 is a diagram of an example wireless communication system.

[0008] Figure 2 yes Figure 1 A block diagram of components of an example user device is shown.

[0009] Figure 3 yes Figure 1 A block diagram of the components of an example send / receive point is shown.

[0010] Figure 4 yes Figure 1A block diagram of components of an example server is shown.

[0011] Figure 5 is a block diagram of an example user device.

[0012] Figure 6 is a block diagram of scheduled IB PRS (inbound positioning reference signal(s)) in first and second frequency bands and scheduled OB PRS (outbound positioning reference signal(s)) in the first frequency band, the IB PRS / OB PRS being used only for determining the UE Rx-Tx The first frequency band or the second frequency band / first frequency band combination is paired.

[0013] Figure 7 is a block diagram of a scheduled IB PRS in a first frequency band and an OB PRS in a first and a second frequency band, the IB PRS / OB PRS being used only for determining the UE Rx-Tx The first frequency band / second frequency band combination is paired.

[0014] Figure 8 is a block diagram of a scheduled IB PRS in a first and a second frequency band and an OB PRS in a first and a second frequency band, the IB PRS / OB PRS being used only for determining the UE Rx-Tx The first frequency band or the second frequency band is paired.

[0015] Fig. 9 is a block diagram of a scheduled IB PRS in a first frequency band and an OB PRS in a first and a second frequency band, the IB PRS / OB PRS being used only for determining the UE Rx-Tx Paired in the first frequency band.

[0016] Fig.10 is a block diagram of a scheduled IB PRS in a first frequency band and an OB PRS in a second frequency band, wherein the IB PRS / OBPRS is used to determine the UE Rx-Tx The first frequency band / second frequency band combination is paired.

[0017] Fig.11 The block diagram is a block diagram of a scheduled IB PRS in a first frequency band and an OB PRS in a second frequency band and a third frequency band, wherein the IB PRS / OB PRS is only used to determine the UE Rx-Tx The first frequency band / second frequency band combination or the first frequency band / third frequency band combination is paired.

[0018] Fig.12 is a block diagram of scheduled IB PRS in the first and third frequency bands and OB PRS in the second frequency band, the IBPRS / OB PRS being used to determine the UE Rx-Tx The first frequency band / second frequency band combination or the third frequency band / second frequency band combination is paired.

[0019] Fig.13 is a block diagram of a scheduled IB PRS in a first frequency band and an OB PRS in a second and a third frequency band, the IB PRS / OB PRS being used to determine the UE Rx-Tx The first frequency band / second frequency band combination is paired.

[0020] Fig.14 is a block diagram of a scheduled IB PRS in a first and a third frequency band and an OB PRS in a second and a third frequency band, the IB PRS / OB PRS being used to determine the UE Rx-Tx The IB PRS / OB PRS is used to determine the UE Rx-Tx The first frequency band / second frequency band combination is paired.

[0021] Fig.14 is a diagram of configured SRS bands and associated band indices.

[0022] Fig.15 Yes, including UE Rx-Tx and a diagram of the measurement report for the IB PRS band.

[0023] Fig.16 Yes, including UE Rx-Tx , IB PRS band and OB PRS band measurement report.

[0024] Fig.17 is a diagram of a capability report indicating a combination of frequency bands used for Rx-Tx reporting.

[0025] Fig.18 is a diagram of a capability report indicating frequency bands and corresponding relative band indices.

[0026] Fig.19 is a signaling and processing flow diagram of a method for determining round trip time measurement.

[0027] Fig. 20 It is a block diagram of the positioning method.

[0028] Fig.21 is a block diagram of the exchange of positioning reference signals between an anchor and a target user equipment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0029] Discussed herein are techniques for reporting a time difference between the arrival of an IB PRS (inbound positioning reference signal(s)) received at a UE (user equipment) and the transmission of an OB PRS (outbound PRS) corresponding to the IB PRS from the UE. The inbound PRS may be, for example, a DL PRS (downlink PRS) or an SL PRS (sidelink PRS), and the outbound PRS may be, for example, an ULPRS (uplink PRS) or an SL PRS. A band indication indicating a band of the OB PRS and / or a band of the IB PRS may be reported in association with the time difference between the reception of the IB PRS and the transmission of the OB PRS. If the band(s) are implicit, for example, only one IB PRS band and only one OB PRS band are configured (at least for one OB PRS (e.g., UL PRS or SLPRS)), or a band combination of the IB PRS and the OB PRS is reported by the UE and / or configured for the UE, or the OB PRS band is the same as the IBPRS band (if available (e.g., scheduled)), then the band indication may not be sent. The band indication may be a relative band index indicating which of the possible bands reported by or configured (eg, scheduled) for the UE is used for the IB PRS and / or OB PRS corresponding to the reported time difference. These are examples and other examples may be implemented.

[0030] The items and / or techniques described herein may provide one or more of the following capabilities, as well as other capabilities not mentioned. PRS processing overhead may be reduced, for example, by providing an indication of an IB PRS band and / or an OB PRS band for an IB PRS and / or OB PRS, respectively, corresponding to the time difference between the arrival of the IB PRS and the transmission of the corresponding OB PRS, or an indication that may be determined therefrom. For example, by using relative band indices to specify the bands, signaling overhead may be kept low. Other capabilities may be provided, and not every implementation according to the present disclosure must provide any of the capabilities discussed, let alone all implementations. Furthermore, the effects noted above may be achieved by means other than those noted, and the items / techniques noted may not necessarily produce the effects noted.

[0031] Obtaining the location of a mobile device accessing a wireless network may be useful for many applications, including, for example, emergency calling, personal navigation, consumer asset tracking, locating friends or family, etc. Existing positioning methods include methods based on measuring radio signals transmitted from various devices or entities, including satellite vehicles (SVs) and terrestrial radio sources in wireless networks, such as base stations and access points. It is expected that the standardization of 5G wireless networks will include support for various positioning methods that can utilize reference signals transmitted by base stations in a manner similar to how LTE wireless networks currently use positioning reference signals (PRS) and / or cell-specific reference signals (CRS) for positioning determination.

[0032] The description may relate to, for example, a sequence of actions to be performed by elements of a computing device. The various actions described herein may be performed by specific circuits (e.g., an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC)), by program instructions executed by one or more processors, or by a combination of both. The sequence of actions described herein may be embodied in a non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored thereon a corresponding set of computer instructions, which, when executed, will cause an associated processor to perform the functions described herein. Thus, the various aspects described herein may be embodied in a variety of different forms, all of which are within the scope of the present disclosure, including the claimed subject matter.

[0033] As used herein, unless otherwise specified, the terms "user equipment" (UE) and "base station" are not specific to or otherwise limited to any particular radio access technology (RAT). Typically, such a UE may be any wireless communication device (e.g., a mobile phone, router, tablet computer, laptop computer, consumer asset tracking device, Internet of Things (IoT) device, etc.) used by a user to communicate on a wireless communication network. The UE may be mobile or may be fixed (e.g., at certain times) and may communicate with a radio access network (RAN). As used herein, the term "UE" may be interchangeably referred to as an "access terminal" or "AT", "client device", "wireless device", "subscriber device", "subscriber terminal", "subscriber station", "user terminal" or UT, "mobile terminal", "mobile station" or variants thereof. Typically, the UE may communicate with the core network via the RAN, and through the core network, the UE may be connected to external networks such as the Internet and to other UEs. Of course, for the UE, other mechanisms such as connecting to the core network and / or the Internet via a wired access network, a WiFi network (e.g., based on IEEE 802.11, etc.) are also possible.

[0034] A base station may operate in accordance with one of several RATs to communicate with a UE depending on the network in which it is deployed, and may be referred to alternatively as an access point (AP), a network node, a NodeB, an evolved NodeB (eNB), a general NodeB (gNodeB, gNB). In addition, in some systems, a base station may provide pure edge node signaling functions, while in other systems, a base station may provide additional control and / or network management functions.

[0035] The UE may be implemented by any of a variety of types of devices, including but not limited to a printed circuit (PC) card, a compact flash device, an external or internal modem, a wireless or wired phone, a smart phone, a tablet, a consumer asset tracking device, an asset tag, etc. The communication link through which the UE can send signals to the RAN is called an uplink channel (e.g., a reverse traffic channel, a reverse control channel, an access channel, etc.). The communication link through which the RAN can send signals to the UE is called a downlink or forward link channel (e.g., a paging channel, a control channel, a broadcast channel, a forward traffic channel, etc.). As used herein, the term traffic channel (TCH) may refer to an uplink / reverse or downlink / forward traffic channel.

[0036] As used herein, depending on the context, the term "cell" or "sector" may correspond to one of multiple cells of a base station, or to the base station itself. The term "cell" may refer to a logical communication entity used to communicate with a base station (e.g., via a carrier), and may be associated with an identifier (e.g., a physical cell identifier (PCID), a virtual cell identifier (VCID)) used to distinguish adjacent cells operated by the same or different operators. In some examples, an operator may support multiple cells and may be based on different protocol types that can provide access to different types of devices (e.g., machine type communication (MTC), narrowband Internet of Things (NB-IoT), enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB), or other). In some examples, the term "cell" may refer to a portion of the geographic coverage area on which the logical entity operates (e.g., a sector).

[0037] Reference Figure 1, an example of a communication system 100 includes UE 105, UE 106, a radio access network (RAN) 135, here a fifth generation (5G) next generation (NG) RAN (NG-RAN), and a 5G core network (5GC) 140. UE 105 and / or UE 106 may be, for example, an IoT device, a location tracker device, a cellular phone, a vehicle (e.g., a car, truck, bus, ship, etc.), or other device. A 5G network may also be referred to as a new radio (NR) network; NG-RAN 135 may be referred to as a 5G RAN or an NR RAN; and 5GC 140 may be referred to as an NG core network (NGC). Standardization of NG-RAN and 5GC is ongoing in the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP). Therefore, NG-RAN 135 and 5GC 140 may comply with current or future standards for 5G support by 3GPP. RAN 135 may be another type of RAN, such as a 3G RAN, a 4G Long Term Evolution (LTE) RAN, etc. UE 106 may be configured and similarly coupled to UE 105 to send and / or receive signals to / from similar other entities in system 100, but for simplicity of the figure, such signaling is not shown. Figure 1 105. Similarly, for simplicity, the discussion focuses on UE 105. The communication system 100 may use information from a constellation 185 of satellite vehicles (SVs) 190, 191, 192, 193 for a satellite positioning system (SPS) (e.g., a global navigation satellite system (GNSS)) such as the Global Positioning System (GPS), the Global Navigation Satellite System (GLONASS), Galileo, or BeiDou or some other local or regional SPS, such as the Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS), the European Geostationary Navigation Overlay Service (EGNOS), or the Wide Area Augmentation System (WAAS). Additional components of the communication system 100 are described below. The communication system 100 may include additional or alternative components.

[0038] like Figure 1As shown, the NG-RAN 135 includes NR nodeB (gNB) 110a, 110b and next generation eNodeB (ng-eNB) 114, and the 5GC 140 includes an access and mobility management function (AMF) 115, a session management function (SMF) 117, a location management function (LMF) 120, and a gateway mobile location center (GMLC) 125. The gNBs 110a, 110b, and ng-eNB 114 are communicatively coupled to each other, each configured for bidirectional wireless communication with the UE 105, and each communicatively coupled to the AMF 115 and configured for bidirectional communication with the AMF 115. The gNBs 110a, 110b, and ng-eNB 114 may be referred to as base stations (BSs). The AMF 115, the SMF 117, the LMF 120, and the GMLC 125 are communicatively coupled to each other, and the GMLC is communicatively coupled to the external client 130. The SMF 117 may serve as an initial contact point for a service control function (SCF) (not shown) to create, control, and delete media sessions. The BSs 110a, 110b, 114 may be macro cells (e.g., high-power cellular base stations), or small cells (e.g., low-power cellular base stations), or access points (e.g., short-range base stations configured to use a wireless network such as WiFi, WiFi-Direct (WiFi-D), - Low Energy (BLE), Zigbee, etc.). One or more of the BSs 110a, 110b, 114 may be configured to communicate with the UE 105 via multiple carriers. Each of the BSs 110a, 110b, 114 may provide communication coverage for a corresponding geographic area (e.g., a cell). Each cell may be divided into a plurality of sectors according to a base station antenna.

[0039] Figure 1 A generalized illustration of various components is provided, any or all of which may be used as appropriate, and each component may be repeated or omitted as desired. Specifically, although only one UE 105 is shown, many UEs (e.g., hundreds, thousands, millions, etc.) may be utilized in the communication system 100. Similarly, the communication system 100 may include a greater (or smaller) number of SVs (i.e., more or less than the four SVs 190-193 shown), gNBs 110a, 110b, ng-eNBs 114, AMFs 115, external clients 130, and / or other components. The illustrated connections connecting the various components in the communication system 100 include data and signaling connections, which may include additional (intermediate) components, direct or indirect physical and / or wireless connections, and / or additional networks. In addition, components may be rearranged, combined, separated, replaced, and / or omitted, depending on the desired functionality.

[0040] Although Figure 1 A 5G-based network is illustrated, but similar network implementations and configurations may also be used for other communication technologies, such as 3G, Long Term Evolution (LTE), etc. The implementations described herein (whether they are for 5G technology and / or one or more other communication technologies and / or protocols) may be used to send (or broadcast) directional synchronization signals, receive and measure directional signals at a UE (e.g., UE 105), and / or provide position assistance to UE 105 (via GMLC 125 or other location server), and / or calculate the position of UE 105 at a positioning capable device (e.g., UE 105, gNB 110a, 110b, or LMF 120) based on measurements received at UE 105 of the directionally transmitted signals. The gateway mobile location center (GMLC) 125, the location management function (LMF) 120, the access and mobility management function (AMF) 115, the SMF 117, the ng-eNB (eNodeB) 114 and the gNB (gNodeB) 110a, 110b are examples and, in various embodiments, may be replaced by or include various other location server functions and / or base station functions, respectively.

[0041] The system 100 is capable of wireless communication because the components of the system 100 can communicate with each other directly (at least sometimes using wireless connections) or indirectly, for example, via BS 110a, 110b, 114 and / or network 140 (and / or one or more other devices not shown, such as one or more other base station transceivers). For indirect communication, the communication can be changed during transmission from one entity to another, for example, to change the header information of the data packet, change the format, etc. The UE 105 can include multiple UEs and can be a mobile wireless communication device, but can communicate wirelessly via a wired connection. The UE 105 can be any of a variety of devices, such as a smartphone, a tablet computer, a vehicle-based device, etc., but these are merely examples, because the UE 105 need not be any of these configurations, and other configurations of the UE can be used. Other UEs can include wearable devices (e.g., smart watches, smart jewelry, smart glasses or headphones, etc.). Other UEs, whether currently existing or developed in the future, can also be used. In addition, other wireless devices (whether mobile or not) can be implemented within the system 100 and can communicate with each other and / or with the UE 105, the BSs 110a, 110b, 114, the core network 140, and / or external clients 130. For example, such other devices may include Internet of Things (IoT) devices, medical devices, home entertainment and / or automation devices, etc. The core network 140 can communicate with the external client 130 (e.g., a computer system), for example, to allow the external client 130 (e.g., via the GMLC 125) to request and / or receive location information about the UE 105.

[0042] UE 105 or other devices may be configured to communicate in various networks and / or for various purposes and / or using various technologies (e.g., 5G, Wi-Fi communications, multiple frequencies of Wi-Fi communications, satellite positioning, one or more types of communications (e.g., GSM (Global System for Mobile), CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access), LTE (Long Term Evolution), V2X (Vehicle to Everything, such as V2P (Vehicle to Pedestrian), V2I (Vehicle to Infrastructure), V2V (Vehicle to Vehicle), etc.), IEEE 802.11p, etc.). V2X communications may be cellular (Cellular-V2X (C-V2X)) and / or WiFi (e.g., DSRC (Dedicated Short Range Connection)). System 100 may support operation on multiple carriers (waveform signals of different frequencies). A multi-carrier transmitter may send modulated signals on multiple carriers simultaneously. Each modulated signal may be a code division multiple access (CDMA) signal, a time division multiple access (TDMA) signal, an orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA) signal, a single carrier frequency division multiple access (SC-FDMA) signal, etc. Each modulated signal may be sent on a different carrier and may carry a pilot, overhead information, data, etc. The UEs 105, 106 may communicate with each other via UE-UE sidelink (SL) communication by transmitting on one or more sidelink channels such as a physical sidelink synchronization channel (PSSCH), a physical sidelink broadcast channel (PSBCH), or a physical sidelink broadcast channel (PSCCH).

[0043] UE 105 may include and / or may be referred to as a device, a mobile device, a wireless device, a mobile terminal, a terminal, a mobile station (MS), a secure user plane location (SUPL) enabled terminal (SET), or other names. In addition, UE 105 may correspond to a mobile phone, a smart phone, a laptop computer, a tablet computer, a PDA, a consumer asset tracking device, a navigation device, an Internet of Things (IoT) device, a health monitor, a security system, a smart city sensor, a smart meter, a wearable tracker, or other portable or mobile device. Typically, although not necessarily, UE 105 can support wireless communications using one or more radio access technologies (RATs), such as Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM), Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA), Wideband CDMA (WCDMA), LTE, High Rate Packet Data (HRPD), IEEE 802.11 WiFi (also known as Wi-Fi), (BT), Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX), 5G New Radio (NR) (e.g., using NG-RAN) UE 105 can support wireless communications using a wireless local area network (WLAN), which can be connected to other networks (e.g., the Internet) using a digital subscriber line (DSL) or packet cable, as examples. The use of one or more of these RATs can allow UE 105 to communicate with external clients 130 (e.g., via Figure 1 Elements of the 5GC 140 not shown in the figure, or possibly via the GMLC 125) and / or allowing the external client 130 to receive location information about the UE 105 (e.g., via the GMLC 125).

[0044] UE 105 may include a single entity or may include multiple entities, such as in a personal area network where a user may use audio, video and / or data I / O (input / output) devices and / or body sensors and a separate wired or wireless modem. The estimate of the location of UE 105 may be referred to as location, location estimate, location fix, fix, orientation, orientation estimate, or orientation fix, and may be geographic, providing location coordinates (e.g., latitude and longitude) for UE 105, which may or may not include an altitude component (e.g., sea level, height above the ground or depth below the ground, floor level, or basement level). Alternatively, the location of UE 105 may be expressed as an urban location (e.g., with a postal address or designation of a point or small area in a building (e.g., a specific room or floor)). The location of UE 105 may be expressed as an area or volume (defined in geographic or urban form) in which UE 105 is expected to be located with a certain probability or confidence (e.g., 67%, 95%, etc.). The location of the UE 105 can be expressed as a relative location, which includes, for example, a distance and direction from a known location. The relative location can be expressed as relative coordinates (e.g., X, Y (and Z) coordinates) defined relative to a certain origin of the known location, which can be defined, for example, geographically, in civil terms, or with reference to a point, area, or volume indicated on a map, floor plan, or building plan. In the description contained herein, unless otherwise indicated, the use of the term location may include any of these variants. When calculating the location of the UE, the local x, y, and possibly z coordinates are usually solved first, and then the local coordinates are converted to absolute coordinates (e.g., for latitude, longitude, and height above or below mean sea level) as needed.

[0045] UE 105 may be configured to communicate with other entities using one or more of a variety of technologies. UE 105 may be configured to be indirectly connected to one or more communication networks via one or more device-to-device (D2D) peer-to-peer (P2P) links. D2D P2P links may be connected via any suitable D2D radio access technology (RAT) (e.g., LTE Direct (LTE-D), WiFi Direct (WiFi-D), etc.). One or more of a group of UEs utilizing D2D communication may be within a geographic coverage area of ​​a transmit / receive point (TRP) such as one or more of gNB 110a, 110b and / or ng-eNB 114. Other UEs in such a group may be outside such geographic coverage area or may be unable to receive transmissions from the base station for other reasons. A group of UEs communicating via D2D communication may utilize a one-to-many (1:M) system, in which each UE may transmit to other UEs in the group. The TRP may facilitate the scheduling of resources for D2D communication. In other cases, D2D communication may be performed between UEs without the involvement of a TRP. One or more of a group of UEs utilizing D2D communication may be within a geographic coverage area of ​​a TRP. Other UEs in such a group may be outside such geographic coverage area or may be unable to receive transmissions from the base station for other reasons. A group of UEs communicating via D2D communication may utilize a one-to-many (1:M) system, in which each UE may transmit to other UEs in the group. The TRP may facilitate the scheduling of resources for D2D communication. In other cases, D2D communication may be performed between UEs without the involvement of a TRP. In other cases, D2D communication can be performed between UEs without the involvement of TRP.

[0046] Figure 1 The base stations (BSs) in the NG-RAN 135 shown include NR Node Bs, referred to as gNBs 110a and 110b. The pair of gNBs 110a, 110b in the NG-RAN 135 may be connected to each other via one or more other gNBs. Access to the 5G network is provided to the UE 105 via wireless communications between the UE 105 and one or more gNBs 110a, 110b, and the gNBs 110a, 110b may provide wireless communications access to the 5GC 140 on behalf of the UE 105 using 5G. Figure 1 , it is assumed that the serving gNB for UE 105 is gNB110a, but if UE 105 moves to another location, another gNB (e.g., gNB110b) can act as the serving gNB, or can act as a secondary gNB to provide additional throughput and bandwidth for UE 105.

[0047] Figure 1The base stations (BSs) in the illustrated NG-RAN 135 may include an ng-eNB 114, also referred to as a next generation evolved Node B. The ng-eNB 114 may be connected to one or more of the gNBs 110a, 110b in the NG-RAN 135, possibly via one or more other gNBs and / or one or more other ng-eNBs. The ng-eNB 114 may provide LTE radio access and / or evolved LTE (eLTE) radio access to the UE 105. One or more of the gNBs 110a, 110b and / or ng-eNB 114 may be configured to function as a positioning-only beacon, which may transmit signals to help determine the position of the UE 105, but may not receive signals from the UE 105 or from other UEs.

[0048] BSs 110a, 110b, 114 may each include one or more TRPs. For example, each sector within a cell of a BS may include a TRP, although multiple TRPs may share one or more components (e.g., share a processor but have separate antennas). System 100 may include only macro TRPs, or system 100 may have different types of TRPs, such as macro, pico, and / or femto TRPs, etc. A macro TRP may cover a relatively large geographic area (e.g., a radius of several kilometers) and may allow unrestricted access to terminals with service subscriptions. A pico TRP may cover a relatively small geographic area (e.g., a pico cell) and may allow unrestricted access to terminals with service subscriptions. A femto or home TRP may cover a relatively small geographic area (e.g., a femto cell) and may allow restricted access to terminals associated with a femto cell (e.g., terminals for users in a home).

[0049] As noted, despite Figure 1 Nodes configured to communicate according to a 5G communication protocol are depicted, but nodes configured to communicate according to other communication protocols such as an LTE protocol or an IEEE 802.11x protocol may also be used. For example, in an evolved packet system (EPS) that provides LTE wireless access to UE 105, the RAN may include an evolved universal mobile telecommunications system (UMTS) terrestrial radio access network (E-UTRAN), which may include base stations including evolved Node Bs (eNBs). The core network for the EPS may include an evolved packet core (EPC). The EPS may include an E-UTRAN plus an EPC, wherein the Figure 1 In the embodiment, E-UTRAN corresponds to NG-RAN 135 and EPC corresponds to 5GC 140.

[0050] The gNB 110a, 110b and ng-eNB 114 may communicate with the AMF 115, which, for positioning functions, communicates with the LMF 120. The AMF 115 may support mobility of the UE 105, including cell changes and handovers, and may participate in supporting signaling connections to the UE 105 and possible data and voice bearers for the UE 105. The LMF 120 may communicate directly with the UE 105, or directly with the BS 110a, 110b, 114, for example, via wireless communications. When the UE 105 accesses the NG-RAN 135, the LMF 120 may support positioning of the UE 105 and may support positioning procedures / methods such as Assisted GNSS (A-GNSS), Observed Time Difference of Arrival (OTDOA) (e.g., Downlink (DL) OTDOA or Uplink (UL) OTDOA), Round Trip Time (RTT), Multi-cell RTT, Real-Time Kinematics (RTK), Precise Point Positioning (PPP), Differential GNSS (DGNSS), Enhanced Cell ID (E-CID)), Angle of Arrival (AoA), Angle of Departure (AoD), and / or other positioning methods. The LMF 120 may process a location service request for the UE 105 received, for example, from the AMF 115 or from the GMLC 125. The LMF 120 may be connected to the AMF 115 and / or the GMLC 125. The LMF 120 may have other names, such as a Location Manager (LM), a Location Function (LF), a Commercial LMF (CLMF), or a Value-Added LMF (VLMF). A node / system implementing LMF 120 may additionally or alternatively implement other types of location support modules, such as an enhanced serving mobile location center (E-SMLC) or a secure user plane location (SUPL) location platform (SLP). At least a portion of the positioning function (including the derivation of the location of UE 105) may be performed at UE 105 (e.g., using signal measurements obtained by UE 105 for signals transmitted by wireless nodes such as gNB 110a, 110b and gNB and / or ng-eNB 114, and / or assistance data provided to UE 105 by LMF 120, for example). AMF 115 may serve as a control node for processing signaling between UE 105 and core network 140, and may provide QoS (quality of service) flow and session management. AMF 115 may support the mobility of UE 105, including cell changes and handovers, and may participate in supporting signaling connections to UE 105.

[0051] The GMLC 125 may support location requests for the UE 105 received from the external client 130, and may forward such location requests to the AMF 115 for forwarding by the AMF 115 to the LMF 120, or may forward the location requests directly to the LMF 120. A location response (e.g., containing a location estimate for the UE 105) from the LMF 120 may be returned to the GMLC 125 directly or via the AMF 115, and the GMLC 125 may then return the location response (e.g., containing the location estimate) to the external client 130. The GMLC 125 is shown as being connected to the AMF 115 and the LMF 120, although in some implementations, the 5GC 140 may support only one of these connections.

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

[0053] Using UE-assisted positioning methods, UE 105 can obtain location measurements and send the measurements to a location server (e.g., LMF 120) to calculate a location estimate for UE 105. For example, the location measurements can include one or more of: received signal strength indication (RSSI), round-trip signal propagation time (RTT), reference signal time difference (RSTD), reference signal received power (RSRP), and / or reference signal received quality (RSRQ) for gNB 110a, 110b, ng-eNB 114, and / or WLAN AP. The location measurements can also or alternatively include measurements of GNSS pseudoranges, code phases, and / or carrier phases for SVs 190-193.

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

[0055] With network-based positioning methods, one or more base stations (e.g., gNBs 110a, 110b and / or ng-eNB 114) or APs may obtain location measurements (e.g., measurements of RSSI, RTT, RSRP, RSRQ, or time of arrival (ToA) for signals sent by UE 105) and / or may receive measurements obtained by UE 105. The one or more base stations or APs may send the measurements to a location server (e.g., LMF 120) for use in calculating a location estimate for UE 105.

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

[0057] The LPP or NPP message sent from LMF 120 to UE 105 may instruct UE 105 to perform any of a variety of operations depending on the desired functionality. For example, the LPP or NPP message may include instructions for UE 105 to obtain measurements for GNSS (or A-GNSS), WLAN, E-CID, and / or OTDOA (or some other positioning method). In the case of E-CID, the LPP or NPP message may instruct UE 105 to obtain one or more measurements (e.g., beam ID, beam width, average angle, RSRP, RSRQ measurements) of directional signals transmitted within a particular cell supported by one or more of gNBs 110a, 110b, and / or ng-eNB 114 (or supported by some other type of base station such as an eNB or WiFi AP). The UE 105 may send the measurement quantities back to the LMF 120 in an LPF or NPP message (e.g., within a 5G NAS message) via the serving gNB 110a (or serving ng-eNB 114) and the AMF 115.

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

[0059] As noted, in some embodiments, the location of the UE to be determined (e.g., Figure 1 The positioning function is implemented by using directional SS beams transmitted by base stations (e.g., gNBs 110a, 110b, and / or ng-eNBs 114) within the range of the UE 105. In some cases, the UE can use directional SS beams from multiple base stations (e.g., gNBs 110a, 110b, ng-eNBs 114, etc.) to calculate the UE's position.

[0060] Also refer to Figure 2UE 200 is an example of one of UEs 105, 106 and includes a computing platform including a processor 210, a memory 211 including software (SW) 212, one or more sensors 213, a transceiver interface 214 for a transceiver 215 (including a wireless transceiver 240 and a wired transceiver 250), a user interface 216, a satellite positioning system (SPS) receiver 217, a camera 218, and a positioning device (PD) 219. The processor 210, the memory 211, the (multiple) sensor 213, the transceiver interface 214, the user interface 216, the SPS receiver 217, the camera 218, and the positioning device 219 may be coupled to each other via a bus 220 (e.g., which may be configured for optical and / or electrical communication). One or more of the devices shown (e.g., the camera 218, the positioning device 219, and / or one or more of the (multiple) sensor 213, etc.) may be omitted from UE 200. The processor 210 may include one or more intelligent hardware devices, such as a central processing unit (CPU), a microcontroller, an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), etc. The processor 210 may include multiple processors, including a general / application processor 230, a digital signal processor (DSP) 231, a modem processor 232, a video processor 233, and / or a sensor processor 234. One or more of the processors 230-234 may include multiple devices (e.g., multiple processors). For example, the sensor processor 234 may include, for example, a processor for RF (radio frequency) sensing and / or ultrasonic scanning (using one or more cellular wireless signals transmitted and (multiple) reflections for identifying, mapping and / or tracking objects). The modem processor 232 may support dual SIM / dual connectivity (or even more SIMs). For example, an original equipment manufacturer (OEM) may use a SIM (subscriber identity module or user identification module), and another SIM may be used for connectivity by an end user of the UE 200. The memory 211 is a non-transitory storage medium that may include a random access memory (RAM), a flash memory, a disk memory, and / or a read-only memory (ROM), etc. The memory 211 stores software 212, which may be processor-readable, processor-executable software code containing instructions that are configured to cause the processor 210 to perform various functions described herein when executed. Alternatively, the software 212 may not be directly executable by the processor 210, but may be configured to cause the processor 210 to perform functions, for example, when compiled and executed. The description may only refer to the processor 210 performing the functions, but this includes other implementations in which the processor 210 executes software and / or firmware, for example. The description may use the processor 200 performing the functions as a shorthand expression for one or more of the processors 230-234 performing the functions.The description may refer to UE 200 performing a function as a shorthand expression for one or more suitable components of UE 200 performing the function. Processor 210 may include a memory with stored instructions in addition to and / or in lieu of memory 211. The functionality of processor 210 will be discussed more fully below.

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

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

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

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

[0065] The IMU may be configured to provide measurements of the direction of motion and / or speed of motion of the UE 200, which may be used in relative position determination. For example, one or more accelerometers and / or one or more gyroscopes of the IMU may detect the linear acceleration and rotational speed of the UE 200, respectively. The linear acceleration and rotational speed measurements of the UE 200 may be integrated over time to determine the instantaneous direction of motion and displacement of the UE 200. The instantaneous direction of motion and displacement may be integrated to track the position of the UE 200. For example, the reference position of the UE 200 may be determined, for example, by acquiring a time using the SPS receiver 217 (and / or by some other means), and measurements obtained from (multiple) accelerometers and (multiple) gyroscopes after the time may be used for dead reckoning to determine the current position of the UE 200 based on the movement (direction and distance) of the UE 200 relative to the reference position.

[0066] The magnetometer(s) may determine the strength of the magnetic field in different directions, which may be used to determine the orientation of the UE 200. For example, the orientation may be used to provide a digital compass for the UE 200. The magnetometer(s) may include a two-dimensional magnetometer configured to detect and provide an indication of the strength of the magnetic field in two orthogonal dimensions. The magnetometer(s) may include a three-dimensional magnetometer configured to detect and provide an indication of the strength of the magnetic field in three orthogonal dimensions. The magnetometer(s) may provide a means for sensing a magnetic field and providing an indication of the magnetic field to, for example, the processor 210.

[0067] The transceiver 215 may include a wireless transceiver 240 and a wired transceiver 250, which are configured to communicate with other devices via wireless connections and wired connections, respectively. For example, the wireless transceiver 240 may include a wireless transmitter 242 and a wireless receiver 244, which are coupled to one or more antennas 246 for transmitting (e.g., on one or more uplink channels and / or one or more sidelink channels) and / or receiving (e.g., on one or more downlink channels and / or one or more sidelink channels) wireless signals 248, and converting signals from the wireless signals 248 to wired (e.g., electrical and / or optical) signals and from wired (e.g., electrical and / or optical) signals to the wireless signals 248. Thus, the wireless transmitter 242 may include multiple transmitters, which may be discrete components or combined / integrated components, and / or the wireless receiver 244 may include multiple receivers, which may be discrete components or combined / integrated components. The wireless transceiver 240 may be configured to communicate signals (e.g., with a TRP and / or one or more other devices) according to various radio access technologies (RATs), such as 5G New Radio (NR), GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications), UMTS (Universal Mobile Telecommunications System), AMPS (Advanced Mobile Phone System), CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access), WCDMA (Wideband CDMA), LTE (Long Term Evolution), LTE Direct (LTE-D), 3GPP LTE-V2X (PC5), IEEE 802.11 (including IEEE 802.11p), WiFi, WiFi Direct (WiFi-D), Zigbee, etc. The new radio may use millimeter wave frequencies and / or frequencies below 6 GHz. The wired transceiver 250 may include a wired transmitter 252 and a wired receiver 254 configured for wired communication, such as a network interface that may be used to communicate with the network 135 to send communications to the network 135 and receive communications from the network 135. The wired transmitter 252 may include multiple transmitters that may be discrete components or combined / integrated components, and / or the wired receiver 254 may include multiple receivers that may be discrete components or combined / integrated components. The wired transceiver 250 may be configured, for example, for optical communication and / or electrical communication. The transceiver 215 may be communicatively coupled to the transceiver interface 214, for example, via an optical and / or electrical connection. The transceiver interface 214 may be at least partially integrated with the transceiver 215.

[0068] The user interface 216 may include one or more of several devices, such as, for example, a speaker, a microphone, a display device, a vibration device, a keyboard, a touch screen, etc. The user interface 216 may include any one of more than one of these devices. The user interface 216 may be configured to enable a user to interact with one or more applications hosted by the UE 200. For example, the user interface 216 may store indications of analog and / or digital signals in the memory 211 to be processed by the DSP 231 and / or the general processor 230 in response to actions from the user. Similarly, the application hosted on the UE 200 may store indications of analog and / or digital signals in the memory to present output signals to the user. The user interface 212 may include an audio input / output (I / O) device, including, for example, a speaker, a microphone, a digital-to-analog circuit, an analog-to-digital circuit, an amplifier, and / or a gain control circuit (including any one of more than one of these devices). Other configurations of audio I / O devices may be used. Additionally or alternatively, the user interface 216 may include one or more touch sensors that respond to, for example, touch and / pressure on a keyboard and / or touch screen of the user interface 216.

[0069] The SPS receiver 217 (e.g., a global positioning system (GPS) receiver) is capable of receiving and acquiring SPS signals 260 via an SPS antenna 262. The antenna 262 is configured to convert the wireless SPS signals 260 into wired signals, such as electrical or optical signals, and may be integrated with the antenna 246. The SPS receiver 217 may be configured to process the acquired SPS signals 260 in whole or in part to estimate the position of the UE 200. For example, the SPS receiver 217 may be configured to determine the position of the UE 200 by trilateration using the SPS signals 260. The general processor 230, the memory 211, the DSP 231, and / or one or more dedicated processors (not shown) may be used to process the acquired SPS signals and / or calculate the estimated position of the UE 200 in whole or in part with the SPS receiver 217. The memory 211 may store indications (e.g., measurements) of the SPS signals 260 and / or other signals (e.g., signals acquired from the wireless transceiver 240) for performing positioning operations. The general purpose processor 230 , the DSP 231 , and / or one or more dedicated processors and / or the memory 211 may provide or support a location engine for processing measurements to estimate the location of the UE 200 .

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

[0071] The position device (PD) 219 may be configured to determine the position of the UE 200, the motion of the UE 200 and / or the relative position of the UE 200, and / or the time. For example, the PD 219 may communicate with and / or include some or all of the SPS receiver 217. The PD 219 may work appropriately in conjunction with the processor 210 and the memory 211 to perform a portion of one or more positioning methods, although the description herein may refer only to the PD 219 configured to perform or perform according to (multiple) positioning methods. The PD 219 may also or alternatively be configured to determine the position of the UE 200 using ground-based signals (e.g., at least some of the signals 248) for trilateration, to assist in obtaining and using the SPS signals 260, or both. PD219 may be configured to determine the location of UE 200 using one or more other techniques (e.g., relying on the UE's self-reported location (e.g., part of the UE's location beacon)), and may use a combination of techniques (e.g., SPS and ground positioning signals) to determine the location of UE 200. PD 219 may include one or more of sensors 213 (e.g., (multiple) gyroscopes, (multiple) accelerometers, (multiple) magnetometers, etc.), which may sense the orientation and / or movement of UE 200 and provide an indication thereof, and processor 210 (e.g., processor 230 and / or DSP 231) is configured to use the above indication to determine the movement of UE 200 (e.g., velocity vector and / or acceleration vector). PD 219 may be configured to provide an indication of uncertainty and / or error in the determined position and / or movement. The functionality of PD 219 may be provided in various ways and / or configurations, for example, by general / application processor 230, transceiver 215, SPS receiver 217, and / or another component of UE 200, and may be provided by hardware, software, firmware, or various combinations thereof.

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

[0073] The description may refer only to the processor 310 performing a function, but this also includes other implementations such as where the processor 310 executes software and / or firmware. The description may refer to the processor 310 performing a function as a shorthand expression for one or more processors included in the processor 310 that perform the function. The description may refer to the TRP 300 performing a function as a shorthand expression for one or more appropriate components (e.g., the processor 310 and the memory 311) of the TRP 300 (and therefore one of the BSs 110a, 110b, 114) that perform the function. In addition to and / or in lieu of the memory 311, the processor 310 may include a memory with stored instructions. The functionality of the processor 310 will be discussed more fully below.

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

[0075] Figure 3The configuration of the TRP 300 shown is an example of the present disclosure, including the claims, and is not limiting, and other configurations may be used. For example, the description herein discusses configuring the TRP 300 to perform or execute several functions, but one or more of these functions may be performed by the LMF 120 and / or the UE 200 (i.e., the LMF 120 and / or the UE 200 may be configured to perform one or more of these functions).

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

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

[0078] The description here may refer only to the processor 410 performing a function, but this includes other implementations in which, for example, the processor 410 executes software (stored in the memory 411) and / or firmware. The description herein may use the server 400 performing a function as a shorthand expression for one or more appropriate components (e.g., the processor 410 and the memory 411) of the server 400 performing the function.

[0079] Positioning Technology

[0080] For terrestrial positioning of UEs in cellular networks, techniques such as Advanced Forward Link Trilateration (AFLT) and Observed Time Difference of Arrival (OTDOA) typically operate in a "UE-assisted" mode, in which measurements of reference signals (e.g., PRS, CRS, etc.) sent by base stations are acquired by the UE and then provided to a location server. The location server then calculates the UE's position based on the measurements and the known positions of the base stations. Because these techniques use a location server rather than the UE itself to calculate the UE's position, these positioning techniques are not often used in applications such as automotive or mobile phone navigation, which instead typically rely on satellite-based positioning.

[0081] UEs can use a Satellite Positioning System (SPS) (Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS)) to perform high-precision positioning using Precise Point Positioning (PPP) or Real-Time Kinematic (RTK) techniques. These techniques use assistance data, such as measurements from ground stations. LTE Release 15 allows the data to be encrypted so that only UEs subscribed to the service can read the information. Such assistance data changes over time. Therefore, a UE subscribed to the service may not easily "break the encryption" for other UEs by passing the data to other UEs that have not paid for the subscription. Each time the assistance data changes, it needs to be repeated.

[0082] In UE-assisted positioning, the UE sends measurements (e.g., TDOA, Angle of Arrival (AoA), etc.) to a positioning server (e.g., LMF / eSMLC). The positioning server's Base Station Almanac (BSA) contains multiple "entries" or "records", one record per cell, where each record contains the geographic cell location, but may also contain other data. An identifier of a "record" among multiple "records" in the BSA can be referenced. The BSA and the measurements from the UE can be used to calculate the UE's position.

[0083] In traditional UE-based positioning, the UE calculates its own position, thereby avoiding sending measurements to the network (e.g., a location server), which in turn improves latency and scalability. The UE uses the relevant BSA record information from the network (e.g., the location of the gNB (more generally, the base station)). The BSA information can be encrypted. However, since the BSA information changes much less frequently than, for example, the PPP or RTK assistance data described previously, this makes the BSA information (compared to PPP or RTK information) easier to obtain by UEs that do not subscribe and pay for decryption keys. The transmission of reference signals by the gNB makes it possible for the BSA information to be accessed by crowd-sourcing or war-driving, essentially allowing the BSA information to be generated based on field and / or overhead observations.

[0084] Positioning techniques may be characterized and / or evaluated based on one or more criteria such as positioning determination accuracy and / or latency. The latency is the time elapsed between an event that triggers the determination of position-related data and the availability of the data at a positioning system interface (e.g., an interface of LMF 120). When the positioning system is initialized, the latency for the availability of position-related data is called the first fix time (TTFF) and is greater than the latency after the TTFF. The reciprocal of the time elapsed between two consecutive position-related data availability is called the update rate, i.e., the rate at which position-related data is generated after the first fix. The latency may depend on, for example, the processing capability of the UE. For example, assuming 272 PRBs (physical resource blocks), the UE may report the processing capability of the UE as the duration (in time, e.g., milliseconds) of the DL PRS symbol that the UE can process per T amount of time (e.g., Tms). Other examples of capabilities that may affect latency are the number of TRPs from which the UE can process PRSs, the number of PRSs that the UE can process, and the bandwidth of the UE.

[0085] One or more of many different positioning techniques (also referred to as positioning methods) may be used to determine the position of an entity such as one of the UEs 105 , 106 . For example, known position determination techniques include RTT, multi-RTT, OTDOA (also referred to as TDOA, and including UL-TDOA and DL-TDOA), enhanced cell identification (E-CID), DL-AoD, UL-AoA, and the like. RTT uses the time it takes for a signal to propagate from one entity to another and then back to determine the range between two entities. The range plus the known position of the first of the entities and the angle (e.g., azimuth) between the two entities may be used to determine the position of the second of the entities. In multi-RTT (also referred to as multi-cell RTT), multiple ranges from one entity (e.g., UE) to other entities (e.g., TRP) and the known positions of the other entities may be used to determine the position of one entity. In TDOA techniques, the travel time differences between one entity and the other entities may be used to determine the relative range from the other entities, and those combined with the known positions of the other entities may be used to determine the position of one entity. Angles of arrival and / or departure may be used to help determine the position of an entity. For example, the angle of arrival or departure of a signal, combined with the range between devices (determined using the signal, e.g., the propagation time of the signal, the received power of the signal, etc.) and the known position of one of the devices, can be used to determine the location of the other device. The angle of arrival or departure can be an azimuth relative to a reference direction such as true north. The angle of arrival or departure can be a zenith angle relative to directly upward from an entity (i.e., relative to radially outward from the center of the earth). E-CID uses the identity of the serving cell, the timing advance (i.e., the difference between the reception and transmission times of the UE), the estimated timing and power of the detected neighboring cell signals, and the possible angle of arrival (e.g., of a signal from a base station at the UE or vice versa) to determine the location of the UE. In TDOA, the time difference in the arrival of signals from different sources at the receiving device, together with the known position of the source and the known offset from the transmission time of the source, is used to determine the location of the receiving device.

[0086] In network-centric RTT estimation, the serving base station instructs the UE to scan / receive RTT measurement signals (e.g., PRS) on the serving cells of two or more neighboring base stations (and typically the serving base station, since at least three base stations are required). One or more of the multiple base stations transmit the RTT measurement signals on low reuse resources (e.g., resources used by the base station to transmit system information) allocated by the network (e.g., a location server such as LMF 120). The UE records the arrival time (also known as reception time, acceptance time, acceptance time, or arrival time (ToA)) of each RTT measurement signal relative to the current downlink timing of the UE (e.g., derived by the UE based on the DL signal received from its serving base station), and transmits a common or separate RTT response message (e.g., SRS (sounding reference signal) for positioning, i.e., UL-PRS) to one or more base stations (e.g., when indicated by its serving base station), and may include the time difference T between the ToA of the RTT measurement signal and the transmission time of the RTT response message in the payload of each RTT response message Rx→Tx (i.e. UE T Rx-Tx or UE Rx-Tx The RTT response message will include a reference signal from which the base station can infer the ToA of the RTT response. Tx→Rx The time difference T reported by the UE Rx→Tx By comparison, the base station can infer the propagation time between the base station and the UE, and the base station can determine the distance between the UE and the base station from the propagation time by assuming the speed of light within the propagation time.

[0087] UE-centric RTT estimation is similar to the network-based approach, except that the UE sends (multiple) uplink RTT measurement signals (e.g., when indicated by the serving base station), which are received by multiple base stations in the neighborhood of the UE. Each involved base station responds with a downlink RTT response message, which may include the time difference between the ToA of the RTT measurement signal at the base station and the transmission time of the RTT response message from the base station in the RTT response message payload.

[0088] For both network-centric and UE-centric processes, typically (although not always) the side performing the RTT calculation (the network or the UE) sends (multiple) first messages or signals (e.g., (multiple) RTT measurement signals), and the other side responds with one or more RTT response messages or signals, which may include the difference between the ToA of the (multiple) first messages or signals and the sending time of the (multiple) RTT response messages or signals.

[0089] A multi-RTT technique may be used to determine position. For example, a first entity (e.g., a UE) may send one or more signals (e.g., unicast, multicast, or broadcast from a base station), and a plurality of second entities (e.g., other TSPs, such as (multiple) base stations and / or (multiple) UEs) may receive signals from the first entity and respond to the received signals. The first entity receives responses from the plurality of second entities. The first entity (or another entity, such as an LMF) may use the responses from the second entity to determine a range to the second entity, and may use the plurality of ranges and the known positions of the second entities to determine the position of the first entity by trilateration.

[0090] In some cases, additional information may be available in the form of an angle of arrival (AoA) or angle of deviation (AoD) that defines a straight line direction (e.g., which may be in the horizontal plane or in three dimensions) or possibly a range of directions (e.g., for a UE, from the location of a base station). The intersection of two directions may provide another estimate of the position for the UE.

[0091] For positioning techniques using PRS (positioning reference signal) signals (such as TDOA and RTT), PRS signals transmitted by multiple TRPs are measured, and the arrival time of the signal, the known transmission time, and the known location of the TRP are used to determine the range from the UE to the TRP. For example, the RSTD (reference signal time difference) of the PRS signals received from multiple TRPs and used to determine the UE's position (location) in the TDOA technique can be determined. The positioning reference signal may be referred to as a PRS or a PRS signal. PRS signals are typically transmitted using the same power, and PRS signals having the same signal characteristics (e.g., the same frequency shift) may interfere with each other, so that PRS signals from farther TRPs may be drowned by PRS signals from closer TRPs, so that signals from farther TRPs are not detected. PRS muting can be used to help reduce interference by muting certain PRS signals (reducing the power of the PRS signal to, for example, zero, and thus not transmitting the PRS signal). In this way, a weaker PRS signal (at the UE) may be more easily detected by the UE without a stronger PRS signal interfering with the weaker PRS signal.The term RS and its variants (eg, PRS, SRS) may refer to one reference signal or more than one reference signal.

[0092] Positioning Reference Signals (PRS) include downlink PRS (DL PRS, often referred to as PRS) and uplink PRS (UL PRS) (which may be referred to as SRS (sounding reference signal) for positioning). PRS may include a PN code (pseudo-random number) or may be generated using a PN code (e.g., scrambling the PN code with another signal) so that the source of the PRS may be used as a pseudo-satellite (pseudolite). The PN code may be unique to the PRS source (at least within a specified area, so that the same PRS from different PRS sources do not overlap). PRS may include PRS resources or PRS resource sets of a frequency layer. The DL PRS positioning frequency layer (or simply frequency layer) is a collection of DL PRS resource sets from one or more TRPs, and (multiple) PRS resources have common parameters configured by higher layer parameters DL-PRS-PositioningFrequencyLayer, DL-PRS-ResourceSet, and DL-PRS-Resource. Each frequency layer has a DL PRS subcarrier spacing (SCS) for the DL PRS resource set and DL PRS resource in the frequency layer. Each frequency layer has a DL PRS cyclic prefix (CP) for a DL PRS resource set and DL PRS resources in the frequency layer. In 5G, a resource block occupies 12 consecutive subcarriers and a specified number of symbols. In addition, the DL PRS Point A parameter defines the frequency of the reference resource block (and the lowest subcarrier of the resource block), DL PRS resources belonging to the same DL PRS resource set have the same Point A, and all DL PRS resources belonging to the same frequency layer have the same Point A. The frequency layer also has the same DL PRS bandwidth, the same starting PRB (and center frequency), and the same comb size value (i.e., the frequency of the PRS resource element per symbol, so that for comb N, every Nth resource element is a PRS resource element). The PRS resource set is identified by a PRS resource set ID and can be associated with a specific TRP (identified by a cell ID) sent by the antenna panel of the base station. The PRS resource ID in the PRS resource set can be associated with an omnidirectional signal and / or with a single beam (and / or beam ID) sent from a single base station (where the base station can send one or more beams). Each PRS resource in a PRS resource set may be sent on a different beam, and therefore, a PRS resource or simply a resource may also be referred to as a beam. This has no effect on whether the UE knows the base station and the beam on which the PRS is sent.

[0093] The TRP may be configured, for example, by instructions received from a server and / or by software in the TRP to send DL PRS as scheduled. According to the schedule, the TRP may, for example, periodically and intermittently send DL PRS at constant intervals starting from the initial transmission. The TRP may be configured to send one or more PRS resource sets. A resource set is a collection of PRS resources across a TRP that have the same periodicity, a common muting pattern configuration (if any), and the same repetition factor across time slots. Each PRS resource set includes multiple PRS resources, each of which includes multiple resource elements (REs), which may be in multiple resource blocks (RBs) within N (one or more) consecutive symbols within a time slot. An RB is a set of REs that spans a certain number of one or more consecutive symbols in the time domain and a certain number of consecutive subcarriers (12 for 5G RBs) in the frequency domain. Each PRS resource is configured with an RE offset, a time slot offset, a symbol offset within a time slot, and the number of consecutive symbols that a PRS resource can occupy within a time slot. The RE offset defines the starting RE offset of the first symbol within the DL PRS resource in frequency. The relative RE offset of the remaining symbols within the DL PRS resource is defined based on the initial offset. The slot offset is the starting slot of the DL PRS resource relative to the corresponding resource set slot offset. The symbol offset determines the starting symbol of the DL PRS resource within the starting slot. The transmitted REs can be repeated across slots, and each transmission is called a repetition, so that there can be multiple repetitions in the PRS resource. The DL PRS resources in a DL PRS resource set are associated with the same TRP, and each DL PRS resource has a DL PRS resource ID. The DL PRS resource ID in a DL PRS resource set is associated with a single beam transmitted from a single TRP (although a TRP can also transmit one or more beams).

[0094] PRS resources can also be defined by quasi-co-location and starting PRB parameters. The quasi-co-location (QCL) parameter can define any quasi-co-location information of the DL PRS resources together with other reference signals. The DL PRS can be configured as a QCL type D with a DL PRS or SS / PBCH (synchronization signal / physical broadcast channel) block from a serving cell or a non-serving cell. The DL PRS can be configured as a QCL type C with an SS / PBCH block from a serving cell or a non-serving cell. The starting PRB parameter defines the starting PRB index of the DL PRS resource relative to the reference point A. The starting PRB index has a granularity of one PRB and can have a minimum value of 0 and a maximum value of 2176 PRBs.

[0095] A PRS resource set is a collection of PRS resources with the same periodicity, the same muting pattern configuration (if any), and the same repetition factor across time slots. Each time all repetitions of all PRS resources of a PRS resource set are configured to be transmitted, it is called an "instance". Thus, an "instance" of a PRS resource set is a specified number of repetitions of each PRS resource and a specified number of PRS resources in a PRS resource set, such that once a specified number of repetitions are transmitted for each of the specified number of PRS resources, the instance is complete. An instance may also be referred to as an "opportunity". A DL PRS configuration including a DL PRS transmission schedule may be provided to a UE to facilitate (or even enable) the UE to measure the DL PRS.

[0096] Multiple frequency layers of PRS can be aggregated to provide an effective bandwidth that is larger than any bandwidth of the layers. Multiple frequency layers (which may be contiguous and / or separated) of component carriers that meet standards such as quasi-co-location (QCLed) and have the same antenna port can be stitched to provide a larger effective PRS bandwidth (for DL ​​PRS and ULPRS), thereby improving the measurement accuracy of the arrival time. After QCL, the different frequency layers behave similarly, making it possible to stitch PRS to produce a larger effective bandwidth. The larger effective bandwidth (which may be referred to as the bandwidth of the aggregated PRS or the frequency bandwidth of the aggregated PRS) provides better time domain resolution (e.g., TDOA). The aggregated PRS includes a collection of PRS resources, and each PRS resource of the aggregated PRS may be referred to as a PRS component, and each PRS component may be sent on different component carriers, frequency bands, or frequency layers or on different parts of the same frequency band.

[0097] RTT positioning is an active positioning technique in which RTT uses positioning signals sent by a TRP to a UE and by a UE (participating in RTT positioning) to the TRP. The TRP may send a DL-PRS signal received by the UE, and the UE may send an SRS (sounding reference signal) signal received by multiple TRPs. The sounding reference signal may be referred to as an SRS or an SRS signal. In 5G multi-RTT, coordinated positioning may be used with the UE sending a single UL-SRS received by multiple TRPs for positioning instead of sending a separate UL-SRS for each TRP for positioning. A TRP participating in multi-RTT typically searches for UEs currently residing on a TRP (served UEs, where the TRP is a serving TRP) and UEs residing on adjacent TRPs (neighboring UEs). A neighbor TRP may be a TRP of a single BTS (e.g., a gNB), or may be a TRP of one BTS and a TRP of a separate BTS. For RTT positioning (including multi-RTT positioning), the DL-PRS signal and the UL-SRS signal of the positioning signal in the PRS / SRS of the positioning signal pair (used to determine the RTT (and therefore for determining the range between the UE and the TRP)) may occur close to each other in time so that errors due to UE motion and / or UE clock drift and / or TRP clock drift are within acceptable limits. For example, the signals in the PRS / SRS of the positioning signal pair may be sent from the TRP and the UE, respectively, within approximately 10 ms of each other. Sending the SRS for the positioning signal by the UE, and transmitting the PRS and SRS for the positioning signal close to each other in time, has been found to result in radio frequency (RF) signal congestion (which may result in excessive noise, etc.). In particular, if many UEs attempt to locate simultaneously and / or computational congestion may result at the TRP where many UEs are attempting to measure simultaneously.

[0098] RTT positioning can be UE-based or UE-assisted. In UE-based RTT, the UE 200 determines the RTT and the corresponding range to each TRP 300 and the orientation of the UE 200 based on the range to the TRP 300 and the known position of the TRP 300. In UE-assisted RTT, the UE 200 measures the positioning signal and provides the measurement information to the TRP 300, and the TRP 300 determines the RTT and the range. The TRP 300 provides the range to a location server such as the server 400, and the server determines the location of the UE 200 based on the range to different TRPs 300, for example. The RTT and / or range can be determined by the TRP 300 receiving (multiple) signals from the UE 200, by the TRP 300 in combination with one or more other devices (e.g., one or more other TRPs 300 and / or the server 400), or by one or more devices other than the TRP 300 receiving (multiple) signals from the UE 200.

[0099] Various positioning technologies are supported in 5G NR. The NR native positioning methods supported by 5G NR include DL-only positioning method, UL-only positioning method, and DL+UL positioning method. Downlink-based positioning methods include DL-TDOA and DL-AoD. Uplink-based positioning methods include UL-TDOA and UL-AoA. Combined DL+UL-based positioning methods include RTT of one base station and RTT of multiple base stations (multi-RTT).

[0100] A position estimate (e.g., for a UE) may be referred to by other names, such as position estimate, position, position, position fix, fix, etc. The position estimate may be geodetic and may include coordinates (e.g., latitude, longitude, and possibly altitude), or may be urban and may include a street address, postal address, or other verbal description of a location. The position estimate may be defined relative to some other known location, or may be defined in absolute terms (e.g., using latitude, longitude, and possibly altitude). The position estimate may include expected errors or uncertainties (e.g., by including an area or volume in which the position is expected to be contained with some specified or default confidence level).

[0101] UE Rx-Tx Time difference measurement and reporting

[0102] refer to Fig.21, the inbound PRS 2130 (i.e., the PRS received by the target UE 2110, e.g., from the anchor 2120) and the outbound PRS 2140 (i.e., the PRS sent by the target UE 2110, e.g., to the anchor 2120) used to determine the round trip time may be sent in the same frequency band or in different frequency bands, where the different frequency bands are in the same frequency range or in different frequency ranges. Traditionally, the IB PRS is configured by LPP, while the OB PRS is configured by RRC (Radio Resource Control) signaling, and there is no explicit pairing between the IB PRS and the OB PRS. The anchor 2120 (also referred to as an anchor point) has a known location, which can be used in conjunction with the range from the anchor to the target UE 2110 to help determine the location of the target UE 2110. The anchor point 2120 that sends the IB PRS and receives the OB PRS can determine the transmission time t of the IB PRS. 1 and the reception time t of OB PRS 4 , and determine the Anchor between the sending of IB PRS and the receiving of OB PRS Rx-Tx The target UE 2110 can determine and provide the reception time t of the IB PRS 2 The sending time of OB PRS is t 3 UE between Rx-Tx Time difference. You can get it from Anchor Rx-Tx Subtract UE from the time difference Rx-Tx The RTT between the anchor point 2120 and the target UE 2110 is determined by the time difference. The anchor that sends the IB PRS and receives the OB PRS can be, for example, a TRP (IB PRS is a DL PRS, OB PRS is a UL PRS) or a UE (IB PRS and OB PRS are both SL PRS). To ensure that the RTT is correct, use the time difference with the UE Rx-Tx Anchor corresponding to the time difference Rx-Tx Time difference (i.e., for the UE Rx-Tx Anchors determined by IBPRS and OB PRS with the same time difference Rx-Tx Time difference) determines the RTT. For example, Figure 6 An inter-band CA (carrier aggregation) scenario is shown, where two CCs (component carriers) are configured with OB PRSs, each belonging to a different TAG (timing advance group). In addition, the IB PRS is also configured in two positioning frequency layers, one of which belongs to the first frequency band and the other to the second frequency band. If the UE is reported Rx-Tx time difference without indication or consent or knowledge of UE Rx-TxIf the relationship between the IB PRS and the OB PRS of the time difference is too large, the receiver of the time difference may not be able to correctly use the time difference (to determine the corresponding transmission and reception times at the anchor) to determine the round-trip time between the anchor (e.g., an entity with a known location, such as a TRP or UE) and the target UE (the UE whose location is to be determined). Figure 7 As shown, similar results may occur, where IB PRS is scheduled in a single positioning frequency layer belonging to the first frequency band, and OB PRS is scheduled in the first frequency band and the second frequency band, and the first frequency band IB PRS and the second frequency band OB PRS are used to determine the UE Rx-Tx The time difference is unknown to the receiver of the time difference (eg, if the OB PRS in the second frequency band is typically used for UL positioning only).

[0103] Reference Figure 5 , further reference Figures 1 to 4 UE 500 includes a processor 510, a transceiver 520, and a memory 530 that are communicatively coupled to each other via a bus 540. UE 500 may include Figure 5 Components shown in . Figure 5 The components shown may include one or more other components, such as Figure 1 5. The UE 200 may be an example of a UE 500, such that the UE 200 may be an example of a UE 500. For example, the processor 510 may include one or more components of the processor 210. The transceiver 520 may include one or more components of the transceiver 215, such as the wireless transmitter 242 and the antenna 246, or the wireless receiver 244 and the antenna 246, or the wireless transmitter 242, the wireless receiver 244, and the antenna 246. Additionally or alternatively, the transceiver 520 may include a wired transmitter 252 and / or a wired receiver 254. The memory 530 may be configured similarly to the memory 211, for example, including software having processor-readable instructions configured to cause the processor 510 to perform functions.

[0104] The description herein may refer only to the processor 510 performing functions, but this includes other implementations such as where the processor 510 executes software and / or firmware (stored in the memory 530). The description herein refers to the UE 500 performing functions as a shorthand expression for one or more suitable components (e.g., the processor 510 and the memory 530) of the UE 500 performing the functions. The processor 510 (possibly in combination with the memory 530 and, where appropriate, the transceiver 520) may include a PRS measurement unit 550, a PRS transmission unit 560, a position information reporting unit 570, and a capability reporting unit 580. The measurement unit 550, the PRS transmission unit 560, the position information reporting unit 570, and the capability reporting unit 580 will be discussed further below, and the description may refer generally to the processor 510 or generally to the UE 500, which performs any of the functions of the PRS measurement unit 550, the PRS transmission unit 560, the position information reporting unit 570, and the capability reporting unit 580.

[0105] The PRS measurement unit 550 is configured to measure the IB PRS in various frequency bands, and the PRS transmission unit 560 is configured to transmit the OB PRS in various frequency bands. For example, the units 550, 560 may be configured (e.g., during the process of manufacturing the UE 500 by design) to measure and / or transmit the PRS in the frequency bands of FR1 (450MHz 6GHz (referred to as the range below 6GHz)) and / or FR2 (24.25GHz 52.6GHz (referred to as the millimeter wave range)).

[0106] The position information reporting unit 570 is configured to determine the UE position based on the measured IB PRS and the transmitted OB PRS. Rx-Tx The time difference, where the IB PRS and the OB PRS may be in different frequency bands, and reports the UE to a network entity (e.g., TRP 300 and / or server 400 (possibly via TRP 300)) Rx-Tx The position information reporting unit 570 can provide a time difference for determining the UE Rx-Tx The position information reporting unit 570 may avoid the need to determine the UE position based on the PRS frequency band (s). Rx-Tx The time difference of the PRS band(s) is either implicit (e.g., as a result of negotiation, scheduled PRS) or based on the anchor between the reception time of the OB PRS and the transmission time of the IB PRS determined by the UE. Rx-Tx The time difference is known to the devices using a protocol to provide explicit indication(s).

[0107] Also refer to Figures 8 to 12The position information reporting unit 570 may be configured to: if the IB PRS and OB PRS of the same frequency band are scheduled, determine the UE based on the IB PRS and OB PRS of the same frequency band. Rx-Tx Otherwise, the UE is determined based on the time difference between the IB PRS and the OB PRS in different frequency bands. Rx-Tx The position information reporting unit 570 may provide an indication of the IBPRS frequency band and / or the OB PRS frequency band. Figure 8 As shown, OB PRS 810 is scheduled for a first frequency band, OBPRS 820 is scheduled for a second frequency band (different from the first frequency band), IB PRS 830 is scheduled for the first frequency band, and IBPRS 840 is scheduled for the second frequency band. The first frequency band is different from the second frequency band, but may overlap with the second frequency band, that is, the first frequency band and the second frequency band are not the same, but may have a common frequency (that is, a shared frequency). The position information reporting unit 570 may be configured to determine the UE of the IB PRS 830 and the OBPRS 810 based on the IB PRS and the OB PRS being configured in the same frequency band. Rx-Tx time difference and determine the UE of IB PRS 840 and OB PRS 820 Rx-Tx Time difference. Also refer to Fig.15 , the position information reporting unit 570 may send a message including UE Rx-Tx Measurement report 1500 of the time difference field 1510 and the IB PRS field. UE Rx-Tx The time difference field 1510 indicates the time value of the difference between the IB PRS reception and the corresponding OB PRS transmission, and the IBPRS field 1520 contains the time value corresponding to the UE. Rx-Tx The indication of the IB PRS may be, for example, an IB PRS ID (identity) such as an index value, or Fig.15 As shown, with the corresponding UE Rx-Tx The position information reporting unit 570 may not indicate the OB PRS frequency band because the frequency band is implicit. As another example, if Fig. 9 As shown, OB PRS 910 is scheduled for the first frequency band, OB PRS 920 is scheduled for the second frequency band, and IB PRS 930 is scheduled for the first frequency band. The position information reporting unit 570 may be configured to determine the UE of IB PRS 930 and OB PRS 910 based on the IB PRS and OB PRS being configured in the same frequency band. Rx-Tx The position information reporting unit 570 may report (eg, as in report 1500) the UE R-TxTime difference and URE Rx-Tx The corresponding indication of the IB PRS associated with the time difference, for example, with the UER x-Tx The position information reporting unit 570 may not indicate the OB PRS band, as this is implicit (only one IB PRS is scheduled). As another example, Fig.10 As shown, OB PRS 1010 is scheduled for the second frequency band, and IB PRS 1020 is scheduled for the first frequency band. Fig.16 The position information reporting unit 570 may be configured to determine the UE of the IB PRS 1020 and the OB PRS 1010. Rx-Tx time difference, and sends the UE Rx-Tx The measurement report 1600 includes a time difference field 1610, an IB PRS field 1620, and an IB PRS field 1630. The fields 1610, 1620, 1630 include the UE Rx-Tx The time difference and the corresponding indication of IB PRS and OB PRS, for example, with UE Rx-Tx The indication of the frequency band of the IB PRS and the OB PRS associated with the time difference. The indication of the frequency band can be, for example, an index of the frequency band (e.g., a 10-bit value specifying one of the 1024 frequency bands of the corresponding frequency window). As another example, Fig.11 As shown, OB PRS 1110 is scheduled for the second frequency band, OB PRS 1120 is scheduled for the third frequency band (different from the first and second frequency bands), and IB PRS 1130 is scheduled for the first frequency band. The position information reporting unit 570 may be configured to determine the UE of IB PRS 1130 and OB PRS 1110. Rx-Tx Time difference and / or UE of IB PRS 1130 and OB PRS 1120 Rx-Tx time difference, and report (e.g., similar to measurement report 1600) (multiple) UE Rx-Tx The time difference and the corresponding indication of IB PRS and OB PRS, for example, each UE Rx-Tx As another example, if Fig.12 As shown, OB PRS 1210 is scheduled for the second frequency band, IB PRS 1220 is scheduled for the first frequency band, and IB PRS 1230 is scheduled for the third frequency band. Position information reporting unit 570 may be configured to determine the UE of IB PRS 1230 and OB PRS 1210. Rx - Tx Time difference and / or UE of IB PRS 1230 and OB PRS 1210 Rx-Txtime difference, and report (e.g., similar to report 1600) (multiple) UE Rx-Tx The time difference and the corresponding indication of IB PRS and OB PRS, for example, each UE Rx-Tx The time difference between IB PRS and OB PRS is an indication of the frequency band.

[0108] If the OB PRS is implicit, the position information reporting unit 570 may be configured not to report an indication of the OB PRS. Figures 8 to 15 , due to UE and UE Rx-Tx The OB PRS frequency band may be implicit if the protocol is known to the receiver of the time difference, for example, the OB PRS is the same frequency band as the IB PRS (unless otherwise specified). As another example, referring again to Fig.10 , in the case where OB PRS 1010 is the only scheduled OB PRS and IB PRS 1020 is the only scheduled IB PRS, the position information reporting unit 570 may send the measurement report 1600 without the OB PRS field 1630 and / or the IB PRS field, because the values ​​of these two fields are implicit with respect to the knowledge of the UE's PRS scheduling. As another example, also refer to Fig.13 , due to UE and UE Rx-Tx The OB PRS frequency band can be implicit if the receiver of the time difference is known to the protocol. For example, for multiple scheduled OB PRS, the OB PRS is used to determine and report the UE Rx-Tx That is, the position information reporting unit 570 may be configured to determine and report the URE using the OB PRS in the same frequency range as the IBPRS. Rx-Tx Time difference. Fig.13 As shown, the OB PRS 1310 is scheduled in the second frequency band in FR1, the OB PRS 1320 is scheduled in the third frequency band in FR2, and the IB PRS 1330 is scheduled in the first frequency band in FR1. In this case, if the position information reporting unit is configured to use the OB PRS in the same frequency range as the IB PRS, the UE reporting for the IB PRS 1330 Rx-Tx The time-differenced OB PRS is implicitly the OB PRS 1310 (and the IB PRS 1330 may be explicitly indicated or not indicated (if the IB PRS 1330 is the only IB PRS scheduled)). As another example, since the UE and the UE Rx-TxThe OB PRS band may be implicit if the protocol is known to the receiver of the time difference, e.g., for multiple scheduled OB PRSs, the OB PRS with the smallest index value is not used for another reporting UE Rx-Tx The time difference is used in IB PRS to determine the UE Rx-Tx Time difference. Fig.13 In the example of Rx-Tx The time difference, OB PRS 1310 will again be implicit, where the protocol is that the position information reporting unit 570 is configured to use the OB PRS with the lowest index value (eg, not used for another UE Rx-Tx The UE that schedules the OB PRS according to the time difference determines and reports the selected IB PRS Rx-Tx As another example, the OB PRS band may be implicit due to the capability report provided by the capability reporting unit 580 that links the OBPRS to the corresponding IB PRS, and the IB PRS is indicated or is the only IB PRS scheduled (provided with the UE completely or without the indication of the IB PRS). Rx-Tx The position information reporting unit 570 may be configured to report a combination of frequency bands to be used for Rx-Tx reporting when IB PRS and OB PRS are scheduled in respective frequency bands. Fig.17 , OB PRS 1410 is scheduled for the second frequency band, OB PRS 1420 is scheduled for the third frequency band, IB PRS 1430 is scheduled for the first frequency band, and IB PRS 1440 is scheduled for the third frequency band. Fig.17 , the capability reporting unit 580 sends a capability report 1700 indicating the combination of frequency bands to be used for Rx-Tx reporting. In this example, the capability report 1700 indicates that the UE 500 will use the OB PRS in frequency band 2 to report the UE of the IB PRS in frequency band 1. Rx-Tx time difference, and will usually use the OB PRS in the same frequency band as the UE reporting the IB PRS Rx-Tx time difference, if scheduled (i.e., BandX / BandX indication). Therefore, for Fig.14 The PRS scheduling shown in FIG. 14 is performed by the position information reporting unit 570 for the UEs of the IB PRS 1430 and the OB PRS 1410 and the IB PRS 1440 and the OB PRS 1420. Rx-Tx Time difference.

[0109] Band Index

[0110] When reporting UE Rx-TxWhen the position information reporting unit 570 is Rx-Tx The frequency band of the OB PRS corresponding to the value may be provided, for example, as part of the TRP ID. The frequency band of the OB PRS may be reported in a variety of ways using the frequency band index. For example, the frequency bands may be sequentially numbered, for example, with each of the 1024 possible frequency bands being represented by a 10-bit sequence and an appropriate 10-bit indication of the OB PRS frequency band provided in the measurement report (e.g., in the TRP ID). Other techniques may be used to reduce the number of bits used to specify the frequency band for the OB PRS, thereby reducing overhead.

[0111] Option 1

[0112] The capability reporting unit 580 may provide a capability report including the OB PRS bands supported by the UE 500, and the position information reporting unit 570 may be configured to indicate the OB PRS bands by a relative band index, which is a value with respect to the OB PRS band indicated in the capability report. For example, the UE 500 may report to the server 400 (e.g., LMF) which bands the UE 500 supports for sending the OB PRS. The UE 500 will typically report that the UE 500 supports less than 1024 bands for OB PRS. For example, also refer to Fig.18 , the capability reporting unit 580 may send a capability report 1800 including a band index field 1810 and a band field 1820. The UE 500 may index the supported bands, for example, in numerical order from the lowest supported band to the highest band, although other techniques for numbering the supported bands may also be used. Thus, the value of the band field 1820 indicates the bands supported by the UE 500 (e.g., 1024 bands that may be indicated) that the UE 500 may use to send the OB PRS, and the value of the band index field 1810 indicates an ordinal binary value corresponding to the band, i.e., a relative band index, the index being relative to the supported bands. In the example shown, the UE 500 reports that the UE 500 supports eight bands for the OB PRS, and therefore, a band index having a length of three bits is used for the band index field 1810. For example, entry 1830 indicates that the band index value 000 corresponds to (indicates that UE 500 supports) band 1, and in this example, band 1 is band 14 of the 1024 bands that can be indicated by a 10-bit band index.

[0113] Option 2

[0114] The position information reporting unit 570 of the UE 500 may be configured to indicate the OB PRS band by a relative band index, which is about which bands the UE 500 has been configured to support. The UE 500 may be statically configured (during the manufacture of the UE 500 according to the design of the UE 500) or dynamically configured (e.g., by receiving instructions (e.g., assistance data) via the transceiver 520 that instructs the operation of the UE 500, providing software instructions to be executed and / or instructions about which of a plurality of statically configured operations to be performed). For example, the following process may be followed:

[0115] 1. The server 400 (eg, LMF) requests the serving cell of the UE 500, eg, the TRP 300, to configure the UE 500 with the OB PRS.

[0116] 2. The serving cell dynamically configures UE 500 (e.g., by sending control information to UE 500) with OB PRS (including (multiple) frequency bands) for OB PRS, and reports the configuration to server 400. UE 500 may be configured, for example, to support the frequency bands indicated in capability report 1800 and the frequency band indexes indicated in capability report 1800. This is merely an example and does not limit the present disclosure, and capability report 1800 is used as an example of configuration, and UE 500 may be configured with OBPRS by the serving cell without UE 500 sending a capability report (e.g., report 1800), and may be configured differently from the capability report sent by UE 500.

[0117] 3. The server 400 forwards the UE configuration to the neighboring cells. In this way, neighboring cells with which the UE 500 may exchange positioning reference signals (e.g., for RTT positioning) will know which frequency bands the UE 500 has been configured to use for OB PRS. The frequency bands that the UE 500 has been configured to support may be indexed, for example, from lowest frequency to highest frequency (or by some other mechanism).

[0118] 4. UE 500 reports position information (e.g., UE Rx-Tx The position information includes a relative band index indicating the number of OB PRS bands that the UE 500 has been configured to use for the OB PRS. For example, if the UE 500 has been configured to support eight bands for the OB PRS, the relative band index may be a sequence of three bits. As another example, if the UE 500 has been configured to support four bands for the OB PRS, the relative band index may be a sequence of two bits. An example configuration of a multi-RTT measurement report is provided below, in which the relative band index (nr-MeasuredSRS-bandIndex) is optional information.

[0119]

[0120] trp-ID-r16, nr-DL-PRS-RsourcedId-r16 and nr-DL-PRS-RsourceSetId-r16 together provide sufficient information to determine the IB PRS band. In this example, DL PRS and UL PRS (SRS for positioning) are assumed, but SL PRS may be used instead.

[0121] Option 3

[0122] As a subset of Option 2, if the UE 500 is configured to support only two frequency bands for the OB PRS, the relative band index may be a single bit. The single bit may indicate whether the OB PRS is in the same frequency band as the PRS or in a different frequency band from the PRS, or may indicate whether the OB PRS is in the lower frequency band or the higher frequency band of the two frequency bands for which the UE 500 is configured (e.g., as statically or dynamically configured, or as indicated in a capability report of the UE 500) to support the OB PRS. The frequency band that the UE 500 is configured to support for the OB PRS may be known by static or dynamic configuration or by a report of the UE 500, so an indication that the OB PRS is not in the same frequency band as the IB PRS would mean that the OB PRS is in another known frequency band. An example configuration of a multi-RTT measurement report is provided below, where the UE 500 is configured to support two OB PRS frequency bands, and the relative band index is a Boolean indication indicating whether different frequency bands are used for the IB PRS and the OB PRS (differentBandForPRSAndSRS), and is optional information.

[0123]

[0124] trp-ID-r16, nr-DL-PRS-RsourcedId-r16 and nr-DL-PRS-RsourceSetId-r16 together provide sufficient information to determine the IB PRS band. In this example, DL PRS and UL PRS (SRS for positioning) are assumed, but SL PRS may be used instead.

[0125] operate

[0126] Reference Fig.19 , see further Figures 1 to 18 , a signaling and processing flow 1900 for determining a round trip time measurement includes the stages shown. The flow 1900 is merely an example, as stages may be added, rearranged, and / or deleted.

[0127] At stage 1910, UE 500 sends a capability report 1912 to server 400. Capability report 1912 may indicate, for example, the UE 500 supports functions for measuring IB PRS and OB PRS and reporting one or more corresponding UE Rx-Tx The capability report 1912 may indicate one or more frequency band combinations of the time difference, such as in the capability report 1700. Additionally or alternatively, the capability report 1912 may indicate a plurality of frequency bands supported by the UE 500 for transmitting the OB PRS, such as in the capability report 1700.

[0128] At stage 1920, the server 400 and the serving cell 1901 (of the TRP) negotiate and deliver the PRS schedule for the UE 500. At sub-stage 1921, the server 400 and the serving cell 1901 negotiate PRS resources to allocate to the UE 500 for DL ​​PRS reception and UL PRS transmission (to and from the serving cell 1901 and / or one or more neighboring cells 1902 (of the TRP of the serving cell 1901 and / or another TRP). In this example, the inbound PRS is a DL PRS and the outbound PRS is a UL PRS, but the description also applies to other PRSs, for example, both the inbound PRS and the outbound PRS are SL PRSs, where the PRSs are exchanged between the UE 500 and another UE (not the serving cell 1901). The server 400 and the serving cell 1901 may consider the supported frequency bands and / or frequency band combinations indicated by the capability report 1912 when determining the PRS schedule. The serving cell 1901 of the UE 500 transmits AD 1922 (Assistance Data) including PRS scheduling to the UE 500. The server 400 transmits one or more PRS scheduling 1923 (e.g., UL PRS scheduling) to one or more neighbor cells 1902, so that the neighbor cell(s) 1902 know the PRS configuration of the UE 500.

[0129] At stage 1930, serving cell 1901 transmits DL PRS 1932 to UE 500. Serving cell 1901 transmits DL PRS 1932 according to DL PRS scheduling of AD 1922 (eg, using a predetermined frequency band), and 1 Send DL PRS 1932. UE 500 sends DL PRS 1932. 1 ToA t 2 Receive DL PRS 1932 at (although the line for DL ​​PRS 1932 is at Fig.19 is horizontal and time is on the vertical axis).

[0130] At stage 1940, UE 500 measures DL PRS 1932. PRS measurement unit 550 measures DL PRS 1932 and determines ToA t 2 , that is, the time when DL PRS 1932 arrives at UE 500.

[0131] At stage 1950, UE 500 transmits UL PRS 1952 to serving cell 1901. For example, PRS transmitting unit 560 of UE 500 transmits UL PRS 1952 according to the UL PRS schedule indicated in AD 1922. In this example, at time t 3 UL PRS 1952 is sent by UE500 and is 3 Late time 4 UL PRS 1952 is received by serving cell 1901 (although Fig.19 The lines for UL PRS 1952 are horizontal).

[0132] At stage 1960, UE 500 sends an indication ToA t to server 400 (possibly via serving cell 1901). 2 With ToDt 3 UE between Rx-Tx For example, measurement report 1962, such as measurement report 1500, may indicate to UE Rx-Tx The time difference value and the time difference used to determine the UE Rx-Tx DL PRS of the time difference, for example, if the UL PRS is implicit. As another example, the measurement report 1962, such as the measurement report 1600, may indicate to the UE Rx-Tx The time difference value and the time difference used to determine the UE Rx-Tx As another example, the measurement report 1962 may include the ToA t 2 and ToD t 3 The value of , from which the UE Rx-Tx The value of the time difference, and the indication(s) of the DL PRS and the ULPRS.

[0133] In stage 1970, serving cell 1901 measures UL PRS 1952. For example, processor 310 measures UL PRS 1952 and determines ToA t 4 , that is, the time when UL PRS 1952 arrives at the serving cell 1901.

[0134] At stage 1980, serving cell 1901 sends measurement report 1982 to server 400, and server 400 determines the RTT between serving cell 1901 and UE 500. For example, serving cell 1901 (e.g., wireless transmitter 342 and antenna 346 and / or wired transmitter 352) sends measurement report 1982, which has ToA t 4 and ToD t 1 The value of Anchor can be determined from it Rx-Tx The value of the time difference, here TRP Rx-Tx For the case of exchanging SLPRS between UE 500 and another UE, Ancho rRx-Tx The time difference will be another UE Rx-Tx The serving cell 1901 may transmit one or more other arrival times of the UL PRS and / or other departure times of the DL PRS, and the processor 410 of the server 400 may determine the UL PRS 1952 corresponding to the DL PRS 1932 to determine the time difference corresponding to the ToD t 1 ToA t 4 To determine the RTT for serving cell 1901 and UE 500, where RTT is TRP Rx-Tx Time difference minus UE Rx-Tx In sub-stage 1984, processor 410 determines that UL PRS 1952 corresponds to DL PRS 1932, for example based on the indication of UL PRS 1952 and DL PRS 1932 in measurement report 1962, or based on the indication of DL PRS 1932 in measurement report 1962 and knowledge of the protocol implemented by UE 500 and PRS scheduling from AD 1922, or based only on PRS scheduling, or by another means. Based on the association of DL PRS 1932 with UL PRS 1952, processor 410 of server 400 determines, for example, based on ToD t 1 、ToA t 4 (or TRP Rx-Tx time difference) and UE Rx-Tx Time difference (or ToA t 2 and ToD t 3) determines the RTT. If the serving cell 1901 has appropriate information (e.g., measurement report 1962 and / or knowledge of the UE protocol), the serving cell 1901 can determine that the UL PRS 1952 corresponds to the DL PRS 1932, where the serving cell 1901 has AD 1922 (whether or not used to determine the UL PRS 1952). In this case, the measurement report 1982 may include the value of the TRPRx-Tx time difference, or even the RTT. The server 400 (or other entity) can determine the range between the serving cell 1901 and the UE 500 based on the RTT, and can determine the position estimate of the UE 500 based on multiple ranges from multiple cells at a known location to the UE 500 (or based on as little as one range from a known location and a known direction of the UE 500 relative to the known location).

[0135] Reference Fig. 20 , see further Figure 1-19 , positioning method 2000 includes the stages shown. However, method 2000 is only an example and not a limitation. Method 2000 can be changed, for example, by adding, removing, rearranging, combining, performing simultaneously, and / or having a single stage divided into multiple stages.

[0136] At stage 2010, method 2000 includes measuring, at the UE, IB PRS resources of the first frequency band. For example, PRS measurement unit 550 measures DL PRS 1932 at stage 1930. As another example, PRS measurement unit 550 may measure SL PRS received from another UE. Processor 510, possibly in combination with memory 530, in combination with transceiver 520 (e.g., antenna 246 and wireless receiver 244), may include components for measuring IB PRS resources.

[0137] At stage 2020, method 2000 includes sending OB PRS resources from the UE to the recipient device on the second frequency band. For example, PRS transmission unit 560 sends UL PRS 1952 to serving cell 1901 at stage 1950. As another example, PRS transmission unit 560 can send SL PRS to another UE. Processor 510, possibly in combination with memory 530, in combination with transceiver 520 (e.g., antenna 246 and wireless transmitter 242), can include components for sending OB PRS resources.

[0138] At stage 2030, the method 2000 includes at least one of the following: based on the second frequency band being different from the first frequency band, sending a receive-send time difference indication from the UE and a frequency band indication indicating the second frequency band, the receive-send time difference indication indicating a difference between an arrival time of the IBPRS resource and a departure time of the OB PRS resource; or, based on the second frequency band being implicit, sending the receive-send time difference indication from the UE without sending a frequency band indication. For example, the position information reporting unit 570 determines and sends a measurement report 1962 to the server 400 via the serving cell 1901. The measurement report 1962 indicates that the UE Rx-Tx Time difference (including UE Rx-Tx The time difference and / or the UE Rx-Tx Time difference information, for example, ToAt of DL PRS 1932 2 and ToD t of UL PRS 1952 3 ,like Fig.19 The position information reporting unit 570 determines a measurement report 1962 based on the difference between the OB PRS band and the IB PRS band (the OB PRS band is not implicit or implicit) and sends the measurement report 1962 to the server 400. The measurement report 1962 indicates that the UE Rx-Tx The time difference (and / or the UE Rx-Tx The position information reporting unit 570 may include information about the receive-transmit time difference and the OB PRS band, for example, as shown in the measurement report 1600. Alternatively, the position information reporting unit 570 determines and sends the measurement report 1962 without indicating the OB PRS band based on the OB PRS band being implicit, for example, as shown in the measurement report 1500. For example, if the IB PRS band is implicit (e.g., the only scheduled IB PRS band), the IB PRS band may also be omitted. The processor 510, possibly in combination with the memory 530, in combination with the transceiver 520 (e.g., the wireless transmitter 242 and the antenna 246), may include means for sending a receive-transmit time difference indication and a frequency band indication, and / or may include means for sending a receive-transmit time difference indication without sending a frequency band indication.

[0139] Implementations of method 2000 may include one or more of the following features. In an example implementation, the first frequency band is different from the second frequency band, method 2000 includes sending a capability report, the capability report indicating that a receive-transmit time difference indication corresponding to an IB PRS sent by the UE on the first frequency band will also correspond to an OB PRS on the second frequency band, and the method includes sending the receive-transmit time difference indication without sending a frequency band indication based on the second frequency band being indicated in the capability report. For example, capability reporting unit 580 sends capability report 1912, for example, as in capability report 1700, capability report 1912 indicates a frequency band combination of frequency band 1 for IB PRS and frequency band 2 for OB PRS, indicating that for IBPRS in frequency band 1, the UE will be indicated based on the OB PRS in frequency band 2. Rx-Tx Time difference (such as Fig.10 Given the relationship between the IBPRS band and the OB PRS band indicated in the capability report (although the IB PRS band may be indicated, e.g., if not implicit), the position information reporting unit 570 sends the signal indicating the UE to be in the state of being ... Rx-Tx A measurement report of the time difference 1962. In another example implementation, the method includes: sending a receive-transmit time difference indication without sending a frequency band indication based on the second frequency band being the only scheduled frequency band for the UE to send PRS to the recipient device. For example, a UL PRS to be sent to TRP 300 may be scheduled on a single frequency band, or a SL PRS to be sent to another UE may be scheduled on a single frequency band.

[0140] Additionally or alternatively, an implementation of method 2000 may include one or more of the following features. In an example implementation, the first frequency band is different from the second frequency band, the OB PRS resource is a first OB PRS resource, and the method includes sending a receive-send time difference indication without sending a frequency band indication based on the UE selecting the first OB PRS resource from the first OB PRS resource and at least a second OB PRS resource on a third frequency band different from the first frequency band and the second frequency band according to a protocol. For example, the processor 510 may be statically or dynamically configured to send a receive-send time difference indication without sending a frequency band indication if the protocol indicates selection of the OB PRS band and therefore the OB PRS band is implicit. In another example implementation, method 2000 includes selecting the first OB PRS resource based on the second frequency band being in the same frequency range as the first frequency band. For example, if Fig.13As shown, the position information reporting unit 570 may select the OB PRS 1310 in the same frequency range as the IB PRS 1330 (but in a different frequency band) for determining and reporting the UE Rx-Tx The processor 510, possibly in combination with the memory 530, may include means for selecting the first OB PRS resource. In another example implementation, the method 2000 includes selecting the first OB PRS resource based on the second frequency band having a smaller frequency band index than the third frequency band. For example, Fig.13 As shown, since the OB PRS 1310 has a smaller frequency band index than the OB PRS 1320, the position information reporting unit 570 may select the OB PRS 1310 for determining and reporting the UE Rx-Tx Indication of the time difference. Processor 510, possibly in combination with memory 530, may include means for selecting a first OB PRS resource.

[0141] Additionally or alternatively, implementations of method 2000 may include one or more of the following features. In an example implementation, the method includes sending a receive-transmit time difference indication without sending a frequency band indication based on the first frequency band and the second frequency band being the same frequency band. For example, position information reporting unit 570 sends measurement report 1962, for example, with Figure 8 The measurement report 1500 corresponding to the PRS scheduling shown in Fig. 9 1530 for PRS scheduling shown in ), which has an indication of an IB PRS band and the OB PRS band is implicitly the same (or the OB PRS band is the same as the IBPRS band). In another example implementation, the method 2000 includes: sending a capability report indicating multiple possible OB PRS bands; and sending a receive-transmit time difference indication and a band indication associated with the receive-transmit time difference indication, the band indication being a relative band index indicating one of the multiple possible OB PRS bands indicated in the report. For example, the capability reporting unit 580 sends a capability report 1912 such as the capability report 1800, the capability report indicating possible (e.g., supported) OB PRS bands with corresponding index values ​​only for the indicated possible bands, and the position information reporting unit 570 sends an indication of one of the band indices 1810 and the UE Rx-Tx Indication of a time difference. Processor 510, possibly in combination with memory 530, and transceiver 520 (eg, wireless transmitter 242 and antenna 246), may include means for transmitting a capability report.

[0142] Additionally or alternatively, an implementation of method 2000 may include one or more of the following features. In one example implementation, the method further includes: receiving an OB PRS configuration indicating a plurality of possible OB PRS bands; and the method includes sending a receive-transmit time difference indication and a band indication associated with the receive-transmit time difference indication, the band indication being a relative band index, the relative band index indicating one of the plurality of possible OB PRS bands indicated in the OB PRS configuration. For example, UE 500 receives in AD1922 a UL PRS configuration indicating possible UL PRS bands (e.g., similar to capability report 1800), and position information reporting unit 570 sends an indication of a band index for one of the band indices for the possible UL PRS bands and the UE sends a signal to the UE 500 that the OB PRS configuration is in the OB PRS configuration. Rx-Tx Indication of the time difference. Processor 510, possibly in combination with memory 530, in combination with transceiver 520 (e.g., wireless receiver 244 and antenna 246), may include components for receiving an OB PRS configuration. In another example implementation, the frequency band indication is a Boolean indication indicating whether the first frequency band and the second frequency band are the same or different, or indicating which of the two OB PRS frequency bands configured for the UE is the second frequency band.

[0143] Implementation Example

[0144] Non-exhaustive implementation examples are provided in the following numbered clauses.

[0145] 1. A UE (user equipment), comprising:

[0146] at least one transceiver;

[0147] Memory; and

[0148] at least one processor communicatively coupled to the at least one transceiver and the memory, wherein the at least one processor:

[0149] configured to measure inbound (IB) positioning reference signal (PRS) resources received via the at least one transceiver on a first frequency band;

[0150] configured to transmit, via the at least one transceiver, outbound (OB) PRS resources to a recipient device on a second frequency band; and

[0151] is configured as at least one of the following:

[0152] transmitting, via the at least one transceiver and based on the second frequency band being different from the first frequency band, a receive-transmit time difference indication and a frequency band indication indicating the second frequency band, the receive-transmit time difference indication indicating a difference between an arrival time of the IB PRS resource and a departure time of the OB PRS resource; or

[0153] The receive-transmit time difference indication is sent via the at least one transceiver without the frequency band indication based on the second frequency band being implicit.

[0154] 2. A UE as claimed in clause 1, wherein:

[0155] the first frequency band is different from the second frequency band;

[0156] The at least one processor is further configured to send a capability report indicating that a receive-transmit time difference indication sent by the UE corresponding to an IB PRS received by the UE on the first frequency band will also correspond to an OB PRS sent by the UE on the second frequency band; and

[0157] The at least one processor is further configured to send the receive-transmit time difference indication without the frequency band indication based on the second frequency band being indicated in the capability report.

[0158] 3. A UE according to clause 1, wherein the at least one processor is configured to: based on the second frequency band being the only scheduled frequency band for the UE to send PRS to the receiving device, send the receive-transmit time difference indication of the frequency band indication without the frequency band indication.

[0159] 4. A UE according to clause 1, wherein the first frequency band is different from the second frequency band, the OB PRS resource is a first OB PRS resource, and the at least one processor is configured to send the receive-send time difference indication without the frequency band indication based on the at least one processor selecting the first OB PRS resource from the first OB PRS resource and at least a second OB PRS resource on a third frequency band different from the first frequency band and the second frequency band according to a protocol.

[0160] 5. The UE of clause 4, wherein the at least one processor is configured to select the first OB PRS resource based on the second frequency band being in the same frequency range as the first frequency band.

[0161] 6. The UE of clause 4, wherein the at least one processor is configured to select the first OB PRS resource based on the second frequency band having a smaller frequency band index than the third frequency band.

[0162] 7. The UE of clause 1, wherein the at least one processor is configured to send the receive-transmit time difference indication without the frequency band indication based on the first frequency band and the second frequency band being the same frequency band.

[0163] 8. A UE as claimed in clause 1, wherein:

[0164] The at least one processor is further configured to send a capability report indicating a plurality of possible OB PRS frequency bands; and

[0165] The at least one processor is configured to transmit the frequency band indication and the receive-transmit time difference indication, the frequency band indication being a relative frequency band index indicating one of the plurality of possible OB PRS frequency bands indicated in a capability report.

[0166] 9. A UE as claimed in clause 1, wherein:

[0167] The at least one processor is further configured to receive an OB PRS configuration indicating a plurality of possible OB PRS frequency bands; and

[0168] The at least one processor is configured to transmit the frequency band indication and the receive-transmit time difference indication, the frequency band indication being a relative frequency band index indicating one of the plurality of possible OB PRS frequency bands indicated in the OB PRS configuration.

[0169] 10. A UE as claimed in clause 9, wherein the frequency band indication is a Boolean indication indicating whether the first frequency band and the second frequency band are the same or different, or indicating which of two OB PRS frequency bands configured for the UE is the second frequency band.

[0170] 11. A UE (user equipment), comprising:

[0171] means for measuring an inbound (IB) positioning reference signal (PRS) resource on a first frequency band;

[0172] means for transmitting outbound (OB) PRS resources to a recipient device on a second frequency band; and

[0173] At least one of the following:

[0174] means for transmitting a receive-transmit time difference indication and a frequency band indication indicating the second frequency band based on the second frequency band being different from the first frequency band, the receive-transmit time difference indication indicating a difference between an arrival time of the IB PRS resource and a departure time of the OB PRS resource; or

[0175] Means for sending a receive-transmit time difference indication without an indication of the frequency band based on the second frequency band being implicit.

[0176] 12. A UE as claimed in clause 11, wherein:

[0177] the first frequency band is different from the second frequency band;

[0178] The UE further comprises means for sending a capability report indicating that a receive-transmit time difference indication sent by the UE corresponding to an IB PRS received by the UE on the first frequency band will also correspond to an OB PRS sent by the UE on the second frequency band; and

[0179] The UE comprises means for sending the receive-transmit time difference indication without the frequency band indication, the means comprising means for sending the receive-transmit time difference indication without the frequency band indication based on the second frequency band being indicated in the capability report.

[0180] 13. A UE as claimed in clause 11, wherein the UE comprises:

[0181] A component for sending the receive-send time difference indication without the frequency band indication, the component comprising: a component for sending the receive-send time difference indication without the frequency band indication based on that the second frequency band is the only scheduled frequency band for the UE to send the PRS to the receiving device.

[0182] 14. A UE according to clause 11, wherein the first frequency band is different from the second frequency band, the OB PRS resource is a first OB PRS resource, and the UE includes a component for sending the receive-transmit time difference indication without the frequency band indication, the component including a component for sending the receive-transmit time difference indication without the frequency band indication based on the UE selecting the first OB PRS resource from the first OB PRS resource and at least a second OB PRS resource on a third frequency band different from the first frequency band and the second frequency band according to a protocol.

[0183] 15. The UE of clause 14, further comprising means for selecting the first OB PRS resource based on the second frequency band being in the same frequency range as the first frequency band.

[0184] 16. The UE of clause 14, further comprising means for selecting the first OB PRS resource based on the second frequency band having a smaller frequency band index than the third frequency band.

[0185] 17. A UE according to clause 11, wherein the UE includes a component for sending the receive-transmit time difference indication without the frequency band indication, the component including a component for sending the receive-transmit time difference indication without the indication of the frequency band based on the first frequency band and the second frequency band being the same frequency band.

[0186] 18. A UE as claimed in clause 11, wherein:

[0187] The UE further comprises means for sending a capability report indicating a plurality of possible OB PRS frequency bands; and

[0188] The UE includes means for sending the receive-transmit time difference indication and the frequency band indication, the means including means for sending the frequency band indication associated with the receive-transmit time difference indication, the frequency band indication being a relative band index indicating one of the multiple possible OB PRS frequency bands indicated in the capability report.

[0189] 19. A UE as claimed in clause 11, wherein:

[0190] The UE further comprises means for receiving an OB PRS configuration indicating a plurality of possible OB PRS frequency bands; and

[0191] The UE comprises means for transmitting a frequency band indication associated with the receive-transmit time difference indication, the frequency band indication being a relative frequency band index indicating one of the plurality of possible OB PRS frequency bands indicated in the OB PRS configuration.

[0192] 20. A UE as claimed in clause 19, wherein the frequency band indication is a Boolean indication indicating whether the first frequency band and the second frequency band are the same or different, or indicating which of two OB PRS frequency bands configured for the UE is the second frequency band.

[0193] 21. A positioning method, comprising:

[0194] At a UE (user equipment), measuring an inbound (IB) positioning reference signal (PRS) resource at a first frequency band;

[0195] transmitting outbound (OB) PRS resources from the UE to a recipient device on a second frequency band; and

[0196] At least one of the following:

[0197] sending, from the UE, a receive-transmit time difference indication and a frequency band indication indicating the second frequency band based on the second frequency band being different from the first frequency band, the receive-transmit time difference indication indicating a difference between an arrival time of the IB PRS resource and a departure time of the OB PRS resource; or

[0198] The receive-transmit time difference indication is sent from the UE without sending the frequency band indication based on the second frequency band being implicit.

[0199] 22. A method according to clause 21, wherein:

[0200] the first frequency band is different from the second frequency band;

[0201] The method also includes sending a capability report indicating that a receive-transmit time difference indication sent by the UE corresponding to an IB PRS on the first frequency band will also correspond to an OB PRS sent by the UE on the second frequency band; and

[0202] The method includes sending the receive-transmit time difference indication without sending a frequency band indication based on the second frequency band being indicated in the capability report.

[0203] 23. A method as described in clause 21, wherein the method includes: based on the second frequency band being the only scheduled frequency band for the UE to transmit the PRS to the recipient device, sending the receive-transmit time difference indication without sending the frequency band indication.

[0204] 24. A method according to clause 21, wherein the first frequency band is different from the second frequency band, the OBPRS resource is a first OB PRS resource, and the method includes sending the receive-send time difference indication without sending the frequency band indication based on the UE selecting the first OB PRS resource from the first OB PRS resource and at least a second OB PRS resource on a third frequency band different from the first frequency band and the second frequency band according to a protocol.

[0205] 25. The method of clause 24, further comprising selecting the first OB PRS resource based on the second frequency band being in the same frequency range as the first frequency band.

[0206] 26. The method of clause 24, further comprising selecting the first OB PRS resource based on the second frequency band having a smaller frequency band index than the third frequency band.

[0207] 27. The method of clause 21, wherein the method comprises sending the receive-transmit time difference indication without sending the frequency band indication based on the first frequency band and the second frequency band being the same frequency band.

[0208] 28. A method according to clause 21, wherein:

[0209] The method further includes sending a capability report indicating a plurality of possible OB PRS frequency bands; and

[0210] The method includes transmitting the receive-transmit time difference indication and a frequency band indication associated with the receive-transmit time difference indication, the frequency band indication being a relative frequency band index indicating one of a plurality of possible OB PRS frequency bands indicated in the capability report.

[0211] 29. The method of clause 21, wherein: the method further comprises receiving an OB PRS configuration indicating a plurality of possible OB PRS frequency bands; and

[0212] The method includes transmitting the receive-transmit time difference indication and a frequency band indication associated with the receive-transmit time difference indication, the frequency band indication being a relative frequency band index indicating one of a plurality of possible OB PRS frequency bands indicated in the OB PRS configuration.

[0213] 30. A method as described in clause 29, wherein the frequency band indication is a Boolean indication indicating whether the first frequency band and the second frequency band are the same or different, or indicating which of two OB PRS frequency bands configured for the UE is the second frequency band.

[0214] 31. A non-transitory processor-readable storage medium comprising processor-readable instructions for causing one or more processors of a UE (user equipment) to perform the following operations:

[0215] measuring an inbound (IB) positioning reference signal (PRS) resource on a first frequency band;

[0216] sending outbound (OB) PRS resources to a recipient device on a second frequency band; and

[0217] At least one of: transmitting a receive-transmit time difference indication and a frequency band indication indicating the second frequency band based on the second frequency band being different from the first frequency band, the receive-transmit time difference indication indicating a difference between an arrival time of the IB PRS resource and a departure time of the OB PRS resource; or

[0218] The receive-transmit time difference indication is sent without the frequency band indication based on the second frequency band being implicit.

[0219] 32. A storage medium according to clause 31, wherein:

[0220] the first frequency band is different from the second frequency band;

[0221] The storage medium further includes processor-readable instructions that cause the one or more processors to send a capability report indicating that a receive-transmit time difference indication sent by the UE corresponding to an IB PRS received by the UE on the first frequency band will also correspond to an OB PRS sent by the UE on the second frequency band; and

[0222] The storage medium includes processor-readable instructions that cause the one or more processors to send the receive-transmit time difference indication without the frequency band indication, and the processor-readable instructions include processor-readable instructions that cause the one or more processors to send the receive-transmit time difference indication without the frequency band indication based on the second frequency band being indicated in the capability report.

[0223] 33. A storage medium according to clause 31, wherein the storage medium includes processor-readable instructions that cause the one or more processors to send the receive-transmit time difference indication without the frequency band indication, and the processor-readable instructions include processor-readable instructions that cause the one or more processors to send the receive-transmit time difference indication without the frequency band indication based on the second frequency band being the only scheduled frequency band for the UE to send the PRS to the receiving device.

[0224] 34. A storage medium according to clause 31, wherein the first frequency band is different from the second frequency band, the OBPRS resource is a first OB PRS resource, and the storage medium includes processor-readable instructions that cause the one or more processors to send the receive-transmit time difference indication without the frequency band indication, and the processor-readable instructions include processor-readable instructions that cause the one or more processors to send the receive-transmit time difference indication without the frequency band indication based on the one or more processors selecting the first OB PRS resource from the first OBPRS resource and at least a second OB PRS resource on a third frequency band different from the first frequency band and the second frequency band according to a protocol.

[0225] 35. The storage medium of clause 34, further comprising processor-readable instructions that cause the one or more processors to select the first OB PRS resource based on the second frequency band being in a same frequency range as the first frequency band.

[0226] 36. The storage medium of clause 34, further comprising processor-readable instructions that cause the one or more processors to select the first OB PRS resource based on the second frequency band having a smaller frequency band index than the third frequency band.

[0227] 37. A storage medium according to clause 31, wherein the storage medium includes processor-readable instructions that cause the one or more processors to send the receive-transmit time difference indication without the frequency band indication, and the processor-readable instructions include processor-readable instructions that cause the one or more processors to send the receive-transmit time difference indication without the frequency band indication based on the first frequency band and the second frequency band being the same frequency band.

[0228] 38. A storage medium according to clause 31, wherein:

[0229] The storage medium further includes processor-readable instructions that cause the one or more processors to send a capability report indicating a plurality of possible OB PRS frequency bands; and

[0230] The storage medium includes processor-readable instructions that cause the one or more processors to send the receive-transmit time difference indication and the frequency band indication associated with the receive-transmit time difference indication, the frequency band indication being a relative frequency band index indicating one of the plurality of possible OB PRS frequency bands indicated in the capability report.

[0231] 39. The storage medium of clause 31, wherein:

[0232] The storage medium further includes processor-readable instructions that cause the one or more processors to receive an OB PRS configuration indicating a plurality of possible OB PRS frequency bands; and

[0233] The storage medium includes processor-readable instructions that cause the one or more processors to send the receive-transmit time difference indication and the frequency band indication associated with the receive-transmit time difference indication, the frequency band indication being a relative frequency band index indicating one of the plurality of possible OB PRS frequency bands indicated in the OB PRS configuration.

[0234] 40. The storage medium of clause 39, wherein the frequency band indication is a Boolean indication indicating whether the first frequency band and the second frequency band are the same or different, or indicating which of two OB PRS frequency bands configured for the UE is the second frequency band.

[0235] Other considerations

[0236] Other examples and implementations are within the scope of this disclosure and the appended claims. For example, due to the nature of software and computers, the functions described above may be implemented using software executed by a processor, hardware, firmware, hard wiring, or any combination of these. Features that implement the functions may also be physically located in a variety of locations, including being distributed so that parts of the functions are implemented at different physical locations.

[0237] As used herein, the singular forms "a", "an", and "the" also include the plural forms, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. As used herein, the terms "include" and / or "comprise" specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and / or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and / or groups thereof.

[0238] As used herein, the term RS (reference signal) may refer to one or more reference signals and may be appropriately applied to any form of the term RS, for example, PRS, SRS, CSI-RS, etc.

[0239] As used herein, unless otherwise stated, a statement that a function or operation is "based on" an item or condition means that the function or operation is based on the stated item or condition, and may be based on one or more items and / or conditions in addition to the specified item or condition.

[0240] In addition, as used herein, "or" used in a list of items (possibly preceded by "at least one" or by "one or more") represents a disjunctive list, for example, a "at least one of A, B, or C" list or a "one or more of A, B, or C" list or a "A or B or C" list represents A, or B or C, or AB (A and B), or AC (A and C), or BC (B and C), or ABC (i.e., A and B and C), or a combination having more than one feature (e.g., AA, AAB, ABBC, etc.). Thus, a statement that, for example, a processor is configured to perform a function with respect to at least one of A or B, or that the item is configured to perform function A or function B means that the item can be configured to perform the function with respect to A, or can be configured to perform the function with respect to B, or can be configured to perform the functions with respect to both A and B. For example, the phrase "the processor is configured to measure at least one of A or B" or "the processor is configured to measure A or measure B" means that the processor may be configured to measure A (and may or may not be configured to measure B), or may be configured to measure B (and may or may not be configured to measure A), or may be configured to measure A and measure B (and may be configured to select which one or both of A and B to measure). Similarly, a statement about a component for measuring at least one of A or B includes a component for measuring A (which may or may not be able to measure B), or a component for measuring B (and may or may not be configured to measure A), or a component for measuring A and B (which may select which one or both of A and B to measure). As another example, a statement that an item such as a processor is configured to perform at least one of function X or to perform function Y means that the item may be configured to perform function X, or may be configured to perform function Y, or may be configured to perform function X and perform function Y. For example, the phrase "a processor configured to measure at least one of X or Y" means that the processor may be configured to measure X (and may or may not be configured to measure Y), or may be configured to measure Y (and may or may not be configured to measure Y), or may be configured to measure X and Y (and may be configured to select which or both of X and Y to measure).

[0241] Substantial changes may be made according to specific requirements. For example, customized hardware may also be used, and / or specific elements may be implemented in hardware, software executed by a processor (including portable software, such as applets, etc.), or both. In addition, connections to other computing devices such as network input / output devices may be employed. Unless otherwise noted, components of functionality or other functions shown in the drawings and / or discussed herein as being connected or communicating with each other may be communicatively coupled. That is, they may be connected directly or indirectly to enable communication between them.

[0242] The systems and devices discussed above are examples. Various configurations may omit, substitute, or add various processes or components as appropriate. For example, features described with respect to certain configurations may be combined in various other configurations. Different aspects and elements of configurations may be combined in a similar manner. Moreover, technology is evolving, and therefore, many of the elements are examples and do not limit the scope of the present disclosure or claims.

[0243] A wireless communication system is a wireless communication system in which communications are transmitted wirelessly, i.e., by electromagnetic waves and / or sound waves propagating in air space rather than by wires or other physical connections. A wireless communication network may not have all communications transmitted wirelessly, but is configured to have at least some communications transmitted wirelessly. In addition, the term "wireless communication device" or similar terms does not require that the function of the device is exclusively or uniformly mainly used for communication, or that the device is a mobile device, but rather indicates that the device includes wireless communication capabilities (unidirectional or bidirectional), such as including at least one radio device for wireless communication (each radio device is part of a transmitter, receiver or transceiver).

[0244] Specific details are given in the specification to provide a thorough understanding of example configurations (including implementations). However, the configurations can be practiced without these specific details. For example, well-known circuits, processes, algorithms, structures, and techniques have been shown without unnecessary details to avoid obscuring the configurations. This description only provides example configurations and does not limit the scope, applicability, or configurations of the claims. Instead, the previous description of the configuration provides a description for implementing the described technology. Various changes can be made to the functions and arrangements of the elements.

[0245] As used herein, the terms "processor-readable medium," "machine-readable medium," and "computer-readable medium" refer to any medium that participates in providing data that causes a machine to operate in a particular manner. Using a computing platform, various processor-readable media may be involved in providing instructions / codes to (multiple) processors for execution and / or may be used to store and / or carry such instructions / codes (e.g., as signals). In many implementations, processor-readable media are physical and / or tangible storage media. Such media may take many forms, including, but not limited to, non-volatile media and volatile media. Non-volatile media include, for example, optical disks and / or magnetic disks. Volatile media include, but are not limited to, dynamic memory.

[0246] Several example configurations have been described, and various modifications, alternative configurations, and equivalents may be used. For example, the above elements may be components of a larger system, where other rules may take precedence over or otherwise modify the application of the present disclosure. Similarly, many operations may be performed before, during, or after considering the above elements. Therefore, the above description does not limit the scope of the claims.

[0247] A statement that a value exceeds (or is greater than or is above) a first threshold is equivalent to a statement that the value reaches or exceeds a second threshold that is slightly greater than the first threshold, e.g., in the resolution of the computing system, the second threshold is a value higher than the first threshold. A statement that a value is less than (or is within or below) a first threshold is equivalent to a statement that the value is less than or equal to a second threshold that is slightly less than the first threshold, e.g., in the resolution of the computing system, the second threshold is a value lower than the first threshold.

Claims

1. A user equipment UE, include: at least one transceiver; Memory; as well as at least one processor communicatively coupled to the at least one transceiver and the memory, wherein the at least one processor: configured to measure inbound IB positioning reference signal (PRS) resources received via the at least one transceiver on a first frequency band; configured to transmit, via the at least one transceiver, outbound OB PRS resources to a recipient device on a second frequency band; as well as The device is configured to send, via the at least one transceiver and based on the second frequency band being different from the first frequency band, a receive-transmit time difference indication and a frequency band indication indicating that the UE uses the second frequency band to send the OB PRS, wherein the receive-transmit time difference indication indicates a difference between an arrival time of the IB PRS resource and a departure time of the OB PRS resource.

2. The UE according to claim 1, in: The at least one processor is further configured to send a capability report indicating a plurality of possible OB PRS frequency bands; and The at least one processor is configured to transmit the frequency band indication and the receive-transmit time difference indication, the frequency band indication being a relative frequency band index indicating one of the plurality of possible OB PRS frequency bands indicated in the capability report.

3. The UE according to claim 1, in: The at least one processor is further configured to receive an OB PRS configuration indicating a plurality of possible OB PRS frequency bands; and The at least one processor is configured to transmit the frequency band indication and the receive-transmit time difference indication, the frequency band indication being a relative frequency band index indicating one of the plurality of possible OB PRS frequency bands indicated in the OB PRS configuration.

4. The UE according to claim 3, in, The frequency band indication is a Boolean indication indicating whether the first frequency band and the second frequency band are the same or different, or indicating which of two OB PRS frequency bands configured for the UE is the second frequency band.

5. A user equipment UE, include: at least one transceiver; Memory; as well as at least one processor communicatively coupled to the at least one transceiver and the memory, wherein the at least one processor: configured to measure inbound IB positioning reference signal (PRS) resources received via the at least one transceiver on a first frequency band; configured to transmit, via the at least one transceiver, outbound OB PRS resources to a recipient device on a second frequency band; as well as is configured to send a receive-transmit time difference indication via the at least one transceiver without a frequency band indication based on the second frequency band being implicit, wherein: the first frequency band is different from the second frequency band; The at least one processor is further configured to send a capability report indicating: a receive-transmit time difference indication sent by the UE corresponding to the IB PRS received by the UE on the first frequency band will also correspond to the OB PRS sent by the UE on the second frequency band; and The at least one processor is further configured to send the receive-transmit time difference indication without the frequency band indication based on the second frequency band being indicated in the capability report.

6. A user equipment UE, include: at least one transceiver; Memory; as well as at least one processor communicatively coupled to the at least one transceiver and the memory, wherein the at least one processor: configured to measure inbound IB positioning reference signal (PRS) resources received via the at least one transceiver on a first frequency band; configured to transmit, via the at least one transceiver, outbound OB PRS resources to a recipient device on a second frequency band; as well as configured to send a receive-transmit time difference indication via the at least one transceiver without a frequency band indication based on the second frequency band being implicit, The first frequency band is different from the second frequency band, the OB PRS resource is a first OB PRS resource, and the at least one processor is configured to send the receive-send time difference indication without the frequency band indication based on the at least one processor selecting the first OBPRS resource from the first OB PRS resource and at least a second OB PRS resource on a third frequency band different from the first frequency band and the second frequency band according to a protocol.

7. The UE according to claim 6, in, The at least one processor is configured to select the first OB PRS resource based on the second frequency band being in a same frequency range as the first frequency band.

8. The UE according to claim 6, in, The at least one processor is configured to select the first OB PRS resource based on the second frequency band having a smaller frequency band index than the third frequency band.

9. A user equipment UE, include: means for measuring inbound IB positioning reference signal (PRS) resources on a first frequency band; means for transmitting outbound OB PRS resources to a recipient device on a second frequency band; as well as A means for sending a receive-transmit time difference indication indicating a difference between an arrival time of the IB PRS resource and a departure time of the OB PRS resource and a frequency band indication instructing the UE to use the second frequency band to transmit the OB PRS based on the second frequency band being different from the first frequency band.

10. The UE according to claim 9, in: The UE further comprises means for sending a capability report indicating a plurality of possible OB PRS frequency bands; as well as The UE includes a component for sending the receive-transmit time difference indication and the frequency band indication, the component including: a component for sending the frequency band indication associated with the receive-transmit time difference indication, wherein the frequency band indication is a relative band index indicating one of the multiple possible OB PRS frequency bands indicated in the capability report.

11. The UE according to claim 9, in: The UE further comprises means for receiving an OB PRS configuration indicating a plurality of possible OB PRS frequency bands; and The UE includes means for sending the receive-transmit time difference indication and the frequency band indication, the means including means for sending the frequency band indication associated with the receive-transmit time difference indication, wherein the frequency band indication is a relative frequency band index indicating one of the plurality of possible OB PRS frequency bands indicated in the OB PRS configuration.

12. The UE according to claim 11, in, The frequency band indication is a Boolean indication indicating whether the first frequency band and the second frequency band are the same or different, or indicating which of two OB PRS frequency bands configured for the UE is the second frequency band.

13. A user equipment UE, include: means for measuring inbound IB positioning reference signal (PRS) resources on a first frequency band; means for sending outbound OB PRS resources to a recipient device on a second frequency band; as well as means for sending a receive-transmit time difference indication without a frequency band indication based on the second frequency band being implicit, wherein: the first frequency band is different from the second frequency band; The UE further comprises means for sending a capability report indicating that a receive-transmit time difference indication sent by the UE corresponding to the IB PRS received by the UE on the first frequency band will also correspond to the OB PRS sent by the UE on the second frequency band; and The UE comprises means for sending the receive-transmit time difference indication without the frequency band indication, the means comprising means for sending the receive-transmit time difference indication without the frequency band indication based on the second frequency band being indicated in the capability report.

14. A user equipment UE, include: means for measuring inbound IB positioning reference signal (PRS) resources on a first frequency band; means for sending outbound OB PRS resources to a recipient device on a second frequency band; as well as means for sending a receive-transmit time difference indication without a frequency band indication based on the second frequency band being implicit, The first frequency band is different from the second frequency band, the OB PRS resource is a first OB PRS resource, and the UE includes a component for sending the receive-send time difference indication without the frequency band indication, and the component includes: a component for sending the receive-send time difference indication without the frequency band indication based on the UE selecting the first OB PRS resource from the first OB PRS resource and at least a second OB PRS resource on a third frequency band different from the first frequency band and the second frequency band according to a protocol.

15. The UE of claim 14, further comprising means for selecting the first OB PRS resource based on the second frequency band being in the same frequency range as the first frequency band.

16. The UE of claim 14, further comprising means for selecting the first OB PRS resource based on the second frequency band having a smaller frequency band index than the third frequency band.

17. A positioning method, include: At a user equipment UE, measuring an inbound IB positioning reference signal PRS resource on a first frequency band; sending outbound OB PRS resources from the UE to a recipient device on a second frequency band; as well as Based on the second frequency band being different from the first frequency band, a receive-transmit time difference indication and a frequency band indication indicating that the UE uses the second frequency band to transmit the OB PRS are sent from the UE, the receive-transmit time difference indication indicating a difference between an arrival time of the IB PRS resource and a departure time of the OB PRS resource.

18. The method according to claim 17, in: The method further includes sending a capability report indicating a plurality of possible OB PRS frequency bands; and The method includes transmitting the receive-transmit time difference indication and a frequency band indication associated with the receive-transmit time difference indication, the frequency band indication being a relative frequency band index indicating one of the plurality of possible OB PRS frequency bands indicated in the capability report.

19. The method according to claim 17, in: The method further includes receiving an OB PRS configuration indicating a plurality of possible OB PRS frequency bands; and The method includes transmitting the receive-transmit time difference indication and a frequency band indication associated with the receive-transmit time difference indication, the frequency band indication being a relative frequency band index indicating one of the plurality of possible OB PRS frequency bands indicated in the OB PRS configuration.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the frequency band indication is a Boolean indication indicating whether the first frequency band and the second frequency band are the same or different, or indicating which of two OB PRS frequency bands configured for the UE is the second frequency band.

21. A positioning method, include: At a user equipment UE, measuring an inbound IB positioning reference signal PRS resource on a first frequency band; sending outbound OB PRS resources from the UE to a recipient device on a second frequency band; as well as Based on the second frequency band being implicit, a receive-transmit time difference indication is sent from the UE without sending a frequency band indication, wherein: the first frequency band is different from the second frequency band; The method also includes sending a capability report indicating that a receive-transmit time difference indication sent by the UE corresponding to the IB PRS received by the UE on the first frequency band will also correspond to the OB PRS sent by the UE on the second frequency band; and The method includes sending the receive-transmit time difference indication without sending the frequency band indication based on the second frequency band being indicated in the capability report.

22. A positioning method, include: At a user equipment UE, measuring an inbound IB positioning reference signal PRS resource on a first frequency band; sending outbound OB PRS resources from the UE to a recipient device on a second frequency band; as well as sending a receive-transmit time difference indication from the UE without sending a frequency band indication based on the second frequency band being implicit, The first frequency band is different from the second frequency band, the OB PRS resource is a first OB PRS resource, and the method includes sending the receive-send time difference indication without sending the frequency band indication based on the UE selecting the first OB PRS resource from the first OB PRS resource and at least a second OB PRS resource on a third frequency band different from the first frequency band and the second frequency band according to a protocol.

23. The method of claim 22, further comprising selecting the first OB PRS resource based on the second frequency band being in a same frequency range as the first frequency band.

24. The method of claim 22, further comprising selecting the first OB PRS resource based on the second frequency band having a smaller frequency band index than the third frequency band.

25. A non-transitory processor-readable storage medium comprising processor-readable instructions for causing one or more processors of a user equipment (UE) to perform the following operations: measuring an inbound IB positioning reference signal (PRS) resource on a first frequency band; sending outbound OB PRS resources to a recipient device on a second frequency band; and A receive-transmit time difference indication is sent based on that the second frequency band is different from the first frequency band and a frequency band indication indicating that the UE uses the second frequency band to send the OB PRS, the receive-transmit time difference indication indicating a difference between an arrival time of the IBPRS resource and a departure time of the OB PRS resource.

26. The storage medium according to claim 25, in: The storage medium further includes processor-readable instructions that cause the one or more processors to send a capability report indicating a plurality of possible OB PRS frequency bands; and The storage medium includes processor-readable instructions that cause the one or more processors to send the receive-transmit time difference indication and the frequency band indication associated with the receive-transmit time difference indication, the frequency band indication being a relative frequency band index indicating one of the plurality of possible OB PRS frequency bands indicated in the capability report.

27. The storage medium according to claim 25, in: The storage medium further includes processor-readable instructions that cause the one or more processors to receive an OB PRS configuration indicating a plurality of possible OB PRS frequency bands; and The storage medium includes processor-readable instructions that cause the one or more processors to send the receive-transmit time difference indication and the frequency band indication associated with the receive-transmit time difference indication, the frequency band indication being a relative frequency band index indicating one of the plurality of possible OB PRS frequency bands indicated in an OB PRS configuration.

28. The storage medium of claim 27, wherein the frequency band indication is a Boolean indication indicating whether the first frequency band and the second frequency band are the same or different, or indicating which of two OB PRS frequency bands configured for the UE is the second frequency band.

29. A non-transitory processor-readable storage medium comprising processor-readable instructions for causing one or more processors of a user equipment (UE) to perform the following operations: measuring an inbound IB positioning reference signal (PRS) resource on a first frequency band; sending outbound OB PRS resources to a recipient device on a second frequency band; and sending a receive-transmit time difference indication without a frequency band indication based on that the second frequency band is implicit, in: the first frequency band is different from the second frequency band; The storage medium further includes processor-readable instructions that cause the one or more processors to send a capability report indicating that a receive-transmit time difference indication sent by the UE corresponding to the IB PRS received by the UE on the first frequency band will also correspond to the OB PRS sent by the UE on the second frequency band; and The storage medium includes processor-readable instructions that cause the one or more processors to send the receive-transmit time difference indication without the frequency band indication, and the processor-readable instructions include processor-readable instructions that cause the one or more processors to send the receive-transmit time difference indication without the frequency band indication based on the second frequency band being indicated in the capability report.

30. A non-transitory processor-readable storage medium comprising processor-readable instructions for causing one or more processors of a user equipment (UE) to perform the following operations: measuring an inbound IB positioning reference signal (PRS) resource on a first frequency band; sending outbound OB PRS resources to a recipient device on a second frequency band; and Based on the second frequency band being implicit, sending the receive-send time difference indication without a frequency band indication, The first frequency band is different from the second frequency band, the OB PRS resource is a first OB PRS resource, and the storage medium includes processor-readable instructions for causing the one or more processors to send the receive-send time difference indication without the frequency band indication, and the processor-readable instructions include processor-readable instructions for causing the one or more processors to send the receive-send time difference indication without the frequency band indication based on the one or more processors selecting the first OB PRS resource from the first OB PRS resource and at least a second OB PRS resource on a third frequency band different from the first frequency band and the second frequency band according to a protocol.

31. The storage medium of claim 30, further comprising processor-readable instructions that cause the one or more processors to select the first OB PRS resource based on the second frequency band being in a same frequency range as the first frequency band.

32. The storage medium of claim 30, further comprising processor-readable instructions that cause the one or more processors to select the first OB PRS resource based on the second frequency band having a smaller frequency band index than the third frequency band.

33. A computer program product comprising computer readable instructions, wherein the computer readable instructions, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform the method of any one of claims 17-24.

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