Aggregated positioning signal processing management

Abstract

An example method of determining positioning signal measurements includes sending, from a user equipment to a network entity, a processing capability message indicating a processing capability of the user equipment to process an aggregated positioning reference signal, wherein the processing capability message corresponds to one or more assistance data types; obtaining, at the user equipment, the aggregated positioning reference signal; and processing, at the user equipment, the aggregated positioning reference signal based on assistance data to determine positioning signal measurements, the assistance data including the one or more assistance data types.

Description

[0001] background

[0002] Wireless communication systems have undergone several generations of development, including first-generation analog radiotelephone service (1G), second-generation (2G) digital radiotelephone service (including transitional 2.5G and 2.75G networks), third-generation (3G) high-speed data radio service with Internet capabilities, fourth-generation (4G) service (e.g., Long Term Evolution (LTE) or WiMax), and fifth-generation (5G) service. Currently, many different types of wireless communication systems are in use, including cellular and Personal Communication Services (PCS) systems. Known examples of cellular systems include cellular analog Advanced Mobile Phone Systems (AMPS), and digital cellular systems based on Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA), Frequency Division Multiple Access (FDMA), Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access (OFDMA), Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA), and GSM TDMA variants.

[0003] The fifth-generation (5G) mobile standard demands higher data transmission speeds, a greater number of connections, better coverage, and other improvements. According to the Next Generation Mobile Networks Alliance (NGC), the 5G standard is designed to provide tens of megabits per second (Mbps) of data rate to each of tens of thousands of users, and 1 gigabits per second (Gbps) to dozens of employees on an office floor. It should support hundreds of thousands of simultaneous connections to support large-scale sensor deployments. Therefore, the spectral efficiency of 5G mobile communications should be significantly improved compared to the current 4G standard. Furthermore, signaling efficiency should be improved and latency significantly reduced compared to the current standard.

[0004] Overview

[0005] An example user equipment includes: at least one transceiver configured to: wirelessly transmit outgoing signals and wirelessly receive incoming signals; a memory; and at least one processor communicatively coupled to the at least one transceiver and the memory and configured to: transmit a processing capability message to a network entity via the at least one transceiver, the processing capability message indicating the user equipment's processing capability for processing a clustered positioning reference signal, wherein the processing capability message corresponds to one or more auxiliary data types; obtain the clustered positioning reference signal from the at least one transceiver; and process the clustered positioning reference signal based on the auxiliary data to determine positioning signal measurements, the auxiliary data including the one or more auxiliary data types.

[0006] Another example user equipment includes: means for sending a processing capability message to a network entity, the processing capability message indicating the user equipment's processing capability for a clustered positioning reference signal, wherein the processing capability message corresponds to one or more auxiliary data types; means for obtaining the clustered positioning reference signal; and means for processing the clustered positioning reference signal based on auxiliary data to determine a positioning signal measurement, the auxiliary data including the one or more auxiliary data types.

[0007] An example method for determining a location signal measurement includes: sending a processing capability message from a user equipment to a network entity, the processing capability message indicating the user equipment's processing capability to process a clustered location reference signal, wherein the processing capability message corresponds to one or more auxiliary data types; obtaining the clustered location reference signal at the user equipment; and processing the clustered location reference signal at the user equipment based on auxiliary data, the auxiliary data including the one or more auxiliary data types, to determine the location signal measurement.

[0008] An example non-transient processor-readable storage medium includes processor-readable instructions configured to cause one or more processors of a user equipment to: send a processing capability message from the user equipment to a network entity, the processing capability message indicating the user equipment's processing capability to process a clustered positioning reference signal, wherein the processing capability message corresponds to one or more auxiliary data types; obtain the clustered positioning reference signal at the user equipment; and process the clustered positioning reference signal at the user equipment based on the auxiliary data to determine a positioning signal measurement, the auxiliary data including the one or more auxiliary data types.

[0009] An example location server includes: at least one transceiver; a memory; and at least one processor communicatively coupled to the at least one transceiver and the memory and configured to: receive a processing capability message via the at least one transceiver, the processing capability message including one or more indications of the user equipment's processing capability for processing converged positioning reference signals, wherein each of the one or more indications of the processing capability corresponds to a corresponding indication of one or more auxiliary data types; and transmit auxiliary data information based on the processing capability message to the user equipment via the at least one transceiver.

[0010] Another example location server includes: means for receiving a processing capability message, the processing capability message including one or more indications of the user equipment's processing capability for processing converged positioning reference signals, wherein each of the one or more indications of the processing capability corresponds to a corresponding indication of one or more auxiliary data types; and means for transmitting auxiliary data information based on the processing capability message to the user equipment.

[0011] An example method for assisting user equipment includes: receiving a processing capability message from the user equipment at a location server, the processing capability message including one or more indications of the user equipment's processing capability to process convergent positioning reference signals, wherein each of the one or more indications of the processing capability corresponds to a corresponding indication of one or more auxiliary data types; and transmitting auxiliary data information based on the processing capability message from the location server to the user equipment.

[0012] An example non-transient processor-readable storage medium includes processor-readable instructions configured to cause one or more processors of a location server to: receive a processing capability message from a user equipment, the processing capability message including one or more indications of the user equipment's processing capability to process convergent positioning reference signals, wherein each of the one or more indications of the processing capability corresponds to a corresponding indication of one or more first auxiliary data types; and transmit auxiliary data information based on the processing capability message to the user equipment. Brief description of the attached diagram

[0014] Figure 1 This is a simplified diagram of an example wireless communication system.

[0015] Figure 2 yes Figure 1 The diagram shows a block diagram of the components of an example user equipment.

[0016] Figure 3 yes Figure 1 The diagram shows a block diagram of the components of an example transmit / receive point.

[0017] Figure 4 yes Figure 1 The diagram shows the components of the example server.

[0018] Figure 5 This is a block diagram of an example user equipment.

[0019] Figure 6 This is an example table showing processing capacity and the availability of associated ancillary data.

[0020] Figure 7 It is a signaling and process flow used to provide processing capabilities, potentially provide auxiliary data, and determine positioning timeline information.

[0021] Figure 8 This is a flowchart illustrating the method for determining the location signal measurement.

[0022] Figure 9 This is a flowchart of a method for assisting user equipment.

[0023] Detailed description

[0024] This paper discusses techniques for managing positioning signal processing. For example, a user equipment (UE) may provide one or more indications of its processing capability for handling positioning reference signals. Processing capability may be indicated for different ancillary data availability or different subsets of ancillary data, such as different availability of one or more ancillary data types, for example, a combination of available ancillary data types, a lack of available ancillary data (i.e., availability is unavailable), or the availability of one type of ancillary data or another type of ancillary data, or the values ​​of (e.g.) ancillary data. Ancillary data may be used by the UE to process positioning reference signals to determine positioning signal measurements used to determine the UE's positioning. A server may provide the UE with ancillary data and / or coordinate positioning scheduling, such as the update rate for determining the UE's positioning, based on the available ancillary data and (e.g.) the processing capability indicated by the UE. These are examples, and other examples may be implemented.

[0025] The items and / or techniques described herein can provide one or more of the following capabilities, as well as others not mentioned: The time required to determine positioning information (e.g., positioning reference measurements, processed positioning signal measurements (e.g., range), and / or position estimation) can be reduced. The accuracy of mobile device positioning determination, such as lateral (horizontal) and / or vertical (height) position, can be improved. The latency for determining positioning signal measurements and mobile device positioning can be reduced. The accuracy of positioning scheduling can be improved. Other capabilities may be provided, and not every implementation according to this disclosure is required to provide any of the discussed capabilities, let alone all of them.

[0026] Obtaining the location of a mobile device accessing a wireless network can be useful for many applications, including, for example, emergency calls, personal navigation, consumer asset tracking, and locating friends or family members. Existing positioning methods include those based on measuring radio signals transmitted from various devices or entities, including satellite carriers (SVs) and terrestrial radio sources in the wireless network, such as base stations and access points. Standardization for 5G wireless networks is expected to include support for various positioning methods that can utilize reference signals transmitted by base stations for location determination in a manner similar to how LTE wireless networks currently utilize Positioning Reference Signals (PRS) and / or Cell-specific Reference Signals (CRS).

[0027] This description may refer to a sequence of actions to be performed by elements such as a computing device. The various actions described herein can be performed by special-purpose circuitry (e.g., an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC)), by program instructions being executed by one or more processors, or by a combination of both. The sequence of actions described herein can be implemented in a non-transitory computer-readable medium storing a corresponding set of computer instructions that, upon execution, will cause the associated processor to perform the functionality described herein. Thus, the aspects described herein can be implemented in several different forms, all of which fall within the scope of this disclosure, including the claimed subject matter.

[0028] As used herein, the terms “User Equipment” (UE) and “Base Station” are not specific to or otherwise limited to any particular Radio Access Technology (RAT) unless otherwise stated. Generally, such a UE can be any wireless communication device (e.g., mobile phone, router, tablet computer, laptop computer, consumer asset tracking device, Internet of Things (IoT) device, etc.) used by a user to communicate over a wireless communication network. The UE can be mobile or can (e.g., at certain times) be stationary and can communicate with a Radio Access Network (RAN). As used herein, the term “UE” can be interchangeably referred to as “Access Terminal” or “AT”, “Client Equipment”, “Wireless Equipment”, “Subscriber Equipment”, “Subscriber Terminal”, “Subscriber Station”, “User Terminal” or “UT”, “Mobile Terminal”, “Mobile Station”, or variations thereof. Generally, a UE can communicate with the core network via the RAN, and through the core network, the UE can connect to external networks (such as the Internet) and other UEs. Of course, other mechanisms for connecting to the core network and / or the Internet are also possible for the UE, such as via a wired access network, a WiFi network (e.g., based on IEEE 802.11, etc.), etc.

[0029] A base station may operate according to one of several RATs when communicating with a UE, depending on the network in which it is deployed, and may be alternatively referred to as an Access Point (AP), Network Node, B-Node, Evolved B-Node (eNB), General B-Node (gNodeB, gNB), etc. Additionally, in some systems, the base station may provide pure edge node signaling functions, while in others, it may provide additional control and / or network management functions.

[0030] The UE can be implemented using any of several types of devices, including but not limited to printed circuit (PC) cards, dense flash memory devices, external or internal modems, wireless or wired telephones, smartphones, tablet devices, consumer asset tracking devices, asset tags, etc. The communication link through which the UE can send signals to the RAN is called an uplink channel (e.g., reverse traffic channel, reverse control channel, 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., paging channel, control channel, broadcast channel, forward traffic channel, etc.). As used herein, the term traffic channel (TCH) can refer to an uplink / reverse traffic channel or a downlink / forward traffic channel.

[0031] As used herein, depending on the context, the terms "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., on a carrier) and may be associated with identifiers to distinguish adjacent cells operating via the same or different carriers (e.g., Physical Cell Identifier (PCID), Virtual Cell Identifier (VCID)). In some examples, a carrier may support multiple cells and may be configured with different protocol types that 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 protocol types). In some examples, the term "cell" may refer to a portion of the geographic coverage area on which a logical entity operates (e.g., a sector).

[0032] Reference Figure 1Examples of communication system 100 include UE 105, UE 106, radio access network (RAN) 135 (here, fifth-generation (5G) next-generation (NG) RAN (NG-RAN)), and 5G core network (5GC) 140. UE 105 and / or UE 106 can be, for example, IoT devices, location tracker devices, cellular phones, vehicles (e.g., cars, trucks, buses, ships, etc.) or other devices. 5G networks can also be referred to as new radio (NR) networks; NG-RAN 135 can be referred to as 5G RAN or NR RAN; and 5GC 140 can be referred to as NG core network (NGC). Standardization of NG-RAN and 5GC is underway within the Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP). Accordingly, NG-RAN 135 and 5GC 140 can comply with current or future standards from 3GPP for 5G support. RAN 135 can be another type of RAN, such as 3G RAN, 4G Long Term Evolution (LTE) RAN, etc. UE 106 can be similarly configured and coupled to UE 105 to send and / or receive signals from similar other entities in system 100, but for simplicity of the figures, in Figure 1 Such signaling is not indicated in the document. Similarly, for simplicity, the discussion focuses on UE 105. Communication system 100 may utilize information from constellation 185 of satellite launchers (SVs) 190, 191, 192, 193 of a satellite positioning system (SPS) such as GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, or BeiDou, or some other local or regional SPS (such as the Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS), the European Geostationary Navigation Coverage Service (EGNOS), or the Wide Area Augmentation System (WAAS)). Additional components of communication system 100 are described below. Communication system 100 may include additional or replacement components.

[0033] like Figure 1As shown, NG-RAN 135 includes NR B-nodes (gNB) 110a, 110b and a next-generation evolved B-node (ng-eNB) 114, and 5GC 140 includes Access and Mobility Management Functions (AMF) 115, Session Management Functions (SMF) 117, Location Management Functions (LMF) 120 and Gateway Mobility Location Center (GMLC) 125. gNBs 110a, 110b and ng-eNB 114 are communicatively coupled to each other, each configured to conduct bidirectional wireless communication with UE 105, and each communicatively coupled to and configured to conduct bidirectional communication with AMF 115. gNBs 110a, 110b and ng-eNB 114 may be referred to as base stations (BS). AMF 115, SMF 117, LMF 120 and GMLC 125 are communicatively coupled to each other, and the GMLC is communicatively coupled to an external client 130. SMF 117 can be used as the initial contact point for Service Control Function (SCF) (not shown) to create, control, and delete media sessions. BS 110a, 110b, and 114 can be macrocells (e.g., high-power cellular base stations), small cells (e.g., low-power cellular base stations), or access points (e.g., short-range base stations configured to use short-range technologies such as WiFi, WiFi Direct (WiFi-D)). (Communication via Low Energy (BLE), Zigbee, etc.). One or more of BS 110a, 110b, and 114 can be configured to communicate with UE 105 via multiple carriers. Each of BS 110a, 110b, and 114 can provide communication coverage for a corresponding geographic area (e.g., a cell). Each cell can be divided into multiple sectors based on the base station antenna.

[0034] Figure 1 A general explanation of each component is provided, wherein any or all of the components may be used appropriately, and each component may be repeated or omitted as needed. Specifically, although one UE 105 is explained, many UEs (e.g., hundreds, thousands, millions, etc.) may be used in communication system 100. Similarly, communication system 100 may include a larger (or smaller) number of SVs (i.e., more or fewer than the four SVs 190-193 shown), gNB 110a, 110b, ng-eNB 114, AMF 115, external client 130, and / or other components. The explained connections connecting the various components in 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. Furthermore, components may be rearranged, combined, separated, replaced, and / or omitted depending on the desired functionality.

[0035] Although Figure 1 While 5G-based networks have been described, similar network implementations and configurations can be used for other communication technologies, such as 3G, Long Term Evolution (LTE), etc. The implementations described herein (for 5G technologies and / or for one or more other communication technologies and / or protocols) can be used to transmit (or broadcast) directional synchronization signals, receive and measure directional signals at a UE (e.g., UE 105), and / or provide location assistance to UE 105 (via GMLC 125 or other location servers), and / or calculate the location of UE 105 at a location-capable device (such as UE 105, gNB 110a, 110b, or LMF 120) based on measurement parameters of such directional transmissions received at UE 105. Gateway Mobile Location Center (GMLC) 125, Location Management Function (LMF) 120, Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF) 115, SMF 117, ng-eNB (eNodeB) 114, and gNB (gNodeB) 110a, 110b are examples and may be replaced by or include various other location server functions and / or base station functions in various embodiments.

[0036] System 100 is capable of wireless communication because its components can communicate directly or indirectly (at least sometimes using wireless connections), 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 transceiver stations). For indirect communication, the communication may be altered during transmission from one entity to another, for example, to change the header information of data packets, change the format, etc. UE 105 may include multiple UEs and may be mobile wireless communication devices, but can communicate wirelessly and via wired connections. UE 105 can be any of a variety of devices, such as smartphones, tablets, vehicle-based devices, etc., but these are merely examples, as UE 105 does not need to be any of these configurations, and other configurations of UEs can be used. Other UEs may include wearable devices (e.g., smartwatches, smart jewelry, smart glasses, or head-mounted devices, etc.). Other UEs, whether currently existing or developed in the future, may also be used. In addition, other wireless devices (whether mobile or not) can be implemented within system 100 and can communicate with each other and / or with UE 105, BS 110a, 110b, 114, core network 140, and / or external client 130. For example, such other devices may include Internet of Things (IoT) devices, medical devices, home entertainment and / or automation devices, etc. Core network 140 can communicate with external client 130 (e.g., a computer system), for example, to allow external client 130 (e.g., via GMLC 125) to request and / or receive location information about UE 105.

[0037] UE 105 or other devices can be configured to communicate in various networks and / or for various purposes and / or using various technologies (e.g., 5G, Wi-Fi communication, multi-frequency Wi-Fi communication, satellite positioning, one or more types of communication (e.g., GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications), CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access), LTE (Long Term Evolution), V2X (vehicle-to-everything, e.g., V2P (vehicle to pedestrian), V2I (vehicle to infrastructure), V2V (vehicle to vehicle) etc.), IEEE (e.g., 802.11p). V2X communication can be cellular (Cellular-V2X (C-V2X)) and / or WiFi (e.g., DSRC (Dedicated Short Range Connectivity)). System 100 can support operation on multiple carriers (waveform signals of different frequencies). A multi-carrier transmitter can transmit modulated signals on multiple carriers simultaneously. Each modulated signal can 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 can be transmitted on a different carrier and can carry pilot, overhead information, data, etc. UEs 105 and 106 can communicate with each other via UE-to-UE sidelink (SL) communication by transmitting on one or more sidelink channels (such as the Physical Sidelink Synchronization Channel (PSSCH), Physical Sidelink Broadcast Channel (PSBCH), or Physical Sidelink Control Channel (PSCCH)).

[0038] UE 105 may include and / or may be referred to as a device, mobile device, wireless device, mobile terminal, terminal, mobile station (MS), Secure User Plane Positioning Enabled (SUPL) terminal (SET), or some other name. Furthermore, UE 105 may correspond to a cellular phone, smartphone, laptop device, tablet device, PDA, consumer asset tracking device, navigation device, Internet of Things (IoT) device, health monitor, security system, smart city sensor, smart meter, wearable tracker, or some other portable or mobile device. Typically, although not mandatory, UE 105 may support 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). Wireless communication can be achieved using technologies such as Bit-Band (BT), WiMAX, and 5G New Radio (NR) (e.g., using NG-RAN 135 and 5GC 140). UE 105 can support wireless communication using a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN), which can connect to other networks (e.g., the Internet) using, for example, digital subscriber line (DSL) or packet cable. Using one or more of these RATs allows UE 105 (e.g., via elements of 5GC 140) to... Figure 1 (not shown in the diagram) or possibly via GMLC 125, communicate with external client 130 and / or allow external client 130 (e.g., via GMLC 125) to receive location information about UE 105.

[0039] UE 105 may include a single entity or may include multiple entities, such as in a personal area network, where the user may employ audio, video, and / or data I / O (input / output) devices, and / or body sensors, as well as separate wired or wireless modems. An estimate of the location of UE 105 may be referred to as location, location estimation, location locking, lock, positioning, location estimation, or location locking, and may be geographic, providing location coordinates (e.g., latitude and longitude) of UE 105, which may or may not include an elevation component (e.g., height above sea level; height above ground level, floor level, or basement level, or depth below). Alternatively, the location of UE 105 may be expressed as a municipal location (e.g., expressed as a postal address or a designation of a point or smaller area within a building (such as a specific room or floor)). The location of UE 105 may be expressed as an area or volume (geographically or municipally defined) within which UE 105 is expected to be located with a certain probability or confidence level (e.g., 67%, 95%, etc.). The location of UE 105 can be expressed as a relative location, which includes, for example, distance and direction from a known location. A relative location can be expressed as relative coordinates (e.g., X, Y (and Z) coordinates) defined relative to an origin at a known location, which can be, for example, geographically, municipally, or with reference to a point, area, or volume indicated, for example, on a map, floor plan, or building plan. In the description contained herein, the use of the term "location" can include any of these variations unless otherwise indicated. When calculating the location of the UE, local x, y, and possibly z coordinates are typically solved, and then (if necessary) the local coordinates are converted to absolute coordinates (e.g., with respect to latitude, longitude, and elevation above or below mean sea level).

[0040] UE 105 can be configured to communicate with other entities using one or more of a variety of technologies. UE 105 can be configured to indirectly connect to one or more communication networks via one or more device-to-device (D2D) peer-to-peer (P2P) links. D2D P2P links can use any suitable D2D radio access technology (RAT) (such as LTE Direct (LTE-D), WiFi Direct (WiFi-D), etc.). Supported by (etc.). One or more UEs in a group of UEs using D2D communication may be within the geographic coverage area of ​​a Transmit / Receive Point (TRP) (such as one or more of gNB 110a, 110b and / or ng-eNB 114). Other UEs in the 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, where each UE may transmit to other UEs in the group. The TRP facilitates the scheduling of resources for D2D communication. In other cases, D2D communication may be performed between UEs without involving the TRP. One or more UEs in a group of UEs using D2D communication may be within the geographic coverage area of ​​a TRP. Other UEs in the 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, where each UE may transmit to other UEs in the group. TRP facilitates the scheduling of resources used for D2D communication. In other cases, D2D communication can be performed between UEs without involving TRP.

[0041] Figure 1 The base stations (BSs) in the NG-RAN 135 shown include NRB nodes (referred to as gNBs 110a and 110b). Each pair of gNBs 110a and 110b in the NG-RAN 135 can be interconnected via one or more other gNBs. Access to the 5G network is provided to UE 105 via wireless communication between UE 105 and one or more of the gNBs 110a and 110b. gNBs 110a and 110b can use 5G to provide wireless communication access to the 5GC 140 on behalf of UE 105. Figure 1 In this context, it is assumed that the serving gNB of UE 105 is gNB 110a, but another gNB (e.g., gNB 110b) may act as the serving gNB or as a secondary gNB to provide additional throughput and bandwidth to UE 105 if UE 105 moves to another location.

[0042] Figure 1The base station (BS) in NG-RAN 135 shown may include ng-eNB 114 (also referred to as a next-generation evolved B node). ng-eNB 114 may connect to one or more of gNBs 110a and 110b in NG-RAN 135 (possibly via one or more other gNBs and / or one or more other ng-eNBs). ng-eNB 114 may provide LTE radio access and / or evolved LTE (eLTE) radio access to UE 105. One or more of gNBs 110a, 110b and / or ng-eNB 114 may be configured as a location-only beacon, which may transmit signals to assist in determining the location of UE 105, but may not be able to receive signals from UE 105 or other UEs.

[0043] BS 110a, 110b, and 114 may each include one or more TRPs. For example, each sector within a BS cell may include a TRP, but multiple TRPs may share one or more components (e.g., share a processor but have separate antennas). System 100 may exclusively include macro TRPs, or system 100 may have different types of TRPs, such as macro, pico, and / or femto TRPs. Macro TRPs may cover a relatively large geographic area (e.g., a radius of several kilometers) and allow unrestricted access by terminals with service subscriptions. Pico TRPs may cover a relatively small geographic area (e.g., a pico cell) and allow unrestricted access by terminals with service subscriptions. Femto or home TRPs may cover a relatively small geographic area (e.g., a femto cell) and allow restricted access by terminals associated with that femto cell (e.g., a user's terminal in a residence).

[0044] As mentioned, although Figure 1 The diagram depicts nodes configured to communicate according to 5G communication protocols, but nodes configured to communicate according to other communication protocols (such as, for example, LTE or IEEE 802.11x protocols) can also be used. For example, in an evolved packet system (EPS) providing LTE radio access to UE 105, the RAN may include an evolved universal mobile telecommunications system (UMTS) terrestrial radio access network (E-UTRAN), which may include base stations containing evolved B-nodes (eNBs). The core network for the EPS may include an evolved packet core (EPC). The EPS may include the E-UTRAN plus the EPC, where the E-UTRAN corresponds to... Figure 1 NG-RAN 135 and EPC corresponds to Figure 1 5GC 140 in the middle.

[0045] gNB 110a, 110b, and ng-eNB 114 can communicate with AMF 115; for positioning functionality, AMF 115 communicates with LMF 120. AMF 115 supports the mobility of UE 105 (including cell changes and handover) and can participate in supporting signaling connections to UE 105 and potentially data and voice bearers for UE 105. LMF 120 can communicate directly with UE 105, for example, wirelessly, or directly with BS 110a, 110b, and 114. LMF 120 supports UE 105 positioning when UE 105 accesses NG-RAN 135, and supports various positioning protocols / methods, such as Auxiliary GNSS (A-GNSS), Observed Time Difference of Arrival (OTDOA) (e.g., Downlink (DL) OTDOA or Uplink (UL) OTDOA), Round Trip Time (RTT), Multi-Cell RTT, Real-Time Kinematics (RTK), Precise Point Positioning (PPP), Differential GNSS (DGNSS), Enhanced Cellular ID (E-CID), Angle of Arrival (AoA), Angle of Departure (AoD), and / or other positioning methods. LMF 120 can process location service requests for UE 105 received, for example, from AMF 115 or GMLC 125. LMF 120 can connect to AMF 115 and / or GMLC 125. LMF 120 may be referred to by other names, such as Location Manager (LM), Location Function (LF), Commercial LMF (CLMF), or Value-Added LMF (VLMF). The node / system implementing LMF 120 may additionally or alternatively implement other types of location support modules, such as an Enhanced Serving Mobility Location Center (E-SMLC) or a Secure User Plane Location (SUPL) Location Platform (SLP). At least some of the location functionality (including the derivation of the location of UE 105) can be performed at UE 105 (e.g., using signal measurements obtained by UE 105 for signals transmitted by radio nodes (such as gNB 110a, 110b and / or ng-eNB 114), and / or auxiliary data provided to UE 105, for example, by LMF 120). AMF 115 can be used as a control node to process signaling between UE 105 and core network 140, and can provide QoS (Quality of Service) streaming and session management. AMF 115 can support the mobility of UE 105 (including cell changes and handovers) and can participate in supporting signaling connections to UE 105.

[0046] GMLC 125 can support location requests for UE 105 received from external client 130, and can forward such requests to AMF 115 for forwarding to LMF 120, or can forward them directly to LMF 120. A location response from LMF 120 (e.g., containing a location estimate for UE 105) can be returned to GMLC 125 directly or via AMF 115, and GMLC 125 can then return the location response (e.g., containing the location estimate) to external client 130. GMLC 125 is shown connected to both AMF 115 and LMF 120, but in some implementations it may not be connected to either AMF 115 or LMF 120.

[0047] like Figure 1 Further explanation is provided: the LMF 120 can use the new Radio Positioning Protocol A (which may be referred to as NPPa or NRPPa) to communicate with gNB 110a, 110b, and / or ng-eNB 114. This new Radio Positioning Protocol A is defined in 3GPP Technical Specification (TS) 38.455. NRPPa can be the same as, similar to, or an extension of the LTE Positioning Protocol A (LPPa) defined in 3GPP TS 36.455, where NRPPa messages are transmitted via AMF 115 between gNB 110a (or gNB 110b) and the LMF 120, and / or between ng-eNB 114 and the LMF 120. Figure 1As further explained, LMF 120 and UE 105 can communicate using the LTE Location Protocol (LPP), which is defined in 3GPP TS 36.355. LMF 120 and UE 105 can also communicate using a new radio positioning protocol (which may be referred to as NPP or NRPP), which may be the same as, similar to, or an extension of LPP. Here, LPP and / or NPP messages can be transmitted between UE 105 and LMF 120 via AMF 115 and UE 105's serving gNB 110a, 110b, or serving ng-eNB 114. For example, LPP and / or NPP messages can be transmitted between LMF 120 and AMF 115 using the 5G Location Services Application Protocol (LCS AP), and between AMF 115 and UE 105 using the 5G Non-Access Stratum (NAS) protocol. The LPP and / or NPP protocols can be used to support the location of UE 105 using UE-assisted and / or UE-based location methods (such as A-GNSS, RTK, OTDOA, and / or E-CID). The NRPPa protocol can be used to support the location of UE 105 using network-based location methods (such as E-CID) (e.g., in conjunction with measurements obtained by gNB110a, 110b, or ng-eNB 114) and / or can be used by LMF 120 to obtain location-related information from gNB 110a, 110b, and / or ng-eNB 114, such as defining parameters for directional SS transmissions from gNB 110a, 110b, and / or ng-eNB 114. LMF 120 can coexist with or be integrated with the gNB or TRP, or can be configured to communicate directly or indirectly with the gNB and / or TRP, located away from the gNB and / or TRP.

[0048] Using a UE-assisted positioning method, UE 105 can obtain location measurements and send these measurements to a location server (e.g., LMF 120) for calculating the location estimate of UE 105. For example, location measurements may include one or more of the following: Received Signal Strength Indication (RSSI), Round-Trip Time (RTT), Reference Signal Time Difference (RSTD), Reference Signal Received Power (RSRP), and / or Reference Signal Received Quality (RSRQ) of gNB 110a, 110b, ng-eNB 114, and / or WLAN AP. Location measurements may additionally or alternatively include measurements of GNSS pseudorange, code phase, and / or carrier phase of SV 190-193.

[0049] Using a UE-based positioning method, UE 105 can obtain a location measurement (e.g., which may be the same as or similar to a location measurement for a UE-assisted positioning method) and can calculate the location of UE 105 (e.g., by means of auxiliary data received from a location server (such as LMF 120) or broadcast by gNB 110a, 110b, ng-eNB 114 or other base stations or APs).

[0050] Using a network-based positioning method, one or more base stations (e.g., gNB 110a, 110b and / or ng-eNB 114) or APs can acquire location measurements (e.g., measurements of RSSI, RTT, RSRP, RSRQ, or Time of Arrival (ToA) of signals transmitted by UE 105) and / or can receive measurements acquired by UE 105. These base stations or APs can then transmit these measurements to a location server (e.g., LMF 120) for calculating a location estimate for UE 105.

[0051] The information provided to the LMF 120 by the gNB 110a, 110b and / or ng-eNB 114 using NRPPa may include timing and configuration information for directional SS transmissions, as well as location coordinates. The LMF 120 may provide some or all of this information as supplementary data to the UE 105 in LPP and / or NPP messages via NG-RAN 135 and 5GC 140.

[0052] The LPP or NPP message sent from LMF 120 to UE 105 may instruct UE 105 to perform any of a variety of tasks, depending on the desired functionality. For example, the LPP or NPP message may contain instructions for UE 105 to obtain measurements for GNSS (or A-GNSS), WLAN, E-CID, and / or OTDOA (or some other positioning method). In the case of E-CID, the LPP or NPP message may instruct UE 105 to obtain one or more measurement parameters (e.g., beam ID, beamwidth, average angle, RSRP, RSRQ measurements) of directional signals transmitted within a specific cell supported by one or more of gNB 110a, 110b, and / or ng-eNB 114 (or supported by some other type of base station, such as eNB or WiFi AP). UE 105 can send these measurement parameters back to LMF 120 via service gNB110a (or service ng-eNB 114) and AMF 115 in an LPP or NPP message (e.g., within a 5G NAS message).

[0053] As mentioned, while a communication system 100 is described in relation to 5G technology, the communication system 100 can be implemented to support other communication technologies (such as GSM, WCDMA, LTE, etc.) used to support and interact with mobile devices (such as UE 105) (e.g., to enable voice, data, location, and other functionalities). In some such embodiments, the 5GC 140 can be configured to control different air interfaces. For example, non-3GPP interoperability functions (N3IWF) in the 5GC 150 can be used. Figure 1 (Not shown) Connect 5GC 140 to a WLAN. For example, the WLAN may support IEEE 802.11 WiFi access for UE 105 and may include one or more WiFi APs. Here, N3IWF may connect to the WLAN and other components in 5GC 140, such as AMF 115. In some embodiments, both NG-RAN 135 and 5GC 140 may be replaced by one or more other RANs and one or more other core networks. For example, in EPS, NG-RAN 135 may be replaced by E-UTRAN containing eNBs, and 5GC 140 may be replaced by EPC containing a Mobility Management Entity (MME) instead of AMF 115, an E-SMLC instead of LMF 120, and a GMLC similar to GMLC 125. In such EPS, the E-SMLC may use LPPa instead of NRPPa to send location information to and receive location information from eNBs in the E-UTRAN, and may use LPP to support UE 105's positioning. In these other embodiments, the location of UE 105 using directional PRS can be supported in a manner similar to that described herein for 5G networks, the difference being that the functions and procedures described herein for gNB 110a, 110b, ng-eNB 114, AMF 115 and LMF120 can be applied alternatively to other network elements, such as eNB, WiFi AP, MME and E-SMLC, in some cases.

[0054] As mentioned, in some embodiments, positioning functionality can be achieved at least in part using directional SS beams transmitted by base stations (such as gNB 110a, 110b and / or ng-eNB 114) to determine the location of the UE (e.g., Figure 1 Within the range of UE 105. In some instances, the UE can use directional SS beams from multiple base stations (such as gNB 110a, 110b, ng-eNB 114, etc.) to calculate the UE's location.

[0055] Also refer to Figure 2UE 200 is an example of one of UEs 105 and 106, and includes a computing platform containing a processor 210, a memory 211 containing software (SW) 212, one or more sensors 213, a transceiver interface 214 for a transceiver 215 (which includes a wireless transceiver 240 and a wired transceiver 250), a user interface 216, a satellite positioning system (SPS) receiver 217, a camera 218, and a positioning device (PD) 219. The processor 210, memory 211, sensors 213, transceiver interface 214, user interface 216, SPS receiver 217, camera 218, and positioning device 219 can be communicatively coupled to each other via a bus 220 (which can be configured for, for example, optical and / or electrical communication). One or more of the illustrated devices (e.g., camera 218, positioning device 219, and / or one or more sensors 213, etc.) can be omitted from UE 200. Processor 210 may include one or more intelligent hardware devices (e.g., a central processing unit (CPU), microcontroller, application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), etc.). Processor 210 may include multiple processors, including a general-purpose / application processor 230, a digital signal processor (DSP) 231, a modem processor 232, a video processor 233, and / or a sensor processor 234. One or more of processors 230-234 may include multiple devices (e.g., multiple processors). For example, sensor processor 234 may include processors for, for example, RF (radio frequency) sensing (where one or more transmitted (cellular) wireless signals and reflections are used to identify, map, and / or track objects), and / or ultrasound, etc. Modem processor 232 may support dual SIM / dual connectivity (or even more SIMs). For example, one SIM (subscriber identity module or subscriber identification module) may be used by an original equipment manufacturer (OEM), and another SIM may be used by an end user of UE 200 to obtain connectivity. Memory 211 is a non-transient storage medium, which may include random access memory (RAM), flash memory, disk storage, and / or read-only memory (ROM), etc. Memory 211 stores software 212, which may be processor-readable, processor-executable software code containing instructions configured to cause processor 210 to perform the various functions described herein when executed. Alternatively, software 212 may not be directly executable by processor 210, but may be configured (e.g., when compiled and executed) to cause processor 210 to perform various functions. This description may refer to processor 210 performing functions, but this includes other implementations, such as processor 210 performing software and / or firmware implementations. This description may refer to processor 210 performing functions as a shorthand for one or more of processors 230-234 performing that function.This description may refer to the UE 200 performing a function as a shorthand for one or more appropriate components of the UE 200 performing that function. The processor 210 may include memory with stored instructions as a supplement to and / or replacement of memory 211. The functionality of the processor 210 is discussed more fully below.

[0056] Figure 2 The configuration of UE 200 shown is exemplary and not intended to limit this disclosure (including the claims), and other configurations may be used. For example, an exemplary configuration of the UE includes one or more of processors 230-234 in processor 210, memory 211, and wireless transceiver 240. Other exemplary configurations include one or more of processors 230-234 in processor 210, memory 211, wireless transceiver, and one or more of the following: (a) sensors 213, user interface 216, SPS receiver 217, camera 218, PD 219, and / or wired transceiver.

[0057] UE 200 may include a modem processor 232, which may be capable of performing baseband processing on signals received and downconverted by transceiver 215 and / or SPS receiver 217. Modem processor 232 may also perform baseband processing on signals to be upconverted for transmission by transceiver 215. Alternatively or alternatively, baseband processing may be performed by processor 230 and / or DSP 231. However, other configurations may be used to perform baseband processing.

[0058] UE 200 may include sensors 213, which may include one or more of various types of sensors, such as one or more inertial sensors, one or more magnetometers, one or more environmental sensors, one or more optical sensors, one or more weight sensors, and / or one or more radio frequency (RF) sensors. An inertial measurement unit (IMU) may include, for example, one or more accelerometers (e.g., collectively responding to acceleration of UE 200 in three dimensions) and / or one or more gyroscopes (e.g., three-dimensional gyroscopes). Sensors 213 may include one or more magnetometers (e.g., three-dimensional magnetometers) to determine orientation (e.g., relative to magnetic north and / or true north), which may be used for any of a variety of purposes (e.g., supporting one or more compass applications). Environmental sensors may include, for example, one or more temperature sensors, one or more barometric pressure sensors, one or more ambient light sensors, one or more camera imagers, and / or one or more microphones. Sensors 213 can generate analog and / or digital signals, and indications of these signals can be stored in memory 211 and processed by DSP 231 and / or processor 230 to support one or more applications (such as, for example, applications involving positioning and / or navigation operations).

[0059] Sensors 213 can be used for relative position measurement, relative position determination, motion determination, etc. Information detected by sensors 213 can be used for motion detection, relative displacement, dead reckoning, sensor-based position determination, and / or sensor-assisted position determination. Sensors 213 can be used to determine whether the UE 200 is stationary or moving and / or whether to report certain useful information related to the mobility of the UE 200 to the LMF 120. For example, based on information obtained / measured by sensors 213, the UE 200 can notify / report to the LMF 120 that the UE 200 has detected movement or that the UE 200 has moved, and report relative displacement / distance (e.g., via dead reckoning implemented by sensors 213, or sensor-based position determination, or sensor-assisted position determination). In another example, for relative positioning information, sensors / IMUs can be used to determine the angle and / or orientation of another device relative to the UE 200, etc.

[0060] The IMU can be configured to provide measurements of the UE 200's direction of motion and / or velocity, which can be used for relative position determination. For example, one or more accelerometers and / or one or more gyroscopes of the IMU can detect the UE 200's linear acceleration and rotational velocity, respectively. The UE 200's linear acceleration and rotational velocity measurements can be integrated over time to determine the UE 200's instantaneous direction of motion and displacement. The instantaneous direction of motion and displacement can be integrated to track the UE 200's position. For example, an SPS receiver 217 (and / or some other means) can be used to determine the UE 200's reference position at a given moment, and measurements acquired from the accelerometers and gyroscopes after that moment can be used for dead reckoning to determine the UE 200's current position based on its movement (direction and distance) relative to that reference position.

[0061] (A) Magnetometers can determine the strength of magnetic fields in different directions, which can be used to determine the orientation of UE 200. For example, this orientation can be used to provide a digital compass for UE 200. (A) Magnetometers may include two-dimensional magnetometers configured to detect and provide indications of magnetic field strength in two orthogonal dimensions. (A) Magnetometers may include three-dimensional magnetometers configured to detect and provide indications of magnetic field strength in three orthogonal dimensions. (A) Magnetometers may provide means for sensing magnetic fields and, for example, providing magnetic field indications to processor 210.

[0062] Transceiver 215 may include a wireless transceiver 240 and a wired transceiver 250 configured to communicate with other devices via wireless and wired connections, respectively. For example, wireless transceiver 240 may include a wireless transmitter 242 and a wireless receiver 244 coupled to one or more antennas 246 for transmitting and / or receiving wireless signals 248 (e.g., on one or more uplink channels and / or one or more sidelink channels) and converting signals from wireless signals 248 to wired (e.g., electrical and / or optical) signals and from wired (e.g., electrical and / or optical) signals to wireless signals 248. Thus, wireless transmitter 242 may include multiple transmitters that may be discrete components or combined / integrated components, and / or wireless receiver 244 may include multiple receivers that may be discrete components or combined / integrated components. The wireless transceiver 240 can be configured to transmit signals according to various radio access technologies (RATs) (e.g., with TRP 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 Telephone Systems), 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, and WiFi Direct (WiFi-D). Zigbee, etc. New radios can use millimeter-wave frequencies and / or sub-6 GHz frequencies. Wired transceiver 250 may include a wired transmitter 252 and a wired receiver 254 configured for wired communication, for example, a network interface that can be used to communicate with network 135 to send communications to and receive communications from network 135. Wired transmitter 252 may include multiple transmitters that may be discrete components or combined / integrated components, and / or wired receiver 254 may include multiple receivers that may be discrete components or combined / integrated components. Wired transceiver 250 may be configured, for example, for optical and / or electrical communication. Transceiver 215 may be communicatively coupled to transceiver interface 214 (e.g., via optical and / or electrical connections). Transceiver interface 214 may be at least partially integrated with transceiver 215.

[0063] User interface 216 may include one or more of a number of devices, such as, for example, speakers, microphones, display devices, vibration devices, keyboards, touchscreens, etc. User interface 216 may include any device that includes more than one of these devices. User interface 216 may be configured to enable a user to interact with one or more applications stored in the main memory of UE 200. For example, user interface 216 may store indications of analog and / or digital signals in memory 211 in response to actions from the user, for processing by DSP 231 and / or general-purpose processor 230. Similarly, applications in the main memory of UE 200 may store indications of analog and / or digital signals in memory 211 to present output signals to the user. User interface 216 may include audio input / output (I / O) devices, including, for example, speakers, microphones, digital-to-analog circuitry systems, analog-to-digital circuitry systems, amplifiers, and / or gain control circuitry systems (any device including more than one of these devices). Other configurations of the audio I / O devices may be used. Alternatively or concurrently, the user interface 216 may include one or more touch sensors that respond to touch and / or pressure on, for example, the keyboard and / or touchscreen of the user interface 216.

[0064] SPS receiver 217 (e.g., a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver) can receive and acquire SPS signal 260 via SPS antenna 262. SPS antenna 262 is configured to convert the wireless SPS signal 260 into a wired signal (e.g., an electrical or optical signal) and can be integrated with antenna 246. SPS receiver 217 can be configured to process the acquired SPS signal 260 fully or partially to estimate the location of UE 200. For example, SPS receiver 217 can be configured to determine the location of UE 200 by performing trilateration using SPS signal 260. SPS receiver 217 can be combined with general-purpose processor 230, memory 211, DSP 231, and / or one or more dedicated processors (not shown) to process the acquired SPS signal fully or partially and / or calculate the estimated location of UE 200. Memory 211 may store indications (e.g., measurements) of SPS signal 260 and / or other signals (e.g., signals acquired from wireless transceiver 240) for use during positioning operations. General-purpose processor 230, DSP 231, and / or one or more dedicated processors, and / or memory 211 may provide or support a position engine for processing measurements to estimate the position of UE 200.

[0065] 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 a CMOS imager), lenses, analog-to-digital circuitry, frame buffers, etc. Additional processing, conditioning, encoding, and / or compression of the signals representing the captured images may be performed by a general-purpose processor 230 and / or a DSP 231. Alternatively, a video processor 233 may perform conditioning, encoding, compression, and / or manipulation of the signals representing the captured images. The video processor 233 may decode / decompress stored image data for presentation on a display device (not shown), for example, a user interface 216.

[0066] Positioning device (PD) 219 may be configured to determine the location of UE 200, the motion of UE 200, and / or the relative location of UE 200, and / or time. For example, PD 219 may communicate with SPS receiver 217, and / or include some or all of SPS receiver 217. PD 219 may appropriately cooperate with processor 210 and memory 211 to perform at least a portion of one or more positioning methods, although the description herein may refer to PD 219 being configured to perform or be performed according to positioning methods(s). PD 219 may additionally or alternatively be configured to: perform trilateration using ground-based signals (e.g., at least some signals 248), assist in acquiring and using SPS signal 260, or both, to determine the location of UE 200. PD 219 may be configured to determine the location of UE 200 using one or more other technologies (e.g., relying on the UE's self-reported location (e.g., part of the UE's positioning beacon)), and may use a combination of technologies (e.g., SPS and terrestrial positioning signals) to determine the location of UE 200. PD 219 may include one or more sensors 213 (e.g., gyroscopes, accelerometers, magnetometers, etc.) that sense the orientation and / or motion of UE 200 and provide an indication of such orientation and / or motion. Processor 210 (e.g., processor 230 and / or DSP 231) may be configured to use this indication to determine the motion of UE 200 (e.g., velocity vector and / or acceleration vector). PD 219 may be configured to provide an indication of the uncertainty and / or error of the determined positioning and / or motion. The functionality of PD 219 can be provided in a variety of ways and / or configurations, such as by a general-purpose / application processor 230, transceiver 215, SPS receiver 217 and / or another component of UE 200, and can be provided by hardware, software, firmware or various combinations thereof.

[0067] Also refer to Figure 3Examples of TRP 300 in BS 110a, 110b, and 114 include a computing platform containing processor 310, a memory 311 containing software (SW) 312, and a transceiver 315. Processor 310, memory 311, and transceiver 315 are communicatively coupled to each other via bus 320 (which may be configured for, for example, optical and / or electrical communication). One or more of the illustrated devices (e.g., a wireless interface) may be omitted from the TRP 300. Processor 310 may include one or more intelligent hardware devices (e.g., a central processing unit (CPU), a microcontroller, an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), etc.). Processor 310 may include multiple processors (e.g., including such...). Figure 2 (The general-purpose / application processor, DSP, modem processor, video processor, and / or sensor processor shown). Memory 311 is a non-transient storage medium, which may include random access memory (RAM), flash memory, disk storage, and / or read-only memory (ROM), etc. Memory 311 stores software 312, which may be processor-readable, processor-executable software code containing instructions configured to cause processor 310 to perform the various functions described herein when executed. Alternatively, software 312 may not be directly executable by processor 310, but may be configured (e.g., when compiled and executed) to cause processor 310 to perform the functions.

[0068] This description may refer to processor 310 performing functions, but this includes other implementations, such as processor 310 performing software and / or firmware implementations. This description may refer to processor 310 performing functions as a shorthand for one or more processors included in processor 310 performing that function. This description may refer to TRP 300 performing functions as a shorthand for one or more appropriate components of TRP 300 (and thus one of BS 110a, 110b, 114) (e.g., processor 310 and memory 311) performing that function. Processor 310 may include memory with stored instructions as a complement and / or alternative to memory 311. The functionality of processor 310 is discussed more fully below.

[0069] Transceiver 315 may include a wireless transceiver 340 and / or a wired transceiver 350 configured to communicate with other devices via wireless and wired connections, respectively. For example, wireless transceiver 340 may include a wireless transmitter 342 and a wireless receiver 344 coupled to one or more antennas 346 for transmitting and / or receiving wireless signals 348 (e.g., on one or more uplink channels and / or one or more downlink channels) and converting signals from wireless signals 348 to wired (e.g., electrical and / or optical) signals and from wired (e.g., electrical and / or optical) signals to wireless signals 348. Thus, wireless transmitter 342 may include multiple transmitters that may be discrete components or combined / integrated components, and / or wireless receiver 344 may include multiple receivers that may be discrete components or combined / integrated components. The wireless transceiver 340 can be configured to support various radio access technologies (RATs) such as 5G New Radio (NR), GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications), UMTS (Universal Mobile Telecommunications System), AMPS (Advanced Mobile Telephone System), CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access), WCDMA (Wideband CDMA), LTE (Long Term Evolution), LTE Direct (LTE-D), 3GPP LTE-V2X (PC5), IEEE 802.11 (including IEEE 802.11p), WiFi, and WiFi Direct (WiFi-D). The wired transceiver 350 may include a wired transmitter 352 and a wired receiver 354 configured for wired communication, for example, a network interface that can be used to communicate with network 135 to send communications to and receive communications from LMF 120 (e.g., 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, for example, optical communication and / or electrical communication.

[0070] Figure 3 The configuration of TRP 300 shown is exemplary and not intended to limit this disclosure (including the claims), and other configurations may be used. For example, the description herein discusses TRP 300 being configured to perform several functions or TRP 300 performing several functions, but one or more of these functions may be performed by LMF 120 and / or UE 200 (i.e., LMF 120 and / or UE 200 may be configured to perform one or more of these functions).

[0071] Also refer to Figure 4 Server 400 (an example of LMF 120) includes a computing platform containing processor 410, a memory 411 containing software (SW) 412, and a transceiver 415. Processor 410, memory 411, and transceiver 415 are communicatively coupled to each other via bus 420 (which may be configured for, for example, optical and / or electrical communication). One or more of the illustrated devices (e.g., a wireless interface) may be omitted from server 400. Processor 410 may include one or more intelligent hardware devices (e.g., a central processing unit (CPU), a microcontroller, an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), etc.). Processor 410 may include multiple processors (e.g., including such...). Figure 2 (The general-purpose / application processor, DSP, modem processor, video processor, and / or sensor processor shown). Memory 411 is a non-transient 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 processor-readable, processor-executable software code containing instructions configured to cause processor 410 to perform the various functions described herein when executed. Alternatively, software 412 may not be directly executable by processor 410, but may be configured (e.g., when compiled and executed) to cause processor 410 to perform various functions. This description may refer to processor 410 performing functions, but this includes other implementations, such as processor 410 performing software and / or firmware implementations. This description may refer to processor 410 performing functions as a shorthand for one or more processors included in processor 410 performing that function. This description may refer to server 400 performing functions as a shorthand for one or more appropriate components of server 400 performing that function. Processor 410 may include memory with stored instructions as a supplement to and / or replacement of memory 411. The functionality of processor 410 is discussed more fully below.

[0072] Transceiver 415 may include a wireless transceiver 440 and / or a wired transceiver 450 configured to communicate with other devices via wireless and wired connections, respectively. For example, wireless transceiver 440 may include a wireless transmitter 442 and a wireless receiver 444 coupled to one or more antennas 446 for transmitting and / or receiving wireless signals 448 (e.g., on one or more downlink channels) and converting signals from wireless signals 448 to wired (e.g., electrical and / or optical) signals and from wired (e.g., electrical and / or optical) signals to wireless signals 448. Thus, wireless transmitter 442 may include multiple transmitters that may be discrete components or combined / integrated components, and / or wireless receiver 444 may include multiple receivers that may be discrete components or combined / integrated components. The wireless transceiver 440 can be configured to support various radio access technologies (RATs) such as 5G New Radio (NR), GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications), UMTS (Universal Mobile Telecommunications System), AMPS (Advanced Mobile Telephone System), CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access), WCDMA (Wideband CDMA), LTE (Long Term Evolution), LTE Direct (LTE-D), 3GPP LTE-V2X (PC5), IEEE 802.11 (including IEEE 802.11p), WiFi, and WiFi Direct (WiFi-D). The wired transceiver 450 may include a wired transmitter 452 and a wired receiver 454 configured for wired communication, for example, a network interface that can be used to communicate with network 135 to send communications to and receive communications from TRP 300 (e.g., 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, for example, optical communication and / or electrical communication.

[0073] The description herein may refer to processor 410 performing functions, but this includes other implementations, such as the implementation of software and / or firmware (stored in memory 411) performed by processor 410. The description herein may refer to server 400 performing functions as a shorthand for one or more appropriate components of server 400 (e.g., processor 410 and memory 411) performing the function.

[0074] Figure 4The configuration of server 400 shown is exemplary and not intended to limit this disclosure (including the claims), and other configurations may be used. For example, wireless transceiver 440 may be omitted. Additionally or alternatively, the description herein discusses server 400 being configured to perform several functions or server 400 performing several functions, but one or more of these functions may be performed by TRP 300 and / or UE 200 (i.e., TRP 300 and / or UE 200 may be configured to perform one or more of these functions).

[0075] Positioning technology

[0076] For terrestrial positioning of UEs in cellular networks, techniques such as Advanced Forward Link Trilateral Measurement (AFLT) and Observed Time Difference of Arrival (OTDOA) typically operate in a “UE-assisted” mode, where measurements of reference signals transmitted by the base station (e.g., PRS, CRS, etc.) are acquired by the UE and subsequently provided to a location server. The location server then calculates the UE's location based on these measurements and the known location of the base station. Because these techniques use a location server (rather than the UE itself) to calculate the UE's location, they are not frequently used in applications such as car or cellular phone navigation, which typically rely on satellite-based positioning instead.

[0077] UEs can use Satellite Positioning System (SPS) (Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS)) to achieve high-accuracy positioning using Precise Point Positioning (PPP) or Real-Time Kinematics (RTK) techniques. These techniques use auxiliary data, such as measurements from ground-based stations. LTE Release 15 allows data to be encrypted so that only UEs subscribed to the service can read the information. This auxiliary data changes over time. Therefore, a UE with a subscribed service may not be able to easily "crack the encryption" for other UEs by passing the data to them without paying for the subscription. This transmission needs to be repeated every time the auxiliary data changes.

[0078] In UE-assisted positioning, the UE sends measurements (e.g., TDOA, Angle of Arrival (AoA), etc.) to a positioning server (e.g., LMF / eSMLC). The positioning server has a Base Station Almanac (BSA) containing multiple "entries" or "records," one record per cell, where each record contains the geographic cell location, but may also include other data. Identifiers of the "records" among the multiple "records" in the BSA can be referenced. The BSA and measurements from the UE are used to calculate the UE's positioning.

[0079] In conventional UE-based positioning, the UE calculates its own location, thus avoiding sending measurements to the network (e.g., a location server), which improves latency and scalability. The UE uses relevant BSA record information from the network (e.g., the location of the gNB (more broadly, the base station)). BSA information can be encrypted. However, since BSA information changes much less frequently than, for example, PPP or RTK auxiliary data described above, it may be easier (compared to PPP or RTK information) to make BSA information available to UEs that have not subscribed and are paying for decryption keys. The transmission of reference signals by the gNB makes BSA information potentially accessible to crowdsourcing or driving attacks, thus essentially enabling BSA information to be generated based on in-the-field and / or over-the-top observations.

[0080] Positioning technologies can be characterized and / or evaluated based on one or more criteria, such as positioning accuracy and / or latency. Latency is the time elapsed between the event that triggers the determination of positioning-related data and the availability of that data at the positioning system interface (e.g., the interface of the LMF120). The latency for the availability of positioning-related data during positioning system initialization is called the First Time Locked (TTFF) and is greater than the latency after the TTFF. The reciprocal of the time elapsed between two consecutive availability of positioning-related data is called the update rate, i.e., the rate at which positioning-related data is generated after the first lock. Latency can depend on (e.g., the UE's) processing capacity. For example, assuming an allocation of 272 PRBs (Physical Resource Blocks), the UE can report its processing capacity as the duration (in time units, e.g., milliseconds) of DL PRS symbols that it can process per T time units (e.g., T ms). Other examples of capabilities that may affect latency are the number of TRPs from which the UE can process PRS, the number of PRS the UE can process, and the UE's bandwidth.

[0081] One or more of many different positioning techniques (also known as positioning methods) can be used to determine the location of an entity (such as one of UE105, 106). Known positioning techniques include RTT, multiple RTT, OTDOA (also known as TDOA, and including UL-TDOA and DL-TDOA), Enhanced Cellular Identifier (E-CID), DL-AoD, UL-AoA, etc. RTT uses the time it takes for a signal to travel from one entity to another and back to determine the range between the two entities. This range, plus the known location of the first entity and the angle (e.g., azimuth) between the two entities, can be used to determine the location of the second entity. In multiple RTT (also known as multi-cell RTT), multiple ranges from one entity (e.g., UE) to other entities (e.g., TRP) and the known locations of those other entities can be used to determine the location of this one entity. In TDOA, the travel time difference between an entity and other entities can be used to determine the relative range with respect to those other entities, and those relative ranges, combined with the known locations of those other entities, can be used to determine the location of this one entity. Angle of arrival and / or angle of departure can be used to help determine the location of an entity. For example, the angle of arrival or angle of departure of a signal, combined with the range between devices (range determined using signals (e.g., signal travel time, signal received power, etc.)) and the known location of one of these devices, can be used to determine the location of the other device. The angle of arrival or angle of departure can be an azimuth angle relative to a reference direction (such as true north). The angle of arrival or angle of departure can be a zenith angle relative to directly upward from the entity (i.e., radially outward from the Earth's center). E-CID uses the identity of the serving cell, timing advance (i.e., the difference between the receive and transmit times at the UE), estimated timing and power of detected neighboring cell signals, and possible angles of arrival (e.g., the angle of arrival of signals from the base station at the UE, or vice versa) to determine the location of the UE. In TDOA, the time difference of arrival of signals from different sources at the receiving device, along with the known locations of these sources and the known offsets of the transmission times from these sources, are used to determine the location of the receiving device.

[0082] In network-centric RTT estimation, the serving base station instructs the UE to scan / receive RTT measurement signals (e.g., PRS) on serving cells of two or more adjacent base stations (and typically the serving base station, as at least three base stations are required). These one or more 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 an LMF 120). The UE records the arrival time (also referred to as reception time, time received, or time of arrival (ToA)) of each RTT measurement signal relative to the UE's current downlink timing (e.g., as derived by the UE from DL signals received from its serving base station), and (e.g., when instructed by its serving base station) transmits a shared or individual RTT response message (e.g., an SRS (probe reference signal) for positioning, i.e., UL-PRS) to these one or more base stations, and may transmit the time difference T between the ToA of the RTT measurement signal and the transmission time of the RTT response message. Rx→Tx (i.e., UE T) Rx-Tx or UE Rx-Tx This is included in the payload of each RTT response message. The RTT response message will include a reference signal from which the base station can infer the ToA of the RTT response. This is achieved by comparing the transmission time of the RTT measurement signal from the base station with the difference T between the ToA of the RTT response at the base station and the time difference T. Tx→Rx Time difference T with UE report Rx→Tx The base station can infer the propagation time between the base station and the UE. From this propagation time, the base station can determine the distance between the UE and the base station by assuming that the propagation time is the speed of light.

[0083] UE-centric RTT estimation is similar to network-based methods, except that the UE transmits uplink RTT measurement signals (e.g., when instructed by a serving base station), which are received by multiple base stations near the UE. Each involved base station responds with a downlink RTT response message, which may include in its payload 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.

[0084] For both network-centric and UE-centric procedures, the side performing RTT calculation (network or UE) typically (but not always) transmits a first message or signal (e.g., an RTT measurement signal), while the other side responds with one or more RTT response messages or signals, which may include the difference between the ToA of the first message or signal and the transmission time of the RTT response message or signal.

[0085] Multiple-RTT (Multiple-Time To-Trip) techniques can be used to determine location. For example, a first entity (e.g., a UE) may emit one or more signals (e.g., unicast, multicast, or broadcast from a base station), and multiple second entities (e.g., other TSPs, such as a base station and / or the UE) may receive signals from the first entity and respond to those received signals. The first entity receives responses from the multiple second entities. The first entity (or another entity, such as an LMF) may use the responses from the second entities to determine the range to the second entities, and the location of the first entity may be determined by trilateration using the multiple ranges and the known locations of the second entities.

[0086] In some instances, additional information in the form of angle of arrival (AoA) or angle of departure (AoD) can be obtained, which defines a straight-line direction (e.g., it can be in a horizontal plane or in three dimensions) or a possible (e.g., the UE's direction as seen from the base station's location) range of directions. The intersection of the two directions can provide another estimate of the UE's location.

[0087] For positioning techniques that use PRS (Location Reference Signal) signals (e.g., TDOA and RTT), the PRS signals transmitted by multiple TRPs are measured, and the arrival time, known transmission time, and known location of the TRPs are used to determine the range from the UE to the TRPs. For example, RSTD (Reference Signal Time Difference) can be determined for PRS signals received from multiple TRPs, and these RSTDs are used in TDOA techniques to determine the UE's location. The Location Reference Signal may be referred to as the PRS or PRS signal. PRS signals are typically transmitted using the same power, and PRS signals with the same signal characteristics (e.g., the same frequency shift) may interfere with each other, such that a PRS signal from a more distant TRP may be overwhelmed by a PRS signal from a closer TRP, thus the signal from the more distant TRP may not be detected. PRS silencing can be used to help reduce interference by silencing some PRS signals (reducing the power of the PRS signal, e.g., reducing it to zero and thus not transmitting the PRS signal). In this way, the UE can more easily detect the weaker PRS signal (at the UE) without interference from a stronger PRS signal. The term RS and its variations (e.g., PRS, SRS) may refer to one or more reference signals.

[0088] Positioning Reference Signals (PRS) include a downlink PRS (DL PRS, often simply referred to as PRS) and an uplink PRS (UL PRS) (which may be referred to as the SRS (Detection Reference Signal) used for positioning). PRS may include PN codes (pseudo-random codes) or be generated using PN codes (e.g., scrambling the PN codes with another signal), making the PRS source usable as a pseudo-satellite. PN codes can be unique for a PRS source (at least unique within a specified area, ensuring that the same PRS from different PRS sources does not overlap). PRS may include PRS resources of a frequency layer or a set of PRS resources. The DL PRS positioning frequency layer (or simply frequency layer) is a collection of DL PRS resource sets from one or more TRPs, whose PRS resources share common parameters configured by the higher-level 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 resources within that frequency layer. Each frequency layer also has a DL PRS cyclic prefix (CP) for the DL PRS resource set and DL PRS resources within that frequency layer. In 5G, a resource block occupies 12 consecutive subcarriers and a specified number of symbols. Furthermore, the DL PRS point A parameter defines the frequency of the reference resource block (and the lowest subcarrier of the resource block), where DL PRS resources belonging to the same DL PRS resource set have the same point A, and all DL PRS resource sets belonging to the same frequency layer have the same point A. The frequency layers also have the same DL PRS bandwidth, the same starting PRB (and center frequency), and the same comb size value (i.e., the frequency of the PRS resource element for each symbol, such that for comb N, every Nth resource element is a PRS resource element). The PRS resource set is identified by the PRS resource set ID and can be associated with a specific TRP (identified by the cell ID) transmitted by the base station's antenna panel. A PRS resource ID in a PRS resource set can be associated with an omnidirectional signal and / or with a single beam (and / or beam ID) transmitted from a single base station (where a base station can transmit one or more beams). Each PRS resource in a PRS resource set can be transmitted on a different beam, and thus, a PRS resource (or simply a resource) can also be referred to as a beam. This does not imply at all whether the UE is aware of the base station and beam transmitting the PRS.

[0089] The TRP can be configured, for example, by instructions received from a server and / or by software within the TRP, to transmit DL PRS according to a schedule. Based on this schedule, the TRP can transmit DL PRS intermittently (e.g., periodically at consistent intervals from the initial transmission). The TRP can be configured to transmit one or more PRS resource sets. A resource set is a collection of PRS resources across a TRP, wherein these resources have the same periodicity, a shared silent mode configuration (if any), and the same cross-slot repetition factor. Each PRS resource set comprises multiple PRS resources, wherein each PRS resource comprises multiple resource elements (REs), which may reside in multiple resource blocks (RBs) within N (or more) consecutive symbols in a time slot. An RB is a set of REs spanning one or more consecutive symbols in the time domain and a number of consecutive subcarriers in the frequency domain (12 for 5G). 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 the PRS resource can occupy within a time slot. The RE offset defines the initial RE offset of the first symbol within a DL PRS resource in the frequency range. The relative RE offsets of the remaining symbols within a DL PRS resource are defined based on this initial offset. The slot offset is the starting slot of the DL PRS resource relative to the slot offset of the corresponding resource set. The symbol offset determines the starting symbol of the DL PRS resource within the starting slot. Transmitted REs can be repeated across slots, with each transmission referred to as a repetition, allowing for multiple repetitions within a PRS resource. DL PRS resources in a DL PRS resource set are associated with the same TRP, and each DL PRS resource has a DL PRS resource ID. The DL PRS resource ID in a DL PRS resource set is associated with a single beam transmitted from a single TRP (although a TRP can transmit one or more beams).

[0090] PRS resources can also be defined by quasi-coexistence and starting PRB parameters. The quasi-coexistence (QCL) parameter defines any quasi-coexistence information of the DLPRS resource with other reference signals. The DL PRS can be configured to be QCL type D with DL PRS or SS / PBCH (Synchronization Signal / Physical Broadcast Channel) blocks from serving or non-serving cells. The DL PRS can also be configured to be QCL type C with SS / PBCH blocks from serving or non-serving cells. The starting PRB parameter defines the starting PRB index of the DLPRS resource relative to reference point A. The granularity of the starting PRB index is one PRB, and the minimum value can be 0 and the maximum value is 2176 PRBs.

[0091] A PRS resource set is a collection of PRS resources with the same periodicity, the same silent mode configuration (if any), and the same cross-slot repetition factor. Each time all repetitions of all PRS resources in a PRS resource set are configured for transmission is called an "instance". Therefore, an "instance" of a PRS resource set is a specified number of repetitions for each PRS resource and a specified number of PRS resources within the PRS resource set, such that the instance is completed once the specified number of repetitions have been transmitted for each of the specified number of PRS resources. An instance can also be referred to as an "opportunity". A DLPRS configuration, including DL PRS transmission scheduling, can be provided to the UE to facilitate DL PRS measurement (or even enable the UE to measure DL PRS).

[0092] Multiple frequency layers of a PRS can be aggregated to provide an effective bandwidth greater than any bandwidth of any individual layer. Multiple frequency layers belonging to component carriers (which can be coherent and / or separate) and satisfying criteria such as Quasi-coexistence (QCL) and having the same antenna port can be stitched together to provide a larger effective PRS bandwidth (for DL ​​PRS and UL PRS), thereby improving the accuracy of time of arrival measurements. Stitching involves combining PRS measurements on individual bandwidth segments into a unified fragment so that the stitched PRS can be considered as taken from a single measurement. In the case of QCL, different frequency layers behave similarly, resulting in a larger effective bandwidth for PRS stitching. A larger effective bandwidth (which may be referred to as the bandwidth of the aggregated PRS or the frequency bandwidth of the aggregated PRS) provides better time-domain resolution (e.g., the resolution of TDOA). An aggregated PRS comprises a collection of PRS resources, and each PRS resource in the aggregated PRS may be referred to as a PRS component, and each PRS component may be transmitted on different component carriers, frequency bands, or frequency layers, or on different portions of the same frequency band.

[0093] RTT positioning is an active positioning technology because RTT uses positioning signals sent by the TRP to the UE and by the UE (participating in RTT positioning) to the TRP. The TRP can send a DL-PRS signal received by the UE, and the UE can send an SRS (Probe Reference Signal) signal received by multiple TRPs. The Probe Reference Signal may be referred to as SRS or SRS signal. In 5G multi-RTT, coordinated positioning can be used, where the UE sends a single UL-SRS for positioning received by multiple TRPs, instead of sending a separate UL-SRS for positioning for each TRP. A participating TRP will typically search for UEs currently residing on that TRP (the served UE, where the TRP is the serving TRP) and also search for UEs residing on neighboring TRPs (neighbor UEs). A neighboring TRP can be a TRP of a single BTS (e.g., gNB), or it can be a TRP of a single BTS and a TRP of a single BTS. For RTT positioning (including multi-RTT positioning), the DL-PRS and UL-SRS positioning signals in the PRS / SRS positioning signal pair used to determine the RTT (and thus the range between the UE and TRP) may occur close to each other in time, so that the errors caused by UE movement and / or UE clock drift and / or TRP clock drift are within acceptable limits. For example, the signals in the PRS / SRS positioning signal pair may be transmitted from the TRP and the UE within approximately 10 ms of each other. In cases where the SRS positioning signal is being transmitted by the UE and the PRS and SRS positioning signals are transmitted close to each other in time, it has been found that this may lead to radio frequency (RF) signal congestion (which may result in excessive noise, etc.) (especially if many UEs are concurrently attempting positioning), and / or computational congestion at the TRP where many UEs are concurrently attempting to measure.

[0094] RTT positioning can be UE-based or UE-assisted. In UE-based RTT, UE 200 determines the RTT and corresponding range to each of TRP 300, and determines the location of UE 200 based on the range to TRP 300 and the known location of TRP 300. In UE-assisted RTT, UE 200 measures the positioning signal and provides the measurement information to TRP 300, and TRP 300 determines the RTT and range. TRP 300 provides the range to a location server (e.g., server 400), and the server determines the location of UE 200, for example, based on the range to different TRP 300s. RTT and / or range may be determined by TRP 300, which receives signals from UE 200, by TRP 300 in conjunction with one or more other devices (e.g., one or more other TRP 300 and / or server 400), or by one or more devices other than TRP 300 that receive signals from UE 200.

[0095] 5G NR supports various positioning technologies. Native NR positioning methods supported in 5G NR include DL-only positioning, UL-only positioning, and DL+UL positioning. Downlink-based positioning methods include DL-TDOA and DL-AoD. Uplink-based positioning methods include UL-TDOA and UL-AoA. Combined DL+UL positioning methods include RTT with one base station and RTT with multiple base stations (multi-RTT).

[0096] Location estimation (e.g., for a UE) may be referred to by other names, such as location estimate, location, positioning, location lock, lock, etc. Location estimation can be geodetic and include coordinates (e.g., latitude, longitude, and possible altitude), or it can be municipal and include street addresses, postal addresses, or some other verbal description of location. Location estimation can be further defined relative to some other known location or in absolute terms (e.g., using latitude, longitude, and possible altitude). Location estimation may include expected errors or uncertainties (e.g., by including the area or volume that the expected location will be included within with a specified or default confidence level).

[0097] Auxiliary data processing capabilities

[0098] The availability of ancillary data (i.e., data that can be used to help determine positioning measurements) affects the determination of positioning information, for example, it affects the timing used to determine the positioning measurement and / or the accuracy of that measurement. Joint processing across PRS components can be used to obtain a ToA estimate, which can help provide high-precision positioning services (e.g., location determination within 30 cm accuracy), especially in challenging environments such as indoors. An aggregated PRS is a collection of PRS resources transmitted from the same TRP so that it can be assumed that the same antenna port is used to transmit these PRS resources, where each PRS resource in the aggregated PRS is called a PRS component. Each PRS component may have different Energy Per Resource Element (EPRE), phase offset, and / or Real Time Difference (RTD) (especially when the PRS component is associated with different RF chains). Phase offset can be due to different component carriers being generated by different devices (e.g., different phase-locked loops) so that different PRS components of different component carriers may have phase offsets. The RTD provides a timing difference relative to a time reference (e.g., reference base station time or synchronization time). The RTD and phase offset can be referred to as coherence parameters. Differences in EPRE, phase shift, and / or RTD between PRS components can inhibit PRS splicing. For example, without calibration / compensation for one or more of these differences, different PRS components may appear as shifted versions (or different scaled versions) of each other, inhibiting measurement calculations for multiple PRS components. This can make calculations more difficult and / or require more complex algorithms to achieve the desired accuracy, thus using more processing power and / or time to determine the measurement. The complexity and / or accuracy of PRS measurement algorithms (e.g., ToA estimation algorithms) can depend on the availability of auxiliary data, such as for calibrating EPRE, phase shift, and / or RTD across PRS components. Available auxiliary data can be used to determine measurements using algorithms that introduce lower processing latency compared to more advanced / complex algorithms used when auxiliary data is unavailable (e.g., time-domain peak detection algorithms for determining ToA estimates).

[0099] The UE can provide information relating to the processing capabilities of the UE (and / or other entities) in processing the PRS to determine location signal measurements. The UE can provide one or more indications of the processing capabilities of an entity (e.g., the UE, another UE, and / or network entities, such as server 400) in determining location signal measurements. The UE can provide one or more processing capabilities based on the availability of auxiliary data. For example, the UE can provide indications of multiple processing capabilities for corresponding auxiliary data (e.g., available auxiliary data types). The UE can provide multiple processing capabilities for a single auxiliary data type or a single combination of auxiliary data types, for example, for location signals in different frequency bands (e.g., different component carriers). The UE can provide processing capabilities corresponding to different subsets of auxiliary data (e.g., different auxiliary data types and / or different combinations of auxiliary data types). Network entities (such as LMF120) can use the processing capabilities indicated by the UE and information about available auxiliary data to determine a timeline of location information availability (e.g., including the UE's update rate and / or update cycle, and / or the timing of one or more location-related actions).

[0100] Reference Figure 5 And further refer to Figure 1-4 UE 500 includes a processor 510, an interface 520, and a memory 530, which are communicatively coupled to each other via a bus 540. UE 500 may include... Figure 5 The components shown may include one or more other components, such as Figure 2Any of the components shown herein may be used to make UE 200 an example of UE 500. Interface 520 may include one or more components of transceiver 215, such as wireless transmitter 242 and antenna 246, or wireless receiver 244 and antenna 246, or wireless transmitter 242, wireless receiver 244 and antenna 246. Additionally or alternatively, interface 520 may include wired transmitter 252 and / or wired receiver 254. Memory 530 may be configured similarly to memory 211, for example, including software with processor-readable instructions configured to cause processor 510 to perform functions. The description herein may refer to processor 510 performing functions alone, but this includes other implementations, such as implementations of software and / or firmware (stored in memory 530) performed by processor 510. The description herein may refer to UE 500 performing functions as a shorthand for one or more appropriate components of UE 500 (e.g., processor 510 and memory 530) performing the function. Processor 510 (possibly in conjunction with memory 530 and, where appropriate, interface 520) includes processing capability unit 550, which is configured to report one or more processing capabilities of UE 500 and, depending on available auxiliary data, implement appropriate processing capabilities, as discussed herein. Processing capability unit 550 is discussed further below, and this description may generally refer to processor 510 or generally to UE 500 performing any function of processing capability unit 550.

[0101] Also refer to Figure 6 Processing capability unit 550 may be configured to provide processing capabilities corresponding to the availability of one or more auxiliary data. For example, processing capability unit 550 may be configured to provide a table 600 of processing capabilities and associated available auxiliary data. Processing capabilities may depend on the availability of auxiliary data, such as the availability of one or more types of auxiliary data or the lack of available auxiliary data. The availability of auxiliary data allows UE 500 (or another entity) to process the raw positioning signal data of one or more PRS received by UE 500 to determine positioning signal measurements using algorithms that are less complex and / or more accurate compared to the case where auxiliary data is unavailable. The algorithms that can be used may depend on the specific types of available auxiliary data. Generally, the more types of auxiliary data available, the less complex and more accurate the algorithm can be, and the less time will be used to process the raw positioning signal into positioning signal measurements. Table 600 includes a set of processing capabilities 610 of processing capability parameters that indicate the characteristics of processing PRS into positioning signal measurements. Each processing capability set in the processing capability set 610 corresponds to an auxiliary data set 620, but as shown, the same auxiliary data set may correspond to more than one processing capability set 610.

[0102] Processing capability unit 550 may be configured to provide processing capabilities with various processing capability parameters and / or associate processing capability parameters with the availability of various aggregated PRS ancillary data of one or more ancillary data types. For example, processing capability unit 550 may be configured to provide processing capability sets 630, 631, 632, 633, 634, 635, 636, 637, 638, 639, and 640 with processing capability parameters. Processing capability parameters include the duration (N) of PRS symbols that can be processed within the indicated time frame (T) and may include the specified maximum frequency bandwidth (B) of the PRS symbols. In this example, processing capability unit 550 provides processing capability sets 630-640 corresponding to the availability of corresponding auxiliary data. The availability of auxiliary data in this example includes a combination of indications of the availability of aggregated PRS auxiliary data types 660 (here, auxiliary data sets 650, 651, 652, 653, 654, 655, 656, 657 for aggregated PRS auxiliary data types of EPRE, phase offset, RTD, and expected RSTD and / or expected RSTD uncertainty). Each auxiliary data set 650-657 may correspond to a frequency layer or a subset of frequency layers. The auxiliary data includes calibration data that can be used to compensate for differences between individual PRS components so that the PRS components can be stitched together.

[0103] Table 600 is an example and not a limitation of this disclosure. For example, one or more auxiliary data availability and corresponding processing capabilities may be provided. As another example, if a time frame T is agreed upon, that time frame may not be indicated in the processing capability sets 630-640. As another example, processing capability unit 550 may be configured to report the number of PRS resources that UE 500 can process in a time slot, which may be reported per SCS per frequency band. The value of this parameter may be limited to a possible set of values, such as 1, 2, 4, 8, 12, 16, 32, or 64. As another example, processing capability unit 550 may provide an indication of the quality of processing that can be performed as part of the processing capability, for example, what error rate and / or accuracy can be achieved for determined positioning signal measurements. Different accuracies may be provided for different bandwidths of the processing capability (e.g., 2.5 ns ToA error for a 100 MHz bandwidth, 1.2 ns for a 200 MHz bandwidth, and 0.7 ns for a 400 MHz bandwidth). As another example, one or more auxiliary data types 660 may be omitted and / or one or more other types of auxiliary data may be provided. For example, a single auxiliary data type may be available. As another example, auxiliary data types may be encoded, for example, where each bit in a bit sequence corresponds to an auxiliary data type, where each auxiliary data type is agreed upon, and each position in the sequence corresponds to an agreed auxiliary data type. For example, sequence 0011 may correspond to auxiliary data set 651, where EPRE and phase offset are unavailable (N / A) and RTD and expected RSTD / expected RSTD uncertainty are available. Auxiliary data may be implied, for example, based on the position of processing capability information (e.g., processing capability set) in the message.

[0104] Each of the processing capabilities (sets 630-640 in Table 600) corresponds to a specific processing algorithm (e.g., a processing algorithm supported by the UE and / or other entities) used to process (DL)PRS to determine positioning signal measurements (such as ToA). The indicated processing capability is implemented by the corresponding processing algorithm, and the processing algorithm uses auxiliary data corresponding to the indicated processing capability. Algorithms corresponding to processing capabilities with available EPRE, phase offset, and RTD auxiliary data are faster than algorithms configured to operate without EPRE, phase offset, and RTD auxiliary data. Each processing capability corresponds to a latency, and different processing capabilities may correspond to different latency times.

[0105] Processing capability parameters can take various forms and have various values. For example, duration N and time frame T can be specified in milliseconds, and bandwidth B in MHz, such that duration N can be the duration (in milliseconds) of PRS symbols that can be processed in T ms for a maximum bandwidth of B MHz. Maximum bandwidth B can be a limitation on the bandwidth of aggregated PRS. The indicable value of duration N can be limited to a set of possible values, such as 0.125ms, 0.25ms, 0.5ms, 1ms, 2ms, 4ms, 8ms, 12ms, 16ms, 20ms, 25ms, 30ms, 35ms, 40ms, 45ms, or 50ms or other values. The indicable value of time frame T can be limited to a set of possible values, such as 8ms, 16ms, 20ms, 30ms, 40ms, 80ms, 160ms, 320ms, 640ms, or 1280ms or other values. The indicable bandwidth B value can be limited to a set of possible values, such as 5MHz, 10MHz, 20MHz, 40MHz, 50MHz, 80MHz, 100MHz, 200MHz, or 400MHz, or other values. The units of parameters N, T, and / or B may not be specified, for example, implicitly (e.g., agreed upon). The combination of N and T values ​​may not depend on the SCS. UE processing capabilities for DL ​​PRS can be defined in various ways, such as by assuming one or more operating conditions. For example, capabilities can be defined assuming the UE is configured with a measurement gap and the ratio of the measurement gap length (MGL) to the measurement gap repetition period (MGRP) does not exceed a specified threshold.

[0106] Refer again Figure 4 And further refer to Figure 5The processor 410 (possibly in conjunction with memory 411 and, where appropriate, transceiver 415 (or one or more portions thereof)) includes an auxiliary data unit 460 and a positioning timeline unit 470. The auxiliary data unit 460 is configured to determine what kind of auxiliary data (e.g., what type of auxiliary data) (e.g., by TRP 300 and / or server 400) is provided to the UE 500. The positioning timeline unit 470 is configured to determine the update rate of positioning timeline information, such as positioning information (e.g., one or more positioning measurements of one or more positioning signals received by the UE 500, or the location of the UE 500). The positioning timeline unit 470 may be configured to determine the positioning timeline information based on processing capabilities corresponding to available auxiliary data (e.g., data available to the UE 500 and / or other entities) and, possibly, the bandwidth of the positioning signals received by the UE 500 (and / or other entities). The auxiliary data unit 460 and the positioning timeline unit 470 are discussed further below, and this description generally refers to the processor 410 or the server 400 performing any of the functions of the auxiliary data unit 460 and the positioning timeline unit 470.

[0107] Reference Figure 7 And further refer to Figure 1-5 The signaling and process flow 700, used to provide processing power, possibly provide auxiliary data, and determine positioning timeline information, includes the stages shown. Flow 700 is an example, as stages can be added, rearranged, and / or removed, performed by one or more entities other than those shown, performed by a combination of two or more entities shown, and so on.

[0108] In phase 710, UE 500 sends one or more indications of one or more processing capabilities of UE 500. For example, processing capability unit 550 may send Table 600 or other forms of indication of processing capabilities(s) of UE 500. As another example, processing capability unit 550 may send a single PRS processing capability assuming that specific aggregated PRS auxiliary data will be available and provided. UE 500 may send one or more indications of the one or more processing capabilities to TRP 300 in processing capability message 712 and / or send one or more indications of the one or more processing capabilities to server 400 in processing capability message 716. If UE 500 sends message 712, TRP 300 may send one or more indications of the one or more processing capabilities to server 400 in processing capability message 714. While each of messages 712, 716 is optional, UE 500 will send messages 712, 714 and / or at least one of another message to inform server 400 of the processing capabilities(s) of UE 500. UE 500 may send messages 712, 716 (and / or one or more other messages) intermittently (e.g., periodically at regular intervals) or in response to triggers (e.g., changes in capability, changes in service TRP, changes in service server, etc.).

[0109] In phase 720, server 400 may send auxiliary data to UE 500 (and / or directly to UE 500) via TRP 300 in auxiliary data messages 722, 724, and may store the auxiliary data and / or indications of the auxiliary data type in memory 411. For example, processor 410 may obtain indications of EPRE and / or phase offset from TRP 300 (e.g., from transmit power and phase measurements at TRP 300) and use this information to determine EPRE auxiliary data and / or phase offset auxiliary data. As another example, processor 410 may determine RTD auxiliary data by comparing timing information from PRS component transmissions from TRP 300 with timing reference analysis. As another example, processor 410 may use the coarse location of UE 500 (e.g., using E-CID) and the known location of a reference signal source to determine expected RSTD auxiliary data and / or expected RSTD uncertainty auxiliary data.

[0110] At stage 730, server 400 determines positioning timeline information. For example, positioning timeline unit 470 may be configured to use information from auxiliary data unit 460 to determine what (if any) aggregated PRS auxiliary data (auxiliary data for processing PRS components) is / will be provided to UE 500, and possibly what bandwidth of positioning signal will be provided to UE 500 to determine the corresponding processing capabilities(s). For example, auxiliary data unit 460 may determine which auxiliary data types (if any) are available for PRS components to be sent to UE 500. Positioning timeline unit 470 may, for example, use table 600 as a lookup table to search for auxiliary data sets 650-657 that indicate the availability of auxiliary data types to be (e.g., by server 400) provided to UE 500, and determine the corresponding processing capabilities(s). In this example, auxiliary data set 650 indicates that the availability of each auxiliary data type in auxiliary data set 620 is unavailable, and each of auxiliary data sets 651-657 indicates that at least one auxiliary data type is available. The positioning timeline unit 470 can be configured to use further information (e.g., positioning signal bandwidth) to eliminate ambiguity between multiple processing capabilities corresponding to a single auxiliary data set in auxiliary data sets 650-657. The positioning timeline unit 470 can determine, for example, the positioning update rate of UE 500 using processing capability parameters (corresponding to the auxiliary data to be provided), for example by dividing the number of symbols to be processed (to determine positioning signal measurements) by the duration N of the selected processing capability and multiplying that value by the time frame T of the selected processing capability set. The server 400 can transmit a positioning timeline / update cycle message 732 to UE 500 to configure (e.g., instruct UE 500) to implement the determined update cycle (e.g., the frequency of reporting positioning). Processing capabilities can be faster when more auxiliary data is available. Thus, the positioning timeline unit 470 can, for example, schedule an aggressive update rate when all auxiliary data types are available, a moderate update rate (slower than the aggressive update rate) when a partial list of auxiliary data types is available, and a conservative update rate (slower than the moderate update rate) when no auxiliary data is available. For example, an aggressive update rate could be approximately 10 ms, a medium update rate could be tens of milliseconds (such as approximately 50 ms), and a conservative update rate could be approximately 100 ms, but these values ​​are examples and not intended to limit this disclosure. The positioning timeline unit 470 may use one or more other information segments to determine the update rate, such as another processing capability corresponding to another TRP. The positioning timeline unit 470 may be configured to determine other positioning timeline information, such as timing for triggering location-based services.

[0111] At stage 740, UE 500 may select a technique, such as a positioning algorithm, for determining positioning signal measurements. For example, processing capability unit 550 may determine a positioning algorithm corresponding to the auxiliary data provided in stage 720. Processing capability unit 550 may use additional information (e.g., the bandwidth of the aggregated PRS to be sent to UE 500) to determine the positioning algorithm to be used to determine positioning signal measurements from the received PRS components. For example, if the auxiliary data message 724 received by UE 500 includes auxiliary data set 657, UE 500 may determine whether the bandwidth of the aggregated PRS to be received by UE 500 is within the maximum frequency bandwidth B9, maximum frequency bandwidth B10, or maximum frequency bandwidth B11, and select a positioning algorithm corresponding to the processing capability set 638-640 that includes the minimum maximum frequency bandwidth of the aggregated PRS to be received (or, if stage 740 is performed after stage 750, the actual received frequency bandwidth). If no auxiliary data is provided to UE 500, for example, UE 500 does not receive an auxiliary data message or auxiliary data message 724 does not include auxiliary data (e.g., indicating no auxiliary data is available), UE 500 may use (e.g., select) a default positioning algorithm to determine the positioning signal measurement. The default positioning algorithm may not use any values ​​from the auxiliary data or may use one or more default values ​​used for the auxiliary data. Executing the default positioning algorithm may take longer and / or produce less accurate results compared to providing auxiliary data (e.g., auxiliary data that helps compensate for differences in one or more PRS components, such as auxiliary data that informs UE 500 of the differences so that UE 500 can adjust for the differences so that the PRS components appear to originate from the same antenna port). The default positioning algorithm provides the minimum processing capabilities that UE 500 can support.

[0112] In phase 750, UE 500 receives a location reference signal. In this example, TRP 300 sends an aggregated PRS to UE 500 in a location reference signal message 752. In another example, UE 500 may receive another aggregated location reference signal, such as an SRS for positioning from another UE.

[0113] At stage 760, UE 500 determines location signal measurements. For example, processor 510 may use the (perhaps default) location algorithm selected at stage 740 to process the received aggregated location reference signal. Executing the location algorithm produces location signal measurements such as ToA, RSRP, RSRQ, or RSSI, etc. UE 500 may also use location signal measurements to determine the location (i.e., position) of UE 500, for example, by determining pseudorange, which processor 510 uses in combination with one or more other pseudoranges and the known location of the location signal source to determine the location of UE 500. Alternatively or alternatively, UE 500 may provide raw location signal information to another entity (e.g., server 400) to determine location signal measurements. UE 500 may apply (e.g., processor 510 is configured to apply) appropriate calibration parameters of auxiliary data to each PRS component of the aggregated location reference signal, such that different calibration parameter values ​​can be applied to different PRS components.

[0114] In phase 770, UE 500 may send location information to server 400 in location information message 772. Location information message 772 may include raw signal information and / or processed location signal information, such as location reference signal measurements and / or the location of UE 500. The determined location of UE 500 may be referred to as a location estimate.

[0115] In phase 780, server 400 may determine the location of UE 500. Server 400 may collect location information from multiple location information messages 772 and perform one or more location techniques to determine the location of UE 500. Server 400 may use the location information from message 772 to update the previously determined location of UE 500.

[0116] Reference Figure 8 And further refer to Figure 1-7 The method 800 for determining the location signal measurement includes the stages shown. However, method 800 is illustrative and not limiting. Method 800 can be modified, for example, by adding, removing, rearranging, combining, executing concurrently, and / or splitting a single stage into multiple stages.

[0117] In phase 810, method 800 includes: sending a processing capability message from a user equipment to a network entity, the processing capability message indicating the user equipment's processing capability for gathering positioning reference signals, wherein the processing capability message corresponds to one or more auxiliary data types. For example, processing capability unit 550 may send one or more processing capabilities (each processing capability including one or more processing capability parameters) to a network entity (such as TRP 300) in message 712 and / or send the one or more processing capabilities to server 400 in message 716. A processing capability may implicitly correspond to one or more auxiliary data types, for example, assumed (e.g., agreed) to correspond to the one or more auxiliary data types. Messages 712, 716 may include auxiliary data type messages that include one or more indications to one or more auxiliary data types. The auxiliary data type messages may be explicit, thereby indicating auxiliary data types, or may be partially implicit and partially explicit (e.g., having one or more bits agreed to correspond to one or more corresponding auxiliary data types). A processing capability may include more than one processing capability. For example, the processing capability unit 550 may send multiple processing capabilities with indications of corresponding auxiliary data to be provided to the UE 500 for the UE 500 to provide the indicated processing capabilities. For example, the processing capability unit 550 may send table 600 to TRP 300 and / or server 400. The one or more auxiliary data types may be calibration data to compensate for PRS components with one or more different characteristic values ​​(e.g., EPRE, phase offset, RTD, expected RSTD, expected RSTD uncertainty, etc.) to help the UE 500 (or other entity) process these PRS components as if they came from the same antenna port. The processor 510 (possibly in combination with memory 530 and interface 520 (e.g., wireless transmitter 242 and antenna 246)) may include means for transmitting processing capability messages.

[0118] At stage 820, method 800 includes obtaining the clustered positioning reference signal at the user equipment. For example, UE 500 may receive the clustered PRS in positioning reference signal message 752 at stage 750. The clustered PRS contains multiple PRS components that may have different values ​​of signal characteristics (e.g., EPRE, phase offset, RTD, expected RSTD, expected RSTD uncertainty, etc.). Processor 510 (possibly in combination with memory 530 and interface 520 (e.g., radio receiver 244 and antenna 246)) may include means for obtaining the clustered positioning reference signal.

[0119] At stage 830, method 800 includes: processing the converged positioning reference signal at the user equipment based on the auxiliary data to determine positioning signal measurements, the auxiliary data including one or more auxiliary data types. The auxiliary data may be values ​​of EPRE, phase offset, RTD, expected RSTD, and / or expected RSTD uncertainty (e.g., one or more of these or a combination of two or more such information segments) for calibrating one or more PRS components. UE 500 (e.g., processor 510) may process the positioning reference signal to determine positioning signal measurements, such as ToA. Processor 510 (possibly in conjunction with memory 530) may include means for processing the converged positioning reference signal.

[0120] Implementations of method 800 may include one or more of the following features. In an example implementation, method 800 may include: obtaining auxiliary data and selecting an algorithm from a plurality of algorithms based on one or more auxiliary data types of the auxiliary data; and processing a clustered positioning reference signal, including: using the auxiliary data and processing the clustered positioning reference signal according to the algorithm from the plurality of algorithms to determine a positioning signal measurement. For example, processor 510 may receive auxiliary data from interface 520 (e.g., from memory 530 in message 724 or in response to a coded indication of receiving auxiliary data). Processor 510 may use the auxiliary data to determine a corresponding algorithm (e.g., an algorithm that can be used from all the acquired auxiliary data), select the algorithm, and use the algorithm to process the PRS to determine a positioning signal measurement. In another example implementation, the algorithm from the plurality of algorithms may be further selected based on the frequency bandwidth of the clustered positioning reference signal. For example, since the availability of a single auxiliary data may correspond to multiple different processing capabilities, processor 510 may use the frequency bandwidth of the clustered PRS to determine which of the plurality of processing capabilities to select and thus which corresponding algorithm to process the clustered PRS. Processor 510 may, for example, select an algorithm corresponding to the processing capability of the minimum maximum bandwidth having a bandwidth including aggregated PRS. Processor 510, interface 520, and possibly memory 530 may include means for acquiring auxiliary data, and processor 510 and possibly memory 530 may include means for selecting an algorithm.

[0121] Alternatively or concurrently, implementations of method 800 may include one or more of the following features. In an example implementation, the processing capability message may indicate one or more sets of processing capabilities, each set corresponding to a corresponding indication of the availability of auxiliary data. For example, as shown in Table 600, each set of processing capabilities 630-640 corresponds to an indication of the availability of auxiliary data, where each indication of availability is one of auxiliary data sets 650-657, but multiple sets of processing capabilities may correspond to a single indication of the availability of auxiliary data (e.g., processing capability sets 638-640 correspond to auxiliary data set 657). In another example implementation, each of the one or more sets of processing capabilities may include a set of processing capability parameters. Each set of processing capability parameters may, for example, include a time frame, a bandwidth, and the time duration within which the processor is capable of processing positioning reference signal symbols in the time frame to determine positioning signal measurements. Positioning signal measurements may not be determined in a time frame, but rather the symbols are processed to ultimately determine the positioning signal measurements. This processing may include wideband channel measurements for deriving the channel impulse response. In another example implementation, the processing capability message may include measurement accuracy. For example, processing capability unit 550 may include measurement accuracy, such as the time error associated with the ToA measurement.

[0122] Additionally or alternatively, implementations of method 800 may include one or more of the following features. In an example implementation, processing the clustered positioning reference signal may include applying at least one auxiliary data parameter of auxiliary data to each positioning reference signal resource of the clustered positioning reference signal to determine a positioning signal measurement. Processor 510 may, for example, apply EPRE, phase offset, or RTD to each PRS source of the clustered PRS to determine, for example, ToA. In another example implementation, the clustered positioning reference signal is processed according to a default algorithm to determine a positioning signal measurement in response to the unavailability of auxiliary data. For example, if no auxiliary data message is received (e.g., message 722) or if an auxiliary data message is received and the message indicates that auxiliary data availability is no longer available, processor 510 may use a default algorithm to process the clustered PRS. The default algorithm may use default values ​​of one or more auxiliary data parameters, or may not use initial values ​​of one or more auxiliary data parameters. In another example implementation, method 800 includes receiving auxiliary data at the UE from a network entity, wherein at least a portion of the auxiliary data corresponds to the processing capability of the UE. The auxiliary data may include available auxiliary data types corresponding to the processing capability, as well as other auxiliary data (e.g., comb tooth count, repetition factor, etc.) to be used by the UE 500 to measure the PRS. The processor 510 (possibly in conjunction with memory 530 and interface 520 (e.g., wireless receiver 244 and antenna 246)) may include means for receiving the auxiliary data.

[0123] Reference Figure 9 And further refer to Figure 1-7 The method 900 for assisting the UE includes the stages shown. However, method 900 is an example and not a limitation. Method 900 can be modified, for example, by adding, removing, rearranging, combining, executing concurrently, and / or splitting a single stage into multiple stages. For example, stage 930 can be omitted from method 900.

[0124] In phase 910, method 900 includes: receiving a processing capability message from a user equipment at a location server, the processing capability message including one or more indications of the user equipment's processing capability for processing aggregated positioning reference signals, wherein each of the one or more indications of the processing capability corresponds to a corresponding indication for one or more auxiliary data types. For example, server 400 may receive at least one of processing capability messages 714, 716 indicating one or more processing capabilities of UE 500, and the availability of one or more auxiliary data types used by UE 500 to provide the indicated processing capability. Messages 714, 716 may, for example, include table 600 or a table containing similar (or more) information (e.g., more processing capabilities corresponding to more auxiliary data availability). Transceiver 415 (e.g., wired transceiver 450 and / or wireless transceiver 440 (e.g., wireless receiver 444 and antenna 446)), processor 410, and possibly memory 411 may include means for receiving the processing capability message.

[0125] At stage 920, method 900 includes transmitting auxiliary data information based on the processing capability message from the location server to the user equipment. For example, auxiliary data unit 460 may (e.g., from memory 530) retrieve or determine information instructing TRP 300 to provide to UE 500 which auxiliary data types are available for UE 500 to process aggregated PRS to determine positioning signal measurements. The information retrieved or determined by auxiliary data unit 460 may be auxiliary data. Auxiliary data unit 460 may transmit the retrieved or determined information to UE 500. Processor 410 and possibly memory 411, combined with transceiver 415 (e.g., wired transmitter 452 and / or wireless transmitter 442 and antenna 446), may include means for transmitting auxiliary data information.

[0126] Implementations of method 900 may include one or more of the following features. In an example implementation, at stage 930, method 900 includes transmitting location timeline information based on the auxiliary data information from the location server to the user equipment. For example, location timeline unit 470 may determine the location timeline information based on what processing capabilities the UE 500 will provide (e.g., determined by processor 410 based on auxiliary data types corresponding to the processing capabilities provided by the UE 500 and auxiliary data types provided to the UE 500, if any). Processor 410, and possibly memory 411, in combination with transceiver 415 (e.g., wired transmitter 452 and / or wireless transmitter 442 and antenna 446), may include means for transmitting location timeline information.

[0127] Implementations of method 900 may include one or more of the following features. In an example implementation, method 900 includes determining positioning timeline information based on a specific processing capability of the user equipment corresponding to auxiliary data information in one or more indications of processing capabilities. For example, processor 410 may identify a processing capability from a plurality of processing capabilities indicated by UE 500 by identifying a processing capability corresponding to auxiliary data transmitted to UE 500. Positioning timeline unit 470 may determine positioning timeline information based on the identified processing capability. Processor 410 (possibly in conjunction with memory 411, possibly in conjunction with a transceiver (e.g., radio receiver 444 and antenna 446)) may include means for determining positioning timeline information. In another example implementation, determining positioning timeline information includes determining a specific processing capability based on the maximum frequency bandwidth indicated in the selected processing capability and the frequency bandwidth of the aggregated positioning reference signal. For example, if UE 500 will be provided with EPRE, phase offset, RTD, and expected RTD, processor 410 can use the bandwidth of the aggregated PRS to be provided to UE 500 to determine one of the processing capability sets 638-640. Processor 410 (possibly in conjunction with memory 411) may include means for determining the specific processing capabilities of the user equipment.

[0128] Implementation Example

[0129] Examples of each implementation are provided in the following numbered clauses.

[0130] 1. A user equipment comprising:

[0131] At least one transceiver is configured to wirelessly transmit outgoing signals and wirelessly receive incoming signals;

[0132] Memory; and

[0133] At least one processor, communicatively coupled to the at least one transceiver and the memory, and configured to:

[0134] The processing capability message is sent to the network entity via the at least one transceiver. The processing capability message indicates the user equipment's processing capability for processing aggregated positioning reference signals, wherein the processing capability message corresponds to one or more auxiliary data types.

[0135] The aggregation positioning reference signal is obtained from the at least one transceiver; and

[0136] The aggregation positioning reference signal is processed based on auxiliary data to determine positioning signal measurements, the auxiliary data including one or more auxiliary data types.

[0137] 2. The user equipment as described in Clause 1, wherein the at least one processor is configured to: send an auxiliary data type message to the network entity as part of the processing capability message and include one or more indications of the one or more auxiliary data types.

[0138] 3. The user equipment as described in Clause 1, wherein the at least one processor is configured to:

[0139] The auxiliary data is obtained from the at least one transceiver;

[0140] Based on the one or more auxiliary data types of this auxiliary data, an algorithm is selected from multiple algorithms; and

[0141] Using this auxiliary data, the clustered positioning reference signal is processed according to one of the multiple algorithms to determine the positioning signal measurement.

[0142] 4. The user equipment as described in Clause 3, wherein the at least one processor is configured to further select the algorithm among the multiple algorithms based on the frequency bandwidth of the aggregated positioning reference signal.

[0143] 5. The user equipment as described in Clause 1, wherein the at least one processor is configured to: send a processing capability message indicating one or more sets of processing capabilities, each set of processing capabilities corresponding to a corresponding indication of the availability of auxiliary data.

[0144] 6. The user equipment as described in Clause 5, wherein each of the one or more processing capability sets includes a set of processing capability parameters, the set of processing capability parameters including a time frame, bandwidth, and the time duration during which the at least one processor is capable of processing the positioning reference signal symbols in the time frame to determine the positioning signal measurement.

[0145] 7. The user equipment as described in Clause 1, wherein the at least one processor is configured to apply at least one auxiliary data parameter of the auxiliary data to each location reference signal resource of the aggregated location reference signal to determine the location signal measurement.

[0146] 8. The user equipment as described in Clause 1, wherein the at least one processor is configured to: process the aggregated positioning reference signal according to a default algorithm to determine the positioning signal measurement in response to the unavailability of the auxiliary data.

[0147] 9. The user equipment as described in Clause 1, wherein the at least one processor is configured to include measurement accuracy as part of the processing capability in the processing capability message.

[0148] 10. The user equipment as described in Clause 1, wherein the at least one processor is configured to receive the auxiliary data from the network entity via the at least one transceiver, and wherein at least a portion of the auxiliary data corresponds to the processing capability of the user equipment.

[0149] 11. A user equipment comprising:

[0150] A means for sending a processing capability message to a network entity, the processing capability message indicating the processing capability of the user equipment to process convergent positioning reference signals, wherein the processing capability message corresponds to one or more auxiliary data types;

[0151] A means for obtaining the aggregation positioning reference signal; and

[0152] A device for processing the aggregated positioning reference signal based on auxiliary data to determine positioning signal measurements, the auxiliary data including one or more auxiliary data types.

[0153] 12. The user equipment as described in Clause 11, wherein the means for transmitting the processing capability message includes: means for transmitting the processing capability message including an auxiliary data type message, the auxiliary data type message including one or more indications of the one or more auxiliary data types.

[0154] 13. User equipment as described in Clause 11, further including:

[0155] A means for obtaining the auxiliary data; and

[0156] A means for selecting an algorithm from a plurality of algorithms based on one or more auxiliary data types of the auxiliary data;

[0157] The apparatus for processing the clustered positioning reference signal includes: an apparatus for using auxiliary data to process the clustered positioning reference signal according to the algorithm among the multiple algorithms to determine the positioning signal measurement.

[0158] 14. The user equipment as described in Clause 13, wherein the means for selection includes: means for further selecting the algorithm among the multiple algorithms based on the frequency bandwidth of the aggregated positioning reference signal.

[0159] 15. The user equipment as described in Clause 11, wherein the means for sending the processing capability message includes: means for sending the processing capability message indicating one or more sets of processing capabilities, each set of processing capabilities corresponding to a corresponding indication of the availability of auxiliary data.

[0160] 16. User equipment as described in Clause 15, wherein each of the one or more processing capability sets includes a set of processing capability parameters, the set of processing capability parameters including a time frame, bandwidth, and the time duration within which means for processing the aggregated positioning reference signal is capable of processing to determine the positioning reference signal symbols measured by the positioning signal in the time frame.

[0161] 17. The user equipment of Clause 11, wherein the means for processing the aggregated positioning reference signal includes: means for applying at least one auxiliary data parameter of the auxiliary data to each positioning reference signal resource of the aggregated positioning reference signal to determine the positioning signal measurement.

[0162] 18. The user equipment as described in Clause 11, wherein the means for processing the convergent positioning reference signal includes: means for processing the convergent positioning reference signal according to a default algorithm in response to the unavailability of the auxiliary data to determine the positioning signal measurement.

[0163] 19. The user equipment as described in Clause 11, wherein the means for sending the processing capability message includes: means for including measurement accuracy as part of the processing capability in the processing capability message.

[0164] 20. The user equipment as described in Clause 11 further includes: means for receiving the auxiliary data from the network entity, wherein at least a portion of the auxiliary data corresponds to the processing capability of the user equipment.

[0165] 21. A method for determining a positioning signal measurement, the method comprising:

[0166] The user equipment sends a processing capability message to the network entity, the processing capability message indicating the user equipment's processing capability for aggregated positioning reference signals, wherein the processing capability message corresponds to one or more auxiliary data types;

[0167] The aggregation positioning reference signal is obtained at the user equipment location; and

[0168] The user equipment is used to process the clustered positioning reference signal based on auxiliary data to determine the positioning signal measurement. The auxiliary data includes one or more auxiliary data types.

[0169] 22. The method of Clause 21, wherein sending the processing capability message comprises: sending an auxiliary data type message including one or more indications of the one or more auxiliary data types.

[0170] 23. The method as described in Clause 21 further includes:

[0171] Obtain this auxiliary data; and

[0172] Based on the one or more auxiliary data types of this auxiliary data, select an algorithm from a variety of algorithms;

[0173] The processing of the clustered positioning reference signal includes: using the auxiliary data to process the clustered positioning reference signal according to the algorithm among the multiple algorithms to determine the positioning signal measurement.

[0174] 24. The method of Clause 23, wherein the algorithm selected from the plurality of algorithms is further based on the frequency bandwidth of the aggregation positioning reference signal.

[0175] 25. The method of Clause 21, wherein the processing capability message indicates one or more sets of processing capabilities, each set of processing capabilities corresponding to a corresponding indication of the availability of ancillary data.

[0176] 26. The method of Clause 25, wherein each of the one or more processing capability sets includes a set of processing capability parameters, the set of processing capability parameters including a time frame, bandwidth, and the time duration within which the user equipment is capable of processing positioning reference signal symbols in the time frame to determine the positioning signal measurement.

[0177] 27. The method of Clause 21, wherein processing the clustered positioning reference signal comprises: applying at least one auxiliary data parameter of the auxiliary data to each positioning reference signal resource of the clustered positioning reference signal to determine the positioning signal measurement.

[0178] 28. The method of Clause 21, wherein the aggregated positioning reference signal is processed according to a default algorithm to determine the positioning signal measurement in response to the unavailability of the auxiliary data.

[0179] 29. The method of Clause 21, wherein the processing capability message includes measurement accuracy.

[0180] 30. The method of Clause 21 further includes: receiving the auxiliary data from the network entity at the user equipment, wherein at least a portion of the auxiliary data corresponds to the processing capability of the user equipment.

[0181] 31. A non-transient processor-readable storage medium comprising processor-readable instructions configured to cause one or more processors equipped by a user to perform the following operations:

[0182] The user equipment sends a processing capability message to the network entity, the processing capability message indicating the user equipment's processing capability for aggregated positioning reference signals, wherein the processing capability message corresponds to one or more auxiliary data types;

[0183] The aggregation positioning reference signal is obtained at the user equipment location; and

[0184] The user equipment is used to process the clustered positioning reference signal based on auxiliary data to determine positioning signal measurements. This auxiliary data includes one or more auxiliary data types.

[0185] 32. The storage medium of Clause 31, wherein processor-readable instructions configured to cause the one or more processors to send the processing capability message include processor-readable instructions configured to cause the one or more processors to send an auxiliary data type message including one or more indications to the one or more auxiliary data types.

[0186] 33. The storage medium as described in Clause 31 further includes instructions configured to cause the one or more processors to perform the following operations:

[0187] Obtain this auxiliary data; and

[0188] Based on the one or more auxiliary data types of this auxiliary data, select an algorithm from a variety of algorithms;

[0189] The processor-readable instructions configured to cause the one or more processors to process the clustered positioning reference signal include processor-readable instructions configured to cause the one or more processors to perform the following operations: using the auxiliary data to process the clustered positioning reference signal according to the algorithm among the multiple algorithms to determine the positioning signal measurement.

[0190] 34. The storage medium of Clause 33, wherein processor-readable instructions configured to cause the one or more processors to select the algorithm from the plurality of algorithms include processor-readable instructions configured to cause the one or more processors to further select the algorithm from the plurality of algorithms based on the frequency bandwidth of the aggregation positioning reference signal.

[0191] 35. The storage medium as described in Clause 31, wherein the processing capability message indicates one or more sets of processing capabilities, each set of processing capabilities corresponding to a corresponding indication of the availability of auxiliary data.

[0192] 36. The storage medium of Clause 35, wherein each of the one or more processing capability sets includes a set of processing capability parameters, the set of processing capability parameters including a time frame, bandwidth, and the time duration during which the one or more processors are capable of processing in the time frame to determine the positioning reference signal symbols of the positioning signal measurement.

[0193] 37. The storage medium of Clause 31, wherein processor-readable instructions configured to cause the one or more processors to process the aggregated positioning reference signal include processor-readable instructions configured to cause the one or more processors to: apply at least one auxiliary data parameter of the auxiliary data to each positioning reference signal resource of the aggregated positioning reference signal to determine the positioning signal measurement.

[0194] 38. The storage medium of Clause 31, wherein processor-readable instructions configured to cause the one or more processors to process the aggregated positioning reference signal include processor-readable instructions configured to cause the one or more processors to: process the aggregated positioning reference signal according to a default algorithm to determine the positioning signal measurement in response to the unavailability of the auxiliary data.

[0195] 39. The storage medium as described in Clause 31, wherein the processing capability message includes measurement accuracy.

[0196] 40. The storage medium as described in Clause 31 further includes processor-readable instructions configured to cause the one or more processors to: receive the auxiliary data from the network entity, wherein at least a portion of the auxiliary data corresponds to the processing capability of the user equipment.

[0197] 41. A location server, comprising:

[0198] At least one transceiver;

[0199] Memory; and

[0200] At least one processor, communicatively coupled to the at least one transceiver and the memory, and configured to:

[0201] The at least one transceiver receives a processing capability message, the processing capability message including one or more indications of the user equipment's processing capability for processing converged positioning reference signals, wherein each of the one or more indications of processing capability corresponds to a corresponding indication for one or more auxiliary data types; and

[0202] Auxiliary data information based on the processing capability message is transmitted to the user equipment via the at least one transceiver.

[0203] 42. A location server as described in Clause 41, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to transmit location timeline information based on the auxiliary data information to the user equipment via the at least one transceiver.

[0204] 43. A location server as described in Clause 42, wherein the at least one processor is configured to determine the location timeline information based on the specific processing capability of the user equipment corresponding to the auxiliary data information in one or more indications of processing capability.

[0205] 44. A location server as described in Clause 43, wherein the at least one processor is configured to determine the particular processing capability of the user equipment based on the maximum frequency bandwidth of the particular processing capability and the frequency bandwidth of the aggregated location reference signal.

[0206] 45. A location server, comprising:

[0207] A means for receiving a processing capability message, the processing capability message including one or more indications of the processing capability of user equipment for processing convergence positioning reference signals, wherein each of the one or more indications of the processing capability corresponds to a corresponding indication of one or more auxiliary data types; and

[0208] A means for transmitting auxiliary data information based on the processing capability message to the user equipment.

[0209] 46. ​​The location server as described in Clause 45 further includes: means for transmitting location timeline information based on the auxiliary data information to the user equipment.

[0210] 47. The location server as described in Clause 46 further includes: means for determining the location timeline information based on a specific processing capability of the user equipment corresponding to the auxiliary data information in one or more indications of processing capability.

[0211] 48. The location server as described in Clause 47, wherein the means for determining the location timeline information includes means for determining the specific processing capability of the user equipment based on the maximum frequency bandwidth of the specific processing capability and the frequency bandwidth of the aggregated location reference signal.

[0212] 49. A method for assisting user equipment, the method comprising:

[0213] At the location server, a processing capability message is received from the user equipment, the processing capability message including one or more indications of the user equipment's processing capability to process converged positioning reference signals, wherein each of the one or more indications of the processing capability corresponds to a corresponding indication of one or more auxiliary data types; and

[0214] The location server transmits auxiliary data information based on the processing capability message to the user equipment.

[0215] 50. The method of Clause 49 further includes: transmitting positioning timeline information based on the auxiliary data information from the location server to the user equipment.

[0216] 51. The method of Clause 50 further includes: determining the positioning timeline information based on the specific processing capability of the user equipment corresponding to the auxiliary data information in one or more indications of processing capability.

[0217] 52. The method of Clause 51, wherein determining the positioning timeline information includes: determining the specific processing capability of the user equipment based on the maximum frequency bandwidth indicated in the specific processing capability and the frequency bandwidth of the aggregated positioning reference signal.

[0218] 53. A non-transient processor-readable storage medium comprising processor-readable instructions configured to cause one or more processors of a location server to perform the following operations:

[0219] Receive a processing capability message from the user equipment, the processing capability message including one or more indications of the user equipment's processing capability for processing converged positioning reference signals, wherein each of the one or more indications of the processing capability corresponds to a corresponding indication of one or more first auxiliary data types; and

[0220] Transmit auxiliary data information based on the processing capability message to the user equipment.

[0221] 54. The storage medium as described in Clause 53 further includes processor-readable instructions configured to cause the one or more processors to transmit positioning timeline information based on the auxiliary data information to the user equipment.

[0222] 55. The storage medium as described in Clause 54 further includes processor-readable instructions configured to cause the one or more processors to determine the positioning timeline information based on the specific processing capability of the user equipment corresponding to the auxiliary data information in the one or more indications of processing capability.

[0223] 56. The storage medium of Clause 55, wherein processor-readable instructions configured to cause the one or more processors to determine the positioning timeline information include processor-readable instructions configured to cause the one or more processors to determine the particular processing capability of the user equipment based on the maximum frequency bandwidth of the particular processing capability and the frequency bandwidth of the aggregated positioning reference signal.

[0224] Other considerations

[0225] Other examples and implementations fall within the scope of this disclosure and the appended claims. For example, due to the nature of software and computers, the above-described functions can be implemented using software, hardware, firmware, hardwiring, or any combination thereof executed by a processor. Features implementing the functions can also be physically located in various locations, including being distributed such that different parts of the function are implemented at different physical locations. A statement that a feature implements a function, or a statement that a feature can implement a function, includes that the feature can be configured to implement the function (e.g., a statement that an item performs function X, or a statement that an item can perform function X, includes that the item can be configured to perform function X). The elements discussed can be components of a larger system. Furthermore, several operations may be performed before, during, or after considering the elements or operations discussed above. Accordingly, the above description does not limit the scope of the claims.

[0226] As used herein, the singular forms of “a,” “some,” and “the” also include the plural forms, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. As used herein, the terms “comprising,” “having,” “including,” and / or “containing” indicate the presence of the described features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and / or components, but do not exclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and / or groups thereof.

[0227] 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, such as PRS, SRS, CSI-RS, etc.

[0228] As used herein, unless otherwise stated, a description of a function or operation “based on” an item or condition means that the function or operation is based on the described item or condition and may be based on one or more items and / or conditions other than the described item or condition.

[0229] Similarly, as used herein, the "or" (which may be followed by "at least one of" or "one or more of") used in an item enumeration indicates a disjunctive enumeration such that an enumeration of, for example, "at least one of A, B, or C," or an enumeration of "one or more of A, B, or C," or an enumeration of "A or B or C" 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 characteristic (e.g., AA, AAB, ABBC, etc.). Therefore, a statement that an item (e.g., a processor) is configured to perform a function with respect to at least one of A or B, or a statement that an item is configured to perform function A or function B, means that the item can be configured to perform a function with respect to A, or can be configured to perform a function with respect to B, or can be configured to perform a function 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 can be configured to measure A (and may or may not be configured to measure B), or can be configured to measure B (and may or may not be configured to measure A), or can be configured to measure both A and B (and may be configured to select which or both of A and B to measure). Similarly, a description of means for measuring at least one of A or B includes: means for measuring A (which may or may not measure B), or means for measuring B (which may or may not be configured to measure A), or means for measuring A and B (which may be able to select which or both of A and B to measure). As another example, a description of an item (e.g., a processor) being configured to perform at least one of function X or function Y indicates that the item can be configured to perform function X, or can be configured to perform function Y, or can be configured to perform both function X and function Y. For example, the phrase "the processor is configured to measure at least one of X or Y" means that the processor can be configured to measure X (and may or may not be configured to measure Y), or can be configured to measure Y (and may or may not be configured to measure X), or can be configured to measure both X and Y (and can be configured to select which or both of X and Y to measure).

[0230] Substantial modifications can be made to suit specific requirements. For example, custom hardware can be used, and / or specific elements can be implemented in the hardware, in processor-executed software (including portable software such as applets), or both. Furthermore, connections to other computing devices (such as network input / output devices) can be employed. Unless otherwise stated, the interconnected or communicating components (functionally or otherwise) shown in the figures and / or discussed herein are communicatively coupled. That is, they can be directly or indirectly connected to enable communication between them.

[0231] The systems and devices discussed above are examples. Various configurations may appropriately omit, substitute, or add various procedures or components. For example, features described with reference to certain configurations may be combined in various other configurations. Different aspects and elements of a configuration may be combined in a similar manner. Furthermore, technology evolves, and thus many elements are examples and do not limit the scope of this disclosure or the claims.

[0232] A wireless communication system is a system in which communication is transmitted wirelessly, that is, through the atmospheric space via electromagnetic waves and / or sound waves rather than through wires or other physical connections. A wireless communication network may not necessarily transmit all communications wirelessly, but may be configured to transmit at least some communications wirelessly. Furthermore, the term "wireless communication device" or similar terms do not require that the device's functionality be exclusively or uniformly primarily used for communication, or that the device is a mobile device, but rather indicate that the device includes wireless communication capabilities (one-way or two-way), for example, including at least one radio (each radio being part of a transmitter, receiver, or transceiver) for wireless communication.

[0233] Specific details are provided in this description to offer a thorough understanding of the example configurations, including their implementations. However, these configurations can be practiced without these specific details. For example, well-known circuits, processes, algorithms, structures, and techniques have been shown without unnecessary detail to avoid obscuring these configurations. This description provides example configurations and does not limit the scope, applicability, or configuration of the claims. Rather, the preceding descriptions of the configurations provide a description for implementing the techniques described. Various changes can be made to the functionality and arrangement of the elements.

[0234] 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 enables a machine to operate in a particular manner. Using a computing platform, various processor-readable media may involve providing instructions / code to (such as) processors for execution, and / or being used to store and / or carry such instructions / code (e.g., as signals). In many implementations, processor-readable media are physical and / or tangible storage media. Such media can take many forms, including but not limited to non-volatile and volatile media. Non-volatile media include, for example, optical discs and / or magnetic disks. Volatile media include, but are not limited to, dynamic memory.

[0235] Having described several example configurations, various modifications, substitutions, constructs, and equivalents can be used. For example, the above elements can be components of a larger system, where other rules may take precedence over the application of this invention or otherwise modify the application of this disclosure. Furthermore, several operations may be performed before, during, or after considering the above elements. Accordingly, the above description does not limit the scope of the claims.

[0236] A statement whose value exceeds (or is greater than or higher than) a first threshold is equivalent to a statement whose value meets or exceeds a second threshold slightly greater than the first threshold. For example, in the resolution of the computing system, the second threshold is one value higher than the first threshold. A statement whose value is less than the first threshold (or within or below the first threshold) is equivalent to a statement whose value is less than or equal to a second threshold slightly lower than the first threshold. For example, in the resolution of the computing system, the second threshold is one value lower than the first threshold.

Claims

1. A user equipment comprising: At least one transceiver, the at least one transceiver being configured to: wirelessly transmit outgoing signals and wirelessly receive incoming signals; Memory; as well as At least one processor, communicatively coupled to the at least one transceiver and the memory, and configured to: The processing capability message is sent to the network entity via the at least one transceiver. The processing capability message indicates the user equipment's processing capability for processing aggregated positioning reference signals, which include multiple positioning reference signal resources. The processing capability message corresponds to one or more auxiliary data types. The aggregation positioning reference signal is obtained from the at least one transceiver; as well as The clustered positioning reference signal is processed based on auxiliary data to determine positioning signal measurements, wherein the auxiliary data includes one or more auxiliary data types.

2. The user equipment as claimed in claim 1, wherein, The at least one processor is configured to send an auxiliary data type message to the network entity as part of the processing capability message and include one or more indications for the one or more auxiliary data types.

3. The user equipment as described in claim 1, wherein, The at least one processor is configured to send a processing capability message indicating one or more sets of processing capabilities, each set of processing capabilities corresponding to a corresponding indication of the availability of auxiliary data.

4. The user equipment as claimed in claim 1, wherein, The at least one processor is configured to apply at least one auxiliary data parameter of the auxiliary data to each location reference signal resource of the aggregated location reference signals to determine the location signal measurement.

5. The user equipment as claimed in claim 1, wherein, The at least one processor is configured to include measurement accuracy as part of the processing capability in the processing capability message.

6. The user equipment as claimed in claim 1, wherein, The at least one processor is configured to receive the auxiliary data from the network entity via the at least one transceiver, wherein at least a portion of the auxiliary data corresponds to the processing capability of the user equipment.

7. A user equipment comprising: At least one transceiver, the at least one transceiver being configured to: wirelessly transmit outgoing signals and wirelessly receive incoming signals; Memory; as well as At least one processor, communicatively coupled to the at least one transceiver and the memory, and configured to: The processing capability message is sent to the network entity via the at least one transceiver, the processing capability message indicating the processing capability of the user equipment to process the aggregation positioning reference signal, wherein the processing capability message corresponds to one or more auxiliary data types; The aggregation positioning reference signal is obtained from the at least one transceiver; Auxiliary data is obtained from the at least one transceiver, the auxiliary data including the one or more auxiliary data types; Based on the one or more auxiliary data types of the auxiliary data, an algorithm is selected from a variety of algorithms; as well as The auxiliary data is used to process the clustered positioning reference signal according to one of the multiple algorithms to determine the positioning signal measurement.

8. The user equipment as claimed in claim 7, wherein, The at least one processor is configured to further select one of the multiple algorithms based on the frequency bandwidth of the aggregation positioning reference signal.

9. A user equipment comprising: At least one transceiver, the at least one transceiver being configured to: wirelessly transmit outgoing signals and wirelessly receive incoming signals; Memory; as well as At least one processor, communicatively coupled to the at least one transceiver and the memory, and configured to: The processing capability message is sent to the network entity via the at least one transceiver, the processing capability message indicating the processing capability of the user equipment to process the aggregation positioning reference signal, wherein the processing capability message corresponds to one or more auxiliary data types; The aggregation positioning reference signal is obtained from the at least one transceiver; The clustered positioning reference signal is processed based on auxiliary data to determine positioning signal measurements, wherein the auxiliary data includes one or more auxiliary data types; The at least one processor is configured to: send a processing capability message indicating one or more sets of processing capabilities, each set of processing capabilities corresponding to a corresponding indication of the availability of auxiliary data; and Wherein, each of the one or more processing capability sets includes a processing capability parameter set, the processing capability parameter set including a time frame, bandwidth, and the time duration during which the at least one processor is capable of processing in the time frame to determine the positioning reference signal symbol of the positioning signal measurement.

10. A user equipment comprising: At least one transceiver, the at least one transceiver being configured to: wirelessly transmit outgoing signals and wirelessly receive incoming signals; Memory; as well as At least one processor, communicatively coupled to the at least one transceiver and the memory, and configured to: The processing capability message is sent to the network entity via the at least one transceiver, the processing capability message indicating the processing capability of the user equipment to process the aggregation positioning reference signal, wherein the processing capability message corresponds to one or more auxiliary data types; The aggregation positioning reference signal is obtained from the at least one transceiver; as well as The clustered positioning reference signal is processed based on auxiliary data to determine positioning signal measurements, wherein the auxiliary data includes one or more auxiliary data types; The at least one processor is configured to process the clustered positioning reference signal according to a default algorithm to determine the positioning signal measurement in response to the unavailability of the auxiliary data.

11. A user equipment comprising: A means for sending a processing capability message to a network entity, the processing capability message indicating the user equipment's processing capability for processing aggregated positioning reference signals, the aggregated positioning reference signals including a plurality of positioning reference signal resources, wherein the processing capability message corresponds to one or more auxiliary data types; A means for obtaining the aggregation positioning reference signal; as well as A means for processing the aggregated positioning reference signal based on auxiliary data to determine positioning signal measurements, the auxiliary data including one or more auxiliary data types.

12. The user equipment as claimed in claim 11, wherein, The means for sending the processing capability message includes: means for sending the processing capability message including an auxiliary data type message that includes one or more indications of the one or more auxiliary data types.

13. The user equipment of claim 11, further comprising: A means for obtaining the auxiliary data; as well as A means for selecting an algorithm from a plurality of algorithms based on one or more auxiliary data types of the auxiliary data; The apparatus for processing the clustered positioning reference signal includes: an apparatus for processing the clustered positioning reference signal using the auxiliary data according to the algorithm among the multiple algorithms to determine the positioning signal measurement.

14. The user equipment as claimed in claim 13, wherein, The means for selection includes: means for further selecting the algorithm among the multiple algorithms based on the frequency bandwidth of the aggregation positioning reference signal.

15. The user equipment as claimed in claim 11, wherein, The means for sending the processing capability message includes: means for sending the processing capability message indicating one or more sets of processing capabilities, each set of processing capabilities corresponding to a corresponding indication of the availability of auxiliary data.

16. The user equipment as claimed in claim 15, wherein, Each of the one or more processing capability sets includes a set of processing capability parameters, the set of processing capability parameters including a time frame, a bandwidth, and the time duration within which the means for processing the aggregated positioning reference signal is capable of processing to determine the positioning reference signal symbols measured by the positioning signal in the time frame.

17. The user equipment as claimed in claim 11, wherein, The apparatus for processing the clustered positioning reference signal includes: means for applying at least one auxiliary data parameter of the auxiliary data to each positioning reference signal resource of the clustered positioning reference signal to determine the positioning signal measurement.

18. The user equipment as claimed in claim 11, wherein, The apparatus for processing the clustered positioning reference signal includes: means for processing the clustered positioning reference signal according to a default algorithm in response to the unavailability of the auxiliary data to determine the positioning signal measurement.

19. The user equipment as claimed in claim 11, wherein, The means for sending the processing capability message includes: means for including measurement accuracy as part of the processing capability in the processing capability message.

20. The user equipment of claim 11, further comprising: A means for receiving auxiliary data from the network entity, wherein at least a portion of the auxiliary data corresponds to the processing capability of the user equipment.

21. A method for determining a positioning signal measurement, the method comprising: A processing capability message is sent from a user equipment to a network entity, the processing capability message indicating the user equipment's processing capability for aggregated positioning reference signals, the aggregated positioning reference signals including multiple positioning reference signal resources, wherein the processing capability message corresponds to one or more auxiliary data types; The aggregation positioning reference signal is obtained at the user equipment. as well as The user equipment processes the converged positioning reference signal based on auxiliary data to determine the positioning signal measurement, the auxiliary data including one or more auxiliary data types.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein, Sending the processing capability message includes sending an auxiliary data type message that includes one or more indications of the one or more auxiliary data types.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein, The processing capability message indicates one or more sets of processing capabilities, each set of processing capabilities corresponding to a specific indication of the availability of auxiliary data.

24. The method of claim 21, wherein, Processing the clustered positioning reference signal includes applying at least one auxiliary data parameter of the auxiliary data to each positioning reference signal resource of the clustered positioning reference signal to determine the positioning signal measurement.

25. The method of claim 21, wherein, The processing capability message includes measurement accuracy.

26. The method of claim 21, further comprising: The auxiliary data is received from the network entity at the user equipment, wherein at least a portion of the auxiliary data corresponds to the processing capability of the user equipment.

27. A method for determining a positioning signal measurement, the method comprising: The user equipment sends a processing capability message to a network entity, the processing capability message indicating the user equipment's processing capability for processing converged positioning reference signals, wherein the processing capability message corresponds to one or more auxiliary data types; The aggregation positioning reference signal is obtained at the user equipment. Obtain auxiliary data, wherein the auxiliary data includes one or more auxiliary data types; Based on the one or more auxiliary data types of the auxiliary data, an algorithm is selected from a variety of algorithms; as well as The auxiliary data is used to process the clustered positioning reference signal according to one of the multiple algorithms to determine the positioning signal measurement.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein, The algorithm selected from the multiple algorithms is further based on the frequency bandwidth of the aggregation positioning reference signal.

29. A method for determining a positioning signal measurement, the method comprising: The user equipment sends a processing capability message to a network entity, the processing capability message indicating the user equipment's processing capability for processing converged positioning reference signals, wherein the processing capability message corresponds to one or more auxiliary data types; The aggregation positioning reference signal is obtained at the user equipment. as well as At the user equipment location, the converged positioning reference signal is processed based on auxiliary data to determine the positioning signal measurement, the auxiliary data including one or more auxiliary data types; The processing capability message indicates one or more sets of processing capabilities, each set corresponding to a specific indication of the availability of auxiliary data; and Each of the one or more processing capability sets includes a set of processing capability parameters, which includes a time frame, bandwidth, and the time duration within which the user equipment can process positioning reference signal symbols to determine the positioning signal measurement in the time frame.

30. A method for determining a positioning signal measurement, the method comprising: The user equipment sends a processing capability message to a network entity, the processing capability message indicating the user equipment's processing capability for processing converged positioning reference signals, wherein the processing capability message corresponds to one or more auxiliary data types; The aggregation positioning reference signal is obtained at the user equipment. as well as At the user equipment location, the converged positioning reference signal is processed based on auxiliary data to determine the positioning signal measurement, the auxiliary data including one or more auxiliary data types; The clustered positioning reference signal is processed according to a default algorithm to determine the positioning signal measurement in response to the unavailability of the auxiliary data.

31. A location server, comprising: At least one transceiver; Memory; as well as At least one processor, communicatively coupled to the at least one transceiver and the memory, and configured to: The processing capability message is received via the at least one transceiver, the processing capability message including one or more indications of the user equipment's processing capability for processing aggregated positioning reference signals, the aggregated positioning reference signals including a plurality of positioning reference signal resources, wherein each of the one or more indications of processing capability corresponds to a corresponding indication for one or more auxiliary data types. as well as Auxiliary data information based on the processing capability message is transmitted to the user equipment via the at least one transceiver.

32. The location server as described in claim 31, wherein, The at least one processor is further configured to transmit positioning timeline information based on the auxiliary data information to the user equipment via the at least one transceiver.

33. The location server as described in claim 32, wherein, The at least one processor is configured to determine the positioning timeline information based on a specific processing capability of the user equipment corresponding to the auxiliary data information in one or more indications of processing capability.

34. The location server as described in claim 33, wherein, The at least one processor is configured to determine the specific processing capability of the user equipment based on the maximum frequency bandwidth of the specific processing capability and the frequency bandwidth of the aggregation positioning reference signal.

35. A location server, comprising: A means for receiving a processing capability message, the processing capability message including one or more indications of the processing capability of a user equipment to process a clustered positioning reference signal, the clustered positioning reference signal including a plurality of positioning reference signal resources, wherein each of the one or more indications of the processing capability corresponds to a corresponding indication of one or more auxiliary data types. as well as A means for transmitting auxiliary data information based on the processing capability message to the user equipment.

36. The location server of claim 35, further comprising: A device for transmitting positioning timeline information based on the auxiliary data information to the user equipment.

37. The location server of claim 36, further comprising: A means for determining the positioning timeline information based on a specific processing capability of the user equipment corresponding to the auxiliary data information in one or more indications of processing capability.

38. The location server as described in claim 37, wherein, The apparatus for determining the positioning timeline information includes: an apparatus for determining the specific processing capability of the user equipment based on the maximum frequency bandwidth of the specific processing capability and the frequency bandwidth of the aggregated positioning reference signal.

39. A method for assisting user equipment, the method comprising: A processing capability message is received from the user equipment at a location server. The processing capability message includes one or more indications of the user equipment's processing capability to process converged positioning reference signals, the converged positioning reference signals including a plurality of positioning reference signal resources, wherein each of the one or more indications of the processing capability corresponds to a corresponding indication of one or more auxiliary data types; and The location server transmits auxiliary data information based on the processing capability message to the user equipment.

40. The method of claim 39, further comprising: The location server transmits positioning timeline information based on the auxiliary data information to the user equipment.

41. The method of claim 40, further comprising: The positioning timeline information is determined based on the specific processing capability of the user equipment corresponding to the auxiliary data information in one or more indications of processing capability.

42. The method of claim 41, wherein, Determining the positioning timeline information includes: determining the specific processing capability of the user equipment based on the maximum frequency bandwidth indicated in the specific processing capability and the frequency bandwidth of the aggregated positioning reference signal.

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