Regional positioning assistance data

Abstract

A method of signal measurement includes receiving, at a user equipment, first positioning assistance data having a first area of applicability and a first positioning assistance data profile; storing the first positioning assistance data at the user equipment; determining, at the user equipment, that second positioning assistance data corresponds to the first positioning assistance data based on the first area of applicability including a second area of applicability of the second positioning assistance data and based on a second positioning assistance data profile of the second positioning assistance data corresponding to the first positioning assistance data profile; and measuring, at the user equipment, a positioning signal corresponding to the second area of applicability using the first positioning assistance data in response to determining that the second positioning assistance data corresponds to the first positioning assistance data.

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: a transceiver; a memory; and a processor communicatively coupled to the transceiver and the memory and configured to: receive first positioning assistance data having a first applicable area and a first positioning assistance data profile via the transceiver; store the first positioning assistance data in the memory; determine that the second positioning assistance data corresponds to the first positioning assistance data based on the first applicable area including a second applicable area of ​​the second positioning assistance data and based on the second positioning assistance data profile corresponding to the first positioning assistance data profile; and, in response to determining that the second positioning assistance data corresponds to the first positioning assistance data, use the first positioning assistance data to measure a positioning signal corresponding to the second applicable area.

[0006] Another example user equipment includes: means for receiving first positioning assistance data having a first applicable area and a first positioning assistance data profile; a memory means for storing the first positioning assistance data; means for determining that the second positioning assistance data corresponds to the first positioning assistance data based on the first applicable area including a second applicable area of ​​the second positioning assistance data and based on the second positioning assistance data profile corresponding to the first positioning assistance data profile; and means for measuring a positioning signal corresponding to the second applicable area using the first positioning assistance data in response to determining that the second positioning assistance data corresponds to the first positioning assistance data.

[0007] An example signal measurement method includes: receiving first positioning assistance data having a first applicable area and a first positioning assistance data profile at a user equipment; storing the first positioning assistance data at the user equipment; determining at the user equipment that the second positioning assistance data corresponds to the first positioning assistance data based on the first applicable area including a second applicable area of ​​the second positioning assistance data and based on the second positioning assistance data profile of the second positioning assistance data corresponding to the first positioning assistance data profile; and in response to determining that the second positioning assistance data corresponds to the first positioning assistance data, using the first positioning assistance data at the user equipment to measure a positioning signal corresponding to the second applicable area.

[0008] An example non-transient processor-readable storage medium includes processor-readable instructions configured to cause a processor of a user equipment to perform the following operations: receiving first positioning assistance data having a first applicable area and a first positioning assistance data profile; storing the first positioning assistance data; determining that the second positioning assistance data corresponds to the first positioning assistance data based on the first applicable area including a second applicable area of ​​the second positioning assistance data and based on the second positioning assistance data profile corresponding to the first positioning assistance data profile; and using the first positioning assistance data to measure a positioning signal from a second cell in response to determining that the second positioning assistance data corresponds to the first positioning assistance data.

[0009] An example location server includes: a transceiver; a memory; and a processor communicatively coupled to the transceiver and the memory and configured to: associate a first applicable region with a plurality of first location assistance messages, each first location assistance message including corresponding first location assistance data; associate a second applicable region with a second location assistance message, the second location assistance message being different from the plurality of first location assistance messages and including second location assistance data; and transmit configuration information via the transceiver indicating that the first applicable region is associated with the plurality of first location assistance messages and that the second applicable region is associated with the second location assistance message.

[0010] Another example location server includes: means for associating a first applicable area with a plurality of first location assistance messages, each first location assistance message including corresponding first location assistance data; means for associating a second applicable area with a second location assistance message, the second location assistance message being different from the plurality of first location assistance messages and including second location assistance data; and means for transmitting configuration information to a user equipment, the configuration information indicating that the first applicable area is associated with the plurality of first location assistance messages and that the second applicable area is associated with the second location assistance message.

[0011] An example configuration method includes: associating a first applicable area with a plurality of first positioning assistance messages, each first positioning assistance message including corresponding first positioning assistance data; associating a second applicable area with a second positioning assistance message, the second positioning assistance message being different from the plurality of first positioning assistance messages and including second positioning assistance data; and transmitting configuration information to a user equipment indicating that the first applicable area is associated with the plurality of first positioning assistance messages and the second applicable area is associated with the second positioning assistance message.

[0012] Another example is a non-transient processor-readable storage medium comprising processor-readable instructions configured to cause a processor of a location server to: associate a first applicable region with a plurality of first positioning assistance messages, each first positioning assistance message including corresponding first positioning assistance data; associate a second applicable region with a second positioning assistance message, the second positioning assistance message being different from the plurality of first positioning assistance messages and including second positioning assistance data; and transmit configuration information to a user equipment indicating that the first applicable region is associated with the plurality of first positioning assistance messages and the second applicable region is associated with the second positioning assistance message. 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 This is a block diagram of the components of an example send / receive point.

[0017] Figure 4 This is a block diagram of the components of the example server, and various embodiments of this example server are described below. Figure 1 As shown in the image.

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

[0019] Figure 6 It is a simplified top view of the positioning environment, including indoor and outdoor areas.

[0020] Figure 7 It is a table that indicates the location auxiliary data group.

[0021] Figure 8 This is a simplified example of a location assistance message.

[0022] Figure 9 It is a timing diagram of signals and processing flows used to determine positioning information using positioning auxiliary data applicable to multiple regions.

[0023] Figure 10 This is a flowchart of a signal measurement method.

[0024] Figure 11 This is a flowchart of the configuration method.

[0025] Detailed description

[0026] This document discusses techniques for providing and using the same location assistance data in multiple areas. For example, a server may determine and have sent location assistance data, along with indications of multiple areas (e.g., cells) in which the location assistance data can be used, to a user equipment (UE), and the UE may obtain the location assistance data and the indications. The location assistance data may be provided to the UE in location assistance data messages, and the server may provide the UE with indications about which location assistance data messages can be used in which areas (e.g., which data messages in the respective areas will have the same location assistance data in each of those areas). Groups of location assistance data messages may be specified according to one or more location assistance data characteristics (e.g., message type, message name, frequency layer). These are examples, and other examples (for UEs and / or guidelines) may be implemented.

[0027] The items and / or techniques described herein may provide one or more of the following capabilities, as well as others not mentioned: Processing power used to measure positioning reference signals may be reduced. The accuracy of UE positioning determination may be improved. Positioning latency may be reduced. Other capabilities may be provided, and not every implementation according to this disclosure is required to provide any, let alone all, of the capabilities discussed.

[0028] 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 launchers (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).

[0029] 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. Therefore, 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.

[0030] 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.).

[0031] Depending on the network in which the base station is deployed, it may operate according to one of several RATs when communicating with the UE. Examples of base stations include access points (APs), network nodes, B-nodes, evolved B-nodes (eNBs), or generic B-nodes (gNodeBs, gNBs). Additionally, in some systems, the base station may provide purely edge node signaling functions, while in others, it may provide additional control and / or network management functions.

[0032] 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.

[0033] 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).

[0034] refer to 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.

[0035] 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 Functions (SCF) (not shown) to create, control, and delete media sessions. Base stations (such as gNB 110a, 110b, and / or ng-eNB 114) can be macrocells (e.g., high-power cellular base stations), small cells (e.g., low-power cellular base stations), or access points (e.g., short-range base stations configured to use short-range technologies such as WiFi, WiFi Direct (WiFi-D)). (Communication via Low Energy (BLE), Zigbee, etc.). One or more BSs (e.g., one or more of gNB110a, 110b, and / or ng-eNB 114) can be configured to communicate with UE 105 via multiple carriers. Each of gNB 110a, 110b, and ng-eNB 114 can provide communication coverage for a corresponding geographic area (e.g., cell). Each cell can be divided into multiple sectors based on the base station antennas.

[0036] Figure 1A 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.

[0037] 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.

[0038] System 100 is capable of wireless communication because its components can communicate directly or indirectly (at least sometimes using wireless connections), for example, via gNB 110a, 110b, ng-eNB 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, such as changing the header information of data packets, changing the format, etc. UE 105 may include multiple UEs and may be mobile wireless communication devices, but can communicate wirelessly and via wired connections. UE 105 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, gNB 110a, 110b, ng-eNB 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.

[0039] 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)).

[0040] 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 5GC140) 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.

[0041] 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).

[0042] 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.

[0043] Figure 1 The base stations (BSs) in the NG-RAN 135 shown include NRB nodes (referred to as gNB110a 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.

[0044] 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 be connected 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 to act as a location-only beacon, transmitting signals to aid in determining the location of UE 105, but may not be able to receive signals from UE 105 or other UEs.

[0045] gNB 110a, 110b and / or ng-eNB 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).

[0046] 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.

[0047] 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 handovers) and can participate in supporting signaling connections to UE 105 and, possibly, data and voice bearers for UE 105. LMF 120 can communicate directly with UE 105, for example, wirelessly, or directly with gNB 110a, 110b, and / or ng-eNB 114. The LMF120 enables UE 105 positioning when it 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. The LMF120 can process location service requests for UE 105 received, for example, from AMF 115 or GMLC 125. The LMF120 can connect to AMF 115 and / or GMLC 125. The LMF120 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.

[0048] 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.

[0049] 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 1Further explanation is provided: 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 UE105 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 UE105 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.

[0050] 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 a location estimate for 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) for 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 for SV 190-193.

[0051] 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).

[0052] 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.

[0053] 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.

[0054] 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).

[0055] 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.

[0056] As mentioned, in some embodiments, positioning functionality may be achieved at least in part using directional SS beams transmitted by base stations (such as gNB110a, 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.

[0057] 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 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 specification may refer to processor 210 performing functions, but this includes other implementations, such as processor 210 performing software and / or firmware implementations. This specification may refer to processor 210 performing functions as a shorthand for one or more of processors 230-234 performing that function.This specification may refer to the UE 200 execution 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.

[0058] 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.

[0059] 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, baseband processing may be performed by processor 230 and / or DSP 231. However, other configurations may be used to perform baseband processing.

[0060] 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).

[0061] 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.

[0062] 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.

[0063] (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.

[0064] 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 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.

[0065] 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, 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.

[0066] SPS receiver 217 (e.g., a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver) can receive and acquire SPS signal 260 via SPS antenna 262. 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 using trilateration with 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.

[0067] 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.

[0068] 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 only refer to PD 219 being configured to perform or to be performed according to a positioning method. 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 can 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 can 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) can be configured to use this indication to determine the motion of UE 200 (e.g., velocity vector and / or acceleration vector). PD 219 can 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.

[0069] Also refer to Figure 3Examples of TRP 300 for gNB 110a, 110b and / or ng-eNB 114 include a computing platform containing processor 310, memory 311 including software (SW) 312, and 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 communication 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.

[0070] This specification may refer to processor 310 performing functions, but this includes other implementations, such as processor 310 performing software and / or firmware implementations. This specification 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 (e.g., processor 310 and memory 311) of TRP 300 (and thus one of gNB 110a, 110b and / or ng-eNB 114) 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.

[0071] 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 configured 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.

[0072] 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).

[0073] Also refer to Figure 4 Server 400 (where LMF 120 is an example) 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 specification may refer to processor 410 performing functions, but this includes other implementations, such as processor 410 performing software and / or firmware implementations. This specification may refer to processor 410 performing functions as a shorthand for one or more processors included in processor 410 performing that function. This specification 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.

[0074] 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.

[0075] The description herein may refer to processor 410 performing a function, 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 a function as a shorthand for one or more appropriate components of server 400 (e.g., processor 410 and memory 411) performing that function.

[0076] 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. Alternatively or additionally, the description herein discusses server 400 being configured to perform 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).

[0077] Positioning technology

[0078] 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.

[0079] 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 it. This auxiliary data changes over time. Therefore, a subscribed UE 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.

[0080] 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.

[0081] 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.

[0082] 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.

[0083] 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.

[0084] 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, and the base station can determine the distance between the UE and the base station based on the propagation time by assuming that the propagation time is the speed of light.

[0085] 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.

[0086] 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.

[0087] 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.

[0088] 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.

[0089] 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.

[0090] 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 per 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.

[0091] 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 consecutive subcarrier number (12 for 5G) in the frequency domain. Each PRS resource is configured with an RE offset, a time slot offset, a symbol offset within a time slot, and a 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).

[0092] 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 DL PRS 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 DL PRS 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.

[0093] 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).

[0094] 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.

[0095] 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.

[0096] RTT positioning can be UE-based or UE-assisted. In UE-based RTT, UE 200 determines the RTT and corresponding range to each of TRPs 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 a 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 TRPs 300. RTT and / or range can be determined by TRP 300 receiving signals from UE 200, by TRP 300 in conjunction with one or more other devices (e.g., one or more other TRPs 300 and / or server 400), or by one or more devices other than TRP 300 receiving signals from UE 200.

[0097] 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).

[0098] 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).

[0099] Shared positioning auxiliary data area

[0100] Reference Figure 5 Further reference 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 can be used such that UE 200 can be an example of UE 500. For example, processor 510 may include one or more of the components of processor 210. 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. Alternatively or additionally, 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.

[0101] The description herein may refer only to the processor 510 performing a function, but this includes other implementations, such as the processor 510 performing an implementation of software and / or firmware (stored in memory 530). The description herein may refer to the UE 500 performing a function as a shorthand for one or more appropriate components of the UE 500 (e.g., processor 510 and memory 530) performing that function. The processor 510 (possibly in conjunction with memory 530 and, where appropriate, interface 520) may include a positioning signal measurement unit 550. The positioning signal measurement unit 550 is discussed further below, and this description may generally refer to the processor 510 or generally to the UE 500 performing any function of the positioning signal measurement unit 550.

[0102] Reference Figure 6Environment 600 includes an indoor area 610 within building 620 and an outdoor area 630 outside building 620. Base stations 611, 612, and 613 are arranged in indoor area 610 and provide cells 615, 616, and 617 (labeled as cell 1, cell 2, and cell 3), respectively, for providing signals to and / or receiving signals from UE 500. Due to objects affecting signal propagation (such as workstation 640, cabinet 642, walls (not shown), etc.), indoor area 610 may include a number of base stations to provide communication coverage. Indoor area 610 may be an IoT environment. Outdoor area 630 includes base stations 631 and 632 providing cells 633 and 634. Outdoor area 630 may have a much lower density (base stations per unit area) than indoor area 610, for example, because there may be a lower density of objects affecting signal propagation. Furthermore, the positioning assistance data used for SPS-based positioning can be the same over a larger area (such as an area even larger than cells 633, 634) (e.g., over area 650 covering indoor area 610 and outdoor area 630). The first positioning assistance data determined for a first area may differ from the second positioning assistance data determined for a second area, but can be used in the second area to measure positioning signals. Avoiding obtaining the second positioning assistance data outweighs any performance differences achieved by using the first positioning assistance data to measure positioning signals in the second area. For RAT-based positioning (such as in indoor area 610 (or even outdoor area 630)), the positioning assistance data can vary across a much smaller area compared to SPS-based positioning.

[0103] Positioning assistance data may be provided to the UE 500 to assist the UE 500 in measuring and / or processing positioning signals, for example, to reduce the time required to measure these signals and / or improve the accuracy of these measurements. Positioning assistance data may include, for example, path loss, spatial relationship information, SSB (Synchronization Signal Block) information, and PRS acquisition information (e.g., frequency, bandwidth, timing, decoding, etc.) to assist the UE 500 in measuring positioning signals. The same positioning assistance data may be used in different areas (e.g., different cells (e.g., different coverage areas (communication areas) of these cells)) and may be used for different areas for different assistance data (e.g., corresponding to different techniques and / or positioning technologies). For example, the same GNSS assistance data may be used in a large external area (e.g., hundreds or thousands of square meters) (such as external area 630), while the same assistance data used for RAT-based technologies may be used in a much smaller area (e.g., tens of square meters or less) (such as indoor area 610). However, in both cases, the area sharing the assistance data may include multiple distinguishable areas, such as multiple cells. For example, an indoor environment (e.g., for IoT devices) may have many small-sized (e.g., tens of square meters or less) cellular cells, but the same location assistance data can be used for one or more RAT-based technologies (e.g., RTT, OTDOA) across multiple cells (or other areas). For example, in indoor area 610, for each of cells 615-617, the same location assistance data can be used for RTT for NR, and for each of cells 615-617, the same location assistance data can be used for OTDOA for NR, but the location assistance data used for OTDOA may be different from the location assistance data used for RTT.

[0104] 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 a positioning assistance unit 460. The positioning assistance unit 460 can be configured to determine and / or provide assistance data to the UE 500 for use in measuring positioning signals (e.g., SPS signals, PRS signals). The assistance data can be provided to the UE 500 directly or indirectly (e.g., via TRP 300) from server 400. The positioning assistance unit 460 can be configured to determine the assistance data, and / or determine multiple areas (applicable areas) to which the same assistance data applies, and provide the UE 500 with indications of the applicable areas for the positioning assistance data. For example, the positioning assistance unit 460 can determine and provide indications for groups of positioning assistance data and the corresponding areas to which the assistance data applies (i.e., the multiple areas (e.g., cells) for each group of positioning assistance data that can use the corresponding assistance data). The assistance data for different areas may be the same or different, but assistance data for one area may still be helpful if used in different areas (e.g., similar but different). The positioning assistance unit 460 is discussed further below, and this description may refer to the processor 410 or, more generally, the server 400 performing any function of the positioning assistance unit 460.

[0105] Also refer to Figure 7The positioning assistance unit 460 can be configured to determine and provide group positioning assistance information contained in the positioning assistance data table 700. Table 700 includes a positioning assistance data group field 710, a positioning assistance data type field 720, a positioning assistance data message field 730, an areaScope field 740, a frequency layer field 750, and an expiration field 760. Unit 460 may not determine and / or provide information from one or more of fields 710, 720, 730, 740, 750, and 760. For example, unit 460 may not provide the group field 710, the data type field 720, and / or the frequency layer field 750. The parameter value in the areaScope field 740 indicates which area(s) the corresponding positioning assistance data applies to. A value indicating multiple areas means that the corresponding positioning assistance data(s) can be used in each indicated area so that the assistance data applies to each of the areas indicated by the areaScope parameter. The Positioning Assisted Data Message field 730 may contain a message (which includes auxiliary data) or may contain an indication of a message, rather than an actual message (or at least not a complete message). Therefore, the parameters in field 730 may inform the UE 500 that the auxiliary data of the indicated message can be used in all indicated areas in field 740 without providing the auxiliary data (the UE 500 can obtain the auxiliary data by reading the corresponding message). As assumed throughout this document as an example, the Positioning Assisted Data Message may be a Positioning System Information Block (posSIB). In Table 700 (which is a non-limiting example), the Positioning Assisted Data Message in field 730 includes auxiliary data, and therefore the parameters in field 730 for group 1 have values ​​posSIB-A1, posSIB-B1, and posSIB-C1, and these values ​​are different from the values ​​in field 730 for group 2, namely, values ​​posSIB-A2, posSIB-B2, and posSIB-C2.

[0106] like Figure 7In the example shown, the positioning assistance unit 460 can divide posSIBs into groups of corresponding applicable areas with positioning assistance data, where these groups are a function of one or more positioning assistance data characteristics. Positioning assistance data characteristics can be, for example, positioning assistance data type (e.g., SPS, RAT-based general positioning technology (i.e., any RAT-based technology), RAT-based specific positioning technology to which the positioning assistance data applies (e.g., RTT, OTDOA, etc.)), positioning assistance data name, or one or more frequency layers to which the assistance data applies, etc. In example table 700, the same positioning assistance data (e.g., posSIB-A, posSIB-B, posSIB-C) applies in any frequency layer of cell 1 because no specific frequency layer is specified for group 1 in the frequency layer field 750. Although the positioning assistance data for each positioning technology in table 700 is consistent across the indicated areas, positioning assistance data (and corresponding positioning assistance data messages) within the same positioning assistance data type may not be the same for a specific area. For example, posSIB-A2, posSIB-B2, and posSIB-C2 may be applied to cell 2, and posSIB-A2 and posSIB-B2 are also applied to cell 3, but posSIB-CX (where X≠2) is applied to cell 3. Furthermore, while each group shown in Table 700 includes multiple positioning assistance data messages (even groups 6 and 7 have multiple messages because the single indicated message for each group applies to multiple frequency layers), a group may have a single message, for example, a single message corresponding to a single frequency layer. As shown, each SPS assistance data group may have different values ​​internally (cells 1, 2, 3) and externally (cells 4, 5), but may have the same assistance data within internal cells and the same assistance data within external cells. However, this is an example, and other values ​​may exist for other external cells and / or other internal cells (e.g., for larger external areas and / or larger internal areas). As also shown in the figure, RAT-based techniques have different auxiliary data values ​​internally and externally (e.g., groups 1 and 2 to group 8, and groups 3 and 4 to group 9). Also as shown in the figure, positioning auxiliary data (e.g., all positioning auxiliary data for the indicated applicable area(s)) can be the same across frequency layers. In this example, as indicated by group 5, all posSIBs for frequency layer 3 will be the same for cells 1, 2, and 3.

[0107] The indicated group, and therefore the indicated location assistance data message, areaScope, and frequency layer combination, can be valid within their respective finite time durations. The value in the expiration field 760 indicates the expiration time of other relevant information (i.e., other information within the group). In this example, the expiration time is indicated as a specific time in days (D), hours (H), and minutes (M). Therefore, when the indicated corresponding day, hour, and minute arrive (or expire), the corresponding location assistance data becomes invalid. The format of the days, hours, and minutes used for the expiration field 760 is an example, and other formats of expiration timestamps (e.g., the duration of the timestamp of the corresponding location assistance data message, such as hours and / or minutes) can be used.

[0108] Regions corresponding to positioning assistance data can be provided in various ways. For example, bit mappings can be used to indicate the group to which the positioning assistance data belongs. For instance, if two groups are possible (e.g., SPS-based positioning assistance data and RAT-based positioning assistance data), one bit can be provided for each group of positioning assistance data (e.g., each positioning assistance data message), where 0 indicates one group (e.g., SPS-based) and 1 indicates the other group (e.g., RAT-based). An example bit mapping for such a scenario with six messages for SPS-based positioning assistance data and four messages for RAT-based positioning assistance data could be 0000001111. As another example, for a scenario with four groups (groups 0-3), two bits can correspond to each positioning assistance data message. Bit mapping 00001010101111 could indicate that the first two messages are in group 0, the next three messages are in group 2, and the next two messages are in group 3. As another example, each positioning assistance data message may include an index indicating the group to which the message belongs. Using the example of the four groups above, the first two messages will include index 00, the next three messages will include index 10, and the next two messages will include index 11. For example, refer to... Figure 8The location auxiliary data message 800 may include a group number field 810, an auxiliary data type field 820, an areaScope field 830, a frequency layer field 840, an auxiliary data field 850, and an expiration field 860, wherein in this example, the value of the group number field 810 is 01. The location auxiliary data message 800 is an example, and other forms of location auxiliary data messages may be used. For example, the auxiliary data type field 820 may be omitted (e.g., where the auxiliary data type is known based on an agreed protocol (e.g., where the location auxiliary data message 800 is related to other transmitted information)). The location auxiliary data message 800 includes other group-related information (i.e., as a supplement to the group number), which includes applicable areas and frequency layers. Alternatively, other information about the group may be provided in a separate message to indicate the group and the corresponding areas, frequency layers, etc.

[0109] Refer again Figure 5 and further refer to Figure 1-4In sections 6-8, processor 510 (possibly in conjunction with memory 530 and, where appropriate, interface 520) includes a positioning signal measurement unit 550 configured to measure positioning signals (e.g., SPS signals, PRS signals) to determine a positioning estimate for UE 500. This description may generally refer to processor 510 or UE 500 performing any function of positioning signal measurement unit 550. Positioning signal measurement (PSM) unit 550 may be configured to store auxiliary data in association with the applicable area(s) of that auxiliary data and any other relevant information (e.g., positioning auxiliary data type (e.g., SPS-based, RAT-based), positioning auxiliary data message type (e.g., SPS-based, RAT-based), positioning auxiliary data message name (e.g., posSibType1-2, posSibType2-12, etc.), frequency layer, etc.). PSM unit 550 may be configured to determine whether to obtain new positioning auxiliary data or to use the stored positioning auxiliary data to measure one or more positioning signals. For example, PSM unit 550 can respond to UE 500 entering a new area (e.g., being switched to a different serving base station and thus in a different cell, or moving to a new geographical area (e.g., as determined by dead reckoning, analysis of signal heatmaps, and / or analysis of base station neighbor lists), etc., by determining the location assistance data to be measured and whether that data is stored in memory 530. For example, PSM unit 550 can determine the location assistance data message to be measured, determine whether the assistance data for that message is stored in memory 530, and if so, determine whether the area range of the assistance data includes the new area (e.g., a new serving cell). For example, if UE 500 is in cell 1 and has obtained and stored location assistance data for RAT-based OTDOA in frequency layer 1 (corresponding to group 3 in Table 7), and moves to cell 2, then PSM unit 550 can determine that the stored location assistance data is valid in cell 2. PSM unit 550 can determine whether the stored location assistance is still valid (i.e., has not expired). The PSM unit 550 can determine that the UE 550 does not need to read the auxiliary data again if it determines that the stored positioning auxiliary data is applicable to a new area and has not yet expired. For example, the PSM unit 550 can prevent the UE 500 from leaving RRC idle mode and entering RRC active mode to measure auxiliary data because the memory 530 has already stored that auxiliary data. The PSM unit 550 can retrieve the positioning auxiliary data from the memory 530 and use this data to measure the upcoming positioning signal (PRS signal in this example). This can help save the UE 500's battery power by avoiding repeated reading and processing of positioning auxiliary data.

[0110] Reference Figure 9And further refer to Figure 1-8 The signaling and processing flow 900, used to determine location information using location assistance data applicable to multiple regions, includes the stages shown. Signaling and processing flow 900 is an example, as stages can be added, rearranged, and / or removed. For example, stages 980 and 990 can be omitted. In signaling and processing flow 900, TRP 300-1 is initially the serving TRP of UE 500, and UE 500 later (in stage 930) transforms it to make TRP 300-2 the serving TRP of UE 500.

[0111] In phase 910, server 400 (e.g., LMF) transmits location assistance data (AD) to UE 500. For example, location assistance unit 460 of server 400 may determine and / or provide different location ADs for different applicable areas and / or different frequency layers. For example, location assistance unit 460 may provide different location ADs with corresponding area ranges for SPS-based positioning and RAT-based positioning. Multiple area ranges with the same or different AD values ​​may be provided for the same type of location AD. For example, unit 460 may divide posSIBs into two or more posSIB groups and specify an areaScope value for each posSIB group. Alternatively or additionally, unit 460 may specify different areaScope values ​​for different frequency layers (e.g., within a posSIB group). Server 400 may provide the UE 500 directly with an indication of the applicable area for the positioning AD (e.g., Table 700) in a positioning AD message 916, or provide the indication to the UE 500 via a positioning AD message 912 to TRP 300-1 (which provides the positioning AD to the UE 500 in a positioning AD message 914). The positioning AD may be provided together with or separately from the indication of the applicable area. The positioning AD may be provided in a positioning AD message (such as a positioning assistance data message 800). Indications of multiple applicable areas for positioning assistance data may be provided together with the positioning assistance data (e.g., in positioning assistance data message 800) or separately from the positioning assistance data (e.g., provided separately in Table 700).

[0112] In phase 920, server 400 may transmit location configuration information to UE 500 and possibly also to TRP 300-1. For example, server 400 may provide configuration message 922 along with PRS configuration instructions to TRP 300-1. Configuration message 922 may be symbolic; for example, server 400 and TRP 300-1 may negotiate a location configuration message as symbolically represented by configuration message 922 to be transmitted to TRP 300-1. Although Figure 9A configuration message is shown being sent to a TRP, but multiple PRS instructions can be sent by server 400 to multiple TRPs for sending PRS. Server 400 can send a configuration message 924 with positioning signal configuration information to UE 500. Configuration message 924 can instruct TRP 300-1 on PRS configuration to facilitate UE 500 in measuring and processing PRS from TRP 300-1. Configuration message 924 may additionally or alternatively include satellite carrier positioning signal information for capturing SPS signals. Configuration message 924 is shown to be transmitted directly from server 400 to UE 500, but may be transmitted via TRP 300-1.

[0113] In phase 930, UE 500 changes from using TRP 300-1 as the serving TRP to using TRP 300-2 as the serving TRP. For example, UE 500 may move from being in cell 615 to being in cell 616 and be handed over from base station 611 to base station 612.

[0114] In phase 940, server 400 may transmit location assistance data to UE 500. For example, server 400 may send location assistance data message 942 directly to UE 500 (as shown in the figure), or send it via TRP 300-2 (similar to the discussion in phase 910). If UE 500 can use the same location assistance data previously sent by server 400 to UE 500, server 400 may not need to send location assistance data message 942. For example, if server 400 previously sent table 700 and UE 500 is using group 3 location assistance data, UE 500 does not need to read more location assistance data before the group 3 location assistance data expires because the same location assistance data can be used in cell 616. However, server 400 may send location assistance data message 942, for example, because server 400 may not know whether UE 500 has stored the location assistance data for use in other cells.

[0115] In phase 950, server 400 may transmit positioning configuration information to TRP 300-2 and possibly also to UE 500. For example, server 400 may provide configuration message 952 along with PRS configuration instructions to TRP 300-2. Configuration message 952 may be symbolic; for example, server 400 and TRP 300-2 may negotiate a PRS configuration as symbolically represented by configuration message 952 to be transmitted to TRP 300-2. Server 400 may send configuration message 954 containing positioning signal configuration information to UE 500. Configuration message 954 may instruct TRP 300-2 on its PRS configuration to facilitate UE 500 in measuring and processing PRS from TRP 300-2. Configuration message 954 may additionally or alternatively include satellite carrier positioning signal information for capturing SPS signals. Configuration message 954 is shown to be sent directly from server 400 to UE 500, but it can be sent from server 400 via TRP 300-2, or it can be sent from TRP 300-2 to UE 500.

[0116] In phase 960, UE 500 receives a location signal. In this example, TRP 300-2 sends PRS 962, which is received by UE 500.

[0117] In phase 970, UE 500 uses the positioning assistance data received in phase 910 to measure the positioning signal (PRS transmitted from TRP 300-2 in this example). For example, positioning signal measurement unit 550 may determine which positioning assistance data UE 500 will use to measure PRS 962 based on the positioning method (and therefore the signal to be measured) and / or frequency layer, the regional range of the positioning assistance data, and the expiration time of the positioning assistance data. Positioning signal measurement unit 550 may determine that previously stored positioning assistance data for the region (e.g., cell 615) of the positioning signal to be measured is applicable to UE 500's current region (e.g., cell) and remains valid (regardless of whether UE 500 has used previously stored positioning assistance data to measure the positioning signal). Unit 500 may respond to this determination by measuring positioning reference signal 962 using previously stored assistance data without reading additional positioning assistance data (e.g., from message 942). For example, with group 3 information from previously stored table 700 and having moved to cell 2, UE 500 can use group 3 positioning assistance data to measure PRS 962. Therefore, UE 500 can avoid changing from RRC idle mode to RRC active mode to read more positioning assistance data, thereby avoiding battery power, processing power, and time spent measuring additional positioning assistance data, thus saving power and / or reducing latency compared to measuring additional positioning assistance data.

[0118] Whether location assistance data is applicable to a region can be determined in various ways. For example, the same location assistance data may be included in location messages for different regions. As another example, a location-specific neural network (e.g., of server 400, TRP 300, and / or another entity) can analyze historical data (including data patterns) to derive a probabilistic model of which location assistance data can be used in multiple regions and in which regions the location assistance data is applicable (e.g., producing sufficient accuracy and / or latency when measuring location signals). For example, one or more algorithms can identify one or more relationships between location assistance data and location signal measurement performance to determine whether using the same location assistance data will produce acceptable positioning accuracy while providing one or more benefits (e.g., reduced power consumption, reduced latency, etc.).

[0119] In phase 980, UE 500 may transmit location information to server 400 in location information message 982. Location information message 982 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.

[0120] At stage 990, server 400 may determine the location of UE 500. Server 400 may collect location information from one or more location information messages 982 and perform one or more location techniques to determine the location of UE 500. For example, if multiple location information messages 982 include location estimates, server 400 may combine (e.g., average) these estimates. As another example, server 400 may combine (e.g., average) raw measurements and / or processed measurements (e.g., pseudorange) to determine a location estimate for UE 500. Server 400 may use the location information from (the) messages 982 to update the previously determined location of UE 500.

[0121] Reference Figure 10 And further refer to Figure 1-11 The signal measurement method 1000 includes the stages shown. However, method 1000 is merely an example and is not limiting. Method 1000 can be modified, for example, by adding, removing, rearranging, combining, executing concurrently, and / or splitting a single stage into multiple stages.

[0122] In phase 1010, method 1000 includes receiving first positioning assistance data at a user equipment having a first applicable area and a first positioning assistance data profile. For example, UE 500 may (e.g., from server 400 in phase 910) receive positioning assistance data for one cell (e.g., cell 615), and the positioning assistance data may also be applicable (can be used to measure positioning signals) in another cell (e.g., cell 616). Processor 510, memory 530, and interface 520 (e.g., wireless receiver 244 and antenna 246) may include means for receiving positioning assistance data.

[0123] In stage 1020, method 1000 includes storing first positioning assistance data at the user equipment. For example, UE 500 may store the first positioning assistance data in memory 530 for later access. Processor 510 and memory 530 may include means for storing the first positioning assistance data.

[0124] In stage 1030, method 1000 includes: determining at the UE that second positioning assistance data corresponds to first positioning assistance data based on a first applicable area including a second applicable area of ​​second positioning assistance data and based on the second positioning assistance data profile corresponding to a first positioning assistance data profile. For example, UE 500 may determine that if second positioning assistance data or a dedicated positioning assistance message corresponding to a positioning assistance data type will be used to measure positioning signals (e.g., the PRS of the cell to which UE 500 has moved) and first positioning assistance data corresponding to that positioning data type or positioning assistance message is applicable to the area where UE 500 is located, then the second positioning assistance data corresponds to the first positioning assistance data. The area where UE 500 is located may be the same area as the applicable area of ​​the first positioning assistance data, or it may be a subset of the applicable area of ​​the first positioning assistance data. Additionally or alternatively, UE 500 may determine that the frequency layers of the first and second positioning assistance data are the same to determine that the second positioning assistance data corresponds to the first positioning assistance data. The processor 510, memory 530, and interface 520 (e.g., wireless receiver 244 and antenna 246) may include means for determining that the second positioning assistance data corresponds to the first positioning assistance data.

[0125] At stage 1040, method 1000 includes: in response to determining that second positioning assistance data corresponds to first positioning assistance data, measuring a positioning signal corresponding to a second applicable area at a user equipment using the first positioning assistance data. For example, UE 500 may use positioning assistance data received at stage 910 to measure PRS 962 received at stage 960, regardless of whether UE 500 measures positioning assistance data received at stage 940 (if such data is received). Processor 510, memory 530, and interface 520 (e.g., wireless receiver 244 and antenna 246) may include means for measuring the positioning signal.

[0126] Implementations of method 1000 may include one or more of the following features. In an example implementation, UE 500 may receive indications of multiple applicable areas (e.g., the applicability of the positioning assistance data to cells 615 and 616) of the positioning assistance data received at stage 1010. Processor 510, memory 530, and interface 520 (e.g., radio receiver 244 and antenna 246) may include means for receiving indications of the applicable areas of the positioning assistance data for each of the multiple positioning assistance data groups. In another example implementation, measuring the positioning signal includes: in response to determining that the second positioning assistance data corresponds to the first positioning assistance data, measuring the positioning signal based on the first positioning assistance data without reading the second positioning assistance data from the positioning assistance message. For example, UE 500 may read the second positioning assistance data received in positioning AD message 942 without leaving RRC idle mode. UE 500 may read a portion of message 942 but avoid reading the positioning assistance data. In another example implementation, method 1000 may include: receiving, at a user equipment, an indication of the applicable area of ​​positioning assistance data for each of a plurality of positioning assistance data groups from a network entity; and determining, at the user equipment, that a second applicable area is the applicable area of ​​positioning assistance data corresponding to a specific positioning assistance data group among the plurality of positioning assistance data groups that includes the indication of the second positioning assistance data. For example, UE 500 may receive Table 700 or other indications (e.g., positioning assistance data type, positioning assistance data message, etc.) of the applicable area of ​​the positioning assistance data group (e.g., areaScope value), and determine that the applicable area of ​​positioning assistance data to be used to measure the positioning signal is the applicable area corresponding to the indication of the second positioning assistance data. Processor 510, memory 530, and interface 520 (e.g., wireless receiver 244 and antenna 246) may include means for receiving the indication of the applicable area of ​​positioning assistance data, and processor 510 and memory 530 may include means for determining the second applicable area.

[0127] Alternatively or concurrently, implementations of method 1000 may include one or more of the following features. In an example implementation, the second positioning assistance data profile includes an indicated frequency layer, and method 1000 may include: receiving at the user equipment a plurality of indications from a network entity indicating a positioning assistance data applicable area and an associated frequency layer, the positioning assistance data applicable area and associated frequency layer including a specific positioning assistance data applicable area and a specific associated frequency layer including the indicated frequency layer; and determining at the user equipment that a second applicable area is the specific positioning assistance data applicable area based on the fact that the specific associated frequency layer includes the indicated frequency layer. For example, UE 500 may receive an indication of an area range corresponding to a frequency layer used for positioning assistance data, for example, as shown in Table 700 for group 5. UE 500 may use the indicated applicable area (e.g., an areaScope value) as the second applicable area to determine whether previously stored positioning assistance data can be used to measure positioning signals (e.g., the same as the second positioning assistance data). Processor 510, memory 530, and interface 520 (e.g., wireless receiver 244 and antenna 246) may include means for receiving indications of an applicable area for positioning assistance data, and processor 510 and memory 530 may include means for determining a second applicable area. In a further example implementation, the plurality of indications further indicate auxiliary data groups associated with the applicable area of ​​positioning assistance data, the particular applicable area of ​​positioning assistance data being associated with a specific positioning assistance data group within each positioning assistance data group, and further, based on the fact that the specific positioning assistance data group includes an indication of second positioning assistance data, the second applicable area may be determined as the applicable area of ​​the specific positioning assistance data. For example, areaScope may correspond to a positioning assistance data group and a frequency layer, such that different areaScope values ​​may correspond to the same positioning assistance data group and different frequency layers (e.g., groups 3 and 4 in Table 700) or different areaScope values ​​may correspond to the same frequency layer and different positioning assistance data groups.

[0128] Additionally or alternatively, implementations of method 1000 may include one or more of the following features. In an example implementation, method 1000 may include: reading second positioning assistance data from a positioning assistance message at a user equipment, and using the second positioning assistance data at the user equipment to measure a positioning reference signal in response to determining that the second positioning assistance data is different from the first positioning assistance data. For example, if previously stored positioning assistance data is not suitable for measuring the positioning signal (e.g., because the stored positioning assistance data is not associated with the current area of ​​UE 500), UE 500 may read positioning assistance data from the positioning assistance message for measuring the positioning signal. Processor 510, memory 530, and interface 520 (e.g., wireless receiver 244 and antenna 246) may include means for reading the second positioning assistance data. Processor 510, memory 530, and interface 520 (e.g., wireless receiver 244 and antenna 246) may include means for determining that the second positioning assistance data and the first positioning assistance data are different. Processor 510, memory 530, and interface 520 (e.g., wireless receiver 244 and antenna 246) may include means for measuring a positioning signal in response to determining that second positioning assistance data and first positioning assistance data are different. In another example implementation, method 1000 may include determining the second positioning assistance data based on a positioning method. For example, UE 500 may search for a group of positioning assistance data corresponding to a positioning technique that will be used by UE 500 to process the positioning signal, and use the positioning assistance data corresponding to such a group of positioning assistance data to measure the positioning signal. Processor 510 and memory 530 may include means for determining the second positioning assistance data based on a positioning method. In another example implementation, method 1000 may include determining whether the first positioning assistance data has expired. For example, UE 500 may analyze the value in the expiration field 760 relative to the current time to determine whether the stored positioning assistance data is still valid (before and / or after determining whether the stored positioning assistance data is applicable to the current area of ​​UE 500). Processor 510, memory 530, and interface 520 (e.g., wireless receiver 244 and antenna 246) may include means for determining whether the first positioning assistance data has expired. In another example implementation, method 1000 may include obtaining a second applicable area from a positioning assistance message containing second positioning assistance data. For example, UE 500 may receive a positioning AD message 942 and use the applicable area in message 942 to determine whether the applicable area is within the applicable area of ​​previously stored positioning assistance data used to measure positioning signals. Processor 510, memory 530, and interface 520 (e.g., wireless receiver 244 and antenna 246) may include means for obtaining the second applicable area. In another example implementation, method 1000 may include using the user equipment's currently serving cell as the second applicable area.For example, UE 500 may determine a new serving cell during handover between TRPs and use this new serving cell as the applicable area for location assistance data to determine whether UE 500 has stored location assistance data for measuring location signals. Processor 510, memory 530, and interface 520 (e.g., radio receiver 244 and antenna 246) may include means for using the current serving cell as a second applicable area.

[0129] Reference Figure 11 And further refer to Figure 1-10 Configuration method 1100 includes the stages shown. However, method 1100 is merely an example and is not limiting. Method 1100 can be modified, for example, by adding, removing, rearranging, combining, executing concurrently, and / or splitting a single stage into multiple stages.

[0130] In stage 1110, method 1100 includes associating a first applicable area with a plurality of first positioning assistance messages, each first positioning assistance message including corresponding first positioning assistance data. For example, server 400 may associate one or more cells with a set of posSIBs (e.g., as shown in Table 700). Each first positioning assistance message may include multiple messages (e.g., one message includes an indication of positioning assistance data and another message includes the positioning assistance data). The plurality of first positioning assistance messages may include the same positioning assistance message corresponding to multiple frequency layers (e.g., groups 6 and 7 of Table 700). The plurality of first positioning assistance messages may include multiple positioning assistance messages each corresponding to multiple frequency layers (e.g., groups 1, 2, 8, and 9 of Table 700). The plurality of first positioning assistance messages may include multiple positioning assistance messages each corresponding to a single frequency layer (e.g., groups 3-5 of Table 700). Processor 410 and memory 411 may include means for associating the first applicable area with the plurality of first positioning assistance messages.

[0131] In stage 1120, method 1100 includes associating a second applicable area with a second location assistance message, the second location assistance message being different from the plurality of first location assistance messages and including second location assistance data. For example, server 400 may associate one or more cells with at least one posSIB (e.g., as shown in Table 700). Processor 410 and memory 411 may include means for associating the second applicable area with the second location assistance message.

[0132] At stage 1130, method 1100 includes transmitting configuration information to user equipment indicating that a first applicable area is associated with the plurality of first positioning assistance messages and a second applicable area is associated with a second positioning assistance message. For example, server 400 may send table 700, positioning assistance messages (such as positioning assistance data message 800), and / or one or more other indications for the positioning assistance messages and corresponding applicable areas. Configuration information having group indications identifying the plurality of first positioning assistance messages may be transmitted separately from the plurality of first positioning assistance messages. For example, server 400 may send a positioning assistance data type (e.g., RTT, OTDOA) identifying the first positioning assistance message along with information about the applicable areas, and these messages (including positioning assistance data) may be transmitted separately (e.g., later). Processor 410, memory 411, and transceiver 415 (e.g., wireless transmitter 442 and antenna 446) may include means for transmitting the configuration information.

[0133] Implementations of method 1100 may include one or more of the following features. In an example implementation, method 1100 may include configuration information that causes a network entity to transmit, in each of a plurality of first location assistance messages, a group indication identifying the plurality of first location assistance messages. For example, server 400 may send one or more instructions to TRP 300 to transmit a location assistance data message 800 indicating a group in group number field 810. Processor 410, memory 411, and transceiver 415 (e.g., wireless transmitter 422 and antenna 446) may include means for causing the network entity to transmit configuration information with a group indication.

[0134] Implementation Example

[0135] Examples of each implementation are provided in the following numbered clauses.

[0136] 1. A user equipment comprising:

[0137] transceiver;

[0138] Memory; and

[0139] The processor, communicatively coupled to the transceiver and the memory, is configured to:

[0140] The transceiver receives first positioning assistance data having a first applicable area and a first positioning assistance data profile.

[0141] The first positioning auxiliary data is stored in this memory;

[0142] Based on the first applicable area including the second applicable area of ​​the second positioning assistance data and based on the second positioning assistance data profile corresponding to the first positioning data profile, it is determined that the second positioning assistance data corresponds to the first positioning assistance data; and

[0143] In response to determining that the second positioning assistance data corresponds to the first positioning assistance data, the first positioning assistance data is used to measure the positioning signal corresponding to the second applicable area.

[0144] 2. The user equipment as described in Clause 1, wherein, in order to measure the positioning signal, the processor is configured to: in response to determining that the second positioning assistance data corresponds to the first positioning assistance data, measure the positioning signal based on the first positioning assistance data without reading the second positioning assistance data from the positioning assistance message.

[0145] 3. User equipment as described in Clause 1, wherein the processor is configured to:

[0146] The transceiver receives from the network entity an indication of the applicable area for each of the multiple location assistance data groups; and

[0147] The second applicable area is defined as the applicable area of ​​the positioning assistance data corresponding to a specific positioning assistance data group that includes an indication of the second positioning assistance data among the plurality of positioning assistance data groups.

[0148] 4. User equipment as described in Clause 1, wherein the second positioning assistance data profile includes the indicated frequency layer, and wherein the processor is configured to:

[0149] The transceiver receives from a network entity multiple indications of the applicable area and associated frequency layer of positioning assistance data, including a specific positioning assistance data applicable area and a specific associated frequency layer including the indicated frequency layer; and

[0150] The second applicable area is determined as the applicable area for the specific positioning assistance data based on the specific associated frequency layer, including the indicated frequency layer.

[0151] 5. The user equipment as described in Clause 4, wherein the plurality of indications further indicate an auxiliary data group associated with the applicable area of ​​the positioning assistance data, the particular applicable area of ​​the positioning assistance data being associated with a particular positioning assistance data group within the positioning assistance data group, and wherein the processor is configured to further determine the second applicable area as the applicable area of ​​the particular positioning assistance data based on the particular positioning assistance data group including an indication of the second positioning assistance data.

[0152] 6. The user equipment as described in Clause 1, wherein the processor is configured to: read the second positioning assistance data from the positioning assistance message, and use the second positioning assistance data to measure the positioning signal in response to determining that the second positioning assistance data is different from the first positioning assistance data.

[0153] 7. User equipment as described in Clause 1, wherein the processor is configured to determine the second positioning assistance data based on a positioning method.

[0154] 8. User equipment as described in Clause 1, wherein the processor is configured to: determine whether the first positioning assistance data has expired.

[0155] 9. The user equipment as described in Clause 1, wherein the processor is configured to: obtain the second applicable area from a positioning assistance message containing the second positioning assistance data.

[0156] 10. The user equipment as described in Clause 1, wherein the processor is configured to use the user equipment’s current serving cell as the second applicable area.

[0157] 11. A user equipment comprising:

[0158] A means for receiving first positioning assistance data having a first applicable area and a first positioning assistance data profile;

[0159] A memory device for storing the first positioning assistance data;

[0160] A means for determining that the second positioning data corresponds to the first positioning data based on the first applicable area including the second applicable area and based on the second positioning data profile corresponding to the first positioning data profile; and

[0161] A means for measuring a positioning signal corresponding to a second applicable area using the first positioning auxiliary data in response to determining that the second positioning auxiliary data corresponds to the first positioning auxiliary data.

[0162] 12. The user equipment of Clause 11, wherein the means for measuring the positioning signal includes means for: measuring the positioning signal based on the first positioning assistance data in response to determining that the second positioning assistance data corresponds to the first positioning assistance data, without reading the second positioning assistance data from the positioning assistance message.

[0163] 13. User equipment as described in Clause 11, further including:

[0164] A means for receiving from a network entity an indication of the applicable area of ​​positioning assistance data for each of a plurality of positioning assistance data groups; and

[0165] A means for determining the second applicable area as the applicable area of ​​the positioning assistance data corresponding to a specific positioning assistance data group among the plurality of positioning assistance data groups that includes an indication of the second positioning assistance data.

[0166] 14. The user equipment as described in Clause 11, wherein the second positioning assistance data profile includes the indicated frequency layer, and wherein the user equipment further includes:

[0167] Means for receiving from a network entity multiple indications of a location assistance data applicability area and an associated frequency layer, the location assistance data applicability area and associated frequency layer including a specific location assistance data applicability area and a specific associated frequency layer including the indicated frequency layer; and

[0168] A means for determining the second applicable region as the applicable region of the specific positioning assistance data based on the specific associated frequency layer, including the indicated frequency layer.

[0169] 15. The user equipment as described in Clause 14, wherein the plurality of indications further indicate an auxiliary data group associated with the applicable area of ​​the positioning assistance data, the particular applicable area of ​​the positioning assistance data being associated with a particular positioning assistance data group within the positioning assistance data group, and wherein the means for determining the second applicable area includes means for further determining the second applicable area as the applicable area of ​​the particular positioning assistance data based on the indication that the particular positioning assistance data group includes the second positioning assistance data.

[0170] 16. The user equipment as described in Clause 11 further includes: means for reading the second positioning assistance data from the positioning assistance message, and means for using the second positioning assistance data to measure the positioning signal in response to determining that the second positioning assistance data is different from the first positioning assistance data.

[0171] 17. The user equipment as described in Clause 11 further includes: means for determining the second positioning assistance data based on a positioning method.

[0172] 18. The user equipment as described in Clause 11 further includes: means for determining whether the first positioning assistance data has expired.

[0173] 19. The user equipment as described in Clause 11 further includes: means for obtaining the second applicable area from a positioning assistance message containing the second positioning assistance data.

[0174] 20. The user equipment as described in Clause 11 further includes: means for using the current serving cell of the user equipment as the second applicable area.

[0175] 21. A signal measurement method, comprising:

[0176] Receive first positioning assistance data at the user equipment, which includes a first applicable area and a first positioning assistance data profile;

[0177] The first positioning auxiliary data is stored in the user equipment.

[0178] Based on the first applicable area including the second applicable area of ​​the second positioning assistance data and based on the second positioning assistance data profile corresponding to the first positioning assistance data profile, the user equipment is determined to have the second positioning assistance data correspond to the first positioning assistance data; and

[0179] In response to determining that the second positioning assistance data corresponds to the first positioning assistance data, the first positioning assistance data is used at the user equipment to measure the positioning signal corresponding to the second applicable area.

[0180] 22. The method of Clause 21, wherein measuring the positioning signal comprises: in response to determining that the second positioning assistance data corresponds to the first positioning assistance data, measuring the positioning signal based on the first positioning assistance data without reading the second positioning assistance data from the positioning assistance message.

[0181] 23. The method as described in Clause 21 further includes:

[0182] At the user equipment location, an indication is received from the network entity of the applicable area for the location assistance data in each of the multiple location assistance data groups; and

[0183] At the user equipment location, the second applicable area is defined as the applicable area of ​​the positioning assistance data corresponding to a specific positioning assistance data group among the plurality of positioning assistance data groups that includes an indication of the second positioning assistance data.

[0184] 24. The method of Clause 21, wherein the second positioning assistance data profile includes the indicated frequency layer, and wherein the method further includes:

[0185] The user equipment receives multiple indications from a network entity indicating the applicable area and associated frequency layer of positioning assistance data, the applicable area and associated frequency layer including a specific positioning assistance data applicable area and a specific associated frequency layer including the indicated frequency layer; and

[0186] Based on the specific associated frequency layer, including the indicated frequency layer, the second applicable area at the user equipment is determined as the applicable area for the specific positioning assistance data.

[0187] 25. The method of Clause 24, wherein the plurality of indications further indicate a group of auxiliary data associated with the applicable area of ​​the positioning assistance data, the particular applicable area of ​​the positioning assistance data being associated with a particular group of positioning assistance data within the group of positioning assistance data, and wherein the second applicable area is further determined as the particular applicable area of ​​positioning assistance data based on the particular group of positioning assistance data including an indication of the second positioning assistance data.

[0188] 26. The method of Clause 21 further includes: reading the second positioning assistance data from a positioning assistance message at the user equipment, and using the second positioning assistance data at the user equipment to measure the positioning signal in response to determining that the second positioning assistance data is different from the first positioning assistance data.

[0189] 27. The method of Clause 21 further includes: determining the second positioning assistance data based on a positioning method.

[0190] 28. The method of Clause 21 further includes: determining whether the first positioning assistance data has expired.

[0191] 29. The method of Clause 21 further includes: obtaining the second applicable area from a positioning assistance message containing the second positioning assistance data.

[0192] 30. The method of Clause 21 further includes: using the current serving cell of the user equipment as the second applicable area.

[0193] 31. A non-transient processor-readable storage medium comprising processor-readable instructions configured to cause a processor equipped by a user to perform the following operations:

[0194] Receive first positioning assistance data having a first applicable area and a first positioning assistance data profile;

[0195] Store the first positioning assistance data;

[0196] Based on the first applicable area including the second applicable area of ​​the second positioning assistance data and based on the second positioning assistance data profile corresponding to the first positioning data profile, it is determined that the second positioning assistance data corresponds to the first positioning assistance data; and

[0197] In response to determining that the second positioning assistance data corresponds to the first positioning assistance data, the first positioning assistance data is used to measure the positioning signal from the second cell.

[0198] 32. The storage medium of Clause 31, wherein the processor-readable instructions configured to cause the processor to measure the positioning signal include processor-readable instructions configured to cause the processor to: measure the positioning signal based on the first positioning assistance data in response to determining that the second positioning assistance data corresponds to the first positioning assistance data, without reading the second positioning assistance data from the positioning assistance message.

[0199] 33. The storage medium as described in Clause 31 further includes processor-readable instructions configured to cause the processor to perform the following operations:

[0200] Receive from network entities an indication of the applicable area for location assistance data in each of the multiple location assistance data groups; and

[0201] The second applicable area is defined as the applicable area of ​​the positioning assistance data corresponding to a specific positioning assistance data group that includes an indication of the second positioning assistance data among the plurality of positioning assistance data groups.

[0202] 34. The storage medium as described in Clause 31, wherein the second positioning assistance data profile includes the indicated frequency layer, and wherein the storage medium further includes processor-readable instructions configured to cause the processor to perform the following operations:

[0203] Receive from a network entity multiple indications of the applicable area and associated frequency layer of positioning assistance data, the applicable area and associated frequency layer including a specific applicable area of ​​positioning assistance data and a specific associated frequency layer including the indicated frequency layer; and

[0204] The second applicable area is determined as the applicable area for the specific positioning assistance data based on the specific associated frequency layer, including the indicated frequency layer.

[0205] 35. The storage medium as described in Clause 34, wherein the plurality of indications further indicate an auxiliary data group associated with the applicable region of the positioning assistance data, the particular applicable region of the positioning assistance data being associated with a particular positioning assistance data group within the positioning assistance data group, and wherein processor-readable instructions configured to cause the processor to determine the second applicable region include processor-readable instructions configured to cause the processor to perform means for further determining the second applicable region as the applicable region of the particular positioning assistance data based on the indication of the second positioning assistance data included in the particular positioning assistance data group.

[0206] 36. The storage medium as described in Clause 31 further includes processor-readable instructions configured to cause the processor to: read the second positioning assistance data from the positioning assistance message, and use the second positioning assistance data to measure the positioning signal in response to determining that the second positioning assistance data is different from the first positioning assistance data.

[0207] 37. The storage medium as described in Clause 31 further includes processor-readable instructions configured to cause the processor to determine the second positioning assistance data based on the positioning method.

[0208] 38. The storage medium as described in Clause 31 further includes processor-readable instructions configured to cause the processor to determine whether the first positioning assistance data has expired.

[0209] 39. The storage medium as described in Clause 31 further includes processor-readable instructions configured to cause the processor to: obtain the second applicable area from a positioning message containing the second positioning assistance data.

[0210] 40. The storage medium as described in Clause 31 further includes processor-readable instructions configured to cause the processor to use the currently serving cell of the user equipment as the second applicable area.

[0211] 41. A location server, comprising:

[0212] transceiver;

[0213] Memory; and

[0214] The processor, communicatively coupled to the transceiver and the memory, is configured to:

[0215] The first applicable area is associated with multiple first positioning assistance messages, each of which includes corresponding first positioning assistance data;

[0216] Associate a second applicable area with a second positioning assistance message, which is different from the plurality of first positioning assistance messages and includes second positioning assistance data; and

[0217] The transceiver transmits configuration information indicating that the first applicable area is associated with the plurality of first positioning assistance messages and the second applicable area is associated with the second positioning assistance message.

[0218] 42. A location server as described in Clause 41, wherein the plurality of first location assistance messages include the same location assistance message corresponding to a plurality of frequency layers.

[0219] 43. A location server as described in Clause 41, wherein the plurality of first location assistance messages include a plurality of location assistance messages each corresponding to a plurality of frequency layers.

[0220] 44. A location server as described in Clause 41, wherein the plurality of first location assistance messages comprise a plurality of location assistance messages each corresponding to a single frequency layer.

[0221] 45. A location server as described in Clause 41, wherein the processor is configured to transmit to a network entity instructions to transmit configuration information having a group indication identifying the plurality of first location assistance messages in each of the plurality of first location assistance messages.

[0222] 46. ​​A location server as described in Clause 41, wherein the processor is configured to transmit the configuration information having a group indication identifying the plurality of first location assistance messages separately from the plurality of first location assistance messages.

[0223] 47. A location server, comprising:

[0224] A means for associating a first applicable area with a plurality of first positioning assistance messages, each first positioning assistance message including corresponding first positioning assistance data;

[0225] A means for associating a second applicable area with a second positioning assistance message, the second positioning assistance message being different from the plurality of first positioning assistance messages and including second positioning assistance data; and

[0226] A means for transmitting configuration information to user equipment, the configuration information indicating that a first applicable area is associated with the plurality of first positioning assistance messages and that a second applicable area is associated with the second positioning assistance message.

[0227] 48. A location server as described in Clause 47, wherein the plurality of first location assistance messages includes a single location assistance message corresponding to a plurality of frequency layers.

[0228] 49. A location server as described in Clause 47, wherein the plurality of first location assistance messages include a plurality of location assistance messages each corresponding to a plurality of frequency layers.

[0229] 50. A location server as described in Clause 47, wherein the plurality of first location assistance messages comprise a plurality of location assistance messages each corresponding to a single frequency layer.

[0230] 51. The location server as described in Clause 47, further comprising: means for causing a network entity to transmit, in each of the plurality of first location assistance messages, the configuration information having a group indication identifying the plurality of first location assistance messages.

[0231] 52. A location server as described in Clause 47, wherein the means for transmitting the configuration information includes: means for transmitting the configuration information having a group indication identifying the plurality of first location assistance messages separately from the plurality of first location assistance messages.

[0232] 53. A configuration method, comprising:

[0233] The first applicable area is associated with multiple first positioning assistance messages, each of which includes corresponding first positioning assistance data;

[0234] Associate a second applicable area with a second positioning assistance message, which is different from the plurality of first positioning assistance messages and includes second positioning assistance data; and

[0235] Configuration information is transmitted to the user equipment, indicating that the first applicable area is associated with the plurality of first positioning assistance messages and the second applicable area is associated with the second positioning assistance message.

[0236] 54. The method of Clause 53, wherein the plurality of first positioning assistance messages includes a single positioning assistance message corresponding to a plurality of frequency layers.

[0237] 55. The method of Clause 53, wherein the plurality of first positioning assistance messages include a plurality of positioning assistance messages each corresponding to a plurality of frequency layers.

[0238] 56. The method of Clause 53, wherein the plurality of first positioning assistance messages comprises a plurality of positioning assistance messages each corresponding to a single frequency layer.

[0239] 57. The method of Clause 53 further includes: causing the network entity to transmit, in each of the plurality of first location assistance messages, the configuration information having a group indication identifying the plurality of first location assistance messages.

[0240] 58. The method of Clause 53, wherein transmitting the configuration information includes: transmitting the configuration information having a group indication identifying the plurality of first positioning assistance messages separately from the plurality of first positioning assistance messages.

[0241] 59. A non-transient processor-readable storage medium comprising processor-readable instructions configured to cause a processor of a location server to perform the following operations:

[0242] The first applicable area is associated with multiple first positioning assistance messages, each of which includes corresponding first positioning assistance data;

[0243] Associate a second applicable area with a second positioning assistance message, which is different from the plurality of first positioning assistance messages and includes second positioning assistance data; and

[0244] Configuration information is transmitted to the user equipment, indicating that the first applicable area is associated with the plurality of first positioning assistance messages and the second applicable area is associated with the second positioning assistance message.

[0245] 60. The storage medium as described in Clause 59, wherein the plurality of first positioning assistance messages includes a single positioning assistance message corresponding to a plurality of frequency layers.

[0246] 61. The storage medium as described in Clause 59, wherein the plurality of first positioning assistance messages comprises a plurality of positioning assistance messages each corresponding to a plurality of frequency layers.

[0247] 62. The storage medium as described in Clause 59, wherein the plurality of first positioning assistance messages comprises a plurality of positioning assistance messages each corresponding to a single frequency layer.

[0248] 63. The storage medium as described in Clause 59 further includes processor-readable instructions configured to cause the processor to: transmit to the network entity instructions for transmitting configuration information having a group indication identifying the plurality of first location assistance messages in each of the plurality of first location assistance messages.

[0249] 64. The storage medium of Clause 59, wherein processor-readable instructions configured to cause the processor to transmit the configuration information include processor-readable instructions configured to cause the processor to transmit the configuration information having a group indication identifying the plurality of first positioning assistance messages separately from the plurality of first positioning assistance messages.

[0250] Other considerations

[0251] 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, hardwired, or any combination thereof executed by a processor. Features implementing functions can also be physically located in various positions, including being distributed such that portions 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 may be components of a larger system, where other rules may take precedence over or otherwise modify the application of the invention. 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.

[0252] 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.

[0253] 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 (and 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).

[0254] 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 may be connected directly or indirectly to enable communication between them.

[0255] 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, connectivity to other computing devices (such as network input / output devices) can be employed.

[0256] 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.

[0257] 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.

[0258] 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.

[0259] Specific details are provided in this specification to provide a thorough understanding of the example configurations (including 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 specification provides only example configurations and does not limit the scope, applicability, or configuration of the claims. Rather, the preceding description of the configurations provides a description for implementing the techniques. Various changes can be made to the function and arrangement of the elements.

[0260] 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.

[0261] After describing 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 or otherwise modify the application of the invention. 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.

[0262] 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: transceiver; Memory; as well as A processor, communicatively coupled to the transceiver and the memory, and configured to: The transceiver receives first positioning assistance data having a first applicable area and a first positioning assistance data profile. The first positioning auxiliary data is stored in the memory; Based on the first applicable area including the second applicable area of ​​the second positioning assistance data and based on the second positioning assistance data profile corresponding to the first positioning assistance data profile, it is determined that the second positioning assistance data corresponds to the first positioning assistance data, wherein the second positioning assistance data profile corresponding to the first positioning assistance data profile includes at least one of the following: a parameter in the first positioning assistance data profile and the second positioning assistance data profile is the same, or a parameter type in the first positioning assistance data profile and the second positioning assistance data profile is the same; as well as In response to determining that the second positioning assistance data corresponds to the first positioning assistance data, the first positioning assistance data is used to measure the positioning signal corresponding to the second applicable area.

2. The user equipment of claim 1, wherein, in order to measure the positioning signal, the processor is configured to: in response to determining that the second positioning assistance data corresponds to the first positioning assistance data, measure the positioning signal based on the first positioning assistance data without reading the second positioning assistance data from the positioning assistance message.

3. The user equipment of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to: Receive, via the transceiver, an indication of the applicable area for each of the multiple location assistance data groups from the network entity; and The second applicable area is defined as the location assistance data applicable area corresponding to a specific location assistance data group among the plurality of location assistance data groups that includes an indication of the second location assistance data.

4. The user equipment of claim 1, wherein the second positioning assistance data profile includes the indicated frequency layer, and wherein the processor is configured to: The transceiver receives from a network entity multiple indications of applicable areas and associated frequency layers for location assistance data, the applicable areas and associated frequency layers including a specific location assistance data applicable area and a specific associated frequency layer including the indicated frequency layer; and The second applicable region is determined as the applicable region for the specific positioning assistance data based on the specific associated frequency layer, including the indicated frequency layer.

5. The user equipment of claim 4, wherein the plurality of indications further indicate a group of positioning assistance data associated with the applicable area of ​​the positioning assistance data, the specific applicable area of ​​the positioning assistance data being associated with a specific group of positioning assistance data within the group of positioning assistance data, and wherein the processor is configured to further determine the second applicable area as the specific applicable area of ​​positioning assistance data based on the specific group of positioning assistance data including an indication of the second positioning assistance data.

6. The user equipment of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to: read the second positioning assistance data from a positioning assistance message, and use the second positioning assistance data to measure the positioning signal in response to determining that the second positioning assistance data is different from the first positioning assistance data.

7. The user equipment of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to determine the second positioning assistance data based on a positioning method.

8. The user equipment of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to: determine whether the first positioning assistance data has expired.

9. The user equipment of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to: obtain the second applicable area from a positioning assistance message containing the second positioning assistance data.

10. The user equipment of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to use the current serving cell of the user equipment as the second applicable area.

11. A signal measurement method, comprising: Receive first positioning assistance data at the user equipment, which includes a first applicable area and a first positioning assistance data profile; The first positioning auxiliary data is stored in the user equipment. Based on the first applicable area including the second applicable area of ​​the second positioning assistance data and based on the second positioning assistance data profile corresponding to the first positioning assistance data profile, the second positioning assistance data is determined to correspond to the first positioning assistance data at the user equipment, wherein the second positioning assistance data profile corresponding to the first positioning assistance data profile includes at least one of the following: a parameter in the first positioning assistance data profile and the second positioning assistance data profile is the same, or a parameter type in the first positioning assistance data profile and the second positioning assistance data profile is the same; as well as In response to determining that the second positioning assistance data corresponds to the first positioning assistance data, the first positioning assistance data is used at the user equipment to measure a positioning signal corresponding to the second applicable area.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein measuring the positioning signal comprises: In response to determining that the second positioning assistance data corresponds to the first positioning assistance data, the positioning signal is measured based on the first positioning assistance data without reading the second positioning assistance data from the positioning assistance message.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising: At the user equipment, an indication is received from the network entity of the applicable area for the location assistance data of each of the multiple location assistance data groups. as well as At the user equipment, the second applicable area is defined as the location assistance data applicable area corresponding to a specific location assistance data group among the plurality of location assistance data groups that includes an indication of the second location assistance data.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the second positioning assistance data profile includes the indicated frequency layer, and wherein the method further comprises: At the user equipment, multiple indications are received from a network entity indicating a location assistance data applicable area and an associated frequency layer, the location assistance data applicable area and associated frequency layer including a specific location assistance data applicable area and a specific associated frequency layer including the indicated frequency layer; and Based on the specific associated frequency layer, including the indicated frequency layer, the second applicable area is determined at the user equipment as the applicable area for the specific positioning assistance data.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the plurality of indications further indicate a group of location assistance data associated with the applicable area of ​​the location assistance data, the particular applicable area of ​​the location assistance data being associated with a particular group of location assistance data within the group of location assistance data, and wherein the second applicable area is further determined as the particular applicable area of ​​location assistance data based on the particular group of location assistance data including an indication of the second location assistance data.

16. The method of claim 11, further comprising: The second positioning assistance data is read from the positioning assistance message at the user equipment, and the positioning signal is measured at the user equipment using the second positioning assistance data in response to determining that the second positioning assistance data is different from the first positioning assistance data.

17. The method of claim 11, further comprising: The second positioning auxiliary data is determined based on the positioning method.

18. The method of claim 11, further comprising: Determine whether the first positioning assistance data has expired.

19. The method of claim 11, further comprising: The second applicable area is obtained from the positioning assistance message containing the second positioning assistance data.

20. The method of claim 11, further comprising: The currently serving cell of the user equipment is used as the second applicable area.

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