Configuring positioning measurements and reporting

Abstract

Apparatuses, methods, and systems are disclosed for configuring positioning measurements and reporting. An apparatus (1000) in a mobile communication network includes a transceiver (1025) that receives (1205) a positioning configuration from a mobile wireless communication network defining a positioning configuration timeline for a UE and measurement and processing time windows. The apparatus (1000) includes a processor (1005) that performs (1210) at least one positioning measurement for the UE according to a positioning processing timeline in response to receiving the positioning configuration. The transceiver (1005) sends (1215) a positioning measurement report from the UE to the mobile wireless communication network of the at least one positioning measurement performed within the configured time windows and a measurement timeline for the at least one positioning measurement.

Description

[0001] Cross-reference of related applications

[0002] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63 / 076,683, filed September 10, 2020, entitled "UE Processing Enhancements for Positioning," and U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63 / 076,575, filed September 10, 2020, entitled "UE Reporting Enhancements for Positioning," both of which are incorporated herein by reference. Technical Field

[0003] The subject matter disclosed in this article generally relates to wireless communication, and more specifically, to the configuration of positioning measurements and reporting. Background Technology

[0004] In some wireless communication systems, the specifications support radio access technology (“RAT”) dependent positioning using 3GPP New Radio (“NR”) technology. The specifications may define certain requirements for positioning measurements and reporting, including accuracy, latency, and reliability positioning requirements. Summary of the Invention

[0005] Disclosed are procedures for configuring positioning measurements and reporting. These procedures may be implemented by devices, systems, methods, or computer program products.

[0006] In one embodiment, a device includes a transceiver that receives from a mobile wireless communication network a positioning configuration timeline defining a UE and a measurement and processing time window. The positioning configuration may include a timeline duration defining when measurements begin, a set of positioning measurements to be performed within the configured time window, and a window duration for measuring and processing requested location-relationship measurements of the UE according to the positioning processing timeline.

[0007] In one embodiment, the device includes a processor that, in response to receiving the positioning configuration, performs at least one positioning measurement on the UE according to the positioning processing timeline. In some embodiments, the transceiver transmits a positioning measurement report, including the at least one positioning measurement performed within the configured time window and the measurement timeline of the at least one positioning measurement, from the UE to the mobile wireless communication network.

[0008] In one embodiment, another device includes a transceiver that transmits a positioning configuration to a user equipment (“UE”) device that defines a positioning configuration timeline and a measurement and processing time window for the UE. In one embodiment, the positioning configuration includes a timeline duration defining when measurements should begin, a set of positioning measurements to be performed within the configured time window, and a window duration for measuring and processing requested location-relationship measurements of the UE according to the positioning processing timeline. In one embodiment, the transceiver receives from the UE device a positioning measurement report including the at least one positioning measurement performed within the configured time window and a measurement timeline of the at least one positioning measurement.

[0009] In one embodiment, another device includes a transceiver that receives an authorized configuration of an uplink (“UL”) configuration from a mobile wireless communication network based on criteria associated with at least one of the UE’s location delay budget and location processing timeline. In some embodiments, the device includes a processor that performs at least one location measurement on the UE according to the location processing timeline and generates a location measurement report including the at least one location measurement. In some embodiments, the transceiver transmits the location measurement report to the mobile wireless communication network using the authorized configuration of the UL configuration based on the availability of location-related reference signal measurements within at least one of the location delay budget and the location processing timeline.

[0010] In one embodiment, another embodiment includes a transceiver that sends an authorized configuration of an uplink (“UL”) configuration to the UE device based on a criterion associated with at least one of the positioning delay budget and the positioning processing timeline of the user equipment (“UE”), and receives a positioning measurement report from the UE device using the authorized configuration of the UL configuration based on the availability of positioning-related reference signal measurements within at least one of the positioning delay budget and the positioning processing timeline. Attached Figure Description

[0011] A more specific description of the embodiments briefly described above will be presented by reference to specific embodiments illustrated in the accompanying drawings. It should be understood that these drawings depict only some embodiments and should therefore not be considered limiting; the embodiments will be described and explained in more specific and detailed manner using the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0012] Figure 1 This is a schematic block diagram illustrating one embodiment of a wireless communication system for configuring positioning measurements and reports;

[0013] Figure 2 This is a block diagram illustrating one embodiment of the 5G New Radio (“NR”) protocol stack;

[0014] Figure 3This is a diagram illustrating one embodiment of NR beam-based positioning;

[0015] Figure 4 This is a diagram illustrating one embodiment of DL-TDOA auxiliary data;

[0016] Figure 5 This is a diagram illustrating one embodiment of the DL-TDOA measurement report;

[0017] Figure 6 This is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of UE-assisted positioning used for configuring, measuring, and processing positioning measurements and sending reports;

[0018] Figure 7 This is a diagram illustrating one embodiment of UE-based positioning used for configuring, measuring, and processing positioning measurements and sending reports;

[0019] Figure 8 This is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of a UE positioning processing timeline having an MG configuration for configuring, measuring and processing positioning measurements, and sending reports;

[0020] Figure 9 This is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of configuring, measuring, and processing positioning measurements and sending dynamic positioning measurement reports based on UL CG;

[0021] Figure 10 This is a block diagram illustrating one embodiment of a user equipment device that can be used to configure, measure and process positioning measurements, and send reports.

[0022] Figure 11 This is a block diagram illustrating one embodiment of a network equipment device that can be used to configure, measure and process location measurements, and send reports.

[0023] Figure 12 This is a block diagram illustrating an embodiment of a first method for configuring, measuring and processing positioning measurements, and sending reports;

[0024] Figure 13 This is a block diagram illustrating an embodiment of a second method for configuring, measuring and processing positioning measurements, and sending reports;

[0025] Figure 14 This is a block diagram illustrating an embodiment of a third method for configuring, measuring, and processing positioning measurements and sending reports;

[0026] Figure 15 This is a block diagram illustrating an embodiment of a fourth method for configuring, measuring and processing positioning measurements, and sending reports. Detailed Implementation

[0027] Those skilled in the art will understand that aspects of the embodiments may be embodied as systems, devices, methods, or program products. Therefore, embodiments may take the form of entirely hardware embodiments, entirely software embodiments (including firmware, resident software, microcode, etc.), or embodiments combining software and hardware aspects.

[0028] For example, the disclosed embodiments may be implemented as hardware circuitry (including custom very large-scale integration (“VLSI”) circuitry or gate arrays), off-the-shelf semiconductors (e.g., logic chips, transistors, or other discrete components). The disclosed embodiments may also be implemented in programmable hardware devices, such as field-programmable gate arrays, programmable array logic, programmable logic devices, or the like. As another example, the disclosed embodiments may include one or more physical or logical blocks of executable code, which may be organized, for example, as objects, processes, or functions.

[0029] Furthermore, embodiments may take the form of a program product embodied in one or more computer-readable storage devices storing machine-readable code, computer-readable code, and / or program code (hereinafter referred to as code). The storage device may be tangible, non-transitory, and / or non-transferable. The storage device may not embody signals. In certain embodiments, the storage device uses only signals to access the code.

[0030] Any combination of one or more computer-readable media may be used. The computer-readable media may be a computer-readable storage medium. The computer-readable storage medium may be a storage device for storing code. The storage device may be, for example (but not limited to), an electronic, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, infrared, holographic, micromechanical, or semiconductor system, device, or apparatus, or any suitable combination of the foregoing.

[0031] Further specific examples of storage devices (a non-exhaustive list) will include the following: electrical connections having one or more wires, portable computer disks, hard disks, random access memory (“RAM”), read-only memory (“ROM”), erasable programmable read-only memory (“EPROM” or flash memory), portable optical disc read-only memory (“CD-ROM”), optical storage devices, magnetic storage devices, or any suitable combination of the foregoing. In the context of this document, a computer-readable storage medium can be any tangible medium that may contain or store programs for use by or in connection with an instruction execution system, device, or apparatus.

[0032] The code used to implement the operations of the embodiments may be written in any number of lines and may include one or more of the following programming languages: object-oriented programming languages ​​(e.g., Python, Ruby, Java, Smalltalk, C++, or similar), conventional procedural programming languages ​​(e.g., the "C" programming language or similar), and / or machine languages ​​(e.g., assembly language). The code may be executed entirely on the user's computer, partially on the user's computer, as a standalone software package, partially on the user's computer and partially on a remote computer, or entirely on a remote computer or server. In the latter scenario, the remote computer may be connected to the user's computer via any type of network, including local area networks ("LANs"), wireless LANs ("WLANs"), or wide area networks ("WANs"), or may be connected to an external computer (e.g., via the Internet through an Internet service provider ("ISP").

[0033] Furthermore, the features, structures, or characteristics described in the embodiments can be combined in any suitable manner. In the following description, numerous specific details are provided to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiments, including examples of programming, software modules, user selection, network transactions, database queries, database structures, hardware modules, hardware circuits, hardware chips, etc. However, those skilled in the art will recognize that the embodiments can be practiced without one or more of these specific details or with other methods, components, materials, etc. In other instances, well-known structures, materials, or operations have not been shown or described in detail to avoid obscuring aspects of the embodiments.

[0034] Throughout this specification, references to "an embodiment," "embodiment," or similar language mean that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with an embodiment is included in at least one embodiment. Therefore, unless expressly specified otherwise, the phrases "in an embodiment," "in an embodiment," and similar language appearing throughout this specification may (but not necessarily) refer to the same embodiment, but rather mean "one or more, but not all, embodiments." Unless expressly specified otherwise, the terms "comprising," "including," "having," and variations thereof mean "comprising (but not limited to)." Unless expressly specified otherwise, a list of items does not imply that any or all items are mutually exclusive. Unless expressly specified otherwise, the terms "a" and "described" also refer to "one or more."

[0035] As used herein, a list containing the conjunction “and / or” includes any single item in the list or a combination of items in the list. For example, a list of A, B, and / or C includes only A, only B, only C, a combination of A and B, a combination of B and C, a combination of A and C, or a combination of A, B, and C. As used herein, a list using the term “one or more of…” includes any single item in the list or a combination of items in the list. For example, one or more of A, B, and C includes only A, only B, only C, a combination of A and B, a combination of B and C, a combination of A and C, or a combination of A, B, and C. As used herein, a list using the term “one of…” includes one and only one of any single item in the list. For example, “one of A, B, and C” includes only A, only B, and only C, excluding combinations of A, B, and C. As used herein, “a member selected from the group consisting of A, B, and C” includes one and only one of A, B, or C, excluding combinations of A, B, and C. As used in this article, “selecting members of a group consisting of A, B, and C and their combinations” includes only A, only B, only C, combinations of A and B, combinations of B and C, combinations of A and C, or combinations of A, B, and C.

[0036] Aspects of the embodiments are described below with reference to schematic flowcharts and / or schematic block diagrams of methods, apparatus, systems, and program products according to the embodiments. It should be understood that each block of the schematic flowcharts and / or schematic block diagrams, and combinations of blocks in the schematic flowcharts and / or schematic block diagrams, can be implemented by code. This code can be provided to a processor of a general-purpose computer, special-purpose computer, or other programmable data processing apparatus to produce a machine, such that instructions executable by the processor of the computer or other programmable data processing apparatus create components for implementing the functions / actions specified in the flowcharts and / or block diagrams.

[0037] The code may also be stored in a storage device that can instruct a computer, other programmable data processing equipment or other devices to operate in a particular manner, such that the instructions stored in the storage device produce an article of writing containing instructions that implement the functions / actions specified in the flowchart and / or block diagram.

[0038] The code may also be loaded onto a computer, other programmable data processing apparatus or other device so as to cause a series of operational steps to be performed on the computer, other programmable apparatus or other device to produce a computer-implemented process, such that the code executing on the computer or other programmable apparatus provides a process for implementing the functions / actions specified in the flowchart and / or block diagram.

[0039] The flowcharts and / or block diagrams in the figures illustrate the architecture, functionality, and operation of possible implementations of the device, system, method, and program products according to various embodiments. In this regard, each block in the flowcharts and / or block diagrams may represent a code module, segment, or portion containing one or more executable instructions for implementing a specified logical function.

[0040] It should also be noted that in some alternative implementations, the functions described in the boxes may not occur in the order shown in the figures. For example, two boxes shown consecutively may actually be executed substantially concurrently, or the boxes may sometimes be executed in reverse order, depending on the functionality involved. Other steps and methods that are functionally, logically, or effectively equivalent to one or more boxes or portions thereof in the illustration figures are conceivable.

[0041] While various arrow and line types may be used in flowcharts and / or block diagrams, they should not be construed as limiting the scope of the corresponding embodiments. In fact, some arrows or other connectors may be used to indicate only the logical flow of the depicted embodiment. For example, an arrow may indicate a wait or monitoring period of unspecified duration between enumeration steps in a depicted embodiment. It should also be noted that each block in the block diagram and / or flowchart description, and combinations of blocks in the block diagram and / or flowchart, may be implemented by a system based on dedicated hardware or a combination of dedicated hardware and code that performs the specified function or action.

[0042] The description of an element in each figure may refer to an element in a previous figure. The same numbers refer to the same elements in all figures, including alternative embodiments of the same elements.

[0043] Generally, this disclosure describes systems, methods, and apparatuses for configuring positioning measurements and reporting. In some embodiments, the methods may be executed using computer code embedded in a computer-readable medium. In some embodiments, the apparatus or system may include computer-readable medium containing computer-readable code that, when executed by a processor, causes the apparatus or system to perform at least a portion of the solutions described below.

[0044] In one embodiment, the subject matter disclosed herein describes enhancements that address issues related to the UE processing timeline of downlink (“DL”)-location reference signal (“PRS”) and / or other associated location-dependent reference signals. Different processing functionalities can address different latency and location accuracy requirements. In some embodiments, enhancements regarding the UE processing timeline configuration have not yet been proposed for RAT-dependent positioning procedures that include measurements and reporting of location-dependent reference signals.

[0045] In one embodiment, to meet low-latency positioning requirements, it is beneficial to define different UE processing timelines depending on the capabilities of the target UE. The target UE, as used in this disclosure, can refer to the UE to be located. The purpose of this disclosure is to address the UE processing timeline problem for positioning and to introduce new functionality to achieve low-latency positioning. Furthermore, the UE positioning processing timeline is applicable to both UE-assisted and UE-based positioning methods. The subject matter also describes the management of the UE processing timeline when measurement gaps are configured to the target UE for positioning purposes, which can also affect the UE processing load.

[0046] In another embodiment, the subject matter described herein describes enhancements to address the problem of high measurement and reporting latency associated with DL-PRS and / or other related location-dependent reference signals. Dynamic Layer-1 / 2 signaling can reduce the time required to process measurements and report them to the location server. In some embodiments, higher-layer non-access plane (“NAS”) LPP signaling is used to configure RAT-dependent measurements and reporting of location-dependent reference signals (e.g., DL-PRS), which can be inefficient and cause high latency.

[0047] The delay between the UE receiving the DL-PRS measurement report configuration (e.g., in the case of UE-assisted positioning) or the location estimation request (e.g., in the case of UE-based positioning) and the UE providing the measurement report / location estimation to the location server (e.g., LMF) can be further optimized to reduce the overall positioning latency (first positioning time).

[0048] In one embodiment, this disclosure provides a mechanism to enable dynamic signaling to reduce overall location latency when processing measurements and transmitting corresponding reports to a location server. Location authorization configured in the uplink (“UL”) can be based on availability to reduce report transmission time. Prioritization indicators for measurement processing can also help rank which measurement reports can be prioritized based on UL resource availability. To achieve efficient and low-latency reporting of location-related reference signals, certain measurements can also be discarded based on a set of criteria, detailed in this disclosure.

[0049] For 3GPP Release 17 (“Rel-17”), positioning requirements are particularly stringent in terms of accuracy, latency, and reliability. Table 1 shows the positioning performance requirements for different scenarios in Industrial IoT (“IIoT”) or indoor factory environments. Note that augmented reality in smart factories may have orientation positioning performance requirements of <0.17 radians, and mobile control panels with safety functions in smart factories (within hazardous areas of the factory) may have orientation positioning performance requirements of <0.54 radians.

[0050]

[0051] Table 1: IIoT Positioning Performance Requirements

[0052] This disclosure provides enhancements to the UE processing timeline to reduce location-related reference signals, with a focus on low-latency positioning. Note that, for the purposes of this disclosure, location-related reference signals may refer to reference signals used in positioning procedures and / or for the purpose of estimating the location of a target UE, such as a PRS, or existing reference signals based on, for example, a probe reference signal (“SRS”). In one embodiment, the target UE may be referred to as the device / entity to be located.

[0053] In one embodiment, a method is disclosed for defining a processing timeline for a location-related reference signal based on at least one of a combination of the following criteria:

[0054] i. One or more UE capabilities, such as enhanced mobile broadband (“eMBB”) devices or ultra-reliable and low-latency communication (“URLLC”) devices, including:

[0055] 1. Delay

[0056] 2. Equipment efficiency

[0057] ii. Positioning accuracy requirements

[0058] iii. The number of positioning measurement related quantities to be reported

[0059] iv. Types of measurements to be processed

[0060] In one embodiment, this disclosure establishes and specifies requirements for processing location-related measurements from the perspective of UE capabilities, wherein different positioning timeline configurations are adapted to different positioning delay requirements and UE capabilities.

[0061] In one embodiment, a method for determining appropriate resources (e.g., UL resources required to report ProvideLocation messages) for a method of reporting PRS-based measurements using configured authorizations or multiple UL authorizations is disclosed. In this embodiment, the time when measurements are available for reporting and the availability of UL resources can be adapted and configured to achieve low-latency positioning.

[0062] In some embodiments, a method is disclosed for prioritizing PRS measurement reports based on UL resource availability, UE processing timeline, and accuracy requirements. In this embodiment, the prioritization mechanism enables the LMF to acquire positioning measurements for the required duration based on a configured positioning method, particularly in the case of a UE-assisted positioning method.

[0063] In another embodiment, a method is disclosed for discarding measurement reports (e.g., reports not transmitted within the required timeline and location latency budget) based on a set of criteria. In this embodiment, stale measurements do not need to be stored in a buffer, thereby improving the efficiency of processing UE measurements.

[0064] Figure 1 A wireless communication system 100 for configuring location measurement and reporting is depicted according to embodiments of the present disclosure. In one embodiment, the wireless communication system 100 includes at least one remote unit 105, a radio access network (“RAN”) 120, and a mobile core network 140. The RAN 120 and the mobile core network 140 form a mobile communication network. The RAN 120 may be composed of a basic unit 121, and the remote unit 105 communicates with the basic unit 121 using a wireless communication link 123. Even Figure 1 The system depicts a specific number of remote units 105, basic units 121, wireless communication links 123, RAN 120, and mobile core network 140, but those skilled in the art will recognize that the wireless communication system 100 may include any number of remote units 105, basic units 121, wireless communication links 123, RAN 120, and mobile core network 140.

[0065] In one implementation, RAN 120 conforms to the 5G system specified in the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (“3GPP”) specifications. For example, RAN 120 may be a next-generation radio access network (“NG-RAN”) implementing New Radio (“NR”) radio access technology (“RAT”) and / or Long Term Evolution (“LTE”) RAT. In another instance, RAN 120 may contain non-3GPP RAT (e.g., Wi-Fi). Alternatively, it may conform to the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (“IEEE”) 802.11 series of WLANs. In another embodiment, RAN 120 conforms to the LTE system specified in the 3GPP specification. However, more generally, the wireless communication system 100 may implement some other open or proprietary communication network, such as Global Microwave Access Interoperability (“WiMAX”) or the IEEE 802.16 series of standards and other networks. This disclosure is not intended to limit implementation to any particular wireless communication system architecture or protocol.

[0066] In one embodiment, remote unit 105 may include a computing device, such as a desktop computer, laptop computer, personal digital assistant (“PDA”), tablet computer, smartphone, smart TV (e.g., a TV connected to the Internet), smart appliance (e.g., an appliance connected to the Internet), set-top box, game console, security system (including surveillance cameras), in-vehicle computer, network device (e.g., router, switch, modem), or the like. In some embodiments, remote unit 105 includes a wearable device, such as a smartwatch, fitness tracker, optical head-mounted display, or the like. Furthermore, remote unit 105 may be referred to as UE, user unit, mobile device, mobile station, user, terminal, mobile terminal, fixed terminal, user station, user terminal, wireless transmit / receive unit (“WTRU”), apparatus, or other terms used in the art. In various embodiments, remote unit 105 includes a user identity and / or identification module (“SIM”) and a mobile equipment (“ME”) that provides mobile terminal functions (e.g., radio transmission, handover, voice encoding and decoding, error detection and correction, signaling, and access to the SIM). In some embodiments, the remote unit 105 may include terminal equipment (“TE”) and / or be embedded in an appliance or device (e.g., a computing device, as described above).

[0067] Remote unit 105 can communicate directly with one or more of the basic units 121 in RAN 120 via uplink (“UL”) and downlink (“DL”) communication signals. Additionally, the UL and DL communication signals can be carried via wireless communication link 123. Here, RAN 120 is an intermediate network providing remote unit 105 with access to the mobile core network 140. As described in more detail below, basic unit 121 can provide cells operating using a first frequency range and / or cells operating using a second frequency range.

[0068] In some embodiments, remote unit 105 communicates with application server 151 via a network connection to mobile core network 140. For example, application 107 in remote unit 105 (e.g., a web browser, media client, telephone, and / or Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) application) can trigger remote unit 105 to establish a Protocol Data Unit (“PDU”) session (or other data connection) with mobile core network 140 via RAN 120. Mobile core network 140 then uses the PDU session to relay services between remote unit 105 and application server 151 in packet data network 150. The PDU session represents a logical connection between remote unit 105 and user plane function (“UPF”) 141.

[0069] To establish a PDU session (or PDN connection), remote unit 105 must register with mobile core network 140 (also referred to as "attached to mobile core network" in the context of fourth-generation ("4G") systems). Note that remote unit 105 may establish one or more PDU sessions (or other data connections) with mobile core network 140. Therefore, remote unit 105 may have at least one PDU session for communicating with packet data network 150. Remote unit 105 may establish additional PDU sessions to communicate with other data networks and / or other communication peers.

[0070] In the context of a 5G system (“5GS”), the term “PDU session” refers to a data connection that provides end-to-end (“E2E”) user plane (“UP”) connectivity between remote unit 105 and a specific data network (“DN”) via UPF 141. A PDU session supports one or more Quality of Service (“QoS”) streams. In some embodiments, a one-to-one mapping may exist between QoS streams and QoS profiles, such that all packets belonging to a particular QoS stream have the same 5G QoS identifier (“5QI”).

[0071] In the context of a 4G / LTE system, such as an Evolved Packet System (“EPS”), a Packet Data Network (“PDN”) connection (also known as an EPS session) provides end-to-end connectivity between the remote unit and the PDN. The PDN connectivity process establishes an EPS bearer, i.e., a tunnel between the remote unit 105 and the packet gateway (“PGW”, not shown) in the mobile core network 140. In some embodiments, a one-to-one mapping may exist between the EPS bearer and the QoS profile, such that all packets belonging to a particular EPS bearer have the same QoS Class Identifier (“QCI”).

[0072] Basic unit 121 may be distributed across a geographical area. In some embodiments, basic unit 121 may also be referred to as an access terminal, access point, base station, base station, node-B (“NB”), evolved node B (abbreviated as eNodeB or “eNB”, also known as Evolved Universal Terrestrial Radio Access Network (“E-UTRAN”) node B), 5G / NR node B (“gNB”), home node-B, relay node, RAN node, or by any other terminology used in the art. Basic unit 121 typically comprises a portion of a RAN (e.g., RAN 120) communicatively coupled to one or more controllers corresponding to basic unit 121. These and other elements of the radio access network are not described but are generally well known to those skilled in the art. Basic unit 121 is connected to mobile core network 140 via RAN 120.

[0073] Basic unit 121 may serve several remote units 105 within a service area (e.g., a cell or cell sector) via wireless communication link 123. Basic unit 121 may communicate directly with one or more of the remote units 105 via communication signals. Typically, basic unit 121 transmits DL communication signals to serve the remote units 105 in the time, frequency, and / or spatial domains. Furthermore, DL communication signals may be carried via wireless communication link 123. Wireless communication link 123 may be any suitable carrier in licensed or unlicensed radio spectrum. Wireless communication link 123 facilitates communication between one or more of the remote units 105 and one or more of the basic unit 121. Note that during NR operation (referred to as "NR-U") on unlicensed spectrum, basic unit 121 communicates with remote units 105 via unlicensed (i.e., shared) radio spectrum.

[0074] In one embodiment, the mobile core network 140 is a 5GC or evolved packet core (“EPC”) that may be coupled to a packet data network 150, such as the Internet, private data networks, and other data networks. The remote unit 105 may have a subscription account or other account for the mobile core network 140. In various embodiments, each mobile core network 140 belongs to a single mobile network operator (“MNO”). This disclosure is not intended to limit implementation to any particular wireless communication system architecture or protocol.

[0075] Mobile core network 140 includes several network functions (“NFs”). As depicted, mobile core network 140 includes at least one UPF 141. Mobile core network 140 also includes multiple control plane (“CP”) functions, including (but not limited to) access and mobility management functions (“AMF”) 143, session management functions (“SMF”) 145, location management functions (“LMF”) 144, unified data management functions (“UDM”), and user data store (“UDR”) serving RAN 120. Although Figure 1 The description contains a specific number and type of network functions, but those skilled in the art should recognize that the mobile core network 140 may contain any number and type of network functions.

[0076] In the 5G architecture, UPF 141 is responsible for packet routing and forwarding, packet inspection, QoS handling, and external PDU sessions for interconnecting the data network (DN). AMF 143 is responsible for NAS signaling termination, NAS encryption and integrity protection, registration management, connection management, mobility management, access authentication and authorization, and security context management. SMF 145 is responsible for session management (i.e., session establishment, modification, and release), remote unit (i.e., UE) IP address allocation and management, DL data notification, and service orientation configuration of UPF 141 for correct service routing.

[0077] LMF 144 receives location measurements or estimates (e.g., via AMF 143) from RAN 120 and remote unit 105 and calculates the location of remote unit 105. UDM is responsible for authentication and key protocol (“AKA”) credential generation, user identifier processing, access authorization, and subscription management. UDR is a repository of subscription information and can be used to serve several network functions. For example, UDR may store subscription data, policy-related data, subscription-related data permitted to be exposed to third-party applications, and the like. In some embodiments, UDM and UDR are co-located and depicted as a combined entity “UDM / UDR” 149.

[0078] In various embodiments, the mobile core network 140 may also include a Policy Control Function (“PCF”) (which provides policy rules to the CP function), a Network Repository Function (“NRF”) (which provides network function (“NF”) service registration and discovery, enabling NFs to identify the appropriate services among themselves and communicate with each other via an application programming interface (“API”), a Network Open Function (“NEF”) (which is responsible for making network data and resources easily accessible to customers and network partners), an Authentication Server Function (“AUSF”), or other NFs defined for 5GC. When present, the AUSF may be used as an authentication server and / or authentication proxy, thereby allowing the AMF 143 to authenticate remote unit 105. In some embodiments, the mobile core network 140 may include an Authentication, Authorization, and Accounting (“AAA”) server.

[0079] In various embodiments, the mobile core network 140 supports different types of mobile data connections and different types of network slices, wherein each mobile data connection utilizes a specific network slice. Here, a "network slice" refers to a portion of the mobile core network 140 optimized for a specific type of service or communication service. For example, one or more network slices may be optimized for enhanced mobile broadband ("eMBB") services. As another example, one or more network slices may be optimized for ultra-reliable low-latency communication ("URLLC") services. In other instances, network slices may be optimized for machine-type communication ("MTC") services, mass-capacity MTC ("mMTC") services, and Internet of Things ("IoT") services. In yet another instance, network slices may be deployed for specific application services, vertical services, specific use cases, etc.

[0080] Network slice examples can be identified by single network slice selection aid information (“S-NSSAI”), while a set of network slices authorized for use by remote unit 105 is identified by network slice selection aid information (“NSSAI”). Here, “NSSAI” refers to a vector value containing one or more S-NSSAI values. In some embodiments, various network slices may contain individual examples of network functions, such as SMF 145 and UPF 141. In some embodiments, different network slices may share some common network functions, such as AMF 143. For ease of illustration, Figure 1 Different network slices are not shown, but their support is assumed.

[0081] As discussed in more detail below, remote unit 105 receives positioning measurement configuration 125 from the network (e.g., from LMF 144 via RAN 120), which includes a positioning processing timeline of the remote unit based on the capabilities of remote unit 105. Remote unit 105 performs positioning measurements, as described in more detail below, and sends a positioning report to LMF 144.

[0082] Although Figure 1 The description depicts components of the 5G RAN and 5G core network, but the embodiments described for configuring location measurement and reporting are applicable to other types of communication networks and RATs, including IEEE 802.11 variants, Global System for Mobile Communications (“GSM”, i.e., 2G digital cellular networks), General Packet Radio Service (“GPRS”), General Mobile Telecommunications System (“UMTS”), LTE variants, CDMA2000, Bluetooth, ZigBee, Sigfox, and the like.

[0083] Furthermore, in the LTE variant of the mobile core network 140 where EPC is used, the described network functions can be replaced by appropriate EPC entities (e.g., Mobility Management Entity (“MME”), Serving Gateway (“SGW”), PGW, Home Subscriber Server (“HSS”), and the like). For example, AMF 143 can be mapped to the MME, SMF 145 can be mapped to the control plane portion of the PGW and / or mapped to the MME, UPF 141 can be mapped to the SGW and the user plane portion of the PGW, UDM / UDR 149 can be mapped to the HSS, etc.

[0084] In the following description, the term "RAN node" is used for a base station, but it can be replaced by any other radio access node (e.g., gNB, ng-eNB, eNB, base station ("BS"), access point ("AP"), etc.). Furthermore, the operation is primarily described in the context of 5G NR. However, the proposed solution / method is also applicable to other mobile communication systems that support configuration location measurement and reporting.

[0085] Figure 2 An NR protocol stack 200 according to an embodiment of this disclosure is depicted. Although Figure 2 The illustration shows UE 205, RAN node 210, and AMF 215 in a 5G core network (“5GC”), but these represent a group of remote units 105 interacting with basic unit 121 and mobile core network 140. As depicted, protocol stack 200 includes user plane protocol stack 201 and control plane protocol stack 203. User plane protocol stack 201 includes physical (“PHY”) layer 220, media access control (“MAC”) sublayer 225, radio link control (“RLC”) sublayer 230, packet data convergence protocol (“PDCP”) sublayer 235, and service data adaptation protocol (“SDAP”) layer 240. Control plane protocol stack 203 includes physical layer 220, MAC sublayer 225, RLC sublayer 230, and PDCP sublayer 235. Control plane protocol stack 203 also includes radio resource control (“RRC”) layer 245 and non-access layer (“NAS”) layer 250.

[0086] The AS layer (also referred to as the "AS protocol stack") of the user plane protocol stack 201 consists of at least SDAP, PDCP, RLC, and MAC sublayers and a physical layer. The AS layer of the control plane protocol stack 203 consists of at least RRC, PDCP, RLC, and MAC sublayers and a physical layer. Layer 2 ("L2") is divided into SDAP, PDCP, RLC, and MAC sublayers. Layer 3 ("L3") includes the RRC sublayer 245 and NAS layer 250 of the control plane and includes, for example, the Internet Protocol ("IP") layer and / or PDU layer (not depicted) of the user plane. L1 and L2 are referred to as "lower layers," while L3 and above (e.g., transport layer, application layer) are referred to as "higher layers" or "upper layers."

[0087] Physical layer 220 provides transport channels to MAC sublayer 225. Physical layer 220 may perform idle channel assessment and / or Talk-After-Listen (“CCA / LBT”) procedures using energy detection thresholds, as described herein. In some embodiments, physical layer 220 may send notification of UL Talk-After-Listen (“LBT”) failure to the MAC entity at MAC sublayer 225. MAC sublayer 225 provides logical channels to RLC sublayer 230. RLC sublayer 230 provides RLC channels to PDCP sublayer 235. PDCP sublayer 235 provides radio bearers to SDAP sublayer 240 and / or RRC layer 245. SDAP sublayer 240 provides QoS flows to the core network (e.g., 5GC). RRC layer 245 provides the addition, modification, and release of carrier aggregation and / or dual connectivity. RRC layer 245 also manages the establishment, configuration, maintenance, and release of signaling radio bearers (“SRB”) and data radio bearers (“DRB”).

[0088] NAS layer 250 is located between UE 205 and 5GC 215. NAS messages are transmitted transparently through the RAN. NAS layer 250 is used to manage the establishment of communication sessions and to maintain continuous communication with UE 205 as UE 205 moves between different cells in the RAN. In contrast, AS layer is located between UE 205 and the RAN (i.e., RAN node 210) and carries information via the radio portion of the network.

[0089] In one embodiment, the following RAT-dependent positioning techniques may be supported by system 100:

[0090] DL-TDOA: The DL TDOA positioning method uses the DL RS time difference (“RSTD”) (and optionally the DL PRS RS received power (“RSRP”) of downlink signals received from multiple TPs) at UE 205 (i.e., remote unit 105). UE 205 uses auxiliary data received from the positioning server to measure the DLRSTD (and optionally the DL PRS RSRP) of the received signals, and the resulting measurement, along with other configuration information, is used to position UE 205 relative to adjacent transmission points (“TPs”).

[0091] DL-AoD: The DL origin angle (“AoD”) positioning method uses the measured DL PRS RSRP of downlink signals received from multiple TPs at UE 205. UE 205 uses auxiliary data received from the positioning server to measure the DL PRS RSRP of the received signals, and the resulting measurement, along with other configuration information, is used to position UE 205 relative to adjacent TPs.

[0092] Multiple-RTT: The multiple round-trip time (“multi-RTT”) positioning method utilizes UE receive-transmit (“Rx-Tx”) measurements of downlink signals received from multiple TRPs and DL PRS RSRP (measured by UE 205) and gNB Rx-Tx measurements of uplink signals transmitted from UE 205 at multiple TRPs (i.e., measured by RAN node 210) and UL SRS-RSRP.

[0093] UE 205 uses auxiliary data received from the location server to measure UE Rx-Tx measurements (and optionally DL PRS RSRP of the received signal), and TRP uses auxiliary data received from the location server to measure gNB Rx-Tx measurements (and optionally UL SRS-RSRP of the received signal). The measurements are used to determine the round-trip time (“RTT”) at the location server for estimating the location of UE 205.

[0094] E-CID / NR E-CID: Enhanced Cell ID (CID) positioning method. The location of UE 205 is estimated using knowledge of its serving ng-eNB, gNB, and cell, and is based on LTE signals. Information about the serving ng-eNB, gNB, and cell can be obtained through paging, registration, or other methods. NR Enhanced Cell ID (NR E-CID) positioning refers to the technique of using additional UE measurements and / or NR radio resources and other measurements to improve UE location estimation using NR signals.

[0095] Although NR E-CID positioning can utilize some of the same measurements as the measurement control system in the RRC protocol, UE 205 generally does not expect additional measurements for the sole positioning purpose; that is, the positioning procedure does not supply measurement configuration or measurement control messages, and UE 205 reports its available measurements rather than being required to take additional measurement actions.

[0096] UL-TDOA: The UL TDOA positioning method utilizes UL TDOA (and optionally UL SRS-RSRP) at multiple RPs of the uplink signal transmitted from UE 205. The PR uses auxiliary data received from the positioning server to measure the UL TDOA (and optionally UL SRS-RSRP) of the received signal, and the resulting measurements, along with other configuration information, are used to estimate the location of UE 205.

[0097] UL-AoA: The UL Angle of Arrival (“AoA”) positioning method utilizes the measured azimuth and zenith angle of arrival at multiple RPs of the uplink signal transmitted from UE 205. The RPs use auxiliary data received from the positioning server to measure the A-AoA and Z-AoA of the received signal, and the resulting measurements, along with other configuration information, are used to estimate the position of UE 205.

[0098] Table 2 lists some UE positioning methods supported in Release 16. Individual positioning techniques indicated in Table 2 can currently be configured and implemented based on LMF and / or UE capability requirements. Note that Table 2 includes TBS positioning based on PRS signals, not just OTDOA based on LTE signals. The E-CID includes the cell-ID for the NR method. The Terrestrial Beacon System (“TBS”) method refers to TBS positioning based on Metropolitan Beacon System (“MBS”) signals.

[0099]

[0100] Table 2: Supported UE positioning methods version 16

[0101] The transmission of the Positioning Reference Signal (“PRS”) enables the UE 205 to perform UE positioning-related measurements to calculate the UE’s position estimate and is configured according to the Transmitter Receiver Point (“TRP”), wherein the TRP may transmit one or more beams.

[0102] Figure 3 A system 300 for NR beamforming is depicted. According to version 16, PRS can be transmitted by different base stations (serving and neighboring) using narrow beams within frequency range #1 (“FR1”, i.e., frequencies from 410MHz to 7125MHz) and frequency range #2 (“FR2”, i.e., frequencies from 24.25GHz to 52.6GHz), which is relatively different compared to LTE, where the PRS is transmitted throughout the entire cell. For example... Figure 3 The description states that UE 205 can receive PRS from a first gNB (“gNB#1”) 310, which serves as a gNB, and also from an adjacent second gNB (“gNB#2”) 315 and an adjacent third gNB (“gNB#3”) 320. Here, the PRS can be associated locally with the PRS resource ID and resource set ID of the base station (i.e., TRP). In the depicted embodiment, each gNB 310, 315, 320 is configured with a first resource set ID 325 and a second resource set ID 330. As depicted, UE 205 receives PRS on a transmission beam; here, it receives PRS from gNB#1 310 on PRS resource ID#1 from the second resource set ID 330, from gNB#2 315 on PRS resource ID#3 from the second resource set ID 330, and from gNB#3 320 on PRS resource ID#3 from the first resource set ID 325.

[0103] Similarly, UE location measurements, such as Reference Signal Time Difference (“RSTD”) and PRS RSRP measurements, are performed between beams, rather than between different cells as in LTE. Additionally, the network can utilize additional UL positioning methods to calculate the location of the target UE. Table 3 lists the RS-to-measurement mappings required for each of the RAT-dependent positioning techniques supported at the UE, and Table 4 lists the RS-to-measurement mappings required for each of the RAT-dependent positioning techniques supported at the gNB.

[0104]

[0105] Table 3: UE Measurements for Implementing RAT-Dependent Positioning Technology

[0106]

[0107] Table 4: gNB Measurement for Implementing RAT Dependent Positioning Technology

[0108] RAT-dependent positioning technology involves the 3GPP RAT and core network entities that perform location estimation for the UE, and is distinguished from RAT-dependent positioning technology that relies on Global Navigation Satellite System (“GNSS”), Inertial Measurement Unit (“IMU”) sensors, WLAN and Bluetooth technologies used to perform target device (i.e., UE) positioning.

[0109] Regarding PRS design, for 3GPP Release 16, the DL PRS resource ID in the DL PRS resource set is associated with a single beam transmitted from a single TRP. Note that a TRP may transmit one or more beams. DL PRS timing is an example of a periodically repeating time window (continuous time slot) from which DLPRS is expected to be transmitted. Regarding the quasi-correspondence (“QCL”) relationship of Type-D beyond DL PRS resources, one or more of the following QCL options are supported:

[0110] • QCL Option 1: QCL-Type C from the synchronization signal block (“SSB”) from TRP.

[0111] • QCL Option 2: QCL-Type C from the DL PRS resource from TRP.

[0112] • QCL Option 3: QCL-Type A from the DL PRS resource from TRP.

[0113] • QCL Option 4: QCL-Type C from the Channel State Information Reference Signal (“CSI-RS”) resource from TRP.

[0114] • QCL Option 5: QCL-Type A from the CSI-RS resource from TRP.

[0115] • QCL Option 6: QCL relations beyond type-D are not supported.

[0116] Note that QCL-TypeA refers to Doppler shift, Doppler expansion, average delay, and delay expansion; QCL-TypeB refers to Doppler shift and Doppler expansion; QCL-TypeC refers to average delay and Doppler shift; and QCL-TypeD refers to the spatial Rx parameter.

[0117] For DL ​​PRS resources, QCL-Type C (QCL Option 1) from the SSB of the TRP is supported. Define an ID that can be associated with multiple DL PRS resource sets associated with a single TRP. This ID, along with the DL PRS resource set ID and the DL PRS resource ID, can be used to uniquely identify the DL PRS resource. Each TRP should be associated with only one of these IDs.

[0118] The DL PRS resource ID is locally defined within the DL PRS resource set. The DL PRS resource set ID is locally defined within the TRP. The duration spanned by a DL PRS resource set containing duplicate DL PRS resources should not exceed DL-PRS-periodicity. The parameter DL-PRS-ResourceRepetitionFactor is configured for DL ​​PRS resource sets and controls the number of times each DL-PRS resource is repeated for a single instance of the DL-PRS resource set. Supported values ​​include: 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 16, and 32.

[0119] In the context of NR positioning, the term "positioning frequency layer" refers to a set of DL PRS resources spanning one or more TRPs, including:

[0120] • Same SCS and CP type

[0121] Same center frequency

[0122] Similarities - A (already agreed upon)

[0123] All DL PRS resources in the DL PRS resource set have the same bandwidth.

[0124] • All DL PRS resource sets belonging to the same positioning frequency layer have the same DL PRS bandwidth and starting PRB value.

[0125] The duration for which a UE can process DL PRS symbols in milliseconds every T ms (assuming 272PRB allocation) is a UE capability.

[0126] RRC signaling can be introduced for the UE to request measurement gap configuration when the UE expects to measure DL PRS resources outside the valid DL BWP. If the DL PRS resources are processed in the valid BWP and not configured to the UE's measurement gap, at least in FR2, it may not be expected that the UE will process DL PRS in the same OFDM symbol, where other DL signals and channels are transmitted to the UE. The behavior in FR1 is determined by RAN4.

[0127] In one embodiment, the configured DL PRS is transmitted on DL symbols in time slots configured by a higher layer. In another embodiment, the configured DL PRS is transmitted on symbols in time slots configured as flexible symbols by a higher layer. In some embodiments, if the UE does not have a measurement gap, it is not expected that the UE will process DL PRS resources on symbols such as UL indicated by the serving cell in the serving or neighboring cells.

[0128] In one embodiment, for the UE's DL PRS processing capability, the UE reports a combination of (N,T) values ​​per band, where N is the duration of DLPRS symbols processed every T ms for a given maximum bandwidth (B) supported by the UE in MHz. Additionally, the UE can report a new parameter—the number of DLPRS resources reported per band per SCS that the UE can process within a time slot. This value can include 1, 2, 4, 8, 12, 16, 32, and 64.

[0129] In one embodiment, the following set of values ​​for N, T, and B is supported: N = {0.125, 0.25, 0.5, 1, 2, 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50} ms, T = {8, 16, 20, 30, 40, 80, 160, 320, 640, 1280} ms, and the maximum BW reported by the UE = {5, 10, 20, 40, 50, 80, 100, 200, 400} MHz.

[0130] When a UE is configured with auxiliary data for a positioning method that exceeds its capabilities (FG 13-2, 13-3, and 13-4 for AoD, TDOA, and MRTT, respectively), the UE assumes that the DL-PRS resources in the auxiliary data are ordered in descending order of measurement priority. Specifically, in one embodiment, based on the current RAN2 structure of the auxiliary data, the following priorities are assumed:

[0131] • The four frequency layers are sorted according to priority;

[0132] • 64 TRPs per frequency layer are sorted according to priority;

[0133] • The two sets of TRP for each frequency layer are sorted according to priority; and

[0134] • The 64 resources in each TRP set per frequency layer are sorted according to priority.

[0135] In one embodiment, the reference indicated by nr-DL-PRS-ReferenceInfo-r16 for each frequency layer has the highest priority at least for DL-TDOA.

[0136] In some embodiments, the terms antenna, panel, and antenna panel are used interchangeably. An antenna panel may be hardware for transmitting and / or receiving radio signals at frequencies below 6 GHz (e.g., frequency range 1 (FR1)) or above 6 GHz (e.g., frequency range 2 (FR2) or millimeter wave (mmWave)). In some embodiments, the antenna panel may include an array of antenna elements, wherein each antenna element is connected to hardware, such as a phase shifter, that allows a control module to apply spatial parameters to transmit and / or receive signals. The resulting radiation pattern may be referred to as a beam, which may or may not be single-peaked and allows the device to amplify signals transmitted or received from a spatial direction.

[0137] In some embodiments, the antenna panels may or may not be virtualized as antenna ports in the specification. The antenna panels can be connected to the baseband processing module via radio frequency (“RF”) chains in both the transmit (out) and receive (in) directions. The device’s capabilities, such as the number of its antenna panels, its duplex capability, its beamforming capability, etc., may or may not be transparent to other devices. In some embodiments, capability information may be transmitted via signaling, or in some embodiments, capability information may be provided to the device without signaling. Where such information is available to other devices, it may be used for signaling or local decision-making.

[0138] In some embodiments, a device (e.g., a UE node) antenna panel may be a physical or logical antenna array comprising a set of antenna elements or antenna ports sharing a common or significant portion of an RF chain (e.g., in an in-phase / quadrature (“I / Q”) modulator, an analog-to-digital (“A / D”) converter, a local oscillator, or a phase-shift network). A device antenna panel, or “device panel,” may be a logical entity having physical device antennas mapped to logical entities. The mapping from physical device antennas to logical entities may vary depending on the device implementation. Communication (receiving or transmitting) on ​​at least a subgroup of antenna elements or antenna ports (also referred to herein as active elements) that are energy-efficient for radiating the antenna panel requires biasing or energizing the RF chain, resulting in current losses or power consumption in the device associated with the antenna panel (including power consumption of power amplifiers and / or low-noise amplifiers (“LNAs”) associated with the antenna elements or antenna ports). As used herein, the phrase “energy-efficient” is not limited to transmitting functions but encompasses receiving functions. Therefore, antenna elements effective for radiated energy can be coupled simultaneously or sequentially to a transmitter to transmit radio frequency energy or to a receiver to receive radio frequency energy, or generally, to a transceiver to perform its intended function. Communication on the effective elements of the antenna panel enables the generation of radiated modes or radiated beams.

[0139] In some embodiments, depending on the implementation of the device itself, the "device panel" may have at least one of the following functionalities: an operational role as a unit for independently controlling its Tx beam antenna group, an operational role as a unit for independently controlling its transmission power antenna group, and an operational role as a unit for independently controlling its transmission timing antenna group. The "device panel" may be transparent to the RAN node. Under certain conditions, the RAN node 210 may assume that the mapping between the device's physical antennas and the logical entity "device panel" remains unchanged. For example, the condition may include a duration during which the RAN node assumes the mapping will not change until the next update or report from the device, or is included therein.

[0140] The UE can report its capabilities regarding "device panels" to the RAN node or network. Device capabilities may include at least the number of "device panels". In one embodiment, the device may support UL transmission from one beam within the panel; with multiple panels, more than one beam (one beam per panel) may be available for UL transmission. In another embodiment, more than one beam per panel may be supported / used for UL transmission.

[0141] In some of the described embodiments, the antenna port is defined such that a channel on which a symbol on the antenna port is transmitted can be inferred from a channel on which another symbol on the same antenna port is transmitted.

[0142] If the large-scale properties of a channel that transmits symbols from one antenna port can be inferred from the properties of a channel that transmits symbols from another antenna port, then the two antenna ports are called quasi-co-located. Large-scale properties include one or more of the following: delay spread, Doppler spread, Doppler shift, average gain, average delay, and the spatial Rx parameter.

[0143] The two antenna ports can be quasi-located with respect to subsets of large-scale properties, and different subsets of large-scale properties can be indicated by quasi-co-location (“QCL”) types. For example, the parameter qcl-Type can take one of the following values:

[0144] • 'QCL-TypeA': {Doppler shift, Doppler spread, average delay, delay spread}

[0145] • 'QCL-TypeB': {Doppler shift, Doppler extension}

[0146] • 'QCL-TypeC': {Doppler shift, average delay}

[0147] ·'QCL-TypeD': {space Rx parameter}.

[0148] The spatial Rx parameters may include one or more of the following: angle of arrival (“AoA”), primary AoA, average AoA, angle spread, power angular spectrum of AoA (“PAS”), average departure angle (“AoD”), PAS of AoD, transmit / receive channel correlation, transmit / receive beamforming, spatial channel correlation, etc.

[0149] According to embodiments, an "antenna port" may be a logical port corresponding to a beam (generated by beamforming) or a physical antenna on the device. In some embodiments, a physical antenna may be directly mapped to a single antenna port, wherein the antenna port corresponds to an actual physical antenna. Alternatively, a set of physical antennas, a subset of physical antennas, or an antenna array or antenna subarray may be mapped to one or more antenna ports after applying composite weights, cyclic delays, or both to the signal on each physical antenna. A physical antenna set may have antennas from a single module or panel or from multiple modules or panels. Weights may be fixed, as in an antenna virtualization scheme such as cyclic delay diversity ("CDD"). The procedure for deriving antenna ports from physical antennas may be device-specific and transparent to other devices.

[0150] In some of the described embodiments, the TCI state associated with the target transmission may indicate parameters for configuring a quasi-concurrency relationship between the target transmission (e.g., the target RS of the DM-RS port of the target transmission during transmission timing) and the source reference signal (e.g., SSB / CSI-RS) with respect to the QCL type parameters indicated in the corresponding TCI state. The apparatus may receive configurations of multiple transmission configuration indicator states of the serving cell for transmission on the serving cell.

[0151] In some of the described embodiments, spatial relationship information associated with the target transmission may indicate parameters for configuring the spatial setup between the target transmission and a reference RS (e.g., SSB / CSI-RS / SRS). For example, the apparatus may transmit a target transmission with parameters for receiving the same spatial domain filter / beam as the reference RS (e.g., DL RS, such as SSB / CSI-RS). In another example, the apparatus may transmit a target transmission with the same spatial domain transmission filter / beam as the reference RS (e.g., UL RS, such as SRS). The apparatus may receive multiple spatial relationship information configurations for transmission over the serving cell.

[0152] Regarding physical layer delay, the start and end times can be defined as shown in Table 5 below:

[0153]

[0154] Table 5: Physical Layer Delay Start and End Times

[0155] In one embodiment, the physical layer latency of UE-based and UE-assisted method-based DL-only, UL-only, and DL+UL positioning solutions is defined separately. In some embodiments, at least the following information is provided for positioning physical layer latency analysis:

[0156] • The source that initiates a request for location measurement / location of a given UE (UE, network).

[0157] • Destination awaiting location measurement / location of a given UE (UE, network)

[0158] • Start and end triggers / events for physical layer latency assessment, for version 16 solution, which is based on the specification of each solution.

[0159] • Determine the initial and final RRC states (RRC idle, invalid, connected) of the UE at the start and end times of the physical layer delay assessment.

[0160] ·position

[0161] a. Technologies (enumeration): (1) DL-TDOA, (2) DL AoD, (3) UL-TDOA, (4) UL-AoA, (5) Multi-RTT, (6) E-CID

[0162] b. Type: DL, UL, DL+UL

[0163] c. Mode: UE-based, UE-assisted

[0164] • Delay component w / value range and description, including information about any parallel (simultaneous) components.

[0165] Total delay value

[0166] In one embodiment, semi-persistent and intermittent transmission and reception using DL PRS may include UE-assisted and / or UE-based positioning and DL positioning and / or multi-RTT.

[0167] In one embodiment, on-demand transmission and reception using DL PRS may include UE-assisted and / or UE-based positioning and DL positioning and / or multi-RTT. As used herein, semi-persistent means MAC-CE triggered, periodically corresponding to DCI triggered, and on-demand corresponding to UE-initiated or network-initiated PRS and / or SRS requests. Therefore, in one embodiment, it differs from whether the PRS is DCI-triggered or MAC-CE triggered; more precisely, it relates to the UE or LM requesting / suggesting / recommending a particular PRS type, on / off, periodicity, BW, and / or similar.

[0168] Regarding RAN4 positioning, in one embodiment, the Version 15 Measurement Gap (“MG”) pattern can be applied to positioning measurements. If a new MG pattern is introduced, then the new MG pattern is a UE capability. In one embodiment, the processing of LTE PRS in the Version 15 CSSF used for gap sharing between NR PRS and RRM is reused.

[0169] In some embodiments concerning the PRS measurement cycle when incomplete PRS measurements in a valid BWP are discarded and restarted during a gap, no additional requirements are defined, but the aforementioned UE behavior is captured in the relevant requirements for positioning measurements performed within a valid BWP.

[0170] In some embodiments, for UEs that do not require any PRS and / or RRM measurement relaxation due to concurrent processing of PRS and RRM measurements, and for UEs that require PRS and / or RRM measurement relaxation due to concurrent processing of PRS and RRM measurements, UE capability signaling may indicate that concurrent processing of PRS and RRM measurements does not require any PRS and / or RRM measurement relaxation.

[0171] In addition to the measurement gap type in version 15, RAN4 introduces a new measurement gap type in version 16 applicable to UEs configured with NR positioning measurements, including a number of new measurement gap types of 2 and the new measurement gap type being a UE capability.

[0172] In one embodiment, the UE may support the measurement gap types listed in Table 6. The UE may determine the measurement gap timing based on the gap offset configuration and measurement gap timing pre-configuration provided by higher-layer signaling.

[0173]

[0174] Table 6: Configuration of Measurement Gap Types

[0175] In one embodiment, regarding measurement and reporting configuration, UE measurements have been defined that are applicable to DL-based positioning technologies.

[0176] Figure 4 The depicted information element 400, NR-DL-TDOA-ProvideAssistanceData, is an example of an information element 400 used by a location server to provide auxiliary data configuration for UE assistance and UE-based NR downlink TDOA. The depicted information element (“IE”) can also be used to provide NR DL TDOA for locating specific error causes.

[0177] Figure 5An example of information element 500, namely NR-DL-TDOA-SignalMeasurementInformation, used by the target device (i.e., UE 205) to provide NR-DL TDOA measurements to the location server is shown. Measurements are provided as a list of TRPs, where the first TRP in the list is used as a reference TRP in the case of reporting RSTD measurements. The first TRP in the list may or may not be the reference TRP indicated in NR-DL-PRS-AssistanceData. Furthermore, the target device selects a reference source for each TRP and compiles the measurement for each TRP based on the selected reference source.

[0178] Regarding RAT-dependent positioning measurements, different DL measurements include the DL PRS-RSRP, DL RSTD, and UE Rx-Tx time difference required by the supported RAT-dependent positioning technology. Specify the following measurement configurations:

[0179] • Each cell pair can perform 4 pairs of DL RSTD measurements. Each measurement is performed between a pair of different DLPRS resources / resource sets with a single reference timing.

[0180] • It can perform 8 DL PRS RSRP measurements on different DL PRS resources from the same cell.

[0181]

[0182]

[0183] Table 7: DL Measurements Required for DL-Based Positioning Methods

[0184] This embodiment includes techniques for implementing configurations related to the UE's positioning processing capabilities and UL resource availability to achieve positioning (including low-latency and high-accuracy positioning) in various latency and accuracy scenarios. Note that these embodiments may be used in combination with each other depending on the implementation plan.

[0185] In the first embodiment, a UE processing timeline for a DL-based positioning method is discussed, which requires measurements related to DL-PRS to obtain a location estimate of the target UE, such as RSTD, UE Rx-Tx time difference, and DL-PRS RSRP. In this regard, the presented solution is tailored for both UE-assisted (location estimate is calculated at LMF) and UE-based (location estimate is calculated locally at the UE) positioning.

[0186] In one embodiment, UE-assisted positioning involves signaling exchange between the serving gNB, the target UE, and the final LMF when determining the location estimate. Figure 6This describes the systematic procedure performed by the target UE for localization in a scenario where the PRS is processed within the DL BWP.

[0187] The UE processing timeline is an example of the time from when the target UE receives the DL-PRS physical layer configuration to when the target UE transmits the measurement report to the serving gNB. Figure 6 It can be noted that:

[0188] • Y parameter 602 defines the duration between when the UE receives the DL-PRS configuration in the ProvideAssistanceData message and when it receives the RequestLocationInformation message containing the measurement configuration to be reported and its number.

[0189] • X parameter 604 defines the duration between the UE receiving the RequestLocationInformation message and the UE transmitting the ProvideLocationInformation message containing the measurement report.

[0190] In one embodiment, the duration of Y 602 depends primarily on when the UE receives the DL-PRS configuration (e.g., via broadcast or dedicated signaling), and it can occur when the UE is in the RRC_IDLE / invalid or RRC_CONNECTED state. Depending on when step (2) has been triggered, the target UE may store the DL-PRS configuration for a period defined by Y 602, which may vary depending on the target UE state.

[0191] The X duration 604 depends on the positioning method configured by the LMF and the number of measurements to be performed, as indicated in Table 8. Table 8 further indicates the maximum number of measurements supported per target UE. The X duration 604 is not limited to the techniques indicated in Table 8, but may also correspond to any positioning method and corresponding measurement configured by the location server.

[0192]

[0193] Table 8: Maximum Number of Measurements Per Configuration of Positioning Technology

[0194] In an alternative embodiment, the UE receives the DL-PRS configuration and corresponding report configuration together. In this scenario, it can be assumed that the combined processing timeline includes processing configuration, performing DL-PRS measurements, and processing reports.

[0195] LMF 144 may configure a set of X 604 (and Y 602) for the UE depending on the following factors:

[0196] • UE capabilities: When compared with a UE with enhanced capabilities, the reduced location capabilities of a UE will have relaxed timing requirements.

[0197] • Location delay budget: The location service will have a lenient to strict first-find location time (“TTFF”).

[0198] • Accuracy requirements: Depending on the number of measurements to be performed within the X time window, the positioning accuracy can be low or high.

[0199] The X and Y values ​​602 and 604 may depend on the required positioning delay budget as required by the LCS client or application functionality. UE processing configuration may be signaled in at least one of the following ways:

[0200] • Dedicated signaling configured via a UE-specific processing timeline, depending on latency budgets such as those for location services.

[0201] a. Relaxed delay requirements can use LPP signaling.

[0202] b. For strict latency requirements, dynamic L1 / L2 signaling can be used, such as DCI / MAC CE / RRC signaling.

[0203] • Via system information broadcast signaling, for example, SIB / on-demand signaling for a group of UEs with the aforementioned shared criteria.

[0204] In one example implementation, when the UE is configured to report measurements related to DL-TDOA, then, depending on the UE's processing capabilities, two embodiments can be considered:

[0205] • In one embodiment, the UE is able to process both DL-PRS RSTD measurements and DL-PRS RSRP measurements simultaneously, such that the processing timeline X includes a single value.

[0206] In another embodiment, the UE can process DL-PRS RSTD measurements and DL-PRS RSRP measurements sequentially, such that the processing timeline X can be composed of two timelines X1 and X2, respectively.

[0207] Figure 7 This describes the procedures related to UE-based positioning and the corresponding UE processing timeline associated with such procedures. Similar to... Figure 6 In the embodiment shown, DL-PRS is also processed within DL-BWP.

[0208] In the case of UE-based positioning, in one embodiment, the target UE must initiate step 1 if the following conditions are met:

[0209] • No previous DL-PRS physical layer configuration is stored in the UE.

[0210] • Existing DL-PRS configurations are outdated, or

[0211] • If the existing DL-PRS configuration does not meet the accuracy requirements.

[0212] In one embodiment, the duration Z 702 between steps (1) 701 and (2) 703 depends on the scheduling delay of the LMF to provide the desired measurement configuration. Steps (2) 703 and (3) 705 and Figure 6 The similarity of the embodiments described is that the UE processing delay depends on the duration between the instance of the UE receiving the DL-PRS physical layer configuration and the required number of measurements being collected (given by U 704). V 706 is the processing duration for calculating the location estimate at the target UE. Steps (5) 707 and (6) 709 are optionally required if LMF 144 wants to report the location of the target UE to be estimated and therefore may not affect the location processing timeline of the target UE, which is consistent with Figure 6 The step (3) shown in the example has a direct impact on the UE's processing timeline, unlike in other embodiments. Similarly, in step (4) 711, the target UE can calculate a location estimate locally based on positioning measurements.

[0213] In another embodiment, the DL-PRS configuration extends the measurements beyond the effective DL BWP of the serving cell and requires DL-PRS measurements from the TRP of neighboring cells to enhance positioning accuracy. However, in order to measure DL-PRS resources outside the DL BWP of the serving cell / frequency, in one embodiment, the measurement gap will have to be configured at the target UE, which can be provided to the UE or only after request. This can increase UE processing load and latency. Currently, several issues regarding UE positioning processing capabilities need to be considered in version 16 positioning:

[0214] • The RRM and positioning measurement gap configuration are shared, and therefore the time-frequency location of the DL-PRS resource must be within the same SMTC window as the SSB of the corresponding non-serving cell to be measured.

[0215] • The UE processing timeline is affected by the measurement gap length (“MGL”) and may not be optimized to reduce positioning latency.

[0216] There is a delay associated with the target UE's received measurement gap (“MG”) configuration (e.g., via RRC) and subsequent application of this configuration.

[0217] Figure 8This section explains the impact of MG configuration on the UE positioning processing timeline, relating it to MGL 803 and Measurement Interval Repetition Period (“MGRP”) 801. Delays associated with requesting and / or receiving MG configuration are not shown.

[0218] In one embodiment, both RRM and positioning can be configured per UE or per FR MG. This implies that MGL803 should adapt to SMTC and PRS timing. A trade-off exists between UE processing load and the length and periodicity of MGRP 801 to accommodate the PRS timing to be measured for high-accuracy positioning. RF tuning times 807 at the start and end of MGL are also shown to facilitate MGL803.

[0219] The depicted embodiments present a hybrid MG configuration for positioning, wherein {X1,X2,…,XN}805 can be based on, for example... Figure 6 The set of criteria mentioned in the embodiments described herein are adapted as follows:

[0220] • UE capabilities: When compared with a UE with enhanced capabilities, a positioning UE with reduced capabilities will have relaxed timing requirements.

[0221] • Location delay budget: The location service will have a lenient to strict first-find location time (“TTFF”).

[0222] • Accuracy requirements: Depending on the number of measurements to be performed within the X time window, the positioning accuracy can be low or high.

[0223] In another embodiment, for a target UE, a PRS processing unit (“PPU”) is proposed such that the processing capability of that UE can be defined based on the number of PPUs it can support for processing PRS measurements and reports for a given symbol. Furthermore, for each type of PRS measurement and report, the UE capability can be defined based on the number of PPUs required to process the corresponding report.

[0224] In one example implementation of this embodiment, when the UE is configured to report DL-TDOA measurements and the UE has the capability of M PPUs, then if the DL-PRS RSTD requires N PPUs in a symbol, the remaining MN PPUs can be used for the DL-PRS RSTD (if sufficient), otherwise parallel processing of the same symbol is not possible. In this embodiment, sequential processing can be performed.

[0225] In one embodiment, a mechanism is described for the UE to provide UL resources for transmitting location measurement reports to LMF 144 within a defined period. Currently, NR defines two types of configurable authorization: Type 1 and Type 2 authorization.

[0226] Type 1 authorization can be configured via periodic RRC settings.

[0227] Type 2 licenses can be activated / deactivated via DCI.

[0228] In the case of UE-assisted positioning, measurement reports can be transmitted via ProvideLocation messages (higher-layer NAS signaling), which are inherently non-dynamic when compared with type 1 and type 2 configured authorizations based on L1 / L2 signaling. For UE-based positioning, the ProvideLocation message provides a calculated UE location estimate.

[0229] Once, for example, positioning-related measurements based on previous DL-PRS transmissions are ready to be reported (e.g., Figure 6 Step 4 or Figure 7 In step 6), LMF 144 can request the service gNB to configure UL authorization. Figure 9 This is an explanation of the dynamic reporting mechanism. In Figure 9 In step (1)901, the UE receives a UL CG configuration containing exemplary configuration details (e.g., time-frequency resources, activation indication, offset, and / or periodicity). The serving gNB can exchange messages with other neighboring cells regarding DL-PRS scheduling using LMF 144 with prior confirmation, because the target UE of the serving cell can only be activated via a UL type 1 configuration. Figure 9 (a) or Type 2 activation ( Figure 9 (b)). Figure 9 (a) Steps (2) to (5) 903 to 909 include the transmission of the location report based on the earliest availability.

[0230] In an alternative implementation, measurements can be prioritized or ranked according to positioning delay budget and transmitted accordingly. Figure 9 In (b), the UL CG can be deactivated at step (6) 913 using explicit signaling (e.g., using a ProvideLocation message). In another implementation example, the ProvideLocation message may also contain authorization for another UL CG activation for the next UL configuration used for measurement reporting.

[0231] In another implementation, when the UE first receives the UL CG configuration, an explicit indication of deactivating the UL CG (after a specific configured time) with an activation message may be indicated in step (1) 911.

[0232] In an alternative embodiment, when the UE is configured with PRS measurement reports that may contain multiple quantities to be reported for corresponding positioning technologies, then partial reporting can be completed (especially for low latency requirements), wherein multiple UL resources are configured or indicated, and partial reporting is completed on different examples of UL resources. Essentially, in one embodiment, for partial reporting, instead of processing the entire report, the UE begins reporting the individual portions as they become ready. The exact sequence of partial reporting (e.g., which quantity is reported earlier than others) can be explicitly or implicitly configured to the UE based on the processing timeline required for each quantity.

[0233] In another embodiment, a method for prioritizing PRS measurement reports based on the availability of UL resources is described. In scenarios where the availability of UL CG resources for transmitting all available measurement reports is limited, in some embodiments, prioritization criteria may be applied to each of the positioning measurements based on specific criteria (e.g., positioning delay budget, accuracy, and type of the positioning method).

[0234] In the case of the UE-assisted positioning method, prioritization criteria can be configured by the LMF 144 via, for example, a ProvideAssistanceData message. In the case of the UE-based positioning method, the UE can indicate the preferred criteria for the requested message to the LMF 144 and / or gNB via, for example, a RequestAssistanceData message on the PUSCH. This enables efficient processing of DL-PRS based on the associated priority criteria of each measurement.

[0235] In an alternative implementation, the target UE may request preferred priority for location-related reference signal measurements (e.g., DL-PRS, SRS) using L1 (e.g., DCI) or L2 (e.g., RRC / MAC CE signaling) as needed.

[0236] In one instance, when the UE needs to process multiple PRS reports, each assigned or indicated with a priority level, the UE starts with the highest priority report, calculates available processing units, and assigns the required processing units to the first report with the highest priority. Next, the UE checks the remaining processing units and the processing units required for the second report with the second highest priority. If there are sufficient remaining available units, the UE can also process the second report in parallel. The UE then continues this process until it has used up enough processing units. In that case, if the delay requirement can still be met, the UE can delay the processing of lower priority reports. Otherwise, the UE can discard lower priority reports that cannot be processed within the required delay constraints.

[0237] In another instance, the UE needs to execute measurements and corresponding reports from multiple TRPs. If the associated priority or accuracy is lower than other configured reports, the UE can process all measurements from all TRPs in parallel or sequentially (with some delay), depending on the availability of processing units. However, if such delay exceeds the required latency constraints, the UE discards measurements (or measurement reports) from one or more TRPs and only reports a subset of measurements (or measurement reports) from the TRPs.

[0238] There may be situations where incomplete measurements occur during the positioning measurement window, potentially leading to incomplete reporting. To improve the signal efficiency of positioning reporting by the target UE, in one embodiment, the target UE may be configured to discard measurements based on specific criteria including:

[0239] • If the size of a location-based measurement report exceeds the availability of UL transmission resources.

[0240] • If the priority of the measurement is lower than that of other higher priority measurements.

[0241] • If measurements are incomplete or damaged, for example due to a fault event, and therefore the report is not considered beneficial for processing by the Location Server (LMF).

[0242] • If the measurement is not considered reliable and / or does not meet integrity requirements such as the following:

[0243] a. Objective Integrity Risk (“TIR”);

[0244] b. Alarm restrictions (“AL”);

[0245] c. Alarm Time (“TTA”);

[0246] d. Protection level (“PL”).

[0247] TIR can be further defined as the probability that a location error exceeds AL without alerting the user within the required TTA. As used herein, AL is defined as the maximum permissible location error that allows the location system to be used for the intended application. If the location error exceeds AL, then operation may be dangerous, and the location system should be declared unusable for the intended application to prevent loss of integrity. As used herein, TTA is the maximum permissible elapsed time from when the location error exceeds AL until the corresponding alert for a functional notification providing location integrity is provided. As used herein, PL is the statistical upper limit of the location error that ensures the probability of a true error greater than AL per unit time within a time longer than TTA, and PL less than or equal to AL, is less than the required TIR.

[0248] In one embodiment, the target UE may explicitly indicate the dropped measurement, or the LMF 144 may implicitly infer the dropped measurement based on the provided measurement configuration.

[0249] Figure 10 User equipment device 1000, which can be configured for positioning measurement and reporting, is depicted according to embodiments of the present disclosure. In various embodiments, user equipment device 1000 is used to implement one or more of the solutions described above. User equipment device 1000 may be an embodiment of remote unit 105 and / or UE 205 described above. Furthermore, user equipment device 1000 may include processor 1005, memory 1010, input device 1015, output device 1020, and transceiver 1025.

[0250] In some embodiments, the input device 1015 and the output device 1020 are combined into a single device, such as a touchscreen. In some embodiments, the user equipment device 1000 may not include any input device 1015 and / or output device 1020. In various embodiments, the user equipment device 1000 may include one or more of a processor 1005, a memory 1010, and a transceiver 1025, and may not include input device 1015 and / or output device 1020.

[0251] As depicted, transceiver 1025 includes at least one transmitter 1030 and at least one receiver 1035. In some embodiments, transceiver 1025 communicates with one or more cells (or radio coverage areas) supported by one or more basic units 121. In various embodiments, transceiver 1025 may operate on unlicensed spectrum. Furthermore, transceiver 1025 may include multiple UE panels supporting one or more beams. Additionally, transceiver 1025 may support at least one network interface 1040 and / or application programming interface 1045. Application programming interface 1045 may support one or more APIs. Network interface 1040 may support 3GPP reference points, such as Uu, N1, PC5, etc. Other network interfaces 1040 may be supported, as will be understood by those skilled in the art.

[0252] In one embodiment, processor 1005 may include any known controller capable of executing computer-readable instructions and / or performing logical operations. For example, processor 1005 may be a microcontroller, microprocessor, central processing unit (“CPU”), graphics processing unit (“GPU”), auxiliary processing unit, field-programmable gate array (“FPGA”), or similar programmable controller. In some embodiments, processor 1005 executes instructions stored in memory 1010 to perform the methods and routines described herein. Processor 1005 is communicatively coupled to memory 1010, input device 1015, output device 1020, and transceiver 1025.

[0253] In various embodiments, processor 1005 controls user equipment device 1000 to perform the UE behaviors described above. In some embodiments, processor 1005 may include an application processor (also referred to as a "main processor") that manages application domains and operating system ("OS") functions, and a baseband processor (also referred to as a "baseband radio processor") that manages radio functions.

[0254] In one embodiment, transceiver 1025 receives from a mobile wireless communication network a positioning configuration that defines a positioning configuration timeline for the UE and a measurement and processing time window. The positioning configuration may include a timeline duration defining when measurements begin, a set of positioning measurements to be performed within the configured time window, and a window duration for measuring and processing the UE's requested location-relationship measurements according to the positioning processing timeline.

[0255] In one embodiment, processor 1005 performs at least one positioning measurement on the UE according to a positioning processing timeline in response to receiving a positioning configuration. In some embodiments, transceiver 1025 transmits a positioning measurement report from the UE to the mobile wireless communication network, including at least one positioning measurement performed within a configured time window and a measurement timeline of at least one positioning measurement.

[0256] In one embodiment, multiple of the configuration timeline and measurement and processing timeline can be configured for the UE, and the reference signal received power (“RSRP”), reference signal time difference (“RSTD”), and delay of at least one of the UE Rx-Tx positioning measurements in each of the multiple measurement and processing timelines can be reported to the mobile wireless communication network.

[0257] In one embodiment, the delay may include a single value in response to simultaneous positioning measurements, and multiple values ​​in response to sequential positioning measurements.

[0258] In one embodiment, transceiver 1025 receives pre-configured auxiliary data for positioning from a mobile wireless communication network during a Long Term Evolution Protocol Positioning (“LPP”) session and performs measurements and processing on the pre-configured auxiliary data in response to the transceiver receiving an LPP Request for Location Information message.

[0259] In one embodiment, transceiver 1025 receives a location configuration from a mobile wireless communication network via a broadcast signal, the location configuration being designed for multiple UEs with the same capabilities.

[0260] In one embodiment, transceiver 1025 receives location configuration from a mobile wireless communication network via UE-specific dedicated signals, including LPP request location information messages.

[0261] In one embodiment, in response to a UE initiating a Positioning Reference Signal (“PRS”) configuration request, processor 1005 determines an overall timeline between receiving the configuration request and receiving the UE’s location estimate, the overall timeline including multiple timelines related to the configuration of auxiliary data, measurements, processing, and calculations for the UE’s location estimate.

[0262] In one embodiment, transceiver 1025 responds to a mobile wireless communication network by sending an on-demand request to receive downlink-PRS (“DL-PRS”) auxiliary data in response to at least one of the following: no previous DL-PRS physical layer configuration is stored at the UE; the existing DL-PRS configuration is outdated; and the existing DL-PRS configuration does not meet accuracy requirements.

[0263] In one embodiment, the positioning configuration further includes a set of measurement gap configurations to be applied by the UE to the positioning processing timeline, the measurement gap configurations defining the measurement gap length and measurement gap repetition period of the positioning processing timeline.

[0264] In one embodiment, the set of measurement gap configurations can be pre-configured in the UE via signaling from the mobile wireless communication network. In one embodiment, the processor 1005 processes PRS measurements and reports according to a UE PRS processing unit (“PPU”), the UE PPU including several PPUs that the UE can support for a given symbol.

[0265] In one embodiment, based on the UE's capabilities, the processor 1005 performs parallel processing of the same PRS symbol with respect to other positioning measurements. In one embodiment, the mobile wireless communication network includes at least one of a base station and location management functions.

[0266] In another embodiment, transceiver 1025 receives an authorized configuration of uplink (“UL”) configuration from the mobile wireless communication network based on criteria associated with at least one of the UE's measurement priority order, positioning delay budget, and positioning processing timeline. In some embodiments, processor 1005 performs at least one positioning measurement on the UE and generates a positioning measurement report including at least one positioning measurement according to at least one of the measurement priority order and positioning processing timeline.

[0267] In some embodiments, transceiver 1025 sends a location measurement report to the mobile wireless communication network using a UL-configured licensed configuration based on the availability of location-related reference signal measurements, the availability being based on at least one of measurement priority order and location processing timeline.

[0268] In one embodiment, the UE transmits a location measurement report, including at least one location measurement, via Radio Resource Control (“RRC”) signaling through an authorized configuration configured with Type 1 UL configuration.

[0269] In one embodiment, the UE transmits a positioning measurement report, including at least one positioning measurement, via downlink control information (“DCI”) signaling through an authorized configuration configured with type 2 UL.

[0270] In one embodiment, the UL configuration's authorized configuration includes signaling information for one or more of the following: offset, periodicity, activation, deactivation, and time-frequency resources for a positioning measurement report that includes at least one positioning measurement.

[0271] In one embodiment, transceiver 1025 receives a positioning measurement configuration indicating a positioning measurement priority order based on the availability of positioning-related reference signal resources, the priority order being determined based on at least one of UE capabilities, positioning delay budget, and location estimation accuracy. In one embodiment, processor 1005 performs at least one positioning measurement and generates a positioning measurement report according to the priority order indicated in the positioning measurement configuration. In one embodiment, transceiver 1025 transmits the positioning measurement report to a mobile wireless communication network using a UL-configured authorization configuration according to the priority order indicated in the measurement configuration.

[0272] In one embodiment, transceiver 1025 receives location measurement configuration in response to a request for location measurement configuration. In one embodiment, the location measurement priority order is configured by at least one of a location server and a base station of the mobile wireless communication network. In one embodiment, the location server and the base station exchange information related to the configuration and scheduling of the Physical Uplink Shared Channel (“PUSCH”).

[0273] In one embodiment, transceiver 1025 dynamically provides location measurement configuration on demand using at least one of Radio Resource Control (“RRC”) signaling and Media Access Control (“MAC”) Control Element (“CE”) signaling. In one embodiment, processor 1005 discards a location-related reference signal measurement to be reported in response to at least one of the following: the measurement report size exceeds UL transmission resource availability; the measurement has a lower priority than other measurements with higher priority; the measurement is incomplete or corrupted; and the measurement is determined to be unreliable in response to failing to meet one or more integrity requirements.

[0274] In one embodiment, the processor 1005 discards positioning-related reference signal measurements based on at least one of a delay budget and a measurement and processing timeline.

[0275] In one embodiment, memory 1010 is a computer-readable storage medium. In some embodiments, memory 1010 includes volatile computer storage media. For example, memory 1010 may include RAM, which includes dynamic RAM (“DRAM”), synchronous dynamic RAM (“SDRAM”), and / or static RAM (“SRAM”). In some embodiments, memory 1010 includes non-volatile computer storage media. For example, memory 1010 may include a hard disk drive, flash memory, or any other suitable non-volatile computer storage device. In some embodiments, memory 1010 includes both volatile and non-volatile computer storage media.

[0276] In some embodiments, memory 1010 stores data related to configuring positioning measurements and reporting. For example, memory 1010 may store various parameters, panel / beam configurations, resource assignments, policies, and the like as described above. In some embodiments, memory 1010 also stores program code and related data, such as an operating system or other controller algorithms operating on device 1000.

[0277] In one embodiment, input device 1015 may include any known computer input device, including a touch panel, buttons, keyboard, stylus, microphone, or the like. In some embodiments, input device 1015 may be integrated with output device 1020 as, for example, a touchscreen or similar touch-sensitive display. In some embodiments, input device 1015 includes a touchscreen that allows text to be entered using a virtual keyboard displayed on the touchscreen and / or by handwriting on the touchscreen. In some embodiments, input device 1015 includes two or more different devices, such as a keyboard and a touch panel.

[0278] In one embodiment, the output device 1020 may be designed to output visual, audible, and / or tactile signals. In some embodiments, the output device 1020 includes an electronically controllable display or display device capable of outputting visual data to a user. For example, the output device 1020 may include (but is not limited to) a liquid crystal display (“LCD”), a light-emitting diode (“LED”) display, an organic LED (“OLED”) display, a projector, or a similar display device capable of outputting images, text, or the like to a user. As another non-limiting example, the output device 1020 may include a wearable display, such as a smartwatch, smart glasses, a head-mounted display, or the like, which is separate from but communicatively coupled to the remainder of the user equipment device 1000. Furthermore, the output device 1020 may be a component of a smartphone, personal digital assistant, television, desktop computer, laptop computer, personal computer, vehicle dashboard, or the like.

[0279] In some embodiments, the output device 1020 includes one or more speakers for generating sound. For example, the output device 1020 may generate an audible alarm or notification (e.g., a beep or ring). In some embodiments, the output device 1020 includes one or more haptic devices for generating vibration, motion, or other haptic feedback. In some embodiments, the output device 1020 may be wholly or partially integrated with the input device 1015. For example, the input device 1015 and the output device 1020 may form a touchscreen or similar touch-sensitive display. In other embodiments, the output device 1020 may be located near the input device 1015.

[0280] Transceiver 1025 communicates with one or more network functions of a mobile communication network via one or more access networks. Transceiver 1025 operates under the control of processor 1005 to transmit and receive messages, data, and other signals. For example, processor 1005 may selectively activate transceiver 1025 (or a portion thereof) at specific times to send and receive messages.

[0281] Transceiver 1025 includes at least one transmitter 1030 and at least one receiver 1035. One or more transmitters 1030 may be used to provide UL communication signals to base unit 121, such as the UL transmission described herein. Similarly, one or more receivers 1035 may be used to receive DL communication signals from base unit 121, as described herein. Although only one transmitter 1030 and one receiver 1035 are described, user equipment device 1000 may have any suitable number of transmitters 1030 and receivers 1035. Furthermore, transmitters 1030 and receivers 1035 may be of any suitable type. In one embodiment, transceiver 1025 includes a first transmitter / receiver pair for communicating with a mobile communication network via licensed radio spectrum and a second transmitter / receiver pair for communicating with a mobile optical communication network via unlicensed radio spectrum.

[0282] In some embodiments, a first transmitter / receiver pair for communicating with a mobile communication network via licensed radio spectrum and a second transmitter / receiver pair for communicating with a mobile communication network via unlicensed radio spectrum may be combined into a single transceiver unit, such as a single chip that performs functions for use with both licensed and unlicensed radio spectrum. In some embodiments, the first transmitter / receiver pair and the second transmitter / receiver pair may share one or more hardware components. For example, some transceivers 1025, transmitters 1030, and receivers 1035 may be implemented as physically separate components that access shared hardware resources and / or software resources, such as (for example) a network interface 1040.

[0283] In various embodiments, one or more transmitters 1030 and / or one or more receivers 1035 may be implemented and / or integrated into a single hardware component, such as a multi-transceiver chip, a system-on-a-chip, an application-specific integrated circuit (“ASIC”), or other types of hardware components. In some embodiments, one or more transmitters 1030 and / or one or more receivers 1035 may be implemented and / or integrated into a multi-chip module. In some embodiments, other components, such as network interface 1040 or other hardware components / circuits, may be integrated with any number of transmitters 1030 and / or receivers 1035 into a single chip. In this embodiment, transmitters 1030 and receivers 1035 may be logically configured to use one or more common control signals as transceivers 1025 or modular transmitters 1030 and receivers 1035 configured to be implemented in the same hardware chip or multi-chip module.

[0284] Figure 11 A network device 1100, which can be configured for location measurement and reporting, is depicted according to embodiments of the present disclosure. In one embodiment, the network device 1100 may be an implementation of a RAN node, such as the basic unit 121 and / or RAN node 210 as described above. Furthermore, the network device 1100 may include a processor 1105, a memory 1110, an input device 1115, an output device 1120, and a transceiver 1125.

[0285] In some embodiments, the input device 1115 and the output device 1120 are combined into a single device, such as a touchscreen. In some embodiments, the network device 1100 may not include any input device 1115 and / or output device 1120. In various embodiments, the network device 1100 may include one or more of a processor 1105, a memory 1110, and a transceiver 1125, and may not include input device 1115 and / or output device 1120.

[0286] As depicted, transceiver 1125 includes at least one transmitter 1130 and at least one receiver 1135. Here, transceiver 1125 communicates with one or more remote units 105. Additionally, transceiver 1125 may support at least one network interface 1140 and / or application programming interface 1145. Application programming interface 1145 may support one or more APIs. Network interface 1140 may support 3GPP reference points, such as Uu, N1, N2, and N3. Other network interfaces 1140 may be supported, as will be understood by those skilled in the art.

[0287] In one embodiment, processor 1105 may include any known controller capable of executing computer-readable instructions and / or performing logical operations. For example, processor 1105 may be a microcontroller, microprocessor, CPU, GPU, auxiliary processing unit, FPGA, or similar programmable controller. In some embodiments, processor 1105 executes instructions stored in memory 1110 to perform the methods and routines described herein. Processor 1105 is communicatively coupled to memory 1110, input device 1115, output device 1120, and transceiver 1125.

[0288] In various embodiments, network device 1100 is a RAN node (e.g., gNB) communicating with one or more UEs, as described herein. In such embodiments, processor 1105 controls network device 1100 to perform the RAN behaviors described above. When operating as a RAN node, processor 1105 may include an application processor (also referred to as the "main processor") that manages application domains and operating system ("OS") functions, and a baseband processor (also referred to as the "baseband radio processor") that manages radio functions.

[0289] In various embodiments, processor 1105 and / or transceiver 1125 control network device 1100 to perform the LMF behavior described above. For example, in one embodiment, transceiver 1125 sends a positioning configuration to user equipment (“UE”) that defines a positioning configuration timeline for the UE and a measurement and processing time window. In one embodiment, the positioning configuration includes a timeline duration defining when measurements should begin, a set of positioning measurements to be performed within the configured time window, and a window duration for measuring and processing the UE’s requested location-relationship measurements according to the positioning processing timeline.

[0290] In one embodiment, transceiver 1125 receives from the UE device a positioning measurement report including at least one positioning measurement performed within a configured time window and a measurement timeline of at least one positioning measurement. In one embodiment, the positioning configuration timeline is determined based on different individual timelines associated with the configuration of auxiliary data, measurements, processing, and calculations for the UE's location estimation.

[0291] In one embodiment, transceiver 1125 sends an authorization configuration of uplink (“UL”) configuration to the UE device based on at least one of a measurement priority order, a positioning delay budget, and a positioning processing timeline, and receives a positioning measurement report from the UE using the authorization configuration of the UL configuration based on the availability of positioning-related reference signal measurements. The availability is based on at least one of a measurement priority order and a positioning processing timeline.

[0292] In one embodiment, memory 1110 is a computer-readable storage medium. In some embodiments, memory 1110 includes volatile computer storage media. For example, memory 1110 may include RAM, which includes dynamic RAM (“DRAM”), synchronous dynamic RAM (“SDRAM”), and / or static RAM (“SRAM”). In some embodiments, memory 1110 includes non-volatile computer storage media. For example, memory 1110 may include a hard disk drive, flash memory, or any other suitable non-volatile computer storage device. In some embodiments, memory 1110 includes both volatile and non-volatile computer storage media.

[0293] In some embodiments, memory 1110 stores data related to configuring positioning measurements and reporting. For example, memory 1110 may store parameters, configurations, resource assignments, policies, and the like as described above. In some embodiments, memory 1110 also stores program code and related data, such as an operating system or other controller algorithms operating on device 1100.

[0294] In one embodiment, input device 1115 may include any known computer input device, including a touch panel, buttons, keyboard, stylus, microphone, or the like. In some embodiments, input device 1115 may be integrated with output device 1120, for example, as a touchscreen or similar touch-sensitive display. In some embodiments, input device 1115 includes a touchscreen that allows text to be entered using a virtual keyboard displayed on the touchscreen and / or by handwriting on the touchscreen. In some embodiments, input device 1115 includes two or more different devices, such as a keyboard and a touch panel.

[0295] In one embodiment, output device 1120 may be designed to output visual, audible, and / or tactile signals. In some embodiments, output device 1120 includes an electronically controllable display or display device capable of outputting visual data to a user. For example, output device 1120 may include (but is not limited to) an LCD display, LED display, OLED display, projector, or similar display device capable of outputting images, text, or the like to a user. As another non-limiting example, output device 1120 may include a wearable display, such as a smartwatch, smart glasses, head-mounted display, or the like, which is separate from but communicatively coupled to the remainder of network device 1100. Furthermore, output device 1120 may be a component of a smartphone, personal digital assistant, television, desktop computer, laptop computer, personal computer, vehicle dashboard, or the like.

[0296] In some embodiments, the output device 1120 includes one or more speakers for generating sound. For example, the output device 1120 may generate an audible alarm or notification (e.g., a beep or ring). In some embodiments, the output device 1120 includes one or more haptic devices for generating vibration, motion, or other haptic feedback. In some embodiments, the output device 1120 may be wholly or partially integrated with the input device 1115. For example, the input device 1115 and the output device 1120 may form a touchscreen or similar touch-sensitive display. In other embodiments, the output device 1120 may be located near the input device 1115.

[0297] Transceiver 1125 includes at least one transmitter 1130 and at least one receiver 1135. One or more transmitters 1130 can be used to communicate with a UE, as described herein. Similarly, one or more receivers 1135 can be used to communicate with network functions in a PLMN and / or RAN, as described herein. Although only one transmitter 1130 and one receiver 1135 are described, network device 1100 may have any suitable number of transmitters 1130 and receivers 1135. Furthermore, transmitters 1130 and receivers 1135 may be of any suitable type.

[0298] Figure 12 One embodiment of a method 1200 for configuring location measurement and reporting according to embodiments of the present disclosure is described. In various embodiments, method 1200 is performed by a user equipment device in a mobile communication network, such as the remote unit 105, UE 205, and / or user equipment device 1000 described above. In some embodiments, method 1200 is performed by a processor, such as a microcontroller, microprocessor, CPU, GPU, auxiliary processing unit, FPGA, or the like.

[0299] In one embodiment, method 1200 begins and receives from the mobile wireless communication network 1205 a positioning configuration defining a positioning configuration timeline and a measurement and processing time window for the UE. In some embodiments, method 1200 includes performing at least one positioning measurement on the UE according to the positioning processing timeline in response to receiving the positioning configuration 1210. In another embodiment, method 1200 includes sending a positioning measurement report from the UE to the mobile wireless communication network 1215, which includes at least one positioning measurement performed within the configured time window and a measurement timeline of at least one positioning measurement, and method 1200 ends.

[0300] Figure 13One embodiment of a method 1300 for configuring location measurement and reporting according to embodiments of the present disclosure is described. In various embodiments, method 1300 is performed by a location management function in a mobile communication network, such as the LMF 144 and / or network device 1100 described above. In some embodiments, method 1300 is performed by a processor, such as a microcontroller, microprocessor, CPU, GPU, auxiliary processing unit, FPGA, or the like.

[0301] Method 1300 begins, and in one embodiment, sends 1305 to the UE a positioning configuration that defines the UE's positioning configuration timeline and measurement and processing time windows. In one embodiment, method 1300 includes receiving 1310 a positioning measurement report from the UE device, which includes at least one positioning measurement performed within the configured time window and a measurement timeline of at least one positioning measurement, and method 1300 ends.

[0302] Figure 14 One embodiment of a method 1400 for configuring location measurement and reporting according to embodiments of the present disclosure is described. In various embodiments, method 1400 is performed by a user equipment device in a mobile communication network, such as remote unit 105, UE 205, and / or user equipment device 1000 described above. In some embodiments, method 1400 is performed by a processor, such as a microcontroller, microprocessor, CPU, GPU, auxiliary processing unit, FPGA, or the like.

[0303] In one embodiment, method 1400 begins and receives authorized configuration of uplink (“UL”) configuration from the mobile wireless communication network based on criteria associated with at least one of the UE's measurement priority order, location delay budget, and location processing timeline. In some embodiments, method 1400 performs at least one location measurement on the UE according to at least one of the measurement priority order and location processing timeline, and generates a location measurement report including at least one location measurement.

[0304] In some embodiments, method 1400 sends a 1420 positioning measurement report to the mobile wireless communication network using an UL-configured authorized configuration based on the availability of positioning-related reference signal measurements, the availability being based on at least one of a measurement priority order and a positioning processing timeline, and method 1400 terminates.

[0305] Figure 15One embodiment of a method 1500 for configuring location measurement and reporting according to embodiments of the present disclosure is described. In various embodiments, method 1500 is performed by a location management function in a mobile communication network, such as the LMF 144 and / or network device 1100 described above. In some embodiments, method 1500 is performed by a processor, such as a microcontroller, microprocessor, CPU, GPU, auxiliary processing unit, FPGA, or the like.

[0306] In one embodiment, method 1500 begins by sending an authorized configuration of the uplink (“UL”) configuration to the UE device based on criteria associated with at least one of a measurement priority order, a positioning delay budget, and a positioning processing timeline. In another embodiment, method 1500 receives a positioning measurement report from the UE device using the authorized configuration of the UL configuration based on the availability of positioning-related reference signal measurements, said availability being based on at least one of a measurement priority order and a positioning processing timeline, and method 1500 ends.

[0307] This document discloses a first device for configuring location measurement and reporting according to embodiments of the present disclosure. The first device may be implemented by a user equipment device in a mobile communication network, such as the remote unit 105, UE 205, and / or user equipment device 1000 described above.

[0308] In one embodiment, the first device includes a transceiver that receives from a mobile wireless communication network a positioning configuration timeline defining a UE and a measurement and processing time window. The positioning configuration may include a timeline duration defining when measurements begin, a set of positioning measurements to be performed within the configured time window, and a window duration for measuring and processing the UE's requested location-relationship measurements according to the positioning processing timeline.

[0309] In one embodiment, the first device includes a processor that, in response to receiving the positioning configuration, performs at least one positioning measurement on the UE according to the positioning processing timeline. In some embodiments, the transceiver transmits a positioning measurement report, including the at least one positioning measurement performed within the configured time window and the measurement timeline of the at least one positioning measurement, from the UE to the mobile wireless communication network.

[0310] In one embodiment, multiple of the configuration timeline and measurement and processing timeline can be configured for the UE, and the reference signal received power (“RSRP”), reference signal time difference (“RSTD”), and delay of at least one of the UE Rx-Tx positioning measurements in each of the multiple measurement and processing timelines can be reported to the mobile wireless communication network.

[0311] In one embodiment, the delay may include a single value in response to simultaneous positioning measurements, and multiple values ​​in response to sequential positioning measurements.

[0312] In one embodiment, the transceiver receives pre-configured auxiliary data for positioning from a mobile wireless communication network during a Long Term Evolution Protocol Positioning (“LPP”) session and performs measurements and processing on the pre-configured auxiliary data in response to the transceiver receiving an LPP Request for Location Information message.

[0313] In one embodiment, the transceiver receives a location configuration from a mobile wireless communication network via a broadcast signal, the location configuration being designed for multiple UEs with the same capabilities.

[0314] In one embodiment, the transceiver receives location configuration from the mobile wireless communication network via UE-specific dedicated signals, including LPP request location information messages.

[0315] In one embodiment, in response to a UE initiating a Positioning Reference Signal (“PRS”) configuration request, the processor determines an overall timeline between receiving the configuration request and receiving the UE’s location estimate, the overall timeline including multiple timelines related to the configuration of auxiliary data, measurements, processing, and calculations for the UE’s location estimate.

[0316] In one embodiment, the transceiver responds to the mobile wireless communication network by sending an on-demand request to receive downlink-PRS (“DL-PRS”) auxiliary data in response to at least one of the following: no previous DL-PRS physical layer configuration is stored at the UE; the existing DL-PRS configuration is outdated; and the existing DL-PRS configuration does not meet accuracy requirements.

[0317] In one embodiment, the positioning configuration further includes a set of measurement gap configurations to be applied by the UE to the positioning processing timeline, the measurement gap configurations defining the measurement gap length and measurement gap repetition period of the positioning processing timeline.

[0318] In one embodiment, the set of measurement gap configurations can be pre-configured in the UE via signaling from the mobile wireless communication network. In one embodiment, the processor processes PRS measurements and reports according to a UE PRS processing unit (“PPU”), the UE PPU including several PPUs that the UE can support for a given symbol.

[0319] In one embodiment, based on the UE's capabilities, the processor performs parallel processing of the same PRS symbol with respect to other positioning measurements. In one embodiment, the mobile wireless communication network includes at least one of a base station and location management functions.

[0320] This document discloses a first method for configuring location measurement and reporting according to embodiments of the present disclosure. The first method can be performed by a user equipment device in a mobile communication network, such as the remote unit 105, UE 205, and / or user equipment device 1000 described above.

[0321] In one embodiment, the first method includes receiving from a mobile wireless communication network a positioning configuration timeline defining a UE and a measurement and processing time window. The positioning configuration may include a timeline duration defining when measurements begin, a set of positioning measurements to be performed within the configured time window, and a window duration for measuring and processing requested location-relationship measurements of the UE according to the positioning processing timeline.

[0322] In one embodiment, the first method includes performing at least one positioning measurement on the UE according to a positioning processing timeline in response to receiving a positioning configuration. In some embodiments, the first method includes transmitting a positioning measurement report from the UE to a mobile wireless communication network, including at least one positioning measurement performed within a configured time window and a measurement timeline of at least one positioning measurement.

[0323] In one embodiment, multiple of the configuration timeline and measurement and processing timeline can be configured for the UE, and the reference signal received power (“RSRP”), reference signal time difference (“RSTD”), and delay of at least one of the UE Rx-Tx positioning measurements in each of the multiple measurement and processing timelines can be reported to the mobile wireless communication network.

[0324] In one embodiment, the delay may include a single value in response to simultaneous positioning measurements, and multiple values ​​in response to sequential positioning measurements.

[0325] In one embodiment, the first method includes receiving pre-configured auxiliary data for positioning from a mobile wireless communication network during a Long Term Evolution Protocol Positioning (“LPP”) session and performing measurement and processing on the pre-configured auxiliary data in response to the transceiver receiving an LPP Request Location Information message.

[0326] In one embodiment, the first method includes receiving a location configuration from a mobile wireless communication network via a broadcast signal, the location configuration being designed for multiple UEs having the same capabilities.

[0327] In one embodiment, the first method includes receiving a location configuration from a mobile wireless communication network via a UE-specific dedicated signal, the UE-specific dedicated signal including an LPP request location information message.

[0328] In one embodiment, in response to a UE initiating a Positioning Reference Signal (“PRS”) configuration request, the method includes determining an overall timeline between receiving the configuration request and receiving a location estimate from the UE, the overall timeline including multiple timelines related to the configuration of auxiliary data, measurements, processing, and calculations for the UE's location estimate.

[0329] In one embodiment, the first method includes sending an on-demand request to the mobile wireless communication network to receive downlink-PRS (“DL-PRS”) auxiliary data in response to at least one of the following: no previous DL-PRS physical layer configuration is stored at the UE; the existing DL-PRS configuration is outdated; and the existing DL-PRS configuration does not meet accuracy requirements.

[0330] In one embodiment, the positioning configuration further includes a set of measurement gap configurations to be applied by the UE to the positioning processing timeline, the measurement gap configurations defining the measurement gap length and measurement gap repetition period of the positioning processing timeline.

[0331] In one embodiment, the set of measurement gap configurations can be pre-configured in the UE via signaling from the mobile wireless communication network. In one embodiment, the first method includes processing PRS measurements and reports according to a UE PRS processing unit (“PPU”), the UE PPU including several PPUs that the UE can support for a given symbol.

[0332] In one embodiment, based on the UE's capabilities, the first method includes performing parallel processing of the same PRS symbol with respect to other positioning measurements. In one embodiment, the mobile wireless communication network includes at least one of a base station and location management functions.

[0333] This document discloses a second device for configuring location measurement and reporting according to embodiments of the present disclosure. The second device may be implemented by a base station, such as the gNB described above, a location management function (e.g., LMF 144) in a mobile communication network, and / or network device 1100.

[0334] In one embodiment, the second device includes a transceiver that transmits a positioning configuration to a user equipment (“UE”) device, defining a positioning configuration timeline and a measurement and processing time window for the UE. In one embodiment, the positioning configuration includes a timeline duration defining when measurements should begin, a set of positioning measurements to be performed within the configured time window, and a window duration for measuring and processing requested location-relationship measurements of the UE according to the positioning processing timeline.

[0335] In one embodiment, the transceiver receives from the UE device a positioning measurement report including the at least one positioning measurement performed within the configured time window and a measurement timeline of the at least one positioning measurement. In one embodiment, the positioning configuration timeline is determined based on different individual timelines associated with the configuration of auxiliary data, measurements, processing, and calculations for the UE's location estimation.

[0336] This document discloses a second method for configuring location measurement and reporting according to embodiments of the present disclosure. The second method can be performed by a base station, such as the gNB described above, a location management function device (e.g., LMF144) in a mobile communication network, and / or network device 1700.

[0337] In one embodiment, the second method includes sending a positioning configuration to a user equipment (“UE”) device that defines a positioning configuration timeline and a measurement and processing time window for the UE. In one embodiment, the positioning configuration includes a timeline duration defining when measurements should begin, a set of positioning measurements to be performed within the configured time window, and a window duration for measuring and processing requested location-relationship measurements of the UE according to the positioning processing timeline.

[0338] In one embodiment, the second method includes receiving from the UE device a positioning measurement report comprising at least one positioning measurement performed within a configured time window and a measurement timeline of the at least one positioning measurement. In one embodiment, the positioning configuration timeline is determined based on different individual timelines associated with a configuration of auxiliary data, measurements, processing, and calculations for the UE's location estimation.

[0339] This document discloses a third device for configuring location measurement and reporting according to embodiments of the present disclosure. The third device may be implemented by a user equipment device in a mobile communication network, such as the remote unit 105, UE 205, and / or user equipment device 1000 described above.

[0340] In one embodiment, the third device includes a transceiver that receives an authorized configuration of an uplink (“UL”) configuration from a mobile wireless communication network based on criteria associated with at least one of the UE’s measurement priority order, location delay budget, and location processing timeline. In some embodiments, the third device includes a processor that performs at least one location measurement on the UE according to at least one of the measurement priority order and location processing timeline and generates a location measurement report including at least one location measurement.

[0341] In some embodiments, the transceiver sends a location measurement report to the mobile wireless communication network using a UL-configured licensed configuration based on the availability of location-related reference signal measurements, the availability being based on at least one of measurement priority order and location processing timeline.

[0342] In one embodiment, the UE transmits a location measurement report, including at least one location measurement, via Radio Resource Control (“RRC”) signaling through an authorized configuration configured with Type 1 UL configuration.

[0343] In one embodiment, the UE transmits a positioning measurement report, including at least one positioning measurement, via downlink control information (“DCI”) signaling through an authorized configuration configured with type 2 UL.

[0344] In one embodiment, the UL configuration's authorized configuration includes signaling information for one or more of the following: offset, periodicity, activation, deactivation, and time-frequency resources for a positioning measurement report that includes at least one positioning measurement.

[0345] In one embodiment, the transceiver receives a positioning measurement configuration indicating a positioning measurement priority order based on the availability of positioning-related reference signal resources, the priority order being determined based on at least one of the UE's capabilities, positioning delay budget, and location estimation accuracy. In one embodiment, the processor performs at least one positioning measurement and generates a positioning measurement report according to the priority order indicated in the positioning measurement configuration. In one embodiment, the transceiver transmits the positioning measurement report to the mobile wireless communication network using an UL-configured authorization configuration according to the priority order indicated in the measurement configuration.

[0346] In one embodiment, the transceiver receives the location measurement configuration in response to a request for location measurement configuration. In one embodiment, the location measurement priority order is configured by at least one of the location server and the base station of the mobile wireless communication network. In one embodiment, the location server and the base station exchange information related to the configuration and scheduling of the Physical Uplink Shared Channel (“PUSCH”).

[0347] In one embodiment, the transceiver dynamically provides location measurement configurations on demand using at least one of Radio Resource Control (“RRC”) signaling and Media Access Control (“MAC”) control element (“CE”) signaling. In one embodiment, the processor discards a location-related reference signal measurement to be reported in response to at least one of the following: the measurement report size exceeds UL transmission resource availability; the measurement has a lower priority than other measurements with higher priority; the measurement is either incomplete or corrupted; and the measurement is determined to be unreliable in response to failing to meet one or more integrity requirements.

[0348] In one embodiment, the processor discards positioning-related reference signal measurements based on at least one of the delay budget and the measurement and processing timeline.

[0349] A third method for configuring positioning measurement and reporting according to embodiments of the present disclosure is disclosed herein. The third method may be performed by a user equipment device in a mobile communication network, such as the remote unit 105, UE 205 and / or user equipment device 1000 described above.

[0350] In one embodiment, the third method includes receiving an authorized configuration of uplink (“UL”) configuration from the mobile wireless communication network based on criteria associated with at least one of the UE's measurement priority order, positioning delay budget, and positioning processing timeline. In some embodiments, the third method includes performing at least one positioning measurement on the UE according to at least one of the measurement priority order and positioning processing timeline, and generating a positioning measurement report including at least one positioning measurement.

[0351] In some embodiments, the third method includes sending a location measurement report to a mobile wireless communication network using an authorized configuration of a UL configuration based on the availability of location-related reference signal measurements, the availability being based on at least one of a measurement priority order and a location processing timeline.

[0352] In one embodiment, the third method includes sending a positioning measurement report, including at least one positioning measurement, to an authorized configuration of the UE configuration type 1 UL configuration via radio resource control (“RRC”) signaling.

[0353] In one embodiment, the third method includes sending a positioning measurement report, including at least one positioning measurement, to an authorized configuration of the UE configuration type 2UL via downlink control information (“DCI”) signaling.

[0354] In one embodiment, the UL configuration's authorized configuration includes signaling information for one or more of the following: offset, periodicity, activation, deactivation, and time-frequency resources for a positioning measurement report that includes at least one positioning measurement.

[0355] In one embodiment, the third method includes a positioning measurement configuration that receives a positioning measurement priority order based on the availability of positioning-related reference signal resources, the priority order being determined based on at least one of the UE's capabilities, positioning delay budget, and location estimation accuracy. In one embodiment, the third method includes performing at least one positioning measurement and generating a positioning measurement report according to the priority order indicated in the positioning measurement configuration. In one embodiment, the third method includes transmitting the positioning measurement report to a mobile wireless communication network using an authorization configuration of the UL configuration according to the priority order indicated in the measurement configuration.

[0356] In one embodiment, the third method includes receiving the location measurement configuration in response to sending a request for location measurement configuration. In one embodiment, the location measurement priority order is configured by at least one of a location server and a base station of the mobile wireless communication network. In one embodiment, the location server and the base station exchange information related to the configuration and scheduling of the Physical Uplink Shared Channel (“PUSCH”).

[0357] In one embodiment, the third method includes dynamically providing a location measurement configuration on demand using at least one of Radio Resource Control (“RRC”) signaling and Media Access Control (“MAC”) Control Element (“CE”) signaling. In one embodiment, the third method includes discarding a location-related reference signal measurement to be reported in response to at least one of the following: the measurement report size exceeds UL transmission resource availability; the measurement has a lower priority than other measurements with higher priority; the measurement is incomplete or corrupted; and the measurement is determined to be unreliable in response to failing to meet one or more integrity requirements.

[0358] In one embodiment, the third method includes discarding positioning-related reference signal measurements based on at least one of a delay budget and a measurement and processing timeline.

[0359] This document discloses a fourth device for configuring location measurement and reporting according to embodiments of the present disclosure. The fourth device may be implemented by a location management function in a mobile communication network, such as the LMF 144 and / or network device 1100 described above.

[0360] In one embodiment, the fourth device includes a transceiver that sends an authorization configuration of an uplink (“UL”) configuration to the UE device based on at least one of a measurement priority order, a positioning delay budget, and a positioning processing timeline, and receives a positioning measurement report from the UE device using the authorization configuration of the UL configuration based on the availability of positioning-related reference signal measurements, the availability being based on at least one of a measurement priority order and a positioning processing timeline.

[0361] A fourth method for configuring location measurement and reporting according to embodiments of this disclosure is disclosed herein. The fourth method can be performed by a location management function device in a mobile communication network, such as the LMF 144 and / or network device 1100 described above.

[0362] In one embodiment, the fourth method includes sending an authorization configuration of an uplink (“UL”) configuration to the UE device based on at least one of a measurement priority order, a positioning delay budget, and a positioning processing timeline, and receiving a positioning measurement report from the UE device using the authorization configuration of the UL configuration based on the availability of positioning-related reference signal measurements, the availability being based on at least one of a measurement priority order and a positioning processing timeline.

[0363] The embodiments may be practiced in other specific forms. The described embodiments should be considered illustrative rather than limiting in all respects. The scope of the invention is therefore indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description. All variations within the equivalent meaning and scope of the claims are included within their scope.

Claims

1. A user equipment (UE) device, comprising: A transceiver receives from a mobile wireless communication network a positioning configuration that defines a positioning configuration timeline and a measurement and processing time window for the UE. The positioning configuration includes a timeline duration that defines when to start performing measurements, a set of positioning measurements to be performed within the configured time window, and a window duration for measuring and processing the requested location-relationship measurements of the UE according to the positioning processing timeline. and A processor, in response to receiving the positioning configuration, performs at least one positioning measurement on the UE according to the positioning processing timeline. The transceiver will transmit a location measurement report, including the at least one location measurement performed within the configured time window and the measurement timeline of the at least one location measurement, from the UE to the mobile wireless communication network.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein a plurality of positioning configuration timelines and a plurality of measurement and processing timelines are configured for the UE, and wherein a delay of at least one of the reference signal received power RSRP, reference signal time difference RSTD, and UE Rx-Tx positioning measurements in each of the plurality of measurement and processing timelines is reported to the mobile wireless communication network.

3. The device according to claim 2, wherein the delay: In response to the simultaneous execution of the set of positioning measurements, a single value may be included; or The set of positioning measurements is executed sequentially and includes multiple values.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the transceiver receives pre-configured auxiliary data for positioning from the mobile wireless communication network during a Long Term Evolution Protocol (LTE) Positioning (LPP) session and performs measurement and processing on the pre-configured auxiliary data in response to the transceiver receiving an LPP Request for Location Information message.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the transceiver receives the positioning configuration from the mobile wireless communication network via a broadcast signal, the positioning configuration being designed for multiple UEs having the same capabilities.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the transceiver receives the positioning configuration from the mobile wireless communication network via a UE-specific dedicated signal, the UE-specific dedicated signal including an LPP request location information message.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the transceiver responds to at least one of the following by sending an on-demand request to the mobile wireless communication network to receive downlink DL-positioning reference signal (PRS) auxiliary data: No previous DL-PRS physical layer configuration is stored at the UE; Existing DL-PRS configurations are outdated; and The existing DL-PRS configuration does not meet the accuracy requirements.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the positioning configuration further comprises a set of measurement gap configurations to be applied by the UE to the positioning processing timeline, the measurement gap configurations defining the measurement gap length and measurement gap repetition period of the positioning processing timeline.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein the set of measurement gap configurations can be pre-configured in the UE via signaling from the mobile wireless communication network.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein the processor processes PRS measurements and reports according to a UE PRS processing unit (PPU), the UE PPU including a plurality of PPUs that the UE can support for a given symbol.

11. The device of claim 10, wherein, based on the capabilities of the UE, the processor performs parallel processing of the same PRS symbol with respect to other positioning measurements.

12. The device of claim 1, wherein the mobile wireless communication network includes at least one of a base station and a location management function.

13. A method performed by a user equipment (UE), comprising: The positioning configuration is received from the mobile wireless communication network, which defines the positioning configuration timeline of the UE and the measurement and processing time window. The positioning configuration includes the timeline duration that defines when to start the measurement, a set of positioning measurements to be performed within the configured time window, and the window duration for measuring and processing the requested location-relationship measurement of the UE according to the positioning processing timeline. In response to receiving the positioning configuration, at least one positioning measurement is performed on the UE according to the positioning processing timeline; and A location measurement report, including the at least one location measurement performed within the configured time window and the measurement timeline of the at least one location measurement, is sent from the UE to the mobile wireless communication network.

14. A network device comprising: Transceiver, which: A positioning configuration is sent to the User Equipment (UE) device, defining a positioning configuration timeline and a measurement and processing time window for the UE. The positioning configuration includes a timeline duration defining when measurements begin, a set of positioning measurements to be performed within the configured time window, and a window duration for measuring and processing the requested location-relationship measurements of the UE according to the positioning processing timeline. The UE device receives a positioning measurement report including the set of positioning measurements performed within the configured time window and the measurement timeline of the set of positioning measurements.

15. The device of claim 14, wherein the positioning configuration timeline is determined based on different individual timelines associated with the configuration of auxiliary data, measurements, processing, and calculations for the UE's position estimation.

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