Beam switching capability indication in beamformed wireless networks

Abstract

Techniques are disclosed for enhanced positioning methods suitable for use in wireless networks utilizing beamformed communications. More specifically, a user equipment (UE) can determine, for one or more slot types, a capability of the UE to support a number of beam switches per slot and transmit, to a network node, capability information indicating the capability of the UE to support the number of beam switches per slot in slots having the one or more slot types. Accordingly, based on the capability of the number of beam switches per slot indicated in the capability information, the network node can transmit one or more signals across a number of beams and the UE can receive the one or more signals across the number of beams, the number of beam switches per slot being based on a slot type associated with a slot in which the one or more signals are transmitted.

Description

[0001] This application is a continuation of Patent Application No. 201980041305.8, titled “BEAM-SWITCHING CAPABILITY INDICATION IN WIRELESS NETWORKS THAT UTILIZE BEAMFORMING,” filed June 12, 2019, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62 / 688,362, titled “BEAM-SWITCHING CAPABILITY INDICATION IN WIRELESS NETWORKS THAT UTILIZE BEAMFORMING,” filed June 21, 2018, and U.S. Nonprovisional Patent Application No. 16 / 438,278, titled “BEAM-SWITCHING CAPABILITY INDICATION IN WIRELESS NETWORKS THAT UTILIZE BEAMFORMING,” filed June 11, 2019, both of which are assigned to the assignee hereof, and expressly incorporated by reference herein in their entirety.

[0002] Cross Reference to Related Applications

[0003] This Patent Application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62 / 688,362, titled “BEAM-SWITCHING CAPABILITY INDICATION IN WIRELESS NETWORKS THAT UTILIZE BEAMFORMING,” filed June 21, 2018, and U.S. Nonprovisional Patent Application No. 16 / 438,278, titled “BEAM-SWITCHING CAPABILITY INDICATION IN WIRELESS NETWORKS THAT UTILIZE BEAMFORMING,” filed June 11, 2019, both of which are assigned to the assignee hereof, and expressly incorporated by reference herein in their entirety. TECHNICAL FIELD

[0004] The aspects described herein relate generally to wireless communication systems, and more particularly, to indicating beam switching capabilities to network nodes in wireless networks that utilize beamformed communications. BACKGROUND

[0005] Wireless communication systems have developed through various generations, including first-generation analog wireless phone services, second-generation (2G) digital wireless phone services, such as transient 2.5G and 2.75G networks, third-generation (3G) high speed data, Internet-capable wireless services, and fourth-generation (4G) services, such as Long-Term Evolution (LTE) or WiMax. There are numerous types of wireless communication systems in current use, including cellular and personal communication services (PCS) systems. Examples of known cellular systems include the cellular Analog Advanced Mobile Phone System (AMPS), and digital cellular systems based on code division multiple access (CDMA), frequency division multiple access (FDMA), time division multiple access (TDMA), the Global System for Mobile access (GSM) variation of TDMA, etc.

[0006] The fifth generation (5G) mobile standard calls for higher data transfer speeds, greater numbers of connections, and better coverage, among other improvements. According to the Next Generation Mobile Networks Alliance, 5G standards call for peak data rates of several tens of megabits per second, with effective capacity for up to hundreds of thousands of users per square kilometer. 5G will also support adequately powering the hundreds of sensors expected to be deployed per hectare in 5G-enabled cities, providing improved speed and reliability with less latency than current 4G networks.

[0007] Some wireless communications networks, such as 5G, support operation at very high and even extremely high frequency (EHF) bands, such as millimeter wave (mmW) frequency bands (generally, wavelengths ranging from 1 mm to 10 mm, or 30 to 300 GHz). These extremely high frequencies can support very high throughput, such as up to six gigabits per second (Gbps). One of the challenges for wireless communication at very high or extremely high frequencies, however, is that significant propagation loss can occur due to the high frequency. As frequency increases, the wavelength can decrease and the propagation loss can increase as well. At millimeter wave bands, the propagation loss can be severe. For example, the propagation loss can be on the order of 22 to 27 dB relative to the propagation loss observed in 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz bands.

[0008] Propagation loss is also a problem in multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) and massive MIMO systems in any frequency band. The term MIMO as used herein generally refers to both MIMO and massive MIMO. MIMO is a method by which the capacity of a radio link is multiplied by using multiple transmit and receive antennas to exploit multipath propagation, which occurs because radio frequency (RF) signals travel not only by the shortest path between a transmitter and a receiver, which can be a line-of-sight (LOS) path, but also on multiple other paths because they spread out from the transmitter and reflect off other objects in their way to the receiver, such as mountains, buildings, water, etc. The transmitter in a MIMO system includes multiple antennas, and exploits multipath propagation by directing these antennas each to send the same RF signal on the same radio channel to the receiver. The receiver is also equipped with multiple antennas that are tuned to the radio channel that can detect the RF signals sent by the transmitter. When the RF signals arrive at the receiver (some of the RF signals can be delayed due to multipath propagation), the receiver can combine them into a single RF signal. Because the transmitter sends each RF signal at a lower power level than it would send a single RF signal, propagation loss is also a problem in MIMO systems.

[0009] To address the propagation loss problem in millimeter wave band systems and MIMO systems, a transmitter can use beamforming to extend RF signal coverage. Specifically, transmit beamforming is a technique used to transmit an RF signal in a specific direction, while receive beamforming is a technique used to increase the reception sensitivity of an RF signal arriving at a receiver along a specific direction. Transmit beamforming and receive beamforming can be used in conjunction with each other or separately, and references below to "beamforming" can refer to transmit beamforming, receive beamforming, or both. Traditionally, when a transmitter broadcasts an RF signal, it broadcasts the RF signal in almost all directions as determined by a fixed antenna pattern or radiation pattern of the antenna. In the case of beamforming, the transmitter determines where a given receiver is located with respect to the transmitter and projects a stronger downlink RF signal in that specific direction, thereby providing the receiver with a faster (in terms of data rate) and stronger RF signal. To change the directionality of the RF signal when transmitting, the transmitter can control the phase and relative amplitude of the RF signal broadcast by each antenna. For example, the transmitter can use an array of antennas (also referred to as a "phased array" or "antenna array") that produces a beam of RF waves that can be "steered" to point in different directions, without actually moving the antennas. Specifically, with the correct phase relationship, an RF current fed to an array of antenna elements causes the radio waves emitted by the array to be in phase at the desired direction, while destructive interference can be achieved at all other directions.

[0010] To support position estimation in terrestrial wireless networks, mobile devices can be configured to measure and report an observed time difference of arrival (OTDOA) or reference signal timing difference (RSTD) between reference RF signals received from two or more network nodes (e.g., different base stations or different transmission points (e.g., antennas) belonging to the same base station). However, the unique challenges posed by the severe path loss faced by millimeter wave communication systems require new techniques that do not exist in third generation (3G) and / or fourth generation (4G) wireless communication systems. Thus, there can be a need to enhance the positioning methods traditionally used in wireless networks to account for the unique challenges that can arise from beamformed communication. SUMMARY

[0011] The following presents a simplified summary relating to one or more aspects and / or embodiments disclosed herein. Thus, the following summary should not be considered an extensive overview relating to all contemplated aspects and / or embodiments, nor should the following summary be deemed to identify key or critical elements relating to all contemplated aspects and / or embodiments. The sole purpose of the following summary is to present some concepts relating to one or more aspects and / or embodiments disclosed herein in a simplified form to precede the detailed description herein below.

[0012] According to various aspects, a method of a user equipment (UE) can include determining, for each slot of one or more slots, a capability of a number of beam switches supported per slot for the UE based on a slot type of the slot and / or based on one or more other capabilities associated with the UE to receive one or more signals across a number of beams. The method can further include transmitting, to a network node, capability information indicating the capability of the number of beam switches supported per slot for the UE. The method can further include receiving, at the UE, the one or more signals across the number of beams based on the capability of the number of beam switches per slot associated with slots in which the one or more signals are transmitted as indicated in the capability information.

[0013] According to various aspects, a user equipment (UE) can include at least one processor, at least one transmitter, and at least one receiver. The at least one processor can be configured to determine, for each slot of one or more slots, a capability of a number of beam switches supported per slot for the apparatus based on a slot type of the slot and / or based on one or more other capabilities associated with the UE to receive one or more signals across a number of beams. The transmitter can be configured to transmit, to a network node, capability information indicating the capability of the number of beam switches supported per slot for the apparatus. The receiver can be configured to receive the one or more signals across the number of beams based on the capability of the number of beam switches per slot associated with slots in which the one or more signals are transmitted as indicated in the capability information.

[0014] According to various aspects, a user equipment (UE) can include means for determining, for each slot of one or more slots, a capability of a number of beam switches supported per slot by the apparatus based on a slot type of the slot and / or based on one or more other capabilities associated with the apparatus to receive one or more signals across a number of beams. The UE can also include means for transmitting, to a network node, capability information indicating the capability of the number of beam switches supported per slot by the UE. The UE can also include means for receiving the one or more signals across the number of beams based on the capability of the number of beam switches per slot associated with the slot in which the one or more signals are transmitted.

[0015] According to various aspects, a computer-readable medium can have recorded thereon computer-executable instructions for a user equipment (UE). The computer- executable instructions can include one or more instructions to cause the UE to determine, for each slot of one or more slots, a capability of a number of beam switches supported per slot by the apparatus based on a slot type of the slot and / or based on one or more other capabilities associated with the apparatus to receive one or more signals across a number of beams. The computer-executable instructions can also include one or more instructions to cause the UE to transmit, to a network node, capability information indicating the capability of the number of beam switches supported per slot by the apparatus. The computer-executable instructions can also include one or more instructions to cause the UE to receive the one or more signals across the number of beams based on the capability of the number of beam switches per slot associated with the slot in which the one or more signals are transmitted.

[0016] According to various aspects, a method of a network node can include receiving, from a user equipment (UE), capability information indicating, for each slot of one or more slots, a capability of a number of beam switches supported per slot by the UE based on a slot type of the slot and / or based on one or more other capabilities associated with the UE to receive one or more signals across a number of beams. The method can also include transmitting, to the UE, the one or more signals in a slot, where the transmitted one or more signals are transmitted across the number of beams based on the capability of the number of beam switches per slot associated with the slot in which the one or more signals are transmitted.

[0017] According to various aspects, a network node can include a receiver configured to receive, from a user equipment (UE), capability information indicating, for each of one or more slots, a capability of a number of beam switches supported per slot for the UE based on a slot type of the slot and / or one or more other capabilities associated with the UE to receive one or more signals across a number of beams. The network node can also include a transmitter configured to transmit, to the UE, the one or more signals in a slot, where the transmitted one or more signals are transmitted across the number of beams based on the capability indicated in the capability information of the number of beam switches per slot associated with the slot in which the one or more signals are transmitted.

[0018] According to various aspects, a network node can include means for receiving, from a user equipment (UE), capability information indicating, for each of one or more slots, a capability of a number of beam switches supported per slot for the UE based on a slot type of the slot and / or one or more other capabilities associated with the UE to receive one or more signals across a number of beams. The network node can also include means for transmitting, to the UE, the one or more signals in a slot, where the transmitted one or more signals are transmitted across the number of beams based on the capability indicated in the capability information of the number of beam switches per slot associated with the slot in which the one or more signals are transmitted.

[0019] According to various aspects, a computer-readable medium can have recorded thereon computer-executable instructions for a network node. The computer-executable instructions can include one or more instructions to cause the network node to receive, from a user equipment (UE), capability information indicating, for each of one or more slots, a capability of a number of beam switches supported per slot for the UE based on a slot type of the slot and / or one or more other capabilities associated with the UE to receive one or more signals across a number of beams. The computer-executable instructions can also include one or more instructions to cause the network node to transmit, to the UE, the one or more signals in a slot, where the transmitted one or more signals are transmitted across the number of beams based on the capability indicated in the capability information of the number of beam switches per slot associated with the slot in which the one or more signals are transmitted.

[0020] Other objects and advantages associated with the aspects and embodiments disclosed herein will be apparent to those skilled in the art based on the accompanying drawings and detailed description. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0021] A more complete understanding of the various aspects and embodiments described herein and the many attendant features and advantages thereof will be readily understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

[0022] Figure 1 An exemplary wireless communication system is shown in accordance with various aspects of the present disclosure.

[0023] Figure 2A and 2B An exemplary wireless network structure is shown in accordance with various aspects of the present disclosure.

[0024] Figure 3 An exemplary base station and exemplary UE in an access network are shown in accordance with various aspects of the present disclosure.

[0025] Figure 4 An exemplary wireless communication system is shown in accordance with various aspects of the present disclosure.

[0026] Figure 5 An exemplary wireless communication system is shown in accordance with various aspects of the present disclosure.

[0027] Figure 6A FIG. is a graph showing the RF channel response at a UE over time in accordance with various aspects of the present disclosure.

[0028] Figure 6B An exemplary separation of clusters over angle of departure (AoD) is shown in accordance with various aspects of the present disclosure.

[0029] Figure 7A , 7B and 7C show exemplary signaling flows in which a UE can indicate beam switching and other positioning-related capabilities to a network node, which can transmit one or more positioning-related reference signals based on the indicated beam switching and other positioning-related capabilities in accordance with various aspects of the present disclosure.

[0030] Figure 8 A flow diagram of an exemplary method performed by a UE for indicating beam switching capabilities is shown in accordance with various aspects of the present disclosure.

[0031] Figure 9A flow diagram illustrating an exemplary method for transmitting a beamformed signal by a network node, in accordance with various aspects of the present disclosure, is shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0032] Various aspects and embodiments are disclosed in the following description and related drawings to illustrate specific examples of the aspects and embodiments. Alternative aspects will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following description, which is merely illustrative of specific examples of the aspects and embodiments. Alternative aspects can be constructed and practiced without departing from the scope or spirit of the aspects and embodiments. Additionally, well-known elements can not be described in detail or can be omitted so as to not obscure the relevant details of the aspects and embodiments disclosed herein.

[0033] The word "exemplary" is used herein to mean "serving as an example, instance, or illustration." Any aspect or embodiment described herein as "exemplary" is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other aspects. Likewise, the term "aspects" and "embodiments" does not require that all aspects or embodiments include the discussed feature, advantage or mode of operation.

[0034] The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular aspects only and is not intended to be limiting of any aspect disclosed herein. As used herein, the singular forms "a," "an" and "the" are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms "comprises," "comprising," "includes" and / or "including," as used herein, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and / or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and / or groups thereof.

[0035] Further, various aspects can be described in terms of sequences of actions to be performed by, for example, elements of a computing device. Those skilled in the art will recognize that the various aspects described herein can be implemented in a variety of forms, and that the various aspects need not be implemented in the order described. Any and all permutations of the order of the steps can be employed. Further, those skilled in the art will recognize that the various aspects described herein can be implemented by a variety of different hardware configurations, software configurations, and / or combinations thereof. For example, the various aspects can be implemented by a variety of different computing devices, such as a desktop computer, a laptop computer, a handheld device, a personal digital assistant, a server, a network appliance, a gaming console, a music player, a video player, and / or the like. Also, those skilled in the art will recognize that the various aspects described herein can be implemented by one or more computer programs executed by one or more computers. Such computer programs can be stored in any type of non-transitory computer-readable medium, such as a hard disk drive, a solid state drive, a compact disk, a DVD, a memory stick, and / or the like. The computer-readable medium can store instructions that, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to perform the actions described herein. Accordingly, the various aspects described herein can be embodied in a variety of different forms, all of which have been contemplated to be within the scope of the claimed subject matter.

[0036] As used herein, the terms “user equipment” (or “UE”), “user device,” “user terminal,” “client device,” “communication device,” “wireless device,” “wireless communication device,” “handheld device,” “mobile device,” “mobile terminal,” “mobile station,” “handset,” “access terminal,” “subscriber device,” “subscriber terminal,” “subscriber station,” “terminal,” and variants thereof can interchangeably refer to any suitable mobile or fixed device that can receive wireless communication and / or navigation signals. These terms are also intended to include devices which communicate with another device that can receive wireless communication and / or navigation signals, such as through short-range wireless, infrared, wireline connection, or other connection, regardless of whether satellite signal reception, assistance data reception, and / or position-related processing occurs at the device itself, at another device (e.g., a server that is accessed by the device), or partitioned between devices. Additionally, these terms are intended to include all devices (including wireless and wireline communication devices) that can communicate over a wireless access network (WAN) to a core network, and through the core network to the Internet, and to other devices such as other UEs, regardless of whether the UE is in use, idle, or switched off. Of course, other mechanisms of connecting to the core network and / or the Internet are also possible for a UE, such as through a wired access network, wireless local area network (WLAN) (e.g., based on IEEE 802.11, etc.), and so on. A UE can be embodied by any of a number of types of devices including but not limited to print- circuit (PC) cards, compact flash devices, external or internal modems, wireless or wireline phones, smartphones, tablets, tracking devices, asset tags, and so on. A communication link through which UEs can receive signals transmitted by a base station can be referred to as a downlink or forward link channel (e.g., a paging channel, a control channel, a broadcast channel, a forward link traffic channel, etc.). A communication link through which a base station can receive signals transmitted by a UE can be referred to as an uplink or reverse link channel (e.g., an access channel, a request channel, a reverse link traffic channel, etc.). As used herein, the term traffic channel (TCH) can refer to an uplink or reverse link traffic channel, or a downlink or forward link traffic channel.

[0037] According to various aspects, Figure 1 An example wireless communication system 100 is illustrated. The wireless communication system 100, which can also be referred to as a wireless wide area network (WWAN), can include various base stations 102 and various UEs 104. The base stations 102 can include macro cells (high power cellular base stations) and / or small cells (low power cellular base stations). The macro cells can include Evolved NodeBs (eNBs) where the wireless communication system 100 corresponds to an LTE network, gNodeBs (gNBs) where the wireless communication system 100 corresponds to a 5G network, and / or combinations of thereof, and the small cells can include femtocells, picocells, microcells, etc.

[0038] The base stations 102 can collectively form a radio access network (RAN) and interface with a core network (e.g., an evolved packet core (EPC) or next generation core (NGC)) through backhaul links 134. In addition to other functions, the base stations 102 can perform functions such as: transferring user data, radio channel encryption and decryption, integrity protection, header compression, mobility control functions (e.g., handover, dual connectivity), inter-cell interference coordination, connection setup and release, load balancing, distribution for non-access stratum (NAS) messages, NAS node selection, synchronization, RAN sharing, multimedia broadcast multicast service (MBMS), subscriber and equipment trace, RAN information management (RIM), paging, positioning, and delivery of warning messages. The base stations 102 can communicate with each other directly (e.g., directly over a backhaul link 134, which can be wired or wireless).

[0039] The base stations 102 can wirelessly communicate with the UEs 104. Each of the base stations 102 can provide communication coverage for a respective geographic coverage area 110. In an aspect, the base stations 102 can be macro cells (high power cellular base station), small cells (low power cellular base station), or the like. In an aspect, the base stations 102 can be a mixed deployment of different types of the base stations 102, e.g., macro cells and small cells. Figure 1 In an aspect, the geographic coverage area 110 for a base station 102 can be divided into sectors making up a portion of the geographic coverage area 110, and each sector can be associated with a cell, which can be a base station 102 and / or base station 102 components. In an aspect, the divisions of the geographic coverage area 110 into cells can be used for initial synchronization and routing efficiency. The sectors of the geographic coverage area 110 can be used for efficient communication with UEs 104.

[0040] While the geographic coverage area 110 for each base station 102 can overlap in whole or in part with the geographic coverage area 110 of other base stations 102, each cell can be associated with only a single base station 102 and can be further divided into cell sectors. A UE 104 located

[0041] The wireless communications system 100 can also include a wireless local area network (WLAN) access point (AP) 150 in communication with WLAN stations (STAs) 152 via communication links 154 in an unlicensed frequency spectrum (e.g., 5 GHz). When communicating in an unlicensed frequency spectrum, the WLAN STAs 152 and / or the WLAN AP 150 can perform clear channel assessment (CCA) prior to communicating, so as to determine whether the channel is available for use.

[0042] The small cell base stations 102' can operate in a licensed and / or an unlicensed frequency spectrum. When operating in an unlicensed frequency spectrum, the small cell base stations 102' can employ LTE or 5G technology and use the same 5 GHz unlicensed frequency spectrum as used by the WLAN AP 150. The small cell base stations 102' employing LTE / 5G in an unlicensed frequency spectrum can be referred to as LTE unlicensed (LTE-U), license-assisted access (LAA), or MulteFire. The small cell base stations 102' can be used to augment the coverage of a macro cell base station 102, improve indoor coverage, enhance traffic offloading, and / or provide additional capacity to an existing network.

[0043] The wireless communications system 100 can also include millimeter wave base stations 180 in communication with UEs 182, which can operate in millimeter wave frequencies and / or near millimeter wave frequencies. Extremely high frequency (EHF) is part of the RF in the electromagnetic spectrum. EHF has a range from 30 GHz to 300 GHz and wavelengths less than one tenth of an inch. Communications in the band can be transmitted by antennas that are small enough to be integrated onto a chip or printed onto a silicon substrate. Radio waves in the band can be used for high-data-rate

[0044] The wireless communications system 100 can also include one or more UEs, such as UE 190, that connects indirectly to one or more communication networks via one or more device-to-device (D2D) peer-to-peer (P2P) links. In Figure 1In an embodiment, the UE 190 has a D2D P2P link 192 with one of the UEs 104 connected to one of the base stations 102 (e.g., with D2D P2P link 192, the UE 190 can indirectly obtain cellular connectivity) and a D2D P2P link 194 with a WLAN STA 152 connected to the WLAN AP 150 (with D2D P2P link 194, the UE 190 can indirectly obtain WLAN-based Internet connectivity). In one example, the D2D P2P links 192-194 can be supported with any well-known D2D radio access technologies (RATs), such as LTE Direct (LTE-D), WiFi Direct (WiFi-D), Bluetooth, etc.

[0045] According to various aspects, Figure 2A An example wireless network structure 200 is shown. For example, a Next Generation Core (NGC) 210 can be viewed functionally as control plane functions 214 (e.g., UE registration, authentication, network access, gateway selection, etc.) and user plane functions 212 (e.g., UE gateway function, access to data networks, IP Figure 1 The gNBs 222 or eNBs 224 can wirelessly communicate with the UEs 240 (e.g., any of the UEs depicted in FIG. 1, such as the UEs 104, the UE 182, the UE 190, etc.) in the network. Another optional aspect can include a location server 230, which can be in communication with the NGC 210 to provide location assistance for the UEs 240. The location server 230 can be implemented as a plurality of structurally separate servers, or alternately can each correspond to a single server. The location server 230 can be configured to support one or more location services for the UEs 240 that can be connected to the location server 230 via the core network (NGC 210) and / or via the Internet (not illustrated). Further, the location server 230 can be integrated into a component of the core network, or alternately can be external to the core network.

[0046] According to various aspects, Figure 2B Another example wireless network structure 250 is shown. For example, the NGC 260 can be viewed functionally as control plane functions, access and mobility management functions (AMF) 264, and user plane functions, as well as session management function (SMF) 262, which operate cooperatively to form the core network. User plane interface 263 and control plane interface 265 connect the eNB 224 to the NGC 260 and specifically to AMF 264 and SMF 262. In an additional configuration, gNB 222 can also be connected to the NGC 260 via control plane interface 265 to AMF 264 and user plane interface 263 to SMF 262. Further, eNB 224 can directly communicate with gNB 222 via the backhaul connection 223, whether or not the gNB has a direct connection to NGC 260. As such, in some configurations, the New RAN 220 can only have one or more gNBs 222, while other configurations include one or more of both eNBs 224 and gNBs 222. Either gNB 222 or eNB 224 can communicate with UEs 204 (e.g., any of the UEs depicted in FIG. 1, such as UE 104, UE 182, UE 190, etc.). Figure 1 Another optional aspect can include a location management function (LMF) 270, which can be in communication with the NGC 260 to provide location services for UEs 204. The LMF 270 can be implemented as a plurality of separate servers (e.g., physically separate servers, different software modules on a single server, different software modules spread across multiple physical servers, etc.), or alternately can each correspond to a single server. The LMF 270 can be configured to support one or more location services for UEs 204 that can connect to the LMF 270 via the core network (NGC 260) and / or via the Internet (not illustrated).

[0047] According to various aspects, Figure 3An exemplary base station 310 (e.g., eNB, gNB, small cell AP, WLAN AP, etc.) is shown in communication with an exemplary UE 350 in a wireless network. In the DL, IP packets from the core network (NGC 210 / EPC 260) can be provided to a controller / processor 375. The controller / processor 375 implements functionality for the radio resource control (RRC) layer, packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) layer, radio link control (RLC) layer, and medium access control (MAC) layer. The controller / processor 375 provides RRC layer functionality associated with, e.g., broadcasting of system information (e.g., MIB, SIBs), RRC connection control (e.g., RRC connection paging, RRC connection establishment, RRC connection modification, and RRC connection release), inter-RAT mobility, and measurement configuration for UE measurement reporting; PDCP layer functionality associated with, e.g., header compression / decompression, security (ciphering, deciphering, integrity protection, integrity verification), and handover support functions; RLC layer functionality associated with, e.g., transfer of upper layer packet data units (PDUs), error correction by ARQ, concatenation, segmentation, and reassembly of RLC service data units (SDUs), re-segmentation of RLC data PDUs, and reordering of RLC data PDUs; and MAC layer functionality associated with, e.g., mapping between logical channels and transport channels, scheduling information reporting, error correction, priority handling, and logical channel prioritization.

[0048] The transmit (TX) processor 316 and the receive (RX) processor 370 implement layer 1 functionality associated with various signal processing functions. Layer 1, which includes a physical (PHY) layer, can include error detection on the transport channels, forward error correction (FEC) coding / decoding of the transport channels, interleaving, rate matching, mapping to physical channels, modulation / demodulation of physical channels, and MIMO antenna processing. The TX processor 316 handles mapping to signal constellations based on various modulation schemes (e.g., binary phase-shift keying (BPSK), quadrature phase-shift keying (QPSK), M-phase-shift keying (M-PSK), M-quadrature amplitude modulation (M-QAM)). The coded and modulated symbols can then be split into parallel streams. Each stream can then be mapped to an OFDM subcarrier, multiplexed with a reference signal (e.g., pilot) in the time and / or frequency domain, and then combined together using an inverse fast Fourier transform (IFFT) to produce a physical channel carrying a time domain OFDM symbol stream. The OFDM stream is spatially precoded to produce multiple spatial streams. Channel estimates from a channel estimator 374 can be used to determine the coding and modulation schemes, as well as for spatial processing. The channel estimate can be derived from a reference signal and / or channel condition feedback transmitted by the UE 350. Each spatial stream can then be provided to one or more different antennas 320 via a separate transmitter 318a. Each transmitter 318a can modulate a respective spatial stream onto a RF carrier

[0049] At the UE 350, each receiver 354a receives a signal through its respective antenna 352. Each receiver 354a recovers information modulated onto an RF carrier and provides the information to the RX processor 356. The TX processor 368 and the RX processor 356 implement layer 1 functionality associated with various signal processing functions. The RX processor 356 can perform spatial processing on the information to recover any spatial streams destined for the UE 350. If multiple spatial streams are destined for the UE 350, they can be combined by the RX processor 356 into a single OFDM symbol stream. The RX processor 356 then converts the OFDM symbol stream from the time-domain to the frequency domain using a fast Fourier transform (FFT). The frequency domain signal comprises a separate OFDM symbol stream for each subcarrier of the OFDM signal. The symbols on each subcarrier, and the reference signal, are recovered and demodulated by determining the most likely signal constellation points transmitted by the base station 310. These soft decisions can be based on channel estimates computed by the channel estimator 358. The soft decisions are then decoded and de-interleaved to recover the data and control signals that were originally transmitted by the base station 310 on the physical channel. The data and control signals are then provided to the controller / processor 359, which implements layer 3 and layer 2 functionality.

[0050] The controller / processor 359 can be associated with a memory 360 that stores program codes and data. The memory 360 can be referred to as a computer-readable medium. In the UL, the controller / processor 359 provides demultiplexing between transport and logical channels, packet reassembly, deciphering, header decompression, control signal processing to recover IP packets from the core network. The controller / processor 359 is also responsible for error detection.

[0051] Similar to the functionality described in connection with the DL transmission by the base station 310, the controller / processor 359 provides RRC layer functionality associated with system information (e.g., MIB, SIBs) acquisition, RRC connections, and measurement reporting; PDCP layer functionality associated with header compression / decompression, and security (ciphering, deciphering, integrity protection, integrity verification); RLC layer functionality associated with the transfer of upper layer PDUs, error correction through ARQ, concatenation, segmentation, and reassembly of RLC SDUs, re-segmentation of RLC data PDUs, and reordering of RLC data PDUs; and MAC layer functionality associated with mapping between logical channels and transport channels, multiplexing of MAC SDUs onto TBs, demultiplexing of MAC SDUs from TBs, scheduling information reporting, error correction through HARQ, priority handling, and logical channel prioritization.

[0052] The TX processor 368 can use channel estimates provided by the channel estimator 358 to select an appropriate coding and modulation scheme to use for a given transmission and facilitate spatial processing. The spatial streams generated by the TX processor 368 can be provided to different antenna 352 via separate transmitters 354b. Each transmitter 354b can modulate a respective spatial stream onto a RF carrier for transmission.

[0053] The UL transmission is processed at the base station 310 in a manner similar to that described in connection with the receiver function at the UE 350. Each receiver 318b receives a signal through its respective antenna 320. Each receiver 318b recovers information modulated onto an RF carrier and provides the information to a RX processor 370.

[0054] The controller / processor 375 can be associated with a memory 376 that stores program codes and data. The memory 376 can be referred to as a computer-readable medium. In the UL, the controller / processor 375 provides demultiplexing between transport and logical channels, packet reassembly, deciphering, header decompression, control signal processing to recover IP packets from the UE 350. The IP packets from the controller / processor 375 can be provided to the core network. The controller / processor 375 is also responsible for error detection.

[0055] Figure 4 An exemplary wireless communication system 400 is shown in accordance with various aspects of the present disclosure. In Figure 4 the example, a UE 404, which can correspond to any of the UEs described above with respect to UEs in Figure 1 the example, a UE 404, which can correspond to any of the UEs described above with respect to UEs in Figure 1 the example, a UE 404, which can correspond to any of the UEs described above with respect to UEs in Figure 4 The UE 404 can communicate wirelessly with a number of base stations 402a-d (collectively, base stations 402), which can correspond to any combination of base stations 102 or 180 and / or WLAN APs 150 in The UE 404 can communicate wirelessly with a number of base stations 402a-d (collectively, base stations 402), which can correspond to any combination of base stations 102 or 180 and / or WLAN APs 150 in

[0056] To support position estimation, the base stations 402 can be configured to broadcast reference RF signals (e.g., Positioning Reference Signals (PRS), Cell-specific Reference Signals (CRS), Channel State Information Reference Signals (CSI-RS), Synchronization Signal Blocks (SSB), Timing Reference Signals (TRS), etc.) to UEs 404 in their coverage area to enable the UEs 404 to measure reference RF signal timing differences (e.g., OTDOA or RSTD) between pairs of network nodes and / or identify beams that optimally excite the LOS or shortest radio path between the UE 404 and the transmitting base station 402. Of interest is the identification of the LOS / shortest path beams, not only because these beams can be subsequently used for OTDOA measurements between a pair of base stations 402, but also because the identification of these beams can directly provide some positioning information based on the beam direction. Moreover, these beams can be subsequently used for other position estimation methods that can be implemented with precise ToA / ToF, such as methods based on round-trip time estimates. Note that the UE can be able to determine its own position from these measurements. Alternatively or additionally, the UE can be configured or requested by the network to determine the UE’s position based on the measurements. In other words, both network-based and UE-based approaches are possible.

[0057] As used herein, a “network node” can be a base station 402, a cell of a base station 402, a remote radio head, an antenna of a base station 402 (where the location of the antenna of the base station 402 is different from the location of the base station 402 itself), or any other network entity capable of transmitting reference signals. Moreover, as used herein, a “node” can refer to a network node or a UE.

[0058] A location server (e.g., location server 230) can send assistance data to UE 404 that includes an identification of one or more neighbor cells of base stations 402 and configuration information for reference RF signals transmitted by each neighbor cell. Alternatively, the assistance data can originate directly from the base stations 402 themselves (e.g., in periodically broadcasted overhead messages, etc.). Alternatively, UE 404 can detect neighbor cells of base stations 402 on its own without using assistance data. The UE can request the assistance data. Alternatively or additionally, the assistance data can be provided to the UE without request. UE 404 can measure and (optionally) report OTDOA from various network nodes and / or RSTD between reference RF signals received from pairs of network nodes (e.g., based in part on the assistance data, if provided). Using these measurements and known locations of the measured network nodes (i.e., base stations 402 or antennas that transmitted the reference RF signals measured by UE 404), UE 404 or a network entity (e.g., location server, base station, etc.) can determine distances between UE 404 and the measured network nodes, and UE 404 or the network entity (e.g., location server, base station, etc.) can compute a location of UE 404.

[0059] The term "location estimate" is used herein to refer to an estimate of a location of UE 404, which can be geographic (e.g., can include latitude, longitude, and possibly altitude) and / or civic (e.g., can include a street address, building name, or precise point or area within or nearby a building or street address (such as a particular entrance to a building, a particular room or suite of rooms in a building, a floor in a building), or a landmark (such as a city square)). A location estimate can also be referred to as a "location," "position," "fix," "position fix," "location fix," "location estimate," "fix estimate," or by some other terminology. The means by which a location estimate is obtained can be generally referred to as "positioning," "locating," or "position fixing." A particular solution for obtaining a location estimate can be referred to as a "position solution." A particular method for obtaining a location estimate as part of a position solution can be referred to as a "position method" or as a "locating method."

[0060] The term“base station” can refer to a single physical transmission point or to multiple physical transmission points that can or can not be co-located. For example, where the term“base station” refers to a single physical transmission point, the physical transmission point can be an antenna of the base station (e.g., base station 402) corresponding to a cell of the base station. Where the term“base station” refers to multiple co-located physical transmission points, the physical transmission points can be an array of antennas of the base station (e.g., as in a MIMO system or where the base station employs beamforming). Where the term“base station” refers to multiple non-co-located physical transmission points, the physical transmission points can be a Distributed Antenna System (DAS) (a network of spatially separated antennas connected to a common source via a transport medium) or a Remote Radio Head (RRH) (a remote base station connected to a serving base station). Alternatively, the non-co-located physical transmission points can be a serving base station that receives the measurement report from the UE (e.g., UE 404) and a neighbor base station on which the UE is measuring RF signals. Thus, Figure 4 An aspect is shown in which base stations 402a and 402b form a DAS / RRH 420. For example, base station 402a can be a serving base station for UE 404 and base station 402b can be a neighbor base station for UE 404. Thus, base station 402b can be an RRH for base station 402a. Base stations 402a and 402b can communicate with each other over a wired or wireless link 422.

[0061] To accurately determine the location of UE 404 using OTDOA and / or RSTD between RF signals received from pairs of network nodes, UE 404 needs to measure the reference RF signals received over the LOS path (or the shortest NLOS path if the LOS path is not available) between UE 404 and the network nodes (e.g., base stations 402, antennas). However, RF signals do not travel only over the LOS / shortest path between a transmitter and a receiver, but over multiple other paths because the RF signals spread out from the transmitter and reflect off other objects (such as hills, buildings, water, etc.) in their way to the receiver. Thus, Figure 4 Multiple LOS paths 410 and multiple NLOS paths 412 are shown between base stations 402 and UE 404. In particular, Figure 4 Base station 402a is shown transmitting over a LOS path 410a and a NLOS path 412a, base station 402b is shown transmitting over a LOS path 410b and two NLOS paths 412b, base station 402c is shown transmitting over a LOS path 410c and a NLOS path 412c, and base station 402d is shown transmitting over two NLOS paths 412d. As in Figure 4As shown in the middle, each NLOS path 412 reflects off some object 430 (e.g., a building). As will be appreciated, each LOS path 410 and NLOS path 412 transmitted by the base station 402 can be transmitted through different antennas of the base station 402 (e.g., as in a MIMO system), or can be transmitted through the same antenna of the base station 402 (from which the propagation of the RF signal is shown). Further, as used herein, the term “LOS path” refers to the shortest path between a transmitter and a receiver, and can not be the actual LOS path, but rather the shortest NLOS path.

[0062] In one aspect, one or more of the base stations 402 can be configured to transmit RF signals using beamforming. In that case, some of the available beams can focus the transmitted RF signals along the LOS paths 410 (e.g., these beams produce the highest antenna gain along the LOS paths), while other available beams can focus the transmitted RF signals along the NLOS paths 412. A beam that has high gain along a certain path and thus focuses the RF signal along that path can still have some RF signal propagating along other paths; the strength of that RF signal naturally depends on the beam gain along those other paths. An “RF signal” includes an electromagnetic wave that transports information through the space between the transmitter and the receiver. As used herein, a transmitter can transmit a single “RF signal” or multiple “RF signals” to a receiver. However, as described further below, due to the propagation characteristics of RF signals through multipath channels, the receiver can receive multiple “RF signals” corresponding to each transmitted RF signal.

[0063] In cases where the base stations 402 transmit RF signals using beamforming, the beams of interest for data communication between the base stations 402 and the UE 404 can carry the RF signals that arrive at the UE 404 with the highest signal strength (as indicated by, e.g., reference signal received power (RSRP) or SINR in the presence of a directional interfering signal), while the beams of interest for position estimation can carry the RF signals that excite the shortest or LOS paths (e.g., the LOS paths 410). In some frequency bands and for antenna systems typically used, these beams will be the same beams. However, in other frequency bands such as millimeter wave (where a large number of antenna elements can typically be used to produce narrow transmit beams), they can not be the same beams. As described below with reference to FIG. 5, in some cases, the beams of interest for data communication and the beams of interest for position estimation can be the same beams. Figure 5 As described, in some cases, the signal strength of the RF signals on the LOS paths 410 can be weaker than the signal strength of the RF signals on the NLOS paths 412 (e.g., due to an obstruction), where the RF signals arrive later on the NLOS paths 412 due to propagation delay.

[0064] Figure 5 An exemplary wireless communication system 500 is shown in accordance with various aspects of the present disclosure. In Figure 5 the example, a UE 504 (which can correspond to the UE 404 in Figure 4 is attempting to compute an estimate of its position or assist another entity (e.g., a base station or core network component, another UE, a location server, a third-party application, etc.) in computing an estimate of its position. The UE 504 can use RF signals and standardized protocols for the modulation and exchange of information packets to wirelessly communicate with base stations 502 (which can correspond to one of the base stations 402 in Figure 4 ).

[0065] As shown in Figure 5 , the base stations 502 are transmitting multiple beams 511-515 of RF signals with beamforming. Each beam 511-515 can be formed and transmitted through an antenna array of the base stations 502. While Figure 5 five beams are shown as being transmitted by the base stations 502, as will be appreciated, there can be more or fewer than five beams, the beam shape (such as peak gain, width, and sidelobe gain) can differ between the beams transmitted, and some of these beams can be transmitted by different base stations.

[0066] For purposes of distinguishing RF signals associated with one beam from RF signals associated with another beam, each of the multiple beams 511-515 can be assigned a beam index. In addition, the RF signals associated with a particular beam of the multiple beams 511-515 can carry a beam index indicator. The beam index can also be derived from the time of transmission (e.g., frame, slot, and / or OFDM symbol number) of the RF signal. The beam index indicator can be, for example, a three-bit field used to uniquely distinguish up to eight beams. If two different RF signals are received with different beam indices, this would indicate that the RF signals were transmitted using different beams. If two different RF signals share a common beam index, this would indicate that the different RF signals were transmitted using the same beam. Another way to describe that two RF signals were transmitted using the same beam is to say that the antenna port used to transmit the first RF signal is spatially quasi-collocated with the antenna port used to transmit the second RF signal.

[0067] In Figure 5 the example, the UE 504 receives an NLOS data stream 523 of RF signals transmitted on beam 513 and a LOS data stream 524 of RF signals transmitted on beam 514. While Figure 5The NLOS data stream 523 and the LOS data stream 524 are shown as a single line (dashed and solid, respectively), but as will be appreciated, due to the propagation characteristics of RF signals through multipath channels, the NLOS data stream 523 and the LOS data stream 524 can each include multiple rays (i.e., “clusters”) when they arrive at the UE 505. For example, a cluster of RF signals is formed when electromagnetic waves reflect off multiple surfaces of an object and these reflections arrive at a receiver (e.g., the UE 404) from approximately the same angle, each reflection traveling a few wavelengths (e.g., centimeters) more or less than the other reflections. A cluster of received RF signals typically corresponds to a single transmitted RF signal.

[0068] In the example of FIG. 5, the NLOS data stream 523 is not initially intended for the UE 504, but as will be appreciated, it can be an RF signal on the NLOS path 412 in Figure 5 Figure 4 In the example of FIG. 5, the NLOS data stream 523 is not initially intended for the UE 504, but as will be appreciated, it can be an RF signal on the NLOS path 412 in

[0069] As mentioned above, the beam of interest for data communication between a base station (e.g., the base station 502) and a UE (e.g., the UE 504) is the beam that carries the RF signal with the highest signal strength (e.g., highest RSRP or SINR) arriving at the UE, while the beam of interest for position estimation is the beam (e.g., the beam 514) that carries the RF signal that excites the LOS path and has the highest gain along the LOS path among all other beams. That is, even though the beam 513 (a NLOS beam) will weakly excite the LOS path (due to the propagation characteristics of RF signals, even without being focused along the LOS path), the weak signal (if any) of the LOS path of the beam 513 can not be as reliably detectable (compared to the signal from the beam 514), thus resulting in a larger error when performing positioning measurements.

[0070] While for some frequency bands, the beam of interest for data communication and the beam of interest for position estimation can be the same beam, for other frequency bands such as millimeter wave, they can not be the same beam. Thus, with reference to Figure 5 ​In cases where the UE 504 is engaged in a data communication session with the base station 502 (e.g., in cases where the base station 502 is the serving base station for the UE 504) and is not merely attempting to measure reference RF signals transmitted by the base station 502, the beam of interest for the data communication session can be beam 513, as it carries the unobstructed NLOS data stream 523. However, the beam of interest for position estimation would be beam 514, as it carries the strongest LOS data stream 524, albeit obstructed.

[0071] Figure 6A FIG. 600A illustrates the RF channel response at a receiver (e.g., the UE 504) over time, in accordance with various aspects of the present disclosure. In this example, the channel is assumed to be static, and the RF channel response is assumed to be a function of the angle of departure (AoD) from the transmitter (e.g., the base station 502) and the angle of arrival (AoA) at the receiver (e.g., the UE 504). Figure 6A Under the channel illustrated in FIG. 600A, the receiver receives two RF signals from a first cluster on the channel tap at time Tl, five RF signals from a second cluster on the channel tap at time T2, five RF signals from a third cluster on the channel tap at time T3, and four RF signals from a fourth cluster on the channel tap at time T4. In this example, the first cluster at time Tl is assumed to be the LOS data stream (i.e., the data stream that arrives on the LOS or shortest path) and can correspond to the LOS data stream 524, as it arrives first. The third cluster at time T3 includes the strongest RF signal and can correspond to the NLOS data stream 523. From the transmitter side, it can be seen that the RF signals received per cluster can include a portion of the RF signals transmitted at different angles, and thus, each cluster can be said to have a different angle of departure (AoD) from the transmitter. Figure 6A FIG. 600B illustrates this separation of clusters in AoD. RF signals transmitted in the AoD range 602a can correspond to one cluster (e.g., “Cluster 1”) in FIG. 600A, and RF signals transmitted in the AoD range 602b can correspond to a different cluster (e.g., “Cluster 3”) in FIG. 600A. It is noted that while the AoD ranges of the two clusters depicted in FIG. 600A are spatially isolated, the AoD ranges of some clusters can also partially overlap, even if the clusters are temporally separated. This can occur, for example, when two separate buildings at the same AoD from the transmitter reflect RF signals toward the receiver. It is noted that while FIG. 600B illustrates two clusters of 2-5 channel taps, as will be appreciated, a cluster can have more or fewer channel taps than the number of channel taps illustrated. Figure 6B FIG. 600B illustrates this separation of clusters in AoD. RF signals transmitted in the AoD range 602a can correspond to one cluster (e.g., “Cluster 1”) in FIG. 600A, and RF signals transmitted in the AoD range 602b can correspond to a different cluster (e.g., “Cluster 3”) in FIG. 600A. It is noted that while the AoD ranges of the two clusters depicted in FIG. 600A are spatially isolated, the AoD ranges of some clusters can also partially overlap, even if the clusters are temporally separated. This can occur, for example, when two separate buildings at the same AoD from the transmitter reflect RF signals toward the receiver. It is noted that while FIG. 600B illustrates two clusters of 2-5 channel taps, as will be appreciated, a cluster can have more or fewer channel taps than the number of channel taps illustrated. Figure 6A Figure 6A FIG. 600B illustrates this separation of clusters in AoD. RF signals transmitted in the AoD range 602a can correspond to one cluster (e.g., “Cluster 1”) in FIG. 600A, and RF signals transmitted in the AoD range 602b can correspond to a different cluster (e.g., “Cluster 3”) in FIG. 600A. It is noted that while the AoD ranges of the two clusters depicted in FIG. 600A are spatially isolated, the AoD ranges of some clusters can also partially overlap, even if the clusters are temporally separated. This can occur, for example, when two separate buildings at the same AoD from the transmitter reflect RF signals toward the receiver. It is noted that while FIG. 600B illustrates two clusters of 2-5 channel taps, as will be appreciated, a cluster can have more or fewer channel taps than the number of channel taps illustrated. Figure 6B Figure 6A FIG. 600B illustrates this separation of clusters in AoD. RF signals transmitted in the AoD range 602a can correspond to one cluster (e.g., “Cluster 1”) in FIG. 600A, and RF signals transmitted in the AoD range 602b can correspond to a different cluster (e.g., “Cluster 3”) in FIG. 600A. It is noted that while the AoD ranges of the two clusters depicted in FIG. 600A are spatially isolated, the AoD ranges of some clusters can also partially overlap, even if the clusters are temporally separated. This can occur, for example, when two separate buildings at the same AoD from the transmitter reflect RF signals toward the receiver. It is noted that while FIG. 600B illustrates two clusters of 2-5 channel taps, as will be appreciated, a cluster can have more or fewer channel taps than the number of channel taps illustrated.

[0072] FIG. 600B illustrates this separation of clusters in AoD. RF signals transmitted in the AoD range 602a can correspond to one cluster (e.g., “Cluster 1”) in FIG. 600A, and RF signals transmitted in the AoD range 602b can correspond to a different cluster (e.g., “Cluster 3”) in FIG. 600A. It is noted that while the AoD ranges of the two clusters depicted in FIG. 600A are spatially isolated, the AoD ranges of some clusters can also partially overlap, even if the clusters are temporally separated. This can occur, for example, when two separate buildings at the same AoD from the transmitter reflect RF signals toward the receiver. It is noted that while FIG. 600B illustrates two clusters of 2-5 channel taps, as will be appreciated, a cluster can have more or fewer channel taps than the number of channel taps illustrated. Figure 5 ​​As in the example of FIG. 5, the base station can utilize beamforming to transmit multiple beams of RF signals such that one of the beams (e.g., beam 514) is for the AoD range 602a of the first cluster of RF signals and a different beam (e.g., beam 513) is for the AoD range 602b of the third cluster of RF signals. The signal strength of the clusters in the beamformed channel response (i.e., the channel response when the transmitted RF signals are beamformed rather than omnidirectional) will be scaled by the beam gain along the AoD of the cluster. In this case, the beams of interest for positioning will be the beams for the AoD of the first cluster of RF signals because they arrive first, while the beams of interest for data communications can be the beams for the AoD of the third cluster of RF signals because they are the strongest.

[0073] In general, when transmitting RF signals, the transmitter does not know what path the RF signals will take to the receiver (e.g., UE 504) or when the RF signals will arrive at the receiver, and thus transmits the RF signals with equal amounts of energy on different antenna ports. Alternatively, the transmitter can beamform the RF signals in different directions over multiple transmission occasions and obtain measurement feedback from the receiver to explicitly or implicitly determine the radio path.

[0074] Note that while the techniques disclosed herein are generally described in the context of transmissions from a base station to a UE, as will be appreciated they are equally applicable to transmissions from a UE to a base station in cases where the UE is capable of MIMO operation and / or beamforming. Moreover, while the above is generally described in the context of transmit beamforming, in certain embodiments receive beamforming can also be used in conjunction with transmit beamforming.

[0075] According to various aspects, as will be apparent from the foregoing description, beamformed communications, including transmit beamforming, receive beamforming, and / or combinations thereof, are expected to become increasingly widespread in many wireless network deployments, including but not limited to wireless networks operating in millimeter wave and sub-6 GHz frequency bands. In the foregoing description, certain techniques were described to identify and report one or more beams of interest suitable for position estimation, such that a node can receive a sufficient number of shortest path beams that can be precisely measured to compute or assist in computing a position estimate associated with the node. In various use cases, this can involve measuring and reporting OTDOA from various network nodes and / or RSTD between reference RF signals received from pairs of network nodes (e.g., different base stations or different antennas or transmission points belonging to the same base station). Thus, due to the unique challenges of severe path loss faced in millimeter wave communication systems and other wireless networks with beamformed communications, the following description provides various enhanced methods to support positioning in wireless networks with beamformed communications.

[0076] More specifically, in wireless networks operating in millimeter wave and sub-6 GHz frequency bands, beamforming can be utilized when transmitting positioning reference signals (PRS) to combat high path loss and allow PRS reception from network nodes at multiple geographically separated sites, where each network node can correspond to a base station, a cell of a base station, a remote radio head, an antenna of a base station (where the location of the antenna of the base station is different from the location of the base station itself), etc. For example, as described in further detail, when performing OTDOA-based positioning methods based on reference signal time difference (RSTD) measurements from geographically separated network nodes, positioning accuracy can be greatly improved, where the accuracy can further increase as the number of network nodes audible at a given UE increases. Moreover, even from a single site, transmitting PRS on multiple beams can be helpful as different beams can travel along different paths and experience different reflections. In this context, when measurements are made based on LOS beams, ideal positioning accuracy can be achieved. However, LOS beams can be blocked and / or reflected, in which case the beam with the earliest time of arrival can yield the most accurate position. In other words, as noted above, the best beam for positioning purposes can not always be the strongest beam (e.g., the beam with the highest RSRP) as that beam can not have the earliest time of arrival. Moreover, although LOS beams can be considered ideal for positioning purposes, due to blockage, reflections, and / or other factors, the LOS beam can not have the earliest time of arrival or can not reach at all. Thus, transmitting PRS using multiple beams can provide substantial benefits as multiple beams can travel along different paths and increase the chances of accurate position estimation. Still further, for any UEs that have not undergone beam training, beam sweeping can be necessary in order to allow those UEs to determine the appropriate beams to monitor, whether or not there is any signal blockage or reflection.

[0077] According to various aspects, a method employed in LTE and other conventional wireless networks is to transmit PRS on combs of frequency tones. For example, orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM) is a multi-carrier modulation technique that divides the overall system bandwidth into multiple (K) orthogonal subbands, which are also referred to as tones, subcarriers, and / or bins, where a frequency comb generally refers to a set of carriers. Thus, there can be multiple resource elements (REs) in a given OFDM symbol, where transmitting PRS on combs of frequency tones can mean transmitting PRS on a subset of resource elements in a predefined pattern (e.g., one out of every six resource elements, such that PRS can be transmitted on the first resource element, the seventh resource element, the thirteenth resource element, etc.). In this way, using staggered combs to transmit PRS in adjacent OFDM symbols can allow PRS to be received on all frequency tones, assuming that the channel does not change substantially or significantly over a few OFDM symbols. However, LTE and other conventional wireless networks tend to be limited to using six (6) staggered combs in one time slot (e.g., this limitation allows the pattern to be maintained because applicable standards define certain signals, such as cell-specific reference signals (CRS) that use particular combs). In contrast, there can be greater flexibility in wireless networks that utilize beamforming to communicate in millimeter wave bands, such as the new RAN 220 described above. For example, denser combs can be used, which can result in fewer OFDM symbols being needed, which in turn can enable more PRS beams per time slot (e.g., the number of staggered combs that can be used in a time slot can be parameterized to any suitable value, rather than being limited to six). Moreover, while six OFDM symbols with staggered combs would be needed to sample all PRS resource elements, for denser combs, fewer OFDM symbols are needed to cover all PRS resource elements, which means that there can be more PRS beams in a given time slot. For example, in an extreme case where all resource elements in an OFDM symbol are used, only one OFDM symbol can be needed. Then, every consecutive OFDM symbol can be the same PRS but on a different beam, which means that there can be up to fourteen (14) different beams because there are 14 symbols per time slot.

[0078] According to various aspects, based at least on the above factors, there can be optimization opportunities by sharing UE beam switching and other positioning related capabilities with network nodes configured to transmit one or more positioning related reference signals. For example, for each subcarrier spacing supported by the UE, a maximum number of beam switches per time slot can be indicated per frequency range (e.g., for a sub-6 GHz frequency range, for a millimeter wave frequency range, etc.). Even within a given frequency range, there can be multiple frequency bands (e.g., from 24-26 GHz can be one frequency band, from 26-28 GHz can be another frequency band, etc.). Generally, the maximum number of beam switches can consider both transmit (Tx) beams and receive (Rx) beams across all configured serving cells. Thus, current standards define a maximum number of beam switches per time slot according to a single global parameter, which does not fully account for the concept that beam switching capabilities can be different in different contexts (e.g., downlink only time slots versus combined uplink / downlink or uplink only time slots). For example, a given UE can signal a maximum of seven (7) beam switches per time slot, as in certain scenarios the UE cannot handle more than 7 beam switches (e.g., the UE can not be able to handle a total of eight beams split into six downlink beams and two uplink beams, but if the beams are all downlink beams, the UE can have the ability to handle eight beams). Thus, when using a single global parameter, the UE will have to use the most constraining capability and report a maximum of 7 beam switches per time slot, even though the UE can potentially handle more than 7 beam switches in certain specific scenarios. Further, to help fully utilize PRS time slots for capable UEs, no data can be allowed at all on time slots dedicated to PRS. Thus, PRS time slots can be limited to downlink beams, which means that more beam switches can potentially be handled in PRS time slots. Alternatively, as noted above, since less OFDM symbols can be needed when using tighter combs, the remaining OFDM symbols in a time slot can be used for data, which also increases the overall utilization of the time slot. Thus, since PRS themselves can be more flexible in NR networks, more flexible PRS capability signaling can be desired to address the above shortcomings, where existing signaling for reporting UE positioning related capabilities is substantially limited (e.g., limited to a single global parameter for maximum beam switching in NR networks, and limited to signaling the ability to support OTDOA based positioning and / or inter-frequency RSTD measurements in LTE networks). Among other things, benefits of the disclosed aspects include more flexible PRS, greater granularity control of beam switching that can allow for various different devices, etc.

[0079] According to various aspects, Figure 7AAn example signaling flow 700A is shown in which a UE 504 (e.g., UE 350) can indicate beam switching and other positioning-related capabilities to a network node 502 (e.g., network node 310), which can be configured to transmit one or more positioning-related reference signals based on the UE- indicated capabilities. More specifically, as will be described in further detail herein, the UE 504 (e.g., RX processor 356, controller / processor 359, and / or TX processor 368 of UE 350) can indicate slot-type dependent granularity beam switching capabilities, where the slot type can be based on slot content. Thus, the UE 504 can still signal a maximum beam switching number, but the maximum beam switching number can have greater granularity than a single parameter per band. Specifically, as noted above, the UE 504 can indicate a maximum beam switching number that is slot-type dependent, where the UE 504 (e.g., controller / processor 359 of UE 350) can determine one or more possible slot types at block 710. For example, in various embodiments, the possible slot types can be uplink only, downlink only, mixed uplink / downlink (e.g., one or more downlink OFDM symbols followed by a gap switching bandgap, and then one or more uplink OFDM symbols, or vice versa), and / or based on a number of downlink / uplink switches (e.g., multiple downlink / uplink switches with a gap used in each switch between downlink / uplink frames).

[0080] Alternatively and / or additionally, the possible slot types can depend on the slot content (i.e., the signals transmitted in the slot), whereby there can be different slot types, and thus different beam switching capabilities depending on the slot content. For example, the UE 504 can support a certain maximum number of beam switches for slots containing only PRS, and a different maximum number of beam switches for slots containing PRS as well as other downlink signals that can be frequency-division multiplexed and / or time-division multiplexed with the PRS (e.g., the first few symbols can be for PRS, and the remaining symbols for other downlink signals, or the contiguous set of resource blocks assigned for PRS can occupy less than the full bandwidth, such that other downlink signals can be frequency-division multiplexed with the PRS outside of that bandwidth). Thus, as will be apparent to those skilled in the art, the beam switching capability can be different when the PRS is frequency-division multiplexed and / or time-division multiplexed with one or more downlink signals, because the PRS (e.g., beam-swept) can be transmitted, and the receiver can also want to perform receive beam sweeping in order to receive each transmitted PRS beam with a different corresponding receive beam. Thus, once the receiver has formed a receive beam to receive a transmitted PRS beam via analog beamforming, any other signals frequency-division multiplexed with the PRS can also be received via the same receive beam. In other examples, the slot can contain PRS and one or more uplink signals, which would require the UE 504 to receive PRS in the slot and then switch to uplink (or vice versa), or the PRS can also alternatively be uplink PRS (e.g., sounding reference signals (SRS) used in uplink time-difference-of-arrival (U-TDOA) positioning schemes).

[0081] Further, in various embodiments, the content-dependent slot type can not be limited to slots containing PRS, as the slot type can depend on other possible slot contents. For example, in various embodiments, a given slot can contain physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) and / or physical downlink control channel (PDCCH), physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH) and / or physical uplink control channel (PUCCH), channel state information reference signal (CSI-RS), SRS, and / or other suitable contents. In particular, a slot containing only PDSCH can have a different slot type relative to a slot containing both PDSCH and PDCCH, a slot containing only PUSCH can have a different type relative to a slot containing both PUSCH and PUCCH, and so on. Further still, the slot type can depend on whether the slot contents are scheduled statically, semi-statically, or dynamically. For example, in dynamically scheduled contents, the UE 504 can receive and process a grant indicating that a downlink or uplink packet is scheduled on a given receive / transmit beam at a given time, such that the UE 504 is prepared to receive or transmit the packet via the appropriate receive / transmit beam at the given time. But in semi-statically scheduled contents, the slot resources are configured in advance, but the resources are activated and deactivated as needed. Generally, the UE 504 can need sufficient time (provided by a scheduling delay) before a given time to prepare the appropriate beam in the appropriate direction, where the number of beam switches that the UE 504 can handle can depend on how much time is given to the UE 504 to prepare the appropriate beam. On the other hand, for statically or semi-statically scheduled contents, the UE 504 can know well in advance what is scheduled. Thus, if the slot contents are dynamically scheduled, the slot type can also depend on the scheduling delay (e.g., a large enough delay can be handled in the same way as semi-statically scheduled contents).

[0082] Accordingly, in various embodiments, the UE 504 can generally have some maximum number of beam switches per time slot for each possible time slot type determined at block 710. Accordingly, at block 712, the UE 504 (e.g., controller / processor 359 of the UE 350) can determine a maximum number of beam switches per time slot that the UE 504 can support according to the time slot type, which can be indicated to the network node 502, e.g., by the controller / processor 359 and / or TX processor 368 of the UE 350, as depicted at 716. Moreover, in various embodiments, the beam switch capability indicated at 716 can indicate beam switching at a high level of granularity (e.g., for each of the above-described time slot types or one or more of the time slot types), or can more generally indicate the beam switch capability (e.g., a maximum number of PRS beam switches per time slot, which can be separate or joint for uplink PRS beams and downlink PRS beams).

[0083] According to various aspects, and with reference now to block 714, the UE 504 (e.g., controller / processor 359 of the UE 350) can also determine one or more PRS-specific capabilities related to one or more other capabilities associated with the UE 504 (e.g., bandwidth, desired positioning accuracy, etc.), which can also be indicated to the network node 502 at 716. For example, as described above, the UE 504 can indicate a maximum number of PRS beam switches supported per time slot, which can be determined according to a total number of beam switches that the UE 504 is capable of supporting in a given time slot (e.g., if the UE 504 is capable of supporting N beam switches per time slot, then the UE 504 should be capable of supporting at least the same number and possibly more PRS beam switches per time slot, as PRS are specifically configured and are easier to receive).

[0084] According to various aspects, the PRS-specific capabilities can be determined at block 714 with reference to other capabilities associated with the UE 504, as PRSs can potentially have different configurations (e.g., number of repetition slots, whether or not frequency division multiplexing is allowed or not allowed in PRS slots, number of beams per slot, PRS bandwidth, etc.), and also because not all UEs can be required to support all possible combinations of parameters. Thus, as capabilities have been defined in relation to various UE parameters, the PRS-specific capabilities determined at block 714 can be associated with or otherwise related to such capabilities and / or parameters. For example, in various embodiments, the PRS-specific capabilities can relate to a bandwidth capability, a total number of supported beam switches per slot, a positioning accuracy requirement, frequency division multiplexed reception of multiple signals, capabilities per band, and / or other suitable capabilities. For example, if the UE 504 supports a bandwidth greater than a defined threshold, the UE 504 can also be able to receive a wideband PRS spanning that entire bandwidth. On the other hand, if the UE 504 supports a low bandwidth (e.g., below a given threshold), the UE 504 can support a certain PRS bandwidth that depends on the bandwidth supported at the UE 504. Alternatively, the PRS bandwidth can be an explicit parameter (e.g., a supported bandwidth specific to PRS, which can be different from the overall bandwidth supported by the UE 504). For example, if the UE 504 is in connected mode, the UE 504 can be limited by whichever is greater, as the UE 504 accesses at least that much system bandwidth to receive incoming communications, and thus should be able to receive any PRS in that range. However, in idle mode, the UE 504 has no data to receive, and instead periodically wakes up to receive some synchronization signals and possibly PRSs. Thus, when in idle mode, if the PRS-specific bandwidth is less than the full bandwidth supported at the UE 504, the UE 504 can only turn on the PRS-specific bandwidth.

[0085] According to various aspects, as noted above, the PRS-specific capabilities determined at block 714 can also be related to positioning accuracy requirements at the UE 504. For example, in various embodiments, the UE 504 can signal a desired positioning accuracy, which can be dynamic depending on the context (e.g., higher accuracy can be needed when walking as compared to driving, higher accuracy can be needed when indoors as compared to outdoors, higher accuracy can be needed when the UE 504 is a drone / robot that is landing / docking to a power source, etc.). Thus, when the UE 504 requires higher positioning accuracy (e.g., higher accuracy in OTDOA and / or RSTD measurements), some of the methods to achieve improved accuracy can be by receiving PRS from more sites, at higher power, at higher PRS bandwidth, on denser PRS combs, etc., which means that the UE 504 must have the capability to receive PRS with such configurations. Thus, when the UE 504 signals certain positioning accuracy requirements, the desired positioning accuracy can be associated with or otherwise related to certain PRS capabilities (e.g., from more sites, at higher power, at higher PRS bandwidth, on denser PRS combs, etc.).

[0086] According to various aspects, as noted above, the PRS-specific capabilities determined at block 714 can also be related to frequency division multiplexing (FDM) reception of multiple signals (e.g., in cases where FDM of other data is allowed in PRS slots). For example, if the UE 504 supports FDM reception of transmitted or beam-swept CSI-RS (SSB) with PDSCH, the UE 504 can also support FDM reception of transmitted or beam-swept PRS with PDSCH and / or CSI-RS (SSB). Specifically, to receive a CSI-RS (SSB) with the best possible beamforming, the UE 504 can perform beam training to try different receive beams, some of which can be better than others. Thus, when the UE 504 is performing beam training to try different receive beams, if data is FDMed with the CSI-RS (SSB) due to analog beamforming constraints, all data received at that time will have the same beamforming. Reception of PDSCH packets can be impacted during the time that the UE 504 is experimenting with various receive beams for the CSI-RS (SSB). On the other hand, in cases where the UE 504 has two or more separate receive chains, the UE 504 can have the capability to form separate receive beams to receive the CSI-RS (SSB) and PDSCH packets, and the same multi-signal reception capability can apply to PRS that is frequency division multiplexed with one or more other signals.

[0087] According to various aspects, as described above, any of the above PRS-specific capabilities related to other capabilities associated with the UE 504 can also be determined per band at block 714. For example, positioning accuracy that the UE 504 can achieve, number of base stations that can be seen, supported bandwidth, etc. can be different in different bands (e.g., sub-6 GHz bands versus millimeter wave bands). Thus, in various embodiments, the manner in which the above UE capabilities (e.g., supported bandwidth, positioning accuracy, FDM reception, etc.) are related to PRS-specific capabilities can also depend on the band.

[0088] According to various aspects, with reference to Figure 7A The signaling flow 700A shown will now be described from the perspective of the network node 502 (e.g., the network node 310), which can be configured to transmit one or more positioning-related reference signals based on the UE capabilities indicated at 716 and received by the network node 502 (e.g., the RX processor 370 and / or the controller / processor 375 of the network node 310). Generally, as described above, the network node 502 can be a base station (e.g., a gNB), a cell of a base station, a remote radio head, an antenna of a base station (where the location of the antenna of the base station is different from the location of the base station itself), etc.

[0089] The network node 502 generally must serve various UEs that can have different capabilities (e.g., different maximum number of PRS beam switches per slot). Thus, at block 720, the network node 502 (e.g., the controller / processor 375 of the network node 310) can configure broadcast / multicast PRS that all or some (i.e., one or more) of the intended receiver UEs (including at least the UE 504) are capable of receiving based on the minimum requirements of the capabilities of the intended receiver UEs to hear the PRS. Moreover, since the intended receiver UEs can need to receive the PRS from multiple geographically separated sites, the configuration determined at block 720 can be coordinated across multiple cells (e.g., all cells in a paging area or in a given geographic deployment). Thus, as depicted at 724, the network node 502 (e.g., the controller / processor 375 and / or the TX processor 316 of the network node 310) can broadcast / multicast the PRS configured at block 720 to all of the intended receiver UEs (including at least the UE 504). The UE 504 (e.g., the RX processor 356 and / or the controller / processor 359 of the UE 350) can receive the broadcast / multicast.

[0090] However, for UEs that can have different (e.g., larger or smaller) capability and / or accuracy requirements than the minimum provided in the broadcast / multicast PRS configured at block 720, the network node 502 (e.g., controller / processor 375 of network node 310) can also configure, at block 722, dedicated / unicast PRS (e.g., additional PRS with wider bandwidth or fewer PRS with narrower bandwidth) for those UEs with different capability and / or accuracy requirements. As depicted at 726, the network node 502 (e.g., controller / processor 375 and / or TX processor 316 of network node 310) can also transmit the dedicated / unicast PRS configured at block 722 to certain subsets of UEs based on the capability and / or accuracy requirements specific to the subset of UEs. Further, as will be apparent to those skilled in the art, the dedicated / unicast PRS transmitted at 726 can optionally be transmitted to the UE 504 in the sense that the UE 504 indicated at 716 certain capability and / or accuracy requirements that place the UE 504 in one or more of the appropriate subsets for which the dedicated / unicast PRS is configured. In this way, PRS specifically configured for higher accuracy and / or greater UE capability can not waste resources across the entire cell, as the specifically configured PRS is only transmitted to the subset of UEs with the appropriate capability and / or accuracy requirements for which the dedicated / unicast PRS is configured.

[0091] However, as Figure 7B and 7C each signaling flow can be performed independently. Figure 7B Signaling flow 700B is shown, in which the UE 504 can indicate beam switching capability to the network node 502 based on the slot type. On the other hand, Figure 7C Signaling flow 700C is shown, in which the UE 504 can indicate beam switching capability to the network node 502 based on one or more other capabilities associated with the UE to receive one or more signals across a number of beams. Figure 7A may be considered a combination of Figure 7B and 7C

[0092] Figure 8 An exemplary method 800 performed by a UE, such as the UE 350, 504, is shown. At block 810, the UE can determine, for each of one or more slots, a capability of the UE to support a number of beam switches per slot based on a slot type of the slot and / or based on one or more other capabilities associated with the UE to receive one or more signals across a number of beams. For example, such capabilities can be preconfigured by an OEM, a network operator, an operator, etc. Block 810 can correspond to Figure 7A , 7B ​and / or blocks 710, 712, and / or 714 of FIG. 7C. In an aspect, the means for performing block 810 can include Figure 3 the RX processor 356 and / or the controller / processor 359 of the UE 350 as illustrated in FIG. 3.

[0093] The slot type can be one or more of an uplink only slot, a downlink only slot, or a mixed uplink and downlink slot. Alternatively or additionally, the slot type can be based on a number of switches between downlink and uplink in the mixed uplink and downlink slot. The slot type can depend on whether the slot contains one or both of a positioning reference signal (PRS) only, a PRS and one or more downlink signals, a PRS and one or more uplink signals, a physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) and a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH), a physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH) and a physical uplink control channel (PUCCH), a channel state information reference signal (CSI-RS), or contains a sounding reference signal (SRS). Alternatively or additionally, the slot type can depend on whether one or more signals transmitted in the slot are semi-statically or dynamically scheduled. The one or more other capabilities associated with the UE can include one or more of a supported bandwidth, a total number of supported beam switches per slot, a desired positioning accuracy, or a capability to receive multiple signals in a single beam via frequency division multiplexing. The one or more other capabilities associated with the UE can be indicated for a particular frequency band.

[0094] At block 820, the UE can transmit, to a network node (such as the network nodes 310, 502), capability information indicating a capability of the UE to support a number of beam switches per slot. Block 820 can correspond to Figure 7A 、 7B and / or block 716 of FIG. 7C. In an aspect, the means for performing block 810 can include Figure 3 the TX processor 368 and / or the controller / processor 359 of the UE 350 as illustrated in FIG. 3.

[0095] The capability information can indicate the number of beam switches per slot that the UE supports based on a maximum number of PRS beams per slot. For example, the number of beam switches per slot that the UE supports for a slot can be any number up to the maximum number of PRS beams for the slot.

[0096] At block 830, the UE can receive, from the network node, one or more signals across the number of beams based on the capability indicated in the capability information for the number of beam switches per slot associated with a slot in which the one or more signals are received. Block 830 can correspond to Figure 7A 、7B and / or stream 724 and / or 726 of FIG. 7C. In an aspect, the means for performing block 810 can include Figure 3 the RX processor 356 and / or the controller / processor 359 of the UE 350 as illustrated in FIG. 3.

[0097] The number of beams across which the one or more signals are received can include one or more beams that are broadcast or multicast by the network node to one or more intended receivers based on a minimum required capability of the one or more intended receivers to receive the transmitted one or more signals. Some or all of the intended receivers can be within a geographic location, such as across a cell. Alternatively or additionally, the number of beams across which the one or more signals are received can include one or more beams that are unicast by the network node to a UE or dedicated by the network node to a subset of UEs including at least the UE based on the capability information indicating a requirement for an accuracy that is different than an accuracy provided in the minimum required capability of the one or more intended receivers.

[0098] In an aspect, the memory 360 can be an example of a computer-readable medium that stores computer-executable instructions for one or more of the TX processor 368, the controller / processor 358, and / or the RX processor 356 of the UE 350 to perform the method 800.

[0099] Figure 9 An example method 900 performed by a network node, such as the network node 310, 502 is shown. At block 910, the network node can configure a broadcast / multicast PRS that all or some (i.e., one or more) intended receiver UEs, including at least the UE 504, are capable of receiving based on a minimum required capability to hear the PRS. Block 910 can correspond to block 720 of FIG. 7C. Figure 7A 、 7B and / or block 720 of FIG. 7C. In an aspect, the means for performing block 910 can include Figure 3 the controller / processor 375 of the network node 310 as illustrated in FIG. 3.

[0100] At block 920, the network node can receive, from a UE, such as the UE 350, 504, capability information indicating, for each of one or more slots, a capability of a number of beam switches supported per slot by the UE based on a slot type of the slot and / or based on one or more other capabilities of the UE to receive one or more signals across a number of beams. Block 920 can correspond to block 716 of FIG. 7C. Figure 7A 、 7B and / or block 716 of FIG. 7C. In an aspect, the means for performing block 910 can include Figure 3the RX processor 370 and / or the controller / processor 375 of the network node 310 illustrated in FIG. 13.

[0101] The slot type can be one or more of an uplink only slot, a downlink only slot, or a mixed uplink and downlink slot. Alternatively or in addition, the slot type can be based on a number of switches between downlink and uplink in the mixed uplink and downlink slot. The slot type can depend on whether the slot contains one or both of a positioning reference signal (PRS) only, a PRS and one or more downlink signals, a PRS and one or more uplink signals, a physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) and a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH), a physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH) and a physical uplink control channel (PUCCH), a channel state information reference signal (CSI-RS), or contains a sounding reference signal (SRS). Alternatively or in addition, the slot type can depend on whether one or more signals transmitted in the slot are semi-statically or dynamically scheduled. The transmitted information can indicate a number of beam switches supported by the UE per slot according to a maximum number of PRS beams per slot. The one or more other capabilities associated with the UE can include one or more of a supported bandwidth, a total number of supported beam switches per slot, a desired positioning accuracy, or a capability to receive multiple signals in a single beam via frequency division multiplexing. The one or more other capabilities associated with the UE can be indicated for a particular frequency band.

[0102] At block 930, the network node can configure dedicated / unicast PRS for those UEs that can have different (e.g., larger or smaller) capabilities and / or accuracy requirements (e.g., additional PRS with wider bandwidth or fewer PRS with narrower bandwidth) than the minimum provided in the minimum required capabilities. That is, the network node can configure dedicated / unicast PRS as compared to the configured broadcast / multicast PRS. Block 930 can correspond to block 722 of FIG. 7A, block 722 of FIG. 7B, block 722 of FIG. 7C, and / or block 722 of FIG. 7D. Figure 7A 、 7B and / or block 722 of FIG. 7C. In one aspect, the means for performing block 930 can include the controller / processor 375 of the network node 310 illustrated in FIG. 13. Figure 3 the controller / processor 375 of the network node 310 illustrated in FIG. 13.

[0103] At block 940, the network node can transmit one or more signals to the UE in a slot. The one or more signals can be transmitted across a number of beams based on the indicated capability for a number of beam switches per slot associated with the slot in which the one or more signals are transmitted. Block 940 can correspond to block 724 of FIG. 7A, block 724 of FIG. 7B, block 724 of FIG. 7C, and / or block 724 of FIG. 7D. Figure 7A 、 7Band / or streams 724 and / or 726 of 7C. In an aspect, means for performing block 940 can include Figure 3 TX processor 316 and / or controller / processor 375 of the network node 310 as described above in connection with FIG. 13.

[0104] The quantity of beams across which the one or more signals are transmitted can comprise one or more beams that are broadcast or multicast to one or more intended receivers based on a minimum required capability of the one or more intended receivers to receive the transmitted one or more signals. Some or all of the intended receivers can be within a geographic location such as across a cell. Alternatively or additionally, the quantity of beams across which the one or more signals are transmitted can comprise one or more beams that are unicast to a UE or dedicated to a subset of UEs including at least the UE based on the capability information indicating a requirement for an accuracy that is different from an accuracy provided in the minimum required capability of the one or more intended receivers.

[0105] In an aspect, the memory 376 can be a computer-readable medium that stores computer-executable instructions for one or more of the TX processor 316, controller / processor 375, and / or RX processor 370 of the network node 310 to perform the method 900.

[0106] Those skilled in the art will appreciate that information and signals can be represented using any of a variety of different technologies and techniques. For example, data, instructions, commands, information, signals, bits, symbols, and chips that can be referenced throughout the above description can be represented by voltages, currents, electromagnetic waves, magnetic fields or particles, optical fields or particles, or any combination thereof.

[0107] Further, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the various illustrative logical blocks, modules, circuits, and algorithm steps described in connection with the aspects disclosed herein can be implemented as electronic hardware, computer software, or combinations of both. To clearly illustrate this interchangeability of hardware and software, various illustrative components, blocks, modules, circuits, and steps have been described above generally in terms of their functionality. Whether such functionality is implemented as hardware or software depends upon the particular application and design constraints imposed on the overall system. Skilled artisans can implement the described functionality in varying ways for each particular application, but such implementation decisions should not be interpreted as causing a departure from the scope of the various aspects described herein.

[0108] The various illustrative logical blocks, modules, and circuits described in connection with the aspects disclosed herein can be implemented or performed with a general purpose processor, a Digital Signal Processor (DSP), an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC), a Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) or other programmable logic device, discrete gate or transistor logic, discrete hardware components, or any combination thereof designed to perform the functions described herein. A general purpose processor can be a microprocessor, but in the alternative, the processor can be any conventional processor, controller, microcontroller, or state machine. A processor can also be implemented as a combination of computing devices (e.g., a combination of a DSP and a microprocessor, a plurality of microprocessors, one or more microprocessors in conjunction with a DSP core, or other such configuration).

[0109] The methods, sequences, and / or algorithms described in connection with the aspects disclosed herein can be embodied directly in hardware, in a software module executed by a processor, or in a combination of the two. A software module can reside in Random Access Memory (RAM), flash memory, Read-Only Memory (ROM), Erasable Programmable ROM (EPROM), Electrically Erasable Programmable ROM (EEPROM), registers, hard disk, a removable disk, a CD-ROM, or any other form of non-transitory computer readable medium known in the art. An exemplary non-transitory computer readable medium can be coupled to the processor such that the processor can read information from, and write information to, the non-transitory computer readable medium. In the alternative, the non-transitory computer readable medium can be integral to the processor. The processor and the non-transitory computer readable medium can reside in an ASIC. The ASIC can reside in a user device (e.g., UE) or a base station. In the alternative, the processor and the non-transitory computer readable medium can be discrete components in a user device or base station.

[0110] In one or more exemplary aspects, the functions described herein can be implemented in hardware, software, firmware, or any combination thereof. If implemented in software, the functions can be stored on or transmitted over as one or more instructions or code on a non-transitory computer-readable medium. Computer-readable media can include storage media and / or communication media including any medium that facilitates transfer of a computer program from one place to another. Storage media can be any available media that can be accessed by a computer. By way of example, and not limitation, such computer-readable media can comprise RAM, ROM, EEPROM, CD-ROM or other optical disk storage, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or any other medium that can be used to carry or store desired program code in the form of instructions or data structures and that can be accessed by a computer. Also, any connection is properly termed a computer-readable medium. For example, if the software is transmitted from a website, server, or other remote source using a coaxial cable, fiber optic cable, twisted pair, DSL, or wireless technologies such as infrared, radio, and microwave, then the coaxial cable, fiber optic cable, twisted pair, DSL, or wireless technologies such as infrared, radio, and microwave are included in the definition of medium. The term disk and disc (which can be used interchangeably herein) includes compact disks (CDs), laser disks, optical disks, digital video disk (DVD), floppy disks, and blu-ray disks, which are typically magnetic, and / or optical, and / or laser-based storage media used to store data and / or instructions.

[0111] While the foregoing disclosure shows illustrative aspects, it should be noted that various changes and modifications could be made therein without departing from the scope of the disclosure as defined by the appended claims. Furthermore, in describing various illustrative aspects, specific terminology is used for the sake of clarity. However, the specific terminology is not intended to limit the disclosure, and each specific term is to be given its broadest interpretation known to one of ordinary skill in the art. Moreover, any element of any claim is not to be construed as being limited to a specific iteration of that element.

Claims

1. A method of a user equipment, UE, the method comprising: determining, for each of one or more slots, a capability of a maximum number of beam switches supported per slot for the UE, wherein the maximum number of beam switches is based on a slot type of the slot and / or based on one or more other capabilities associated with the UE for receiving one or more signals across a number of beams; transmitting, to a network node, capability information indicating the determined capability of the maximum number of beam switches supported per slot for the UE; and receiving the one or more signals from the network node across the number of beams based on the determined capability of the maximum number of beam switches per slot associated with the slot in which the one or more signals are received, as indicated in the capability information.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the slot type is one of: an uplink only slot, a downlink only slot, or a mixed uplink and downlink slot, and / or wherein the slot type is based on a number of switches between downlink and uplink in a mixed uplink and downlink slot.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the slot type depends on whether the slot contains one or both of: only positioning reference signals, PRS, the PRS and one or more downlink signals, the PRS and one or more uplink signals, a physical downlink shared channel, PDSCH, and a physical downlink control channel, PDCCH, one or both of a physical uplink shared channel, PUSCH, and a physical uplink control channel, PUCCH, channel state information reference signals, CSI-RS, or contains sounding reference signals, SRS, and / or wherein the slot type depends on whether one or more signals transmitted in the slot are semi-statically scheduled or dynamically scheduled.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein, the capability information indicates the maximum number of beam switches supported per slot for the UE based on a maximum number of positioning reference signals, PRS, beams per slot.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein, the one or more other capabilities associated with the UE include one or more of: a supported bandwidth, a total number of beam switches supported per slot, a desired positioning accuracy, or a capability to receive multiple signals in a single beam via frequency division multiplexing, or are indicated in the capability information for a particular frequency band.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein, the number of beams across which the one or more signals are received includes one or more beams broadcast or multicast by the network node to one or more intended receivers based on a minimum required capability of the one or more intended receivers to receive the transmitted one or more signals.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein, the number of beams across which the one or more signals are received includes one or more beams unicast by the network node to the UE or dedicated by the network node to a subset of UEs including at least the UE based on the capability information indicating a requirement for an accuracy different from an accuracy provided in the minimum required capability of the one or more intended receivers.

8. A method of a network entity, the method comprising: receiving capability information from a user equipment (UE), the capability information indicating, for each slot of one or more slots, a capability of a maximum number of beam switches supported per slot by the UE, wherein the maximum number of beam switches is based on a slot type of the slot and / or based on one or more other capabilities associated with the UE for receiving one or more signals across a number of beams, and transmitting the one or more signals to the UE in the slot, wherein the one or more signals are transmitted across the number of beams based on the capability indicated in the information of the maximum number of beam switches per slot associated with the slot in which the one or more signals are transmitted.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the slot type is one or more of: an uplink only slot, a downlink only slot, or a mixed uplink and downlink slot, and / or wherein the slot type is based on a number of switches between downlink and uplink in a mixed uplink and downlink slot.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein, the slot type depends on whether the slot contains one or both of: only positioning reference signals (PRS), the PRS and one or more downlink signals, the PRS and one or more uplink signals, a physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) and a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH), one or both of a physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH) and a physical uplink control channel (PUCCH), channel state information reference signals (CSI-RS), or contains sounding reference signals (SRS), and / or wherein the slot type depends on whether one or more signals transmitted in the slot are semi-statically scheduled or dynamically scheduled.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein, the capability information indicates the maximum number of beam switches supported by the UE in a slot having a defined slot type based on a maximum number of positioning reference signal (PRS) beams per slot.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein, the one or more other capabilities associated with the UE include one or more of: a supported bandwidth, a total number of beam switches supported per slot, a desired positioning accuracy, or a capability to receive multiple signals in a single beam via frequency division multiplexing, or are indicated in the capability information for a particular frequency band.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein, the number of beams across which the one or more signals are transmitted include one or more beams broadcast or multicast to one or more intended receivers based on a minimum required capability of the one or more intended receivers to receive the transmitted one or more signals.

14. The method of claim 8, wherein, the number of beams across which the one or more signals are transmitted include one or more beams unicast to the UE or dedicated to a subset of UEs including at least the UE based on the capability information indicating a requirement for an accuracy different from an accuracy provided in a minimum required capability of one or more intended receivers.

15. A user equipment (UE) comprising: a memory; at least one transceiver; and at least one processor communicatively coupled to the memory and the at least one transceiver, the at least one processor configured to: determine, for each of one or more slots, a capability of a maximum number of beam switches supported per slot by the UE, wherein the maximum number of beam switches is based on a slot type of the slot and / or based on one or more other capabilities associated with the UE for receiving one or more signals across a number of beams; transmit, via the at least one transceiver, capability information indicating the determined capability of the maximum number of beam switches supported per slot by the UE to a network node; and receive, via the at least one transceiver, the one or more signals from the network node across the number of beams based on the determined capability of the maximum number of beam switches per slot associated with a slot in which the one or more signals are received indicated in the capability information.

16. The UE of claim 15, wherein, The capability information indicates the maximum number of beam switches supported per slot by the UE according to a maximum number of positioning reference signal (PRS) beams per slot.

17. The UE of claim 15, wherein, The number of beams across which the one or more signals are received includes one or more beams broadcast or multicast by the network node to one or more intended receivers based on a minimum required capability of the one or more intended receivers to receive the transmitted one or more signals.

18. A network entity (NE) comprising: a memory; at least one transceiver; and at least one processor communicatively coupled to the memory and the at least one transceiver, the at least one processor configured to: receive, via the at least one transceiver, capability information from a user equipment (UE), the capability information indicating, for each of one or more slots, a capability of a maximum number of beam switches supported per slot by the UE, wherein the maximum number of beam switches is based on a slot type of the slot and / or based on one or more other capabilities associated with the UE for receiving one or more signals across a number of beams; and transmit, via the at least one transceiver, the one or more signals to the UE in a slot, wherein the one or more signals are transmitted across the number of beams based on the capability of the maximum number of beam switches per slot associated with the slot in which the one or more signals are transmitted indicated in the capability information.

19. The NE of claim 18, wherein, The capability information indicates the maximum number of beam switches supported per slot by the UE according to a maximum number of positioning reference signal (PRS) beams per slot.

20. The NE of claim 18, wherein, The number of beams across which the one or more signals are transmitted includes one or more beams broadcast or multicast to one or more intended receivers based on a minimum required capability of the one or more intended receivers to receive the transmitted one or more signals.

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