Reporting stitched prs phase error

Abstract

Techniques for wireless communications are disclosed. In particular, techniques for including phase shifts of stitched PRS in PRS assistance information provided to a receiver are presented.

Description

[0001] Cross Reference to Related Applications

[0002] This patent application claims priority to Greek Patent Application No. 20200100721, filed December 11, 2020, entitled “REPORTING PHASE ERROR ACROSS FREQUENCY LAYERS,” which is assigned to the assignee of the present application and is hereby expressly incorporated by reference in its entirety. TECHNICAL FIELD

[0003] Aspects of the present disclosure relate generally to wireless communication. BACKGROUND

[0004] Wireless communication systems have developed through several generations, including first-generation analog wireless telephony systems (1G), second-generation (2G) digital wireless telephony systems (including 2.5G and 2.75G networks), third-generation (3G) high speed data, Internet-capable wireless systems and fourth-generation (4G) wireless systems (e.g., Long-Term Evolution (LTE) or WiMax). There are currently many different types of wireless communication systems in use, including cellular and personal communications service (PCS) systems. Examples of known cellular systems include the cellular Analog Advanced Mobile Phone System (AMPS), and digital cellular systems based on Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA), Frequency Division Multiple Access (FDMA), Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA), Global System for Mobile access (GSM), and so on.

[0005] A fifth generation (5G) wireless standard, referred to as New Radio (NR), enables higher data transfer speeds, more capacity, and better coverage than previous standards. According to the Next Generation Mobile Networks Alliance, 5G technology should provide bitrates on the order of tens of megabits per second, with peak rates of greater than 100 megabits per second, and should enable 100 times faster data transfer rates than provided by 4G (also known as Long-Term Evolution (LTE)) networks. In addition, 5G should provide more capacity, allowing connection of many more devices than current 4G networks, and should provide lower latency for faster response times. These improvements are expected to come from using a wider bandwidth, a larger number of cells, and more cell sites. 5G technology should also enable new services not currently offered by mobile networks, such as using ultra-reliable low-latency communications (URLLC). SUMMARY

[0006] The following presents a simplified summary relating to one or more aspects disclosed herein. As such, the following summary should not be considered an extensive overview relating to all contemplated aspects, nor be regarded to identify key or critical elements relating to all contemplated aspects, nor be deemed to delineate the scope associated with any particular aspect. The sole purpose of the following summary is to present some concepts relating to one or more aspects in a simplified form to invite further examination of the detailed description presented below.

[0007] In an aspect, a method of wireless communication performed by a first network node includes receiving, from a second network node, transmitter phase information including one or more parameters representing phases of a plurality of positioning reference signals (PRSs) transmitted by at least one network node over a plurality of frequency intervals; and obtaining positioning measurements of the plurality of PRSs transmitted by the at least one network node based on the one or more parameters representing the phases of the plurality of PRSs to enable a determination of a location of a user equipment (UE) based at least on the positioning measurements of the plurality of PRSs.

[0008] In an aspect, a first network node includes 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, from a second network node via the at least one transceiver, transmitter phase information including one or more parameters representing phases of a plurality of positioning reference signals (PRSs) transmitted by at least one network node over a plurality of frequency intervals; and obtain positioning measurements of the plurality of PRSs transmitted by the at least one network node based on the one or more parameters representing the phases of the plurality of PRSs to enable a determination of a location of a user equipment (UE) based at least on the positioning measurements of the plurality of PRSs.

[0009] In an aspect, a first network node includes means for receiving, from a second network node, transmitter phase information including one or more parameters representing phases of a plurality of positioning reference signals (PRSs) transmitted by at least one network node over a plurality of frequency intervals; and means for obtaining positioning measurements of the plurality of PRSs transmitted by the at least one network node based on the one or more parameters representing the phases of the plurality of PRSs to enable a determination of a location of a user equipment (UE) based at least on the positioning measurements of the plurality of PRSs.

[0010] In an aspect, a non-transitory computer-readable medium storing computer-executable instructions that, when executed by a first network node, cause the first network node to: receive, from a second network node, transmitter phase information including one or more parameters representing phases of a plurality of positioning reference signals (PRSs) transmitted by at least one network node over a plurality of frequency intervals; and obtain positioning measurements of the plurality of PRSs transmitted by the at least one network node based on the one or more parameters representing the phases of the plurality of PRSs to enable a determination of a location of a user equipment (UE) based at least on the positioning measurements of the plurality of PRSs.

[0011] Other objects and advantages associated with the aspects disclosed herein will be apparent to those skilled in the art based on the accompanying drawings and detailed description. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0012] The accompanying drawings are presented to aid in the description of aspects of the disclosure and are provided solely for illustration of the aspects and are not limiting of the same.

[0013] Figure 1 FIG. 1 illustrates an example wireless communication system in accordance with aspects of the disclosure.

[0014] Figure 2A and Figure 2B FIG. 1 illustrates an example wireless communication system in accordance with aspects of the disclosure.

[0015] Figures 3A to 3C is a simplified block diagram of several sample aspects of components that can be employed in a user equipment (UE), a base station, and a network entity, respectively, and configured to support communications as taught herein.

[0016] Figure 4 is a diagram illustrating an example frame structure in accordance with aspects of the disclosure.

[0017] Figure 5 is a diagram of an example of frequency domain positioning reference signal (PRS) stitching in accordance with aspects of the disclosure.

[0018] Figure 6 FIG. 1 illustrates an example wireless communication system in accordance with aspects of the disclosure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0019] Aspects of the disclosure are provided in the following description and related drawings. Alternative aspects can be devised without departing from the scope of the disclosure. Additionally, it will be understood that the aspects of the disclosure are not limited to the particular methodologies, protocols, and materials described herein as these can vary. For the purpose of clarity, technical material that is known in the technical fields related to the disclosure have not been described in detail so that the disclosure is not unnecessarily obscured. Skilled artisans appreciate that elements in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements in the figures can be exaggerated relative to other elements to help to improve understanding of various aspects of the present disclosure. Also, common but well-known elements that are useful not in making and using embodiments can not be described in detail or can be omitted altogether.

[0020] The words “exemplary” and / or “example” are used herein to mean “serving as an example, instance, or illustration.” Any aspect described herein as “exemplary” and / or “example” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other aspects. Likewise, the term “aspects of the disclosure” does not require that all aspects of the disclosure include the discussed feature, advantage or mode of operation.

[0021] 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 description can be represented by voltages, currents, electromagnetic waves, magnetic fields or particles, optical fields or particles, or any combination thereof, depending in part on the particular applications, in part on the particular design constraints, in part on the corresponding technology, etc.

[0022] Moreover, many aspects are described in terms of sequences of actions to be performed by, for example, elements of a computing device. It will be recognized that various actions described herein can be performed by specific circuits (e.g., application specific integrated circuits (ASICs)), by program instructions being executed by one or more processors, or by a combination of both. Additionally, these sequence of actions described herein can be considered to be embodied entirely within any form of non-transitory computer readable storage medium having stored therein

[0023] As used herein, the terms “user equipment” (UE) and “base station” are not intended to be specific or otherwise limited to any particular radio access technology (RAT), unless otherwise noted. In general, a UE can be any wireless communication device (e.g., a mobile phone, router, tablet computer, laptop computer, consumer asset-positioning device, wearable device (e.g., smartwatch, glasses, augmented reality (AR) / virtual reality (VR) headset, etc.), vehicle (e.g., automobile, motorcycle, bicycle, etc.), Internet of Things (IoT) device, etc.) used by a user to communicate over a wireless communications network. A UE can be mobile and / or can (e.g., at times) be stationary, and can communicate with a radio access network (RAN). As used herein, the term “UE” can be referred to as an “access terminal” or “AT,” a “client device,” a “wireless device,” a “subscriber device,” a “subscriber terminal,” a “subscriber station,” a “user terminal” or “UT,” a “mobile device,” a “mobile terminal,” a “mobile station,” or variants thereof, interchangeably. In general, UEs can communicate with a core network via a RAN, and through the core network, UEs can be connected to one or more external networks such as the Internet and / or to other UEs. Of course, other mechanisms of connecting to the core network and / or the Internet are also possible for UEs, such as over wired access networks, wireless local area network (WLAN) (e.g., based on Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11 specifications and / or the like), and / or the like.

[0024] A base station can operate according to one of a number of RATs in communication with UEs depending on the network in which it is deployed, and can be alternatively referred to as an access point (AP), a network node, a NodeB, an evolved NodeB (eNB), a next generation eNB (ng-eNB), a new radio (NR) Node B (also referred to as gNB, or gNodeB), etc. Base stations can be used primarily to support wireless access by UEs for data, voice, and / or signaling connections to a

[0025] The term “base station” can refer to a single physical transmission-reception point (TRP), or can refer to multiple physical TRPs, which can or can not be co-located. For example, in the case where the term “base station” refers to a single physical TRP, this physical TRP can be an antenna of the base station corresponding to a cell (or a few cell sectors) of the base station. In the case where the term “base station” refers to multiple co-located physical TRPs, this physical TRP can be an array of antennas of the base station (e.g., as in a multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) system, or in case the base station employs beamforming). In the case where the term “base station” refers to multiple non-co-located physical TRPs, the physical TRPs 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 TRPs can be the serving base station receiving the measurement report from the UE and a neighbor base station whose reference radio frequency (RF) signals the UE is measuring. Because a TRP is a point from / into which the base station transmits and receives wireless signals, as used herein, a reference to transmission from or reception at a base station is to be understood as reference to a particular TRP of the base station.

[0026] In some implementations that support positioning of UEs, a base station can not support wireless access by UEs (e.g., can not support data, voice, and / or signaling connections for UEs), but instead transmit reference signals to UEs to be measured by the UEs, and / or can receive and measure signals transmitted by UEs. Such a base station can be referred to as a positioning beacon (e.g., when transmitting signals to UEs) and / or as a location measurement unit (e.g., when receiving and measuring signals from UEs).

[0027] An “RF signal” comprises electromagnetic waves of a given frequency that convey information through the space between a transmitter and a receiver. As used herein, a transmitter can transmit a single “RF signal” or multiple “RF signals” to a receiver. However, due to the nature of RF signal propagation through multipath channels, a receiver can receive multiple “RF signals” corresponding to each transmitted RF signal. Identical RF signals transmitted over different paths between a transmitter and receiver can be referred to as “multipath” RF signals. As used herein, an RF signal can also be referred to as a “wireless signal” or simply a “signal,” where it is clear from the context that the term “signal” refers to a wireless signal or an RF signal.

[0028] Figure 1 An example wireless communications system 100 according to aspects of the present disclosure is illustrated. The wireless communications system 100, which can also be referred to as a wireless wide area network (WWAN), can include various base stations 102, labeled as “BSs” and various UEs 104. The base stations 102 can include macro cell base stations (high power cellular base stations) and / or small cell base stations (low power cellular base stations). In an aspect, the macro cell base station can include eNBs and / or ng-eNBs, in cases in which wireless communications system 100 corresponds to an LTE network, or gNBs, in cases in which wireless communications system 100 corresponds to an NR network, or a combination of both, and the small cell base stations can include femto cells, pico cells, micro cells, and the like.

[0029] The base stations 102 can collectively form a RAN and interface with a core network 170 (e.g., an evolved packet core (EPC) or 5G core (5GC)) through backhaul links 122 (e.g., an SI interface), and with one or more location servers 172 (e.g., a location management function (LMF) or secure user plane location (SUPL) location platform (SLP)) through the core network 170. The location server(s) 172 can be part of the core network 170 or can be external to the core network 170. The location server 172 can be integrated with the base stations 102. The UEs 104 can communicate with the location server 172 directly or indirectly. For example, the UEs 104 can communicate with the location server 172 via a base station 102 that is currently serving the UEs 104. The UEs 104 can also communicate with the location server 172 over another path, such as via an application server (not shown), via another network, such as via a wireless local area network (WLAN) access point (AP) (e.g., AP 150 described below), etc. The communication between the UEs 104 and the location server 172 can be represented as an indirect connection (e.g., through the core network 170, etc.) or a direct connection (e.g., as shown via direct connection 128) for signaling purposes, with intermediate nodes (if any) omitted from the signaling diagram for the sake of clarity.

[0030] In addition to other functions, the base stations 102 can perform functions related to one or more of: transfer of 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, non-access stratum (NAS) message transfer, 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 one another directly or indirectly (e.g., through the EPC / 5GC) over backhaul links 134, which can be wired or wireless.

[0031] Base station 102 can wirelessly communicate with UE 104. Each of base stations 102 can provide communication coverage for its respective geographic coverage area 110. In one aspect, base station 102 in each geographic coverage area 110 can support one or more cells. A “cell” is a logical communication entity used to communicate with a base station (e.g., via some frequency resources, referred to as carrier frequency, component carrier, carrier, frequency band, etc.) and can be associated with an identifier used to distinguish cells operating via the same or different carrier frequencies (e.g., Physical Cell Identifier (PCI), Enhanced Cell Identifier (ECI), Virtual Cell Identifier (VCI), Global Cell Identifier (CGI), etc.). In some cases, different cells can be configured based on different protocol types that can provide access for different types of UEs (e.g., Machine Type Communication (MTC), Narrowband IoT (NB-IoT), Enhanced Mobile Broadband (eMBB), or others). Because a cell is supported by a specific base station, the term “cell” can refer to one or both of the logical communication entity and the base station supporting that logical communication entity, depending on the context. Furthermore, since the TRP is generally the physical transmission point of a cell, the terms "cell" and "TRP" are used interchangeably. In some cases, the term "cell" can also refer to the geographical coverage area of ​​a base station (e.g., a sector), as long as the carrier frequency can be detected and used for communication within some part of the geographical coverage area 110.

[0032] While the geographic coverage areas 110 of adjacent macro cell base stations 102 may partially overlap (e.g., in handover areas), some geographic coverage areas 110 may substantially overlap with larger geographic coverage areas 110. For example, a small cell base station 102′ (labeled “SC” for “small cell”) may have a geographic coverage area 110′ that substantially overlaps with the geographic coverage areas 110 of one or more macro cell base stations 102. A network that includes both small cell base stations and macro cell base stations can be referred to as a heterogeneous network. A heterogeneous network may also include a home eNB (HeNB) that can provide service to a restricted group called a Closed Subscriber Group (CSG).

[0033] The communication link 120 between base station 102 and UE 104 may include uplink (also known as reverse link) transmission from UE 104 to base station 102 and / or downlink (DL) (also known as forward link) transmission from base station 102 to UE 104. The communication link 120 may use MIMO antenna techniques including spatial multiplexing, beamforming, and / or transmit diversity. The communication link 120 may use one or more carrier frequencies. Carrier allocation may be asymmetric relative to the downlink and uplink (e.g., more or fewer carriers may be allocated to the downlink compared to the uplink).

[0034] 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) or listen before talk (LBT) procedures prior to communicating to determine whether the channel is available.

[0035] The small cell base stations 102' can operate in a licensed or an unlicensed frequency spectrum. When operating in an unlicensed frequency spectrum, the small cell base stations 102' can employ LTE or NR 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 increase the

[0036] The wireless communications system 100 can also include millimeter wave (mmW) base stations 180 that can operate in mmW frequencies and / or near mmW frequencies in communication with mmW user equipment devices 182. Extremely high frequency (EHF) is part of the RF in the electromagnetic spectrum. EHF has a range from 30 GHz to 300 GHz and a wavelength between 1 millimeter and 10 millimeters. Radio waves in this band can be referred to as a millimeter wave. Near mmW waves can extend down to a frequency of 3 GHz with a wavelength of 100 millimeters. The super high frequency (SHF) band extends between 3 GHz and 30 GHz, also referred to as centimeter wave. Communications using the mmW / near mmW radio frequency band have extremely high path loss and a relatively short range. The mmW base stations 180 and the UE devices 182 can utilize beamforming (transmit and / or receive) over the mmW communication links 184 to compensate for the extremely high path loss and short range. Further, it should be appreciated that in alternative configurations, one or more base stations 102 can also transmit using mmW or near mmW and beamforming. Thus, it should be appreciated that the foregoing illustrated examples are merely examples and should not be construed as limiting the various disclosed aspects.

[0037] Transmit beamforming is a technique used to focus the RF signal in a specific direction. Traditionally, when a network node (e.g., a base station) broadcasts a RF signal, it broadcasts the signal in all directions (omni-directionally). With transmit beamforming, the network node determines the location of a given target device (e.g., a UE) (relative to the transmitting network node) and projects a stronger downlink RF signal in that specific direction, providing a faster (in terms of data rate) and stronger RF signal to receiving device(s). To change the direction of the RF signal when transmitting, the network node can control the phase and relative amplitude of the RF signal at each of the one or more transmitters that are broadcasting the RF signal. For example, a network node can use an array of antennas (referred to as a “phased array” or “antenna array”) that creates a beam of RF waves that can be “steered” to point in different directions, without actually moving the antennas. Specifically, the RF current from the transmitter is fed to the individual antennas with the correct phase relationship so that the radio waves from the separate antennas add together to increase the radiation in a desired direction, while cancelling to suppress radiation in undesired directions.

[0038] Transmit beams can be quasi co-located, which means that they look the same in terms of parameters at a receiver (e.g., a UE), regardless of whether the transmission antennas of the network node themselves are physically co-located. In NR, there are four types of quasi co-location (QCL) relationships. Specifically, a given type of QCL relationship means that some parameter(s) for a second reference RF signal for a second beam can be derived from information for a source reference RF signal for a source beam. Thus, if the source reference RF signal is QCL Type A, then the receiver can use the source reference RF signal to estimate the Doppler shift, Doppler spread, average delay, and delay spread of the second reference RF signal transmitted on the same channel. If the source reference RF signal is QCL Type B, then the receiver can use the source reference RF signal to estimate the Doppler shift and Doppler spread of the second reference RF signal transmitted on the same channel. If the source reference RF signal is QCL Type C, then the receiver can use the source reference RF signal to estimate the Doppler shift and average delay of the second reference RF signal transmitted on the same channel. If the source reference RF signal is QCL Type D, then the receiver can use the source reference RF signal to estimate the spatial receive parameter of the second reference RF signal transmitted on the same channel.

[0039] In receive beamforming, a receiver uses a receive beam to amplify an RF signal detected on a given channel. For example, the receiver can increase a gain setting and / or adjust a phase setting of an antenna array in a particular direction to amplify an RF signal received from that direction (e.g., increase a gain level of that RF signal). Thus, when it is said that a receiver is beamformed in a certain direction, it means that the beam gain in that direction is high relative to the beam gain along other directions, or that the beam gain in that direction is the highest compared to the beam gain in that direction of all other receive beams available to the receiver. This results in a stronger received signal strength (e.g., reference signal received power (RSRP), reference signal received quality (RSRQ), signal to interference plus noise ratio (SINR), etc.) of the RF signal received from that direction.

[0040] Transmit and receive beams can be spatially related. Spatially related means that parameters of a second beam (e.g., a transmit or receive beam) of a second reference signal can be derived from information about a first beam (e.g., a receive or transmit beam) of a first reference signal. For example, a UE can use a particular receive beam to receive a downlink reference signal (e.g., a synchronization signal block (SSB)) from a base station. The UE can then form a transmit beam for transmitting an uplink reference signal (e.g., a sounding reference signal (SRS)) to the base station based on parameters of the receive beam.

[0041] Note that a “downlink” beam can be a transmit beam or a receive beam, depending on which entity is forming it. For example, if a base station is forming a downlink beam to transmit a reference signal to a UE, the downlink beam is a transmit beam. However, if a UE is forming a downlink beam, it is a receive beam for receiving a downlink reference signal. Similarly, an “uplink” beam can be a transmit beam or a receive beam, depending on which entity is forming it. For example, if a base station is forming an uplink beam, it is an uplink receive beam, and if a UE is forming an uplink beam, it is an uplink transmit beam.

[0042] The electromagnetic spectrum is often subdivided based on frequency / wavelength into various classes, bands, channels, etc. In 5G NR, two initial operating bands have been identified as frequency range designations FR1 (410 MHz - 7.125 GHz) and FR2 (24.25 - 52.6 GHz). It should be understood that although a portion of FR1 is greater than 6 GHz, FR1 is often referred to (interchangeably) as a “Sub- 6 GHz” band in various documents and articles. A similar nomenclature issue sometimes occurs with regard to FR2, which is often referred to (interchangeably) as a “millimeter wave” band in documents and articles, despite being different from the extremely high frequency (EHF) band (30 GHz - 300 GHz) which is identified by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) as a “millimeter wave” band.

[0043] The frequencies between FR1 and FR2 are often referred to as mid-band frequencies. Recent 5G NR studies have identified an operating band for these mid-band frequencies as frequency range designation FR3 (7.125 GHz - 24.25 GHz). Bands falling into FR3 can inherit FR1 and / or FR2 characteristics and can therefore be effectively extend the characteristics of FR1 and / or FR2 to mid-band frequencies. Moreover, even higher bands are currently under exploration to extend 5G NR operation beyond 52.6 GHz. For example, three higher operating bands have been identified as frequency range designations FR4-a or FR4-1 (52.6 GHz - 71 GHz), FR4 (52.6 GHz - 114.25 GHz), and FR5 (114.25 GHz - 300 GHz). Each of these higher bands fall within the EHF band.

[0044] With the above in mind, unless specifically stated otherwise, it should be understood that the use of the term “Sub-6 GHz” or the like in this document means frequencies that can be less than 6 GHz, can be within FR1, or can include mid-band frequencies. Further, unless specifically stated otherwise, it should be understood that the use of the term “millimeter wave” or the like in this document means frequencies that can include mid-band frequencies, can be within FR2, FR4, FR4-a or FR4-1, and / or FR5, or can be within the EHF band.

[0045] In multi-carrier systems, such as 5G, one of the carrier frequencies is referred to as the "primary carrier" or "anchor carrier" or "primary serving cell" or "PCell", while the rest of the carrier frequencies are referred to as "secondary carriers" or "secondary serving cells" or "SCells". In carrier aggregation, the anchor carrier is the carrier operating on the primary frequency (e.g., FR1) used by the UE 104 / 182 and the cell in which the UE 104 / 182 either performs an initial radio resource control (RRC) connection establishment procedure or initiates an RRC connection reestablishment procedure. The primary carrier carries all common and UE-specific control channels and can be a carrier in a licensed frequency (although this is not always the case). The secondary carriers are carriers operating on a second frequency (e.g., FR2) that can be configured once the RRC connection is established between the UE 104 and the anchor carrier and can be used to provide additional radio resources. In some cases, the secondary carriers can be carriers in an unlicensed frequency. The secondary carriers can only include necessary signaling information and signals, e.g., since the primary uplink and downlink carriers are generally UE-specific, those information and signals that are not UE-specific can not be present in the secondary carriers. This means that different UEs 104 / 182 in a cell can have different downlink primary carriers. The same is true for the uplink primary carriers. The network is able to change the primary carriers of any UE 104 / 182 at any time. This is done, for example, to balance the load on the different carriers. Because a "serving cell" (whether a PCell or an SCell) corresponds to a carrier frequency / component carrier on which some base station is communicating, the terms "cell", "serving cell", "component carrier", "carrier frequency", and the like can be used interchangeably.

[0046] For example, still referring to Figure 1 One of the frequencies utilized by the macrocell base station 102 can be an anchor carrier (or "PCell"), while the other frequencies utilized by the macrocell base station 102 and / or mmW base station 180 can be secondary carriers ("SCells"). The simultaneous transmission and / or reception of multiple carriers enables the UE 104 / 182 to significantly increase its data transmission and / or reception rate. For example, two 20 MHz aggregated carriers in a multi-carrier system would theoretically result in a doubling of the data rate (i.e., 40 MHz) as compared to the rate achieved with a single 20 MHz carrier.

[0047] The wireless communications system 100 can also include UE 164 that can be in communication with macro cell base station 102 through communications link 120 and / or mmW base station 180 through mmW communication link 184. For example, macro cell base station 102 can support PCell and one or more SCells for UE 164, and mmW base station 180 can support one or more SCells for UE 164.

[0048] In some cases, UEs 164 and 182 can be capable of sidelink communication. Sidelink-capable UEs (SL-UEs) can communicate with base station 102 using a Uu interface (i.e., the air interface between a UE and a base station) through communication link 120. SL-UEs (e.g., UEs 164, 182) can also communicate with one another directly using a PC5 interface (i.e., the air interface between sidelink-capable UEs) through wireless sidelink 160. Wireless sidelink (or simply “sidelink”) is an adaptation of the core cellular (e.g., LTE, NR) standard that allows for direct communication between two or more UEs without the need for communication through a base station. Sidelink communications can be unicast or multicast and can be used for device-to-device (D2D) media sharing, vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) communications, vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communications (e.g., cellular V2X (cV2X) communications, enhanced V2X (eV2X) communications, etc.), emergency rescue applications, etc. One or more of a group of SL-UEs utilizing sidelink communication can be within the geographic coverage area 110 of base station 102. Other SL-UEs in such a group can be outside the geographic coverage area 110 of base station 102 or be otherwise unable to receive transmissions from base station 102. In some cases, multiple groups of SL-UEs communicating via sidelink communication can utilize a one-to-many (1 :M) system where each SL-UE transmits to every other SL-UE in the group. In some cases, base station 102 can facilitate scheduling of resources for sidelink communications. In other cases, sidelink communications between SL-UEs occur without participation by base station 102.

[0049] In an aspect, the sidelink 160 can operate over a wireless communication medium of interest that can be shared with other wireless communications between other vehicles and / or infrastructure access points and other RATs. A "medium" can be made up of one or more time, frequency, and / or space communication resources (e.g., including one or more channels across one or more carriers) associated with wireless communications between one or more transmitter / receiver pairs. In an aspect, the medium of interest can correspond to at least a portion of an unlicensed band shared among various RATs. Although different licensed frequency bands have been reserved for certain communication systems (e.g., by government entities such as the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in the United States), these systems, especially those employing small cell access points, have recently extended operations into unlicensed frequency bands such as the Unlicensed National Information Infrastructure (U-NII) band used by Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) technologies, most notably the IEEE 802.1 lx WLAN technologies commonly referred to as "Wi-Fi." Example systems of this type include different variants of CDMA systems, TDMA systems, FDMA systems, Orthogonal FDMA (OFDMA) systems, Single-Carrier FDMA (SC-FDMA) systems, etc.

[0050] It should be noted that although Figure 1 Only two UEs are shown as SL-UEs (i.e., UEs 164 and 182), any of the illustrated UEs can be SL-UEs. Also, although only UE 182 is described as being capable of beamforming, any of the illustrated UEs (including UE 164) can be capable of beamforming. In cases where the SL-UEs are capable of beamforming, they can beamform toward each other (i.e., toward other SL-UEs), toward other UEs (e.g., UE 104), toward base stations (e.g., base stations 102, 180, small cell 102', access point 150), etc. Thus, in some cases, UEs 164 and 182 can utilize beamforming over sidelink 160.

[0051] In the example of FIG. 1, Figure 1 In the example of FIG. 1, Figure 1The one or more SVs 112 (e.g., satellites) can broadcast signals 124 (e.g., Ll signals) that can be received by the UEs 104 (e.g., within single UEs 104) from the one or more SVs 112. In an aspect, the SVs 112 can be part of a satellite positioning system that the UEs 104 can use as an independent source of location information. A satellite positioning system typically includes a system of transmitters (e.g., SVs 112) positioned in orbit about the earth that transmit signals (e.g., signals 124) that can be detected by a receiver (e.g., a UE 104) that can determine its location on or above the earth based, at least in part, on the detected signals from the transmitters. Such transmitters typically transmit signals marked with a repeating pattern of code chips using a pseudo-random noise (PN) code of a set number of code chips. While typically located in SVs 112, transmitters can sometimes be located on ground-based control stations, base stations 102, and / or other UEs 104. The UEs 104 can include one or more specialized receivers designed specifically to receive signals 124 used to derive geographic location information from the SVs 112.

[0052] In a satellite positioning system, the use of signals 124 can be augmented by various satellite-based augmentation systems (SBAS), which can be associated with one or more global and / or regional navigation satellite systems and / or can assist in or otherwise enhance the reception and / or use of signals from the one or more global and / or regional navigation satellite systems. For example, an SBAS can include one or more augmentation systems, such as the Wide Area Augmentation System (WAAS), the European Geostationary Navigation Overlay Service (EGNOS), the Multi-functional Satellite Augmentation System (MSAS), the Global Positioning System (GPS) Aided Geo Augmented Navigation or GPS and Geo Augmented Navigation system (GAGAN), and / or the like. Thus, as used herein, a satellite positioning system can include any combination of one or more global and / or regional navigation satellite systems associated with such one or more satellite positioning systems.

[0053] In an aspect, the SVs 112 can additionally or alternatively be part of one or more non-terrestrial networks (NTNs). In an NTN, the SVs 112 connect to an earth station (also referred to as a ground station, NTN gateway, or gateway), which in turn connects to elements in the 5G network, such as a modified base station 102 (without terrestrial antennas) or a network node in the 5GC. This element would in turn provide access to other elements in the 5G network and ultimately to entities outside the 5G network, such as Internet network servers and other user equipment. In this way, the UEs 104 can receive communication signals (e.g., signals 124) from the SVs 112 instead of, or in addition to, from the terrestrial base stations 102.

[0054] The wireless communications system 100 can also include one or more UEs, such as UE 190, that connect indirectly to one or more communication networks via one or more device-to-device (D2D) peer-to-peer (P2P) links (referred to as “sidelinks”). In Figure 1 In an example, the UE 190 has a D2D P2P link 192 with one of the UEs 104 connected to one of the base stations 102 (through which the UE 190 can indirectly obtain cellular connectivity), and a D2D P2P link 194 with WLAN STA 152 connected to the WLAN AP 150 (through which the UE 190 can indirectly obtain WLAN-based network connectivity). In an example, the D2D P2P links 192 and 194 can be supported with any well-known D2D RAT, such as LTE Direct (LTE-D), WiFi Direct (WiFi-D), Bluetooth®, and so on.

[0055] Figure 2A An example wireless network structure 200 is illustrated. For example, a 5GC 210 (also referred to as Next Generation Core (NGC)) can be viewed functionally as control plane (C-plane) functions 214 (e.g., UE registration, authentication, network access, gateway selection, etc.) and user plane (U-plane) functions 212 (e.g., UE gateway function, access to data networks, IP

[0056] ​Another optional aspect can include a location server 230, which can be in communication with the 5GC 210 to provide location assistance for UEs 204. This location server 230 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 a plurality of physical servers, etc.), or alternately each server can correspond to a single server. The location server 230 can be configured to support one or more location services for UEs 204, which can connect to the location server 230 via the core network, 5GC 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 (e.g., a third party server, such as an original equipment manufacturer (OEM) server or a service host).

[0057] Figure 2B Another example wireless network structure 250 is illustrated. For example, a 5GC 260 (which can correspond to the 5GC 210) can be communicably coupled to a RAN 252 (which can correspond to the RAN 204) and / or to a RAN 254 (which can correspond to the RAN 204). The RAN 252 can be different from the RAN 254. For example, the RAN 252 can implement a 5G NR technology Figure 2AThe 5GC 210) can be viewed functionally as control plane functions provided by an access and mobility management function (AMF) 264, user plane functions provided by a user plane function (UPF) 262, which operate cooperatively to form the core network (i.e., 5GC 260). The functions of the AMF 264 include registration management, connection management, reachability management, mobility management, lawful interception, transport for one or more UE 204 (e.g., any of the UEs described herein) and session management function (SMF) 266 interaction for session management (SM) messages, transparent proxy services for routing SM messages, access identity authentication, and access authorization, short message service (SMS) message transfer between the UE 204 and the SMSF (not shown), and security anchor functionality (SEAF). The AMF 264 also interacts with an authentication server function (AUSF) (not shown) and the UE 204, and receives an intermediate key that was established as a result of the UE 204 authentication process. In the case of authentication based on a UMTS (Universal Mobile

[0058] Functions of the UPF 262 include acting as an anchor point for intra- / inter-RAT mobility (when applicable), acting as a external protocol data unit (PDU) session point of interconnect to data networks (not shown), providing packet routing and forwarding, packet inspection, user plane policy rule enforcement (e.g., gating, redirection, traffic steering), lawful interception (user plane collection), traffic usage reporting, quality of service (QoS) handling for user plane (e.g., uplink / downlink rate enforcement, reflective QoS marking in the downlink), uplink traffic verification (service data flow (SDF) to QoS flow mapping), transport level packet marking in the uplink and downlink, downlink packet buffering and downlink data notification triggering, and one or more “end markers” transmitted and forwarded to a source RAN node. The UPF 262 can also support transfer of location services messages over a user plane between the UE 204 and a location server such as the SLP 272.

[0059] Functions of the SMF 266 include session management, UE Internet protocol (IP) address allocation and management, selection and control of user plane functions, configuration of traffic steering at the UPF 262 to route traffic to the proper destination, control of QoS and part of policy enforcement, and downlink data notification. The interface by which the SMF 266 communicates with the AMF 264 is referred to as the N11 interface.

[0060] Another optional aspect can include an LMF 270, which can be in communication with the 5GC 260 to provide location assistance 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 each server can correspond to a single server. The LMF 270 can be configured to support one or more location services for UEs 204, which can connect to the LMF 270 via the core network, 5GC 260, and / or via the Internet (not shown). The SLP 272 can support similar functions as the LMF 270, but the LMF 270 can communicate with the AMF 264, NG-RAN 220, and UEs 204 over the control plane (e.g., using interfaces and protocols intended to convey signaling messages rather than voice or data), and the SLP 272 can communicate with UEs 204 and external clients (e.g., third party servers 274) over the user plane (e.g., using protocols intended to carry voice and / or data, like transmission control protocol (TCP) and / or IP).

[0061] However, another optional aspect can include a third party server 274, which can communicate with the LMF 270, the SLP 272, the 5GC 260 (e.g., via the AMF 264 and / or the UPF 262), the NG-RAN 220, and / or the UE 204 to obtain location information (e.g., a location estimate) for the UE 204. Thus, in some cases, the third party server 274 can be referred to as a Location Services (LCS) client or an external client. The third party server 274 can be implemented as a number 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 alternatively can each correspond to a single server.

[0062] User plane interface 263 and control plane interface 265 connect the 5GC 260, specifically the UPF 262 and AMF 264, respectively, to one or more gNBs 222 and / or ng-eNBs 224 in the NG-RAN 220. The interface between the gNB(s) 222 and / or ng-eNB(s) 224 and AMF 264 is referred to as the “N2” interface, and the interface between the gNB(s) 222 and / or ng-eNB(s) 224 and the UPF 262 is referred to as the “N3” interface. The gNB(s) 222 and / or ng-eNB(s) 224 of the NG-RAN 220 can communicate directly with each other via backhaul connection(s) 223, referred to as “Xn-C” interface. One or more of the gNBs 222 and / or ng-eNBs 224 can communicate with one or more UEs 204 over a wireless interface, referred to as the “Uu” interface.

[0063] The functionality of a gNB 222 can be divided among a gNB central unit (gNB-CU) 226, one or more gNB distributed units (gNB-DUs) 228, and one or more gNB radio units (gNB-RUs) 229. The gNB-CU 226 is a logical node that includes base station functions including transfer of user data, mobility control, radio access network sharing, positioning, session management, etc., in addition to those functions specifically assigned to the gNB-DU(s) 228. More specifically, the gNB-CU 226 typically hosts the radio resource control (RRC), service data adaptation protocol (SDAP), and packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) protocols of the gNB 222. The gNB-DU 228 is a logical node that typically hosts the radio link control (RLC) and medium access control (MAC) layers of the gNB 222. Its operation is controlled by the gNB-CU 226. One gNB-DU 228 can support one or more cells, and one cell is supported by only one gNB-DU 228. The interface 232 between the gNB-CU 226 and the one or more gNB-DUs 228 is referred to as the “Fl” interface. The physical (PHY) layer functionality of the gNB 222 is typically hosted by one or more standalone gNB-RUs 229, which perform functions such as power amplification and signal sending / receiving. The interface between the gNB-DU 228 and the gNB-RU 229 is referred to as the “Fx” interface. Thus, the UE 204 communicates with the gNB-CU 226 via the RRC, SDAP, and PDCP layers, with the gNB-DU 228 via the RLC and MAC layers, and with the gNB-RU 229 via the PHY layer.

[0064] Figure 3A , Figure 3B and Figure 3C FIGURE 18 illustrates several example components (with corresponding bulleted lists) of a UE 302 (which can correspond to any of the UEs described herein) that can be incorporated into a UE 302 (which can correspond to any of the UEs described herein), a base station 304 (which can correspond to any of the base stations described herein), and a network entity 306 (which can correspond to or embody any of the network functions described herein, including the location server 230 and the LMF 270, or can alternatively stand alone from the above network functions) that can be incorporated into a network entity 306 (which can correspond to or embody any of the network functions described herein, including the location server 230 and the LMF 270, or can alternatively stand alone from the above network functions) in which various aspects and features described herein can be Figure 2A and 2BThe NG-RAN 220 and / or 5GC 210 / 260 infrastructure described in the middle (such as a private network) to support the operations described herein. It will be appreciated that the components can be implemented in different types of devices in different implementations (e.g., in ASICs, in System on a Chip (SoC) devices). The illustrated components can also be incorporated into other devices in a communication system. For example, other devices in the system can include components similar to those described for providing similar functionality. Also, a given device can include one or more of the components. For example, a device can include multiple transceiver components that enable the device to operate on multiple carriers and / or communicate via different technologies.

[0065] The UE 302 and the base stations 304 each include one or more wireless wide area network (WWAN) transceiver components 310 and 350, respectively, that provide The WWAN transceiver components 310 and 350 can each be connected to one or more antennas 316 and 356, respectively, for communicating with other network nodes, such as other UEs, access points, base stations (e.g., eNBs, gNBs), etc., via one or more wireless communication media (e.g., some set of time / frequency resources in a particular frequency spectrum) according to at least one designated RAT (e.g., NR, LTE, GSM, etc.). The WWAN transceiver components 310 and 350 can be configured to transmit and code signals 318 and 358, respectively (e.g., messages, indications, information, etc.), and, conversely, to receive and decode signals 318 and 358, respectively (e.g., messages, indications, information, pilots, etc.), in accordance with the designated RAT. Specifically, the WWAN transceiver components 310 and 350 include one or more transmitters 314 and 354, respectively, for transmitting and coding signals 318 and 358, respectively, and one or more receivers 312 and 352, respectively, for receiving and decoding signals 318 and 358, respectively.

[0066] The UE 302 and the base stations 304 also include, at least in some cases, one or more short-range wireless transceiver components 320 and 360, respectively. The short-range wireless transceiver components 320 and 360 can be connected to one or more antennas 326 and 366, respectively, and can be configured to communicate using various short-range wireless protocols, including without limitation Bluetooth, Bluetooth Low Energy, Wi-Fi, WiFi-Direct, Zigbee, Z-Wave, UWB, and / or NFC. The short-range wireless transceiver components 320 and 360 can be configured to communicate using the same wireless protocol or different wireless protocols. PC5, dedicated short-range communications (DSRC), wireless access for vehicular environments (WAVE), near-field communications (NFC), etc.) provide means for communicating with other network nodes, such as other UEs, access points, base stations, etc. (e.g., means for transmitting, means for receiving, means for measuring, means for tuning, means for refraining from transmitting, etc.). The short-range wireless transceivers 320 and 360 can be variously configured to respectively transmit and encode signals 328 and 368 (e.g., messages, indications, information, etc.) and, conversely, to respectively receive and decode signals 328 and 368 (e.g., messages, indications, information, pilots, etc.) in accordance with a designated RAT. Specifically, the short-range wireless transceivers 320 and 360 include one or more transmitters 324 and 364, respectively, for respectively transmitting and encoding signals 328 and 368, and one or more receivers 322 and 362, respectively, for respectively receiving and decoding signals 328 and 368. As specific examples, the short-range wireless transceivers 320 and 360 can be WiFi transceivers, transceivers, and / or transceivers, NFC transceivers, or vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) and / or vehicle-to- everything (V2X) transceivers.

[0067] The UE 302 and the base station 304 also include, at least in some cases, satellite signal receivers 330 and 370. The satellite signal receivers 330 and 370 can be connected to one or more antennas 336 and 376, respectively, and can provide means for receiving and / or measuring satellite positioning / communication signals 338 and 378, respectively. Where the satellite signal receivers 330 and 370 are satellite positioning system receivers, the satellite positioning / communication signals 338 and 378 can be Global Positioning System (GPS) signals, Global Navigation Satellite System (GLONASS) signals, Galileo signals, Beidou signals, Indian Regional Navigational Satellite System (NAVIC), Quasi-Zenith Satellite System (QZSS), etc. Where the satellite signal receivers 330 and 370 are Non-Terrestrial Network (NTN) receivers, the satellite positioning / communication signals 338 and 378 can be communication signals (e.g., carrying control and / or user data) originating from a 5G network. The satellite signal receivers 330 and 370 can include any suitable hardware and / or software for receiving and processing satellite positioning / communication signals 338 and 378, respectively. The satellite signal receivers 330 and 370 can appropriately request information and operations from other systems, and, at least in some cases, perform calculations using measurements obtained by any suitable satellite positioning system algorithm to determine a location of the UE 302 and the base station 304, respectively.

[0068] The base stations 304 and network entities 306 each include one or more network transceivers 380 and 390, respectively, providing means for communicating (e.g., means for transmitting, means for receiving, etc.) with other network entities (e.g., other base stations 304, other network entities 306) via one or more wired or wireless backhaul links. For example, a base station 304 can employ one or more network transceivers 380 to communicate with other base stations 304 or network entities 306 over one or more wired or wireless backhaul links. As another example, a network entity 306 can employ one or more network transceivers 390 to communicate with one or more base stations 304 over one or more wired or wireless backhaul links, or with other network entities 306 over one or more wired or wireless core network interfaces.

[0069] A transceiver can be configured to communicate via wired or wireless links. A transceiver, whether wired or wireless, includes transmitter circuitry (e.g., the transmitters 314, 324, 354, 364) and receiver circuitry (e.g., the receivers 312, 322, 352, 362). In some implementations, a transceiver can be an integrated device that includes transmitter circuitry and receiver circuitry in a single device, in some implementations a transceiver can include separate transmitter circuitry and separate receiver circuitry, or in other implementations a transceiver can be embodied in other manners. The transmitter circuitry and receiver circuitry of a wired transceiver (e.g., the network transceivers 380 and 390, in some implementations) can be coupled to one or more wired network interface ports. The wireless transmitter circuitry (e.g., the transmitters 314, 324, 354, 364) can include or be coupled to a plurality of antennas (e.g., the antennas 316, 326, 356, 366), such as an antenna array, which allows the respective apparatus (e.g., the UE 302, the base station 304) to perform transmit “beamforming,” as described herein. Similarly, the wireless receiver circuitry (e.g., the receivers 312, 322, 352, 362) can include or be coupled to a plurality of antennas (e.g., the antennas 316, 326, 356, 366), such as an antenna array, which allows the respective apparatus (e.g., the UE 302, the base station 304) to perform receive beamforming, as described herein. In an aspect, the transmitter circuitry and receiver circuitry can share the same plurality of antennas (e.g., the antennas 316, 326, 356, 366) such that the respective apparatus can only receive or transmit at a given time, not both at the same time. The wireless transceivers (e.g., the WWAN transceivers 310 and 350, the short-range wireless transceivers 320 and 360) can also include a network listening module (NLM) or the like for performing various measurements.

[0070] As used herein, various wireless transceivers (e.g., transceivers 310, 320, 350, and 360 in some implementations, as well as network transceivers 380 and 390) and wired transceivers (e.g., network transceivers 380 and 390 in some implementations) can generally be characterized as “transceivers,” “at least one transceiver,” or “one or more transceivers,” as appropriate. Thus, whether a particular transceiver is a wired or wireless transceiver can be inferred from the type of communication being performed. For example, backhaul communications between network devices or servers will typically involve signaling via a wired transceiver, while wireless communications between a UE (e.g., UE 302) and a base station (e.g., base station 304) will typically involve signaling via a wireless transceiver.

[0071] The UEs 302, the base stations 304, and the network entities 306 also include other components that can be used in conjunction with the operations disclosed herein. The UEs 302, the base stations 304, and the network entities 306 each include one or more processors 332, 384, and 394, for providing functionality

[0072] The UE 302, the base stations 304, and the network entity 306 each include memory circuitry implementing memory 340, 386, and 396 (e.g., each including a memory device) to maintain information (e.g., information indicative of reserved resources, thresholds, parameters, etc.). The memory 340, 386, and 396 can thus provide a means for storing, a means for retrieving, a means for maintaining, etc. In some cases, the UE 302, the base stations 304, and the network entity 306 can each include a positioning component 342, 388, and 398, respectively. The positioning component 342, 388, and 398 can be hardware circuits that are part of, or coupled to, the processor 332, 384, and 394, respectively, that, when executed, cause the UE 302, the base stations 304, and the network entity 306 to perform the functionality described herein. In other aspects, the positioning component 342, 388, and 398 can be external to the processor 332, 384, and 394 (e.g., part of a modem processing system, integrated with another processing system, etc.). Alternatively, the positioning component 342, 388, and 398 can be memory modules stored in the memory 340, 386, and 396, respectively, that, when executed by the processor 332, 384, and 394 (or a modem processing system, another processing system, etc.), cause the UE 302, the base stations 304, and the network entity 306 to perform the functionality described herein. Figure 3A The possible locations of the positioning component 342 are shown, which can be part of, for example, one or more WWAN transceiver 310, memory 340, one or more processors 332, or any combination thereof, or can be a standalone component. Figure 3B The possible locations of the positioning component 388 are shown, which can be part of, for example, one or more WWAN transceiver 350, memory 386, one or more processors 384, or any combination thereof, or can be a standalone component. Figure 3C The possible locations of the positioning component 398 are shown, which can be part of, for example, one or more WWAN transceiver 390, memory 396, one or more processors 394, or any combination thereof, or can be a standalone component.

[0073] The UE 302 can include one or more sensors 344 coupled to the one or more processors 332 to provide means for sensing or detecting movement and / or directional information used in sensing or detecting motion data derived from signals received from one or more WWAN transceivers 310, one or more short-range wireless transceivers 320, and / or satellite signal receiver 330. By way of example, the sensor(s) 344 can include an accelerometer (e.g., a micro-electrical mechanical systems (MEMS) device), a gyroscope, a geomagnetic sensor (e.g., a compass), an altimeter (e.g., a barometric altimeter), and / or any other type of movement detection sensor. Moreover, the sensor(s) 344 can include multiple different types of devices and combine their outputs in order to provide motion information. For example, the sensor(s) 344 can use a combination of a multi-axis accelerometer and directional sensors to provide the ability to calculate position in two-dimensional (2D) and / or three-dimensional (3D) coordinate systems.

[0074] Additionally, the UE 302 includes a user interface 346 providing means for providing indications (e.g., audible and / or visual indications) to a user and / or for receiving user input (e.g., upon a user actuating a sensing device such as a keypad, a touch screen, a microphone, etc.). Although not shown, the base station 304 and the network entity 306 can also include user interfaces.

[0075] Referring to the one or more processors 384 in more detail, in the downlink, IP packets from the network entity 306 can be provided to the processor 384. The one or more processors 384 can implement functionality of an RRC layer, a packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) layer, a radio link control (RLC) layer, and a medium access control (MAC) layer. The one or more processors 384 can provide RRC layer functionality associated with

[0076] The transmitter 354 and the receiver 352 can implement Layer- 1 (LI) 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 transmitter 354 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 a orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (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 symbol stream is spatially precoded to produce multiple spatial streams. Channel estimates from a channel estimator 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 302. Each spatial stream can then be provided to one or more different antennas 356. The transmitter 354 can modulate an RF carrier with a respective spatial stream for transmission.

[0077] At the UE 302, the receiver 312 receives a signal through each antenna 316. The receiver 312 recovers information modulated onto an RF carrier and provides the information to one or more processors 332. The transmitter 314 and the receiver 312 implement Layer- 1 functionality associated with various signal processing functions. The receiver 312 can perform spatial processing on the information to recover any spatial streams destined for the UE 302. If multiple spatial streams are destined for the UE 302, they can be combined into a single OFDM symbol stream. The receiver 312 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, can be recovered and demodulated by determining the most likely signal constellation points transmitted by the base station 304. These soft decisions can be based on channel estimates computed by the channel estimator. The soft decisions are then decoded and de-interleaved to recover the data and control signals that were originally transmitted by the base station 304 on the physical channel. The data and control signals are then provided to the one or more processors 332, which implement Layer-3 (L3) and Layer-2 (L2) functionality.

[0078] In the uplink, one or more processors 332 provide demultiplexing between transport and logical channels, packet reassembly, deciphering, header decompression, and control signal processing to recover IP packets from the core network. The one or more processors 332 are also responsible for error detection.

[0079] Similar to the functionality described in connection with the downlink transmission by the base station 304, the one or more processors 332 provide 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 upper layer PDU transfer, 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 transport blocks (TBs), demultiplexing of MAC SDUs from TBs, scheduling information reporting, error correction through HARQ (hybrid automatic repeat request), priority handling, and logical channel prioritization.

[0080] Channel estimates derived by the channel estimator from a reference signal or feedback transmitted by the base station 304 can be used by the transmitter 314 to select the appropriate coding and modulation schemes, and to facilitate spatial processing. The spatial streams generated by the transmitter 314 can be provided to different antenna(s) 316. The transmitter 314 can modulate an RF carrier with a respective spatial stream for transmission.

[0081] The uplink transmission is processed at the base station 304 in a manner similar to that described in connection with the receiver function at the UE 302. The receiver 352 receives information from the respective antenna(s) 356. The receiver 352 recovers information modulated onto an RF carrier and provides the information to the one or more processors 384.

[0082] In the uplink, the one or more processors 384 provide demultiplexing between transport and logical channels, packet reassembly, deciphering, header decompression, control signal processing to recover IP packets from the UE 302. The IP packets from the one or more processors 384 can be provided to the core network. The one or more processors 384 are also responsible for error detection.

[0083] For convenience, the UE 302, base station 304, and / or network entity 306 are referred to as Figure 3A , Figure 3B and Figure 3CThe components in FIG. 3C are, optionally, implemented in different configurations. For example, Figures 3A to 3C Various components in FIG. 3C are optional and the various aspects include configurations in which different components are present, are omitted, and so on. For example, in the case of FIG. 3B, Figure 3A a particular implementation of the UE 302 can omit the WWAN transceiver(s) 310 (e.g., a wearable device or tablet or PC or laptop can have Wi-Fi and / or Bluetooth capability without cellular capability), or can omit the short-range wireless transceiver(s) 320 (e.g., cellular-only, etc.), or can omit the satellite signal receiver 330, or can omit the sensor(s) 344, and so on. In another example, in the case of FIG. 3B, Figure 3B a particular implementation of the base station 304 can omit the WWAN transceiver(s) 350 (e.g., a Wi-Fi “hotspot” access point without cellular capability), or can omit the short-range wireless transceiver(s) 360 (e.g., cellular-only, etc.), or can omit the satellite receiver 370, and so on. In the interest of brevity, the descriptions of various alternative configurations have not been provided for FIGS. 3A-3C, but would be readily understood by one of ordinary skill in the art.

[0084] The various components of the UE 302, the base station 304, and the network entity 306 can be communicatively coupled to each other by data buses 334, 382, and 392, respectively. In an aspect, the data buses 334, 382, and 392 can form, or be part of, a communication interface of the UE 302, the base station 304, and the network entity 306, respectively. For example, in the case where different logical entities are embodied in the same device (e.g., gNB and location server functionality incorporated into the same base station 304), the data buses 334, 382, and 392 can provide for communication between them.

[0085] Figure 3A , 3B The components of FIGS. 1-3C can be implemented in various ways. In some implementations, Figure 3A , 3BThe components of FIGs. 3A and 3C can be implemented in one or more circuits (such as, for example, one or more processors and / or one or more ASICs (which can include one or more processors)). In such embodiments, each circuit can employ and / or incorporate at least one memory component for storing information or executable code used by that circuit to implement its functionality. For example, some or all of the functionality represented by blocks 310 to 346 can be implemented by a processor and memory component(s) of UE 302 (e.g., through execution of appropriate code and / or through appropriate configuration of the processor component(s)). Similarly, some or all of the functionality represented by blocks 350 to 388 can be implemented by a processor and memory component(s) of base station 304 (e.g., through execution of appropriate code and / or through appropriate configuration of the processor component(s)). Also, some or all of the functionality represented by blocks 390 to 398 can be implemented by a processor and memory component(s) of network entity 306 (e.g., through execution of appropriate code and / or through appropriate configuration of the processor component(s)). For simplicity, various operations, acts, and / or functions are described herein as being performed by a UE, a base station, a network entity, and / or the like. However, as will be appreciated, such operations, acts, and / or functions can actually be performed by specific components or combinations of components of the UE 302, base station 304, network entity 306, and / or the like, such as the processors 332, 384, and 394, the transceivers 310, 320, 350, and 360, the memories 340, 386, and 396, the positioning components 342, 388, and 398, and / or the like.

[0086] In some designs, network entity 306 can be implemented as a component of a core network. In other designs, network entity 306 can be distinct from the operations of a network operator or cellular network infrastructure (e.g., NG RAN 220 and / or 5GC 210 / 260). For example, network entity 306 can be a component of a private network that can be configured to communicate with UE 302 via base station 304 or independent of base station 304 (e.g., through a non-cellular communication link, such as WiFi).

[0087] Various frame structures can be used to support downlink and uplink transmissions between network nodes (e.g., base stations and UEs). Figure 4 FIG. 400 is a diagram 400 illustrating an exemplary frame structure, in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. The frame structure can be a downlink or uplink frame structure. Other wireless communication technologies can have different frame structures and / or different channels.

[0088] LTE (and in some cases NR) utilizes OFDM on the downlink and single-carrier frequency division multiplexing (SC-FDM) on the uplink. Unlike LTE, however, NR can also utilize OFDM on the uplink. OFDM and SC-FDM partition the system bandwidth into multiple (K) orthogonal subcarriers, which are also commonly referred to as tones, bins, etc. Each subcarrier can be modulated with data. In general, modulation symbols are sent in the frequency domain with OFDM and in the time domain with SC-FDM. The spacing of the adjacent subcarriers can be fixed, and the total number of subcarriers (K) can be dependent on the system bandwidth. For example, the spacing of the subcarriers can be 15 kHz and the minimum resource allocation (called a “resource block” (RB)) can be 12 subcarriers (or 180 kHz). Consequently, the nominal FFT size can be equal to 128, 256, 512, 1024 or 2048 for system bandwidth of 1.25, 2.5, 5, 10, or 20 megahertz (MHz), respectively. The system bandwidth can also be partitioned into subbands. For example, a subband can cover 1.08 MHz (i.e., 6 resource blocks), and there can be 1, 2, 4, 8, or 16 subbands for system bandwidth of 1.25, 2.5, 5, 10, or 20 MHz, respectively.

[0089] LTE supports a single numerology (subcarrier spacing (SCS), symbol length, etc.). In contrast, NR can support multiple numerologies (μ), e.g., 15 kHz (μ = 0), 30 kHz (μ = 1), 60 kHz (μ = 2), 120 kHz (μ = 3), and 240 kHz (μ = 4) or higher subcarrier spacing can be available. In each subcarrier spacing, there are 14 symbols per slot. For 15 kHz SCS (μ = 0), there is 1 slot per subframe, 10 slots per frame, a slot duration of 1 millisecond (ms), a symbol duration of 66.7 microseconds (μs), and a maximum nominal system bandwidth (in MHz) of 50 with a 4K FFT size. For 30 kHz SCS (μ = 1), there are 2 slots per subframe, 20 slots per frame, a slot duration of 0.5 ms, a symbol duration of 33.3 μs, and a maximum nominal system bandwidth (in MHz) of 100 with a 4K FFT size. For 60 kHz SCS (μ = 2), there are 4 slots per subframe, 40 slots per frame, a slot duration of 0.25 ms, a symbol duration of 16.7 μs, and a maximum nominal system bandwidth (in MHz) of 200 with a 4K FFT size. For 120 kHz SCS (μ = 3), there are 8 slots per subframe, 80 slots per frame, a slot duration of 0.125 ms, a symbol duration of 8.33 μs, and a maximum nominal system bandwidth (in MHz) of 400 with a 4K FFT size. For 240 kHz SCS (μ = 4), there are 16 slots per subframe, 160 slots per frame, a slot duration of 0.0625 ms, a symbol duration of 4.17 μs, and a maximum nominal system bandwidth (in MHz) of 800 with a 4K FFT size.

[0090] In Figure 4 the example, a numerology of 15 kHz is used. Thus, in the time domain, a frame of 10 ms is divided into 10 equally sized subframes with each subframe being 1 ms and each subframe including one slot. In Figure 4 the example, time is represented horizontally (on the X axis) with increasing time from left to right, and frequency is represented vertically (on the Y axis) with increasing (or decreasing) frequency from bottom to top.

[0091] A resource grid can be used to represent multiple time slots, each time slot including one or more time-concurrent resource blocks (RBs) (also referred to as “physical RBs” (PRBs) in the frequency domain). The resource grid is also divided into multiple resource elements (REs). One RE can correspond to one symbol length in the time domain and one subcarrier in the frequency domain. In Figure 4In a mathematical sense, for a nominal cyclic prefix, an RB can comprise 12 consecutive subcarriers in the frequency domain and seven consecutive symbols in the time domain, totaling 84 REs. For an extended cyclic prefix, an RB can comprise 12 consecutive subcarriers in the frequency domain and six consecutive symbols in the time domain, totaling 72 REs. The number of bits carried by each RE depends on the modulation scheme.

[0092] Some of the REs can carry reference (pilot) signals (RS). The reference signals can include positioning reference signals (PRS), tracking reference signals (TRS), phase tracking reference signals (PTRS), cell-specific reference signals (CRS), channel state information reference signals (CSI-RS), demodulation reference signals (DMRS), primary synchronization signals (PSS), secondary synchronization signals (SSS), synchronization signal blocks (SSBs), sounding reference signals (SRS), etc., depending on whether the illustrated frame structure is for uplink or downlink communications. Figure 4 Exemplary locations of REs carrying reference signals (labeled “R”) are shown.

[0093] A cluster of resource elements (REs) for PRS transmission is referred to as a “PRS resource.” A cluster of resource elements can span multiple PRBs in the frequency domain and ‘N’ (such as one or more) consecutive symbols within a slot in the time domain. Within a given OFDM symbol in the time domain, a PRS resource occupies consecutive PRBs in the frequency domain.

[0094] The transmission of a PRS resource within a given PRB has a particular comb size (also referred to as “comb density”). The comb size ‘N’ represents the subcarrier spacing (or frequency / tone spacing) within each symbol of the PRS resource configuration. Specifically, for a comb size ‘N’, the PRS is transmitted in every Nth subcarrier of a symbol of the PRB. For example, for comb-4, every fourth subcarrier (such as subcarriers 0, 4, 8) of each symbol of the PRS resource configuration corresponds to an RE used to transmit a PRS of the PRS resource. Currently, DL-PRS supports comb sizes of comb-2, comb-4, comb-6, and comb-12. Figure 4 An example PRS resource configuration for comb-4 (which spans four symbols) is illustrated. That is, the locations of the shaded REs (labeled “R”) indicate a comb-4 PRS resource configuration.

[0095] Currently, DL-PRS resources can span 2, 4, 6, or 12 consecutive symbols within a slot with a full frequency domain staggering pattern. DL-PRS resources can be configured in any higher layer configured flexible (FL) symbol of a downlink or slot. There can be a constant energy per resource element (EPRE) for all REs of a given DL-PRS resource. The following are the frequency offsets from symbol to symbol for comb sizes 2, 4, 6, and 12 over 2, 4, 6, and 12 symbols. 2-symbol comb 2: {0, 1}; 4-symbol comb 2: {0, 1, 0, 1}; 6-symbol comb 2: {0, 1, 0, 1, 0, 1}; 12-symbol comb 2: {0, 1, 0, 1, 0, 1, 0, 1, 0, 1, 0, 1}; 4-symbol comb 4: {0, 2, 1, 3} (as in the example in Figure 4 FIG. 1); 12-symbol comb 4: {0, 2, 1, 3, 0, 2, 1, 3, 0, 2, 1, 3}; 6-symbol comb 6: {0, 3, 1, 4, 2, 5}; 12-symbol comb 6: {0, 3, 1, 4, 2, 5, 0, 3, 1, 4, 2, 5}; and 12-symbol comb 12: {0, 6, 3, 9, 1, 7, 4, 10, 2, 8, 5, 11}.

[0096] A “PRS resource set” is a set of PRS resources used for transmission of PRS signals, where each PRS resource has a PRS resource ID. Additionally, the PRS resources in a PRS resource set are associated with the same TRP. A PRS resource set is identified by a PRS resource set ID and can be associated with a particular TRP (identified by a TRP ID). Furthermore, the PRS resources in a PRS resource set have the same periodicity, a common muting pattern configuration, and the same repetition factor across slots (such as “Resource Repetition Factor (PRS-ResourceRepetitionFactor)”). The periodicity is the time from a first repetition of a first PRS resource of a first PRS instance to a same first repetition of the same first PRS resource of a next PRS instance. The periodicity can have a length selected from 2^m * {4, 5, 8, 10, 16, 20, 32, 40, 64, 80, 160, 320, 640, 1280, 2560, 5120, 10240} slots, where m = 0, 1, 2, 3. The repetition factor can have a length selected from {1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 16, 32} slots.

[0097] A PRS resource ID in a PRS resource set is associated with a single beam (or beam ID) transmitted from a single TRP (where a TRP can transmit one or more beams). That is, each PRS resource in a PRS resource set can be transmitted on a different beam, and as such, a “RS resource” or simply “resource” can also be referred to as a “beam.” Note that this does not impact whether the TRP and the beam on which PRS is transmitted from it are known to the UE.

[0098] A “PRS instance” or “PRS occasion” is one instance of a time window (such as a group of one or more consecutive slots) in which PRS is expected to be transmitted periodically. A PRS occasion can also be referred to as a “PRS positioning occasion,” “PRS positioning instance,” “positioning occasion,” “positioning instance,” “positioning repetition,” or simply “occasion,” “instance,” or “repetition.”

[0099] A “positioning frequency layer” (also simply “frequency layer”) is a cluster of one or more PRS resource sets across one or more TRPs that have the same value for some parameters. Specifically, the cluster of PRS resource sets have the same subcarrier spacing and cyclic prefix (CP) type (meaning that PRS also supports all numerologies supported by physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH)), the same A- point, the same downlink PRS bandwidth value, the same starting PRB (and center frequency), and the same comb size. The A-point parameter takes the value of the parameter “ARFCN-ValueNR” (where “ARFCN” stands for “absolute radio frequency channel number”), which is an identifier / code that specifies a pair of physical radio channels for transmission and reception. The downlink PRS bandwidth can have a granularity of 4 PRBs, a minimum of 24 PRBs, and a maximum of 272 PRBs. Currently, a maximum of four frequency layers are defined, and each TRP of each frequency layer can be configured with up to two PRS resource sets.

[0100] The concept of a frequency layer is somewhat like the concept of a component carrier and bandwidth part (BWP), but with the difference that a component carrier and BWP are used by one base station (or macrocell base station and small cell base station) for transmitting data channels, whereas a frequency layer is used by several (typically three or more) base stations for transmitting PRS. When a UE communicates its positioning capabilities to the network, such as during an LTE Positioning Protocol (LPP) session, the UE can indicate the number of frequency layers it is capable of supporting. For example, the UE can indicate whether it is capable of supporting one or four positioning frequency layers.

[0101] In an aspect, in Figure 4The reference signal carried on the RE marked "R" can be the SRS. The base station can use the SRS transmitted by the UE to obtain the channel state information (CSI) of the transmitting UE. The CSI describes how the RF signal propagates from the UE to the base station and represents the combined effects of scattering, fading, and power attenuation with distance. The system uses the SRS for resource scheduling, link adaptation, massive MIMO, beam management, etc.

[0102] The set of REs used for transmitting SRS is called an "SRS resource" and can be identified by the parameter "SRS-ResourceId". The set of resource elements can span multiple PRBs in the frequency domain and "N" (e.g., one or more) consecutive symbols within a time slot in the time domain. In a given OFDM symbol, a PRS resource occupies one or more consecutive PRBs. An "SRS resource set" is the set of SRS resources used for transmitting SRS signals and is identified by the SRS resource set ID ("SRS-ResourceSetId").

[0103] The transmission of SRS resources within a given PRB has a specific comb size (also known as "comb density"). The comb size "N" represents the subcarrier spacing (or frequency / tone spacing) within each symbol of the SRS resource configuration. Specifically, for a comb size "N", SRS is transmitted in every Nth subcarrier of a symbol in the PRB. For example, for comb size 4, for each symbol of the SRS resource configuration, the RE corresponding to every fourth subcarrier (such as subcarriers 0, 4, 8) is used to transmit the SRS resource. Figure 4 In the example, the SRS shown is comb tooth 4 on the four symbols. That is, the position of the shaded SRS RE indicates the comb tooth-4 SRS resource configuration.

[0104] Currently, SRS resources can span 1, 2, 4, 8, or 12 consecutive symbols within time slots with comb tooth sizes of 2, 4, or 8 teeth. The following are the inter-symbol frequency offsets for the currently supported SRS comb tooth patterns: 1-symbol comb tooth-2: {0}; 2-symbol comb tooth-2: {0, 1}; 2-symbol comb tooth-4: {0, 2}; 4-symbol comb tooth-2: {0, 1, 0, 1}; 4-symbol comb tooth-4: {0, 2, 1, 3} (e.g., in...). Figure 4 (in the example); 8-symbol comb-4: {0, 2, 1, 3, 0, 2, 1, 3}; 12-symbol comb-4: {0, 2, 1, 3, 0, 2, 1, 3, 0, 2, 1, 3}; 4-symbol comb-8: {0, 4, 2, 6}; 8-symbol comb-8: {0, 4, 2, 6, 1, 5, 3, 7}; and 12-symbol comb-8: {0, 4, 2, 6, 1, 5, 3, 7, 0, 4, 2, 6}.

[0105] Generally, as noted above, a UE transmits SRS to enable a receiving base station (a serving base station or a neighboring base station) to measure the channel quality (i.e., CSI) between the UE and the base station. However, SRS can also be specifically configured as uplink positioning reference signals for uplink-based positioning procedures, such as uplink time difference of arrival (UL-TDOA), round trip time (RTT), uplink angle of arrival (UL-AoA), etc. As used herein, the term “SRS” can refer to SRS configured for channel quality measurement or SRS configured for positioning purposes. When it is necessary to distinguish between the two types of SRS, the former can be referred to herein as “SRS for communication,” and / or the latter can be referred to as “SRS for positioning” or “positioning SRS.”

[0106] Several enhancements to the previous definition of SRS have been proposed for SRS for positioning (also referred to as “UL-PRS”), such as new staggering patterns within an SRS resource (in addition to single-symbol / comb-2), new comb types for SRS, new sequences for SRS, a larger number of SRS resource sets per component carrier, and a larger number of SRS resources per component carrier. In addition, the parameters “SpatialRelationlnfo” and “PathLossReference” will be configured based on a downlink reference signal or SSB from a neighboring TRP. Furthermore, one SRS resource can be transmitted outside of the active BWP, and one SRS resource can span multiple component carriers. In addition, SRS can be configured in RRC connected state and transmitted only within the active BWP. Moreover, there can be no frequency hopping, no repetition factor, a single antenna port, and new lengths of SRS (e.g., 8 and 12 symbols). There can also be open loop power control and non-closed loop power control, and comb-8 (i.e., transmit SRS once every eighth subcarrier in the same symbol) can be used. Finally, for UL-AoA, a UE can transmit through the same transmit beam from multiple SRS resources. All of these are additional features to the current SRS framework, which is configured through RRC higher layer signaling (and possibly triggered or activated through MAC control element (MAC-CE) or downlink control information (DCI)).

[0107] It should be noted that the terms “positioning reference signal” and “PRS” generally refer to specific reference signals used for positioning in NR and LTE systems. However, as used herein, the terms “positioning reference signal” and “PRS” can also refer to any type of reference signal that can be used for positioning, such as but not limited to PRS defined in LTE and NR, TRS, PTRS, CRS, CSI-RS, DMRS, PSS, SSS, SSB, SRS, UL-PRS, etc. Furthermore, the terms “positioning reference signal” and “PRS” can refer to downlink, uplink, or sidelink positioning reference signals, unless the context indicates otherwise. If further differentiation of the type of PRS is needed, downlink positioning reference signals can be referred to as “DL-PRS”, uplink positioning reference signals (e.g., SRS for positioning, PTRS) can be referred to as “UL-PRS”, and sidelink positioning reference signals can be referred to as “SL-PRS”. Furthermore, for signals that can be transmitted in downlink, uplink, and / or sidelink (e.g., DMRS), a “DL”, “UL”, or “SL” can be prepended to the signal to differentiate the direction. For example, “UL-DMRS” is different from “DL-DMRS”.

[0108] NR supports multiple cellular network-based positioning techniques, including downlink-based, uplink-based, and downlink-and-uplink-based positioning methods. Downlink-based positioning methods include observed time difference of arrival (OTDOA) in LTE, downlink time difference of arrival (DL-TDOA) in NR, and downlink angle of departure (DL-AoD) in NR. In an OTDOA or DL-TDOA positioning procedure, a UE measures the difference between the times of arrival (ToAs) of reference signals (e.g., positioning reference signals (PRS)) received from pairs of base stations, referred to as reference signal time difference (RSTD) or time difference of arrival (TDOA) measurements, and reports them to a positioning entity. More specifically, the UE receives identifiers (IDs) of a reference base station (e.g., a serving base station) and multiple non-reference base stations in assistance data. The UE then measures the RSTD between the reference base station and each non-reference base station. Based on the known positions of the involved base stations and the RSTD measurements, a positioning entity (e.g., a UE for UE-based position or a location server for UE-assisted position) can estimate the position of the UE.

[0109] For DL-AoD positioning, a positioning entity determines an angle(s) between the UE and the transmitting base station(s) using measurement reports of received signal strength measurements from multiple downlink transmit beams of the UE. The positioning entity can then estimate the position of the UE based on the determined angle(s) and the known position(s) of the transmitting base station(s).

[0110] Uplink-based positioning methods include uplink time difference of arrival (UL-TDOA) and uplink angle of arrival (UL-AoA). UL-TDOA is similar to DL-TDOA, but is based on uplink reference signals (e.g., sounding reference signals (SRS)) transmitted by the UE to multiple base stations. Specifically, the UE transmits one or more uplink reference signals that are measured by a reference base station and multiple non-reference base stations. Each base station then reports the time of reception of the reference signal(s) (referred to as the relative time of arrival (RTOA)) to a positioning entity (e.g., a location server) that knows the locations and relative timing of the involved base stations. Based on the reported RTOA for the reference base station and the reported RTOA for each non-reference base station, the positioning entity can estimate the location of the UE using TDOA based on the received-to-received (Rx-Rx) time differences between the base stations, the known locations of the base stations, and their known timing offsets.

[0111] For UL-AoA positioning, one or more base stations measure the received signal strength of one or more uplink reference signals (e.g., SRS) received from the UE on one or more uplink receive beams. The positioning entity uses the signal strength measurements and the angle(s) of the receive beam(s) to determine the angle(s) between the UE and the base station(s). Based on the determined angle(s) and the known location(s) of the base station(s), the positioning entity can then estimate the location of the UE.

[0112] Downlink- and Uplink-based positioning methods include Enhanced Cell-ID (E-CID) positioning and Multilateration Round-Trip Time (RTT) positioning (also referred to as “Multi-Cell RTT” and “Multi-RTT”). In an RTT procedure, a first entity (e.g., a base station or a UE) transmits a first RTT-related signal (e.g., a PRS or an SRS) to a second entity (e.g., a UE or a base station), which transmits a second RTT-related signal (e.g., an SRS or a PRS) back to the first entity. Each entity measures the time difference between the time of arrival (ToA) of the received RTT-related signal and the transmission time of the transmitted RTT-related signal. This time difference is referred to as the receive-to-transmit (Rx-Tx) time difference. The Rx-Tx time difference measurement can be made or adjusted to include only the time difference between the closest time slot boundaries of the received and transmitted signals. The two entities can then transmit their Rx-Tx time difference measurements to a location server (e.g., LMF 270), which calculates the round-trip propagation time (i.e., the RTT) between the two entities from the two Rx-Tx time difference measurements (e.g., as the sum of the two Rx-Tx time difference measurements). Alternatively, one entity can transmit its Rx-Tx time difference measurement to the other entity, which then calculates the RTT. The distance between the two entities can be determined from the RTT and the known speed of signals (e.g., the speed of light). For Multi-RTT positioning, a first entity (e.g., a UE or a base station) performs an RTT positioning procedure with multiple second entities (e.g., multiple base stations or UEs) to enable determination of the position of the first entity based on the distances to the second entities and the known positions of the second entities (e.g., using multilateration). RTT and Multi-RTT methods can be combined with other positioning techniques, such as UL-AoA and DL-AoD, to improve positioning accuracy.

[0113] E-CID positioning methods are based on Radio Resource Management (RRM) measurements. In E-CID, the UE reports the serving cell ID, timing advance (TA), and identifiers, estimated timing, and signal strength of detected neighboring base stations. The position of the UE is then estimated based on this information and the known positioning of the base station(s).

[0114] To assist in positioning operations, a location server (e.g., location server 230, LMF 270, SLP 272) can provide assistance data to a UE. For example, the assistance data can include identifiers of base stations (or cells / TRPs of base stations) from which to measure reference signals, reference signal configuration parameters (e.g., including a number of consecutive time slots comprising a PRS, a periodicity of consecutive time slots comprising a PRS, a muting sequence, a frequency hopping sequence, a reference signal identifier, a reference signal bandwidth, etc.), and / or other parameters applicable to a particular positioning method. Alternatively, the assistance information can originate directly from the base stations themselves (e.g., in periodically broadcasted overhead messages, etc.). In some cases, a UE can be able to detect neighboring network nodes on its own without using assistance information.

[0115] In the case of OTDOA or DL-TDOA positioning procedures, the assistance data can further include an expected RSTD value and an associated uncertainty, or a search window around the expected RSTD. In some cases, the value range of the expected RSTD can be + / - 500 microseconds (ps). In some cases, the value range of the uncertainty of the expected RSTD can be + / - 32 ps when any resources used for positioning measurements are in FR1. In other cases, the value range of the uncertainty of the expected RSTD can be + / - 8 ps when all resources used for positioning measurement(s) are in FR2.

[0116] A location estimate can be referred to by other names, such as location fix, location, position, position fix, fix, etc. A location estimate can be geodetic and include coordinates (e.g., latitude, longitude, and possibly altitude), or can be civic and include a street address, postal address, or some other verbal description of a location. A location estimate can also be defined relative to some other known location, or defined in absolute terms (e.g., using latitude, longitude, and possibly altitude). A location estimate can include an expected error or uncertainty (e.g., by including an area or volume within which the location is expected to lie with some specified or default level of confidence).

[0117] NR positioning techniques are expected to provide high accuracy (horizontal and vertical), low latency, network efficiency (scalability, reference signal overhead, etc.), and device efficiency (power consumption, complexity, etc.), especially for commercial positioning use cases (including general commercial use cases, and especially (I)IoT use cases). In reference to accuracy expectations, the accuracy of a location estimate depends on the accuracy of the positioning measurements (e.g., ToA, RSTD, Rx-Tx, etc.) of the PRS received, and the greater the bandwidth of the PRS measured, the more accurate the positioning measurements.

[0118] One technique for increasing PRS bandwidth is to aggregate PRS across the frequency domain (referred to as "frequency domain stitching") and / or the time domain (referred to as "time domain stitching"). In frequency domain PRS stitching, the PRS (transmitted by the base station or UE) is transmitted on multiple (preferably consecutive) positioning frequency layers within one or more component carriers, and the receiver (UE or base station) measures the PRS across the (consecutive) component carriers. By spanning multiple positioning frequency layers, the effective bandwidth of the PRS is increased, resulting in increased positioning measurement accuracy. When implementing time-domain and / or frequency-domain PRS stitching, the PRS should preferably be transmitted on multiple time slots (or other time periods) and / or positioning frequency layers, allowing the receiver to make certain assumptions about the PRS transmitted in multiple time slots and / or positioning frequency layers (e.g., QCL type, same antenna port, etc.).

[0119] Figure 5 Figure 500 shows an example of frequency domain PRS stitching based on various aspects of this disclosure. Figure 5 As shown, PRS 510-1, 510-2, and 510-3 (labeled "PRS1", "PRS2", and "PRS3" respectively) are transmitted on their respective positioning frequency layers (labeled "PFL1", "PFL2", and "PFL3" respectively) within a given frequency bandwidth (labeled "B1"). Frequency bandwidth "B1" can be a component carrier, a frequency band, or some other bandwidth interval. PRS 510 can be a DL-PRS transmitted from a base station to one or more UEs, a UL-PRS transmitted from a UE to one or more base stations, or a sidelink PRS transmitted from a UE to one or more other UEs.

[0120] exist Figure 5 In this diagram, horizontal lines represent time, and vertical lines represent frequency. Therefore, in... Figure 5 In the example, the three positioning frequency layers are continuous in the frequency domain. Although Figure 5 The diagram illustrates a single frequency bandwidth "B1," but a positioning frequency layer can alternatively span multiple frequency bandwidth intervals, with or without guard bands between the different frequency bandwidth intervals. Furthermore, a positioning frequency layer can span one or more component carriers, and again span one or more frequency bandwidth intervals. Moreover, although... Figure 5 The PRS 510 is shown transmitting on three positioning frequency layers, but it should be understood that the PRS 510 may transmit on only two positioning frequency layers or on more than three positioning frequency layers.

[0121] In time, PRS 510 can be a PRS occasion, a PRS resource, a slot including PRS, etc. PRS 510 can be identical to each other except that they are transmitted on different positioning frequency layers, or they can be configured differently. For example, PRS 510 can have different PRS sequence identifiers, different symbols per slot, different bandwidths, etc. Also, although PRS 510 are shown as starting and ending at the same time, this can not always be the case, and some PRS 510 can start or end, or have a different length than other PRS 510. Figure 5

[0122] The transmission and reception of PRS 510 using different positioning frequency layers, especially across different component carriers or frequency bands, introduces a phase shift problem between the waveforms carrying different PRS 510. A phase shift is a difference or phase difference (also referred to as a “phase offset”) between the phases of two waveforms. Thus, for example, the phase of the waveform of PRS 510-2 can be slightly different from the phase of the waveform of PRS 510-1. Mathematically, the channel that transmits a first PRS (e.g., PRS 510-1) can be denoted as h(f, ti), where f denotes frequency, ti denotes time, and h denotes the channel as a function of frequency f and time ti. The channel that transmits a related PRS (e.g., a PRS that will be stitched together with the first PRS, such as PRS 510-2) can be denoted as h(f, ti) · e j θ where e jθ denotes the phase shift or phase difference between the channel that transmits the first PRS and the channel that transmits the related PRS.

[0123] The phase shift can occur in both intra-band and inter-band PRS (i.e., PRS on positioning frequency layers located within the same component carrier or frequency band, or PRS on positioning frequency layers located within multiple component carriers or frequency bands). The phase shift is especially noticeable when two signals (waveforms) are combined together by a physical process, such as by the analog front end of a receiver. However, the architecture of both the transmitter and the receiver can cause a phase shift. For example, any changes in the RF chain can cause a phase discontinuity of PRS 510.

[0124] ​The phase shift between waveforms of PRS transmitted on multiple positioning frequency layers can cause additional measurement errors in measurement estimation procedures (e.g., ToA estimation procedures), which can degrade positioning accuracy. However, if the receiver knows the phase shift at the transmitter, the receiver can utilize this information to correct or compensate for the phase shift, which will reduce measurement errors and thus improve positioning accuracy. Accordingly, the present disclosure proposes techniques for including phase shifts in PRS assistance information provided to receivers or measurement reports provided to positioning entities (e.g., a serving base station, a location server, a UE being positioned, another UE, a remote client, etc.).

[0125] In an aspect, the phase shift can be reported as a single phase shift value or a series of phase shift values. In another aspect, the phase shift can be reported using a probability distribution function (PDF), a cumulative distribution function (CDF), or other distribution. A PDF is an integral of a probability density function and indicates the probability of an event (e.g., a particular phase shift value) in a given interval. A CDF describes the probability that a random variable X (e.g., a phase shift) with a given probability distribution is found to be less than or equal to x (e.g., a particular phase shift value). Other statistical properties about the phase shift can also or alternatively be reported, such as a mean, a median, a variance, or other higher-order statistics.

[0126] The phase shift can be defined as one phase shift applied to all in-band and inter-band positioning frequency layers, one phase shift for all in-band positioning frequency layers and another phase shift for all inter-band positioning frequency layers, one phase shift for each pair of positioning frequency layers, and so on.

[0127] The phase information (e.g., phase shift report) can be included in assistance information exchanged between two nodes, such as between two base stations, two UEs, a base station and a UE, a base station and a location server, a location server and a UE, and so on. For example, two nodes exchanging PRS as part of a positioning session can exchange assistance information (directly or indirectly, e.g., through a location server) indicating their respective configurations of PRS (i.e., time and frequency resources on which PRS are transmitted) and their respective phase shifts of PRS across multiple positioning frequency layers on which the PRS are transmitted. The assistance information can be periodic, semi-persistent, or on-demand (i.e., by request).

[0128] Phase information (e.g., phase shift reports) can alternatively or additionally be included in measurement reports exchanged between two nodes, such as between a base station or UE and a location server (for UE-assisted positioning), or between a base station and a UE (for UE-based position). For example, the two nodes exchanging PRS as part of a positioning session can exchange measurement reports (directly or indirectly, e.g., through a location server) that indicate the phase shift caused by their respective RF components. The phase shift can alternatively or additionally be included in a standalone message, such as a message dedicated to carrying phase shift parameters.

[0129] The above reports can be applicable to both UE-assisted positioning and UE-based position. That is, for UE-assisted positioning (where another entity estimates the position of the UE based on measurements made by the UE), the UE can receive assistance information indicating the phase shift at the transmitter(s) and / or can provide its receiver phase shift to the positioning entity in a measurement report. For UE-based position (where the UE estimates its own position), the UE can receive assistance information or a measurement report indicating the phase shift at the transmitter(s).

[0130] The phase information (e.g., phase shift reports) can be sent using a signaling protocol between a UE and a location server, such as LPP, or between a base station and a location server, such as LPP Type A (LPPa) or NR Positioning Protocol Type A (NRPPa), or control messages between a UE and a serving base station, such as RRC. The location server can be, for example, a Serving Mobile Location Center (SMLC) or LMF, and the base station can be, for example, an eNB or gNB.

[0131] In particular, for DL-PRS (or sidelink PRS from another UE), the UE can switch RF components (e.g., low noise amplifier (LNA), power amplifier (PA), filters, antenna configuration, etc.) used for PRS reception, resulting in a phase shift in the PRS measurements. There can also be a phase shift at the transmitter side (e.g., at the base station(s) or other UE(s) that transmit PRS to the positioned UE). For UE-assisted positioning, for the phase shift(s) at the transmitter(s), all transmitters can be configured to send their respective phase shifts to a positioning entity (e.g., a location server or serving base station), which can then forward them to the positioned UE. Alternatively, the transmitters can be configured to convey their respective phase shifts directly to the UE. The UE can then use the phase shifts of the transmitters to more accurately measure the PRS from that transmitter. For the phase shift at the receiver side (i.e., at the positioned UE), if the UE is configured to provide a waveform report (e.g., a power delay profile (PDP) or channel impulse response (CIR) report) to a positioning entity, the UE can add its own phase shift and related information to the report to enable the positioning entity to compensate for the UE’s phase shift.

[0132] For DL-PRS (or sidelink PRS) based UE-based positioning, the UE should be provided with any phase shift(s) that occur at the transmitter(s). This information can be reported by the transmitter(s) to the UE’s serving base station or location server, and then reported by the serving base station or location server to the UE. Alternatively, the transmitter(s) involved can report their respective phase shift(s) directly to the UE. For UE-based positioning, the UE does not need to report its own phase shift to another entity, as the UE estimates its own position and thus can compensate for its own phase shift.

[0133] For UL-PRS (or sidelink PRS to another UE), the UE can switch RF components used for PRS transmission, resulting in a phase shift in PRS. For UE-assisted positioning, for the phase shift of the transmitter side (i.e., the UE being positioned), the UE can communicate its phase shift to a location server, which then reallocates the phase shift to all involved receivers (e.g., base stations, other UEs) for phase shift compensation. Alternatively, the UE can send its phase shift to its serving base station, which can forward the phase shift to the location server for reallocation to the involved receivers or can directly reallocate the phase shift to neighboring base stations (e.g., via Xn backhaul interface). In an aspect, if “rich” reporting is enabled, the UE can communicate its phase shift to a positioning entity (e.g., location server, serving base station). Rich reporting means that the serving base station and any involved neighboring base stations report the received / uplink waveform or PDP to the positioning entity. The positioning entity can then utilize the UE’s phase shift information for improved position estimation.

[0134] For the phase shift of the receiver side (e.g., one or more base stations or sidelink UEs), if waveform reporting is enabled (e.g., reporting with detailed channel frequency response (CFR)), the receivers can also select (or be configured or requested) to report their own phase shift information to the location server for better position estimation. In addition to this, the base stations or sidelink UEs can report their phase shifts in order to be able to exclude outliers, further improving the position estimation. More specifically, instead of compensating for the phase shift, or in addition to this, the positioning entity can ignore measurement reports from receivers with a phase shift larger than a certain threshold. When estimating the position of the UE, the positioning entity will instead only use measurement reports from receivers with a phase shift smaller than the threshold. Alternatively, the positioning entity can expand the threshold, with the understanding that a larger threshold can result in less accurate PRS measurements.

[0135] For UE-based positioning using UL-PRS, the phase shift of the receiver side (e.g., one or more base stations or sidelink UEs) can be collected by the location server or the serving base station and then forwarded to the target UE(s) (i.e., the UE(s) being positioned). The target UE(s) can then use the phase shift(s) and its own phase shift to improve its estimate of the position.

[0136] Figure 6 FIG. 13 illustrates an example method 1300 of wireless communication, in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. In an aspect, method 1300 can be performed by a first network node. The first network node can be a UE being positioned (e.g., any of the UEs described herein), a base station serving the UE being positioned (e.g., any of the base stations described herein), or a location server (e.g., location server 230, LMF 270, SLP 272, etc.).

[0137] At 610, the first network node receives transmitter phase information from a second network node (e.g., a positioned UE, a sidelink UE, a serving base station, a neighboring base station, a location server), the transmitter phase information including one or more parameters representing phases (e.g., phase differences or absolute phases) of a plurality of PRS transmitted by at least one network node (e.g., a positioned UE, a sidelink UE, a serving base station, a neighboring base station) on a plurality of frequency intervals (e.g., positioning frequency layers). In an aspect, where the first network node is a UE, operation 610 can be performed by the one or more WWAN transceivers 310, the one or more processors 332, the memory 340, and / or the positioning component 342, any or all of which can be considered means for performing this operation. In an aspect, where the first network node is a base station, operation 610 can be performed by the one or more WWAN transceivers 350, the one or more network transceivers 380, the one or more processors 384, the memory 386, and / or the positioning component 388, any or all of which can be considered means for performing this operation. In an aspect, where the first network node is a location server, operation 610 can be performed by the one or more network transceivers 390, the one or more processors 394, the memory 396, and / or the positioning component 398, any or all of which can be considered means for performing this operation.

[0138] At 620, the first network node obtains positioning measurements (e.g., ToA, AoD, Rx-Tx, etc.) of the plurality of PRS transmitted by the at least one network node based on the one or more parameters representing phases of the plurality of PRS to enable determination of a location of a UE (e.g., any of the UEs described herein) based at least on the positioning measurements of the plurality of PRS. In an aspect, where the first network node is a UE, operation 620 can be performed by the one or more WWAN transceivers 310, the one or more processors 332, the memory 340, and / or the positioning component 342, any or all of which can be considered means for performing this operation. In an aspect, where the first network node is a base station, operation 620 can be performed by the one or more WWAN transceivers 350, the one or more network transceivers 380, the one or more processors 384, the memory 386, and / or the positioning component 388, any or all of which can be considered means for performing this operation. In an aspect, where the first network node is a location server, operation 620 can be performed by the one or more network transceivers 390, the one or more processors 394, the memory 396, and / or the positioning component 398, any or all of which can be considered means for performing this operation.

[0139] As will be appreciated, a technical advantage of the method 600 is to improve positioning accuracy by compensating for phase shifts of PRS transmitted on multiple positioning frequency layers.

[0140] In the detailed description above, different features are grouped together in examples. This manner of disclosure should not be understood as an intention that these examples recite more features than are explicitly recited in each clause. Rather, aspects of the disclosure can include fewer than all features of each disclosed example. Therefore, the following clauses should be regarded as being incorporated in this description, where each clause can stand on its own as a separate example. Although each dependent clause can refer to particular combinations of features that are recited in one of the independent clauses, the aspect(s) of that dependent clause are not limited to the particular features of the specific combination. It will be appreciated that the other examples can also include the aspect(s) of the dependent clause with any of the subject matter of the other dependent clauses or independent clauses, or any feature with the subject matter of the other dependent and independent clauses. The aspects disclosed herein expressly contemplate these combinations, unless it is explicitly stated or readily apparent from the context that a particular combination is not intended. Furthermore, aspects of the clauses are also intended to be included in any of the other independent clauses, even if that clause is not directly dependent on the independent clause.

[0141] Examples of implementations are described in the following numbered clauses:

[0142] Clause 1 : A method of wireless communication performed by a first network node, comprising: receiving, from a second network node, at least one transmitter phase shift report comprising one or more parameters representing phase shifts of a plurality of positioning reference signals (PRSs) transmitted by at least one network node on a plurality of frequency intervals; and performing, based on the one or more parameters representing the phase shifts of the plurality of PRSs, a positioning measurement of the plurality of PRSs transmitted by the at least one network node to enable a determination of a location of a user equipment (UE) based at least on the positioning measurement of the plurality of PRSs.

[0143] Clause 2: The method of clause 1, further comprising: transmitting, to the at least one network node, a second plurality of PRSs on a second plurality of frequency intervals; and transmitting a second transmitter phase shift report comprising one or more parameters representing phase shifts of the second plurality of PRSs on the second plurality of frequency intervals.

[0144] Clause 3: The method of clause 2, wherein: the first network node is the UE, the first network node transmits the second transmitter phase shift report to the at least one network node or the second network node, the at least one network node is a serving base station of the UE, a base station involved in a positioning session with the UE, or a sidelink UE, and the second network node is the serving base station of the UE or a location server.

[0145] Clause 4: The method of clause 3, wherein the second network node forwards the second transmitter phase shift report to all base stations involved in a positioning session with the UE.

[0146] Clause 5: The method of clause 2, wherein: the first network node is a base station involved in a positioning session with the UE, the first network node sends the second transmitter phase shift report to at least one network node that is the UE or a second network node that is the UE or a location server.

[0147] Clause 6: The method of clause 5, wherein the first network node sends the second transmitter phase shift report via a serving base station of the UE or a location server.

[0148] Clause 7: The method of any of clauses 1-6, further comprising: sending a receiver phase shift report that includes one or more parameters representative of phase shifts of the plurality of PRS caused by switching of radio frequency (RF) components by the first network node during reception, measurement, or both of the plurality of PRS.

[0149] Clause 8: The method of clause 7, wherein the receiver phase shift report is included in a waveform report associated with the positioning measurements of the plurality of PRS.

[0150] Clause 9: The method of any of clauses 1-8, further comprising: receiving a second transmitter phase shift report that includes one or more parameters representative of phase shifts of a second plurality of PRS transmitted to at least one network node on a second plurality of frequency intervals.

[0151] Clause 10: The method of clause 9, wherein: the first network node is a serving base station of the UE, the at least one network node and the second network node are the UE, and the second transmitter phase shift report is received from a base station involved in a positioning session with the UE.

[0152] Clause 11: The method of any of clauses 1-10, further comprising: sending the positioning measurements of the plurality of PRS to a positioning entity to enable the positioning entity to calculate a location of the UE.

[0153] Clause 12: The method of clause 11, wherein: the first network node is a base station involved in a positioning session with the UE, and the positioning entity is the UE.

[0154] Clause 13: The method of clause 11, wherein: the first network node is the UE, and the positioning entity is a serving base station of the UE or a location server.

[0155] Clause 14: The method of any of clauses 1-13, further comprising: calculating a location of the UE based at least on the positioning measurements of the PRS.

[0156] Clause 15: The method of clause 1, wherein: the first network node is a UE, the second network node is at least one network node or a location server, and the at least one network node is a serving base station of the UE, a neighboring base station of the UE, or a sidelink UE.

[0157] Clause 16: The method of clause 1, wherein: the first network node is a serving base station of a UE, the second network node is a location server, and the at least one network node is a neighboring base station of the UE or the UE.

[0158] Clause 17: The method of clause 1, wherein: the first network node is a serving base station of a UE, the second network node is the UE, and the at least one network node is the UE.

[0159] Clause 18: The method of any of clauses 1-17, wherein the at least one network node comprises: one or more base stations, one or more UEs, or any combination thereof.

[0160] Clause 19: The method of any of clauses 1-18, wherein the one or more parameters indicate phase variations for a plurality of PRS across a plurality of frequency intervals.

[0161] Clause 20: The method of any of clauses 1-19, wherein the one or more parameters comprise: a phase shift value for each of the plurality of frequency intervals, a range of offset values for the plurality of frequency intervals, a distribution function representing phase shifts across the plurality of frequency intervals, a compromise phase shift value for the plurality of frequency intervals, an average phase shift value for the plurality of frequency intervals, a phase shift variance across the plurality of frequency intervals, or any combination thereof.

[0162] Clause 21: The method of clause 20, wherein the distribution function comprises a probability distribution function (PDF) or a cumulative distribution function (CDF).

[0163] Clause 22: The method of any of clauses 1-21, wherein the plurality of frequency intervals are within a single frequency band.

[0164] Clause 23: The method of any of clauses 1-21, wherein the plurality of frequency intervals span multiple frequency bands.

[0165] Clause 24: The method of any of clauses 1-23, wherein the one or more parameters comprise: a first phase shift value for all of the plurality of frequency intervals in a first frequency band, and a second phase shift value for all of the plurality of frequency intervals in a second frequency band.

[0166] Clause 25: The method of any of clauses 1-24, wherein the plurality of frequency intervals are contiguous in a frequency domain.

[0167] Clause 26: The method of clauses 1-25, wherein the plurality of frequency intervals is a plurality of frequency layers.

[0168] Clause 27: A first network node 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 perform a method according to any of clauses 1-26.

[0169] Clause 28: A user equipment (UE) comprising means for performing a method according to any of clauses 1-26.

[0170] Clause 29: A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing computer-executable instructions, the computer-executable instructions comprising at least one instruction for causing a first network node to perform a method according to any of clauses 1-26.

[0171] Additional implementation examples are described in the following numbered clauses:

[0172] Clause 1. A method of wireless communication performed by a first network node, comprising: receiving, from a second network node, transmitter phase information comprising one or more parameters representing phases of a plurality of positioning reference signals (PRSs) transmitted by at least one network node on a plurality of frequency intervals; and obtaining, based on the one or more parameters representing the phases of the plurality of PRSs, positioning measurements of the plurality of PRSs transmitted by the at least one network node to enable a determination of a location of a user equipment (UE) based at least on the positioning measurements of the plurality of PRSs.

[0173] Clause 2. The method of clause 1, further comprising: transmitting, to the at least one network node, a second plurality of PRSs on a second plurality of frequency intervals; and transmitting second transmitter phase information comprising one or more parameters representing phases of the second plurality of PRSs on the second plurality of frequency intervals.

[0174] Clause 3. The method of clause 2, wherein: the first network node is the UE, the second transmitter phase information is transmitted to the at least one network node or a second network node, the at least one network node is a serving base station of the UE, a base station involved in a positioning session of the UE, or a sidelink UE, and the second network node is the serving base station of the UE or a location server.

[0175] Clause 4. The method of clause 3, wherein the second transmitter phase information is forwarded by the second network node to all base stations involved in the positioning session of the UE.

[0176] Clause 5. The method of clause 2, wherein: the first network node is a base station involved in a positioning session with the UE, the second transmitter phase information is transmitted to at least one network node or a second network node, the at least one network node is the UE, and the second network node is the UE or a location server.

[0177] Clause 6. The method of clause 5, wherein the second transmitter phase information is transmitted to the second network node via a serving base station of the UE or a location server.

[0178] Clause 7. The method of any of clauses 1-6, further comprising: transmitting receiver phase information comprising one or more parameters representative of phases of the plurality of PRS caused by switching of a radio frequency (RF) component by the first network node during reception, measurement, or both of the plurality of PRS.

[0179] Clause 8. The method of clause 7, wherein the receiver phase information is included in a waveform report associated with the positioning measurements of the plurality of PRS.

[0180] Clause 9. The method of any of clauses 1-8, further comprising: receiving second transmitter phase information comprising one or more parameters representative of phases of a second plurality of PRS transmitted to the at least one network node on a second plurality of frequency intervals.

[0181] Clause 10. The method of clause 9, wherein: the first network node is a location server, the at least one network node and the second network node are the UE, and the second transmitter phase information is received from a base station involved in a positioning session with the UE.

[0182] Clause 11. The method of any of clauses 1-10, further comprising: transmitting the positioning measurements of the plurality of PRS to a positioning entity to enable the positioning entity to calculate a position of the UE.

[0183] Clause 12. The method of clause 11, wherein: the first network node is a base station involved in a positioning session with the UE, and the positioning entity is the UE.

[0184] Clause 13. The method of clause 11, wherein: the first network node is the UE, and the positioning entity is a serving base station of the UE or a location server.

[0185] Clause 14. The method of any of clauses 1-10, further comprising: calculating a position of the UE based at least on the positioning measurements of the PRS.

[0186] Clause 15. The method of any of clauses 1 to 14, wherein: the first network node is a UE, the second network node is the at least one network node or a location server, and the at least one network node is a serving base station of the UE, a base station involved in a positioning session with the UE, or a sidelink UE.

[0187] Clause 16. The method of any of clauses 1 to 14, wherein: the first network node is a serving base station of the UE, the second network node is a location server, and the at least one network node is the UE or a base station involved in a positioning session with the UE.

[0188] Clause 17. The method of any of clauses 1 to 14, wherein: the first network node is a serving base station of the UE, the second network node is the UE, and the at least one network node is the UE.

[0189] Clause 18. The method of any of clauses 1 to 17, wherein the at least one network node comprises: one or more base stations, one or more UEs, or any combination thereof.

[0190] Clause 19. The method of any of clauses 1 to 18, wherein the one or more parameters indicate phase variations of the plurality of PRS across the plurality of frequency intervals.

[0191] Clause 20. The method of any of clauses 1 to 19, wherein the one or more parameters comprise: a phase difference value for a pair of the plurality of frequency intervals, a range of phase difference values for the plurality of frequency intervals, a distribution function representing phase differences across the plurality of frequency intervals, a compromise phase difference value for the plurality of frequency intervals, an average phase difference value for the plurality of frequency intervals, a variance of phase differences across the plurality of frequency intervals, or any combination thereof.

[0192] Clause 21. The method of clause 20, wherein the distribution function comprises a probability distribution function (PDF) or a cumulative distribution function (CDF).

[0193] Clause 22. The method of any of clauses 1 to 21, wherein: the plurality of frequency intervals are within a single frequency band, or the plurality of frequency intervals span multiple frequency bands.

[0194] Clause 23. The method of any of clauses 1 to 22, wherein the one or more parameters comprise: a first phase difference value for all of the plurality of frequency intervals in a first frequency band, and a second phase difference value for all of the plurality of frequency intervals in a second frequency band.

[0195] Clause 24. The method of any of clauses 1 to 23, wherein the plurality of frequency intervals are contiguous in a frequency domain.

[0196] Clause 25. The method of any of clauses 1 to 24, wherein the plurality of frequency intervals are a plurality of positioning frequency layers.

[0197] Clause 26. A first network node 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, from a second network node via the at least one transceiver, transmitter phase information comprising one or more parameters representing phases of a plurality of positioning reference signals (PRS) transmitted by at least one network node on a plurality of frequency intervals; and obtain positioning measurements of the plurality of PRS transmitted by the at least one network node based on the one or more parameters representing the phases of the plurality of PRS to enable determination of a location of a user equipment (UE) based at least on the positioning measurements of the plurality of PRS.

[0198] Clause 27. The first network node of clause 26, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to: transmit, via the at least one transceiver, a second plurality of PRS to the at least one network node on a second plurality of frequency intervals; and transmit, via the at least one transceiver, second transmitter phase information comprising one or more parameters representing phases of the second plurality of PRS on the second plurality of frequency intervals.

[0199] Clause 28. The first network node of clause 27, wherein: the first network node is the UE, the second transmitter phase information is transmitted to the at least one network node or a second network node, the at least one network node is a serving base station of the UE, a base station involved in a positioning session of the UE, or a sidelink UE, and the second network node is a serving base station of the UE or a location server.

[0200] Clause 29. The first network node of clause 28, wherein the second transmitter phase information is forwarded by the second network node to all base stations involved in the positioning session of the UE.

[0201] Clause 30. The first network node of clause 27, wherein: the first network node is a base station involved in a positioning session of the UE, the second transmitter phase information is transmitted to the at least one network node or a second network node, the at least one network node is the UE, and the second network node is the UE or a location server.

[0202] Clause 31. The first network node of clause 30, wherein the second transmitter phase information is transmitted to the second network node via a serving base station of the UE or a location server.

[0203] Clause 32. The first network node of any of clauses 26 to 31, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to: transmit, via the at least one transceiver, receiver phase information comprising one or more parameters representative of phases of the plurality of PRS caused by switching of a radio frequency (RF) component by the first network node during reception, measurement, or both of the plurality of PRS.

[0204] Clause 33. The first network node of clause 32, wherein the receiver phase information is included in a waveform report associated with the positioning measurements of the plurality of PRS.

[0205] Clause 34. The first network node of any of clauses 26 to 33, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to: receive, via the at least one transceiver, second transmitter phase information comprising one or more parameters representative of phases of a second plurality of PRS transmitted to the at least one network node on a second plurality of frequency intervals.

[0206] Clause 35. The first network node of clause 34, wherein: the first network node is a location server, the at least one network node and the second network node are a UE, and the second transmitter phase information is received from a base station involved in a positioning session with the UE.

[0207] Clause 36. The first network node of any of clauses 26 to 35, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to: transmit, via the at least one transceiver, the positioning measurements of the plurality of PRS to a positioning entity to enable the positioning entity to calculate a position of the UE.

[0208] Clause 37. The first network node of clause 36, wherein: the first network node is a base station involved in a positioning session with the UE, and the positioning entity is the UE.

[0209] Clause 38. The first network node of clause 36, wherein: the first network node is the UE, and the positioning entity is a serving base station of the UE or a location server.

[0210] Clause 39. The first network node of any of clauses 26 to 35, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to: calculate a position of the UE based at least on the positioning measurements of the PRS.

[0211] Clause 40. The first network node of any of clauses 26 to 39, wherein: the first network node is the UE, the second network node is the at least one network node or a location server, and the at least one network node is a serving base station of the UE, a base station involved in a positioning session with the UE, or a sidelink UE.

[0212] Clause 41. The first network node of any of clauses 26 to 39, wherein: the first network node is a serving base station of the UE, the second network node is a location server, and the at least one network node is the UE or a base station involved in a positioning session of the UE.

[0213] Clause 42. The first network node of any of clauses 26 to 39, wherein: the first network node is a serving base station of the UE, the second network node is the UE, and the at least one network node is the UE.

[0214] Clause 43. The first network node of any of clauses 26 to 42, wherein the at least one network node comprises: one or more base stations, one or more UEs, or any combination thereof.

[0215] Clause 44. The first network node of any of clauses 26 to 43, wherein the one or more parameters indicate phase variations of the plurality of PRS across the plurality of frequency intervals.

[0216] Clause 45. The first network node of any of clauses 26 to 44, wherein the one or more parameters comprise: a phase difference value for a pair of the plurality of frequency intervals, a range of phase difference values for the plurality of frequency intervals, a distribution function representing phase differences across the plurality of frequency intervals, a compromise phase difference value for the plurality of frequency intervals, an average phase difference value for the plurality of frequency intervals, a variance of phase differences across the plurality of frequency intervals, or any combination thereof.

[0217] Clause 46. The first network node of clause 45, wherein the distribution function comprises a probability distribution function (PDF) or a cumulative distribution function (CDF).

[0218] Clause 47. The first network node of any of clauses 26 to 46, wherein: the plurality of frequency intervals are within a single frequency band, or the plurality of frequency intervals span multiple frequency bands.

[0219] Clause 48. The first network node of any of clauses 26 to 47, wherein the one or more parameters comprise: a first phase difference value for all of the plurality of frequency intervals in a first frequency band, and a second phase difference value for all of the plurality of frequency intervals in a second frequency band.

[0220] Clause 49. The first network node of any of clauses 26 to 48, wherein the plurality of frequency intervals are contiguous in a frequency domain.

[0221] Clause 50. The first network node of any of clauses 26 to 49, wherein the plurality of frequency intervals are a plurality of positioning frequency layers.

[0222] Clause 51. A first network node comprising: means for receiving transmitter phase information from a second network node, the transmitter phase information comprising one or more parameters representing phases of a plurality of positioning reference signals (PRS) transmitted by at least one network node on a plurality of frequency intervals; and means for obtaining positioning measurements of the plurality of PRS transmitted by the at least one network node based on the one or more parameters representing the phases of the plurality of PRS to enable a determination of a location of a user equipment (UE) based at least on the positioning measurements of the plurality of PRS.

[0223] Clause 52. The first network node of clause 51, further comprising: means for transmitting a second plurality of PRS to the at least one network node on a second plurality of frequency intervals; and means for transmitting second transmitter phase information comprising one or more parameters representing phases of the second plurality of PRS on the second plurality of frequency intervals.

[0224] Clause 53. The first network node of clause 52, wherein: the first network node is the UE, the second transmitter phase information is transmitted to the at least one network node or a second network node, the at least one network node is a serving base station of the UE, a base station involved in a positioning session of the UE, or a sidelink UE, and the second network node is the serving base station of the UE or a location server.

[0225] Clause 54. The first network node of clause 53, wherein the second transmitter phase information is forwarded by the second network node to all base stations involved in the positioning session of the UE.

[0226] Clause 55. The first network node of clause 52, wherein: the first network node is a base station involved in a positioning session of the UE, the second transmitter phase information is transmitted to the at least one network node or a second network node, the at least one network node is the UE, and the second network node is the UE or a location server.

[0227] Clause 56. The first network node of clause 55, wherein the second transmitter phase information is transmitted to the second network node via a serving base station of the UE or a location server.

[0228] Clause 57. The first network node of any of clauses 51 to 56, further comprising: means for transmitting receiver phase information comprising one or more parameters representing phases of the plurality of PRS caused by switching of radio frequency (RF) components by the first network node during reception, measurement, or both of the plurality of PRS.

[0229] Clause 58. The first network node of clause 57, wherein the receiver phase information is included in a waveform report associated with the positioning measurements of the plurality of PRS.

[0230] Clause 59. The first network node of any of clauses 51 to 58, further comprising: means for receiving second transmitter phase information comprising one or more parameters representing phases of a second plurality of PRS transmitted to the at least one network node on a second plurality of frequency intervals.

[0231] Clause 60. The first network node of clause 59, wherein: the first network node is a location server, the at least one network node and the second network node are UEs, and the second transmitter phase information is received from base stations involved in a positioning session with the UEs.

[0232] Clause 61. The first network node of any of clauses 51 to 60, further comprising: means for transmitting, to a positioning entity, the plurality of PRS positioning measurements to enable the positioning entity to calculate a position of the UE.

[0233] Clause 62. The first network node of clause 61, wherein: the first network node is a base station involved in a positioning session with the UE, and the positioning entity is the UE.

[0234] Clause 63. The first network node of clause 61, wherein: the first network node is the UE, and the positioning entity is a serving base station of the UE or a location server.

[0235] Clause 64. The first network node of any of clauses 51 to 60, further comprising: means for calculating a position of the UE based at least on the PRS positioning measurements.

[0236] Clause 65. The first network node of any of clauses 51 to 64, wherein: the first network node is the UE, the second network node is the at least one network node or a location server, and the at least one network node is a serving base station of the UE, a base station involved in a positioning session with the UE, or a sidelink UE.

[0237] Clause 66. The first network node of any of clauses 51 to 64, wherein: the first network node is a serving base station of the UE, the second network node is a location server, and the at least one network node is the UE or a base station involved in a positioning session with the UE.

[0238] Clause 67. The first network node of any of clauses 51 to 64, wherein: the first network node is a serving base station of the UE, the second network node is the UE, and the at least one network node is the UE.

[0239] Clause 68. The first network node of any of clauses 51 to 67, wherein the at least one network node comprises: one or more base stations, one or more UEs, or any combination thereof.

[0240] Clause 69. The first network node of any of Clauses 51 to 68, wherein the one or more parameters indicate phase variations of a plurality of PRSs across a plurality of frequency intervals.

[0241] Clause 70. The first network node of any of Clauses 51 to 69, wherein the one or more parameters comprise: a phase difference value for a pair of the plurality of frequency intervals, a range of phase difference values for the plurality of frequency intervals, a distribution function representing phase differences across the plurality of frequency intervals, a compromise phase difference value for the plurality of frequency intervals, an average phase difference value for the plurality of frequency intervals, a variance of phase differences across the plurality of frequency intervals, or any combination thereof.

[0242] Clause 71. The first network node of Clause 70, wherein the distribution function comprises a probability distribution function (PDF) or a cumulative distribution function (CDF).

[0243] Clause 72. The first network node of any of Clauses 51 to 71, wherein: the plurality of frequency intervals are within a single frequency band, or the plurality of frequency intervals span multiple frequency bands.

[0244] Clause 73. The first network node of any of Clauses 51 to 72, wherein the one or more parameters comprise: a first phase difference value for all of the plurality of frequency intervals in a first frequency band, and a second phase difference value for all of the plurality of frequency intervals in a second frequency band.

[0245] Clause 74. The first network node of any of Clauses 51 to 73, wherein the plurality of frequency intervals are contiguous in a frequency domain.

[0246] Clause 75. The first network node of any of Clauses 51 to 74, wherein the plurality of frequency intervals are a plurality of positioning frequency layers.

[0247] Clause 76. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing computer-executable instructions that, when executed by a first network node, cause the first network node to: receive, from a second network node, transmitter phase information comprising one or more parameters representing phases of a plurality of positioning reference signals (PRSs) transmitted by at least one network node on a plurality of frequency intervals; and obtain, based on the one or more parameters representing the phases of the plurality of PRSs, positioning measurements of the plurality of PRSs transmitted by the at least one network node to enable determination of a location of a user equipment (UE) based at least on the positioning measurements of the plurality of PRSs.

[0248] Clause 77. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of clause 76, further comprising computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the first network node, cause the first network node to: transmit a second plurality of PRS to the at least one network node on a second plurality of frequency intervals; and transmit second transmitter phase information comprising one or more parameters representing phases of the second plurality of PRS on the second plurality of frequency intervals.

[0249] Clause 78. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of clause 77, wherein: the first network node is a UE, the second transmitter phase information is transmitted to the at least one network node or a second network node, the at least one network node is a serving base station of the UE, a base station involved in a positioning session of the UE, or a sidelink UE, and the second network node is the serving base station of the UE or a location server.

[0250] Clause 79. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of clause 78, wherein the second transmitter phase information is forwarded by the second network node to all base stations involved in the positioning session of the UE.

[0251] Clause 80. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of clause 77, wherein: the first network node is a base station involved in a positioning session of the UE, the second transmitter phase information is transmitted to the at least one network node or a second network node, the at least one network node is the UE, and the second network node is the UE or a location server.

[0252] Clause 81. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of clause 80, wherein the second transmitter phase information is transmitted to the second network node via a serving base station of the UE or a location server.

[0253] Clause 82. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of any of clauses 76 to 81, further comprising computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the first network node, cause the first network node to: transmit receiver phase information comprising one or more parameters representing phases of the plurality of PRS caused by switching of radio frequency (RF) components by the first network node during reception, measurement, or both of the plurality of PRS.

[0254] Clause 83. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of clause 82, wherein the receiver phase information is included in a waveform report associated with positioning measurements of the plurality of PRS.

[0255] Clause 84. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of any of Clauses 76 to 83, further comprising computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the first network node, cause the first network node to: receive second transmitter phase information comprising one or more parameters representing phases of a second plurality of PRS transmitted to the at least one network node on a second plurality of frequency intervals.

[0256] Clause 85. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of Clause 84, wherein: the first network node is a location server, the at least one network node and the second network node are a UE, and the second transmitter phase information is received from base stations involved in a positioning session with the UE.

[0257] Clause 86. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of any of Clauses 76 to 85, further comprising computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the first network node, cause the first network node to: transmit, to a positioning entity, positioning measurements of the plurality of PRS to enable the positioning entity to compute a position of the UE.

[0258] Clause 87. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of Clause 86, wherein: the first network node is a base station involved in a positioning session with the UE, and the positioning entity is the UE.

[0259] Clause 88. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of Clause 86, wherein: the first network node is the UE, and the positioning entity is a serving base station of the UE or a location server.

[0260] Clause 89. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of any of Clauses 76 to 85, further comprising computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the first network node, cause the first network node to: compute a position of the UE based at least on the positioning measurements of the PRS.

[0261] Clause 90. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of any of Clauses 76 to 89, wherein: the first network node is the UE, the second network node is the at least one network node or a location server, and the at least one network node is a serving base station of the UE, a base station involved in a positioning session with the UE, or a sidelink UE.

[0262] Clause 91. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of any of Clauses 76 to 89, wherein: the first network node is a serving base station of the UE, the second network node is a location server, and the at least one network node is the UE or a base station involved in a positioning session with the UE.

[0263] Clause 92. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of any of Clauses 76 to 89, wherein: the first network node is a serving base station of the UE, the second network node is the UE, and the at least one network node is the UE.

[0264] Clause 93. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of any of Clauses 76 to 92, wherein the at least one network node comprises: one or more base stations, one or more UEs, or any combination thereof.

[0265] Clause 94. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of any of Clauses 76 to 93, wherein the one or more parameters indicate phase changes of the plurality of PRS across the plurality of frequency intervals.

[0266] Clause 95. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of any of Clauses 76 to 94, wherein the one or more parameters comprise: a phase difference value for a pair of the plurality of frequency intervals, a range of phase difference values for the plurality of frequency intervals, a distribution function representing phase differences across the plurality of frequency intervals, a compromise phase difference value for the plurality of frequency intervals, an average phase difference value for the plurality of frequency intervals, a variance of phase differences across the plurality of frequency intervals, or any combination thereof.

[0267] Clause 96. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of Clause 95, wherein the distribution function comprises a probability distribution function (PDF) or a cumulative distribution function (CDF).

[0268] Clause 97. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of any of Clauses 76 to 96, wherein: the plurality of frequency intervals are within a single frequency band, or the plurality of frequency intervals span multiple frequency bands.

[0269] Clause 98. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of any of Clauses 76 to 97, wherein the one or more parameters comprise: a first phase difference value for all of the plurality of frequency intervals in a first frequency band, and a second phase difference value for all of the plurality of frequency intervals in a second frequency band.

[0270] Clause 99. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of any of Clauses 76 to 98, wherein the plurality of frequency intervals are contiguous in a frequency domain.

[0271] Clause 100. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of any of Clauses 76 to 99, wherein the plurality of frequency intervals are a plurality of positioning frequency layers.

[0272] 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.

[0273] 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 present disclosure.

[0274] 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 DSP, an ASIC, a 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 any other such configuration.

[0275] 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 storage medium known in the art. An example storage medium is coupled to the processor such that the processor can read information from, and write information to, the storage medium. In the alternative, the storage medium can be integral to the processor. The processor and the storage medium can reside in an ASIC. The ASIC can reside in a user terminal (e.g., an UE). In the alternative, the processor and the storage medium can reside as discrete components in a user terminal.

[0276] In one or more example aspects, the functions described 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 computer-readable medium. Computer-readable media includes both computer storage media and communication media including any medium that facilitates transfer of a computer program from one place to another. A 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, digital subscriber line (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. Disk and disc, as used herein, includes compact disc (CD), laser disc, optical disc, digital versatile disc (DVD), floppy disk and blu-ray disc where disks usually reproduce data magnetically, while discs reproduce data optically with lasers. Combinations of the above should also be included within the scope of computer-readable media.

[0277] While the foregoing disclosure shows illustrative aspects of the present disclosure, it should be noted that various changes and modifications could be made herein without departing from the scope of the present disclosure as defined by the appended claims. The functions, steps and / or actions of the aspects of the disclosure described herein need not be performed in any particular order. Furthermore, although elements of the disclosure can be described or claimed in the singular, the plural is contemplated unless limitation to the singular is explicitly stated.

Claims

1. A method of wireless communication performed by a first network node, comprising: receiving transmitter phase information from a second network node, the transmitter phase information comprising one or more parameters representing phases of a plurality of positioning reference signals (PRSs) transmitted by at least one network node on a plurality of frequency intervals; and obtaining positioning measurements of the plurality of PRSs transmitted by the at least one network node based on the one or more parameters representing the phases of the plurality of PRSs to enable a determination of a location of a user equipment (UE) based at least on the positioning measurements of the plurality of PRSs.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising: transmitting a second plurality of PRSs to the at least one network node on a second plurality of frequency intervals; and transmitting second transmitter phase information comprising one or more parameters representing phases of the second plurality of PRSs on the second plurality of frequency intervals.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein: the first network node is the UE, the second transmitter phase information is transmitted to the at least one network node or the second network node, the at least one network node is a serving base station of the UE, a base station involved in a positioning session with the UE, or a sidelink UE, and the second network node is the serving base station of the UE or a location server. the second transmitter phase information is forwarded by the second network node to all base stations involved in a positioning session with the UE.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein, 5. The method of claim 2, wherein: the first network node is a base station involved in a positioning session with the UE, the second transmitter phase information is transmitted to the at least one network node or the second network node, the at least one network node is the UE, and the second network node is the UE or a location server. the second transmitter phase information is transmitted to the second network node via a serving base station of the UE or the location server.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein, 7. The method of claim 1, further comprising: transmitting receiver phase information comprising one or more parameters representing phases of the plurality of PRSs caused by switching of radio frequency (RF) components by the first network node during reception, measurement, or both of the plurality of PRSs. the receiver phase information is included in a waveform report associated with the positioning measurements of the plurality of PRSs.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein, 9. The method of claim 1, further comprising: receiving second transmitter phase information comprising one or more parameters representing phases of a second plurality of PRSs transmitted to the at least one network node on a second plurality of frequency intervals.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein: the first network node is a location server, the at least one network node and the second network node are the UE, the second transmitter phase information is received from a base station involved in a positioning session with the UE.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising: ​ transmit the positioning measurements of the plurality of PRSs to a positioning entity to enable the positioning entity to compute the position of the UE.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein: the first network node is a base station involved in a positioning session with the UE, and the positioning entity is the UE.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein: the first network node is the UE, and the positioning entity is a serving base station of the UE or a location server.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising: computing the position of the UE based at least on the positioning measurements of the PRSs.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein: the first network node is the UE, the second network node is the at least one network node or a location server, and the at least one network node is a serving base station of the UE, a base station involved in a positioning session with the UE, or a sidelink UE.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein: the first network node is a serving base station of the UE, the second network node is a location server, and the at least one network node is the UE or a base station involved in a positioning session with the UE.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein: the first network node is a serving base station of the UE, the second network node is the UE, and the at least one network node is the UE.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein, the at least one network node comprises: one or more base stations, one or more UEs, or any combination thereof.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein, the one or more parameters indicate a phase change of the plurality of PRSs across the plurality of frequency intervals.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein, the one or more parameters comprise: a phase difference value for a pair of the plurality of frequency intervals, a range of phase difference values for the plurality of frequency intervals, a distribution function representing phase differences across the plurality of frequency intervals, a compromise phase difference value for the plurality of frequency intervals, an average phase difference value for the plurality of frequency intervals, a variance of phase differences across the plurality of frequency intervals, or any combination thereof.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein, the distribution function comprises a probability distribution function (PDF) or a cumulative distribution function (CDF).

22. The method of claim 1, wherein: the plurality of frequency intervals are within a single frequency band, or the plurality of frequency intervals span multiple frequency bands.

23. The method of claim 1, wherein, the one or more parameters comprise: a first phase difference value for all of the plurality of frequency intervals in a first frequency band, and a second phase difference value for all of the plurality of frequency intervals in a second frequency band.

24. The method of claim 1, wherein, the plurality of frequency intervals are contiguous in a frequency domain.

25. The method of claim 1, wherein, the plurality of frequency intervals are a plurality of positioning frequency layers.

26. A first network node, 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: receiving, from a second network node via the at least one transceiver, transmitter phase information comprising one or more parameters representative of phases of a plurality of positioning reference signals (PRSs) transmitted by at least one network node on a plurality of frequency intervals; and obtaining, based on the one or more parameters representative of the phases of the plurality of PRSs, positioning measurements of the plurality of PRSs transmitted by the at least one network node to enable determination of a location of a user equipment (UE) based at least on the positioning measurements of the plurality of PRSs.

27. The first network node of claim 26, wherein, the at least one processor is further configured to: transmit, via the at least one transceiver, a second plurality of PRSs to the at least one network node on a second plurality of frequency intervals; and transmit, via the at least one transceiver, second transmitter phase information comprising one or more parameters representative of phases of the second plurality of PRSs on the second plurality of frequency intervals.

28. The first network node of claim 27, wherein: the first network node is the UE, the second transmitter phase information is transmitted to the at least one network node or the second network node, the at least one network node is a serving base station of the UE, a base station involved in a positioning session with the UE, or a sidelink UE, and the second network node is the serving base station of the UE or a location server.

29. The first network node of claim 28, wherein, the second transmitter phase information is forwarded by the second network node to all base stations involved in a positioning session with the UE.

30. The first network node of claim 27, wherein: the first network node is a base station involved in a positioning session with the UE, the second transmitter phase information is transmitted to the at least one network node or the second network node, the at least one network node is the UE, and the second network node is the UE or a location server.

31. The first network node of claim 30, wherein, the second transmitter phase information is transmitted to the second network node via a serving base station of the UE or the location server.

32. The first network node of claim 26, wherein, the at least one processor is further configured to: transmit, via the at least one transceiver, receiver phase information comprising one or more parameters representative of phases of the plurality of PRSs caused by switching of radio frequency (RF) components by the first network node during reception, measurement, or both of the plurality of PRSs.

33. The first network node of claim 32, wherein, the receiver phase information is included in a waveform report associated with the positioning measurements of the plurality of PRSs.

34. The first network node of claim 26, wherein, the at least one processor is further configured to: receive, via the at least one transceiver, second transmitter phase information comprising one or more parameters representative of phases of a second plurality of PRSs transmitted to the at least one network node on a second plurality of frequency intervals.

35. The first network node of claim 34, wherein: the first network node is a location server, the at least one network node and the second network node are the UE, the at least one network node is a serving base station of the UE, a base station involved in a positioning session with the UE, or a sidelink UE, and the second network node is the serving base station of the UE or a location server. The second transmitter phase information is received from a base station involved in a positioning session with the UE.

36. The first network node of claim 26, wherein, The at least one processor is further configured to: transmit, via the at least one transceiver, the positioning measurements of the plurality of PRSs to a positioning entity to enable the positioning entity to compute the position of the UE.

37. The first network node of claim 36, wherein: the first network node is a base station involved in a positioning session with the UE, and the positioning entity is the UE.

38. The first network node of claim 36, wherein: the first network node is the UE, and the positioning entity is a serving base station of the UE or a location server.

39. The first network node of claim 26, wherein, The at least one processor is further configured to: compute the position of the UE based at least on the positioning measurements of the PRSs.

40. The first network node of claim 26, wherein: the first network node is the UE, the second network node is the at least one network node or a location server, and the at least one network node is a serving base station of the UE, a base station involved in a positioning session with the UE, or a sidelink UE.

41. The first network node of claim 26, wherein: the first network node is a serving base station of the UE, the second network node is a location server, and the at least one network node is the UE or a base station involved in a positioning session with the UE.

42. The first network node of claim 26, wherein: the first network node is a serving base station of the UE, the second network node is the UE, and the at least one network node is the UE.

43. The first network node of claim 26, wherein, The at least one network node comprises: one or more base stations, one or more UEs, or any combination thereof.

44. The first network node of claim 26, wherein, The one or more parameters indicate phase variations of the plurality of PRSs across the plurality of frequency intervals.

45. The first network node of claim 26, wherein, The one or more parameters comprise: a phase difference value for a pair of the plurality of frequency intervals, a range of phase difference values for the plurality of frequency intervals, a distribution function representing phase differences across the plurality of frequency intervals, a compromise phase difference value for the plurality of frequency intervals, an average phase difference value for the plurality of frequency intervals, a variance of phase differences across the plurality of frequency intervals, or any combination thereof.

46. The first network node of claim 45, wherein, The distribution function comprises a probability distribution function (PDF) or a cumulative distribution function (CDF).

47. The first network node of claim 26, wherein: the plurality of frequency intervals are within a single frequency band, or the plurality of frequency intervals span multiple frequency bands.

48. The first network node of claim 26, wherein, The one or more parameters comprise: a first phase difference value for all of the plurality of frequency intervals in a first frequency band, and a second phase difference value for all of the plurality of frequency intervals in a second frequency band.

49. The first network node of claim 26, wherein, The plurality of frequency intervals are contiguous in a frequency domain.

50. The first network node of claim 26, wherein, The plurality of frequency intervals are a plurality of positioning frequency layers.

51. A first network node comprising: means for receiving transmitter phase information from a second network node, the transmitter phase information comprising one or more parameters representing phases of a plurality of positioning reference signals (PRS) transmitted by at least one network node on a plurality of frequency intervals; and means for obtaining positioning measurements of the plurality of PRS transmitted by the at least one network node based on the one or more parameters representing the phases of the plurality of PRS, to enable determination of a position of a user equipment (UE) based at least on the positioning measurements of the plurality of PRS.

52. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing computer-executable instructions that, when executed by a first network node, cause the first network node to: receive transmitter phase information from a second network node, the transmitter phase information comprising one or more parameters representing phases of a plurality of positioning reference signals (PRS) transmitted by at least one network node on a plurality of frequency intervals; and obtain positioning measurements of the plurality of PRS transmitted by the at least one network node based on the one or more parameters representing the phases of the plurality of PRS, to enable determination of a position of a user equipment (UE) based at least on the positioning measurements of the plurality of PRS.

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