Reconfigurable intelligent surface (RIS) beam sweeping for sounding reference signal (SRS) for angle of departure (AoD) based positioning

Abstract

Techniques for wireless communications are disclosed. In an aspect, a user equipment (UE) can obtain configuration information identifying resources for sounding reference signal (SRS) positioning. The UE can transmit, to a reconfigurable intelligent surface (RIS), a plurality of SRS transmissions at different times in accordance with the configuration information. The UE can receive, from the RIS, a plurality of SRS transmissions including reflections of the plurality of SRS transmissions to the RIS, where each SRS transmission of the plurality of SRS transmissions from the RIS is transmitted from the RIS at a different angle of departure (AoD). The UE can measure each SRS transmission of the plurality of SRS transmissions from the RIS to produce a plurality of measurements. The UE can perform a positioning operation based on the plurality of measurements.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The various aspects of this disclosure generally relate to wireless communications. Background Technology

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

[0003] The fifth-generation (5G) wireless standard, known as New Radio (NR), demands higher data transmission speeds, a greater number of connections, and better coverage, among other improvements. According to the Next Generation Mobile Networks Alliance (NGC), the 5G standard is designed to provide tens of megabits per second of data to each of tens of thousands of users, or 1 gigabit per second to dozens of workers on an office floor. To support large-scale sensor deployments, it should support hundreds of thousands of simultaneous connections. Therefore, the spectral efficiency of 5G mobile communications should be significantly improved compared to the current 4G standard. Furthermore, signaling efficiency should be improved, and latency should be significantly reduced compared to the current standard. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The following is a simplified overview relating to one or more aspects disclosed herein. Therefore, this overview should not be considered an exhaustive overview relating to all conceptual aspects, nor should it be considered to identify key or decisive elements relating to all conceptual aspects or to depict the scope associated with any particular aspect. Thus, the sole purpose of the following summary is to present, in a concise form, certain concepts relating to one or more aspects involving the mechanisms disclosed herein, prior to the detailed embodiments presented below.

[0005] In one aspect, a wireless communication method performed by a user equipment (UE) includes: obtaining configuration information identifying resources for location using sounding reference signals (SRS); transmitting a plurality of SRS transmissions to a reconfigurable smart surface (RIS) at different times according to the configuration information; receiving a plurality of SRS transmissions from the RIS, the plurality of SRS transmissions including reflections of the plurality of SRS transmissions to the RIS, wherein each of the plurality of SRS transmissions from the RIS is transmitted from the RIS at a different angle of origin (AoD); measuring each of the plurality of SRS transmissions from the RIS to generate a plurality of measurement results; and performing a location operation based on the plurality of measurement results.

[0006] In one aspect, a method for wireless communication performed by a reconfigurable smart surface (RIS) includes: obtaining configuration information for identifying resources used for sounding reference signals (SRS) localization; receiving multiple SRS transmissions from a user equipment (UE) at different times; and transmitting multiple SRS transmissions, the multiple SRS transmissions including reflections of the multiple SRS transmissions received from the UE, wherein each of the multiple SRS transmissions from the RIS is transmitted from the RIS at a different angle of origin (AoD) according to the configuration information.

[0007] In one aspect, a method of wireless communication performed by a location server includes: sending first configuration information to a reconfigurable smart surface (RIS) identifying resources for sounding reference signal (SRS) positioning; and sending second configuration information to a user equipment (UE) identifying resources for sounding reference signal (SRS) positioning, wherein each of the first and second configuration information indicates the number of SRS resources, the time at which the UE sends an SRS transmission to the RIS, the expected time at which the UE receives a reflection of the SRS transmission from the RIS, the uncertainty of the expected time at which the UE receives a reflection of the SRS transmission from the RIS, the angle of origin (AoD) at which the RIS sends a reflection of the SRS transmission from the UE, or a combination thereof.

[0008] In one aspect, a user equipment (UE) 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 being configured to: obtain configuration information for identifying resources for Sounding Reference Signals (SRS) positioning; transmit a plurality of SRS transmissions at different times via the at least one transceiver according to the configuration information; receive a plurality of SRS transmissions from the RIS via the at least one transceiver, the plurality of SRS transmissions including reflections of the plurality of SRS transmissions to the RIS, wherein each of the plurality of SRS transmissions from the RIS is transmitted from the RIS at a different angle of origin (AoD); measure each of the plurality of SRS transmissions from the RIS to generate a plurality of measurement results; and perform a positioning operation based on the plurality of measurement results.

[0009] In one aspect, a reconfigurable smart surface (RIS) 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 being configured to: obtain configuration information for identifying resources for sounding reference signals (SRS) localization; receive multiple SRS transmissions from a user equipment (UE) at different times via the at least one transceiver; and transmit multiple SRS transmissions via the at least one transceiver, the multiple SRS transmissions including reflections of the multiple SRS transmissions received from the UE, wherein each of the multiple SRS transmissions from the RIS is transmitted from the RIS at a different angle of origin (AoD) according to the configuration information.

[0010] In one aspect, a location server 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 being configured to: transmit via the at least one transceiver a first configuration information identifying resources for Sounding Reference Signal (SRS) positioning to a reconfigurable smart surface (RIS); and transmit via the at least one transceiver a second configuration information identifying resources for Sounding Reference Signal (SRS) positioning to a user equipment (UE), wherein each of the first and second configuration information indicates the number of SRS resources, the time for the UE to transmit an SRS transmission to the RIS, the expected time for the UE to receive a reflection of the SRS transmission from the RIS, the uncertainty of the expected time for the UE to receive a reflection of the SRS transmission from the RIS, the angle of origin (AoD) at which the RIS transmits the reflection of the SRS transmission from the UE, or a combination thereof.

[0011] In one aspect, a user equipment (UE) includes: means for obtaining configuration information for identifying resources for positioning using sounding reference signals (SRS); means for transmitting a plurality of SRS transmissions to a reconfigurable smart surface (RIS) at different times according to the configuration information; means for receiving a plurality of SRS transmissions from the RIS, the plurality of SRS transmissions including reflections of the plurality of SRS transmissions to the RIS, wherein each of the plurality of SRS transmissions from the RIS is transmitted from the RIS at a different angle of origin (AoD); means for measuring each of the plurality of SRS transmissions from the RIS to generate a plurality of measurement results; and means for performing a positioning operation based on the plurality of measurement results.

[0012] In one aspect, a reconfigurable smart surface (RIS) includes: means for obtaining configuration information for identifying resources used for sounding reference signals (SRS) positioning; means for receiving multiple SRS transmissions from a user equipment (UE) at different times; and means for transmitting multiple SRS transmissions, the multiple SRS transmissions including reflections of the multiple SRS transmissions received from the UE, wherein each of the multiple SRS transmissions from the RIS is transmitted from the RIS at a different angle of origin (AoD) according to the configuration information.

[0013] In one aspect, a location server includes: means for sending first configuration information to a reconfigurable smart surface (RIS) to identify resources for location using sounding reference signals (SRS); and means for sending second configuration information to a user equipment (UE) to identify resources for location using sounding reference signals (SRS), wherein each of the first and second configuration information indicates the number of SRS resources, the time when the UE sends an SRS transmission to the RIS, the expected time when the UE receives a reflection of the SRS transmission from the RIS, the uncertainty of the expected time when the UE receives a reflection of the SRS transmission from the RIS, the angle of origin (AoD) at which the RIS sends a reflection of the SRS transmission from the UE, or a combination thereof.

[0014] In one aspect, a non-transitory computer-readable medium storing computer-executable instructions that, when executed by a user equipment (UE), cause the UE to: obtain configuration information identifying resources for location using sounding reference signals (SRS); transmit multiple SRS transmissions to a reconfigurable smart surface (RIS) at different times according to the configuration information; receive multiple SRS transmissions from the RIS, the multiple SRS transmissions including reflections of the multiple SRS transmissions to the RIS, wherein each of the multiple SRS transmissions from the RIS is transmitted from the RIS at a different angle of origin (AoD); measure each of the multiple SRS transmissions from the RIS to generate multiple measurement results; and perform a location operation based on the multiple measurement results.

[0015] In one aspect, a non-transitory computer-readable medium storing computer-executable instructions that, when executed by a reconfigurable smart surface (RIS), cause the RIS to: acquire configuration information for identifying resources used for sounding reference signals (SRS) localization; receive multiple SRS transmissions from a user equipment (UE) at different times; and transmit multiple SRS transmissions including reflections of the multiple SRS transmissions received from the UE, wherein each of the multiple SRS transmissions from the RIS is transmitted from the RIS at a different angle of origin (AoD) according to the configuration information.

[0016] In one aspect, a non-transitory computer-readable medium storing computer-executable instructions that, when executed by a location server, cause the location server to: send first configuration information to a reconfigurable smart surface (RIS) identifying resources for sounding reference signal (SRS) positioning; and send second configuration information to a user equipment (UE) identifying resources for sounding reference signal (SRS) positioning, wherein each of the first and second configuration information indicates the number of SRS resources, the time at which the UE sends an SRS transmission to the RIS, the expected time at which the UE receives a reflection of the SRS transmission from the RIS, the uncertainty of the expected time at which the UE receives a reflection of the SRS transmission from the RIS, the angle of origin (AoD) at which the RIS sends a reflection of the SRS transmission from the UE, or a combination thereof.

[0017] 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 embodiments. Attached Figure Description

[0018] The accompanying drawings are provided to help describe various aspects of this disclosure, and are provided for illustrative purposes only and not to limit the scope of the subject matter.

[0019] Figure 1 An example wireless communication system according to various aspects of this disclosure is shown.

[0020] Figure 2A and Figure 2B Example wireless network architectures according to various aspects of this disclosure are shown.

[0021] Figure 3A , Figure 3B and Figure 3C It is a simplified block diagram of several examples of components that can be used in user equipment (UE), base stations and network entities respectively, and configured to support communications as taught herein.

[0022] Figures 4A to 4D This is a diagram illustrating example frame structures and channels within these frame structures according to various aspects of this disclosure.

[0023] Figure 5 This is a diagram illustrating communication between an example base station and an example UE according to various aspects of this disclosure.

[0024] Figure 6 A standard method for performing DL-AoD measurements using RSRP measurements is shown.

[0025] Figure 7 It is a plot of the expected RSRP value, which is dependent on the azimuth angle and has been normalized to eliminate the influence of distance.

[0026] Figure 8 A system for conventional multiple round-trip time (multiple RTT) positioning is shown.

[0027] Figure 9 A system for multi-RTT positioning using a single gNB is shown.

[0028] Figure 10 A system 1000 for multi-RTT positioning using uplink (UL) probe reference signal (SRS) and multiple reconfigurable smart surfaces (RIS) is shown.

[0029] Figure 11 This is a flowchart of an example process associated with RIS beam scanning of SRS for positioning based on the angle of departure (AoD) according to various aspects of this disclosure.

[0030] Figure 12 This is a flowchart of an example process associated with RIS beam scanning of SRS for positioning based on the angle of departure (AoD) according to various aspects of this disclosure.

[0031] Figure 13A and Figure 13BThis is a flowchart of an example process associated with RIS beam scanning of SRS for positioning based on the angle of departure (AoD) according to various aspects of this disclosure.

[0032] Figure 14 An example network for implementing UE-based positioning using a single RIS is shown, according to some aspects of this disclosure.

[0033] Figure 15 and Figure 16 This is a signaling and event diagram of RIS beam scanning for SRS for UE-based AoD positioning, based on some aspects of this disclosure. Detailed Implementation

[0034] Various aspects of this disclosure are provided in the following description and accompanying drawings of various examples provided for illustrative purposes. Alternative aspects may be devised without departing from the scope of this disclosure. Furthermore, well-known elements of this disclosure will not be described in detail or will be omitted so as not to obscure the relevant details of this disclosure.

[0035] The terms “exemplary” and / or “example” are used herein to mean “served as an example, illustration, or description.” Any aspect described herein as “exemplary” and / or “example” is not necessarily to be construed as superior to or better than other aspects. Similarly, the term “aspects of this disclosure” does not require that all aspects of this disclosure include the features, advantages, or modes of operation discussed.

[0036] Those skilled in the art will understand that any of a variety of different techniques and methods can be used to represent the information and signals described below. For example, data, instructions, commands, information, signals, bits, symbols, and chips that may be mentioned throughout the following description can be represented by voltage, current, electromagnetic waves, magnetic fields or magnetic particles, light fields or optical particles, or any combination thereof, depending in part on the specific application, in part on the desired design, in part on the appropriate technology, and so on.

[0037] Furthermore, many aspects are described in sequence according to actions to be performed by elements of, for example, a computing device. It will be appreciated that the various actions described herein can be performed by specific circuitry (e.g., an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC)), by program instructions executed by one or more processors, or by a combination of both. Additionally, the sequence of actions described herein can be considered entirely embodied in any form of non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a corresponding set of computer instructions that, when executed, will cause or instruct an associated processor of the device to perform the functions described herein. Therefore, various aspects of this disclosure can be embodied in a variety of different forms, all of which are contemplated within the scope of the claimed subject matter. Furthermore, for each aspect described herein, the corresponding form of any such aspect can be described herein as, for example, "logic configured to perform the described actions."

[0038] As used herein, unless otherwise stated, the terms “User Equipment” (UE) and “Base Station” are not intended to be specific or otherwise limited to any particular Radio Access Technology (RAT). Generally, a UE can be any wireless communication device used by a user to communicate over a wireless communication network (e.g., 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., car, motorcycle, bicycle, etc.), Internet of Things (IoT) device, etc.). A UE can be mobile or can (e.g., at certain times) be stationary and can communicate with a Radio Access Network (RAN). As used herein, the term “UE” can be used interchangeably as “Access Terminal” or “AT”, “Client Equipment”, “Wireless Equipment”, “Subscriber Terminal”, “Subscriber Station”, “User Terminal” or “UT”, “Mobile Equipment”, “Mobile Terminal”, “Mobile Station”, or variations thereof. Generally, a UE can communicate with a core network via the RAN, and through the core network, a UE can connect to external networks such as the Internet and to other UEs. Of course, other mechanisms for connecting to the core network and / or the Internet are also possible for the UE, such as through a wired access network, a wireless local area network (WLAN) (e.g., based on the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11 standard, etc.).

[0039] A base station may operate according to one of several RATs to communicate with a UE, depending on the network in which it is deployed, and may alternatively be referred to as an Access Point (AP), Network Node, B-Node, Evolved B-Node (eNB), Next Generation eNB (ng-eNB), New Radio (NR) B-Node (also referred to as gNB or gNodeB), etc. A base station may primarily be used to support the UE's radio access, including data, voice, and / or signaling connections with the supported UE. In some systems, a base station may only provide edge node signaling functions, while in others it may provide additional control and / or network management functions. The communication link through which a UE can signal to a base station is called an uplink (UL) channel (e.g., reverse traffic channel, reverse control channel, access channel, etc.). The communication link through which a base station can signal to a UE is called a downlink (DL) or forward link channel (e.g., paging channel, control channel, broadcast channel, forward traffic channel, etc.). As used herein, the term Traffic Channel (TCH) may refer to an uplink / reverse or downlink / forward traffic channel.

[0040] The term "base station" can refer to a single physical transmit / receive point (TRP) or multiple physical TRPs that may be located in the same place or in different places. For example, when the term "base station" refers to a single physical TRP, the physical TRP may be the antenna of the base station corresponding to a cell (or several cell sectors) of the base station. When the term "base station" refers to multiple co-located physical TRPs, the physical TRP may be the antenna array of the base station (e.g., as in a multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) system or in the case of beamforming at the base station). When the term "base station" refers to multiple non-co-located physical TRPs, the physical TRPs may be a distributed antenna system (DAS) (a network of spatially separated antennas connected via a transmission medium to a common source) or a remote radio headend (RRH) (a remote base station connected to the serving base station). Alternatively, non-co-located physical TRPs may be the serving base station from which the UE receives measurement reports and neighboring base stations from which the UE is measuring its reference radio frequency (RF) signal. Because, as used herein, a TRP is a point by which a base station transmits and receives radio signals, references to transmitting from or receiving at a base station should be understood to refer to a specific TRP of the base station.

[0041] In some implementations that support UE positioning, the base station may not support the UE's radio access (e.g., it may not support data, voice, and / or signaling connections regarding the UE), but may instead transmit reference signals to the UE for measurement, and / or receive and measure signals transmitted by the UE. Such a base station may be referred to as a positioning tower (e.g., in the case of transmitting signals to the UE) and / or as a location measurement unit (e.g., in the case of receiving and measuring signals from the UE).

[0042] An “RF signal” refers to an electromagnetic wave of a given frequency that transmits information across the space between a transmitter and a receiver. As used herein, a transmitter may send a single “RF signal” or multiple “RF signals” to a receiver. However, due to the propagation characteristics of RF signals through multipath channels, a receiver may receive multiple “RF signals” corresponding to each transmitted RF signal. The same transmitted RF signal on different paths between the transmitter and receiver can be referred to as a “multipath” RF signal. As used herein, where the context clearly indicates that the term “signal” refers to a wireless signal or RF signal, an RF signal may also be referred to as a “wireless signal” or simply a “signal.”

[0043] Figure 1 An example wireless communication system 100 according to various aspects of this disclosure is illustrated. The wireless communication system 100 (which may also be referred to as a wireless wide area network (WWAN)) may include various base stations 102 (labeled "BS") and various UEs 104. Base station 102 may include macro cell base stations (high-power cellular base stations) and / or small cell base stations (low-power cellular base stations). In one aspect, the macro cell base station may include an eNB and / or an ng-eNB (where the wireless communication system 100 corresponds to an LTE network), or a gNB (where the wireless communication system 100 corresponds to an NR network), or a combination of both, and the small cell base station may include femtocells, picocells, microcells, etc.

[0044] Base station 102 can collectively form a RAN and interface with core network 170 (e.g., evolved packet core (EPC) or 5G core (5GC)) via backhaul link 122, and interface with one or more location servers 172 (e.g., location management function (LMF) or secure user plane location (SUPL) location platform (SLP)) via core network 170. Location server 172 can be part of core network 170 or can be outside core network 170. UE 104 can communicate with location server 172 directly or indirectly. For example, UE 104 can communicate with location server 172 via base station 102 currently serving UE 104. UE 104 can also communicate with location server 172 via another path, such as via application server, via another network, such as via Wi-Fi access point, etc. For signaling purposes, communication between UE 104 and location server 172 can be represented as a direct connection, wherein intermediate nodes (if any) are omitted from the signaling diagram for clarity.

[0045] In addition to other functions, base station 102 may perform functions associated with one or more of the following: transmitting user data, radio channel encryption and decryption, integrity protection, header compression, mobility control functions (e.g., handover, dual connectivity), inter-cell interference coordination, connection establishment and release, load balancing, distribution of non-access stratum (NAS) messages, NAS node selection, synchronization, RAN sharing, multimedia broadcast multicast service (MBMS), subscriber and device tracking, RAN information management (RIM), paging, location, and warning message delivery. Base stations 102 may communicate with each other directly or indirectly (e.g., via EPC / 5GC) on backhaul link 134, which may be wired or wireless.

[0046] Base station 102 can wirelessly communicate with UE 104. Each base station in base station 102 can provide communication coverage for a corresponding geographic coverage area 110. In one aspect, one or more cells can be supported by base station 102 in each geographic coverage area 110. A “cell” is a logical communication entity used to communicate with a base station (e.g., on a frequency resource, referred to as a carrier frequency, component carrier, carrier, frequency band, etc.) and can be associated with an identifier (e.g., Physical Cell Identifier (PCI), Enhanced Cell Identifier (ECI), Virtual Cell Identifier (VCI), Cell Global Identifier (CGI), etc.) used to distinguish cells operating via the same or different carrier frequencies. In some cases, different cells can be configured according to 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 other protocol types). Because a cell is supported by a specific base station, the term “cell” can refer to either or both of the logical communication entity and the base station supporting it, depending on the context. Furthermore, since the TRP is typically 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 geographic coverage area of ​​a base station (e.g., a sector), as long as the carrier frequency can be detected and used for communication within a portion of the geographic coverage area 110.

[0047] While the geographic coverage areas 110 of adjacent macro cell base stations 102 may partially overlap (e.g., in handover areas), some of the 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 home eNBs (HeNBs) that can provide service to restricted groups referred to as closed subscriber groups (CSGs).

[0048] 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 (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 with respect to the downlink and uplink (e.g., more or fewer carriers may be allocated to the downlink compared to the uplink).

[0049] The wireless communication system 100 may further include a wireless local area network (WLAN) access point (AP) 150 communicating with a WLAN station (STA) 152 via a communication link 154 in unlicensed spectrum (e.g., 5 GHz). When communicating in unlicensed spectrum, the WLAN STA 152 and / or WLAN AP 150 may perform a free channel assessment (CCA) or pre-call listening (LBT) process before communication to determine whether the channel is available.

[0050] Small cell base station 102' can operate in licensed and / or unlicensed spectrum. When operating in unlicensed spectrum, small cell base station 102' can employ LTE or NR technology and use the same 5 GHz unlicensed spectrum as WLAN AP 150. Small cell base station 102' employing LTE / 5G in unlicensed spectrum can improve access network coverage and / or increase access network capacity. NR in unlicensed spectrum may be referred to as NR-U. LTE in unlicensed spectrum may be referred to as LTE-U, Licensed Assisted Access (LAA), or MulteFire.

[0051] The wireless communication system 100 may also include a millimeter-wave (mmW) base station 180, which can operate at mmW and / or near-mmW frequencies to communicate with the UE 182. Extremely high frequency (EHF) is a portion of the electromagnetic spectrum that contains radio frequency (RF). EHF has a range of 30 GHz to 300 GHz, with wavelengths between 1 mm and 10 mm. Radio waves in this band are referred to as millimeter waves. Near-mmW can extend down to frequencies of 3 GHz with wavelengths of 100 mm. Ultra-high frequency (SHF) bands extend between 3 GHz and 30 GHz, and are also referred to as centimeter waves. Communication using mmW / near-mmW RF bands has high path loss and relatively short range. The mmW base station 180 and the UE 182 can utilize beamforming (transmit and / or receive) on the mmW communication link 184 to compensate for the extremely high path loss and short range. Furthermore, it will be understood that in alternative configurations, one or more base stations 102 may also use mmW or near-mmW and beamforming for transmission. Accordingly, it will be understood that the foregoing description is merely illustrative and should not be construed as limiting the aspects disclosed herein.

[0052] Transmit beamforming is a technique used to focus RF signals in a specific direction. Traditionally, when a network node (e.g., a base station) broadcasts an RF signal, it broadcasts the signal in all directions (omnidirectionally). Using transmit beamforming, the network node determines where a given target device (e.g., a UE) is located (relative to the transmitting network node) and projects a stronger downlink RF signal in that specific direction, thus providing the receiving device with a faster (in terms of data rate) and stronger RF signal. To change the directivity of the RF signal during transmission, the network node can control the phase and relative amplitude of the RF signal at each of one or more transmitters broadcasting the RF signal. For example, the network node can use an antenna array (called a "phased array" or "antenna array") that creates RF beams that can be "manipulated" to be pointed in different directions without actually moving the antennas. Specifically, RF currents from the transmitters are fed to the individual antennas with the correct phase relationship, such that radio waves from the separate antennas are added together to increase radiation in the desired direction while canceling out radiation in undesired directions.

[0053] Transmit beams can be quasi-co-located, meaning they appear to the receiver (e.g., the UE) as having the same parameters regardless of whether the network node's own transmit antennas are physically co-located. In NR, there are four types of quasi-co-located (QCL) relationships. Specifically, a given type of QCL relationship means that certain parameters of a second reference RF signal on a second beam can be derived based on information about the source reference RF signal on the source beam. Therefore, if the source reference RF signal is QCL type A, 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, 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, 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 of type QCL D, the receiver can use the source reference RF signal to estimate the spatial reception parameters of a second reference RF signal transmitted on the same channel.

[0054] In receive beamforming, a receiver uses a receive beam to amplify an RF signal detected on a given channel. For example, the receiver may increase the gain setting of an antenna array in a particular direction and / or adjust the phase setting of the antenna array in a particular direction to amplify the RF signal received from that direction (e.g., increase its gain level). Therefore, when a receiver is said to be beamforming 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 of all other receive beams available to the receiver in that direction. 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.

[0055] The transmit and receive beams can be spatially correlated. Spatial correlation means that parameters for a second beam (e.g., transmit or receive beam) for a second reference signal can be derived based on information about a first beam (e.g., receive or transmit beam) for a first reference signal. For example, a UE can use a specific receive beam to receive a reference 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 that base station based on the parameters of the receive beam.

[0056] Note that the “downlink” beam can be either a transmit or receive beam, depending on the entity forming it. For example, if a base station is forming a downlink beam to send 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 to receive the downlink reference signal. Similarly, the “uplink” beam can be either a transmit or receive beam, depending on the entity forming it. For example, if a base station is forming an uplink beam, it is an uplink receive beam, while if a UE is forming an uplink beam, it is an uplink transmit beam.

[0057] In 5G, the spectrum in which wireless nodes (e.g., base stations 102 / 180, UEs 104 / 182) operate is divided into several frequency ranges: FR1 (from 450MHz to 6000MHz), FR2 (from 24250MHz to 52600MHz), FR3 (above 52600MHz), and FR4 (between FR1 and FR2). The mmW band typically includes the FR2, FR3, and FR4 frequency ranges. Thus, the terms "mmW" and "FR2" or "FR3" or "FR4" are generally used interchangeably.

[0058] In multi-carrier systems (such as 5G), one of the carrier frequencies is referred to as the "primary carrier," "anchor carrier," "primary serving cell," or "PCell," and the remaining carrier frequencies are referred to as "secondary carriers," "secondary serving cells," or "SCell." In carrier aggregation, the anchor carrier is the carrier operating on the primary frequency (e.g., FR1) used by UE 104 / 182 and the cell, where UE 104 / 182 performs an initial Radio Resource Control (RRC) connection establishment procedure or initiates an RRC connection re-establishment procedure. The primary carrier carries all common and UE-specific control channels and can be a carrier on a licensed frequency (however, this is not always the case). The secondary carrier is the carrier operating on a second frequency (e.g., FR2), where it can be configured and used to provide additional radio resources once an RRC connection is established between UE 104 and the anchor carrier. In some cases, the secondary carrier can be a carrier on an unlicensed frequency. Secondary carriers may contain only necessary signaling information and signals. For example, since the primary uplink and downlink carriers are typically UE-specific, those UE-specific signaling information and signals may not exist in the secondary carrier. This means that different UEs 104 / 182 within a cell can have different downlink primary carriers. The same applies to the uplink primary carrier. The network can change the primary carrier of any UE 104 / 182 at any time. This is done, for example, to balance the load on different carriers. Because a "serving cell" (whether PCell or SCell) corresponds to the carrier frequency / component carrier on which a base station communicates, the terms "cell," "serving cell," "component carrier," and "carrier frequency" are used interchangeably.

[0059] For example, still refer to Figure 1 One of the frequencies used by macro cell base station 102 can be an anchor carrier (or "PCell"), and other frequencies used by macro cell base station 102 and / or mmW base station 180 can be secondary carriers ("SCell"). Simultaneous transmission and / or reception on multiple carriers allows UE 104 / 182 to significantly increase its data transmission and / or reception rates. For example, compared to the data rate obtained by a single 20MHz carrier, two aggregated 20MHz carriers in a multi-carrier system would theoretically result in a doubling of the data rate (i.e., 40MHz).

[0060] The wireless communication system 100 may also include a UE 164, which can communicate with the macro cell base station 102 via communication link 120 and / or with the mmW base station 180 via mmW communication link 184. For example, the macro cell base station 102 may support PCells and one or more SCells for the UE 164, and the mmW base station 180 may support one or more SCells for the UE 164.

[0061] exist Figure 1 In the example, one or more Earth-orbiting Satellite Positioning System (SPS) spacecraft (SV) 112 (e.g., satellites) can be used as any of the UEs shown (for simplicity, in... Figure 1 The location information of a single UE 104 is a separate source. UE 104 may include one or more dedicated SPS receivers specifically designed to receive SPS signal 124 from SV 112 to derive geographic location information. The SPS typically includes a transmitter system (e.g., SV 112) positioned such that receivers (e.g., UE 104) can determine their location on or above the earth based at least in part on the signal received from the transmitter (e.g., SPS signal 124). Such transmitters typically transmit signals marked with a set number of repeating pseudo-random noise (PN) codes. While typically located in SV 112, transmitters may sometimes be located at ground-based control stations, base stations 102, and / or other UEs 104.

[0062] The use of SPS signal 124 can be amplified by various satellite-based augmentation systems (SBAS), which may be associated with or otherwise enabled to work with one or more global and / or regional navigation satellite systems. For example, SBAS may include augmentation systems that provide integrity information, differential correction, etc., such as Wide Area Augmentation System (WAAS), European Geosynchronous Navigation Coverage Service (EGNOS), Multifunctional Satellite Augmentation System (MSAS), GPS-assisted geo-augmented navigation, or GPS and geo-augmented navigation system (GAGAN). Thus, as used herein, SPS may include any combination of one or more global and / or regional navigation satellite systems and / or augmentation systems, and SPS signal 124 may include SPS, SPS-like systems, and / or other signals associated with one or more such SPS.

[0063] The wireless communication system 100 may also include one or more UEs, such as UE 190, which are indirectly connected to one or more communication networks via one or more device-to-device (D2D) peer-to-peer (P2P) links (referred to as "side links"). Figure 1In the example, UE 190 has a D2D P2P link 192 with one of UEs 104 connected to one of base stations 102 (e.g., through which UE 190 can indirectly obtain cellular connectivity), and a D2D P2P link 194 with a WLAN STA 152 connected to a WLAN AP 150 (through which UE 190 can indirectly obtain WLAN-based internet connectivity). In one example, D2D P2P links 192 and 194 can be supported using any known D2D RAT, such as LTE Direct (LTE-D), WiFi Direct (WiFi-D), etc. etc.

[0064] Figure 2A An example wireless network architecture 200 is illustrated. For example, the 5GC 210 (also known as the Next Generation Core (NGC)) can functionally be viewed 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 functions, access to data networks, IP routing, etc.), which work together to form the core network. A user plane interface (NG-U) 213 and a control plane interface (NG-C) 215 connect the gNB 222 to the 5GC 210, specifically to user plane functions 212 and control plane functions 214, respectively. In another configuration, the ng-eNB 224 can also connect to the 5GC 210 via NG-C 215 to control plane function 214 and NG-U 213 to user plane function 212. Furthermore, the ng-eNB 224 can communicate directly with the gNB 222 via a backhaul connection 223. In some configurations, the next-generation RAN (NG-RAN) 220 may have one or more gNBs 222, while other configurations include one or more of both ng-eNBs 224 and gNBs 222. Either gNB 222 or ng-eNB 224 (or both) may communicate with one or more UEs 204 (e.g., any of the UEs described herein).

[0065] Another optional aspect may include a location server 230, which can communicate with the 5GC 210 to provide location assistance to the UE 204. The location server 230 may be implemented as multiple separate servers (e.g., physically separate servers, different software modules on a single server, different software modules distributed across multiple physical servers, etc.), or alternatively, each may correspond to a single server. The location server 230 may be configured to support one or more location services for the UE 204, which can be connected to the location server 230 via the core network 5GC 210 and / or via the Internet (not shown). Furthermore, the location server 230 may be integrated into a component of the core network, or alternatively, may be located outside the core network (e.g., a third-party server, such as an original equipment manufacturer (OEM) server or a maintenance server).

[0066] Figure 2B Another example wireless network architecture 250.5GC 260 is shown (which can correspond to...). Figure 2AThe 5GC210 in the document can be functionally considered as a control plane function provided by the Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF) 264 and a user plane function provided by the User Plane Function (UPF) 262, which work together to form the core network (i.e., 5GC260). The functions of the AMF 264 include: registration management, connection management, reachability management, mobility management, lawful interception, transmission of session management (SM) messages between one or more UEs 204 (e.g., any UE described herein) and the Session Management Function (SMF) 266, a transparent proxy service for routing SM messages, access authentication and access authorization, transmission of short message service (SMS) messages between the UE 204 and the Short Message Service Function (SMSF) (not shown), and a Secure Anchoring Function (SEAF). The AMF 264 also interacts with the Authentication Server Function (AUSF) (not shown) and the UE 204, and receives an intermediate key established as a result of the UE 204's authentication process. In the case of UMTS (Universal Mobile Telecommunications System) Subscriber Identity Module (USIM) authentication, AMF 264 extracts security material from the AUSF. AMF 264 also includes Security Context Management (SCM). The SCM receives a key from the SEAF, which it uses to derive access network-specific keys. AMF 264 also includes location service management for regulated services, transmission of location service messages between UE 204 and Location Management Function (LMF) 270 (which acts as location server 230), transmission of location service messages between NG-RAN 220 and LMF 270, Evolved Packet System (EPS) bearer identifier allocation for EPS interoperability, and UE 204 mobility event notification. Furthermore, AMF 264 supports functions for non-3GPP (3rd Generation Partnership Project) access networks.

[0067] The functions of UPF 262 include: acting as an anchor point for intra / inter-RAT mobility (where applicable), acting as an external Protocol Data Unit (PDU) session point for interconnection to a data network (not shown), providing packet routing and forwarding, packet inspection, user plane policy rule enforcement (e.g., gating, redirection, traffic orientation), lawful eavesdropping (user plane collection), traffic usage reporting, user plane Quality of Service (QoS) processing (e.g., uplink / downlink rate enforcement, reflected 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 sending and forwarding one or more "end markers" to the source RAN node. UPF 262 may also support forwarding location service messages between UE 204 and a location server (e.g., SLP 272) on the user plane.

[0068] The functions of SMF 266 include session management, UE Internet Protocol (IP) address allocation and management, selection and control of user plane functions, traffic bootstrapping configuration at UPF 262 for routing traffic to the correct destination, partial control of policy enforcement and QoS, and downlink data notification. The interface used by SMF 266 to communicate with AMF 264 is called the N11 interface.

[0069] Another optional aspect may include LMF 270, which can communicate with 5GC 260 to provide location assistance to UE 204. LMF 270 can be implemented as multiple separate servers (e.g., physically separate servers, different software modules on a single server, different software modules distributed across multiple physical servers, etc.), or alternatively, each can correspond to a single server. LMF 270 can be configured to support one or more location services for UE 204, and the UE can connect to LMF 270 via the core network 5GC 260 and / or via the Internet (not shown). SLP 272 can support similar functionality to LMF 270, but LMF 270 can communicate with AMF 264, NG-RAN 220, and UE 204 on the control plane (e.g., using interfaces and protocols designed to deliver signaling messages rather than voice or data), while SLP 272 can communicate with UE 204 and external clients on the user plane. Figure 2B (not shown) Communication (e.g., using protocols designed to carry voice and / or data, such as Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) and / or IP).

[0070] User plane interface 263 and control plane interface 265 connect 5GC 260, and specifically connect UPF 262 and AMF 264 to one or more gNB 222 and / or ng-eNB 224 in NG-RAN 220. The interface between gNB 222 and / or ng-eNB 224 and AMF 264 is referred to as the "N2" interface, while the interface between gNB 222 and / or ng-eNB 224 and UPF 262 is referred to as the "N3" interface. The gNB 222 and / or ng-eNB 224 of NG-RAN 220 can communicate directly with each other via backhaul connection 223, referred to as the "Xn-C" interface. One or more of gNB 222 and / or ng-eNB 224 can communicate with one or more UEs 204 via a radio interface referred to as the "Uu" interface.

[0071] The functions of gNB 222 are divided between gNB Central Unit (gNB-CU) 226 and one or more gNB Distributed Units (gNB-DU) 228. The interface 232 between gNB-CU 226 and one or more gNB-DU 228 is referred to as the "F1" interface. gNB-CU 226 is a logical node that includes base station functions such as transmitting user data, mobility control, radio access network sharing, location, session management, etc., in addition to those functions specifically allocated to gNB-DU 228. Specifically, gNB-CU 226 accommodates the Radio Resource Control (RRC), Serving Data Adaptation Protocol (SDAP), and Packet Data Convergence Protocol (PDCP) protocols of gNB 222. gNB-DU 228 is a logical node that accommodates the Radio Link Control (RLC), Medium Access Control (MAC), and Physical (PHY) layers of gNB 222. Its operation is controlled by gNB-CU 226. One gNB-DU 228 can support one or more cells, and a cell is supported by only one gNB-DU 228. Therefore, UE 204 communicates with gNB-CU 226 via RRC, SDAP and PDCP layers, and with gNB-DU 228 via RLC, MAC and PHY layers.

[0072] Figure 3A , Figure 3B and Figure 3CSeveral example components (represented by corresponding boxes) are shown, which may be incorporated into device 302 (which may correspond to any UE described herein and is therefore referred to as UE 302), device 304 (which may correspond to any base station or RIS described herein and is therefore referred to as BS 304 or RIS 304), and device 306 (which may correspond to or embody any network function described herein, including location server 230 and LMF 270, and is therefore referred to as network entity 306, LS 306, or LMF 306, or alternatively may be independent of... Figure 2A and Figure 2B The NG-RAN 220 and / or 5GC 210 / 260 infrastructure (such as a private network) described herein is used to support file transfer operations as taught in this paper. Figure 3B The device shown, or a simplified version thereof, may also be a reconfigurable smart surface (RIS). It will be understood that these components can be implemented in different ways in different types of devices (e.g., in an ASIC, in a system-on-a-chip (SoC), etc.). The components shown can also be incorporated into other devices in a communication system. For example, other devices in the system may include components similar to those described as providing similar functionality. Furthermore, a given device may contain one or more of these components. For example, a device may include multiple transceiver components that enable the device to operate on multiple carriers and / or communicate via different technologies.

[0073] UE 302 and base station 304 each include one or more Wireless Wide Area Network (WWAN) transceivers 310 and 350, which provide units (e.g., units for transmitting, units for receiving, units for measuring, units for tuning, units for blocking transmission, etc.) for communicating via one or more wireless communication networks (not shown), such as NR networks, LTE networks, GSM networks, etc. WWAN transceivers 310 and 350 may each be connected to one or more antennas 316 and 356 for communicating with other network nodes (e.g., other UEs, access points, base stations (e.g., eNB, gNB), etc.) via at least one designated RAT (e.g., NR, LTE, GSM, etc.) on a wireless communication medium of interest (e.g., a time / frequency resource set in a specific spectrum). WWAN transceivers 310 and 350 can be configured in different ways to transmit and encode signals 318 and 358 (e.g., messages, indications, information, etc.) according to a specified RAT, and conversely, to receive and decode signals 318 and 358 (e.g., messages, indications, information, pilots, etc.). Specifically, WWAN transceivers 310 and 350 each include: one or more transmitters 314 and 354 for transmitting and encoding signals 318 and 358, respectively, and one or more receivers 312 and 352 for receiving and decoding signals 318 and 358, respectively.

[0074] In at least some cases, UE 302 and base station 304 each further include one or more short-range wireless transceivers 320 and 360, respectively. The short-range wireless transceivers 320 and 360 can be connected to one or more antennas 326 and 366, respectively, and provide the capability to communicate over the wireless communication medium of interest via at least one designated RAT (e.g., WiFi, LTE-D, etc.). Units for communicating with other network nodes (such as other UEs, access points, base stations, etc.) including PC5, Dedicated Short-Range Communication (DSRC), Wireless Access for Vehicle Environments (WAVE), Near Field Communication (NFC), etc.) and other network nodes (such as other UEs, access points, base stations, etc.) (e.g., units for transmitting, units for receiving, units for measuring, units for tuning, units for blocking transmission, etc.). Short-range wireless transceivers 320 and 360 can be configured in different ways to transmit and encode signals 328 and 368 (e.g., messages, indications, information, etc.) according to a specified RAT, and conversely, to receive and decode signals 328 and 368 (e.g., messages, indications, information, pilots, etc.). Specifically, short-range wireless transceivers 320 and 360 each include: one or more transmitters 324 and 364 for transmitting and encoding signals 328 and 368 respectively, and one or more receivers 322 and 362 for receiving and decoding signals 328 and 368 respectively. As specific examples, the short-range wireless transceivers 320 and 360 can be WiFi transceivers, transceiver and / or Transceivers, NFC transceivers, or vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) and / or vehicle-to-everything (V2X) transceivers.

[0075] In at least some cases, UE 302 and base station 304 also include Satellite Positioning System (SPS) receivers 330 and 370. SPS receivers 330 and 370 may be connected to one or more antennas 336 and 376, respectively, and may be provided with means for receiving and / or measuring SPS signals 338 and 378, such as Global Positioning System (GPS) signals, Global Navigation Satellite System (GLONASS) signals, Galileo signals, BeiDou signals, Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (NAVIC), Quasi-Zenith Satellite System (QZSS), etc. SPS receivers 330 and 370 may each include any suitable hardware and / or software for receiving and processing SPS signals 338 and 378. SPS receivers 330 and 370 request information and operations from other systems as appropriate and perform necessary calculations to determine the positioning of UE 302 and base station 304 using measurements obtained by any suitable SPS algorithm.

[0076] Base station 304 and network entity 306 each include one or more network transceivers 380 and 390, which provide elements (e.g., elements for transmitting, elements for receiving, etc.) for communicating with other network entities (e.g., other base stations 304, other network entities 306). For example, base station 304 may employ one or more network transceivers 380 to communicate with other base stations 304 or network entities 306 via one or more wired or wireless backhaul links. As another example, network entity 306 may use one or more network transceivers 390 to communicate with one or more base stations 304 via one or more wired or wireless backhaul links, or to communicate with other network entities 306 via one or more wired or wireless core network interfaces.

[0077] Transceivers can be configured to communicate over wired or wireless links. A transceiver (whether wired or wireless) includes transmitter circuitry (e.g., transmitters 314, 324, 354, 364) and receiver circuitry (e.g., receivers 312, 322, 352, 362). In some embodiments, the transceiver may be an integrated device (e.g., implementing transmitter and receiver circuitry in a single device), in some embodiments it may include separate transmitter and receiver circuitry, or in other embodiments it may be implemented in a different manner. The transmitter and receiver circuitry of a wired transceiver (e.g., network transceivers 380 and 390 in some embodiments) may be coupled to one or more wired network interface ports. Wireless transmitter circuitry (e.g., transmitters 314, 324, 354, 364) may include or be coupled to multiple antennas (e.g., antennas 316, 326, 356, 366), such as antenna arrays, which allow corresponding devices (e.g., UE 302, base station 304) to perform transmit beamforming as described herein. Similarly, wireless receiver circuitry (e.g., receivers 312, 322, 352, 362) may include or be coupled to multiple antennas (e.g., antennas 316, 326, 356, 366), such as antenna arrays, which allow corresponding devices (e.g., UE 302, base station 304) to perform receive beamforming as described herein. In one aspect, transmitter and receiver circuitry may share the same multiple antennas (e.g., antennas 316, 326, 356, 366) so that corresponding devices may perform only reception or only transmission at a given time, rather than both reception and transmission at the same time. Wireless transceivers (e.g., WWAN transceivers 310 and 350, short-range wireless transceivers 320 and 360) may also include network listening modules (NLMs) for performing various measurements.

[0078] As used herein, various wireless transceivers (e.g., transceivers 310, 320, 350, and 360 in some embodiments, and network transceivers 380 and 390) and wired transceivers (e.g., network transceivers 380 and 390 in some embodiments) can generally be characterized as "transceiver," "at least one transceiver," or "one or more transceivers." Thus, whether a particular transceiver is a wired or wireless transceiver can be inferred from the type of communication performed. For example, backhaul communication between network devices or servers typically involves signaling via a wired transceiver, while wireless communication between a UE (e.g., UE 302) and a base station (e.g., base station 304) typically involves signaling via a wireless transceiver.

[0079] UE 302, base station 304, and network entity 306 also include other components that can be used in conjunction with the operations disclosed herein. UE 302, base station 304, and network entity 306 each include one or more processors 332, 384, and 394 for providing functions related to, for example, wireless communication, and for providing other processing functions. Processors 332, 384, and 394 can therefore provide means for processing, such as means for determining, means for calculating, means for receiving, means for transmitting, means for indicating, etc. In one aspect, processors 332, 384, and 394 may include, for example, one or more general-purpose processors, multi-core processors, central processing units (CPUs), ASICs, digital signal processors (DSPs), field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), other programmable logic devices or processing circuitry systems, or various combinations thereof.

[0080] UE 302, base station 304, and network entity 306 include memory circuitry that respectively implements memories 340, 386, and 396 (e.g., each including a memory device) for maintaining information (e.g., information indicating reserved resources, thresholds, parameters, etc.). Memories 340, 386, and 396 may thus provide means for storage, means for retrieval, means for maintenance, etc. In some cases, UE 302, base station 304, and network entity 306 may each include AoD components 342, 388, and 398. AoD components 342, 388, and 398 may be hardware circuitry that is part of or coupled to processors 332, 384, and 394, respectively, which, when executed, enable UE 302, base station 304, and network entity 306 to perform the functionality described herein. In other respects, AoD components 342, 388, and 398 may be external to processors 332, 384, and 394 (e.g., part of a modem processing system, integrated with another processing system, etc.). Alternatively, AoD components 342, 388, and 398 may be memory modules stored in memories 340, 386, and 396, respectively, which, when executed by processors 332, 384, and 394 (or a modem processing system, another processing system, etc.), enable UE 302, base station 304, and network entity 306 to perform the functions described herein. Figure 3A The possible locations of the AoD component 342 are shown. It may be part of, for example, one or more WWAN transceivers 310, memory 340, one or more processors 332 or any combination thereof, or it may be a standalone component. Figure 3B The possible locations of the AoD component 388 are shown. It may be, for example, part of one or more WWAN transceivers 350, memory 386, one or more processors 384 or any combination thereof, or it may be a standalone component. Figure 3C The possible locations of the AoD component 398 are shown. It may be part of, for example, one or more network transceivers 390, memory 396, one or more processors 394 or any combination thereof, or it may be a standalone component.

[0081] UE 302 may include one or more sensors 344 coupled to one or more processors 332 to provide means for sensing or detecting motion and / or orientation information independent of motion data derived from signals received by one or more WWAN transceivers 310, one or more short-range wireless transceivers 320, and / or SPS receivers 330. As an example, sensor 344 may include accelerometers (e.g., microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) devices), gyroscopes, geomagnetic sensors (e.g., compasses), altimeters (e.g., barometric altimeters), and / or any other type of motion detection sensor. Furthermore, sensor 344 may include multiple different types of devices and combine their outputs to provide motion information. For example, sensor 344 may use a combination of multi-axis accelerometers and orientation sensors to provide the ability to calculate position in two-dimensional (2D) and / or three-dimensional (3D) coordinate systems.

[0082] Additionally, UE 302 includes a user interface 346, which provides elements for providing instructions to the user (e.g., audible and / or visual instructions) and / or for receiving user input (e.g., when the user actuates a sensing device (such as a keypad, touchscreen, microphone, etc.)). Although not shown, base station 304 and network entity 306 may also include user interfaces.

[0083] Referring more specifically to one or more processors 384, in the downlink, IP packets from network entity 306 can be provided to processor 384. One or more processors 384 can implement functions for the RRC layer, Packet Data Convergence Protocol (PDCP) layer, Radio Link Control (RLC) layer, and Media Access Control (MAC) layer. One or more processors 384 may provide RRC layer functionality associated with broadcasting system information (e.g., Master Information Block (MIB), System Information Block (SIB)), RRC connection control (e.g., RRC connection paging, RRC connection establishment, RRC connection modification, and RRC connection release), inter-RAT mobility, and measurement configuration for UE measurement reporting; PDCP layer functionality associated with header compression / decompression, security (encryption, decryption, integrity protection, integrity verification), and handover support functions; RLC layer functionality associated with the delivery of upper-layer PDUs, error correction via Automatic Repeat Request (ARQ), concatenation, segmentation, and reassembly of RLC Service Data Units (SDUs), resegmentation of RLC data PDUs, and reordering of RLC data PDUs; and MAC layer functionality associated with mapping between logical channels and transport channels, scheduling information reporting, error correction, priority handling, and logical channel priority ordering.

[0084] Transmitter 354 and receiver 352 can implement Layer 1 (L1) functions associated with various signal processing functions. Layer 1, including the physical (PHY) layer, can include: error detection on the transport channel, forward error correction (FEC) encoding / decoding of the transport channel, interleaving, rate matching, mapping to the physical channel, modulation / demodulation of the physical channel, and MIMO antenna processing. Transmitter 354 processes the mapping to the signal constellation 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 encoded and modulated symbols can then be divided into parallel streams. Each stream can then be mapped to orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) subcarriers, multiplexed with a reference signal (e.g., pilot) in the time and / or frequency domains, and then combined using 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 generate multiple spatial streams. Channel estimates from the channel estimator can be used to determine the coding and modulation schemes, as well as for spatial processing. The channel estimates can be derived based on reference signals transmitted by UE 302 and / or channel condition feedback. Each spatial stream can then be provided to one or more different antennas 356. Transmitter 354 can use the corresponding spatial stream to modulate an RF carrier for transmission.

[0085] At UE 302, receiver 312 receives signals via its corresponding antenna 316. Receiver 312 recovers the information modulated onto the RF carrier and provides this information to one or more processors 332. Transmitter 314 and receiver 312 implement Layer 1 functions associated with various signal processing functions. Receiver 312 can perform spatial processing on this information to recover any spatial stream destined for UE 302. If multiple spatial streams are destined for UE 302, they can be combined by receiver 312 into a single OFDM symbol stream. Receiver 312 then uses a Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) to transform the OFDM symbol stream from the time domain to the frequency domain. The frequency domain signal includes a separate OFDM symbol stream for each subcarrier of the OFDM signal. Symbols on each subcarrier, along with a reference signal, are recovered and demodulated by determining the signal constellation points most likely to be transmitted by base station 304. These soft decisions can be based on channel estimates calculated by a channel estimator. The soft decision is then decoded and deinterleaved to recover the data and control signals originally transmitted by base station 304 on the physical channel. The data and control signals are then provided to one or more processors 332, which implement layer 3 (L3) and layer 2 (L2) functions.

[0086] In the uplink, one or more processors 332 provide demultiplexing, packet reassembly, decryption, header decompression, and control signal processing between the transport and logical channels to recover IP packets from the core network. One or more processors 332 are also responsible for error detection.

[0087] Similar to the functionality described in conjunction with downlink transmissions performed by base station 304, one or more processors 332 provide: RRC layer functionality associated with system information (e.g., MIB, SIB) acquisition, RRC connectivity, and measurement reporting; PDCP layer functionality associated with header compression / decompression and security (encryption, decryption, integrity protection, integrity verification); RLC layer functionality associated with the delivery of upper-layer PDUs, error correction via ARQ, concatenation, segmentation, and reassembly of RLC SDUs, resegmentation 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 MACSDUs onto transport blocks (TBs), demultiplexing of MAC SDUs from TBs, scheduling information reporting, error correction via Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request (HARQ), priority handling, and logical channel priority ordering.

[0088] The channel estimate derived by the channel estimator from the reference signal or feedback transmitted by the base station 304 can be used by the transmitter 314 to select an appropriate coding and modulation scheme and facilitates spatial processing. The spatial stream generated by the transmitter 314 can be provided to different antennas 316. The transmitter 314 can use the corresponding spatial stream to modulate an RF carrier for transmission.

[0089] Uplink transmissions are processed at base station 304 in a manner similar to that described in conjunction with the receiver function at UE 302. Receiver 352 receives signals via its corresponding antenna 356. Receiver 352 recovers the information modulated onto the RF carrier and provides this information to one or more processors 384.

[0090] In the uplink, one or more processors 384 provide demultiplexing, packet reassembly, decryption, header decompression, and control signal processing between the transport channel and the logical channel to recover IP packets from UE 302. IP packets from one or more processors 384 can be provided to the core network. One or more processors 384 are also responsible for error detection.

[0091] For convenience, UE 302, base station 304 and / or network entity 306 are in Figure 3A , Figure 3B and Figure 3CThe text is shown as including various components that can be configured according to the various examples described herein. However, it will be understood that the components shown may have different functionalities in different designs. In particular, Figures 3A to 3C Various components are optional in alternative configurations, and aspects include configurations that can vary due to design choices, cost, equipment usage, or other considerations. For example, in Figure 3A In such cases, a particular implementation of UE 302 may omit (e.g., wearable devices, tablet calculators, PCs, or laptops may have Wi-Fi and / or Bluetooth functionality but no cellular network functionality), or (e.g., short-range wireless transceivers 320, e.g., cellular only), or (e.g., SPS receiver 330), or (e.g., sensors 344), etc. In another example, in Figure 3B In certain implementations of base station 304, the WWAN transceiver 350 (e.g., a Wi-Fi "hotspot" access point without cellular network functionality), or the short-range wireless transceiver 360 (e.g., cellular only), or the SPS receiver 370, etc., may be omitted. For the sake of brevity, illustrations of various alternative configurations are not provided herein, but will be readily understood by those skilled in the art.

[0092] The various components of UE 302, base station 304, and network entity 306 can be communicatively coupled to each other via data buses 334, 382, ​​and 392, respectively. In one aspect, data buses 334, 382, ​​and 392 can form or be part of the communication interfaces of UE 302, base station 304, and network entity 306, respectively. For example, when different logical entities are contained within the same device (e.g., gNB and location server functions integrated into the same base station 304), data buses 334, 382, ​​and 392 can provide communication between them.

[0093] Figure 3A , Figure 3B and Figure 3C The components can be implemented in various ways. In some implementations, Figure 3A , Figure 3B and Figure 3CThe components can be implemented in one or more circuits, such as, for example, one or more processors and / or one or more ASICs (which may include one or more processors). Here, each circuit may use and / or combine at least one memory component for storing information or executable code used by the circuit to provide that function. For example, some or all of the functions represented by boxes 310 to 346 can be implemented by the processor and memory components of UE 302 (e.g., by executing appropriate code and / or by appropriate configuration of the processor components). Similarly, some or all of the functions represented by boxes 350 to 388 can be implemented by the processor and memory components of base station 304 (e.g., by executing appropriate code and / or by appropriate configuration of the processor components). Furthermore, some or all of the functions represented by boxes 390 to 398 can be implemented by the processor and memory components of network entity 306 (e.g., by executing appropriate code and / or by appropriate configuration of the processor components). For simplicity, various operations, actions, and / or functions are described herein as being performed "by the UE," "by the base station," "by the network entity," etc. However, as will be understood, such operations, actions and / or functions may actually be performed by specific components or combinations of components of UE302, base station304, network entity306, etc., such as processors 332, 384, 394, transceivers 310, 320, 350 and 360, memories 340, 386 and 396, AoD components 342, 388 and 398, etc.

[0094] In some designs, network entity 306 can be implemented as a core network component. In other designs, network entity 306 may operate differently from the network operator or cellular network infrastructure (e.g., NG RAN 220 and / or 5GC 210 / 260). For example, network entity 306 may be a component of a private network that can be configured to communicate with UE 302 via base station 304 or independently of base station 304 (e.g., via a non-cellular communication link such as WiFi).

[0095] Various frame structures can be used to support downlink and uplink transmissions between network nodes (e.g., base stations and UEs). Figures 4A to 4D This is a diagram illustrating example frame structures and channels within these frame structures according to various aspects of this disclosure. Other wireless communication technologies may have different frame structures and / or different channels.

[0096] Figure 4AFigure 400 illustrates an example of a downlink frame structure according to various aspects of this disclosure. LTE, and in some cases NR, utilizes OFDM on the downlink and single-carrier frequency division multiplexing (SC-FDM) on the uplink. However, unlike LTE, NR has the option to also use OFDM on the uplink. OFDM and SC-FDM divide the system bandwidth into multiple (K) orthogonal subcarriers, which are also commonly referred to as frequency modulation, frequency slots, etc. Each subcarrier can be modulated with data. Typically, modulation symbols are transmitted using OFDM in the frequency domain and SC-FDM in the time domain. The spacing between adjacent subcarriers can be fixed, and the total number of subcarriers (K) can depend on the system bandwidth. For example, the subcarrier spacing can be 15 kHz, while the minimum resource allocation (resource block) can be 12 subcarriers (or 180 kHz). Therefore, for system bandwidths of 1.25, 2.5, 5, 10, or 20 MHz, the nominal FFT size can be equal to 128, 256, 512, 1024, or 2048, respectively. The system bandwidth can also be divided into multiple subbands. For example, a subband can cover 1.08 MHz (i.e., 6 resource blocks), and for system bandwidths of 1.25, 2.5, 5, 10, or 20 MHz, there can be 1, 2, 4, 8, or 16 subbands, respectively.

[0097] LTE supports single-parameter design (subcarrier spacing (SCS), symbol length, etc.). In contrast, NR supports multiple parameter designs (μ), for example, subcarrier spacings of 15kHz (μ=0), 30kHz (μ=1), 60kHz (μ=2), 120kHz (μ=3), and 240kHz (μ=4) or larger can be available. Within each subcarrier spacing, there are 14 symbols per time slot. For a 15kHz SCS (μ=0), there is one time slot per subframe, 10 time slots per frame, a time slot duration of 1 millisecond (ms), a symbol duration of 66.7 microseconds (μs), and a maximum nominal system bandwidth (in MHz) of 4K FFT size is 50. For a 30kHz SCS (μ=1), there are two time slots per subframe, 20 time slots per frame, a time slot duration of 0.5ms, a symbol duration of 33.3μs, and a maximum nominal system bandwidth (in MHz) of 4K FFT size of 100. For a 60kHz SCS (μ=2), there are four time slots per subframe, 40 time slots per frame, a time slot duration of 0.25ms, a symbol duration of 16.7μs, and a maximum nominal system bandwidth (in MHz) of 4K FFT size of 200. For a 120kHz SCS (μ=3), there are eight time slots per subframe, 80 time slots per frame, a time slot duration of 0.125ms, a symbol duration of 8.33μs, and a maximum nominal system bandwidth (in MHz) of 4K FFT size of 400. For a 240kHz SCS (μ=4), there are 16 time slots per subframe and 160 time slots per frame. The time slot duration is 0.0625ms, the symbol duration is 4.17μs, and the maximum nominal system bandwidth (in MHz) with a 4K FFT size is 800.

[0098] exist Figures 4A to 4D In the example, a 15kHz parameter design is used. Therefore, in the time domain, a 10ms frame is divided into 10 equal-sized subframes, each 1ms in size, and each subframe includes one time slot. Figures 4A to 4D In the diagram, time is represented horizontally (on the X-axis), where time increases from left to right, while frequency is represented vertically (on the Y-axis), where frequency increases (or decreases) from bottom to top.

[0099] A resource grid can be used to represent time slots, each time slot comprising one or more concurrent resource blocks (RBs) (also known as physical RBs (PRBs)) in the frequency domain. The resource grid is further divided into multiple resource elements (REs). An RE can correspond to a symbol length in the time domain and a subcarrier in the frequency domain. Figures 4A to 4DIn the parameter design, for a normal cyclic prefix, the RB can contain 12 consecutive subcarriers in the frequency domain and 7 consecutive symbols in the time domain, for a total of 84 REs. For an extended cyclic prefix, the RB can contain 12 consecutive subcarriers in the frequency domain and 6 consecutive symbols in the time domain, for a total of 72 REs. The number of bits carried by each RE depends on the modulation scheme.

[0100] Some REs carry downlink reference (pilot) signals (DL-RS). DL-RS may 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 (SSB), etc. Figure 4A Example locations of REs carrying PRS (labeled "R") are shown.

[0101] The set of resource elements (REs) used for PRS transmission is called a "PRS resource". The resource element set can span multiple PRBs in the frequency domain and 'N' (such as one or more) consecutive symbols within a time slot in the time domain. In a given OFDM symbol in the time domain, the PRS resource occupies a consecutive PRB in the frequency domain.

[0102] The transmission of PRS 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 / frequency modulation 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 in the PRB. For example, for comb size -4, for each symbol of the PRS resource configuration, the RE corresponding to every fourth subcarrier (such as subcarrier 0, 4, 8) is used to transmit the PRS of the PRS resource. Currently, comb sizes -2, -4, -6, and -12 are supported by DL-PRS. Figure 4A An example PRS resource configuration for comb-6 (which spans 6 symbols) is shown. That is, the location of the shaded RE (marked as "R") indicates the PRS resource configuration for comb-6.

[0103] Currently, DL-PRS resources can span 2, 4, 6, or 12 consecutive symbols within a single time slot using a full-frequency-domain interleaved mode. DL-PRS resources can be configured in any downlink or flexible (FL) symbol configured by higher layers within a time slot. For all REs of a given DL-PRS resource, there may be a constant energy per resource element (EPRE). The following are the symbol-by-symbol frequency offsets for comb sizes 2, 4, 6, and 12 on 2, 4, 6, and 12 symbols. 2-bit comb-2: {0,1}; 4-bit comb-2: {0,1,0,1}; 6-bit comb-2: {0,1,0,1,0,1}; 12-bit comb-2: {0,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,1}; 4-bit comb-4: {0,2,1,3}; 12-bit comb-4: {0,2,1,3,0,2,1,3,0,2,1,3}; 6-bit comb-6: {0,3,1,4,2,5}; 12-bit comb-6: {0,3,1,4,2,5,0,3,1,4,2,5}; and 12-bit comb-12: {0,6,3,9,1,7,4,10,2,8,5,11}.

[0104] A “PRS resource set” is a collection of PRS resources used to transmit PRS signals, where each PRS resource has a PRS resource identifier (ID). Furthermore, PRS resources within a PRS resource set are associated with the same TRP. A PRS resource set is identified by its PRS resource set ID and associated with a specific TRP (identified by its TRP ID). Additionally, PRS resources within a PRS resource set share the same periodicity, a common silent mode configuration, and the same repetition factor (such as “PRS-ResourceRepetitionFactor”) across time slots. Periodicity is the time from the first repetition of a first PRS resource in a first PRS instance to the same first repetition of the same first PRS resource in the next PRS instance. The periodicity can have a length chosen from the following: 2^μ*{4,5,8,10,16,20,32,40,64,80,160,320,640,1280,2560,5120,10240} time slots, where μ=0,1,2,3. The repetition factor can have a length chosen from {1,2,4,6,8,16,32} time slots.

[0105] In a PRS resource set, a PRS resource ID 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 thus, a "PRS resource" (or simply a "resource") can also be referred to as a "beam". Note that this does not imply whether the UE is aware of the TRP and beam transmitting the PRS.

[0106] A “PRS instance” or “PRS timing” is an instance of a periodically repeating time window (such as a group of one or more consecutive time slots) in which a PRS is expected to be transmitted. A PRS timing may also be referred to as a “PRS positioning timing,” “PRS positioning instance,” “positioning timing,” “positioning instance,” “positioning repetition,” or simply “timing,” “instance,” or “repetition.”

[0107] A “positioning frequency layer” (also simply “frequency layer”) is a collection of one or more PRS resource sets with identical values ​​for certain parameters across one or more TRPs. Specifically, the collection of PRS resource sets has the same subcarrier spacing and cyclic prefix (CP) type (meaning all parameter designs supported by PDSCH are also supported by PRS), the same point A, the same downlink PRS bandwidth, the same starting PRB (and center frequency), and the same comb size. The point A parameter uses the value of the parameter “ARFCN-ValueNR” (where “ARFCN” stands for “Absolute Radio Channel Number”) and is an identifier / code specifying a pair of physical radio channels used for transmission and reception. The downlink PRS bandwidth can have a granularity of 4 PRBs, with a minimum of 24 PRBs and a maximum of 272 PRBs. Currently, up to four frequency layers have been defined, and up to two PRS resource sets can be configured per frequency layer per TRP.

[0108] The concept of a frequency layer is somewhat similar to that of component carriers and bandwidth portions (BWPs), but the difference is that component carriers and BWPs are used by a single base station (or macrocell base station and small cell base station) to transmit data channels, while a frequency layer is used by several (often three or more) base stations to transmit PRS (Positioning Signals). A UE can indicate the number of frequency layers it can support when sending its positioning capabilities to the network (such as during an LTE Positioning Protocol (LPP) session). For example, a UE can indicate whether it can support one or four positioning frequency layers.

[0109] Figure 4BFigure 430 illustrates an example of a channel within a downlink frame structure according to various aspects of this disclosure. In NR, the channel bandwidth or system bandwidth is divided into multiple BWPs. A BWP is a set of adjacent PRBs selected from a subset of shared RBs designed for a given carrier with given parameters. Generally, a maximum of four BWPs can be specified in both the downlink and uplink. That is, the UE can be configured to have up to four BWPs in the downlink and up to four BWPs in the uplink. Only one BWP (uplink or downlink) can be active at a given time, meaning that the UE can only receive or transmit on one BWP at a time. In the downlink, the bandwidth of each BWP should be equal to or greater than the bandwidth of the SSB, but it may or may not contain an SSB.

[0110] Reference Figure 4B The Primary Synchronization Signal (PSS) is used by the UE to determine subframe / symbol timing and physical layer identifier. The Secondary Synchronization Signal (SSS) is used by the UE to determine the physical layer cell identifier group number and radio frame timing. Based on the physical layer identifier and physical layer cell identifier group number, the UE can determine the PCI. Based on the PCI, the UE can determine the location of the aforementioned DL-RS. The Physical Broadcast Channel (PBCH) carrying the MIB can be logically grouped with the PSS and SSS to form the SSB (also known as SS / PBCH). The MIB provides the number of RBs in the downlink system bandwidth and the system frame number (SFN). The Physical Downlink Shared Channel (PDSCH) carries user data, broadcast system information (such as System Information Block (SIB)) not transmitted through the PBCH, and paging messages.

[0111] The Physical Downlink Control Channel (PDCCH) carries downlink control information (DCI) within one or more Control Channel Elements (CCEs). Each CCE includes one or more RE Group (REG) bundles (which can span multiple symbols in the time domain). Each REG bundle includes one or more REGs, and each REG corresponds to 12 resource elements (one resource block) in the frequency domain and one OFDM symbol in the time domain. The physical resource set used to carry the PDCCH / DCI is called the Control Resource Set (CORESET) in NR. In NR, the PDCCH is confined to a single CORESET and transmitted along with its own DMRS. This enables UE-specific beamforming for the PDCCH.

[0112] exist Figure 4BIn the example, each BWP has one CORESET, and this CORESET spans three symbols in the time domain (although it can be only one or two symbols). Unlike the LTE control channel, which occupies the entire system bandwidth, in NR, the PDCCH channel is localized to a specific region in the frequency domain (i.e., the CORESET). Therefore, Figure 4B The frequency components of the PDCCH shown are represented as fewer than a single BWP in the frequency domain. Note that although the CORESETs shown are contiguous in the frequency domain, they do not need to be contiguous. Additionally, a CORESET can span fewer than three symbols in the time domain.

[0113] The DCI within the PDCCH carries information about uplink resource allocation (persistent and non-persistent) and a description of the downlink data transmitted to the UE (referred to as uplink grant and downlink grant, respectively). More specifically, the DCI indicates the resources scheduled for downlink data channels (e.g., PDSCH) and uplink data channels (e.g., PUSCH). Multiple (e.g., up to eight) DCIs can be configured in the PDCCH, and these DCIs can have one of several formats. For example, there are different DCI formats for uplink scheduling, downlink scheduling, uplink transmit power control (TPC), etc. The PDCCH can be transmitted by 1, 2, 4, 8, or 16 CCEs to accommodate different DCI payload sizes or coding rates.

[0114] Figure 4C Figure 450 illustrates an example of an uplink frame structure according to various aspects of this disclosure. Figure 4C As shown, some REs (labeled "R") carry DMRS for channel estimation at the receiver (e.g., a base station, another UE, etc.). The UE may, for example, additionally transmit SRS in the last symbol of the time slot. The SRS may have a comb structure, and the UE may transmit the SRS on one of the combs. Figure 4C In the example shown, the SRS is a comb tooth-2 on a symbol. The SRS can be used by the base station to obtain Channel State Information (CSI) for each UE. 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 over distance. The system uses SRS for resource scheduling, link adaptation, massive MIMO, beam management, etc.

[0115] Currently, SRS resources with comb tooth sizes of 2, 4, or 8 can span 1, 2, 4, 8, or 12 consecutive symbols within a time slot. The following are the symbol-by-symbol frequency offsets for the currently supported SRS comb tooth patterns. 1-bit comb tooth-2: {0}; 2-bit comb tooth-2: {0,1}; 4-bit comb tooth-2: {0,1,0,1}; 4-bit comb tooth-4: {0,2,1,3}; 8-bit comb tooth-4: {0,2,1,3,0,2,1,3}; 12-bit comb tooth-4: {0,2,1,3,0,2,1,3,0,2,1,3}; 4-bit comb tooth-8: {0,4,2,6}; 8-bit comb tooth-8: {0,4,2,6,1,5,3,7}; and 12-bit comb tooth-8:

[0116] {0,4,2,6,1,5,3,7,0,4,2,6}.

[0117] A set of resource elements used for SRS transmission is called an "SRS resource" and can be identified by the parameter "SRS-ResourceId". The resource element set can span multiple PRBs in the frequency domain and N (e.g., one or more) consecutive symbols within a single time slot in the time domain. In a given OFDM symbol, SRS resources occupy consecutive PRBs. An "SRS resource set" is a group of SRS resources used for SRS signal transmission and is identified by the SRS resource set ID ("SRS-ResourceSetId").

[0118] Generally, the UE transmits a SRS so that the receiving base station (serving base station or neighboring base station) can measure the channel quality between the UE and the base station. However, the SRS can also be specifically configured as an uplink positioning reference signal for use in 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 an SRS configured for channel quality measurement or an SRS configured for positioning purposes. When it is necessary to distinguish between the two types of SRS, the former may be referred to herein as "SRS-for-communication" and / or the latter as "SRS-for-positioning".

[0119] Several enhancements to the previously defined SRS have been proposed for “SRS for Positioning” (also known as “UL-PRS”), such as new interleaving patterns within SRS resources (besides single symbol / comb-2), new comb types for SRS, new sequences of SRS, larger sets of SRS resources per component carrier, and larger numbers of SRS resources per component carrier. Additionally, the parameters “SpatialRelationInfo” and “PathLossReference” are configured based on downlink reference signals or SSBs from adjacent TRPs. Furthermore, an SRS resource can be transmitted outside the active BWP, and an SRS resource can span multiple component carriers. Moreover, SRS can be configured in RRC connected states and transmitted only within the active BWP. Additionally, there may be no frequency hopping, no repetition factor, a single antenna port, and new SRS lengths (e.g., 8 and 12 symbols). It is also possible to have open-loop power control but no closed-loop power control, and to use comb-8 (i.e., SRS transmitted every eighth subcarrier in the same symbol). Finally, the UE can transmit from multiple SRS resources through the same transmit beam for UL-AoA. All of these are features outside the current SRS framework, which is configured via higher-layer RRC signaling (and potentially triggered or activated via MAC control elements (CE) or DCI).

[0120] Figure 4D Figure 480 illustrates an example of a channel within an uplink frame structure according to various aspects of this disclosure. A random access channel (RACH) (also referred to as a physical random access channel (PRACH)) may be configured based on the PRACH within one or more time slots within a frame. The PRACH may include six consecutive RB pairs within a time slot. The PRACH allows the UE to perform initial system access and achieve uplink synchronization. The physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) may be located at the edge of the uplink system bandwidth. The PUCCH carries uplink control information (UCI), such as scheduling requests, CSI reports, channel quality indicators (CQI), precoding matrix indicators (PMI), rank indicators (RI), and HARQ ACK / NACK feedback. The physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH) carries data and may additionally be used to carry buffer status reports (BSR), power headroom reports (PHR), and / or UCI.

[0121] Note that the terms "location reference signal" and "PRS" generally refer to specific reference signals used for positioning in NR and LTE systems. However, as used herein, the terms "location 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, TRS, PTRS, CRS, CSI-RS, DMRS, PSS, SSS, SSB, SRS, UL-PRS, etc., as defined in LTE and NR. Additionally, the terms "location reference signal" and "PRS" can refer to downlink or uplink positioning reference signals, unless otherwise indicated by the context. If further distinction is needed regarding the type of PRS, downlink positioning reference signals may be referred to as "DL-PRS," while uplink positioning reference signals (e.g., SRS, PTRS used for positioning) may be referred to as "UL-PRS." Furthermore, for signals that can be transmitted in both uplink and downlink (e.g., DMRS, PTRS), these signals may be prefixed with "UL" or "DL" to distinguish direction. For example, "UL-DMRS" can be distinguished from "DL-DMRS."

[0122] Figure 5 Figure 500 illustrates communication between a base station (BS) 502 (which may correspond to any base station described herein) and a UE 504 (which may correspond to any UE described herein). See Figure 500. Figure 5 Base station 502 can transmit beamformed signals to UE 504 on one or more transmit beams 502a, 502b, 502c, 502d, 502e, 502f, 502g, each of which has a beam identifier that can be used by UE 504 to identify the corresponding beam. When base station 502 uses a single antenna array (e.g., a single TRP / cell) to beamform towards UE 504, base station 502 can perform "beam sweeping" by transmitting a first beam 502a, then beam 502b, etc., until finally transmitting beam 502g. Alternatively, base station 502 can transmit beams 502a–502g in a certain pattern, such as beam 502a, then beam 502g, then beam 502b, then beam 502f, etc. In the case where base station 502 uses multiple antenna arrays (e.g., multiple TRPs / cells) to beamform toward UE 504, each antenna array can perform beam sweeping of a subset of beams 502a–502g. Alternatively, each beam in beams 502a–502g can correspond to a single antenna or antenna array.

[0123] Figure 5Further illustration shows the paths 512c, 512d, 512e, 512f, and 512g followed by the beamformed signals transmitted on beams 502c, 502d, 502e, 502f, and 502g, respectively. Each path 512c, 512d, 512e, 512f, and 512g may correspond to a single “multipath”, or may include multiple “multipaths” (clusters) due to the propagation characteristics of radio frequency (RF) signals through the environment. Note that although only the paths for beams 502c-502g are shown, this is for simplicity, and the signals transmitted on each beam 502a-502g will follow several paths. In the example shown, paths 512c, 512d, 512e, and 512f are straight lines, while path 512g is reflected away from an obstacle 520 (e.g., a building, vehicle, terrain feature, etc.).

[0124] UE 504 can receive beamformed signals from base station 502 on one or more receive beams 504a, 504b, 504c, 504d. Note that, for simplicity... Figure 5 The beams shown represent either transmit or receive beams, depending on which of the base station 502 and UE 504 is transmitting and which is receiving. Therefore, UE 504 may also transmit beamshaped signals to base station 502 on one or more of the beams 504a–504d, and base station 502 may receive beamshaped signals from UE 504 on one or more of the beams 502a–502g.

[0125] On one hand, base station 502 and UE 504 can perform beam training to align their transmit and receive beams. For example, depending on environmental conditions and other factors, base station 502 and UE 504 can determine optimal transmit and receive beams as 502d and 504b, or as 502e and 504c, respectively. The direction of the optimal transmit beam for base station 502 can be the same as or different from the direction of the optimal receive beam, and similarly, the direction of the optimal receive beam for UE 504 can be the same as or different from the direction of the optimal transmit beam. However, it should be noted that aligning the transmit and receive beams is not necessary for performing downlink angle of origin (DL-AoD) or uplink angle of arrival (UL-AoA) positioning procedures.

[0126] To execute the DL-AoD positioning procedure, base station 502 can transmit reference signals (e.g., PRS, CRS, TRS, CSI-RS, PSS, SSS, etc.) to UE 504 on one or more of the beams 502a-502g, where each beam has a different transmission angle. The different transmission angles of the beams will result in different received signal strengths (e.g., RSRP, RSRQ, SINR, etc.) at UE 504. Specifically, the received signal strength will be lower for transmit beams 502a-502g that are further away from the line-of-sight (LOS) path 510 between base station 502 and UE 504 than for transmit beams 502a-502g that are closer to the LOS path 510.

[0127] exist Figure 5 In the example, if base station 502 transmits reference signals to UE 504 on beams 502c, 502d, 502e, 502f, and 502g, then transmit beam 502e is optimally aligned with LOS path 510, while transmit beams 502c, 502d, 502f, and 502g are not optimally aligned with LOS path 510. Thus, beam 502e may have a higher received signal strength at UE 504 than beams 502c, 502d, 502f, and 502g. Note that reference signals transmitted on some beams (e.g., beams 502c and / or 502f) may not reach UE 504, or the energy reaching UE 504 from these beams may be so low that the energy may be undetectable or at least negligible.

[0128] UE 504 may report to base station 502 the received signal strength of each measured transmit beam 502c-502g, and optionally, the associated measurement quality, or alternatively, the identifier of the transmit beam with the highest received signal strength (in... Figure 5 In the example, beam 502e is used. Alternatively or additionally, where UE 504 is also involved in a round-trip time (RTT) or time difference of arrival (TDOA) positioning session with at least one base station 502 or multiple base stations 502, UE 504 may report received transmission time difference (Rx-Tx) or reference signal time difference (RSTD) measurements (and optionally associated measurement quality) to the serving base station 502 or other positioning entity. In any case, the positioning entity (e.g., base station 502, location server, third-party client, UE 504, etc.) may estimate the angle from base station 502 to UE 504 as the AoD of the transmit beam (here, transmit beam 502e) with the highest received signal strength at UE 504.

[0129] In one aspect of DL-AoD-based positioning, where only one base station 502 is involved, base station 502 and UE 504 can perform round-trip time (RTT) procedures to determine the distance between base station 502 and UE 504. Therefore, the positioning entity can determine both the direction to UE 504 (using DL-AoD positioning) and the distance to UE 504 (using RTT positioning) to estimate the location of UE 504. Note that the AoD with the highest received signal strength is not necessarily positioned along the LOS path 510, as... Figure 5 As shown in the diagram. However, for the purposes of DL-AoD-based positioning, this is assumed.

[0130] In another aspect of DL-AoD-based positioning, where multiple involved base stations 502 exist, each base station 502 can report the determined AoD from base station 502 to UE 504 to the positioning entity. The positioning entity receives multiple such AoDs from the multiple involved base stations 502 (or other geographically separated transmission points) for UE 504. Using this information and knowledge of the geographic locations of the base stations 502, the positioning entity can estimate the location of UE 504 as the intersection of the received AoDs. For a two-dimensional (2D) positioning solution, at least two involved base stations 502 should exist, but as will be understood, the more base stations 502 involved in the positioning procedure, the more accurate the estimated location of UE 504 will be. For UE-assisted positioning, the serving base station reports RSRP measurements to the positioning entity (e.g., a location server). The AoD is not determined or reported by each base station.

[0131] To execute the UL-AoA positioning procedure, UE 504 transmits uplink reference signals (e.g., UL-PRS, SRS, DMRS, etc.) to base station 502 on one or more of the uplink transmit beams 504a-504d. Base station 502 receives the uplink reference signals on one or more of the uplink receive beams 502a-502g. Base station 502 determines the angle of the optimal beam among the receive beams 502a-502g used to receive one or more reference signals from UE 504 as the AoA from UE 504 to base station 502. Specifically, each beam among the receive beams 502a-502g will receive different received signal strengths (e.g., RSRP, RSRQ, SINR, etc.) of one or more reference signals at base station 502. Furthermore, for the receive beams 502a-502g that are further away from the actual LOS path between base station 502 and UE 504, the channel impulse response of one or more reference signals will be smaller than that of the receive beams 502a-502g that are closer to the LOS path. Similarly, for the receive beams 502a-502g that are further away from the LOS path, the received signal strength will be lower than that of the receive beams 502a-502g that are closer to the LOS path. Thus, base station 502 identifies the receive beams 502a-502g that have the highest received signal strength and optionally the strongest channel impulse response, and estimates the angle from itself to UE 504 as the AoA of the receive beams 502a-502g. Note that, as with DL-AoD-based positioning, the AoA of the receive beams 502a-502g that have the highest received signal strength (and, in the case of measurement, the strongest channel impulse response) is not necessarily located along LOS path 510. However, for UL-AoA-based positioning purposes, this can be assumed in FR2. For FR1, AoA estimation can be performed via digital beam scanning. For example, UE 504 can estimate the AoA as the AoA of the earliest path with power greater than a certain threshold.

[0132] It should be noted that although UE 504 is shown to be capable of beamforming, this is not required for DL-AoD and UL-AoA positioning protocols. Instead, UE 504 can perform both reception and transmission on an omnidirectional antenna.

[0133] When UE 504 is estimating its location (i.e., the UE is the location entity), it needs to obtain the geographic location of base station 502. UE 504 can obtain its location from, for example, base station 502 itself or a location server (e.g., location server 230, LMF 270, SLP272). Using the distance to base station 502 (based on RTT or timing lead), the angle between base station 502 and UE 504 (based on the UL-AoA of the optimal receive beams 502a-502g), and the known geographic location of base station 502, UE 504 is able to estimate its location.

[0134] Alternatively, when a positioning entity (such as base station 502 or a location server) is estimating the location of UE 504, base station 502 reports the AoA of the receive beams 502a-502g that result in the highest received signal strength (and optionally the strongest channel impulse response) of the reference signal received from UE 504, or all received signal strengths and channel impulse responses for all receive beams 502a-502g (this allows the positioning entity to determine the optimal receive beams 502a-502g). Base station 502 may additionally report the Rx-Tx time difference to UE 504. The positioning entity may then estimate the location of UE 504 based on the distance from UE 504 to base station 502, the AoA of the identified receive beams 502a-502g, and the known geographic location of base station 502.

[0135] Figure 6 A conventional method 600 for performing DL-AoD measurements using RSRP measurements is shown. Figure 6 In this configuration, TRP 602 transmits a set of PRS signals, each PRS signal at a different azimuth angle. The radiation pattern of each beam is graphically represented by numbered ellipses, where ellipse number 1 represents PRS1, ellipse number 2 represents PRS2, and so on. UE 604, having a line-of-sight (LOS) path 606 to TRP 602, performs RSRP measurements on each PRS signal and reports those measurements to TRP 602, which can then forward those measurements to a positioning entity, such as a location management function (LMF) 608. From UE 604's perspective, the perceived RSRP of each PRS will depend on the PRS beam and the LOS path 606 (in... Figure 6 The middle mark is The relative angle of the angle. This is in Figure 6 The diagram is graphically represented as the intersection of LOS path 606 and the radiation mode with the beam, where the distance between the intersection and the TRP corresponds to the perceived power of the beam. Figure 6In the example shown, the angle of LOS path 606 is closest to the transmit angle of PRS3, and therefore the RSRP of PRS3 measured by UE 604 is relatively large compared to the RSRP of PRS2, the RSRP of PRS2 is greater than the RSRP of PRS4, and the RSRP of PRS4 is greater than the RSRP of PRS1. UE 604 reports these RSRP measurements to TRP 602.

[0136] from Figure 6 As can be seen, the RSRP measurement set (i.e., the measured RSRP of the PRS beam transmitted by TRP 602 and measured by the UE) will depend on the UE's azimuth angle. But different. For Figure 6 In azimuth angle For example, the RSRP value of PRS4 will be the highest, followed by the RSRP values ​​of PRS3, PRS5, and PRS2. The expected RSRP value of each PRS, dependent on azimuth, can be modeled as a set of expected power curves, such as... Figure 7 As shown in the image.

[0137] Figure 7 This is a plot of the expected RSRP value, which is dependent on the azimuth angle and has been normalized to eliminate the influence of distance. Figure 7 In the example plots shown, plots (a), (b), and (c) respectively show the expected RSRP values ​​of PRS2, PRS3, and PRS4 dependent on the azimuth angle, and plot (d) is a combination of plots (a) to (c). Therefore, at each azimuth angle, there exists a known ratio of the values ​​of PRS2, PRS3, and PRS4. The same concept applies to... Figure 6 The PRS beam is not shown. TRP 602 transmits the PRS resources measured by UE 604. UE 604 then reports to TRP 602 to up to 8 RSRPs, one RSRP for each PRS resource.

[0138] In conventional UE-assisted positioning, TRP 602 reports the measured RSRP value to LMF 608, for example, via the LPP protocol. LMF 608 estimates AoD; that is, LMF 608 can determine the azimuth of UE 604 by comparing the RSRP measurement with the expected RSRP value for each PRS, and uses the AoD to calculate the location of UE 604. In conventional UE-based positioning, UE 604 uses auxiliary data (including the geographic locations of TRP 602 and other TRPs) and PRS beam information (e.g., beam azimuth and elevation) to estimate the AoD and calculate its own location. In either case, it is necessary to model the expected RSRP value. In one aspect, this is performed by the following method. For each potential location where the UE may be located... For each beam l ∈ [1,…,N beams] being transmitted, calculate the expected Rx power P(i,k). Then, for each k ∈ [1,…M], derive the normalized vector P(k):

[0139]

[0140] This result is a set of normalized expected RSRP values ​​for each PRS beam (i.e., a set of relative RSRP values ​​for the PRS beam at a specific azimuth angle), and like many of these sets, there exists an azimuth angle being considered. For UE-assisted AoD positioning, LMF 608 denotes the receive vector of the normalized RSRP as... And discovered It is close to of For UE-based AoD positioning, the UE 604 is provided with a set of relative RSRP values ​​for the PRS beam at each azimuth angle in the set of azimuth angles being modeled.

[0141] Figure 8 A system 800 for conventional multiple round-trip time (multiple RTT) positioning is shown. The known locations of gNB1, gNB2, and gNB3, and the round-trip time (RTT) from each gNB (e.g., ...) can be used. Figure 8 The location of the UE is determined by tri-point or multi-point positioning (RTT1, RTT2, and RTT3). While this method can achieve a location accuracy of within 3 meters for well-synchronized networks, it requires multiple gNBs.

[0142] Figure 9 A system 900 for TDoA positioning using a single gNB is shown. Figure 9 In this configuration, the serving gNB (SgNB) or other type of serving base station controls a pair of reconfigurable smart surfaces (RIS), such as RIS1 and RIS2, which will ultimately provide transmission toward the UE. The SgNB sends a set of positioning reference signals to the target UE, such as PRS1, PRS2, and PRS3. PRS1 points to RIS1, which sends a reflected signal PRS1' toward the UE. PRS2 points to RIS2, which sends a reflected signal PRS2' toward the UE. PRS3 points directly to the UE. Figure 9In the example shown, PRS3 arrives at the UE first at time ToA (SgNB). PRS1 arrives at RIS1 at time Tprop (SgNB→RIS1), and PRS1' arrives at the UE at time ToA (RIS1). PRS2 arrives at RIS2 at time Tprop (SgNB→RIS2), and PRS2' arrives at the UE at time ToA (RIS2). The UE measures the arrival time (ToA) of each of PRS1', PRS2', and PRS3.

[0143] In UE-assisted positioning, the UE simply reports the RSTD for PRS1', PRS2', and PRS3'. Based on this information and the known locations of SgNB, RIS1, and RIS2, the location server or other nodes can determine the distance from the UE to SgNB, RIS1, and RIS2. In this way, a multi-point positioning method can be used within a single cell to determine the UE's location, which is useful for lower-layer UEs. Since the UE does not need to transmit SRS, positioning can be performed solely based on the received DL-PRS—a lower-power solution compared to conventional RTT.

[0144] In UE-based positioning, the UE needs to know the transmission times of each of PRS1', PRS2', and PRS3. Auxiliary data provides the UE with the locations of the base station and RIS, and the UE knows the transmission times of PRS1, PRS2, and PRS3 from the PRS configuration. If the transmission times of PRS1' and PRS2' are not directly known, the UE can obtain this information from knowing the transmission time of PRS1 and the hardware delay between receiving PRS1 and transmitting PRS1' at RIS1, the latter of which can also be obtained from the auxiliary data from the base station. Similarly, the UE can obtain the transmission time of PRS2' based on its transmission time and the hardware delay between receiving PRS2 and transmitting PRS2' at RIS2.

[0145] Figure 10 A system 1000 for multi-RTT positioning using UL-SRS signals and multiple RIS (e.g., RIS1, RIS2, and RIS3) is shown. Figure 10 The upper part shows the geographical locations of the entities involved in the example scenario, and Figure 10 The lower part illustrates example timing for signal transmission and reflection in this example scenario. Figure 10In the example shown in the lower part, at time T1, the UE sends a UL-SRS signal 1002 to the RIS, and the RIS receives the UL-SRS signal at time T2. At time T3, the RIS reflects the UL-SRS signal 1004 back to the UE (e.g., via network-assisted data), guiding the UE to receive the reflected UL-SRS signal 1004 at time T4. The RX beam used by the UE to receive the reflected UL-SRS signal 1004 can be the same as the TX beam used by the UE to send the UL-SRS signal 1002.

[0146] In UE-assisted positioning, the UE can report the time delay (T4-T1) to the location server or other network nodes. Based on this information and the hardware delay (T3-T2) between receiving the UL-SRS signal 1002 and transmitting the reflected UL-SS signal 1004 at the RIS, the location server can determine the distance from the UE to the RIS.

[0147] In UE-based positioning, once the UE receives and verifies the reflected UL-SRS signal 1004, the UE can calculate the RTT for RIS as T. RTT = (T4-T1)-(T3-T2)≈2*Tprop (UE<->RIS) The UE determines the value of (T4-T1) and receives the value of (T3-T2), for example, as auxiliary data provided by the base station controlling the RIS. The UE can then estimate its distance to the RIS based on the RTT to that RIS. After the UE has determined the RTT for a sufficient number of reflected UL-SRS signals, it can obtain its location based on triangulation or multi-point positioning from multiple RISs. The UE does not need to measure the DL-PRS signal and can avoid transmitting SRS towards the gNB at high power by transmitting towards the nearest RIS at lower power, both of which reduce power consumption.

[0148] However, this technology still requires the UE to be able to send UL-SRS to multiple RIS and receive reflections of those UL-SRS from multiple RIS. This can be a problem for lower-layer (e.g., low-capacity) UEs (such as “light NR” UEs), which may not be able to send to or receive from distant RIS. If the RIS are close to the UE, this difficulty can be mitigated to some extent, but then the UE must repeat the process for multiple RIS, which consumes more power. Another drawback of this technology is that it requires at least two RIS, a condition that is often not met.

[0149] To address these technical challenges, a UE-based positioning technique using a single RIS is proposed. The method and system disclosed in this paper determine the UE's position relative to the RIS using distance and AoD methods, instead of using a three-point / multi-point positioning method that requires measuring distances to multiple reference points.

[0150] Figure 11 This is a flowchart of an example process 1100 associated with RIS beam scanning of SRS for AoD-based positioning, according to various aspects of this disclosure. In some embodiments, Figure 11 One or more process blocks can be executed by a UE (e.g., UE 103, UE 1404). In some implementations, Figure 11 One or more process frames can be executed by another device or by a group of devices separate from or including the user equipment (UE). Additionally or alternatively, Figure 11 One or more process frames may be executed by one or more components of UE 302, such as processor 332, memory 340, WWAN transceiver 310, short-range wireless transceiver 320, SPS receiver 330, user interface 346 and / or AoD component 342, any one or all of which may be considered as means for performing the operation.

[0151] like Figure 11 As shown, process 1100 may include obtaining configuration information (block 1110) to identify resources used for Sounding Reference Signals (SRS) positioning. The means for performing the operations of block 1110 may include a WWAN transceiver 310 of UE 302. For example, UE 302 may receive the configuration information via receiver 312. In some aspects, obtaining the configuration information includes receiving the configuration information via Radio Resource Control (RRC) signaling. In some aspects, obtaining the configuration information includes receiving the configuration information from a network entity. In some aspects, receiving the configuration information from a network entity includes receiving the configuration information from a location server. In some aspects, the configuration information indicates the number of SRS resources, the time for sending an SRS transmission to the RIS, the expected time for receiving a reflection of the SRS transmission from the RIS, the uncertainty of the expected time for receiving a reflection of the SRS transmission from the RIS, or a combination thereof.

[0152] like Figure 11 As further shown, process 1100 may include sending multiple SRS transmissions to the reconfigurable smart surface (RIS) at different times according to configuration information (block 1120). The means for performing the operation of block 1120 may include the WWAN transceiver 310 of UE 302. For example, UE 302 may send the multiple SRS transmissions at different times via transmitter 314.

[0153] like Figure 11 As further shown, process 1100 may include receiving a plurality of SRS transmissions from the RIS, the plurality of SRS transmissions including reflections of the plurality of SRS transmissions to the RIS, wherein each of the plurality of SRS transmissions from the RIS is transmitted from the RIS at a different angle of origin (AoD) (block 1130). The means for performing the operation of block 1130 may include a WWAN transceiver 310 of UE 302. For example, UE 302 may receive the plurality of SRS transmissions via receiver 312. In some aspects, each of the plurality of SRS transmissions from the RIS is received at a known time or with a known delay, according to configuration information, after the transmission of the corresponding SRS transmission to the RIS. In some aspects, each of the plurality of SRS transmissions from the RIS includes information associating it with the corresponding SRS transmission among the plurality of SRS transmissions to the RIS. For example, the SRS transmitted by the UE and the reflected SRS received from the RIS may have the same SRS ID, the same beam ID, the same known sequence, etc., or a combination thereof.

[0154] like Figure 11 As further shown, process 1100 may include measuring each of the plurality of SRS transmissions from the RIS to generate a plurality of measurement results (block 1140). The means for performing the operation of block 1140 may include the WWAN transceiver 310 of the UE 302. For example, the UE 302 may use receiver 312 to measure each of the plurality of SRS transmissions from the RIS. In some aspects, the UE 302 measures a set of RSRP values ​​for each SRS transmission from the RIS.

[0155] like Figure 11As further shown, process 1100 may perform a location operation based on the plurality of measurement results (block 1150). The means for performing the operation of block 1150 may include processor 332 of UE 302 and WWAN transceiver 310. For example, in some aspects, performing a location operation based on the plurality of measurement results includes, for example, transmitting the plurality of measurement results to a location server via transmitter 314, and subsequently receiving a location estimate based on the plurality of measurement results from the location server, for example, via receiver 312. In other aspects, performing a location operation based on the plurality of measurement results includes determining the AoD of the UE from the RIS based on the plurality of measurement results. In some aspects, this involves receiving auxiliary data via receiver 312. The auxiliary data may include information such as the geographic location of the RIS, the orientation of the RIS, the characteristics of the reflected SRS beam, or a combination thereof, which is considered by processor 332 when determining the AoD of the UE from the RIS. In some aspects, the characteristics of the reflected SRS beam include azimuth or beamwidth, elevation or beamwidth, aiming line direction uncertainty, beamwidth uncertainty, transmission time uncertainty, or a combination thereof. In some aspects, process 1100 includes estimating the UE's position based on AoD and the distance from the UE to the RIS.

[0156] Process 1100 may include additional implementations, such as any single implementation or any combination of implementations described below and / or in conjunction with one or more other processes described elsewhere herein. Although Figure 11 An example block diagram of process 1100 is shown, but in some implementations, process 1100 may include... Figure 11 The boxes depicted in the process are compared to additional boxes, fewer boxes, different boxes, or boxes arranged differently. Alternatively, two or more boxes in the process 1100 may be executed in parallel.

[0157] Figure 12 This is a flowchart of an example process 1200 associated with RIS beam scanning of SRS for AoD-based positioning, according to various aspects of this disclosure. In some embodiments, Figure 12 One or more process blocks can be executed by a RIS (e.g., RIS1406). In some implementations, Figure 12 One or more process frames can be executed by another device or by a group of devices separate from or including the reconfigurable smart surface (RIS). Additionally or alternatively, Figure 12One or more process blocks may be executed by one or more components of the RIS 304, such as processor 384, memory 386, WWAN transceiver 350, short-range wireless transceiver 360, SPS receiver 370, network transceiver 380 and / or AoD component 388, any one or all of which may be considered as means for performing the operation.

[0158] like Figure 12 As shown, process 1200 may include obtaining configuration information (block 1210) to identify resources used for Sounding Reference Signals (SRS) positioning. Apparatus for performing the operations of block 1210 may include a WWAN transceiver 350 and a network transceiver 380 of device 304. For example, the RIS may receive configuration information from a location server via the WWAN transceiver 350 or the network transceiver 380. In some aspects, obtaining configuration information includes receiving configuration information via Radio Resource Control (RRC) signaling (e.g., from a base station controlling the RIS). In some aspects, obtaining configuration information includes receiving configuration information from a network entity, which may be a location server, an LMF, or other network node. In some aspects, the configuration information indicates the amount of SRS resources, the expected time for receiving SRS transmissions from the UE, the uncertainty of the expected time for receiving SRS transmissions from the UE, the expected time for sending reflections of SRS transmissions from the UE to the UE, the AoD of sending reflections of each corresponding SRS transmission from the UE, or a combination thereof.

[0159] like Figure 12 As further shown, process 1200 may include receiving multiple SRS transmissions from user equipment (UE) at different times (block 1220). The means for performing the operation of block 1220 may include the WWAN transceiver 350 of device 304. For example, the RIS may receive the multiple SRS transmissions via receiver 352.

[0160] like Figure 12As further shown, process 1200 may include transmitting a plurality of SRS transmissions, the plurality of SRS transmissions including reflections of the plurality of SRS transmissions received from the UE, wherein each of the plurality of SRS transmissions from the RIS is transmitted from the RIS at a different angle of origin (AoD) according to the configuration information (block 1230). The means for performing the operation of block 1230 may include the WWAN transceiver 350 of device 306. For example, the RIS may transmit the plurality of reflected SRS transmissions via transmitter 354. In some aspects, each of the plurality of SRS transmissions including reflections of the plurality of SRS transmissions received from the UE includes information associating it with a corresponding SRS transmission among the plurality of SRS transmissions received from the UE. In some aspects, the SRS received from the UE and the reflected SRS transmitted by the RIS may have the same SRS ID, the same beam ID, the same known sequence, etc., or a combination thereof.

[0161] Process 1200 may include additional implementations, such as any single implementation or any combination of implementations described below and / or in conjunction with one or more other processes described elsewhere herein. Although Figure 12 An example block diagram of process 1200 is shown, but in some implementations, process 1200 may include... Figure 12 The boxes depicted in the process are compared to additional boxes, fewer boxes, different boxes, or boxes arranged differently. Alternatively, two or more boxes in the process 1200 can be executed in parallel.

[0162] Figure 13A and Figure 13B This is a flowchart illustrating an example process 1300 associated with RIS beam scanning of SRS for AoD-based positioning according to various aspects of this disclosure. In some embodiments, Figure 13A and Figure 13B One or more process frames may be executed by a location server (e.g., location server 172, LMF 1402, etc.) or a base station (e.g., BS102, BS 304, etc.). In some implementations, Figure 13A and Figure 13B One or more process frames may be executed by another device or a group of devices separate from or including the location server (LS). Additionally or alternatively, Figure 13A and Figure 13B One or more process frames may be executed by one or more components of device 306, such as processor 394, memory 396, network transceiver 390 and / or AoD component 398, wherein any or all of the components may be considered as means for performing the operation.

[0163] like Figure 13AAs shown, process 1300 may include sending first configuration information (block 1310) to the reconfigurable smart surface (RIS) to identify resources used for probe reference signal (SRS) positioning. A means for performing the operations of block 1310 may include network transceiver 390 of device 306. Figure 13A As further shown, process 1300 may include sending second configuration information (block 1320) to the user equipment (UE) to identify resources used for Sounding Reference Signals (SRS) positioning. The means for performing the operations of block 1320 may include network transceiver 390 of device 306. In some aspects, the first and second configuration information may indicate the number of SRS resources, the time at which the UE sends an SRS transmission to the RIS, the expected time for the UE to receive a reflection of the SRS transmission from the RIS, the uncertainty of the expected time for the UE to receive a reflection of the SRS transmission from the RIS, the angle of origin (AoD) at which the RIS should send reflections of each corresponding SRS transmission from the UE, or a combination thereof.

[0164] like Figure 13B As shown, process 1300 may optionally include sending auxiliary data to the UE, which includes the geographic location of the RIS, the orientation of the RIS, the characteristics of the reflected SRS beam, or a combination thereof (box 1330). The characteristics of the reflected SRS beam may include azimuth, azimuth beamwidth, elevation, elevation beamwidth, aiming line direction uncertainty, beamwidth uncertainty, transmission time uncertainty, or a combination thereof.

[0165] like Figure 13B As further shown, process 1300 may optionally include receiving from the UE a plurality of Reference Signal Received Power (RSRP) values ​​corresponding to a plurality of reflected SRS transmissions measured by the UE (box 1340), determining the UE's AoD from the RIS based on the plurality of RSRP values ​​(box 1350), estimating the UE's location based at least in part on the AoD (box 1360), and transmitting the location estimate to the UE (box 1370). The means for performing the operations of boxes 1340, 1350, 1360, and 1370 may include the network transceiver 390, memory 396, processor 394, and / or AoD component 398 of device 306.

[0166] Process 1300 may include additional implementations, such as any single implementation or any combination of implementations described below and / or in conjunction with one or more other processes described elsewhere herein. Although Figure 13A and Figure 13B An example block diagram of process 1300 is shown, but in some implementations, process 1300 may include... Figure 13A and Figure 13BThe boxes depicted in the process are compared to additional boxes, fewer boxes, different boxes, or boxes arranged differently. Alternatively, two or more boxes in the process 1300 may be executed in parallel.

[0167] Figure 14 An example network 1400 implementing UE-based positioning using a single RIS is shown, according to some aspects of this disclosure. Figure 14 In this context, network 1400 includes LMF 1402, UE 1404, and RIS 1406, with intermediate nodes in the signaling path between LMF 1402 and UE 1404 omitted for clarity. Figure 14 The upper portion shows example beam patterns for SRS1', SRS2', etc., each beam pattern having different transmission angles A, B, C, etc., transmitted by RIS1406, for example, according to the SRS configuration received by RIS1406. The actual AoD of UE 1404 is... Figure 14 The vector is shown as dashed line 1408, and the points located at the intersections of this vector and the beam patterns C to F represent the relative RSRP values ​​that UE 1404 will measure for each of those beams, where the closer the point is to UE 1404, the higher the relative measured RSRP. Figure 12 In the example shown, the relative RSRP values ​​from highest to lowest are: SRS5', SRS4', SRS6', and SRS3'. Depending on this specific pattern, for example, [the appropriate method] can be used [to target specific patterns]. Figure 6 and Figure 7 The methods described are similar to those used to obtain AoD 1202 for UE 1404. Figure 12 The bottom section illustrates an example timing allocation of SRS resources for time slots; for example, SRS3 and SRS3' will occur during time slot n+2, SRS4 and SRS4' will occur during time slot n+3, and so on. In this example, it is recognized that the RIS may not have advanced baseband processing capabilities, and the SRS resources are time-domain multiplexed. Furthermore, the RIS may not be able to comb the interleaved SRS signals into multiple different beams; in this case, the RIS could simply reflect any frequency-domain multiplexed SRS resources into the same TX beam for reflection. Figure 12 In this context, SRS resources occupy separate time slots, but in some respects, SRS resources can occupy separate symbols within the same time slot, separate symbols in different time slots, and other configurations. These examples are illustrative and not restrictive.

[0168] Figure 15 Figure 1500 illustrates the signaling and events for RIS beam scanning of SRS for UE-based AoD positioning, based on some aspects of this disclosure. Figure 15In this process, the LMF 1402 or other location server, UE 1404 and RIS1406 are involved, and the fact that RIS1406 can adjust the direction of its reflected incoming beam is utilized.

[0169] exist Figure 15 In the example shown, LMF 1402 sends SRS configuration 1502 to UE 1404 and SRS configuration 1504 to RIS 1406. The SRS configuration, which can be transmitted via Radio Resource Control (RRC) message transmission, identifies the SRS resources used for positioning. Each SRS configuration can define one or more SRS resource sets, and each SRS resource set contains one or more time-domain multiplexed (TDMed) SRS resources for positioning. In some aspects, each SRS resource for positioning can be defined by time slot and / or symbol. For example, each time slot can have one SRS resource for positioning; the SRS resource for positioning can occupy some or all of the symbols in a time slot; the time slots containing the SRS resource for positioning may or may not be contiguous, for example, they may be every other time slot, every three time slots, or various modes as needed to adapt to TDDUL / DL configurations, etc. The SRS configuration defines the timing when UE 1404 transmits UL-SRS to RIS 1406, the timing when RIS 1406 reflects UL-SRS back to UE 1404, or a combination thereof. In some aspects, the SRS configuration for RIS specifies the azimuth and / or elevation angles at which it transmits the reflected UL-SRS beam. Figure 15 In the example shown, the SRS configuration SRS1' will be sent by the RIS1406 at an AoD at an angle "A", SRS2' will be sent by the RIS1406 at an AoD at an angle "B", and so on. Therefore, in some aspects, the SRS configuration 1110 may include a mapping of SRS timing to reflected AoDs.

[0170] exist Figure 15In the example shown, UE 1404 then begins sending a series of UL-SRS signals to RIS 1406. Whenever RIS 1406 receives a UL-SRS signal from UE 1404, RIS 1406 reflects the UL-SRS signal back to UE 1404 with a different AoD according to the mapping provided by the SRS configuration. For example, UE 1404 sends SRS1 1506 to RIS 1406, RIS reflects it as SRS1' 1508 with AoD = A, and UE 1404 measures the RSRP of SRS1' (box 1510). This process is repeated for each SRS until UE 1404 sends SRS8 1512 to RIS 1406, RIS reflects it as SRS2' 1514 with AoD = H, and UE 1404 measures the RSRP of SRS8' (box 1516).

[0171] In a UE-based implementation, UE 1404 then uses the measured RSRP values ​​for SRS1' to SRS8' to determine the AoD of UE 1404 from RIS1406 (box 1518), for example using, for example, the measured RSRP values ​​for SRS1' to SRS8'. Figure 6 The technology described.

[0172] In a UE-assisted implementation, UE 1404 may send the measured RSRP value 1520 and optionally a distance estimate based on the RTT between UE 1404 and RIS 1406, or the RTT value itself, to LMF 1402. LMF 1402 then uses this information to calculate AoD and the distance from RIS to UE, and LMF then uses AoD and the distance to estimate the location of UE 1404 (box 1522). LMF 1402 may then send the estimated location 1524 to UE 1404.

[0173] If the RIS1406 acts as a passive mirror, where the time difference between the received SRS signal and the reflected SRS signal is negligible, or if the propagation delay between UE 1404 and RIS1406 is small, for example because they are close to each other, the reflected SRS can reach UE 1404 within the cyclic prefix (CP) length. In this case, UE 1404 will need to activate its receiver to receive the reflected SRS while its transmitter is active to send the original SRS, resulting in strong self-interference and using more power than using only a transmitter or only a receiver. On the other hand, UE 1404 can receive the reflected SRS from the environment before it receives the SRS reflected by RIS1406, and therefore may not be able to distinguish between multipath reflections and RIS reflections. Figure 16 One method for controlling this problem is shown in the figure.

[0174] Figure 16This is a signaling and event diagram 1600 for RIS beam scanning of SRS for UE-based AoD positioning, according to some aspects of this disclosure, including controlling when RIS 1406 transmits reflected signals. In this method, an association exists between SRS resources and downlink time slots or symbols used to reflect SRS signals received by RIS 1406 during the SRS resource period, which can be provided to UE 1404 via SRS configuration 1602 and to RIS 1406 via SRS configuration 1604. Figure 16 In the example shown, all SRS signals (e.g., SRS1 1606, SRS2 1608, SRS3 1610, SRS4 1612, SRS5 1614, SRS6 1616…) are transmitted, and then RIS1406 reflects them as SRS1'1618, SRS2'1620, SRS3'1622, SRS4'1624, SRS5'1626, and SRS6'1628. However, in other respects, each reflected SRS can be transmitted by RIS1406, and then UE 1404 transmits the next SRS signal, but all within a specified DL time slot or symbol period. Other implementations are also possible, such as UE 1404 transmitting one or more SRS signals, RIS1406 transmitting one or more reflected SRS signals, and UE 1404 transmitting one or more remaining SRS signals, etc. These examples are illustrative and not limiting.

[0175] In some respects, for each SRS resource, its RIS reflection time (e.g., the delay between the time RIS1406 receives the SRS and the time RIS1406 transmits the reflected signal) should be controlled to ensure that the UE can observe the reflected SRS resource in a specific DL slot or DL ​​symbol. Since the gNB knows the precise propagation time from the gNB to the RIS, it can configure the SRS reflection time of the RIS to ensure that the RIS reflects within the associated DL symbol time span. In some respects, the SRS reflection timing error should be within the CP to avoid inter-symbol interference.

[0176] In some respects, instead of specifying a delay value, a particular DL time slot or symbol can be identified as the time position at which the RIS 1406 should transmit a particular SRS signal. Since DL time slots or symbols typically reserved for the gNB to transmit to the UE are being used by the RIS, in some respects, the UE can signal this using a special time slot format (e.g., a time slot format where one or more particular DL symbols are dedicated to the reception of a particular SRS resource). The gNB will not transmit any DL signals in those particular DL symbols. For example, in this method, the SRS resource is associated with a particular DL symbol time span, not with a particular DL reference signal or data / control channel.

[0177] In some aspects, auxiliary data can be provided to the UE, including "expected time to receive SRS resources" and "uncertainty regarding the expected time to receive SRS resources" for arrival at SRS resources configured for AoD estimation. For example, the auxiliary data may resemble the "expected RSTD" and "expected RSTD uncertainty" associated with each pair of TRPs transmitting PRS. In some aspects, the "expected time to receive SRS resources" can be obtained from the SRS configuration and the time difference between the received and reflected waveforms of the RIS. In some aspects, the "uncertainty regarding the expected time to receive SRS resources" can be obtained from the location of the RIS and the coverage area of ​​the cell. Where auxiliary data is involved, this auxiliary data can be signaled to the UE from the LMF or gNB.

[0178] In some respects, since the UE may not know its relative angle to the RIS before the positioning operation, the UE can use a wide-angle beam for its SRS transmission. In other respects, the UE can adjust the angle of the SRS transmission beam according to the UE's knowledge of the RIS's location, for example, starting with a wide beam to obtain an initial location estimate, and then using a narrower beam for subsequent use, for example, to improve the SINR of the SRS to the RIS.

[0179] The technique of using RIS to beam scan the reflected SRS initially transmitted by the UE can be used in both UE-assisted positioning modes and UE-based positioning modes. In UE-assisted mode, the UE measures the RSRP of each SRS and reports them to the LMF via the LPP protocol, where the LMF estimates the corresponding AoD and performs position calculation. In UE-based mode, the UE measures the RSRP of each SRS and calculates the UE position using additional auxiliary data. This auxiliary data may include: RIS geographic location, RIS orientation (for calculating the aiming line direction), azimuth and elevation angles of the SRS beam reflected by the RIS, beamwidth of the SRS beam reflected by the RIS, and aiming line direction / beamwidth uncertainty. For example, the beamwidth may be 3dB, 6dB, or 12dB and may be specified for a specific spatial dimension (such as azimuth or elevation). The aiming line / beamwidth uncertainty may be based on measurements of 0.5dB, 1dB, or 3dB and may also be specified for a specific spatial dimension.

[0180] As can be seen in the detailed description above, different features are grouped together in the examples. This manner of disclosure should not be construed as an intention to include more features in the example clauses than are expressly mentioned in each clause. Rather, aspects of this disclosure may include fewer features than those in the individual example clauses disclosed. Therefore, the following clauses should be regarded accordingly as included in the specification, wherein each clause may be considered as a separate example. Although each dependent clause may refer in the clause to a particular combination with one of the other clauses, the aspect of the dependent clause is not limited to that particular combination. It will be understood that other example clauses may also include combinations of aspects of a dependent clause with the subject matter of any other dependent or independent clauses, or combinations of any feature with other dependent and independent clauses. The aspects disclosed herein expressly include these combinations unless expressly stated or readily inferred that a particular combination is not expected (e.g., contradictory aspects, such as defining an element as both an insulator and a conductor). Furthermore, it is contemplated that aspects of a clause may be included in any other independent clause, even if that clause does not directly depend on the independent clause.

[0181] Examples of various implementation methods are described in the following numbered clauses:

[0182] Clause 1. A method of wireless communication performed by a user equipment (UE), the method comprising: obtaining configuration information identifying resources for location using sounding reference signals (SRS); transmitting a plurality of SRS transmissions to a reconfigurable smart surface (RIS) at different times according to the configuration information; receiving a plurality of SRS transmissions from the RIS, the plurality of SRS transmissions including reflections of the plurality of SRS transmissions to the RIS, wherein each of the plurality of SRS transmissions from the RIS is transmitted from the RIS at a different angle of origin (AoD); measuring each of the plurality of SRS transmissions from the RIS to generate a plurality of measurement results; and performing a location operation based on the plurality of measurement results.

[0183] Clause 2. The method according to Clause 1, wherein obtaining the configuration information includes receiving the configuration information via Radio Resource Control (RRC) signaling.

[0184] Clause 3. The method according to any one of Clauses 1 to 2, wherein obtaining the configuration information includes receiving the configuration information from a network entity.

[0185] Clause 4. The method according to Clause 3, wherein receiving the configuration information from a network entity includes receiving the configuration information from a location server.

[0186] Clause 5. The method according to any one of Clauses 1 to 4, wherein the configuration information indicates the number of SRS resources, the time for sending an SRS transmission to the RIS, the expected time for receiving a reflection of an SRS transmission from the RIS, the uncertainty of the expected time for receiving a reflection of an SRS transmission from the RIS, or a combination thereof.

[0187] Clause 6. The method according to any one of Clauses 1 to 5, wherein after the transmission of the corresponding SRS transmission to the RIS, each of the plurality of SRS transmissions from the RIS is received at a known time or with a known delay according to the configuration information.

[0188] Clause 7. The method according to any one of Clauses 1 to 6, wherein each of the plurality of SRS transmissions from the RIS includes information that associates it with a corresponding SRS transmission among the plurality of SRS transmissions to the RIS.

[0189] Clause 8. The method described in Clause 7, wherein the information includes SRS ID, beam ID, known sequence, or a combination thereof.

[0190] Clause 9. The method according to any one of Clauses 1 to 8, wherein performing the positioning operation based on the plurality of measurement results includes sending the plurality of measurement results to a location server.

[0191] Clause 10. The method according to Clause 9, further comprising receiving a location estimate based on the plurality of measurements from the location server.

[0192] Clause 11. The method according to any one of Clauses 1 to 10, wherein performing a positioning operation based on the plurality of measurement results includes determining the AoD of the UE from the RIS based on the plurality of measurement results.

[0193] Clause 12. The method according to Clause 11, the method further comprising: receiving auxiliary data, the auxiliary data including the geographic location of the RIS, the orientation of the RIS, the characteristics of the reflected SRS beam, or a combination thereof, wherein determining the AoD of the UE from the RIS based on the plurality of measurements includes determining the AoD based on the plurality of measurements and the auxiliary data.

[0194] Clause 13. The method according to Clause 12, wherein the characteristics of the reflected SRS beam include azimuth or beamwidth, elevation or beamwidth, aiming line direction uncertainty, beamwidth uncertainty, transmission time uncertainty, or a combination thereof.

[0195] Clause 14. The method according to any one of Clauses 11 to 13, the method further comprising estimating the location of the UE based on the AoD and the distance from the UE to the RIS.

[0196] Clause 15. A method for wireless communication performed by a reconfigurable smart surface (RIS), the method comprising: obtaining configuration information identifying resources for probe reference signal (SRS) localization; receiving a plurality of SRS transmissions from a user equipment (UE) at different times; and transmitting a plurality of SRS transmissions including reflections of the plurality of SRS transmissions received from the UE, wherein each of the plurality of SRS transmissions from the RIS is transmitted from the RIS at a different angle of origin (AoD) according to the configuration information.

[0197] Clause 16. The method according to Clause 15, wherein obtaining the configuration information includes receiving the configuration information via Radio Resource Control (RRC) signaling.

[0198] Clause 17. The method according to any one of Clauses 15 to 16, wherein obtaining the configuration information includes receiving the configuration information from a network entity.

[0199] Clause 18. The method according to Clause 17, wherein receiving the configuration information from a network entity includes receiving the configuration information from a location server.

[0200] Clause 19. The method according to any one of Clauses 15 to 18, wherein the configuration information indicates the amount of SRS resources, the expected time of receiving an SRS transmission from the UE, the uncertainty of the expected time of receiving an SRS transmission from the UE, the expected time of sending a reflection of an SRS transmission from the UE to the UE, the AoD of sending a reflection of an SRS transmission from the UE, or a combination thereof.

[0201] Clause 20. The method according to any one of Clauses 15 to 19, comprising each of the plurality of SRS transmissions reflected from the UE including information relating it to a corresponding SRS transmission among the plurality of SRS transmissions received from the UE.

[0202] Clause 21. The method according to Clause 20, wherein the information includes SRS ID, beam ID, known sequence, or a combination thereof.

[0203] Clause 22. A method of wireless communication performed by a location server, the method comprising: transmitting to a reconfigurable smart surface (RIS) first configuration information identifying resources for sounding reference signal (SRS) positioning; and transmitting to a user equipment (UE) second configuration information identifying resources for sounding reference signal (SRS) positioning, wherein each of the first and second configuration information indicates the number of SRS resources, the time at which the UE transmits an SRS transmission to the RIS, the expected time at which the UE receives a reflection of the SRS transmission from the RIS, the uncertainty of the expected time at which the UE receives a reflection of the SRS transmission from the RIS, the angle of origin (AoD) at which the RIS transmits the SRS transmission from the UE, or a combination thereof.

[0204] Clause 23. The method according to Clause 22, the method further comprising: sending auxiliary data to the UE, the auxiliary data including the geographic location of the RIS, the orientation of the RIS, the characteristics of the reflected SRS beam, or a combination thereof.

[0205] Clause 24. The method according to Clause 23, wherein the characteristics of the reflected SRS beam include azimuth or beamwidth, elevation or beamwidth, aiming line direction uncertainty, beamwidth uncertainty, transmission time uncertainty, or a combination thereof.

[0206] Clause 25. The method according to any one of Clauses 22 to 24, the method further comprising: receiving from the UE a plurality of reference signal received power (RSRP) values ​​corresponding to a plurality of reflected SRS transmissions measured by the UE; determining the AoD of the UE from the RIS based on the plurality of RSRP values; estimating the location of the UE based at least in part on the AoD; and transmitting the estimated location to the UE.

[0207] Clause 26. An apparatus comprising: a memory, at least one transceiver, and at least one processor communicatively coupled to the memory and the at least one transceiver, the memory, the at least one transceiver, and the at least one processor being configured to perform a method according to any one of Clauses 1 to 25.

[0208] Clause 27. An apparatus comprising means for performing the method according to any one of Clauses 1 to 25.

[0209] Clause 28. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing computer-executable instructions, including at least one instruction for causing a computer or processor to perform a method according to any one of Clauses 1 to 25.

[0210] Those skilled in the art will understand that information and signals can be represented using any of a variety of different techniques and methods. For example, data, instructions, commands, information, signals, bits, symbols, and chips mentioned throughout the above description can be represented by voltage, current, electromagnetic waves, magnetic fields or particles, light fields or particles, or any combination thereof.

[0211] Furthermore, those skilled in the art will understand that the various illustrative logic blocks, modules, circuits, and algorithmic steps described in connection with the aspects disclosed herein can be implemented as electronic hardware, computer software, or a combination of both. To clearly illustrate this interchangeability between hardware and software, various illustrative components, blocks, modules, circuits, and steps have been described in general terms of their functionality. Whether this functionality is implemented as hardware or software depends on the specific application and the design constraints imposed on the overall system. Those skilled in the art can implement the described functionality in different ways for each specific application; however, such implementation decisions should not be construed as departing from the scope of this disclosure.

[0212] The various illustrative logic blocks, modules, and circuits described in conjunction with the aspects disclosed herein may be implemented or performed using a general-purpose processor, a digital signal processor (DSP), an ASIC, a field-programmable gate array (FPGA) or other programmable logic device, discrete gate or transistor logic, discrete hardware components, or any combination thereof designed to perform the functions described herein. A general-purpose processor may be a microprocessor, but alternatively, the processor may be any conventional processor, controller, microcontroller, or state machine. The processor may also be implemented as a combination of computing devices, such as a combination of a DSP and a microprocessor, multiple microprocessors, one or more microprocessors combined with a DSP core, or any other such configuration.

[0213] The methods, sequences, and / or algorithms described in conjunction with the aspects disclosed herein can be embodied directly in hardware, in a software module executed by a processor, or a combination of both. The software module may reside in random access memory (RAM), flash memory, read-only memory (ROM), erasable programmable ROM (EPROM), electrically erasable programmable ROM (EEPROM), registers, hard disks, removable disks, CD-ROMs, or any other form of storage medium known in the art. Example storage media are coupled to a processor such that the processor can read information from and write information to the storage medium. Alternatively, the storage medium may be integrated with the processor. The processor and storage medium may reside in an ASIC. The ASIC may reside in a user terminal (e.g., a UE). Alternatively, the processor and storage medium may reside as discrete components in the user terminal.

[0214] In one or more examples, the functionality may be implemented in hardware, software, firmware, or any combination thereof. If implemented in software, the functionality may be stored as one or more instructions or code on or transmitted over a computer-readable medium. A computer-readable medium includes both computer storage media and communication media, with communication media including any medium that facilitates the transfer of a computer program from one place to another. A storage medium may be any available medium accessible to a computer. Exemplarily and not limitingly, such a computer-readable medium may include RAM, ROM, EEPROM, CD-ROM or other optical disc storage, 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 is accessible to a computer. Furthermore, any connection is appropriately referred to as a computer-readable medium. For example, if the software is transmitted from a website, server, or other remote source using coaxial cable, fiber optic cable, twisted pair, digital subscriber line (DSL), or wireless technologies such as infrared, radio, and microwave, then coaxial cable, fiber optic cable, twisted pair, DSL, or wireless technologies such as infrared, radio, and microwave are included within the definition of a medium. The disks and optical discs used in this article include: compact optical discs (CDs), laser discs, optical discs, digital versatile discs (DVDs), floppy disks, and Blu-ray discs. Disks typically reproduce data magnetically, while optical discs use lasers to reproduce data. Combinations of these should also be included within the scope of computer-readable media.

[0215] While the foregoing disclosure illustrates aspects of this disclosure, it should be noted that various changes and modifications may be made herein without departing from the scope of this disclosure as defined by the appended claims. Furthermore, the functions, steps, and / or actions of the method claims according to the aspects of the disclosure described herein do not need to be performed in any particular order. Moreover, although elements of this disclosure may be described or claimed in the singular, pluralism is also contemplated unless explicitly stated otherwise.

Claims

1. A method for wireless communication performed by a user equipment (UE), the method comprising: Obtain configuration information for identifying resources used for SRS (Sound Reference Signal) positioning; Based on the configuration information, multiple SRS transmissions are sent to the reconfigurable smart surface RIS at different times; Receive multiple SRS transmissions from the RIS, the multiple SRS transmissions including reflections of the multiple SRS transmissions to the RIS, wherein each of the multiple SRS transmissions from the RIS is sent from the RIS at a different departure angle AoD; Each SRS transmission from the plurality of SRS transmissions from the RIS is measured to generate a plurality of measurement results; as well as The positioning operation is performed based on the multiple measurement results.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein obtaining the configuration information includes receiving the configuration information via Radio Resource Control (RRC) signaling.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein obtaining the configuration information includes receiving the configuration information from a network entity.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein receiving the configuration information from the network entity includes receiving the configuration information from a location server.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the configuration information indicates the number of SRS resources, the time for sending an SRS transmission to the RIS, the expected time for receiving a reflection of the SRS transmission from the RIS, the uncertainty of the expected time for receiving a reflection of the SRS transmission from the RIS, or a combination thereof.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein after the transmission of the corresponding SRS transmission to the RIS, each of the plurality of SRS transmissions from the RIS is received at a known time or with a known delay according to the configuration information.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of SRS transmissions from the RIS includes information relating it to a corresponding SRS transmission among the plurality of SRS transmissions to the RIS.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the information includes SRS ID, beam ID, known sequence, or a combination thereof.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein performing the positioning operation based on the plurality of measurement results includes sending the plurality of measurement results to a location server.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising receiving a location estimate from the location server based on the plurality of measurement results.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein performing the positioning operation based on the plurality of measurement results includes determining the AoD of the UE from the RIS based on the plurality of measurement results.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the method further comprises: Receive auxiliary data, including the geographic location of the RIS, the orientation of the RIS, the characteristics of the reflected SRS beam, or a combination thereof. Determining the AoD of the UE from the RIS based on the multiple measurement results includes determining the AoD based on the multiple measurement results and the auxiliary data.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the characteristics of the reflected SRS beam include azimuth, azimuth beamwidth, elevation, elevation beamwidth, aiming line direction uncertainty, beamwidth uncertainty, transmission time uncertainty, or a combination thereof.

14. The method of claim 11, the method further comprising estimating the location of the UE based on the AoD and the distance from the UE to the RIS.

15. A method for wireless communication performed by a reconfigurable smart surface (RIS), the method comprising: Obtain configuration information for identifying resources used for SRS (Sound Reference Signal) positioning; Receive multiple SRS transmissions from the user equipment (UE) at different times; as well as Multiple SRS transmissions are sent, the multiple SRS transmissions including reflections of the multiple SRS transmissions received from the UE, wherein each of the multiple SRS transmissions from the RIS is sent from the RIS at a different departure angle (AoD) according to the configuration information.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein obtaining the configuration information includes receiving the configuration information via Radio Resource Control (RRC) signaling.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein obtaining the configuration information includes receiving the configuration information from a network entity.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein receiving the configuration information from the network entity includes receiving the configuration information from a location server.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein the configuration information indicates the amount of SRS resources, the expected time of receiving an SRS transmission from the UE, the uncertainty of the expected time of receiving the SRS transmission from the UE, the expected time of sending a reflection of the SRS transmission from the UE to the UE, the AoD of sending a reflection of the SRS transmission from the UE, or a combination thereof.

20. The method of claim 15, further comprising each of the plurality of SRS transmissions reflected from the UE including information relating it to a corresponding SRS transmission among the plurality of SRS transmissions received from the UE.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the information includes SRS ID, beam ID, known sequence, or a combination thereof.

22. A method for wireless communication performed by a location server, the method comprising: Send first configuration information to the reconfigurable smart surface RIS to identify resources used for probing reference signal SRS localization; as well as Send second configuration information to the user equipment (UE) to identify resources used for SRS positioning. Each of the first configuration information and the second configuration information indicates the amount of SRS resources, the time when the UE sends an SRS transmission to the RIS, the expected time when the UE receives a reflection of the SRS transmission from the RIS, the uncertainty of the expected time when the UE receives a reflection of the SRS transmission from the RIS, the departure angle (AoD) at which the RIS sends a reflection of the SRS transmission from the UE, or a combination thereof.

23. The method of claim 22, further comprising: The auxiliary data is sent to the UE, including the geographic location of the RIS, the orientation of the RIS, the characteristics of the reflected SRS beam, or a combination thereof.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the characteristics of the reflected SRS beam include azimuth, azimuth beamwidth, elevation, elevation beamwidth, aiming line direction uncertainty, beamwidth uncertainty, transmission time uncertainty, or a combination thereof.

25. The method of claim 22, further comprising: The UE receives multiple reference signal received power (RSRP) values ​​corresponding to multiple reflected SRS transmissions measured by the UE. The AoD of the UE from the RIS is determined based on the plurality of RSRP values; The location of the UE is estimated at least in part based on the AoD; as well as The estimated location is sent to the UE.

26. A user equipment (UE), the UE comprising: 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 being configured to: Obtain configuration information for identifying resources used for SRS (Sound Reference Signal) positioning; Multiple SRS transmissions are sent to the reconfigurable smart surface RIS at different times via the at least one transceiver according to the configuration information; Receive multiple SRS transmissions from the RIS via the at least one transceiver, the multiple SRS transmissions including reflections of the multiple SRS transmissions to the RIS, wherein each of the multiple SRS transmissions from the RIS is sent from the RIS at a different departure angle AoD; Each SRS transmission from the plurality of SRS transmissions from the RIS is measured to generate a plurality of measurement results; as well as The positioning operation is performed based on the multiple measurement results.

27. The UE according to claim 26, wherein, In order to obtain the configuration information, the at least one processor is configured to receive the configuration information via Radio Resource Control (RRC) signaling.

28. The UE according to claim 26, wherein, In order to obtain the configuration information, the at least one processor is configured to receive the configuration information from a network entity.

29. The UE according to claim 28, wherein, In order to receive the configuration information from the network entity, the at least one processor is configured to receive the configuration information from a location server.

30. The UE of claim 26, wherein the configuration information indicates the amount of SRS resources, the time for sending an SRS transmission to the RIS, the expected time for receiving a reflection of the SRS transmission from the RIS, the uncertainty of the expected time for receiving a reflection of the SRS transmission from the RIS, or a combination thereof.

31. The UE of claim 26, wherein after a transmission of a corresponding SRS transmission to the RIS, each of the plurality of SRS transmissions from the RIS is received at a known time or with a known delay according to the configuration information.

32. The UE of claim 26, wherein each of the plurality of SRS transmissions from the RIS includes information relating it to a corresponding SRS transmission among the plurality of SRS transmissions to the RIS.

33. The UE of claim 32, wherein the information includes SRS ID, beam ID, known sequence, or a combination thereof.

34. The UE according to claim 26, wherein, In order to perform the positioning operation based on the plurality of measurement results, the at least one processor is configured to send the plurality of measurement results to a location server.

35. The UE of claim 34, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to receive a location estimate based on the plurality of measurement results from the location server via the at least one transceiver.

36. The UE according to claim 26, wherein, In order to perform the positioning operation based on the plurality of measurement results, the at least one processor is configured to determine the AoD of the UE from the RIS based on the plurality of measurement results.

37. The UE of claim 36, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to: Auxiliary data is received via the at least one transceiver, the auxiliary data including the geographical location of the RIS, the orientation of the RIS, the characteristics of the reflected SRS beam, or a combination thereof. in, In order to determine the AoD of the UE from the RIS based on the plurality of measurement results, the at least one processor is configured to determine the AoD based on the plurality of measurement results and the auxiliary data.

38. The UE of claim 37, wherein the characteristics of the reflected SRS beam include azimuth, azimuth beamwidth, elevation, elevation beamwidth, aiming line direction uncertainty, beamwidth uncertainty, transmission time uncertainty, or a combination thereof.

39. The UE of claim 36, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to estimate the location of the UE based on the AoD and the distance from the UE to the RIS.

40. A reconfigurable smart surface RIS, the RIS comprising: 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 being configured to: Obtain configuration information for identifying resources used for SRS (Sound Reference Signal) positioning; Multiple SRS transmissions are received from the user equipment (UE) at different times via the at least one transceiver; as well as Multiple SRS transmissions are transmitted via the at least one transceiver, the multiple SRS transmissions including reflections of the multiple SRS transmissions received from the UE, wherein each of the multiple SRS transmissions from the RIS is transmitted from the RIS at a different departure angle (AoD) according to the configuration information.

41. The RIS according to claim 40, wherein, In order to obtain the configuration information, the at least one processor is configured to receive the configuration information via Radio Resource Control (RRC) signaling.

42. The RIS according to claim 40, wherein, In order to obtain the configuration information, the at least one processor is configured to receive the configuration information from a network entity.

43. The RIS according to claim 42, wherein, In order to receive the configuration information from the network entity, the at least one processor is configured to receive the configuration information from a location server.

44. The RIS of claim 40, wherein the configuration information indicates the amount of SRS resources, the expected time of receiving an SRS transmission from the UE, the uncertainty of the expected time of receiving the SRS transmission from the UE, the expected time of sending a reflection of the SRS transmission from the UE to the UE, the AoD of sending a reflection of the SRS transmission from the UE, or a combination thereof.

45. The RIS of claim 40, further comprising each of the plurality of SRS transmissions reflected from the UE including information relating it to a corresponding SRS transmission among the plurality of SRS transmissions received from the UE.

46. ​​The RIS of claim 45, wherein the information includes SRS ID, beam ID, known sequence, or a combination thereof.

47. A location server, the location server comprising: 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 being configured to: Transmit first configuration information for identifying resources used for locating the Detection Reference Signal (SRS) to the reconfigurable smart surface (RIS) via the at least one transceiver; and The system transmits second configuration information for identifying resources used for SRS positioning to the user equipment (UE) via the at least one transceiver. Each of the first configuration information and the second configuration information indicates the amount of SRS resources, the time when the UE sends an SRS transmission to the RIS, the expected time when the UE receives a reflection of the SRS transmission from the RIS, the uncertainty of the expected time when the UE receives a reflection of the SRS transmission from the RIS, the departure angle (AoD) at which the RIS sends a reflection of the SRS transmission from the UE, or a combination thereof.

48. The location server of claim 47, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to: Auxiliary data is transmitted to the UE via the at least one transceiver, the auxiliary data including the geographic location of the RIS, the orientation of the RIS, the characteristics of the reflected SRS beam, or a combination thereof.

49. The location server of claim 48, wherein the characteristics of the reflected SRS beam include azimuth, azimuth beamwidth, elevation, elevation beamwidth, aiming line direction uncertainty, beamwidth uncertainty, transmission time uncertainty, or a combination thereof.

50. The location server of claim 47, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to: Receive multiple reference signal received power (RSRP) values ​​from the UE via the at least one transceiver, corresponding to multiple reflected SRS transmissions measured by the UE; The AoD of the UE from the RIS is determined based on the plurality of RSRP values; The location of the UE is estimated at least in part based on the AoD; as well as The estimated location is transmitted to the UE via the at least one transceiver.

51. A user equipment (UE), comprising: A means for performing the method according to any one of claims 1-14.

52. A reconfigurable smart surface RIS, comprising: Apparatus for performing the method according to any one of claims 15-21.

53. A location server, comprising: Apparatus for performing the method according to any one of claims 22-25.

54. A computer-readable medium having program code recorded thereon, wherein, The program code can be executed by one or more processors to cause the one or more processors to perform the method according to any one of claims 1-25.

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