Multi-anchor sidelink quasi co-location indication and configuration for enhanced positioning and sensing

Abstract

In some implementations, a base device may determine a quasi-co-location (QCL) relationship between a first wireless reference signal transmitted by a first sidelink (SL) anchor point and a second wireless reference signal transmitted by a second SL anchor point, where: the first SL anchor point and the second SL anchor point include a UE separate from the receiving UE, and transmitting the first wireless reference signal and the second wireless reference signal for positioning of the receiving UE, performing radio frequency (RF) sensing, or both. The base device may wirelessly transmit the mSL-QCL information from the base device to the receiving UE, wherein the mSL-QCL information indicates the QCL relationship between the first wireless reference signal and the second wireless reference signal.

Description

[0001] Related Applications

[0002] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 17 / 806,723, filed on June 13, 2022, entitled “MULTI-ANCHOR SIDELINK QUASI-COLOCATION INDICATION AND CONFIGURATION FOR ENHANCED POSITIONING AND SENSING,” which is assigned to the assignee of this application and is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Background Art 1. Technical Field

[0003] The present disclosure relates generally to the field of wireless communications, and more particularly to determining the location of a user equipment (UE) using radio frequency (RF) signals.

[0004] 2. Description of related technologies

[0005] In wireless communication networks (such as mobile / cellular broadband networks), receiving UEs may be used to receive RF signals for positioning of the receiving UE and / or performing RF sensing of nearby objects. In some embodiments, these RF signals or "reference signals" may be transmitted from other UEs using sidelink (SL) communications. When performing measurements on these reference signals, the receiving UE takes into account signal properties (such as delay, delay spread, Doppler shift, and Doppler spread). Summary of the invention

[0006] An example method for configuring a receiving user equipment (UE) for multi-anchor sidelink quasi-co-site (mSL-QCL) information according to the present disclosure may include: determining, at a base device, a quasi-co-site (QCL) relationship between a first wireless reference signal sent by a first side link (SL) anchor point and a second wireless reference signal sent by a second SL anchor point, wherein the first SL anchor point and the second SL anchor point include UEs separated from the receiving UE, and sending the first wireless reference signal and the second wireless reference signal for positioning the receiving UE, performing radio frequency (RF) sensing, or both. The method may also include wirelessly transmitting the mSL-QCL information from the base device to the receiving UE, wherein the mSL-QCL information indicates the QCL relationship between the first wireless reference signal and the second wireless reference signal.

[0007] An example method for utilizing multi-anchor sidelink quasi-co-site (mSL-QCL) information at a receiving user equipment (UE) according to the present disclosure may include: wirelessly receiving the mSL-QCL information from a base device at the receiving UE, wherein the mSL-QCL information indicates a quasi-co-site (QCL) relationship between a first wireless reference signal transmitted by a first side link (SL) anchor point and a second wireless reference signal transmitted by a second SL anchor point, and wherein: the first SL anchor point and the second SL anchor point include UEs separated from the receiving UE, and the first wireless reference signal and the second wireless reference signal are transmitted for positioning of the receiving UE, performing radio frequency (RF) sensing, or both. The method may also include wirelessly measuring the first wireless reference signal, the second wireless reference signal, or both based at least in part on the mSL-QCL information.

[0008] An example base device for configuring a receiving user equipment (UE) for multi-anchor sidelink quasi co-location (mSL-QCL) information according to the present disclosure may include: a transceiver; a memory; one or more processors, the one or more processors being communicatively coupled to the transceiver and the memory, wherein the one or more processors are configured to: determine a quasi co-location (QCL) relationship between a first wireless reference signal transmitted by a first side link (SL) anchor point and a second wireless reference signal transmitted by a second SL anchor point, wherein: the first SL anchor point and the second SL anchor point include UEs separated from the receiving UE, and the first wireless reference signal and the second wireless reference signal are transmitted for positioning of the receiving UE, performing radio frequency (RF) sensing, or both. The one or more processors may also be configured to wirelessly transmit the mSL-QCL information to the receiving UE via the transceiver, wherein the mSL-QCL information indicates the QCL relationship between the first wireless reference signal and the second wireless reference signal.

[0009] An example receiving user equipment (UE) for utilizing multi-anchor sidelink quasi co-location (mSL-QCL) information according to the present disclosure may include: a transceiver; a memory; one or more processors, the one or more processors being communicatively coupled to the transceiver and the memory, wherein the one or more processors are configured to: wirelessly receive the mSL-QCL information from a base device via the transceiver, wherein the mSL-QCL information indicates a quasi co-location (QCL) relationship between a first wireless reference signal transmitted by a first side link (SL) anchor point and a second wireless reference signal transmitted by a second SL anchor point, and wherein: the first SL anchor point and the second SL anchor point include UEs separated from the receiving UE, and transmit the first wireless reference signal and the second wireless reference signal for positioning of the receiving UE, performing radio frequency (RF) sensing, or both. The one or more processors may also be configured to wirelessly measure the first wireless reference signal, the second wireless reference signal, or both based at least in part on the mSL-QCL information by the transceiver.

[0010] This summary is neither intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter nor is it intended to be used alone to determine the scope of the claimed subject matter. This subject matter should be understood by reference to appropriate portions of the entire specification of the present disclosure, any or all of the drawings, and each claim. The foregoing and other features and examples will be described in more detail in the following description, claims, and drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011] Figure 1 is a diagram of a positioning system according to one embodiment.

[0012] Figure 2 is a diagram of a fifth generation (5G) new radio (NR) positioning system, which illustrates a positioning system (e.g., Figure 1 implementation scheme of a positioning system).

[0013] FIG. 3A to FIG. 3C is a simplified illustration of a scenario in which sidelink (SL) positioning may be used to determine the location of a target UE according to some embodiments.

[0014] Figure 4 is a diagram illustrating a scenario in which multi-anchor SL quasi-co-location (QCL) (mSL-QCL) may be utilized according to one embodiment.

[0015] Figure 5 is a diagram illustrating a simple scenario in which mSL-QCL is provided to a receiving user equipment (UE) by a base SL anchor point via a first SL link.

[0016] Figure 6is a call flow diagram illustrating an example method for communicating mSL-QCL from a base device to a receiving UE according to one embodiment.

[0017] Figure 7 is a flow chart of a method for configuring a receiving UE for mSL-QCL information according to one embodiment.

[0018] Figure 8 is a flow chart of a method at a receiving UE for utilizing mSL-QCL information according to one embodiment.

[0019] Fig. 9 is a block diagram of an implementation of a UE that may be utilized in implementations as described herein.

[0020] Fig.10 is a block diagram of an implementation of a base station that may be utilized in implementations as described herein.

[0021] Similar reference symbols in the various drawings indicate similar elements according to certain example implementations. In addition, multiple instances of an element can be indicated by adding a letter or hyphen and a second number after the first number of the element. For example, multiple instances of element 110 can be indicated as 110-1, 110-2, 110-3, etc. or 110a, 110b, 110c, etc. When only the first number is used to refer to such an element, any instance of the element should be understood (for example, the element 110 in the previous example will refer to elements 110-1, 110-2 and 110-3 or to elements 110a, 110b and 110c). DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0022] The following description is directed to certain specific implementations in order to describe the innovative aspects of various embodiments. However, one of ordinary skill in the art will readily recognize that the teachings herein can be applied in a variety of different ways. The described specific implementations can be implemented in any device, system, or network capable of sending and receiving radio frequency (RF) signals according to any communication standard, such as any of the following: the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.15.4 standard for ultra-wideband (UWB), the IEEE 802.11 standard (including those identified as Technical standards), Standard, Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA), Frequency Division Multiple Access (FDMA), Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA), Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM), GSM / General Packet Radio Service (GPRS), Enhanced Data GSM Environment (EDGE), Terrestrial Trunked Radio (TETRA), Wideband CDMA (W-CDMA), Evolution-Data Optimized (EV-DO), 1xEV-DO, EV-DO Revision A, EV-DO Revision B, High Rate Packet Data (HRPD), High Speed ​​Packet Access (HSPA), High Speed ​​Downlink Packet Access (HSDPA), High Speed ​​Uplink Packet Access (HSUPA), Evolved High Speed ​​Packet Access (HSPA+), Long Term Evolution (LTE), Advanced Mobile Phone System (AMPS), or other known signals for communicating within a wireless, cellular or Internet of Things (IoT) network, such as a system utilizing 3G, 4G, 5G, 6G or further implementations thereof.

[0023] As used herein, "RF signals" include electromagnetic waves that transmit information through the space between a transmitter (or transmitting device) and a receiver (or receiving device). As used herein, a transmitter may transmit a single "RF signal" or multiple "RF signals" to a receiver. However, due to the propagation characteristics of each RF signal through multiple channels or paths, a receiver may receive multiple "RF signals" corresponding to each transmitted RF signal.

[0024] Additionally, unless otherwise specified, references to "reference signals," "positioning reference signals," "reference signals for positioning," and the like may be used to refer to signals used for positioning user equipment (UE) in 5G New Radio (NR) networks. As described in more detail herein, such signals may include any of a variety of signal types, but may not necessarily be limited to positioning reference signals (PRS) as defined in relevant wireless standards.

[0025] In addition, unless otherwise specified, the term "positioning" as used herein may include absolute position determination, relative position determination, ranging, or a combination thereof. For the purpose of location or sensing services, such positioning may include and / or be based on timing, angle, phase, or power measurements, or a combination thereof (which may include RF sensing measurements).

[0026] As noted, a receiving UE may be used to receive RF signals for positioning of the receiving UE and / or performing RF sensing of nearby objects. Measurements of the RF reference signal may take into account signal properties such as delay, delay spread, Doppler shift, and Doppler spread. For efficiency, another signal may be used as a quasi-co-site (QCL) reference for the RF reference signal to convey this information to the UE. According to an embodiment herein, in a multi-anchor side link (SL) positioning scenario, a base device (e.g., a base station or a base SL anchor) may provide QCL information indicating a signal from a first SL anchor that may serve as a QCL reference for a signal from a second SL anchor. The QCL information may be utilized by the receiving UE to obtain measurements for positioning and / or RF sensing purposes. A thorough discussion of such embodiments will be provided after reviewing the related art.

[0027] Figure 1 is a simplified illustration of a positioning system 100 according to one embodiment, in which a mobile device 105, a location server 160, and / or other components of the positioning system 100 can use the techniques provided herein for determining an estimated position of the mobile device 105 using multi-anchor SL QCL (mSL-QCL) indications and configurations. The techniques described herein can be implemented by one or more components of the positioning system 100. The positioning system 100 can include: a mobile device 105; one or more satellites 110 (also referred to as space vehicles (SVs)) for a global navigation satellite system (GNSS) such as a global positioning system (GPS), GLONASS, Galileo, or BeiDou; a base station 120; an access point (AP) 130; a location server 160; a network 170; and an external client 180. In general, the positioning system 100 can estimate the position of the mobile device 105 based on RF signals received by and / or transmitted from the mobile device 105 and the known positions of other components (e.g., GNSS satellites 110, base stations 120, APs 130) that send and / or receive RF signals. Additional details regarding specific position estimation techniques are discussed below.

[0028] It should be noted that Figure 1 Only a generalized illustration of the various components is provided, any or all of which may be utilized as appropriate, and each component may be repeated as needed. Specifically, although only one mobile device 105 is illustrated, it should be understood that many mobile devices (e.g., hundreds, thousands, millions, etc.) may utilize the positioning system 100. Similarly, the positioning system 100 may include more than one mobile device 105. Figure 1100. The illustrated connections connecting the various components in the positioning system 100 include data and signaling connections, which may include additional (intermediate) components, direct or indirect physical and / or wireless connections, and / or additional networks. In addition, the components may be rearranged, combined, separated, replaced and / or omitted depending on the desired functionality. In some embodiments, for example, the external client 180 may be directly connected to the location server 160. Those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize many modifications to the illustrated components.

[0029] Depending on the desired functionality, the network 170 may include any of a variety of wireless and / or wired networks. The network 170 may, for example, include any combination of public and / or private networks, local area networks and / or wide area networks, etc. In addition, the network 170 may utilize one or more wired and / or wireless communication technologies. In some embodiments, the network 170 may include, for example, a cellular or other mobile network, a wireless local area network (WLAN), a wireless wide area network (WWAN), and / or the Internet. Examples of the network 170 include long-term evolution (LTE) wireless networks, fifth-generation (5G) wireless networks (also known as new radio (NR) wireless networks or 5G NR wireless networks), Wi-Fi WLAN, and the Internet. LTE, 5G, and NR are wireless technologies defined or being defined by the Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP). The network 170 may also include more than one network and / or more than one type of network. In a wireless cellular network (e.g., LTE or 5G), the mobile device 105 may be referred to as a user equipment (UE)

[0030] The base station 120 and the access point (AP) 130 are communicatively coupled to the network 170. In some embodiments, the base station 120 may be owned, maintained and / or operated by a cellular network provider and may employ any of a variety of wireless technologies, as described below. Depending on the technology of the network 170, the base station 120 may include a node B, an evolved node B (eNodeB or eNB), a transceiver base station (BTS), a radio base station (RBS), an NR node B (gNB), a next generation eNB (ng-eNB), etc. In the case where the network 170 is a 5G network, the base station 120 as a gNB or ng-eNB may be part of a next generation radio access network (NG-RAN) that may be connected to a 5G core network (5GC). In view of the open radio access network (O-RAN) and / or virtualized radio access network (V-RAN or vRAN) in 5G or higher generation networks, the functions performed by the base station 120 in earlier generation networks (e.g., 3G and 4G) may be separated into different functional components (e.g., radio unit (RU), distributed unit (DU), and central unit (CU)) and layers (e.g., L1 / L2 / L3), which may be executed on different devices at different locations connected, for example, via fronthaul, midhaul, and backhaul connections. As described herein, a "base station" (or ng-eNB, gNB, etc.) may include any or all of these functional components. For example, AP 130 may include a Wi-Fi AP or AP or an AP with cellular capabilities (e.g., 4G LTE and / or 5G NR). Thus, the mobile device 105 can transmit and receive information with network connectivity devices (such as location server 160) by accessing the network 170 via the base station 120 using the first communication link 133. Additionally or alternatively, because the AP 130 can also be communicatively coupled with the network 170, the mobile device 105 can communicate with network connectivity and Internet connectivity devices (including the location server 160) using the second communication link 135 or via one or more other mobile devices 145.

[0031] As used herein, the term "base station" may generally refer to a single physical transmission point or multiple co-located physical transmission points that may be located at a base station 120. A transmit receive point (TRP) (also referred to as a transmit / receive point) corresponds to this type of transmission point, and the term "TRP" may be used interchangeably with the terms "gNB," "ng-eNB," and "base station" herein. In some cases, a base station 120 may include multiple TRPs—for example, where each TRP is associated with a different antenna or a different antenna array of the base station 120. As used herein, the transmit function of a TRP may be performed using a transmit point (TP), and / or the receive function of a TRP may be performed by a receive point (RP), which may be physically separate or different from the TP. That is, a TRP may include both a TP and an RP. A physical transmission point may include an antenna array of a base station 120 (for example, as in a multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) system and / or where the base station employs beamforming). The term "base station" may additionally refer to multiple non-co-located physical transmission points, which may be a distributed antenna system (DAS) (a network of spatially separated antennas connected to a common source via a transmission medium) or a remote radio head (RRH) (a remote base station connected to a serving base station).

[0032] As used herein, the term "cell" may generally refer to a logical communication entity for communicating with base station 120, and may be associated with an identifier (e.g., a physical cell identifier (PCID), a virtual cell identifier (VCID)) for distinguishing neighboring cells operating via the same or different carriers. In some examples, a carrier may support multiple cells, and different cells may be configured according to different protocol types that may provide access for different types of devices (e.g., machine type communication (MTC), narrowband Internet of Things (NB-IoT), enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB), or other protocols). In some cases, the term "cell" may refer to a portion (e.g., an area) of a geographic coverage area in which the logical entity operates.

[0033] Satellites 110 may be used to locate mobile device 105 in one or more ways. For example, satellites 110 (also referred to as space vehicles (SVs)) may be part of a global navigation satellite system (GNSS), such as a global positioning system (GPS), GLONASS, Galileo, or BeiDou. Positioning using RF signals from GNSS satellites may include measuring multiple GNSS signals at a GNSS receiver of mobile device 105 to perform code-based and / or carrier-based positioning, which may be highly accurate. Additionally or alternatively, satellites 110 may be used for non-terrestrial network (NTN) based positioning, where satellites 110 may be functionally operable as a TRP (or multiple TPs) of a network (e.g., an LTE and / or NR network) and may be communicatively coupled with network 170. Specifically, reference signals (e.g., PRS) sent by satellites 110 for NTN based positioning may be similar to those sent by base station 120 and may be coordinated by location server 160. In some embodiments, satellites 110 used for NTN based positioning may be different from those used for GNSS based positioning.

[0034] The location server 160 may include a server and / or other computing device configured to determine an estimated location of the mobile device 105 and / or provide data (e.g., “assistance data”) to the mobile device 105 to facilitate location measurement and / or location determination by the mobile device 105. According to some embodiments, the location server 160 may include a Home Secure User Plane Location (SUPL) Location Platform (H-SLP), which may support the SUPL User Plane (UP) positioning solution defined by the Open Mobile Alliance (OMA), and may support location services for the mobile device 105 based on subscription information for the mobile device 105 stored in the location server 160. In some embodiments, the location server 160 may include a Discovery SLP (D-SLP) or an Emergency SLP (E-SLP). The location server 160 may also include an Enhanced Serving Mobile Location Center (E-SMLC), which uses a Control Plane (CP) positioning solution to support positioning of the mobile device 105 for LTE radio access of the mobile device 105. The location server 160 may also include a location management function (LMF) that supports positioning of the mobile device 105 using a control plane (CP) positioning solution for NR or LTE radio access of the mobile device 105.

[0035] In the CP positioning solution, from the perspective of the network 170, the signaling for controlling and managing the positioning of the mobile device 105 can use existing network interfaces and protocols and be exchanged as signaling between the elements of the network 170 and with the mobile device 105. In the UP positioning solution, from the perspective of the network 170, the signaling for controlling and managing the positioning of the mobile device 105 can be exchanged between the location server 160 and the mobile device 105 as data (e.g., data transmitted using the Internet Protocol (IP) and / or the Transmission Control Protocol (TCP)).

[0036] As previously mentioned (and discussed in more detail below), the estimated position of the mobile device 105 can be based on measurements of RF signals transmitted from and / or received by the mobile device 105. Specifically, these measurements can provide information about the relative distances and / or angles of the mobile device 105 and one or more components in the positioning system 100 (e.g., GNSS satellites 110, APs 130, base stations 120). The estimated position of the mobile device 105 can be estimated geometrically (e.g., using multi-angle measurements and / or multilateration) based on the distance and / or angle measurements along with the known positions of the one or more components.

[0037] Although ground components such as AP 130 and base station 120 may be fixed, embodiments are not limited in this regard. Mobile components may be used. For example, in some embodiments, the location of mobile device 105 may be estimated based at least in part on measurements of RF signals 140 communicated between mobile device 105 and one or more other mobile devices 145 (the one or more other mobile devices may be mobile or fixed). As illustrated, the other mobile devices may include, for example, mobile phone 145-1, vehicle 145-2, static communication / positioning device 145-3, or other static and / or mobile devices capable of providing wireless signals for positioning mobile device 105, or combinations thereof. Wireless signals from mobile device 145 for positioning mobile device 105 may include using, for example, (including Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE)), IEEE 802.11x (e.g. ), ultra-wideband (UWB), IEEE 802.15x, or a combination thereof. The mobile device 145 may additionally or alternatively use non-RF wireless signals for positioning of the mobile device 105, such as infrared signals or other optical technologies.

[0038] Mobile devices 145 may include other mobile devices that are communicatively coupled to a cellular or other mobile network (e.g., network 170). When one or more other mobile devices 145 are used in the positioning determination of a particular mobile device 105, the mobile device 105 whose positioning is to be determined may be referred to as a "target mobile device" and each of the other mobile devices 145 used may be referred to as an "anchor mobile device". (In cellular / mobile broadband networks, the terms "anchor UE" and "target UE" may be used.) In order to make a positioning determination for a target mobile device, the corresponding positioning of the one or more anchor mobile devices may be known and / or determined jointly with the target mobile device. Direct communication between one or more other mobile devices 145 and mobile device 105 may include sidelinks and / or similar device-to-device (D2D) communication technologies. The sidelink defined by 3GPP is a form of D2D communication under cellular-based LTE and NR standards. UWB may be one such technology by which it can use measurements from one or more anchor devices (e.g., mobile devices 145) to facilitate the positioning of a target device (e.g., mobile device 105).

[0039] According to some embodiments, such as when the mobile device 105 includes and / or is incorporated into a vehicle, a form of D2D communication used by the mobile device 105 may include vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communication. V2X is a communication standard for vehicles to exchange information about the traffic environment with related entities. V2X may include vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) communication between vehicles with V2X capabilities, vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I) communication between vehicles and infrastructure-based equipment (commonly referred to as roadside units (RSUs)), vehicle-to-person (V2P) communication between vehicles and nearby people (pedestrians, cyclists and other road users), etc. In addition, V2X can use any of a variety of wireless RF communication technologies. For example, cellular V2X (CV2X) is a form of V2X that uses cellular-based communications in a direct communication mode defined by 3GPP, such as LTE (4G), NR (5G) and / or other cellular technologies. Figure 1The mobile device 105 illustrated in the figure may correspond to a component or device on a vehicle, RSU, or other V2X entity used to communicate V2X messages. In an embodiment in which V2X is used, the static communication / positioning device 145-3 (which may correspond to an RSU) and / or the vehicle 145-2 may therefore communicate with the mobile device 105 and may be used to determine the location of the mobile device 105 using techniques similar to those used by the base station 120 and / or AP 130 (e.g., using multi-angle and / or multilateration positioning). It may also be noted that according to some embodiments, the mobile device 145 (which may include a V2X device), the base station 120, and / or the AP 130 may be used together (e.g., in a WWAN positioning solution) to determine the location of the mobile device 105.

[0040] The estimated position of mobile device 105 may be used in various applications, such as to assist a user of mobile device 105 with direction finding or navigation or to assist another user (e.g., associated with external client 180) in locating mobile device 105. "Position" is also referred to herein as "position estimate," "estimated position," "position," "position estimation," "position determination," "estimated position," "position determination," or "determination." The process of determining a position may be referred to as "positioning," "position determination," "position determination," or the like. The position of mobile device 105 may include an absolute position of mobile device 105 (e.g., latitude and longitude, and possibly altitude) or a relative position of mobile device 105 (e.g., a position expressed as a distance north or south, east or west, and possibly above or below some other known fixed location (including, for example, the location of base station 120 or AP 130) or some other location (such as the location of mobile device 105 at some known previous time, or the location of mobile device 145 (e.g., another mobile device) at some known previous time). The location may be specified as a geodetic location including coordinates that may be absolute (e.g., latitude, longitude, and optionally altitude), relative (e.g., relative to some known absolute location), or local (e.g., X, Y, and optionally Z coordinates according to a coordinate system defined relative to a local area, such as a factory, warehouse, college campus, shopping mall, stadium, or convention center). The location may alternatively be a city location, and may then include one or more of a street address (e.g., including a country, state, county, city, road and / or street name or label, and / or road or street number) and / or a label or name of a place, a building, a portion of a building, a floor of a building, and / or a room within a building, etc. The location may also include an uncertainty or error indication, such as a horizontal and likely vertical distance that the location is expected to have error, or an indication of an area or volume (e.g., a circle or ellipse) within which the mobile device 105 is expected to be located with a certain confidence level (e.g., 95% confidence).

[0041] The external client 180 may be a web server or remote application that may have some association with the mobile device 105 (e.g., may be accessed by a user of the mobile device 105), or may be a server, application, or computer system that provides location services to some other user or users, which may include obtaining and providing the location of the mobile device 105 (e.g., to enable services such as friend or relative locating or child or pet location). Additionally or alternatively, the external client 180 may obtain the location of the mobile device 105 and provide it to emergency service providers, government agencies, etc.

[0042] Figure 2 A diagram showing a 5G NR positioning system 200 is shown, illustrating a positioning system implementing 5G NR (which may correspond to Figure 1 5G NR positioning system 200 may be configured to determine the location of user equipment (UE) 205 using access nodes to implement one or more positioning methods, and the access nodes may include NR Node B (gNB) 210-1 and 210-2 (collectively referred to as gNB 210 in this document), ng-eNB 214, and / or WLAN 216. Figure 2 The UE 205 may correspond to Figure 1 ) The gNB 210 and / or ng-eNB 214 may correspond to base stations described elsewhere herein, and the WLAN 216 may correspond to one or more access points described elsewhere herein. Optionally, the 5G NR positioning system 200 may also be configured to determine the location of the UE 205 by using the LMF 220 (which may correspond to a location server described elsewhere herein) to implement one or more positioning methods. Here, the 5G NR positioning system 200 includes the UE 205 and components of a 5G NR network, including a next generation (NG) radio access network (RAN) (NG-RAN) 235 and a 5G core network (5G CN) 240. A 5G network may also be referred to as an NR network; the NG-RAN 235 may be referred to as a 5G RAN or an NR RAN; and the 5G CN 240 may be referred to as an NG core network.

[0043] The 5G NR positioning system 200 may also utilize information from satellites 207. As previously indicated, the satellites 207 may include GNSS satellites from a GNSS system such as the Global Positioning System (GPS) or a similar system such as GLONASS, Galileo, BeiDou, Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS). Additionally or alternatively, the satellites 207 may include NTN satellites that may be communicatively coupled with the LMF 220 and operable to serve as TRPs (or TPs) in the NG-RAN 235. Thus, the satellites 207 may communicate with one or more gNBs 210.

[0044] It should be noted that Figure 2 Only generalized illustrations of various components are provided, any or all of which may be utilized as appropriate, and each component may be repeated or omitted as desired. Specifically, although only one UE 205 is illustrated, it should be understood that many UEs (e.g., hundreds, thousands, millions, etc.) may utilize the 5G NR positioning system 200. Similarly, the 5G NR positioning system 200 may include a larger (or smaller) number of GNSS satellites 207, gNB 210, ng-eNB 214, wireless local area network (WLAN) 216, access and mobility management function (AMF) 215, external client 230, and / or other components. The illustrated connections connecting the various components in the 5G NR positioning system 200 include data and signaling connections, which may include additional (intermediate) components, direct or indirect physical and / or wireless connections, and / or additional networks. In addition, the components may be rearranged, combined, separated, replaced, and / or omitted depending on the desired functionality.

[0045] UE 205 may include and / or be referred to as a device, a mobile device, a wireless device, a mobile terminal, a terminal, a mobile station (MS), a terminal (SET) enabled with secure user plane location (SUPL), or some other name. In addition, UE 205 may correspond to a cellular phone, a smart phone, a laptop computer, a tablet device, a personal data assistant (PDA), a navigation device, an Internet of Things (IoT) device, or some other portable or mobile device. Typically, although not necessarily, UE 205 may support the use of one or more radio access technologies (RATs) such as GSM, CDMA, W-CDMA, LTE, High Rate Packet Data (HRPD), IEEE802.11 Bluetooth, Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX TM), 5G NR (e.g., using NG-RAN 235 and 5GCN 240), etc. UE 205 may also support wireless communications using WLAN 216, which (similar to one or more RATs as described elsewhere herein) may connect to other networks, such as the Internet. Using one or more of these RATs may allow UE 205 (e.g., via Figure 2 Elements of the 5G CN 240 not shown in the figure may communicate with the external client 230 via the Gateway Mobile Location Center (GMLC) 225) and / or allow the external client 230 to receive location information about the UE 205 (e.g., via the GMLC 225). Figure 2 The external client 230 may correspond to an external client as implemented in a 5G NR network or communicatively coupled with a 5G NR network.

[0046] UE 205 may include a single entity or may include multiple entities, such as in a personal area network in which a user may employ audio, video, and / or data I / O devices, and / or body sensors and separate wired or wireless modems. The estimate of the location of UE 205 may be referred to as location, location estimate, location determination, determination, orientation, orientation estimate, or orientation determination, and may be geodetic, thereby providing location coordinates (e.g., latitude and longitude) about UE 205, which may or may not include an altitude component (e.g., height above sea level; height above or depth below ground level, floor level, or basement level). Alternatively, the location of UE 205 may be represented as a municipal location (e.g., a postal address or a designation of a point or small area in a building (such as a specific room or floor)). The location of UE 205 may also be represented as an area or volume (geodetically or municipally defined) within which UE 205 is expected to be located with a certain probability or confidence level (e.g., 67%, 95%, etc.). The position of the UE 205 may also be a relative position, including, for example, a distance and direction or relative X, Y (and Z) coordinates defined relative to some origin at a known location, which may be defined geodetically, in municipal form, or with reference to a point, area, or volume indicated on a map, floor plan, or building plan. In the description contained herein, the use of the term "position" may include any of these variations unless otherwise indicated. When calculating the position of the UE, local X, Y, and possibly Z coordinates are typically solved, and then the local coordinates are converted to absolute coordinates (e.g., with respect to latitude, longitude, and altitude above or below mean sea level) if necessary.

[0047] Figure 2The base stations in the NG-RAN 235 shown in FIG. 1 may correspond to base stations described elsewhere herein and may include gNBs 210. Pairs of gNBs 210 in the NG-RAN 235 may be connected to each other (e.g., as shown in FIG. 1 ). Figure 2 The communication interface between the base stations (gNB 210 and / or ng-eNB 214) may be referred to as an Xn interface 237. Access to the 5G network is provided to the UE 205 via wireless communication between the UE 205 and one or more gNBs 210, which may use 5G NR to provide wireless communication access to the 5G CN 240 on behalf of the UE 205. The wireless interface between the base station (gNB 210 and / or ng-eNB 214) and the UE 205 may be referred to as an Uu interface 239. 5G NR radio access may also be referred to as NR radio access or 5G radio access. Figure 2 , it is assumed that the serving gNB for UE 205 is gNB 210-1, but other gNBs (e.g., gNB 210-2) may act as serving gNBs if UE 205 moves to another location, or may act as secondary gNBs to provide additional throughput and bandwidth to UE 205.

[0048] Figure 2 The base stations in the NG-RAN 235 shown in the figure may additionally or alternatively include a next generation evolved Node B (also referred to as ng-eNB) 214. The ng-eNB 214 may be connected to one or more gNBs 210 in the NG-RAN 235—e.g., directly or indirectly via other gNBs 210 and / or other ng-eNBs. The ng-eNB 214 may provide LTE radio access and / or evolved LTE (eLTE) radio access to the UE 205. Figure 2Some of the gNBs 210 (e.g., gNB 210-2) and / or ng-eNBs 214 in the 5G CN 240 may be configured to function as positioning-only beacons that may transmit signals (e.g., positioning reference signals (PRS)) and / or may broadcast assistance data to assist in positioning the UE 205, but may not receive signals from the UE 205 or from other UEs. Some of the gNBs 210 (e.g., gNB 210-2 and / or another gNB not shown) and / or ng-eNBs 214 may be configured to function as detection-only nodes that may scan for signals containing, for example, PRS data, assistance data, or other location data. Such detection-only nodes may not transmit signals or data to the UE, but may transmit signals or data (relating to, for example, PRS, assistance data, or other location data) to other network entities (e.g., one or more components of the 5G CN 240, an external client 230, or a controller), which may receive and store the data or use the data to locate at least the UE 205. Note that although in Figure 2 Only one ng-eNB 214 is shown in the figure, but some embodiments may include multiple ng-eNBs 214. Base stations (e.g., gNB 210 and / or ng-eNB 214) may communicate directly with each other via an Xn communication interface. Additionally or alternatively, the base station may communicate directly or indirectly with other components of the 5G NR positioning system 200 (such as LMF 220 and AMF 215).

[0049] The 5G NR positioning system 200 may also include one or more WLANs 216 that may be connected to a non-3GPP interworking function (N3IWF) 250 in the 5G CN 240 (e.g., in the case of an untrusted WLAN 216). For example, the WLAN 216 may support IEEE 802.11 Wi-Fi access for the UE 205 and may include one or more Wi-Fi APs (e.g., access points as described elsewhere herein). Here, the N3IWF 250 may be connected to other elements in the 5G CN 240, such as the AMF 215. In some embodiments, the WLAN 216 may support another RAT, such as Bluetooth. The N3IWF 250 may provide support for secure access of the UE 205 to other elements in the 5GCN 240 and / or may support interworking of one or more protocols used by the WLAN 216 and the UE 205 with one or more protocols used by other elements of the 5G CN 240 (such as the AMF 215). For example, the N3IWF 250 may support: IPSec tunnel establishment with the UE 205, termination of the IKEv2 / IPSec protocol with the UE 205, termination of the N2 and N3 interfaces with the 5G CN 240 for the control plane and the user plane, respectively, and relay of uplink (UL) and downlink (DL) control plane non-access stratum (NAS) signaling across the N1 interface between the UE 205 and the AMF 215. In some other embodiments, the WLAN 216 may be directly connected to elements in the 5G CN 240 (e.g., Figure 2 215) and not via the N3IWF 250. For example, a direct connection of the WLAN 216 to the 5GCN 240 may occur when the WLAN 216 is a trusted WLAN for the 5GCN 240 and may use a trusted WLAN interworking function (TWIF) ( Figure 2 (not shown). Note that although Figure 2 Only one WLAN 216 is shown in FIG. 2 , but some embodiments may include multiple WLANs 216 .

[0050] The access node may include any of a variety of network entities that enable communication between the UE 205 and the AMF 215. As mentioned, this may include a gNB 210, an ng-eNB 214, a WLAN 216, and / or other types of cellular base stations. However, an access node that provides the functionality described herein may additionally or alternatively include a cellular network entity that enables communication with the UE 205. Figure 2An entity that communicates with any of the various RATs not illustrated in the specification (which may include non-cellular technologies). Thus, as used in the embodiments described below, the term "access node" may include, but is not necessarily limited to, a gNB 210, an ng-eNB 214, or a WLAN 216.

[0051] In some embodiments, an access node (such as a gNB 210, ng-eNB 214, and / or WLAN 216) (alone or in combination with other components of the 5G NR positioning system 200) may be configured to: in response to receiving a request for location information from LMF 220, obtain a location measurement for an uplink (UL) signal received from UE 205) and / or obtain from UE 205 a DL location measurement obtained by UE 205 for a downlink (DL) signal received by UE 205 from one or more access nodes. As mentioned, although Figure 2 The access nodes (gNB 210, ng-eNB 214, and WLAN 216) are depicted as being configured to communicate in accordance with 5G NR, LTE, and Wi-Fi communication protocols, respectively, but access nodes configured to communicate in accordance with other communication protocols may be used, such as, for example, a Node B using a Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA) protocol for a Universal Mobile Telecommunications Service (UMTS) Terrestrial Radio Access Network (UTRAN), an eNB using an LTE protocol for an Evolved UTRAN (E-UTRAN), or an eNB using a LTE protocol for a WLAN. For example, in a 4G Evolved Packet System (EPS) that provides LTE wireless access to UE 205, the RAN may include an E-UTRAN, which may include base stations including eNBs that support LTE wireless access. The core network for the EPS may include an Evolved Packet Core (EPC). The EPS may then include the E-UTRAN plus the EPC, where Figure 2 , E-UTRAN corresponds to NG-RAN 235 and EPC corresponds to 5GCN 240. The methods and techniques described herein for obtaining the municipal location of UE 205 may be applicable to such other networks.

[0052] The gNB 210 and ng-eNB 214 may communicate with the AMF 215, which communicates with the LMF 220 for positioning functions. The AMF 215 may support the mobility of the UE 205, including cell changes and handovers of the UE 205 from an access node of a first RAT (e.g., a gNB 210, ng-eNB 214, or WLAN 216) to an access node of a second RAT. The AMF 215 may also be involved in supporting signaling connections with the UE 205 and possibly supporting data and voice bearers for the UE 205. The LMF 220 may support positioning the UE 205 using a CP positioning solution when the UE 205 accesses the NG-RAN 235 or the WLAN 216, and may support positioning procedures and methods, including UE-assisted / UE-based and / or network-based procedures / methods, such as Assisted GNSS (A-GNSS), Observed Time Difference of Arrival (OTDOA) (which may be referred to as Time Difference of Arrival (TDOA) in NR), Frequency Difference of Arrival (FDOA), Real-Time Kinematics (RTK), Precise Point Positioning (PPP), Differential GNSS (DGNSS), Enhanced Cell ID (ECID), Angle of Arrival (AoA), Angle of Departure (AoD), WLAN positioning, Round Trip Signal Propagation Delay (RTT), Multi-Cell RTT, and / or other positioning procedures and methods. The LMF 220 may also process, for example, a location service request for the UE 205 received from the AMF 215 or from the GMLC 225. The LMF 220 may be connected to the AMF 215 and / or the GMLC 225. In some embodiments, the network (such as 5GCN 240) may additionally or alternatively implement other types of location support modules, such as an evolved serving mobile location center (E-SMLC) or a SUPL location platform (SLP). Note that in some embodiments, at least a portion of the positioning functions (including determining the location of UE 205) may be performed at UE 205 (e.g., by measuring downlink PRS (DL-PRS) signals sent by wireless nodes (such as gNB 210, ng-eNB 214 and / or WLAN 216) and / or using assistance data provided to UE 205 by, for example, LMF 220).

[0053] The Gateway Mobile Location Center (GMLC) 225 may support location requests for the UE 205 received from the external client 230, and may forward such location requests to the AMF 215 for forwarding by the AMF 215 to the LMF 220. A location response (e.g., including a location estimate of the UE 205) from the LMF 220 may similarly be returned to the GMLC 225 directly or via the AMF 215, and the GMLC 225 may then return the location response (e.g., including the location estimate) to the external client 230.

[0054] A network exposure function (NEF) 245 may be included in the 5GCN 240. The NEF 245 may support secure exposure of capabilities and events regarding the 5GCN 240 and the UE 205 to the external client 230, which may therefore be referred to as an access function (AF) and may enable secure provisioning of information from the external client 230 to the 5GCN 240. The NEF 245 may connect to the AMF 215 and / or the GMLC 225 to obtain the location (e.g., municipal location) of the UE 205 and provide the location to the external client 230.

[0055] like Figure 2 As further illustrated in , LMF 220 may communicate with gNB 210 and / or with ng-eNB 214 using NR Positioning Protocol Annex (NRPPa) as defined in 3GPP Technical Specification (TS) 38.455. NRPPa messages may be passed between gNB 210 and LMF 220 and / or between ng-eNB 214 and LMF 220 via AMF 215. Figure 2 As further illustrated in 3GPP TS 37.355, the LMF 220 and the UE 205 may communicate using the LTE Positioning Protocol (LPP) as defined in 3GPP TS 37.355. Here, LPP messages may be transferred between the UE 205 and the LMF 220 via the AMF 215 and the serving gNB 210-1 or the serving ng-eNB 214 of the UE 205. For example, the LPP messages may be transferred between the LMF 220 and the AMF 215 using messages for service-based operations (e.g., based on the Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP)), and may be transferred between the AMF 215 and the UE 205 using the 5G NAS protocol. The LPP protocol may be used to support positioning of the UE 205 using UE-assisted and / or UE-based positioning methods such as A-GNSS, RTK, TDOA, multi-cell RTT, AoD, and / or ECID. The NRPPa protocol may be used to support positioning of UE 205 using network-based positioning methods such as ECID, AoA, uplink TDOA (UL-TDOA) and / or may be used by LMF 220 to obtain location-related information from gNB 210 and / or ng-eNB 214, such as parameters defining DL-PRS transmissions from gNB 210 and / or ng-eNB 214.

[0056] In the case where the UE 205 accesses the WLAN 216, the LMF 220 may use NRPPa and / or LPP to obtain the location of the UE 205 in a manner similar to that just described for the UE 205 accessing the gNB 210 or ng-eNB 214. Thus, NRPPa messages may be passed between the WLAN 216 and the LMF 220 via the AMF 215 and the N3IWF 250 to support network-based positioning of the UE 205 and / or to pass other location information from the WLAN 216 to the LMF 220. Alternatively, NRPPa messages may be passed between the N3IWF 250 and the LMF 220 via the AMF 215 to support network-based positioning of the UE 205 based on location-related information and / or location measurements that are known or accessible to the N3IWF 250 and passed from the N3IWF 250 to the LMF 220 using NRPPa. Similarly, LPP and / or LPP messages may be communicated between UE 205 and LMF 220 via AMF 215, N3IWF 250, and serving WLAN 216 of UE 205 to support UE-assisted or UE-based positioning of UE 205 by LMF 220.

[0057] In the 5G NR positioning system 200, positioning methods can be classified as "UE-assisted" or "UE-based". This may depend on where the request to determine the location of the UE 205 originates. For example, if the request originates from the UE (e.g., from an application or "app" executed by the UE), the positioning method can be classified as UE-based. On the other hand, if the request originates from an external client 230, LMF 220, or other device or service within the 5G network, the positioning method can be classified as UE-assisted (or "network-based").

[0058] With UE-assisted positioning methods, UE 205 may obtain location measurements and transmit these measurements to a location server (e.g., LMF 220) for use in computing a location estimate for UE 205. For RAT-dependent positioning methods, the location measurements may include one or more of the following for one or more access points of gNB 210, ng-eNB 214, and / or WLAN 216: received signal strength indicator (RSSI), round trip signal propagation time (RTT), reference signal received power (RSRP), reference signal received quality (RSRQ), reference signal time difference (RSTD), time of arrival (TOA), AoA, receive time-transmit time difference (Rx-Tx), differential AoA (DAoA), AoD, or timing advance (TA). Additionally or alternatively, similar measurements may be made on sidelink signals sent by other UEs, which may be used as anchor points for positioning UE 205 if the positions of these other UEs are known. The position measurements may additionally or alternatively include measurements for a RAT-independent positioning method, such as GNSS (eg, GNSS pseudoranges with respect to GNSS satellites 207 , GNSS code phase, and / or GNSS carrier phase), WLAN, and the like.

[0059] Using the UE-based positioning method, UE 205 can obtain a position measurement (e.g., which can be the same or similar to the position measurement of the UE-assisted positioning method), and the position of UE 205 can be further calculated (e.g., with the aid of auxiliary data received from a location server such as LMF 220, SLP or broadcast by gNB 210, ng-eNB 214, or WLAN 216).

[0060] Using a network-based positioning method, one or more base stations (e.g., gNB 210 and / or ng-eNB 214), one or more APs (e.g., in WLAN 216), or N3IWF 250 may obtain location measurements (e.g., measurements of RSSI, RTT, RSRP, RSRQ, AoA, or TOA) of signals sent by UE 205, and / or may receive measurements obtained by UE 205 or, in the case of N3IWF 250, by APs in WLAN 216, and may transmit these measurements to a location server (e.g., LMF 220) for use in calculating a position estimate for UE 205.

[0061] The positioning of UE 205 may also be classified as UL-based, DL-based, or DL-UL-based depending on the type of signal used for positioning. For example, if the positioning is based only on signals received at UE 205 (e.g., from a base station or other UE), the positioning may be classified as DL-based. On the other hand, if the positioning is based only on signals sent by UE 205 (which may be received by, for example, a base station or other UE), the positioning may be classified as UL-based. DL-UL-based positioning includes positioning based on signals sent and received by UE 205, such as RTT-based positioning. Sidelink (SL)-assisted positioning includes signals communicated between UE 205 and one or more other UEs. According to some embodiments, the UL, DL, or DL-UL positioning described herein may be able to use SL signaling as a supplement or replacement for SL, DL, or DL-UL signaling.

[0062] Depending on the type of positioning (e.g., UL-based, DL-based, or DL-UL-based), the type of reference signal used may be different. For example, for DL-based positioning, these signals may include PRS (e.g., DL-PRS sent by a base station or SL-PRS sent by other UEs), which may be used for TDOA measurements, AoD measurements, and RTT measurements. Other reference signals that may be used for positioning (UL, DL, or DL-UL) may include: Sounding Reference Signal (SRS), Channel State Information Reference Signal (CSI-RS), Synchronization Signal (e.g., Synchronization Signal Block (SSB) Synchronization Signal (SS)), Physical Uplink Control Channel (PUCCH), Physical Uplink Shared Channel (PUSCH), Physical Sidelink Shared Channel (PSSCH), Demodulation Reference Signal (DMRS), etc. In addition, the reference signal may be sent in a Tx beam and / or received in an Rx beam (e.g., using beamforming techniques), which may affect angle measurements such as AoD and / or AoA.

[0063] FIG. 3A to FIG. 3C 3 is a simplified illustration of a scenario in which sidelink positioning may be used to determine the position of a target UE 305 according to some embodiments. One or more anchor UEs 310 may be used to transmit and / or receive reference signals via a sidelink. As illustrated, one or more base stations 320 (Uu interface) may also be used to determine positioning. However, it will be appreciated that the signals used for positioning of the UE 305 may vary depending on the desired functionality. More specifically, some types of positioning may utilize other than, for example, FIG. 3A to FIG. 3C Signals other than RTT / TDOA illustrated in .

[0064] Figure 3AThe diagram of illustrates a configuration in which positioning of a target UE 305 may include RTT and / or TDOA measurements between the target UE 305 and three base stations 320. In this configuration, the target UE 305 may be within the coverage of a DL and / or UL signal via a Uu connection with the base station 320. Additionally, an anchor UE 310 at a known location may be used to improve the position determination of the target UE 305 by providing an additional anchor. As illustrated, ranging may be performed between the target UE 305 and the anchor UE 310 by performing RTT measurements via a sidelink connection between the target UE 305 and the anchor UE 310.

[0065] Figure 3B The diagram of illustrates a configuration in which the positioning of the target UE 305 can be only sidelink (SL only) positioning / ranging. In this configuration, the target UE 305 can perform RTT measurements via a sidelink connection between multiple anchor UEs 310. In this example, the target UE 305 may not be in the UL coverage of the base station 320, and therefore each anchor UE 310 may report RTT measurement information to the network via a Uu connection between each anchor UE 310 and the base station 320. (In the case where the UE relays information between the remote UE and the base station, the UE may be referred to as a "relay" UE.) Such a scenario may exist when the target UE 305 has a weaker transmit power than the anchor UE 310 (for example, the target UE 305 includes a wearable device, and the anchor UE includes a larger cellular phone, an IOT device, etc.). In other scenarios in which the target UE 305 is within the UL coverage of the base station 320, the target UE 305 may report the RTT measurement directly to the base station 320. In some implementations, no base station 320 may be used, in which case one of the UEs (eg, one of the anchor UEs 310 or the target UE 305 ) may receive the RTT measurement information and determine the position of the target UE 305 .

[0066] Figure 3C 305. The diagram of exemplifies a configuration in which the positioning of the target UE 305 may include the target UE 305 and the anchor UE 310 receiving a reference signal (DL-PRS) from the base station 320 and the target UE 305 transmitting a reference signal (SL-PRS) to the anchor UE 310. The positioning of the target UE may be determined based on the known positions of the base station 320 and the anchor UE 310 and the time difference between the time when the anchor UE 310 receives the reference signal from the base station 320 and the time when the anchor UE 310 receives the reference signal from the target UE 305.

[0067] Sidelink positioning (e.g. SL positioning only or Uu / SL positioning, such as FIG. 3A to FIG. 3CThe use of a resource pool (RP-P) for positioning may be utilized. The RP-P may be communicated to the UE via a sidelink configuration (e.g., using the techniques described below), and may specify a specific resource pool for sidelink reference signals in different scenarios. A resource pool includes a set of resources (e.g., frequency and time resources in an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) scheme used by 4G and 5G cellular technologies) that may be used to send RF signals via a sidelink for positioning. Each resource pool may also include a specific subcarrier spacing (SCS), a cyclic prefix (CP) type, a bandwidth (BW) (e.g., subcarriers, bandwidth portions, etc.), a time domain location (e.g., periodicity and slot offsets). The resource pool may include, for example, a Tx resource pool for "mode 1" sidelink positioning, where sidelink positioning is performed using one or more network-connected UEs, in which case the network-connected UEs may receive network-based resource allocations via a Uu interface with a base station (e.g., via downlink control information (DCI) or radio resource control (RRC)). Tx resource pools for "mode 2" sidelink positioning, where autonomous resource selection is performed by the UE in the absence of network-based resource allocation. The resource pools may also include Rx resource pools, which may be used in mode 1 or mode 2 sidelink positioning. Each RP-P configuration may be relayed via a physical sidelink control channel (PSCCH), which may retain one or more SL-PRS configurations. Each of the one or more SL-PRS configurations in the RP-P may include corresponding specific physical layer characteristics, such as the number of symbols, comb type, comb offset, number of subchannels, a certain channel size, and a starting resource block (RB). The RP-P configuration may also include sensing configuration, power control, and / or channel busy rate (CBR).

[0068] According to some embodiments, an exception RP-P may be specified and used in situations where it may not be expected or possible to perform side link positioning via an available resource pool of a non-exceptional RP-P for the side link. Such exceptions may include situations similar to those that trigger the use of an exception resource pool for communication, such as situations where there may be physical layer problems before the UE completes and initiates a connection or during the handover of the UE. Like the non-exceptional RP-P for the side link, the exception RP-P for the side link may be configured or pre-configured and may be allocated or autonomously selected by the network (e.g., used in mode 1 or mode 2 side link positioning). In addition, according to some embodiments, the exception RP-P may be pre-configured, pre-loaded and / or hard-coded into UEs for different geographic areas or regions. For example, in the case of public safety, different countries may specify specific resources for the exception RP-P. The exception RP-P may be configured via a dedicated signaling (e.g., PC5) via the Uu interface and / or configured via a system information block (SIB). In some embodiments, the exception RP-P may be broadcast during the positioning session setup phase or discovery phase of the UE. Additionally or alternatively, resource reservation techniques may be used to assign or allocate exceptional RP-Ps.

[0069] In various aspects of wireless communication networks, including positioning, communicating QCL relationships to wireless devices enables the wireless devices to efficiently determine various wireless characteristics. Specifically, the QCL relationship indicates whether two signals (or functional channels) share common large-scale wireless properties (e.g., average delay, delay spread, Doppler shift, Doppler spread) and / or the same RX spatial filter. Two signals that share a QCL relationship are described as "QCL". In cellular networks (e.g., 5G networks), a Transmit Configuration Indication (TCI) may be used to indicate a QCL relationship.

[0070] The embodiments herein implement multi-anchor SLQCL (which may be referred to as "mSL-QCL") that may be utilized in multi-anchor SL positioning and / or RF sensing scenarios. Specifically, when two or more signals (or functional channels) transmitted by two or more SL anchors (on two or more different links) and received at a receiving UE share common large-scale wireless properties (e.g., average delay, delay spread, Doppler shift, Doppler spread, etc.) and / or the same RX spatial filter, the mSL-QCL may be transmitted to the receiving UE (e.g., for performing RF sensing, or, as previously indicated, to a target UE for positioning). Providing mSL-QCL information to a receiving UE in this manner can help implement many features, including enhanced selection of TRP for SL-based RF fingerprint positioning (RFFP), SL-based RF sensing design, SL-based coordinated sensing, SL CoMP, SL interference management, multi-SL anchor beam management, etc. As described in more detail below, the mSL-QCL can be communicated from the base SL anchor to the receiving UE via the modified TCI, which can be helpful when the receiving UE is out of coverage and cannot receive this information from the cellular base station. Even so, some embodiments may also provide that the base station (e.g., gNB) communicates the mSL-QCL to the receiving UE.

[0071] Figure 4 is a diagram illustrating a scenario in which mSL-QCL may be utilized. In this example, it is desirable to locate a target UE 405 based at least in part on SL reference signals 410 communicated from multiple SL anchor points (collectively referred to as SL anchor points 420) via SL (PC5 links). These reference signals may be used, for example, for positioning related measurements (such as RTT, TDOA, etc.).

[0072] In this example, the target UE 405 may select four SL anchor points 420 as anchor points for positioning. Because greater spatial diversity among the anchor points may lead to better positioning accuracy, the target UE 405 may preferably select a SL anchor point 420 from each of the anchor point group 430-1 and the anchor point group 430-2 (where the SL anchor points from each group are similarly positioned spatially relative to the target UE 405). (Ultimately, as Figure 4 As shown, the target UE 405 may decide to utilize the SL reference signals 410 from the SL anchor points 420-1, 420-5, 420-6, and 420-8.

[0073] According to an embodiment, the mSL-QCL may be provided to the target UE 405 to allow the target UE 405 to make a selection without probing all SL anchor points 420. For example, the SL anchor point 420-1 may identify a QCL relationship with the target UE 405 (e.g., among the SL anchor points of the anchor point group 430-1) so that the target UE 405 can exclude the SL anchor points 420-2, 420-3, and 420-4. Similarly, the SL anchor point 420-6 may identify a QCL relationship with the target UE 405 (e.g., among the SL anchor points of the anchor point group 430-2) so that the target UE 405 can exclude the SL anchor point 420-7 as a positioning anchor point.

[0074] According to an embodiment, the mSL-QCL may include information included in the traditional QCL. This includes, for example, a common average delay, delay spread, Doppler shift, Doppler spread, and / or RX spatial filters between the signals of the QCL. The receiving UE (e.g., the target UE 405) may rely on the mSL-QCL information to perform channel estimation and beam operations for different PHY channels and symbols. In addition, the mSL-QCL may support the QCL types utilized in the currently applicable 3GPP specifications, thereby indicating which signal aspects are shared between the signals of the QCL. This includes QCL type A (average delay, delay spread, Doppler shift, Doppler spread), QCL type B (Doppler shift, Doppler spread), QCL type C (average delay, Doppler shift), and QCL type D (spatial RX relationship).

[0075] It may be noted that the various embodiments are not limited to positioning a target UE. As previously described, for example, when performing RF sensing, mSL-QCL may be utilized. In such cases, a receiving UE may receive signals in a multi-static RF sensing configuration in which multiple anchor UEs transmit reference signals. Reflections of these signals from one or more objects may be measured before being received by the receiving UE for detection and / or positioning of the one or more objects. The mSL-QCL as described herein may be used by a receiving UE to determine a QCL correlation characterized by a reference signal.

[0076] According to an embodiment, TCI may be used to communicate mSL-QCL to a receiving UE. As described above, TCI is traditionally used by a base station to indicate the QCL relationship of a physical (PHY) channel and / or a reference signal to a UE. The TCI may include a table of TCI state IDs associated with one or more reference signals and QCL types, so that the TCI state ID may be referenced later relative to a signal to indicate the QCL reference type of the signal. For example, TCI state ID "1" (e.g., the first entry in a table included in the TCI) may indicate SSB-1 as a first downlink reference signal with QCL type A and CSI-RS-1 as a second downlink reference signal with QCL type D. For signals with this QCL relationship that are sent later, the base station may indicate the QCL relationship to the UE by referencing TCI state ID 1. In traditional TCI, the UE is updated with the TCI through RRC configuration, and changes in the TCI may be signaled through medium access control-control element (MAC-CE) signaling and / or DCI signaling. According to an embodiment, the TCI conveying the mSL-QCL may be provided in a similar manner, however it may be provided by a "base" SL anchor point that determines the QCL relationship and relays this to the receiving UE.

[0077] Figure 5 is a diagram illustrating a simple scenario in which mSL-QCL is provided to a receiving UE 510 by a base SL anchor point 520 via a first SL link 515. The mSL-QCL indicates a QCL relationship between a first reference signal / antenna port transmitted by the base SL anchor point 520 via the first SL link 515 and a second reference signal / antenna port transmitted by the SL anchor point 530 via a second SL link 535. The base anchor point 520 and the SL anchor point 530 may communicate via a 1 / 3SL link 540 to determine the QCL relationship between the first and second reference signals / antenna ports. Depending on the desired functionality, the first and second reference signals / antenna ports may include SL-SSB, SL-CSI-RS, SL-PRS, PSSCH, PSCCH, PSFCH, etc. In addition, the basic concept can be extended to multiple UEs and corresponding RS / antenna ports.

[0078] In order to allow TCI to convey mSL-QCL, some modifications may be made to the current TCI structure. For example, some embodiments may implement an extended TCI state design or "mSL-TCI" (which may be defined as "mSL-TCI state" in the relevant 3GPP specifications), where the extended TCI state includes information about mSL-QCL. The TCI state defined in this design may include a range of TCI state IDs ("tci-StateId") for indicating multi-side link QCL relationships. In addition, the QCL information data structure ("QCL-Info") may include information similar to the existing QCL information data structure, but may also include an explicit indication / identification of the base SL anchor point. Additionally or alternatively, the reference signal indication ("referenceSignal") in the current TCI may be modified to include an indication / identification of the origin (Tx point) of the reference signal. In some embodiments, the indication may include an SL-ID (e.g., L2 identifier of the SL anchor point, SL-RNTI, RNTI, SL cell ID), which may be accompanied by an indication of the reference signal type (e.g., SSB, CSI-RS, SSB index, etc.).

[0079] Figure 6 6 is a call flow diagram illustrating an example method 600 for communicating an mSL-QCL from a base device 610 to a receiving UE 620 according to one embodiment. As previously described, the base device may include a base SL anchor or a base station (e.g., if the receiving UE 620 is connected to a network). In the method 600, the base device 610 may provide the receiving UE 620 with an mSL TCI (e.g., a modified TCI with a multi-anchor TCI as previously discussed) as indicated by arrow 630. In the mSL TCI, the base device 610 may configure the receiving UE 620 with a list of N mSL TCI states. In some embodiments, this may be provided via RRC communication, such as as part of an RRCReconfigurationSidelink message. As shown by arrow 640, the receiving UE 620 may respond by providing a confirmation or acknowledgement message (ACK), thereby indicating to the base device 610 that the receiving UE 620 has been successfully configured with the mSL TCI.

[0080] As indicated by arrow 650, the base device 610 may later provide a filter of previously defined mSL TCI states to the receiving UE 620. Here (e.g., similar to a conventional TCI), the base device 610 may identify a subset of mSLTCIs that may be used for a given application or time period (e.g., a set of L mSL TCI states within a list of N mSL TCI states). According to some embodiments, this information may be conveyed from the base device 610 to the receiving UE 620 via a MAC-CE. In addition, as indicated by arrow 660, the base device 610 may use SL control information (SCI) to select and / or indicate a change of mSL TCI states (e.g., from the set of L mSL TCI states conveyed in the message indicated by arrow 650).

[0081] Figure 7 is a flow chart of a method 700 of configuring a receiving UE for mSL-QCL information according to one embodiment. Figure 7 The functionality illustrated in one or more blocks shown in the figure may be performed by hardware and / or software components of a base device, which may include a base SL anchor UE or base station, as described herein. Fig. 9 Example components of a UE are provided, and the following description is relative to Fig.10 Example components of a base station are provided.

[0082] At block 710, functionality includes determining, at a base device, a QCL relationship between a first wireless reference signal transmitted by a first SL anchor point and a second wireless reference signal transmitted by a second SL anchor point, wherein: the first SL anchor point and the second SL anchor point include UEs that are separated from a receiving UE and may have a known location, and the first wireless reference signal and the second wireless reference signal are transmitted for positioning of the receiving UE, performing RF sensing, or both. Here, the functionality may reflect Figure 5 , SL anchor point, and receiving UE. In such a case, the base device includes a first SL anchor point (which may correspond to Figure 5520 in the base SL anchor point). In such embodiments, determining the QCL relationship between the first wireless reference signal and the second wireless reference signal may include the first SL anchor point communicating with the second SL anchor point via a SL link. As previously indicated, this may include using an SL measurement configuration report (e.g., to determine the physical relationship / proximity between the first SL anchor point and the second SL anchor point). For example, if the first SL anchor point and the second SL anchor point are determined to be close, the spatial QCL relationship between the first signal and the second signal (e.g., QCL type D) may be determined. Alternatively, the base device may include a base station of a wireless communication network. In such embodiments, the determination made at box 710 is made by the base station based on information obtained from each SL anchor point or information obtained by one SL anchor point and relayed to the base station / wireless communication network. According to some embodiments, the first SL anchor point and the second SL anchor point may have known positions, which may include an absolute position in a global coordinate system, a position in a relative coordinate system, and / or a position relative to an object having a known position, etc. According to some embodiments, the positions of the first SL anchor point and the second SL anchor point may be determined together with respect to the receiving UE (e.g., in the same positioning session).

[0083] As previously indicated, the reference signal may include any of various types of signals that can be used for positioning and / or RF sensing performed using a receiving UE. Thus, according to some embodiments, the first wireless reference signal, the second wireless reference signal, or both include a SL synchronization signal block (SL-SSB), a SL channel state information reference signal (SL-CSI-RS), a SL positioning reference signal (SL-PRS), a physical sidelink shared channel (PSSCH), a physical sidelink control channel (PSCCH), or a physical sidelink feedback channel (PSFCH), or a combination thereof.

[0084] For embodiments in which the base device comprises a UE, the means for performing the functionality at block 710 may include a bus 905, a processor 910, a DSP 920, a wireless communication interface 930, a memory 960, a GNSS receiver 980, and / or other components of the UE, such as Fig. 9 For embodiments in which the base device includes a base station, the means for performing the functionality at block 710 may include a bus 1005, a processor 1010, a DSP 1020, a wireless communication interface 1030, a memory 1060, and / or other components of the UE, such as Fig.10 exemplified in .

[0085] At box 720, functionality includes wirelessly transmitting mSL-QCL information from a base device to a receiving UE, wherein the mSL-QCL information indicates a QCL relationship between a first wireless reference signal and a second wireless reference signal. As previously described, the QCL relationship can result in efficiency at the receiving UE. As noted in previously described embodiments, the information can be included in the TCI (e.g., which can be modified as indicated herein to support mSL-QCL). Thus, according to some embodiments of method 700, wirelessly transmitting the mSL-QCL information can include including the mSL-QCL information in the TCI. In some embodiments, the TCI can include an mSLTCI, wherein an mSL-specific TCI state is used, including an identification of a first SL anchor point, or including an identification of the origin of the reference signal, or a combination thereof.

[0086] As described elsewhere herein, different layers / message types may be used to convey mSL-QCL information. For example, according to some embodiments, wirelessly transmitting the mSL-QCL information may include including the mSL-QCL information in an RRC message. As described herein, the RRC message may include at least a portion of the mSL-QCL information, an initial list or index of mSL-TCI states, which may be referenced in one or more subsequent messages relative to certain SL signals. Additionally or alternatively, wirelessly transmitting the mSL-QCL information may include indicating a QCL relationship between a first wireless reference signal and a second wireless reference signal via an SCI (e.g., in a case where the base device is a UE) or a DCI (e.g., in a case where the base device is a base station). This indication of the QCL relationship may reference a previous list of mSL-TCI states.

[0087] For embodiments in which the base device comprises a UE, the means for performing the functionality at block 720 may include bus 905, processor 910, DSP 920, wireless communication interface 930, memory 960, GNSS receiver 980, and / or other components of the UE, such as Fig. 9 For embodiments in which the base device includes a base station, the means for performing the functionality at block 720 may include bus 1005, processor 1010, DSP 1020, wireless communication interface 1030, memory 1060, and / or other components of the UE, such as Fig.10 exemplified in .

[0088] Figure 8 is a flow chart of a method 800 at a receiving UE for utilizing mSL-QCL information according to one embodiment. Figure 7 The functional components illustrated in one or more of the blocks shown in the figure may be executed by hardware and / or software components of the receiving UE, as described herein. Again, in the following description with respect to Fig. 9Example components of a UE are provided.

[0089] At box 810, functionality includes wirelessly receiving mSL-QCL information from a base device at a receiving UE, wherein the mSL-QCL information indicates a QCL relationship between a first wireless reference signal sent by a first SL anchor point and a second wireless reference signal sent by a second SL anchor point, and wherein the first SL anchor point and the second SL anchor point include UEs that are separated from the receiving UE and may have a known position, and the first wireless reference signal and the second wireless reference signal are sent for positioning of the receiving UE, performing radio frequency (RF) sensing, or both. As previously described, the base device may include a first SL anchor point or a base station of a wireless communication network. Similarly, the reference signal may include any of a variety of reference signals for positioning and / or RF sensing. Therefore, according to some embodiments of method 800, the first wireless reference signal, the second wireless reference signal, or both may include a SL synchronization signal block (SL-SSB), a SL channel state information reference signal (SL-CSI-RS), a SL positioning reference signal (SL-PRS), a physical side link shared channel (PSSCH), a physical side link control channel (PSCCH), or a physical side link feedback channel (PSFCH) or a combination thereof. Again, the first SL anchor point and the second SL anchor point may have known positions, which may include absolute positions in a global coordinate system, positions in a relative coordinate system, and / or positions relative to an object with a known position, etc. According to some embodiments, the positions of the first SL anchor point and the second SL anchor point may be determined together with respect to the receiving UE (e.g., in the same positioning session).

[0090] As described above, TCI may be utilized in some embodiments. Thus, according to some embodiments of method 800, wirelessly receiving mSL-QCL information includes receiving mSL-QCL information in TCI. In such embodiments, the TCI may include mSLTCI, wherein a mSL-specific TCI state is used, an identification of a first SL anchor point is included, or an identification of an origin of a reference signal is included, or a combination thereof.

[0091] Means for performing the functionality at block 810 may include bus 905, processor 910, DSP 920, wireless communication interface 930, memory 960, GNSS receiver 980, and / or other components of the UE, such as Fig. 9 exemplified in .

[0092] At block 820, the functionality includes wirelessly measuring the first wireless reference signal, the second wireless reference signal, or both based at least in part on the mSL-QCL information. Because the measurements regarding the QCL relationship may be informed, measurements may be made and / or not made based on the QCL relationship. Figure 4As described, if the QCL relationship indicates a lack of spatial diversity between the signals, some measurements may be omitted. Therefore, according to some embodiments of method 800, wirelessly measuring includes refraining from measuring the first wireless reference signal or the second wireless reference signal based at least in part on the QCL relationship between the first wireless reference signal and the second wireless reference signal. That is, other QCL relationship types may cause the receiving device to measure both signals.

[0093] Means for performing the functionality at block 820 may include bus 905, processor 910, DSP 920, wireless communication interface 930, memory 960, GNSS receiver 980, and / or other components of the UE, such as Fig. 9 exemplified in .

[0094] Fig. 9 is a block diagram of an embodiment of UE 900, which may be utilized as described herein above (e.g., in connection with the preceding figures, with respect to receiving device / UE, target UE, SL anchor, etc.). It should be noted that Fig. 9 It is intended only to provide a generalized illustration of the various components, any or all of which may be utilized as appropriate. In addition, the functionality of the UE discussed herein may be provided by Fig. 9 One or more of the illustrated hardware and / or software components execute.

[0095] UE 900 is shown as including hardware elements that may be electrically coupled via bus 905 (or may communicate in other ways as appropriate). The hardware elements may include a processor 910, which may include, but is not limited to, one or more general-purpose processors (e.g., application processors), one or more special-purpose processors (such as digital signal processor (DSP) chips, graphics acceleration processors, application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), etc.), and / or other processing structures or components. Processor 910 may include one or more processing units, which may be housed in a single integrated circuit (IC) or multiple ICs. Fig. 9 As shown, some embodiments may have a separate DSP 920, depending on the desired functionality. Position determination and / or other determinations based on wireless communication may be provided in the processor 910 and / or the wireless communication interface 930 (discussed below). The UE 900 may also include: one or more input devices 970, which may include but are not limited to one or more keyboards, touch screens, touch pads, microphones, buttons, dials, switches, etc.; and one or more output devices 915, which may include but are not limited to one or more displays (e.g., touch screens), light emitting diodes (LEDs), speakers, etc.

[0096] UE 900 may also include a wireless communication interface 930, which may include but is not limited to a modem, a network card, an infrared communication device, a wireless communication device and / or a chipset (such as Device, IEEE 802.11 device, IEEE802.15.4 device, Wi-Fi device, WiMAX device, WAN device and / or various cellular devices, etc.), which can enable UE 900 to communicate with other devices as described in the above embodiments. The wireless communication interface 930 can allow the use of the TRP of the network, for example, via eNB, gNB, ng-eNB, access point, various base stations and / or other access node types, and / or other network components, computer systems, and / or any other electronic device communicatively coupled to the TRP to communicate (e.g., send and receive) data and signaling, as described herein. Communication can be performed via one or more wireless communication antennas 932 that transmit and / or receive wireless signals 934. According to some embodiments, the wireless communication antenna 932 may include multiple discrete antennas, antenna arrays, or any combination thereof. The antenna 932 may be able to use beams (e.g., Tx beams and Rx beams) to send and receive wireless signals. Beamforming can be performed using digital and / or analog beamforming techniques using corresponding digital and / or analog circuits. Wireless communication interface 930 may include such circuitry.

[0097] Depending on the desired functionality, the wireless communication interface 930 may include separate receivers and transmitters, or any combination of transceivers, transmitters, and / or receivers to communicate with base stations (e.g., ng-eNBs and gNBs) and other terrestrial transceivers (such as wireless devices and access points). The UE 900 may communicate with different data networks, which may include various network types. For example, one such network type may include a wireless wide area network (WWAN), which may be a code division multiple access (CDMA) network, a time division multiple access (TDMA) network, a frequency division multiple access (FDMA) network, an orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA) network, a single carrier frequency division multiple access (SC-FDMA) network, a WiMAX (IEEE 802.16) network, and the like. A CDMA network may implement one or more radio access technologies (RATs), such as Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA) and so on. The IS-95, IS-2000, and / or IS-856 standards are included. A TDMA network may implement Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM), Digital Advanced Mobile Phone System (D-AMPS), or some other RAT. An OFDMA network may employ Long Term Evolution (LTE), Advanced LTE, Fifth Generation (5G) New Radio (NR), and the like. 5G NR, LTE, Advanced LTE, GSM, and WCDMA are described in documents from the Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP). Described in documents from an organization named "3rd Generation Partnership Project 2" (3GPP2). 3GPP and 3GPP2 documents are publicly available. A wireless local area network (WLAN) may also be an IEEE 802.11x network, and a wireless personal area network (WPAN) may be a Bluetooth network, IEEE 802.15x, or some other type of network. The techniques described herein may also be used for any combination of WWAN, WLAN, and / or WPAN.

[0098] UE 900 may also include sensors 940. Sensors 940 may include, but are not limited to, one or more inertial sensors and / or other sensors (e.g., accelerometers, gyroscopes, cameras, magnetometers, altimeters, microphones, proximity sensors, light sensors, barometers, etc.), some of which may be used to obtain location-related measurements and / or other information.

[0099] Embodiments of UE 900 may also include a global navigation satellite system (GNSS) receiver 980 that is capable of receiving signals 984 from one or more GNSS satellites using an antenna 982 (which may be the same as antenna 932). Positioning based on GNSS signal measurements may be used to supplement and / or incorporate the techniques described herein. GNSS receiver 980 may use conventional techniques to extract the location of UE 900 from GNSS satellites of GNSS systems such as the Global Positioning System (GPS), Galileo, GLONASS, Quasi-Zenith Satellite System (QZSS) covering Japan, IRNSS covering India, BeiDou Navigation Satellite System (BDS) covering China, etc. In addition, the GNSS receiver 980 may be used for various augmentation systems (e.g., satellite-based augmentation systems (SBAS)) that may be associated with or otherwise enabled for use with one or more global and / or regional navigation satellite systems, such as the Wide Area Augmentation System (WAAS), the European Geostationary Navigation Overlay Service (EGNOS), the Multifunction Satellite Augmentation System (MSAS), and the Geographic Augmentation Navigation System (GAGAN), among others.

[0100] It can be noted that although Fig. 9980 is illustrated as a different component, but the embodiments are not limited to this. As used herein, the term "GNSS receiver" may include hardware and / or software components configured to obtain GNSS measurements (measurements from GNSS satellites). Therefore, in some embodiments, the GNSS receiver may include (as software) a measurement engine executed by one or more processors (such as processor 910, DSP 920 and / or a processor within wireless communication interface 930 (for example, in a modem)). The GNSS receiver may also optionally include a positioning engine that can use the GNSS measurements from the measurement engine to determine the orientation of the GNSS receiver using an extended Kalman filter (EKF), weighted least squares (WLS), a hatch filter, a particle filter, etc. The positioning engine may also be executed by one or more processors such as processor 910 or DSP 920.

[0101] The UE 900 may also include and / or communicate with a memory 960. The memory 960 may include, but is not limited to, local and / or network accessible storage, disk drives, drive arrays, optical storage devices, solid-state storage devices such as random access memory (RAM) and / or read-only memory (ROM), which may be programmable, flash-updatable, etc. Such storage devices may be configured to implement any suitable data storage, including but not limited to various file systems, database structures, etc.

[0102] The memory 960 of the UE 900 may also include software elements ( Fig. 9 900 (and / or the processor 910 or DSP 920 within the UE 900). Then, in some embodiments, such codes and / or instructions can be used to configure and / or adapt a general-purpose computer (or other device) to perform one or more operations according to the described methods.

[0103] Fig.10 is a block diagram of an embodiment of a base station 1000, which may be utilized as described herein above (with respect to a base station and / or a transmit receive point (TRP)). It should be noted that Fig.10It is intended only to provide a generalized illustration of the various components, any or all of which may be utilized as appropriate. In some embodiments, the base station 1000 may correspond to a gNB, an ng-eNB, and / or (more generally) a TRP. In some cases, the base station 1000 may include multiple TRPs—for example, where each TRP is associated with a different antenna or a different antenna array (e.g., 1032) of the base station 1000. As used herein, the transmit function of the TRP may be performed using a transmit point (TP), and / or the receive function of the TRP may be performed by a receive point (RP), which may be physically separate or different from the TP. That is, the TRP may include both a TP and an RP.

[0104] In view of the open radio access network (O-RAN) and / or virtualized radio access network (V-RAN or vRAN) in 5G or higher generation networks, the functions performed by the base station 1000 in earlier generation networks (e.g., 3G and 4G) can be separated into different functional components (e.g., radio unit (RU), distributed unit (DU), and central unit (CU)) and layers (e.g., L1 / L2 / L3), which can be executed on different devices at different locations connected, for example, via fronthaul, midhaul, and backhaul connections. As described herein, a "base station" (or ng-eNB, gNB, etc.) may include any or all of these functional components. The functionality of these functional components may be provided by Fig.10 One or more of the illustrated hardware and / or software components execute.

[0105] Base station 1000 is shown as including hardware elements that may be electrically coupled via bus 1005 (or may communicate in other ways as appropriate). The hardware elements may include a processor 1010, which may include, but is not limited to, one or more general-purpose processors, one or more special-purpose processors (such as digital signal processor (DSP) chips, graphics acceleration processors, application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), etc.), and / or other processing structures or components. Fig.10 As shown, some embodiments may have a separate DSP 1020, depending on the desired functionality. According to some embodiments, wireless communication-based position determination and / or other determinations may be provided in the processor 1010 and / or the wireless communication interface 1030 (discussed below). The base station 1000 may also include one or more input devices, which may include but are not limited to a keyboard, a display, a mouse, a microphone, buttons, a dial, a switch, etc.; and one or more output devices, which may include but are not limited to a display, a light emitting diode (LED), a speaker, etc.

[0106] The base station 1000 may also include a wireless communication interface 1030, which may include but is not limited to a modem, a network card, an infrared communication device, a wireless communication device and / or a chipset (such as Devices, IEEE 802.11 devices, IEEE 802.15.4 devices, Wi-Fi devices, WiMAX devices, cellular communication facilities, etc.), etc., which can enable the base station 1000 to communicate as described herein. The wireless communication interface 1030 can permit the communication (e.g., sending and receiving) of data and signaling to UEs, other base stations / TRPs (e.g., eNBs, gNBs, and ng-eNBs) and / or other network components, computer systems, and / or other electronic devices described herein. Communication can be performed via one or more wireless communication antennas 1032 that transmit and / or receive wireless signals 1034. According to some embodiments, the one or more wireless communication antennas 1032 may include one or more antenna arrays capable of beamforming.

[0107] The base station 1000 may also include a network interface 1080, which may include support for wired communication technologies. The network interface 1080 may include a modem, a network card, a chipset, etc. The network interface 1080 may include one or more input and / or output communication interfaces to allow data to be exchanged with a network, a communication network server, a computer system, and / or any other electronic device described herein.

[0108] In many embodiments, the base station 1000 may also include a memory 1060. The memory 1060 may include, but is not limited to, local and / or network accessible storage, disk drives, drive arrays, optical storage devices, solid-state storage devices such as random access memory (RAM) and / or read-only memory (ROM), which may be programmable, flash-updatable, etc. Such storage devices may be configured to implement any suitable data storage, including, but not limited to, various file systems, database structures, and the like.

[0109] The memory 1060 of the base station 1000 may also include software components ( Fig.101000 ), these software elements include operating systems, device drivers, executable libraries and / or other code such as one or more applications, which may include computer programs provided by various embodiments, and / or may be designed to implement methods provided by other embodiments, and / or configure systems provided by other embodiments, as described herein. By way of example only, one or more procedures described with respect to the methods discussed above may be implemented as codes and / or instructions in memory 1060 that can be executed by base station 1000 (and / or processor 1010 or DSP 1020 within base station 1000). Then, in some embodiments, such codes and / or instructions may be used to configure and / or adapt a general purpose computer (or other device) to perform one or more operations according to the described methods.

[0110] It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that substantial modifications may be made according to specific requirements. For example, customized hardware may also be used, and / or specific elements may be implemented in hardware, software (including portable software, such as applets, etc.), or both. In addition, connections to other computing devices, such as network input / output devices, may be employed.

[0111] With reference to the accompanying drawings, the components that may include memory may include non-transient machine-readable media. As used herein, the terms "machine-readable medium" and "computer-readable medium" refer to any storage medium that participates in providing data that enables a machine to operate in a particular manner. In the embodiments provided above, various machine-readable media may be involved when providing instructions / codes to a processor and / or other devices for execution. Additionally or alternatively, machine-readable media may be used to store and / or carry such instructions / codes. In many specific implementations, computer-readable media are physical and / or tangible storage media. Such media may take many forms, including but not limited to non-volatile media and volatile media. Common forms of computer-readable media include, for example: magnetic and / or optical media, any other physical media with hole patterns, RAM, programmable ROM (PROM), erasable PROM (EPROM), FLASH-EPROM, any other memory chip or memory box, or any other medium that can be used for computer-readable instructions and / or codes.

[0112] The methods, systems and devices discussed herein are examples. Various embodiments may omit, replace or add various processes or components as appropriate. For example, the features described for certain embodiments may be combined in various other embodiments. The different aspects and elements of the embodiments may be combined in a similar manner. The various components of the accompanying drawings provided herein may be embodied in hardware and / or software. In addition, technology may evolve, and therefore many elements are examples, which do not limit the scope of the present disclosure to those specific examples.

[0113] It has proven convenient at times, primarily for reasons of common usage, to refer to such signals as bits, information, values, elements, symbols, characters, variables, terms, numbers, digital symbols, and the like. It will be understood, however, that all of these or similar terms are to be associated with the appropriate physical quantities and are merely convenient labels. Unless specifically stated otherwise, as will be apparent from the above discussion, it will be understood that throughout this specification, discussions utilizing terms such as "processing," "computing," "calculating," "determining," "ascertaining," "identifying," "correlating," "measuring," "performing," and the like refer to the actions or processes of a particular device such as a special-purpose computer or similar special-purpose electronic computing device. Thus, in the context of this specification, a special-purpose computer or similar special-purpose electronic computing device is capable of manipulating or transforming signals, typically represented as physical, electronic, electrical, or magnetic quantities in a memory, register, or other information storage device, a transmitting device, or a display device of the special-purpose computer or similar special-purpose electronic computing device.

[0114] As used herein, the terms "and" and "or" may include various meanings that are also intended to depend at least in part on the context in which such terms are used. Generally, "or", if used in association with a list, such as A, B, or C, is intended to mean A, B, and C (inclusive meaning is used here) as well as A, B, or C (exclusive meaning is used here). In addition, as used herein, the term "one or more" may be used to describe any feature, structure, or characteristic in the singular, or may be used to describe a certain combination of features, structures, or characteristics. However, it should be noted that this is merely an illustrative example, and the subject matter claimed is not limited to this example. In addition, the term "at least one of", if used in association with a list, such as A, B, or C, may be interpreted to mean any combination of A, B, and / or C, such as A, AB, AA, AAB, AABBCCC, etc.

[0115] Several embodiments have been described, and various modifications, alternative configurations, and equivalents may be used without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. For example, the above elements may be components of a larger system, where other rules may take precedence over the application of the various embodiments or otherwise modify the application of the various embodiments. In addition, multiple steps may be performed before, during, or after considering the above elements. Therefore, the above description does not limit the scope of the present disclosure.

[0116] In view of this description, various embodiments may include different combinations of features. Specific implementation examples are described in the following numbered clauses:

[0117] Clause 1. A method for configuring a receiving user equipment (UE) for multi-anchor sidelink quasi-co-site (mSL-QCL) information, the method comprising: determining, at a base device, a quasi-co-site (QCL) relationship between a first wireless reference signal sent by a first side link (SL) anchor point and a second wireless reference signal sent by a second SL anchor point, wherein: the first SL anchor point and the second SL anchor point include UEs separated from the receiving UE, and the first wireless reference signal and the second wireless reference signal are sent for positioning the receiving UE, performing radio frequency (RF) sensing, or both; and wirelessly transmitting the mSL-QCL information from the base device to the receiving UE, wherein the mSL-QCL information indicates the QCL relationship between the first wireless reference signal and the second wireless reference signal.

[0118] Clause 2. The method of clause 1, wherein the base device comprises the first SL anchor point.

[0119] Clause 3. The method of clause 2, wherein determining the QCL relationship between the first wireless reference signal and the second wireless reference signal comprises communicating, by the first SL anchor point, with the second SL anchor point via a SL link.

[0120] Clause 4. The method of clause 1, wherein the base device comprises a base station of a wireless communication network.

[0121] Clause 5. A method according to any one of clauses 1 to 4, wherein the first wireless reference signal, the second wireless reference signal or both include: SL synchronization signal block (SL-SSB), SL channel state information reference signal (SL-CSI-RS), SL positioning reference signal (SL-PRS), physical sidelink shared channel (PSSCH), physical sidelink control channel (PSCCH) or physical sidelink feedback channel (PSFCH) or a combination thereof.

[0122] Clause 6. The method of any of clauses 1 to 5, wherein wirelessly transmitting the mSL-QCL information comprises including the mSL-QCL information in a transmit configuration indication (TCI).

[0123] Clause 7. The method of clause 6, wherein the TCI comprises an mSL TCI, wherein: an mSL-specific TCI state is used, an identification of the first SL anchor point is included, or an identification of a reference signal origin is included, or a combination thereof.

[0124] Clause 8. A method according to any one of clauses 1 to 7, wherein wirelessly transmitting the mSL-QCL information comprises including at least a portion of the mSL-QCL information in a radio resource control (RRC) message, the portion of the mSL-QCL information comprising an initial list of mSL-TCI states.

[0125] Clause 9. A method according to any one of clauses 1 to 8, wherein wirelessly transmitting the mSL-QCL information includes indicating the QCL relationship between the first wireless reference signal and the second wireless reference signal via SL control information (SCI) or downlink control information (DCI).

[0126] Clause 10. A method for utilizing multi-anchor sidelink quasi-co-site (mSL-QCL) information at a receiving user equipment (UE), the method comprising: wirelessly receiving the mSL-QCL information from a base device at the receiving UE, wherein the mSL-QCL information indicates a quasi-co-site (QCL) relationship between a first wireless reference signal sent by a first side link (SL) anchor point and a second wireless reference signal sent by a second SL anchor point, and wherein: the first SL anchor point and the second SL anchor point include UEs separated from the receiving UE, and the first wireless reference signal and the second wireless reference signal are sent for positioning the receiving UE, performing radio frequency (RF) sensing, or both; and wirelessly measuring the first wireless reference signal, the second wireless reference signal, or both based at least in part on the mSL-QCL information.

[0127] Clause 11. The method of clause 10, wherein wirelessly measuring comprises refraining from measuring the first wireless reference signal or the second wireless reference signal based at least in part on the QCL relationship between the first wireless reference signal and the second wireless reference signal.

[0128] Clause 12. A method according to any one of clauses 10 to 11, wherein the base device comprises the first SL anchor point or a base station of the wireless communication network.

[0129] Clause 13. A method according to any one of clauses 10 to 12, wherein the first wireless reference signal, the second wireless reference signal or both include: SL synchronization signal block (SL-SSB), SL channel state information reference signal (SL-CSI-RS), SL positioning reference signal (SL-PRS), physical sidelink shared channel (PSSCH), physical sidelink control channel (PSCCH) or physical sidelink feedback channel (PSFCH) or a combination thereof.

[0130] Clause 14. The method of any of clauses 10 to 13, wherein wirelessly receiving the mSL-QCL information comprises receiving the mSL-QCL information in a transmit configuration indication (TCI).

[0131] Clause 15. The method of clause 14, wherein the TCI comprises an mSL TCI, wherein: an mSL-specific TCI state is used, an identification of the first SL anchor point is included, or an identification of a reference signal origin is included, or a combination thereof.

[0132] Item 16. A base device for configuring a receiving user equipment (UE) for multi-anchor sidelink quasi-co-site (mSL-QCL) information, the base device comprising: a transceiver; a memory; and one or more processors, the one or more processors being communicatively coupled to the transceiver and the memory, wherein the one or more processors are configured to: determine a quasi-co-site (QCL) relationship between a first wireless reference signal sent by a first side link (SL) anchor point and a second wireless reference signal sent by a second SL anchor point, wherein: the first SL anchor point and the second SL anchor point include UEs separated from the receiving UE, and send the first wireless reference signal and the second wireless reference signal for positioning the receiving UE, performing radio frequency (RF) sensing, or both; and wirelessly transmit the mSL-QCL information to the receiving UE via the transceiver, wherein the mSL-QCL information indicates the QCL relationship between the first wireless reference signal and the second wireless reference signal.

[0133] Clause 17. The base device of clause 16, wherein the base station comprises the first SL anchor point.

[0134] Clause 18. The base device of clause 17, wherein to determine the QCL relationship between the first wireless reference signal and the second wireless reference signal, the one or more processors are configured to communicate with the second SL anchor point via a SL link using the transceiver.

[0135] Clause 19. The base device of clause 16, wherein the base station comprises a base station of a wireless communication network.

[0136] Clause 20. A base device according to any one of clauses 16 to 19, wherein the first wireless reference signal, the second wireless reference signal or both include: SL synchronization signal block (SL-SSB), SL channel state information reference signal (SL-CSI-RS), SL positioning reference signal (SL-PRS), physical side link shared channel (PSSCH), physical side link control channel (PSCCH) or physical side link feedback channel (PSFCH) or a combination thereof.

[0137] Clause 21. A base device as described in any of clauses 16 to 20, wherein to wirelessly transmit the mSL-QCL information, the one or more processors are configured to include the mSL-QCL information in a transmit configuration indication (TCI).

[0138] Clause 22. A base device according to clause 21, wherein in order to include the mSL-QCL information in the TCI, the one or more processors are configured to transmit an mSL TCI, wherein an mSL-specific TCI state is used, including an identification of the first SL anchor point, or including an identification of the origin of a reference signal, or a combination thereof.

[0139] Clause 23. A base device according to any one of clauses 16 to 22, wherein in order to wirelessly transmit the mSL-QCL information, the one or more processors are configured to include at least a portion of the mSL-QCL information in a radio resource control (RRC) message, the portion of the mSL-QCL information including an initial list of mSL-TCI states.

[0140] Clause 24. A base device according to any one of clauses 16 to 23, wherein in order to wirelessly transmit the mSL-QCL information, the one or more processors are configured to indicate the QCL relationship between the first wireless reference signal and the second wireless reference signal via SL control information (SCI) or downlink control information (DCI).

[0141] Clause 25. A receiving user equipment (UE) for utilizing multi-anchor sidelink quasi-co-site (mSL-QCL) information, the receiving UE comprising: a transceiver; a memory; and one or more processors, the one or more processors being communicatively coupled to the transceiver and the memory, wherein the one or more processors are configured to: wirelessly receive the mSL-QCL information from a base device via the transceiver, wherein the mSL-QCL information indicates a quasi-co-site (QCL) relationship between a first wireless reference signal sent by a first side link (SL) anchor point and a second wireless reference signal sent by a second SL anchor point, and wherein: the first SL anchor point and the second SL anchor point comprise UEs separated from the receiving UE, and send the first wireless reference signal and the second wireless reference signal for positioning the receiving UE, performing radio frequency (RF) sensing, or both; and wirelessly measure the first wireless reference signal, the second wireless reference signal, or both by the transceiver based at least in part on the mSL-QCL information.

[0142] Clause 26. A receiving UE according to clause 25, wherein for wireless measurement, the one or more processors are configured to refrain from measuring the first wireless reference signal or the second wireless reference signal based at least in part on the QCL relationship between the first wireless reference signal and the second wireless reference signal.

[0143] Clause 27. A receiving UE as described in any of clauses 25 to 26, wherein the base device comprises the first SL anchor point or a base station of the wireless communication network.

[0144] Clause 28. A receiving UE according to any one of clauses 25 to 27, wherein the first wireless reference signal, the second wireless reference signal or both include: SL synchronization signal block (SL-SSB), SL channel state information reference signal (SL-CSI-RS), SL positioning reference signal (SL-PRS), physical sidelink shared channel (PSSCH), physical sidelink control channel (PSCCH) or physical sidelink feedback channel (PSFCH) or a combination thereof.

[0145] Clause 29. A receiving UE as described in any of clauses 25 to 28, wherein to wirelessly receive the mSL-QCL information, the one or more processors are configured to receive the mSL-QCL information in a transmit configuration indication (TCI).

[0146] Clause 30. A receiving UE according to clause 29, wherein in order to receive the mSL-QCL information in the TCI, the one or more processors are configured to receive an mSL TCI, wherein an mSL-specific TCI state is used, including an identifier of the first SL anchor point, or including an identifier of the origin of a reference signal, or a combination thereof.

[0147] Clause 31. An apparatus having means for performing the method according to any one of clauses 1 to 30.

[0148] Clause 32. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions comprising code for performing the method of any one of clauses 1 to 30.

Claims

1. A method for configuring a receiving user equipment (UE) for multi-anchor sidelink quasi co-location (mSL-QCL) information, the method comprising: A quasi co-location (QCL) relationship between a first radio reference signal transmitted by a first side link (SL) anchor point and a second radio reference signal transmitted by a second SL anchor point is determined at a base device, wherein: The first SL anchor point and the second SL anchor point include UEs separated from the receiving UE, and transmitting the first wireless reference signal and the second wireless reference signal for positioning of the receiving UE, performing radio frequency (RF) sensing, or both; and The mSL-QCL information is wirelessly transmitted from the base device to the receiving UE, wherein the mSL-QCL information indicates the QCL relationship between the first wireless reference signal and the second wireless reference signal.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the base device comprises the first SL anchor point.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein determining the QCL relationship between the first wireless reference signal and the second wireless reference signal comprises communicating, by the first SL anchor point, with the second SL anchor point via a SL link. The method of claim 1 , wherein the base device comprises a base station of a wireless communication network.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the first wireless reference signal, the second wireless reference signal, or both comprise: SL Synchronous Signal Block (SL-SSB), SL channel state information reference signal (SL-CSI-RS), SL Positioning Reference Signal (SL-PRS), Physical Sidelink Shared Channel (PSSCH), Physical Sidelink Control Channel (PSCCH), or Physical Sidelink Feedback Channel (PSFCH), or A combination of them.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein wirelessly transmitting the mSL-QCL information comprises including the mSL-QCL information in a transmit configuration indication (TCI).

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the TCI comprises an mSL TCI, wherein: Using mSL-specific TCI states, includes the identity of the first SL anchor point, or Includes identification of the origin of the reference signal, or A combination of them.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein wirelessly transmitting the mSL-QCL information comprises including at least a portion of the mSL-QCL information in a radio resource control (RRC) message, the portion of the mSL-QCL information comprising an initial list of mSL-TCI states.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein wirelessly transmitting the mSL-QCL information comprises indicating the QCL relationship between the first wireless reference signal and the second wireless reference signal via SL control information (SCI) or downlink control information (DCI).

10. A method, performed at a receiving user equipment (UE), for utilizing multi-anchor sidelink quasi co-location (mSL-QCL) information, the method comprising: The mSL-QCL information is wirelessly received at the receiving UE from a base device, wherein the mSL-QCL information indicates a quasi co-site (QCL) relationship between a first radio reference signal transmitted by a first sidelink (SL) anchor point and a second radio reference signal transmitted by a second SL anchor point, and wherein: The first SL anchor point and the second SL anchor point include UEs separated from the receiving UE, and transmitting the first wireless reference signal and the second wireless reference signal for positioning of the receiving UE, performing radio frequency (RF) sensing, or both; and The first wireless reference signal, the second wireless reference signal, or both are wirelessly measured based at least in part on the mSL-QCL information.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein wirelessly measuring comprises refraining from measuring the first wireless reference signal or the second wireless reference signal based at least in part on the QCL relationship between the first wireless reference signal and the second wireless reference signal.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the base device comprises the first SL anchor point or a base station of a wireless communication network.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the first wireless reference signal, the second wireless reference signal, or both comprise: SL Synchronous Signal Block (SL-SSB), SL channel state information reference signal (SL-CSI-RS), SL Positioning Reference Signal (SL-PRS), Physical Sidelink Shared Channel (PSSCH), Physical Sidelink Control Channel (PSCCH), or Physical Sidelink Feedback Channel (PSFCH), or A combination of them.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein wirelessly receiving the mSL-QCL information comprises receiving the mSL-QCL information in a transmit configuration indication (TCI).

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the TCI comprises an mSL TCI, wherein: Using mSL-specific TCI states, includes the identity of the first SL anchor point, or Includes identification of the origin of the reference signal, or A combination of them.

16. A base device for configuring a receiving user equipment (UE) for multi-anchor side link quasi co-location (mSL-QCL) information, the base device comprising: Transceiver; Memory; and one or more processors communicatively coupled to the transceiver and the memory, wherein the one or more processors are configured to: Determining a quasi co-location (QCL) relationship between a first radio reference signal transmitted by a first sidelink (SL) anchor point and a second radio reference signal transmitted by a second SL anchor point, wherein: The first SL anchor point and the second SL anchor point include UEs separated from the receiving UE, and transmitting the first wireless reference signal and the second wireless reference signal for positioning of the receiving UE, performing radio frequency (RF) sensing, or both; and The mSL-QCL information is wirelessly transmitted via the transceiver to the receiving UE, wherein the mSL-QCL information indicates the QCL relationship between the first wireless reference signal and the second wireless reference signal.

17. The base device of claim 16, wherein the base device comprises the first SL anchor point.

18. The base device of claim 17, wherein to determine the QCL relationship between the first wireless reference signal and the second wireless reference signal, the one or more processors are configured to communicate with the second SL anchor point via a SL link using the transceiver.

19. The base device of claim 16, wherein the base device comprises a base station of a wireless communication network.

20. The base device according to claim 16, wherein the first wireless reference signal, the second wireless reference signal, or both comprise: SL Synchronous Signal Block (SL-SSB), SL channel state information reference signal (SL-CSI-RS), SL Positioning Reference Signal (SL-PRS), Physical Sidelink Shared Channel (PSSCH), Physical Sidelink Control Channel (PSCCH), or Physical Sidelink Feedback Channel (PSFCH), or A combination of them.

21. The base device of claim 16, wherein to wirelessly transmit the mSL-QCL information, the one or more processors are configured to include the mSL-QCL information in a transmit configuration indication (TCI).

22. The base device of claim 21, wherein to include the mSL-QCL information in the TCI, the one or more processors are configured to transmit an mSL TCI, wherein: Using mSL-specific TCI states, includes the identity of the first SL anchor point, or Includes identification of the origin of the reference signal, or A combination of them.

23. The base device of claim 16, wherein in order to wirelessly transmit the mSL-QCL information, the one or more processors are configured to include at least a portion of the mSL-QCL information in a radio resource control (RRC) message, the portion of the mSL-QCL information comprising an initial list of mSL-TCI states.

24. The base device according to claim 16, wherein in order to wirelessly transmit the mSL-QCL information, the one or more processors are configured to indicate the QCL relationship between the first wireless reference signal and the second wireless reference signal via SL control information (SCI) or downlink control information (DCI).

25. A receiving user equipment (UE) for utilizing multi-anchor sidelink quasi co-location (mSL-QCL) information, the receiving UE comprising: Transceiver; Memory; and one or more processors communicatively coupled to the transceiver and the memory, wherein the one or more processors are configured to: wirelessly receiving the mSL-QCL information from a base device via the transceiver, wherein the mSL-QCL information indicates a quasi co-location (QCL) relationship between a first radio reference signal sent by a first sidelink (SL) anchor point and a second radio reference signal sent by a second SL anchor point, and wherein: The first SL anchor point and the second SL anchor point include UEs separated from the receiving UE, and transmitting the first wireless reference signal and the second wireless reference signal for positioning of the receiving UE, performing radio frequency (RF) sensing, or both; and The first wireless reference signal, the second wireless reference signal, or both are wirelessly measured by the transceiver based at least in part on the mSL-QCL information.

26. The receiving UE of claim 25, wherein, to measure wirelessly, the one or more processors are configured to refrain from measuring the first wireless reference signal or the second wireless reference signal based at least in part on the QCL relationship between the first wireless reference signal and the second wireless reference signal.

27. The receiving UE according to claim 25, wherein the base device comprises the first SL anchor point or a base station of the wireless communication network.

28. The receiving UE according to claim 25, wherein the first radio reference signal, the second radio reference signal, or both comprise: SL Synchronous Signal Block (SL-SSB), SL channel state information reference signal (SL-CSI-RS), SL Positioning Reference Signal (SL-PRS), Physical Sidelink Shared Channel (PSSCH), Physical Sidelink Control Channel (PSCCH), or Physical Sidelink Feedback Channel (PSFCH), or A combination of them.

29. The receiving UE of claim 25, wherein to wirelessly receive the mSL-QCL information, the one or more processors are configured to receive the mSL-QCL information in a transmit configuration indication (TCI).

30. The receiving UE of claim 29, wherein to receive the mSL-QCL information in the TCI, the one or more processors are configured to receive an mSL TCI, wherein: Using mSL-specific TCI states, includes the identity of the first SL anchor point, or Includes identification of the origin of the reference signal, or A combination of them.

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