Method, device and computer readable medium for communication

Abstract

The embodiment of the invention relates to a communication method, equipment and a computer readable medium. According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, a terminal device receives, from a location server, a reference signal (RS) resource configuration for a transmit and receive point (TRP). The RS resource configuration indicates a plurality of RS resource sets, the plurality of RS resource sets including partially overlapping RS resources. And the terminal equipment sends first information for determining the RS resources from the plurality of RS resource sets to network equipment associated with the TRP. The terminal device then receives the RS from the network device on the RS resource determined based on the first information.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] Embodiments of the present disclosure relate generally to the field of communications, and in particular to methods, devices, and computer-readable media for resource determination. Background Art

[0002] With the development of communication technology, accurate positioning is very important for various use cases (such as logistics and manufacturing). Various positioning methods for communication devices have been proposed not only for outdoor positioning but also for indoor positioning. In some cases, it is necessary to track the terminal device continuously in space in order to schedule data communication for the terminal device (for example, by means of cell reselection, etc.).

[0003] Positioning Reference Signal (PRS) is designed for downlink (DL) positioning of a target device. In turn, a corresponding communication resource or a group of communication resources (which may also be referred to as a PRS resource set) is allocated to the PRS for sending the PRS from at least one network device to the target device. The target device can then be positioned based on measuring the PRS. In general, PRS resources are specific to the PRS. Therefore, the manner in which the PRS resources are allocated affects the efficiency of the entire communication. Summary of the invention

[0004] In general, example embodiments of the present disclosure relate to methods, devices, and computer-readable media for reduced capability devices.

[0005] In a first aspect, a method implemented at a terminal device is provided. In the method, the terminal device receives a reference signal (RS) resource configuration for a transmit and receive point (TRP) from a location server. The RS resource configuration indicates multiple RS resource sets, and the multiple RS sets include partially overlapping RS resources. The terminal device sends first information for determining RS resources from multiple RS resource sets to a network device associated with the TRP. Then, the terminal device receives RS from the network device on the RS resources determined based on the first information.

[0006] In a second aspect, a method implemented at a network device is provided. In the method, the network device sends an RS resource configuration for a TRP to a location server. The RS resource configuration indicates multiple RS resource sets, and the multiple RS resource sets include partially overlapping RS resources. The network device receives first information for determining RS resources from multiple RS resource sets from a terminal device. Then, the network device sends an RS to the terminal device on the RS resource determined based on the first information.

[0007] In a third aspect, a method implemented at a location server is provided. In the method, the location server receives an RS resource configuration for a TRP from a network device. The RS resource configuration indicates multiple RS resource sets, and the multiple RS resource sets include partially overlapping RS resources. Then, the location server sends the RS resource configuration to a terminal device.

[0008] In a fourth aspect, a terminal device is provided, comprising a processor and a memory coupled to the processor and storing instructions thereon, wherein when the instructions are executed by the processor, the terminal device executes the method of the first aspect.

[0009] In a fifth aspect, a network device is provided, comprising a processor and a memory coupled to the processor and storing instructions thereon, wherein when the instructions are executed by the processor, the network device executes the method of the second aspect.

[0010] In a sixth aspect, a computer readable medium is provided, on which instructions are stored, which, when the instructions are executed on at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to perform the method of any one of the first to third aspects.

[0011] It should be understood that the invention summary is not intended to identify the key or essential features of the exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure, nor is it intended to be used to limit the scope of the present disclosure. Other features of the present disclosure will become readily understood through the following description. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012] Some example embodiments will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0013] Figure 1A illustrates an example environment in which some embodiments of the present disclosure may be implemented;

[0014] Figure 1B illustrates a signaling reporting path associated with a positioning procedure according to some embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0015] Figure 1C illustrates a signaling process between a network device and a location server according to some embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0016] Figure 2 illustrates a signaling process for determining RS resources according to some embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0017] Figure 3A illustrates a plurality of RS resource sets according to some embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0018] Figure 3B A flowchart for determining RS resources according to some embodiments of the present disclosure is illustrated;

[0019] Figure 4 illustrates example time gaps according to some embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0020] Figure 5 illustrates an example reporting resource according to some embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0021] Figure 6 illustrates example RS resources according to some embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0022] Figure 7 illustrates example RS resources according to some embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0023] Figure 8 A flowchart illustrating an example method implemented at a terminal device according to some embodiments of the present disclosure is illustrated;

[0024] Fig. 9 illustrates a flow chart of an example method implemented at a network device according to some embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0025] Fig.10 A flowchart illustrating an example method implemented at a location server according to some embodiments of the present disclosure; and

[0026] Fig.11 A simplified block diagram of a device suitable for implementing an example embodiment of the present disclosure is illustrated.

[0027] Throughout the drawings, the same or similar reference numerals refer to the same or similar elements. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0028] The principles of the present disclosure will now be described with reference to some embodiments. It should be understood that these embodiments are described only for illustrative purposes and to help those skilled in the art understand and implement the present disclosure without any limitation to the scope of the present disclosure. The disclosure described herein can be implemented in various ways different from the way described below.

[0029] In the following description and claims, unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this disclosure belongs.

[0030] As used herein, the term "terminal device" refers to any device with wireless or wired communication capabilities. Examples of terminal devices include, but are not limited to, user equipment (UE), personal computers, desktops, mobile phones, cellular phones, smart phones, personal digital assistants (PDAs), portable computers, tablets, wearable devices, Internet of Things (IoT) devices, ultra-reliable and low-latency communication (URLLC) devices, Internet of Everything (IoE) devices, machine type communication (MTC) devices, vehicle-mounted devices for V2X communication (where X means pedestrian, vehicle, or infrastructure / network), devices for integrated access and backhaul (IAB), small data transmission (SDT), mobility, multicast and broadcast services (MBS), positioning, dynamic / flexible dual in commercial networks The term "terminal device" may be a space-borne or airborne aircraft (including satellites and high altitude platforms (HAPs) including unmanned aerial systems (UAS)) in a non-terrestrial network (NTN), an extended reality (XR) device (including different types of reality, such as augmented reality (AR), mixed reality (MR) and virtual reality (VR)), an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) (commonly known as a drone, which is an aircraft without any human pilot), a device on a high-speed train (HST), or an image capture device such as a digital camera, a sensor, a gaming device, a music storage and playback device, or an Internet device that enables wireless or wired Internet access and browsing, etc. The "terminal device" may also have a "multicast / broadcast" feature to support public safety and critical missions, V2X applications, transparent IPv4 / IPv6 multicast delivery, IPTV, smart TV, radio services, wireless software delivery, group communication and Internet of Things applications. It may also incorporate one or more user identity modules (SIMs), referred to as multi-SIM cards. The term "terminal device" may be used interchangeably with UE, mobile station, subscriber station, mobile terminal, user terminal, wireless device or reduced capability terminal device.

[0031] As used herein, the term "network equipment" refers to equipment that is capable of providing or hosting a cell or coverage area in which a terminal device can communicate. Examples of network equipment include, but are not limited to, a Node B (Node B or NB), an evolved Node B (eNodeB or eNB), a next generation Node B (gNB), a transmit receive point (TRP), a remote radio unit (RRU), a radio head (RH), a remote radio head (RRH), an IAB node, a low power node such as a femto node, a pico node, a reconfigurable intelligent surface (RIS), a network controlled repeater, and the like.

[0032] The terminal device or network device may have artificial intelligence (AI) or machine learning capabilities. It usually includes a model that is trained from a large amount of collected data for a specific function and can be used to predict some information. The terminal or network device can operate in several frequency ranges, such as FR1 (410MHz-7125 MHz), FR2 (24.25GHz to 71GHz), 71GHz to 114GHz, and frequency bands greater than 100GHz and terahertz (THz). It can also operate on licensed / unlicensed / shared spectrum. In the multi-radio dual connectivity (MR-DC) application scenario, the terminal device may have more than one connection with the network device. The terminal device or network device can operate in full-duplex, flexible duplex, and cross-division duplex modes.

[0033] The network equipment may have the functions of network energy saving, self-organizing network (SON) / minimization of drive test (MDT). The terminal may have the function of energy saving.

[0034] The embodiments of the present disclosure may be executed in a test device, such as a signal generator, a signal analyzer, a spectrum analyzer, a network analyzer, a test terminal device, a test network device, and a channel emulator.

[0035] Embodiments of the present disclosure may be performed according to any generation of communication protocols currently known or developed in the future. Examples of communication protocols include, but are not limited to, first generation (1G), second generation (2G), 2.5G, 2.75G, third generation (3G), fourth generation (4G), 4.5G, fifth generation (5G) communication protocols, 5.5G, advanced 5G networks, or sixth generation (6G) networks.

[0036] In one embodiment, the terminal device may be connected to a first network device and a second network device. One of the first network device and the second network device may be a master node, and the other may be a slave node. The first network device and the second network device may use different radio access technologies (RATs). In one embodiment, the first network device may be a first RAT device and the second network device may be a second RAT device. In one embodiment, the first RAT device is an eNB and the second RAT device is a gNB. Information related to different RATs may be sent to the terminal device from at least one of the first network device and the second network device. In one embodiment, first information may be sent from the first network device to the terminal device, and second information may be sent from the second network device to the terminal device directly or via the first network device. In one embodiment, information related to the configuration of the terminal device configured by the second network device may be sent from the second network device via the first network device. Information related to the reconfiguration of the terminal device configured by the second network device may be sent from the second network device directly or via the first network device to the terminal device.

[0037] As used herein, the singular forms "a", "an", and "the" are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. The term "including" and its variations are to be interpreted as open-ended terms, which mean "including but not limited to". The term "based on" is to be interpreted as "based at least in part on". The terms "one embodiment" and "embodiment" are to be interpreted as "at least one embodiment". The term "another embodiment" is to be interpreted as "at least one other embodiment". The terms "first", "second", etc. may refer to different or identical objects. Other explicit and implicit definitions may be included below.

[0038] In some examples, values, processes, or devices are referred to as "best," "lowest," "highest," "minimum," "maximum," etc. It should be understood that such descriptions are intended to indicate that a selection may be made among a number of functional alternatives used, and that such a selection is not necessarily better, lesser, higher, or more preferred than other selections.

[0039] The term "circuitry" as used herein may refer to a combination of hardware circuits and / or hardware circuits and software. For example, a circuit system may be a combination of analog and / or digital hardware circuits and software / firmware. As a further example, a circuit system may be any part of a hardware processor with software, including (multiple) digital signal processors, software and (multiple) memories, which work together to enable devices such as terminal devices or network devices to perform various functions. In another example, a circuit system may be a hardware circuit and / or processor, such as a microprocessor or a part of a microprocessor, which requires software / firmware to operate, but the software may not exist when the operation does not require software. As used herein, the term circuit system also encompasses the implementation of only a hardware circuit or (multiple) processors or a part of a hardware circuit or (multiple) processors and its (or their) accompanying software and / or firmware.

[0040] In addition, in the present disclosure, RS resources include PRS resources. In some embodiments, PRS resources represent example RS resources. In some embodiments, RS resources and PRS resources can be used interchangeably without any limitation.

[0041] As mentioned above, the way of allocating PRS resources affects the efficiency of the entire communication. In one solution, the network device notifies the location server of the RS resource configuration of the TRP associated with the network device (for example, the TRP connected to the network device). The RS resource configuration indicates a set of RS resources used to locate the terminal device, and the RS resource set includes one or more RS resources. Then, the location server sends the RS resource configuration to the terminal device. In one example, the location server transmits the RS resource configuration to the terminal device. The terminal device can then know the resources used for RS transmission and use the resources indicated by the RS resource configuration to receive the RS in order to perform positioning measurements on the RS. The terminal device can also send a positioning measurement report to the location server for calculating the positioning of the terminal device. In this case, the RS resources indicated by the RS resource configuration are specific to the RS and cannot be reused for other data transmissions. In order to further enhance the positioning performance, the TRP can be configured with more than one RS resource set, each of which has different RS resources. In this way, the positioning cost relative to the communication resources increases rapidly, and these communication resources cannot be scheduled for other purposes.

[0042] An exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure proposes a mechanism for resource determination. In the mechanism, a terminal device receives an RS resource configuration for a transmit and receive point (TRP) from a location server. The RS resource configuration indicates multiple RS resource sets, which include partially overlapping RS resources from different RS resource sets. The terminal device sends first information for determining RS resources from multiple RS resource sets to a network device associated with the TRP. Then, the terminal device receives RS from the network device on the RS resources determined based on the first information.

[0043] In this way, the configuration flexibility of RS resources can be improved based on the overlapping resources and the information used to determine RS resources.

[0044] Figure 1A An example environment 100A is illustrated in which example embodiments of the present disclosure may be implemented.

[0045] Environment 100A may be part of a communication network, which includes a terminal device 110, a network device 120, a set of TRPs 120-1, 120-2, and 120-3 associated with the network device 120, and a location server 130. Without any limitation, any two devices shown in environment 100A may communicate with each other. In some embodiments, location server 130 may request auxiliary information for locating terminal device 110 from network device 120. Network device 120 may report the RS resource configuration of the TRP (e.g., TRP 120-1) associated with terminal device 110 to location server 130. Location server 130 then sends the RS resource configuration to terminal device 110. In an example, location server 130 then transmits the RS resource configuration to terminal device 110. Terminal device 110 receives RS from network device 120 (e.g., via TRP 120-1) on the RS resource indicated by the received RS resource configuration. Furthermore, the terminal device 110 may send a positioning measurement report determined based on the RS to the location server for calculating the location of the terminal device 110. In addition, the positioning algorithm used for positioning may be any algorithm for positioning that has been introduced or will be developed in the future (e.g., TOA, TDOA, AOA, etc.), which is not limited in the present disclosure. In addition, each PRS resource included in the RS resource set indicated by the RS resource configuration is associated with a spatial domain transmission filter (e.g., Figure 1A The beam shown in FIG. 1 is associated with the beam shown in FIG. 1 .

[0046] Figure 1B A signaling reporting path 100B associated with a positioning procedure according to some embodiments of the present disclosure is illustrated.

[0047] like Figure 1BAs shown in FIG, the location reporting / signaling path in the location service (LCS) architecture is illustrated. Figure 1B As shown in FIG. , UE 110 may be Figure 1A The terminal device 110 in the next generation radio access node (NG-RAN) 120 may be Figure 1A The network device 120 in the embodiment and the location management server (LMF) 130 may be Figure 1A 130 in the location server 130. The different arrows illustrate the UE measurement / location reporting path to the LMF; the gNB measurement reporting path to the LMF; and the reporting / signaling path from the LMF to the (external) LCS client (via the GMLC in this example). The UE 110 reports location measurements to the LMF using the LTE Positioning Protocol (LPP) via the serving gNB and the Access Management Function (AMF). Each gNB / TRP reports their measurements to the LMF via the AMF using the NR Positioning Protocol A (NRPPa). The LMF 130 can determine the UE location using the UE and gNB measurements and report the location to the LCS client via the GMLC.

[0048] use Figure 1B The architecture shown in may be problematic in some solutions. In Release 16, DL PRS resources are periodically configured, and there are three measurement reporting methods: periodic reporting (1 second minimum reporting interval), triggered reporting (for enhanced cell identification (ECID) only), and immediate reporting (ranging from 1 second to 1280 seconds between the reception of RequestLocationInformation and the transmission of ProvideLocationInformation). In Release 17, the target latency requirement is less than 100ms; for some Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) use cases, latency of the order of 10ms is expected. Three types of enhanced DL PRS transmission and reception are supported: non-periodic transmission and reception (triggered by downlink control information DCI), semi-persistent transmission and reception (triggered by medium access control MAC control element CE), and on-demand transmission and reception (initiated by UE or network equipment).

[0049] However, some location use cases require very low latency when providing the location of a mobile device to external clients. Use cases associated with very high positioning accuracy may also have very low latency requirements due to the rapid deterioration of positioning accuracy for moving objects. Figure 1B The architecture shown in can decompose the end-to-end delay of positioning measurement report into the following parts: ●T UE,latency: UE measurement (processing) time and reporting time, where the UE measurement time is the UE PRS reception and processing time for N TRPs to determine the desired positioning measurement (e.g., RSTD or Rx-Tx time difference). It may also include the position calculation time in the case of UE-based mode. The UE reporting time is the UE reporting position measurement (UE-assisted) or position estimate (UE-based) to the LMF via an intermediate network entity;

[0050] ●T TRP,latency : gNB / TRP measurement (processing) time and reporting time, where gNB / TRP measurement time is the gNB / TRP SRS reception and processing time for a UE to determine the desired positioning measurement (e.g., RTOA or gNB Rx-Tx time difference). In general, N gNB / TRPs are involved in the UL measurement of a single UE. The gNB / TRP reporting time includes each gNB / TRP reporting the location measurement to the LMF via the AMF;

[0051] ●T LMF,latency :LMF calculation (processing) time and reporting time, for example: calculating RTT from UE and TRP measurements; calculating UE location. Also includes the time when LMF reports UE location to LCS client via AMF; and

[0052] ●T sign : A signal of newly requested assistance data that can be transmitted between LMF, UE and gNB.

[0053] Thus, the end-to-end delay for a single position report will be the sum of the above processing and signaling delays, that is:

[0054] T totallatency =max{T UE,latency , T TRP,latency}+T LMF,latency +T sign (1)

[0055] In addition, for the three types of enhanced DL PRS transmission and reception as discussed above, equation (1) can be adjusted accordingly. For aperiodic transmission and reception of DL PRS, the additional time occurs from at least one of the following: the transmission and processing of the triggered DCI, which is determined by T DCI To symbolize, or trigger, the configuration and transmission of additional PRS resources, represented by T PRS Then, the total delay can be adjusted to equation (2):

[0056] T totallatency =max{T UE,latency , T TRP,latency}+T LMF,latency +Tsign +T DCI +T PRS (2)

[0057] For semi-persistent transmission and reception of DL PRS, additional time occurs from at least one of the following: transmission and processing of MAC-CE or configuration and transmission of additional PRS resources triggered by T PRS Then, the total delay can be adjusted to equation (3)

[0058] T totallatency =max{T UE,latency ,T TRP,latency}+T LMF,latency +T sign +T MAC-CE +T PR (3)

[0059] For on-demand transmission and reception of DL PRS, additional time occurs from the transmission and processing of NR-On-demand-DL-PRS-request and NR-On-demand-DL-PRS-configuration. The total delay can then be adjusted to equation (4):

[0060] T totallatency =max{T UE,latency , T TRP,latency}+T LMF,latency +T sign +T on-demand (4)

[0061] Therefore, the delay of the positioning measurement reported to the location server 130 depends on the trigger signaling transmission and the reporting period. In addition, the process between the location server and the network equipment only supports the gNB to provide assistance data to the LMF.

[0062] Figure 1C The signaling process 100C between a network device and a location server according to some embodiments of the present invention is illustrated. Figure 1C As shown in , it does not support LMF or UE to update PRS configuration information. For example, location server 130 can send an NRPPa message (type: TRP INFORMATION REQUEST) to network device 120. Network device 120 responds to location server 130 with another NRPPa message (type: TRP INFORMATION RESPONSE / FAILUE). In this case, RS resources cannot be adjusted, selected or determined by terminal device 110 and location server 130.

[0063] Thus, the RS overhead is fixed, and after the gNB determines the RS resources, the resources used for the RS cannot be reused by the terminal device or network equipment. In addition, reducing the latency of positioning measurement reporting is also a key aspect.

[0064] In one solution, the AI ​​model can be deployed on the UE side or the NW side to further assist in positioning accuracy enhancement and delay reduction. The AI ​​model can be used to predict the required RS resources from a set of pre-configured RS resources (for example, predicting the channel state for which positioning is to be performed and selecting RS resources that will not affect positioning performance), which can reduce latency by selecting timely and appropriate RS resources from multiple PRS resource sets. In this way, even if many configurations such as muting modes, repetition factors, and frequency layers are defined, the LMF and UE can further dynamically change these configurations among the configured multiple RS resources based on the predictions of the AI ​​model, and release other unselected RS resources to reduce overhead and avoid interference.

[0065] Figure 2 A signaling process 200 for determining RS resources according to some embodiments of the present disclosure is illustrated. For discussion purposes, the process 200 will be described with reference to FIG.

[0066] In the signaling process 200, at 201, the network device 120 sends the RS resource configuration of the TRP (e.g., TRP 120-1) associated with the network device 120 to the location server 130. The RS resource configuration indicates multiple RS resource sets, which include partially overlapping RS resources. Each of the multiple RS resource sets may include at least one RS resource. The multiple RS resources including partially overlapping RS resources may include a first RS resource set and a second RS resource set. The first RS resource set and the second RS resource set may have the same (overlapping) resource blocks (RBs) and symbols. The overlapping RS resources include RS resources that overlap in the time domain or the frequency domain. In some embodiments, the RS resource set in the multiple RS resource sets is a positioning reference signal (PRS) resource set. Without any limitation, the multiple RS resource sets may include any other RS ​​resource set for positioning the terminal device 110.

[0067] At 203, the location server 130 sends the RS resource configuration to the terminal device 110. In the example, the location server 130 then transmits the RS resource configuration to the terminal device 110. In this way, the terminal device 110 can recognize that the TRP 120-1 is configured with more than one RS resource set. Then, the terminal device 110 can select the RS resource for receiving the RS from multiple RS resource sets, and notify the network device 120 of the information used to determine the RS resource. In this way, other RS ​​resources in multiple RS resource sets can be reused for other data communications. In some embodiments, the terminal device 110 can select the RS resource set based on channel characteristics. In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the terminal device 110 can determine the RS resources in multiple RS resource sets based on the output of the artificial intelligence (AI) model at the terminal device 110 (which can also be referred to as AI-based resource selection). In some embodiments, the AI ​​model is used to predict the channel state. In some other embodiments, the terminal device 110 can determine the RS resource set based on any other criteria.

[0068] In some embodiments, AI-based resource selection includes the terminal device 110 or another target device requesting appropriate RS resources (e.g., a subset of TRPs, a specific direction / beam, a period, a repetition, etc.) based on the needs / requirements determined by the target device. In some embodiments, resource selection is achieved by initially configuring multiple normal RS resource sets per TRP by the location server 130 (which may be indicated by the RS resource configuration received from the network device 120). RS resources from different RS resource sets may overlap in the time domain or the frequency domain.

[0069] Additionally or alternatively, there may be a common RS resource set (which may also be referred to as an AI-specific RS resource set) for positioning the terminal device among multiple RS resource sets. Once the AI ​​prediction for the communication system is triggered, the common RS resource set can be used to send PRS. In addition, these two cases (multiple normal PRS resource sets configured for TRP 120-1 or at least one normal RS resource set and a common RS resource set configured for TRP 120-1) contain one or more periodicalReportings in IERequestLocationInformation. Furthermore, the RS resource period, time slot offset, OFDM symbol, comb size, start and number of PRBs, repetition, spatial direction information, and mute mode can be reconfigured in these two cases.

[0070] As mentioned above, RS resources are RS-specific and cannot be reused. In one example, a PRS resource set containing up to 64 PRS resources is associated with a specific TRP (e.g., 120-1), and the PRS configuration of the TRP served by the network device 120 will be transmitted to the location server 130 via auxiliary data. Each PRS resource included in the PRS resource set involves a spatial domain transmission filter. In the OFDM symbol used for PRS transmission, there is no transmission of other data signals or reference signals, which will result in low resource utilization. Due to system overhead considerations, PRS transmissions are typically configured with a relatively long period and a short duration, which inevitably leads to impaired positioning performance. As discussed above, multiple PRS resource sets can be configured for a TRP, and more flexible resource allocation can be achieved through predictions by the AI ​​model. For clarity of discussion, refer to Figure 3A Multiple normal PRS resource sets are discussed.

[0071] Figure 3A Multiple RS resource sets according to some embodiments of the present disclosure are illustrated.

[0072] like Figure 3A As shown in , the multiple RS resource sets indicated by the RS resource configuration include a first RS resource set 301 (RS resource set 1) and a second RS resource set 303 (RS resource set 2). For illustration only, there are two RS resource sets in the multiple RS resource sets. Without any restrictions, there may be additional RS resource sets in the multiple RS resource sets. The first RS resource set 301 includes RS resources 301-1 and RS resources 301-2. The second RS resource set 303 includes RS resources 303-1 and RS resources 303-2. The RS resources in the first RS resource set may be sent or occur in a first cycle (as shown in length 305). The RS resources in the second RS resource set may be sent or occur in a second cycle (as shown in length 307). The first cycle may be the same as the second cycle, or the first cycle may be different from the second cycle. In addition, length 308 represents the bandwidth of the first RS resource set, and length 309 represents another bandwidth of the second RS resource set. In addition, the RS resources 301-1 in the first RS resource set and the RS resources 303-1 in the second RS resource set may overlap with each other. In the present disclosure, RS resource 301-1 and RS resource 303-1 may be referred to as overlapping RS resources. Figure 3A As shown in , RS resource 301-1 and RS resource 303-1 overlap each other in the time domain. Without any limitation, RS resource 301-1 and RS resource 303-1 may also overlap each other in the frequency domain.

[0073] In this way, the terminal device 110 can select or determine different RS resources from multiple RS resource sets including the first RS resource set and the second RS resource set under different conditions. Accordingly, other RS ​​resources that are not selected for sending RS can be released and reused. In this way, the overhead of PRS is reduced by releasing some physical resources, and the configuration flexibility in the network is improved.

[0074] Return to see Figure 2 , at 205, the AI ​​model used for prediction at the terminal device may output a prediction result based on the input to the AI ​​model. The input to the AI ​​model may be previous channel information and / or location-related information. In some embodiments, the input to the AI ​​model includes at least one of the following: first historical information about a channel associated with the terminal device 110 or second historical information about the movement of the terminal device 110. For example, the first historical information may include channel state information (CSI) or channel impulse response (CIR). The second historical information may include a reference signal time difference (RSTD) and / or a relative time of arrival (TROA).

[0075] In some embodiments, the output may include second information about a channel associated with the terminal device. For example, channel information in the next duration, such as CSI or CIR. Additionally or alternatively, the output may include third information about the movement of the terminal device, such as information related to the UE location, UE direction / speed. Additionally or alternatively, the output may include a lifetime for the output, such as a duration for applying the prediction.

[0076] Using the output of the AI ​​model, the terminal device 110 can obtain, for example, the channel characteristics in the next cycle. In turn, the terminal device 110 can determine the minimum time-frequency resources that meet the requested positioning performance based on the output. For example, if the terminal device 110 determines that the future channel characteristics are ideal, the minimum time-frequency resources may be quite small. In another example, if the terminal device 110 determines that the future channel characteristics are poor, the minimum time-frequency resources may be quite large.

[0077] Based on the determined minimum time-frequency resource, the terminal device 110 may select an RS resource from a plurality of RS resource sets configured for the TRP 120-1, the selected RS resource meeting the minimum time-frequency resource requirement. Figure 3A In turn, the terminal device 110 may report an RS resource identification (ID) to the network device 120 so that the RS may be sent on the selected RS resource. The reported information will be discussed in detail below.

[0078] At 207, the terminal device 110 determines first information for determining RS resources to be reported to the network device 120. In some embodiments, the first information directly includes the output of the AI ​​model as discussed above. In this case, using the output of the AI ​​model, the terminal device 110 and the network device 120 can determine the same RS resources based on the same preconfigured selection criteria. Additionally or alternatively, the first information may include the determined minimum time-frequency resources. Furthermore, using the determined minimum time-frequency resources, the terminal device 110 and the network device 120 can also determine the same RS resources based on the same preconfigured selection criteria. Additionally or alternatively, the first information may include a resource ID (e.g., d1-PRS-ID) selected by the terminal device. In some embodiments, the first information also includes an RS resource ID, such as a d1-PRS-ID and an RS resource set ID.

[0079] Alternatively, the first information may include a set of candidate RS resource IDs and / or a set of candidate RS resource set IDs (e.g., a set of d1-PRS-IDs). In this case, the network device 120 may feedback to the terminal device 110 which RS resource will actually be used. For example, the terminal device 110 receives a confirmation response to the RS resource ID determined based on the minimum time-frequency resource from the network device 120. In addition, the first information may include a lifetime for the output of the AI ​​model. Alternatively, in some embodiments, the AI ​​model is trained to directly output the selected RS resource ID. In this case, the first information is directly determined based on the output.

[0080] At 209, the terminal device 110 sends the first information to the network device 120. Further, at 211, the network device 120 may send the RS to the terminal device 110 on the RS resource selected based on the first information. After selecting the RS resource for transmitting, for example, the PRS, RS resources other than the selected or determined RS resource in the plurality of RS resource sets may be released and reused. At 213 and 215, the terminal device 110 and the network device 120 may release other RS ​​resources and reuse other RS ​​resources for other communication purposes. For clarity of discussion, refer to Figure 3B The above steps 205 to 215 are further discussed.

[0081] Figure 3B A flow chart 300 for determining RS resources according to some embodiments of the present disclosure is illustrated.

[0082] At 310, channel information and / or location-related information (e.g., CSI or CRI) in a previous duration is sent as input to the AI ​​model. At 320, the AI ​​model performs a prediction based on the input. In turn, the AI ​​model outputs a prediction result. Box 330 shows the prediction result, for example, the channel information in the last duration and / or the duration for applying the prediction. Then, at 340, as discussed above, the terminal device 110 can determine the minimum time-frequency resource. At 350, the terminal device 110 can select a DL-PRS-ID and / or an RS resource set ID based on the configured multiple RS resource sets 360. At 370, the terminal device 110 reports the first information to the network device 120. The first information may include content as discussed above.

[0083] Then, the network device 120 sends, for example, a PRS on the RS resources determined based on the first information. Then, the terminal device 110 and the network device 120 release other RS ​​resources and reuse RS resources. Figure 3B In the figure, only as an example, the Figure 3A The selection of RS resource sets 301 and 303 is performed. For example, at a first time instance, RS resource 303-1 is selected for transmitting the PRS. In addition, RS resource 301-1 is released. Furthermore, at a second time instance, RS resource 301-2 is selected for the transmitted PRS, and RS resource 303-2 is released.

[0084] Return to see Figure 2 As discussed above, in addition to the multiple normal RS resource sets configured for TRP 120-1, or alternatively, there may be a common RS resource set (which may also be referred to as an AI-specific RS resource set) for locating the terminal device in the multiple RS resource sets. For clarity of discussion, the subsequent steps after selecting RS resources are first discussed, and then the common RS resource set is discussed in detail.

[0085] Regarding the release and reuse of RS resources not selected by the terminal device, there may be a time gap between the output of the AI ​​model and the reuse of RS resources. The time gap is used for the preparation of the terminal device and the network device. In some embodiments, the terminal device 110 receives a first indication indicating a time gap between a first timing of the output of the AI ​​model and a second timing of reusing the released RS resources. Additionally or alternatively, the time gap can be preconfigured. Additionally or alternatively, the time gap can be sent in response to a request from the terminal device 110.

[0086] Figure 4 Example time slots are illustrated according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0087] like Figure 4 As shown in , there is a time gap between the output of the AI ​​model and the reuse of RS resources. Only after the time gap can the unselected RS resources be reused for other communication purposes. For example, the network device 120 can release other resources to send other data / reference signals, or the network device 120 can schedule other data / reference signals that overlap with the unselected resources. The gap between the time AI model output and the time of releasing RS resources can be indicated by the network. Since the periodic RS resources in Release 17 are 4ms-10240ms, it is possible that one instance is used to actually send RS, while the next instance is released and scheduled by the UE to send other data, such as PDSCH (8 symbols for processing capacity 1 of 15kHz SCS).

[0088] Return to see Figure 2 , at 217, the terminal device 110 sends a positioning measurement report to the location server 130 on the reporting resource. The positioning measurement report is determined based on the RS received on the selected RS resource. In some embodiments, the reporting resource may also be configured to reduce reporting delays. For example, the terminal device 110 may be configured with multiple periodicReportings in IERequestLocationInformation. In some embodiments, the reporting resource includes at least one of the following: a resource after the timing of receiving an RS from a first TRP serving as a reference TRP for locating the terminal device, a resource after the timing of receiving an RS from a second TRP serving as an auxiliary TRP for locating the terminal device, or a resource after the timing of receiving an RS on the latest RS resource determined based on the information. For clarity of discussion, refer to Figure 5 Discuss reporting resources.

[0089] Figure 5 Illustrated are example reporting resources according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0090] like Figure 5As shown in , blocks 520, 540 and 550 represent reporting resources for sending positioning measurement reports by the terminal device 110. Blocks 510-1, 510-2 and 530-1 represent selected RS resources. By way of example only, PRS resource 510-1 may carry a reference PRS sent by a TRP acting as a reference TRP. Furthermore, reporting resource 520 may be the most recent reporting resource after receiving a reference PRS (nr-DL-PRS-ReferenceInfo). The terminal device 110 may then send a report on reporting resource 520. Additionally or alternatively, PRS resource 530-1 may carry a PRS sent by a TRP acting as an auxiliary TRP. Furthermore, reporting resource 540 may be the most recent reporting resource after receiving a PRS from an auxiliary TRP (for DL ​​TDOA). The terminal device 110 may then send a report on reporting resource 540. Additionally or alternatively, PRS resource 510-2 may carry the last received / sent PRS / SRS. Furthermore, the reporting resource 550 may be the most recent reporting resource after the last received / sent PRS / SRS. The terminal device 110 may then send a report on the reporting resource 550. In some embodiments, location related information is reported by ProvideLocationInformation. The multiple RequestLocationInformation involved are configured by the LMF.

[0091] In this way, the positioning reporting latency is reduced by further configuring the reporting resources. For example, assuming that the output of the AI ​​model will be reported by UCI, the total latency will be represented by:

[0092] T totallatency =max{T UE,latency , T TRP,latency} + T LMF,latency + T UCI (5)

[0093] Thus, compared with aperiodic / semi-persistent / on-demand transmission and reception, reduced delay comes from the total Tsign. Alternatively, the above embodiment can also be expressed as follows:

[0094]

[0095]

[0096] Return to see Figure 2As discussed above, there may be a common RS resource set (which may also be referred to as an AI-specific RS resource set) for positioning a terminal device in multiple RS resource sets. In some embodiments, a first RS resource set among multiple RS resource sets is a common RS resource set for positioning a terminal device. In some embodiments, a first period of RS resources in the first RS resource set is less than a second period of RS resources in a second RS resource set among multiple RS resource sets. For example, the second RS resource set is a normal RS resource set as discussed above. Thus, if the terminal device 110 and the network device 120 select the first RS resource set, positioning measurements can be performed in a timely manner. For flexible scheduling and delay reduction, the period of PRR resources in an AI-specific RS resource set can be supported to be smaller than a normal RS resource set, for example, the period can be selected from the following values:

[0097] 2 μ {1,2,4,5,8,10,16,20,32,40,64,80,160,320,640,1280,2560,5120,10240}.

[0098] In some embodiments, the first RS resource set is configured by at least one of the following: a first period of the RS resources in the first RS resource set, a second period of the RS resources in the first RS resource, an interleaving pattern for the first period and the second period, a number of symbols for the first RS resource, or a bandwidth for the first RS resource. Regarding the interleaving pattern, this means that the period of the RS resources in the first RS resource set can be changed dynamically. For example, the RS resources in the first RS resource set can have two or more periods, and the period between adjacent RS resources can occur in an interleaving pattern. In one example, without any restrictions, the period between adjacent RS resources can be 2 (which is the first period, for example, 2 time slots, symbols, frames, or subframes), 5 (which is the second period), 2, 5... according to the interleaving pattern. In addition, for example, optionally, multiple periods, NumSymbols, and ResourceBandwidth can also be optionally configured in an interleaving manner. For clarity of discussion, refer to Figure 6 The first RS resource set is discussed. Alternatively, the above embodiment can also be expressed as follows:

[0099]

[0100]

[0101] Figure 6 Example RS resources according to some embodiments of the present disclosure are illustrated.

[0102] Without any limitation, it is assumed that PRS resources 610-1, 610-2, 610-3, and 610-4 belong to a normal RS resource set in a plurality of RS resource sets. PRS resources 610-1 and 610-3 may be referred to as PRS resource 1 in a normal PRS resource set, and PRS resource sets 610-2 and 610-4 may be referred to as PRS resource 2 in a normal PRS resource set. In addition, time slots, of which It is the period of PRS resource 1 or PRS resource 2 in the normal PRS resource set.

[0103] Furthermore, it is assumed that RS resources 620-1, 620-2, 620-3, and 620-4 belong to a first RS resource set among multiple RS resource sets. PRS resources 620-1 and 620-3 may be referred to as PRS resource 1 in the first PRS resource set, and PRS resource sets 620-2 and 620-4 may be referred to as PRS resource 2 in the first PRS resource set. In addition, time slots, of which It is the period of RS resource 1 or PRS resource 2 in the first PRS resource set.

[0104] In some embodiments, the location server 130 sends an NRPPa TRP INFORMATION REQUEST message to the network device 120. Accordingly, the network device 120 provides the request TRP information to the location server 130 via an NRPPa message TRP INFORMATION RESPONSE, which contains the common configuration of the AI-specific RS resource set for all TRPs. In addition, the normal PRS resource set configuration will not be affected. In the same manner, the location server 130 sends the RS resource configuration to the terminal device 110, and the RS resource configuration further indicates the common configuration of the AI-specific PRS resource set. In the example, the location server 130 then transmits the RS resource configuration to the terminal device 110.

[0105] Return to see Figure 2 , a first RS resource set in the plurality of RS resource sets may initially be in an "idle mode". For example, the first RS resource set may be scheduled by the network device 120 for other communication purposes rather than being used to send PRS. In some embodiments, the first RS resource set is activated in response to the AI ​​model prediction being triggered. For clarity of discussion, refer to Figure 7 Discuss this embodiment.

[0106] Figure 7Example RS resources according to some embodiments of the present disclosure are illustrated.

[0107] like Figure 7 As shown in Figure 6 Similarly, RS resources 620-1, 620-2 (which are included in block 710), 620-3, and 620-4 belong to a first RS resource set among multiple RS resource sets. At time instance 720, the AI ​​model prediction is triggered. Before time instance 720, the RS resources belonging to the first RS resource set are not used to send PRS. In some embodiments, the network device 120 and the terminal device 110 may consider that the resources generated by the PRS resource set are available. After time instance 720, RS resources 620-3 and 620-4 may be used for selection of RS resources. For example, until the AI ​​model for prediction is triggered, the first RS resource set is activated.

[0108] Return to see Figure 2 As discussed above, at 209, the terminal device 110 reports first information, which is used to determine RS resources. In the example, the first information may indicate an RS resource ID. For a first RS resource set that is a common RS resource specific to AI prediction, if the terminal device 110 does not indicate the RS resource ID to the network device 120, the RS resources in the first RS resource set may default to: occupied by RS or released. In some embodiments, when the first RS resource set is not indicated in the first information, the first RS resource set is released. Alternatively, when the first RS resource set is not indicated in the first information, the first RS resource set is used for RS.

[0109] Additionally, if the physical resources in the AI-specific PRS resource set are indicated to the terminal device 110, the terminal device 110 can report to the network device 120 whether the next few instances of the PRS resource should be used for positioning. The terminal device 110 can determine which physical resource configured in the first RS resource set can be released. For DL ​​TDOA, if the PRS resource is determined as a reference for RSTD measurement, the terminal device 110 chooses to use a different reference and reports the DL PRS resource ID used to determine the reference. Alternatively, the terminal device 110 can report a subset of the PRS resource IDs to be used in the next duration. PRS resources outside this subset will be released. In one example, the terminal device 110 can report the number of RS resources to be used in the first RS resource set. Alternatively, the above embodiment can also be expressed as follows:

[0110]

[0111]

[0112] Furthermore, as discussed above, the terminal device 110 may also determine the reporting resource in the same manner as described above.

[0113] As mentioned above, more than one normal PRS resource set is typically configured for a TRP, where PRS resources from different sets overlap in the time domain or frequency domain. The network indicates a time gap to the terminal device for predicting whether the resource is released. The terminal device reports the predicted channel state or minimum time-frequency resource or PRR resource ID to the network device 120 based on the AI ​​model. In addition, multiple indicators may also be supported. The network device feeds back to the terminal device which resources will actually be used. The network device releases the PRS resource set other than the resources indicated by the terminal device. If multiple periodicReporting in IERequestLocationInformation intersect with PRS resources, the terminal device uses the most recent report after the specified PRS / SRS to report location information. The specified PRS / SRS refers to: (1) reference PRS. (2) PRS from auxiliary TRP. (3) last received / sent PRS / SRS. AI-specific PRS resource sets are configured for all TRPs served by the gNB. If the AI ​​model is not triggered, the time-frequency resources configured for the AI-specific PRS resource set are reused. If the UE does not indicate physical resources, a default behavior is assigned. Multiple time-frequency parameters are configured for the AI-specific PRS resource set.

[0114] In this way, the PRS overhead can be reduced by releasing some physical resources, the positioning delay by transmitting location information can be reduced, and the configuration flexibility in the network is improved.

[0115] Figure 8 A flow chart of a communication method 800 implemented at a terminal device according to some embodiments of the present disclosure is illustrated. The method 800 may be implemented at the terminal device 110 shown in FIG. 1 . For the purpose of discussion, the method 800 will be described with reference to FIG. 1 . It should be understood that the method 800 may include additional actions not shown and / or may omit some of the actions shown, and the scope of the present disclosure is not limited thereto.

[0116] At 810, the terminal device 110 receives a reference signal (RS) resource configuration for a transmission and reception point (TRP) from a location server. The RS resource configuration indicates a plurality of RS resource sets including partially overlapping RS resources.

[0117] At 820, the terminal device 110 sends first information for determining an RS resource from a plurality of RS resource sets to a network device associated with the TRP.

[0118] At 830 , the terminal device 110 receives an RS from the network device on the RS resource determined based on the first information.

[0119] In some embodiments, the first information is determined based on an output of an artificial intelligence (AI) model at the terminal device.

[0120] In some embodiments, the output includes at least one of: second information about a channel associated with the terminal device; third information about movement of the terminal device; or a lifetime for the output.

[0121] In some embodiments, the first information includes at least one of the following: the output of the AI ​​model; the minimum time-frequency resource determined based on the output and positioning requirements; or the RS resource ID determined based on the minimum time-frequency resource.

[0122] In some embodiments, the input of the AI ​​model includes at least one of: first historical information about a channel associated with the terminal device; or second historical information about movement of the terminal device.

[0123] In some embodiments, the method further includes: releasing RS resources other than the determined RS resources among the plurality of RS resources; and reusing the released RS resources for data communication.

[0124] In some embodiments, the method further includes: receiving a first indication from a network device, the first indication indicating a time gap between a first timing of outputting and a second timing of reusing the released RS resources.

[0125] In some embodiments, the method further includes: sending a positioning measurement report to a location server on a reporting resource, the positioning measurement report being determined based on a received RS, the reporting resource including at least one of: a resource after the timing of receiving the RS from a first TRP serving as a reference TRP for locating the terminal device, a resource after the timing of receiving the RS from a second TRP serving as an auxiliary TRP for locating the terminal device, or a resource after the timing of receiving the RS on the latest RS resource determined based on the information.

[0126] In some embodiments, a first RS resource set among the multiple RS resource sets is a common RS resource set used to locate the terminal device.

[0127] In some embodiments, a first periodicity of RS resources in the first set of RS resources is less than a second periodicity of RS resources in a second set of RS resources in the plurality of sets of RS resources.

[0128] In some embodiments, the first RS resource is configured by at least one of: a first period of the first RS resource in the first RS resource set; a second period of the RS resource in the first RS resource; an interleaving pattern of the first period and the second period; the number of symbols used for the first RS resource; or a bandwidth used for the first RS resource.

[0129] In some embodiments, the first set of RS resources is activated in response to the AI ​​model prediction being triggered.

[0130] In some embodiments, at least one of the following exists: when the first RS resource set is not indicated in the first information, the first RS resource set is released; or when the first RS resource set is not indicated in the first information, the first RS resource set is used for RS.

[0131] In some embodiments, the first information indicates the number of RS resources to be used in the first set of RS resources.

[0132] In some embodiments, the method further includes receiving, from the network device, a confirmation response to the RS resource ID determined based on the minimum time-frequency resource.

[0133] In some embodiments, the RS resource set in the plurality of RS resource sets is a positioning reference signal (PRS) resource set.

[0134] In some embodiments, the location server comprises a Location Management Server (LMF).

[0135] Fig. 9 A flow chart of a communication method 900 implemented at a network device according to some embodiments of the present disclosure is illustrated. The method 900 may be implemented at the network device 120 shown in FIG. 1. For discussion purposes, the method 900 will be described with reference to FIG. 1. It should be understood that the method 900 may include additional actions not shown and / or may omit some of the actions shown, and the scope of the present disclosure is not limited in this regard.

[0136] At 910, the network device 110 sends a reference signal (RS) resource configuration for a transmit and receive point (TRP) associated with the network device to a location server. The RS resource configuration indicates multiple RS resource sets including partially overlapping RS resources.

[0137] At 920 , the network device 110 receives, from a terminal device, first information for determining an RS resource from a plurality of RS resource sets.

[0138] At 930 , the network device 110 sends the RS to the terminal device on the RS resources determined based on the first information.

[0139] In some embodiments, the first information is determined based on an output of an artificial intelligence (AI) model at the terminal device.

[0140] In some embodiments, the first information includes at least one of the following: the output of the AI ​​model; the minimum time-frequency resources determined based on the output and positioning requirements; or an RS resource set identifier (ID) and an RS resource ID determined based on the minimum time-frequency resources.

[0141] In some embodiments, the method further includes: releasing RS resources other than the determined RS resources among the plurality of RS resources; and reusing the released RS resources for data communication.

[0142] In some embodiments, the method further comprises: receiving a first indication to the terminal device, the first indication indicating a time gap between the first timing of outputting and a second timing of reusing the released RS resources.

[0143] In some embodiments, a first RS resource set among the multiple RS resource sets is a common RS resource set used to locate the terminal device.

[0144] In some embodiments, a first periodicity of RS resources in the first set of RS resources is less than a second periodicity of RS resources in a second set of RS resources in the plurality of sets of RS resources.

[0145] In some embodiments, the first RS resource is configured by at least one of: a first period of the first RS resource in the first RS resource set; a second period of the RS resource in the first RS resource; an interleaving pattern of the first period and the second period; the number of symbols used for the first RS resource; or a bandwidth used for the first RS resource.

[0146] In some embodiments, the first set of RS resources is activated in response to the AI ​​model prediction being triggered.

[0147] In some embodiments, at least one of the following exists: when the first RS resource set is not indicated in the first information, the first RS resource set is released; or when the first RS resource set is not indicated in the first information, the first RS resource set is used for RS.

[0148] In some embodiments, the first information indicates the number of RS resources to be used in the first set of RS resources.

[0149] In some embodiments, the method further comprises: sending a confirmation response to the terminal device for the RS resource ID determined based on the minimum time-frequency resource.

[0150] In some embodiments, the RS resource set in the plurality of RS resource sets is a positioning reference signal (PRS) resource set.

[0151] In some embodiments, the location server comprises a Location Management Server (LMF).

[0152] Fig.10 A flow chart of a communication method 1000 implemented at a location server according to some embodiments of the present disclosure is illustrated. The method 1000 may be implemented at the location server 130 shown in FIG. 1. For discussion purposes, the method 1000 will be described with reference to FIG. 1. It should be understood that the method 1000 may include additional actions not shown and / or may omit some of the actions shown, and the scope of the present disclosure is not limited in this regard.

[0153] At 1010, the location server 130 receives a reference signal (RS) resource configuration for a transmission and reception point (TRP) from a network device. The RS resource configuration indicates a plurality of RS resource sets including partially overlapping RS resources.

[0154] At 1020 , the location server 130 sends the RS resource configuration to the terminal device.

[0155] In some embodiments, a first RS resource set among the multiple RS resource sets is a common RS resource set used to locate the terminal device.

[0156] In some embodiments, the method further includes: receiving a positioning measurement report from the terminal device on a reporting resource, the positioning measurement report being determined based on the received RS, the reporting resource comprising at least one of: a resource after the timing of receiving the RS from a first TRP serving as a reference TRP for locating the terminal device, a resource after the timing of receiving the RS from a second TRP serving as an auxiliary TRP for locating the terminal device, or a resource after the timing of receiving the RS on the latest RS resource determined based on the information.

[0157] In some embodiments, the RS resource set in the plurality of RS resource sets is a positioning reference signal (PRS) resource set.

[0158] In some embodiments, the location server comprises a Location Management Server (LMF).

[0159] Fig.11 1 is a simplified block diagram of a device 1100 suitable for implementing some embodiments of the present disclosure. The device 1100 may be considered as another example embodiment of the terminal device 110 as shown in FIG. 1 or the network device 120 or the location server 130 as shown in FIG. 1. Therefore, the device 1100 may be implemented at the above network device or terminal device, or implemented as at least a part of the above network device or terminal device.

[0160] As shown, the device 900 includes a processor 910, a memory 920 coupled to the processor 910, a suitable transmitter (TX) and receiver (RX) 940 coupled to the processor 910, and a communication interface coupled to the TX / RX 940. The memory 920 stores at least a portion of the program 930. The TX / RX 940 is used for bidirectional communication. The TX / RX 940 has at least one antenna to facilitate communication, but in practice the access node mentioned in this application may have several antennas. The communication interface may represent any interface required for communication with other network elements, such as an X2 interface for bidirectional communication between gNBs or eNBs, an S1 interface for communication between a mobility management entity (MME) / serving gateway (S-GW) and an eNB, a Un interface for communication between an eNB and a relay node (RN), or a Uu interface for communication between an eNB and a terminal device.

[0161] Assume that the program 1130 includes program instructions that, when executed by the associated processor 1110, enable the device 1100 to operate in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure, as discussed herein with reference to Figures 1-10. The embodiments herein may be implemented by computer software executable by the processor 1110 of the device 1100, or by hardware, or by a combination of software and hardware. The processor 1110 may be configured to implement various embodiments of the present disclosure. In addition, the combination of the processor 1110 and the memory 1120 may form a processing component 1150 suitable for implementing various embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0162] The memory 1120 may be of any type suitable for the local technology network and may be implemented using any suitable data storage technology, such as, as non-limiting examples, non-transitory computer-readable storage media, semiconductor-based memory devices, magnetic memory devices and systems, optical memory devices and systems, fixed memory, and removable memory. Although only one memory 1120 is shown in the device 1100, there may be several physically different memory modules in the device 1100. The processor 1110 may be of any type suitable for the local technology network and, as non-limiting examples, may include one or more of a general-purpose computer, a special-purpose computer, a microprocessor, a digital signal processor (DSP), and a processor based on a multi-core processor architecture. The device 1100 may have multiple processors, such as a dedicated integrated circuit chip that is time-slave to a clock synchronized with a main processor.

[0163] In some embodiments, the terminal device includes circuitry configured to perform method 800 .

[0164] In some embodiments, a network device includes circuitry configured to perform method 900 .

[0165] In some embodiments, the location server includes circuitry configured to perform method 1000 .

[0166] The components included in the apparatus and / or device of the present disclosure can be implemented in various ways, including software, hardware, firmware or any combination thereof. In one embodiment, one or more units can be implemented using software and / or firmware of machine executable instructions, such as those stored on a storage medium. In addition to or in place of machine executable instructions, some or all units in the apparatus and / or device can be implemented at least in part by one or more hardware logic components. For example, but not limited to, illustrative types of hardware logic components that can be used include field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), application specific integrated circuits (ASICs), application specific standard products (ASSPs), system on chip systems (SOCs), complex programmable logic devices (CPLDs), etc.

[0167] Various embodiments of the present disclosure may be implemented in hardware or dedicated circuits, software, logic, or any combination thereof. Some aspects may be implemented in hardware, while other aspects may be implemented in firmware or software that may be executed by a controller, microprocessor, or other computing device. Although various aspects of the embodiments of the present disclosure are illustrated and described as block diagrams, flow charts, or using some other graphical representations, it should be understood that, as non-limiting examples, the boxes, devices, systems, technical terminal devices, or methods described herein may be implemented in hardware, software, firmware, dedicated circuits or logic, general hardware or controllers or other computing devices, or some combination thereof.

[0168] The present disclosure also provides at least one computer program product tangibly stored on a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium. The computer program product includes computer executable instructions, such as those included in a program module, which are executed in a device on a target real or virtual processor to perform a process or method as described above with reference to any one of Figures 3 to 14. Typically, a program module includes routines, programs, libraries, objects, classes, components, data structures, etc. that perform specific tasks or implement specific abstract data types. In various embodiments, the functionality of the program modules can be combined or split between program modules as desired. Machine executable instructions for program modules can be executed in a local device or a distributed device. In a distributed device, a program module can be located in a local and remote storage medium.

[0169] The program code for executing the method of the present disclosure can be written in any combination of one or more programming languages. These program codes can be provided to a processor or controller of a general-purpose computer, a special-purpose computer or other programmable data processing device so that when the program code is executed by the processor or controller, the functions / operations specified in the flow chart and / or block diagram are implemented. The program code can be executed entirely on the machine, partially on the machine, as an independent software package, partially on the machine and partially on a remote machine, or entirely on a remote machine or server.

[0170] The program code above can be embodied in a machine-readable medium, which can be any tangible medium that can contain or store a program for use by an instruction execution system, device or equipment or used in combination with it. The machine-readable medium can be a machine-readable signal medium or a machine-readable storage medium. The machine-readable medium can include, but is not limited to, electrical, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, infrared or semiconductor systems, devices or equipment, or any suitable combination of the foregoing. More specific examples of machine-readable storage media will include: an electrical connection with one or more wires, a portable computer floppy disk, a hard disk, a random access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM or flash memory), an optical fiber, a portable compact disk read-only memory (CD-ROM), an optical storage device, a magnetic storage device, or any suitable combination of the foregoing.

[0171] In addition, although each operation is depicted in a specific order, this should not be understood as requiring such operations to be performed in the specific order shown or in a continuous order, or performing all illustrated operations to achieve the desired result. In some scenarios, multitasking and parallel processing may be advantageous. Similarly, although several specific embodiment details are included in the above discussion, these should not be interpreted as limitations on the scope of the present disclosure, but should be interpreted as descriptions of features that may be specific to a particular embodiment. Certain features described in the context of separate embodiments may also be combined in a single embodiment. On the contrary, the various features described in the context of a single embodiment may also be implemented separately in multiple embodiments or in any suitable sub-combination.

[0172] Although the disclosure has been described in language specific to structural features and / or methodological acts, it should be understood that the disclosure defined in the appended claims is not necessarily limited to the specific features or acts described above. Instead, the specific features and acts described above are disclosed as example forms of implementing the claims.

[0173] In summary, the embodiments of the present disclosure may provide the following solutions.

[0174] A communication method, comprising: receiving a reference signal (RS) resource configuration for a transmit and receive point (TRP) from a location server at a terminal device, the RS resource configuration indicating multiple RS resource sets, the multiple RS resource sets including partially overlapping RS resources; sending first information for determining RS resources from the multiple RS resource sets to a network device associated with the TRP; and receiving RS from the network device on the RS resources determined based on the first information.

[0175] In one embodiment, the first information is determined based on an output of an artificial intelligence (AI) model at the terminal device.

[0176] In one embodiment, the output includes at least one of: second information about a channel associated with the terminal device; third information about movement of the terminal device; or a lifetime for the output.

[0177] In one embodiment, the first information includes at least one of the following: the output of the AI ​​model; the minimum time-frequency resource determined based on the output and positioning requirements; or the RS resource ID determined based on the minimum time-frequency resource.

[0178] In one embodiment, the input of the AI ​​model includes at least one of the following: first historical information about a channel associated with the terminal device; or second historical information about movement of the terminal device.

[0179] In one embodiment, the method further includes: releasing RS resources other than the determined RS resources among the plurality of RS resources; and reusing the released RS resources for data communication.

[0180] In one embodiment, the method further includes: receiving a first indication from the network device, the first indication indicating a time gap between the first timing of output and a second timing of reusing the released RS resource.

[0181] In one embodiment, the method further includes: sending a positioning measurement report to a location server on a reporting resource, the positioning measurement report being determined based on a received RS, the reporting resource including at least one of: a resource after the timing of receiving an RS from a first TRP serving as a reference TRP for locating the terminal device, a resource after the timing of receiving an RS from a second TRP serving as an auxiliary TRP for locating the terminal device, or a resource after the timing of receiving an RS on a latest RS resource determined based on the information.

[0182] In one embodiment, the first RS resource set among the multiple RS resource sets is a common RS resource set used to locate the terminal device.

[0183] In one embodiment, a first period of RS resources in the first RS resource set is smaller than a second period of RS resources in a second RS resource set in the plurality of RS resource sets.

[0184] In one embodiment, the first RS resource is configured by at least one of: a first period of the first RS resource in the first RS resource set; a second period of the RS resource in the first RS resource; an interleaving pattern for the first period and the second period; the number of symbols used for the first RS resource; or a bandwidth used for the first RS resource.

[0185] In one embodiment, the first set of RS resources is activated in response to the AI ​​model prediction being triggered.

[0186] In one embodiment, at least one of the following: when the first RS resource set is not indicated in the first information, the first RS resource set is released; or when the first RS resource set is not indicated in the first information, the first RS resource set is used for RS.

[0187] In one embodiment, the first information indicates the number of RS resources to be used in the first RS resource set.

[0188] In one embodiment, the method further includes: receiving, from the network device, a confirmation response to the RS resource ID determined based on the minimum time-frequency resource.

[0189] In one embodiment, the RS resource set in the plurality of RS resource sets is a positioning reference signal (PRS) resource set.

[0190] In one embodiment, the location server comprises a Location Management Server (LMF).

[0191] A communication method, comprising: sending a reference signal (RS) resource configuration for a transmit and receive point (TRP) to a location server at a network device, the RS resource configuration indicating multiple RS resource sets, the multiple RS resource sets including partially overlapping RS resources; receiving first information for determining RS resources from multiple RS resource sets from a terminal device; and sending RS to the terminal device on the RS resources determined based on the first information.

[0192] In one embodiment, the first information is determined based on an output of an artificial intelligence (AI) model at the terminal device.

[0193] In one embodiment, the first information includes at least one of the following: the output of the AI ​​model; the minimum time-frequency resources determined based on the output and positioning requirements; or the RS resource set identifier (ID) and the RS resource ID determined based on the minimum time-frequency resources.

[0194] In one embodiment, the method further includes: releasing RS resources other than the determined RS resources among the plurality of RS resources; and reusing the released RS resources for data communication.

[0195] In one embodiment, the method further comprises: receiving a first indication to the terminal device, the first indication indicating a time gap between the first timing of outputting and a second timing of reusing the released RS resources.

[0196] In one embodiment, the first RS resource set among the multiple RS resource sets is a common RS resource set used to locate the terminal device.

[0197] In some embodiments, a first periodicity of RS resources in the first set of RS resources is less than a second periodicity of RS resources in a second set of RS resources in the plurality of sets of RS resources.

[0198] In one embodiment, the first RS resource is configured by at least one of: a first period of the first RS resource in the first RS resource set; a second period of the RS resource in the first RS resource; an interleaving pattern of the first period and the second period; the number of symbols used for the first RS resource; or a bandwidth used for the first RS resource.

[0199] In one embodiment, the first set of RS resources is activated in response to the AI ​​model prediction being triggered.

[0200] In one embodiment, there is at least one of the following: when the first RS resource set is not indicated in the first information, the first RS resource set is released; or when the first RS resource set is not indicated in the first information, the first RS resource set is used for RS.

[0201] In one embodiment, the first information indicates the number of RS resources to be used in the first RS resource set.

[0202] In one embodiment, the method further comprises: sending a confirmation response to the terminal device for the RS resource ID determined based on the minimum time-frequency resource.

[0203] In one embodiment, the RS resource set in the plurality of RS resource sets is a positioning reference signal (PRS) resource set.

[0204] In one embodiment, the location server comprises a Location Management Server (LMF).

[0205] A communication method, comprising: receiving a reference signal (RS) resource configuration for a transmit and receive point (TRP) from a network device at a location server, the RS resource configuration indicating a plurality of RS resource sets including partially overlapping RS resources; and sending the RS resource configuration to a terminal device.

[0206] In one embodiment, the first RS resource set among the multiple RS resource sets is a common RS resource set used to locate the terminal device.

[0207] In one embodiment, the method further includes: receiving a positioning measurement report from the terminal device on a reporting resource, the positioning measurement report being determined based on a received RS, the reporting resource comprising at least one of: a resource after the timing of receiving the RS from a first TRP serving as a reference TRP for locating the terminal device, a resource after the timing of receiving the RS from a second TRP serving as an auxiliary TRP for locating the terminal device, or a resource after the timing of receiving the RS on the latest RS resource determined based on the information.

[0208] In one embodiment, the RS resource set in the plurality of RS resource sets is a positioning reference signal (PRS) resource set.

[0209] In one embodiment, the location server comprises a Location Management Server (LMF).

[0210] A terminal device comprises: a processor; and a memory coupled to the processor and storing instructions thereon, wherein when the instructions are executed by the processor, the terminal device executes a method according to the above communication method.

[0211] A network device comprises: a processor; and a memory coupled to the processor and storing instructions thereon, wherein when the instructions are executed by the processor, the network device executes a method according to the above communication method.

[0212] A computer readable medium having stored thereon instructions which, when executed on at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to perform a method according to any of the above communication methods.

Claims

1. A method of communication, comprising: Receiving, at a terminal device, a reference signal RS resource configuration for sending and receiving a point TRP from a location server, the RS resource configuration indicating a plurality of RS resource sets, the plurality of RS resource sets including partially overlapping RS resources; Sending first information for determining an RS resource from the plurality of RS resource sets to a network device associated with the TRP; as well as An RS is received from the network device on the RS resource determined based on the first information.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first information is determined based on the output of an artificial intelligence (AI) model at the terminal device.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the output comprises at least one of the following: second information about a channel associated with the terminal device; third information about the movement of the terminal device; or for the life of the output.

4. The method according to claim 2, wherein the first information includes at least one of the following: the output of the AI ​​model; The minimum hourly resource determined based on the output and positioning requirements; or The RS resource ID is determined based on the minimum time-frequency resource.

5. The method according to claim 2, wherein the input of the AI ​​model includes at least one of the following: first history information about a channel associated with the terminal device; or Second historical information about the movement of the terminal device.

6. The method according to claim 2, further comprising: releasing RS resources among the multiple RS resources except the determined RS resources; as well as The released RS resources are reused for data communication.

7. The method according to claim 6, further comprising: A first indication is received from the network device, the first indication indicating a time gap between a first timing of the output and a second timing of reusing the released RS resource.

8. The method according to claim 1, further comprising: Sending a positioning measurement report to the location server on a reporting resource, the positioning measurement report being determined based on the received RS, the reporting resource comprising at least one of the following: a resource after the timing of receiving the RS from the first TRP serving as a reference TRP for locating the terminal device, resources after the timing of receiving the RS from the second TRP serving as an auxiliary TRP for locating the terminal device, or A resource after the timing at which the RS is received on the latest RS resource determined based on the first information. 9 . The method according to claim 2 , wherein a first RS resource set among the multiple RS resource sets is a common RS resource set used to locate the terminal device. 10 . The method according to claim 9 , wherein a first period of the RS resources in the first RS resource set is smaller than a second period of the RS resources in a second RS resource set in the plurality of RS resource sets.

11. The method according to claim 9, wherein the first RS resource set is configured by at least one of the following: a first period of a first RS resource in the first RS resource set; a second period of the RS resources in the first RS resource set; an interleaving pattern for said first period and said second period; the number of symbols used for the first RS resource; or The bandwidth used for the first RS resource. 12 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the first set of RS resources is activated in response to an AI model prediction being triggered.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein at least one of the following is present: In a case where the first RS resource set is not indicated in the first information, the first RS resource set is released; or In a case where the first RS resource set is not indicated in the first information, the first RS resource set is used for the RS. 14 . The method according to claim 9 , wherein the first information indicates the number of RS resources to be used in the first RS resource set.

15. The method according to claim 1, further comprising: A confirmation response is received from the network device for the RS resource ID determined based on the minimum time-frequency resource. 16 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the RS resource set in the plurality of RS resource sets is a Positioning Reference Signal (PRS) resource set.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the location server comprises a location management server (LMF).

18. A method of communication, comprising: Sending, at a network device, a reference signal RS resource configuration for sending and receiving a point TRP to a location server, the RS resource configuration indicating a plurality of RS resource sets, the plurality of RS resource sets including partially overlapping RS resources; Receiving, from a terminal device, first information for determining an RS resource from the plurality of RS resource sets; as well as Sending an RS to the terminal device on the RS resource determined based on the first information.

19. The method according to claim 18, further comprising: releasing RS resources among the multiple RS resources except the determined RS resources; as well as The released RS resources are reused for data communication.

20. A method of communication, comprising: receiving, at a location server, from a network device, a reference signal RS resource configuration for sending and receiving a point TRP, the RS resource configuration indicating a plurality of RS resource sets, the plurality of RS resource sets including partially overlapping RS resources; as well as The RS resource configuration is sent to the terminal device.

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