Joint UU and sidelink positioning for user equipment in UU inactive / idle state

Abstract

In some implementations, a network node of a wireless network may determine that a radio resource control (RRC) connection state of a Uu interface of a target UE includes an inactive state or an idle state. The network node may determine a time during which the target UE will be in a sidelink (SL) active state, wherein the SL active state includes an operational state in which the target UE monitors communications via one or more SL interfaces, sends communications via the one or more SL interfaces, or both. The network node may transmit a message for obtaining positioning measurements for the target UE using one or more SL devices corresponding to the one or more SL interfaces, where obtaining the positioning measurements is performed when (i) the RRC connected state includes the inactive state or idle state and (ii) the target UE is in the SL active state.

Description

[0001] Related Applications

[0002] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 17 / 932,886, filed on September 16, 2022, entitled “JOINT UU & SIDELINK POSITIONING FOR USER EQUIPMENTS IN UU INACTIVE / IDLE STATE,” 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. Related technologies

[0005] In a data communication network, various positioning techniques may be used to determine the location of a mobile device (referred to herein as a UE). Some of these positioning techniques may involve determining distance and / or angle information of RF signals received by one or more other UEs that are communicatively coupled to the data communication network. In the fifth generation (5G) wireless standard referred to as New Radio (NR), direct communication between UEs (including the transmission of RF signals for positioning) may be referred to as a side link (SL). Positioning sessions between UEs may be conducted to perform positioning measurements using SL RF signals, and the UEs may coordinate such SL positioning sessions to ensure efficient use of bandwidth and other wireless resources. Summary of the invention

[0006] According to the present disclosure, an example method for performing positioning of a target user equipment (UE) may include determining, at a network node of a wireless network, that a radio resource control (RRC) connection state of a Uu interface of the target UE includes an inactive state or an idle state. The method may also include determining, at the network node, a time during which the target UE will be in a sidelink (SL) active state, wherein the SL active state includes an operating state in which the target UE monitors communications via one or more SL interfaces, sends communications via the one or more SL interfaces, or both. The method may also include transmitting a message from the network node, the message being used to obtain positioning measurements of the target UE using one or more SL devices corresponding to the one or more SL interfaces, wherein obtaining the positioning measurements is performed when (i) the RRC connection state includes an inactive state or an idle state and (ii) the target UE is in a SL active state.

[0007] According to the present disclosure, an example method for performing positioning of a target user equipment (UE) may include determining with the target UE that a radio resource control (RRC) connection state of a Uu interface of the target UE includes or will include an inactive state or an idle state. The method may also include transmitting a message to a network node of a wireless network, the message indicating a time during which the target UE will be in a sidelink (SL) active state, wherein the SL active state includes an operational state in which the target UE monitors communications via one or more SL interfaces, sends communications via the one or more SL interfaces, or both. The method may also include performing one or more ranging operations with one or more SL devices corresponding to the one or more SL interfaces, wherein the one or more ranging operations are performed when (i) the RRC connection state includes an inactive state or an idle state and (ii) the target UE is in a SL active state.

[0008] According to the present disclosure, an example network node for performing positioning of a target user equipment (UE) may include a transceiver, a memory, and one or more processors communicatively coupled to the transceiver and the memory, wherein the one or more processors are configured to determine that the radio resource control (RRC) connection state of the Uu interface of the target UE includes an inactive state or an idle state. The one or more processors may also be configured to determine the time during which the target UE will be in a sidelink (SL) active state, wherein the SL active state includes the operating state of the target UE monitoring communications via one or more SL interfaces, sending communications via the one or more SL interfaces, or both. The one or more processors may also be configured to transmit a message via the transceiver, the message being used to obtain positioning measurements of the target UE using one or more SL devices corresponding to the one or more SL interfaces, wherein obtaining the positioning measurements is performed when (i) the RRC connection state includes an inactive state or an idle state and (ii) the target UE is in a SL active state.

[0009] According to the present disclosure, an example target UE for performing positioning of a target user equipment (UE) may include a transceiver, a memory, and one or more processors communicatively coupled to the transceiver and the memory, wherein the one or more processors are configured to determine that the radio resource control (RRC) connection state of the Uu interface of the target UE includes or will include an inactive state or an idle state. The one or more processors may also be configured to transmit a message to a network node of a wireless network via the transceiver, the message indicating the time during which the target UE will be in a side link (SL) active state, wherein the SL active state includes the target UE monitoring communication via one or more SL interfaces, sending communication via the one or more SL interfaces, or both. The one or more processors may also be configured to perform one or more ranging operations with one or more SL devices corresponding to the one or more SL interfaces, wherein the one or more ranging operations are performed when (i) the RRC connection state includes an inactive state or an idle state and (ii) the target UE is in a SL active state.

[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. The subject matter should be understood by reference to appropriate portions of the entire specification of the 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 simplified illustration of a positioning system according to an embodiment.

[0012] Figure 2 is a diagram of a 5G NR positioning system according to an implementation scheme.

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

[0014] Figure 4 is a simplified illustration of an example scenario in which positioning may occur, according to an embodiment.

[0015] Figure 5 is a signal flow diagram of a method for notifying a network of the availability of using a SL interface to locate a UE when the UE is in an inactive or idle RRC state according to an implementation.

[0016] Figure 6 is a signal flow diagram of an example method for locating a target UE when the target UE is in SL active mode and Uu inactive or idle mode according to an implementation scheme.

[0017] Fig. 7A and Figure 7B is a signal flow diagram of an example method for locating a target UE using a location server when the target UE is in SL active mode and Uu inactive or idle mode according to an implementation scheme.

[0018] Figure 8 is a flowchart of a method for performing positioning of a target UE according to an implementation scheme.

[0019] Fig. 9 is a flow chart of another method for performing positioning of a target UE according to an embodiment.

[0020] Fig.10 is a block diagram of an implementation scheme of a UE.

[0021] Fig.11 is a block diagram of an implementation scheme of a base station.

[0022] Fig.12 is a block diagram of an embodiment of a computer system.

[0023] Similar reference symbols in the various drawings indicate similar elements according to certain example implementations. In addition, multiple instances of an element may 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 may 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, 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

[0024] The following description is directed to certain specific implementations for the purpose of describing the innovative aspects of each embodiment. 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.

[0025] 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.

[0026] 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.

[0027] Furthermore, 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).

[0028] The positioning determination of the UE may be based at least in part on measurements of signals sent and / or received by the UE via a side link (SL). In some cases, it may be desirable to determine the positioning and / or perform these signal measurements by a UE that is not in an active (or "connected") state relative to the Uu interface with the network. However, switching to an active / connected state for such positioning may be expensive in terms of overhead and power. The embodiments herein utilize the SL interface of the UE to enable positioning of the UE when the Uu interface of the UE is in an inactive or idle state. This can avoid the above-mentioned overhead and power costs while also enabling positioning of the UE. Additional details on such embodiments are provided after discussing the related art.

[0029] Figure 1 is a simplified illustration of a positioning system 100 according to an 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 to locate the mobile device 105. The techniques described herein can be implemented by one or more components of the positioning system 100. The positioning system 100 may include: a mobile device 105; one or more satellites 110 (also referred to as spacecraft (SV)) 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 location of the mobile device 105 based on RF signals received by and / or transmitted from the mobile device 105 and the known locations of other components (e.g., GNSS satellites 110, base stations 120, APs 130) that send and / or receive RF signals. Additional details about specific location estimation techniques are discussed below.

[0030] It should be pointed out 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 1A greater or lesser number of base stations 120 and / or APs 130 are illustrated. 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, 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.

[0031] Depending on the desired functionality, network 170 may include any of a variety of wireless and / or wired networks. 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, network 170 may utilize one or more wired and / or wireless communication technologies. In some embodiments, 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 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 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP). 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), mobile device 105 may be referred to as user equipment (UE)

[0032] 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 herein 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 NodeB (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). Considering the open radio access network (O-RAN) and / or virtualized radio access network (V-RAN or vRAN) in 5G or later networks, the functionality performed by the base station 120 in earlier generation networks (e.g., 3G and 4G) can be divided into different functional components (e.g., radio unit (RU), distributed unit (DU), and central unit (CU)) and layers (e.g., L1 / L2 / L3), and the operation can be performed 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, mobile device 105 can transmit and receive information with network connectivity devices (such as location server 160) by accessing network 170 via base station 120 using first communication link 133. Additionally or alternatively, because AP 130 can also be communicatively coupled with network 170, mobile device 105 can communicate with network connectivity and Internet connectivity devices (including location server 160) using second communication link 135 or via one or more other mobile devices 145.

[0033] 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 functionality of a TRP may be performed using a transmit point (TP), and / or the receive functionality of a TRP may be performed by a receive point (RP), which may be physically separate or distinct 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).

[0034] 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 adjacent 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 of a geographic coverage area (e.g., a sector) on which the logical entity operates.

[0035] 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. In particular, reference signals (e.g., PRS) sent by satellites 110 for NTN based positioning may be similar to those sent by base stations 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.

[0036] The location server 160 may include a server and / or other computer system 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.

[0037] 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)).

[0038] As previously described (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.

[0039] Although ground components such as AP 130 and base station 120 may be fixed, embodiments are not limited thereto. 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 locating mobile device 105, or combinations thereof. Wireless signals from mobile device 145 for locating 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. Mobile device 145 may additionally or alternatively use non-RF wireless signals for locating mobile device 105, such as infrared signals or other optical technologies.

[0040] The 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 the one or more other mobile devices 145 and the 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 the cellular-based LTE and NR standards. UWB may be one such technology by which measurements from one or more anchor devices (e.g., mobile devices 145) may be used to facilitate positioning of a target device (e.g., mobile device 105).

[0041] 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 may 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 be further 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.

[0042] The estimated location of the mobile device 105 may be used in various applications, such as to assist a user of the mobile device 105 with direction finding or navigation or to assist another user (e.g., associated with an external client 180) in locating the mobile device 105. "Location" is also referred to herein as a "location estimate," "estimated location," "position," "position estimate," "position fix," "estimated position," "position fix," or "fix." The process of determining a location may be referred to as "positioning," "position determination," "location determination," or the like. The location of the mobile device 105 may include an absolute location of the mobile device 105 (e.g., latitude and longitude, and possibly altitude) or a relative location of the mobile device 105 (e.g., a location 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 a base station 120 or an AP 130) or some other location such as the location of the mobile device 105 at some known previous time, or the location of a 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).

[0043] The external client 180 may be a web server or remote application that may have some association with the mobile device 105 (e.g., accessible 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.

[0044] Figure 2 is a diagram of a 5G NR positioning system 200, illustrating an embodiment of a positioning system implementing 5G NR (which may correspond to at least a portion of a larger positioning system as described herein, such as Figure 1 Positioning system 100). The 5G NR positioning system 200 may be configured to determine the location of a user equipment (UE) 205 by using an access node to implement one or more positioning methods, and the access node may include NR NodeB (gNB) 210-1 and 210-2 (collectively referred to as gNB 210 in this document), ng-eNB 214 and / or WLAN 216. The gNB 210 and / or ng-eNB 214 may correspond to a base station 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 an 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 a 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. The 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.

[0045] 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 a 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. As such, the satellites 207 may communicate with one or more gNBs 210.

[0046] It should be pointed out that Figure 2 Only generalized illustrations of various components are provided, any or all of which may be utilized as appropriate, and each of which may be repeated or omitted as needed. Specifically, although only one UE 205 is illustrated, it will 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, components may be rearranged, combined, separated, replaced, and / or omitted, depending on the desired functionality.

[0047] 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 computer, 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), IEEE 802.11 Bluetooth, Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX TM), 5G NR (e.g., using NG-RAN 235 and 5G CN 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, or possibly via a Gateway Mobile Location Center (GMLC) 225) communicate with the external client 230 and / or allow the external client 230 (e.g., via the GMLC 225) to receive location information about the UE 205. 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.

[0048] 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 fix, fix, position, position estimate, or position fix, and may be geodetic, providing location coordinates (e.g., latitude and longitude) for 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 expressed 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 expressed as a (geographically or municipally defined) area or volume within which the UE 205 is expected to be located with a certain probability or confidence level (e.g., 67%, 95%, etc.). The location of the UE 205 may also be a relative location, 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, municipally, 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 location may include any of these variations unless otherwise indicated. When calculating the location 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.

[0049] 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 5GNR 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.

[0050] Figure 2 The base stations in the illustrated NG-RAN 235 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 gNBs 210 (e.g., gNB 210-2) and / or ng-eNBs 214 in the 5G network 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 UE 205, but may not receive signals from UE 205 or from other UEs. Some 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 5G CN 240, external clients 230, or a controller), which may receive and store the data or use the data to locate at least UE 205. It should be noted that although Figure 2 Only one ng-eNB 214 is shown in FIG, 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).

[0051] 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 5GCN 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 5G CN 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 It should be noted that although Figure 2 Only one WLAN 216 is shown in FIG. 2 , but some embodiments may include multiple WLANs 216 .

[0052] The access node may include any of a variety of network entities that enable communication between the UE 205 and the AMF 215. As noted, this may include a gNB 210, an ng-eNB 214, a WLAN 216, and / or other types of cellular base stations. However, the access node providing the functionality described herein may additionally or alternatively include a cellular network entity that enables communication with the UE 205. Figure 2Thus, as used in the embodiments described below, the term “access node” may include, but is not necessarily limited to, gNB 210, ng-eNB 214, or WLAN 216.

[0053] 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 of an uplink (UL) signal received from UE 205 and / or obtain a DL location measurement obtained by UE 205 for a downlink (DL) signal received by UE 205 from one or more access nodes. As noted, 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.

[0054] The gNB 210 and ng-eNB 214 may communicate with the AMF 215, which communicates with the LMF 220 for positioning functionality. The AMF 215 may support the mobility of the UE 205, including cell change and handover 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). It should be noted that in some embodiments, at least a portion of the positioning functionality (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, for example, by LMF 220).

[0055] 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 from the LMF 220 (e.g., including a location estimate for the UE 205) 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.

[0056] 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 be connected to the AMF 215 and / or the GMLC 225 for obtaining a location (e.g., a municipal location) of the UE 205 and providing the location to the external client 230.

[0057] like Figure 2 As further illustrated, 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 communicated between gNB 210 and LMF 220 and / or between ng-eNB 214 and LMF 220 via AMF 215. Figure 2 To further illustrate, 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.

[0058] 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 passed 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, as described in more detail below.

[0059] The positioning of UE 205 in the 5G NR positioning system 200 may also utilize measurements made between UE 205 and one or more other UEs 255 via the side link connection SL 260. Figure 2As shown, the one or more other UEs 255 may include any of a variety of different device types, including mobile phones, vehicles, roadside units (RSUs), other device types, or any combination thereof. One or more positioning measurement signals are transmitted from the one or more other UEs 255 to UE 205, from UE 205 to the one or more other UEs 255, or both via SL 260. Various signals may be used for positioning measurements, including sidelink PRS (SL-PRS). In some cases, the positioning of at least one of the one or more other UEs 255 may be determined simultaneously with the positioning of UE 205 (e.g., in the same positioning session). In some embodiments, LMF 220 may coordinate the transmission of positioning signals between UE 205 and one or more other UEs 255 via SL 260. Additionally or alternatively, UE 205 and the one or more other UEs 255 may coordinate a positioning session between them without LMF 220 or even a Uu connection 239 to an access node of NG-RAN 235. To this end, the UE 205 and the one or more other UEs 255 may communicate messages via the SL 260 using the Side Link Positioning Protocol (SLPP). In some scenarios, the one or more other UEs 255 may have a Uu connection 239 with an access node of the NG-RAN 235 and / or a Wi-Fi connection with the WLAN 216 (while the UE 205 does not have these connections). In such cases, the one or more other UEs 255 may operate as relay devices, thereby relaying communications from the UE 205 to the network (e.g., LMF 220). In such cases, multiple other UEs 255 may form a chain between the UE 205 and the access node.

[0060] In the 5G NR positioning system 200, positioning methods may 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, where the request originates from the UE (e.g., from an application or "app" executed by the UE), the positioning method may be classified as UE-based. On the other hand, where the request originates from an external client 230, LMF 220, or other device or service within the 5G network, the positioning method may be classified as UE-assisted (or "network-based").

[0061] 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 locations 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.

[0062] 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).

[0063] 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.

[0064] 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 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 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, UL, DL, or DL-UL positioning as described herein may be able to use SL signaling as a supplement or replacement for SL, DL, or DL-UL signaling.

[0065] 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.

[0066] 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 to locate the UE 305 may vary depending on the desired functionality. More specifically, some types of positioning may utilize methods other than, for example, FIG. 3A to FIG. 3C Signals other than RTT / TDOA illustrated in .

[0067] 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 positioning 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.

[0068] Figure 3B The diagram of illustrates a configuration in which positioning of the target UE 305 may be performed with only sidelink (SL only) positioning / ranging. In this configuration, the target UE 305 may 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 (e.g., 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 location of the target UE 305 .

[0069] Figure 3C 305. The diagram of exemplifies a configuration in which positioning of a target UE 305 may include the target UE 305 and the anchor UE 310 receiving a reference signal (DL-PRS) from a 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.

[0070] As previously discussed, sidelink positioning (e.g., SL-only positioning 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).

[0071] The positioning of the target UE may be affected based on the RRC connection state of the target UE. For example, the full positioning capability may be available in the RRC_CONNECTED state (also referred to as the "active" state or the "connected" state in this article). On the other hand, when the target UE is in the RRC_INACTIVE state or the RRC_IDLE state (also referred to as the "inactive" state and the "idle" state, respectively, in this article), positioning can still be performed, but certain restrictions may apply. For example, the small data transmission (SDT) feature allows data and / or signaling to be sent while the UE remains in an inactive state (e.g., not converted to a connected state). The positioning process using SDT can be initiated by the target UE using a random access channel (RACH) (referred to as RA-SDT in SDT) or a type 1 configured authorization (CG) resource (referred to as CG-SDT in SDT). When positioning is performed using SDT, an uplink location service (LCS) or LPP message may be transmitted when the UE is in an inactive mode. If the UE initiates data transmission using UL SDT, the network may transmit DL LCS, LPP, and RRC messages to the UE.

[0072] Currently, the target UE may need to be in active / connected mode in order to perform positioning of the target UE using the SL and Uu interfaces. For example, consider Figure 4 .

[0073] Figure 4 4 is a simplified diagram of an example scenario 400 in which two UEs (a first UE 410 and a second UE 420) are communicatively connected to a base station 430 via a Uu interface, and are further connected to a first RSU 440 and a second RSU 450 and to each other via an SL interface. The base station 430 is further communicatively coupled to a location server 460. Figure 2 As described, location server 460 may include an LMF (e.g., LMF 220), and base station 430 may include a gNB (e.g., gNBs 210). In addition, UEs 410 and 420 may include any of a variety of devices. Figure 4 In the example of , the first UE 410 comprises a vehicle and the second UE 420 comprises a mobile device.

[0074] In this scenario 400, if the first UE 410 can switch its corresponding Uu interface (first Uu interface 470) with the base station 430 from a connected state to an inactive state or an idle state. If the network (e.g., the location server 460) then wants to perform positioning for the first UE 410, it can perform positioning via the first Uu interface 470 and / or the SL interface. However, conventionally, in order to perform positioning for the first UE 410 using the first Uu interface 470 with the base station 430, the network will cause the first UE 410 to switch to a connected state and then perform conventional Uu positioning. However, this will incur Uu overhead because the following two operations will need to be performed with respect to the Uu interface: (i) the first UE 410 will need to switch to a connected state, and (ii) once the Uu positioning measurements have been performed, the first UE 410 will need to switch back to an inactive state or an idle state.

[0075] The embodiments herein are intended to address these and other problems by utilizing one or more SL interfaces to locate a target UE when the target UE is in an inactive or idle state relative to the Uu interface. To this end, the embodiments may utilize the fact that the Uu and SL interfaces can operate independently; when the Uu interface transitions to an inactive or idle state, the SL interface can still be used to perform positioning / ranging. According to some embodiments, if the UE transitions to an inactive or idle state in Uu, the UE may inform a network node (e.g., a base station or location server) that the UE may notify the network that it may be in an SL active state. This may alert the network of the UE's availability for positioning via the SL interface. According to some embodiments, the UE may provide identification information for a specific device through which the UE can be reached via the SL interface. In Figure 4 In the scenario 400, for example, the first UE 410 may inform the location server 460 that the SL interface with the first RSU 440 is active, thereby providing the location server 460 with the ID of the first RSU 440.

[0076] As used herein, the SL active state may refer to a state in which the UE monitors SL transmissions via one or more SL interfaces. This includes monitoring reference signals that can be used to locate the UE, such as SL-PRS, SL primary synchronization symbol (SL PSS), sidelink secondary synchronization symbol (SL SSS), or any combination thereof. In the SL active state, the UE may have a SL interface with one or more other devices. Figure 4 In the scenario 400, for example, when the first UE 410 monitors and / or transmits via the SL interface with the second UE 420, the first RSU 440, the second RSU 450, or any combination thereof, the first UE may be considered to be in the SL active state.

[0077] According to some embodiments, once the network is made aware of this information, the network can reach the target UE for positioning in different ways. According to a first solution, for example, the network (e.g., a base station or a location server) may perform positioning of the target UE via an RSU (or other device connected to the network via a non-Uu interface) that has SL connectivity with the target UE. According to a second solution, the network (e.g., a base station) may perform positioning of the target UE via an anchor UE, where the anchor UE is in a connected state relative to the Uu interface with the network and also has SL connectivity with the target UE. These solutions may enable the network to have flexibility in selecting UEs and / or RSUs, and communication with the target UE may be performed during positioning of the target UE.

[0078] Selecting one solution over another (e.g., selecting direct operation and RSU over UE) can help increase the accuracy of the determined location of the target UE and can be determined based on one or more factors. One factor can be, for example, the line of sight (LoS) probability between a device (e.g., RSU or UE) and the target UE. If one device has a relatively high probability of LoS and the other device has a relatively low probability, the device with a relatively high probability of LoS can be selected because ensuring LoS can help ensure a more accurate location determination of the target UE. Another factor can be the difference between the known position of the anchor UE or RSU and the approximate position of the target UE. For example, a closer device (anchor UE or RSU) can be selected because the closer device can lead to a more accurate location determination of the target UE. Another factor can include the accuracy of the location of the anchor UE or RSU. The more accurate the location (e.g., within 10m, 5m, 1m, 50cm, etc.), the more accurate the estimated location of the target UE can be. Another factor may include the mobility of the target UE and / or anchor UE. If the target UE and the anchor UE are moving in the same or similar direction, the anchor UE may be selected instead of the RSU, and the anchor UE is more likely to be in the wireless range of the target UE for the entire positioning session. On the other hand, if the anchor UE and the target UE are moving in opposite directions, the RSU may be selected. Factors may include the quality of service (QoS) of the connection between the target UE and the anchor UE or RSU and the connection between the anchor UE or RSU and the network. For example, if the anchor UE has a poor connection with the network and / or the target UE, it may be desirable to utilize the RSU instead of the anchor UE.

[0079] Figure 5 is a signal flow diagram of a method 500 of notifying a network 510 of the availability of using a SL interface to locate a UE 520 when the UE is in an inactive or idle RRC state according to an embodiment. Figure 5The arrows in indicate communications / messages transmitted from one device to another, and each arrow may represent one or more messages. Here, the functionality of network 510 may be performed by a network node, such as a base station or a location server. In the case of a base station, for example, the communication between the UE and the base station may be carried out via RRC messaging. In the case of a location server, the communication between UE 520 and the location server may be relayed by one or more intermediary devices, including a serving base station (not shown), for example, via LPP.

[0080] Method 500 may begin at operation 530, where network 510 releases UE 520, causing the Uu interface to become inactive or idle. In response, UE 520 may then perform operation 540, where the UE notifies the network of its intent to transition to (or remain in) a SL active state, while the Uu interface remains active or idle. The message transmitted at operation 540 may also indicate, for example, the identities of one or more devices with which the UE has a SL interface (or will have a SL interface during the SL active state). Figure 5 As indicated by operation 550 in , the UE 520 may then remain in the SL active state and the Uu inactive state or idle state for the duration indicated to the network 510.

[0081] Optionally, the message transmitted at operation 540 may also indicate a duration, or a combination thereof, for which the UE will remain in the SL active state before transitioning to the SL inactive state (e.g., where the UE will no longer monitor or transmit via the SL interface). The duration for which the UE will remain in the SL active state may be communicated via a timer (e.g., duration T), a start / end time, etc.

[0082] Optionally (e.g., if a duration for which the UE will remain in the SL active state is not provided at operation 540), the UE 520 may perform operation 560, in which the UE 520 then transmits an indication of the UE's intent to transition to the SL inactive state to the network 510. This may enable the network to perform positioning of the UE 520 when necessary. In this way, the timing of operation 560 may be sufficient to allow the network 510 to perform positioning before the UE 520 enters the SL inactive state. According to some embodiments, the timing of operation 560 (and / or operation 540) may be established between the UE 520 and the network 510 and / or defined in an applicable standard.

[0083] At operation 570, the UE then enters the SL inactive state while also remaining in the Uu inactive state or the idle state. Any further changes in the state may be communicated to the network 510. When the UE 520 is in the Uu inactive state or the idle state and the SL inactive state, the network 510 may still be able to perform positioning of the UE 520. However, to do this, it may be necessary to change the state of the Uu connection between the UE 520 and the network 510 from inactive or idle to connected.

[0084] Figure 6 6 is a signal flow diagram of an example method 600 for positioning a target UE 610 when the target UE 610 is in SL active mode and Uu inactive or idle mode according to an embodiment. Here, a base station 615 (e.g., a gNB) uses the SL interface of the target UE 610 with the first anchor UE 620-1 and the second anchor UE 620-2 to obtain positioning information to calculate the positioning of the target UE 610. Of course, different scenarios may have different Figure 6 Different numbers of anchor UEs are illustrated, including a single anchor UE or more than two anchor UEs. In addition to or in lieu of anchor UEs 620-1 and 620-2, alternative implementations may utilize one or more RSUs. For each of anchor UEs 620-1 and 620-2, the respective anchor UE may have a Uu connection with base station 615, or may have a separate connection (e.g., via an SL connection with an RSU).

[0085] Method 600 may begin at operation 625, where base station 615 performs an RRC release, thereby converting the Uu interface between base station 615 and target UE 610 from a connected state to an idle state or an inactive state. Figure 5 As described, the target UE 610 may then respond by indicating to the base station 615 an intent to transition to the SL active state for at least a certain period of time, as shown in operation 630. Operations 625 and 630 are intended to provide an example of how this may be performed. Figure 5 In an alternative embodiment of method 600, additional or alternative operations may be performed, such as with respect to Figure 5 as described.

[0086] Operations 635 and 640 may enable the base station 615 to determine how to reach the target UE 610. Specifically, at operation 635, the base station 615 transmits a request to perform discovery to discover the target UE 610 to the anchor UEs 620-1 and 620-2 via the SL. As previously described, the target UE 610 may indicate to the base station 615 the IDs of one or more UEs with which the target UE may maintain an active SL connection. In this way, the request transmitted by the base station 615 at operation 635 may be based on the ID provided to the base station 615 by the target UE 610 (e.g., at operation 630). At operation 640, each of the anchor UEs 620-1 and 620-2 reports back to the base station 615 that the target UE 610 was detected during discovery. According to some embodiments, the base station 615 may be able to use one or more techniques to determine that the target UE 610 is near the anchor UEs 620-1 and 620-2 (and can be used for SL ranging). According to the first technique, the base station 615 may request (e.g., at operation 635) the anchor UEs 620-1 and 620-2 to provide a subset of other connected UEs (in Uu) that the anchor UEs 620-1 and 620-2 can detect during discovery to determine whether the target UE 610 is within their range (in the SL interface). The base station 615 may do this based on the approximate location of the target UE 610 and the anchor UEs 620-1 and 620-2. The request provided by the base station 615 may also include the SL ID of the target UE 610, which may enable the anchor UEs 620-1 and 620-2 to discover the target UE 610 in the SL. According to some embodiments, the base station 615 may know the SL and Uu ID mappings for each of the UEs because they may have both Uu connections and SL connections. In some cases, each UE may also provide its SL ID to the base station 615. According to another technique, the base station 615 may request a subset of connected UEs in Uu (eg, anchor UEs 620-1 and 620-2) to prompt both anchor UEs 620-1 and 620-2 to report the SL IDs of the connected UEs that they sensed.

[0087] Operations 645, 650, and 655 include ranging operations for positioning of the target UE 610. That is, using the information that the target UE 610 is in the vicinity of the anchor UEs 620-1 and 620-2, at operation 640, the base station 615 transmits a ranging request to each of the anchor UEs 620-1 and 620-2, requesting ranging information about the target UE 610. Each of the anchor UEs 620-1 and 620-2 then responds by performing a ranging session with the target UE 610, as indicated by operation 650. Then, at operation 655, the anchor UEs 620-1 and 620-2 report ranging measurements obtained during the ranging session to the base station 615. Using these measurements, the base station then determines the positioning of the target UE, as indicated by operation 660.

[0088] Depending on the desired functionality, the ranging session performed at operation 650 may be completed in different ways. For example, according to a first option, the base station 615 may indicate to the anchor UEs 620-1 and 620-2 in the message at operation 645 that at operation 650, the anchor UEs 620-1 and 620-2 may jointly decide with the target UE 610 on how to conduct the ranging session. This may include, for example, reference signal (e.g., PRS) sequences and other sidelink measurement details for sidelink ranging. In this option, the sidelink ranging process between the target UE 610 and each of the anchor UEs 620-1 and 620-2 may be agnostic to the base station 615. According to a second option, the base station 615 may explicitly provide information about how to conduct the ranging session to the anchor UEs 620-1 and 620-2. In some cases, and depending on the circumstances, the implementation may adopt these two options.

[0089] The ranging reports provided by the anchor UEs 620-1 and 620-2 at operation 655 may be provided in different ways depending on the desired functionality. According to some embodiments, for example, the base station 615 may provide a configured grant (CG) for the anchor UEs 620-1 and 620-2 to report ranging measurements. Additionally or alternatively, the anchor UEs 620-1 and 620-2 may report ranging measurements as part of channel quality information (CQI) / feedback measurements via PUCCH and / or PUSCH.

[0090] As mentioned above, the RRC connection state of the Uu interface between the UE and the base station is usually unknown to the location server. Therefore, according to some embodiments of using the location server to coordinate positioning, the RRC connection state of the Uu can be shared with the location server (e.g., shared by the base station). An example of this operation is shown in Figure 7.

[0091] Fig. 7A700A is a signal flow diagram of a first example method 700A for positioning a target UE 705 using a location server 710 (e.g., LMF) when the target UE 705 is in SL active mode and Uu inactive or idle mode according to an embodiment. Here, positioning is performed using a first RSU 710- and a second RSU 715-2. The positioning also involves a base station 720 (e.g., gNB). As described in other appendices herein, Figure 1 Sample, Fig. 7A are provided as non-limiting examples.Alternative embodiments may utilize additional or alternative equipment, including any combination of anchor UEs and / or RSUs.

[0092] Method 700A may begin at optional operation 725, where base station 720 provides an indication to location server 710 that target UE 705 has transitioned or will transition to SL active state while in Uu inactive state or idle state. This may be done, for example, in response to a similar message received by the base station from the target UE (e.g., in Figure 5 Operation 540, Figure 6 630). Messaging between the base station 720 and the location server 710 may utilize one or more applicable protocols, such as NRPPa. Alternatively, as shown in optional operation 727, an equivalent message may be transmitted by the target UE 705 to the location server 710 via LPP messaging (e.g., relayed by the base station 720). For example, if the target UE 705 has transitioned to active mode, the target UE 705 may use UL SDT to send LPP messaging.

[0093] To enable this information to be provided via LPP messaging, LPP may be adapted to convey this information. That is, a new information element (IE) or other data structure may be introduced into LPP that indicates the RRC connection state of the Uu interface between the UE and the base station. Additionally or alternatively, this information may be included in an existing data structure (e.g., IE) currently used in LPP. Similar adjustments may be used in other protocols used, such as NRPPa.

[0094] At operation 730, the location server at 710 receives assistance information from the base station 720. This assistance information may include the current registration area (RA) of the target UE 705 and / or the IDs of the RSUs 715-1 and 715-2 that are capable of communicating with the target UE 705 while the target UE remains in the SL active mode. According to some embodiments, the assistance information sent at operation 730 may be in response to a request for assistance information transmitted by the location server 710 to the base station 720 (not shown).

[0095] According to method 700A, once the LMF knows the RRC connection state of the UE and the identities of RSUs 715-1 and 715-2, it can work with RSUs 715-1 and 715-2 to perform ranging for the target UE 705. (See below for details on the RRC connection state of the UE and the identities of RSUs 715-1 and 715-2.) Figure 7B An alternative example is provided in which the location server 710 operates through the base station 720 to perform ranging. ) Thus, at operation 735, the location server 710 may transmit a request to the RSUs 715-1 and 715-2 for locating the target UE. As previously described, the positioning request may include the SL ID of the target UE 705. Then, at operation 740, the request may prompt the RSUs 715-1 and 715-2 to perform ranging and obtain ranging measurements. Although not in Fig. 7A 7, but the request transmitted from the location server 710 may be relayed via the base station 720 and / or other intervening devices. At operation 750, the RSUs 715-1 and 715-2 then report the ranging measurements back to the location server 710. Using this information and the known positions of the RSUs 715-1 and 715-2, the location server 710 may then perform operation 760, in which the location server 710 determines the location of the target UE 705.

[0096] Figure 7B is a signal flow diagram of a second example method 700B for locating a target UE 705 using a location server 710 when the target UE 705 is in SL active mode and Uu inactive or idle mode according to an embodiment. Method 700B is a variation of method 700A in which the location server 710 works through a base station 720 to coordinate the positioning of the target UE 705. The operations in method 700B may correspond to similarly numbered operations in method 700A, and thus may be implemented as previously described.

[0097] Similar to method 700A, method 700B may begin at optional operation 725, where base station 720 provides an indication to location server 710 that target UE 705 has transitioned or will transition to SL active state while in Uu inactive state or idle state. Again, as an alternative to operation 725, an equivalent message may be transmitted by target UE 705 to location server 710 via LPP messaging (e.g., relayed by base station 720), as shown in optional operation 727.

[0098] Once the LMF is aware of the RRC connection state of the UE, it can work with the base station 720 to coordinate ranging of the target UE 705 through the RSUs 715-1 and 715-2. Therefore, at operation 770, the location server 710 can transmit a request to the base station 720 for locating the target UE. According to some embodiments, the request at operation 770 can include identifiers of the RSUs 715-1 and 715-2, thereby indicating to the location server 710 which RSU to use to locate the target UE 705. The location server 710 can make this determination, for example, based on the known positioning of the RSUs 715-1 and 715-2 and the approximate location of the target UE 705. In response to the request, the base station 720 can perform operation 775, in which the base station 720 transmits a request to each of the RSUs 715-1 and 715-2 for locating the target UE 705. As previously described, the positioning request can include the SL ID of the target UE 705. Similar to method 700A, this may prompt RSUs 715-1 and 715-2 to perform ranging and obtain ranging measurements at operation 740, and then report the ranging measurements back to base station 720, as indicated by operation 750. Base station 720 then provides these measurements to location server 710, as indicated by operation 780. Using this information and the known positions of RSUs 715-1 and 715-2, location server 710 may then perform operation 760, wherein location server 710 calculates the position of target UE 705. As shown in FIG. Figure 7B In addition or alternatively to operations 780 and 760 as shown, in some embodiments, base station 720 may calculate a position of the target UE and provide the calculated position to location server 710 .

[0099] Although Fig. 7A and Figure 7B The embodiments in the example illustrate UE-assisted positioning in which the network (e.g., base station 720 or location server 710) determines the location of the target UE 705, but the embodiments are not limited thereto. In an alternative embodiment, the target UE 705 may request its location (e.g., via an SL connection with RSU 715-1 or RSU 715-2). Inserting the embodiment, the calculated location of the target UE may be provided to the target UE 705 by the base station 720 or the location server 710. Again, this is provided via the SL connection. Alternatively, RSU 715-1 and 715-2 may provide ranging reports directly to the target UE 705 (e.g., similar to operation 750), in which case the target UE 705 may determine its own location. In such cases, RSU 715-1 and 715-2 may provide their locations to the target UE 705 so that the determination can be made.

[0100] Figure 8800 is a flow chart of a method 800 for performing SL positioning according to an embodiment. For example, aspects of the method 800 may reflect the functionality of a base station or location server as described with respect to the embodiments provided herein. Figure 8 The functional components illustrated in one or more of the illustrated blocks may be performed by hardware and / or software components of a base station or location server. Example components of a base station are shown in FIG. Fig.11 Example components of a computer system illustrated in and that can be used as a computer server are shown in Fig.12 The following provides details Fig.11 and Fig.12 Description.

[0101] At block 810, the functionality includes determining, at a network node of the wireless network, that an RRC connection state of a Uu interface of a target UE includes an inactive state or an idle state. As noted, the inactive state and the idle state may correspond to RRC_INACTIVE and RRC_IDLE as using relevant 3GPP standards. As described below, this information may be determined by a base station (e.g., a gNB) and provided to a location server, either of which may include a network node.

[0102] Means for performing the functionality at block 810 may include a bus 1105, a processor 1110, a digital signal processor (DSP) 1120, a wireless communication interface 1130, a memory 1160, and / or other components of the base station 1100, such as Fig.11 The components for performing the functionality at block 810 may also include bus 1205, processor 1210, communication subsystem 1230, memory 1235 (including operating system 1240 and / or application 1245), and / or other components of computer system 1200, such as Fig.12 exemplified.

[0103] At box 820, the functionality includes determining at the network node a time during which the target UE will be in a sidelink (SL) active state, wherein the SL active state includes an operational state in which the target UE monitors communications via one or more SL interfaces, sends communications via the one or more SL interfaces, or both. The time may be determined by the target UE, defined in a relevant standard, etc. As further noted herein, according to some embodiments, the time may be relayed as a combination of a start time, a duration, and / or an end time. The components for performing the functionality at box 820 may include a bus 1105, a processor 1110, a DSP 1120, a wireless communication interface 1130, a memory 1160, and / or other components of the base station 1100, such as Fig.11The components for performing the functionality at block 820 may also include a bus 1205, a processor 1210, a communication subsystem 1230, a memory 1235 (including an operating system 1240 and / or an application 1245), and / or other components of the computer system 1200, such as Fig.12 exemplified.

[0104] At box 830, the functionality includes transmitting a message from the network node, the message being used to obtain positioning measurements of the target UE using one or more SL devices corresponding to the one or more SL interfaces, wherein obtaining the positioning measurements is performed when (i) the RRC connection state includes an inactive state or an idle state and (ii) the target UE is in a SL active state. As described herein, an embodiment may perform additional operations, such as receiving positioning measurements after transmitting the message from the network node; and determining the positioning of the target UE based on the positioning measurements and the corresponding positioning of each of the one or more SL devices. The components for performing the functionality at box 830 may include a bus 1105, a processor 1110, a DSP 1120, a wireless communication interface 1130, a memory 1160 and / or other components of the base station 1100, such as Fig.11 The components for performing the functionality at block 830 may also include bus 1205, processor 1210, communication subsystem 1230, memory 1235 (including operating system 1240 and / or application 1245), and / or other components of computer system 1200, such as Fig.12 exemplified.

[0105] As described in detail herein, embodiments in which the network node includes a location server may employ any number of various additional features depending on the desired functionality. According to some embodiments, the network node includes a location server for the wireless network. In such embodiments, determining the RRC connection state may include receiving a message indicating the RRC connection state from a base station. Additionally or alternatively, determining the time during which the target UE will be in a SL active state includes receiving a message indicating the time from the base station or the target UE. According to some embodiments, transmitting the message from the network node may include transmitting the message from the location server to the base station and / or from the location server to the one or more SL devices.

[0106] As described in detail herein, embodiments in which the network node includes a base station of a wireless network may employ any number of various additional features depending on the desired functionality. For example, according to some embodiments, determining the RRC connection state may be based on an RRC release transmitted from the base station to the target UE. Additionally or alternatively, determining the time during which the target UE will be in a SL active state may include receiving a message from the target UE indicating the time. According to some embodiments, transmitting the message from the network node may include transmitting the message from the base station to the one or more SL devices.

[0107] Fig. 9 900 is a flow chart of a method 900 for performing SL positioning according to an embodiment. For example, aspects of the method 900 may reflect the functionality of the target UE as described herein. Fig. 9 The functional components illustrated by one or more of the blocks shown may be performed by hardware and / or software components of the UE. Fig.10 , which is described in more detail below.

[0108] At block 910, the functionality includes determining with the target UE that the RRC connection state of the Uu interface of the target UE includes or will include an inactive state or an idle state. As noted herein, this may be responsive to information received by a base station. For example, according to some embodiments, determining the RRC connection state includes receiving an RRC release from the base station. Means for performing the functionality at block 910 may include bus 1005, processor 1010, digital signal processor (DSP) 1020, wireless communication interface 1030, memory 1060, and / or other components of UE 1000, such as Fig.10 exemplified.

[0109] At box 920, the functionality includes transmitting a message to a network node of the wireless network, the message indicating a time during which the target UE will be in a SL active state, wherein the SL active state includes an operational state of the target UE monitoring communications via one or more SL interfaces, sending communications via the one or more SL interfaces, or both. Again, the time during which the target UE will be in a SL active state may be determined by the mobile device and / or governed by applicable wireless standards. As described herein, one or more factors may affect the duration of this time. In addition, as previously described, the network node may include a location server or a base station. The components for performing the functionality at box 920 may include a bus 1005, a processor 1010, a digital signal processor (DSP) 1020, a wireless communication interface 1030, a memory 1060 and / or other components of the UE 1000, such as Fig.10 exemplified.

[0110] At block 930, the functionality includes performing one or more ranging operations with one or more SL devices corresponding to the one or more SL interfaces, wherein the one or more ranging operations are performed when (i) the RRC connection state includes an inactive state or an idle state and (ii) the target UE is in a SL active state. Means for performing the functionality at block 930 may include a bus 1005, a processor 1010, a digital signal processor (DSP) 1020, a wireless communication interface 1030, a memory 1060, and / or other components of the UE 1000, such as Fig.10 exemplified.

[0111] As described herein, depending on the desired functionality, an implementation may include one or more additional features. For example, some implementations may also include, after performing the one or more ranging operations, transmitting a second message to the network node, the second message indicating a time when the target UE will no longer be in a SL active state. Additionally or alternatively, an implementation may include, after performing the one or more ranging operations, determining the positioning of the target UE based on positioning measurements obtained from the one or more ranging operations and the corresponding positioning of each of the one or more SL devices. Some implementations may also include receiving positioning measurements, the corresponding positioning of each of the one or more SL devices, or both via at least one of the one or more SL interfaces.

[0112] Fig.10 is a block diagram of an embodiment of UE 1000, which may be utilized as described above (e.g., in conjunction with the aforementioned figures). Thus, the UE may correspond to Figure 1 Mobile devices 105, Figure 2 UE 205 and / or any other UE described herein (including target UE and / or anchor UE) and / or incorporated therein. It should be noted that Fig.10 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.10 One or more of the illustrated hardware and / or software components execute.

[0113] UE 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 (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 1010 may include one or more processing units, which may be housed in a single integrated circuit (IC) or multiple ICs. Fig.10 As shown, some embodiments may have a separate DSP 1020, depending on the desired functionality. Position determination and / or other determinations based on wireless communication (discussed below) may be provided in the processor 1010 and / or the wireless communication interface 1030. The UE 1000 may also include: one or more input devices 1070, 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 1015, which may include but are not limited to one or more displays (e.g., touch screens), light emitting diodes (LEDs), speakers, etc.

[0114] UE 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 Device, IEEE 802.11 device, IEEE 802.15.4 device, Wi-Fi device, WiMAX device, WAN device and / or various cellular devices, etc.), etc., the wireless communication interface may enable UE 1000 to communicate with other devices as described in the above embodiments. The wireless communication interface 1030 may allow the TRP of the network to communicate (e.g., send and receive) data and signaling, such as 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, as described herein. Communication may be performed via one or more wireless communication antennas 1032 that transmit and / or receive wireless signals 1034. According to some embodiments, the wireless communication antenna 1032 may include multiple discrete antennas, antenna arrays, or any combination thereof. The antenna 1032 may be capable of using beams (e.g., Tx beams and Rx beams) to send and receive wireless signals. Beamforming may be performed using digital and / or analog beamforming techniques with corresponding digital and / or analog circuitry. Wireless communication interface 1030 may include such circuitry.

[0115] Depending on the desired functionality, the wireless communication interface 1030 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 1000 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, while 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.

[0116] UE 1000 may also include sensors 1040. Sensors 1040 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 positioning-related measurements and / or other information.

[0117] Embodiments of UE 1000 may also include a global navigation satellite system (GNSS) receiver 1080 that is capable of receiving signals 1084 from one or more GNSS satellites using antenna 1082 (which may be the same as antenna 1032). Positioning based on GNSS signal measurements may be used to supplement and / or incorporate the techniques described herein. GNSS receiver 1080 may extract the positioning of UE 1000 using conventional techniques from GNSS satellites of GNSS systems such as 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 1080 may be used with various augmentation systems, such as, for example, a satellite-based augmentation system (SBAS), which may be associated with or otherwise enabled for use with one or more global and / or regional navigation satellite systems, such as, for example, 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.

[0118] It may be pointed out that although Fig.10 1080 is illustrated as a different component, but the embodiments are not limited thereto. 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 1010, DSP 1020, and / or a processor within wireless communication interface 1030 (e.g., in a modem)). The GNSS receiver may also optionally include a positioning engine that can use GNSS measurements from the measurement engine to determine the positioning of the GNSS receiver using an extended Kalman filter (EKF), weighted least squares (WLS), a particle filter, etc. The positioning engine may also be executed by one or more processors such as processor 1010 or DSP1020.

[0119] UE 1000 may also include and / or be in communication with memory 1060. 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, etc.

[0120] The memory 1060 of the UE 1000 may also include software elements ( Fig.10 1000), including an operating system, device drivers, executable libraries, and / or other code (such as one or more applications), which software elements 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 processes described with respect to the methods discussed above may be implemented as code and / or instructions in memory 1060 that can be executed by UE 1000 (and / or processor 1010 or DSP 1020 within UE 1000). Then, in some embodiments, such code 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.

[0121] Fig.11 is a block diagram of an embodiment of a base station 1100, which may be utilized as described above (with respect to a base station and / or a transmit receive point (TRP)). It should be noted that Fig.11 It 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 1100 may correspond to a gNB, an ng-eNB, and / or (more generally) a TRP. In some cases, the base station 1100 may include multiple TRPs—for example, where each TRP is associated with a different antenna or a different antenna array (e.g., 1132) of the base station 1100. As used herein, the transmit functionality of the TRP may be performed using a transmit point (TP), and / or the receive functionality 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.

[0122] Considering the open radio access network (O-RAN) and / or virtualized radio access network (V-RAN or vRAN) in 5G or later networks, the functionality performed by the base station 1100 in earlier generation networks (e.g., 3G and 4G) can be divided into different functional components (e.g., radio unit (RU), distributed unit (DU), and central unit (CU)) and layers (e.g., L1 / L2 / L3), and the operation can be performed 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 performed by Fig.11 One or more of the illustrated hardware and / or software components execute.

[0123] Base station 1100 is shown as including hardware elements that may be electrically coupled via bus 1105 (or may communicate in other ways as appropriate). The hardware elements may include a processor 1110, 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.11 As shown, some embodiments may have a separate DSP 1120, depending on the desired functionality. According to some embodiments, wireless communication-based position determination and / or other determinations may be provided in the processor 1110 and / or the wireless communication interface 1130 (discussed below). The base station 1100 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.

[0124] The base station 1100 may also include a wireless communication interface 1130, 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, IEEE 802.15.4 device, Wi-Fi device, WiMAX device, cellular communication facility, etc.), etc., the wireless communication interface may enable the base station 1100 to communicate as described herein. The wireless communication interface 1130 may permit the communication (e.g., sending and receiving) of data and signaling to UE, other base stations / TRPs (e.g., eNB, gNB and ng-eNB), and / or other network components, computer systems, and / or other electronic devices described herein. Communication may be performed via one or more wireless communication antennas 1132 that transmit and / or receive wireless signals 1134. According to some embodiments, the one or more wireless communication antennas 1132 may include one or more antenna arrays capable of beamforming.

[0125] The base station 1100 may also include a network interface 1180, which may include support for wired communication technologies. The network interface 1180 may include a modem, a network card, a chipset, etc. The network interface 1180 may include one or more input and / or output communication interfaces to permit data to be exchanged with a network, a communication network server, a computer system, and / or any other electronic device described herein.

[0126] In many embodiments, the base station 1100 may also include a memory 1160. The memory 1160 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.

[0127] The memory 1160 of the base station 1100 may also include software elements ( Fig.11 1100 (and / or the processor 1110 or DSP 1120 within the base station 1100). Such code and / or instructions may then 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.

[0128] Fig.12 1200, which may be used in whole or in part to provide the functionality of one or more components and / or devices (including a location server such as an LMF) as described in the embodiments herein. This may include, for example, a computer server, a personal computer, a personal electronic device, etc. It should be noted that Fig.12 It is intended only to provide a generalized illustration of the various components, any or all of which may be utilized as appropriate. Fig.12 The broad illustrations show how various system elements can be implemented in a relatively separate or relatively more integrated manner. Fig.12 The illustrated components may be localized to a single device and / or distributed among various networked devices that may be located at different geographical locations.

[0129] The computer system 1200 is shown to include hardware elements that can be electrically coupled via a bus 1205 (or can communicate in other ways as appropriate). The hardware elements may include a processor 1210, which may include but is not limited to one or more general-purpose processors, one or more special-purpose processors (such as digital signal processing chips, graphics acceleration processors, etc.) and / or other processing structures, which can be configured to perform one or more of the methods described herein. The computer system 1200 may also include: one or more input devices 1215, which may include but are not limited to a mouse, a keyboard, a camera, a microphone, etc.; and one or more output devices 1220, which may include but are not limited to a display device, a printer, etc.

[0130] The computer system 1200 may also include (and / or communicate with) one or more non-transitory storage devices 1225, which may include, but are not limited to, local and / or network accessible storage devices, and / or may include, but are not limited to, 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. Such data storage may include databases and / or other data structures for storing and managing messages and / or other information to be transmitted to one or more devices via the hub, as described herein.

[0131] The computer system 1200 may also include a communication subsystem 1230, which may include wireless communication technologies managed and controlled by a wireless communication interface 1233, as well as wired technologies (such as Ethernet, coaxial communication, universal serial bus (USB), etc.). The wireless communication interface 1233 may include one or more wireless transceivers, which may transmit and receive wireless signals 1255 (e.g., signals according to 5G NR or LTE) via a wireless antenna 1250. Thus, the communication subsystem 1230 may include a modem, a network card (wireless or wired), an infrared communication device, a wireless communication device, and / or a chipset, etc., which may enable the computer system 1200 to communicate with any device (including user equipment (UE), base station and / or other transmission / reception point (TRP), and / or any other electronic device described herein) on any or all of the communication networks described herein. Therefore, the communication subsystem 1230 can be used to receive and transmit data, as described in the embodiments of this article.

[0132] In many embodiments, the computer system 1200 will also include a working memory 1235, which may include a RAM or ROM device, as described above. The software elements shown as being located within the working memory 1235 may include an operating system 1240, device drivers, executable libraries, and / or other code such as one or more applications 1245, 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 of the processes described with respect to the methods discussed above may be implemented as code and / or instructions that can be executed by a computer (and / or a processor within a computer); then, in one aspect, such code 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.

[0133] The set of these instructions and / or codes may be stored on a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium (such as the storage device 1225 described above). In some cases, the storage medium may be incorporated into a computer system such as the computer system 1200. In other embodiments, the storage medium may be separate from the computer system (e.g., a removable medium such as an optical disk), and / or may be provided in the form of an installation package so that the storage medium can be used to program, configure, and / or adapt a general-purpose computer using the instructions / code stored thereon. These instructions may take the form of executable code that can be executed by the computer system 1200, and / or may take the form of source code and / or installable code that, when compiled and / or installed on the computer system 1200 (e.g., using any of a variety of commonly available compilers, installers, compression / decompression utilities, etc.), takes the form of executable code.

[0134] 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.

[0135] With reference to the accompanying drawings, 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 from which a computer can read instructions and / or codes.

[0136] The methods, systems and devices discussed herein are examples. Various embodiments may omit, replace or add various procedures or components as appropriate. For example, features described with respect to certain embodiments may be combined in various other embodiments. Different aspects and elements of the embodiments may be combined in a similar manner. The various components of the 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.

[0137] 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. However, it should be understood that all of these or similar terms are to be associated with the appropriate physical quantities and are merely convenient labels. Unless otherwise specifically stated, as will be apparent from the above discussion, it should 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.

[0138] As used herein, the terms "and" and "or" may include multiple 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 meanings are used here) as well as A, B, or C (exclusive meanings are 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 form, 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.

[0139] 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, wherein 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. Accordingly, the above description does not limit the scope of the present disclosure.

[0140] In view of this description, various embodiments may include different combinations of features. Specific implementation examples are described in the following numbered clauses:

[0141] Clause 1. A method for performing positioning of a target user equipment (UE), the method comprising: determining at a network node of a wireless network that a radio resource control (RRC) connection state of a Uu interface of the target UE comprises an inactive state or an idle state; determining at the network node that the target UE is in a side link (SL) state during which the target UE is in a side link (SL) state;

[0142] active state time, wherein the SL active state includes the operating state of the target UE monitoring communication via one or more SL interfaces, sending communication via the one or more SL interfaces, or both; and transmitting a message from the network node, the message being used to obtain positioning measurements of the target UE using one or more SL devices corresponding to the one or more SL interfaces, wherein obtaining the positioning measurements is performed when (i) the RRC connection state includes the inactive state or the idle state and (ii) the target UE is in the SL active state.

[0143] Clause 2. The method of clause 1, wherein the network node comprises a location server of the wireless network.

[0144] Clause 3. The method of clause 2, wherein determining the RRC connection state comprises receiving a message indicating the RRC connection state from a base station.

[0145] Clause 4. A method according to any one of clauses 2 to 3, wherein determining the time during which the target UE is to be in a SL active state comprises receiving a message indicating the time from a base station or the target UE.

[0146] Clause 5. The method of any of clauses 2 to 4, wherein transmitting the message from the network node comprises transmitting the message from the location server to a base station.

[0147] Clause 6. The method of any one of clauses 2 to 4, wherein transmitting the message from the network node comprises transmitting the message from the location server to the one or more SL devices.

[0148] Clause 7. The method of Clause 1, wherein the network node comprises a base station of the wireless network.

[0149] Clause 8. The method of clause 7, wherein determining the RRC connection state is based on an RRC release transmitted from the base station to the target UE.

[0150] Clause 9. A method according to any one of clauses 7 to 8, wherein determining the time during which the target UE is to be in a SL active state comprises receiving a message from the target UE indicating the time.

[0151] Clause 10. The method of any one of clauses 7 to 9, wherein transmitting the message from the network node comprises transmitting the message from the base station to the one or more SL devices.

[0152] Clause 11. According to the method described in any one of clauses 1 to 10, the method further includes receiving the positioning measurement after transmitting the message from the network node; and determining the positioning of the target UE based on the positioning measurement and the corresponding positioning of each SL device in the one or more SL devices.

[0153] Clause 12. A method for performing positioning of a target user equipment (UE), the method comprising: determining with the target UE that a radio resource control (RRC) connection state of a Uu interface of the target UE includes or will include an inactive state or an idle state; transmitting a message to a network node of a wireless network, the message indicating a time during which the target UE will be in a sidelink (SL) active state, wherein the SL active state includes an operational state in which the target UE monitors communications via one or more SL interfaces, sends communications via the one or more SL interfaces, or both; and performing one or more ranging operations with one or more SL devices corresponding to the one or more SL interfaces, wherein the one or more ranging operations are performed when (i) the RRC connection state includes the inactive state or the idle state and (ii) the target UE is in the SL active state. Clause 13. A method according to clause 12, wherein the network node comprises a location server or a base station.

[0154] Clause 14. A method according to clause 13, wherein determining the RRC connection state comprises receiving an RRC release from a base station. Clause 15. A method according to any one of clauses 12 to 14, the method further comprising transmitting a second message to the network node after performing the one or more ranging operations, the second message indicating a time when the target UE will no longer be in the SL active state.

[0155] Clause 16. A method according to any one of clauses 12 to 15, the method further comprising, after performing the one or more ranging operations, determining the positioning of the target UE based on positioning measurements obtained from the one or more ranging operations and the corresponding positioning of each SL device among the one or more SL devices.

[0156] Clause 17. The method according to any one of clauses 12 to 16, further comprising receiving the positioning measurement, the corresponding positioning of each of the one or more SL devices, or both, via at least one of the one or more SL interfaces.

[0157] Clause 18. A network node for performing positioning of a target user equipment (UE), the network node comprising: 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 that a radio resource control (RRC) connection state of a Uu interface of the target UE includes an inactive state or an idle state; determine a time during which the target UE will be in a sidelink (SL) active state, wherein the SL active state includes an operating state in which the target UE monitors communications via one or more SL interfaces, sends communications via the one or more SL interfaces, or both; and transmit a message via the transceiver, the message being used to obtain positioning measurements of the target UE using one or more SL devices corresponding to the one or more SL interfaces, wherein obtaining the positioning measurements is performed when (i) the RRC connection state includes the inactive state or the idle state and (ii) the target UE is in the SL active state.

[0158] Clause 19. A method according to clause 18, wherein the network node comprises a location server of the wireless network. Clause 20. A network node according to clause 19, wherein, in order to determine the RRC connection state, the one or more processors are configured to receive a message indicating the RRC connection state from a base station via the transceiver. Clause 21. A network node according to any one of clauses 19 to 20, wherein, in order to determine the time during which the target UE is to be in a SL active state, the one or more processors are configured to receive a message indicating the time from a base station or the target UE via the transceiver.

[0159] Clause 22. A network node as described in any of clauses 19 to 21, wherein, to transmit the message, the one or more processors are configured to transmit the message to a base station.

[0160] Clause 23. A network node as described in any of Clauses 19 to 21, wherein, to transmit the message, the one or more processors are configured to transmit the message to the one or more SL devices.

[0161] Clause 24. The network node of Clause 23, wherein the network node comprises a base station of the wireless network.

[0162] Clause 25. The network node of clause 24, wherein the one or more processors are configured to determine the RRC connection state based on an RRC release transmitted from the base station to the target UE.

[0163] Clause 26. A network node according to any of clauses 24 to 25, wherein, in order to determine the time during which the target UE is to be in a SL active state, the one or more processors are configured to receive a message from the target UE indicating the time.

[0164] Clause 27. A network node as described in any of Clauses 24 to 26, wherein, to transmit the message, the one or more processors are configured to transmit the message to the one or more SL devices.

[0165] Clause 28. A network node according to any one of clauses 18 to 27, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to, after transmitting the message from the network node: receive the positioning measurement; and determine the positioning of the target UE based on the positioning measurement and the corresponding positioning of each SL device among the one or more SL devices. Clause 29. A target user equipment (UE) for performing positioning of the target UE, the target UE comprising: 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 that the radio resource control (RRC) connection state of the Uu interface of the target UE includes or will include an inactive state or an idle state; transmit a message to a network node of a wireless network via the transceiver, the message indicating a time during which the target UE will be in a sidelink (SL) active state, wherein the SL active state includes an operating state in which the target UE monitors communications via one or more SL interfaces, sends communications via the one or more SL interfaces, or both; and perform one or more ranging operations with one or more SL devices corresponding to the one or more SL interfaces, wherein the one or more ranging operations are performed when (i) the RRC connection state includes the inactive state or the idle state and (ii) the target UE is in the SL active state.

[0166] Clause 30. The target UE of clause 29, wherein, to determine the RRC connection state, the one or more processors are configured to receive an RRC release from a base station via the transceiver.

[0167] Clause 31. A target UE according to any one of clauses 29 to 30, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to transmit a second message to the network node after performing the one or more ranging operations, the second message indicating a time when the target UE will no longer be in the SL active state.

[0168] Clause 32. A target UE according to any one of clauses 29 to 31, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to determine the positioning of the target UE based on positioning measurements obtained from the one or more ranging operations and the corresponding positioning of each SL device among the one or more SL devices after performing the one or more ranging operations.

[0169] Clause 33. A target UE according to clause 32, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to receive the positioning measurement, the corresponding positioning of each of the one or more SL devices, or both via at least one of the one or more SL interfaces.

[0170] Clause 34. An apparatus having means for performing the method of any one of clauses 1 to 33. Clause 35. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions comprising code for performing the method of any one of clauses 1 to 33.

Claims

1. A method for performing positioning of a target user equipment (UE), the method comprising: Determining, at a network node of the wireless network, that a radio resource control (RRC) connection state of a Uu interface of the target UE includes an inactive state or an idle state; determining, at the network node, a time during which the target UE is to be in a sidelink (SL) active state, wherein the SL active state comprises an operational state of the target UE monitoring communications via one or more SL interfaces, sending communications via the one or more SL interfaces, or both; and A message is transmitted from the network node, the message being used to obtain positioning measurements of the target UE using one or more SL devices corresponding to the one or more SL interfaces, wherein obtaining the positioning measurements is performed when (i) the RRC connection state includes the inactive state or the idle state and (ii) the target UE is in the SL active state. 2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the network node comprises a location server of the wireless network.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein determining the RRC connection state comprises receiving a message indicating the RRC connection state from a base station.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein determining the time during which the target UE will be in a SL active state comprises receiving a message indicating the time from a base station or the target UE.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein transmitting the message from the network node comprises transmitting the message from the location server to a base station or the one or more SL devices. The method of claim 1 , wherein the network node comprises a base station of the wireless network. 7 . The method of claim 6 , wherein determining the RRC connection state is based on an RRC release transmitted from the base station to the target UE.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein determining the time during which the target UE is to be in a SL active state comprises receiving a message from the target UE indicating the time.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein transmitting the message from the network node comprises transmitting the message from the base station to the one or more SL devices.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising, after transmitting the message from the network node: receiving the positioning measurements; and The positioning of the target UE is determined based on the positioning measurements and the corresponding positioning of each SL device among the one or more SL devices.

11. A method for performing positioning of a target user equipment (UE), the method comprising: determining with the target UE that a radio resource control (RRC) connection state of a Uu interface of the target UE includes or will include an inactive state or an idle state; transmitting a message to a network node of a wireless network, the message indicating a time during which the target UE is to be in a sidelink (SL) active state, wherein the SL active state comprises an operational state of the target UE monitoring communications via one or more SL interfaces, sending communications via the one or more SL interfaces, or both; and One or more ranging operations are performed with one or more SL devices corresponding to the one or more SL interfaces, wherein the one or more ranging operations are performed when (i) the RRC connection state includes the inactive state or the idle state and (ii) the target UE is in the SL active state.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the network node comprises a location server or a base station.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein determining the RRC connection state comprises receiving an RRC release from a base station.

14. The method of claim 11, further comprising, after performing the one or more ranging operations, transmitting a second message to the network node, the second message indicating a time when the target UE will no longer be in the SL active state.

15. The method according to claim 11 further includes, after performing the one or more ranging operations, determining the positioning of the target UE based on positioning measurements obtained from the one or more ranging operations and the corresponding positioning of each SL device among the one or more SL devices.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising receiving the positioning measurement, the corresponding positioning of each of the one or more SL devices, or both via at least one of the one or more SL interfaces.

17. A network node of a wireless network, the network node 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 radio resource control (RRC) connection state of a Uu interface of a target user equipment (UE) to include an inactive state or an idle state; determining a time during which the target UE is to be in a sidelink (SL) active state, wherein the SL active state comprises an operational state of the target UE monitoring communications via one or more SL interfaces, sending communications via the one or more SL interfaces, or both; and A message is transmitted via the transceiver, the message being used to obtain positioning measurements of the target UE using one or more SL devices corresponding to the one or more SL interfaces, wherein obtaining the positioning measurements is performed when (i) the RRC connection state includes the inactive state or the idle state and (ii) the target UE is in the SL active state.

18. The network node of claim 17, wherein the network node comprises a location server of the wireless network.

19. The network node according to claim 18, wherein: To determine the RRC connection state, the one or more processors are configured to receive a message indicating the RRC connection state from a base station via the transceiver.

20. The network node according to claim 18, wherein: To determine the time during which the target UE is to be in the SL active state, the one or more processors are configured to receive a message indicating the time from a base station or the target UE via the transceiver.

21. The network node according to claim 18, wherein: In order to transmit the message, the one or more processors are configured to transmit the message to the base station or the one or more SL devices.

22. The network node of claim 17, wherein the network node comprises a base station of the wireless network.

23. The network node of claim 22, wherein the one or more processors are configured to determine the RRC connection state based on an RRC release transmitted from the base station to the target UE.

24. The network node according to claim 22, wherein: To determine the time during which the target UE is to be in the SL active state, the one or more processors are configured to receive a message from the target UE indicating the time.

25. The network node of claim 17, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to, after transmitting the message from the network node: receiving the positioning measurements; and The positioning of the target UE is determined based on the positioning measurements and the corresponding positioning of each SL device among the one or more SL devices.

26. A target user equipment (UE), the target user equipment (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: determining that a radio resource control (RRC) connection state of a Uu interface of the target UE includes or will include an inactive state or an idle state; transmitting, via the transceiver, a message to a network node of a wireless network, the message indicating a time during which the target UE is to be in a sidelink (SL) active state, wherein the SL active state comprises an operational state of the target UE monitoring communications via one or more SL interfaces, sending communications via the one or more SL interfaces, or both; and One or more ranging operations are performed with one or more SL devices corresponding to the one or more SL interfaces, wherein the one or more ranging operations are performed when (i) the RRC connection state includes the inactive state or the idle state and (ii) the target UE is in the SL active state.

27. The target UE according to claim 26, wherein: To determine the RRC connection state, the one or more processors are configured to receive an RRC release from a base station via the transceiver.

28. The target UE of claim 26, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to transmit a second message to the network node after performing the one or more ranging operations, the second message indicating a time when the target UE will no longer be in the SL active state.

29. A target UE according to claim 26, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to determine the positioning of the target UE based on the positioning measurements obtained from the one or more ranging operations and the corresponding positioning of each SL device among the one or more SL devices after performing the one or more ranging operations.

30. The target UE according to claim 29, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to receive the positioning measurement, the corresponding positioning of each of the one or more SL devices, or both via at least one SL interface of the one or more SL interfaces.

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