Positioning of passive internet of things (IoT) devices

Abstract

Aspects presented herein may enable an entity that is receiving (or reading) a reflected / backscattered signal from an IoT device to distinguish the reflected / backscattered signal from other reflections (e.g., noise or signals rebounded from other objects). In one aspect, a wireless device sends an indication of a positioning session to an IoT device, where the indication initiates the positioning session for the IoT device. The wireless device transmits a set of PRSs to the IoT device via a plurality of transmission opportunities based on the positioning session. The wireless device receives at least one PRS of the set of PRSs from the IoT device via at least one reception occasion based on a reflection pattern.

Description

[0001] Cross - Reference to Related Applications

[0002] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Non - Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 18 / 053,361, filed on November 7, 2022, entitled "POSITIONING OF PASSIVE INTERNET OF THINGS (IOT) DEVICES", which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. Technical Field

[0003] This disclosure generally relates to communication systems, and more particularly to wireless communication regarding positioning. Background Art

[0004] Wireless communication systems are widely deployed to provide various telecommunication services such as telephony, video, data, messaging, and broadcasting. A typical wireless communication system may employ multiple access technologies capable of supporting communication with multiple users by sharing available system resources. Examples of such multiple access technologies include Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) systems, Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) systems, Frequency Division Multiple Access (FDMA) systems, Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access (OFDMA) systems, Single - Carrier Frequency Division Multiple Access (SC - FDMA) systems, and Time - Division Synchronous Code Division Multiple Access (TD - SCDMA) systems.

[0005] These multiple access technologies have been adopted in various telecommunication standards to provide a common protocol that enables different wireless devices to communicate at the urban, national, regional, and even global levels. An example telecommunication standard is 5G New Radio (NR). 5G NR is part of the ongoing evolution of mobile broadband promulgated by the Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) to meet new requirements associated with latency, reliability, security, scalability (e.g., related to the Internet of Things (IoT)), and other requirements. 5G NR includes services associated with Enhanced Mobile Broadband (eMBB), Massive Machine - Type Communication (mMTC), and Ultra - Reliable Low - Latency Communication (URLLC). Some aspects of 5G NR may be based on the 4G Long - Term Evolution (LTE) standard. Further improvements to 5G NR technology are needed. In addition, these improvements may also be applicable to other multiple access technologies and telecommunication standards that employ these technologies. Summary of the Invention

[0006] A simplified summary of one or more aspects is presented below in order to provide a basic understanding of these aspects. This summary is not an extensive overview of all contemplated aspects. This summary neither identifies key or critical elements of all aspects nor describes the scope of any or all aspects. Its sole purpose is to present some concepts of one or more aspects in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented later.

[0007] In one aspect of the present disclosure, a method, a computer-readable medium, and an apparatus are provided. The apparatus sends an indication of a positioning session to an Internet of Things (IoT) device, where the indication initiates the positioning session for the IoT device. The apparatus sends a set of positioning reference signals (PRSs) to the IoT device via a plurality of transmission opportunities based on the positioning session. The apparatus receives at least one PRS from the set of PRSs from the IoT device based on a reflection mode via at least one reception opportunity.

[0008] In one aspect of the present disclosure, a method, a computer-readable medium, and an apparatus are provided. The apparatus receives an indication of a positioning session from a wireless device, where the indication initiates the positioning session for the IoT device. The apparatus receives a set of PRSs from the wireless device via a plurality of reception opportunities. The apparatus forwards the set of PRSs based on a reflection mode via a plurality of transmission opportunities, where the reflection mode is associated with a combination of reflection operations performed during the plurality of transmission opportunities, and the reflection operations include at least one of the following: total reflection, absorption, or open circuit.

[0009] To achieve the foregoing and related purposes, one or more aspects include the features described in detail below and particularly pointed out in the claims. The following description and the drawings set forth in detail some exemplary features of one or more aspects. However, these features indicate only some of the various ways in which the principles of the various aspects may be employed. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010] Figure 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a wireless communication system and an access network.

[0011] Figure 2A is a diagram illustrating an example of a first frame according to various aspects of the present disclosure.

[0012] Figure 2B is a diagram illustrating an example of a downlink (DL) channel within a subframe according to various aspects of the present disclosure.

[0013] Figure 2C is a diagram illustrating an example of a second frame according to various aspects of the present disclosure.

[0014] Figure 2D is a diagram illustrating an example of an uplink (UL) channel within a subframe according to various aspects of the present disclosure.

[0015] Figure 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a base station and a user equipment (UE) in an access network.

[0016] Figure 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of UE positioning based on reference signal measurements.

[0017] Figure 5 is a diagram illustrating an example radio frequency identification (RFID) tag according to various aspects of the present disclosure.

[0018] Figure 6 is a diagram illustrating examples of different types of Internet of Things (IoT) devices according to various aspects of the present disclosure.

[0019] Figure 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of a passive IoT device that performs backscattering / reflection of a signal through modulation according to various aspects of the present disclosure.

[0020] Figure 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of a network entity that communicates with a set of IoT devices according to various aspects of the present disclosure.

[0021] Figure 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of an associated energy transfer with a passive IoT device according to various aspects of the present disclosure.

[0022] Figure 10 is a diagram illustrating an example communication process between an RFID reader and an RFID tag according to various aspects of the present disclosure.

[0023] Figure 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of positioning for an IoT device according to various aspects of the present disclosure.

[0024] Figure 12 is a diagram illustrating an example of determining the distance between an RFID reader and an RFID tag according to various aspects of the present disclosure.

[0025] Figure 13 is a diagram illustrating an example of energy constraints at an RFID tag during a backscattering-based positioning session according to various aspects of the present disclosure.

[0026] Figure 14 is a diagram illustrating an example of an RFID tag capable of performing different / multiple reflection / backscattering modes according to various aspects of the present disclosure.

[0027] Figure 15 is a diagram illustrating an example communication flow for configuring an RFID tag to perform a combination of reflection / backscattering operations (which may also be referred to as a reflection mode or a backscattering mode) according to various aspects of the present disclosure.

[0028] Figure 16 is a diagram illustrating an example of wireless power transfer considerations associated with an RFID tag according to various aspects of the present disclosure.

[0029] Figure 17 It is a flowchart of a method for wireless communication.

[0030] Figure 18 It is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardware implementation for exemplifying a device and / or a network entity.

[0031] Figure 19 It is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardware implementation for exemplifying a device and / or a network entity.

[0032] Figure 20 It is a flowchart 2000 of a method for wireless communication.

[0033] Figure 21 It is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardware implementation for exemplifying a device and / or a network entity. Detailed Description

[0034] Aspects presented herein can implement and improve the positioning of Internet of Things (IoT) devices, and specifically implement and improve the positioning of passive IoT devices. Aspects presented herein can enable an entity receiving (or reading) a reflected / scattered signal from an IoT device to distinguish the reflected / scattered signal from other reflections (e.g., noise or signals bouncing from other objects). Thus, aspects presented herein can achieve more accurate and efficient positioning of IoT devices, which may have low-power positioning constraints and / or energy constraints.

[0035] The detailed description set forth below in connection with the appended drawings is a description of various configurations and does not represent the only configurations in which the concepts described herein may be practiced. To provide a thorough understanding of the various concepts, the detailed description includes specific details. However, the concepts may be practiced without these specific details. In some instances, well-known structures and components are shown in block diagram form to avoid obscuring such concepts.

[0036] Certain aspects of a telecommunications system are presented with reference to various devices and methods. These devices and methods are described in the following detailed description and illustrated in the drawings by various blocks, components, circuits, processes, algorithms, etc. (collectively referred to as "elements"). These elements can be implemented using either electronic hardware, computer software, or any combination thereof. Whether an element is implemented as hardware or software depends upon the particular application and design constraints imposed on the overall system.

[0037] By way of example, an element, or any portion of an element, or any combination of elements can be implemented as a “processing system” that includes one or more processors. Examples of processors include microprocessors, microcontrollers, graphics processing units (GPUs), central processing units (CPUs), application processors, digital signal processors (DSPs), reduced instruction set computing (RISC) processors, systems on a chip (SoCs), baseband processors, field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), programmable logic devices (PLDs), state machines, gated logic, discrete hardware circuits, and other suitable hardware configured to perform the various functions described throughout this disclosure. One or more processors in the processing system can execute software. Software should be construed broadly to mean instructions, instruction sets, code, code segments, program code, programs, subprograms, software components, applications, software applications, software packages, routines, subroutines, objects, executables, threads of execution, procedures, functions, or any combination thereof, regardless of whether it is referred to as software, firmware, middleware, microcode, hardware description language, or other terms.

[0038] Thus, in one or more example aspects, embodiments, and / or use cases, the described functionality can be implemented in hardware, software, or any combination thereof. If implemented in software, the functionality can be stored or encoded on a computer-readable medium as one or more instructions or code. Computer-readable media includes computer storage media. Storage media can be any available media that can be accessed by a computer. By way of example, such computer-readable media can include random access memory (RAM), read only memory (ROM), electrically erasable programmable ROM (EEPROM), optical disk storage, magnetic disk storage, other magnetic storage devices, combinations of these types of computer-readable media, or any other media capable of storing computer-executable code in the form of instructions or data structures that can be accessed by a computer.

[0039] Although aspects, embodiments, and / or use cases are described herein by way of illustration of some examples, additional or different aspects, embodiments, and / or use cases may arise in many different arrangements and scenarios. The aspects, embodiments, and / or use cases described herein may be implemented across many different platform types, devices, systems, shapes, sizes, and packaging arrangements. For example, aspects, embodiments, and / or use cases may be embodied via integrated chips and other non-module-component-based devices (e.g., end-user devices, vehicles, communication devices, computing devices, industrial equipment, retail / purchase devices, medical devices, artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled devices, etc.). Although some examples may or may not be specifically targeted at use cases or applications, the examples described may have broad applicability. Aspects, embodiments, and / or use cases may range from chip-level or modular components to non-modular, non-chip-level embodiments, and further to aggregated, distributed, or original equipment manufacturer (OEM) devices or systems incorporating one or more of the technologies herein. In some practical settings, devices incorporating the aspects and features described herein may also include additional components and features for implementing and practicing the claimed and described aspects. For example, the transmission and reception of wireless signals necessarily includes multiple components for analog and digital purposes (e.g., hardware components including antennas, RF chains, power amplifiers, modulators, buffers, processors, interleavers, adders / summers, etc.). The techniques described herein may be practiced in a wide variety of devices, chip-level components, systems, distributed arrangements, aggregated components, or disaggregated components, end-user devices, etc., of various sizes, shapes, and configurations.

[0040] The deployment of a communication system such as a 5G NR system can be arranged in a variety of ways using various components or constituent parts. In a 5G NR system or network, network nodes, network entities, mobility elements of the network, radio access network (RAN) nodes, core network nodes, network elements, or network equipment (such as a base station (BS)) or one or more units (or one or more components) performing base station functions may be implemented in an aggregated or disaggregated architecture. For example, a BS (such as a Node B (NB), evolved NB (eNB), NR BS, 5G NB, access point (AP), transmit-receive point (TRP), or cell, etc.) may be implemented as an aggregated base station (also referred to as a stand-alone BS or monolithic BS) or a disaggregated base station.

[0041] A converged base station may be configured to utilize a radio protocol stack that is physically or logically integrated within a single RAN node. A split base station may be configured to utilize a protocol stack that is physically or logically distributed between two or more units, such as one or more central or centralized units (CUs), one or more distributed units (DUs), or one or more radio units (RUs). In some aspects, a CU may be implemented within a RAN node, and one or more DUs may be co-located with the CU, or alternatively, may be geographically or virtually distributed across one or more other RAN nodes. A DU may be implemented to communicate with one or more RUs. Each of the CU, DU, and RU may be implemented as a virtual unit, i.e., a virtual central unit (VCU), a virtual distributed unit (VDU), or a virtual radio unit (VRU).

[0042] Base station operation or network design may consider the converged characteristics of base station functionality. For example, a split base station may be used in an integrated access backhaul (IAB) network, an open radio access network (O-RAN, such as a network configuration initiated by the O-RAN Alliance), or a virtualized radio access network (vRAN, also known as a cloud radio access network (C-RAN)). Splitting may include distributing functions across two or more units at various physical locations, as well as virtually distributing the functions of at least one unit, which may enable flexibility in network design. The various units of a split base station or a split RAN architecture may be configured for wired or wireless communication with at least one other unit.

[0043] Figure 1 FIG. 100 is a diagram illustrating an example of a wireless communication system and an access network. The illustrated wireless communication system includes a split base station architecture. The split base station architecture may include one or more CUs 110, which may communicate directly with a core network 120 via a backhaul link, or indirectly with the core network 120 through one or more split base station units, such as a near real-time (near RT) RAN intelligent controller (RIC) 125 via an E2 link, or a non-real-time (non RT) RIC 115 associated with a service management and orchestration (SMO) framework 105, or both. The CU 110 may communicate with one or more DUs 130 via a respective midhaul link, such as an F1 interface. The DU 130 may communicate with one or more RUs 140 via a respective fronthaul link. The RU 140 may communicate with a respective UE 104 via one or more radio frequency (RF) access links. In some embodiments, the UE 104 may be served simultaneously by multiple RUs 140.

[0044] Each unit (i.e., CU 110, DU 130, RU 140, and the near RT RIC 125, non-RT RIC 115, and SMO framework 105) may include one or more interfaces or be coupled to one or more interfaces that are configured to receive or transmit signals, data, or information (collectively referred to as signals) via a wired or wireless transmission medium. Each of the units or the associated processor or controller that provides instructions to the communication interfaces of these units may be configured to communicate with one or more of the other units via the transmission medium. For example, the units may include a wired interface that is configured to receive signals or transmit signals to one or more of the other units via a wired transmission medium. Additionally, the units may include a wireless interface that may include a receiver, transmitter, or transceiver (such as an RF transceiver) that is configured to receive and / or transmit signals to one or more of the other units via a wireless transmission medium.

[0045] In some aspects, CU 110 may host one or more higher layer control functions. Such control functions may include Radio Resource Control (RRC), Packet Data Convergence Protocol (PDCP), Service Data Adaptation Protocol (SDAP), etc. Each control function may utilize an interface that is configured to communicate signals with other control functions hosted by CU 110. CU 110 may be configured to handle user plane functionality (i.e., Central Unit - User Plane (CU-UP)), control plane functionality (i.e., Central Unit - Control Plane (CU-CP)), or a combination thereof. In some embodiments, CU 110 may be logically divided into one or more CU-UP units and one or more CU-CP units. When implemented in an O-RA configuration, the CU-UP units may communicate bidirectionally with the CU-CP units via an interface (such as an E1 interface). As needed, CU 110 may be implemented to communicate with DU 130 for network control and signaling.

[0046] DU 130 may correspond to a logical unit that includes one or more base station functions for controlling the operation of one or more RUs 140. In some aspects, DU 130 may host one or more of the Radio Link Control (RLC) layer, Medium Access Control (MAC) layer, and one or more high Physical (PHY) layers (such as modules for forward error correction (FEC) encoding and decoding, scrambling, modulation, and demodulation, etc.) at least in part according to a functional split (such as those defined by 3GPP). In some aspects, DU 130 may also host one or more low PHY layers. Each layer (or module) may utilize an interface that is configured to communicate signals with other layers (and modules) hosted by DU 130 or with control functions hosted by CU 110.

[0047] The lower layer functions can be implemented by one or more RUs 140. In some deployments, the RUs 140 controlled by the DU 130 can correspond to logical nodes that host RF processing functions or low PHY layer functions (such as performing fast Fourier transform (FFT), inverse FFT (iFFT), digital beamforming, physical random access channel (PRACH) extraction and filtering, etc.) or both, at least in part based on function splitting (such as lower layer function splitting). In such an architecture, the RU 140 can be implemented to handle over-the-air (OTA) communication with one or more UEs 104. In some embodiments, the real-time aspects and non-real-time aspects of the control plane and user plane communication with the RU 140 can be controlled by the corresponding DU 130. In some scenarios, this configuration can enable the implementation of the DU 130 and CU 110 in a cloud-based RAN architecture (such as a vRAN architecture).

[0048] The SMO framework 105 can be configured to support the deployment and orchestration of RANs for non-virtualized network elements and virtualized network elements. For non-virtualized network elements, the SMO framework 105 can be configured to support the deployment of dedicated physical resources for RAN coverage requirements, which can be managed via an operation and maintenance interface (such as the O1 interface). For virtualized network elements, the SMO framework 105 can be configured to interact with a cloud computing platform (such as the Open Cloud (O-Cloud) 190) to perform network element lifecycle management (such as instantiating virtualized network elements) via a cloud computing platform interface (such as the O2 interface). Such virtualized network elements can include, but are not limited to, the CU 110, DU 130, RU 140, and near RT RIC 125. In some embodiments, the SMO framework 105 can communicate with the hardware aspects of the 4G RAN (such as the Open eNB (O-eNB) 111) via the O1 interface. Additionally, in some embodiments, the SMO framework 105 can communicate directly with one or more RUs 140 via the O1 interface. The SMO framework 105 can also include a non-RT RIC 115 configured to support the functionality of the SMO framework 105.

[0049] The non-RT RIC 115 can be configured to include logic functions that enable non-real-time control and optimization of RAN elements and resources, artificial intelligence (AI) / machine learning (ML) (AI / ML) workflows including model training and updating, or policy-based guidance of applications / features in the near-RT RIC 125. The non-RT RIC 115 can be coupled to or communicate with the near-RT RIC 125 (such as via the A1 interface). The near-RT RIC 125 can be configured to include logic functions that enable near-real-time control and optimization of RAN elements and resources via data collection and actions through an interface (such as via the E2 interface) that connects one or more CUs 110, one or more DUs 130, or both, and the O-eNB to the near-RT RIC 125.

[0050] In some specific implementations, to generate the AI / ML models to be deployed in the near-RT RIC 125, the non-RT RIC 115 can receive parameters or external enrichment information from an external server. Such information can be utilized by the near-RT RIC 125 and can be received from non-network data sources or from network functions at the SMO framework 105 or at the non-RT RIC 115. In some examples, the non-RT RIC 115 or the near-RT RIC 125 can be configured to tune RAN behavior or performance. For example, the non-RT RIC 115 can monitor long-term trends and patterns of performance and employ an AI / ML model to perform corrective actions via the SMO framework 105 (such as via reconfiguration of O1) or via creating RAN management policies (such as A1 policies).

[0051] At least one of CU 110, DU 130, and RU 140 may be referred to as base station 102. Thus, base station 102 may include one or more of CU 110, DU 130, and RU 140 (each component is indicated by a dashed line to indicate that each component may or may not be included in base station 102). Base station 102 provides an access point to core network 120 for UE 104. Base station 102 may include macro cells (high-power cellular base stations) and / or small cells (low-power cellular base stations). Small cells include femto cells, pico cells, and micro cells. A network including both small cells and macro cells may be referred to as a heterogeneous network. The heterogeneous network may also include a home evolved Node B (eNB) (HeNB) that may provide services to a restricted group referred to as a closed subscriber group (CSG). The communication link between RU 140 and UE 104 may include an uplink (UL) (also referred to as a reverse link) transmission from UE 104 to RU 140 and / or a downlink (DL) (also referred to as a forward link) transmission from RU 140 to UE 104. The communication link may use multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) antenna technology, including spatial multiplexing, beamforming, and / or transmit diversity. The communication link may pass through one or more carriers. For each carrier allocated in carrier aggregation of up to a total of Yx MHz (x component carriers) for transmission in each direction, base station 102 / UE 104 may use a spectrum with a bandwidth of up to Y MHz (e.g., 5 MHz, 10 MHz, 15 MHz, 20 MHz, 100 MHz, 400 MHz, etc.). These carriers may or may not be adjacent to each other. The allocation of carriers may be asymmetric for DL and UL (e.g., more or fewer carriers may be allocated for DL compared to UL). Component carriers may include a primary component carrier and one or more secondary component carriers. The primary component carrier may be referred to as the primary cell (PCell) and the secondary component carriers may be referred to as secondary cells (SCells).

[0052] Some UEs 104 may use device-to-device (D2D) communication link 158 to communicate with each other. D2D communication link 158 may use DL / UL wireless wide area network (WWAN) spectrum. D2D communication link 158 may use one or more sidelink channels, such as the physical sidelink broadcast channel (PSBCH), the physical sidelink discovery channel (PSDCH), the physical sidelink shared channel (PSSCH), and the physical sidelink control channel (PSCCH). D2D communication may be through various wireless D2D communication systems, such as for example Bluetooth, Wi-Fi based on the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11 standards, LTE, or NR.

[0053] The wireless communication system may further include a Wi-Fi AP 150 that communicates with a UE 104 (also referred to as a Wi-Fi station (STA)) via a communication link 154, e.g., in an unlicensed spectrum such as the 5 GHz unlicensed spectrum. When communicating in an unlicensed spectrum, the UE 104 / AP 150 may perform a Clear Channel Assessment (CCA) before communication to determine whether the channel is available.

[0054] The electromagnetic spectrum is generally subdivided into various categories, bands, channels, etc. based on frequency / wavelength. In 5G NR, two initial operating bands have been identified as Frequency Range Designation FR1 (410 MHz - 7.125 GHz) and FR2 (24.25 GHz - 52.6 GHz). Although a part of FR1 is greater than 6 GHz, in various documents and articles, FR1 is generally referred to (interchangeably) as the "sub-6 GHz" band. Regarding FR2, a similar naming issue sometimes occurs, which is generally (interchangeably) referred to as the "millimeter wave" band in documents and articles, although it is different from the Extremely High Frequency (EHF) band (30 GHz - 300 GHz) identified by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) as the "millimeter wave" band.

[0055] The frequencies between FR1 and FR2 are generally referred to as mid-band frequencies. Recent 5G NR research has identified operating bands for these mid-band frequencies as Frequency Range Designation FR3 (7.125 GHz - 24.25 GHz). The bands falling within FR3 may inherit FR1 characteristics and / or FR2 characteristics, and thus can effectively extend the features of FR1 and / or FR2 to mid-band frequencies. In addition, higher bands are currently being explored to extend 5G NR operation beyond 52.6 GHz. For example, three higher operating bands have been identified as Frequency Range Designation FR2-2 (52.6 GHz - 71 GHz), FR4 (71 GHz - 114.25 GHz), and FR5 (114.25 GHz - 300 GHz). Each of these higher bands falls within the EHF band.

[0056] Considering the above aspects, unless otherwise specifically stated, if the term "sub-6 GHz" etc. is used herein, it may broadly represent frequencies that can be less than 6 GHz, can be within FR1, or can include mid-band frequencies. In addition, unless otherwise specifically stated, if the term "millimeter wave" etc. is used herein, it may broadly represent frequencies that can include mid-band frequencies, can be within FR2, FR4, FR2-2, and / or FR5, or can be within the EHF band.

[0057] Base station 102 and UE 104 may each include multiple antennas (such as antenna elements, antenna panels, and / or antenna arrays) to facilitate beamforming. Base station 102 may transmit beamformed signal 182 to UE 104 in one or more transmission directions. UE 104 may receive the beamformed signal from base station 102 in one or more reception directions. UE 104 may also transmit beamformed signal 184 to base station 102 in one or more transmission directions. Base station 102 may receive the beamformed signal from UE 104 in one or more reception directions. Base station 102 / UE 104 may perform beam training to determine the optimal reception and transmission directions for each of base station 102 / UE 104. The transmission direction and reception direction of base station 102 may be the same or may not be the same. The transmission direction and reception direction of UE 104 may be the same or may not be the same.

[0058] Base station 102 may include and / or be referred to as a gNB, Node B, eNB, access point, base station transceiver, radio base station, radio transceiver, transceiver function, basic service set (BSS), extended service set (ESS), transmission and reception point (TRP), network node, network entity, network equipment, or some other suitable term. Base station 102 may be implemented as an integrated access and backhaul (IAB) node, a relay node, a sidelink node, an aggregated (monolithic) base station with a baseband unit (BBU) (including CU and DU) and an RU, or may be implemented as a disaggregated base station including one or more of CU, DU, and / or RU. A set of base stations including disaggregated base stations and / or aggregated base stations may be referred to as a next generation (NG) RAN (NG-RAN).

[0059] The core network 120 may include an Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF) 161, a Session Management Function (SMF) 162, a User Plane Function (UPF) 163, a Unified Data Management (UDM) 164, one or more Location Servers 168, and other functional entities. The AMF 161 is a control node that processes signaling between the UE 104 and the core network 120. The AMF 161 supports registration management, connection management, mobility management, and other functions. The SMF 162 supports session management and other functions. The UPF 163 supports packet routing, packet forwarding, and other functions. The UDM 164 supports the generation of Authentication and Key Agreement (AKA) credentials, user identity handling, access authorization, and subscription management. One or more Location Servers 168 are illustrated as including a Gateway Mobile Location Center (GMLC) 165 and a Location Management Function (LMF) 166. However, generally speaking, one or more Location Servers 168 may include one or more location / locationing servers, which may include one or more of the GMLC 165, LMF 166, a Position Determination Entity (PDE), a Serving Mobile Location Center (SMLC), a Mobile Positioning Center (MPC), etc. The GMLC 165 and LMF 166 support UE location services. The GMLC 165 provides an interface for clients / applications (e.g., emergency services) to access UE location information. The LMF 166 receives measurement and assistance information from the NG-RAN and the UE 104 via the AMF 161 to calculate the location of the UE 104. The NG-RAN may utilize one or more positioning methods to determine the location of the UE 104. Positioning the UE 104 may involve signal measurements, position estimation, and optional speed calculation based on these measurements. The signal measurements may be performed by the UE 104 and / or the serving base station 102. The measured signals may be based on a Satellite Positioning System (SPS) 170 (e.g., a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS), a Global Positioning System (GPS), a Non-Terrestrial Network (NTN), or one or more of other satellite positioning / locationing systems), an LTE signal, a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) signal, a Bluetooth signal, a Terrestrial Beacon System (TBS), sensor-based information (e.g., an atmospheric pressure sensor, a motion sensor), an NR Enhanced Cell ID (NR E-CID) method, an NR signal (e.g., multi-round-trip time (multi-RTT), DL Angle of Departure (DL-AoD), DL Time Difference of Arrival (DL-TDOA), UL Time Difference of Arrival (UL-TDOA), and UL Angle of Arrival (UL-AoA) positioning), and / or one or more of other systems / signals / sensors.

[0060] Examples of the UE 104 include cellular phones, smart phones, Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) phones, laptop computers, personal digital assistants (PDAs), satellite radios, global positioning systems, multimedia devices, video devices, digital audio players (e.g., MP3 players), cameras, game consoles, tablet computers, smart devices, wearable devices, vehicles, electricity meters, air pumps, large or small kitchen appliances, healthcare devices, implants, sensors / actuators, displays, or any other device with similar functions. Some of the UEs in the UE 104 may be referred to as IoT devices (e.g., parking meters, air pumps, toasters, vehicles, heart monitors, etc.). The UE 104 may also be referred to as a station, mobile station, subscriber station, mobile unit, subscriber unit, wireless unit, remote unit, mobile device, wireless device, wireless communication device, remote device, mobile subscriber station, access terminal, mobile terminal, wireless terminal, remote terminal, cell phone, user agent, mobile client, client, or some other suitable term. In some scenarios, the term UE may also apply to one or more companion devices, such as in a device constellation arrangement. One or more of these devices may access the network jointly and / or access the network individually.

[0061] Referring again to Figure 1 , in some aspects, the UE 104 may be configured to: send an indication of a positioning session to the IoT device, where the indication initiates the positioning session for the IoT device; send a set of PRSs to the IoT device via multiple transmission opportunities based on the positioning session; and receive at least one PRS from the IoT device from the set of PRSs based on a reflection mode via at least one reception opportunity (e.g., via the RFID reading component 198).

[0062] In some aspects, the base station 102 may be configured to send an indication of a positioning session to the IoT device, where the indication initiates the positioning session for the IoT device; send a set of PRSs to the IoT device via multiple transmission opportunities based on the positioning session; and receive at least one PRS from the IoT device from the set of PRSs based on a reflection mode via at least one reception opportunity (e.g., via the RFID reading component 199).

[0063] In some aspects, the RFID tag 1504 (e.g., IoT device) may be configured to receive an indication of a positioning session from the wireless device, where the indication initiates the positioning session for the IoT device; receive a set of PRSs from the wireless device via multiple reception opportunities; and forward the set of PRSs based on a reflection mode via multiple transmission opportunities, where the reflection mode is associated with a combination of reflection operations performed during the multiple transmission opportunities, and the reflection operations include at least one of the following: total reflection, absorption, or open circuit (e.g., via the backscatter component 197).

[0064] Figure 2A FIG. 200 is an illustration that exemplifies a first subframe within a 5G NR frame structure. Figure 2B FIG. 230 is an illustration that exemplifies a DL channel within a 5G NR subframe. Figure 2C FIG. 250 is an illustration that exemplifies a second subframe within a 5G NR frame structure. Figure 2D FIG. 280 is an illustration that exemplifies a UL channel within a 5G NR subframe. The 5G NR frame structure can be frequency division duplex (FDD) (wherein for a particular set of subcarriers (carrier system bandwidth), the subframes within that set of subcarriers are dedicated to either DL or UL), or can be time division duplex (TDD) (wherein for a particular set of subcarriers (carrier system bandwidth), the subframes within that set of subcarriers are dedicated to both DL and UL). In Figure 2A 、 Figure 2C the example provided, the 5G NR frame structure is assumed to be TDD, wherein subframe 4 is configured with slot format 28 (wherein most are DL), where D is DL, U is UL, and F is flexibly usable between DL / UL, and subframe 3 is configured with slot format 1 (wherein all are UL). Although subframes 3, 4 are shown as having slot formats 1, 28 respectively, any particular subframe can be configured with any of the various available slot formats 0 - 61. Slot formats 0, 1 are all DL, all UL respectively. The other slot formats 2 - 61 include a mixture of DL, UL, and flexible symbols. The UE is configured with the slot format by receiving a slot format indicator (SFI) (configured dynamically via DL control information (DCI) or semi - statically / statically via radio resource control (RRC) signaling). Note that the following description also applies to the 5G NR frame structure as TDD.

[0065] Figures 2A to 2DA frame structure is illustrated, and aspects of the present disclosure may be applicable to other wireless communication technologies that may have different frame structures and / or different channels. A frame (10 ms) may be divided into 10 equally sized subframes (1 ms). Each subframe may include one or more time slots. The subframe may also include mini-slots, which may include 7, 4, or 2 symbols. Each time slot may include 14 or 12 symbols, depending on whether the cyclic prefix (CP) is normal or extended. For normal CP, each time slot may include 14 symbols, and for extended CP, each time slot may include 12 symbols. The symbols on the DL may be cyclic prefix orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (CP-OFDM) symbols. The symbols on the UL may be CP-OFDM symbols (for high throughput scenarios) or discrete Fourier transform (DFT) spread OFDM (DFT-s-OFDM) symbols (also known as single carrier frequency division multiple access (SC-FDMA) symbols) (for power-constrained scenarios; limited to single-stream transmission). The number of time slots within a subframe is based on the CP and the parameter set. The parameter set defines the subcarrier spacing (SCS) (see Table 1). The symbol length / duration may be scaled with 1 / SCS.

[0066]

[0067] Table 1: Parameter Set, SCS, and CP

[0068] For normal CP (14 symbols / slot), different parameter sets μ0 to 4 allow 1, 2, 4, 8, and 16 time slots per subframe, respectively. For extended CP, parameter set 2 allows 4 time slots per subframe. Thus, for normal CP and parameter set μ, there are 14 symbols / slot and 2 μ time slots / subframe. The subcarrier spacing may be equal to 2 μ * 15 kHz, where μ is parameter set 0 to 4. Thus, the subcarrier spacing for parameter set μ = 0 is 15 kHz, and the subcarrier spacing for parameter set μ = 4 is 240 kHz. The symbol length / duration is negatively correlated with the subcarrier spacing. Figures 2A to 2D An example of normal CP with 14 symbols per time slot and parameter set μ = 2 with 4 time slots per subframe is provided. The time slot duration is 0.25 ms, the subcarrier spacing is 60 kHz, and the symbol duration is approximately 16.67 μs. Within a frame set, there may be one or more different bandwidth parts (BWPs) that are frequency division multiplexed (see Figure 2B ). Each BWP may have a specific parameter set and CP (normal or extended).

[0069] A resource grid can be used to represent a frame structure. Each time slot includes a resource block (RB) (also referred to as a physical RB (PRB)) that extends over 12 consecutive subcarriers. The resource grid is divided into multiple resource elements (REs). The number of bits carried by each RE depends on the modulation scheme.

[0070] As Figure 2A illustrated, some of the REs in the RE carry reference (pilot) signals (RSs) for the UE. The RS may include a demodulation RS (DM-RS) (denoted as R for a specific configuration, but other DM-RS configurations are possible) and a channel state information reference signal (CSI-RS) for channel estimation at the UE. The RS may also include a beam measurement RS (BRS), a beam refinement RS (BRRS), and a phase tracking RS (PT-RS).

[0071] Figure 2B Examples of various DL channels within a subframe of a frame are illustrated. The physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) carries DCI within one or more control channel elements (CCEs) (e.g., 1, 2, 4, 8, or 16 CCEs), each CCE including six resource element groups (REGs), and each REG including 12 consecutive REs in the OFDM symbols of an RB. The PDCCH within a BWP may be referred to as a control resource set (CORESET). The UE is configured to monitor PDCCH candidates in a PDCCH search space (e.g., a common search space, a UE-specific search space) during a PDCCH monitoring occasion on the CORESET, where the PDCCH candidates have different DCI formats and different aggregation levels. Additional BWPs may be located at higher and / or lower frequencies on the channel bandwidth. The primary synchronization signal (PSS) may be in symbol 2 of a specific subframe of the frame. The PSS is used by the UE 104 to determine subframe / symbol timing and the physical layer identity. The secondary synchronization signal (SSS) may be in symbol 4 of a specific subframe of the frame. The SSS is used by the UE to determine the physical layer cell identity group number and the radio frame timing. Based on the physical layer identity and the physical layer cell identity group number, the UE may determine the physical cell identifier (PCI). Based on the PCI, the UE may determine the location of the DM-RS. The physical broadcast channel (PBCH) carrying the master information block (MIB) may be logically grouped with the PSS and the SSS to form a synchronization signal (SS) / PBCH block (also referred to as an SS block (SSB)). The MIB provides the system frame number (SFN) and the number of RBs in the system bandwidth. The physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) carries user data, broadcast system information not sent via the PBCH (such as system information blocks (SIBs)), and paging messages.

[0072] As Figure 2CAs illustrated, some of the REs in the RE carry DM-RS (designated as R for a particular configuration, but other DM-RS configurations are possible) for channel estimation at the base station. The UE may transmit the DM-RS of the physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) and the DM-RS of the physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH). The PUSCH DM-RS may be transmitted in the previous one or two symbols of the PUSCH. Depending on whether a short PUCCH or a long PUCCH is transmitted and depending on the specific PUCCH format used, the PUCCH DM-RS may be transmitted in different configurations. The UE may transmit a sounding reference signal (SRS). The SRS may be transmitted in the last symbol of the subframe. The SRS may have a comb structure, and the UE may transmit the SRS on one of the combs in the comb structure. The SRS may be used by the base station for channel quality estimation to enable frequency-dependent scheduling of the UL.

[0073] Figure 2D Examples of various UL channels within a subframe of a frame are illustrated. The PUCCH may be located at the position indicated in one configuration. The PUCCH carries uplink control information (UCI), such as a scheduling request, a channel quality indicator (CQI), a precoding matrix indicator (PMI), a rank indicator (RI), and a hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) acknowledgment (ACK) (HARQ-ACK) feedback (i.e., one or more HARQ ACK bits indicating one or more ACKs and / or negative ACKs (NACKs)). The PUSCH carries data and may additionally be used to carry a buffer status report (BSR), a power headroom report (PHR), and / or UCI.

[0074] Figure 3It is a block diagram of communication between the base station 310 and the UE 350 in the access network. In the DL, Internet Protocol (IP) packets can be provided to the controller / processor 375. The controller / processor 375 implements layer 3 and layer 2 functionality. Layer 3 includes the Radio Resource Control (RRC) layer, and layer 2 includes the Service Data Adaptation Protocol (SDAP) layer, the Packet Data Convergence Protocol (PDCP) layer, the Radio Link Control (RLC) layer, and the Medium Access Control (MAC) layer. The controller / processor 375 provides RRC layer functionality associated with the broadcast of system information (e.g., MIB, SIB), RRC connection control (e.g., RRC connection paging, RRC connection establishment, RRC connection modification, and RRC connection release), inter-Radio Access Technology (RAT) mobility, and measurement configuration for UE measurement reporting; PDCP layer functionality associated with header compression / decompression, security (encryption, decryption, integrity protection, integrity verification), and handover support functions; RLC layer functionality associated with the transfer of upper layer packet data units (PDUs), error correction via ARQ, concatenation, segmentation, and reassembly of RLC service data units (SDUs), re-segmentation of RLC data PDUs, and re-ordering of RLC data PDUs; and MAC layer functionality associated with the mapping between logical channels and transport channels, multiplexing of MAC SDUs onto transport blocks (TBs), demultiplexing of MAC SDUs from TBs, scheduling information reporting, error correction via HARQ, priority handling, and logical channel prioritization.

[0075] The transmit (TX) processor 316 and the receive (RX) processor 370 implement layer 1 functionality associated with various signal processing functions. Layer 1, which includes the physical (PHY) layer, may include error detection on the transport channel, forward error correction (FEC) encoding / decoding of the transport channel, interleaving, rate matching, mapping to the physical channel, modulation / demodulation of the physical channel, and MIMO antenna processing. The TX processor 316 handles the mapping to signal constellations based on various modulation schemes (e.g., binary phase shift keying (BPSK), quadrature phase shift keying (QPSK), M-phase phase shift keying (M-PSK), M-order quadrature amplitude modulation (M-QAM)). The encoded and modulated symbols are then split into parallel streams. Subsequently, each stream may be mapped to OFDM subcarriers, multiplexed with reference signals (e.g., pilots) in the time domain and / or frequency domain, and then combined together using an inverse fast Fourier transform (IFFT) to generate a physical channel carrying a time-domain OFDM symbol stream. The OFDM stream is space precoded to generate multiple spatial streams. Channel estimates from the channel estimator 374 may be used to determine the encoding and modulation schemes, as well as for spatial processing. The channel estimates may be derived from reference signals transmitted by the UE 350 and / or channel state feedback. Each spatial stream is then provided to a different antenna 320 via a separate transmitter 318Tx. Each transmitter 318Tx may modulate a radio frequency (RF) carrier using the corresponding spatial stream for transmission.

[0076] At the UE 350, each receiver 354Rx receives signals via its corresponding antenna 352. Each receiver 354Rx recovers the information modulated onto the RF carrier and provides the information to the receive (RX) processor 356. The TX processor 368 and the RX processor 356 implement layer 1 functionality associated with various signal processing functions. The RX processor 356 may perform spatial processing on the information to recover any spatial streams destined for the UE 350. If multiple spatial streams are destined for the UE 350, they may be combined by the RX processor 356 into a single OFDM symbol stream. The RX processor 356 then uses a fast Fourier transform (FFT) to convert the OFDM symbol stream from the time domain to the frequency domain. The frequency-domain signal includes a separate OFDM symbol stream for each subcarrier of the OFDM signal. The symbols and reference signals on each subcarrier are recovered and demodulated by determining the most likely signal constellation points transmitted by the base station 310. These soft decisions may be based on the channel estimates computed by the channel estimator 358. The soft decisions are then decoded and deinterleaved to recover the data and control signals originally transmitted by the base station 310 on the physical channel. The data and control signals are then provided to the controller / processor 359, which implements layer 3 and layer 2 functionality.

[0077] The controller / processor 359 may be associated with a memory 360 that stores program code and data. The memory 360 may be referred to as a computer-readable medium. In the UL, the controller / processor 359 provides demultiplexing between transport channels and logical channels, packet reassembly, decryption, header decompression, and control signal processing to recover IP packets. The controller / processor 359 is also responsible for error detection using the ACK and / or NACK protocols to support HARQ operations.

[0078] Similar to the functionality described in connection with DL transmissions performed by the base station 310, the controller / processor 359 provides RRC layer functionality associated with system information (e.g., MIB, SIB) acquisition, RRC connection, and measurement reporting; PDCP layer functionality associated with header compression / decompression and security (encryption, decryption, integrity protection, integrity verification); RLC layer functionality associated with transfer of upper layer PDUs, error correction via ARQ, concatenation, segmentation, and reassembly of RLC SDUs, re-segmentation of RLC data PDUs, and reordering of RLC data PDUs; and MAC layer functionality associated with mapping between logical channels and transport channels, multiplexing of MAC SDUs onto TBs, demultiplexing of MAC SDUs from TBs, scheduling information reporting, error correction via HARQ, priority handling, and logical channel prioritization.

[0079] Channel estimates derived by the channel estimator 358 based on reference signals or feedback transmitted by the base station 310 may be used by the TX processor 368 to select appropriate decoding and modulation schemes and to facilitate spatial processing. The spatial streams generated by the TX processor 368 may be provided to different antennas 352 via a separate transmitter 354Tx. Each transmitter 354Tx may modulate an RF carrier with a corresponding spatial stream for transmission.

[0080] UL transmissions are processed at the base station 310 in a manner similar to that described in connection with the receiver functionality at the UE 350. Each receiver 318Rx receives signals via its corresponding antenna 320. Each receiver 318Rx recovers the information modulated onto the RF carrier and provides the information to the RX processor 370.

[0081] The controller / processor 375 may be associated with a memory 376 that stores program code and data. The memory 376 may be referred to as a computer-readable medium. In the UL, the controller / processor 375 provides demultiplexing between transport channels and logical channels, packet reassembly, decryption, header decompression, control signal processing to recover IP packets. The controller / processor 375 is also responsible for error detection using the ACK and / or NACK protocols to support HARQ operations.

[0082] At least one of TX processor 368, RX processor 356, and controller / processor 359 may be configured to perform aspects related to Figure 1 the RFID reading component 198.

[0083] At least one of TX processor 316, RX processor 370, and controller / processor 375 may be configured to perform aspects related to Figure 1 the RFID reading component 199.

[0084] Figure 4 FIG. 400 is an illustration of an example of UE positioning based on reference signal measurements (which may also be referred to as “network-based positioning”) in accordance with various aspects of the present disclosure. UE 404 may transmit UL-SRS 412 at time T SRS_TX and receive a downlink positioning reference signal (PRS) (DL-PRS) 410 at time T PRS_RX . TRP 406 may receive UL-SRS 412 at time T SRS_RX and transmit DL-PRS 410 at time T PRS_TX . UE 404 may receive DL-PRS 410 before transmitting UL-SRS 412, or may transmit UL-SRS 412 before receiving DL-PRS 410. In both cases, a positioning server (e.g., location server 168) or UE 404 may determine the RTT 414 based on ||T SRS_RX – T PRS_TX | – |T SRS_TX – T PRS_RX ||. Thus, multi-RTT positioning may utilize UE Rx-Tx time difference measurements of downlink signals received from multiple TRPs 402, 406 and measured by UE 404 (i.e., |T SRS_TX – T PRS_RX |) and DL-PRS reference signal received power (RSRP) (DL-PRS-RSRP), as well as measured TRP Rx-Tx time difference measurements of uplink signals transmitted from UE 404 at multiple TRPs 402, 406 (i.e., |T SRS_RX – T PRS_TX(and UL-SRS-RSRP). The UE 404 uses the assistance data received from the positioning server to measure the UE Rx-Tx time difference measurement (and / or the DL-PRS-RSRP of the received signal), and the TRPs 402, 406 use the assistance data received from the positioning server to measure the gNB Rx-Tx time difference measurement (and / or the UL-SRS-RSRP of the received signal). These measurements can be used at the positioning server or the UE 404 to determine the RTT, which is used to estimate the location of the UE 404. Other methods for determining the RTT are possible, such as using DL-TDOA and / or UL-TDOA measurements.

[0085] PRS can be defined for network-based positioning (e.g., NR positioning) such that the UE can detect and measure more adjacent transmit and receive points (TRPs), where multiple configurations are supported to enable various deployments (e.g., indoor, outdoor, sub-6, mmW, etc.). To support PRS beam operation, beam scanning can also be configured for PRS. The UL positioning reference signal can be based on the sounding reference signal (SRS) with enhancements / modifications for positioning purposes. In some examples, UL-PRS can be referred to as "SRS for positioning", and new information elements (IEs) can be configured for SRS for positioning in RRC signaling.

[0086] The DL PRS-RSRP can be defined as the linear average of the power contributions (in [W]) of the resource elements of the antenna port carrying the DL PRS reference signal configured for RSRP measurement within the considered measurement frequency bandwidth. In some examples, for FR1, the reference point for DL PRS-RSRP can be the antenna connector of the UE. For FR2, the DL PRS-RSRP can be measured based on the combined signal from the antenna elements corresponding to a given receiver branch. For FR1 and FR2, if the UE uses receiver diversity, the reported DL PRS-RSRP value may not be lower than the corresponding DL PRS-RSRP of any individual receiver branch in the individual receiver branches. Similarly, the UL SRS-RSRP can be defined as the linear average of the power contributions (in [W]) of the resource elements carrying the sounding reference signal (SRS). The UL SRS-RSRP can be measured within the considered measurement frequency bandwidth, in the configured measurement occasion, by the configured resource elements. In some examples, for FR1, the reference point for UL SRS-RSRP can be the antenna connector of the base station (e.g., gNB). For FR2, the UL SRS-RSRP can be measured based on the combined signal from the antenna elements corresponding to a given receiver branch. For FR1 and FR2, if the base station uses receiver diversity, the reported UL SRS-RSRP value may not be lower than the corresponding UL SRS-RSRP of any individual receiver branch in the individual receiver branches.

[0087] The PRS-path RSRP (PRS-RSRPP) can be defined as the power of the linear average of the channel response at the i-th path delay of the resource elements carrying the DL PRS signal configured for measurement, where the DL PRS-RSRPP of the first path delay is the power contribution corresponding to the path first detected in time. In some examples, the PRS path phase measurement can refer to the phase associated with the i-th path of the channel derived using the PRS resources.

[0088] DL-AoD positioning can utilize the measured DL-PRS-RSRP of the downlink signals received at the UE 404 from multiple TRPs 402, 406. The UE 404 measures the DL-PRS-RSRP of the received signals using the assistance data received from the positioning server, and the resulting measurement, together with the azimuth of departure (A-AoD), zenith angle of departure (Z-AoD), and other configuration information, is used to position the UE 404 relative to the adjacent TRPs 402, 406.

[0089] DL-TDOA positioning can utilize the downlink reference signal time difference (RSTD) (and / or DL-PRS-RSRP) of the downlink signals received at the UE 404 from multiple TRPs 402, 406. The UE 404 uses the assistance data received from the positioning server to measure the DL RSTD (and / or DL-PRS-RSRP) of the received signals, and the resulting measurements, together with other configuration information, are used to position the UE 404 relative to the neighboring TRPs 402, 406.

[0090] UL-TDOA positioning can utilize the uplink relative time of arrival (RTOA) (and / or UL-SRS-RSRP) of the uplink signals transmitted from the UE 404 at multiple TRPs 402, 406. The TRPs 402, 406 use the assistance data received from the positioning server to measure the UL-RTOA (and / or UL-SRS-RSRP) of the received signals, and the resulting measurements, together with other configuration information, are used to estimate the location of the UE 404.

[0091] UL-AoA positioning can utilize the measured azimuth angle of arrival (A-AoA) and zenith angle of arrival (Z-AoA) of the uplink signals transmitted from the UE 404 at multiple TRPs 402, 406. The TRPs 402, 406 use the assistance data received from the positioning server to measure the A-AoA and Z-AoA of the received signals, and the resulting measurements, together with other configuration information, are used to estimate the location of the UE 404. For the purposes of this disclosure, a positioning operation in which the UE provides measurements to a base station / location entity / server for use in calculating the UE location may be described as "UE-assisted", "UE-assisted positioning", and / or "UE-assisted location calculation", while a positioning operation in which the UE measures and calculates its own location may be described as "UE-based", "UE-based positioning", and / or "UE-based location calculation".

[0092] Additional positioning methods can be used to estimate the location of the UE 404, such as, for example, UE-side UL-AoD and / or DL-AoA. It should be noted that data / measurements from various techniques can be combined in various ways to increase accuracy, determine and / or enhance certainty, supplement / complete measurements, and / or replace / provide missing information.

[0093] Note that the terms "positioning reference signal" and "PRS" generally refer to specific reference signals for positioning in NR and LTE systems. However, as used herein, the terms "positioning reference signal" and "PRS" may also refer to any type of reference signal that can be used for positioning, such as but not limited to: PRS, TRS, PTRS, CRS, CSI-RS, DMRS, PSS, SSS, SSB, SRS, UL-PRS, etc. as defined in LTE and NR. Additionally, the terms "positioning reference signal" and "PRS" may refer to downlink or uplink positioning reference signals, unless otherwise indicated by the context. To further distinguish the types of PRS, the downlink positioning reference signal may be referred to as "DL PRS", and the uplink positioning reference signal (e.g., SRS, PTRS for positioning) may be referred to as "UL-PRS". Additionally, for signals that can be transmitted in both the uplink and downlink (e.g., DMRS, PTRS), these signals may be prefixed with "UL" or "DL" to distinguish the direction. For example, "UL-DMRS" can be distinguished from "DL-DMRS".

[0094] In some scenarios, the positioning of an object can be performed using Internet of Things (IoT) devices, such as by attaching an IoT device to the object and measuring the signals backscattered / reflected from the IoT device. For example, one or more wireless devices (e.g., UE, base station, components of a base station, transmit receive point (TRP), or a combination thereof) can send signals to an IoT device (e.g., a device to be tracked or a device attached to an object to be tracked), and one or more wireless devices can receive the signals reflected / backscattered from the IoT device (which may hereinafter be referred to as "backscattered signals") and measure the received backscattered signals. For example, one or more wireless devices can measure the round-trip time (RTT), time of arrival (ToA), angle of arrival (AoA) of the backscattered signals, and other positioning-related measurements described in conjunction Figure 4 herein (which may hereinafter be collectively referred to as "positioning measurements"). Based on the positioning measurements of the backscattered signals, the location and / or relative location of the IoT device can be calculated, estimated, and / or determined. The relative location of the IoT device may refer to the location of the IoT device relative to another device or entity (such as a UE or a base station). For example, the relative location of the IoT device can be 10 meters away from the base station, east of the base station, etc. For the purposes of this disclosure, an IoT device may refer to a device that can be wirelessly connected to a network and has the ability to send data. For example, an IoT device can be a piece of hardware that is programmed for a specific application and can send data over the Internet or other networks, such as a sensor, an actuator, a gadget, an appliance, or a machine.

[0095] In some examples, an IoT device may be referred to as a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID), RFID tag (or simply tag), RFID device, passive RFID, backscatter-based RFID, or backscatter-based IoT, etc. (collectively referred to as "RFID tag" or "passive IoT device" hereinafter). RFID may refer to a form of wireless communication that includes using electromagnetic or electrostatic coupling in the radio frequency part of the electromagnetic spectrum to uniquely identify an object, animal, person, etc. A device capable of reading the information sent from the IoT device may be referred to as a backscatter receiver, backscatter reader, RFID reader, RFID reader UE, and / or reader UE, etc. (collectively referred to as "RFID reader" hereinafter). Additionally, a wireless device that sends a signal to the IoT device (which may be a different entity from the RFID reader) may be referred to as an RF source, RF source UE, or carrier transmitter. Note that a wireless device / entity may be capable of sending a signal to the IoT device and receiving a reflected signal (e.g., a reading) from the IoT device, and it may be referred to as a full-duplex device. Thus, an RF source may also be an RFID reader, and vice versa.

[0096] RFID is a rapidly growing technology that impacts many industries due to its economic potential for inventory / asset management (e.g., asset tracking, asset monitoring, etc.) in indoor and outdoor environments (such as the inside or outside of a warehouse), for IoT, for sustainable sensor networks in factories and / or agriculture, and for smart homes, etc.

[0097] Figure 5 FIG. 500 is a diagram illustrating an example RFID tag in accordance with various aspects of the present disclosure. The RFID tag 502 (e.g., a passive IoT device) may include a small transponder that emits an information-bearing signal when receiving a signal (e.g., from the RFID reader 504). The RFID tag 502 may operate with low operating expenses (OPEX), low maintenance costs, and / or a long life cycle without a battery. As shown at 506, the RFID tag 502 may absorb / harvest energy from the air based on the energy signal sent from the RFID reader 504 to power its transmit / receive circuitry. Then, as shown at 508, the RFID tag 502 may use the absorbed / harvested energy to send (e.g., reflect / backscatter) an information signal (e.g., a signal containing information, a 1-bit indication, a multi-bit indication, etc.), where the sent information signal may typically be backscatter modulated (e.g., modulated based on the signal received from the RFID reader 504). There may also be RFID tags with batteries (which may be referred to as semi-passive or active RFID tags), which generally have higher costs compared to RFID tags without batteries.

[0098] Figure 6FIG. 600 is an illustration of an example of different types of IoT devices (e.g., RFID tags) according to various aspects of the present disclosure. The IoT device can be configured as a passive IoT device or an active IoT device. For example, as shown at 604, the passive IoT device 602 may not have a battery in its terminal, but its terminal can accumulate (e.g., absorb or harvest) energy from wireless signaling (e.g., transmitted from a base station, RF source, wireless device, UE, etc.). In another example, as shown at 606, the passive IoT device 602 may include a supercapacitor, where the terminal of the passive IoT device 602 can accumulate energy from other energy sources such as solar energy, wind energy, thermoelectric energy, etc. as a supplement. In another example, as shown at 608, the passive IoT device 602 can be configured as semi-passive by a battery, which can enable the passive IoT device 602 to use the power from the battery to modulate / transmit signals, and the passive IoT device 602 may be able to be activated almost all the time but may not actively transmit. For a passive IoT device, a user can connect to it and receive information from it. On the other hand, the active IoT device 610 can send information as a time-controlled stream, a threshold stream, and / or a constant stream (e.g., can be performed without first receiving a signal from an RF source). For example, an active IoT device or a semi-active IoT device may include amplification capabilities and / or active RF components, which can enable the IoT device to send better quality transmissions / information.

[0099] Figure 7 FIG. 700 is an illustration of an example of a passive IoT device (e.g., RFID tag) that performs backscattering / reflection of a signal through modulation according to various aspects of the present disclosure. In one example, one of the main information modulation methods used by a passive IoT device (e.g., RFID tag 704) can be amplitude shift keying (ASK), where the passive IoT device can be configured to turn on reflection when transmitting information bit "1" and turn off reflection when transmitting information bit "0".

[0100] For example, as shown at 708, a first device 702 (e.g., an RF source capable of transmitting RF waves, a first UE, or a network entity) can transmit a specific radio wave represented as x(n), which will be received by the RFID tag 704 (e.g., a passive IoT device, an RFID reader, etc.). As shown at 710, the information bits of the RFID tag 704 can be represented as s(n) ∈ {0,1}. Then, as shown at 712, the received signal y(n) at a second device (e.g., a second UE, an RF reader, etc.) can be given by y(n) = (h D1D2 (n) + σ f h D1T (n)h TD2(n)s(n))x(n)+noise. Note that the first device 702 and the second device 706 can also be the same device (which can be referred to as a full-duplex device). In one example, when s(n)=0, the RFID tag 704 can be configured to turn off reflection (e.g., the RFID tag 704 does not send any signal), so that the second device 706 can only receive the direct link signal from the first device 702 (e.g., y(n)=h D1D2 (n)x(n)+noise). However, when s(n)=1, the RFID tag 704 can be configured to turn on reflection, so that the second device 706 can receive the superposition of both the direct link signal and the backscatter link signal (e.g., y(n)=(h D1D2 (n)+σ f h D1T (n)h TD2 (n)s(n))x(n)+noise, as shown at 712, where σ f can represent the reflection coefficient).

[0101] Figure 8FIG. 800 is an illustration of an example of a network entity that communicates (e.g., receives information from) a collection of IoT devices in accordance with various aspects of the present disclosure. In some examples, the network entity can be a relay node, a RAN node, a non-RAN node, an IAB node, a base station, a component of a base station, etc. Since wireless communication (e.g., 5G NR) has been extended to support different types of wireless devices (such as enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB) devices, ultra-reliable low-latency communication (URLLC) devices, and / or machine type communication (MTC) devices, etc.), wireless communication may also be extended to support IoT devices such as passive IoT devices. Although in certain scenarios (such as asset management, logistics, warehousing, and manufacturing, etc.), the network may not yet be able to efficiently support some common RFID type sensors (such as passive IoT devices). The next-generation network can be designated to support or manage passive IoT devices, where the network entity (such as a base station, a component of a base station, an IAB node, etc.) can be configured / designated to provide energy to the passive IoT device and / or read / write information stored on the passive IoT device. For example, the passive IoT device can reflect / backscatter a signal carrying information to the network entity, and the network entity can read the signal reflected / backscattered by the passive IoT device to decode the information sent by the passive IoT device. In another example, multiple network entities can send signals to an IoT device (e.g., IoT device 1) and receive the signals backscattered / reflected from the IoT device. Based on the RTT or ToA of the backscattered signal, each of the multiple network entities can calculate / estimate the distance / angle between the network entity and the IoT device. Thus, the location of the IoT device can be determined (e.g., based on a trilateration / triangulation mechanism).

[0102] Figure 9 FIG. 900 is an illustration of an example energy transfer associated with a passive IoT device in accordance with various aspects of the present disclosure. The passive IoT device can include a power harvesting (PH) circuitry configured to absorb / collect power from an RF signal. The input power at the PH circuitry can be non-linear (e.g., due to a diode). In some examples, a suitable input power at the PH circuitry is greater than -20 dBm ( - 10 dBm can be specified) to “turn on” the PH circuitry (e.g., due to the turn-on voltage of the diode). In other examples, the passive IoT device may operate more efficiently at lower frequencies due to the diode junction capacitance and resistance (e.g., frequency-selective conversion efficiency).

[0103] Figure 10FIG. 1000 is a diagram illustrating an example communication process between an RFID reader and an RFID tag in accordance with various aspects of the present disclosure. As shown at 1002, an RFID reader (which may be a network entity or UE capable of providing an RF source as well as reading RFID) may send a signal (e.g., a continuous wave (CW)) to the RFID tag, and the RFID tag may absorb / acquire power from the signal, such as described in conjunction with Figure 5 As described. In some scenarios, the RFID tag may have a turn-on voltage, where the RFID tag may take a period of time to absorb power and have sufficient power to send information (e.g., a modulated signal) or communicate with the RFID reader.

[0104] As shown at 1004, after the RFID tag has absorbed sufficient power and is turned on, the RFID reader may send a command or query to the RFID tag (or the RFID tag may become capable of receiving commands / queries from the RFID reader). The RFID tag may continue to absorb power from the signal sent by the RFID reader (e.g., from the CW). Then, as shown at 1006, in response to the command / query, the RFID tag may send the information requested by the RFID reader (e.g., via a multi-bit indication) to the RFID reader, such as described in conjunction with Figure 7 As described. This process may continue and repeat until the RFID tag stops receiving signals from the RFID reader (e.g., the RFID tag is no longer able to absorb power).

[0105] Figure 11 FIG. 1100 is a diagram illustrating an example positioning for an IoT device in accordance with various aspects of the present disclosure. As described in conjunction with Figure 4 、 Figure 5 and Figure 8 The location or relative location of an IoT device may be based on measuring backscattered signals sent from the IoT device at multiple network entities (e.g., base stations, UEs, etc.). For example, a network entity (e.g., a base station, a component of a base station) may send a positioning reference signal (PRS) to the IoT device and measure the PRS backscattered / reflected from the IoT device. Similarly, a UE may send a PRS or a sidelink (SL) signal to the IoT device and measure the PRS / SL signal backscattered / reflected from the IoT device. Based on the measurements, the location of the IoT device may be determined.

[0106] Positioning of a moving or stationary object using radar may be based on measuring reflections from the moving or stationary object, where time-of-arrival (ToA) and Doppler measurements may be used to estimate the distance and speed of the moving or stationary object (collectively referred to hereinafter as the target). As described in conjunction with Figure 4As described, network-based positioning or UE-based positioning can also be used to determine the location of a target (e.g., UE 404), where a network entity can send PRS to the UE and / or the UE can send a sounding reference signal (SRS) to the network entity. Based on the measurement of the PRS / SRS, the location of the UE can be determined. However, network-based positioning and UE-based positioning can specify the transmission and / or processing of the PRS / SRS.

[0107] On the other hand, as described in connection with Figure 5 the positioning of passive IoT devices can be based on measuring backscattered signals from the passive IoT devices (e.g., backscattering of incoming electromagnetic (EM) waves), which can specify little to no processing of the backscattered signals. In addition, passive IoT devices can specify power harvesting (which can also be referred to as energy harvesting) and can be configured to operate at low power. Thus, in some scenarios, it can be challenging for an RFID reader (e.g., a network entity) to distinguish reflections from passive IoT devices from reflections from other objects (e.g., the ground, metal, moving vehicles, etc.).

[0108] Aspects presented herein can improve and enable the positioning of IoT devices, and specifically improve and enable the positioning of passive IoT devices. Aspects presented herein can enable an entity receiving (or reading) reflected / backscattered signals from an IoT device to distinguish the reflected / backscattered signals from other reflections (e.g., noise or signals bouncing from other objects). Thus, aspects presented herein can enable more accurate and efficient positioning of IoT devices, which can have low-power positioning constraints and / or energy constraints.

[0109] Figure 12 FIG. 1200 is a diagram illustrating an example of determining the distance between an RFID reader and an RFID tag (hereinafter referred to as "backscatter-based positioning" or "RTT-based positioning") in accordance with various aspects of the present disclosure. The RFID reader 1202, which can be a network entity (e.g., a base station, a TRP, an IAB node, etc.) or a UE, can include a baseband (BB) unit and an antenna (Ant).

[0110] In one aspect of the present disclosure, to determine the distance between the RFID reader 1202 and the RFID tag 1204 (e.g., a passive IoT device), as shown at 1206, the RFID reader 1202 can send a known waveform such as PRS to the RFID tag 1204 and start a timer at a first time point (t 0 )). As described in connection with Figure 5As described, the RFID tag 1204 can be configured / programmed to reflect / backscatter the PRS received from the RFID reader 1202, as shown at 1208, where different / plural reflection / backscattering modes can be configured for the RFID tag 1204 (discussed in detail below). Then, as shown at 1210, the RFID reader 1202 can receive and measure the reflected / backscattered PRS from the RFID tag 1204, and the RFID reader 1202 can determine the reception time of the backscattered PRS at a second time point, which can be the round-trip time (RTT) of the PRS from a first time point (t RTT ). (For example, the reception time of the PRS = t 0 +t RTT ). In some scenarios, as shown at 1212, there may be a time delay (t bias ) from the time the PRS is generated at the baseband unit to the time the PRS is transmitted from the antenna. Similarly, when the RFID reader 1202 receives the backscattered PRS from the RFID tag 1204, there may be another time delay (t bias ) from the time the PRS arrives at the antenna to the time the PRS is processed and time-stamped at the baseband unit.

[0111] Thus, the RFID reader 1202 can determine / estimate the distance (d) between the RFID reader 1202 and the RFID tag 1204 based on t TTT = 2*t bias + 2 / d / c, where c is the speed of light, and the value of the time delay (t bias ) can be known to the RFID reader 1202, such as via calibration using an object with a known distance. No processing and / or measurement of the PRS may be performed at the RFID tag 1204. Thus, the RFID tag 1204 may not be associated with time delay or clock error, where the time delay may occur only at the RFID reader 1202 (e.g., between the baseband unit and the antenna).

[0112] Figure 13 FIG. 1300 is a diagram illustrating an example of energy constraints at an RFID tag during a backscatter-based positioning session in accordance with various aspects of the present disclosure. A positioning session may refer to an occasion, instance, or period in which the location of a device (e.g., an IoT device, a UE, etc.) is determined using one of the positioning mechanisms described in conjunction with Figure 4 . As described in conjunction with Figure 9 and 10As discussed, before an RFID tag (e.g., a passive IoT device) can reflect / backscatter the received signal, it may take time for the RFID tag to absorb / acquire power and turn on. Thus, for backscatter-based positioning, the PRS transmission timing can be considered and specified at the RFID reader based on the energy constraint at the RFID tag. For example, as shown at 1306, an RFID reader 1302 (e.g., a network entity, a UE, etc.) can send an energy signal (e.g., a CW) to an RFID tag 1304, where the RFID tag 1304 can acquire energy from the energy signal and turn on, such as in conjunction with Figure 10 as described. In other words, the RFID tag 1304 can be powered by the energy signal transmitted by the RFID reader 1302 during a backscatter-based positioning session.

[0113] In one aspect of the present disclosure, to achieve efficient power acquisition at the RFID tag 1304 during a backscatter-based positioning session, the RFID reader 1302 can be configured to continuously send an energy signal during a backscatter-based positioning session or a backscatter-based positioning round (which can include multiple backscatter-based positioning sessions). Thus, the RFID reader 1302 can send both an energy signal and a PRS during a backscatter-based positioning session / round to power the RFID tag 1306.

[0114] In one example, as shown at 1308, the RFID reader 1302 can initiate a backscatter-based positioning round including multiple backscatter-based positioning sessions by sending a selection message (e.g., a positioning (Pos) selection message) to a plurality of RFID tags to select a set of RFID tags (which can include the RFID tag 1304) for participating in the backscatter-based positioning round / session. Then, as shown at 1310, the RFID reader 1302 can send a query message (e.g., a positioning query message) to the set of RFID tags selected to start backscatter-based positioning by reflecting the PRS. In one example, the query message can indicate the PRS format, the duration of the PRS transmission, the number of repetitions of the PRS, the reflection mode, or a combination thereof, and the query message can also indicate that the set of RFID tags repeats the backscatter of the PRS based on the same settings / configurations for other positioning sessions (e.g., for a new positioning session within the positioning round or a subsequent positioning session).

[0115] Then, as shown at 1312, the RFID reader 1302 may begin transmitting the PRS and receiving the backscattered PRS from the RFID tag. In some examples, the RFID reader 1302 and the RFID tag 1304 may be configured to exchange a random number (RN) prior to the transmission of the PRS to ensure that only a selected set of RFID tags can participate in the positioning session. For example, the RFID reader 1302 may receive the RN from the RFID tag 1304 and send the same RN to the RFID tag 1304 as a handshake procedure. The RFID reader 1302 may continuously transmit the energy signal during the positioning round such that the RFID tag 1304 is powered by the RFID reader 1302 throughout the positioning round.

[0116] Figure 14 FIG. 1400 is a diagram illustrating an example of an RFID tag capable of performing different / multiple reflection / backscattering modes in accordance with various aspects of the present disclosure. In another aspect of the present disclosure, the RFID tag 1402 may be configured with at least three reflection / backscattering modes (e.g., after receiving the PRS), which may include a total reflection mode, an absorption mode, and an open circuit mode.

[0117] In the total reflection mode, the RFID tag 1402 may perform impedance matching after receiving the PRS to achieve a maximum level of reflection. For example, as shown at 1404, a first impedance Z may be selected for the RFID tag 1402 1 such that the radar cross section (RCS) is maximized for the RFID tag 1402, where the maximum RCS (RCSmax) may be determined based on where A s is the antenna intrinsic reflection coefficient and

[0118] In the absorption mode, the RFID tag 1402 may perform impedance matching after receiving the PRS to achieve a minimum level of reflection. For example, as shown at 1406, a second impedance Z may be selected for the RFID tag 1402 2 such that the minimum RCS (RCSmin) is minimized (e.g., close to zero) for the RFID tag 1402. In other words, after the RFID tag 1402 receives the PRS, the PRS may be reflected with minimum power such that the corresponding RFID reader may not be able to receive / detect the backscattered PRS.

[0119] In an open circuit mode (which may also be referred to as an idle mode), reflections of the PRS can be caused by load-independent components (e.g., by the hardware components / casing of the RFID tag 1402), where the antenna of the RFID tag 1402 can be disconnected from the chip portion of the RFID tag 1402, thereby causing the impedance Z between the antenna and the chip portion to approach infinity (e.g., Z = infinity). Thus, the reflection of the PRS can be similar to a signal bouncing off a target during radar detection.

[0120] In another aspect of the present disclosure, in the case of different reflection modes, the RFID tag 1402 can be further configured to perform a combination of reflection operations using different reflection modes for a received set of PRS (or a series of PRS). Thus, the RFID reader can be able to distinguish the backscattered PRS of the RFID tag 1402 from other signals (e.g., PRS bouncing off other objects, reflections through clutter, etc.).

[0121] Figure 15 Is a communication flow 1500 that illustrates an example of configuring an RFID tag to perform a combination of reflection / backscattering operations (which may also be referred to as a reflection mode or a backscattering mode) according to various aspects of the present disclosure. The numbers associated with the communication flow 1500 do not specify a particular time order and are only used as a reference to the communication flow 1500. The aspects presented herein can enable an RFID reader to instruct an RFID tag to perform different reflection operations on different PRS instances. For example, the RFID tag can be configured to apply a full reflection mode, an absorption mode, an open circuit mode, and a full reflection mode, respectively, in sequence to four consecutive received PRS. Then, the RFID reader can distinguish the reflected / backscattered PRS from the RFID tag from other objects (e.g., PRS reflected from devices other than the RFID reader, from the environment, from physical structures, etc., hereinafter collectively referred to as "reflections through clutter") by comparing the reflected / backscattered PRS for different PRS instances, where the reflected / backscattered PRS can have different reflection coefficients for different PRS instances, and reflections through clutter are more likely to have the same reflection coefficient for different PRS instances.

[0122] For the purposes of the present disclosure, the reflection coefficient can refer to a parameter that describes how much of a wave or signal is reflected by an impedance discontinuity in a transmission medium. In one example, the reflection coefficient can be equal to the ratio of the amplitude of the reflected wave (e.g., the reflected / backscattered PRS) to the amplitude of the incident wave (e.g., the PRS from the RFID reader), where each is expressed as a phasor.

[0123] At 1506, an RFID reader 1502 may send an indication of a backscatter-based positioning session / round to an RFID tag 1504 (e.g., a passive IoT device) to initiate a positioning session for the RFID tag 1504. For example, the RFID reader 1502 may send a selection message to select a set of RFID tags including the RFID tag 1504, and send a query message to the selected set of RFID tags to start a backscatter-based positioning session by reflecting PRSs, such as in conjunction with Figure 13 as described. The indication of the backscatter-based positioning session / round may also include a reflection / backscatter pattern (e.g., for a consecutive number of PRSs), a format for a set of PRSs, a duration for sending the PRSs, a number of repetitions for the set of PRSs, a number of transmission timings for the set of PRSs, one or more reflection patterns to be used for reflecting the set of PRSs, or a combination thereof. In some examples, in response to the indication, the RFID tag 1504 may send an acknowledgment of participating in the positioning session to the RFID reader 1502, where the RFID reader 1502 may select the RFID tag 1504 based on the acknowledgment.

[0124] At 1508, the RFID reader 1502 may send a set of PRSs to the RFID tag 1504 during the backscatter-based positioning session. For example, during the backscatter-based positioning session, the RFID reader 1502 may send the set of PRSs via a plurality of transmission timings (which may also be referred to as PRS instances or PRS timings), such as a first PRS (PRS1) at a first transmission instance or a first time point, a second PRS (PRS2) at a second transmission instance or a second time point, a third PRS (PRS 3) at a third transmission instance or a third time point, and up to an Nth PRS (PRS N) at an Nth transmission instance or an Nth time point, etc.

[0125] At 1510, based on the reflection / backscatter pattern configured for the RFID tag 1504 (which may be received via an indication at 1504 or pre-configured / defined at the RFID tag 1504), the RFID tag 1504 may reflect / backscatter the set of PRSs based on the reflection / backscatter pattern. For example, the reflection / backscatter pattern may specify that the RFID tag 1504 applies a combination of reflection / backscatter operations to every four (4) consecutive PRSs received, where a full reflection mode is applied to the first PRS (out of the four consecutive PRSs), an absorption mode is applied to the second PRS, an open circuit mode is applied to the third PRS, and a full reflection mode is applied to the fourth PRS, such as in conjunction with Figure 14As described. Then, the RFID tag 1504 can apply the configured reflection / backscatter mode to every fourth PRS it receives, such as performing total reflection, absorption, open circuit, and total reflection for every fourth PRS.

[0126] Based on the reflection / backscatter mode applied by the RFID tag 1504 to the set of PRSs, the RFID reader 1502 may be able to distinguish the reflected / backscattered PRSs from the reflections through clutter. For example, as shown at 1512, the PRSs reflected / backscattered by the RFID tag 1504 at different PRS instances may have different reflection coefficients (e.g., a higher coefficient for the total reflection mode, a lower coefficient for the absorption mode, etc.), while the PRSs reflected by other objects at different PRS instances may have the same reflection coefficient. Also, since the reflection based on the open circuit mode may be similar to the reflection through clutter, the reflection from clutter can be eliminated by subtracting the reflections received from PRS instances 1 and 3. Additionally, since there may be RFID tags that do not participate in the backscatter localization session / round (which may be referred to as non-participating tags), the RFID reader 1502 may be able to estimate these non-participating tags by comparing the PRS reflections at PRS instances 2 and 3, where the RFID tags not selected for the backscatter localization session / round may be configured / specified to operate in the absorption mode and / or idle mode for one or more PRS instances (e.g., the reflection mode may be pre-configured or indicated for the non-participating tags).

[0127] At 1514, based on identifying the PRSs reflected / backscattered from the RFID tag 1504, the RFID reader 1502 may measure the reflected / backscattered PRSs to determine / estimate the position of the RFID tag 1504. For example, as described in conjunction with Figure 12 As described, the RFID reader 1502 may measure the RTT of at least one of the received PRSs, and the RFID reader 1502 may calculate the distance between the RFID reader 1502 and the RFID tag 1504 based on the RTT. In some scenarios, the RFID reader 1502 may also be able to determine / estimate the position of the RFID tag. For example, after knowing the distance between the RFID reader 1502 and the RFID tag 1504, if the direction of the reflected / backscattered PRS is also known, or the distances between the RFID tag 1504 and other RFID readers are also known, then the position or relative position of the RFID tag 1504 can be determined, such as described in conjunction with Figure 4 As described.

[0128] In another aspect of the present disclosure, since the RFID tag 1504 can be configured to reflect / scatter the PRS in different reflection modes at different PRS instances, the RFID reader 1502 can also be configured to select a specified reflected / scattered PRS or combine multiple reflected / scattered PRSs for measurement to enhance the positioning accuracy. For example, since the reflection based on the total reflection mode may provide a higher reflection coefficient, the RFID reader 1502 can be configured to measure only the reflected / scattered PRS based on the total reflection mode (e.g., measure the first backscattered PRS and the fourth backscattered PRS). In another example, the RFID reader 1502 can combine the reflections / measurements from PRS instances 1 and 4 (e.g., the first backscattered PRS and the fourth backscattered PRS) to improve the positioning measurement.

[0129] Figure 16 FIG. 1600 is a diagram illustrating an example of wireless power transfer considerations associated with an RFID tag in accordance with various aspects of the present disclosure. In some scenarios, when the RFID tag is reflecting / scattering the PRS based on the total reflection mode and / or the idle mode, the RFID tag (e.g., the RFID tag 1504) may not be able to perform power harvesting, where the power received from the RFID reader can be reflected / scattered back to the RFID reader or disconnected from the power harvesting circuit (as Figure 9 and Figure 14 shown). Therefore, the RFID tag can be configured to send a short PRS (e.g., a PRS with a shorter duration), or the RFID reader (e.g., the RFID reader 1502) can be specified to configure a sufficient (e.g., longer) time gap between consecutive PRSs for the RFID tag so that the RFID tag has an opportunity to harvest power from the energy signal (between different PRS instances). Whether to configure a short PRS or a longer time gap between consecutive PRSs for the RFID tag can depend on the capabilities of the RFID tag.

[0130] For example, as shown at 1602, to achieve sufficient power / energy harvesting at the RFID tag, the RFID tag can be configured to send a shorter PRS, where the PRS duration can be specified to be no longer than X milliseconds (ms), within which the voltage and power of the RFID tag can drop by Y%. The value of X can depend on the type of the RFID tag (e.g., passive IoT, semi-passive IoT, active IoT, and / or its ability to store energy or have another power source as described in conjunction with Figure 6 . For an RFID tag with a storage device or a battery, the PRS transmission duration can be longer, while for an RFID tag without a storage device or a battery, the PRS transmission duration can be relatively shorter.

[0131] In another example, as shown at 1604, the time gap between PRS instances where the RFID tag is configured to reflect / backscatter PRS based on the total reflection mode and / or open circuit mode can be configured to be greater than a time threshold (e.g., at least X ms) to provide the RFID tag with sufficient time to perform power harvesting and / or maintain the chip voltage at the RFID tag. On the other hand, when the RFID tag is configured to reflect / backscatter PRS based on the absorption mode, the RFID tag can still harvest energy. Thus, the inter-PRS time gap can vary depending on the reflection mode (e.g., a longer time gap for the total reflection mode and open circuit mode, and a shorter time gap for the absorption mode, etc.).

[0132] Figure 17 is a flowchart 1700 of a method of wireless communication. In some scenarios, the method can be performed by a wireless device (e.g., UE 104, 404; base station 102; RFID reader 504, 1202, 1302, 1502; device 1804; network entity 1902). The method can enable a wireless device (e.g., a base station, a component of a base station, a TRP, a UE, etc.) to distinguish a reflected / backscattered signal from an IoT device from a signal reflected from other objects during a backscatter-based positioning session for the IoT device.

[0133] At 1702, the wireless device can send an indication of the positioning session to the IoT device, where the indication initiates a positioning session for the IoT device, such as in conjunction with Figure 13 and Figure 15 as described. For example, at 1506 in Figure 15 , the RFID reader 1502 can send an indication of a backscatter-based positioning session / round to the RFID tag 1504 to initiate a backscatter-based positioning session / round for the RFID tag 1504. The sending of the indication can be performed by, for example, the RFID reading component 198 / 199 of the device 1804 in Figure 18 , the cellular baseband processor 1824 and / or the transceiver 1822, or the transceiver 1946 of the network entity 1902 in Figure 19 .

[0134] At 1704, the wireless device can send a set of PRSs to the IoT device via a plurality of transmission opportunities based on the positioning session, such as in conjunction with Figure 13 and Figure 15 as described. For example, at 1508 in Figure 15 , the RFID reader 1502 can send a set of PRSs to the RFID tag 1504 via a plurality of transmission opportunities. The sending of the set of PRSs can be performed by, for example, Figure 18the RFID reading component 198 / 199, the cellular baseband processor 1824, and / or the transceiver 1822 of the device 1804 in, or Figure 19 the transceiver 1946 of the network entity 1902 in.

[0135] At 1706, the wireless device may receive at least one PRS in the PRS set from the IoT device based on the reflection mode via at least one reception opportunity, such as in conjunction with Figure 13 and Figure 15 as described. For example, at Figure 15 1510, the RFID reader 1502 may receive at least one PRS from the RFID tag 1504 based on the reflection mode. The reception of at least one PRS in the PRS set may be performed by, for example Figure 18 the RFID reading component 198 / 199, the cellular baseband processor 1824, and / or the transceiver 1822 of the device 1804 in, or Figure 19 the transceiver 1946 of the network entity 1902 in.

[0136] In one example, the wireless device may detect at least one PRS reflected from the IoT device based on one or more of the reflection mode or at least one reception opportunity.

[0137] In another example, the wireless device may calculate the location of the IoT device based on the RTT of at least one PRS in the PRS set. In such examples, calculating the location of the IoT device may include calculating the distance between the wireless device and the IoT device based on the RTT of at least one PRS in the PRS set. In such examples, based on t RTT = 2 * t bias + 2 * d / c to calculate the distance between the wireless device and the IoT device, where d is the distance between the wireless device and the IoT device, t RTT is the RTT of at least one PRS, t bias is the deviation associated with transmitting and receiving at least one PRS, and c is the speed of light. In such examples, the wireless device may determine the deviation (t bias ) associated with transmitting and receiving at least one PRS via calibration using one or more objects with known distances.

[0138] In another example, the indication includes at least one of the following: a reflection mode, a format for a PRS set, a duration for transmitting the PRS set, a number of repetitions for the PRS set, a number of transmission opportunities for the PRS set, or one or more modes associated with a reflection operation of the PRS set. In such examples, the indication is sent to a plurality of IoT devices, and the wireless device may receive confirmations from at least the IoT devices to participate in a positioning session, and at least select IoT devices among the plurality of IoT devices for the positioning session.

[0139] In another example, the reflection mode is associated with a combination of reflection operations from IoT devices during a plurality of reception opportunities, and wherein the reflection operation includes at least one of the following: total reflection, absorption, or open circuit.

[0140] In another example, the PRS set is transmitted via a plurality of transmission opportunities in which there is a time gap between two consecutive transmission opportunities, the time gap being based on the type of IoT device, a storage device associated with the IoT, the availability of a power source at the IoT device, a time specified by the IoT device for performing power harvesting, or a combination thereof.

[0141] In another example, the wireless device is a UE, a network node, a network entity, a TRP, or a base station.

[0142] Figure 18FIG. 1800 is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardware implementation for apparatus 1804. Apparatus 1804 may be a UE, a component of a UE, or may implement UE functionality. In some aspects, apparatus 1804 may include a cellular baseband processor 1824 (also referred to as a modem) coupled to one or more transceivers 1822 (e.g., cellular RF transceivers). The cellular baseband processor 1824 may include on-chip memory 1824'. In some aspects, apparatus 1804 may also include one or more subscriber identity module (SIM) cards 1820 and an application processor 1806 coupled to a secure digital (SD) card 1808 and a screen 1810. The application processor 1806 may include on-chip memory 1806'. In some aspects, apparatus 1804 may also include a Bluetooth module 1812, a WLAN module 1814, an SPS module 1816 (e.g., a GNSS module), one or more sensor modules 1818 (e.g., an atmospheric pressure sensor / altimeter; motion sensors such as an inertial measurement unit (IMU), a gyroscope, and / or an accelerometer; light detection and ranging (LIDAR), radio aided detection and ranging (RADAR), sound navigation and ranging (SONAR), a magnetometer, audio, and / or other technologies for positioning), additional memory modules 1826, a power source 1830, and / or a camera 1832. The Bluetooth module 1812, the WLAN module 1814, and the SPS module 1816 may include on-chip transceivers (TRX) (or in some cases, only receivers (RX)). The Bluetooth module 1812, the WLAN module 1814, and the SPS module 1816 may include their own dedicated antennas and / or communicate using antenna 1880. The cellular baseband processor 1824 communicates with UE 104 and / or with an RU associated with network entity 1802 via transceiver 1822 through one or more antennas 1880. The cellular baseband processor 1824 and the application processor 1806 may each respectively include computer-readable media / memory 1824', 1806'. The additional memory module 1826 may also be considered computer-readable media / memory. Each computer-readable media / memory 1824', 1806', 1826 may be non-transitory. The cellular baseband processor 1824 and the application processor 1806 are each responsible for general processing, including executing software stored on the computer-readable media / memory. The software, when executed by the cellular baseband processor 1824 / application processor 1806, causes the cellular baseband processor 1824 / application processor 1806 to perform the various functions described above. The computer-readable media / memory may also be used to store data manipulated by the cellular baseband processor 1824 / application processor 1806 when executing the software.The cellular baseband processor 1824 / application processor 1806 may be a component of the UE 350 and may include at least one of the memory 360 and / or the TX processor 368, the RX processor 356, and the controller / processor 359. In one configuration, the device 1804 may be a processor chip (modem and / or application) and include only the cellular baseband processor 1824 and / or the application processor 1806, and in another configuration, the device 1804 may be the entire UE (e.g., see. Figure 3 of 350) and include additional modules of the device 1804.

[0143] Figure 19FIG. 1900 is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardware implementation for network entity 1902. Network entity 1902 can be a BS, a component of a BS, or can implement BS functionality. Network entity 1902 can include at least one of CU 1910, DU 1930, or RU 1940. For example, depending on the layer functionality handled by RFID read component 199, network entity 1902 can include CU 1910; both CU 1910 and DU 1930; each of CU 1910, DU 1930, and RU 1940; DU 1930; both DU 1930 and RU 1940; or RU 1940. CU 1910 can include CU processor 1912. CU processor 1912 can include on-chip memory 1912'. In some aspects, CU 1910 can also include additional memory module 1914 and communication interface 1918. CU 1910 communicates with DU 1930 via an intermediate link (such as the F1 interface). DU 1930 can include DU processor 1932. DU processor 1932 can include on-chip memory 1932'. In some aspects, DU 1930 can also include additional memory module 1934 and communication interface 1938. DU 1930 communicates with RU 1940 via a fronthaul link. RU 1940 can include RU processor 1942. RU processor 1942 can include on-chip memory 1942'. In some aspects, RU 1940 can also include additional memory module 1944, one or more transceivers 1946, antenna 1980, and communication interface 1948. RU 1940 communicates with UE 104. On-chip memories 1912', 1932', 1942' and additional memory modules 1914, 1934, 1944 can each be considered computer-readable media / memory. Each computer-readable media / memory can be non-transitory. Each of processors 1912, 1932, 1942 is responsible for general processing, including executing software stored on the computer-readable media / memory. The software, when executed by the corresponding processor, causes the processor to perform the various functions described above. The computer-readable media / memory can also be used to store data manipulated by the processor when executing the software.

[0144] As discussed above, the RFID reading components 198 / 199 are configured to send an indication of a positioning session to the IoT device, where the indication initiates a positioning session for the IoT device. The RFID reading components 198 / 199 may also be configured to send a set of PRSs to the IoT device via multiple transmission opportunities based on the positioning session. The RFID reading components 198 / 199 may also be configured to receive at least one PRS from the IoT device in the set of PRSs based on a reflection mode via at least one reception opportunity. The RFID reading component 198 may be within the cellular baseband processor 1824, the application processor 1806, or both the cellular baseband processor 1824 and the application processor 1806. The RFID reading component 198 may be one or more hardware components specifically configured to execute the process / algorithm, implemented by one or more processors configured to execute the process / algorithm, stored in a computer-readable medium for implementation by one or more processors, or some combination of the above. The RFID reading component 199 may be within one or more processors of one or more of the CU 1910, DU 1930, and RU 1940. The RFID reading component 199 may be one or more hardware components specifically configured to execute the stated process / algorithm, implemented by one or more processors configured to execute the stated process / algorithm, stored within a computer-readable medium for implementation by one or more processors, or some combination of the foregoing. The network entity 1902 may include various components configured for various functions.

[0145] As shown, the apparatus 1804 or the network entity 1902 may include various components configured for various functions. In one configuration, the network entity 1902 or the apparatus 1804 (specifically, the cellular baseband processor 1824 and / or the application processor 1806) includes components for sending an indication of a positioning session to the IoT device, where the indication initiates a positioning session for the IoT device. The apparatus 1804 or the network entity 1902 may also include components for sending a set of PRSs to the IoT device via multiple transmission opportunities based on the positioning session. The apparatus 1804 or the network entity 1902 may also include components for receiving at least one PRS from the IoT device in the set of PRSs based on a reflection mode via at least one reception opportunity.

[0146] In one configuration, the apparatus 1804 or the network entity 1902 may also include components for detecting the reflection of at least one PRS from the IoT device based on one or more of the reflection mode or at least one reception opportunity.

[0147] In another configuration, the apparatus 1804 or the network entity 1902 may further include components for calculating the location of the IoT device based on the RTT of at least one PRS in the PRS set. In such a configuration, the components for calculating the location of the IoT device may include configuring the apparatus 1804 or the network entity 1902 to calculate the distance between the wireless device and the IoT device based on the RTT of at least one PRS in the PRS set. In such a configuration, the distance between the wireless device and the IoT device is calculated based on t RTT = 2 * t bias + 2 * d / c, where d is the distance between the wireless device and the IoT device, t RT is the RTT of at least one PRS, t bias is the deviation associated with transmitting and receiving at least one PRS, and c is the speed of light. In such a configuration, the apparatus 1804 or the network entity 1902 may further include components for determining the deviation (t bias ) associated with transmitting and receiving at least one PRS via calibration using one or more objects with known distances.

[0148] In another configuration, the indication includes at least one of the following: reflection mode, format for the PRS set, duration for transmitting the PRS set, number of repetitions for the PRS set, number of transmission opportunities for the PRS set, or one or more modes associated with the reflection operation of the PRS set. In such a configuration, the indication is sent to multiple IoT devices, and the wireless device may receive confirmations from at least the IoT devices to participate in the positioning session, and at least select IoT devices among the multiple IoT devices for the positioning session.

[0149] In another configuration, the reflection mode is associated with a combination of reflection operations from the IoT device during multiple reception opportunities, and wherein the reflection operation includes at least one of the following: total reflection, absorption, or open circuit.

[0150] In another configuration, the PRS set is transmitted via multiple transmission opportunities where there is a time gap between two consecutive transmission opportunities, and the time gap is based on the type of the IoT device, the storage device associated with the IoT, the availability of the power source at the IoT device, the time specified by the IoT device for performing power harvesting, or a combination thereof.

[0151] In another configuration, the wireless device is a UE, a network node, a network entity, a TRP, or a base station.

[0152] In some examples, the component can be an RFID reading component 198 of device 1804 configured to perform the functions recited by the component. As described above, device 1804 can include TX processor 368, RX processor 356, and controller / processor 359. Thus, in one configuration, the component can be TX processor 368, RX processor 356, and / or controller / processor 359 configured to perform the functions recited by the component. In other examples, the component can be an RFID reading component 199 of network entity 1902 configured to perform the functions recited by the component. As described above, network entity 1902 can include TX processor 316, RX processor 370, and controller / processor 375. Thus, in one configuration, the component can be TX processor 316, RX processor 370, and / or controller / processor 375 configured to perform the functions recited by the component.

[0153] Figure 20 FIG. 2000 is a flowchart of a method of wireless communication. The method can be performed by an IoT device (e.g., RFID tags 502, 704, 1204, 1304, 1402, 1504; passive IoT device 602; active IoT device 610; device 2104). The method can enable the IoT device to reflect / scatter signals in a reflection mode (e.g., in different reflection modes), thereby enabling the RFID reader to distinguish signals from the IoT device from signals reflected from other objects.

[0154] At 2002, the IoT device can receive an indication of a positioning session from a wireless device, where the indication initiates a positioning session for the IoT device, such as in conjunction with Figure 13 and Figure 15 as described. For example, at 1506 of Figure 15 , RFID tag 1504 can receive an indication of a backscatter-based positioning session / round from RFID reader 1502 to initiate a backscatter-based positioning session / round for RFID tag 1504. The reception of the indication can be performed by, for example, Figure 21 backscatter component 197, cellular baseband processor 2124, and / or transceiver 2122 of device 2104 in

[0155] At 2004, the IoT device can receive a set of PRSs from the wireless device via multiple reception opportunities, such as in conjunction with Figure 13 and Figure 15 as described. For example, at 1508 of Figure 15 , RFID tag 1504 can receive a set of PRSs from RFID reader 1502 at multiple reception opportunities. The reception of the set of PRSs can be performed by, for example, Figure 21performed by the backscatter component 197, the cellular baseband processor 2124, and / or the transceiver 2122 of the apparatus 2104 in

[0156] At 2006, the IoT device can forward a set of PRSs based on a reflection mode via multiple transmission opportunities, where the reflection mode is associated with a combination of reflection operations performed during the multiple transmission opportunities, and the reflection operations include at least one of the following: total reflection, absorption, or open circuit, such as in conjunction with Figure 13 and Figure 15 as described. For example, at Figure 15 1510 of Figure 21 the RFID tag 1504 can reflect / scatter at least one PRS to the RFID reader 1502 based on a reflection mode, where the reflection mode can include total reflection, absorption, and / or open circuit. The forwarding of the set of PRSs can be performed by, for example,

[0157] the backscatter component 197, the cellular baseband processor 2124, and / or the transceiver 2122 of the apparatus 2104 in

[0158] In one example, to forward a set of PRSs based on a reflection mode, the IoT device can reflect or scatter the set of PRSs based on the reflection mode.

[0159] In another example, the IoT device can receive an indication to initiate a positioning session for the IoT device from a wireless device, where the indication includes at least one of the following: a reflection mode, a format for the set of PRSs, a duration for receiving the set of PRSs, a number of repetitions for the set of PRSs, a number of transmission opportunities for the set of PRSs, or one or more modes associated with the reflection operations of the set of PRSs.

[0160] In another example, the set of PRSs is received via multiple reception opportunities where there is a time gap between two consecutive reception opportunities, and the time gap is based on the type of the IoT device, a storage device associated with the IoT, the availability of a power source at the IoT device, a time specified by the IoT device for performing power harvesting, or a combination thereof.

[0161] Figure 21FIG. 2100 is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardware implementation for apparatus 2104. Apparatus 2104 may be a UE, a component of a UE, or may implement UE functionality. In some aspects, apparatus 2104 may include a cellular baseband processor 2124 (also referred to as a modem) coupled to one or more transceivers 2122 (e.g., cellular RF transceivers). The cellular baseband processor 2124 may include on-chip memory 2124'. In some aspects, apparatus 2104 may also include one or more subscriber identity module (SIM) cards 2120 and an application processor 2106 coupled to a secure digital (SD) card 2108 and a screen 2110. The application processor 2106 may include on-chip memory 2106'. In some aspects, apparatus 2104 may also include a Bluetooth module 2112, a WLAN module 2114, an SPS module 2116 (e.g., a GNSS module), one or more sensor modules 2118 (e.g., an atmospheric pressure sensor / altimeter; motion sensors such as an inertial measurement unit (IMU), a gyroscope, and / or an accelerometer; light detection and ranging (LIDAR), radio assisted detection and ranging (RADAR), sound navigation and ranging (SONAR), a magnetometer, audio, and / or other technologies for positioning), additional memory modules 2126, a power source 2130, and / or a camera 2132. The Bluetooth module 2112, the WLAN module 2114, and the SPS module 2116 may include on-chip transceivers (TRX) (or in some cases, only a receiver (RX)). The Bluetooth module 2112, the WLAN module 2114, and the SPS module 2116 may include their own dedicated antennas and / or communicate using antenna 2180. The cellular baseband processor 2124 communicates with UE 104 and / or with the RU associated with network entity 2102 via transceiver 2122 through one or more antennas 2180. The cellular baseband processor 2124 and the application processor 2106 may each separately include computer-readable media / memory 2124', 2106'. The additional memory module 2126 may also be considered computer-readable media / memory. Each computer-readable media / memory 2124', 2106', 2126 may be non-transitory. The cellular baseband processor 2124 and the application processor 2106 are each responsible for general processing, including executing software stored on the computer-readable media / memory. The software, when executed by the cellular baseband processor 2124 / application processor 2106, causes the cellular baseband processor 2124 / application processor 2106 to perform the various functions described above. The computer-readable media / memory may also be used to store data manipulated by the cellular baseband processor 2124 / application processor 2106 when executing the software.The cellular baseband processor 2124 / application processor 2106 can be a component of the UE 350 and can include the memory 360 and / or at least one of the TX processor 368, RX processor 356, and controller / processor 359. In one configuration, the device 2104 can be a processor chip (modem and / or application) and include only the cellular baseband processor 2124 and / or application processor 2106, and in another configuration, the device 2104 can be the entire UE (e.g., see. Figure 3 of 350) and include additional modules of the device 2104.

[0162] As discussed above, the backscatter component 197 is configured to receive an indication of a positioning session from a wireless device, where the indication initiates a positioning session for an IoT device. The backscatter component 197 can also be configured to receive a set of PRSs from the wireless device via a plurality of receive opportunities. The backscatter component 197 can also be configured to forward the set of PRSs based on a reflection pattern via a plurality of transmit opportunities, where the reflection pattern is associated with a combination of reflection operations performed during the plurality of transmit opportunities, and where the reflection operations include at least one of: total reflection, absorption, or open circuit. The backscatter component 197 can be within the cellular baseband processor 2124, application processor 2106, or both the cellular baseband processor 2124 and application processor 2106. The backscatter component 197 can be one or more hardware components that are specifically configured to perform the stated processes / algorithms, implemented by one or more processors configured to perform the stated processes / algorithms, stored in a computer-readable medium for implementation by one or more processors, or some combination thereof. As shown, the device 2104 can include various components configured for various functions. In one configuration, the device 2104 (and specifically the cellular baseband processor 2124 and / or application processor 2106) includes means for receiving an indication of a positioning session from a wireless device, where the indication initiates a positioning session for an IoT device. The device 2104 can also include means for receiving a set of PRSs from the wireless device via a plurality of receive opportunities. The device 2104 can also include means for forwarding the set of PRSs based on a reflection pattern via a plurality of transmit opportunities, where the reflection pattern is associated with a combination of reflection operations performed during the plurality of transmit opportunities, and where the reflection operations include at least one of: total reflection, absorption, or open circuit.

[0163] In one configuration, the means for forwarding the set of PRSs based on a reflection pattern includes configuring the device 2104 to reflect or backscatter the set of PRSs based on the reflection pattern.

[0164] In another configuration, the apparatus 2104 may further include components for receiving an indication from a wireless device to initiate a positioning session for an IoT device, where the indication includes at least one of the following: reflection mode, format for a set of PRSs, duration for receiving the set of PRSs, number of repetitions for the set of PRSs, number of transmission opportunities for the set of PRSs, or one or more modes associated with the reflection operation of the set of PRSs.

[0165] In another configuration, a set of PRSs is received via a plurality of reception opportunities in which there is a time gap between two consecutive reception opportunities, and the time gap is based on the type of the IoT device, the storage device associated with the IoT, the availability of a power source at the IoT device, the time specified by the IoT device for performing power harvesting, or a combination thereof.

[0166] In another configuration, the wireless device is a UE, a network node, a network entity, a TRP, or a base station.

[0167] The component may be the backscatter component 197 of the apparatus 2104 configured to perform the functions recited by the component. As described above, the apparatus 2104 may include a TX processor 368, an RX processor 356, and a controller / processor 359. Thus, in one configuration, the component may be the TX processor 368, the RX processor 356, and / or the controller / processor 359 configured to perform the functions recited by the component.

[0168] It should be understood that the specific order or hierarchy of the blocks in the disclosed process / flowchart is illustrative of example methods. It should be understood that based on design preferences, the specific order or hierarchy of the blocks in the process / flowchart may be rearranged. Further, some blocks may be combined or omitted. The appended method claims present the elements of the various blocks in a sample order, but are not limited to the specific order or hierarchy presented.

[0169] The foregoing description is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the various aspects described herein. Various modifications to these aspects will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the general principles defined herein may be applied to other aspects. Thus, the claims are not limited to the aspects described herein, but are to be accorded the full scope consistent with the language of the claims, wherein a reference to an element in the singular is not intended to mean "one and only one" but rather "one or more" unless specifically stated otherwise. Terms such as "if," "when," and "while" do not denote a direct temporal relationship or reaction. That is, these phrases, such as "when...," do not imply an immediate action in response to the occurrence of an action or during the occurrence of an action, but rather simply imply that the action will occur if the condition is met, without requiring a specific or immediate time limitation for the occurrence of the action. The word "exemplary" is used herein to mean "serving as an example, instance, or illustration." Any aspect described herein as "exemplary" is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or having an advantage over other aspects. Unless specifically stated otherwise, the term "some" refers to one or more. Combinations such as "at least one of A, B, or C," "one or more of A, B, or C," "at least one of A, B, and C," "one or more of A, B, and C," and "any combination of A, B, C, or any of them," including any combination of A, B, and / or C, may include multiple As, multiple Bs, or multiple Cs. Specifically, combinations such as "at least one of A, B, or C," "one or more of A, B, or C," "at least one of A, B, and C," "one or more of A, B, and C," and "any combination of A, B, C, or any of them" can be only A, only B, only C, A and B, A and C, B and C, or A and B and C, where any such combination may contain one or more members of A, B, or C. A set should be construed as a collection of elements, where the number of elements is one or more. Thus, for a set of X, X will include one or more elements. If a first device receives data from or transmits data to a second device, the data may be received / transmitted directly between the first device and the second device, or indirectly between the first device and the second device through a collection of devices. All structural and functional equivalents of the elements of the various aspects described throughout this disclosure that are known or later will be known to those of ordinary skill in the art are expressly incorporated herein by reference and are covered by the claims. Moreover, nothing disclosed herein is intended to be dedicated to the public, whether or not such disclosure is expressly recited in the claims. The words "module," "mechanism," "element," "device," etc. do not substitute for the word "component." Thus, no claim element shall be construed as a means-plus-function unless the element is expressly recited using the phrase "means for...".

[0170] As used herein, the phrase "based on" should not be construed to mean a closed set of information, one or more conditions, one or more factors, etc. In other words, the phrase "based on A" (where "A" can be information, a condition, a factor, etc.) should be construed as "at least based on A", unless stated otherwise specifically.

[0171] The following aspects are merely illustrative and can be combined with other aspects or teachings described herein without limitation.

[0172] Aspect 1 is a method for wireless communication at a wireless device, the method comprising: sending an indication of a positioning session to an IoT device, wherein the indication initiates the positioning session for the IoT device; sending a set of PRSs to the IoT device via a plurality of transmission opportunities based on the positioning session; and receiving at least one PRS from the IoT device from among the set of PRSs via at least one reception opportunity based on a reflection mode.

[0173] Aspect 2 is the method according to aspect 1, the method further comprising: detecting reflection of the at least one PRS from the IoT device based on one or more of the reflection mode or the at least one reception opportunity.

[0174] Aspect 3 is the method according to aspect 1 or 2, the method further comprising: calculating a location of the IoT device based on an RTT of the at least one PRS from among the set of PRSs.

[0175] Aspect 4 is the method according to aspect 3, wherein calculating the location of the IoT device comprises: calculating a distance between the wireless device and the IoT device based on the RTT of the at least one PRS from among the set of PRSs.

[0176] Aspect 5 is the method according to aspect 4, wherein based on t RTT = 2 * t bias + 2 * d / c to calculate the distance between the wireless device and the IoT device, d is the distance between the wireless device and the IoT device, t TTT is the RTT of the at least one PRS, t bias is a deviation associated with sending and receiving at least one PRS, and c is the speed of light.

[0177] Aspect 6 is the method according to aspect 5, the method further comprising: determining the deviation (t bias ) associated with sending and receiving the at least one PRS via calibration using one or more objects with known distances.

[0178] Aspect 7 is the method according to any one of Aspects 1 to 6, wherein the indication includes at least one of the following: the reflection mode, the format for the PRS set, the duration for transmitting the PRS set, the number of repetitions for the PRS set, the number of the transmission occasions for the PRS set, or one or more modes associated with the reflection operation of the PRS set.

[0179] Aspect 8 is the method according to Aspect 7, wherein the indication is sent to a plurality of IoT devices, and the method further includes: receiving confirmations from at least the IoT devices to participate in the positioning session; and selecting at least the IoT devices among the plurality of IoT devices for the positioning session.

[0180] Aspect 9 is the method according to any one of Aspects 1 to 8, wherein the reflection mode is associated with a combination of reflection operations from the IoT devices during the plurality of reception occasions, and wherein the reflection operation includes at least one of the following: total reflection, absorption, or open circuit.

[0181] Aspect 10 is the method according to any one of Aspects 1 to 9, wherein the PRS set is transmitted via the plurality of transmission occasions in which there is a time gap between two consecutive transmission occasions, and the time gap is based on the type of the IoT device, the storage device associated with the IoT, the availability of the power source at the IoT device, the time specified by the IoT device for performing power harvesting, or a combination thereof.

[0182] Aspect 11 is the method according to Aspect 10, wherein the wireless device is a UE, a network node, a network entity, a TRP, or a base station.

[0183] Aspect 12 is a device for wireless communication at a wireless device, the device including: a memory; and at least one processor, the at least one processor being coupled to the memory and configured to implement any one of Aspects 1 to 11 at least partially based on information stored in the memory.

[0184] Aspect 13 is the device according to Aspect 12, and the device further includes at least one of a transceiver or an antenna coupled to the at least one processor.

[0185] Aspect 14 is a device for wireless communication, the device including components for implementing any one of Aspects 1 to 11.

[0186] Aspect 15 is a computer-readable medium (e.g., a non-transitory computer-readable medium) storing computer-executable code, wherein the code, when executed by a processor, causes the processor to implement any one of Aspects 1 to 11.

[0187] Aspect 16 is a method for wireless communication at an IoT device, the method comprising: receiving an indication of a positioning session from a wireless device, wherein the indication initiates the positioning session for the IoT device; receiving a set of PRS from the wireless device via a plurality of reception opportunities; and forwarding the set of PRS based on a reflection pattern via a plurality of transmission opportunities, wherein the reflection pattern is associated with a combination of reflection operations performed during the plurality of transmission opportunities, and wherein the reflection operations include at least one of: total reflection, absorption, or open circuit.

[0188] Aspect 17 is the method according to Aspect 16, wherein forwarding the set of PRS based on the reflection pattern includes: reflecting or backscattering the set of PRS based on the reflection pattern.

[0189] Aspect 18 is the method according to Aspect 16 or Aspect 17, the method further comprising: receiving an indication from the wireless device initiating a positioning session for the IoT device, wherein the indication includes at least one of: the reflection pattern, the format for the set of PRS, the duration for receiving the set of PRS, the number of repetitions for the set of PRS, the number of transmission opportunities for the set of PRS, or one or more patterns associated with the reflection operations of the set of PRS.

[0190] Aspect 19 is the method according to any one of Aspects 16 to 18, wherein the set of PRS is received via the plurality of reception opportunities in which there is a time gap between two consecutive reception opportunities, the time gap being based on the type of the IoT device, the storage device associated with the IoT, the availability of a power source at the IoT device, the time specified by the IoT device for performing power harvesting, or a combination thereof.

[0191] Aspect 20 is the method according to any one of Aspects 16 to 19, wherein the wireless device is a UE, a network node, a network entity, a TRP, or a base station.

[0192] Aspect 21 is a device for wireless communication at an IoT device, the device comprising: a memory; and at least one processor coupled to the memory, and at least partially based on information stored in the memory, the at least one processor being configured to implement any one of Aspects 16 to 20.

[0193] Aspect 22 is the apparatus according to aspect 21, the apparatus further comprising at least one of a transceiver or an antenna coupled to the at least one processor.

[0194] Aspect 23 is an apparatus for wireless communication, the apparatus comprising components for implementing any one of aspects 16 to 20.

[0195] Aspect 24 is a computer-readable medium (e.g., a non-transitory computer-readable medium) storing computer-executable code, wherein the code, when executed by a processor, causes the processor to implement any one of aspects 16 to 20.

Claims

1. An apparatus for wireless communication at a wireless device, comprising: a memory; and at least one processor coupled to the memory and configured to, at least in part based on information stored in the memory: send an indication of a positioning session to an Internet of Things (IoT) device, wherein the indication initiates the positioning session for the IoT device; send a set of positioning reference signals (PRS) to the IoT device via a plurality of transmission opportunities based on the positioning session; and receive at least one PRS from the IoT device from among the set of PRS via at least one reception opportunity based on a reflection mode.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to: detect reflection of the at least one PRS from the IoT device based on one or more of the reflection mode or the at least one reception opportunity.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to: calculate a location of the IoT device based on a round-trip time (RTT) of the at least one PRS from among the set of PRS.

4. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein, to calculate the location of the IoT device, the at least one processor is configured to: calculate a distance between the wireless device and the IoT device based on the RTT of the at least one PRS from among the set of PRS.

5. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein, in order to calculate the distance between the wireless device and the IoT device, the at least one processor is configured to calculate the distance between the wireless device and the IoT device based on t RTT = 2 * t bias + 2 * d / c, where d is the distance between the wireless device and the IoT device, t RTT is the RTT of the at least one PRS, t bias is the deviation associated with transmitting and receiving one or more PRSs, and c is the speed of light.

6. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to: Determining the deviation (t) associated with transmitting and receiving the at least one PRS via calibration using one or more objects with known distances bias ) 7. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the indication comprises at least one of the following: the reflection mode, a format for the set of PRS, a duration for sending the set of PRS, a number of repetitions for the set of PRS, a number of the transmission opportunities for the set of PRS, or one or more modes associated with a reflection operation of the set of PRS.

8. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein, to send the indication, the at least one processor is configured to send the indication to a plurality of IoT devices, and the at least one processor is further configured to: receive an acknowledgement of participation in the positioning session from at least the IoT device; and select at least the IoT device among the plurality of IoT devices for the positioning session.

9. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the reflection mode is associated with a combination of reflection operations from the IoT device during the plurality of reception opportunities, and wherein the reflection operation comprises at least one of the following: total reflection, absorption, or open circuit.

10. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, in order to transmit the PRS set, the at least one processor is configured to transmit the PRS set via the plurality of transmission occasions in which there is a time gap between two consecutive transmission occasions, the time gap being based on the type of the IoT device, the storage device associated with the IoT, the availability of the power source at the IoT device, the time specified by the IoT device for performing power harvesting, or a combination thereof.

11. The apparatus according to claim 1, the apparatus further comprising at least one of a transceiver or an antenna coupled to the at least one processor, wherein, in order to transmit the indication of the positioning session, the at least one processor is configured to transmit the indication of the positioning session via at least one of the transceiver or the antenna, wherein the wireless device is a user equipment (UE), a network node, a network entity, a transmission reception point (TRP), or a base station.

12. A method for wireless communication at a wireless device, the method comprising: sending an indication of a positioning session to an Internet of Things (IoT) device, wherein the indication initiates the positioning session for the IoT device; transmitting a set of positioning reference signals (PRS) to the IoT device via a plurality of transmission occasions based on the positioning session; and receiving at least one PRS from the IoT device from among the set of PRS based on a reflection mode via at least one reception occasion.

13. The method according to claim 12, the method further comprising: detecting the reflection of the at least one PRS from the IoT device based on one or more of the reflection mode or the at least one reception occasion.

14. The method according to claim 12, the method further comprising: calculating the location of the IoT device based on the round-trip time (RTT) of the at least one PRS in the set of PRS.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein calculating the location of the IoT device comprising: calculating the distance between the wireless device and the IoT device based on the RTT of the at least one PRS in the set of PRS.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein based on t RTT = 2 * t bias + 2 * d / c to calculate the distance between the wireless device and the IoT device, where d is the distance between the wireless device and the IoT device, t RTT is the RTT of the at least one PRS, t bias is the deviation associated with transmitting and receiving one or more PRSs, and c is the speed of light.

17. The method according to claim 16, the method further comprising: Determining the deviation (t associated with transmitting and receiving the at least one PRS via calibration using one or more objects with known distances bias ) 18. The method according to claim 12, wherein the indication comprises at least one of the following: the reflection mode, the format for the set of PRS, the duration for transmitting the set of PRS, the number of repetitions for the set of PRS, the number of the transmission occasions for the set of PRS, or one or more modes associated with the reflection operation of the set of PRS, and wherein the indication is sent to a plurality of IoT devices, the method further comprising: receiving an acknowledgement of participation in the positioning session from at least the IoT device; and selecting at least the IoT device among the plurality of IoT devices for the positioning session.

19. The method according to claim 12, wherein the reflection mode is associated with a combination of reflection operations from the IoT device during the plurality of reception opportunities, and wherein the reflection operation includes at least one of the following: total reflection, absorption, or open circuit.

20. The method according to claim 12, wherein the PRS set is transmitted via the plurality of transmission opportunities in which there is a time gap between two consecutive transmission opportunities, the time gap being based on the type of the IoT device, the storage device associated with the IoT, the availability of a power source at the IoT device, the time specified by the IoT device for performing power harvesting, or a combination thereof.

21. An apparatus for wireless communication at an Internet of Things (IoT) device, the apparatus comprising: a memory; and at least one processor coupled to the memory and configured, at least in part based on information stored in the memory, to: receive an indication of a positioning session from a wireless device, wherein the indication initiates the positioning session for the IoT device; receive a positioning reference signal (PRS) set from the wireless device via a plurality of reception opportunities; and forward the PRS set based on a reflection mode via a plurality of transmission opportunities, wherein the reflection mode is associated with a combination of reflection operations performed during the plurality of transmission opportunities, and wherein the reflection operation includes at least one of the following: total reflection, absorption, or open circuit.

22. The apparatus according to claim 21, wherein, in order to forward the PRS set based on the reflection mode, the at least one processor is configured to: reflect or backscatter the PRS set based on the reflection mode.

23. The apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to: receive a second indication from the wireless device that initiates the positioning session for the IoT device, wherein the second indication includes at least one of the following: the reflection mode, the format for the PRS set, the duration for receiving the PRS set, the number of repetitions for the PRS set, the number of transmission opportunities for the PRS set, or one or more modes associated with one or more reflection operations for the PRS set.

24. The apparatus according to claim 21, wherein, in order to receive the PRS set, the at least one processor is configured to receive the PRS set via the plurality of reception opportunities in which there is a time gap between two consecutive reception opportunities, the time gap being based on the type of the IoT device, the storage device associated with the IoT, the availability of a power source at the IoT device, the time specified by the IoT device for performing power harvesting, or a combination thereof.

25. The apparatus according to claim 21, the apparatus further comprising at least one of a transceiver or an antenna coupled to the at least one processor, wherein, in order to receive the indication of the positioning session, the at least one processor is configured to receive the indication of the positioning session via at least one of the transceiver or the antenna, wherein the wireless device is a user equipment (UE), a network node, a network entity, a transmit receive point (TRP), or a base station.

26. A method for wireless communication at an Internet of Things (IoT) device, the method comprising: receiving, from a wireless device, an indication of a positioning session, wherein the indication initiates the positioning session for the IoT device; receiving, via a plurality of reception opportunities, a set of positioning reference signals (PRSs) from the wireless device; and forwarding, via a plurality of transmission opportunities, the set of PRSs based on a reflection mode, wherein the reflection mode is associated with a combination of reflection operations performed during the plurality of transmission opportunities, and wherein the reflection operations include at least one of: total reflection, absorption, or open circuit.

27. The method according to claim 26, wherein forwarding the set of PRSs based on the reflection mode comprises: reflecting or backscattering the set of PRSs based on the reflection mode.

28. The method according to claim 26, the method further comprising: receiving, from the wireless device, a second indication initiating the positioning session for the IoT device, wherein the second indication includes at least one of: the reflection mode, a format for the set of PRSs, a duration for receiving the set of PRSs, a number of repetitions for the set of PRSs, a number of transmission opportunities for the set of PRSs, or one or more modes associated with one or more reflection operations for the set of PRSs.

29. The method according to claim 26, wherein the set of PRSs is received via the plurality of reception opportunities in which there is a time gap between two consecutive reception opportunities, the time gap being based on a type of the IoT device, a storage device associated with the IoT, an availability of a power source at the IoT device, a time specified by the IoT device for performing power harvesting, or a combination thereof.

30. The method according to claim 26, wherein the wireless device is a user equipment (UE), a network node, a network entity, a transmit receive point (TRP), or a base station.

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