Termination of positioning in communication network

Abstract

A location server (14) is configured for use in a communication network (10). As part of a positioning information update procedure, a location server (14) receives a message (16-2U) from a radio network node (18) indicating that sounding reference signaling (SRS) transmission from a particular communication device (12) has stopped. In some embodiments, based on the message, the location server (14) sends signaling that requests, commands, or triggers termination or deactivation of positioning measurements in one or more transmit-receive points (20-1, 20-2... 20-N) at which positioning measurements for the particular communication device (12) have been started.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present application generally relates to communication networks and, more specifically, to the termination of positioning in such networks. Background Art

[0002] A location server for a communication network may request a radio network node to provide location information to the location server, the location information including information on how to configure positioning measurements for determining the location of a communication device. Thereafter, the location server may request the radio network node to report positioning measurements for determining the location of the communication device. If positioning measurements are in progress, for example when the location information changes or when positioning measurements are being performed, the location server may request the radio network node to periodically provide location information and / or positioning measurements. The distributed nature of the functions required for location services between the radio network node and the location server provides the efficiency of centralized location determination in the location server and the simplification of the radio network node. However, the distributed nature still introduces challenges, where the radio network node initially complies with the location server's request for location information or positioning measurements, but the changing environment later frustrates the radio network node's ability to continue to comply. Summary of the Invention

[0003] Some embodiments herein introduce messaging for a radio network node to notify a location server that the location information of a particular communication device is no longer valid and / or that the radio network node is no longer able to report any updates to the location information, for example, where the indicated reason is that the particular communication device has lost its connection. The messaging may be based on, for example, device association signaling, which uses a device association connection to convey the messaging. By notifying the location server of this situation for a particular communication device, the location server is able to trigger the termination of the positioning of the particular communication device in a more efficient manner than in the case where the messaging has not conveyed which communication device's location information has become invalid. In fact, rather than having to perform relevant processing or other processing to infer which particular communication device positioning should be terminated (which would be required in the absence of device association signaling), the messaging itself conveys this information to the location server.

[0004] More specifically, embodiments herein include a method performed by a location server configured to be used in a communication network. The method includes: receiving, as part of a location information update process, a message from a radio network node indicating that sounding reference signal (SRS) transmissions from a particular communication device have stopped.

[0005] In some embodiments, the method further includes: based on the message, determining that the SRS configuration of a specific communication device previously received from a radio network node is invalid and / or the radio network node has terminated reporting any updates to the SRS configuration of the specific communication device.

[0006] In some embodiments, the method further includes: sending a signaling based on the message, the signaling requesting, commanding or triggering one or more transmit-receive points to stop or abort one or more positioning measurements for a specific communication device. In other embodiments, the method further includes: sending a signaling based on the message, the signaling requesting, commanding or triggering the termination or deactivation of positioning measurements in one or more transmit-receive points where positioning measurements for a specific communication device have already been started.

[0007] In some embodiments, the method further includes: based on the message, determining one or more transmit-receive points where positioning measurements for a specific communication device have already been started; and sending a signaling, the signaling requesting, commanding or triggering the one or more transmit-receive points to abort or deactivate the one or more positioning measurements for the specific communication device. In other embodiments, the method further includes: based on the message, alternatively or additionally determining one or more transmit-receive points where resources have been allocated for the positioning of a specific communication device; and sending a signaling, the signaling requesting, commanding or triggering the one or more transmit-receive points to release or deactivate the resources that have been allocated for the positioning of the specific communication device.

[0008] In some embodiments, the message is a POSITIONING INFORMATION UPDATE message.

[0009] In some embodiments, the positioning information update process is a process initiated by a radio network node for indicating to a location server that the SRS configuration of a specific communication device has changed, and the message does not have any updates to the SRS configuration of the specific communication device.

[0010] In some embodiments, the message is received via device association signaling associated with the specific communication device. In other embodiments, the message is received through a device association signaling connection associated with the specific communication device.

[0011] In some embodiments, the method further includes: determining a specific communication device for which the message is received, the determination being based on an association between the specific communication device and device-associated signaling or a device-associated signaling connection via which the message is received. In some embodiments, the determination of the specific communication device is performed in the following cases: without searching across multiple transmit-receive points associated with a radio network node for a match between an SRS configuration for a device context and an SRS configuration for a measurement context. In other embodiments, the determination of the specific communication device is performed in the following cases: without searching across multiple transmit-receive points associated with a radio network node for a match between a measurement identifier in a device context and a measurement identifier in a measurement context.

[0012] In some embodiments, a location server implements a Location Management Function (LMF). In some embodiments, the radio network node is a gNodeB, and wherein the message is received via a New Radio (NR) Positioning Protocol (NRPPa).

[0013] Other embodiments herein include a method performed by a radio network node configured to be used in a communication network. The method includes: as part of a positioning information update process, sending a message from the radio network node to a location server, the message indicating that a sounding reference signal (SRS) transmission from a specific communication device has stopped.

[0014] In some embodiments, the message is a positioning information update message.

[0015] In some embodiments, the positioning information update process is a process initiated by the radio network node to indicate to the location server that the SRS configuration of a specific communication device has changed, and the message does not have any update to the SRS configuration of the specific communication device.

[0016] In some embodiments, the message is sent via device-associated signaling associated with a specific communication device. In other embodiments, the message is sent through a device-associated signaling connection associated with a specific communication device.

[0017] In some embodiments, a location server implements a Location Management Function (LMF). In some embodiments, the radio network node is a gNodeB, and wherein the message is sent via a New Radio (NR) Positioning Protocol (NRPPa).

[0018] Other embodiments herein include a location server configured to be used in a communication network. The location server is configured to: as part of a positioning information update process, receive a message from a radio network node, the message indicating that a sounding reference signal (SRS) transmission from a specific communication device has stopped.

[0019] In some embodiments, the location server is configured to perform the steps described above for a location server configured to be used in a communication network.

[0020] Other embodiments herein include a radio network node configured to be used in a communication network. The radio network node is configured to: as part of a positioning information update process, send a message from the radio network node to the location server, the message indicating that the sounding reference signal (SRS) transmission from a specific communication device has stopped.

[0021] In some embodiments, the radio network node is configured to perform the steps described above for a radio network node configured to be used in a communication network.

[0022] In some embodiments, a computer program comprising instructions which, when executed by at least one processor of the location server, cause the location server to perform the steps described above for a location server configured to be used in a communication network. In some embodiments, a computer program comprising instructions which, when executed by at least one processor of the radio network node, cause the radio network node to perform the steps described above for a radio network node configured to be used in a communication network. In some embodiments, a carrier containing the computer program is one of an electrical signal, an optical signal, a radio signal or a computer-readable storage medium.

[0023] Other embodiments herein include a location server configured to be used in a communication network. The location server includes a communication circuit and a processing circuit. The processing circuit is configured to: as part of a positioning information update process, receive a message from the radio network node, the message indicating that the sounding reference signal (SRS) transmission from a specific communication device has stopped.

[0024] In some embodiments, the processing circuit is configured to perform the steps described above for a location server configured to be used in a communication network.

[0025] Other embodiments herein include a radio network node configured to be used in a communication network. The radio network node includes a communication circuit and a processing circuit. The processing circuit is configured to: as part of a positioning information update process, send a message from the radio network node to the location server, the message indicating that the sounding reference signal (SRS) transmission from a specific communication device has stopped.

[0026] In some embodiments, the processing circuit is configured to perform the steps described above for a radio network node configured to be used in a communication network.

[0027] The embodiments in this document also include a method performed by a location server configured to be used in a communication network. The method includes receiving a first message from a radio network node in the communication network, the first message providing location information of a specific communication device. The method further includes: after receiving the first message, receiving a second message from the radio network node, the second message notifying the location server that the location information of the specific communication device is no longer valid and / or the radio network node can no longer report any updates to the location information of the specific communication device.

[0028] Other embodiments in this document include a method performed by a radio network node configured to be used in a communication network. The method includes sending a first message to a location server in the communication network, the first message providing location information of a specific communication device. The method further includes: after sending the first message, sending a second message to the location server, the second message notifying the location server that the location information of the specific communication device is no longer valid and / or the radio network node can no longer report any updates to the location information of the specific communication device.

[0029] Other embodiments in this document include a method performed by a location server configured to be used in a communication network. The method includes receiving a first message from a radio network node in the communication network, the first message indicating that the radio network node is capable of initiating location measurements. The method further includes: after receiving the first message, receiving a second message from the radio network node, the second message notifying the location server that the radio network node can no longer report location measurements.

[0030] Further embodiments in this document include a method performed by a radio network node configured to be used in a communication network. The method includes sending a first message to a location server in the communication network, the first message indicating that the radio network node is capable of initiating location measurements. The method further includes: after sending the first message, sending a second message to the location server, the second message notifying the location server that the radio network node can no longer report location measurements.

[0031] The embodiments in this document include corresponding apparatuses, computer programs, and carriers of these computer programs. Brief Description of the Drawings

[0032] Figure 1 is a block diagram of a communication network according to some embodiments.

[0033] Figure 2 is a block diagram of a communication network according to other embodiments.

[0034] Figure 3 is a block diagram of a New Radio (NR) positioning architecture according to some embodiments.

[0035] Figure 4 is a call flow diagram of a multi - RTT positioning method according to some embodiments.

[0036] Figure 5 is a call flow diagram of a successful operation of a Positioning Information Exchange process according to some embodiments.

[0037] Figure 6 is a call flow diagram of a successful operation of a Measurement process according to some embodiments.

[0038] Figure 7 is a call flow diagram of a process for a non - UE - associated MEASUREMENT ABORT message according to some embodiments.

[0039] Figure 8 is a call flow diagram of a successful operation of a Positioning Deactivation process according to some embodiments.

[0040] Figure 9 is a call flow diagram of a process for a non - UE - associated MEASUREMENT FAILURE INDICATION message according to some embodiments.

[0041] Figure 10 is a call flow diagram of a successful operation of a Positioning Information Failure Indication process according to some embodiments.

[0042] Figure 11 is a logic flow diagram of a method performed by a location server configured to be used in a communication network according to a specific embodiment.

[0043] Figure 12 is a logic flow diagram of a method performed by a radio network node configured to be used in a communication network according to a specific embodiment.

[0044] Figure 13 is a logic flow diagram of a method performed by a location server configured to be used in a communication network according to other embodiments.

[0045] Figure 14 is a logic flow diagram of a method performed by a radio network node configured to be used in a communication network according to other embodiments.

[0046] Figure 15It is a block diagram of a radio network node configured to be used in a communication network according to a specific embodiment.

[0047] Figure 16 It is a block diagram of a location server configured to be used in a communication network according to a specific embodiment.

[0048] Figure 17 It shows an example of a communication system according to some embodiments.

[0049] Figure 18 It is a block diagram of a host according to various aspects described herein, and the host can be Figure 17 an embodiment of the host 1716. Detailed Description

[0050] Figure 1 It shows a communication network 10 configured to provide communication services to a communication device 12 according to some embodiments. The communication network 10 can include, for example, transmission and reception points (TRPs) 20-1, 20-2... 20-N in an access network for providing access to the communication network 10.

[0051] As shown, the communication network 10 includes a location server 14 configured to support the positioning of the communication device 12, that is, the determination of the location of the communication device 12. For example, in an embodiment where the communication network 10 is a 5G network, the location server 14 is configured to implement a location management function (LMF).

[0052] As shown, the location server 14 receives a first message 16-1 from a radio network node 18 (e.g., an NG-RAN node that can be associated with one or more TRPs 20-1, 20-2... 20-N) in the communication network 10. The first message 16-1 provides positioning information 20 of a specific communication device 12. In one embodiment, the first message 16-1 is a response to a request 22 sent by the location server 14 to the radio network node 18 (e.g., a positioning information request for positioning information 20 of a specific communication device 12). In an example in this case, the request 22 can be a positioning information request (POSITIONING INFORMATION REQUEST) message, and the first message 16-1 can be a positioning information response (POSITIONING INFORMATION RESPONSE) message.

[0053] In some embodiments, the positioning information 22 is information for: configuring the positioning of a specific communication device 12, configuring positioning measurements for the positioning of a specific communication device 12, and / or configuring resources 25 on which to perform positioning measurements for the positioning of a specific communication device 12. As described more fully later, the positioning information 22 may include, for example, a sounding reference signal (SRS) configuration of a specific communication device 12, a system frame number (SFN) initialization time, and / or a UE Tx timing error group (TEG) association list.

[0054] In some embodiments, the radio network node sending the first message 16-1 confirms that the radio network node 18 is able to provide positioning information 20 to the location server 14 and that the provided positioning information 20 is valid. The validity of the positioning information 20 may mean, for example, that the positioning information 20 can be used to position a specific communication device 12. For example, in the case where the positioning information 20 indicates the SRS configuration of a specific communication device 12, the validity of the positioning information 20 may mean that the SRS resources configured by the SRS configuration are actually allocated to the specific communication device 12 (e.g., the specific communication device 12 and its SRS resources have not been released by the radio network node 18), and the SRS from the specific communication device 12 is receivable on these SRS resources. In any case, in some embodiments (such as embodiments where the request 22 periodically or otherwise continuously requests positioning information 20 in order to track any changes or updates to the positioning information 20), the radio network node sending the first message 16-1 may implicitly confirm that the radio network node 18 is able to report any updates to the positioning information 20 of the specific communication device 12. In fact, after receiving the first message 16-1, the location server 14 may send signaling (not shown) to start positioning measurements in one or more of the TRPs 20-1, 20-2... 20-N. In this case, the signaling may indicate the resources on which to perform the positioning measurements, for example, SRS resources consistent with the SRS configuration in the positioning information 20.

[0055] However, at some point in time after receiving the first message 16-1 with the positioning information 20, the location server 14 later receives a second message 16-2, for example, during the continuous positioning of a specific communication device 12. The second message 16-2 notifies the location server 14 that the positioning information 20 of the specific communication device 12 is no longer valid and / or the radio network node 18 is no longer able to report any updates to the positioning information 20 of the specific communication device 12. The second message 16-2 can be, for example, a POSITIONING INFORMATION FAILURE message or a POSITIONING INFORMATION FAILURE INDICATION message, for example, as part of a Positioning Information Exchange class 2 failure indication procedure. Alternatively, the second message 16-2 can be a POSITIONING INFORMATION UPDATE message, for example, as part of a positioning information update procedure. However, in this case, instead of notifying the location server 14 of a change in the positioning information 20 and providing updated positioning information to the location server 14, the positioning information update message in this case does not have any update to the positioning information 20 (since there is no update).

[0056] For example, Figure 2 An embodiment is shown where the second message 16-2 is message 16-2U, which is part of a positioning information update procedure. In this case, the second message 16-2U can be a positioning information update message. In any case, in some embodiments, the second message 16-2U indicates that the SRS transmission from the specific communication device 12 has stopped, that is, the SRS transmission from the specific communication device 12 has ceased. Even if the positioning information update procedure is a procedure initiated by the radio network node 18 to indicate to the location server 14 that the SRS configuration of the specific communication device 12 has changed, the second message 16-2U can also indicate this. In some embodiments in this regard, the second message 16-2U does not have any update to the SRS configuration of the specific communication device 12.

[0057] In some embodiments, the second message 16-2 includes a cause 24 (e.g., a radio network layer cause) that indicates the reason why the positioning information 20 of a particular communication device 12 is no longer valid and / or the radio network node 18 is no longer able to report any updates to the positioning information 20 of the particular communication device 12. In one embodiment, the cause 24 is that the connection to the particular communication device 12 has been terminated, lost, or timed out, or that the particular communication device 12 has lost coverage. In another embodiment, the cause 24 is that the context of the particular communication device 12 has been released, released in association with the mobility of the particular communication device 12, or released in association with the release of the particular communication device 12. In yet another embodiment, the cause 24 is that the particular communication device 12 has failed to transmit SRS, has not transmitted or is unable to transmit SRS, or has stopped transmitting SRS. In yet another embodiment, the cause 24 is that the particular communication device 12 has been released, disappeared, or experienced an error. In any of these embodiments, the second message 16-2 may include a cause field whose value indicates the cause 24 and whose value is selected from among a plurality of possible values that map to different possible causes, e.g., where the different possible causes may include one or more of the causes illustrated above.

[0058] Via the cause 24 or otherwise, the second message 16-2 can effectively distinguish the problem as being fatal to the positioning of the particular communication device 12. The second message 16-2 suggests that the positioning of the particular communication device 12 simply cannot continue, rather than the problem being a failure of one of the potential multiple transmit receive points (TRPs) 20-1, 20-2...20-N associated with the radio network node 18 that is able to perform positioning measurements (in which case, the positioning can continue, albeit with fewer measurements). In fact, if the particular communication device 12 has been released or otherwise does not transmit a signal on which positioning measurements can be performed, no positioning can be carried out at all.

[0059] Accordingly, in some embodiments, based on the second message 16-2, the location server 14 considers the positioning information 20 of the particular communication device 12 to be invalid and / or considers that the radio network node 18 has terminated reporting any updates to the positioning information 20 of the particular communication device 12. In the latter case, for example, the location server 14 may determine that the radio network node 18 has terminated reporting any updates to the positioning information 20 of the particular communication device 12. For example, in the case where the positioning information 20 includes an SRS configuration, the location server 14 may determine that the SRS configuration of the particular communication device 12 previously received from the radio network node 18 is invalid and / or that the radio network node 18 has terminated reporting any updates to the SRS configuration of the particular communication device 12.

[0060] In these and other embodiments, then, based on the second message 16-2, the location server 14 may accordingly send signaling (not shown) that requests, commands, or triggers one or more of the TRPs 20-1, 20-2... 20-N to stop or abort one or more positioning measurements for a particular communication device 12. Alternatively, the location server 14 may send signaling (not shown) that requests, commands, or triggers the termination or deactivation of positioning measurements at one or more of the TRPs 20-1, 20-2... 20-N where positioning measurements for a particular communication device 12 have already been initiated.

[0061] In some embodiments, the location server 14 determines the TRPs 20-1, 20-2... 20-N that control the positioning measurements in this manner based on identifying the particular communication device 12 associated with the second message 16-2. For example, based on the second message 16-2 being for a particular communication device 12, the location server 14 may determine one or more of the TRPs 20-1, 20-2... 20-N where positioning measurements for the particular communication device 12 have already been initiated and then send signaling that requests, commands, or triggers the one or more TRPs 20-1, 20-2... 20-N to abort or deactivate the positioning measurements for the particular communication device 12. Alternatively, as another example, the location server 14 may determine one or more of the TRPs 20-1, 20-2... 20-N where resources have been allocated for the positioning of a particular communication device 12 based on the second message 16-2 being for the particular communication device 12 and then send signaling that requests, commands, or triggers the one or more TRPs 20-1, 20-2... 20-N to release or deactivate the resources that have been allocated for the positioning of the particular communication device 12.

[0062] To support this, the notification of the second message 16-2 provided to the location server 14 is particular to a specific communication device 12 rather than being generic to any communication device. In some embodiments, for example, the location server 14 receives the second message 16-2 via device-associated signaling, which, for example, uses a device-associated connection to convey the message 16-2. In such a case, even if the second message 16-2 itself does not include the identity of the specific communication device 12, the location server 14 associates the second message 16-2 with the specific communication device 12 because the connection on which the message 16-2 is received is associated with the specific communication device 12. By notifying the location server 14 of this with respect to the specific communication device 12, the location server 14 is able to trigger the termination of the positioning for the specific communication device 14 in a more efficient manner than the way in which the second message 16-2 has not somehow conveyed that the positioning information 20 for which communication device has become invalid or that the radio network node 18 is no longer able to report updated positioning information for which communication device. In fact, the second message 16-2 itself conveys this information to the location server 14 (e.g., by means of being received via a device-associated connection), rather than having to perform related processing or other processing to infer which specific communication device the device positioning should be terminated for (which would be required in the absence of device-associated signaling). Then, in some embodiments, the location server 14 determines the specific communication device 12 without having to search across multiple TRPs associated with the radio network node 18 for a match between the SRS configuration for the device context and the SRS configuration for the measurement context. Similarly, the location server 14 determines the specific communication device 12 without having to search across multiple TRPs associated with the radio network node 18 for a match between the measurement identifier in the device context and the measurement identifier in the measurement context.

[0063] Now consider some example embodiments of using a positioning protocol (e.g., New Radio Positioning Protocol (NRPPa)) between the location server 14 and the radio network node 18 to convey Figure 1 the first message 16-1 and / or the second message 16-2 in. In this regard, Figure 3 shows an NR positioning architecture (according to TS 38.305 v17.2.0). In such a case, the specific communication device 12 can be exemplified as a specific user equipment (UE), the location server 14 can be exemplified by the LMF, and the radio network node 18 can be exemplified as an NG-RAN node (e.g., gNodeB).

[0064] The Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF) receives a request for a certain location service associated with a specific target UE from another entity (e.g., Gateway Mobile Location Center (GMLC) or UE), or the AMF itself decides to initiate a certain location service on behalf of a specific target UE (e.g., for an Internet Protocol (IP) Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) emergency call from the UE), as described in TS23.502 v17.10.0 and TS 23.273 v17.6.0. Then, the AMF sends a location service request to the LMF. The LMF processes the location service request, which may include transmitting assistance data to the target UE to assist UE-based and / or UE-assisted positioning, and / or may include the positioning of the target UE. Then, the LMF returns the result of the location service to the AMF (e.g., the location estimate of the UE). In the case where the location service is requested by an entity other than the AMF (e.g., GMLC or UE), the AMF returns the location service result to that entity. The Long-Term Evolution (LTE) Positioning Protocol (LPP) is a point-to-point communication protocol between the LMF and the device. The New Radio (NR) Positioning Protocol a (NRPPa) is a communication protocol between the gNB and the LMF.

[0065] The NG-RAN node can control several TRPs / transmission points (TPs) (such as remote radio heads) or only downlink positioning reference signal (DL-PRS-only) TPs to support positioning of the positioning reference signal (PRS)-based terrestrial beacon system (TBS). Here, PRS represents the positioning reference signal.

[0066] Some embodiments herein may be applicable to positioning using the multi-RTT positioning method, where RTT represents round-trip time.

[0067] The multi-RTT positioning method involves both UE measurements and gNB measurements. Both UE measurements and gNB measurements require downlink (DL) PRS and uplink (UL) SRS. The UE should measure the time difference between the reception of the PRS and the transmission of the SRS. The gNB should measure the time difference between the reception of the SRS and the transmission of the PRS.

[0068] Figure 4 An embodiment of the multi-RTT positioning method is shown. Specifically, Figure 4 The message passing between the LMF, gNB, and UE for performing the location information transmission process initiated by the LMF for multi-RTT is shown.

[0069] 0. The LMF can use the process for obtaining the TRP information required for multi-RTT positioning.

[0070] 1. The LMF can use the LPP Capability Transfer process to request the positioning capability of the target device.

[0071] 2. The LMF sends a NRPPa POSITIONING INFORMATION REQUEST message to the serving gNB to request the UL information of the target device. Among them, the UL information exemplifies the positioning information 20 in Figure 1 , and among them, the NRPPa positioning information request message exemplifies the request 22 in Figure 1 .

[0072] 3. The serving gNB determines the resources available for UL-SRS and configures a UL-SRS resource set for the target device at step 3a.

[0073] 4. The serving gNB provides UL-SRS configuration information to the LMF in a NRPPa POSITIONING INFORMATION RESPONSE message. The UL-SRS configuration information exemplifies the positioning information 20 in Figure 1 , and the NRPPa positioning information response message exemplifies the first message 16-1 in Figure 1 .

[0074] 5. In the case of semi-persistent or aperiodic SRS, the LMF can request the activation of UE SRS transmission by sending a NRPPa Positioning Activation Request message to the serving gNB of the target device. Then, the gNB activates the UE SRS transmission and sends a NRPPa Positioning Activation Response message. The target device starts UL-SRS transmission according to the time-domain behavior of the UL-SRS resource configuration.

[0075] 6. The LMF provides UL information to the selected gNB in a NRPPa MEASUREMENT REQUEST message. This message includes all the information required for the gNB / TRP to perform UL measurements.

[0076] 7. The LMF sends a LPP Provide Assistance Data message to the target device. This message includes any assistance data required for the target device to perform necessary DL-PRS measurements.

[0077] 8. The LMF sends a LPP Request Location Information message to request multi-RTT measurements.

[0078] 9a: The target device performs DL-PRS measurements from all gNBs provided in the auxiliary data at step 7.

[0079] 9b: Each gNB configured at step 6 measures the UE SRS transmission from the target device.

[0080] 10. The target device reports the DL-PRS measurements for multi-RTT to the LMF in an LPP Provide Location Information message.

[0081] 11. Each gNB reports the UE SRS measurements to the LMF in an NRPPa Measurement Response message.

[0082] 12. The LMF sends an NRPPa POSITIONING DEACTIVATION message to the serving gNB.

[0083] 13. The LMF determines the RTT of each gNB (for which corresponding UL measurements and DL measurements were provided at steps 10 and 11) based on the UE and gNB Rx-Tx time difference measurements, and calculates the location of the target device.

[0084] In this example, the second message 16-2 (e.g., in the form of a POSITIONING INFORMATION FAILURE INDICATION message) can be sent at any time after step 4 (in the case of periodic SRS), or can be sent at any time after step 5c (for non-periodic or semi-persistent SRS).

[0085] Thus, positioning can involve several procedures. One of these procedures is the LMF requesting the allocation of SRS resources from the gNB. Specifically, the Positioning Information Exchange procedure is initiated by the LMF to request positioning information of the UE from the NG-RAN node. This procedure is only applicable when the NG-RAN node is a gNB.

[0086] Figure 5 Shows a successful operation of the positioning information exchange procedure according to some embodiments.

[0087] The LMF initiates this procedure by sending a positioning information request message to the NG-RAN node.

[0088] If the requested SRS Transmission Characteristics information element (IE) is included in the positioning information request message, the NG-RAN node may consider this information when configuring SRS transmission for the UE, and it shall include the SRS Configuration IE and the System Frame Number (SFN) InitialisationTime IE in the positioning information response message.

[0089] If the UE TEG Information Request IE is included in the positioning information request message and is set to "on demand", the NG-RAN node shall provide the UE Tx timing error group (TEG) association (if supported) in the positioning information response message.

[0090] If the UE TEG Information Request IE is set to "periodic", the NG-RAN node shall reply with the positioning information response message (if supported), without including any UE Tx TEG association in the message. Then, the NG-RAN node shall periodically initiate a positioning information update process for reporting the UE Tx TEG association at the requested reporting period.

[0091] In some embodiments, the positioning information response message is defined as shown in Table 1 and is sent by the NG-RAN node to provide positioning information.

[0092] Direction: NG-RAN node -> LMF.

[0093] Table 1

[0094]

[0095] In some embodiments, the SFN initialisation time provides the time (in seconds) relative to a reference time (e.g., 00:00:00 on 1 January 1900).

[0096] SRS Configuration

[0097] The SRS configuration information element contains the SRS configuration configured by the NG-RAN node for the UE. In some embodiments, the SRS Configuration IE is defined as shown in Table 2.

[0098] Table 2

[0099]

[0100] UE Tx TEG Association List

[0101] This information element contains a list of UE Tx TEG associations. In some embodiments, the UE Tx TEG association list IE is defined as shown in Table 3.

[0102] Table 3

[0103]

[0104] As another step, when the SRS resource is known in the LMF, the LMF requests measurements from one or more gNBs and for several TRPs. Specifically, the measurement process allows the LMF to request one or more TRPs in the NG-RAN node to perform and report positioning measurements. This process is only applicable when the NG-RAN node is a gNB.

[0105] Figure 6 Shows the successful operation of the measurement process according to some embodiments.

[0106] The LMF initiates this process by sending a MEASUREMENT REQUEST message to the NG-RAN node, and the TRP for which the measurement is requested is indicated in the TRP Measurement Request List IE. The NG-RAN node shall use the included information to configure the indicated TRP to perform positioning measurements. If for at least one TRP, at least one of the requested measurements has been successful, the NG-RAN node shall reply with a MEASUREMENT RESPONSE message including the TRP Measurement Response List IE.

[0107] If the Report Characteristics IE is set to "on demand", the NG-RAN node shall return the corresponding measurement results in the measurement response message, and the LMF shall consider that the NG-RAN node has terminated the reporting. If the Report Characteristics IE is set to "periodic", the NG-RAN node shall initiate the corresponding measurement and it shall reply with a measurement response message without including any measurement results in the message. Then, the NG-RAN node shall periodically initiate the Measurement Report process for the corresponding measurement at the requested reporting period.

[0108] The process of sending a positioning information request / response on the next-generation (NG) application protocol (NGAP) UE-associated signaling, while using UE-unassociated signaling to send measurement requests / responses. In this regard, the UE-unassociated service can be related to the entire next-generation (NG) interface instance with a UE-unassociated signaling connection between the NG-RAN node and the AMF. In contrast, the UE-associated service can be related to a UE. The NGAP function providing these services is associated with the UE-associated signaling connection maintained for the UE under discussion. See, for example, the NGAP protocol in 3GPP 38.413 V17.2.0.

[0109] In summary, the gNB allocates SRS for each UE (when there is a UE context), and starts measurements for each gNB (or TRP) rather than for each UE.

[0110] To stop the measurements, the LMF can send a UE-unassociated measurement abort, as Figure 7 shown.

[0111] To stop sending SRS, the LMF can send a UE-associated message positioning deactivation. Specifically, the positioning deactivation process is initiated by the LMF to indicate to the NG-RAN node that UL SRS transmission should be deactivated in the UE. This process is only applicable when the NG-RAN node is a gNB.

[0112] Figure 8 An embodiment showing the successful operation of the positioning deactivation process is presented. The LMF initiates this process by sending a positioning deactivation message to the NG-RAN node. This message should include an indication of the UL SRS resource set for all relevant resources to be deactivated or released.

[0113] In the case where the gNB cannot continue the measurements, the gNB can inform the LMF, and then the LMF can take appropriate actions. The gNB informs the LMF by sending a UE-unassociated measurement failure indication, as Figure 9 shown.

[0114] For several positioning measurements, the gNB is requested to allocate SRS resources for the UE and request the UE to start transmitting SRS in a periodic, semi-persistent, or aperiodic (one-shot) manner. There are situations where, when positioning measurements are in progress and the SRS is configured to be transmitted by the UE, the UE has to be released by the gNB, for example due to deteriorated radio conditions, or the UE has disappeared from the cell, or during a mobility event, etc. In such cases, it is necessary to inform the LMF that the positioning SRS transmission has stopped or failed. Some embodiments in this document define messages from the gNB to the LMF for indicating that the UE has been released or the transmission of (periodic or semi-persistent) SRS has failed due to, for example, the disappearance of the UE, so that the LMF can abort the measurements in adjacent cells.

[0115] The only possible way existing in 3GPP is to send a measurement failure indication and the LMF stops all measurements. This means that if there is a failure in one TRP, all measurements for that UE must be stopped and the positioning fails. However, the measurement failure indication message is non-UE-associated. So far, the LMF cannot know the UE for which the measurement has failed without searching for the measurement id and is related to the UE context. This represents complex and time-consuming work because there can be more than 65,000 TRPs in the NG-RAN.

[0116] Some embodiments in this document provide various methods to indicate to the LMF when positioning is in progress and the UE is transmitting UL SRS that: the UE has been released or the UE has stopped transmitting SRS, or other reasons for the UE transmission of SRS to have stopped (such as the UE has lost coverage or the Uu connection has timed out, etc.). The LMF receives the new indication and can then stop the measurements in the TRPs where the measurements have already started.

[0117] One embodiment in this document provides to update the existing measurement failure indication with a cause (new for the UE, no cause exists) that indicates that the SRS is not sent together with the list of TRPs for which the measurements have stopped being reported.

[0118] Another embodiment in this document defines a new positioning information exchange class 2 procedure for UE failure indication from the gNB to the LMF.

[0119] Yet another embodiment in this document provides a new class 2 failure indication procedure from the gNB to the LMF applicable to all positioning procedures to reduce the number of messages to be sent when several methods (such as E-CID and multi-RTT) are used simultaneously.

[0120] Another embodiment in this document utilizes the indication of SRS not being sent / stopped being sent to update the positioning information update procedure.

[0121] Through these embodiments, the RAN node will likely inform the LMF that it has stopped transmitting the UL signal of the SRS from the UE and inform the LMF that the ongoing measurements in the TRP for which the measurements have been started should be terminated because the UE has, for example, been released or disappeared or is in an error scenario such as UE out of coverage / timeout, etc., in order to save network resources.

[0122] Some embodiments may provide one or more of the following technical advantages. One advantage is much simpler and more robust processing in the network because there is no need for a search process to find a match between the SRS configuration for the UE context and the SRS configuration for the measurement context. This search would be required when receiving a measurement failure indication, and the LMF would need to know the UE associated with the failure.

[0123] Another advantage is that the LMF can distinguish between a failure to send the SRS from the UE and a failure in the TRP measurement. When the SRS transmission fails, the positioning process fails completely, whereas if the measurement fails only in some TRPs, the positioning process can continue but with fewer measurements.

[0124] Now consider some embodiments from the perspective of the gNB, for example when implemented via NRPPa. In some embodiments, when the gNB detects that it cannot send the SRS for the UE, the gNB sends a failure indication to the LMF indicating that the SRS has not been sent or the UE context has been released. For example, during handover, in some cases it is necessary to stop positioning, or the UE is sent to RRC inactive or in an error scenario or UE out of coverage / timeout, etc.

[0125] In one embodiment, the failure indication can be an update to the existing measurement failure indication with a cause (new UE cause, as there is no existing cause) indicating that the SRS has not been sent. In one implementation of this embodiment, the gNB assumes that measurements have been configured in the serving cell or TRP (not associated with the UE, known only through the SRS resource configuration). The gNB searches for a match between the SRS configuration in the UE context and the SRS configuration for the measurement. When a match is found, a non-UE-associated message measurement failure indication is sent, the cause of which (new cause, no existing cause) indicates that the SRS has not been sent. Alternatively or additionally, in another implementation of this embodiment, the gNB indicates the list of TRPs for which the measurement has failed due to the reason that the SRS has not been sent.

[0126] In another embodiment, the failure indication can be sent during a new positioning information exchange class 2 failure indication procedure.

[0127] In yet another embodiment, the failure indication may be sent in a new Class 2 failure indication procedure applicable to all positioning procedures, to reduce the number of messages to be sent in cases where several methods are used simultaneously, such as enhanced cell ID (E-CID) and multi-round-trip time (multi-RTT).

[0128] To implement this failure indication, yet another embodiment herein utilizes an indication of non-transmission of SRS to update the positioning information update procedure, i.e., the failure indication is an indication of non-transmission of SRS.

[0129] In any of the above implementations of the failure indication, the gNB may include new cause values indicating the problem. For example, the cause may be one of the following: (i) UE context release, handover; (ii) UE context release, UE release; (iii) SRS failure; or (iv) UE loss of coverage / connection timeout. In one embodiment where the failure indication is an update to an existing measurement failure indication, the gNB may indicate a list of TRPs for which the measurement has failed due to these causes.

[0130] Now consider some embodiments from the perspective of the LMF, e.g., when implemented via NRPPa. In some embodiments, the LMF receives an indication of non-transmission of SRS. Upon receipt, the LMF stops measurements in all or some of the TRPs.

[0131] In one embodiment, the indication is an update to an existing measurement failure indication, which has a list of TRPs for which the measurement has failed and a reason for indicating non-transmission of SRS (new UE cause, no cause). In such cases, in some embodiments, the LMF stops measurements in the list of TRPs signaled.

[0132] In another embodiment, the indication is received in a new positioning information exchange Class 2 failure indication procedure.

[0133] In yet another embodiment, the indication is received in a new Class 2 failure indication procedure applicable to all positioning procedures, to reduce the number of messages to be sent in cases where several methods are used simultaneously, such as E-CID and multi-RTT.

[0134] Yet another embodiment utilizes an indication of non-transmission of SRS to update the positioning information update.

[0135] Without loss of generality, Figure 10 An example of the new message described above in step 2b is shown, which may be introduced into the NRPPa specification, e.g., as specified separately by TS 38.455 V17.2.0. Specifically, Figure 10shows a successful operation of the positioning information failure indication procedure according to some embodiments. The purpose of the positioning information failure indication procedure is to enable the NG-RAN node to notify the LMF that the positioning information is no longer valid. During the positioning information failure indication procedure, the NG-RAN node sends a positioning information failure indication message to the LMF, where the positioning information failure indication message is an example of the new message described above in step 2b. Therefore, the positioning information failure indication message is Figure 1 an example of the second message 16-2 in

[0136] Upon receiving the positioning information failure indication message, the LMF shall consider the positioning information of the UE to be no longer valid.

[0137] In some embodiments, the positioning information failure indication message is defined as in Table 4 and is sent by the NG-RAN node to indicate that the positioning information is no longer valid.

[0138] Direction: NG-RAN node -> LMF.

[0139] Table 4

[0140]

[0141] The purpose of the cause information element is to indicate the cause of a specific event in the entire protocol. The cause information element can be defined as in Table 5.

[0142] Table 5

[0143]

[0144] The meanings of different cause values are described in Table 6. Generally speaking, the "not supported" cause value indicates the lack of relevant capabilities. On the other hand, the "unavailable" cause value indicates the existence of relevant capabilities, but there are not enough resources available to perform the requested action.

[0145] Table 6

[0146]

[0147] Some embodiments herein relate to the following process: First, the LMF triggers the establishment of resources (completed via UE connection), and then starts measurements in one or more TRPs / gNBs (only indicating the SRS resources to be measured, without indicating the UE). Some embodiments herein enable the method in 3GPP to allow the gNB holding the UE context to trigger the release (if measurements have been configured in the cell where the UE is located, the gNB can search for the matching SRS and trigger, but this search does not necessarily mean that these measurements have been configured in the serving cell).

[0148] In view of the modifications and changes herein, Figure 11Depicts a method performed by a location server 14 configured to be used in a communication network 10 according to a particular embodiment.

[0149] In some embodiments, the method includes receiving a first message 16-1 from a radio network node 18 in the communication network 10, the first message 16-1 providing location information 20 of a particular communication device 12 (block 1100). In some embodiments, for example, the method includes sending a location information request message 22 to the radio network node 18, the location information request message 22 requesting location information 20 of a particular communication device 12 (block 1150), in which case the first message 16-1 may be received as a response to the location information request message 22.

[0150] In any case, in some embodiments, the method includes: after receiving the first message 16-1, receiving a second message 16-2 from the radio network node 18, the second message 16-2 notifying the location server 14 that the location information 20 of the particular communication device 12 is no longer valid and / or the radio network node 18 is no longer able to report any updates to the location information 20 of the particular communication device 12 (block 1110).

[0151] In some embodiments, the method includes: when receiving the second message 16-2, considering the location information 20 of the particular communication device 12 to be invalid and / or considering that the radio network node 18 has terminated reporting any updates to the location information 20 of the particular communication device 12 (block 1120).

[0152] In some embodiments, the method includes: based on the second message 16-2, sending a signaling that requests, commands, or triggers the termination or deactivation of location measurements in one or more transmit-receive points 20-1, 20-2... 20-N where location measurements for the particular communication device 12 have been started (block 1140).

[0153] In some embodiments, the method further includes: after receiving the first message 16-1, sending a signaling for starting location measurements in one or more transmit-receive points 20-1, 20-2... 20-N, wherein the signaling indicates the resources 25 on which the location measurements are to be performed (block 1160).

[0154] In some embodiments, the second message 16-2 indicates that the location information 20 of the particular communication device 12 is no longer valid.

[0155] In some embodiments, the second message 16-2 indicates that the radio network node 18 is no longer able to report any updates to the location information 20 of the particular communication device 12.

[0156] In some embodiments, the first message 16-1 is a positioning information response message.

[0157] In some embodiments, the second message 16-2 is received via device-associated signaling associated with a particular communication device 12.

[0158] In some embodiments, the second message 16-2 is received via a device-associated signaling connection associated with a particular communication device 12. In some embodiments, the method further includes: determining a particular communication device 12 for which the positioning information 20 is no longer valid, the determination being based on the association of the particular communication device 12 with the device-associated signaling or device-associated signaling connection via which the second message 16-2 is received. In some embodiments, the determination of the particular communication device 12 is performed when: a match between a sounding reference signal (SRS) configuration for a device context and an SRS configuration for a measurement context is not searched across multiple transmit-receive points 20-1, 20-2... 20-N associated with a radio network node 18. In other embodiments, the determination of the particular communication device 12 is performed when: a match between a measurement identifier in a device context and a measurement identifier in a measurement context is not searched across multiple transmit-receive points 20-1, 20-2... 20-N associated with a radio network node 18.

[0159] In some embodiments, the second message 16-2 is a positioning information failure message or a positioning information failure indication message.

[0160] In some embodiments, the second message 16-2 is received as part of a positioning information exchange class 2 failure indication procedure.

[0161] In some embodiments, the second message 16-2 is a positioning information update message that does not have any update to the positioning information 20 of a particular communication device 12.

[0162] In some embodiments, the second message 16-2 is received as part of a positioning information update procedure.

[0163] In some embodiments, the second message 16-2 includes at least a positioning protocol transaction identifier. In other embodiments, the second message 16-2 includes at least a location server device measurement identifier. In other embodiments, the second message 16-2 includes at least a radio network node device measurement identifier.

[0164] In some embodiments, the second message 16-2 includes a cause 24 that indicates the reason why the location information 20 of a particular communication device 12 is no longer valid and / or the radio network node 18 is no longer able to report any updates to the location information 20 of the particular communication device 12. In some embodiments, the cause 24 is a radio network layer cause. In some embodiments, the cause 24 is that the connection to the particular communication device 12 has been terminated, lost, or timed out. In other embodiments, the cause 24 is that the particular communication device 12 has lost coverage. In some embodiments, the cause 24 is that the context of the particular communication device 12 has been released. In other embodiments, the cause 24 is that the context of the particular communication device 12 has been released in association with the mobility of the particular communication device 12. In other embodiments, the cause 24 is that the context of the particular communication device 12 has been released in association with the release of the particular communication device 12. In some embodiments, the cause 24 is that the particular communication device 12 has failed to send sounding reference signal (SRS). In other embodiments, the cause 24 is that the particular communication device 12 has not sent SRS or is unable to send SRS. In other embodiments, the cause 24 is that the particular communication device 12 has stopped sending SRS. In some embodiments, the cause 24 is that the particular communication device 12 has been released, disappeared, or experienced an error.

[0165] In some embodiments, the second message 16-2 is received during an ongoing positioning of the communication device 12.

[0166] In some embodiments, the method further includes: based on the second message 16-2, determining that the radio network node 18 has terminated reporting any updates to the location information 20 of the particular communication device 12.

[0167] In some embodiments, the method further includes: based on the second message 16-2, sending a signaling that requests, commands, or triggers one or more transmit receive points 20-1, 20-2... 20-N associated with the radio network node 18 to stop or abort one or more positioning measurements for the particular communication device 12.

[0168] In some embodiments, the method further includes: based on the second message 16-2, determining one or more transmit receive points 20-1, 20-2... 20-N at which one or more positioning measurements for the particular communication device 12 have been initiated; and sending a signaling that requests, commands, or triggers the one or more transmit receive points 20-1, 20-2... 20-N to abort or deactivate the one or more positioning measurements for the particular communication device 12.

[0169] In some embodiments, the method further includes: determining, based on the second message 16-2, one or more transmit-receive points 20-1, 20-2... 20-N at which resources 25 have been allocated for the positioning of a particular communication device 12; and transmitting signaling that requests, commands, or triggers the one or more transmit-receive points 20-1, 20-2... 20-N to release or deactivate the resources 25 that have been allocated for the positioning of the particular communication device 12.

[0170] In some embodiments, the method further includes sending a positioning information request message to a radio network node 18, the positioning information request message requesting positioning information 20 of a particular communication device 12, and wherein the first message 16-1 is received as a response to the positioning information request message.

[0171] In some embodiments, the positioning information 20 is information for configuring the positioning of a particular communication device 12. In other embodiments, the positioning information 20 is alternatively or additionally information for configuring positioning measurements for the positioning of a particular communication device 12. In other embodiments, the positioning information 20 is alternatively or additionally information for configuring the resources 25 on which positioning measurements for the positioning of a particular communication device 12 are to be performed.

[0172] In some embodiments, the positioning information 20 includes at least a sounding reference signal (SRS) configuration of a particular communication device 12. In other embodiments, the positioning information 20 includes at least a system frame number (SFN) initialization time. In other embodiments, the positioning information 20 includes at least a UE Tx timing error group (TEG) association list.

[0173] In some embodiments, the location server 14 implements a location management function (LMF).

[0174] In some embodiments, the radio network node 18 is an NG-RAN node.

[0175] In some embodiments, the first message 16-1 and the second message 16-2 are each received via a new radio (NR) positioning protocol (NRPPa).

[0176] In some embodiments, the radio network node 18 is a gNodeB.

[0177] Figure 12 A method performed by a radio network node 18 configured to be used in a communication network 10 is depicted.

[0178] In some embodiments, the method includes sending a first message 16-1 to a location server 14 in a communication network 10, the first message 16-1 providing location information 20 of a particular communication device 12 (block 1200). In one embodiment, for example, the method includes receiving a location information request message from the location server 14, the location information request message requesting location information 20 of a particular communication device 12 (block 1205), in which case the first message 16-1 can be a response to the location information request message.

[0179] In any case, in some embodiments, the method includes: after sending the first message 16-1, sending a second message 16-2 to the location server 14, the second message 16-2 notifying the location server 14 that the location information 20 of the particular communication device 12 is no longer valid and / or the radio network node 18 can no longer report any updates to the location information 20 of the particular communication device 12 (block 1210).

[0180] In some embodiments, the method further includes terminating or deactivating location measurements in one or more transmit-receive points 20-1, 20-2... 20-N where location measurements for the particular communication device 12 have been started (block 1250).

[0181] In some embodiments, the method further includes determining that the location information 20 of the particular communication device 12 is invalid (block 1220).

[0182] In some embodiments, the method includes: after sending the first message 16-1, receiving signaling for starting location measurements in one or more transmit-receive points 20-1, 20-2... 20-N, wherein the signaling indicates resources 25 on which location measurements are to be performed (block 1260).

[0183] In some embodiments, the second message 16-2 indicates that the location information 20 of the particular communication device 12 is no longer valid.

[0184] In some embodiments, the second message 16-2 indicates that the radio network node 18 can no longer report any updates to the location information 20 of the particular communication device 12.

[0185] In some embodiments, the first message 16-1 is a location information response message.

[0186] In some embodiments, the second message 16-2 is sent via device association signaling associated with the particular communication device 12.

[0187] In some embodiments, the second message 16-2 is sent over a device association signaling connection associated with the particular communication device 12.

[0188] In some embodiments, the second message 16-2 is a positioning information failure message or a positioning information failure indication message.

[0189] In some embodiments, the second message 16-2 is sent as part of a positioning information exchange class 2 failure indication procedure.

[0190] In some embodiments, the second message 16-2 is a positioning information update message that does not have any update to the positioning information 20 of a specific communication device 12.

[0191] In some embodiments, the second message 16-2 is sent as part of a positioning information update procedure.

[0192] In some embodiments, the second message 16-2 includes at least a positioning protocol transaction identifier. In other embodiments, the second message 16-2 includes at least a location server device measurement identifier. In other embodiments, the second message 16-2 includes at least a radio network node device measurement identifier.

[0193] In some embodiments, the second message 16-2 includes a cause 24 that indicates the reason why the positioning information 20 of a specific communication device 12 is no longer valid and / or the radio network node 18 is no longer able to report any update to the positioning information 20 of the specific communication device 12. In some embodiments, the cause 24 is a radio network layer cause. In some embodiments, the cause 24 is that the connection with the specific communication device 12 has been terminated, lost, or timed out. In other embodiments, the cause 24 is that the specific communication device 12 has lost coverage. In some embodiments, the cause 24 is that the context of the specific communication device 12 has been released. In other embodiments, the cause 24 is that the context of the specific communication device 12 has been released in association with the mobility of the specific communication device 12. In other embodiments, the cause 24 is that the context of the specific communication device 12 has been released in association with the release of the specific communication device 12. In some embodiments, the cause 24 is that the specific communication device 12 fails to send sounding reference signal (SRS). In other embodiments, the cause 24 is that the specific communication device 12 does not send SRS or cannot send SRS. In other embodiments, the cause 24 is that the specific communication device 12 has stopped sending SRS. In some embodiments, the cause 24 is that the specific communication device 12 has been released, disappeared, or experienced an error.

[0194] In some embodiments, the second message 16-2 is received during an ongoing positioning of the communication device 12.

[0195] In some embodiments, the method further includes terminating the reporting of any update to the positioning information 20 of a specific communication device 12.

[0196] In some embodiments, the method further includes: after sending the second message 16-2, receiving a signaling that requests, commands, or triggers one or more transmit receive points 20-1, 20-2... 20-N associated with the radio network node 18 to stop or abort one or more positioning measurements for a specific communication device 12. In other embodiments, the method further includes receiving a signaling that requests, commands, or triggers termination or deactivation of positioning measurements (block 1240) at one or more transmit receive points 20-1, 20-2... 20-N where positioning measurements for a specific communication device 12 have already been started.

[0197] In some embodiments, the method further includes receiving a signaling that requests, commands, or triggers the one or more transmit receive points 20-1, 20-2... 20-N to abort or deactivate the one or more positioning measurements for a specific communication device 12.

[0198] In some embodiments, the method further includes receiving a signaling that requests, commands, or triggers the one or more transmit receive points 20-1, 20-2... 20-N to release or deactivate resources 25 that have been allocated for positioning of a specific communication device 12.

[0199] In some embodiments, the method further includes receiving a positioning information request message from the location server 14, the positioning information request message requesting positioning information 20 of a specific communication device 12, and wherein the first message 16-1 is sent as a response to the positioning information request message.

[0200] In some embodiments, the positioning information 20 is information for configuring positioning of a specific communication device 12. In other embodiments, the positioning information 20 is alternatively or additionally information for configuring positioning measurements for positioning a specific communication device 12. In other embodiments, the positioning information 20 is alternatively or additionally information for configuring resources 25 on which positioning measurements for positioning a specific communication device 12 are to be performed.

[0201] In some embodiments, the positioning information 20 at least includes a sounding reference signal (SRS) configuration of a specific communication device 12. In other embodiments, the positioning information 20 at least includes a system frame number (SFN) initialization time. In other embodiments, the positioning information 20 at least includes a UE Tx timing error group (TEG) association list.

[0202] In some embodiments, the location server 14 implements a location management function (LMF).

[0203] In some embodiments, the radio network node 18 is an NG-RAN node.

[0204] In some embodiments, the first message 16-1 and the second message 16-2 are each received via a New Radio (NR) Positioning Protocol (NRPPa).

[0205] In some embodiments, the radio network node 18 is a gNodeB.

[0206] Alternatively or additionally, other embodiments herein introduce messaging for the radio network node 18 to notify the location server 14 that the radio network node 18 is no longer able to report positioning measurements. For example, where the indicated reason is that a particular communication device 12 has lost its connection. In some embodiments, the messaging includes a list of one or more transmission reception points 20-1, 20-2... 20-N for which the positioning measurements have failed. By providing such a list, even if the messaging is received via non-device-associated signaling, the location server 14 can effectively determine the communication device 12 for which the positioning measurements have failed and then trigger the termination of the positioning of that device. For example, the list in the messaging reduces the search space of the location server 14 to only those transmission reception points 20-1, 20-2... 20-N in the list, rather than having to perform relevant processing or other processing on all possible transmission reception points 20-1, 20-2... 20-N to infer the particular communication device 12 for which the positioning measurements have failed (which would be required in the absence of the list).

[0207] Figure 13 A method performed by a location server 14 configured to be used in a communication network 10 according to some embodiments is depicted. The method includes: receiving, as part of a positioning information update process, a message 16-2U from a radio network node 18, the message 16-2U indicating that a sounding reference signal (SRS) transmission from a particular communication device 12 has stopped (block 1300).

[0208] In some embodiments, the method further includes: based on the message 16-2U, determining that the SRS configuration of the particular communication device 12 previously received from the radio network node 18 is invalid and / or the radio network node 18 has terminated reporting any updates to the SRS configuration of the particular communication device 12.

[0209] In some embodiments, the method further includes: based on message 16-2U, sending a signaling that requests, commands, or triggers one or more transmission reception points 20-1, 20-2... 20-N to stop or abort one or more positioning measurements for a specific communication device 12, or sending a signaling that requests, commands, or triggers termination or deactivation of the positioning measurements at one or more transmission reception points 20-1, 20-2... 20-N where the positioning measurements for the specific communication device 12 have already been started (block 1310).

[0210] In some embodiments, the method further includes: based on message 16-2U, determining one or more transmission reception points 20-1, 20-2... 20-N where the positioning measurements for a specific communication device 12 have already been started; and sending a signaling that requests, commands, or triggers the one or more transmission reception points 20-1, 20-2... 20-N to abort or deactivate the one or more positioning measurements for the specific communication device 12. In other embodiments, the method further includes: based on message 16-2U, alternatively or additionally determining one or more transmission reception points 20-1, 20-2... 20-N where resources 25 have been allocated for the positioning of a specific communication device 12; and sending a signaling that requests, commands, or triggers the one or more transmission reception points 20-1, 20-2... 20-N to release or deactivate the resources 25 that have been allocated for the positioning of the specific communication device 12.

[0211] In some embodiments, message 16-2U is a positioning information update message.

[0212] In some embodiments, the positioning information update process is a process initiated by a radio network node 18 for indicating to a location server 14 that the SRS configuration of a specific communication device 12 has changed, and message 16-2U does not have any update to the SRS configuration of the specific communication device 12.

[0213] In some embodiments, message 16-2U is received via device association signaling associated with a specific communication device 12. In other embodiments, message 16-2U is received through a device association signaling connection associated with the specific communication device 12.

[0214] In some embodiments, the method further includes: determining a specific communication device 12 for which a message 16-2U is received, the determination being based on the specific communication device 12 being associated with device association signaling or a device association signaling connection via which the message 16-2U is received (block 1320). In some embodiments, the determination of the specific communication device 12 is performed when: not searching across multiple transmit-receive points 20-1, 20-2... 20-N associated with the radio network node 18 for a match between an SRS configuration for device context and an SRS configuration for measurement context. In other embodiments, the determination of the specific communication device 12 is performed when: not searching across multiple transmit-receive points 20-1, 20-2... 20-N associated with the radio network node 18 for a match between a measurement identifier in device context and a measurement identifier in measurement context.

[0215] In some embodiments, the location server 14 implements a Location Management Function (LMF). In some embodiments, the radio network node 18 is a gNodeB, and wherein, the message 16-2U is received via a New Radio (NR) Positioning Protocol (NRPPa).

[0216] Figure 14 A method performed by a radio network node 18 configured to be used in a communication network 10 according to some embodiments is depicted. The method includes: as part of a positioning information update process, sending a message 16-2U from the radio network node 18 to the location server 14, the message 16-2U indicating that a sounding reference signal (SRS) transmission from a specific communication device 12 has stopped (block 1400).

[0217] In some embodiments, the method further includes receiving signaling that requests, commands, or triggers termination or deactivation of positioning measurements in one or more of the transmit-receive points 20-1, 20-2... 20-N where positioning measurements for a specific communication device 12 have been started (block 1410).

[0218] In some embodiments, the method further includes terminating or deactivating positioning measurements in one or more of the transmit-receive points 20-1, 20-2... 20-N where positioning measurements for a specific communication device 12 have been started (block 1430).

[0219] In some embodiments, the message 16-2U is a positioning information update message.

[0220] In some embodiments, the positioning information update process is a process initiated by the radio network node 18 for indicating to the location server 14 that the SRS configuration of a specific communication device 12 has changed, and the message 16-2U does not have any update to the SRS configuration of the specific communication device 12.

[0221] In some embodiments, message 16-2U is sent via device-associated signaling associated with a particular communication device 12. In other embodiments, message 16-2U is sent through a device-associated signaling connection associated with a particular communication device 12.

[0222] In some embodiments, location server 14 implements a Location Management Function (LMF). In some embodiments, radio network node 18 is a gNodeB, and wherein, message 16-2U is sent via a New Radio (NR) Positioning Protocol (NRPPa).

[0223] Embodiments herein also include corresponding apparatuses. For example, embodiments herein include location server 14, which is configured to perform any steps of any of the embodiments described above for location server 14.

[0224] Embodiments also include location server 14, which includes a processing circuit and a power supply circuit. The processing circuit is configured to perform any steps of any of the embodiments described above for location server 14. The power supply circuit is configured to supply power to location server 14.

[0225] Embodiments also include location server 14, which includes a processing circuit. The processing circuit is configured to perform any steps of any of the embodiments described above for location server 14. In some embodiments, location server 14 further includes a communication circuit.

[0226] Embodiments also include location server 14, which includes a processing circuit and a memory. The memory contains instructions executable by the processing circuit, whereby location server 14 is configured to perform any steps of any of the embodiments described above for location server 14.

[0227] Embodiments herein also include radio network node 18, which is configured to perform any steps of any of the embodiments described above for radio network node 18.

[0228] Embodiments also include radio network node 18, which includes a processing circuit and a power supply circuit. The processing circuit is configured to perform any steps of any of the embodiments described above for radio network node 18. The power supply circuit is configured to supply power to radio network node 18.

[0229] The embodiment also includes a radio network node 18 including a processing circuit. The processing circuit is configured to perform any step of any of the embodiments described above for the radio network node 18. In some embodiments, the radio network node 18 also includes a communication circuit.

[0230] The embodiment also includes a radio network node 18 that includes a processing circuit and a memory. The memory contains instructions executable by the processing circuit, whereby the radio network node 18 is configured to perform any step of any of the embodiments described above for the radio network node 18.

[0231] More specifically, the above-described apparatus may perform the methods and any other processes herein by implementing any functional means, module, unit, or circuit. In one embodiment, for example, the apparatus includes one or more corresponding circuits configured to perform the steps shown in the method diagrams. In this regard, the one or more circuitry may include circuitry dedicated to performing a certain functional process and / or one or more microprocessors in combination with a memory. For example, the circuitry may include one or more microprocessors or microcontrollers and other digital hardware, which may include a digital signal processor (DSP), dedicated digital logic, etc. The processing circuit may be configured to execute program code stored in the memory, which may include one or more types of memory, such as read-only memory (ROM), random access memory, cache memory, flash memory devices, optical storage devices, etc. In several embodiments, the program code stored in the memory may include program instructions for performing one or more telecommunication and / or data communication protocols and instructions for performing one or more of the techniques described herein. In embodiments employing a memory, the memory stores program code that, when executed by one or more processors, performs the techniques described herein.

[0232] For example, Figure 15 A location server 14 implemented according to one or more embodiments is shown. As shown, the location server 14 includes a processing circuit 1510 and a communication circuit 1520. The communication circuit 1520 is configured to send information to and / or receive information from one or more other nodes via any communication technology, for example. The processing circuit 1510 is configured to perform the processing described above, for example, by executing instructions stored in the memory 1530, such as in Figure 11 and / or Figure 13 described. In this regard, the processing circuit 1510 may implement certain functional means, units, or modules.

[0233] Figure 16Shows a radio network node 18 implemented according to one or more embodiments. As shown, the radio network node 18 includes a processing circuit 1610 and a communication circuit 1620. The communication circuit 1620 is configured to send information to and / or receive information from one or more other nodes via any communication technology, for example. The processing circuit 1610 is configured to perform the processing described above, for example, by executing instructions stored in the memory 1630 as described above, for example, in Figure 12 and / or Figure 14 . In this regard, the processing circuit 1610 may implement certain functional means, units or modules.

[0234] Those skilled in the art will also understand that the embodiments herein also include corresponding computer programs.

[0235] The computer program includes instructions that, when executed on at least one processor of the device, cause the device to perform any of the above corresponding processing. In this regard, the computer program may include one or more code modules corresponding to the above-described device or unit.

[0236] The embodiments also include a carrier containing such a computer program. The carrier may include one of an electrical signal, an optical signal, a radio signal, or a computer-readable storage medium.

[0237] In this regard, the embodiments herein also include a computer program product stored on a non-transitory computer-readable (storage or recording) medium and including instructions that, when executed by a processor of the device, cause the device to perform the method as described above.

[0238] The embodiments also include a computer program product that includes a program code portion that, when the computer program product is executed by a computing device, performs the steps of any of the embodiments herein. The computer program product may be stored on a computer-readable recording medium.

[0239] Figure 17 Shows an example of a communication system 1700 according to some embodiments.

[0240] In this example, the communication system 1700 includes: a telecommunication network 1702, including an access network 1704 such as a radio access network (RAN); and a core network 1706, including one or more core network nodes 1708. The access network 1704 includes one or more access network nodes, such as network nodes 1710a and 1710b (one or more of which can generally be referred to as network node 1710), or any other similar 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) access node or non-3GPP access point. The network node 1710 facilitates the direct or indirect connection of user equipment (UE), such as connecting UEs 1712a, 1712b, 1712c, and 1712d (one or more of which can generally be referred to as UE 1712) to the core network 1706 through one or more wireless connections.

[0241] Example wireless communications over a wireless connection include sending and / or receiving wireless signals using electromagnetic waves, radio waves, infrared waves, and / or other types of signals suitable for sending information without using wiring, cables, or other material conductors. Additionally, in different embodiments, the communication system 1700 can include any number of wired or wireless networks, network nodes, UEs, and / or any other components or systems that can facilitate or participate in the communication of data and / or signals, whether the communication is via a wired connection or a wireless connection. The communication system 1700 can include any type of communication, telecommunication, data, cellular, radio network, and / or other similar types of systems, and / or interface with any type of communication, telecommunication, data, cellular, radio network, and / or other similar types of systems.

[0242] The UE 1712 can be any of a variety of communication devices, including a wireless device arranged, configured, and / or operable to communicate wirelessly with the network node 1710 and other communication devices. Similarly, the network node 1710 is arranged, capable, configured, and / or operable to communicate directly or indirectly with the UE 1712 and / or with other network nodes or devices in the telecommunication network 1702 to enable and / or provide network access (e.g., wireless network access) and / or to perform other functions in the telecommunication network 1702 (e.g., management).

[0243] In the depicted example, the core network 1706 connects the network node 1710 to one or more hosts, such as host 1716. These connections can be direct connections or indirect connections via one or more intermediate networks or devices. In other examples, the network node can be directly coupled to the host.

[0244] The core network 1706 includes one or more core network nodes (e.g., core network node 1708) that together with hardware and software components. The characteristics of these components can be substantially similar to those described with respect to the UE, network nodes, and / or hosts, such that the description generally applies to the corresponding components of the core network node 1708. Example core network nodes include the functionality of one or more of the following: Mobile Switching Center (MSC), Mobility Management Entity (MME), Home Subscriber Server (HSS), Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF), Session Management Function (SMF), Authentication Server Function (AUSF), Subscription Identifier Deconcealment Function (SIDF), Unified Data Management (UDM), Security Edge Protection Proxy (SEPP), Network Exposure Function (NEF), and / or User Plane Function (UPF).

[0245] The host 1716 can be owned or under the control of a service provider other than the operator or provider of the access network 1704 and / or the telecommunications network 1702, and can be operated by or on behalf of the service provider. The host 1716 can host a variety of applications to provide one or more services. Examples of such applications include live and pre-recorded audio / video content, data collection services (e.g., retrieving and compiling data on various environmental conditions detected by multiple UEs), analytics functions, social media, functions for controlling or otherwise interacting with remote devices, functions for alarm and monitoring centers, or any other such functions performed by a server.

[0246] As a whole, Figure 17 the communication system 1700 enables connections between UEs, network nodes, and hosts. In this sense, the communication system can be configured to operate according to predefined rules or procedures such as specific standards, including but not limited to: Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM); Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS); Long Term Evolution (LTE) and / or other suitable 2G, 3G, 4G, 5G standards, or any applicable future generation standards (e.g., 6G); Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) standards such as the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11 standards (WiFi); and / or any other appropriate wireless communication standards such as Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMax), Bluetooth, Z-Wave, Near Field Communication (NFC), ZigBee, LiFi, and / or any Low Power Wide Area Network (LPWAN) standards such as LoRa and Sigfox.

[0247] In some examples, the telecommunications network 1702 is a cellular network that implements 3GPP standardized features. Thus, the telecommunications network 1702 can support network slicing to provide different logical networks to different devices connected to the telecommunications network 1702. For example, the telecommunications network 1702 can provide ultra-reliable low-latency communication (URLLC) services to some UEs, while providing enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB) services to other UEs, and / or providing massive machine-type communication (mMTC) / massive IoT services to additional UEs.

[0248] In some examples, the UE 1712 is configured to send and / or receive information without direct human interaction. For example, the UE can be designed to send information to the access network 1704 according to a predetermined schedule when triggered by an internal or external event or in response to a request from the access network 1704. Additionally, the UE can be configured to operate in a single RAT mode, a multi-RAT mode, or a multi-standard mode. For example, the UE can operate using any one or combination of Wi-Fi, NR (New Radio), and LTE, i.e., be configured for multi-radio dual connectivity (MR-DC), such as E-UTRAN (Evolved UMTS Terrestrial Radio Access Network) New Radio - Dual Connectivity (EN-DC).

[0249] In this example, the hub 1714 communicates with the access network 1704 to facilitate indirect communication between one or more UEs (e.g., UE1712c and / or 1712d) and a network node (e.g., network node 1710b). In some examples, the hub 1714 can be a controller, a router, a content source and analyzer, or any other communication device described herein with respect to the UE. For example, the hub 1714 can be a broadband router that enables the UE to access the core network 1706. As another example, the hub 1714 can be a controller that sends commands or instructions to one or more actuators of the UE. The commands or instructions can be received from the UE, the network node 1710, or through executable code, scripts, procedures, or other instructions in the hub 1714. As another example, the hub 1714 can be a data collector that acts as a temporary storage device for UE data and, in some embodiments, can perform analysis or other processing of the data. As another example, the hub 1714 can be a content source. For example, for a UE that is a VR headset, a display, a speaker, or other media delivery device, the hub 1714 can retrieve VR assets, videos, audio, or other media or data related to sensory information via the network node, and then the hub 1714 can directly provide it to the UE after performing local processing and / or after adding additional local content. In yet another example, the hub 1714 acts as a proxy server or orchestrator for the UE, especially if one or more of the UEs are low-energy IoT devices.

[0250] The central unit 1714 may have a continuous / persistent or intermittent connection to the network node 1710b. The central unit 1714 may also allow different communication schemes and / or scheduling between the central unit 1714 and the UE (e.g., UE 1712c and / or 1712d) and between the central unit 1714 and the core network 1706. In other examples, the central unit 1714 is connected to the core network 1706 and / or one or more UEs via a wired connection. Additionally, the central unit 1714 may be configured to connect to an M2M service provider via the access network 1704 and / or to connect to another UE via a direct connection. In some scenarios, the UE may establish a wireless connection with the network node 1710 while still being connected via the central unit 1714 via a wired or wireless connection. In some embodiments, the central unit 1714 may be a dedicated central unit, i.e., a central unit whose main function is to route communications from the network node 1710b to the UE / to route communications from the UE to the network node 1710b. In other embodiments, the central unit 1714 may be a non-dedicated central unit, i.e., a device that is capable of operating to route communications between the UE and the network node 1710b but is additionally capable of operating as a communication origin and / or endpoint for certain data channels.

[0251] Figure 18 is a block diagram of a host 1800 according to various aspects described herein, and the host 1800 may be Figure 17 an embodiment of the host 1716. As used herein, the host 1800 may be or include various combinations of hardware and / or software (including stand-alone servers, blade servers, cloud-implemented servers, distributed servers, virtual machines, containers, or processing resources in a server farm). The host 1800 may provide one or more services to one or more UEs.

[0252] The host 1800 includes a processing circuit 1802 that is operably coupled via a bus 1804 to an input / output interface 1806, a network interface 1808, a power supply 1810, and a memory 1812. Other components may be included in other embodiments. The characteristics of these components may be substantially similar to those described for the devices in the previous figures (e.g., Figure 18 and FIG. QQ3), such that their description generally applies to the corresponding components of the host 1800.

[0253] Memory 1812 may include one or more computer programs, the one or more computer programs including data 1816 and one or more host applications 1814. The data 1816 may include user data, such as data generated by the UE for the host 1800 or data generated by the host 1800 for the UE. Embodiments of the host 1800 may utilize only a subset or all of the illustrated components. The host application 1814 may be implemented in a container-based architecture and may provide support for video codecs (e.g., Versatile Video Coding (VVC), High Efficiency Video Coding (HEVC), Advanced Video Coding (AVC), MPEG, VP9) and audio codecs (e.g., FLAC, Advanced Audio Coding (AAC), MPEG, G.711), including transcoding for a variety of different classes, types, or implementations of UEs (e.g., mobile phones, desktop computers, wearable display systems, head-up display systems). The host application 1814 may also provide user authentication and license checking and may periodically report health status, routing, and content availability to a central node (such as a device in the core network or a device at the edge of the core network). Thus, the host 1800 may select and / or indicate different hosts for over-the-top services for the UE. The host application 1814 may support various protocols, such as the HTTP Live Streaming (HLS) protocol, the Real-Time Messaging Protocol (RTMP), the Real-Time Streaming Protocol (RTSP), the Dynamic Adaptive Streaming over HTTP (MPEG-DASH), etc.

[0254] Although the computing devices described herein (e.g., UEs, network nodes, hosts) may include a combination of the illustrated hardware components, other embodiments may include computing devices having different combinations of components. It should be understood that these computing devices may include any suitable combination of hardware and / or software required to perform the tasks, features, functions, and methods disclosed herein. The determinations, calculations, acquisitions, or similar operations described herein may be performed by a processing circuit, which may process information, for example, by converting the acquired information into other information, comparing the acquired information or the converted information with information stored in the network node, and / or performing one or more operations based on the acquired information or the converted information, and making a determination based on the result of the processing. Additionally, although a component is depicted as a single box located within a larger box or nested within multiple boxes, in reality, a computing device may include multiple different physical components that make up a single illustrated component, and the functionality may be divided among separate components. For example, the communication interface may be configured to include any of the components described herein, and / or the functionality of a component may be divided between the processing circuit and the communication interface. In another example, the non-computation-intensive functionality of any such component may be implemented in software or firmware, and the computation-intensive functionality may be implemented in hardware.

[0255] In some embodiments, some or all of the functions described herein may be provided by a processing circuit that executes instructions stored in a memory, which in some embodiments may be a computer program product in the form of a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium. In alternative embodiments, some or all of the functions may be provided, for example, in a hard-wired manner by the processing circuit without executing instructions stored on a separate or discrete device-readable storage medium. In any of these particular embodiments, whether or not instructions are executed on a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, the processing circuit may be configured to perform the described functions. The benefits provided by such functions are not limited to the separate processing circuit or to other components of the computing device, but are enjoyed by the computing device as a whole and / or generally by the end user and the wireless network.

[0256] Some embodiments herein may be enumerated as follows.

[0257] Group A Embodiments

[0258] A1. A method performed by a location server configured to be used in a communication network, the method comprising:

[0259] Receiving a first message from a radio network node in the communication network, the first message providing location information of a specific communication device; and

[0260] After receiving the first message, receiving a second message from the radio network node, the second message notifying the location server that the location information of the specific communication device is no longer valid and / or the radio network node is no longer able to report any updates to the location information of the specific communication device.

[0261] A2. The method according to embodiment A1, wherein the second message indicates that the location information of the specific communication device is no longer valid.

[0262] A3. The method according to any one of embodiments A1 to A2, wherein the second message indicates that the radio network node is no longer able to report any updates to the location information of the specific communication device.

[0263] A4. The method according to any one of embodiments A1 to A3, wherein the first message is a location information response message.

[0264] A5. The method according to any one of embodiments A1 to A4, wherein the second message is received via device association signaling associated with the specific communication device.

[0265] A6. The method according to any one of embodiments A1 to A5, wherein the second message is received via a device - associated signaling connection associated with the specific communication device.

[0266] A7. The method according to any one of embodiments A5 to A6, further comprising: determining a specific communication device for which the positioning information is no longer valid, the determination being based on the association of the specific communication device with a device - associated signaling or a device - associated signaling connection via which the second message is received.

[0267] A8. The method according to embodiment A7, wherein the determination of the specific communication device is performed in the following cases:

[0268] not searching across multiple transmit - receive points associated with the radio network node for a match between a sounding reference signal (SRS) configuration for device context and an SRS configuration for measurement context; or

[0269] not searching across multiple transmit - receive points associated with the radio network node for a match between a measurement identifier in the device context and a measurement identifier in the measurement context.

[0270] A9. The method according to any one of embodiments A1 to A8, wherein the second message is a positioning information failure message or a positioning information failure indication message.

[0271] A10. The method according to any one of embodiments A1 to A8, wherein the second message is received as part of a positioning information exchange class 2 failure indication procedure.

[0272] A11. The method according to any one of embodiments A1 to A8, wherein the second message is a positioning information update message that does not have any update to the positioning information of the specific communication device.

[0273] A12. The method according to any one of embodiments A1 to A8, wherein the second message is received as part of a positioning information update procedure.

[0274] A13. The method according to any one of embodiments A1 to A12, wherein the second message includes one or more of the following items:

[0275] a positioning protocol transaction identifier;

[0276] a location server device measurement identifier; or

[0277] a radio network node device measurement identifier.

[0278] A14. The method according to any one of embodiments A1 to A13, wherein the second message includes a reason indicating that the location information of the specific communication device is no longer valid and / or the radio network node is no longer able to report any updates to the location information of the specific communication device.

[0279] A15. The method according to embodiment A14, wherein the reason is a radio network layer reason.

[0280] A16. The method according to embodiment A14, wherein the reason is:

[0281] The connection with the specific communication device has been terminated, lost, or timed out; or

[0282] The specific communication device has lost coverage.

[0283] A17. The method according to embodiment A14, wherein the reason is:

[0284] The context of the specific communication device has been released;

[0285] The context of the specific communication device has been released in association with the mobility of the specific communication device; or

[0286] The context of the specific communication device has been released in association with the release of the specific communication device.

[0287] A18. The method according to embodiment A14, wherein the reason is:

[0288] The specific communication device fails to send sounding reference signal (SRS);

[0289] The specific communication device does not send or cannot send SRS; or

[0290] The specific communication device has stopped sending SRS.

[0291] A19. The method according to embodiment A14, wherein the reason is that the specific communication device is released, disappeared, or experiences an error.

[0292] A20. The method according to any one of embodiments A1 to A19, wherein the second message is received during an ongoing location of the communication device.

[0293] A21. The method according to any one of embodiments A1 to A20, wherein the method further includes: based on the second message, determining that the radio network node has terminated reporting any updates to the location information of the specific communication device.

[0294] A22. The method according to any one of embodiments A1 to A21, wherein the method further comprises: when receiving the second message, considering the positioning information of the specific communication device as invalid and / or considering that the radio network node has terminated reporting any updates to the positioning information of the specific communication device.

[0295] A23. The method according to any one of embodiments A1 to A22, further comprising: based on the second message,

[0296] sending a signaling which requests, commands or triggers one or more transmit-receive points to stop or abort one or more positioning measurements for the specific communication device; or

[0297] sending a signaling which requests, commands or triggers termination or deactivation of the positioning measurement in one or more transmit-receive points where the positioning measurement for the specific communication device has already started.

[0298] A24. The method according to any one of embodiments A1 to A23, wherein the method further comprises: based on the second message, determining one or more transmit-receive points where the positioning measurement for the specific communication device has already started; and sending a signaling which requests, commands or triggers the one or more transmit-receive points to abort or deactivate the one or more positioning measurements for the specific communication device.

[0299] A25. The method according to any one of embodiments A1 to A23, wherein the method further comprises: based on the second message, determining one or more transmit-receive points where resources for positioning the specific communication device have already been allocated; and sending a signaling which requests, commands or triggers the one or more transmit-receive points to release or deactivate the resources that have been allocated for positioning the specific communication device.

[0300] A26. The method according to any one of embodiments A1 to A25, further comprising: sending a positioning information request message to a radio network node, the positioning information request message requesting the positioning information of the specific communication device, and wherein the first message is received as a response to the positioning information request message.

[0301] A27. The method according to any one of embodiments A1 to A26, wherein the positioning information is information for:

[0302] configuring the positioning of the specific communication device;

[0303] configuring the positioning measurement for positioning the specific communication device; and / or

[0304] Configure resources on which to perform positioning measurements for locating the specific communication device.

[0305] A28. The method according to any one of embodiments A1 to A27, wherein the positioning information includes one or more of the following items:

[0306] The sounding reference signal (SRS) configuration of the specific communication device;

[0307] The system frame number (SFN) initialization time; or

[0308] The UE Tx timing error group (TEG) association list.

[0309] A29. The method according to any one of embodiments A1 to A28, wherein the location server implements a location management function (LMF).

[0310] A30. The method according to any one of embodiments A1 to A29, wherein the radio network node is an NG-RAN node.

[0311] A31. The method according to any one of embodiments A1 to A30, wherein the first message and the second message are each received via a new radio (NR) positioning protocol (NRPPa).

[0312] A32. The method according to any one of embodiments A1 to A31, wherein the radio network node is a gNodeB.

[0313] A33. The method according to any one of embodiments A1 to A32, further comprising: after receiving the first message, sending signaling for starting positioning measurements in one or more transmit-receive points, wherein the signaling indicates the resources on which to perform the positioning measurements, and wherein the second message is received after sending the signaling.

[0314] AA1. A method performed by a location server configured to be used in a communication network, the method comprising:

[0315] Receiving a first message from a radio network node in the communication network, the first message indicating that the radio network node is capable of initiating positioning measurements; and

[0316] After receiving the first message, receiving a second message from the radio network node, the second message notifying the location server that the radio network node is no longer capable of reporting the positioning measurements.

[0317] AA2. The method according to embodiment AA1, wherein the second message includes a list of one or more transmit-receive points for which the positioning measurement has failed.

[0318] AA3. The method according to embodiment AA2, further comprising:

[0319] selectively searching across one or more transmit-receive points included in the list for a match between a sounding reference signal (SRS) configuration for device context and an SRS configuration for measurement context; or

[0320] selectively searching across one or more transmit-receive points included in the list for a match between a measurement identifier in device context and a measurement identifier in measurement context.

[0321] AA4. The method according to any one of embodiments AA2 to AA3, further comprising: determining a specific communication device associated with the positioning measurement that has failed using the list of one or more transmit-receive points.

[0322] AA5. The method according to embodiment AA4, further comprising:

[0323] stopping or aborting the positioning measurement in the one or more transmit-receive points in the list; or

[0324] terminating the positioning measurement in the one or more transmit-receive points in which the positioning measurement has been started.

[0325] AA6. The method according to embodiment AA4, further comprising: sending a measurement abort message to each of the one or more transmit-receive points to abort the positioning measurement that has failed.

[0326] AA7. The method according to any one of embodiments AA1 to AA6, wherein the second message is received via non-device-associated signaling that is not associated with a specific communication device.

[0327] AA8. The method according to any one of embodiments AA1 to AA7, wherein the second message is received via a non-device-associated signaling connection that is not associated with a specific communication device.

[0328] AA9. The method according to any one of embodiments AA1 to AA8, wherein the second message is a measurement failure indication message.

[0329] AA10. The method according to any one of embodiments AA1 to AA9, wherein the second message is received as part of a failure indication procedure.

[0330] AA11. The method according to embodiment AA10, wherein the failure indication process is applicable to multiple positioning processes or is independent of the positioning process.

[0331] AA12. The method according to any one of embodiments AA1 to AA11, wherein the second message includes a cause indicating the reason why the radio network node is no longer able to report positioning measurements to the location server.

[0332] AA13. The method according to embodiment AA12, wherein the cause is a radio network layer cause.

[0333] AA14. The method according to embodiment AA12, wherein the cause is:

[0334] The connection to the communication device has been terminated, lost, or timed out; or

[0335] The communication device has lost coverage.

[0336] AA15. The method according to embodiment AA12, wherein the cause is:

[0337] The context of the communication device has been released;

[0338] The context of the communication device has been released in association with the mobility of the communication device; or

[0339] The context of the communication device has been released in association with the release of the communication device.

[0340] AA16. The method according to embodiment AA12, wherein the cause is:

[0341] The communication device fails to send sounding reference signal (SRS);

[0342] The communication device does not send or cannot send SRS; or

[0343] The communication device has stopped sending SRS.

[0344] AA17. The method according to embodiment AA12, wherein the cause is that the communication device is released, disappears, or experiences an error.

[0345] AA18. The method according to any one of embodiments AA1 to AA17, further comprising: determining, based on the second message, that the radio network node has terminated reporting the positioning measurements to the location server.

[0346] AA19. The method according to any one of embodiments AA1 to AA18, wherein the location server implements a Location Management Function (LMF).

[0347] AA20. The method according to any one of embodiments AA1 to AA19, wherein the radio network node is an NG-RAN node.

[0348] AA21. The method according to any one of embodiments AA1 to AA20, wherein the second message is received via a New Radio (NR) Positioning Protocol (NRPPa).

[0349] AA22. The method according to any one of embodiments AA1 to AA21, wherein the radio network node is a gNodeB.

[0350] AA23. The method according to any one of embodiments AA1 to AA22, wherein the positioning information includes one or more of the following:

[0351] Sounding Reference Signal (SRS) configuration;

[0352] System Frame Number (SFN) initialization time; or

[0353] UE T TEG association list.

[0354] AA24. The method according to any one of embodiments AA1 to AA23, wherein the positioning information is information for:

[0355] Configuring the positioning of a communication device;

[0356] Configuring positioning measurements for positioning a communication device; and / or

[0357] Configuring resources on which to perform positioning measurements for positioning a communication device.

[0358] AA25. The method according to any one of embodiments AA1 to AA24, further comprising: after receiving the first message, sending signaling for starting positioning measurements in one or more transmission and reception points, wherein the signaling indicates the resources on which to perform the positioning measurements, and wherein the second message is received after sending the signaling.

[0359] AA1 to AA25. The method according to any one of embodiments AA1 to AA25, wherein the positioning measurement is a multi-RTT positioning measurement.

[0360] AA. The method according to any one of the foregoing embodiments, further comprising:

[0361] Provide user data; and

[0362] Forward the user data to a host computer via a transmission to a base station.

[0363] Group B Embodiments

[0364] B1. A method performed by a radio network node configured to be used in a communication network, the method comprising:

[0365] Send a first message to a location server in the communication network, the first message providing location information of a specific communication device; and

[0366] After sending the first message, send a second message to the location server, the second message notifying the location server that the location information of the specific communication device is no longer valid and / or the radio network node is no longer able to report any updates to the location information of the specific communication device.

[0367] B2. The method according to embodiment B1, wherein the second message indicates that the location information of the specific communication device is no longer valid.

[0368] B3. The method according to any one of embodiments B1 to B2, wherein the second message indicates that the radio network node is no longer able to report any updates to the location information of the specific communication device.

[0369] B4. The method according to any one of embodiments B1 to B3, wherein the first message is a location information response message.

[0370] B5. The method according to any one of embodiments B1 to B4, wherein the second message is sent via device - associated signaling associated with the specific communication device.

[0371] B6. The method according to any one of embodiments B1 to B5, wherein the second message is sent through a device - associated signaling connection associated with the specific communication device.

[0372] B7. Reserved

[0373] B8. Reserved

[0374] B9. The method according to any one of embodiments B1 to B8, wherein the second message is a location information failure message or a location information failure indication message.

[0375] B10. The method according to any one of embodiments B1 to B8, wherein the second message is sent as part of a positioning information exchange class 2 failure indication procedure.

[0376] B11. The method according to any one of embodiments B1 to B8, wherein the second message is a positioning information update message that does not have any update to the positioning information of a specific communication device.

[0377] B12. The method according to any one of embodiments B1 to B8, wherein the second message is sent as part of a positioning information update procedure.

[0378] B13. The method according to any one of embodiments B1 to B12, wherein the second message includes one or more of the following:

[0379] A positioning protocol transaction identifier;

[0380] A location server device measurement identifier; or

[0381] A radio network node device measurement identifier.

[0382] B14. The method according to any one of embodiments B1 to B13, wherein the second message includes a cause indicating the reason why the positioning information of the specific communication device is no longer valid and / or the radio network node is no longer able to report any update to the positioning information of the specific communication device.

[0383] B15. The method according to embodiment B14, wherein the cause is a radio network layer cause.

[0384] B16. The method according to embodiment B14, wherein the cause is:

[0385] The connection with the specific communication device has been terminated, lost, or timed out; or

[0386] The specific communication device has lost coverage.

[0387] B17. The method according to embodiment B14, wherein the cause is:

[0388] The context of the specific communication device has been released;

[0389] The context of the specific communication device has been released in association with the mobility of the specific communication device; or

[0390] The context of the specific communication device has been released in association with the release of the specific communication device.

[0391] B18. The method according to embodiment B14, wherein the reason is that:

[0392] the specific communication device fails to send sounding reference signal (SRS);

[0393] the specific communication device does not send or is unable to send SRS; or

[0394] the specific communication device has stopped sending SRS.

[0395] B19. The method according to embodiment B14, wherein the reason is that the specific communication device is released, disappears or experiences an error.

[0396] B20. The method according to any one of embodiments B1 to B19, wherein the second message is received during an ongoing positioning of the communication device.

[0397] B21. The method according to any one of embodiments B1 to B20, further comprising: terminating reporting any update of the positioning information of the specific communication device.

[0398] B22. The method according to any one of embodiments B1 to B21, further comprising: determining that the positioning information of the specific communication device is invalid.

[0399] B23. The method according to any one of embodiments B1 to B22, further comprising: after sending the second message,

[0400] receiving a signaling that requests, commands or triggers one or more transmit - receive points associated with the radio network node to stop or abort one or more positioning measurements for the specific communication device; or

[0401] receiving a signaling that requests, commands or triggers termination or de - activation of the positioning measurements in one or more transmit - receive points where the positioning measurements for the specific communication device have already started.

[0402] B24. The method according to any one of embodiments B1 to B23, further comprising receiving a signaling that requests, commands or triggers the one or more transmit - receive points to abort or de - activate the one or more positioning measurements for the specific communication device.

[0403] B25. The method according to any one of embodiments B1 to B23, further comprising receiving a signaling that requests, commands or triggers the one or more transmit - receive points to release or de - activate the resources that have been allocated for the positioning of the specific communication device.

[0404] The method according to any one of embodiments B1 to B25 further comprises receiving a positioning information request message from a location server, the positioning information request message requesting positioning information of the specific communication device, and wherein the first message is sent as a response to the positioning information request message.

[0405] B27. The method according to any one of embodiments B1 to B26, wherein the positioning information is information for:

[0406] Configuring the positioning of the specific communication device;

[0407] Configuring positioning measurements for positioning the specific communication device; and / or

[0408] Configuring resources on which to perform positioning measurements for positioning the specific communication device.

[0409] B28. The method according to any one of embodiments B1 to B27, wherein the positioning information comprises one or more of the following:

[0410] Sounding reference signal (SRS) configuration;

[0411] System frame number (SFN) initialization time; or

[0412] UE Tx timing error group (TEG) association list.

[0413] B29. The method according to any one of embodiments B1 to B28, wherein the location server implements a location management function (LMF).

[0414] B30. The method according to any one of embodiments B1 to B29, wherein the radio network node is an NG-RAN node.

[0415] B31. The method according to any one of embodiments B1 to B30, wherein the first message and the second message are each received via a New Radio (NR) positioning protocol (NRPPa).

[0416] B32. The method according to any one of embodiments B1 to B31, wherein the radio network node is a gNodeB.

[0417] The method according to any one of embodiments B1 to B32 further includes: after sending the first message, receiving a signaling for starting positioning measurements in one or more transmission reception points, wherein the signaling indicates the resources on which the positioning measurements are to be performed, and wherein the second message is sent after receiving the signaling.

[0418] BB1. A method performed by a radio network node configured to be used in a communication network, the method includes:

[0419] Sending a first message to a location server in the communication network, the first message indicating that the radio network node is capable of initiating positioning measurements; and

[0420] After sending the first message, sending a second message to the location server, the second message notifying the location server that the radio network node is no longer capable of reporting the positioning measurements.

[0421] BB2. The method according to embodiment BB1, wherein the second message includes a list of one or more transmission reception points for which the positioning measurements have failed.

[0422] BB3. Reserved

[0423] BB4. Reserved

[0424] BB5. The method according to embodiment BB4 further includes:

[0425] Stopping or aborting positioning measurements in one or more transmission reception points; or

[0426] Terminating positioning measurements in one or more transmission reception points in which the positioning measurements have been started.

[0427] BB6. The method according to embodiment BB4 further includes receiving a measurement abort message to abort positioning measurements at each of one or more transmission reception points.

[0428] BB7. The method according to any one of embodiments BB1 to BB6, wherein the second message is sent via non-device-associated signaling that is not associated with a specific communication device.

[0429] BB8. The method according to any one of embodiments BB1 to BB7, wherein the second message is sent through a non-device-associated signaling connection that is not associated with a specific communication device.

[0430] BB9. The method according to any one of embodiments BB1 to BB8, wherein the second message is a measurement failure indication message.

[0431] BB10. The method according to any one of embodiments BB1 to BB9, wherein the second message is sent as part of a failure indication procedure.

[0432] BB11. The method according to embodiment BB10, wherein the failure indication procedure is applicable to multiple positioning procedures or is independent of the positioning procedure.

[0433] BB12. The method according to any one of embodiments BB1 to BB11, wherein the second message includes a cause indicating the reason why the radio network node is no longer able to report positioning measurements to the location server.

[0434] BB13. The method according to embodiment BB12, wherein the cause is a radio network layer cause.

[0435] BB14. The method according to embodiment BB12, wherein the cause is:

[0436] The connection to the communication device has been terminated, lost, or timed out; or

[0437] The communication device has lost coverage.

[0438] BB15. The method according to embodiment BB12, wherein the cause is:

[0439] The context of the communication device has been released;

[0440] The context of the communication device has been released in association with the mobility of the communication device; or

[0441] The context of the communication device has been released in association with the release of the communication device.

[0442] BB16. The method according to embodiment BB12, wherein the cause is:

[0443] The communication device fails to send sounding reference signal (SRS) signaling;

[0444] The communication device does not send or cannot send SRS; or

[0445] The communication device has stopped sending SRS.

[0446] BB17. The method according to embodiment BB12, wherein the cause is that the communication device is released, disappears, or experiences an error.

[0447] BB18. The method according to any one of embodiments BB1 to BB17, further comprising terminating reporting the positioning measurements to the location server.

[0448] BB19. According to the method described in any one of embodiments BB1 to BB18, wherein the location server implements a Location Management Function (LMF).

[0449] BB20. According to the method described in any one of embodiments BB1 to BB19, wherein the radio network node is an NG-RAN node.

[0450] BB21. According to the method described in any one of embodiments BB1 to BB20, wherein the second message is sent via the New Radio (NR) Positioning Protocol (NRPPa).

[0451] BB22. According to the method described in any one of embodiments BB1 to BB21, wherein the radio network node is a gNodeB.

[0452] BB23. According to the method described in any one of embodiments BB1 to BB22, wherein the positioning information includes one or more of the following items:

[0453] Sounding Reference Signal (SRS) configuration;

[0454] System Frame Number (SFN) initialization time; or

[0455] UE T TEG association list.

[0456] BB24. According to the method described in any one of embodiments BB1 to BB23, wherein the positioning information is information for:

[0457] Configuring the positioning of a communication device;

[0458] Configuring positioning measurements for positioning a communication device; and / or

[0459] Configuring resources on which to perform positioning measurements for positioning a communication device.

[0460] BB25. According to the method described in any one of embodiments BB1 to BB24, further comprising: after sending the first message, receiving signaling for starting positioning measurements in one or more transmit-receive points, wherein the signaling indicates the resources on which to perform the positioning measurements, and wherein the second message is sent after sending the signaling.

[0461] BB1 to BB25. According to the method described in any one of embodiments BB1 to BB25, wherein the positioning measurement is a multi-RTT positioning measurement.

[0462] BB. The method according to any one of the foregoing embodiments further includes:

[0463] obtaining user data; and

[0464] forwarding the user data to a host computer or a communication device.

[0465] Group C Embodiments

[0466] C1. A location server configured to perform the method according to any one of the Group A embodiments.

[0467] C2. A location server including a processing circuit, the processing circuit being configured to perform the method according to any one of the Group A embodiments.

[0468] C3. A location server, comprising:

[0469] a communication circuit; and

[0470] a processing circuit configured to perform the method according to any one of the Group A embodiments.

[0471] C4. A location server, comprising:

[0472] a processing circuit configured to perform the method according to any one of the Group A embodiments; and

[0473] a power supply circuit configured to supply power to the location server.

[0474] C5. A location server, comprising:

[0475] a processing circuit and a memory, the memory containing instructions executable by the processing circuit, whereby the location server is configured to perform the method according to any one of the Group A embodiments.

[0476] C6. Reserved

[0477] C7. Reserved

[0478] C8. A computer program including instructions that, when executed by at least one processor of a location server, cause the location server to perform the method according to any one of the Group A embodiments.

[0479] C9. A carrier containing the computer program according to Embodiment C7, wherein the carrier is one of an electrical signal, an optical signal, a radio signal, or a computer-readable storage medium.

[0480] C10. A radio network node configured to perform the method according to any one of the Group B embodiments.

[0481] C11. A radio network node comprising a processing circuit configured to perform the method according to any one of the embodiments in Group B.

[0482] C12. A radio network node comprising:

[0483] a communication circuit; and

[0484] a processing circuit configured to perform the method according to any one of the embodiments in Group B.

[0485] C13. A radio network node comprising:

[0486] a processing circuit configured to perform the method according to any one of the embodiments in Group B;

[0487] a power supply circuit configured to supply power to the radio network node.

[0488] C14. A radio network node comprising:

[0489] a processing circuit and a memory containing instructions executable by the processing circuit, whereby the radio network node is configured to perform the method according to any one of the embodiments in Group B.

[0490] C15. The radio network node according to any one of embodiments C10 to C14, wherein the radio network node is a base station.

[0491] C16. A computer program comprising instructions which, when executed by at least one processor of a radio network node, cause the radio network node to perform the method according to any one of the embodiments in Group B.

[0492] C17. The computer program according to embodiment C16, wherein the radio network node is a base station.

[0493] C18. A carrier containing the computer program according to any one of embodiments C16 to C17, wherein the carrier is one of an electrical signal, an optical signal, a radio signal or a computer-readable storage medium.

Claims

1. A method performed by a location server (14) configured to be used in a communication network (10), the method comprising: As part of a positioning information update process, receiving (1300) a message (16-2U) from a radio network node (18), the message (16-2U) indicating that sounding reference signaling SRS transmissions from a specific communication device (12) have stopped.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising: Based on the message (16-2U), determining that the SRS configuration of the specific communication device (12) previously received from the radio network node (18) is invalid and / or the radio network node (18) has terminated reporting any updates to the SRS configuration of the specific communication device (12).

3. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 2, further comprising: Based on the message (16-2U), sending (1310) signaling that requests, commands or triggers one or more transmit receive points (20-1, 20-2... 20-N) to stop or abort one or more positioning measurements for the specific communication device (12); or sending (1310) signaling that requests, commands or triggers termination or deactivation of positioning measurements in one or more transmit receive points (20-1, 20-2... 20-N) where positioning measurements for the specific communication device (12) have already started.

4. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising: Based on the message (16-2U), determining one or more transmit receive points (20-1, 20-2... 20-N) where one or more positioning measurements for the specific communication device (12) have already started, and sending signaling that requests, commands or triggers the one or more transmit receive points (20-1, 20-2... 20-N) to abort or deactivate the one or more positioning measurements for the specific communication device (12); and / or Based on the message (16-2U), determining one or more transmit receive points (20-1, 20-2... 20-N) where resources (25) have been allocated for positioning of the specific communication device (12), and sending signaling that requests, commands or triggers the one or more transmit receive points (20-1, 20-2... 20-N) to release or deactivate the resources (25) that have been allocated for positioning of the specific communication device (12).

5. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein, the message (16-2U) is a positioning information update message.

6. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein, the positioning information update process is a process initiated by the radio network node (18) for indicating to the location server (14) that the SRS configuration of the specific communication device (12) has changed, and wherein the message (16-2U) does not have any updates to the SRS configuration of the specific communication device (12).

7. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein, the message (16-2U) is received by: via device-associated signaling associated with the specific communication device (12); or through a device-associated signaling connection associated with the specific communication device (12).

8. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 7, further comprising: determining (1320) the specific communication device (12) for which the message (16-2U) is received, the determination being based on the association of the specific communication device (12) with the device-associated signaling or device-associated signaling connection via which the message (16-2U) is received.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein, the determination of the specific communication device (12) is performed when: not searching across multiple transmit-receive points (20-1, 20-2... 20-N) associated with the radio network node (18) for a match between the SRS configuration for the device context and the SRS configuration for the measurement context; or not searching across multiple transmit-receive points (20-1, 20-2... 20-N) associated with the radio network node (18) for a match between the measurement identifier in the device context and the measurement identifier in the measurement context.

10. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein, the location server (14) implements a location management function LMF, wherein the radio network node (18) is a gNodeB, and wherein the message (16-2U) is received via the New Radio NR positioning protocol NRPPa.

11. A method performed by a radio network node (18) configured to be used in a communication network (10), the method comprising: as part of a location information update process, sending (1400) a message (16-2U) from the radio network node (18) to a location server (14), the message (16-2U) indicating that the sounding reference signaling SRS transmission from a specific communication device (12) has stopped.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein, the message (16-2U) is a location information update message.

13. The method according to any one of claims 11 to 12, wherein, the location information update process is a process initiated by the radio network node (18) for indicating to the location server (14) that the SRS configuration of the specific communication device (12) has changed, and wherein the message (16-2U) does not have any update to the SRS configuration of the specific communication device (12).

14. The method according to any one of claims 11 to 13, wherein, the message (16-2U) is sent by: via device-associated signaling associated with the specific communication device (12); or through a device-associated signaling connection associated with the specific communication device (12).

15. The method according to any one of claims 11 to 14, wherein, The location server (14) implements a Location Management Function (LMF), wherein the radio network node (18) is a gNodeB, and wherein the message (16-2U) is sent via the New Radio (NR) Positioning Protocol (NRPPa).

16. A location server (14) configured to be used in a communication network (10), the location server (14) being configured to: As part of a positioning information update process, receive a message (16-2U) from a radio network node (18), the message (16-2U) indicating that the transmission of sounding reference signals (SRS) from a specific communication device (12) has stopped.

17. The location server (14) according to claim 16, configured to perform the method according to any one of claims 2 to 9.

18. A radio network node (18) configured to be used in a communication network (10), the radio network node (18) being configured to: As part of a positioning information update process, send a message (16-2U) from the radio network node (18) to a location server (14), the message (16-2U) indicating that the transmission of sounding reference signals (SRS) from a specific communication device (12) has stopped.

19. The radio network node (18) according to claim 18, configured to perform the method according to any one of claims 12 to 15.

20. A computer program comprising instructions which, when executed by at least one processor of a location server (14), cause the location server (14) to perform the method according to any one of claims 1 to 10.

21. A computer program comprising instructions which, when executed by at least one processor of a radio network node (18), cause the radio network node (18) to perform the method according to any one of claims 11 to 15.

22. A carrier containing the computer program according to any one of claims 20 to 21, wherein, the carrier is one of an electrical signal, an optical signal, a radio signal, or a computer-readable storage medium.

23. A location server (14) configured to be used in a communication network (10), the location server (14) comprises: a communication circuit (1620); and a processing circuit (1610), configured to: as part of a positioning information update process, receive a message (16-2U) from a radio network node (18), the message (16-2U) indicating that the transmission of sounding reference signals (SRS) from a specific communication device (12) has stopped.

24. The location server (14) according to claim 23, wherein the processing circuit (1610) is configured to perform the method according to any one of claims 2 to 9.

25. A radio network node (18) configured to be used in a communication network (10), the radio network node (18) comprises: a communication circuit (1520); and A processing circuit (1510), configured to: as part of a positioning information update process, send a message (16-2U) from the radio network node (18) to a location server (14), the message (16-2U) indicating that the transmission of sounding reference signals (SRS) from a specific communication device (12) has stopped.

26. The radio network node (18) according to claim 25, wherein the processing circuit (1510) is configured to perform the method according to any one of claims 12 to 15.

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