WTRU assisted positioning

Abstract

To provide a system, a method, and means associated with positioning and / or sidelink communications.SOLUTION: A WTRU may track parameters associated with the WTRU or target WTRUs. The parameters may be associated with positioning and / or sidelink communications. The WTRU may receive a configuration for transmission of reference signals to the target WTRUs. The WTRU may transmit one or more reference signals on one or more configured sidelink resources. The WTRU may receive respective measurement report(s) from respective target WTRU(s). The WTRU may be configured to send the received target WTRU measurement(s) to the network entity. The WTRU may send each of the received measurements. The WTRU may send the received measurement(s) if condition(s) are satisfied. For example, if a first measurement associated with a first measurement report from a first target WTRU exceeds a first threshold, the WTRU may send the first measurement to a network entity.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

Technical Field

[0001] (Cross - Reference to Related Applications) This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62 / 887,215, filed on Aug. 15, 2019, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

Background Art

[0002] The purpose of positioning may be to determine the geographical location of a WTRU. The location can be used to support radio resource management for an operator, a subscriber, or a third - party service provider, or internal E - UTRAN functions such as location - based services and applications. Examples of these services and applications can include emergency call support (e.g., to support IMS emergency calls via EPS or to meet E - 911 regulatory requirements), Google Maps, targeted advertising, and the like.

Summary of the Invention

[0003] This specification discloses systems, methods, and means associated with positioning and / or sidelink communication. A wireless transmit / receive unit (WTRU), such as an anchor WTRU, may track one or more parameters associated with the WTRU or another WTRU (e.g., a target WTRU). The one or more parameters may be associated with positioning and / or sidelink communication. The WTRU may receive a configuration associated with the transmission of a reference signal (e.g., a sidelink synchronization signal) to the target WTRU. The WTRU may receive a configuration from a network entity such as a gNB, eNB, base station, positioning server, etc. The configuration may indicate and / or include one or more of the following: a respective target WTRU identifier for each target WTRU, sidelink resources, one or more thresholds, transmission power, or spatial information (e.g., transmission beam information, e.g., number of beams, beam ID, etc.). The WTRU may transmit one or more reference signals on one or more of the sidelink resources. The WTRU may monitor and / or receive respective measurement reports from each target WTRU (e.g., the target WTRU may receive a reference signal transmitted by the WTRU and send a related measurement report to the WTRU using measurements associated with the reference signal). The WTRU may be configured to send the received measurements of the target WTRU to a network entity. The WTRU may send each of the received measurements, e.g., the WTRU may send a group report including measurements from multiple target WTRUs (e.g., those measurements exceed a threshold as disclosed herein, for example). The WTRU may send the received measurements if a condition is met. If a first measurement value associated with a first measurement report from a first target WTRU exceeds a first threshold, the WTRU may send the first measurement value to the network entity. If a first measurement value associated with a first measurement report from a first target WTRU does not exceed the first threshold, the WTRU may not need to send the first measurement value to the network entity.The WTRU may determine that the first measurement value exceeds the first threshold if the first measurement value exceeds a previous value associated with the first target WTRU by a certain amount.

[0004] The WTRU may indicate that it cannot, or can no longer, function as an anchor WTRU (e.g., to a network entity). The WTRU may determine that its position has changed significantly such that it can no longer monitor the target WTRU and / or that the WTRU may be unable to listen for a certain threshold number of network devices (e.g., gNB, eNB, base stations, etc.). Based on the determination, the WTRU may send an indication to the network entity indicating that the determined condition is met. The WTRU may stop its function as an anchor WTRU based on sending the indication. The WTRU may stop its function as an anchor WTRU based on receiving an indication from the network entity (e.g., in response to an indication sent by the WTRU).

[0005] The WTRU may be configured to determine whether to send an indication (e.g., to a network entity) indicating a change in the rate and / or periodicity of measurements and / or reports by a related target WTRU and / or monitoring and / or reporting by the WTRU. The indication (e.g., a request to a network entity) may indicate that a change in the rate and / or periodicity of measurements and / or reports by the target WTRU is required and / or a change in the rate and / or periodicity of monitoring and / or reporting by the WTRU is required (e.g., the changed parameter may be referred to as measurement, reporting, and / or monitoring). The network entity may send an indication to the WTRU to change the rate and / or periodicity of measurements, reports, and / or monitoring (e.g., in response to receiving an indication from the WTRU). The WTRU may send such an indication as a notification that it is changing the rate and / or periodicity of measurements, reports, and / or monitoring. The WTRU may change measurements and / or reports via communication with the target WTRU. The WTRU may make a decision to change the rate and / or periodicity of measurements, reports, and / or monitoring based on how much one or more measurement values associated with the target WTRU have changed. The WTRU may send an indication to reduce the rate or periodicity of measurements, reports, and / or monitoring if the WTRU determines that one or more measurement values associated with the target WTRU have not changed beyond a first amount over a number of periods. The WTRU may send an indication to increase the rate or periodicity of measurements, reports, and / or monitoring if the WTRU determines that one or more measurement values associated with the target WTRU have changed beyond a second amount over a number of periods. The WTRU may make a decision to change the rate and / or periodicity of measurements, reports, and / or monitoring based on whether the location of the WTRU has changed more than a threshold. For example, if the location of the WTRU has changed more than a threshold, the WTRU may send an indication to the network entity to increase the rate or periodicity of measurements, reports, and / or monitoring.

[0006] The measurement WTRU may perform one or more of the following, which may support the positioning of the proximity-assisted WRTU. The measurement WTRU may receive a positioning configuration. The positioning configuration may include a sounding reference signal (SRS) pattern and an indication of resource allocation for SRS transmission for the reference WTRU. The measurement WTRU may receive an indication of the timing advance of the reference WTRU (e.g., as part of the configuration). The measurement WTRU may determine the downlink slot timing, for example, by detecting the transmission of the primary synchronization signal / secondary synchronization signal (PSS / SSS) of a network node (e.g., serving base station (BS)). The measurement WTRU may determine the uplink slot timing of the reference WTRU by detecting the SRS transmission from the reference WTRU. If the measurement WTRU is configured with the timing advance value of the reference WTRU, the measurement WTRU may adjust the measured uplink slot timing according to the timing advance. The measurement WTRU may determine the reference signal time difference (RSTD) between the downlink transmission and the uplink transmission. The measurement WTRU may report the RSTD measurement value to a positioning server (e.g., E-SMLC, SUPL SLP, LMF, etc.), which may be a physical or logical network entity, for example.

[0007] Positioning techniques for a WTRU group initiated by a network can be provided. One or more of the following can be applied. A WTRU (e.g., an anchor WTRU) can receive one or more of a PRS transmission and reporting configuration, e.g., a sidelink resource, periodicity, target WTRU ID, threshold, etc. The anchor WTRU can transmit the PRS on the configured resource to one or more target WTRUs using, e.g., a sidelink channel. The anchor WTRU can collect positioning measurement reports (e.g., RSTD) on the configured resource using, e.g., a sidelink channel from one or more target WTRUs. When a change in the measurement value of the target WTRU (e.g., relative to a previous measurement value) exceeds a first threshold, the anchor WTRU can report the measurement value to a positioning server. When a change in the measurement value (e.g., relative to a previous measurement value) exceeds a second threshold, the anchor WTRU can send a reconfiguration request to the positioning server to increase the rate of measurement and reporting. When a change in the measurement value (e.g., relative to a previous measurement value) is less than a third threshold over a certain (e.g., configured) number of periods, the anchor WTRU can send a reconfiguration request to the positioning server to decrease the rate of measurement and reporting. If the anchor WTRU is unable to perform downlink measurements at a specified number of BSs, the anchor WTRU can trigger a notification to the positioning server.

[0008] Positioning techniques for self-organizing WTRU groups can be provided. One or more of the following may be applied. A WTRU outside coverage may perform positioning measurements on reference signals (RS) received from a WTRU inside coverage or another WTRU outside coverage. A WTRU outside coverage may send a report including measurement results of the WTRU outside coverage (e.g., angle of arrival (AOA), Rx-Tx time difference, RSRP, etc.) to a WTRU inside or outside the reference coverage (e.g., using pre-configured sidelink resources). A WTRU outside coverage may monitor measurement reports from one or more other WTRUs on pre-configured sidelink resources. A WTRU outside coverage may include measurement results of other WTRUs in the report of the WTRU outside coverage to the reference WTRU. A WTRU outside coverage may derive measurement results of other WTRUs with respect to its own reference (e.g., position, time, etc.), and use the derived values to send measurement values to the reference WTRU.

[0009] A WTRU may be configured to perform positioning measurements (e.g., OTDOA, A-GNSS, E-CID, etc.) in an idle state. One or more of the following may apply. The WTRU may receive the configuration of dedicated sidelink resources of one or more WTRUs and relay the positioning measurements to a positioning server. The configuration may include one or more of the following: a list of sidelink-capable WTRUs, a list of DRX cycles of configured sidelink WTRUs, a maximum positioning measurement reporting delay, a threshold value, a delay reduction coefficient value, etc. The WTRU may perform positioning measurements on the configured resources. If the positioning measurement value is different from the previously reported positioning measurement value (e.g., by a certain value greater than the threshold value), the WTRU may reduce the maximum positioning measurement delay by the configured reduction coefficient value. The WTRU may perform one or more of the following to send the positioning measurement value. If the total reporting delay using one or more of the sidelink resources is less than the maximum positioning measurement reporting delay, the WTRU may send the positioning measurement value using one of the configured dedicated sidelink resources. If the configured list of sidelink-capable WTRUs cannot meet the condition that the total reporting delay is less than the maximum positioning measurement reporting delay, the WTRU may decide to send the positioning measurement report using resources from a common sidelink resource pool. The WTRU may select one of the sidelink WTRUs that can meet the total reporting delay requirement using the common resource pool. If the sidelink WTRUs in the configured list of sidelink-capable WTRUs meet the condition that the total reporting delay using the common resource pool is less than the reduced maximum positioning measurement reporting delay, the WTRU may decide to send the positioning measurement report, for example, by first transitioning to the connected state.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0010] Furthermore, like reference numerals in the figures indicate like elements.

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Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0027] FIG. 1A is a diagram illustrating an exemplary communication system 100 in which one or more of the disclosed embodiments may be implemented. The communication system 100 may be a multi-access system that provides content such as voice, data, video, messaging, broadcast, etc. to a plurality of wireless users. The communication system 100 may enable a plurality of wireless users to access such content through sharing of system resources, including wireless bandwidth. For example, the communication system 100 may use one or more channel access methods such as code division multiple access (CDMA), time division multiple access (TDMA), frequency division multiple access (FDMA), orthogonal FDMA (OFDMA), single-carrier FDMA (SC-FDMA), zero-tail unique-word DFT-spread OFDM (ZT UW DTS-s OFDM), unique word OFDM (UW-OFDM), resource block filtered OFDM, filter bank multicarrier (FBMC), etc.

[0028] As shown in Figure 1A, the communication system 100 may include wireless transmit / receive units (WTRUs) 102a, 102b, 102c, 102d, a RAN 104 / 113, a CN 106 / 115, a public switched telephone network (PSTN) 108, the Internet 110, and other networks 112. However, it will be understood that the disclosed embodiments contemplate any number of WTRUs, base stations, networks, and / or network elements. Each of the WTRUs 102a, 102b, 102c, 102d may be any type of device configured to operate and / or communicate in a wireless environment. By way of example, the WTRUs 102a, 102b, 102c, 102d may each be referred to as a "station" and / or "STA" and may be configured to transmit and / or receive wireless signals. They may include user equipment (UE), mobile stations, fixed or mobile subscriber units, subscription-based units, pagers, cellular telephones, personal digital assistants (PDAs), smartphones, laptops, netbooks, personal computers, wireless sensors, hotspots or Mi-Fi devices, Internet of Things (IoT) devices, watches or other wearables, head-mounted displays (HMDs), vehicles, drones, medical devices and applications (e.g., remote surgery), industrial devices and applications (e.g., robots and / or other wireless devices operating in industrial and / or automated processing chain scenarios), home appliances, devices operating on commercial and / or industrial wireless networks, etc. Any of the WTRUs 102a, 102b, 102c, and 102d may be interchangeably referred to as a UE.

[0029] In addition, the communication system 100 may include base station 114a and / or base station 114b. Each of base stations 114a, 114b may be any type of device configured to wirelessly interface with at least one of WTRUs 102a, 102b, 102c, 102d to facilitate access to one or more communication networks, such as CN106 / 115, Internet 110, and / or other network 112. By way of example, base stations 114a, 114b may be a base transceiver station (BTS), Node B, eNodeB, home Node B, home eNodeB, gNB, NR NodeB, site controller, access point (AP), wireless router, etc. Although base stations 114a, 114b are each illustrated as a single element, it will be understood that base stations 114a, 114b may include any number of interconnected base stations and / or network elements.

[0030] Base station 114a may be part of RAN 104 / 113, and RAN 104 / 113 may also include other base stations and / or network elements (not shown) such as a base station controller (BSC), a radio network controller (RNC), relay nodes, etc. Base station 114a and / or base station 114b may be configured to transmit and / or receive radio signals on one or more carrier frequencies, which may be referred to as a cell (not shown). These frequencies may be licensed spectrum, unlicensed spectrum, or a combination of licensed and unlicensed spectrum. A cell may provide coverage for wireless services in a particular geographic area that may be relatively fixed or may change over time. A cell may further be divided into cell sectors. For example, the cell associated with base station 114a may be divided into three sectors. Thus, in one embodiment, base station 114a may include three transceivers, i.e., one for each sector of the cell. In one embodiment, base station 114a may use multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) technology and may utilize multiple transceivers for each sector of the cell. For example, beamforming may be used to transmit and / or receive signals in a desired spatial direction.

[0031] Base stations 114a, 114b may communicate with one or more of WTRUs 102a, 102b, 102c, 102d over air interface 116, which may be any suitable wireless communication link (e.g., radio frequency (RF), microwave, centimeter wave, millimeter wave, infrared (IR), ultraviolet (UV), visible light, etc.). Air interface 116 may be established using any suitable radio access technology (RAT).

[0032] More specifically, as described above, the communication system 100 may be a multiple access system and may use one or more channel access methods such as CDMA, TDMA, FDMA, OFDMA, SC-FDMA, etc. For example, the base station 114a within RAN 104 / 113 and the WTRUs 102a, 102b, 102c may use wideband CDMA (WCDMA) to establish the air interfaces 115 / 116 / 117 and may implement radio technologies such as Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) Terrestrial Radio Access (UTRA). WCDMA may include communication protocols such as High-Speed Packet Access (HSPA) and / or Evolved HSPA (HSPA+). HSPA may include High-Speed Downlink (DL) Packet Access (HSDPA) and / or High-Speed UL Packet Access (HSUPA).

[0033] In one embodiment, the base station 114a and the WTRUs 102a, 102b, 102c may use Long Term Evolution (LTE) and / or LTE-Advanced (LTE-A) and / or LTE-Advanced Pro (LTE-APro) to establish the air interface 116 and may implement radio technologies such as Evolved UMTS Terrestrial Radio Access (E-UTRA).

[0034] In one embodiment, the base station 114a and the WTRUs 102a, 102b, 102c may use New Radio (NR) to establish the air interface 116 and may implement radio technologies such as NR radio access.

[0035] In one embodiment, base station 114a, and WTRUs 102a, 102b, 102c may implement multiple radio access technologies. For example, base station 114a, and WTRUs 102a, 102b, 102c may implement both LTE radio access and NR radio access using, for example, the dual connectivity (DC) principle. Accordingly, the air interface utilized by WTRUs 102a, 102b, 102c may be characterized by transmissions to / from multiple types of radio access technologies, and / or multiple types of base stations (e.g., eNBs and gNBs).

[0036] In other embodiments, base station 114a, and WTRUs 102a, 102b, 102c may implement wireless technologies such as IEEE 802.11 (i.e., Wireless Fidelity (WiFi)), IEEE 802.16 (i.e., Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX)), CDMA2000, CDMA2000 1X, CDMA2000 EV-DO, Interim Standard 2000 (IS-2000), Interim Standard 95 (IS-95), Interim Standard 856 (IS-856), Global System for Mobile communications (GSM), Enhanced Data rates for GSM Evolution (EDGE), GSM EDGE (GERAN), etc.

[0037] The base station 114b in Fig. 1A may be, for example, a wireless router, a home Node B, a home eNodeB, or an access point, and may utilize any suitable RAT to facilitate wireless connectivity in a local area, such as an office, a home, a vehicle, a campus, an industrial facility, an air corridor (e.g., for use by a drone), a roadway, etc. In one embodiment, the base station 114b, and the WTRUs 102c, 102d may implement a wireless technology such as IEEE 802.11 to establish a wireless local area network (WLAN). In one embodiment, the base station 114b, and the WTRUs 102c, 102d may implement a wireless technology such as IEEE 802.15 to establish a wireless personal area network (WPAN). In yet another embodiment, the base station 114b, and the WTRUs 102c, 102d may utilize a cellular-based RAT (e.g., WCDMA, CDMA2000, GSM, LTE, LTE-A, LTE-A Pro, NR, etc.) to establish a pico cell or a femto cell. As shown in Fig. 1A, the base station 114b may have a direct connection to the Internet 110. Thus, the base station 114b may not need to access the Internet 110 via the CN 106 / 115 in some cases.

[0038] RAN 104 / 113 may communicate with CN 106 / 115, and CN 106 / 115 may be any type of network configured to provide voice, data, applications, and / or voice over internet protocol (VoIP) services to one or more of WTRUs 102a, 102b, 102c, 102d. The data may have various quality of service (QoS) requirements, such as different throughput requirements, latency requirements, error tolerance requirements, reliability requirements, data throughput requirements, mobility requirements, etc. CN 106 / 115 may provide call control, billing services, mobile location-based services, prepaid originating calls, internet connectivity, video distribution, etc., and / or may implement high-level security functions such as user authentication. Although not shown in Figure 1A, it will be understood that RAN 104 / 113 and / or CN 106 / 115 may communicate directly or indirectly with other RANs using the same RAT or a different RAT as RAN 104 / 113. For example, in addition to being connected to RAN 104 / 113 which may utilize NR radio technology, CN 106 / 115 may also communicate with another RAN (not shown) using GSM, UMTS, CDMA2000, WiMAX, E-UTRA, or WiFi radio technology.

[0039] Also, CN106 / 115 can serve as a gateway for WTRU102a, 102b, 102c, 102d to access the PSTN108, the Internet 110, and / or other network 112. The PSTN108 may include a circuit-switched telephone network that provides the Plain Old Telephone Service (POTS). The Internet 110 may include a global system of interconnected computer networks and devices that use common communication protocols such as the Transmission Control Protocol (TCP), the User Datagram Protocol (UDP), and / or the Internet Protocol (IP) within the TCP / IP Internet protocol suite. The network 112 may include wired and / or wireless communication networks owned and / or operated by other service providers. For example, the network 112 may include another CN connected to one or more RANs that may use the same or a different RAT as the RAN104 / 113.

[0040] Some or all of the WTRU102a, 102b, 102c, 102d within the communication system 100 may include a multimode function (e.g., the WTRU102a, 102b, 102c, 102d may include multiple transceivers for communicating with different wireless networks over different wireless links). For example, the WTRU102c shown in Figure 1A may be configured to communicate with a base station 114a that may use a cellular-based wireless technology and with a base station 114b that may use IEEE802 wireless technology.

[0041] Figure 1B is a system diagram illustrating an exemplary WTRU 102. As shown in Figure 1B, the WTRU 102 may include, among other things, a processor 118, a transceiver 120, a transmit / receive element 122, a speaker / microphone 124, a keypad 126, a display / touchpad 128, a removable memory 130, a removable memory 132, a power supply 134, a global positioning system (GPS) chipset 136, and / or other peripheral devices 138. It will be understood that the WTRU 102 may include any partial combination of the foregoing elements while maintaining consistency with the embodiments.

[0042] The processor 118 may be a general-purpose processor, a dedicated processor, a conventional processor, a digital signal processor (DSP), a plurality of microprocessors, one or more microprocessors associated with a DSP core, a controller, a microcontroller, an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field programmable gate array (FPGA) circuit, any other type of integrated circuit (IC), a state machine, etc. The processor 118 may perform signal coding, data processing, power control, input / output processing, and / or any other functionality that enables the WTRU 102 to operate in a wireless environment. The processor 118 may be coupled to the transceiver 120, and the transceiver 120 may be coupled to the transmit / receive element 122. Although Figure 1B illustrates the processor 118 and the transceiver 120 as separate components, it will be understood that the processor 118 and the transceiver 120 may be integrated together in an electronic package or chip.

[0043] The transmit / receive element 122 may be configured to transmit signals to or receive signals from a base station (e.g., base station 114a) over the air interface 116. For example, in one embodiment, the transmit / receive element 122 may be an antenna configured to transmit and / or receive RF signals. In one embodiment, the transmit / receive element 122 may be an emitter / detector configured to transmit and / or receive, for example, IR, UV, or visible light signals. In yet another embodiment, the transmit / receive element 122 may be configured to transmit and / or receive both RF signals and optical signals. It will be understood that the transmit / receive element 122 may be configured to transmit and / or receive any combination of wireless signals.

[0044] The transmit / receive element 122 is shown in FIG. 1B as a single element, but the WTRU 102 may include any number of transmit / receive elements 122. More specifically, the WTRU 102 may utilize MIMO technology. Thus, in one embodiment, the WTRU 102 may include two or more transmit / receive elements 122 (e.g., multiple antennas) for transmitting and receiving wireless signals over the air interface 116.

[0045] The transceiver 120 may be configured to modulate signals that will be transmitted by the transmit / receive element 122 and demodulate signals received by the transmit / receive element 122. As noted above, the WTRU 102 may have a multimode function. Thus, the transceiver 120 may include multiple transceivers to enable the WTRU 102 to communicate via multiple RATs, such as, for example, NR and IEEE 802.11.

[0046] The processor 118 of the WTRU 102 can be coupled to the speaker / microphone 124, keypad 126, and / or the display / touchpad 128 (e.g., a liquid crystal display (LCD) display unit or an organic light-emitting diode (OLED) display unit) and can receive user input data therefrom. The processor 118 can also output user data to the speaker / microphone 124, keypad 126, and / or the display / touchpad 128. Additionally, the processor 118 can access information from, and store data in, any suitable type of memory, such as the non-removable memory 130 and / or the removable memory 132. The non-removable memory 130 can include a random-access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), hard disk, or any other type of memory storage device. The removable memory 132 can include a subscriber identity module (SIM) card, memory stick, secure digital (SD) memory card, and the like. In other embodiments, the processor 118 can access information from, and store data in, a memory that is not physically located on the WTRU 102, such as on a server or a home computer (not shown).

[0047] Processor 118 can receive power from power supply 134 and can be configured to distribute power to, and / or control the power to, other components within WTRU 102. Power supply 134 may be any suitable device for powering WTRU 102. For example, power supply 134 may include one or more dry batteries (e.g., nickel-cadmium (NiCd), nickel-zinc (NiZn), nickel metal hydride (NiMH), lithium-ion (Li-ion), etc.), solar cells, fuel cells, and the like.

[0048] Processor 118 may also be coupled to GPS chipset 136, which may be configured to provide location information (e.g., longitude and latitude) regarding the current location of WTRU 102. In addition to, or instead of, information from GPS chipset 136, WTRU 102 may receive location information from a base station (e.g., base stations 114a, 114b) over air interface 116 and / or may determine its location based on the timing of signals received from two or more nearby base stations. It will be understood that WTRU 102 may obtain location information by any suitable location determination method while maintaining consistency with the embodiments.

[0049] Processor 118 may be further coupled to other peripheral devices 138, which may include one or more software modules and / or hardware modules that provide additional features, functionality, and / or wired or wireless connectivity. For example, the peripheral device 138 may include an accelerometer, an electronic compass, a satellite transceiver, a digital camera (for photos and / or videos), a universal serial bus (USB) port, a vibration device, a television transceiver, a hands-free headset, a Bluetooth® module, a frequency modulated (FM) radio unit, a digital music player, a media player, a video game player module, an Internet browser, a Virtual Reality and / or Augmented Reality (VR / AR) device, an activity tracker, etc. The peripheral device 138 may include one or more sensors, and the sensors may be one or more of a gyroscope, an accelerometer, a Hall effect sensor, a magnetometer, an orientation sensor, a proximity sensor, a temperature sensor, a time sensor, a geolocation sensor, an altimeter, a light sensor, a touch sensor, a magnetometer, a barometer, a gesture sensor, a biometric sensor, and / or a humidity sensor.

[0050] The WTRU 102 may include a full-duplex radio in which some or all of the transmission and reception of signals associated with a particular subframe for both the uplink (UL) (e.g., for transmission) and the downlink (DL) (e.g., for reception) may be parallel and / or simultaneous. The full-duplex radio may include an interference management unit to reduce and / or substantially eliminate self-interference, either via hardware (e.g., a choke) or via signal processing through a processor (e.g., a separate processor (not shown) or the processor 118). In one embodiment, the WRTU 102 may include a half-duplex radio for some or all of the transmission and reception of signals associated with a particular subframe (e.g., for either the UL (e.g., for transmission) or the DL (e.g., for reception)).

[0051] Figure 1C is a system diagram illustrating RAN 104 and CN 106 according to one embodiment. As described above, RAN 104 can communicate with WTRUs 102a, 102b, 102c over air interface 116 using E-UTRA radio technology. RAN 104 can also communicate with CN 106.

[0052] RAN 104 can include eNode-Bs 160a, 160b, 160c, although it will be understood that RAN 104 can include any number of eNode-Bs while maintaining consistency with the embodiment. Each of eNode-Bs 160a, 160b, 160c can include one or more transceivers for communicating with WTRUs 102a, 102b, 102c over air interface 116. In one embodiment, eNode-Bs 160a, 160b, 160c can implement MIMO technology. Thus, eNode-B 160a, for example, can transmit wireless signals to and / or receive wireless signals from WTRU 102a using multiple antennas.

[0053] Each of eNode-Bs 160a, 160b, 160c can be associated with a particular cell (not shown) and can be configured to handle radio resource management decisions, handover decisions, user scheduling in UL and / or DL, etc. As shown in Figure 1C, eNode-Bs 160a, 160b, 160c can communicate with each other over the X2 interface.

[0054] CN 106 shown in Figure 1C can include a mobility management entity (MME) 162, a serving gateway (SGW) 164, and a packet data network (PDN) gateway (or PGW) 166. Although each of the foregoing elements is shown as part of CN 106, it will be understood that any of these elements can be owned and / or operated by an entity other than a CN operator.

[0055] The MME 162 can be connected to each of the eNode-Bs 162a, 162b, 162c within the RAN 104 via the S1 interface and can act as a control node. For example, the MME 162 can be responsible for authenticating users of the WTRUs 102a, 102b, 102c, bearer activation / deactivation, selecting a specific serving gateway during the initial attach of the WTRUs 102a, 102b, 102c, etc. The MME 162 can provide control plane functions for exchanges between the RAN 104 and other RANs (not shown) using other radio technologies such as GSM and / or WCDMA.

[0056] The SGW 164 can be connected to each of the eNodeBs 160a, 160b, 160c within the RAN 104 via the S1 interface. The SGW 164 can generally route and forward user data packets to / from the WTRUs 102a, 102b, 102c. The SGW 164 can perform other functions such as anchoring the user plane during handover between eNodeBs, triggering paging when DL data is available to the WTRUs 102a, 102b, 102c, managing and storing the context of the WTRUs 102a, 102b, 102c, etc.

[0057] The SGW 164 can be connected to the PGW 166, and the PGW 166 can provide access to a packet switched network such as the Internet 110 to the WTRUs 102a, 102b, 102c and facilitate communication between the WTRUs 102a, 102b, 102c and IP-enabled devices.

[0058] CN106 can facilitate communication with other networks. For example, CN106 can provide access to a circuit-switched network, such as PSTN108, to WTRUs 102a, 102b, and 102c to facilitate communication between WTRUs 102a, 102b, and 102c and conventional landline communication devices. For example, CN106 can include, or communicate with, an IP gateway (e.g., an IP multimedia subsystem (IMS) server) that serves as an interface between CN106 and PSTN108. In addition, CN106 can provide access to other network 112 to WTRUs 102a, 102b, and 102c, and other network 112 can include other wired and / or wireless networks owned and / or operated by other service providers.

[0059] The WTRU is described as a wireless terminal in FIGS. 1A - 1D, but in certain representative embodiments, it is contemplated that such a terminal can use (e.g., temporarily or permanently) a wired communication interface with a communication network.

[0060] In a representative embodiment, other network 112 can be a WLAN.

[0061] A WLAN in Infrastructure Basic Service Set (BSS) mode may have an access point (AP) for the BSS and one or more stations (STAs) associated with the AP. The AP may have access or an interface to a Distribution System (DS) or another type of wired / wireless network that carries traffic within and / or outside the BSS. Traffic to an STA originating from outside the BSS may reach and be delivered to the STA through the AP. Traffic transmitted from an STA to a destination outside the BSS may be sent to the AP in order to be delivered to their respective destinations. Traffic between STAs within the BSS may be sent through the AP. For example, the source STA may send the traffic to the AP, and the AP may deliver the traffic to the destination STA. Traffic between STAs within the BSS may be considered and / or referred to as peer-to-peer traffic. Peer-to-peer traffic may be sent (e.g., directly) between the source STA and the destination STA using direct link setup (DLS). In one representative embodiment, the DLS may use 802.11e DLS or 802.11z tunneled DLS (TDLS). A WLAN using Independent BSS (IBSS) mode may not have an AP, and STAs within the IBSS or using the IBSS (e.g., all of the STAs) may communicate directly with each other. Communication in IBSS mode may sometimes be referred to in this document as "ad hoc" mode communication.

[0062] When operating in 802.11ac infrastructure mode or similar modes, the AP may transmit beacons on a fixed channel such as the primary channel. The primary channel may be of a fixed width (e.g., 20 MHz bandwidth) or a width dynamically set via signaling. The primary channel may be the operating channel of the BSS and may be used by the STA to establish a connection with the AP. In one representative embodiment, Carrier Sense Multiple Access with Collision Avoidance (CSMA / CA) may be implemented, for example, in an 802.11 system. In the case of CSMA / CA, STAs including the AP (e.g., all STAs) may sense the primary channel. If the primary channel is sensed / detected and / or determined to be busy by a particular STA, the particular STA may back off. One STA (e.g., just one station) may transmit at any given time within a given BSS.

[0063] A High Throughput (HT) STA may use a 40 MHz wide channel for communication, for example, by combining a primary 20 MHz channel with adjacent or non - adjacent 20 MHz channels to form a 40 MHz wide channel.

[0064] A Very High Throughput (VHT) STA may support channels with widths of 20 MHz, 40 MHz, 80 MHz, and / or 160 MHz. A 40 MHz and / or 80 MHz channel may be formed by combining consecutive 20 MHz channels. A 160 MHz channel may be formed by combining eight consecutive 20 MHz channels, or by combining two non-consecutive 80 MHz channels, which may be referred to as an 80+80 configuration. In the case of an 80+80 configuration, after channel encoding, the data may be passed through a segment parser that can split the data into two streams. Inverse Fast Fourier Transform (IFFT) processing and time domain processing may be performed separately on each stream. The streams may be mapped onto two 80 MHz channels, and the data may be transmitted by the transmitting STA. At the receiver of the receiving STA, the above operations for the 80+80 configuration may be reversed, and the combined data may be transmitted to the Medium Access Control (MAC).

[0065] The operation of the sub-1 GHz mode is supported by 802.11af and 802.11ah. The channel operating bandwidth and carriers are reduced in 802.11af and 802.11ah compared to those used in 802.11n and 802.11ac. 802.11af supports 5 MHz, 10 MHz, and 20 MHz bandwidths in the TV White Space (TVWS) spectrum, and 802.11ah supports 1 MHz, 2 MHz, 4 MHz, 8 MHz, and 16 MHz bandwidths using non-TVWS spectrum. According to a representative embodiment, 802.11ah may support meter type control / machine type communication, such as MTC devices within a macro coverage area. The MTC device may have limited functionality, including a certain function, e.g., support for a certain bandwidth and / or limited bandwidth (e.g., support only for those). The MTC device may include a battery having a battery life exceeding a threshold (e.g., to maintain a very long battery life).

[0066] WLAN systems that can support multiple channels and channel bandwidths, such as 802.11n, 802.11ac, 802.11af, and 802.11ah, include channels that can be designated as primary channels. The primary channel can have a bandwidth equal to the maximum common operating bandwidth supported by all STAs within a BSS. The bandwidth of the primary channel can be set and / or restricted by the STA that supports the minimum bandwidth operating mode among all STAs operating within the BSS. In the example of 802.11ah, the primary channel can be 1 MHz wide for an STA (e.g., an MTC type device) that supports the 1 MHz mode (e.g., supports only that) even when the AP and other STAs within the BSS support 2 MHz, 4 MHz, 8 MHz, 16 MHz, and / or other channel bandwidth operating modes. Carrier sensing and / or Network Allocation Vector (NAV) setting can depend on the status of the primary channel. For example, if the primary channel is busy due to an STA (supporting only the 1 MHz operating mode) transmitting to the AP, the entire available frequency band can be considered busy even though most of the frequency band remains idle and available.

[0067] In the United States, the available frequency band that can be used by 802.11ah is 902 MHz to 928 MHz. In South Korea, the available frequency band is 917.5 MHz to 923.5 MHz. In Japan, the available frequency band is 916.5 MHz to 927.5 MHz. The total available bandwidth for 802.11ah is 6 MHz to 26 MHz depending on the country code.

[0068] Figure 1D is a system diagram illustrating RAN113 and CN115 according to one embodiment. As described above, RAN113 can communicate with WTRUs 102a, 102b, 102c on air interface 116 using NR radio technology. RAN113 can also communicate with CN115.

[0069] RAN 113 may include gNBs 180a, 180b, and 180c, although it will be understood that RAN 113 may include any number of gNBs while maintaining consistency with the embodiments. gNBs 180a, 180b, and 180c may each include one or more transceivers for communicating with WTRUs 102a, 102b, and 102c on air interface 116. In one embodiment, gNBs 180a, 180b, and 180c may implement MIMO technology. For example, gNBs 180a and 108b may utilize beamforming to transmit signals to and / or receive signals from gNBs 180a, 180b, and 180c. Thus, gNB 180a may transmit and / or receive radio signals from WTRU 102a using, for example, multiple antennas. In one embodiment, gNBs 180a, 180b, and 180c may implement carrier aggregation technology. For example, gNB 180a may transmit multiple component carriers to WTRU 102a (not shown). A subset of these component carriers may be on unlicensed spectrum, while the remaining component carriers may be on licensed spectrum. In one embodiment, gNBs 180a, 180b, and 180c may implement coordinated multi-point (CoMP) technology. For example, WTRU 102a may receive coordinated transmissions from gNB 180a as well as gNB 180b (and / or gNB 180c).

[0070] WTRU102a, 102b, and 102c can communicate with gNB180a, 180b, and 180c using transmissions associated with scalable numerology. For example, the OFDM symbol interval and / or the OFDM subcarrier interval can vary for different transmissions, different cells, and / or different portions of the radio transmission spectrum. WTRU102a, 102b, and 102c can communicate with gNB180a, 180b, and 180c using subframes or transmission time intervals (TTIs) of various or scalable lengths (e.g., including various numbers of OFDM symbols and / or lasting for various lengths of absolute time).

[0071] gNBs 180a, 180b, and 180c can be configured to communicate with WTRUs 102a, 102b, and 102c in a stand-alone configuration and / or a non-stand-alone configuration. In a stand-alone configuration, WTRUs 102a, 102b, and 102c can communicate with gNBs 180a, 180b, and 180c without accessing other RANs (e.g., eNode-Bs 160a, 160b, and 160c, etc.). In a stand-alone configuration, WTRUs 102a, 102b, and 102c can utilize one or more of gNBs 180a, 180b, and 180c as mobility anchor points. In a stand-alone configuration, WTRUs 102a, 102b, and 102c can communicate with gNBs 180a, 180b, and 180c using signals within an unlicensed band. In a non-stand-alone configuration, WTRUs 102a, 102b, and 102c can communicate with and / or connect to gNBs 180a, 180b, and 180c while communicating with and connected to another RAN such as eNode-Bs 160a, 160b, and 160c. For example, WTRUs 102a, 102b, and 102c can implement principles to communicate with one or more gNBs 180a, 180b, and 180c and one or more eNode-Bs 160a, 160b, and 160c substantially simultaneously. In a non-stand-alone configuration, eNode-Bs 160a, 160b, and 160c can serve as the mobility anchor for WTRUs 102a, 102b, and 102c, and gNBs 180a, 180b, and 180c can provide additional coverage and / or throughput for serving WTRUs 102a, 102b, and 102c.

[0072] Each of gNBs 180a, 180b, and 180c can be associated with a specific cell (not shown) and can be configured to handle radio resource management decisions, handover decisions, UL and / or DL user scheduling, support for network slicing, dual connectivity, interworking between NR and E-UTRA, routing of user plane data to user plane functions (UPFs) 184a, 184b, routing of control plane information to access and mobility management functions (AMFs) 182a, 182b, etc. As shown in FIG. 1D, gNBs 180a, 180b, and 180c can communicate with each other over the Xn interface.

[0073] CN 115 shown in FIG. 1D can include at least one AMF 182a, 182b, at least one UPF 184a, 184b, at least one session management function (SMF) 183a, 183b, and optionally data networks (DNs) 185a, 185b. Although each of the foregoing elements is shown as part of CN 115, it will be understood that any of these elements can be owned and / or operated by entities other than the CN operator.

[0074] AMF 182a and 182b can be connected to one or more of gNBs 180a, 180b, and 180c in RAN 113 via the N2 interface and can serve as control nodes. For example, AMF 182a and 182b can authenticate users of WTRUs 102a, 102b, and 102c, support network slicing (e.g., handle different PDU sessions with different requirements), select specific SMFs 183a and 183b, manage the registration area, terminate NAS signaling, perform mobility management, etc. Network slicing can be used by AMF 182a and 182b to customize the CN support for WTRUs 102a, 102b, and 102c based on the type of services utilized by WTRUs 102a, 102b, and 102c. For example, different network slices can be established for different use cases such as services for ultra-reliable low latency (URLLC) access, services for enhanced massive mobile broadband (eMBB) access, machine type communication (MTC) access, and / or similar ones. AMF 162 can provide control plane functions for exchanges between RAN 113 and other RANs (not shown) using other radio technologies such as non-3GPP access technologies like LTE, LTE-A, LTE-A Pro, and / or WiFi.

[0075] SMF183a and 183b can be connected to AMF182a and 182b in CN115 via the N11 interface. SMF183a and 183b can also be connected to UPF184a and 184b in CN115 via the N4 interface. SMF183a and 183b can select and control UPF184a and 184b and configure traffic routing through UPF184a and 184b. SMF183a and 183b can perform other functions such as managing and allocating WTRU IP addresses, managing PDU sessions, implementing policies and controlling QoS, and providing downlink data notifications. The PDU session type may be IP-based, non-IP-based, Ethernet-based, etc.

[0076] UPF184a and 184b can be connected to one or more of gNB180a, 180b, and 180c in RAN113 via the N3 interface, which can provide access to a packet-switched network such as the Internet 110 to WTRU102a, 102b, and 102c and facilitate communication between WTRU102a, 102b, and 102c and IP-compatible devices. UPF184 and 184b can perform other functions such as routing and forwarding packets, implementing user plane policies, supporting multi-home PDU sessions, processing user plane QoS, buffering downlink packets, and providing mobility anchoring.

[0077] CN115 may facilitate communication with other networks. For example, CN115 may include or communicate with an IP gateway (e.g., an IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) server) that serves as an interface between CN115 and the PSTN 108. Additionally, CN115 may provide access to other networks 112 to the WTRUs 102a, 102b, 102c, and the other networks 112 may include other wired and / or wireless networks owned and / or operated by other service providers. In one embodiment, the WTRUs 102a, 102b, 102c may be connected to the local data networks (Data Network, DN) 185a, 185b through the UPFs 184a, 184b via an N3 interface to the UPFs 184a, 184b and an N6 interface between the UPFs 184a, 184b and the DNs 185a, 185b.

[0078] Looking at FIGS. 1A - 1D, and the corresponding descriptions of FIGS. 1A - 1D, one or more of the functions described herein related to one or more of the WTRUs 102a - d, base stations 114a - b, eNode - Bs 160a - c, MME 162, SGW 164, PGW 166, gNBs 180a - c, AMFs 182a - b, UPFs 184a - b, SMFs 183a - b, DNs 185a - b, and / or any other device described herein may be implemented by one or more emulation devices (not shown). The emulation device may be one or more devices configured to emulate one or more or all of the functions described herein. For example, the emulation device may be used to test other devices and / or to simulate network and / or WTRU functions.

[0079] An emulation device can be designed to implement one or more tests of other devices in a laboratory environment and / or an operator network environment. For example, one or more emulation devices can perform one or more or all functions while being fully or partially implemented and / or deployed as part of a wired and / or wireless communication network to test other devices within the communication network. One or more emulation devices can perform one or more or all functions while being temporarily implemented / deployed as part of a wired and / or wireless communication network. An emulation device can be directly coupled to another device for testing purposes and / or can perform tests using terrestrial wireless communication.

[0080] One or more emulation devices can perform one or more functions, including all functions, without being implemented / deployed as part of a wired and / or wireless communication network. For example, an emulation device can be utilized in a test scenario in a test laboratory and / or a non-deployed (e.g., test) wired and / or wireless communication network to implement tests of one or more components. One or more emulation devices can be test equipment. For transmitting and / or receiving data, direct RF coupling and / or wireless communication via an RF circuit (which can include, for example, one or more antennas) can be used by the emulation device.

[0081] The processes and methods described herein may be implemented in a computer program, software, and / or firmware incorporated in a computer-readable medium for execution by a computer or processor. Examples of computer-readable media include, but are not limited to, electronic signals (transmitted via wired and / or wireless connections) and / or computer-readable storage media. Examples of computer-readable storage media include, but are not limited to, read only memory (ROM), random access memory (RAM), registers, cache memory, semiconductor memory devices, magnetic media such as internal hard disks and removable disks, magneto-optical media, and / or optical media such as CD-ROM disks and / or digital versatile disks (DVDs). A software-associated processor may be used to implement a radio frequency transceiver for use in a WTRU, terminal, base station, RNC, and / or any host computer. Additionally, although features, elements, and techniques may be described herein in particular combinations, each feature or element may be used alone or in any combination with other features, elements, and techniques.

[0082] For use in a particular location, accurate positioning can be achieved by combining multiple technologies, including Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS)-based solutions, radio technologies (e.g., LTE networks, Wi-Fi networks, Terrestrial Beacon System (TBS), Bluetooth, etc. that offer multiple design options for indicating the user's location), Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU), or sensors (e.g., tracking of the user's position based on vertical positioning by an accelerometer, gyroscope, magnetometer, or barometric pressure sensor) that can be used to provide an accurate location in an outdoor scenario.

[0083] Support for positioning can be provided. One or more of the following may apply to the description herein. The suffix “-based” may refer to a node responsible for calculating the position (e.g., the node may also provide measurements). The suffix “-assisted” may refer to a node that provides measurements and does not perform position calculations.

[0084] One or more types of positioning may be supported, which may include WTRU positioning and network positioning.

[0085] One or more of the following may be applicable to WTRU positioning. The WTRU may actively support or assist in the calculation of a geographical location (e.g., the calculation of the geographical location of the WTRU). For example, WTRU positioning may include WTRU-assisted positioning and WTRU-based positioning. In WTRU-assisted positioning, the WTRU may perform measurements and provide the measurement values to the network. The network (e.g., an enhanced serving mobile location center (E-SMLC)) may use the measurement values to calculate the location of the WTRU. In WTRU-based positioning, the WTRU may perform measurements, perform the location calculation itself, and provide the calculated location to the network (e.g., instead of the network that performs the location calculation).

[0086] One or more of the following may be applicable to network positioning. The network may perform measurements and / or receive signals from the WTRU to determine the location of the WTRU. A positioning method for a wireless system (e.g., LTE / LTE-A / LTE-A Pro) may include one or more of the following. The WTRU positioning method may include GNSS, observed time difference of arrival (OTDO) which may be referred to as "downlink positioning", or Enhanced Cell ID (E-CID). The network positioning method may include time difference of arrival (UTDOA) which may be referred to as "uplink positioning".

[0087] The selection of the anchor WTRU may be performed by a network entity, e.g., a positioning server. For example, the selection of the anchor WTRU (e.g., initial selection) may include a WTRU whose location (e.g., absolute location) is known. A list of anchor WTRUs, e.g., WTRU IDs (e.g., IMSI, IMEI, etc.) may be provided to the BS, e.g., in a group formation request.

[0088] Technologies associated with GNSS can be provided. One or more of the following can be applied. GNSS can be a satellite-based positioning method (e.g., including GPS, Galileo, GLONASS, BeiDou, and others). Network-assisted GNSS can be implemented using signaling between a (e.g., less complex) WTRU GNSS receiver and an operating (e.g., continuously operating) GNSS reference receiver network having a clear sky view of the same GNSS constellation as the assisting WTRU. An assisted mode can be supported.

[0089] WTRU-assisted positioning technologies can be provided. One or more of the following can be applied. The WTRU can perform GNSS measurements (e.g., pseudorange, pseudodoppler, carrier phase range, etc.), and the WTRU can send GNSS measurement values to the network, whereby position calculations can be performed.

[0090] WTRU-based positioning technologies can be provided. One or more of the following can be applied. The WTRU can perform GNSS measurements and calculate the WTRU's position fix using, for example, additional measurements from other (e.g., non-GNSS) sources and assistance data from the network.

[0091] The content of the assistance data can vary, for example, depending on whether the WTRU is operating in a WTRU-assisted or WTRU-based mode.

[0092] OTDOA (e.g., downlink positioning) technology can be provided. One or more of the following can be applied. In the case of OTDOA, the WTRU can receive signals from a reference cell (e.g., serving cell) and several neighboring cells, and can measure the observed time difference of arrival of the signals (e.g., between each neighboring cell and the reference cell). The WTRU can report the reference signal time difference (RSTD) to the network. Using the positions of the cells, the predetermined timing differences between them, and other information, the network can derive the position of the WTRU by triangulation (e.g., assuming that at least three measured cells exist) and / or other proprietary methods. FIG. 2 is an example associated with OTDOA, and each time difference (TDOA) determines a hyperbola. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the intersection of the hyperbolas can be the estimated position of the WTRU. The coordinates of the WTRU can be estimated using at least three timing measurements (e.g., a reference measurement and two neighboring cell measurements).

[0093] The time difference of arrival can be measured with a known signal. Cell-specific reference symbols (CRS) can be candidates for this measurement value because they are transmitted by the cell and are known to the WTRU. In an embodiment, the use of CRS may not be sufficient. In an embodiment, other signals such as a Positioning Reference Signal (PRS) can be used. If the cell transmits a PRS, the WTRU can determine the time difference of arrival using the CRS and / or the PRS.

[0094] E-CID based positioning technology can be provided.

[0095] E-CID positioning technology can be constructed by the Cell ID (Cell ID, CID) method. CID can include network-based positioning methods where the network uses knowledge of which cell is the serving cell of the WTRU to determine the location of the WTRU. E-CID technology can improve the accuracy of location by combining knowledge of the cell with measurements made by the WTRU and the network, such as round trip time (RTT) measurements that can provide distance information, angle of arrival / angle of departure (AOA / AOD) measurements that can provide direction, and reference signal received power (RSRP) measurements that can provide additional information. E-CID positioning can be implemented using one to three base stations. As described herein, the measurements can be performed at the WTRU or the base station and reported to a location server (e.g., a positioning server). The calculation of the location of the WTRU can be based on the calculation of measurements performed within the network.

[0096] UTDOA (e.g., uplink positioning) based positioning technology can be provided.

[0097] Uplink (e.g., UTDOA) positioning technology can be implemented using the timing measured by multiple network location measurement units (LMUs) based on uplink signals transmitted from the WTRU. The LMU can use assistance data received from the positioning server to measure the timing of the received signals and use the resulting measurements to estimate the location of the WTRU.

[0098] Use cases and applications anticipated for next-generation systems can include stringent location requirements, for example, compared to existing or previous wireless systems. For example, the deployment of a system can be configured to support a high-precision location function of, for example, 0.3 m with a positioning service latency of 10 ms.

[0099] In areas of sparse network coverage, support for WTRU positioning may be limited due to a number of base stations, for example, where the WTRU may be able to perform measurements that can limit the availability and reliability of relative positioning measurements such as OTDOA. In scenarios where the relative mobility within a WTRU group is limited, for example, when the WTRUs are mounted in a train, significant network overhead and WTRU power consumption can occur by performing positioning measurements for individual WTRUs.

[0100] A framework that enables positioning measurements from WTRU to WTRU may provide robust WTRU positioning support in an environment where network coverage is sparse.

[0101] The measuring WTRU may perform one or more of the following, which may support the positioning of neighboring assisted WRTUs. The measuring WTRU may receive a positioning configuration. The positioning configuration may include a sounding reference signal (SRS) pattern and an indication of the resource allocation of the SRS transmission of the reference WTRU. The measuring WTRU may receive an indication of the timing advance of the reference WTRU (e.g., as part of the configuration). The measuring WTRU may determine the downlink slot timing, for example, by detecting the primary synchronization signal / secondary synchronization signal (PSS / SSS) transmission of a network node (e.g., serving base station (BS)). The measuring WTRU may determine the uplink slot timing of the reference WTRU by detecting the SRS transmission from the reference WTRU. If the measuring WTRU is configured with the timing advance value of the reference WTRU, the measuring WTRU may adjust the measured uplink slot timing to match the timing advance. The measuring WTRU may determine the reference signal time difference (RSTD) between the downlink transmission and the uplink transmission. The measuring WTRU may report the RSTD measurement value to, for example, a positioning server (e.g., E-SMLC, SUPL SLP, etc.).

[0102] Positioning techniques for WTRU groups initiated by a network can be provided. One or more of the following may be applied. A WTRU (e.g., an anchor WTRU) may receive one or more of a PRS transmission and reporting configuration, e.g., sidelink resources, periodicity, target WTRU ID, threshold, etc. The anchor WTRU may transmit the PRS on the configured resources to one or more target WTRUs using, e.g., a sidelink channel. The anchor WTRU may collect positioning measurement reports (e.g., RSTD) on the configured resources using, e.g., a sidelink channel from one or more target WTRUs. When a change in the measurement value of a target WTRU (e.g., relative to a previous measurement value) exceeds a first threshold, the anchor WTRU may report the measurement value to a positioning server. When a change in the measurement value (e.g., relative to a previous measurement value) exceeds a second threshold, the anchor WTRU may send a reconfiguration request to the positioning server to increase the rate of measurement and reporting. When a change in the measurement value (e.g., relative to a previous measurement value) is less than a third threshold over a certain (e.g., configured) number of periods, the anchor WTRU may send a reconfiguration request to the positioning server to decrease the rate of measurement and reporting. If the anchor WTRU is unable to perform downlink measurements at a specified number of BSs, the anchor WTRU may trigger a notification to the positioning server.

[0103] Positioning techniques for a self-organizing WTRU group can be provided. One or more of the following may be applied. A WTRU outside coverage may perform positioning measurements on reference signals (RS) received from a WTRU inside coverage or another WTRU outside coverage. The WTRU outside coverage may send a report including measurement results of the WTRU outside coverage (e.g., angle of arrival (AOA), Rx-Tx time difference, RSRP, etc.) to a WTRU inside or outside the reference coverage (e.g., using pre-configured sidelink resources). The WTRU outside coverage may monitor measurement reports from one or more other WTRUs on pre-configured sidelink resources. The WTRU outside coverage may include measurement results of other WTRUs in the report of the WTRU outside coverage to the reference WTRU. The WTRU outside coverage may derive measurement results of other WTRUs with respect to its own reference (e.g., position, time, etc.) and send the measured values to the reference WTRU using the derived values.

[0104] The WTRU may be configured to perform idle state positioning measurements (e.g., OTDOA, A-GNSS, E-CID, etc.). One or more of the following may apply. The WTRU may receive the configuration of the dedicated sidelink resources of one or more WTRUs and relay the positioning measurements to a positioning server. The configuration may include one or more of the following: a list of sidelink-capable WTRUs, a list of DRX cycles of the configured sidelink WTRUs, a maximum positioning measurement reporting delay, a threshold value, a delay reduction coefficient value, etc. The WTRU may perform positioning measurements on the configured resources. If the positioning measurement value is different from a previously reported positioning measurement value (e.g., a value greater than a threshold), the WTRU may reduce the maximum positioning measurement delay by the configured reduction coefficient value. The WTRU may perform one or more of the following to send the positioning measurements. If the total reporting delay using one or more of the sidelink resources is less than the maximum positioning measurement reporting delay, the WTRU may send the positioning measurement value using one of the configured dedicated sidelink resources. If the configured list of sidelink-capable WTRUs cannot meet the condition that the total reporting delay is less than the maximum positioning measurement reporting delay, the WTRU may decide to send the positioning measurement report using resources from a common sidelink resource pool. The WTRU may select one of the sidelink WTRUs that can meet the total reporting delay requirement using the common resource pool. If none of the sidelink WTRUs in the configured list of sidelink-capable WTRUs meet the condition that the total reporting delay using the common resource pool is less than the reduced maximum positioning measurement reporting delay, the WTRU may decide to send and / or send the positioning measurement report, for example, by first transitioning to the connected state.

[0105] Proximity-assisted WTRU positioning techniques may be implemented. One or more of the following may apply. The WTRU may be configured to perform multi-node positioning measurements. For example, the nodes may include a base station (BS), such as a gNB / eNB / TRP and the WTRU. OTDOA measurements may be performed, and the measurements may include reference signals transmitted by a neighboring WTRU's BS and / or the serving / neighboring BS (e.g., not exclusively from the serving / neighboring BS). FIG. 3 illustrates an example associated with interference-based positioning.

[0106] The WTRU may be configured to perform proximity-assisted WTRU positioning.

[0107] A reference WTRU configuration may be provided. One or more of the following may apply. The WTRU (e.g., the reference WTRU when used herein) may be configured to transmit a PRS (e.g., an SRS, contention-free / contention-based RACH preamble, WTRU-specific or non-WTRU-specific pseudo-random sequence, a dedicated new reference signal for positioning purposes, etc.). The WTRU may be configured to generate a reference signal (e.g., a pseudo-random sequence generation algorithm, and a seed, sequence length, etc.). The WTRU may be configured with a PRS resource allocation (e.g., a schedule such as PRS transmission, PRS periodicity, PRS offset, repetition, time / frequency allocation of a reference signal (RS) symbol, etc.). The WTRU may be configured to transmit the PRS in a specific direction (e.g., an angular offset from the serving beam, etc.). The WTRU may be configured to repeat transmissions on a set of beams (e.g., repeat the PRS pattern for each of N consecutive slots on N consecutive beams). The WTRU may be configured to transmit the PRS at a certain power (e.g., X dB above or below the PDSCH EPRE, etc.). The reference WTRU may be configured to transmit the PRS in a certain RACH resource (e.g., at a certain RACH opportunity X). The WTRU may be configured with a timing advance value specific to the transmission of the PRS.

[0108] One or more of the following may be applicable to the configuration of the measurement WTRU. A WTRU (e.g., when used in this specification, a "measurement WTRU") may be configured to perform OTDOA measurements, for example, in signal transmission between a BS and a reference WTRU. The measurement WTRU may be configured via signaling (e.g., dedicated signaling such as RRC signaling). The WTRU may be configured to detect the PRS (e.g., pseudo-random sequence generation algorithm, and seed, sequence length, etc.) of the reference WTRU. The measurement WTRU may be composed of scheduled resources (e.g., time / frequency resources, slot index, subframe index, MBSFN, RACH opportunity, etc.) for PRS transmission from the reference WTRU. The measurement WTRU may be composed of guard resources, which may be used to limit interference with multiplexed data transmission. The measurement WTRU may be configured to receive PRS transmission from the reference WTRU on a beam (e.g., a specific beam or a set of beams). The measurement WTRU may be configured to select (e.g., autonomously select) the beam on which the PRS transmission of the reference WTRU is received.

[0109] Proximity-assisted positioning measurements may be performed.

[0110] Time-synchronized PRS positioning measurements can be performed. One or more of the following may apply. The measurement WTRU may be configured to determine the slot timing of the BS based on the detection of downlink PRS (e.g., PSS / SSS transmission, etc.) that may be sent by the BS (e.g., serving or nearby). In an embodiment, the measurement WTRU may determine the slot timing of the reference WTRU by receiving the transmission of the uplink PRS of the reference WTRU. The measurement WTRU may determine OTDOA by comparing, for example, the relative offset between the downlink slot timing of the BS and the uplink slot timing of the reference WTRU (e.g., RSTD measurement). The measurement WTRU may determine the angle difference of PRS arrival based on the received directions of the downlink PRS of the BS and the uplink PRS of the reference WTRU.

[0111] An exemplary illustration of timing synchronization PRS positioning measurement is shown in FIG. 4. As illustrated in FIG. 4, the reference WTRU may be configured to send periodic SRS transmissions, and the measurement WTRU may be used as PRS transmissions for WTRU-assisted positioning measurements. The measurement WTRU may be configured with parameters for detecting the SRS transmissions of the reference WTRU. In an embodiment, the configuration may include parameters for generating the SRS pattern, parameters for resource allocation of the SRS pattern, and parameters for the periodicity and offset of the SRS transmissions (e.g., within the frame schedule). The measurement WTRU may be configured with the timing advance of the reference WTRU, which may limit the search for detecting SRS transmissions by the measurement WTRU. The measurement WTRU may recover the downlink slot timing, for example, by detecting the PSS / SSS transmission of the serving BS. The measurement WTRU may determine the uplink slot timing of the reference WTRU by detecting the SRS transmissions of the reference WTRU. The WTRU may determine the RSTD between the downlink transmission and the uplink transmission. The WTRU may report the RSTD measurement value to a positioning server (e.g., E-SMLC, SUPL SLP, etc.), for example, via the serving BS.

[0112] Asynchronous positioning measurements can be performed. One or more of the following may apply. The measurement WTRU may be configured to determine the slot timing of the BS, for example, by detecting the downlink PRS transmission of the BS (e.g., the serving or neighboring BS). The reference WTRU may be configured to perform PRS transmission in a random access or contention-based resource (e.g., a PRACH resource). The measurement WTRU may determine the slot timing of the reference WTRU by receiving the transmission of the uplink PRS of the WTRU in a contention-based resource. If the PRS transmission collides with other random access transmissions, the WTRU may indicate to the serving BS that a collision has occurred or that the received PRS has been detected with out-of-boundary parameters. If no collision occurs, the WTRU may determine OTDOA by comparing the relative offset between the downlink slot timing of the BS and the uplink slot timing of the WTRU (e.g., RSTD measurement). The WTRU may (e.g., the WTRU may also) determine the angle difference of PRS arrival based on the received directions of both the downlink PRS of the BS and the uplink PRS of the WTRU.

[0113] An example of asynchronous PRS positioning measurement is illustrated in FIG. 5. As illustrated in FIG. 5, the reference WTRU may be configured to perform contention-free PRACH preamble transmission of the configured PRACH resources, and the measurement WTRU may be used as the PRS transmission for WTRU-assisted positioning measurement. The measurement WTRU may be configured with parameters for detecting the RACH preamble transmission of the reference WTRU. In an embodiment, the configuration may include parameters for generating the RACH preamble, parameters for determining the resource allocation of the PRACH (including, for example, the guard band and cyclic prefix (CP duration)), and / or parameters for determining the periodicity and offset of the PRACH resources (e.g., within the frame schedule). The measurement WTRU may be configured with the timing advance of the reference WTRU, which may be used to limit the search for detecting the RACH preamble transmission of the measurement WTRU. The measurement WTRU may recover the downlink slot timing by detecting the PSS / SSS transmission of the serving BS. The measurement WTRU may determine the slot timing of the uplink transmission of the reference WTRU, for example, by detecting the RACH preamble transmission. The WTRU may determine the RSTD between the downlink transmission and the uplink transmission. The WTRU may report the RSTD measurement value to the positioning server (e.g., via the serving BS).

[0114] PRS activation / deactivation techniques may be provided. One or more of the following may be applied. The PRS transmission of the reference WTRU may be configured as aperiodic, semi-periodic, or periodic. The configuration of the PRS transmission of the reference WTRU may be implemented by a higher layer configuration (e.g., RRC, NRPP, etc.). In an example, the reference WTRU may be provided with a PRS transmission configuration that is activated / deactivated by higher layer signaling (e.g., RRC, NRPP, etc.). The reference WTRU may be provided with a PRS transmission configuration that is activated / deactivated by lower layer control signaling (e.g., MAC-CE, DCI, etc.). The PRS transmission of the reference WTRU may be configured (e.g., exclusively configured) by lower layer signaling (e.g., DCI, etc.).

[0115] Measurements performed by the WTRU for measurement can be reported by the WTRU for measurement. One or more of the following may apply. The WTRU for measurement may be configured to send a report including a single WTRU-assisted positioning measurement or multiple positioning measurements. The measurement report configuration may include parameters indicating the reference source (e.g., a node or entity such as a BS or WTRU) used to generate the measurement (e.g., BS(PSSS) / UE(SRS), UE(PRACH) / UE(SRS), etc.). The measurement report may be configured as aperiodic, semi-periodic, or periodic. The measurement report may be configured by upper layer control signaling (e.g., RRC, NRPP, etc.). The measurement report may be activated / deactivated by upper layer control signaling (e.g., RRC, NRPP, etc.). The measurement report may be configured by upper layer control signaling and / or by activation / deactivation by lower layer control signaling (e.g., MAC-CE, DCI, etc.). The measurement report may be scheduled and configured (e.g., exclusively configured) by lower layer signaling (e.g., DCI). The measurement report may include one or more measurement values that can be used in the calculation of WTRU positioning (e.g., received PRS power, RSTD, RTT, BS arrival angle, reference WTRU arrival angle, etc.). The measurement report may be configured according to a schedule maintained by the serving BS (e.g., MBSFN, subframe number, slot number, etc.). The measurement report schedule may be determined based on the occurrence of an event (e.g., the measurement report may be scheduled within N slots of an RSTD measurement).

[0116] Positioning techniques for a WTRU group may be provided.

[0117] Positioning techniques for a WTRU group initiated by a network can be provided. One or more of the following may be applied. To perform positioning of the WTRU group, one or more WTRUs may be configured to send reference signals (e.g., PRS dedicated to WTRU positioning, synchronization signals, DMRS within a broadcast channel, CSI-RS, etc.) on the sidelink. The WTRU may be referred to herein as an anchor WTRU. A target WTRU (e.g., a WTRU whose position is to be estimated, which may be referred to herein as a non-anchor WTRU or a target WTRU) may be configured to perform measurements (e.g., RSRP, Time of arrival (TOA), Angle of arrival (AOA), RSTD, Time difference of arrival (TDOA), etc.) on the reference signal, which may be transmitted by one or more anchor WTRUs, for example, on the sidelink channel. The selection and configuration of the anchor WTRU may be performed by a network (e.g., a positioning server / serving BS). For example, the selection of the anchor WTRU (e.g., initial selection) may include a WTRU whose absolute position is known. In an embodiment, the position of each WTRU may be updated based on the group formation techniques described herein. The assignment of the anchor WTRU to the target WTRU may be performed by a network (e.g., a positioning server or a serving BS). One or more anchor WTRUs may be assigned to the target WTRU. An anchor WTRU (e.g., each anchor WTRU) may be assigned to one or more target WTRUs. An aggregate of one or more target WTRUs that share one or more anchor WTRUs and the same (e.g., mutual) assignment or mapping and do not share the same (e.g., mutual) assignment as other target WTRUs or anchor WTRUs may be a group.

[0118] Figure 6 illustrates an example associated with techniques that may be performed by an anchor WTRU.

[0119] The formation and management of a WTRU group can be implemented. One or more of the following may apply. The formation of a WTRU group can be initiated, for example, by a positioning server. In an embodiment, the formation of a WTRU group can be initiated to determine an anchor WTRU for each respective target WTRU (e.g., each of the target WTRUs). The formation of a WTRU group can be repeated, for example, to constitute a change within the network (e.g., due to the movement of a WTRU). In an embodiment, the formation of a WTRU group can be performed when the positioning measurements from the anchor WTRU change by an amount greater than a threshold. In an embodiment, the formation of a WTRU group can be performed when the positioning measurements from one or more target WTRUs change by an amount greater than another threshold. The formation of a WTRU group can be repeated at a time interval different from the time interval for positioning measurements and reporting. For example, the formation of the group can be performed at a lower frequency (e.g., repetition rate) than positioning measurements and reporting. FIG. 7 illustrates an example associated with the formation of a WTRU group, which may include one or more of the illustrated operations.

[0120] In an embodiment, the formation of a WTRU group can be triggered at the BS, for example, when the BS receives a group formation request from a positioning server. The group formation request can include one or more of the following fields: a list of WTRUs each having a WTRU ID (e.g., IMSI, IMEI, etc.), the respective role of each WTRU (e.g., anchor / target WTRU), an indication of a number of transmissions, an indication of a measurement type (e.g., SL SS RSRP, DMRS, sidelink PRS, etc.), a measurement threshold, an indication of T (e.g., minimum RSRP, etc.), or a reporting format (e.g., individual, average, N maximum values, values exceeding threshold T, etc.).

[0121] The BS can configure an anchor WTRU and a target WTRU, for example, when the BS receives a group formation request.

[0122] The WTRU can be configured as an anchor WTRU (e.g., by a network entity such as a gNB, eNB, base station, etc.). One or more of the following may apply.

[0123] The WTRU (e.g., the anchor WTRU) can transmit a reference signal (e.g., a sidelink synchronization signal such as PSSS, SSSS, or DMRS in PSBCH, or a sidelink CSI-RS, or a sidelink PRS, etc.) on a sidelink (e.g., a sidelink channel) for purposes such as group formation. The configuration for reference signal transmission can be provided to the WTRU (e.g., by a network entity). In an embodiment, the reference signal transmission configuration can include one or more of the following: a sidelink configuration (e.g., time and / or frequency resources) for transmitting a reference signal (e.g., a sidelink synchronization signal such as PSSS, SSSS, or DMRS in PSBCH, or a sidelink CSI-RS, or a sidelink PRS, etc.), an indication of a slot, symbol, and / or subframe offset, an indication of periodicity (e.g., the transmission can be repeated), an indication of a number of transmissions, transmission power, spatial information (e.g., number of beams, beam ID, etc.), or a unique masking or scrambling sequence.

[0124] The configuration for reference signal transmission can be received in a downlink control channel and / or DCI that can be masked or scrambled (e.g., CRC scrambled) with a side link RNTI (e.g., SL-RNTI). For this purpose, identification information (e.g., new identification information) can be allocated by a BS (e.g., serving BS), which can be local to an MME or a positioning server, e.g., a side link positioning group RNTI (e.g., SL-PG-RNTI). The configuration for reference signal transmission can be received within a downlink shared channel, and the resources of the shared channel can be indicated in DCI (e.g., can be scrambled with SL-PG-RNTI or SL-RNTI). The configuration can be included in upper layer parameters (e.g., RRC) and can be dynamically activated using a downlink MAC-CE or DCI (e.g., can be scrambled with SL-RNTI or SL-PG-RNTI).

[0125] The selection of an anchor WTRU can be performed by a network entity, e.g., a positioning server. For example, the selection of an anchor WTRU (e.g., initial selection) can include a WTRU whose location (e.g., absolute location) is known. A list of anchor WTRUs, e.g., WTRU IDs (e.g., IMSI, IMEI, etc.) can be provided to the BS, e.g., in a group formation request.

[0126] A WTRU can be configured as a target WTRU. One or more of the following can apply.

[0127] For the purpose of forming a group, a WTRU (e.g., a target WTRU) may monitor reference signals on a sidelink channel from one or more anchor WTRUs (which may be sent, for example, via DMRS in PSSS, SSSS, or PSBCH, or sidelink CSI-RS, or sidelink PRS). The target WTRU may perform measurements (e.g., RSRP) on the reference signals received via the sidelink. The target WTRU may be configured with a measurement configuration, e.g., via a measurement configuration received from the BS, which is constituted by the reference signals. The measurement configuration may include one or more of the following: a sidelink configuration (e.g., time and / or frequency resources) for receiving reference signals from one or more anchor WTRUs, an indication of a slot, symbol, and / or subframe offset, an indication of the periodicity with which transmissions may be repeated, an indication of a number of transmissions, an indication of a measurement type (e.g., SL SS RSRP, DMRS, sidelink PRS, etc.), a measurement threshold, T (e.g., minimum RSRP, etc.), an indication of a reporting format (individual, average, N maximum values, values exceeding threshold T, etc.), spatial information (e.g., number of beams, beam ID, etc.), a (e.g., unique) masking or scrambling sequence for the anchor WTRU (e.g., each anchor WTRU), or an indication of an uplink configuration (e.g., time and / or frequency resources on PUCCH or PUSCH) for reporting the measurements.

[0128] The target WTRU may be constituted by a number of measurement values (e.g., N measurement values) for implementation and reporting over a number of periods, for example. The target WTRU may be configured to perform measurements for each period and report measurement values based on the highest RSRP measured over each respective period. The target WTRU may be configured with conditional reporting. For example, the target WTRU may be configured with an RSRP threshold, and the measurement report may include measurement values where the measured RSRP exceeds a given RSRP threshold. The target WTRU may be configured with an uplink resource (e.g., PUCCH or PUSCH) for reporting the measurement values.

[0129] The measurement configuration (e.g., a sidelink configuration for receiving a reference signal, an uplink configuration for reporting a measurement value, the number of measurement values to be reported, and / or a conditional reporting configuration) can be received from a BS (e.g., a serving BS) via a downlink control channel or DCI that can be masked or scrambled (e.g., CRC scrambled) with, for example, an SL-RNTI or an SL-PG-RNTI. The measurement configuration can be received via a downlink shared channel, and for example, the resources for the shared channel can be indicated by a DCI that can be scrambled with (e.g., an SL-PG-RNTI or an SL-RNTI). The measurement configuration of the reference signal can be included in a higher layer parameter (e.g., RRC). The DCI associated with the measurement configuration can be scrambled with an SL-RNTI or an SL-PG-RNTI and can include a resource identification for activating the measurement value on the corresponding resources (e.g., can include only this).

[0130] A target WTRU can be selected. The selection of the target WTRU can be performed by a positioning server and can be provided to the BS, for example, in a group formation request (e.g., the target WTRU can be a WTRU whose location needs to be estimated and / or will be estimated).

[0131] When the target WTRU performs measurements using reference signals from one or more anchor WTRUs, the target WTRU may prepare and / or send a measurement report (e.g., for each configured period). The measurement report may include an indication (e.g., for each indication) of each reference signal (e.g., if multiple reference signals are composed of multiple anchor WTRUs, etc., a sequence number) and the estimated RSRP (e.g., the respective RSRP of each reference signal). The target WTRU may prepare a measurement report including an indication (e.g., for each indication) of each reference signal (e.g., may be restricted to include an indication (e.g., for each indication) of each reference signal from an anchor WTRU having an RSRP greater than a configured threshold). The target WTRU may prepare a measurement report having N (e.g., if configured) reference signal identifications and corresponding RSRPs, e.g., the N reference signals having the highest RSRP are included in the measurement report.

[0132] The target WTRU may send the measurement report to a BS (e.g., the serving BS) (e.g., on a configured uplink resource) in relation to, for example, the anchor / target WTRU configuration. The BS may forward the reports of each target WTRU (e.g., each target WTRU) to a positioning server. The positioning server may update the list of anchor WTRUs for each of the respective target WTRUs. For example, in the case of a target WTRU, the WTRU may be considered an anchor WTRU of the target WTRU if the RSRP measured by the target WTRU for the reference signal of the anchor WTRU exceeds a threshold.

[0133] Figures 8, 9, and 10 illustrate examples associated with group positioning (e.g., associated with one or more of reference signal transmission by an anchor WTRU, positioning measurement and reporting by a target WTRU, and / or monitoring / reporting by an anchor WTRU).

[0134] Positioning measurement and reporting techniques may be provided. One or more of the following may apply.

[0135] Position determination measurements and reporting can be initiated by a positioning server to determine the location of a target WTRU, for example, using positioning measurements on reference signals transmitted by an anchor WTRU. Position determination measurements and reporting can be repeated, for example, to account for network changes, such as movement of the WTRU. Position determination measurements and reporting can be repeated at a rate higher than the rate at which group formation is performed (e.g., a lower value of repeat periodicity).

[0136] The WTRU can be configured as an anchor WTRU. One or more of the following may apply.

[0137] The anchor WTRU may transmit reference signals (e.g., sidelink synchronization signals such as PSSS, SSSS, or DMRS within PSBCH, or sidelink CSI-RS, or sidelink PRS) using, for example, sidelink resources associated with performing positioning measurements and reporting. The anchor WTRU may be configured with a group of positioning parameters. The group positioning configuration may include one or more of the following: sidelink configuration (e.g., time and / or frequency resources) for transmitting reference signals (e.g., sidelink synchronization signals such as PSSS, SSSS, or DMRS within PSBCH, sidelink CSI-RS, or sidelink PRS, etc.), indication of slot, symbol, and / or subframe offset, indication of periodicity with which transmissions may be repeated, indication of a number of transmissions, transmission power, list of target WTRU IDs (e.g., ProSe WTRU IDs), spatial information (e.g., number of beams, beam IDs, etc.), indication of (e.g., unique) masking or scrambling sequences, sidelink configuration (e.g., time and / or frequency resources) for receiving measurements from target WTRUs, group positioning report (e.g., definition of events, values of thresholds that may be used to determine whether subsequent measurements have changed compared to previous measurements, values of thresholds used to detect event triggers), triggered report configuration that may be used to send, for example, when the anchor WTRU cannot be configured as (or continue to be configured as) an anchor WTRU, a triggered notification configuration that may be used to send a notification to the network (e.g., definition of events, values of thresholds that may be used to determine whether the BS is being listened to by the anchor WTRU, e.g., RSRP threshold), or parameters for assisting the WTRU in determining whether to vary the speed and / or frequency of positioning measurements and reporting as described herein, e.g., K1, K2, K3, K4, K5, and K6.

[0138] The configuration for transmitting reference signals and / or the configuration for collecting measurement reports of the anchor WTRU (e.g., sent by one or more target WTRUs) can be received from a positioning server (e.g., as shown in FIGS. 8 and / or 9, e.g., via a group positioning request to the anchor WTRU). The configuration can be received (by the anchor WTRU) using a control plane positioning protocol or a data plane positioning protocol (e.g., LTE positioning protocol (LPP), secure user plane location (SUPL), NR positioning protocol (NRPP)). Messages including configurations that can be used to enable sidelink-based group positioning (e.g., as described herein) can be defined for the positioning protocol between the positioning server and each WTRU (e.g., LPP, SUPL, NRPP). The positioning server can communicate with a BS (e.g., a serving BS associated with the anchor and target UEs) to grant resources for transmitting reference signals from one or more anchor WTRUs, for example, using the positioning protocol between the positioning server and the BS, e.g., LPPa, NRPPa. The positioning server can communicate with the serving BS, for example, as shown in FIGS. 8 and / or 9, to grant resources for performing measurement reports for one or more anchor WTRUs (e.g., to identify resources where the target WTRU sends measurement reports and the anchor WTRU monitors and / or receives measurement reports). The positioning server can send a list of the anchor WTRU and target WTRUs to the BS (e.g., in a group positioning information request, as shown in FIG. 8). Messages including the list of the anchor WTRU and target WTRUs can be defined for the positioning protocol between the positioning server and the BS (e.g., LPPa, NRPPa). The BS can allocate sidelink resources for one or more anchor WTRUs for transmitting reference signals and for receiving measurement reports.The BS may send the allocated resource information to a positioning server (e.g., using a positioning protocol, e.g., LPPa, NRPPa). A message including a list of permitted resources and / or anchor WTRUs and target WTRUs may be defined for the positioning protocol between the positioning server and the BS (e.g., LPPa, NRPPa). The positioning server may communicate with a proximity service (ProSe) function to determine, for example, the ProSe IDs of one or more anchor and target WTRUs.

[0139] A configuration for transmitting a reference signal and / or a configuration for monitoring and / or receiving a measurement report for an anchor WTRU (e.g., a measurement report sent by one or more target WTRUs) may be transmitted by a network entity such as a BS (e.g., a serving BS). The configuration may be transmitted, for example, in a downlink control channel and / or DCI masked or scrambled with an SL-RNTI or SL-PG-RNTI (e.g., CRC scrambled). Identification information (e.g., a sidelink positioning RNTI (e.g., SL-P-RNTI)) may be allocated by a serving BS that may be local to a mobility management entity (MME) or a positioning server. The SL-P-RNTI may be allocated to transmit a configuration for transmitting a reference signal and / or a configuration for monitoring and / or receiving a measurement report. The configuration may be received from the serving BS via a downlink shared channel, and the resources of the downlink shared channel may be indicated in DCI scrambled with the SL-P-RNTI. The configuration may be included in upper layer parameters (e.g., RRC) (e.g., signaled there through) and may be dynamically activated, for example, using a medium access control element (MAC-CE) or DCI scrambled with an SL-RNTI or SL-PG-RNTI or SL-P-RNTI.

[0140] The anchor WTRU may monitor and / or receive measurement reports from one or more target WTRUs, for example, after transmitting a reference signal on a configured sidelink resource. The configuration of the sidelink resource and a list of target WTRU IDs (e.g., ProSe WTRU IDs) may be provided to the anchor WTRU from, for example, a positioning server or a serving BS, for example, in a group positioning configuration.

[0141] Upon receiving a measurement report (e.g., one or more of angle information, RSTD, Rx-Tx time difference, RSRP, etc.) on a configured sidelink resource, the anchor WTRU may prepare a group positioning report that includes measurement results received from one or more target WTRUs (e.g., the anchor WTRU may send a group report that includes measurements from a plurality of target WTRUs where the measurements exceed a threshold as disclosed herein, for example). The anchor WTRU may include an indication of each of the WTRU IDs (e.g., ProSe ID) of the corresponding target WTRUs within the group positioning report of the anchor WTRU. The group positioning report may include measurement results from one or more target WTRUs, in addition to, for example, the WTRU IDs.

[0142] The anchor WTRU may send the group positioning report to a network device such as a positioning server, for example. The configuration for sending the group positioning report using a positioning protocol (e.g., LPP, SUPL, NRPP) may be provided to the anchor WTRU by, for example, the positioning server.

[0143] The anchor WTRU may send a group positioning report to the serving BS using an uplink resource (e.g., a PUCCH or PUSCH resource). The configuration of the uplink resource (e.g., on the PUCCH or PUSCH) may be provided by the serving BS, for example, as part of the group positioning configuration. If the anchor WTRU is not configured with an uplink resource to send a group positioning report, the anchor WTRU may send a scheduling request to the serving BS, for example, to obtain permission for the uplink resource (e.g., on the PUSCH) to send a group positioning report to the serving BS.

[0144] The anchor WTRU may be configured to perform a triggered report of group positioning. For example, the anchor WTRU may be triggered to report the received measurement report and / or associated measurement values to the network (e.g., a positioning server or serving BS) when the anchor WTRU receives a measurement report from a configured target WTRU (e.g., some or all of the target WTRUs for which the anchor WTRU is configured to expect a measurement report). For example, the anchor WTRU may be triggered to send the received measurement report and / or associated measurement values when the anchor WTRU determines that the positioning measurement values from one or more target WTRUs have changed (e.g., significantly changed) from previously measured values (e.g., the change in the measurement values is greater than a threshold, such as more than K dB from the previously measured values). The anchor WTRU may include (e.g., may only include) a report of the target WTRU for which the measurement values have changed by more than the threshold. The configuration of the triggered report may include one or more of the threshold value, event definition, etc. The configuration may be sent to the anchor WTRU by the network (e.g., a positioning server or serving BS), for example, via an RRC configuration or in a group positioning configuration. The triggered report may be sent to a positioning server, for example, using a positioning protocol (e.g., LPP, SUPL, NRPP). The triggered report may be sent to the network as an RRC uplink message. The triggered report may be sent to the serving BS using the uplink shared channel (e.g., on the PUSCH). The anchor WTRU may send a scheduling request to the serving BS to grant an uplink resource (e.g., for the PUSCH).

[0145] (For example, in the case of periodic / semi - persistent configurations of positioning measurements and reporting), when the anchor WTRU determines to change or request a change in the rate and / or periodicity of positioning measurements and / or reporting by the target WTRU, and / or when it is determined that a change in the rate and / or frequency of monitoring and / or reporting by the WTRU is necessary (for example, measurements, reporting, and / or monitoring), the anchor WTRU may indicate this decision to the network. The anchor WTRU may send an instruction to increase or decrease the rate and / or periodicity of positioning measurements and reporting associated with the target WTRU (for example, "00" or "11" for no change, "01" for an increase in rate, and "10" for a decrease in rate), such that a 2 - bit instruction is added (for example, at the beginning) to the group positioning report for the allocated resources. The network may re - configure the positioning measurements and reporting based on the instruction received from the anchor WTRU. The anchor WTRU may determine a change in the rate / periodicity for measurements, reporting, and / or monitoring. One or more of the following may apply. The anchor WTRU may, for example, monitor and / or receive measurement reports from the target WTRU over one or more measurement periods. If the measurement reports of the target WTRU (for example, each target WTRU) do not change more than a threshold, for example, the change is within K1 dB over the last K2 periods, the anchor WTRU may request that the network decrease the rate of measurements and reporting. If the measurement reports of the target WTRU (for example, each target WTRU) change more than a threshold, for example, the change (for example, average change) is more than a certain number of dB over a certain number of periods, for example, K3 dB over the last K4 periods, the anchor WTRU may request that the network increase the rate of measurements and reporting. If the anchor WTRU determines that the position of the target WTRU or the anchor WTRU has changed (for example, more than a threshold, K5) during a certain number of periods (for example, the last K6 measurement periods), the anchor WTRU may request that the network increase the rate of measurements, reporting, and / or monitoring.The anchor WTRU may determine its own position / position change and / or velocity by means of GNSS measurements, other means such as gyroscopes, accelerometers, IMUs within the device, etc. The anchor WTRU may determine the position change of the target WTRU based on the measurement reports received from the target WTRU. The values of K1, K2, K3, K4, K5, and K6 may be configured by the network as part of the group positioning configuration.

[0146] If the anchor WTRU determines that it cannot be configured as a valid anchor WTRU (e.g., it can no longer be configured as a valid anchor WTRU) while the anchor WTRU is (e.g., while actively performing positioning measurements and reports), the anchor WTRU may indicate this determination to the network. The indication of the determination to the network may be configured as an event-based notification or report, and this configuration may be provided by the network. The event may be triggered in one or more of the following scenarios. The event may be triggered, for example, when the anchor WTRU determines that it cannot perform accurate measurements to estimate its position while actively performing / monitoring positioning measurements and reports (e.g., the anchor WTRU does not listen to or cannot listen to a threshold number of base stations more than, for example, one or two BSs). This may be determined by the capabilities of the anchor WTRU (e.g., to monitor downlink measurements from one or more neighboring BSs). The anchor WTRU may indicate the determination that it cannot be configured as an anchor WTRU to the network (e.g., cannot continue to be configured). A threshold (e.g., an RSRP threshold) may be used to determine whether the anchor WTRU can listen to a BS (e.g., cannot receive communication from the BS). In an example, the anchor WTRU may compare the threshold with the downlink measurement value (e.g., RSRP) received from the BS. The threshold may be received from the network, for example, in a triggered notification configuration. (It may include at least one or more of, for example, the value of the RSRP threshold, a threshold indicating the minimum number of BSs that need to be listened to, the definition of the event, etc.). The configuration of the triggered notification may be sent to the anchor WTRU by the network (e.g., a positioning server or a serving BS), for example, in an RRC configuration or a group positioning configuration. The triggered notification sent by the anchor WTRU may be sent to the positioning server using a positioning protocol (e.g., LPP, SUPL, NRPP). The triggered notification may be sent to the network via an RRC uplink message.A triggered notification can be sent, e.g., on a PUSCH, to the serving BS using an uplink shared channel. The anchor WTRU can send a scheduling request to the serving BS to grant uplink resources (e.g., on a PUSCH). The network can reconfigure positioning measurements and reports based on the triggered notification received from the anchor WTRU.

[0147] FIG. 9 is an exemplary illustrative diagram associated with an anchor WTRU that performs reference signal transmission and group positioning reporting. One or more of the following may apply.

[0148] As shown in FIG. 9, the anchor WTRU can receive a configuration from a network associated with group positioning (e.g., group positioning configuration, group positioning request, etc.). As shown in FIG. 9, the anchor WTRU can transmit a reference signal, e.g., on a configured SL resource (as configured in the received configuration). As shown in FIG. 9, the anchor WTRU can monitor and / or receive measurement reports from a target WTRU (including, e.g., measurements associated with the transmitted reference signal). As shown in FIG. 9, the anchor WTRU can store the measurement reports received from the target WTRU (e.g., together with the target WTRU ID). As shown in FIG. 9, the anchor WTRU can create and / or send a group positioning report based on the received measurement reports (e.g., the WTRU can send each of the received measurement values, the WTRU can send the received measurement values if conditions are met, etc.). As shown in FIG. 9, the anchor WTRU can end reference signal transmission, measurement result collection, and group positioning reporting, e.g., when a certain number of transmissions given in the group positioning configuration are completed.

[0149] The anchor WTRU can be reconfigured by a positioning server using a positioning protocol (e.g., LPP, NRPP, SUPL) or by the serving BS (e.g., by RRC or DCI) to terminate or change its configuration (e.g., reference signal transmission and / or measurement result collection and / or group positioning reporting).

[0150] The WTRU can be configured as a target WTRU. One or more of the following may apply.

[0151] The target WTRU may monitor reference signals (e.g., the reference signal may be a sidelink synchronization signal such as DMRS in PSSS, SSSS, or PSBCH, or sidelink CSI-RS, or sidelink PRS, etc.) on a sidelink, e.g., the SL channel, from one or more anchor WTRUs (e.g., for group positioning purposes using sidelink). The target WTRU may perform measurements on the reference signals received on the sidelink (e.g., the SL channel) to estimate one or more configured parameters related to, e.g., WTRU positioning (e.g., RSRP, time of arrival (TOA), angle of arrival (AOA), RS time difference (RSTD), etc.). The target WTRU may be configured with a measurement configuration, e.g., received from a network entity or an anchor WTRU.The measurement configuration may include one or more of the following: a sidelink configuration (e.g., time and / or frequency resources) that can be used to receive reference signals from one or more anchor WTRUs, an indication of a reference anchor WTRU (e.g., the ProSe WTRU ID of the reference anchor WTRU or the index of the reference signal of the reference anchor WTRU) that can be used by the target WTRU to determine a relative time difference (e.g., RSTD) between two reference signals (e.g., between a reference signal received from a reference anchor WTRU and a measured reference signal from another anchor WTRU), an indication of periodicity, e.g., an indication of the period during which measurements and reports can be repeated, an indication of a number of transmissions (e.g., the number of transmissions of reference signal transmissions on the sidelink), an indication of, e.g., a slot, symbol, and / or subframe offset for reference signal transmissions on the sidelink, an indication of the destination anchor WTRU ID (e.g., sidelink L2 ids such as ProSe WTRU ID) to which the measurement report will be sent, an indication of the measurement type (SL SS RSRP, TOA, AOA, RSTD, etc.), an indication of the reporting format (e.g., individual, average of N values, etc.), spatial information (e.g., number of beams, beam ID, etc.), a (e.g., unique) masking or scrambling sequence for the anchor WTRUs (e.g., each anchor WTRU), or a sidelink configuration (e.g., time and / or frequency resources) for sending the measurement report to the destination anchor WTRU.

[0152] The configuration for performing measurements by the target WTRU can be sent by a positioning server (e.g., a group positioning request to the target WTRU as shown in FIG. 8). The configuration can be sent to the target WTRU using a control plane positioning protocol or a data plane positioning protocol (e.g., SUPL, LPP, NRPP). A message including a configuration for performing sidelink-based group positioning (e.g., as described herein) can be defined to position the protocol between the positioning server and the WTRU (e.g., SUPL, LPP, NRPP). Communication between the positioning server and the serving BS can be provided to enable the configuration of the target WTRU.

[0153] The configuration for performing measurements by the target WTRU can be sent by the serving BS in a downlink control channel and / or in DCI masked or scrambled (e.g., CRC scrambled) with, for example, an SL-RNTI or an SL-PG-RNTI or an SL-P-RNTI. The configuration can be received by the serving BS via a downlink shared channel, and the resources of the shared channel can be indicated in the DCI (e.g., the DCI can be scrambled with an SL-P-RNTI). The configuration of the reference signal can be included in a higher layer parameter (e.g., RRC) that can include one or more resource configurations each having identification information. For example, DCI scrambled with an SL-RNTI or an SL-PG-RNTI or an SL-P-RNTI can include a resource identification that can be used to activate the measured values on the corresponding resources (e.g., can include only this).

[0154] When the target WTRU performs measurements using reference signals from one or more anchor WTRUs, the target WTRU may send a measurement report (including, for example, one or more of RS identifier, angle information, RSTD, Rx-Tx time difference, RSRP, etc.) to the configured destination anchor WTRU. The configuration of the sidelink resources used to transmit the measurement report and the WTRU ID (e.g., ProSe ID) of the destination anchor WTRU may be received in the measurement configuration, which may be sent by the positioning server or the serving BS as described herein. The target WTRU may send, for example, sidelink control information (e.g., SCI0) to the destination anchor WTRU on a sidelink control channel (e.g., PSCCH). The sidelink control information may include a resource configuration for the sidelink shared channel (e.g., PSSCH), and the shared channel may be used to transmit and / or receive the measurement report.

[0155] The target WTRU may send the measurement report to the positioning server using a positioning protocol (e.g., LPP, SUPL, NRPP). In an example, the target WTRU may receive a measurement report configuration from the positioning server.

[0156] The target WTRU may send the measurement report to the serving BS using uplink resources (e.g., on PUCCH or PUSCH resources). In an example, the configuration of the uplink resources (e.g., on PUCCH or PUSCH resources) may be received by the serving BS (e.g., as part of the measurement configuration).

[0157] Figure 10 illustrates an example associated with a target WTRU that performs positioning measurements and reports using the sidelink. One or more of the following may apply.

[0158] As shown in FIG. 10, the target WTRU may receive a configuration (e.g., a group positioning request) associated with a sidelink reference signal and / or related sidelink resources to be monitored (e.g., the configuration may be sent by the network or an anchor WTRU). As shown in FIG. 10, the target WTRU may monitor and / or receive sidelink reference signals on sidelink resources (e.g., for a certain period such as the current period). As shown in FIG. 10, the target WTRU may store a timestamp for the received sidelink reference signal. As shown in FIG. 10, the target WTRU may calculate measurement values (e.g., RSTD measurement values) associated with the received sidelink reference signal (e.g., the WTRU may do so if there are no more scheduled sidelink reference signal receptions for the current period). As shown in FIG. 10, the target WTRU may send such measurement values to a configured anchor WTRU (e.g., using a configured sidelink resource such as the sidelink resource configured in a group positioning request). As shown in FIG. 10, the target WTRU may repeat one or more functions for the remaining period.

[0159] The target WTRU may end the measurement report when a certain number of transmissions given in the measurement reporting configuration are completed.

[0160] The target WTRU may be reconfigured to end or change the measurement configuration of the target WTRU, for example, using a positioning protocol from a positioning server (e.g., LPP, NRPP, SUPL) or by the serving BS (e.g., by RRC or DCI).

[0161] Positioning techniques for autonomous WTRU groups may be provided. One or more of the following may apply.

[0162] Reference signal transmission (e.g., sidelink synchronization signal) can be performed on the sidelink from within coverage or from another out-of-coverage WTRU (e.g., to enable autonomous positioning estimation of an out-of-coverage WTRU). For example, an out-of-coverage WTRU can be a WTRU that does not have coverage on the frequency used for sidelink communication. Reference signal transmission can be used for the out-of-coverage WTRU to perform positioning measurements. The positioning measurements of the out-of-coverage WTRU can be sent to a positioning server via an in-coverage WTRU and can be used to estimate the position of the out-of-coverage WTRU. An example of the positioning of an autonomous WTRU group is illustrated in FIG. 11. Referring to FIG. 11, WTRU1 can be an in-coverage WTRU, and WTRU2 and WTRU3 can be out-of-coverage WTRUs.

[0163] One or more of the following can be applied to an out-of-coverage WTRU.

[0164] The out-of-coverage WTRU can perform positioning measurements (e.g., AOA, TOA, RSRP, etc.) on a reference signal (e.g., sidelink synchronization signal such as PSSS, SSSS, or DMRS in PSBCH, or sidelink CSI-RS, or sidelink PRS, etc.) received from an in-coverage WTRU or another out-of-coverage WTRU (e.g., to enable positioning estimation of the out-of-coverage WTRU using the sidelink).

[0165] A WTRU outside coverage can send its measurement results (e.g., AOA, Rx-Tx time difference, RSRP, etc.) to a WTRU inside or outside the reference coverage (e.g., a WTRU for which the reference signal is used for positioning measurements) using preconfigured sidelink resources (e.g., a set of transmit and receive resource pools for sidelink control / data information in the case where the WTRU is outside the coverage of sidelink communication can be preconfigured in the WTRU, e.g., in the USIM of the UICC card). For example, a WTRU outside coverage can send sidelink control information (e.g., SCI0) to a reference WTRU on a sidelink control channel (e.g., PSCCH), e.g., on preconfigured sidelink resources. In an embodiment, the sidelink control information can include a resource configuration for a sidelink shared channel (e.g., PSSCH), and the shared channel can include measurement report data within the corresponding sidelink shared channel. A particular SCI can be designed to send a measurement report on the sidelink, such that the destination WTRU can identify the reception of the SCI on the sidelink as an indication of the measurement report. The set of resources on the sidelink can be dedicated as a sidelink control channel or a sidelink data channel. In an embodiment, dedicated resources can be used to send the measurement report. For a WTRU outside coverage, the dedicated resources can be preconfigured. For a WTRU inside coverage, the configuration information associated with the dedicated resources can be sent by the serving BS using, e.g., RRC.

[0166] The ProSe ID of the reference WTRU that can be used when sending a measurement report can be received in data following the reference signal transmission from the reference WTRU (e.g., data following the synchronization signal transmission) or can be multiplexed with the reference signal transmission. A WTRU inside or outside coverage can include, e.g., each ProSe ID of the WTRU in the PSBCH transmission if the data transmission does not follow the synchronization signal transmission.

[0167] A coverage-out WTRU may monitor measurement reports from one or more other coverage-out WTRUs, for example, on preconfigured sidelink resources. For example, a coverage-out WTRU may monitor a particular SCI that may be designed for transmitting measurement reports on the sidelink.

[0168] A coverage-out WTRU may collect measurement results from one or more other coverage-out WTRUs.

[0169] A coverage-out WTRU may include in its report to a reference WTRU of the coverage-out WTRU the measurement results of other coverage-out WTRUs in the report of the coverage-out WTRU. For example, if a coverage-out WTRU receives measurement results from another WTRU, the coverage-out WTRU may include the results (e.g., all the results) in its report. A coverage-out WTRU may derive the measurement results of other WTRUs with respect to a reference (e.g., location, time, etc.) of the coverage-out WTRU. In an example, the coverage-out WTRU may send the derived measurements to the reference WTRU. For example, if the measurement results of another WTRU (e.g., a coverage-out WTRU) include an Rx-Tx time difference, the coverage-out WTRU may derive, for example, an RTT for the WTRU as an updated measurement result. A coverage-out WTRU may include in its report to a reference WTRU of the coverage-out WTRU the updated measurement results of other WTRUs in the report of the coverage-out WTRU. A coverage-out WTRU may include the WTRU ID (e.g., ProSe ID) of the corresponding WTRU in each report to the reference WTRU of the coverage-out WTRU (e.g., in addition to the measurement results of the other WTRU).

[0170] One or more of the following may be applicable to a coverage-in WTRU.

[0171] A coverage-in WTRU may monitor measurement reports from one or more coverage-out WTRUs, for example, on preconfigured sidelink resources. For example, a coverage-in WTRU may monitor a particular SCI that may be designed for transmitting measurement reports on the sidelink.

[0172] A WTRU within coverage may collect positioning measurement values of one or more WTRUs outside coverage.

[0173] The WTRU within coverage may prepare a group positioning report, for example, upon receipt of a measurement report from one or more WTRUs outside coverage. In an embodiment, the group positioning report may include measurement results of one or more WTRUs outside coverage (e.g., AOA, Rx-Tx time difference, RSRP, etc.) and the corresponding WTRU ID (e.g., ProSe ID) of each WTRU outside coverage. The WTRU within coverage may derive measurement results of one or more WTRUs outside coverage with respect to the WTRU within coverage (e.g., the position, time, etc. of the WTRU within coverage). For example, if the measurement results of the WTRU within coverage include the Rx-Tx time difference of each WTRU, the WTRU within coverage may derive the RTT for that WTRU as an updated measurement result. The WTRU within coverage may include the updated measurement results in the group positioning report of the WTRU within coverage.

[0174] The WTRU within coverage may send the group positioning report to a positioning server, for example, using a positioning protocol between the WTRU and the positioning server. The WTRU within coverage may send a request to send a group positioning request to the positioning server. The WTRU within coverage may monitor an acknowledgement response from the positioning server. Messages for sending the group positioning request and the acknowledgement response may be designed for the positioning protocol between the WTRU and the positioning server. For example, if an acknowledgement response is received, the WTRU within coverage may send the group positioning report to the positioning server using the positioning protocol between the WTRU and the positioning server.

[0175] A WTRU within coverage may send a group positioning report to the serving BS using an uplink resource (e.g., a PUCCH or PUSCH resource). The WTRU within coverage may be composed of periodic or semi-persistent uplink resources (e.g., of PUCCH or PUSCH), which may be used to send a group positioning report. If the WTRU within coverage is not composed of an uplink resource, the WTRU within coverage may send a scheduling request to the serving BS to obtain permission for an uplink resource (e.g., on PUSCH) to send the group positioning report to the serving BS.

[0176] A WTRU within coverage may be configured to perform a triggered report, for example, to send a group positioning report. Under the condition of receiving a measurement report from one or more WTRUs outside coverage, the WTRU within coverage may detect one or more of the following situations. The WTRU within coverage may detect that the positioning measurement value received from the WTRU outside coverage has not been communicated to the positioning server in the last N1 slots (for example, N1 may be configured by the network for the WTRU within coverage as part of a triggered report configuration). The WTRU within coverage may detect that the positioning measurement value received from the WTRU outside coverage has changed by more than a certain threshold value (for example, more than N2 dB compared to the previous measurement value), and N2 may be configured by the network (for example, as part of a triggered report configuration). When the WTRU within coverage detects one or more of the conditions, the WTRU within coverage may be triggered to report to the network (for example, a positioning server or a serving BS). In an embodiment, the WTRU within coverage may include a report of a WTRU outside coverage whose measurement value has changed by a certain amount greater than a threshold value (for example, N2 dB). The triggered report configuration may include values of N1, N2, the definition of a trigger event, etc. The triggered report configuration may be sent to the WTRU within coverage by the network (for example, a positioning server or a serving BS) in, for example, an RRC configuration. The triggered report may be sent to the positioning server using a positioning protocol (for example, LPP, SUPL, NRPP). The message may be designed to transmit the triggered report using the positioning protocol between the WTRU and the positioning server. The triggered report may be sent to the network as an RRC uplink message. The triggered report may be sent using an uplink shared channel (for example, on the PUSCH), in which case the WTRU within coverage may send a scheduling request to the serving BS to grant uplink resources (for example, on the PUSCH).

[0177] A WTRU within coverage may calculate the location (e.g., absolute location) of one or more WTRUs outside coverage (e.g., the WTRU from which the measurement result is received by the WTRU within coverage). The WTRU within coverage may use the sidelink to send positioning information to the WTRU outside coverage (e.g., the WTRU from which the measurement result is received). The configuration of the sidelink resources may be provided to the WTRU within coverage from the serving BS via, for example, RRC or DCI (scrambled, e.g., at the SL-RNTI of the coverage WTRU).

[0178] WTRU positioning measurements may be sent using the sidelink. One or more of the following may apply.

[0179] A sidelink resource switch may be provided. One or more of the following may apply.

[0180] The WTRU may be configured to perform positioning measurements, for example, while the WTRU is in the idle state. The positioning measurements may be performed using one or more positioning techniques, such as OTDOA, A-GNSS, E-CID, etc.

[0181] The WTRU may be configured with a sidelink interface to one or more other WTRUs. The WTRU may be configured to send positioning measurement reports over the sidelink interface.

[0182] The WTRU may be configured with one or more of the following parameters, which may be used to perform positioning measurement reports over the sidelink interface: sidelink reporting correspondence indication, list of sidelink-corresponding WTRUs (e.g., ProSe ID), list including DRX cycles for sidelink-corresponding WTRUs, indication of maximum positioning measurement report delay, indication of a reporting value threshold (e.g., threshold 1), indication of a maximum positioning measurement report delay reduction factor (which may be set or configured, e.g., to a first amount).

[0183] In an embodiment, side link reporting parameters may be used to determine whether a WTRU may transmit positioning measurement reports on a side link interface.

[0184] A list of side link capable WTRUs may be used to identify proximity WTRUs that may be used for transmitting positioning measurement reports on a side link interface. The WTRU may be configured to screen other WTRUs according to, for example, a list of side link capable WTRUs (e.g., during discovery). If a list of side link capable WTRUs is not provided, the WTRU may screen proximity WTRUs based on, for example, a certain function that may be notified during discovery.

[0185] A list including the discontinuous reception (DRX) cycles of side link capable WTRUs may be used to notify WTRUs of a duration in which the proximity WTRUs are in a connected state. The list may include the periodicity and offset values of the WTRUs in the list (e.g., each WTRU). The list may follow the same (e.g., identical) order as that used for the list of side link capable WTRUs.

[0186] The maximum positioning measurement report delay may be used to notify WTRUs of a maximum allowable duration (e.g., the duration from the time when positioning measurements are performed until the positioning measurement reports are received by a receiving entity). For example, the maximum positioning measurement report delay may be associated with a BS, a positioning server, etc. The maximum positioning measurement report delay may include the time taken for the WTRU to transmit a positioning measurement report on a side link interface and for subsequent transfer by a side link WTRU to a receiving entity (e.g., a BS, a positioning server, etc.).

[0187] The reported value threshold (e.g., threshold 1) may refer to a change in the measured value, and when this is exceeded, for example, the reduction of the maximum positioning measurement reporting delay may be triggered by the maximum positioning measurement reporting delay reduction coefficient (e.g., the first quantity). The change in the measured value may refer to the absolute difference between the current measured value and the previously reported positioning measurement value.

[0188] The maximum positioning measurement reporting delay reduction coefficient (e.g., the first quantity) may refer to the amount by which the maximum positioning measurement reporting delay is reduced when the change in the positioning measurement value determined by the WTRU is greater than the reported value threshold (e.g., threshold 1).

[0189] A range of the reported value threshold and the maximum positioning measurement reporting delay reduction coefficient may be configured. The WTRU may activate different maximum positioning delay reduction coefficients, for example, according to the reported value threshold.

[0190] For example, a WTRU in a connected state may be configured to perform positioning measurement reporting on the sidelink interface. The WTRU may be composed of dedicated resources for performing positioning measurement reporting on the sidelink interface. The dedicated resources for performing positioning measurement reporting may be repeated periodically in time, for example.

[0191] The WTRU may enter the idle state, for example, when the inactivation timer expires.

[0192] The WTRU may perform positioning measurements based on a configuration that may be provided by the network.

[0193] When performing positioning measurements, the WTRU may determine an available sidelink WTRU that can meet the maximum positioning measurement reporting delay (e.g., currently can meet). The WTRU transmits a positioning measurement report on the sidelink interface on the configured dedicated resources, and the sidelink WTRU may include an indication of the waiting time for transferring the positioning measurement report including any applicable delay, e.g., by the DRX cycle of the sidelink WTRU, to a receiving entity (e.g., BS, positioning server, etc.).

[0194] If two or more sidelink WTRUs meet the requirement that the total reporting delay is less than the maximum positioning measurement reporting delay, the WTRU may select a sidelink WTRU (e.g., one) and transmit the positioning measurement report, e.g., randomly select, select in a round-robin manner, transmit to the minimum total reporting delay, etc.

[0195] The WTRU may transmit the positioning measurement report on the sidelink interface to the selected sidelink WTRU on the configured dedicated resources. The identification information of the selected sidelink WTRU may be included in the attached control information, e.g., sidelink control information - format 0 (SCI0).

[0196] If the positioning measurement value obtained (e.g., measured or received) by the WTRU is different from the previously reported positioning measurement value by a certain value greater than the reporting value threshold (e.g., threshold 1), the WTRU may reduce the maximum positioning measurement delay by a certain configured value (e.g., maximum positioning measurement reporting delay reduction factor (e.g., the first quantity)). The WTRU may use the reduced maximum positioning reporting delay value to determine the sidelink WTRU.

[0197] The maximum positioning measurement reporting delay reduction factor may be scaled, e.g., according to the difference between the current measured positioning value and the previous measured positioning value (e.g., by a certain amount greater than the reporting value threshold (e.g., threshold 1)). The WTRU may be composed of a scaling factor or a range of thresholds, and the corresponding reduction factor.

[0198] The WTRU may compare the current measurement to the standard deviation over the past N measurements (instead of, for example, comparing the difference between the current measurement and the previous measurement to a configured threshold when determining a reduction in the maximum reporting delay). The window size (N) of the standard deviation may be configured for the WTRU, and the WTRU may reduce the maximum reporting delay if, for example, the current measurement exceeds the standard deviation by a certain value or factor.

[0199] If a sidelink WTRU within a configured list of sidelink-capable WTRUs cannot meet the requirement that the total reporting delay is less than the maximum positioning measurement reporting delay, the WTRU may determine to use resources from a common resource pool (e.g., common resource pool transmission) to send a positioning measurement report.

[0200] In the case of common resource pool transmission, the WTRU may determine available sidelink WTRUs that can meet the maximum positioning measurement reporting delay. The WTRU sends a positioning measurement report on a sidelink interface on the common resource pool, and there may be a latency for the sidelink WTRU to forward the positioning measurement report, including any applicable delay, to a receiving entity (e.g., BS, positioning server, etc.) depending on, for example, the DRX cycle of the sidelink WTRU.

[0201] If two or more sidelink WTRUs meet the requirement that the total reporting delay is less than the maximum positioning measurement reporting delay, the WTRU may select a sidelink WTRU (e.g., one) to send the positioning measurement report using the common resource pool, for example, randomly select, select in a round-robin manner, select with the minimum total reporting delay, etc.

[0202] The WTRU may send positioning measurement reports on the sidelink interface to a selected sidelink WTRU on a common resource pool. Identification information of the selected sidelink WTRU (e.g., ProSe ID or sidelink UE ID) may be included in the attached control information, e.g., sidelink control information - format 0 (SCI0).

[0203] The WTRU may send the positioning measurement report as a broadcast or multicast message and may indicate whether the measurement report is to be broadcast or multicast in the attached SCI0.

[0204] The WTRU may be triggered to switch to the connected mode. One or more of the following may apply.

[0205] The WTRU may be configured to perform positioning measurements while in the idle state. The positioning measurements may be performed using one or more positioning techniques, e.g., OTDOA, A - GNSS, E - CID, etc.

[0206] The WTRU may be configured on the sidelink interface with one or more other WTRUs. The WTRU may be configured to send positioning measurement reports on the sidelink interface.

[0207] The WTRU may be configured with one or more of the following parameters for performing positioning measurement reports on the sidelink interface: an indication that sidelink reporting is enabled, a list of sidelink - corresponding WTRUs, a list including DRX cycles for sidelink - corresponding WTRUs, an indication of a maximum positioning measurement report delay, an indication of a reporting value threshold (e.g., threshold 2), or an indication of a maximum positioning measurement report delay reduction factor (e.g., a second quantity).

[0208] The reported value threshold (e.g., threshold 2) may refer to the amount of change in the measured value, and when this is exceeded, for example, the maximum positioning measurement report delay reduction factor (e.g., the second quantity) triggers a reduction in the maximum position report delay. The change in the measured value may refer to the absolute difference between the current positioning measurement value and the previously reported positioning measurement value.

[0209] The maximum positioning measurement report delay reduction factor (e.g., the second quantity) may refer to the amount by which the maximum positioning measurement report delay is reduced when the change in the positioning measurement value determined by the WTRU exceeds the reported value threshold (e.g., threshold 2).

[0210] While in the idle state, when performing configured positioning measurements, the WTRU may determine an available sidelink WTRU that can meet the maximum positioning measurement report delay. The WTRU transmits a positioning measurement report on the sidelink interface on the configured dedicated resources and includes a waiting time, for example, according to the DRX cycle of the sidelink WTRU, to transfer the positioning measurement report including any applicable delay (e.g., that can be performed by the sidelink WTRU) to a receiving entity (e.g., a BS, a positioning server, etc.).

[0211] If the positioning measurement value obtained (e.g., measured or received) by the WTRU differs from the previously reported positioning measurement value by a certain value greater than the reported value threshold (e.g., threshold 2), the WTRU may reduce the maximum positioning measurement delay by a certain value (e.g., the maximum positioning measurement report delay reduction factor (e.g., the second quantity)). The WTRU may use the reduced maximum positioning report delay value to determine the sidelink WTRU.

[0212] The maximum positioning measurement report delay reduction factor may be scaled, for example, when the difference between the current positioning measurement value and the previous positioning measurement value is greater than the reported value threshold (e.g., threshold 2). The WTRU may be configured with a scaling factor or a range of thresholds and corresponding reduction factors.

[0213] The WTRU may compare the current measurement (instead of, for example, comparing the difference between the current measurement and a previous measurement to a threshold configured to determine reduction of the maximum reporting delay) to the standard deviation of the past N measurements. In an example, the window size (N) may be configured for the WTRU, and the WTRU may reduce the maximum reporting delay if, for example, the current value exceeds the standard deviation by a certain value or factor.

[0214] If the sidelink WTRUs within a configured list of sidelink-capable WTRUs cannot meet the condition that the total reporting delay is less than the maximum positioning measurement reporting delay, the WTRU may choose to send the positioning measurement report directly to a receiving entity (e.g., a BS, a positioning server, etc.). In an example, the WTRU may choose to send the positioning measurement report directly to the receiving entity by transitioning to a connected state (e.g., by performing connection establishment).

[0215] If the positioning measurement value obtained (e.g., measured or received) by the WTRU differs from the previously reported positioning measurement value by a certain value greater than a reporting value threshold (e.g., threshold 2), the WTRU may determine to send a positioning measurement report to a receiving entity (e.g., a BS, a positioning server, etc.) (e.g., directly). In an example, the WTRU may send the positioning measurement report to the receiving entity by transitioning to a connected state, e.g., by performing connection establishment.

[0216] Multi-level switching may be performed, for example, to transmit a positioning measurement report. One or more of the following may apply.

[0217] The WTRU may be configured to perform positioning measurements while the WTRU is in an idle state. The positioning measurements may be performed using one or more positioning techniques, such as OTDOA, A-GNSS, E-CID, etc.

[0218] A WTRU may be configured with a sidelink interface to one or more other WTRUs. The WTRU may be configured to send positioning measurement reports over the sidelink interface.

[0219] The WTRU may be configured with one or more of the following parameters, which may be used to perform positioning measurements over the sidelink interface: an indication of whether sidelink reporting is enabled, a list of sidelink - capable WTRUs, a list including an indication of the DRX cycle for sidelink - capable WTRUs, an indication of the maximum positioning measurement report relay, an indication of a reporting value threshold (e.g., threshold 1), an indication of a reporting value threshold (e.g., threshold 2 which may be greater than threshold 1), an indication of a maximum positioning measurement report delay reduction factor (which may be set to a first amount), or an indication of a maximum positioning measurement report delay reduction factor (e.g., a second amount which may be greater than the first amount).

[0220] The WTRU may be configured to perform positioning measurement reports over the sidelink interface, for example, when the WTRU is in a connected state. The WTRU may be configured with resources (e.g., dedicated resources) for performing positioning measurement reports over the sidelink interface. The dedicated resources for performing positioning measurement reports may be repeated periodically, for example.

[0221] The WTRU may enter the idle state, for example, when a de - activation timer expires.

[0222] The WTRU may perform positioning measurements according to a configuration that may be provided by the network, for example.

[0223] The WTRU may be able to make an available sidelink WTRU determination that can meet the maximum positioning measurement reporting delay (e.g., after performing positioning measurements). The WTRU transmits a positioning measurement report on a sidelink interface over configured (e.g., dedicated) resources, and may include a latency for the sidelink WTRU to forward the positioning measurement report, e.g., including an applicable DRX cycle, to a receiving entity (e.g., a BS, a positioning server, etc.).

[0224] If two or more sidelink WTRUs meet the requirement that the total reporting delay is less than the maximum positioning measurement reporting delay, the WTRU may select a sidelink WTRU (e.g., one) and transmit the positioning measurement report in a round-robin fashion, e.g., randomly select, select with the minimum total reporting delay, etc.

[0225] The WTRU may transmit a positioning measurement report on the sidelink interface to the selected sidelink WTRU over configured (e.g., dedicated) resources. The identification information (e.g., ProSe ID) of the selected sidelink WTRU may be included in the attached control information, e.g., sidelink control information - format 0 (SCI0).

[0226] If the positioning measurement value obtained (e.g., measured or received) by the WTRU is different from the previously reported positioning measurement value by a certain value greater than a reporting value threshold (e.g., threshold 1), the WTRU may reduce the maximum positioning measurement delay by a configured value (e.g., a maximum positioning measurement reporting delay reduction factor (e.g., a first quantity)). The WTRU may use the reduced maximum positioning reporting delay value to select a sidelink WTRU (e.g., select a sidelink WTRU to transmit a positioning measurement report as described herein).

[0227] If the positioning measurement value obtained by the WTRU is different from the previously reported positioning measurement value by a certain value greater than a reporting value threshold (e.g., threshold 2), the WTRU may reduce the maximum positioning measurement delay by a certain value (e.g., the maximum positioning measurement reporting delay reduction coefficient (e.g., the second quantity)) that is configured. The WTRU may use the reduced maximum positioning reporting delay value to select a sidelink WTRU (e.g., select a sidelink WTRU to transmit positioning measurement reports as described herein).

[0228] The maximum positioning measurement reporting delay reduction coefficient may be scaled, for example, when the difference between the current measurement positioning value and the previous measurement positioning value is greater than the reporting value threshold. The WTRU may be configured with a range of scaling coefficients or thresholds, and corresponding reduction coefficients.

[0229] The WTRU may compare the current measurement value to the standard deviation over the past N measurement values (e.g., instead of comparing the difference between the current and previous measurement values to a threshold configured to determine reduction in the maximum reporting delay). In an example, the window size (N) may be configured for the WTRU, and the WTRU may reduce the maximum reporting delay if the current value exceeds the standard deviation by a certain value or coefficient.

[0230] If the maximum positioning measurement delay is reduced by only a first amount or a second amount and the sidelink WTRUs in the configured list of sidelink-capable WTRUs cannot meet the condition that the total reporting delay using the configured resources is less than the reduced maximum positioning measurement reporting delay, the WTRU may decide to send the positioning measurement report using resources from a common resource pool. If the sidelink WTRUs in the configured list of sidelink-capable WTRUs cannot meet the requirement that the total reporting delay using the common resource pool is less than the reduced maximum positioning measurement reporting delay (e.g., this is also small), the WTRU may decide to send the positioning measurement report to a receiving entity (e.g., BS, positioning server, etc.) (e.g., directly). In an embodiment, the WTRU may decide to send the positioning measurement report directly to the receiving entity by transitioning to a connected state, e.g., by performing connection establishment.

[0231] If the maximum positioning measurement delay is reduced by only a first amount and the sidelink WTRUs in the configured list of sidelink-capable WTRUs cannot meet the requirement that the total reporting delay using the configured resources is less than the reduced maximum positioning measurement reporting delay, the WTRU may decide to send the positioning measurement report using resources from a common resource pool. If the maximum positioning measurement delay is reduced by only a second amount and the sidelink WTRUs in the configured list of sidelink-capable WTRUs cannot meet the requirement that the total reporting delay using the configured resources is less than the reduced maximum positioning measurement reporting delay, the WTRU may decide to send the positioning measurement report to a receiving entity (e.g., BS, positioning server, etc.) (e.g., directly). In an embodiment, the WTRU may decide to send the positioning measurement report directly to the receiving entity by transitioning to a connected state, e.g., by performing connection establishment.

[0232] Figure 12 illustrates an example associated with multi-level switching of resources for measurement reporting by a WTRU performing idle state measurements. One or more of the following may apply. As illustrated in Figure 12, the WTRU may determine to send a positioning measurement report using a common resource pool if, for example, the WTRU determines that it cannot meet the reduced maximum positioning measurement reporting delay condition by using a configured resource (e.g., by the observed positioning measurement difference exceeding a configured threshold). If the measurement difference exceeds a second threshold (e.g., threshold 2) and the WTRU cannot find a common resource pool that meets the reduced maximum positioning reporting delay value, the WTRU may send the positioning report directly to the positioning server, for example, by transitioning to a connected state (e.g., via the LTE Positioning Protocol (LPP)).

[0233] Figure 13 illustrates an example associated with multi-level switching of resources for measurement reporting by a WTRU performing idle state measurements. One or more of the following may apply. As illustrated in Figure 13, the WTRU may be configured to send a measurement positioning report using a configured resource. The WTRU may use the configured resource for measurement reporting, for example, as long as the positioning measurement difference does not exceed a configured threshold. The WTRU may determine to send a positioning measurement report using a common resource pool if, for example, the WTRU determines that it cannot meet the reduced maximum positioning measurement reporting delay condition by using a configured resource (e.g., by the observed positioning measurement difference exceeding a configured first threshold). If the measurement difference exceeds a second threshold and the WTRU cannot find a common resource pool that meets the reduced maximum positioning reporting delay value, the WTRU may send the positioning report directly to the positioning server, for example, by transitioning to a connected state (e.g., via the LTE Positioning Protocol (LPP)).

[0234] Features and elements may be described in specific combinations. However, each feature or element may be implemented in any combination, alone or in combination with any of the other features and / or elements, regardless of the presence or absence of other features and elements.

[0235] The solutions described herein take into account a particular technology (e.g., New Radio (NR), 5G or LTE, LTE-A specific protocol), but the technology described herein is not limited to any technology and may be applicable to any system.

Claims

1. A measurement wireless transmit - receive unit (WTRU) comprising: receiving positioning configuration information associated with a reference WTRU; determining a first slot timing associated with a base station; determining a second slot timing associated with the reference WTRU; determining a reference signal time difference based on the first slot timing and the second slot timing; reporting the reference signal time difference to a positioning server via the base station a processor configured as such A measurement WTRU, characterized in that it comprises the above.

2. The processor is further configured such that: receiving a synchronization signal from the base station, and the first slot timing associated with the base station is determined based on the synchronization signal The measurement WTRU according to claim 1, characterized in that it is further configured as such.

3. The processor is further configured such that: receiving a reference signal from the reference WTRU, and the second slot timing associated with the reference WTRU is determined based on the received synchronization signal The measurement WTRU according to claim 1, characterized in that it is further configured as such.

4. The reference signal is a positioning reference signal (PRS), and the processor is further configured such that: receiving PRS configuration information, and the PRS is received based on the PRS configuration information The measurement WTRU according to claim 3, characterized in that it is further configured as such.

5. The PRS configuration information indicates one or more of a scheduled resource associated with the PRS, a guard resource, or a beam associated with receiving the PRS. The measurement WTRU according to claim 4, characterized in that it is as such.

6. The positioning configuration information includes one or more of a sounding reference signal (SRS) pattern, SRS resources, or a timing advance (TA) value. The measurement WTRU according to claim 1, characterized in that it is as such.

7. Under the condition that the positioning configuration information includes the TA value, the processor is further configured such that: determining an adjusted second slot timing based on the second slot timing and the TA value, and the reference signal time difference is further determined based on the adjusted second slot timing The measurement WTRU according to claim 6, characterized in that it is further configured as such.

8. The measurement WTRU according to claim 1, wherein the reference signal time difference is determined based on a calculation performed by the measurement WTRU.

9. The measurement WTRU according to claim 1, wherein the positioning configuration information is received via dedicated radio resource control (RRC) signaling.

10. Receiving positioning configuration information associated with a reference wireless transmit-receive unit (WTRU); Determining a first slot timing associated with a base station; Determining a second slot timing associated with the reference WTRU; Determining a reference signal time difference based on the first slot timing and the second slot timing; Reporting the reference signal time difference to a positioning server via the base station A method characterized by comprising the above.

11. Receiving a synchronization signal from the base station, wherein the first slot timing associated with the base station is determined based on the synchronization signal. The method according to claim 10, further characterized by further comprising the above.

12. Receiving a reference signal from the reference WTRU, wherein the second slot timing associated with the reference WTRU is determined based on the received synchronization signal. The method according to claim 10, further characterized by further comprising the above.

13. The reference signal is a positioning reference signal (PRS), and the method Receiving PRS configuration information, wherein the PRS is received based on the PRS configuration information. The method according to claim 12, further characterized by further comprising the above.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein the PRS configuration information indicates one or more of a scheduled resource associated with the PRS, a guard resource, or a beam associated with receiving the PRS.

15. The method according to claim 10, wherein the positioning configuration information includes one or more of a sounding reference signal (SRS) pattern, an SRS resource, or a timing advance (TA) value.

16. Under the condition that the positioning configuration information includes the TA value Determining a second slot timing adjusted based on the second slot timing and the TA value, wherein the reference signal time difference is further determined based on the adjusted second slot timing The method according to claim 15, further comprising this **Claim 17** The method according to claim 10, wherein the reference signal time difference is determined based on calculations performed by a measurement WTRU **Claim 18** The method according to claim 10, wherein the positioning configuration information is received via dedicated radio resource control (RRC) signaling

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