Positioning upward method

Abstract

This patent application discloses a method, apparatus, and system for improved positioning in a wireless communication system. In one exemplary aspect, a method for wireless communication includes receiving, by a wireless device, from a network device, configuration information for positioning reference signals (PRS) associated with multiple positioning frequency layers, the multiple positioning frequency layers being associated; measuring, by the wireless device, the positioning reference signals associated with the positioning frequency layers based on the configuration information; and reporting, by the wireless device, positioning measurements associated with the positioning frequency layers based on the configuration information to the network device.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] This patent document relates to wireless communications. [Background technology]

[0002] Mobile telecommunications technologies are driving the world towards an increasingly connected and networked society. Compared to existing wireless networks, next generation systems and communication techniques will need to support a much broader range of use case characteristics and provide a more complex and sophisticated range of access requirements and flexibility.

[0003] Long Term Evolution (LTE) is a wireless communication standard for mobile devices and data terminals developed by the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP®). LTE Advanced (LTE-A) is a wireless communication standard that enhances the LTE standard. The fifth generation wireless system, known as 5G, advances the LTE and LTE-A wireless standards and is committed to supporting higher data rates, a larger number of connections, ultra-low latency, high reliability, and other emerging business needs. Summary of the Invention [Means for solving the problem]

[0004] This patent document discloses techniques relating to, among other things, methods for improving positioning in wireless communication networks.

[0005] In one example aspect, a wireless communication method is disclosed that includes receiving, by a wireless device, from a network device, configuration information for positioning reference signals (PRS) associated with a plurality of positioning frequency layers, the plurality of positioning frequency layers being associated, measuring, by the wireless device, the positioning reference signals associated with the positioning frequency layers based on the configuration information, and reporting, by the wireless device, positioning measurements associated with the positioning frequency layers based on the configuration information to the network device.

[0006] In another exemplary aspect, another wireless communication method is disclosed that includes receiving, by a network device, a request for configuration information for positioning reference signal (PRS) transmissions from a wireless device, and transmitting, by the network device, configuration information for the positioning reference signal associated with a plurality of frequency layers to the wireless device.

[0007] In yet another exemplary aspect, a wireless communication device is disclosed comprising a processor configured or operable to perform the above-described method.

[0008] In yet another exemplary aspect, a computer-readable storage medium is disclosed having code stored thereon that, when executed by a processor, causes the processor to perform the methods described above. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 shows an exemplary diagram of carrier aggregation (CA) of two component carriers (CC) according to some embodiments herein.

[0010] [Figure 2] FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary diagram illustrating a network device transmitting a downlink positioning reference signal (DL-PRS) to a wireless device, and the wireless device measuring and processing DL-PRS resources, according to some embodiments herein.

[0011] [Figure 3] FIG. 3 shows an exemplary diagram of a PRS configuration procedure according to some embodiments herein.

[0012] [Figure 4] FIG. 4 illustrates an example of a positioning processing window (PPW) configuration in a CA scenario according to some embodiments herein.

[0013] [Figure 5] FIG. 5 illustrates an example of a PPW activation / deactivation command medium access control element (MAC CE) according to some embodiments herein.

[0014] [Figure 6] FIG. 6 illustrates an example of a PPW configuration in a CA scenario according to some embodiments herein.

[0015] [Figure 7] 7A-7C show examples of PPW activation / deactivation commands MAC CE according to some embodiments herein.

[0016] [Figure 8] FIG. 8 illustrates an example of DL-PRS frequency hopping according to some embodiments herein.

[0017] [Figure 9] FIG. 9 illustrates another example of a PPW activation / deactivation command MAC CE according to some embodiments herein.

[0018] [Figure 10] FIG. 10 illustrates an example of multiple activated PPWs that do not overlap in the time domain according to some embodiments herein.

[0019] [Figure 11] FIG. 11 illustrates an example of multiple activated PPWs overlapping in the time domain in a CA scenario according to some embodiments herein.

[0020] [Figure 12] FIG. 12 illustrates another example of a scenario when multiple Bandwidth Parts (BWPs), each belonging to a CC / carrier / cell, are not activated simultaneously according to some embodiments herein.

[0021] [Figure 13] FIG. 13 illustrates another example of one scheduling grant for scheduling SRS resources of multiple CCs according to some embodiments herein.

[0022] [Figure 14] FIG. 14 illustrates and is a block diagram of an example hardware platform that may be part of a network or communication device according to some embodiments herein.

[0023] [Figure 15] FIG. 15 illustrates an example of network communication involving a network device (BS) and a wireless device according to some implementations of the disclosed technology.

[0024] [Figure 16] 16-19 are flowchart representations of methods for wireless communication in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present technology. [Figure 17] 16-19 are flowchart representations of methods for wireless communication in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present technology. [Figure 18] 16-19 are flowchart representations of methods for wireless communication in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present technology. [Figure 19] 16-19 are flowchart representations of methods for wireless communication in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present technology. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0025] Section headings are used herein for ease of understanding and do not limit the scope of the disclosed technology to any particular section. Additionally, certain terminology referring to 5G and 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP®) protocols is used as an illustrative example, and the disclosed techniques are applicable to other wireless protocols as well.

[0026] Various exemplary embodiments of the present solution are described in detail below with reference to the following figures or drawings. The drawings are provided for illustrative purposes only and merely depict exemplary embodiments of the present solution to facilitate the reader's understanding of the present solution. Therefore, the drawings should not be considered as limiting the scope, scope, or applicability of the present solution. It should be noted that for clarity and ease of illustration, the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale. It should be noted that in the disclosure of this patent application, the network node may be at least one of a Location Management Function (LMF), a base station (BS) (e.g., gNB and / or TRP), or a core network.

[0027] In a 5G network, a roaming UE in a Visited Public Land Mobile Network (VPLMN) may need to access internal application functions in the VPLMN or the Home Public Land Mobile Network (HPLMN).

[0028] 1, where the horizontal axis represents frequency resources. As depicted, three carriers, namely, CC1, CC2, and CC2, are available, and CC1 and CC2 are bonded together via CA. Specifically, all or a portion of CC1 and CC2 may be configured as a bandwidth portion (BWP) for wireless communication.

[0029] With current technology, as shown in FIG. 2, a UE can perform positioning with a network over an interface by transmitting a sounding reference signal (SRS) signal and / or receiving a positioning reference signal (PRS) signal. A large bandwidth is required for high-precision positioning, and the larger the bandwidth, the higher the positioning accuracy, especially when a timing-based positioning method (e.g., TDOA, RTT) is used. In carrier aggregation (CA), two or more component carriers (CCs) are aggregated. A UE may simultaneously receive or transmit on one or more CCs depending on its capabilities. By expanding the positioning reference signal (RS) (e.g., PRS, SRS for positioning purposes) bandwidth through carrier aggregation technology, it is possible to achieve higher positioning accuracy.

[0030] However, under existing standards, there is no method for resolving positioning configuration in CA scenarios. In this patent application, signaling transfer methods and procedures are provided to define positioning in CA scenarios. The proposed methods are beneficial for at least increasing the accuracy and efficiency of positioning procedures in wireless communication networks. To improve or enhance positioning accuracy (e.g., to satisfy or meet high-precision positioning requirements), the systems and methods discussed herein may include processes, procedures, and / or implementations for signaling.

[0031] The exemplary embodiments disclosed herein are directed to solving problems associated with one or more of the problems presented in the prior art and to providing additional features that will become readily apparent by reference to the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. According to various embodiments, exemplary systems, methods, devices, and computer program products are disclosed herein. It will be understood, however, that these embodiments are presented by way of example, and not limitation, and that various modifications of the disclosed embodiments may be made while remaining within the scope of the present disclosure, as will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon perusal of this document.

[0032] (Introduction (Background of positioning in CA scenarios)) Currently, only the signaling and procedures for positioning on a single carrier (eg, 100 MHz in FR and 400 MHz in FR2) are specified, but the positioning accuracy is very limited and difficult to meet the requirements.

[0033] (Position Processing Window (PPW) background) In Rel-16 positioning, during measurement gaps (MG), the UE is expected to measure DL-PRS resources outside the active DL BWP or with a numerology different from that of the active BWP. To reduce latency, DL PRS measurements without MG within the PPW are supported, and the UE is expected to measure DL-PRS resources when they are inside the active DL BWP or with the same numerology as the active DL BWP. [Table 1]

[0034] In the following discussion, a component carrier (CC) can also be a serving cell or a positioning frequency layer to be aggregated for positioning in a CA scenario.

[0035] In the following discussion, the terms "bandwidth aggregation," "carrier aggregation," and "frequency layer aggregation" are equivalent.

[0036] In the following discussion, a network device (e.g., a first network device, a second network device) may be any wireless network, such as a cellular network or a narrowband Internet of Things (NB-IoT) network. The network device (e.g., a first network device, a second network device) may be at least one of a location management function (LMF), a base station (BS) (e.g., a gNB and / or a transmission / reception point (TRP)), or a core network, an evolved Node B (eNB), a serving eNB, a target eNB, a femto base station, or a pico base station.

[0037] In some embodiments, the UE may be embodied in various types of user devices, such as a mobile phone, a smartphone, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a tablet, a laptop computer, a wearable computing device, etc. As may be discussed herein, the UE may correspond to, be associated with, or be part of a vehicle (e.g., a vehicular UE), a mobile UE, a roadside unit (RSU), a positioning reference unit (PRU), and / or any other type of UE that supports Uu communications and / or V2X services, sidelink communications.

[0038] (Embodiment 1) This section discloses, among other things, PRS configurations under scenarios where two or more positioning frequency layers (PFLs) / CCs are associated or where a wide bandwidth is for one PFL.

[0039] The procedure is shown in Figure 3. Before the Location Management Function (LMF) provides DL-PRS assistance data to the UE, a PRS configuration exchange procedure is required between the LMF and an NG-RAN node (e.g., gNB). The LMF sends a PRS configuration request to the NG-RAN node (step 301), and the NG-RAN node can provide the LMF with a PRS resource set configuration and a list of PRS resource configurations (step 302). The UE can send a request for DL-PRS positioning assistance data to the LMF (step 303), and the LMF can provide the DL-PRS assistance data to the UE (step 304). The UE can be configured with one or more DL-PRS positioning frequency layer (PFL) configurations as indicated by the LMF via the DL-PRS assistance data. A DL PRS PFL is defined by the LMF as a collection of DL PRS resource sets that share some common parameters (subcarrier spacing (SCS), resource bandwidth, starting PRB, point A, comb size, and cyclic prefix).

[0040] In particular, when timing-based positioning methods (e.g., TDOA, RTT) are applied, aggregation of PRS / SRS resources across PFLs / carriers for positioning measurements should be supported to achieve high-accuracy positioning. Positioning reference signal (PRS) configuration information for multiple positioning frequency layers is associated. A UE may be configured with one or more PRS frequency layer groups (PFL groups). The term PFL group is used to describe or otherwise define multiple associated PFLs. Each PRS PFL group includes two or more PRS PFLs. Multiple PRS PFL configurations belonging to the same PRS PFL group share some common parameters, while some of the parameters, such as bandwidth, point A, starting PRB, etc., are unique for each PFL.

[0041] The common configuration parameters for the multiple associated PRS PFLs include at least one of the following parameters: Common Numerology: SCS Common Transmission / Reception Point (TRP) Identification (ID) Common ARP (Antenna Reference Point) Same "Assistance Data Reference" TRP and System Frame Number (SFN) 0 offset (time offset of SFN#0 slot#0 for a given TRP relative to SFN#0 slot#0 of the Assistance Data Reference TRP) DL-PRS Resource Set ID DL-PRS Resource ID ·DL-PRS periodicity DL-PRS resource set slot offset DL-PRS resource repetition factor: the number of times each DL-PRS resource is repeated for a single instance of the DL-PRS resource set. Time gap: The offset between two repeated instances of a DL-PRS resource corresponding to the same DL-PRS resource ID within a single instance of a DL-PRS resource set. Muting Pattern: TRP DL PRS Muting Configuration DL-PRS Symbol Count: Number of symbols per DL-PRS resource in a slot DL-PRS resource slot offset DL-PRS resource symbol offset DL-PRS comb size and RE offset DL-PRS Sequence ID DL-PRS priority DL-PRS Quasi-Collocation (QCL) Information: QCL indication with other DL reference signals for serving and neighboring cells Power for DL-PRS transmission DL-PRS expected reference signal time difference (RSTD) and expected RSTD uncertainty

[0042] By sharing some common configurations among multiple PFLs in one PFL group, PRS resources to be aggregated from different PFLs in the same PFL group can be transmitted simultaneously in the same slot and the same symbol.

[0043] Alternatively, for multiple associated PFLs, the reference PFL configuration can be received by the UE from a network device (via RRC signaling or signaling notified by the LMF). The UE may be configured with one or more PRS frequency tier groups (PFL groups). PRS PFL configurations belonging to the same PRS PFL group are associated with a reference PFL configuration. The association relationship and the reference PFL configuration can be configured / indicated by higher layer signaling, for example, RRC signaling or signaling notified by the LMF.

[0044] Table 1 below shows one way to provide CA information in PRS assistance data in TS 37.355. The NR-DL-PRS-PositioningFrequencyLayer-CA (PFL group) indicates a list of PFLs (NR-DL-PRS-PositioningFrequencyLayer-CC) to be aggregated. The number of PFLs is from 1 to the maximum number of CCs / PFLs for CA. Multiple PFLs share the same SCS, comb size, and cyclic prefix. Each PFL has its own resource bandwidth, starting PRB, and point A. In addition, a bitmap configured for each PFL (e.g., dl-PRS-referenceFrequencyLayer (0 means this PFL is not the reference PFL, 1 means this PFL is the reference PFL)) or the ID of the reference frequency layer configured in each PFL group configuration (dl-PRS-referenceFrequencyLayer-ID) can be introduced. [Table 11]

[0045] Alternatively, a specific PFL for carrier aggregation with a wider bandwidth can be configured. A simple way to widen the frequency range of PRS resources is to increase the bandwidth for DL-PRS resources in the PFL (e.g., dl-PRS-ResourceBandwidth). The maximum allocated DL-PRS bandwidth of a PFL for carrier aggregation is associated with (or related to) both the maximum bandwidth configured for one PFL (e.g., 272 PRB) and the maximum number of CCs / PFLs to be aggregated.

[0046] Only UEs that support CA-related capabilities can successfully receive / measure wideband PRS resources.

[0047] Therefore, at least one of the following signaling should be included:

[0048] 1. PRS configuration request from LMF to NG-RAN node: The LMF may request the NG-RAN node to configure / update / change the PRS CA-related configuration. For example, the LMF may use one or more bits to indicate whether PRS resources to be aggregated from different PFLs are required, or the LMF may use one or more bits to indicate the presence / absence of a PFL group. Furthermore, the request signaling may include explicit parameters for CA-based PRS configuration, or a request to change a PFL group, or a request for association between PFLs, or a request for an indication of a reference PFL.

[0049] 2. PRS Configuration Response from NG-RAN Node to LMF: The NG-RAN node may further respond to the LMF request in 1 with the PRS CA-related configuration. For example, the NG-RAN node may provide a list of DL-PRS resources for one TRP, where PRS resources or PRS resource sets from different PFLs can be aggregated. Furthermore, the NG-RAN node may provide multiple PRS PFL configurations and their association information to the LMF. The NG-RAN may mark a PFL in a PFL group as a reference PFL, for example, all other PFLs in the PFL group may share the same PPW configuration of the reference PFL.

[0050] 3. Request for DL-PRS assistance data from UE to LMF: For UE-initiated on-demand PRS transmission, the UE can send a PRS configuration request to the LMF, which may further determine and control the PRS transmission (3->1->2). The request for PRS assistance data signaling from the UE to the LMF may include a request for carrier aggregation-based positioning, or explicit parameters for CA-based PRS configuration, or a request to change a PFL group, or a request for association between PFLs.

[0051] 4. Providing Request Assistance Data from the LMF to the UE: The LMF provides multiple PRS PFL configurations and their association information to the UE. The LMF may mark a PFL in a PFL group as the reference PFL. For example, the LMF may provide one PFL group or a list thereof (if more than one, a PFL group ID is also required), and each PRS PFL group includes two or more PRS PFLs. Multiple PRS PFL configurations belonging to the same PRS PFL group share some common parameters.

[0052] (Embodiment 2) This section discloses, among other things, an alternative mechanism for measuring PRS measurements within a measurement gap (MG).

[0053] During a configured measurement gap, the UE may measure DL PRS resources outside of the active DL BWP or with a different numerology from that of the active DL BWP if measurements are made. The UE may request a measurement gap for positioning via RRC (NR-PRS-MeasurementInfoList) and / or request activation / deactivation of a measurement gap associated with the positioning MG ID via MAC CE. The NR-PRS-MeasurementInfoList contains a request for a list of measurement gap configurations for each frequency layer. The requested measurement gap configuration includes the following parameters: dl-PRS-PointA, nr-MeasPRS-RepetitionAndOffset, and nr-MeasPRS-length.

[0054] A UE can be pre-configured with one or more measurement gaps, each associated with a measPosPreConfigGapId, each with a set of configurations: gap offset, mgl (measurement gap length), mgrp (measurement gap repetition period), mgta (measurement gap timing advance (TA)), gap type (per UE, per FR1, or per FR2). The MAC protocol for NR also supports positioning measurement gap activation and deactivation requests from the UE.

[0055] Regarding the UE measurement gap request:

[0056] Assuming that PRS resources aggregated from multiple PFLs are transmitted in the same slot and the same symbol, only one measurement gap request signaling is required for multiple associated PRS PFLs or a PRS PFL group. Furthermore, since it is highly likely that only consecutive PFLs in a band will be supported for aggregation, the same measurement gap type (per UE or per FR) for multiple PFLs is expected. The request signaling from the UE to the network (RRC signaling to the gNB or LPP signaling to the LMF) may include at least one of the following information: DL-PRS point A of the reference PFL, DL-PRS point A of each PFL in a PFL group, measurement gap repetition, measurement gap offset, measurement gap length, and measurement gap pattern (per UE, per FR).

[0057] Alternatively, the UE may send a measurement gap request for each PFL, and measurement gap requests for PFLs in the same PRS PFL group are associated. Measurement gap requests for PFLs in a PFL group may share at least one of the following common parameters: gap offset, measurement gap length, measurement gap repetition period, measurement gap timing advance, gap type. However, the UE may request different measurement gap timing offsets or measurement gap timing advances for different PFLs due to their different SCSs.

[0058] When the UE is configured via LPP to measure PRS for any RSTD, PRS Reference Signal Received Power (RSRP), PRS Reference Signal Received Path Power (RSRPP), and UE Rx-Tx time difference measurements, the network provides a single per-UE measurement gap pattern or a single per-FR measurement gap pattern for parallel monitoring of all positioning frequency layers and intra-frequency, inter-frequency, and / or inter-RAT frequency layers in all frequency ranges.

[0059] Regarding the measurement gap configuration:

[0060] Collisions between two parallel measurement gap opportunities (e.g., collisions between one measurement gap for positioning and another for CSI-RS) may occur. Except for the positioning measurement gap ID, measurement gap repetition, measurement gap offset, measurement gap length, measurement gap TA, and measurement gap pattern, gapPriority can be configured in each positioning measurement gap (pre-)configuration.

[0061] In case of a collision between two measurement gap opportunities, the UE shall perform measurements in the measurement gap opportunity with the higher priority, and the measurement gap opportunity with the lower priority shall be discarded.

[0062] (Embodiment 3) This section discloses, among other things, an alternative mechanism for PRS measurement (PPW).

[0063] A UE is expected to measure a DL PRS outside a measurement gap if the DL PRS is inside an active DL BWP, has the same numerology as the active DL BWP, and is within the DL PRS processing window (PPW) indicated by the higher layer parameter DL-PPW-PreConfig, subject to UE capabilities. For a serving cell, there can be only one activated UL BWP and DL BWP. The maximum number of PPW configurations is four per DL BWP, and the number of activated PRS processing windows per DL BWP is one. In addition, the maximum number of activated PRS processing windows across all active DL BWPs is four, and these activated PRS processing windows currently do not overlap in time. Within one DL-PPW-PreConfig, a UE is only expected to measure a single DL PRS positioning frequency layer.

[0064] When PRS / SRS bandwidth aggregation is introduced, the UE needs to simultaneously receive DL-PRS on the active DL BWPs of one or more CCs if the DL-PRS resources are configured in multiple aggregated PFLs. The UE is scheduled by the DCI or MAC CE to receive and measure DL-PRS across multiple cells in the activated PPWs.

[0065] Signaling (DCI or MAC CE) from the gNB to the UE can be used to activate / deactivate a PPW with PPW ID=i in CC #x and another PPW with PPW ID=j in another CC #y, where CC #x and CC #y are associated or in the same CC group. The association or CC group can be configured by higher layer signaling, for example, RRC signaling or signaling notified by the LMF. Furthermore, the PPW IDs of the associated serving cells (groups of CCs) can be the same (i.e., i=j).

[0066] Figure 4 shows a situation when multiple CCs have different PPW configurations: the periodicity of the PPW in CC1 is 4, while the periodicity of the PPW in CC2 is 5, and in such a case, it is rare that the UE can simultaneously receive, measure, and process the DL-PRS.

[0067] If the PPW is activated / deactivated per CC, the PPW activation / deactivation command MAC CE is defined as in FIG. 5 and FIG. 7A-3C.

[0068] It has a variable size and includes at least one of the following (as illustrated in FIG. 5): numEntry: This field indicates the number of entries N-1 in the MAC CE. 00 indicates that N is equal to 2, 01 indicates that N is equal to 3, and so on. The length of the field is 2 bits. Serving Cell ID: This field indicates the identity of the serving cell to which the MAC CE applies. The length of the field is 5 bits. PPW ID: This field indicates the PPW configured on the active DL BWP of the serving cell identified by the above serving cell ID. Index 0 corresponds to the first entry in the list of PPW configurations on this BWP, index 1 corresponds to the second entry in the list, and so on. The length of the field is 2 bits; the PPW ID can be the same for different serving cells, each of which is associated with a serving cell ID. A / D: This field indicates the activation or deactivation of the PPW. The field is set to 1 to indicate activation, otherwise it indicates deactivation. The length of the field is 1 bit. -R: Reserved bit, set to 0.

[0069] Alternatively, for the purpose of signaling overhead reduction, multiple CCs can share the same PPW configuration, including at least one of the following: PPW ID, PPW periodicity and start slot, PPW length, PPW type, and PPW priority. Specifically, the MAC CE should activate / deactivate a PPW with PPW ID=i in a serving cell C1 (i.e., reference CC) associated with several serving cells or CCs as shown in Figure 6. The association can be configured by higher layer signaling, for example, RRC signaling or signaling notified by the LMF.

[0070] If multiple CCs share the same PPW, the PPW activation / deactivation command MAC CE is defined as follows:

[0071] It has a variable size and contains at least one of the following: Serving Cell Group Information and / or Serving Cell Information: (1) This field indicates the identity of the serving cells to be aggregated within the serving cell group to which the MAC CE applies (as shown in FIG. 7A). The length of the field is proportional to the number of serving cells. (2) Alternatively, the serving cells for the aggregation information are (pre-)configured at a higher layer by the gNB or LMF, and the serving cells for the aggregation information include at least one of the following: serving cell group ID, serving cell ID, reference serving cell, etc. In such a case, the MAC CE only needs to include the serving cell group ID without mentioning all serving cell IDs, thus saving signaling overhead (as shown in FIG. 7B). -PPW ID: This field indicates the PPW configured on the active DL BWP of the serving cell identified by the above serving cell group information. A / D: This field indicates the activation or deactivation of the PPW. The field is set to 1 to indicate activation, otherwise it indicates deactivation. The length of the field is 1 bit.

[0072] If multiple CCs share the PPW configuration (PPW ID) of the reference CC, the PPW activation / deactivation command MAC CE is defined as follows:

[0073] It has a variable size and contains at least one of the following: Reference Serving Cell ID: This field indicates the identity of the reference serving cell to which the MAC CE applies. The relationship and information between the reference serving cell and other serving cells in a group to be aggregated is (pre)configured by the LMF or gNB. The MAC CE only needs to activate the PPW of the reference serving cell, and the UE can measure the DL-PRS in the PPW if the DL-PRS is within multiple DL BWPs of the serving cell to be aggregated. The PPW configuration is configured in the reference serving cell (as shown in Figure 7C). -PPW ID: This field indicates the PPW configured on the active DL BWP of the serving cell identified by the above serving cell group information. A / D: This field indicates the activation or deactivation of the PPW. The field is set to 1 to indicate activation, otherwise it indicates deactivation. The length of the field is 1 bit.

[0074] (Embodiment 4) This section discloses, among other things, another mechanism for PRS measurements: frequency hopping.

[0075] For frequency hopping of DL-PRS, the frequency domain resource of one reference signal is divided into several parts, and each part (one part may be one DL-PRS resource, or a DL-PRS resource in a DL-PRS resource set, or a DL-PRS resource set, or a DL-PRS in a PFL, or a DL-PRS resource in a TRP, or a part of DL-PRS resources in the same BWP) corresponds to a frequency hop, and several hops are received in different symbols in combination as a whole. If different hops are associated with different BWPs / CCs / PFLs, the UE may use multiple CCs to receive and measure multiple hops of the DL-PRS.

[0076] Signaling (DCI or MAC CE) from the gNB to the UE can be used to activate / deactivate a PPW with PPW ID=i in CC #x and another PPW with PPW ID=j in another CC #y, where CC #x and CC #y are associated or in the same CC group. The association can be configured by higher layer signaling, for example, RRC signaling or signaling notified by the LMF. The signaling (DCI or MAC CE) may also include DL-PRS frequency hopping related information. Furthermore, the PPW IDs of the associated serving cells (groups of CCs) are different and associated with different hopping IDs. The association between the hopping ID and the PPW ID can be (pre)configured by higher layer signaling, for example, RRC signaling or signaling notified by the LMF. The association of multiple PPW configurations can also be (pre)configured by higher layer signaling. Specifically, at least one of the following parameters for PPW configurations associated with multiple frequency hops should be the same: PPW periodicity, PPW length, priority between PDCCH / PDSCH / CSI-RS and DL-PRS, and PPW type. If the periodicity of multiple PPWs is the same, the starting offsets (e.g., starting slots) can be set differently. As shown in Figure 8 "Option 1," PPW1 is associated with hop 1, PPW2 is associated with hop 2, and PPW3 is associated with hop 3.

[0077] Alternatively, multiple PPWs corresponding to different frequency hopping IDs can share the same PPW ID of the reference serving cell.Upon higher layer configuration, when the PPW of the reference serving cell is activated / deactivated, the PPWs of other serving cells can be automatically activated / deactivated with the same configuration (e.g., periodicity, length, type, priority) but with different start times (slots / symbols).

[0078] Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 8 "Option 2," multiple DL-PRS frequency hops may correspond to the same PPW configuration, with the time span of the PPW covering all frequency hopping opportunities.

[0079] The UE is expected to measure the DL-PRS in a PPW if the DL-PRS is inside an active DL BWP and has the same numerology as the serving cell's active DL BWP. If the numerologies of different active DL BWPs of the aggregated serving cells are different, the timing configuration (e.g., start time) of the PPW is based on the maximum or minimum subcarrier spacing among the active DL BWPs of the aggregated serving cells.

[0080] If the PPW is activated / deactivated for each CC, the PPW activation / deactivation command MAC CE is defined as in FIG.

[0081] It has a variable size defined as follows: Serving Cell ID: This field indicates the identity of the serving cell to which the MAC CE applies. The length of the field is 5 bits. PPW ID: This field indicates the PPW configured on the active DL BWP of the serving cell identified by the above serving cell ID. Index 0 corresponds to the first entry in the list of PPW configurations on this BWP, index 1 corresponds to the second entry in the list, and so on. The length of the field is 2 bits, and the PPW ID can be the same for different serving cells, each of which is associated with a serving cell ID. Hop ID: This field indicates the DL-PRS frequency hop ID. The length of the field is related to the maximum number of DL-PRS frequency hops that the gNB or LMF can configure and / or the maximum number of DL-PRS hops that the UE can support. A / D: This field indicates the activation or deactivation of the PPW. The field is set to 1 to indicate activation, otherwise it indicates deactivation. The length of the field is 1 bit.

[0082] (Embodiment 5) This section discloses, among other things, UE capabilities.

[0083] The complexity of a UE processing the DL-PRS resources of multiple aggregated PFLs will be significantly increased compared to processing the DL-PRS of a single PFL. Therefore, the UE shall report its capabilities for processing and measuring the DL-PRS within the PPW in a CA scenario to the LMF or gNB before the LMF or gNB configures / transmits the DL-PRS. In addition, the UE may report different capabilities for the bands of different serving cells, and which serving cell should be selected based on the UE capabilities requires further study.

[0084] One solution is to report UE PRS processing capabilities outside the MG and within the PRS processing window for both a single PRS PFL and f aggregated PFLs (PRS PFL group) for a band.

[0085] For PRS measurements outside the MG and within a PRS processing window shared by multiple PFLs within a PFL group, provided that the UE determines that the DL PRS should be of higher priority, the supported PRS processing types support one or more of the following:

[0086] Type 1A refers to the prioritization decision between DL PRSs and other DL signals / channels in all OFDM symbols within the PRS processing window shared by multiple PFLs in a PFL group. DL signals / channels from all DL CCs (per UE) are affected across LTE and NR.

[0087] Type 1B refers to the prioritization decision between DL PRSs and other DL signals / channels in all OFDM symbols within the PRS processing window shared by multiple PFLs in a PFL group. DL signals / channels from a certain band are affected.

[0088] Type 2 refers to the prioritization decision between DL PRS and other DL signals / channels only in DL OFDM symbols within the PRS processing window shared by multiple PFLs in a PFL group.

[0089] The ability to support different PRS processing types for multiple PFLs within a PFL group supports one or more of the following: ■ The processing types for the PRS processing windows of the multiple PFLs are different. ■ The processing types for the PRS processing windows of multiple PFLs must be the same.

[0090] Support for priority handover options for PRSs within a PRS processing window shared by multiple PFLs outside of an MG and within a PFL group: Option 1, Option 2, or Option 3. ■ Option 1: Support for "st1" and "st3" ■ Option 2: Support for "st1", "st2", and "st3" ■Option 3: Support for "st1" Notes For value "st1", the DL PRS has higher priority than all DL signals / channels except SSB, or For the value "st2", the DL PRS has lower priority than the PDCCH and PDSCH scheduled by DCI format 1_1 or 1_2 with the priority indicator field in the corresponding DCI format set to 1, and higher priority than other DL signals / channels except SSB, or · For value "st3", DL PRS has lower priority than all DL signals / channels except SSB.

[0091] Outside the MG (N f ,T f ) combination

[0092] Assuming the maximum DL PRS bandwidth in MHz (supported and reported by the UE), f Duration N of DL PRS symbols in milliseconds that can be processed every millisecond f

[0093] Assuming the maximum DL PRS bandwidth in MHz (supported and reported by the UE), f Duration N of a DL PRS symbol in milliseconds that can be processed in 2 milliseconds f 2

[0094] One or more of the following conditions should be met: ◆N f <=N or N f <N ◆T f <=T or T f <T ◆N f 2<=N2 or N f 2 <N2 ◆T f 2<=T2 or T f 2 <T2 ◆N f =F(N,f), where F(x) is a function of x, e.g., N f =1 / fN or N f =1 / fN+Δ ◆N f 2 = F(N2,f), where F(x) is a function of x, e.g., N f 2=1 / fN2 or N f 2=1 / fN2+Δ ◆T f =F(T,f), where F(x) is a function of x, e.g., T f =1 / fT or T f=1 / fT+Δ ◆T f 2 = F(T2,f), where F(x) is a function of x, e.g., T f 2=1 / fT2 or T f 2=1 / fT2+Δ

[0095] Maximum number of DL PRS resources that the UE can process in slots outside the MG ■ The maximum number of DL PRS resources in different frequency layers that a UE can process in a slot outside the MG at the same time is smaller than that in one frequency layer.

[0096] Maximum DL PRS bandwidth in MHz supported and reported by the UE for PRS measurements outside the MG within the PPW ■ This parameter is greater than the maximum DL-PRS bandwidth for PRS measurements at one PFL outside the MF within the PPW. ■ This parameter is highly related to or proportional to the maximum number of PFLs for carrier aggregation that the UE supports. ■This parameter contains the gap length between two frequency layers.

[0097] Timing or phase shift between different CCs ■When a UE receives a DL-PRS within a PPW on a different CC, the UE may report its supported minimum or maximum timing / phase shift, and the UE may also report different timing / phase shifts for different CCs / serving cells / PRS bandwidths.

[0098] (Embodiment 6) This section discloses, among other things, measurement period requirements.

[0099] When the physical layer receives the last of the NR-TDOA-ProvideAssistanceData and NR-TDOA-RequestLocationInformation messages from the LMF via LPP, the UE begins the measurement period T RSTD,TotalDuring this period, it shall be possible to measure multiple (up to UE capabilities) DL RSTD measurements as defined in TS 38.215.

number

[0100] Measurement period T RSTD,i For positioning frequency layer i in an active BWP in , it is defined as follows:

number

number

number

number

number

number

number

number

[0101] When the physical layer receives the NR-DL-AoD-ProvideAssistanceData message and the NR-DL-AoD-RequestLocationInformation message from the LMF via LPP, the UE performs the following T PRS-RSRP,total Within a millisecond, it shall be possible to measure multiple PRS-RSRP measurements (up to UE capabilities) as defined in TS 38.215 from the configured PRS resources for the configured TRP on the configured positioning frequency layer without measurement gaps.

number

[0102] T PRS-RSRP,i For a configured positioning frequency tier i in

number

[0103] For PRS measurements without a MG configured for the UE, the measurement period requirements for PRS-RSRP are reused for PRS-RSRPP.

[0104] When the physical layer receives the last of the NR-Multi-RTT-ProvideAssistanceData and NR-Multi-RTT-RequestLocationInformation messages from the LMF via LPP, the UE shall uerxtx,total It shall be possible to measure multiple (up to UE capabilities) UE Rx-Tx time difference measurements as defined in TS 38.215 on the configured positioning frequency layer within milliseconds.

number

number

[0105] As shown at the beginning of this embodiment, the measurement period for positioning is calculated based on the PFL (i is the index of the PFL). In one PPW configuration or positioning measurement gap configuration, the UE is only expected to measure a single DL-PRS PFL. As shown in Figure 10, different positioning MGs or activated PPWs do not overlap in the time domain.

[0106] However, as shown in Figure 11, in a CA scenario, the DL-PRS RSTD / RSRP / RSRPP / Rx-Tx time difference are not measured separately on multiple aggregated PFLs, and the PFL as a basis for calculating the measurement period may not be very suitable and accurate.

[0107] The measurement period of DL-PRS measured simultaneously at multiple PFLs should not be shorter or longer than that of DL-PRS measured at a single PFL, and should not be longer or shorter than the sum of the measurement periods of the multiple PFLs.

[0108] The following paragraphs offer two solutions.

[0109] (Solution 1)

[0110] Regarding the duration of multiple aggregated frequency layer positioning measurements, the L1 aggregated PFLs can be considered as one PFL due to the DL-PRSs being received and measured simultaneously at the L1 aggregated PFLs. The measurement period requirement of the reference PFL(r) can be used as a reference for the measurement period requirements of other PFLs in the same group.

number

[0111] where L is the total number of positioning frequency layers, L = L1 + L2, L1 is the number of positioning frequency layers used for bandwidth / carrier aggregation, and L2 is the total number of PFLs - the number of PFLs used for bandwidth / carrier aggregation.

[0112] A scaling factor S can be introduced because the complexity of a UE measuring DL-PRSs at multiple aggregated PFLs simultaneously is greater than the complexity of a UE measuring DL-PRSs at one PFL, where S≦1 or S<1.

[0113] Alternatively, the scaling factor S L1 is greater than 1 and is associated with the number of positioning frequency layers used for bandwidth / carrier aggregation.

number

[0114] Alternatively, the offset Δ L1 is the measurement period formula (e.g., T RSTD,Total , T PRS-RSRP,Total , T PRS-RSRPP,Total , T UERxTx,Total ) can be introduced. The measurement period of the L1 frequency layers to be aggregated is longer than that of the reference frequency layer to which the offset is added. Also, the offset Δ L1is related to the number of positioning frequency layers used for bandwidth / carrier aggregation. The larger the L1 value, the larger the offset and therefore the longer the measurement period. For example, Δ L1 =Δ×L1, 0<Δ≦1 or 0<Δ<1.

number

[0115] Either a scaling factor or an offset, or both a scaling factor and an offset, can be introduced in the measurement period equation based on the reference frequency stratum.

[0116] (Solution 2)

[0117] The design of the measurement period requirement formula should consider separately measurements made at the aggregated PFL and measurements made at other PFLs not used for carrier aggregation.

[0118] For measurements made at the aggregated PFL, a carrier-specific scaling factor for the PRS measurements can be introduced. The calculation of the measurement period requirement is separated by L1 and L2, as shown in the following equation:

number

[0119] where L is the total number of positioning frequency layers, and L=L1+L2. L1 is the number of positioning frequency layers used for bandwidth / carrier aggregation. L2 is the total number of PFLs - the number of PFLs used for bandwidth / carrier aggregation.

[0120] Regarding measurement period requirements without MG:

[0121] Regarding the measurement period requirements for multiple PFLs in multiple activated PPWs, a carrier-specific scaling factor for PRS measurements, e.g., CSSF PRS_within_PPW,i can be introduced. RSTD,i ,RSRP T PRS-RSRP,i and RSRPP RSRP T PRS-RSRPP,i , Rx-Tx time difference T UERxTx,i The measurement period requirement formula without MG for measurement is shown below:

number

[0122] When multiple positioning frequency layers are configured, For each positioning frequency layer i, CSSF PRS_within_PPW,i is derived using the following steps, assuming that no other positioning frequency layers are configured: For each RRM frequency layer i, the CSSF PRS_within_PPW,i is derived as follows: -Intermediate CSSF PRS_within_PPW,i,k is derived using the following steps, assuming that only positioning frequency layer k is configured: -CSSF PRS_within_PPW,i =max(CSSF PRS_within_PPW,i,k ), where k=0···K−1, and K is the number of configured positioning frequency layers.

[0123] CSSF PRS_within_PPW,i is the number of NR positioning frequency layers and R i and is associated with R i is the maximum ratio of the number of PPWs for which measurement object i is a candidate to be measured to the number of PPWs for which measurement object i is a candidate and is not used for long-term periodicity measurements.

[0124] L available_PRS,i is T available_PRS,iL is the duration of the available PRS in the positioning frequency tier i to be measured during the measurement and is calculated in the same way as the PRS duration K defined in TS 38.214, section 5.1.6.5. available_PRS,i For the calculation of , if multiple PFLs share the same PPW configuration, only PRS resources that are unmuted and fully or partially overlap with the PPW are considered. If each PFL is associated with one PPW configuration and multiple PFLs or PPW configurations are associated, only PRS resources that are unmuted and fully or partially overlap with the common part of the multiple PPWs are considered.

[0125] T available_PRS,i =LCM(T PRS,i ,PPWRP i ), i.e., T PRS,i and PPWRP i The least common multiple between.

[0126] PPWRP i is the recurrence periodicity of the PRS processing window applicable for measurements on positioning frequency layer i (frequency layer i is the reference frequency layer) when multiple PFLs share the same PPW configuration. i where each PFL is associated with one PPW configuration, and where, if multiple PFLs or PPW configurations are associated, is the least common multiple of the recurrence periodicities of the PRS processing windows applicable for measurements in the positioning frequency tier group.

[0127] T PRS,i is the periodicity of DL PRS resources with muting in positioning frequency layer i.

[0128] Each PFL is associated with one PPW configuration, and if multiple PFLs or PPW configurations are associated, time T RSTD_wo_gap,i , T PRS-RSRP_wo_gap,i , T UERxTx_wo_gap,istarts from the first instance of an activated PPW for measurements on positioning frequency layer i or the first overlapped instance of an activated PPW aligned with DL PRS resources in the assistance data after both the NR-TDOA-ProvideAssistanceData message and the NR-TDOA-RequestLocationInformation message are delivered from the LMF to the UE's physical layer via LPP.

[0129] If multiple PFLs share the same PPW configuration, time T RSTD_wo_gap,i , T PRS-RSRP_wo_gap,i , T UERxTx_wo_gap,i starts from the first instance of the activated PPW for measurements on the reference positioning frequency layer.

[0130] One of the frequency layers to be aggregated is T RSTD_wo_gap,i , T PRS-RSRP_wo_gap,i , T UERxTx_wo_gap,i , which may be the reference frequency layer for calculating

[0131] (Embodiment 7) This section discloses, among other things, examples of SRS configurations.

[0132] As mentioned earlier, bandwidth is essential for positioning accuracy. SRS for positioning purposes transmitted simultaneously between multiple CCs (for brevity, we will use SRS in the following paragraphs) would significantly expand the bandwidth of SRS resources and therefore be beneficial for positioning accuracy. First, multiple BWPs, each belonging to a CC / carrier / cell, can be configured and activated simultaneously by a single signaling (DCI, RRC, or gNB can set timers so that multiple BWPs are activated simultaneously).

[0133] If multiple BWPs belonging to a CC / carrier / cell are not activated simultaneously, the gNB should ensure that SRS scheduling occurs when all corresponding BWPs are activated. For example, as shown in Figure 12, the scheduling of SRS transmission should not be earlier than t2.

[0134] A single scheduling grant (DCI for dynamic scheduling and MAC CE for semi-persistent scheduling) can schedule SRS resources or SRS resource sets from multiple CCs, and SRS resources are transmitted simultaneously on multiple CCs.

[0135] Specifically, as shown in FIG. 13, one signaling (DCI or MAC CE) can be used to schedule an SRS resource with resource ID=i or a resource set with resource set ID=i in CC#1, and another positioning RS resource with resource ID=j or a resource set with resource set ID=j is also scheduled in another CC#2, and CC#1 and CC#2 are associated or in the same CC group.

[0136] Specifically, multiple SRS resources and / or resource set configurations belonging to the same CC group share some common parameters, and the common parameters include at least one or more of the following: SRS resource set ID, SRS resource ID, SRS resource ID list, resource type (aperiodic, semi-persistent, periodic), alpha value for SRS power control, p0 value for SRS power control, path loss reference RS (SSB, DL-PRS), number of SRS ports, transmit comb size, comb offset, cyclic shift, resource mapping (start position, number of symbols), frequency domain shift, frequency hopping, group or sequence hopping, sequence ID, spatial relationship information (serving cell RS, SSB, DL-PRS).

[0137] The SRS resource IDs or resource set IDs scheduled by the signaling of multiple CCs may be the same. The BWP IDs of multiple CCs may be related or the same and may be activated simultaneously.

[0138] Furthermore, the timing offset between the triggering grant (DCI or MAC CE) and the actual transmission of the SRS resource can be included in the configuration via RRC from the gNB or signaling from the LMF and further transmitted to the UE via the scheduling grant. Due to the configuration mismatch (e.g., SCS or timing set) of different CCs, the timing offset is based on the SCS of all CCs involved in the aggregated SRS transmission (at least one of the maximum SCS or minimum SCS of the CCs in the group).

[0139] FIG. 14 shows an example block diagram of a hardware platform 1400, which may be part of a network device (e.g., a base station) or a communication device (e.g., user equipment (UE)). The hardware platform 1400 includes at least one processor 1410 and a memory 1405 storing instructions. The instructions, when executed by the processor 410, configure the hardware platform 1400 to perform the operations described in FIG. 14 and in various embodiments described in this patent application. The transmitter 1415 transmits or sends information or data to another device. For example, a network device transmitter can send a message to a user equipment. The receiver 1420 receives information or data transmitted or sent by another device. For example, a user equipment can receive a message from a network device.

[0140] Implementations such as those discussed above would be applied to network communications. Figure 15 shows an example of a communications system (e.g., a 6G or NR cellular network) including a base station 1520 and one or more user equipment (UE) 1511, 1512, and 1513. In some embodiments, the UE accesses a BS (e.g., a network) using a communications link to the network (sometimes referred to as the uplink direction, as depicted by dashed arrows 1531, 1532, 1533), which then enables subsequent communications from the BS to the UE (e.g., shown in the direction from the network to the UE, sometimes referred to as the downlink direction, as depicted by arrows 1541, 1542, 1543). In some embodiments, the BS transmits information to the UE (sometimes referred to as the downlink direction and as depicted by arrows 1541, 1542, 1543), which then enables subsequent communication from the UE to the BS (e.g., shown in the UE-to-BS direction, sometimes referred to as the uplink direction and depicted by dashed arrows 1531, 1532, 1533). The UE may be, for example, a smartphone, a tablet, a mobile computer, a machine-to-machine (M2M) device, an Internet of Things (IoT) device, etc.

[0141] In one example aspect (e.g., as depicted in FIG. 16 ), a wireless communication method is disclosed. The method includes receiving, by a wireless device, from a network device, configuration information for positioning reference signals (PRS) associated with a plurality of positioning frequency layers, the plurality of positioning frequency layers being associated (1602); measuring, by the wireless device, the positioning reference signals associated with the positioning frequency layers based on the configuration information (1604); and reporting, by the wireless device, to the network device, positioning measurements associated with the positioning frequency layers based on the configuration information (1606).

[0142] In another example aspect (e.g., as depicted in FIG. 17 ), another wireless communication method is disclosed. The method includes receiving, by a network device, a request for positioning reference signal (PRS) transmission configuration information from a wireless device (1702), and transmitting, by the network device, positioning reference signal configuration information associated with a plurality of frequency layers to the wireless device (1704).

[0143] In some embodiments, the configuration information is determined based on a signaling interaction between the network device and a second network device.

[0144] In some embodiments, the configuration information comprises information relating to at least one frequency tier group.

[0145] In some embodiments, the request is sent from the wireless device to the network device, the request comprising at least one of 1) a request for bandwidth aggregation based positioning, or 2) explicit parameters for bandwidth aggregation based PRS configuration, or 3) a request to change frequency tier groups, or 4) a request for association between frequency tiers.

[0146] In some embodiments, each frequency tier group comprises at least one frequency tier, and the frequency tiers within a frequency tier group share at least one of the following common characteristics: subcarrier spacing (SCS), identifier (ID) for transmit / receive point (TRP), antenna reference point (ARP), PRS resource set ID, PRS resource ID, PRS periodicity, PRS resource slot offset, PRS resource repetition factor, time gap, muting pattern, PRS symbol number, PRS resource slot offset, PRS resource symbol offset, PRS comb size and RE offset, PRS sequence ID, PRS quasi-collocation (QCL) information, PRS transmit power, expected reference signal time difference (RSTD) and expected RSTD uncertainty of the PRS.

[0147] In some embodiments, each frequency tier within a frequency tier group has at least one parameter with its own unique value.

[0148] In some embodiments, configuration information for a plurality of positioning frequency layers is associated with configuration information for a reference frequency layer.

[0149] In some embodiments, the configuration information comprises bandwidth information associated with a value representing the maximum bandwidth configured for a frequency layer and a number representing the maximum number of bandwidths to be aggregated.

[0150] In some embodiments, the measuring is based on a plurality of signals received from the second network device, each of the signals corresponding to one of a plurality of frequency layers.

[0151] In some embodiments, each signal is measured in a positioning measurement gap, and the measurement gap (pre)configuration information comprises a priority parameter.

[0152] In some embodiments, measurement gaps are configured with the assistance of a request from a wireless device, and only one measurement gap request signaling is required for one positioning frequency layer group.

[0153] In some embodiments, the measuring is based on signaling from the second network device, the signaling including identification of multiple positioning processing windows (PPWs) in different serving cells.

[0154] In some embodiments, each serving cell of the plurality of serving cells has one activated positioning processing window, and the activated positioning processing windows share the same positioning processing window configuration.

[0155] In some embodiments, the association of different serving cells is configured by the network device or the second network device via higher layer signaling.

[0156] In some embodiments, multiple serving cells share a positioning processing window configuration of an activated positioning processing window of a reference serving cell.

[0157] In some embodiments, the positioning processing window is activated and deactivated via Medium Access Control Element (MAC CE) signaling, the MAC CE signaling comprising at least one of a serving cell identification, a serving cell group identification, a positioning processing window identification, and a reference serving cell identification.

[0158] In some embodiments, the measuring is based on a signal from the second network device, the signal comprising a plurality of first identities and a plurality of second identities, the first identities being related to the second identities based on a relationship.

[0159] In some embodiments, the relationships are configured by higher layer nodes and transmitted to the wireless devices.

[0160] In some embodiments, the plurality of first identification information are associated with the same positioning processing window configuration, which is at least one of: 1) positioning processing window (PPW) periodicity, 2) PPW length, 3) priority between physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) / physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) / channel state information reference signal (CSI-RS) and downlink positioning reference signal (DL-PRS), or 4) PPW type.

[0161] In some embodiments, the method further includes transmitting the capability information to the network device or a second network device.

[0162] In some embodiments, the capability information comprises at least one of a capability to measure and process positioning reference signal resources from multiple frequency layers in a frequency layer group within the PPW, or a capability to measure and process positioning reference signal resources from one frequency layer within the PPW.

[0163] In some embodiments, the capability information comprises a PPW processing type shared by multiple frequency layers in a frequency layer group.

[0164] In some embodiments, the capability information comprises a PPW priority handover option shared by multiple frequency tiers in a frequency tier group.

[0165] In some embodiments, the capability information comprises a maximum number of PRS resources that the wireless device can process within a range of time.

[0166] In some embodiments, the capability information comprises a maximum bandwidth supported and reported by the wireless device.

[0167] In some embodiments, the capability information comprises a time shift or phase shift between different serving cells.

[0168] In some embodiments, the measuring is completed within a time period corresponding to multiple frequency tiers.

[0169] In some embodiments, the measurement period for measuring PRSs from one frequency layer group is no shorter than that for measuring PRSs from one frequency layer and no longer than the sum of the measurement periods for measuring PRSs from each frequency layer.

[0170] In some embodiments, the period is determined based on a measurement period of a reference frequency layer.

[0171] In some embodiments, one or both of a scaling factor and / or an offset associated with the number of frequency layers may be used in the measurement period requirement formula.

[0172] In one example aspect (e.g., as depicted in FIG. 18 ), a wireless communication method is disclosed. The method includes receiving, by a wireless device, from a network device, configuration information of sounding reference signals (SRS) for positioning purposes from a plurality of serving cells, the plurality of serving cells being associated (1802), and transmitting, by the wireless device, the sounding reference signals (SRS) for positioning purposes from the plurality of serving cells to the network device (1804).

[0173] In another example aspect (e.g., as depicted in FIG. 19 ), another wireless communication method is disclosed. The method includes transmitting, by a network device to a wireless device, configuration information of sounding reference signals (SRS) for positioning purposes from a plurality of serving cells, the plurality of serving cells being associated (1902); and receiving, by the network device, from the wireless device, the sounding reference signals (SRS) for positioning purposes from the plurality of serving cells (1904).

[0174] In some embodiments, the SRS comprises common parameters shared by multiple serving cells.

[0175] In some embodiments, the common parameters comprise at least one of a source reference signal (SRS) source ID, an SRS resource set ID, an SRS resource ID list, a resource type (aperiodic, semi-persistent, periodic), an alpha value for SRS power control, a p0 value for SRS power control, a path loss reference RS, a number of SRS ports, a transmit comb size, a comb offset, a cyclic shift, a resource mapping, a frequency domain shift, a frequency hopping, a group or sequence hopping, a sequence ID, and spatial relationship information.

[0176] In some embodiments, SRS from multiple serving cells are scheduled by a single scheduling grant, which may be either Downlink Control Information (DCI), Radio Resource Control (RRC), or MAC CE.

[0177] In some embodiments, the method further includes transmitting inter-serving cell time offset information to the wireless device.

[0178] It should be understood that this document discloses methods and apparatuses related to positioning enhancement. In carrier aggregation (CA), two or more component carriers (CCs) are aggregated. A UE may simultaneously receive or transmit on one or more CCs depending on its capabilities. By expanding the bandwidth of a positioning RS (e.g., PRS, SRS for positioning purposes) through carrier aggregation techniques, it is possible to achieve higher positioning accuracy. However, there is no method for resolving positioning configuration in a CA scenario. In this patent application, a method and a signaling transfer procedure for defining positioning in a CA scenario are provided. The proposed method is beneficial for at least increasing the accuracy and efficiency of positioning procedures in wireless communication networks.

[0179] Various preferred embodiments and additional features of the previously described methods of Figures 16-19. Further examples are described with reference to embodiments 1-7.

[0180] The disclosed and other embodiments, modules, and functional operations described herein can be implemented in digital electronic circuitry, or in computer software, firmware, or hardware, including the structures disclosed herein and their functional equivalents, or in one or more combinations thereof. The disclosed and other embodiments can be implemented as one or more computer program products, i.e., one or more modules of computer program instructions encoded on a computer-readable medium for execution by or to control the operation of a data processing apparatus. The computer-readable medium can be a machine-readable storage device, a machine-readable storage substrate, a memory device, a composition affecting a machine-readable propagated signal, or a combination of one or more of these. The term "data processing apparatus" encompasses all apparatuses, devices, and machines for processing data, including, by way of example, a programmable processor, a computer, or multiple processors or computers. In addition to hardware, an apparatus can include code that creates an execution environment for the computer program, such as code comprising processor firmware, a protocol stack, a database management system, an operating system, or one or more combinations thereof. A propagated signal is an artificially generated signal, such as a machine-generated electrical, optical, or electromagnetic signal, that is generated to encode information for transmission to a suitable receiver device.

[0181] A computer program (also known as a program, software, software application, script, or code) can be written in any form of programming language, including compiled or interpreted languages, and can be deployed in any form, including as a stand-alone program or as a module, component, subroutine, or other unit suitable for use in a computing environment. A computer program does not necessarily correspond to a file in a file system. A program can be stored within a portion of a file that holds other programs or data (e.g., one or more scripts stored in a markup language document), in a single file dedicated to the program, or in multiple cooperating files (e.g., files storing one or more modules, subprograms, or portions of code). A computer program can be deployed to run on one computer or on multiple computers located at one site or distributed across multiple sites and interconnected by a communications network.

[0182] The processes and logic flows described herein may be implemented by one or more programmable processors executing one or more computer programs to perform functions by operating on input data and generating output. The processes and logic flows may also be implemented by, and apparatus may be implemented as, special purpose logic circuitry, such as an FPGA (field programmable gate array) or an ASIC (application-specific integrated circuit).

[0183] Processors suitable for executing a computer program include, by way of example, both general-purpose and special-purpose microprocessors, and any one or more processors of any kind of digital computer. Generally, a processor will receive instructions and data from a read-only memory or a random-access memory or both. The essential elements of a computer are a processor for executing instructions and one or more memory devices for storing instructions and data. Generally, a computer will include one or more mass storage devices, e.g., magnetic, magneto-optical, or optical disks, for storing data, or be operatively coupled to receive data from or transfer data to, or both. However, a computer need not have such devices. Computer-readable media suitable for storing computer program instructions and data include, by way of example, all forms of non-volatile memory, media, and memory devices, including, by way of example, semiconductor memory devices, e.g., EPROM, EEPROM, and flash memory devices, magnetic disks, e.g., internal hard disks or removable disks, magneto-optical disks, and CD-ROM and DVD-ROM disks. The processor and memory may be supplemented by, or incorporated in, special-purpose logic circuitry.

[0184] While this document contains many details, these should not be construed as limitations on the scope of the claimed invention or what may be claimed, but rather as descriptions of features specific to particular embodiments. Certain features described herein in the context of separate embodiments can also be implemented in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, various features described in the context of a single embodiment can also be implemented in multiple embodiments separately or in any suitable subcombination. Also, while features may be described above as operating in a combination and even initially claimed as such, one or more features from the claimed combination can, in some cases, be deleted from the combination, and the claimed combination may be directed to a subcombination or a variation of the subcombination. Similarly, although operations are depicted in the figures in a particular order, this should not be understood as requiring such operations to be performed in the particular order shown, or in a sequential order, or that all of the illustrated operations be performed, to achieve desirable results.

[0185] Only some examples and implementations are disclosed. Variations, modifications, and improvements of the described examples and implementations and other implementations can be made based on what is disclosed.

Claims

1. 1. A method for wireless communication, the method comprising: receiving, by a wireless device, from a network device, configuration information of positioning reference signals (PRS) associated with a plurality of positioning frequency layers, the plurality of positioning frequency layers being associated; measuring, by the wireless device, a positioning reference signal associated with the positioning frequency layer based on the configuration information; reporting, by the wireless device, to a network device, positioning measurements associated with the positioning frequency layer based on the configuration information; A method comprising:

2. 1. A method for wireless communication, the method comprising: receiving, by the network device, a request for positioning reference signal (PRS) transmission configuration information from the wireless device; transmitting, by the network device, configuration information of positioning reference signals associated with a plurality of frequency layers to the wireless device; A method comprising:

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the configuration information is determined based on a signaling interaction between the network device and a second network device.

4. The method of claim 1 or 2, wherein the configuration information comprises information relating to at least one frequency tier group.

5. 3. The method of claim 2, wherein the request is sent from the wireless device to the network device, and the request comprises at least one of: 1) a request for bandwidth aggregation based positioning, or 2) explicit parameters for bandwidth aggregation based PRS configuration, or 3) a request to change a frequency layer group, or 4) a request for inter-frequency layer association.

6. Each frequency tier group comprises at least one frequency tier, and the frequency tiers within a frequency tier group have common characteristics:

6. The method of claim 5, wherein at least one of a subcarrier spacing (SCS), an identifier (ID) for a transmission / reception point (TRP), an antenna reference point (ARP), a PRS resource set ID, a PRS resource ID, a PRS periodicity, a PRS resource slot offset, a PRS resource repetition factor, a time gap, a muting pattern, a PRS symbol number, a PRS resource slot offset, a PRS resource symbol offset, a PRS comb size and RE offset, a PRS sequence ID, a PRS quasi-collocation (QCL) information, a PRS transmit power, an expected reference signal time difference (RSTD) and an expected RSTD uncertainty of the PRS.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein each frequency tier in a frequency tier group has at least one parameter with its own unique value.

8. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the configuration information of the plurality of positioning frequency layers is associated with configuration information of a reference frequency layer.

9. 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the configuration information comprises bandwidth information, the bandwidth information being associated with a value representing a maximum bandwidth configured for one frequency layer and a number representing a maximum number of the bandwidths to be aggregated.

10. 10. The method of claim 1, wherein the measuring is based on a plurality of signals received from a second network device, each of the signals corresponding to one of the plurality of frequency layers.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein each signal is measured in a positioning measurement gap, and the measurement gap (pre)configuration information comprises a priority parameter.

12. 12. The method of claim 11, wherein the measurement gap is configured with the assistance of a request from the wireless device, and only one measurement gap request signaling is required for one positioning frequency layer group.

13. 10. The method of claim 1, wherein the measuring is based on signaling from a second network device, the signaling including identification of multiple positioning processing windows (PPWs) in different serving cells.

14. 14. The method of claim 13, wherein each serving cell of the plurality of serving cells has one activated positioning processing window, and the activated positioning processing windows share the same positioning processing window configuration.

15. The method of claim 13 , wherein the association of different serving cells is configured by the network device or the second network device via higher layer signaling.

16. The method of claim 13 , wherein the multiple serving cells share a positioning processing window configuration of an activated positioning processing window of a reference serving cell.

17. 17. The method of claim 13, 14, or 16, wherein the positioning processing window is activated and deactivated via Medium Access Control Element (MAC CE) signaling, the MAC CE signaling comprising at least one of a serving cell identification, a serving cell group identification, a positioning processing window identification, and a reference serving cell identification.

18. 4. The method of claim 1 or 3, wherein measuring is based on a signal from a second network device, the signal comprising a plurality of first identities and a plurality of second identities, the first identities being related to the second identities based on a relationship.

19. 20. The method of claim 18, wherein the relationships are configured by higher layer nodes and transmitted to the wireless devices.

20. 19. The method of claim 18, wherein the plurality of first identities are associated with the same positioning processing window configuration, which is at least one of: 1) positioning processing window (PPW) periodicity; 2) PPW length; 3) priority between a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) / physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) / channel state information reference signal (CSI-RS) and a downlink positioning reference signal (DL-PRS); or 4) PPW type.

21. The method of claim 1 or 3, further comprising transmitting capability information to the network device or a second network device.

22. 22. The method of claim 21 , wherein the capability information comprises at least one of a capability to measure and process positioning reference signal resources from multiple frequency layers in a frequency layer group within a PPW, or a capability to measure and process positioning reference signal resources from one frequency layer within a PPW.

23. 23. The method of claim 21 or claim 22, wherein the capability information comprises a PPW processing type shared by multiple frequency layers in a frequency layer group.

24. 23. The method of claim 21 or claim 22, wherein the capability information comprises a PPW priority handover option shared by multiple frequency tiers in a frequency tier group.

25. The method of claim 21 or claim 22, wherein the capability information comprises a maximum number of PRS resources that the wireless device can process within a range of time.

26. 22. The method of claim 21, wherein the capability information comprises a maximum bandwidth supported and reported by the wireless device.

27. 22. The method of claim 21, wherein the capability information comprises a time shift or a phase shift between different serving cells.

28. The method of claim 1 , wherein the measuring is completed within a time period corresponding to the plurality of frequency layers.

29. 29. The method of claim 28, wherein a measurement period for measuring PRS from one frequency layer group is not shorter than that for measuring PRS from one frequency layer and is not longer than the sum of the measurement periods for measuring PRS from each frequency layer.

30. 30. The method of claim 28, wherein the period is determined based on a measurement period of a reference frequency layer.

31. 31. The method of claim 28 or 30, wherein one or both of a scaling factor and / or an offset associated with the number of frequency layers can be used in the measurement period requirement formula.

32. 1. A method for wireless communication, the method comprising: receiving, by a wireless device, from a network device, configuration information of sounding reference signals (SRS) for positioning purposes from a plurality of serving cells, the plurality of serving cells being associated with one another; transmitting, by a wireless device, sounding reference signals (SRS) for positioning purposes from a plurality of serving cells to a network device; A method comprising:

33. 1. A method for wireless communication, the method comprising: transmitting, by a network device to a wireless device, configuration information of sounding reference signals (SRS) for positioning purposes from a plurality of serving cells, the plurality of serving cells being associated with each other; receiving, by a network device, from a wireless device, sounding reference signals (SRS) for positioning purposes from a plurality of serving cells; A method comprising:

34. 34. The method of claim 32 or 33, wherein the SRS comprises common parameters shared by the multiple serving cells.

35. 35. The method of claim 34, wherein the common parameters comprise at least one of a source reference signal (SRS) source ID, an SRS resource set ID, an SRS resource ID list, a resource type (aperiodic, semi-persistent, periodic), an alpha value for SRS power control, a p0 value for SRS power control, a path loss reference RS, a number of SRS ports, a transmit comb size, a comb offset, a cyclic shift, a resource mapping, a frequency domain shift, a frequency hopping, a group or sequence hopping, a sequence ID, and spatial relationship information.

36. 34. The method of claim 32 or 33, wherein the SRS from the multiple serving cells are scheduled by a single scheduling grant, which may be any of Downlink Control Information (DCI), Radio Resource Control (RRC), or MAC CE.

37. 34. The method of claim 33, further comprising transmitting inter-serving cell time offset information to the wireless device.

38. Apparatus for a communications network comprising a processor configured to perform the method according to any of claims 1-37.

39. A computer readable storage medium storing code which, when executed by a processor, causes the processor to perform a method according to any of claims 1-37.

Images