Wireless device positioning capability in a wireless communication network - Patents.com

Abstract

A network node 16 is configured for use in a wireless communication network 10. The network node 16 receives one or more positioning capabilities 18 of a wireless device 12 and stores the one or more positioning capabilities 18 in storage 24 located in or accessible to the network node 16. After storing the one or more positioning capabilities 18 of the wireless device 12, the network node 16 receives a positioning request 28 for the wireless device 12. In response to receiving the positioning request 28, the network node 16 retrieves the one or more positioning capabilities 18 of the wireless device 12 from the storage 24 and sends a message to a positioning server 20 of the wireless communication network 10, the message including the positioning request 28 and the one or more positioning capabilities 18 retrieved from the storage 24. In this way, the wireless device operates proactively by making the wireless device's positioning capabilities available to the network node before a positioning request is received, allowing the network node to respond in reduced time.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] This application relates generally to wireless communication networks, and more particularly to wireless device positioning capabilities in such networks. [Background technology]

[0002] In a wireless communication network, a positioning server may provide information to a wireless device to assist in positioning the wireless device. This so-called assistance information may be prepared based on the positioning capabilities of the wireless device, e.g., capabilities indicating the positioning methods that the wireless device supports. The wireless device conventionally transmits its positioning capabilities to a positioning server using a positioning protocol such as the Long Term Evolution (LTE) Positioning Protocol (LPP) or the New Radio (NR) Positioning Protocol (NRPP). Because messages of the positioning protocol are transparently relayed between the wireless device and the positioning server via the Radio Access Network (RAN) and one or more core network nodes (e.g., Access and Mobility Function (AMF)), conveying the positioning capabilities using the positioning protocol may introduce undesirable latency into the positioning. Summary of the Invention

[0003] According to some embodiments herein, the wireless device transmits a message to a network node indicating the positioning capabilities of the wireless device. The network node may be a node other than a positioning server, e.g., the network node may be an AMF or may implement an AMF. In some embodiments, the message is a Non-Access Stratum (NAS) message, e.g., including a positioning capabilities field indicating the positioning capabilities. That is, the message is conveyed via a protocol other than a positioning protocol. Alternatively, or in addition, the message may be a message of a procedure for attaching the wireless device to a wireless communication network, or a procedure for registering the wireless device to a wireless communication network. In these and other embodiments, the message and / or the positioning capabilities may be targeted and / or destined for the network node, e.g., separately and apart from any targeting of the positioning capabilities to a positioning server. In fact, the message is not transmitted (e.g., at the NAS level) to the network node as part of sending the positioning capabilities to the positioning server via a positioning protocol (e.g., LPP), but rather the wireless device transmits the positioning capabilities to the network node precisely to equip the network node with the positioning capabilities. Some embodiments do this proactively prior to any positioning request, such as when attaching or registering the device to a network, so that positioning capabilities are available to the network node once any positioning request is received. In effect, in some embodiments, the network node stores the positioning capabilities of the wireless device upon receipt, e.g., in anticipation of receiving a positioning request at some point. Thus, in these and other embodiments, the network node may obtain the positioning capabilities upon receiving a positioning request, and then transmit the positioning request along with the positioning capabilities to another network node, e.g., a positioning server. Thus, some embodiments may advantageously reduce latency in the positioning process by reducing latency that would otherwise result from obtaining positioning capabilities from the wireless device via a positioning protocol.

[0004] More particularly, embodiments herein include a method implemented by a network node configured for use in a wireless communication network. The method includes receiving one or more positioning capabilities of a wireless device and storing the one or more positioning capabilities in a storage at or accessible to the network node. The method further includes receiving a positioning request for the wireless device after storing the one or more positioning capabilities of the wireless device. The method also includes, in response to receiving the positioning request, retrieving the one or more positioning capabilities of the wireless device from the storage and sending a message to a positioning server of the wireless communication network that includes the positioning request and that includes the one or more positioning capabilities retrieved from the storage.

[0005] In some embodiments, receiving the one or more positioning capabilities includes fetching the one or more positioning capabilities from a positioning server.

[0006] In some embodiments, the one or more positioning capabilities indicate at least one of any one or more of: one or more positioning methods supported by the wireless device, a capability of the wireless device to support periodic assistance data updates, a positioning reference signal processing capability of the wireless device, a positioning reference signal resource capability of the wireless device, and a capability related to a positioning protocol supported between the wireless device and a positioning server of the wireless communication network.

[0007] In some embodiments, the positioning server implements a Location Management Function (LMF).

[0008] In some embodiments, the network node is or implements an Access and Mobility Function (AMF).

[0009] In some embodiments, each of the one or more positioning capabilities is categorized by the message as either a radio access technology (RAT) dependent positioning capability or a RAT independent positioning capability.

[0010] Other embodiments herein include a method implemented by a positioning server configured for use in a wireless communications network, the method including receiving a message from a network node of the wireless communications network, the message including a positioning request for a wireless device and including one or more positioning capabilities of the wireless device.

[0011] In some embodiments, the method further includes preparing positioning assistance information for the wireless device based on the one or more positioning capabilities of the wireless device, and sending the positioning assistance information to the wireless device.

[0012] In some embodiments, the method further includes refraining from requesting the one or more positioning capabilities from the wireless device based on the one or more positioning capabilities being included in the message.

[0013] In some embodiments, the positioning server is or implements a Location Management Function (LMF).

[0014] In some embodiments, the network node is or implements an Access and Mobility Function (AMF).

[0015] In some embodiments, the one or more positioning capabilities indicate at least one of any one or more of: one or more positioning methods supported by the wireless device, a capability of the wireless device to support periodic assistance data updates, a positioning reference signal processing capability of the wireless device, a positioning reference signal resource capability of the wireless device, and a capability related to a positioning protocol supported between the wireless device and a positioning server of the wireless communication network.

[0016] In some embodiments, each of the one or more positioning capabilities is categorized by the message as either a radio access technology (RAT) dependent positioning capability or a RAT independent positioning capability.

[0017] Another embodiment herein includes a network node configured for use in a wireless communication network. The network node is configured to receive one or more positioning capabilities of a wireless device, store the one or more positioning capabilities in a storage at or accessible to the network node, and receive a positioning request for the wireless device after storing the one or more positioning capabilities of the wireless device. The network node is further configured to, in response to receiving the positioning request, retrieve the one or more positioning capabilities of the wireless device from the storage and send a message to a positioning server of the wireless communication network, the message including the positioning request and including the one or more positioning capabilities retrieved from the storage.

[0018] In some embodiments, the network node is configured to perform the steps described above with respect to the network node.

[0019] Other embodiments herein include a positioning server configured for use in a wireless communication network, the positioning server configured to receive a message from a network node of the wireless communication network, the message including a positioning request for a wireless device and including one or more positioning capabilities of the wireless device.

[0020] In some embodiments, the positioning server is configured to perform the steps described above with respect to the positioning server.

[0021] Other embodiments herein include a computer program comprising instructions that, when executed by at least one processor of the network node, cause the network node to perform the steps described above with respect to the network node. Other embodiments herein include a computer program comprising instructions that, when executed by at least one processor of the positioning server, cause the positioning server to perform the steps described above with respect to the positioning server. In one or more of these embodiments, the carrier carrying the computer program is one of an electronic signal, an optical signal, a radio signal, or a computer readable storage medium.

[0022] Another embodiment herein includes a computer network node configured for use in a wireless communication network. The network node comprises a communications circuit and a processing circuit. The processing circuit is configured to receive one or more positioning capabilities of a wireless device, store the one or more positioning capabilities in a storage at or accessible to the network node, and receive a positioning request for the wireless device after storing the one or more positioning capabilities of the wireless device. The processing circuit is also configured to, in response to receiving the positioning request, retrieve the one or more positioning capabilities of the wireless device from the storage and send a message to a positioning server of the wireless communication network that includes the positioning request and that includes the one or more positioning capabilities retrieved from the storage.

[0023] In some embodiments, the processing circuitry is configured to perform the steps described above with respect to the network node.

[0024] Another embodiment herein includes a positioning server configured for use in a wireless communication network, the positioning server comprising a communications circuit and a processing circuit configured to receive a message from a network node of the wireless communication network, the message including a positioning request for a wireless device and including one or more positioning capabilities of the wireless device.

[0025] In some embodiments, the processing circuitry is configured to perform the steps described above with respect to the positioning server.

[0026] Other embodiments herein include a method implemented by a wireless device configured for use in a wireless communications network, the method including determining, based on a timer of the wireless device, a time at which the wireless device will provide one or more positioning capabilities of the wireless device to the wireless communications network without consent, and providing, at the determined time, the one or more positioning capabilities of the wireless device to the wireless communications network without consent.

[0027] In some embodiments, determining the time includes determining, upon expiration of a timer, to provide one or more positioning capabilities of the wireless device to the wireless communication network without consent.

[0028] In some embodiments, determining the time includes determining to refrain from unauthorizedly providing one or more positioning capabilities of the wireless device to the wireless communication network while the timer is running.

[0029] In some embodiments, the method further includes receiving signaling from a wireless communication network that sets a value of the timer.

[0030] Other embodiments herein include a wireless device configured for use in a wireless communication network, where the wireless device is configured to determine, based on a timer of the wireless device, a time at which the wireless device will provide one or more positioning capabilities of the wireless device to the wireless communication network without consent, and to provide, at the determined time, the one or more positioning capabilities of the wireless device to the wireless communication network without consent.

[0031] In some embodiments, the wireless device is configured to perform the steps described above with respect to the wireless device.

[0032] Other embodiments herein include a computer program comprising instructions that, when executed by at least one processor of a wireless device, cause the wireless device to perform the steps described above with respect to the wireless device.

[0033] In some embodiments, the carrier carrying the computer program is one of an electronic signal, an optical signal, a radio signal, or a computer readable storage medium.

[0034] Other embodiments herein include a wireless device configured for use in a wireless communications network, the wireless device comprising communications circuitry and processing circuitry, the processing circuitry configured to determine, based on a timer of the wireless device, a time at which the wireless device will provide one or more positioning capabilities of the wireless device to the wireless communications network without consent, and to provide, at the determined time, the one or more positioning capabilities of the wireless device to the wireless communications network without consent.

[0035] In some embodiments, the processing circuitry is configured to perform the steps described above with respect to the wireless device.

[0036] Of course, the present invention is not limited to the above features and advantages. Indeed, those skilled in the art will recognize additional features and advantages upon reading the following detailed description, and upon viewing the accompanying drawings. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0037] [Figure 1] 1 is a block diagram illustrating a wireless communication network according to some embodiments. [Diagram 2] 1 is a logic flow diagram illustrating a method implemented by a wireless device according to some embodiments. [Diagram 3] FIG. 1 is a logic flow diagram illustrating a method performed by a network node according to some embodiments. [Figure 4] FIG. 11 is a logic flow diagram illustrating a method implemented by a network node according to another embodiment. [Diagram 5] 1 is a block diagram illustrating a wireless device according to some embodiments. [Figure 6] 1 is a block diagram illustrating a network node according to some embodiments. [Figure 7] FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a positioning architecture in E-UTRA, according to some embodiments. [Figure 8] FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a positioning architecture in New Radio (NR), according to some embodiments. [Figure 9] FIG. 1 is a call flow diagram for Long Term Evolution Positioning Protocol (LPP) User Equipment (UE) capability acquisition in the prior art. [Figure 10] A logic flow diagram illustrating a method performed by a network node (e.g., AMF) according to some embodiments. [Figure 11] 1 is a logic flow diagram illustrating a method implemented by a network node (e.g., an LMF) in accordance with some embodiments. [Figure 12] 1 is a logic flow diagram illustrating a method performed by a target device (e.g., a UE) in accordance with some embodiments. [Figure 13] FIG. 13 is a call flow diagram for positioning capability handling according to some embodiments. [Figure 14] FIG. 13 is a call flow diagram for positioning capability handling according to another embodiment. [Figure 15] FIG. 13 is a call flow diagram for positioning capability handling according to yet another embodiment. [Figure 16] 1 is a block diagram illustrating a wireless communication network according to some embodiments. [Figure 17] 1 is a block diagram illustrating a user equipment according to some embodiments. [Figure 18] FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a virtual environment in accordance with some embodiments. [Figure 19] FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a communication network with a host computer according to some embodiments. [Figure 20] FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a host computer according to some embodiments. [Figure 21] 1 is a flow chart illustrating a method implemented in a communication system according to one embodiment. [Figure 22] 1 is a flow chart illustrating a method implemented in a communication system according to one embodiment. [Figure 23] 1 is a flow chart illustrating a method implemented in a communication system according to one embodiment. [Figure 24] 1 is a flow chart illustrating a method implemented in a communication system according to one embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0038] 1 illustrates a wireless communication network 10 (e.g., a 5G network) according to some embodiments. A wireless device 12 as illustrated is configured to transmit a message 14 to a network node 16 of the wireless communication network 10, e.g., a Core Network (CN) node such as an Access and Mobility Function (AMF). The message 14 indicates a positioning capability 18 of the wireless device 12.

[0039] The positioning capabilities 18 may include one or more capabilities applicable or related to positioning of the wireless device 12. For example, the positioning capabilities 18 may indicate one or more positioning methods supported by the wireless device, the capability of the wireless device to support periodic assistance data updates, the positioning reference signal processing capability of the wireless device, and / or the positioning reference signal resource capability of the wireless device. Alternatively, or in addition, the positioning capabilities 18 may indicate capabilities related to a positioning protocol (e.g., LPP or NRPP) supported between the wireless device 12 and a positioning server, or positioning functionality in the wireless communication network 10. FIG. 1 illustrates, for example, a network node 20 that is or implements a Location Management Function (LMF), for example, with which the wireless device 12 and the network node 20 communicate via a positioning protocol.

[0040] In these and other embodiments, the wireless device 12 may transmit the message 14 to the network node 16 for the purpose of providing the network node 16 with positioning capabilities 18 itself, i.e., the network node 16 is itself the target or destination of the positioning capabilities 18. For example, in some embodiments, the message 14 is a Non-Access Stratum (NAS) message. In one or more such embodiments, the NAS message may be a message other than a NAS transport message and / or may not carry a positioning protocol message. For example, rather than encapsulating a positioning protocol message within the message 14 and transmitting the message 14 to the network node 16 so that the network node 16 can relay the positioning protocol message to the network node 20, the wireless device 12 according to some embodiments transmits the message 14 to the network node 16 separately from, and excluding, any positioning protocol procedures. Alternatively, or in addition, message 14 may be transmitted to network node 16 in a manner that is non-transparent to network node 16, i.e., network node 16 processes and obtains positioning capabilities 18 from message 14, as opposed to simply transparently forwarding message 14 and / or positioning capabilities 18 to network node 20. In some embodiments, for example, message 14 includes a positioning capabilities field 22 that indicates positioning capabilities 18. In this case, network node 16 may process message 14 to obtain positioning capabilities 18 from positioning capabilities field 22. Effectively, in some embodiments, network node 16 sends a request for positioning capabilities 18 (e.g., a NAS request message) to wireless device 12.

[0041] Alternatively, or in addition, the message 14 may be a message for a procedure to attach the wireless device 12 to the wireless communication network 10 or for a procedure to register the wireless device 12 to the wireless communication network 10. The message 14 may be, for example, an attach request message requesting to attach the wireless device 12 to the wireless communication network 10. Or, the message 14 may be an area update request message requesting an update to the registration of the tracking area of ​​the wireless device 12 or the registration area of ​​the wireless device 12.

[0042] In these and other embodiments, the wireless device 12 may proactively transmit a message 12 with the positioning capabilities 18 prior to any positioning request, so that the positioning capabilities 18 are available to the network node 16 once any positioning request is received. In effect, in some embodiments, the network node 16 stores the positioning capabilities 18 of the wireless device 12 upon receipt, for example, in anticipation of receiving a positioning request at some point. FIG. 1 illustrates the network node 16 as, for example, storing the positioning capabilities 18 in storage 24 that is at or accessible to the network node 16. The storage 24 may, in some embodiments, be, for example, a Unified Data Management (UDM) or be provided by a UDM. However, regardless of the nature of the storage 24, the network node 16 may retrieve the positioning capabilities 18 from the storage 24 upon receiving a positioning request and then transmit the positioning request to the network node 20 along with the positioning capabilities 18. 1, in this regard, illustrates network node 16 sending signaling to network node 20 including both positioning request 28 and positioning capabilities 18, e.g., in the same message. Network node 16, in these and other embodiments, may then proactively provide positioning capabilities 18 to network node 20 without network node 20 having to request such capabilities. In accordance with the above, some embodiments may advantageously reduce latency in the positioning process by reducing latency that would otherwise result from obtaining positioning capabilities 18 from wireless device 12 via a positioning protocol.

[0043] Thus, in general, according to embodiments herein, the network node 16 acquires the positioning capabilities 18 of the wireless device 12 and stores the positioning capabilities 18 so that the network node 16 can later proactively provide the stored positioning capabilities 18 to another network node 20 along with a positioning request 28. In some embodiments, the network node 16 acquires the positioning capabilities 18 from the wireless device 12, for example, in a message of a procedure for attaching the wireless device 12 to the wireless communication network 10 or a procedure for registering the wireless device 12 to the wireless communication network 10. However, in other embodiments, the network node 16 acquires the positioning capabilities 18 from the other network node 20. For example, the network node 16 may acquire the positioning capabilities 18 from the other network node 20 and store the positioning capabilities 18. Then, when the network node 16 later receives the positioning request 28, the network node 16 may proactively provide the stored positioning capabilities 18 to the other network node 20 along with the positioning request 28.

[0044] In view of the modifications and variations herein, Figure 2 illustrates a method performed by a wireless device 12 in accordance with a particular embodiment. The method includes transmitting a message 14 indicating a positioning capability 18 of the wireless device 12 to a network node 16 of a wireless communication network 10 (block 210).

[0045] The positioning capabilities may indicate, for example, (i) one or more positioning methods supported by the wireless device 12, (ii) the capability of the wireless device 12 to support periodic assistance data updates, (iii) the positioning reference signal processing capability of the wireless device 12, and / or (iv) the positioning reference signal resource capability of the wireless device 12. Alternatively, or in addition, the positioning capabilities may be radio access technology (RAT) dependent positioning capabilities or RAT independent positioning capabilities. Alternatively, or in addition, the positioning capabilities may include capabilities related to a positioning protocol supported between the wireless device and a positioning server of the wireless communication network.

[0046] In any event, in some embodiments, the message 14 is a message for a procedure to attach or register the wireless device 12 to the wireless communication network 10. In these and other embodiments, the message 14 may be an attach request message requesting to attach the wireless device 12 to the wireless communication network 10. In other embodiments, the message 14 may be an area update request message requesting an update to the registration of the tracking area of ​​the wireless device 12 or the registration area of ​​the wireless device 12. In yet other embodiments, the message may be a request for one or more positioning encryption keys.

[0047] In some embodiments, the network node to which the message is sent is or implements an Access and Mobility Function (AMF), which in this case may be interconnected to, for example, multiple Location Management Functions (LMFs).

[0048] In these and other embodiments, the message may be a Non-Access Stratum (NAS) message. In one such embodiment, the message may include a positioning capabilities field that indicates the positioning capabilities of the wireless device. Alternatively, or in addition, the message may be transmitted to the network node (block 200) in response to receiving a NAS request for positioning capabilities. In this case, for example, the NAS request may be received in response to transmitting a mobile-originated location request to the network node.

[0049] In another embodiment, the message is a mobile originated location request contained in an uplink NAS transport message. In one such embodiment, the positioning capability is embedded in the message as a positioning protocol message.

[0050] In either case, in some embodiments, the method further includes receiving positioning assistance information from another network node of the wireless communication network (block 220). For example, the other network node may be a Location Management Function (LMF) or may implement an LMF. Alternatively, or in addition, the positioning assistance information may be received along with or simultaneously with the positioning request.

[0051] 3 illustrates a method implemented by a network node 16 configured for use in a wireless communications network 10 in accordance with another particular embodiment. In some embodiments, the method includes receiving a message 14 from a wireless device 12 indicating a positioning capability 18 of the wireless device 12 (block 310).

[0052] The positioning capabilities may indicate, for example, (i) one or more positioning methods supported by the wireless device 12, (ii) the capability of the wireless device 12 to support periodic assistance data updates, (iii) the positioning reference signal processing capability of the wireless device 12, and / or (iv) the positioning reference signal resource capability of the wireless device 12. Alternatively, or in addition, the positioning capabilities may be radio access technology (RAT) dependent positioning capabilities or RAT independent positioning capabilities. Alternatively, or in addition, the positioning capabilities may include capabilities related to a positioning protocol supported between the wireless device and a positioning server of the wireless communication network.

[0053] In any event, in some embodiments, the message 14 is a message for a procedure to attach or register the wireless device 12 to the wireless communication network 10. In these and other embodiments, the message 14 may be an attach request message requesting to attach the wireless device 12 to the wireless communication network 10. In other embodiments, the message 14 may be an area update request message requesting an update to the registration of the tracking area of ​​the wireless device 12 or the registration area of ​​the wireless device 12. In yet other embodiments, the message may be a request for one or more positioning encryption keys.

[0054] In some embodiments, the network node is or implements an Access and Mobility Function (AMF), which in this case may be interconnected to, for example, multiple Location Management Functions (LMFs).

[0055] In these and other embodiments, the message may be a Non-Access Stratum (NAS) message. In one such embodiment, the message may include a positioning capabilities field indicating the positioning capabilities of the wireless device. Alternatively, or in addition, the method may further include transmitting to the wireless device 12 a NAS request for positioning capabilities 18 (block 300). In this case, the positioning capabilities 18 may be received in response to the NAS request. In one embodiment, the NAS request may be transmitted in response to receiving a mobile-originated location request from the wireless device.

[0056] In another embodiment, the message is a mobile originated location request contained in an uplink NAS transport message. In one such embodiment, the positioning capability is embedded in the message as a positioning protocol message.

[0057] In contrast, although not shown, the method may alternatively include receiving the positioning capabilities 18 from another network node 20, such as a positioning server.

[0058] However, regardless of how the network node 16 acquires the positioning capabilities 18 of the wireless device 12, in some embodiments the method includes storing the positioning capabilities 18 of the wireless device 12 in storage 24 at or accessible to the network node 16 (block 320). For example, the storage 24 may be a unified data management (UDM) storage accessible to the network node 16.

[0059] Alternatively or additionally, the method may include receiving a positioning request 28 for the wireless device 12 (block 330). The method may further include sending the positioning request 28 along with the positioning capabilities 18 of the wireless device 12 to another network node 20. The other network node 20 may be, for example, a positioning server of the wireless communication network 10, such as, for example, being a Location Management Function (LMF) or implementing an LMF. In any case, in some embodiments, the positioning request 28 is sent along with the positioning capabilities 18, in the sense that the positioning request 28 and the positioning capabilities 18 are sent in the same message. For example, the method may include sending a message including the positioning request 28 and including the positioning capabilities 18 of the wireless device 12.

[0060] As such, it should be noted that in some embodiments, the method includes storing positioning capabilities 18 in storage 24 prior to receiving a positioning request 28 for wireless device 12. In this case, the method includes retrieving positioning capabilities 18 from storage 24 in response to receiving the positioning request 28 for sending along with the positioning request 28 to other network nodes 20.

[0061] 4 illustrates a method implemented by a network node 20 configured for use in a wireless communications network 10 in accordance with yet another particular embodiment. The method includes receiving a positioning request 28 for a wireless device 12, along with positioning capabilities 18 of the wireless device 12, from another network node 16 (block 400). In some embodiments, the positioning request 28 is received along with the positioning capabilities 18, in the sense that the positioning request 28 and the positioning capabilities 18 are received in the same message. For example, the method may include receiving a message that includes the positioning request 28 and that includes the positioning capabilities 18 of the wireless device 12.

[0062] In some embodiments, the method also includes preparing positioning assistance information for the wireless device 12 based on the wireless device's positioning capabilities 18 (block 410). The method, in this case, may further include sending the positioning assistance information to the wireless device 12 (block 420).

[0063] Alternatively, or in addition, the method may include refraining from requesting positioning capabilities 18 from wireless device 12 based on positioning request 24 being received with positioning capabilities 18 .

[0064] Positioning capabilities 18, in these embodiments, may similarly indicate (i) one or more positioning methods supported by the wireless device 12, (ii) the capability of the wireless device 12 to support periodic assistance data updates, (iii) the positioning reference signal processing capability of the wireless device 12, and / or (iv) the positioning reference signal resource capability of the wireless device 12. Alternatively, or in addition, positioning capabilities may be radio access technology (RAT) dependent positioning capabilities or RAT independent positioning capabilities. Alternatively, or in addition, positioning capabilities may include capabilities related to a positioning protocol supported between the wireless device and a positioning server of the wireless communication network.

[0065] Embodiments herein also include corresponding apparatus, e.g., a wireless device 12 configured to perform any of the steps of any of the embodiments described above with respect to the wireless device 12.

[0066] The embodiment also includes a wireless device 12 comprising a processing circuit and a power supply circuit. The processing circuit is configured to perform any of the steps of any of the embodiments described above with respect to the wireless device 12. The power supply circuit is configured to supply power to the wireless device 12.

[0067] The embodiments further include a wireless device 12 comprising a processing circuit configured to perform any of the steps of any of the embodiments described above with respect to the wireless device 12. In some embodiments, the wireless device 12 further comprises a communication circuit.

[0068] The embodiment further includes a wireless device 12 comprising a processing circuit and a memory, the memory containing instructions executable by the processing circuit to configure the wireless device 12 to perform any of the steps of any of the embodiments described above with respect to the wireless device 12.

[0069] The embodiments further include a user equipment (UE). The UE comprises an antenna configured to transmit and receive wireless signals. The UE also comprises a radio front-end circuit coupled to the antenna and the processing circuit and configured to condition signals communicated between the antenna and the processing circuit. The processing circuit is configured to perform any of the steps of any of the embodiments described above with respect to the wireless device 12. In some embodiments, the UE also comprises an input interface coupled to the processing circuit and configured to allow information input to the UE to be processed by the processing circuit. The UE may also comprise an output interface coupled to the processing circuit and configured to output information from the UE that has been processed by the processing circuit. The UE may also comprise a battery coupled to the processing circuit and configured to provide power to the UE.

[0070] Embodiments herein also include network nodes 16, 20 configured to perform any of the steps of any of the embodiments described above with respect to network nodes 16, 20.

[0071] The embodiments also include a network node 16, 20 comprising a processing circuit and a power supply circuit. The processing circuit is configured to perform any of the steps of any of the embodiments described above with respect to the network node 16, 20. The power supply circuit is configured to supply power to the network node 16, 20.

[0072] The embodiments further include a network node 16, 20 comprising processing circuitry configured to perform any of the steps of any of the embodiments described above with respect to the network node 16, 20. In some embodiments, the network node 16, 20 further comprises communication circuitry.

[0073] The embodiments further include a network node 16, 20 comprising a processing circuit and a memory, the memory containing instructions executable by the processing circuit to configure the network node 16, 20 to perform any of the steps of any of the embodiments described above with respect to the network node 16, 20.

[0074] More specifically, the above-mentioned apparatus may perform the methods and any other processes herein by implementing any functional means, module, unit, or circuit. In one embodiment, for example, the apparatus comprises a respective circuit or circuitry configured to perform the steps shown in the method diagrams. The circuit or circuitry in this regard may comprise one or more microprocessors in conjunction with dedicated circuitry and / or memory to perform specific functional processes. For example, the circuitry may include one or more microprocessors or microcontrollers, as well as other digital hardware that may include digital signal processors (DSPs), dedicated digital logic, and the like. The processing circuitry may be configured to execute program code stored in memory, which may include one or several types of memory, such as read-only memory (ROM), random access memory, cache memory, flash memory devices, optical storage devices, and the like. In some embodiments, the program code stored in memory may include program instructions for implementing one or more electrical communication and / or data communication protocols, as well as instructions for implementing one or more of the techniques described herein. In embodiments using memory, the memory stores program code that, when executed by one or more processors, performs the techniques described herein.

[0075] FIG. 5 illustrates, for example, a wireless device 500 (e.g., wireless device 12) as implemented in accordance with one or more embodiments. As illustrated, the wireless device 500 includes a processing circuit 510 and a communication circuit 520. The communication circuit 520 (e.g., a radio circuit) is configured to transmit and / or receive information to and / or from one or more other nodes, for example, via any communication technology. Such communication may occur via one or more antennas, either internal or external to the wireless device 500. The processing circuit 510 is configured to perform the processing, for example, as described above in FIG. 2, such as by executing instructions stored in a memory 530. The processing circuit 510 may implement certain functional means, units, or modules in this regard.

[0076] FIG. 6 illustrates a network node 600 (e.g., network node 16 or network node 20) as implemented in accordance with one or more embodiments. As illustrated, network node 600 includes processing circuitry 610 and communication circuitry 620. The communication circuitry 620 is configured to transmit and / or receive information to and / or from one or more other nodes, e.g., via any communication technology. The processing circuitry 610 is configured to perform the processes described above in FIG. 3 and / or FIG. 4, e.g., by executing instructions stored in memory 630. The processing circuitry 610 may implement certain functional means, units, or modules in this regard.

[0077] Those skilled in the art will also recognize that the embodiments herein further include corresponding computer programs.

[0078] The computer program comprises instructions which, when executed by at least one processor of the apparatus, cause the apparatus to perform any of the respective operations described above. The computer program may in this respect comprise one or more code modules which correspond to the means or units described above.

[0079] Embodiments further include a carrier carrying such a computer program, which may include one of an electronic signal, an optical signal, a radio signal, or a computer readable storage medium.

[0080] In this regard, embodiments herein also include a computer program product that is stored on a non-transitory computer-readable (storage or recording) medium and that comprises instructions that, when executed by a processor of the device, cause the device to perform the operations as described above.

[0081] The embodiments further include a computer program product comprising program code portions for performing any of the steps of the embodiments herein when the computer program product is executed by a computing device. The computer program product may be stored on a computer-readable recording medium.

[0082] Further embodiments are now described, at least some of which may be described, for illustrative purposes, as being applicable in particular contexts and / or wireless network types, but the embodiments are likewise applicable to other contexts and / or wireless network types not expressly described.

[0083] Some embodiments herein may be applicable to a wireless communication network that is or is based on a 5G network. For example, some embodiments may be applicable to New Radio (NR) positioning.

[0084] Positioning has been a consideration in 3GPP since Release 9. The positioning architecture of Long Term Evolution (LTE) consists of three main components as shown in Figure 7 (TS 36.305 v16.2.0). One component is the Location Service (LCS) Client. The LCS Client is the entity that sends the request to obtain location information about the LCS Target. The client can be an entity in the CN or the LCS Target itself. Another component is the LCS Target, which is typically a device (UE). The third component is the LCS Server. The LCS Server is the entity that receives requests from the client and manages the positioning for the LCS Target device. This entity is called E-SMLC (Evolved Serving Mobile Location) in LTE. The E-SMLC collects measurements from the UE and base stations via the specified positioning protocols (LPP and LPPa) and calculates the UE positioning. The positioning result is then sent to the LCS Client together with the location information.

[0085] Protocols used for LTE positioning include the LTE Positioning Protocol (LPP) and LPPa. LPP is a point-to-point communication protocol between an e-SMLC and a device. LPPa is a communication protocol between an eNodeB and an e-SMLC.

[0086] Since Release-15 and the introduction of NR, it has been agreed that the LPP protocol between the UE and the location server will be reused for UE positioning in both NR and LTE (TS 37.355 v16.2.0). In the core network, a new logical node called the Location Management Function (LMF) will be the main server responsible for the calculation of the UE position based on NR, E-UTRA or both Radio Access Technology (RAT) specific positioning methods.

[0087] In the NR architecture, NG-RAN nodes are connected to the Core Network (CN) via the NG interface. This new interface between the RAN and the CN specifies a new protocol called NR Positioning Protocol A (NRPPa) (TS 38.455 v16.1.0) that conveys positioning information between the NG-RAN and the Location Management Function (LMF).

[0088] The NR positioning architecture is specified in Figure 8 (TS 38.305 v16.2.0). The Access and Mobility Function (AMF) receives a request for certain location services associated with a particular target UE from another entity (e.g., a Gateway Mobile Location Center (GMLC) or a UE) or the AMF itself decides to initiate certain location services on behalf of a particular target UE (e.g., in case of an Internet Protocol (IP) Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) emergency call from the UE), as described in TS 23.502 v16.6.0 and TS 23.273 v16.4.0. The AMF then sends a location service request to the LMF. The LMF processes the location service request, which may include conveying assistance data to the target UE to assist in UE-based and / or UE-assisted positioning and / or may include positioning of the target UE. The LMF then returns the results of the location service to the AMF (e.g., a position estimate for the UE). For location services requested by an entity other than the AMF (e.g., a GMLC or a UE), the AMF returns the location service result to this entity.

[0089] An NG-RAN node may control several transmit reception points (TRPs) / transmission points (TPs), such as remote radio heads, or downlink positioning reference signal-only (DL-PRS-only) TPs to support a PRS-based terrestrial beacon system (TBS).

[0090] The LMF may have a proprietary signaling connection to the E-SMLC that may allow the LMF to access information from the E-UTRAN (e.g., to support Observed Time Difference of Arrival (OTDOA) for the E-UTRA positioning method that uses downlink measurements acquired by the target UE of signals from the eNB and / or PRS-only TP in the E-UTRAN). Details of the signaling interaction between the LMF and the E-SMLC are outside the scope of this specification.

[0091] For Rel-17 NR positioning, latency should be optimized for NR positioning that can meet the target latency requirement of <100ms, with latencies in the order of 10ms being preferred for Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) use cases.

[0092] Therefore, there is a need for signaling and procedures that provide improved accuracy, reduced latency, and improved network and device efficiency while preserving the positioning NR architecture and existing positioning techniques as specified in Rel-16.

[0093] Currently, there are certain challenges in this regard, for which some embodiments provide solutions. There is an increasing demand for many use cases requiring positioning. Furthermore, the demand for positioning is growing with respect to different performance criteria such as accuracy, latency, and reliability. Positioning use cases in the Ultra-Reliable Low Latency Communication (URLLC) domain also face difficult conditions for deriving positioning estimates with very low latency requirements. Although the latency on the nodes of the core network is not the main part of the positioning latency, with proper communication mechanisms and data handling in those core nodes, it is possible to systematically reduce the positioning latency for all UEs, which would have a significant impact overall.

[0094] Conventionally, the AMF sends a positioning request to the LMF through the NL interface of the core network (CN), which is transparent to any UE or RAN associations and signals only LLP or NRPPa information.

[0095] In particular, several hops are conventionally required to acquire UE capabilities as shown in Figure 9. LPP requested capabilities need to be relayed via the control plane, by the AMF to the gNB and finally to the UE. Similarly, messages now on the uplink (UL) would be relayed using the same hops. This can take up to 80ms to acquire UE capabilities at the LMF.

[0096] Furthermore, in some embodiments, the centralized AMF may be connected to multiple LMFs located at different sites in a large industrial network or city. LMF / LCS servers may be deployed at different sites far away from the AMF location depending on location service requirements (e.g., LMFs are deployed close to gNBs for stringent QoS such as low latency and / or high accuracy). The centralized AMF will handle registration services for LCS target location requests as well as registration services for general cellular UEs coexisting in the same industrial area. Thus, a single centralized AMF will handle multiple UE subscriptions at the separate sites at the same time through CP signaling and trigger dedicated requests for UE positioning capabilities to different LMFs. This would traditionally lead to increased latency in the backhaul network and congestion on the NL interface.

[0097] Certain aspects of the present disclosure and their embodiments may provide solutions to these and other problems. For example, to improve overall latency and minimize delays in the CN, particularly in the backhaul network, some embodiments herein improve the interconnection between the LMF and the AMF.

[0098] In particular, some embodiments consider the case where a backhaul network interconnects multiple LMFs to the same centralized AMF, improving the latency in the CN between the LMF and the AMF and allowing the UE to acquire capabilities at a faster rate. A mechanism is provided based on providing the positioning capabilities of the LCS target device to the AMF during the UE registration procedure. The AMF stores the capabilities and provides them to the LMF upon request / relay of information for determining UE positioning from the LCS client.

[0099] As used herein, the terms UE, target device, and LCS target device are used interchangeably. The following steps of some embodiments are provided for network node 1 (e.g., AMF), network node 2 (e.g., LMF), and target device, respectively. Network node 1 is an example of network node 16 of FIG. 1, and network node 2 is an example of network node 20 of FIG. 1. UE is an example of wireless device 12 of FIG. 1. Positioning capabilities as described below are an example of positioning capabilities 18 of FIG. 1.

[0100] FIG. 10 illustrates steps from the perspective of a network node 1 (eg, AMF) according to some embodiments.

[0101] Step 1000. Receive a positioning capability of the UE upon TAU registration, where the positioning capability may be received in a message 14, as an example of the type of message 14 in FIG.

[0102] Step 1010. The positioning capabilities are stored in, for example, the AMF or Unified Data Management (UDM), as an example of storage 24 in Fig. 1. Another example of storage is the UE Radio Capability Management Function (UCMF), or in a new management function dedicated to positioning capabilities (e.g., UE Positioning Capability Management Function).

[0103] Step 1020. Receive a positioning request for the target UE.

[0104] Step 1030. Send a positioning request with the target device positioning capability to network node 2 (eg, LMF).

[0105] FIG. 11 illustrates steps from the perspective of a network node 2 (eg, LMF) according to some embodiments.

[0106] Step 1100. Receive a positioning request and positioning capabilities of a target device from a network node 1.

[0107] Step 1110. Prepare positioning assistance information based on the target device capabilities.

[0108] Step 1120. Send the positioning assistance information to the target device.

[0109] Note that the capability signaling between the target device and network node 2 has been omitted.

[0110] FIG. 12 illustrates the steps from the perspective of the target device according to some embodiments.

[0111] Step 1200. At the TAU, the positioning capability is also reported to the network node 1.

[0112] Step 1210. Upon positioning request, the target device receives positioning assistance information directly from the network node 2.

[0113] Some embodiments impact memory usage of UDM nodes in 5G, which can be optimized by appropriate coding of positioning capabilities. Furthermore, since the positioning capabilities of a target device do not change significantly over time, in one embodiment, network node 1 simply ACK / NACKs the information stored in the UDM for the target device upon a new tracking area update (TAU), reducing the occasional overwriting of similar information.

[0114] Some embodiments reduce the latency of capability fetching between the AMF / LMF and the UE for positioning.

[0115] Certain embodiments may provide one or more of the following technical advantages: One technical advantage of some embodiments is that "proactive" signaling of UE positioning capabilities during the registration procedure can improve CN latency and reduce NL signaling message overhead. Alternatively or in addition, some embodiments ensure the coexistence of a centralized AMF handling multiple subscriptions for UEs spread across a large industrial area. Alternatively or in addition, some embodiments reduce the amount of backhaul signaling.

[0116] FIG. 13 illustrates an enhanced attachment / TAU procedure and enhanced AMF to LMF signaling according to some embodiments to provide UE positioning capability during a TAU or attachment procedure.

[0117] In particular, a UE in a TAU / registration or attachment procedure includes UE positioning capability, e.g., a TAU / attach request is an example of message 14 in Figure 1. This capability is stored in the AMF, e.g., as an example of network node 16. When the AMF receives a location request from an external client, such as GMLC, or another client, such as a UE, during a Mobile Originated (MP) Location Request (MO-LR) procedure, the AMF includes the positioning capability to the LMF, e.g., as an example of network node 20. In this case, the location request + positioning capability is an example of signaling 26 in Figure 1.

[0118] If the AMF does not have any capabilities stored for the UE, it indicates such information for the LMF, or the absence of such information implicitly indicates that the AMF does not have the UE capabilities.

[0119] In such a case, the LMF follows the legacy procedure to acquire the UE capabilities, which are notified to the AMF, so that when the UE provides the capabilities, the AMF stores them and forwards them to the LMF.

[0120] In such a case, the LPP UE capabilities shown in FIG. 3, the RRC UL information transfer in step 2-1, and the NGAP uplink NAS transport in step 2-2 are marked to include the UE positioning capability and for the AMF to decode and store the capability. Alternatively, if the AMF cannot obtain the capability, it may fetch it from the LMF and store it.

[0121] Positioning capabilities when fetching encryption keys Alternatively or in addition, if the UE can perform a positioning request for a ciphering key from the AMF, the AMF identifies / learns that this UE is positionable and therefore verifies whether it has a positioning capability for the UE, and if the positioning capability is impaired, then requests the UE to provide the capability.

[0122] In one embodiment, during the initial LCS target UE registration procedure to the AMF for a positioning encryption key, the AMF identifies the UE as positioning capable and therefore acquires the capability only from such UE. The AMF verifies whether the UE positioning capability is stored, and if not, in a subsequent message or new signaling, the AMF requests the UE to provide the positioning capability.

[0123] Improved MO-LR Procedures Furthermore, if the UE asks for any assistance data or location request as part of a Mobile Originated (MO) Location Request (LR) (MO-LR) procedure, the AMF verifies whether the UE positioning capability is stored. If the capability is not stored, new signaling is defined to obtain and fetch the UE positioning capability using NAS signaling, or existing signaling is extended to include the new signaling. This new signaling is an example of message 14 in Figure 1.

[0124] As shown in Figure 14, steps 3 to 7 are new procedures and signaling flows for the MO-LR procedure to obtain and provide UE capabilities to the LMF. Steps 4 and 5 are optional depending on whether the capabilities are already stored / available in the AMF. The provision of capabilities in step 5 is an example of message 14 in Figure 1. Nlmf_Location_Determination_Request+UE positioning capabilities in step 7 is an example of signaling 26 in Figure 1.

[0125] Alternatively, the UL NAS transport message in step 2 can be updated as follows (as modified from the existing procedural description according to section 6.2 of 3GPP TS 23.273 v16.4.0): In this case, the UL NAS transport message in step 2 is another example of message 14 in FIG.

[0126] 2) The UE sends a MO-LR request message included in a UL NAS TRANSPORT message. The MO-LR request may optionally include an LPP positioning message. Different types of location services (UE location estimate, UE location estimate sent to an LCS client or application function (AF), or location assistance data) can be requested. If the UE is requesting its location or requesting its location to be sent to an LCS client or AF, this message conveys to the LCS the requested Quality of Service (QoS) information (e.g., accuracy, response time, LCS QoS class), the requested maximum location period, and the requested location type (e.g., "current location", "current or last known location"). If the UE is requesting its location to be sent to an LCS client, the message shall include the identity of the LCS client or AF and may include the address of the GMLC to which the LCS client or AF should be addressed (via the Network Publication Function (NEF)). In addition, the service identity may be included indicating which MO-LR service of the LCS client is requested by the UE. The message may also include a pseudo indicator, indicating that a pseudonym should be allocated by the network and conveyed to the LCS client as the UE's identity. If the UE is instead requesting location assistance data, the embedded LPP message specifies the type of assistance data and the positioning method to which the assistance data applies. The UE may also embed positioning UE capabilities in one of the LPP messages. The capabilities may be associated with the positioning method for which the UE requests assistance data, or may include capabilities applicable to multiple procedures.

[0127] In case of LCS 5GC-MO-LR requesting location transfer to an LCS client or application function (AF), the AMF shall allocate a GMLC address, i.e. a VGMLC address, stored in the AMF. If a VGMLC address is not available, the AMF may reject the location request. The AMF validates the subscription profile of the UE and decides whether the requested service is allowed or not.

[0128] In a further embodiment, a timer is set by the AMF or any network node that governs the time interval during which the UE provides the capability without consent. If the timer is impaired, the UE may assume that the AMF already has the capability and therefore the UE may not provide it.

[0129] Improved MT-LR In some embodiments, the MT-LR procedure is enhanced by pre-fetching capabilities from the UE to reduce latency. In this case, when the AMF receives a request from an external client, it verifies whether it already has the capabilities for the UE. If not, it fetches the UE using (exemplary) steps 7, 8, and 11, as shown in Figure 15. If step 11 is the base, Figure 15 has been updated to show the UE positioning capabilities in step 11.

[0130] In this case, the NAS Location Notification Return Result message of step 8 is an example of message 14 in Figure 1. The Nlmf_Location_Determination_Request+UE Positioning Capability message of step 11 is an example of signaling 26 in Figure 1.

[0131] With regard to step 7 of Figure 15, if the indicator of the action related to privacy check indicates that the UE should notify or be notified of privacy validation, and if the UE supports LCS notification (according to the UE capability information), a notification paging message is sent to the target UE indicating the requester identity, which is the identity of the LCS client (if supported and available), and whether privacy validation is requested or not. The AMF may include a field indicating the need for UE positioning capability.

[0132] With reference to step 8 of Fig. 15, the target UE notifies the UE user of the location request and waits for the user to grant or withhold authorization if privacy validation was requested. The UE then returns a notification result to the AMF indicating whether authorization is granted or denied for the current LCS request if privacy validation was requested. If the UE user does not respond after a predefined period of time, the AMF shall infer a "no response" condition. The AMF shall return an error response to (H)GMLC if privacy validation is requested and the UE user denies authorization or there is no response in the UE privacy profile received from (H)GMLC indicating a barring of the location request.

[0133] The notification result also indicates the setting of the location privacy indication for subsequent LCS requests, i.e., whether the subsequent LCS requests, if generated, are allowed or rejected by the UE. The location privacy indication may also indicate the time to reject the subsequent LCS requests.

[0134] The UE shall provide positioning capability if requested by the AMF in step 7.

[0135] With reference to step 11 of Figure 15, the AMF invokes the Nlmf_Location_DetermineLocation service operation to the LMF to request the current location of the UE. The service operation includes the LCS correlation identifier, the serving cell identity of the primary cell of the master RAN node and the primary cell of the secondary RAN node if available based on the dual connectivity scenario, and the client type, and may include an indication of whether the UE supports LPP, the requested QoS, and the supported GAD shapes. If either the procedure of subclause 6.11.1 or subclause 6.11.2 is used, the service operation includes the AMF identity. The AMF may include the UE positioning capability.

[0136] UL Sounding Reference Signal (SRS) capability Conventionally, UL SRS capabilities are provided to the gNB when the gNB configures UL SRS resources. The UL SRS capabilities are uploaded to the AMF by the gNB and fetched from the AMF when required by the gNB. In contrast, in some embodiments herein, the AMF may also add and provide UL SRS capabilities to the LMF, for example, in step 11 from the above section on enhanced MT-LR.

[0137] How capabilities are reported by the UE In some embodiments, the positioning capabilities reported by the UE in message 14 (e.g. during an attachment or TAU procedure) can be generic or can be categorized in some way, such as RAT-dependent capabilities and RAT-independent capabilities. One task is to optimize the capability indication bits so that the meaning of each bitmap is known in advance to the network nodes and the UE and can be used.

[0138] An example of UE positioning capabilities categorized as RAT-dependent, RAT-independent (which may also include hybrid and sensor-based method capabilities), or separate capabilities may be provided as follows:

[0139] However, positioning reference signal (PRS) capabilities encompass many parameters that may have to be provided separately or included in a separate information element (IE).

[0140] An example structure is provided below. UEPositioningCapabilities::=SEQUENCE{ UEPosCapRatDependent-r17 BIT STRING{ul-srs(0),dl-prs-rsrp(1),additionalPath(2)} (SIZE(1..32)), UEPosCapRatInDependent-r17 BIT STRING{a-gnss(0),gnss-rtk(1),bt(2),wifi(3)} (SIZE(1..16)), UEPosCapHybrid-r17 BIT STRING{imu(0),gnss-dl-TDOA(1)}(SIZE(1..16)), UEPRS-Capability-r17 NR-DL-PRS-ResourcesCapability-r16

[0141] Although the subject matter described herein may be implemented in any suitable type of system using any suitable components, the embodiments disclosed herein are described in connection with a wireless network, such as the example wireless network shown in FIG. 16. For simplicity, the wireless network of FIG. 16 shows only the network 1606, the network nodes 1660 and 1660b, and the WDs 1610, 1610b, and 1610c. In practice, the wireless network may further include any additional elements suitable for supporting communication between wireless devices or between a wireless device and another communication device, such as a landline telephone, a service provider, or any other network node or end device. Of the illustrated components, the network node 1660 and the wireless device (WD) 1610 are depicted in further detail. The wireless network may provide communication and other types of services to one or more wireless devices to facilitate the wireless device's access to and / or use of services provided by or via the wireless network.

[0142] A wireless network may comprise and / or interface with any type of communication, telecommunication, data, cellular, and / or radio network, or other similar type of system. In some embodiments, a wireless network may be configured to operate according to a particular standard or other type of predefined rules or procedures. Thus, particular embodiments of a wireless network may implement a communication standard, such as Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM), Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS), Long Term Evolution (LTE), and / or other suitable 2G, 3G, 4G, or 5G standard, a wireless local area network (WLAN) standard, such as the IEEE 802.11 standard, and / or any other suitable wireless communication standard, such as Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMax), Bluetooth, Z-Wave, and / or ZigBee standards.

[0143] The network 1606 may comprise one or more backhaul networks, core networks, IP networks, public switched telephone networks (PSTN), packet data networks, optical networks, wide area networks (WANs), local area networks (LANs), wireless local area networks (WLANs), wired networks, wireless networks, metropolitan area networks, and other networks that enable communication between devices.

[0144] The network node 1660 and the WD 1610 comprise various components, which are described in further detail below. These components cooperate to provide network node and / or wireless device functionality, such as providing wireless connectivity in a wireless network. In different embodiments, a wireless network may comprise any number of wired or wireless networks, network nodes, base stations, controllers, wireless devices, relay stations, and / or any other components or systems that facilitate or participate in the communication of data and / or signals over either wired or wireless connections.

[0145] As used herein, a network node refers to a device configured, arranged, and / or operable to communicate directly or indirectly with wireless devices and / or with other network nodes or devices in the wireless network to enable and / or provide wireless access to the wireless devices, and / or to perform other functions (e.g., management) in the wireless network. Examples of network nodes include, but are not limited to, access points (APs) (e.g., wireless access points), base stations (BSs) (e.g., radio base stations, Node Bs, evolved Node Bs (eNBs), and NR Node Bs (gNBs)). Base stations may be categorized based on the amount of coverage they provide (or, i.e., the transmit power level of the base station), in which case they may also be referred to as femto base stations, pico base stations, micro base stations, or macro base stations. A base station may be a relay node or a relay donor node that controls the relay. A network node may also include one or more (or all) parts of a distributed wireless base station, such as a centralized digital unit, sometimes referred to as a remote radio head (RRH), and / or a remote radio unit (RRU). Such remote radio units may or may not be integrated with an antenna as an antenna-integrated radio. Portions of a distributed radio base station may also be referred to as nodes in a distributed antenna system (DAS).Further examples of network nodes include multi-standard radio (MSR) equipment such as an MSR BS, a network controller such as a radio network controller (RNC) or a base station controller (BSC), a base transceiver station (BTS), a transmission point, a transmitting node, a multi-cell / multicast coordination entity (MCE), a core network node (e.g., MSC, MME), an O&M node, an OSS node, a SON node, a positioning node (e.g., E-SMLC), and / or an MDT. As another example, a network node may be a virtual network node, as described in more detail below. However, more generally, a network node may represent any suitable device (or group of devices) configured, arranged, and / or operable to enable and / or provide access to a wireless network for wireless devices or to provide some service to wireless devices accessing a wireless network.

[0146] In FIG. 16, network node 1660 includes processing circuitry 1670, device readable medium 1680, interface 1690, auxiliary equipment 1684, power source 1686, power circuitry 1687, and antenna 1662. Although network node 1660 shown in the example wireless network of FIG. 16 may represent a device including the illustrated combination of hardware components, other embodiments may comprise network nodes having different combinations of components. It should be understood that a network node comprises any suitable combination of hardware and / or software necessary to perform the tasks, features, functions, and methods disclosed herein. Additionally, while the components of network node 1660 are illustrated as a single box encased in a larger box or nested within multiple boxes, in reality the network node may comprise multiple different physical components that make up a single illustrated component (e.g., device readable medium 1680 may comprise multiple separate hard drives as well as multiple RAM modules).

[0147] Similarly, the network node 1660 may be comprised of multiple physically separate components (e.g., a NodeB component and an RNC component, or a BTS component and a BSC component, etc.), each of which may have its own respective components. In certain scenarios in which the network node 1660 comprises multiple separate components (e.g., a BTS and a BSC component), one or more of the separate components may be shared among several network nodes. For example, a single RNC may control multiple NodeBs. In such scenarios, each unique NodeB and RNC pair may possibly be considered as a single separate network node. In some embodiments, the network node 1660 may be configured to support multiple radio access technologies (RATs). In such embodiments, some components may be duplicated (e.g., separate device-readable media 1680 for different RATs) and some components may be reused (e.g., the same antenna 1662 may be shared by the RATs). Network node 1660 may also include multiple sets of the various illustrated components for different wireless technologies integrated into network node 1660, such as, for example, GSM, WCDMA, LTE, NR, WiFi, or Bluetooth wireless technologies. These wireless technologies may be integrated in the same or different chips or sets of chips and other components within network node 1660.

[0148] The processing circuitry 1670 is configured to perform any determination, calculation, or similar operation (e.g., a particular acquisition operation) described herein as being provided by a network node. These operations performed by the processing circuitry 1670 may include processing the information acquired by the processing circuitry 1670, for example, by transforming the acquired information into other information, comparing the acquired or transformed information with information stored in the network node, and / or performing one or more operations based on the acquired or transformed information, and making a decision as a result of said processing.

[0149] The processing circuit 1670 may comprise one or more combinations of a microprocessor, controller, microcontroller, central processing unit, digital signal processor, application specific integrated circuit, field programmable gate array, or any other suitable computing device, resource, or combination of hardware, software, and / or coded logic operable, alone or in conjunction with other network node 1660 components, such as device readable medium 1680, to provide the functionality of the network node 1660. For example, the processing circuit 1670 may execute instructions stored on the device readable medium 1680 or memory within the processing circuit 1670. Such functionality may include providing any of the various wireless features, functions, or benefits discussed herein. In some embodiments, the processing circuit 1670 may include a system on a chip (SOC).

[0150] In some embodiments, the processing circuitry 1670 may include one or more of a radio frequency (RF) transceiver circuitry 1672 and a baseband processing circuitry 1674. In some embodiments, the radio frequency (RF) transceiver circuitry 1672 and the baseband processing circuitry 1674 may be on separate chips (or sets of chips), boards, or units, such as a radio unit and a digital unit. In alternative embodiments, some or all of the RF transceiver circuitry 1672 and the baseband processing circuitry 1674 may be on the same chip or set of chips, board, or unit.

[0151] In certain embodiments, some or all of the functionality described herein as being provided by a network node, base station, eNB, or other such network device may be performed by the processing circuitry 1670 executing instructions stored on a device-readable medium 1680 or memory within the processing circuitry 1670. In alternative embodiments, some or all of the functionality may be provided by the processing circuitry 1670 without executing instructions stored on a separate or discrete device-readable medium, such as in a hardwired manner. In any of those embodiments, the processing circuitry 1670 may be configured to perform the described functions, whether or not it executes instructions stored on a device-readable storage medium. Benefits provided by such functionality are not limited to only the processing circuitry 1670 or to other components of the network node 1660, but are enjoyed by the network node 1660 as a whole, and / or by end users and wireless networks in general.

[0152] The device readable medium 1680 may comprise any form of volatile or non-volatile computer readable memory, including without limitation persistent storage, solid-state memory, remotely mounted memory, magnetic media, optical media, random access memory (RAM), read only memory (ROM), mass storage media (e.g., hard disk), removable storage media (e.g., flash drive, compact disc (CD), or digital video disc (DVD)), and / or any other volatile or non-volatile, non-transitory device readable and / or computer executable memory device that stores information, data, and / or instructions that may be used by the processing circuit 1670. The device readable medium 1680 may store any suitable instructions, data, or information, including computer programs, software, applications (including one or more of logic, rules, codes, tables, etc.), and / or other instructions that may be executed by the processing circuit 1670 and utilized by the network node 1660. The device readable medium 1680 may be used to store any calculations performed by the processing circuit 1670 and / or any data received via the interface 1690. In some embodiments, the processing circuit 1670 and the device readable medium 1680 may be considered to be integrated.

[0153] The interface 1690 is used for wired or wireless communication of signaling and / or data between the network node 1660, the network 1606, and / or the WD 1610. As shown, the interface 1690 includes a port / terminal 1694 for sending and receiving data to and from the network 1606, for example, via a wired connection. The interface 1690 also includes a radio front-end circuit 1692, which may be coupled to the antenna 1662 or may be part of the antenna 1662 in certain embodiments. The radio front-end circuit 1692 includes a filter 1698 and an amplifier 1696. The radio front-end circuit 1692 may be connected to the antenna 1662 and the processing circuit 1670. The radio front-end circuit may be configured to condition signals communicated between the antenna 1662 and the processing circuit 1670. The radio front-end circuit 1692 may receive digital data to be sent to other network nodes or WDs via a wireless connection. The radio front-end circuitry 1692 may convert the digital data into a radio signal having appropriate channel and bandwidth parameters using a combination of filters 1698 and / or amplifiers 1696. The radio signal may then be transmitted via the antenna 1662. Similarly, when receiving data, the antenna 1662 may collect a radio signal that is then converted into digital data by the radio front-end circuitry 1692. The digital data may be passed to the processing circuitry 1670. In other embodiments, the interface may comprise different components and / or different combinations of components.

[0154] In certain alternative embodiments, the network node 1660 may not include a separate radio front-end circuit 1692; instead, the processing circuit 1670 may comprise a radio front-end circuit and be connected to the antenna 1662 without a separate radio front-end circuit 1692. Similarly, in some embodiments, all or a portion of the RF transceiver circuit 1672 may be considered part of the interface 1690. In still other embodiments, the interface 1690 may include one or more ports or terminals 1694, the radio front-end circuit 1692, and the RF transceiver circuit 1672 as part of a radio unit (not shown), and the interface 1690 may communicate with a baseband processing circuit 1674 that is part of a digital unit (not shown).

[0155] The antenna 1662 may include one or more antennas, or an antenna array, configured to transmit and / or receive wireless signals. The antenna 1662 may be coupled to the radio front-end circuitry 1690 and may be any type of antenna capable of wirelessly transmitting and receiving data and / or signals. In some embodiments, the antenna 1662 may comprise one or more omni-directional sector or panel antennas operable to transmit / receive wireless signals, for example, at 2 GHz to 66 GHz. An omni-directional antenna may be used to transmit / receive wireless signals in any direction, a sector antenna may be used to transmit / receive wireless signals from devices in a particular area, and a panel antenna may be a line-of-sight antenna used to transmit / receive wireless signals in a relatively straight line. In some cases, the use of more than one antenna may be referred to as MIMO. In certain embodiments, the antenna 1662 may be separate from the network node 1660 and may be connectable to the network node 1660 via an interface or port.

[0156] The antenna 1662, the interface 1690, and / or the processing circuitry 1670 may be configured to perform any receiving operation and / or a particular acquisition operation described herein as being performed by a network node. Any information, data, and / or signal may be received from a wireless device, another network node, and / or any other network equipment. Similarly, the antenna 1662, the interface 1690, and / or the processing circuitry 1670 may be configured to perform any transmitting operation described herein as being performed by a network node. Any information, data, and / or signal may be transmitted to a wireless device, another network node, and / or any other network equipment.

[0157] The power circuit 1687 may comprise or be coupled to a power management circuit and is configured to provide power to the components of the network node 1660 for performing the functionality described herein. The power circuit 1687 may receive power from a power source 1686. The power source 1686 and / or the power circuit 1687 may be configured to provide power to the various components of the network node 1660 in a form suitable for each component (e.g., at voltage and current levels required for each component). The power source 1686 may be included in or external to the power circuit 1687 and / or the network node 1660. For example, the network node 1660 may be connectable to an external power source (e.g., an electrical outlet) via an input circuit or interface such as an electrical cable, whereby the external power source provides power to the power circuit 1687. As a further example, the power source 1686 may comprise a power source in the form of a battery or battery pack connected to or integrated with the power circuit 1687. The battery may provide emergency power in the event that the external power source fails. Other types of power sources may also be used, such as photovoltaic devices.

[0158] Alternate embodiments of network node 1660 may include additional components beyond those shown in Figure 16 that may be responsible for providing particular aspects of the network node's functionality, including any of the functionality described herein and / or any functionality necessary to support the subject matter described herein. For example, network node 1660 may include user interface devices that enable input of information into and output of information from network node 1660. This may enable a user to perform diagnostics, maintenance, repair, and other management functions for network node 1660.

[0159] As used herein, a wireless device (WD) refers to a device configured, arranged, and / or operable to wirelessly communicate with network nodes and / or other wireless devices. Unless otherwise noted, the term WD may be used interchangeably herein with user equipment (UE). Communicating wirelessly may involve transmitting and / or receiving wireless signals using electromagnetic waves, radio waves, infrared waves, and / or other types of signals suitable for conveying information through the air. In some embodiments, a WD may be configured to transmit and / or receive information without direct human interaction. For example, a WD may be designed to transmit information to a network on a predefined schedule, when triggered by an internal or external event, or in response to a request from the network. Examples of WDs include, but are not limited to, smartphones, mobile phones, cell phones, voice-over-IP (VoIP) phones, wireless local loop phones, desktop computers, personal digital assistants (PDAs), wireless cameras, gaming consoles or devices, music storage devices, playback devices, wearable terminal devices, wireless endpoints, mobile stations, tablets, laptops, laptop embedded equipment (LEE), laptop mounted equipment (LME), smart devices, wireless customer premises equipment (CPE), in-vehicle wireless terminal devices, etc. A WD may support device-to-device (D2D) communications, for example, by implementing 3GPP standards for sidelink communications, vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V), vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I), vehicle-to-everything (V2X), in which case it may be referred to as a D2D communications device. As yet another specific example, in an Internet of Things (IoT) scenario, a WD may represent a machine or other device that performs monitoring and / or measurements and transmits results of such monitoring and / or measurements to another WD and / or a network node. The WD may in this case be a machine-to-machine (M2M) device, which in the 3GPP context may be called an MTC device.As one particular example, the WD may be a UE implementing the 3GPP Narrowband Internet of Things (NB-IoT) standard. Specific examples of such machines or devices are sensors, metering devices such as power meters, industrial machines, or household or personal appliances (e.g., refrigerators, televisions, etc.), personal wearables (e.g., watches, fitness trackers, etc.). In other scenarios, the WD may represent a vehicle or other equipment that can monitor and / or report its operating status or other functions associated with its operation. The WD as described above may represent an endpoint of a wireless connection, in which case the device may be referred to as a wireless terminal. Furthermore, the WD as described above may be mobile, in which case it may be referred to as a mobile device or mobile terminal.

[0160] As shown, wireless device 1610 includes antenna 1611, interface 1614, processing circuitry 1620, device readable medium 1630, user interface equipment 1632, auxiliary equipment 1634, power source 1636, and power circuitry 1637. WD 1610 may include multiple sets of one or more of the components shown for different wireless technologies supported by WD 1610, such as, for example, GSM, WCDMA, LTE, NR, WiFi, WiMAX, NB-IoT, or Bluetooth wireless technologies, to name a few. These wireless technologies may be integrated on the same or different chips or sets of chips as other components in WD 1610.

[0161] The antenna 1611 may include one or more antennas or antenna arrays configured to transmit and / or receive wireless signals and is connected to the interface 1614. In certain alternative embodiments, the antenna 1611 may be separate from the WD 1610 and may be connectable to the WD 1610 via an interface or port. The antenna 1611, the interface 1614, and / or the processing circuitry 1620 may be configured to perform any receiving or transmitting operation described herein as being performed by a WD. Any information, data, and / or signal may be received from a network node and / or another WD. In some embodiments, the wireless front-end circuitry and / or the antenna 1611 may be considered an interface.

[0162] As shown, the interface 1614 includes a radio front-end circuit 1612 and an antenna 1611. The radio front-end circuit 1612 includes one or more filters 1618 and an amplifier 1616. The radio front-end circuit 1612 is connected to the antenna 1611 and the processing circuit 1620 and is configured to condition signals communicated between the antenna 1611 and the processing circuit 1620. The radio front-end circuit 1612 may be coupled to or part of the antenna 1611. In some embodiments, the WD 1610 may not include a separate radio front-end circuit 1612, and rather, the processing circuit 1620 may include a radio front-end circuit and be connected to the antenna 1611. Similarly, in some embodiments, some or all of the RF transceiver circuit 1622 may be considered part of the interface 1614. The radio front-end circuit 1612 may receive digital data to be sent to other network nodes or WDs via a wireless connection. The radio front-end circuitry 1612 may convert the digital data into a radio signal having appropriate channel and bandwidth parameters using a combination of filters 1618 and / or amplifiers 1616. The radio signal may then be transmitted via the antenna 1611. Similarly, when receiving data, the antenna 1611 may collect a radio signal that is then converted into digital data by the radio front-end circuitry 1612. The digital data may be passed to the processing circuitry 1620. In other embodiments, the interface may comprise different components and / or different combinations of components.

[0163] The processing circuitry 1620 may comprise one or more combinations of a microprocessor, controller, microcontroller, central processing unit, digital signal processor, application specific integrated circuit, field programmable gate array, or any other suitable computing device, resource, or combination of hardware, software, and / or coded logic operable, alone or in conjunction with other WD 1610 components, such as device readable medium 1630, to provide the functionality of the WD 1610. Such functionality may include providing any of the various wireless features or benefits discussed herein. For example, the processing circuitry 1620 may execute instructions stored on the device readable medium 1630 or memory within the processing circuitry 1620 to provide the functionality disclosed herein.

[0164] As shown, the processing circuit 1620 includes one or more of an RF transceiver circuit 1622, a baseband processing circuit 1624, and an application processing circuit 1626. In other embodiments, the processing circuit may comprise different components and / or different combinations of components. In a particular embodiment, the processing circuit 1620 of the WD 1610 may comprise a SOC. In some embodiments, the RF transceiver circuit 1622, the baseband processing circuit 1624, and the application processing circuit 1626 may be on separate chips or sets of chips. In alternative embodiments, some or all of the baseband processing circuit 1624 and the application processing circuit 1626 may be combined within one chip or set of chips, and the RF transceiver circuit 1622 may be on a separate chip or set of chips. In further alternative embodiments, some or all of the RF transceiver circuit 1622 and the baseband processing circuit 1624 may be on the same chip or set of chips, and the application processing circuit 1626 may be on a separate chip or set of chips. In yet other alternative embodiments, some or all of the RF transceiver circuitry 1622, the baseband processing circuitry 1624, and the application processing circuitry 1626 may be combined within the same chip or set of chips. In some embodiments, the RF transceiver circuitry 1622 may be part of the interface 1614. The RF transceiver circuitry 1622 may condition RF signals for the processing circuitry 1620.

[0165] In certain embodiments, some or all of the functionality described herein as being performed by the WD may be provided by the processing circuitry 1620 executing instructions stored on a device-readable medium 1630, which in certain embodiments may be a computer-readable storage medium. In alternative embodiments, some or all of the functionality may be provided by the processing circuitry 1620 without executing instructions stored on a separate or discrete device-readable storage medium, such as in a hardwired manner. In any of those particular embodiments, the processing circuitry 1620 may be configured to perform the described functionality with or without executing instructions stored on a device-readable storage medium. Benefits provided by such functionality are not limited to only the processing circuitry 1620 or to other components of the WD 1610, but are enjoyed by the WD 1610 as a whole, and / or by end users and wireless networks in general.

[0166] The processing circuitry 1620 may be configured to perform any of the determinations, calculations, or similar operations (e.g., certain acquisition operations) described herein as being performed by a WD. These operations as being performed by the processing circuitry 1620 may include processing the information acquired by the processing circuitry 1620, for example, by transforming the acquired information into other information, comparing the acquired or transformed information with information stored by the WD 1610, and / or performing one or more operations based on the acquired or transformed information, and making a decision as a result of said processing.

[0167] The device-readable medium 1630 may be operable to store computer programs, software, applications (including one or more of logic, rules, codes, tables, etc.), and / or other instructions that may be executed by the processing circuit 1620. The device-readable medium 1630 may include computer memory (e.g., random access memory (RAM) or read-only memory (ROM)), mass storage media (e.g., hard disk), removable storage media (e.g., compact disc (CD) or digital video disc (DVD)), and / or any other volatile or non-volatile, non-transitory device-readable and / or computer-executable memory device that stores information, data, and / or instructions that may be used by the processing circuit 1620. In some embodiments, the processing circuit 1620 and the device-readable medium 1630 may be considered to be integrated.

[0168] The user interface device 1632 may provide components that allow a human user to interact with the WD 1610. Such interaction may be of many forms, such as visual, auditory, tactile, etc. The user interface device 1632 may be operable to generate output to the user and to allow the user to provide input to the WD 1610. The type of interaction may vary depending on the type of user interface device 1632 installed on the WD 1610. For example, if the WD 1610 is a smartphone, the interaction may be via a touch screen, and if the WD 1610 is a smart meter, the interaction may be through a screen that provides usage (e.g., number of gallons used) or a speaker that provides an alarm (e.g., if smoke is detected). The user interface device 1632 may include interfaces, devices, and circuits for input and interfaces, devices, and circuits for output. The user interface device 1632 is configured to allow input of information to the WD 1610 and is connected to the processing circuit 1620 to allow the processing circuit 1620 to process the input information. The user interface device 1632 may include, for example, a microphone, proximity or other sensors, keys / buttons, a touch display, one or more cameras, a USB port, or other input circuitry. The user interface device 1632 is also configured to enable the output of information from the WD 1610 and to enable the processing circuitry 1620 to output information from the WD 1610. The user interface device 1632 may include, for example, a speaker, a display, vibration circuitry, a USB port, a headphone interface, or other output circuitry. Using one or more input and output interfaces, devices, and circuits of the user interface device 1632, the WD 1610 may communicate with an end user and / or a wireless network, enabling the end user and / or the wireless network to benefit from the functionality described herein.

[0169] The auxiliary device 1634 is operable to provide more specific functionality that may not generally be implemented by a WD. It may include specialized sensors for taking measurements for various purposes, interfaces for additional types of communication such as wired communication, etc. The inclusion of components of the auxiliary device 1634 and the types of components may vary depending on the embodiment and / or scenario.

[0170] The power source 1636 may be in the form of a battery or battery pack in some embodiments. Other types of power sources may also be used, such as an external power source (e.g., an electrical outlet), a photovoltaic device, or a power battery. The WD 1610 may further comprise a power circuit 1637 for delivering power from the power source 1636 to various parts of the WD 1610 that require power from the power source 1636 to perform any functionality described or illustrated herein. The power circuit 1637 may comprise a power management circuit in certain embodiments. The power circuit 1637 may additionally or alternatively be operable to receive power from an external power source, in which case the WD 1610 may be connectable to an external power source (such as an electrical outlet) via an interface, such as an input circuit or an electrical power cable. The power circuit 1637 may also be operable in certain embodiments to deliver power from the external power source to the power source 1636. This may be for charging the power source 1636, for example. Power circuitry 1637 may perform any formatting, conversion, or other modification on the power from power source 1636 to make the power suitable for the respective components of WD 1610 being powered.

[0171] FIG. 17 illustrates an embodiment of a UE in accordance with various aspects described herein. As used herein, user equipment or UE may not necessarily have a user in the sense of a human user who owns and / or operates the associated device. Instead, a UE may represent a device intended for sale to or operation by a human user, but the device may not be associated with or may not initially be associated with a particular human user (e.g., a smart sprinkler controller). Alternatively, a UE may represent a device not intended for sale to or operation by an end user, but the device may be associated with or operated for the benefit of a user (e.g., a smart power meter). The UE 17200 may be any UE identified by the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP), including an NB-IoT UE, a machine type communication (MTC) UE, and / or an enhanced MTC (eMTC) UE. UE 1700 is an example of a WD configured for communication according to one or more communications standards promulgated by the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP), such as 3GPP's GSM, UMTS, LTE, and / or 5G standards, as shown in Figure 17. As noted above, the terms WD and UE may be used interchangeably. Thus, although Figure 17 is a UE, the components discussed herein are equally applicable to a WD and vice versa.

[0172] In FIG. 17, UE 1700 includes a processing circuit 1701 operatively coupled to an input / output interface 1705, a radio frequency (RF) interface 1709, a network connection interface 1711, a memory 1715 (including, for example, a random access memory (RAM) 1717, a read only memory (ROM) 1719, and a storage medium 1721), a communication subsystem 1731, a power source 1733, and / or any other components, or any combination of the above. The storage medium 1721 includes an operating system 1723, application programs 1725, and data 1727. In other embodiments, the storage medium 1721 may include other similar types of information. A particular UE may utilize all of the components shown in FIG. 17, or only a subset of the components. The level of integration between components may vary from UE to UE. Additionally, a particular UE may include multiple instances of a component, such as multiple processors, memories, transceivers, transmitters, receivers, etc.

[0173] In Fig. 17, the processing circuit 1701 may be configured to process computer instructions and data. The processing circuit 1701 may be configured to implement any sequential state machine operable to execute machine instructions stored in memory as a machine-readable computer program, such as one or more hardware-implemented state machines (e.g., in discrete logic, FPGA, ASIC, etc.), programmable logic with appropriate firmware, a general-purpose processor of one or more stored programs, such as a microprocessor or digital signal processor (DSP) with appropriate software, or any combination of the above. For example, the processing circuit 1701 may include two central processing units (CPUs). The data may be information in a form suitable for use by a computer.

[0174] In the illustrated embodiment, the input / output interface 1705 may be configured to provide a communication interface to an input device, an output device, or an input and an output device. The UE 1700 may be configured to use an output device via the input / output interface 1705. The output device may use the same type of interface port as the input device. For example, a USB port may be used to provide input to and output from the UE 1700. The output device may be a speaker, a sound card, a video card, a display, a monitor, a printer, an actuator, an emitter, a smart card, another output device, or any combination thereof. The UE 1700 may be configured to allow a user to capture information into the UE 1700 using an input device via the input / output interface 1705. The input device may include a touch-sensitive or presence-sensitive display, a camera (e.g., a digital camera, a digital video camera, a webcam, etc.), a microphone, a sensor, a mouse, a trackball, a directional pad, a trackpad, a scroll wheel, a smart card, etc. A presence-sensing display may include a capacitive or resistive touch sensor that senses input from a user. The sensor may be, for example, an accelerometer, a gyroscope, a tilt sensor, a force sensor, a magnetometer, a light sensor, a proximity sensor, another similar sensor, or any combination of the above. For example, the input device may be an accelerometer, a magnetometer, a digital camera, a microphone, and a light sensor.

[0175] In FIG. 17, the RF interface 1709 may be configured to provide a communication interface to RF components such as a transmitter, a receiver, and an antenna. The network connection interface 1711 may be configured to provide a communication interface to a network 1743a. The network 1743a may encompass a wired and / or wireless network, such as a local area network (LAN), a wide area network (WAN), a computer network, a wireless network, a telecommunications network, another similar network, or any combination of the above. For example, the network 1743a may comprise a WiFi network. The network connection interface 1711 may be configured to include a receiver and a transmitter interface used to communicate with one or more other devices over a communication network according to one or more communication protocols, such as Ethernet, TCP / IP, SONET, ATM, etc. The network connection interface 1711 may implement receiver and transmitter functionality suitable for a communication network link (e.g., optical, electrical, etc.). The transmitter and receiver functions may share circuit components, software, or firmware, or may be implemented separately.

[0176] The RAM 1717 may be configured to interface to the processing circuit 1701 via the bus 1702 for storing or caching data or computer instructions during execution of software programs, such as an operating system, application programs, and device drivers. The ROM 1719 may be configured to provide computer instructions or data to the processing circuit 1701. For example, the ROM 1719 may be configured to store invariant low-level system code or data for basic system functions, such as basic input and output (I / O), start-up, or receiving keystrokes from a keyboard, which are stored in non-volatile memory. The storage medium 1721 may be configured to include memory, such as RAM, ROM, programmable read-only memory (PROM), erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), magnetic disk, optical disk, floppy disk, hard disk, removable cartridge, or flash drive. In one example, the storage medium 1721 may be configured to include an operating system 1723, application programs 1725, such as a web browser application, a widget or gadget engine or other application, and data files 1727. The storage medium 1721 may store any of a wide variety of operating systems or combinations of operating systems for use by the UE 1700.

[0177] The storage medium 1721 may be configured to include several physical drive units, such as a redundant array of independent disks (RAID), a floppy disk drive, a flash memory, a USB flash drive, an external hard disk drive, a thumb drive, a pen drive, a key drive, a high density digital versatile disk (HD-DVD) optical disk drive, an internal hard disk drive, a Blu-ray optical disk drive, a holographic digital data storage (HDDS) optical disk drive, an external mini dual in-line memory module (DIMM), a synchronous dynamic random access memory (SDRAM), an external micro-DIMM SDRAM, a smart card memory such as a subscriber identity module or a removable user identity (SIM / RUIM) module, other memory, or any combination of the above. The storage medium 1721 may enable the UE 1700 to access, offload data, or upload data, computer executable instructions, application programs, and the like, stored in a temporary or non-transitory memory medium. An article of manufacture, such as one utilizing a communication system, may be tangibly embodied in the storage medium 1721, which may comprise a device-readable medium.

[0178] In FIG. 17, the processing circuit 1701 may be configured to communicate with the network 1743b using the communication subsystem 1731. The network 1743a and the network 1743b may be one or more of the same network or one or more different networks. The communication subsystem 1731 may be configured to include one or more transceivers used to communicate with the network 1743b. For example, the communication subsystem 1731 may be configured to include one or more transceivers used to communicate with one or more remote transceivers of another device capable of wireless communication, such as another WD, UE, or base station of a radio access network (RAN) according to one or more communication protocols, such as IEEE 802.11, CDMA, WCDMA, GSM, LTE, UTRAN, WiMax, etc. Each transceiver may include a transmitter 1733 and / or a receiver 1735 to implement the functionality of the transmitter or receiver (e.g., frequency allocation, etc.) appropriate for the RAN link, respectively. Additionally, the transmitter 1733 and receiver 1735 of each transceiver may share circuit components, software or firmware, or may be implemented separately.

[0179] In the illustrated embodiment, the communication capabilities of the communication subsystem 1731 may include data communications, voice communications, multimedia communications, short-range communications such as Bluetooth, short-range wireless communications, location-based communications such as using a global positioning system (GPS) to determine location, another similar communication capability, or any combination of the above. For example, the communication subsystem 1731 may include cellular communications, Wi-Fi communications, Bluetooth communications, and GPS communications. The network 1743b may encompass wired and / or wireless networks, such as a local area network (LAN), a wide area network (WAN), a computer network, a wireless network, a telecommunications network, another similar network, or any combination of the above. For example, the network 1743b may be a cellular network, a Wi-Fi network, and / or a short-range wireless network. The power source 1713 may be configured to provide alternating current (AC) or direct current (DC) power to the components of the UE 1700.

[0180] The features, benefits, and / or functions described herein may be implemented in one of the components of the UE 1700 or split across multiple components of the UE 1700. Furthermore, the features, benefits, and / or functions described herein may be implemented in any combination of hardware, software, or firmware. In one example, the communication subsystem 1731 may be configured to include any of the components described herein. Furthermore, the processing circuit 1701 may be configured to communicate with any of such components over the bus 1702. In another example, any of such components may be represented by program instructions stored in memory that, when executed by the processing circuit 1701, perform the corresponding functions described herein. In another example, the functionality of any of such components may be split between the processing circuit 1701 and the communication subsystem 1731. In another example, non-computationally intensive functions of any of such components may be implemented in software or firmware, and computationally intensive functions may be implemented in hardware.

[0181] 18 is a schematic block diagram illustrating a virtualization environment 1800 in which functionality implemented by some embodiments may be virtualized. In this context, virtualization refers to creating a virtual version of an apparatus or device, which may include virtualization of hardware platforms, storage devices, and networking resources. As used herein, virtualization may apply to a node (e.g., a virtualized base station or a virtualized radio access node) or to a device (e.g., a UE, a wireless device, or any other type of communication device) or component thereof, and relates to an implementation in which at least a portion of the functionality is implemented as one or more virtual components (e.g., via one or more applications, components, functions, virtual machines, or containers executing on one or more physical processing nodes in one or more networks).

[0182] In some embodiments, some or all of the functionality described herein may be implemented as virtual components executed by one or more virtual machines implemented in one or more virtual environments 1800 hosted by one or more of the hardware nodes 1830. Furthermore, in embodiments where the virtual nodes are not wireless access nodes or do not require wireless connectivity (e.g., core network nodes), the network nodes may be fully virtualized.

[0183] The functionality may be implemented by one or more applications 1820 (which may alternatively be referred to as software instances, virtual appliances, network functions, virtual nodes, virtual network functions, etc.) that operate to implement some of the features, functions, and / or benefits of some of the embodiments disclosed herein. The applications 1820 execute in a virtualization environment 1800, which provides hardware 1830 with processing circuitry 1860 and memory 1890. The memory 1890 includes instructions 1895 executable by the processing circuitry 1860 such that the applications 1820 operate to provide one or more of the features, benefits, and / or functions disclosed herein.

[0184] The virtualization environment 1800 includes general-purpose or special-purpose network hardware devices 1830 that include a set of one or more processors or processing circuitry 1860, which may be commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) processors, application specific integrated circuits (ASICs), or any other type of processing circuitry, including digital or analog hardware components or special-purpose processors. Each hardware device may include memory 1890-1, which may be non-persistent memory, that temporarily stores instructions 1895 or software executed by the processing circuitry 1860. Each hardware device may include one or more network interface controllers (NICs) 1870, also known as network interface cards, that include physical network interfaces 1880. Each hardware device may also include a non-transitory but persistent machine-readable storage medium 1890-2 on which software 1895 and / or instructions executable by the processing circuitry 1860 are stored. Software 1895 may include any type of software, including software for creating an instance of one or more virtualization layers 1850 (also referred to as a hypervisor), software for running virtual machines 1840, and software that enables the functions, features, and / or benefits described in association with some of the embodiments described herein to be performed.

[0185] The virtual machines 1840 may comprise virtual processing, virtual memory, virtual networking or interfaces, and virtual storage, and may be executed by a corresponding virtualization layer 1850 or hypervisor. Different embodiments of an instance of a virtual appliance 1820 may be implemented in one or more of the virtual machines 1840, and the implementations may be performed in different ways.

[0186] During operation, the processing circuitry 1860 executes software 1895 to create an instance of a hypervisor or virtualization layer 1850, sometimes referred to as a virtual machine monitor (VMM), which may present to the virtual machine 1840 a virtual operating platform that appears as networking hardware.

[0187] 18, hardware 1830 may be a standalone network node having general or specific components. Hardware 1830 may include antenna 18225 and may implement some functions via virtualization. Alternatively, hardware 1830 may be part of a larger cluster of hardware (e.g., in a data center or customer premises equipment (CPE)) where multiple hardware nodes work together and are managed via a management and orchestration (MANO) 18100 that oversees the lifecycle management of applications 1820, among other things.

[0188] Hardware virtualization, in some contexts, is referred to as network function virtualization (NFV), which can be used to consolidate multiple network equipment types onto industry-standard high-capacity server hardware, physical switches, and physical storage that can reside in data centers and customer premises equipment.

[0189] In the context of NFV, a virtual machine 1840 may be a software implementation of a physical machine that runs a program as if the program were running on a physical, non-virtualized machine. Each virtual machine 1840 and the portion of hardware 1830 on which it runs, whether that hardware is dedicated to that virtual machine and / or shared by that virtual machine with other virtual machines 1840, forms a separate Virtual Network Element (VNE).

[0190] Further related to NFV, a Virtual Network Function (VNF) is responsible for handling a specific network function running on one or more virtual machines 1840 on top of the hardware networking infrastructure 1830 and corresponds to the application 1820 in FIG. 18.

[0191] In some embodiments, one or more radio units 18200, each including one or more transmitters 18220 and one or more receivers 18210, may be coupled to one or more antennas 18225. The radio units 18200 may communicate directly with a hardware node 1830 via one or more suitable network interfaces and are used in combination with virtualization components to provide a virtual node with wireless capabilities, such as a radio access node or base station.

[0192] In some embodiments, some signaling may be affected by the use of a control system 18230, which may alternatively be used for communication between the hardware node 1830 and the wireless unit 18200.

[0193] Figure 19 illustrates a telecommunications network connected to a host computer via an intermediate network, according to some embodiments. With particular reference to Figure 19, according to one embodiment, a communication system includes a telecommunications network 1910, such as a 3GPP type cellular network, comprising an access network 1911, such as a radio access network, and a core network 1914. The access network 1911 comprises a number of base stations 1912a, 1912b, 1912c, such as NBs, eNBs, gNBs, or other types of wireless access points, each defining a corresponding coverage area 1913a, 1913b, 1913c. Each base station 1912a, 1912b, 1912c is connectable to the core network 1914 through a wired or wireless connection 1915. A first UE 1991 located within the coverage area 1913c is configured to wirelessly connect to or be paged by the corresponding base station 1912c. A second UE 1992 within the coverage area 1913a can wirelessly connect to a corresponding base station 1912a. Although multiple UEs 1991, 1992 are shown in this example, the disclosed embodiments are equally applicable to situations where only one UE is within the coverage area or connected to the corresponding base station 1912.

[0194] The telecommunications network 1910 itself is connected to a host computer 1930, which may be embodied in hardware and / or software of a standalone server, a cloud-implemented server, a distributed server, or as a processing resource in a server farm. The host computer 1930 may be under the ownership or control of a service provider, or may be operated by or for the service provider. The connections 1921 and 1922 between the telecommunications network 1910 and the host computer 1930 may extend directly from the core network 1914 to the host computer 1930, or may extend through an optional intermediate network 1920. The intermediate network 1920 may be one of a public network, a private network, or a hosted network, or a combination of two or more thereof, and the intermediate network 1920, if present, may be a backbone network or the Internet, and in particular the intermediate network 1920 may comprise two or more sub-networks (not shown).

[0195] The overall communication system of FIG. 19 enables connectivity between connected UEs 1991, 1992 and a host computer 1930. The connectivity may be described as an over-the-top (OTT) connection 1950. The host computer 1930 and connected UEs 1991, 1992 are configured to communicate data and / or signaling via the OTT connection 1950 using the access network 1911, the core network 1914, any intermediate networks 1920, and possible further infrastructure (not shown) as intermediaries. The OTT connection 1950 may be transparent in the sense that the involved communication devices through which the OTT connection 1950 passes are unaware of the routing of the uplink and downlink communications. For example, the base station 1912 may not, or need not, be informed regarding the past routing of incoming downlink communications with data originating from the host computer 1930 to be forwarded (e.g., handed over) to the connected UE 1991. Similarly, the base station 1912 does not need to be aware of the future routing of outgoing uplink communications emanating from the UE 1991 towards the host computer 1930 .

[0196] An exemplary implementation according to one embodiment of the UE, base station, and host computer discussed in the previous paragraph is described below with reference to FIG. 20. FIG. 20 illustrates a host computer communicating with user equipment via a base station through a partially wireless connection according to some embodiments. In the communication system 2000, the host computer 2010 comprises hardware 2015 including a communication interface 2016 configured to set up and maintain a wired or wireless connection with interfaces of different communication devices of the communication system 2000. The host computer 2010 further comprises a processing circuit 2018, which may have storage and / or processing capabilities. In particular, the processing circuit 2018 may comprise one or more programmable processors, application specific integrated circuits, field programmable gate arrays, or combinations of the above adapted to execute instructions (not shown). The host computer 2010 further comprises software 2011 stored in or accessible by the host computer 2010 and executable by the processing circuit 2018. The software 2011 includes a host application 2012. The host application 2012 may be operable to provide services to a remote user, such as to which the UE 2030 connects via an OTT connection 2050 that terminates at the UE 2030 and the host computer 2010. In providing services to the remote user, the host application 2012 may provide user data that is transmitted using the OTT connection 2050.

[0197] The communication system 2000 further includes a base station 2020 provided in the telecommunications system and comprising hardware 2025 enabling communication with the host computer 2010 and the UE 2030. The hardware 2025 may include a communication interface 2026 for setting up and maintaining wired or wireless connections with interfaces of different communication devices of the communication system 2000, as well as a wireless interface 2027 for setting up and maintaining at least a wireless connection 2070 with a UE 2030 located within a coverage area (not shown in FIG. 20) served by the base station 2020. The communication interface 2026 may be configured to facilitate a connection 2060 to the host computer 2010. The connection 2060 may be direct, or the connection 2060 may pass through a core network (not shown in FIG. 20) of the telecommunications system and / or through one or more intermediate networks outside the telecommunications system. In the illustrated embodiment, the hardware 2025 of the base station 2020 further includes processing circuitry 2028, which may comprise one or more programmable processors, application specific integrated circuits, field programmable gate arrays, or combinations of the above (not shown) adapted to execute instructions. The base station 2020 further has software 2021 stored internally or accessible via an external connection.

[0198] The communication system 2000 further includes the UE 2030 referenced above. The hardware 2035 of the UE 2030 may include a radio interface 2037 configured to set up and maintain a radio connection 2070 with a base station serving a coverage area in which the UE 2030 is currently located. The hardware 2035 of the UE 2030 further includes a processing circuit 2038, which may comprise one or more programmable processors, application specific integrated circuits, field programmable gate arrays, or combinations of the above adapted to execute instructions (not shown). The UE 2030 further includes software 2031 stored in or accessible by the UE 2030 and executable by the processing circuit 2038. The software 2031 includes a client application 2032. The client application 2032 may be operable to provide services to a human or non-human user via the UE 2030 with the support of the host computer 2010. At the host computer 2010, an executing host application 2012 may communicate with an executing client application 2032 via an OTT connection 2050 that terminates at the UE 2030 and the host computer 2010. In providing services to a user, the client application 2032 may receive request data from the host application 2012 and provide user data in response to the request data. The OTT connection 2050 may transfer both the request data and the user data. The client application 2032 may interact with the user and generate user data to provide.

[0199] It should be noted that the host computer 2010, base station 2020, and UE 2030 shown in Figure 20 may be similar to or identical to the host computer 1930, one of the base stations 1912a, 1912b, 1912c, and one of the UEs 1991, 1992, respectively, of Figure 19. That is, the inner workings of these entities may be as shown in Figure 20, and separately, the surrounding network topology may be that of Figure 19.

[0200] 20, the OTT connection 2050 is depicted abstractly to illustrate communication between the host computer 2010 and the UE 2030 via the base station 2020, without explicit reference to any intermediary devices and the precise routing of messages through the intermediary devices. The network infrastructure may determine the routing, which may be configured to be hidden from the UE 2030 or from the service provider's operating host computer 2010, or both. While the OTT connection 2050 is active, the network infrastructure may also make decisions to dynamically change the routing (e.g., based on load balancing considerations or reconfiguration of the network).

[0201] The wireless connection 2070 between the UE 2030 and the base station 2020 follows the teachings of the embodiments described throughout this disclosure. One or more of the various embodiments improve the performance of an OTT service provided to the UE 2030 using the OTT connection 2050 of which the wireless connection 2070 forms the last segment.

[0202] Measurement procedures may be provided for the purpose of monitoring data rates, latency, and other factors that one or more embodiments improve upon. There may further be optional network functionality for reconfiguring the OTT connection 2050 between the host computer 2010 and the UE 2030 in response to fluctuations in the measurement results. The measurement procedures and / or the network functionality for reconfiguring the OTT connection 2050 may be implemented in the software 2011 and hardware 2015 of the host computer 2010, or in the software 2031 and hardware 2035 of the UE 2030, or in both. In an embodiment, sensors (not shown) may be deployed in or associated with the communication devices through which the OTT connection 2050 passes, and the sensors may participate in the measurement procedures by providing values ​​of the monitored quantities exemplified above, or by providing values ​​of other physical quantities from which the software 2011, 2031 may calculate or estimate the monitored quantities. Reconfiguration of the OTT connection 2050 may include message formats, retransmission settings, preferred routing, etc., and the reconfiguration need not affect the base station 2020 and may be unknown or imperceptible to the base station 2020. Such procedures and functionality are known and may be practiced in the art. In certain embodiments, measurements may involve proprietary UE signaling that facilitates the host computer 2010 measurements of throughput, propagation time, latency, etc. Measurements may be implemented in which the software 2011 and 2031 send messages, particularly empty or "dummy" messages, using the OTT connection 2050 while monitoring propagation times, errors, etc.

[0203] FIG. 21 is a flow chart illustrating a method implemented in a communication system according to one embodiment. The communication system includes a host computer, a base station, and a UE, which may be as described with reference to FIGS. 19 and 20. To simplify this disclosure, only the reference to the drawing of FIG. 21 is included in this section. In step 2110, the host computer provides user data. In sub-step 2111 of step 2110 (which may be optional), the host computer provides the user data by executing a host application. In step 2120, the host computer initiates a transmission that conveys the user data to the UE. In step 2130 (which may be optional), the base station transmits the user data conveyed in the host computer initiated transmission to the UE according to the teachings of the embodiments described throughout this disclosure. In step 2140 (which may also be optional), the UE executes a client application associated with the host application executed by the host computer.

[0204] FIG. 22 is a flow chart illustrating a method implemented in a communication system according to one embodiment. The communication system includes a host computer, a base station, and a UE, which may be as described with reference to FIGS. 19 and 20. To simplify this disclosure, only the drawing reference of FIG. 22 is included in this section. In step 2210 of the method, the host computer provides user data. In an optional sub-step (not shown), the host computer provides the user data by executing a host application. In step 2220, the host computer initiates a transmission that conveys the user data to the UE. The transmission may go through a base station according to the teachings of the embodiments described throughout this disclosure. In step 2230 (which may be optional), the UE receives the user data conveyed in the transmission.

[0205] FIG. 23 is a flow chart illustrating a method implemented in a communication system according to one embodiment. The communication system includes a host computer, a base station, and a UE, which may be as described with reference to FIGS. 19 and 20. To simplify the disclosure, only the reference to the drawing of FIG. 23 is included in this section. In step 2310 (which may be optional), the UE receives input data provided by the host computer. Additionally or alternatively, in step 2320, the UE provides user data. In sub-step 2321 (which may be optional) of step 2320, the UE provides the user data by executing a client application. In sub-step 2311 (which may be optional) of step 2310, the UE executes a client application that provides the user data in response to the received input data provided by the host computer. In providing the user data, the executed client application may further take into account user input received from the user. Regardless of the specific manner in which the user data is provided, the UE begins transmitting the user data to the host computer in sub-step 2330 (which may be optional). In step 2340 of the method, the host computer receives user data transmitted from the UE in accordance with the teachings of the embodiments described throughout this disclosure.

[0206] FIG. 24 is a flow chart illustrating a method implemented in a communication system according to one embodiment. The communication system includes a host computer, a base station, and a UE, which may be as described with reference to FIGS. 19 and 20. To simplify this disclosure, only the drawing reference of FIG. 24 is included in this section. In step 2410 (which may be optional), the base station receives user data from the UE according to the teachings of the embodiments described throughout this disclosure. In step 2420 (which may be optional), the base station initiates transmission of the received user data to the host computer. In step 2430 (which may be optional), the host computer receives the user data conveyed in the transmission initiated by the base station.

[0207] Any suitable steps, methods, features, functions, or benefits disclosed herein may be implemented through one or more functional units or modules of one or more virtual devices. Each virtual device may comprise several of these functional units. These functional units may be implemented via processing circuitry, which may include one or more microprocessors or microcontrollers, as well as other digital hardware, which may include digital signal processors (DSPs), dedicated digital logic, and the like. The processing circuitry may be configured to execute program code stored in memory, which may include one or several types of memory, such as read-only memory (ROM), random access memory (RAM), cache memory, flash memory devices, optical storage devices, and the like. The program code stored in memory includes program instructions for implementing one or more electrical communication and / or data communication protocols, as well as instructions for implementing one or more of the techniques described herein. In some implementations, the processing circuitry may be used to cause each functional unit to implement corresponding functions according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0208] In view of the above, embodiments herein generally include a communication system including a host computer. The host computer may include processing circuitry configured to provide user data. The host computer may also include a communication interface configured to forward the user data to a cellular network for transmission to a user equipment (UE). The cellular network may include a base station having a wireless interface and processing circuitry, the processing circuitry of the base station configured to perform any of the steps of any of the embodiments described above with respect to the base station.

[0209] In some embodiments, the communication system further includes a base station.

[0210] In some embodiments, the communication system further includes a UE, the UE configured to communicate with the base station.

[0211] In some embodiments, the processing circuitry of the host computer is configured to execute a host application and thereby provide user data, in which case the UE comprises processing circuitry configured to execute a client application associated with the host application.

[0212] Embodiments herein also include a method implemented in a communication system including a host computer, a base station, and a user equipment (UE). The method includes providing user data at the host computer. The method may also include initiating a transmission at the host computer over a cellular network that includes the base station to convey the user data to the UE. The base station performs any of the steps of any of the embodiments described above with respect to the base station.

[0213] In some embodiments, the method further includes transmitting, at the base station, the user data.

[0214] In some embodiments, the user data is provided at the host computer by executing a host application, in which case the method further includes executing, at the UE, a client application associated with the host application.

[0215] Embodiments herein also include a user equipment (UE) configured to communicate with the base station, the UE comprising a radio interface and processing circuitry configured to implement any of the embodiments described above with respect to the UE.

[0216] Embodiments herein further include a communication system including a host computer comprising a processing circuit configured to provide user data and a communication interface configured to transfer the user data to a cellular network for transmission to a user equipment (UE), the UE comprising a wireless interface and a processing circuit, the components of the UE configured to perform any of the steps of any of the embodiments described above with respect to the UE.

[0217] In some embodiments, the cellular network further includes a base station configured to communicate with the UE.

[0218] In some embodiments, the processing circuitry of the host computer is configured to execute a host application and thereby provide user data, and the processing circuitry of the UE is configured to execute a client application associated with the host application.

[0219] Embodiments also include a method implemented in a communications system including a host computer, a base station, and a user equipment (UE), the method including providing user data at the host computer and initiating a transmission over a cellular network including the base station that conveys the user data to the UE, the UE performing any of the steps of any of the embodiments described above with respect to the UE.

[0220] In some embodiments, the method further includes receiving, at the UE, user data from the base station.

[0221] Embodiments herein further include a communication system including a host computer having a communication interface configured to receive user data originating from a transmission from a user equipment (UE) to a base station, the UE having a wireless interface and processing circuitry, the processing circuitry of the UE configured to perform any of the steps of any of the embodiments described above with respect to the UE.

[0222] In some embodiments, the communication system further includes a UE.

[0223] In some embodiments, the communication system further includes a base station, where the base station comprises a radio interface configured to communicate with the UE and a communication interface configured to transfer user data conveyed by transmissions from the UE to the base station to a host computer.

[0224] In some embodiments, processing circuitry of the host computer is configured to execute a host application, and processing circuitry of the UE is configured to execute a client application associated with the host application and thereby provide user data.

[0225] In some embodiments, processing circuitry of the host computer is configured to execute a host application thereby providing user data, and processing circuitry of the UE is configured to execute a client application associated with the host application thereby providing user data in response to requested data.

[0226] Embodiments herein also include a method implemented in a communications system including a host computer, a base station, and a user equipment (UE), the method including receiving, at the host computer, user data transmitted from the UE to the base station, the UE performing any of the steps of any of the embodiments described above with respect to the UE.

[0227] In some embodiments, the method further includes providing, at the UE, user data to the base station.

[0228] In some embodiments, the method also includes executing, at the UE, a client application and providing user data to be transmitted thereby. The method may further include executing, at the host computer, a host application associated with the client application.

[0229] In some embodiments, the method further includes executing a client application at the UE and receiving input data at the UE to the client application, the input data being provided by executing a host application associated with the client application at the host computer, and the user data to be transmitted being provided by the client application in response to the input data.

[0230] Embodiments also include a communication system including a host computer having a communication interface configured to receive user data originating from a transmission from a user equipment (UE) to a base station. The base station comprises a wireless interface and processing circuitry. The processing circuitry of the base station is configured to perform any of the steps of any of the embodiments described above with respect to the base station.

[0231] In some embodiments, the communication system further includes a base station.

[0232] In some embodiments, the communication system further includes a UE, the UE being configured to communicate with the base station.

[0233] In some embodiments, the processing circuitry of the host computer is configured to execute a host application, and the UE is configured to execute a client application associated with the host application, thereby providing user data to be received by the host computer.

[0234] Embodiments further include a method implemented in a communications system including a host computer, a base station, and a user equipment (UE), the method including receiving, at the host computer, user data from the base station resulting from a transmission received by the base station from the UE, the UE performing any of the steps of any of the embodiments described above with respect to the UE.

[0235] In some embodiments, the method further includes receiving, at the base station, user data from the UE.

[0236] In some embodiments, the method further includes initiating, at the base station, transmission of the received user data to the host computer.

[0237] In general, all terms used herein shall be interpreted according to their ordinary meaning in the relevant art, unless a different meaning is clearly given and / or implied from the context in which it is used. All references to a / an / the element, apparatus, component, means, step, etc. shall be openly interpreted as referring to at least one example of the element, apparatus, component, means, step, etc., unless expressly stated otherwise. The steps of any method disclosed herein need not be performed in the exact order disclosed, unless a step is expressly described as following or preceding another step, and / or if it is implied that a step must follow or precede another step. Any feature of any of the embodiments disclosed herein may be applied to any other embodiment, where appropriate. Similarly, any advantage of any of the embodiments may be applied to any other embodiment, and vice versa. Other objects, features, and advantages of the included embodiments will become apparent from the description.

[0238] The term unit may have its conventional meaning in the field of electronics, electric devices, and / or electronic devices, and may include, for example, electric and / or electronic circuits, devices, modules, processors, memories, logical solid and / or discrete devices, computer programs or instructions that perform a respective task, procedure, calculation, output, and / or display function, etc., as described herein.

[0239] The term "A and / or B," as used herein, encompasses embodiments having only A, only B, or both A and B. Thus, the term "A and / or B" can equivalently mean "at least one of any one or more of A and B."

[0240] Some of the embodiments contemplated herein will be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, other embodiments are within the scope of the subject matter disclosed herein. The subject matter disclosed should not be construed as being limited to only the embodiments described herein, but rather these embodiments are provided as examples to convey the scope of the subject matter to those skilled in the art.

[0241] In particular, modifications and other embodiments of the disclosed invention will come to mind to one skilled in the art having the benefit of the teachings presented in the foregoing descriptions and the associated drawings. It is to be understood, therefore, that the invention is not limited to the specific embodiments disclosed, and that other embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of the present disclosure. Although specific terms may be employed herein, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation.

[0242] Exemplary embodiments of the techniques and apparatus described herein include, but are not limited to, the examples listed below.

[0243] Group A embodiment A1. A method implemented by a wireless device, comprising: A method comprising: transmitting a message to a network node of a wireless communications network indicating a positioning capability of a wireless device. A2. The method of embodiment A1, in which the message is a message for a procedure for attaching or registering the wireless device to a wireless communications network. A3. The method of embodiment A1 or A2, wherein the message is an attach request message requesting to attach the wireless device to a wireless communications network. A4. The method of embodiment A1 or A2, wherein the message is an area update request message requesting an update to a registration of a tracking area of ​​the wireless device or a registration area of ​​the wireless device. A5. The method of any one of embodiments A1 to A4, wherein the message is a request for one or more positioning encryption keys. A6. The method of any one of embodiments A1 to A5, wherein the network node is an Access and Mobility Function (AMF) or implements an AMF. A7. The method of embodiment A6, in which the AMF is interconnected to multiple location management functions (LMFs). A8. The method of any one of embodiments A1 to A7, further comprising receiving positioning assistance information from another network node of the wireless communication network. A9. The method of embodiment A8, in which the other network node is a Location Management Function (LMF) or implements an LMF. A10. The method of embodiment A8 or A9, wherein the positioning assistance information is received together with or simultaneously with the positioning request. A11. Positioning capability: one or more positioning methods supported by the wireless device; Ability for the wireless device to support periodic assistance data updates; the positioning reference signal processing capability of the wireless device; and The method of any one of embodiments A1-A10, indicating at least one of any one or more of a positioning reference signal resource capability of the wireless device. A12. Positioning capability: Radio Access Technology (RAT) dependent positioning capabilities, and The method of any one of embodiments A1 to A11, wherein the RAT-independent positioning capability is selected from the group consisting of: A13. The method of any one of embodiments A1 to A12, wherein the message is a Non-Access Stratum (NAS) message. A14. The method of embodiment A13, wherein the message includes a positioning capabilities field indicating a positioning capability of the wireless device. A15. The method of any one of embodiments A1-A14, wherein the positioning capabilities indicate capabilities related to a positioning protocol supported between the wireless device and a positioning server of the wireless communication network. A16. The method of any one of embodiments A1-A15, wherein the message is sent to the network node in response to receiving a NAS request for positioning capabilities. A17. The method of embodiment A16, wherein the NAS request is received in response to sending a mobile-originated location request to the network node. A18. The method of any one of embodiments A1 and A6-A15, wherein the message is a mobile originated location request included in an uplink NAS transport message. A19. The method of embodiment A18, wherein the positioning capability is embedded in the message as a positioning protocol message. AA. Providing User Data and 13. The method of any of the preceding embodiments, further comprising transferring user data to a host computer via transmission to a base station.

[0244] Group B embodiment B1. A method implemented by a network node configured for use in a wireless communications network, comprising: A method comprising receiving a message from a wireless device indicating a positioning capability of the wireless device. B2. The method of embodiment B1, in which the message is a procedure for attaching or registering the wireless device to a wireless communications network. B3. The method of embodiment B1 or B2, wherein the message is an attach request message requesting to attach the wireless device to a wireless communications network. B4. The method of embodiment B1 or B2, wherein the message is an area update request message requesting an update to a registration of a tracking area of ​​the wireless device or a registration area of ​​the wireless device. B5. The method of embodiment B1 or B2, wherein the message is a request for one or more positioning encryption keys. B6. The method of any one of embodiments B1 to B5, wherein the network node is an Access and Mobility Function (AMF) or implements an AMF. B7. The method of embodiment B6, in which the AMF is interconnected to multiple location management functions (LMFs). B8. The method of any one of embodiments B1 to B7, further comprising storing the positioning capabilities of the wireless device in storage at or accessible to the network node. B9. The method of embodiment B8, wherein the storage is a unified data management (UDM) storage accessible to the network node. B10. Positioning capabilities: one or more positioning methods supported by the wireless device; Ability for the wireless device to support periodic assistance data updates; the positioning reference signal processing capability of the wireless device; and The method of any one of embodiments B1 to B9, indicating at least one of any one or more of a positioning reference signal resource capability of the wireless device. B11. Positioning capabilities include: Radio Access Technology (RAT) dependent positioning capabilities, and The method of any one of embodiments B1 to B10, wherein the at least one of any one or more of: a RAT-independent positioning capability. B12. The method of any one of embodiments B1-B11, wherein the message is a Non-Access Stratum (NAS) message. B13. The method of embodiment B12, wherein the message includes a positioning capabilities field indicating a positioning capability of the wireless device. B14. The method of any one of embodiments B1-B13, further comprising receiving a positioning request for the wireless device and sending the positioning request with the positioning capabilities of the wireless device to another network node. B15. The method of embodiment B14, further comprising storing the positioning capabilities of the wireless device in storage at or accessible to the network node, the positioning request being received after storing the positioning capabilities of the wireless device in the storage, the method further comprising retrieving the positioning capabilities of the wireless device from the storage for sending to another network node in response to receiving the positioning request. B16. The method of embodiment B14 or B15, wherein the other network node is or implements a Location Management Function (LMF). B17. The method of embodiment B14 or B15, wherein the positioning request and the positioning capability are sent in the same message. B18. The method of any one of embodiments B1-B17, wherein the message includes a positioning capabilities field indicating a positioning capability of the wireless device. B19. The method of any one of embodiments B1-B18, wherein the positioning capabilities indicate capabilities related to a positioning protocol supported between the wireless device and a positioning server of the wireless communication network. B20. The method of any one of embodiments B1-B19, further comprising: sending, to the wireless device, a NAS request for positioning capabilities, the positioning capabilities being received in response to the NAS request. B21. The method of embodiment B20, wherein the NAS request is sent in response to receiving a mobile-originated location request from the wireless device. B22. The method of any one of embodiments B1 and B6-B21, wherein the message is a mobile originated location request included in an uplink NAS transport message. B23. The method of embodiment B22, wherein the positioning capability is embedded in the message as a positioning protocol message. B24. A method implemented by a network node configured for use in a wireless communication network, comprising: A method comprising: sending a positioning request for a wireless device along with positioning capabilities of the wireless device to another network node of a wireless communications network. B25. The method of embodiment B24, further comprising storing the positioning capabilities of the wireless device in storage at or accessible to the network node, the positioning request being received by the network node after storing the positioning capabilities of the wireless device in the storage, the method further comprising retrieving the positioning capabilities of the wireless device from the storage for sending to another network node in response to receiving the positioning request. B26. The method of embodiment B24 or B25, wherein the other network node is or implements a Location Management Function (LMF). B27. The method of any one of embodiments B24-B26, wherein the positioning request and the positioning capability are sent in the same message. B28. The method of any one of embodiments B24 to B27, wherein the network node is an Access and Mobility Function (AMF) or implements an AMF. B29. Positioning capabilities: one or more positioning methods supported by the wireless device; Ability for the wireless device to support periodic assistance data updates; the positioning reference signal processing capability of the wireless device; and The method of any one of embodiments B24-B28, indicating at least one of any one or more of a positioning reference signal resource capability of the wireless device. B30. Positioning capabilities include: Radio Access Technology (RAT) dependent positioning capabilities, and The method of any one of embodiments B24 to B29, indicating at least one of any one or more of: a RAT-independent positioning capability. B31. The method of any one of embodiments B24-B30, wherein the positioning capabilities indicate capabilities related to a positioning protocol supported between the wireless device and a positioning server of the wireless communication network. BB. Acquiring User Data; 13. The method of any of the preceding embodiments, further comprising transferring the user data to a host computer or wireless device.

[0245] Group X embodiment X1. A method implemented by a network node configured for use in a wireless communications network, comprising: A method comprising receiving a positioning request for a wireless device from another network node along with positioning capabilities of the wireless device. X2. The method of embodiment X1, in which the positioning request and the positioning capability are received in the same message. X3. The method of embodiment X1 or X2, wherein the other network node is an Access and Mobility Function (AMF) or implements an AMF. X4. The method of any one of embodiments X1 to X3, wherein the network node is a Location Management Function (LMF) or implements an LMF. X5. The method of any one of embodiments X1 to X4, further comprising: preparing positioning assistance information for the wireless device based on a positioning capability of the wireless device; and sending the positioning assistance information to the wireless device. X6. Positioning capability is one or more positioning methods supported by the wireless device; Ability for the wireless device to support periodic assistance data updates; the positioning reference signal processing capability of the wireless device; and The method of any one of embodiments X1 to X5, indicating at least one of any one or more of a positioning reference signal resource capability of the wireless device. X7. Positioning capability is Radio Access Technology (RAT) dependent positioning capabilities, and The method of any one of embodiments X1 to X6, exhibiting at least one of any one or more of: a RAT-independent positioning capability. X8. The method of any one of embodiments X1 to X7, wherein the positioning capabilities indicate capabilities related to a positioning protocol supported between the wireless device and a positioning server of the wireless communication network.

[0246] Group C embodiment C1. A wireless device configured to perform any of the steps of any of the Group A embodiments. C2. A wireless device comprising processing circuitry configured to perform any of the steps of any of the Group A embodiments. C3. A communication circuit; and processing circuitry configured to perform any of the steps of any of the Group A embodiments. C4. A processing circuit configured to perform any of the steps of any of the Group A embodiments; A wireless device comprising: a power supply circuit configured to supply power to the wireless device. C5. A wireless device comprising a processing circuit and a memory, the memory containing instructions executable by the processing circuit, whereby the wireless device is configured to perform any of the steps of any of the Group A embodiments. C6. An antenna configured to transmit and receive radio signals; a radio front-end circuit coupled to the antenna and to the processing circuit and configured to condition signals communicated between the antenna and the processing circuit; a processing circuit configured to perform any of the steps of any of the Group A embodiments; an input interface coupled to the processing circuitry and configured to enable input of information to the UE to be processed by the processing circuitry; an output interface coupled to the processing circuitry and configured to output information from the UE that has been processed by the processing circuitry; A user equipment (UE) comprising: a battery coupled to the processing circuit and configured to power the UE. C7. A computer program comprising instructions that, when executed by at least one processor of a wireless device, cause the wireless device to perform the steps of any of the Group A embodiments. C8. A carrier carrying the computer program of embodiment C7, the carrier being one of an electronic signal, an optical signal, a radio signal, or a computer-readable storage medium. C9. A network node configured to perform any of the steps of any of the Group B or Group X embodiments. C10. A network node comprising processing circuitry configured to perform any of the steps of any of the Group B or Group X embodiments. C11. Communication circuits and and processing circuitry configured to perform any of the steps of any of the Group B or Group X embodiments. C12. A processing circuit configured to perform any of the steps of any of the Group B or Group X embodiments; a power supply circuit configured to supply power to the network node. C13. A network node comprising a processing circuit and a memory, the memory containing instructions executable by the processing circuit, whereby the network node is configured to perform any of the steps of any of the Group B or Group X embodiments. C14. A network node described in any one of embodiments C9 to C13, wherein the network node is an AMF or implements an AMF. C15. A computer program comprising instructions which, when executed by at least one processor of a network node, cause the network node to perform the steps of any of the Group B or Group X embodiments. C16. The computer program of embodiment C14, wherein the network node is an AMF or implements an AMF. C17. A carrier carrying the computer program of embodiment C15 or C16, which is one of an electronic signal, an optical signal, a radio signal, or a computer-readable storage medium.

[0247] Group D embodiment D1. A communication system including a host computer, processing circuitry configured to provide user data; a communication interface configured to transfer user data to a cellular network for transmission to a user equipment (UE); A communications system in which a cellular network comprises a base station having a radio interface and processing circuitry, the processing circuitry of the base station configured to perform any of the steps of any of the Group B embodiments. D2. The communications system of embodiment D1, further comprising a base station. D3. The communications system of any one of embodiments D1 to D2, further comprising a UE, the UE configured to communicate with the base station. D4. Processing circuitry of the host computer is configured to execute a host application and thereby provide user data; The communications system of any one of embodiments D1 to D3, wherein the UE comprises processing circuitry configured to execute a client application associated with the host application. D5. A method implemented in a communication system including a host computer, a base station, and a user equipment (UE), comprising: providing user data at a host computer; A method comprising: initiating, at a host computer, a transmission conveying user data to a UE via a cellular network comprising a base station, the base station performing any of the steps of any of the Group B embodiments. D6. The method of embodiment D5, further comprising transmitting, at the base station, user data. D7. The method of embodiment D5 or D6, wherein the user data is provided at the host computer by executing a host application, and the method further includes executing, at the UE, a client application associated with the host application. D8. A user equipment (UE) configured to communicate with a base station, the UE comprising a radio interface and processing circuitry configured to implement any one of embodiments D5 to D7. D9. A communication system including a host computer, processing circuitry configured to provide user data; a communication interface configured to transfer user data to a cellular network for transmission to a user equipment (UE); A communications system, wherein the UE comprises a radio interface and processing circuitry, the components of the UE configured to perform any of the steps of any of the Group A embodiments. D10. The communications system of embodiment D9, wherein the cellular network further includes a base station configured to communicate with the UE. D11. A processing circuit of a host computer is configured to execute a host application and thereby provide user data; The communications system of embodiment D9 or D10, wherein the processing circuitry of the UE is configured to execute a client application associated with the host application. D12. A method implemented in a communication system including a host computer, a base station, and a user equipment (UE), comprising: providing user data at a host computer; A method comprising: initiating, at a host computer, a transmission conveying user data to a UE over a cellular network comprising a base station, the UE performing any of the steps of any of the Group A embodiments. D13. The method of embodiment D12, further comprising receiving, at the UE, user data from the base station. D14. A communication system including a host computer, a communications interface configured to receive user data originating from a transmission from a user equipment (UE) to a base station; A communications system in which a UE comprises a radio interface and processing circuitry, the processing circuitry of the UE configured to perform any of the steps of any of the Group A embodiments. D15. The communication system of embodiment D14, further comprising a UE. D16. A communications system as described in embodiment D14 or D15, further comprising a base station, the base station having a wireless interface configured to communicate with a UE and a communications interface configured to transfer user data conveyed by transmission from the UE to the base station to a host computer. D17. The processing circuitry of a host computer is configured to execute a host application; The communications system of any one of embodiments D14 to D16, wherein the processing circuitry of the UE is configured to execute a client application associated with the host application and thereby provide user data. D18. Processing circuitry of a host computer is configured to execute a host application and thereby provide requested data; The communications system of embodiments D14 to D17, wherein the processing circuitry of the UE is configured to execute a client application associated with the host application, thereby providing user data in response to the request data. D19. A method implemented in a communication system including a host computer, a base station, and a user equipment (UE), comprising: A method, in a host computer, of receiving user data transmitted from a UE to a base station, the method comprising the UE performing any of the steps of any of the Group A embodiments. D20. The method of embodiment D19, further comprising, at the UE, providing user data to the base station. D21. Executing, in a UE, a client application and providing user data to be transmitted thereby; The method of embodiment D19 or D20, further comprising: executing, at the host computer, a host application associated with the client application. D22. Running a client application in a UE; receiving, at the UE, input data for the client application, the input data being provided at the host computer by executing a host application associated with the client application; The method of embodiments D19 to D21, wherein the user data to be transmitted is provided by a client application in response to the input data. D23. A communications system including a host computer having a communications interface configured to receive user data originating from a transmission from a user equipment (UE) to a base station, the base station having a radio interface and processing circuitry, the processing circuitry of the base station configured to perform any of the steps of any of the Group B embodiments. D24. The communications system of embodiment D23, further comprising a base station. D25. The communications system of any one of embodiments D23 to D24, further comprising a UE, the UE configured to communicate with the base station. D26. The processing circuitry of a host computer is configured to execute a host application; The communications system of embodiments D23 to D25, wherein the UE is configured to execute a client application associated with the host application and thereby provide user data to be received by the host computer. D27. A method implemented in a communication system including a host computer, a base station, and a user equipment (UE), comprising: A method, in a host computer, of receiving user data from a base station resulting from a transmission received by the base station from a UE, the method comprising the UE performing any of the steps of any of the Group A embodiments. D28. The method of embodiment D27, further comprising receiving, at the base station, user data from the UE. D29. The method of embodiment D27 or D28, further comprising initiating, at the base station, transmission of the received user data to the host computer.

Claims

1. 1. A method implemented by a network node (16) configured for use in a wireless communication network (10), comprising: Receiving one or more positioning capabilities (18) of a wireless device (12); storing (320) said one or more positioning capabilities (18) in a storage located at or accessible to said network node (16); receiving (330) a positioning request (28) for the wireless device (12) after storing the one or more positioning capabilities (18) of the wireless device (12); retrieving the one or more positioning capabilities (18) of the wireless device (12) from the storage (24) in response to receiving the positioning request (28); sending (340) a message to a positioning server (20) of the wireless communication network (10) including the positioning request (28) and including the one or more positioning capabilities (18) retrieved from the storage (24); Each of the one or more positioning capabilities (18) comprises: Radio Access Technology (RAT) dependent positioning capabilities, or or, a RAT-independent positioning capability; said positioning server (20) implementing a Location Management Function (LMF); The method, wherein the network node (16) is an Access and Mobility Function (AMF) or implements an AMF.

2. A method implemented by a network node (16) configured for use in a wireless communication network (10), comprising: Receiving one or more positioning capabilities (18) of a wireless device (12); storing (320) said one or more positioning capabilities (18) in a storage located at or accessible to said network node (16); receiving (330) a positioning request (28) for the wireless device (12) after storing the one or more positioning capabilities (18) of the wireless device (12); retrieving the one or more positioning capabilities (18) of the wireless device (12) from the storage (24) in response to receiving the positioning request (28); sending (340) a message to a positioning server (20) of the wireless communication network (10) including the positioning request (28) and including the one or more positioning capabilities (18) retrieved from the storage (24); Each of the one or more positioning capabilities (18) comprises: Radio Access Technology (RAT) dependent positioning capabilities, or or, a RAT-independent positioning capability; The method, wherein receiving the one or more positioning capabilities (18) comprises fetching the one or more positioning capabilities (18) from the positioning server (20).

3. The one or more positioning capabilities (18) one or more positioning methods supported by the wireless device (12); Capability of the wireless device (12) to support periodic assistance data updates; a positioning reference signal processing capability of said wireless device (12); a positioning reference signal resource capability of the wireless device (12); and The method of claim 1 or 2, further comprising indicating at least one of one or more capabilities related to a positioning protocol supported between the wireless device (12) and a positioning server (20) of the wireless communication network (10).

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the positioning server (20) implements a Location Management Function (LMF).

5. The method according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the network node (16) is or implements an Access and Mobility Function (AMF).

6. 1. A method implemented by a positioning server (20) configured for use in a wireless communication network (10), comprising: receiving (400) a message from a network node (16) of the wireless communication network (10) including a positioning request (28) for a wireless device (12) and including one or more positioning capabilities (18) of the wireless device (12); Each of the one or more positioning capabilities (18) comprises: Radio Access Technology (RAT) dependent positioning capabilities, or or, a RAT-independent positioning capability; said positioning server (20) implementing a Location Management Function (LMF); The method, wherein the network node (16) is an Access and Mobility Function (AMF) or implements an AMF.

7. A method implemented by a positioning server (20) configured for use in a wireless communication network (10), comprising: receiving (400) a message from a network node (16) of the wireless communications network (10) including a positioning request (28) for a wireless device (12) and including one or more positioning capabilities (18) of the wireless device (12); and refraining from requesting the one or more positioning capabilities from the wireless device (12) based on the one or more positioning capabilities being included in the message.

8. 8. The method of claim 6 or 7, further comprising: preparing (410) positioning assistance information for the wireless device (12) based on the one or more positioning capabilities (18) of the wireless device (12); and sending (420) the positioning assistance information to the wireless device (12).

9. A network node (16, 600) configured for use in a wireless communication network (10), comprising: Receiving one or more positioning capabilities (18) of a wireless device (12); storing said one or more positioning capabilities (18) in a storage (24) located in or accessible to said network node (16); receiving a positioning request (28) for the wireless device (12) after storing the one or more positioning capabilities (18) of the wireless device (12); retrieving the one or more positioning capabilities (18) of the wireless device (12) from the storage (24) in response to receiving the positioning request (28); configured to send a message to a positioning server (20) of said wireless communication network (10), said message including said positioning request (28) and including said one or more positioning capabilities (18) retrieved from said storage (24); Each of the one or more positioning capabilities (18) comprises: Radio Access Technology (RAT) dependent positioning capabilities, or or, a RAT-independent positioning capability; said positioning server (20) implementing a Location Management Function (LMF); A network node (16, 600), wherein the network node (16) is an Access and Mobility Function (AMF) or implements an AMF.

10. A network node (16,600) configured for use in a wireless communication network (10), comprising: Receiving one or more positioning capabilities (18) of a wireless device (12); storing said one or more positioning capabilities (18) in a storage (24) located in or accessible to said network node (16); receiving a positioning request (28) for the wireless device (12) after storing the one or more positioning capabilities (18) of the wireless device (12); retrieving the one or more positioning capabilities (18) of the wireless device (12) from the storage (24) in response to receiving the positioning request (28); configured to send a message to a positioning server (20) of said wireless communication network (10), said message including said positioning request (28) and including said one or more positioning capabilities (18) retrieved from said storage (24); Each of the one or more positioning capabilities (18) comprises: Radio Access Technology (RAT) dependent positioning capabilities, or or, a RAT-independent positioning capability; A network node (16, 600), wherein receiving the one or more positioning capabilities (18) comprises fetching the one or more positioning capabilities (18) from the positioning server (20).

11. A positioning server (20, 600) configured for use in a wireless communications network (10), comprising: configured to receive a message from a network node (16) of the wireless communication network (10), the message including a positioning request (28) for a wireless device (12) and including one or more positioning capabilities (18) of the wireless device (12); Each of the one or more positioning capabilities (18) comprises: Radio Access Technology (RAT) dependent positioning capabilities, or or, a RAT-independent positioning capability; said positioning server (20) implementing a Location Management Function (LMF); The network node (16) is an Access and Mobility Function (AMF) or implements an AMF, said positioning server (20, 600).

12. A positioning server (20, 600) configured for use in a wireless communication network (10), comprising: receiving a message from a network node (16) of the wireless communications network (10) including a positioning request (28) for a wireless device (12) and including one or more positioning capabilities (18) of the wireless device (12); A positioning server (20, 600) configured to refrain from requesting the one or more positioning capabilities from the wireless device (12) based on the one or more positioning capabilities (18) being included in the message.

13. A computer program comprising instructions which, when executed by at least one processor of a network node (16, 600), cause said network node (16, 600) to perform a method according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

14. A computer program comprising instructions which, when executed by at least one processor of a positioning server (20, 600), cause said positioning server (20, 600) to perform a method according to any one of claims 6 to 8.

15. A method implemented by a wireless device (12) configured for use in a wireless communication network (10), comprising: determining, based on a timer of the wireless device (12), a time for the wireless device (12) to provide one or more positioning capabilities (18) of the wireless device (12) to the wireless communication network (10) without consent; and at the determined time, providing the one or more positioning capabilities (18) of the wireless device (12) to the wireless communication network (10) without consent; Each of the one or more positioning capabilities (18) comprises: Radio Access Technology (RAT) dependent positioning capabilities, or or a RAT-independent positioning capability.

16. 16. The method of claim 15, wherein the determining includes determining to provide one or more positioning capabilities (18) of the wireless device (12) to the wireless communication network (10) without consent upon expiration of the timer.

17. 17. The method of claim 15 or 16, wherein the determining includes determining to refrain from providing one or more positioning capabilities (18) of the wireless device (12) to the wireless communication network (10) without authorization while the timer is running.

18. 18. The method of any one of claims 15 to 17, further comprising receiving signaling from the wireless communication network (10) to set the value of the timer.

19. A wireless device (12, 500) configured for use in a wireless communication network (10), comprising: determining, based on a timer of the wireless device (12, 500), a time for the wireless device (12, 500) to provide one or more positioning capabilities (18) of the wireless device (12, 500) to the wireless communication network (10) without consent; configured to provide, at the determined time, the one or more positioning capabilities (18) of the wireless device (12, 500) to the wireless communication network (10) without consent; Each of the one or more positioning capabilities (18) comprises: Radio Access Technology (RAT) dependent positioning capabilities, or a wireless device (12,500) categorized as having either a RAT-independent positioning capability or a RAT-independent positioning capability.

20. A wireless device according to claim 19, configured to carry out a method according to any one of claims 16 to 18.

21. A computer program comprising instructions which, when executed by at least one processor of a wireless device (12, 500), cause the wireless device (12, 500) to perform a method according to any one of claims 15 to 18.

22. 22. A computer readable storage medium containing a computer program according to claim 21.

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