Two-Part Uplink Control Information (UCI) Coding of Positioning Status Information (PSI) Reports for Low Latency Positioning

Abstract

In one aspect, a user equipment (UE) performs a plurality of positioning measurements of a plurality of positioning reference signals (PRS) transmitted by at least one network node, transmits a first physical layer message having a fixed payload size, and transmits a second physical layer message having a variable payload size, wherein the first physical layer message includes an indication of a type, a number, or both of a first set of positioning measurements of the plurality of positioning measurements to be included in a second physical layer message having a variable payload size, wherein the second physical layer message includes at least the first set of positioning measurements, and wherein the variable payload size of the second physical layer message is based on at least the type, the number, or both of the first set of positioning measurements.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This patent application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 of Greek Patent Application No. 20200100100, entitled "TWO-PART UPLINK CONTROL INFORMATION (UCI) ENCODING FOR POSITIONING STATE INFORMATION (PSI) REPORTS FOR LOW-LATENCY POSITIONING," filed on February 24, 2020, which is assigned to the assignee of this application and is expressly incorporated by reference in its entirety herein.

[0002] Aspects of the present disclosure generally relate to wireless communications. [Background technology]

[0003]

[0003] Wireless communication systems have evolved through various generations, including first generation analog wireless telephone service (1G), second generation (2G) digital wireless telephone service (including intermediate 2.5G and 2.75G networks), third generation (3G) high speed data, Internet-enabled wireless service, and fourth generation (4G) service (e.g., Long Term Evolution (LTE) or WiMax). Currently, there are many different types of wireless communication systems in use, including cellular and personal communication service (PCS) systems. Examples of known cellular systems include Cellular Analog Advanced Mobile Phone System (AMPS), and digital cellular systems based on Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA), Frequency Division Multiple Access (FDMA), Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA), Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM), and the like.

[0004]

[0004] The fifth generation (5G) wireless standard, called New Radio (NR), requires, among other improvements, higher data rates, a larger number of connections, and better coverage. The 5G standard by the Next Generation Mobile Network Alliance is designed to provide data rates of tens of megabits per second to each of tens of thousands of users, and 1 gigabit per second to a few dozen workers on an office floor. To support large sensor deployments, hundreds of thousands of simultaneous connections should be supported. Thus, the spectral efficiency of 5G mobile communications should be significantly enhanced compared to the current 4G standard. Furthermore, signaling efficiency should be enhanced and latency should be significantly reduced compared to the current standard. Summary of the Invention

[0005]

[0005] The following provides a simplified summary related to one or more aspects disclosed herein. Therefore, the following summary should not be considered an extensive overview related to all contemplated aspects, nor should the following summary be considered to identify key or critical elements related to all contemplated aspects or to define the scope related to a particular aspect. Thus, the following summary has the sole purpose of presenting, in a simplified form, some concepts related to one or more aspects related to the mechanisms disclosed herein, prior to the detailed description presented below.

[0006]

[0006] In one aspect, a method of wireless communications performed by a user equipment (UE) includes performing a plurality of positioning measurements of a plurality of positioning reference signals (PRS) transmitted by at least one network node; transmitting a first physical layer message having a fixed payload size; and transmitting a second physical layer message having a variable payload size, wherein the first physical layer message includes at least an indication of a type, number, or both, of a first set of positioning measurements of the plurality of positioning measurements to be included in a second physical layer message having a variable payload size, wherein the second physical layer message includes at least the first set of positioning measurements, and wherein the variable payload size of the second physical layer message is based on at least the type, number, or both, of the first set of positioning measurements.

[0007]

[0007] In one aspect, a method of wireless communications implemented by a network node includes receiving a first physical layer message from a UE having a fixed payload size, wherein the first physical layer message includes an indication of at least a type, number, or both of a first set of positioning measurements to be included in a second physical layer message having a variable payload size, and receiving a second physical layer message from the UE having a variable payload size, wherein the second physical layer message includes at least the first set of positioning measurements, wherein the variable payload size of the second physical layer message is based on at least the type, number, or both of the first set of positioning measurements.

[0008]

[0008] In one aspect, a UE includes a memory, at least one transceiver, and at least one processor communicatively coupled to the memory and the at least one transceiver, wherein the at least one processor is configured to: perform multiple positioning measurements of multiple PRSs transmitted by at least one network node; cause the at least one transceiver to transmit a first physical layer message having a fixed payload size, wherein the first physical layer message includes at least an indication of a type, number, or both of a first set of positioning measurements of the multiple positioning measurements to be included in a second physical layer message having a variable payload size; cause the at least one transceiver to transmit a second physical layer message having a variable payload size, wherein the second physical layer message includes at least the first set of positioning measurements, wherein the variable payload size of the second physical layer message is based on at least the type, number, or both of the first set of positioning measurements.

[0009]

[0009] In one aspect, a network node includes a memory, at least one transceiver, and at least one processor communicatively coupled to the memory and the at least one transceiver, wherein the at least one processor is configured to: receive from the UE via the at least one transceiver a first physical layer message having a fixed payload size, wherein the first physical layer message includes at least an indication of a type, number, or both of a first set of positioning measurements to be included in a second physical layer message having a variable payload size; receive from the UE via the at least one transceiver a second physical layer message having a variable payload size, wherein the second physical layer message includes at least the first set of positioning measurements, wherein the variable payload size of the second physical layer message is based on at least the type, number, or both of the first set of positioning measurements.

[0010]

[0010] In one aspect, a UE includes means for performing multiple positioning measurements of multiple PRS transmitted by at least one network node, means for transmitting a first physical layer message having a fixed payload size, and means for transmitting a second physical layer message having a variable payload size, wherein the first physical layer message includes at least an indication of the type, number, or both of a first set of positioning measurements of the multiple positioning measurements to be included in a second physical layer message having a variable payload size, wherein the second physical layer message includes at least the first set of positioning measurements, and wherein the variable payload size of the second physical layer message is based on at least the type, number, or both of the first set of positioning measurements.

[0011]

[0011] In one aspect, a network node includes means for receiving a first physical layer message having a fixed payload size from the UE, wherein the first physical layer message includes at least an indication of the type, number, or both of a first set of positioning measurements to be included in a second physical layer message having a variable payload size, and means for receiving a second physical layer message having a variable payload size from the UE, wherein the second physical layer message includes at least the first set of positioning measurements, and wherein the variable payload size of the second physical layer message is based on at least the type, number, or both of the first set of positioning measurements.

[0012]

[0012] In one aspect, a non-transitory computer-readable medium storing computer-executable instructions includes computer-executable instructions comprising at least one instruction to instruct the UE to perform a plurality of positioning measurements for a plurality of PRS transmitted by at least one network node; at least one instruction to instruct the UE to transmit a first physical layer message having a fixed payload size; and at least one instruction to instruct the UE to transmit a second physical layer message having a variable payload size, wherein the first physical layer message includes at least an indication of a type, number, or both of a first set of positioning measurements of the plurality of positioning measurements to be included in a second physical layer message having a variable payload size; and at least one instruction to instruct the UE to transmit a second physical layer message having a variable payload size, wherein the second physical layer message includes at least the first set of positioning measurements, and wherein the variable payload size of the second physical layer message is based at least on the type, number, or both of the first set of positioning measurements.

[0013]

[0013] In one aspect, a non-transitory computer-readable medium storing computer-executable instructions includes at least one instruction to instruct a network node to receive a first physical layer message having a fixed payload size from the UE, where the first physical layer message includes at least an indication of a type, number, or both of a first set of positioning measurements to be included in a second physical layer message having a variable payload size; at least one instruction to instruct the network node to receive a second physical layer message having a variable payload size from the UE, where the second physical layer message includes at least a first set of positioning measurements, where the variable payload size of the second physical layer message is based on at least the type, number, or both of the first set of positioning measurements.

[0014]

[0014] Other objects and advantages associated with the embodiments disclosed herein will become apparent to those skilled in the art based on the accompanying drawings and detailed description of the invention.

[0015]

[0015] The accompanying drawings are presented to aid in the explanation of various aspects of the present disclosure and are provided merely to illustrate the aspects, not to limit the aspects. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0016] [Figure 1]

[0016] FIG. 1 illustrates an example wireless communication system according to an aspect of the present disclosure. [Figure 2A]

[0017] FIG. 1 illustrates an example wireless network structure, according to aspects of the present disclosure. [Figure 2B] FIG. 1 illustrates an example wireless network structure, according to aspects of the present disclosure. [Figure 3A]

[0018] 1 is a simplified block diagram of several sample aspects of components that may be employed in a user equipment (UE) and configured to support communications as taught herein; [Figure 3B] 1 is a simplified block diagram of several sample aspects of components that may be employed in a base station and configured to support communications as taught herein. [Figure 3C] 1 is a simplified block diagram of several sample aspects of components that may be employed in a network entity and configured to support communications as taught herein. [Figure 4A]

[0019] FIG. 1 illustrates a user plane and control plane protocol stacks, according to an aspect of the disclosure. [Figure 4B] FIG. 1 illustrates a user plane and control plane protocol stacks, according to an aspect of the disclosure. [Figure 5A]

[0020] 1 illustrates an example frame structure and channels within the frame structure, in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. [Figure 5B] 1 illustrates an example frame structure and channels within the frame structure, in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. [Figure 5C] 1 illustrates an example frame structure and channels within the frame structure, in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. [Figure 5D] 1 illustrates an example frame structure and channels within the frame structure, in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. [Figure 6]

[0021] FIG. 1 illustrates an example Long-Term Evolution (LTE) positioning protocol (LPP) reference source for positioning. [Figure 7]

[0022] FIG. 1 illustrates an example method of wireless communication according to an aspect of the present disclosure. [Figure 8] FIG. 1 illustrates an example method of wireless communication according to an aspect of the present disclosure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0017]

[0023] Aspects of the present disclosure are provided in the following description and associated drawings, directed to various examples provided for illustration purposes. Alternative aspects may be devised without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. Additionally, well-known elements of the present disclosure will not be described in detail or will be omitted so as not to obscure the relevant details of the present disclosure.

[0018]

[0024] The words "exemplary" and / or "example" are used herein to mean "serving as an example, instance, or illustration." Any aspect described herein as "exemplary" and / or "example" is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other aspects. Similarly, the term "aspects of the present disclosure" does not require that all aspects of the present disclosure include the described feature, advantage or mode of operation.

[0019]

[0025] Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the information and signals described below may be represented using any of a variety of different technologies and techniques. For example, data, instructions, commands, information, signals, bits, symbols, and chips that may be referred to throughout the following description may be represented by voltages, currents, electromagnetic waves, magnetic fields or particles, optical fields or particles, or any combination thereof, depending in part on the particular application, in part on the desired design, in part on the corresponding technology, etc.

[0020]

[0026] Furthermore, many aspects are described in terms of a sequence of actions to be performed, for example, by elements of a computing device. It will be appreciated that the various actions described herein may be performed by specific circuitry (e.g., an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC)), by program instructions executed by one or more processors, or by a combination of both. Furthermore, a sequence of actions described herein may be considered to be embodied as a whole in any form of non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a corresponding set of computer instructions that, when executed, will cause or instruct an associated processor of a device to perform the functions described herein. Thus, various aspects of the present disclosure may be embodied in a number of different forms, all of which are contemplated to fall within the scope of the claimed subject matter. Moreover, for each of the aspects described herein, the corresponding form of any such aspect may be described herein, for example, as "logic configured to" perform the described actions.

[0021]

[0027] The terms "user equipment" (UE) and "base station" as used herein are not intended to be specific or otherwise limited to any particular radio access technology (RAT) unless otherwise stated. Generally, a UE may be any wireless communication device (e.g., a mobile phone, a router, a tablet computer, a laptop computer, a commercially available tracking device, a wearable (e.g., a smart watch, glasses, an augmented reality (AR) / virtual reality (VR) headset, etc.), a vehicle (e.g., a car, a motorcycle, a bicycle, etc.), an Internet of Things (IoT) device, etc.) used by a user to communicate over a wireless communication network. A UE may be mobile or (e.g., at some times) stationary and may communicate with a radio access network (RAN). The term "UE" as used herein may be referred to interchangeably as an "access terminal" or "AT", "client device", "wireless device", "subscriber device", "subscriber terminal", "subscriber station", "user terminal" or "UT", "mobile device", "mobile terminal", "mobile station", or variations thereof. In general, a UE may communicate with a core network via the RAN, through which the UE may be connected to external networks, such as the Internet, and other UEs. Of course, other mechanisms for connecting to the core network and / or the Internet are also possible for a UE, such as via a wired access network, a wireless local area network (WLAN) network (e.g., based on the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11 specifications, etc.).

[0022]

[0028] Depending on the network in which it is deployed, a base station may operate according to one of several RATs in communication with the UE and may alternatively be referred to as an access point (AP), network node, Node B, evolved Node B (eNB), next generation eNB (ng-eNB), new radio (NR) Node B (also referred to as gNB or gNode B), etc. A base station may be used primarily to support wireless access by UEs, including supporting data, voice, and / or signaling connections for supported UEs. In some systems, a base station may provide purely edge node signaling functions, while in other systems it may provide additional control and / or network management functions. A communication link through which a UE may send signals to a base station is referred to as an uplink (UL) channel (e.g., reverse traffic channel, reverse control channel, access channel, etc.). A communication link through which a base station may send signals to a UE is referred to as a downlink (DL) or forward link channel (e.g., paging channel, control channel, broadcast channel, forward traffic channel, etc.). The term Traffic Channel (TCH) as used herein may refer to either an uplink / reverse traffic channel or a downlink / forward traffic channel.

[0023]

[0029] The term "base station" may refer to a single physical transmission-reception point (TRP) or multiple physical TRPs that may or may not be collocated. For example, if the term "base station" refers to a single physical TRP, the physical TRP may be an antenna of the base station corresponding to a cell (or several cell sectors) of the base station. If the term "base station" refers to multiple collocated physical TRPs, the physical TRP may be an array of antennas of the base station (e.g., as in a multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) system or in cases where the base station employs beamforming). If the term "base station" refers to multiple non-collocated physical TRPs, the physical TRP may be a distributed antenna system (DAS) (a network of spatially separated antennas connected to a common source via a transport medium) or a remote radio head (RRH) (a remote base station connected to a serving base station). Alternatively, the non-collocated physical TRP may be a serving base station that receives a measurement report from a UE and a neighbor base station whose reference RF signal the UE is measuring. A TRP is a point from which a base station transmits and receives wireless signals, and therefore, as used herein, references to transmission from or reception at a base station should be understood as referring to the particular TRP of the base station.

[0024]

[0030] In some implementations that support positioning of UEs, a base station may not support wireless access by the UE (e.g., may not support data, voice, and / or signaling connections for the UE), but instead may transmit reference signals to the UE to be measured by the UE and / or may receive and measure signals transmitted by the UE. Such a base station may be referred to as a positioning beacon (e.g., when it transmits signals to the UE) and / or a location measurement unit (e.g., when it receives and measures signals from the UE).

[0025]

[0031] An "RF signal" comprises electromagnetic waves of a given frequency that transport information through space between a transmitter and a receiver. As used herein, a transmitter may transmit a single "RF signal" or multiple "RF signals" to a receiver. However, a receiver may receive multiple "RF signals" corresponding to each transmitted RF signal due to the propagation characteristics of RF signals through multipath channels. The same transmitted RF signal on different paths between a transmitter and a receiver may be referred to as a "multipath" RF signal.

[0026]

[0032] 1 illustrates an exemplary wireless communication system 100. The wireless communication system 100 (sometimes referred to as a wireless wide area network (WWAN)) may include various base stations 102 and various UEs 104. The base stations 102 may include macrocell base stations (high-power cellular base stations) and / or small cell base stations (low-power cellular base stations). In an aspect, the macrocell base stations may include eNBs and / or ng-eNBs where the wireless communication system 100 corresponds to an LTE network, or gNBs where the wireless communication system 100 corresponds to an NR network, or a combination of both, and the small cell base stations may include femtocells, picocells, microcells, etc.

[0027]

[0033] The base stations 102 collectively form the RAN and may interface with a core network 170 (e.g., Evolved Packet Core (EPC) or 5G Core (5GC)) through backhaul links 122 and through the core network 170 to one or more location servers 172 (which may be part of the core network 170 or external to the core network 170). In addition to other functions, the base stations 102 may perform functions related to one or more of forwarding user data, radio channel encryption and decryption, integrity protection, header compression, mobility control functions (e.g., handover, dual connectivity), inter-cell interference coordination, connection setup and release, load balancing, distribution for non-access stratum (NAS) messages, NAS node selection, synchronization, RAN sharing, Multimedia Broadcast Multicast Services (MBMS), subscriber and equipment tracing, RAN Information Management (RIM), paging, positioning, and delivery of alert messages. The base stations 102 may communicate with each other directly or indirectly (e.g., through EPC / 5GC) via backhaul links 134, which may be wired or wireless.

[0028]

[0034] The base stations 102 may wirelessly communicate with the UEs 104. Each of the base stations 102 may provide communication coverage to a respective geographic coverage area 110. In an aspect, one or more cells may be supported by the base stations 102 in each coverage area 110. A "cell" is a logical communication entity used for communication with a base station (e.g., over some frequency resource, called a carrier frequency, component carrier, carrier, band, etc.) and may be associated with an identifier (e.g., physical cell identifier (PCI), virtual cell identifier (VCI), cell global identifier (CGI)) to distinguish cells operating over the same or different carrier frequencies. In some cases, different cells may be configured according to different protocol types (e.g., machine type communication (MTC), narrowband IoT (NB-IoT), enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB), or others) that may provide access to different types of UEs. Because a cell is supported by a particular base station, the term "cell" may refer to either or both of the logical communication entity and the base station that supports it, depending on the context. In some cases, the term "cell" may also refer to the geographic coverage area (e.g., sector) of a base station, so long as the carrier frequency can be detected and used for communication within some portion of the geographic coverage area 110.

[0029]

[0035] The geographic coverage areas 110 of neighboring macrocell base stations 102 may overlap partially (e.g., in handover regions), but some of the geographic coverage areas 110 may be significantly overlapped by larger geographic coverage areas 110. For example, a small cell base station 102' may have a coverage area 110' that significantly overlaps with the coverage area 110 of one or more macrocell base stations 102. A network that includes both small cell base stations and macrocell base stations may be known as a heterogeneous network. A heterogeneous network may also include Home eNBs (HeNBs) that may serve restricted groups known as Closed Subscriber Groups (CSGs).

[0030]

[0036] The communication link 120 between the base station 102 and the UE 104 may include uplink transmissions (also referred to as reverse link) from the UE 104 to the base station 102, and / or downlink transmissions (also referred to as forward link) from the base station 102 to the UE 104. The communication link 120 may use MIMO antenna techniques, including spatial multiplexing, beamforming, and / or transmit diversity. The communication link 120 may be through one or more carrier frequencies. The allocation of carriers may be asymmetric with respect to the downlink and uplink (e.g., more or fewer carriers may be allocated for the downlink than for the uplink).

[0031]

[0037] The wireless communication system 100 may further include a wireless local area network (WLAN) access point (AP) 150 communicating with a WLAN station (STA) 152 via a communication link 154 in an unlicensed frequency spectrum (e.g., 5 GHz). When communicating in the unlicensed frequency spectrum, the WLAN STA 152 and / or the WLAN AP 150 may perform a clear channel assessment (CCA) procedure or a listen-before-talk (LBT) procedure before communicating to determine if a channel is available.

[0032]

[0038] The small cell base station 102' may operate in licensed and / or unlicensed frequency spectrums. When operating in an unlicensed frequency spectrum, the small cell base station 102' may employ LTE or NR technology and use the same 5 GHz unlicensed frequency spectrum used by the WLAN AP 150. A small cell base station 102' employing LTE / 5G in an unlicensed frequency spectrum may boost coverage to and / or increase capacity of an access network. NR in an unlicensed spectrum may be referred to as NR-U. LTE in an unlicensed spectrum may be referred to as LTE-U, Licensed Assisted Access (LAA), or MulteFire.

[0033]

[0039] The wireless communication system 100 may further include a mmW base station 180 that may operate in millimeter wave (mmW) and / or near-mmW frequencies in communication with the UE 182. Extremely high frequency (EHF) is a portion of RF in the electromagnetic spectrum. EHF has a range of 30 GHz to 300 GHz and a wavelength between 1 millimeter and 10 millimeters. Radio waves in this band may be referred to as millimeter waves. Near-mmW may extend down to frequencies of 3 GHz with a wavelength of 100 millimeters. The very high frequency (SHF) band, also called centimeter wave, extends between 3 GHz and 30 GHz. Communications using the mmW / near-mmW radio frequency bands have high path loss and relatively short range. The mmW base station 180 and the UE 182 may utilize beamforming (transmit and / or receive) over the mmW communication link 184 to compensate for the extremely high path loss and short range. Moreover, it will be appreciated that in alternative configurations, one or more base stations 102 may also transmit using mmW or near mmW and beamforming. Thus, it will be appreciated that the above description is by way of example only and should not be construed as limiting various aspects disclosed herein.

[0034]

[0040] Transmit beamforming is a technique for focusing an RF signal in a particular direction. Traditionally, when a network node (e.g., a base station) broadcasts an RF signal, it broadcasts the signal in all directions (omnidirectionally). In transmit beamforming, the network node determines where a given target device (e.g., UE) is located (relative to the transmitting network node) and projects a stronger downlink RF signal in that particular direction, thereby providing a faster (in terms of data rate) and stronger RF signal to the receiving device(s). To change the directionality of the RF signal when transmitting, the network node can control the phase and relative amplitude of the RF signal at each of the one or more transmitters broadcasting the RF signal. For example, the network node may use an array of antennas (called a "phased array" or "antenna array") that creates beams of RF waves that can be "steered" to point in different directions without actually moving the antennas. In particular, RF current from the transmitter is fed to the individual antennas with the proper phase relationship so that the waves from the separate antennas add together to increase radiation in the desired direction while canceling and suppressing radiation in undesired directions.

[0035]

[0041] A transmit beam may be quasi-co-located, meaning that the transmit beam appears to a receiver (e.g., a UE) to have the same parameters, regardless of whether the network node's transmit antennas themselves are physically co-located. In NR, there are four types of quasi-co-location (QCL) relationships. In particular, a QCL relationship of a given type means that some parameters for a target reference RF signal on a target beam can be derived from information about a source reference RF signal on a source beam. If the source reference RF signal is QCL type A, the receiver can use the source reference RF signal to estimate the Doppler shift, Doppler spread, average delay, and delay spread of the target reference RF signal transmitted on the same channel. If the source reference RF signal is QCL type B, the receiver can use the source reference RF signal to estimate the Doppler shift and Doppler spread of the target reference RF signal transmitted on the same channel. If the source reference RF signal is QCL type C, the receiver can use the source reference RF signal to estimate the Doppler shift and Doppler spread of the target reference RF signal transmitted on the same channel. If the source reference RF signal is QCL Type D, the receiver can use the source reference RF signal to estimate spatial reception parameters of a target reference RF signal transmitted on the same channel.

[0036]

[0042] In receive beamforming, a receiver uses receive beams to amplify RF signals detected on a given channel. For example, the receiver can increase the gain setting and / or adjust the phase setting of an array of antennas in a particular direction to amplify (e.g., increase its gain level) an RF signal received from that direction. Thus, when a receiver is said to beamform in a direction, it means that the beam gain in that direction is high relative to the beam gains along other directions, or that the beam gain in that direction is highest compared to the beam gains in that direction of all other receive beams available to the receiver. This results in a stronger received signal strength (e.g., reference signal received power (RSRP), reference signal received quality (RSRQ), signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio (SINR), etc.) of the RF signal received from that direction.

[0037]

[0043] The receive beams may be spatially related. The spatial relationship means that the parameters for the transmit beam for the second reference signal may be derived from information about the receive beam for the first reference signal. For example, the UE may use a particular receive beam to receive one or more reference downlink reference signals (e.g., positioning reference signal (PRS), tracking reference signal (TRS), phase tracking reference signal (PTRS), cell-specific reference signal (CRS), channel state information reference signal (CSI-RS), primary synchronization signal (PSS), secondary synchronization signal (SSS), synchronization signal block (SSB), etc.) from the base station. The UE may then form a transmit beam for sending one or more uplink reference signals (e.g., uplink positioning reference signal (UL-PRS), sounding reference signal (SRS), demodulation reference signal (DMRS), PTRS, etc.) to that base station based on the parameters of the receive beam.

[0038]

[0044] Note that a "downlink" beam can be either a transmit beam or a receive beam, depending on the entity forming it. For example, if the base station forms a downlink beam to transmit a reference signal to the UE, the downlink beam is a transmit beam. However, if the UE forms a downlink beam, it is a receive beam to receive the downlink reference signal. Similarly, an "uplink" beam can be either a transmit beam or a receive beam, depending on the entity forming it. For example, if the base station forms an uplink beam, it is an uplink receive beam, and if the UE forms an uplink beam, it is an uplink transmit beam.

[0039]

[0045] In 5G, the frequency spectrum in which wireless nodes (e.g., base station 102 / 180, UE 104 / 182) operate is divided into multiple frequency ranges: FR1 (450 to 6000 MHz), FR2 (24250 to 52600 MHz), FR3 (above 52600 MHz), and FR4 (between FR1 and FR2). In a multi-carrier system, such as 5G, one of the carrier frequencies is called the "primary carrier" or "anchor carrier" or "primary serving cell" or "PCell," and the remaining carrier frequencies are called the "secondary carrier" or "secondary serving cell" or "SCell." In carrier aggregation, the anchor carrier is the carrier operating on the primary frequency (e.g., FR1) utilized by the UE 104 / 182 and the cell in which the UE 104 / 182 either performs an initial radio resource control (RRC) connection establishment procedure or initiates an RRC connection re-establishment procedure. The primary carrier carries all common and UE-specific control channels and may be a carrier in licensed frequencies (although this is not always the case). The secondary carrier is a carrier operating on a second frequency (e.g., FR2) that may be configured once an RRC connection is established between the UE 104 and the anchor carrier and may be used to provide additional radio resources. In some cases, the secondary carrier may be a carrier in unlicensed frequencies. The secondary carrier may contain only the necessary signaling information and signals, e.g., nothing UE-specific may be present in the secondary carrier, since both the primary uplink carrier and the primary downlink carrier are typically UE-specific. This means that different UEs 104 / 182 in a cell may have different downlink primary carriers. The same is true for the uplink primary carrier. The network is capable of changing the primary carrier of any UE 104 / 182 at any time. This is done, for example, to distribute the load on different carriers.Since a "serving cell" (whether a PCell or an SCell) corresponds to the carrier frequency / component carrier over which some base station is communicating, terms such as "cell", "serving cell", "component carrier", "carrier frequency", etc. may be used interchangeably.

[0040]

[0046] For example, still referring to FIG. 1, one of the frequencies utilized by the macrocell base station 102 may be an anchor carrier (or “PCell”), and the other frequencies utilized by the macrocell base station 102 and / or the mmW base station 180 may be secondary carriers (“SCells”). Simultaneous transmission and / or reception of multiple carriers allows the UE 104 / 182 to significantly increase its data transmission and / or reception rates. For example, two 20 MHz aggregated carriers in a multi-carrier system would theoretically lead to a doubling of the data rate (i.e., 40 MHz) compared to that achieved by a single 20 MHz carrier.

[0041]

[0047] The wireless communications system 100 may further include a UE 164, which may communicate with the macrocell base station 102 via communications link 120 and / or with the mmW base station 180 via an mmW communications link 184. For example, the macrocell base station 102 may support a PCell and one or more SCells for the UE 164, and the mmW base station 180 may support one or more SCells for the UE 164.

[0042]

[0048] In the example of FIG. 1, one or more Earth-orbiting satellite positioning system (SPS) space vehicles (SVs) 112 (e.g., satellites) may be used as independent sources of location information for any of the illustrated UEs (shown in FIG. 1 as a single UE 104 for simplicity). The UE 104 may include one or more dedicated SPS receivers specially designed to receive SPS signals 124 to derive geolocation information from the SVs 112. An SPS generally includes a system of transmitters arranged to enable a receiver (e.g., UE 104) to determine the location of the receiver on or above the Earth based at least in part on signals (e.g., SPS signals 124) received from a transmitter (e.g., SV 112). Such transmitters generally transmit signals marked with a repetitive pseudorandom noise (PN) code of a set number of chips. Although generally located in the SVs 112, transmitters may sometimes be located on ground-based control stations, base stations 102, and / or other UEs 104.

[0043]

[0049] Use of the SPS signals 124 may be augmented by various satellite-based augmentation systems (SBAS), which may be associated with or otherwise enabled for use with one or more global and / or regional navigation satellite systems. For example, the SBAS may include augmentation system(s) that provide integrity information, differential corrections, and the like, such as the Wide Area Augmentation System (WAAS), the European Geostationary Navigation Overlay Service (EGNOS), the Multi-functional Satellite Augmentation System (MSAS), the Global Positioning System (GPS) Aided Geo Augmented Navigation or GPS and Geo Augmented Navigation system (GAGAN), and the like. Thus, an SPS as used herein may include any combination of one or more global and / or regional navigation satellite systems and / or augmentation systems, and SPS signals 124 may include SPS signals, SPS-like signals, and / or other signals related to such one or more SPSs.

[0044]

[0050] The wireless communication system 100 may further include one or more UEs, such as UE 190, that indirectly connect to one or more communication networks via one or more device-to-device (D2D) peer-to-peer (P2P) links (referred to as "sidelink"). In the example of FIG. 1, the UE 190 has a D2D P2P link 192 with one of the UEs 104 connected to one of the base stations 102 (e.g., through which the UE 190 may indirectly obtain cellular connectivity) and a D2D P2P link 194 with a WLAN STA 152 connected to a WLAN AP 150 (through which the UE 190 may indirectly obtain WLAN-based Internet connectivity). In one example, the D2D P2P links 192 and 194 may be supported with any well-known D2D RAT, such as LTE Direct (LTE-D), WiFi Direct® (WiFi®-D), Bluetooth®, etc.

[0045]

[0051] 2A illustrates an exemplary wireless network structure 200. For example, a 5GC 210 (also referred to as Next Generation Core (NGC)) may be considered functionally as a control plane function 214 (e.g., UE registration, authentication, network access, gateway selection, etc.) and a user plane function 212 (e.g., UE gateway function, access to data network, IP routing, etc.) that operate cooperatively to form a core network. A user plane interface (NG-U) 213 and a control plane interface (NG-C) 215 connect a gNB 222 to the 5GC 210, specifically to the control plane function 214 and the user plane function 212. In an additional configuration, a ng-eNB 224 may also be connected to the 5GC 210 via the NG-C 215 to the control plane function 214 and the NG-U 213 to the user plane function 212. Additionally, the ng-eNB 224 may communicate directly with the gNB 222 via a backhaul connection 223. In some configurations, the new RAN 220 may have only one or more gNBs 222, while other configurations include one or more of both the ng-eNB 224 and the gNB 222. Either the gNB 222 or the ng-eNB 224 may be in communication with the UE 204 (e.g., any of the UEs shown in FIG. 1). Another optional aspect may include a location server 230, which may be in communication with the 5GC 210 to provide location assistance to the UE 204. The location servers 230 may be implemented as multiple separate servers (e.g., physically separate servers, different software modules on a single server, different software modules spread across multiple physical servers, etc.), or alternatively, each may correspond to a single server. The location servers 230 may be configured to support one or more location services for the UE 204 that may be connected to the location server 230 via the core network, the 5GC 210, and / or the Internet (not shown). Additionally, the location server 230 may be incorporated into a component of the core network, or alternatively may be external to the core network.

[0046]

[0052] 2B illustrates another exemplary wireless network structure 250. For example, the 5GC 260 may be considered functionally as a control plane function provided by an access and mobility management function (AMF) 264 and a user plane function provided by a user plane function (UPF) 262, which operate cooperatively to form a core network (i.e., the 5GC 260). A user plane interface 263 and a control plane interface 265 connect the ng-eNB 224 to the 5GC 260, specifically to the UPF 262 and the AMF 264, respectively. In an additional configuration, the gNB 222 may also be connected to the 5GC 260 via a control plane interface 265 to the AMF 264 and a user plane interface 263 to the UPF 262. Additionally, the ng-eNB 224 may communicate directly with the gNB 222 via a backhaul connection 223, with or without gNB direct connectivity to the 5GC 260. In some configurations, the new RAN 220 may have only one or more gNBs 222, while other configurations include one or more of both the ng-eNB 224 and the gNB 222. Either the gNB 222 or the ng-eNB 224 may communicate with the UE 204 (e.g., any of the UEs shown in FIG. 1). The base stations of the new RAN 220 communicate with the AMF 264 via an N2 interface and with the UPF 262 via an N3 interface.

[0047]

[0053] The functions of the AMF 264 include registration management, connection management, reachability management, mobility management, lawful interception, transport for session management (SM) messages between the UE 204 and a session management function (SMF) 266, a transparent proxy service for routing SM messages, access authentication and access authorization, transport for short message service (SMS) messages between the UE 204 and a short message service function (SMSF) (not shown), and a security anchor function (SEAF). The AMF 264 also interacts with an authentication server function (AUSF) (not shown) and the UE 204 to receive intermediate keys established as a result of the UE 204 authentication process. In case of UMTS (Universal Mobile Telecommunications System) Subscriber Identity Module (USIM) based authentication, the AMF 264 retrieves security material from the AUSF. The functions of the AMF 264 also include security context management (SCM). The SCM receives keys from the SEAF that it uses to derive access network specific keys. The AMF 264 functions also include location service management for barred services, transport for location service messages between the UE 204 and a Location Management Function (LMF) 270 (acting as the location server 230), transport for location service messages between the new RAN 220 and the LMF 270, Evolved Packet System (EPS) bearer identifier allocation for interworking with EPS, and UE 204 mobility event notification. Additionally, the AMF 164 also supports functions for non-3GPP (Third Generation Partnership Project) access networks.

[0048]

[0054] The functions of the UPF 262 include serving as an anchor point for intra / inter-RAT mobility (when applicable), serving as an outer protocol data unit (PDU) session point for interconnection to a data network (not shown), providing packet routing and forwarding, packet inspection, user plane policy rule enforcement (e.g., gating, redirection, traffic steering), lawful interception (user plane collection), traffic usage reporting, quality of service (QoS) handling for the user plane (e.g., uplink / downlink rate enforcement, reflective QoS marking in the downlink), uplink traffic validation (Service Data Flow (SDF) to QoS flow mapping), transport level packet marking in the uplink and downlink, downlink packet buffering and downlink data notification triggering, and sending and forwarding one or more "termination markers" to the source RAN node. The UPF 262 may also support the transfer of location service messages over the user plane between the UE 204 and a location server, such as the Secure User Plane Location (SUPL) Location Platform (SLP) 272.

[0049]

[0055] The functions of the SMF 266 include session management, UE Internet Protocol (IP) address allocation and management, selection and control of user plane functions, configuration of traffic steering in the UPF 262 to route traffic to the appropriate destination, control of policy enforcement and parts of QoS, and downlink data notification. The interface through which the SMF 266 communicates with the AMF 264 is called the N11 interface.

[0050]

[0056] Another optional aspect may include an LMF 270, which may be in communication with the 5GC 260 to provide location assistance to the UE 204. The LMF 270 may be implemented as multiple separate servers (e.g., physically separate servers, different software modules on a single server, different software modules spread across multiple physical servers, etc.) or, alternatively, each may correspond to a single server. The LMF 270 may be configured to support one or more location services for the UE 204 that may be connected to the LMF 270 via a core network, the 5GC 260, and / or via the Internet (not shown). The SLP 272 may support similar functions as the LMF 270, except that the LMF 270 may communicate with the AMF 264, the new RAN 220, and the UE 204 via a control plane (e.g., using interfaces and protocols intended to carry signaling messages rather than voice or data), and the SLP 270 may communicate with the UE 204 and external clients (not shown in FIG. 2B ) via a user plane (e.g., using protocols intended to carry voice and / or data, such as Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) and / or IP).

[0051]

[0057] 3A, 3B, and 3C illustrate several example components (represented by corresponding blocks) that may be incorporated in a UE 302 (which may correspond to any of the UEs described herein), a base station 304 (which may correspond to any of the base stations described herein), and a network entity 306 (which may correspond to or perform any of the network functions described herein, including the location server 230 and the LMF 270) to support file transmission operations as taught herein. It will be appreciated that these components may be implemented in different types of devices (e.g., in an ASIC, in a system on a chip (SoC), etc.) in different implementations. The illustrated components may also be incorporated in other devices in a communication system. For example, other devices in the system may include similar components as those described to provide similar functionality. Also, a given device may include one or more of the components. For example, a device may include multiple transceiver components that enable the device to operate on multiple carriers and / or communicate via different technologies.

[0052]

[0058] The UE 302 and base station 304 each include a wireless wide area network (WWAN) transceiver 310 and 350, respectively, providing means for communicating (e.g., means for transmitting, means for receiving, means for measuring, means for adjusting, means for refraining from transmitting, etc.) over one or more wireless communications networks (not shown), such as an NR network, an LTE network, a GSM network, etc. The WWAN transceivers 310 and 350 may be connected to one or more antennas 316 and 356, respectively, for communicating with other network nodes, such as other UEs, access points, base stations (e.g., eNBs, gNBs), etc., over at least one designated RAT (e.g., NR, LTE, GSM, etc.) over a wireless communications medium of interest (e.g., some set of time / frequency resources in a particular frequency spectrum). The WWAN transceivers 310 and 350 may be variously configured for transmitting and encoding signals 318 and 358, respectively (e.g., messages, instructions, information, etc.), and conversely, for receiving and decoding signals 318 and 358, respectively (e.g., messages, instructions, information, pilots, etc.), in accordance with a designated RAT. In particular, the WWAN transceivers 310 and 350 include one or more transmitters 314 and 354, respectively, for transmitting and encoding signals 318 and 358, respectively, and include one or more receivers 312 and 352, respectively, for receiving and decoding signals 318 and 358, respectively.

[0053]

[0059] The UE 302 and base station 304 also, in at least some cases, include wireless local area network (WLAN) transceivers 320 and 360, respectively. The WLAN transceivers 320 and 360 may be connected to one or more antennas 326 and 366, respectively, and provide means for communicating (e.g., means for transmitting, means for receiving, means for measuring, means for adjusting, means for refraining from transmitting, etc.) with other network nodes, such as other UEs, access points, base stations, etc., via at least one designated RAT (e.g., WiFi, LTE-D, Bluetooth, etc.) over a wireless communication medium of interest. The WLAN transceivers 320 and 360 may be variously configured for transmitting and encoding signals 328 and 368, respectively (e.g., messages, instructions, information, etc.), and conversely, for receiving and decoding signals 328 and 368, respectively (e.g., messages, instructions, information, pilots, etc.), in accordance with the designated RAT. In particular, the WLAN transceivers 320 and 360 each include one or more transmitters 324 and 364, respectively, for transmitting and encoding signals 328 and 368, and each include one or more receivers 322 and 362, respectively, for receiving and decoding the signals 328 and 368.

[0054]

[0060] A transceiver circuit including at least one transmitter and at least one receiver may in some implementations comprise an integrated device (e.g., implemented as a transmitter circuit and a receiver circuit of a single communication device), in some implementations comprise separate transmitter devices and separate receiver devices, or in other implementations may be implemented in other manners. In one aspect, the transmitter may include or be coupled to multiple antennas, such as an antenna array (e.g., antennas 316, 326, 356, 366), that enable each device to perform transmit "beamforming" as described herein. Similarly, the receiver may include or be coupled to multiple antennas, such as an antenna array (e.g., antennas 316, 326, 356, 366), that enable each device to perform receive beamforming as described herein. In one aspect, the transmitter and receiver may share the same multiple antennas (e.g., antennas 316, 326, 356, 366), that enable each device to only receive or transmit at a given time, rather than both receive and transmit at the same time. The wireless communications device of the UE 302 and / or base station 304 (e.g., one or both of the transceivers 310 and 320 and / or 350 and 360) may also comprise a network listen module (NLM) or the like for performing various measurements.

[0055]

[0061] The UE 302 and base station 304 also, in at least some cases, include satellite positioning system (SPS) receivers 330 and 370. The SPS receivers 330 and 370 may be connected to one or more antennas 336 and 376, respectively, and may provide a means for receiving and / or measuring SPS signals 338 and 378, respectively, such as Global Positioning System (GPS) signals, Global Navigation Satellite System (GLONASS) signals, Galileo signals, BeiDou signals, Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (NAVIC), Quasi-Zenith Satellite System (QZSS), etc. The SPS receivers 330 and 370 may comprise any suitable hardware and / or software for receiving and processing the SPS signals 338 and 378, respectively. The SPS receivers 330 and 370 request information and actions from other systems as appropriate, and perform the calculations necessary to determine the position of the UE 302 and base station 304 using measurements obtained by any suitable SPS algorithms.

[0056]

[0062] The base station 304 and the network entity 306 each include at least one network interface 380 and 390, respectively, providing means for communicating (e.g., means for transmitting, means for receiving, etc.) with other network entities. For example, the network interfaces 380 and 390 (e.g., one or more network access ports) may be configured to communicate with one or more network entities via a wire-based or wireless backhaul connection. In some aspects, the network interfaces 380 and 390 may be implemented as transceivers configured to support wire-based or wireless signal communication. This communication may involve, for example, sending and receiving messages, parameters, and / or other types of information.

[0057]

[0063] The UE 302, base station 304, and network entity 306 also include other components that may be used in conjunction with the operations disclosed herein. The UE 302 includes a processor circuit that implements a processing system 332, for example, for providing functionality related to wireless positioning and for providing other processing functions. The base station 304 includes a processing system 384, for example, for providing functionality related to wireless positioning and for providing other processing functions disclosed herein. The network entity 306 includes a processing system 394, for example, for providing functionality related to wireless positioning and for providing other processing functions disclosed herein. The processing systems 332, 384, and 394 may thus provide means for processing, such as means for determining, means for calculating, means for receiving, means for transmitting, means for indicating, etc. In one aspect, the processing systems 332, 384, and 394 may include, for example, one or more general-purpose processors, multi-core processors, ASICs, digital signal processors (DSPs), field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), or other programmable logic devices or processing circuitry.

[0058]

[0064] The UE 302, base station 304, and network entity 306 include memory circuitry implementing memory components 340, 386, and 396, respectively (e.g., each including a memory device) to maintain information (e.g., information indicating reserved resources, thresholds, parameters, etc.). The memory components 340, 386, and 396 may thus provide a means for storing, a means for retrieving, a means for maintaining, etc. In some cases, the UE 302, base station 304, and network entity 306 may include positioning components 342, 388, and 398, respectively. The positioning components 342, 388, and 398 may be hardware circuits that are part of or coupled to the processing systems 332, 384, and 394, respectively, that, when executed, cause the UE 302, base station 304, and network entity 306 to perform the functions described herein. In other aspects, the positioning components 342, 388, and 398 may be external to the processing systems 332, 384, and 394 (e.g., part of a modem processing system, integrated with another processing system, etc.). Alternatively, the positioning components 342, 388, and 398 may be memory modules stored in the memory components 340, 386, and 396, respectively, that when executed by the processing systems 332, 384, and 394 (or a modem processing system, another processing system, etc.) cause the UE 302, the base station 304, and the network entity 306 to perform the functions described herein. FIG. 3A illustrates possible locations of the positioning component 342, which may be part of the WWAN transceiver 310, the memory component 340, the processing system 332, or any combination thereof, or may be a stand-alone component. FIG. 3B illustrates possible locations of a positioning component 388, which may be part of the WWAN transceiver 350, the memory component 386, the processing system 384, or any combination thereof, or may be a stand-alone component.FIG. 3C illustrates possible locations for a positioning component 398, which may be part of the network interface(s) 390, memory component 396, processing system 394, or any combination thereof, or may be a stand-alone component.

[0059]

[0065] The UE 302 may include one or more sensors 344 coupled to the processing system 332 to provide a means for sensing or detecting movement and / or orientation information that is independent of movement data derived from signals received by the WWAN transceiver 310, the WLAN transceiver 320, and / or the SPS receiver 330. By way of example, the sensor(s) 344 may include an accelerometer (e.g., a microelectromechanical system (MEMS) device), a gyroscope, a geomagnetic sensor (e.g., a compass), an altimeter (e.g., a barometric altimeter), and / or any other type of movement detection sensor. Moreover, the sensor(s) 344 may include multiple different types of devices and combine their outputs to provide movement information. For example, the sensor(s) 344 may use a combination of a multi-axis accelerometer and an orientation sensor to provide the ability to calculate a position in a 2D and / or 3D coordinate system.

[0060]

[0066] Additionally, the UE 302 includes a user interface 346 that provides a means for providing instructions (e.g., audible and / or visual instructions) to a user and / or a means for receiving user input (e.g., upon user actuation of a sensing device such a keypad, touch screen, microphone, etc.). Although not shown, the base station 304 and the network entity 306 may also include user interfaces.

[0061]

[0067] Referring more particularly to the processing system 384, on the downlink, IP packets from the network entity 306 may be provided to the processing system 384. The processing system 384 may implement functionality for an RRC layer, a Packet Data Convergence Protocol (PDCP) layer, a Radio Link Control (RLC) layer, and a Medium Access Control (MAC) layer. The processing system 384 may provide RRC layer functions related to broadcasting of system information (e.g., Master Information Block (MIB), System Information Block (SIB)), RRC connection control (e.g., RRC connection paging, RRC connection establishment, RRC connection modification, and RRC connection release), inter-RAT mobility, and measurement configuration for UE measurement reporting; PDCP layer functions related to header compression / decompression, security (encryption, decryption, integrity protection, integrity verification), and handover support functions; RLC layer functions related to transfer of higher layer PDUs, error correction via automatic repeat request (ARQ), concatenation, segmentation, and reassembly of RLC service data units (SDUs), re-segmentation of RLC data PDUs, and reordering of RLC data PDUs; and MAC layer functions related to mapping between logical channels and transport channels, scheduling information reporting, error correction, priority handling, and logical channel prioritization.

[0062]

[0068] The transmitter 354 and receiver 352 may implement Layer 1 (L1) functions related to various signal processing functions. Layer 1, including the physical (PHY) layer, may include error detection on the transport channel, forward error correction (FEC) coding / decoding of the transport channel, interleaving, rate matching, mapping onto the physical channel, modulation / demodulation of the physical channel, and MIMO antenna processing. The transmitter 354 handles mapping to signal constellations based on various modulation schemes (e.g., binary phase shift keying (BPSK), quadrature phase shift keying (QPSK), M-phase shift keying (M-PSK), multi-level quadrature amplitude modulation (M-QAM)). The coded and modulated symbols may then be split into parallel streams. Each stream may then be mapped to an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) subcarrier, multiplexed with a reference signal (e.g., pilot) in the time and / or frequency domain, and then combined with each other using an inverse fast Fourier transform (IFFT) to generate a physical channel carrying a time-domain OFDM symbol stream. The OFDM symbol streams are spatially precoded to generate multiple spatial streams. Channel estimates from a channel estimator may be used to determine the coding and modulation scheme, as well as for spatial processing. The channel estimates may be derived from a reference signal and / or channel condition feedback transmitted by the UE 302. Each spatial stream may then be provided to one or more different antennas 356. The transmitter 354 may modulate an RF carrier with the respective spatial stream for transmission.

[0063]

[0069] At the UE 302, the receiver 312 receives the signal through its respective antenna(s) 316. The receiver 312 recovers the information modulated onto the RF carrier and provides the information to the processing system 332. The transmitter 314 and the receiver 312 implement layer 1 functions related to various signal processing functions. The receiver 312 may perform spatial processing on the information to recover the spatial streams destined for the UE 302. If multiple spatial streams are destined for the UE 302, they may be combined by the receiver 312 into a single OFDM symbol stream. The receiver 312 then converts the OFDM symbol stream from the time domain to the frequency domain using a Fast Fourier Transform (FFT). The frequency domain signal comprises a separate OFDM symbol stream for each subcarrier of the OFDM signal. The symbols on each subcarrier and the reference signal are recovered and demodulated by determining the most likely signal constellation point transmitted by the base station 304. These soft decisions may be based on channel estimates calculated by a channel estimator. The soft decisions are then decoded and deinterleaved to recover the data and control signaling originally transmitted on the physical channel by the base station 304. The data and control signaling are then provided to a processing system 332 that implements Layer 3 (L3) and Layer 2 (L2) functions.

[0064]

[0070] In the uplink, the processing system 332 provides demultiplexing between transport and logical channels, packet reassembly, decryption, header recovery, and control signal processing to recover IP packets from the core network. The processing system 332 is also responsible for error detection.

[0065]

[0071] Similar to the functionality described with respect to downlink transmissions by the base station 304, the processing system 332 provides RRC layer functionality related to system information (e.g., MIB, SIB) acquisition, RRC connection, and measurement reporting; PDCP layer functionality related to header compression / decompression and security (encryption, decryption, integrity protection, integrity verification); RLC layer functionality related to transfer of upper layer PDUs, error correction via ARQ, concatenation, segmentation, and reassembly of RLC SDUs, resegmentation of RLC data PDUs, and reordering of RLC data PDUs; and MAC layer functionality related to mapping between logical channels and transport channels, multiplexing of MAC SDUs onto and demultiplexing of MAC SDUs from transport blocks (TBs), scheduling information reporting, error correction via hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ), priority handling, and logical channel prioritization.

[0066]

[0072] Channel estimates derived by the channel estimator from a reference signal or feedback transmitted by the base station 304 may be used by the transmitter 314 to select an appropriate coding and modulation scheme and to enable spatial processing. The spatial streams generated by the transmitter 314 may be provided to different antenna(s) 316. The transmitter 314 may modulate an RF carrier with each spatial stream for transmission.

[0067]

[0073] Uplink transmissions are processed at the base station 304 in a manner similar to that described with respect to the receiver function at the UE 302. The receiver 352 receives signals through its respective antenna(s) 356. The receiver 352 recovers the information modulated onto the RF carrier and provides the information to a processing system 384.

[0068]

[0074] In the uplink, the processing system 384 provides demultiplexing between transport and logical channels, packet reassembly, decryption, header recovery, and control signal processing to recover IP packets from the UE 302. The IP packets from the processing system 384 may be provided to a core network. The processing system 384 is also responsible for error detection.

[0069]

[0075] For convenience, the UE 302, the base station 304, and / or the network entity 306 are illustrated in Figures 3A-3C as including various components that may be configured in accordance with various examples described herein, however, it will be appreciated that the illustrated blocks may have different functionality in different designs.

[0070]

[0076] The various components of the UE 302, the base station 304, and the network entity 306 may communicate with each other via data buses 334, 382, ​​and 392, respectively. The components of FIGS. 3A-3C may be implemented in various ways. In some implementations, the components of FIGS. 3A-3C may be implemented in one or more circuits, such as, for example, one or more processors and / or one or more ASICs (which may include one or more processors). Here, each circuit may use and / or incorporate at least one memory component for storing information or executable code used by the circuit to provide this functionality. For example, some or all of the functionality represented by blocks 310-346 may be implemented by the processor and memory component(s) of the UE 302 (e.g., by execution of appropriate code and / or by appropriate configuration of the processor components). Similarly, some or all of the functionality represented by blocks 350-388 may be implemented by the processor and memory component(s) of the base station 304 (e.g., by execution of appropriate code and / or by appropriate configuration of the processor components). Also, some or all of the functionality represented by blocks 390-398 may be implemented by a processor and memory component(s) of the network entity 306 (e.g., by execution of appropriate code and / or by appropriate configuration of the processor components). For simplicity, various operations, acts, and / or functions are described herein as being performed "by the UE," "by the base station," "by the network entity," etc. However, it will be appreciated that such operations, acts, and / or functions may actually be performed by specific components or combinations of components of the UE 302, base station 304, network entity 306, etc., such as the processing systems 332, 384, 394, transceivers 310, 320, 350, and 360, memory components 340, 386, and 396, positioning components 342, 388, and 398, etc.

[0071]

[0077] FIG. 4A illustrates a user plane protocol stack according to an aspect of the disclosure. As illustrated in FIG. 4A, a UE 404 and a base station 402 (which may correspond to any of the UEs and base stations described herein, respectively) implement, from the highest layer to the lowest layer, a service data adaptation protocol (SDAP) layer 410, a packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) layer 415, a radio link control (RLC) layer 420, a medium access control (MAC) layer 425, and a physical (PHY) layer 430. A particular instance of a protocol layer is referred to as a protocol "entity." Thus, the terms "protocol layer" and "protocol entity" may be used interchangeably.

[0072]

[0078] As indicated by the double-arrowed lines in FIG. 4A, each layer of the protocol stack implemented by the UE 404 communicates with the same layer in the base station 402, and vice versa. The two corresponding protocol layers / entities in the UE 404 and base station 402 are referred to as "peers," "peer entities," etc. Collectively, the SDAP layer 410, PDCP layer 415, RLC layer 420, and MAC layer 425 are referred to as "Layer 2" or "L2." The PHY layer 430 is referred to as "Layer 1" or "L1."

[0073]

[0079] 4B illustrates a control plane protocol stack according to an aspect of the disclosure. In addition to the PDCP layer 415, the RLC layer 420, the MAC layer 425, and the PHY layer 430, the UE 404 and the base station 402 also implement a radio resource control (RRC) layer 445. Additionally, the UE 404 and the AMF 406 implement a non-access stratum (NAS) layer 440.

[0074]

[0080] The RLC layer 420 supports three transmission modes for packets: transparent mode (TM), unacknowledged mode (UM), and acknowledged mode (AM). In TM mode, there is no RLC header, no segmentation / reassembly, and no feedback (i.e., no acknowledgement (ACK) or negative acknowledgement (NACK)). In addition, there is buffering only at the transmitter. In UM mode, there is an RLC header, there is buffering at both the transmitter and receiver, and there is segmentation / reassembly, but there is no feedback (i.e., data transmission does not require acknowledgement (e.g., ACK / NACK) from the receiver). In AM mode, there is an RLC header, there is buffering at both the transmitter and receiver, there is segmentation / reassembly, and there is feedback (i.e., data transmission requires acknowledgement (e.g., ACK / NACK) from the receiver). Each of these modes can be used for both transmitting and receiving data. In TM and UM modes, separate RLC entities are used for transmission and reception, whereas in AM mode, a single RLC entity performs both transmission and reception. Note that each logical channel uses a specific RLC mode; i.e., the RLC configuration is per logical channel without any dependency on numerology and / or transmission time interval (TTI) duration (i.e., duration of transmission on the radio link). In particular, the Broadcast Control Channel (BCCH), Paging Control Channel (PCCH), and Common Control Channel (CCCH) use only TM mode, the Dedicated Control Channel (DCCH) use only AM mode, and the Dedicated Traffic Channel (DTCH) use either UM or AM mode. Whether the DTCH uses UM or AM is determined by RRC messaging.

[0075]

[0081] The main services and functions of the RLC layer 420 depend on the transmission mode and include forwarding of upper layer protocol data units (PDUs), sequence numbering independent of the sequence numbering in the PDCP layer 415, error correction via automatic repeat request (ARQ), segmentation and resegmentation, reassembly of service data units (SDUs), RLC SDU discard, and RLC re-establishment. The ARQ function provides error correction in AM mode and has the following properties: ARQ retransmission of RLC PDUs or RLC PDU segments based on RLC status reports, polling for RLC status reports when required by RLC, and RLC receiver triggering of RLC status reports after detection of lost RLC PDUs or RLC PDU segments.

[0076]

[0082] The main services and functions of the PDCP layer 415 for the user plane include sequence numbering, header compression and decompression (for Robust Header Compression (ROHC)), forwarding of user data, reordering and duplicate detection (if in-order delivery to layers above the PDCP layer 415 is required), PDCP PDU routing (in case of split bearers), retransmission of PDCP SDUs, ciphering and deciphering, PDCP SDU discarding, data recovery for PDCP re-establishment and RLC AM, and PDCP PDU duplication. The main services and functions of the PDCP layer 415 for the control plane include ciphering, deciphering, and integrity protection, forwarding of control plane data, and duplication of PDCP PDUs.

[0077]

[0083] The SDAP layer 410 is an Access Stratum (AS) layer whose main services and functions include mapping between Quality of Service (QoS) flows and data radio bearers, and marking QoS flow identifiers in both downlink and uplink packets. A single protocol entity of the SDAP is configured for each individual PDU session.

[0078]

[0084] The main services and functions of the RRC layer 445 include broadcast of system information related to the AS and the NAS; paging initiated by the 5GC (e.g., NGC 210 or 260) or the RAN (e.g., New RAN 220); establishment, maintenance and release of the RRC connection between the UE and the RAN; security functions including key management, establishment, configuration, maintenance and release of signaling radio bearers (SRBs) and data radio bearers (DRBs); mobility functions (including handover, UE cell selection and reselection and control of cell selection and reselection, and context transfer at handover); QoS management functions; UE measurement reporting and reporting control; and NAS message transfer from / to the UE to / from the NAS.

[0079]

[0085] The NAS layer 440 is the highest layer of the control plane between the UE 404 and the AMF 406 in the radio interface. The main function of the protocols that are part of the NAS layer 440 is to support the mobility of the UE 404 and session management procedures to establish and maintain Internet Protocol (IP) connectivity between the UE 404 and the Packet Data Network (PDN). The NAS layer 440 performs Evolved Packet System (EPS) bearer management, authentication, EPS Connection Management (ECM)-IDLE mobility handling, paging origination in ECM-IDLE, and security control.

[0080]

[0086] Various frame structures may be used to support downlink and uplink transmissions between network nodes (e.g., base stations and UEs). FIG. 5A is a diagram 500 illustrating an example of a downlink frame structure according to an embodiment of the disclosure. FIG. 5B is a diagram 530 illustrating an example of channels in a downlink frame structure according to an embodiment of the disclosure. FIG. 5C is a diagram 550 illustrating an example of an uplink frame structure according to an embodiment of the disclosure. FIG. 5D is a diagram 570 illustrating an example of channels in an uplink frame structure according to an embodiment of the disclosure. Other wireless communication technologies may have different frame structures and / or different channels.

[0081]

[0087] LTE, and possibly NR, utilizes OFDM on the downlink and single-carrier frequency division multiplexing (SC-FDM) on the uplink. However, unlike LTE, NR has the option to use OFDM on the uplink as well. OFDM and SC-FDM partition the system bandwidth into multiple (K) orthogonal subcarriers, also commonly referred to as tones, bins, etc. Each subcarrier may be modulated with data. In general, modulation symbols are sent in the frequency domain with OFDM and in the time domain with SC-FDM. The spacing between adjacent subcarriers may be fixed, and the total number of subcarriers (K) may be dependent on the system bandwidth. For example, the subcarrier spacing may be 15 kilohertz (kHz), and the minimum resource allocation (resource block) may be 12 subcarriers (or 180 kHz). Thus, the nominal FFT size may be equal to 128, 256, 512, 1024, or 2048 for a system bandwidth of 1.25, 2.5, 5, 10, or 20 megahertz (MHz), respectively. The system bandwidth may also be partitioned into subbands. For example, a subband may cover 1.08 MHz (i.e., 6 resource blocks), and there may be 1, 2, 4, 8, or 16 subbands for a system bandwidth of 1.25, 2.5, 5, 10, or 20 MHz, respectively.

[0082]

[0088] LTE supports a single numerology (subcarrier spacing (SCS), symbol length, etc.). In contrast, NR may support multiple numerologies (μ), e.g., subcarrier spacings of 15 kHz (μ=0), 30 kHz (μ=1), 60 kHz (μ=2), 120 kHz (μ=3), and 240 kHz (μ=4) or greater may be available. In each subcarrier spacing, there are 14 symbols per slot. For a 15 kHz SCS (μ=0), there is one slot per subframe, 10 slots per frame, the slot duration is 1 millisecond (ms), the symbol duration is 66.7 microseconds (μs), and the maximum nominal system bandwidth (in MHz) with a 4K FFT size is 50. For a 30 kHz SCS (μ=1), there are two slots per subframe, 20 slots per frame, the slot duration is 0.5 ms, the symbol duration is 33.3 μs, and the maximum nominal system bandwidth (in MHz) with a 4K FFT size is 100. For a 60 kHz SCS (μ=2), there are four slots per subframe, 40 slots per frame, the slot duration is 0.25 ms, the symbol duration is 16.7 μs, and the maximum nominal system bandwidth (in MHz) with a 4K FFT size is 200. For a 120 kHz SCS (μ=3), there are eight slots per subframe, 80 slots per frame, the slot duration is 0.125 ms, the symbol duration is 8.33 μs, and the maximum nominal system bandwidth (in MHz) with a 4K FFT size is 400. For 240 kHz SCS (μ=4), there are 16 slots per subframe, 160 slots per frame, slot duration is 0.0625 ms, symbol duration is 4.17 μs, and the maximum nominal system bandwidth (in MHz) is 800 with a 4K FFT size.

[0083]

[0089] In the example of Figures 5A-5D, a numerology of 15 kHz is used. Thus, in the time domain, a 10 ms frame is divided into 10 equally sized subframes of 1 ms each, with each subframe containing one time slot. In Figures 5A-5D, time is represented horizontally (on the X-axis), with time increasing from left to right, and frequency is represented vertically (on the Y-axis), with frequency increasing (or decreasing) from bottom to top.

[0084]

[0090] A resource grid may be used to represent a time slot, with each time slot including one or more (also called physical RBs (PRBs)) time-parallel resource blocks (RBs) in the frequency domain. The resource grid is further divided into a number of resource elements (REs). An RE may correspond to one symbol length in the time domain and one subcarrier in the frequency domain. In the numerology of Figures 5A-5D, in the case of a normal cyclic prefix, an RB may include 12 consecutive subcarriers in the frequency domain and 7 consecutive symbols in the time domain for a total of 84 REs. In the case of an extended cyclic prefix, an RB may include 12 consecutive subcarriers in the frequency domain and 6 consecutive symbols in the time domain for a total of 72 REs. The number of bits carried by each RE depends on the modulation scheme.

[0085]

[0091] Some of the REs carry downlink reference (pilot) signals (DL-RS), which may include PRS, TRS, PTRS, CRS, CSI-RS, DMRS, PSS, SSS, SSB, etc. Figure 5A shows example locations of REs carrying PRS (labeled "R").

[0086]

[0092] A set of resource elements (REs) used for transmission of a PRS is called a "PRS resource." A set of resource elements can span multiple PRBs in the frequency domain and can span "N" consecutive symbols (such as one or more) within a slot in the time domain. In a given OFDM symbol in the time domain, a PRS resource occupies consecutive PRBs in the frequency domain.

[0087]

[0093] The transmission of PRS resources in a given PRB has a certain comb size (also called "comb density"). The comb size "N" represents the subcarrier spacing (or frequency / tone spacing) within each symbol of the PRS resource configuration. In particular, for comb size "N", a PRS is transmitted in every Nth subcarrier of the symbol of the PRB. For example, for comb 4, for each symbol of the PRS resource configuration, the RE corresponding to every fourth subcarrier (such as subcarriers 0, 4, 8) is used to transmit the PRS of the PRS resource. Currently, comb sizes of comb 2, comb 4, comb 6, and comb 12 are supported for DL-PRS. FIG. 5A shows an example PRS resource configuration for comb 6 (spanning six symbols). That is, the location of the shaded REs (labeled "R") indicates a comb 6 PRS resource configuration.

[0088]

[0094] Currently, DL-PRS resources may span 2, 4, 6, or 12 consecutive symbols in a slot with a full frequency domain staggered pattern. DL-PRS resources may be configured in any upper layer configured downlink or flexible (FL) symbol of a slot. There may be a constant energy per resource element (EPRE) for all REs of a given DL-PRS resource. Below are the frequency offsets between symbols for comb sizes 2, 4, 6, and 12 spanning 2, 4, 6, and 12 symbols. Comb 2 with 2 symbols: {0,1}, Comb 2 with 4 symbols: {0,1,0,1}, Comb 2 with 6 symbols: {0,1,0,1,0,1}, Comb 2 with 12 symbols: {0,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,1}, Comb 4 with 4 symbols: {0,2,1,3}, Comb 4 with 12 symbols: {0,2,1,3,0,2,1,3,0,2,1,3}, Comb 6 with 6 symbols: {0,3,1,4,2,5}, Comb 6 with 12 symbols: {0,3,1,4,2,5,0,3,1,4,2,5} and Comb 12 with 12 symbols: {0,6,3,9,1,7,4,10,2,8,5,11}.

[0089]

[0095] A "PRS resource set" is a set of PRS resources used for transmission of a PRS signal, where each PRS resource has a PRS resource ID. Furthermore, the PRS resources in a PRS resource set are associated with the same TRP. A PRS resource set is identified by a PRS resource set ID and is associated with a particular TRP (identified by a TRP ID). Furthermore, the PRS resources in a PRS resource set have the same periodicity across slots, a common muting pattern configuration, and the same repetition factor (e.g., "PRS-ResourceRepetitionFactor"). The periodicity is the time from the first repetition of the first PRS resource of a first PRS instance to the same first repetition of the same first PRS resource of the next PRS instance. The periodicity may have a length selected from 2^μ*{4,5,8,10,16,20,32,40,64,80,160,320,640,1280,2560,5120,10240} slots, with μ=0, 1, 2, 3. The repetition factor may have a length selected from {1,2,4,6,8,16,32} slots.

[0090]

[0096] A PRS resource ID in a PRS resource set is associated with a single beam (or beam ID) transmitted from a single TRP (where a TRP may transmit one or multiple beams). That is, each PRS resource in a PRS resource set may be transmitted on a different beam, and thus a "PRS resource" or simply a "resource" may also be referred to as a "beam." Note that this does not have any implication as to whether the TRP and the beam on which the PRS is transmitted are known to the UE.

[0091]

[0097] A "PRS instance" or "PRS occasion" is one instance of a periodically repeating time window (e.g., a group of one or more contiguous slots) during which a PRS is expected to be transmitted. A PRS occasion may also be called a "PRS positioning occasion", "PRS positioning instance", "positioning occasion", "positioning instance", "positioning repetition", or simply an "occasion", "instance", or "repetition".

[0092]

[0098] A "positioning frequency layer" (also simply called "frequency layer") is a collection of one or more PRS resource sets across one or more TRPs with the same values ​​for some parameters. In particular, the collection of PRS resource sets has the same subcarrier spacing and cyclic prefix (CP) type (meaning that all numerologies supported for PDSCH are also supported for PRS), the same point A, the same value of downlink PRS bandwidth, the same starting PRB (and center frequency), and the same comb size. The point A parameter takes the value of the parameter "ARFCN-ValueNR" ("ARFCN" stands for "Absolute Radio Frequency Channel Number"), which is an identifier / code that specifies the pair of physical radio channels used for transmission and reception. The downlink PRS bandwidth may have a granularity of four PRBs, with a minimum of 24 PRBs and a maximum of 272 PRBs. Currently, up to four frequency layers are defined and up to two PRS resource sets can be configured per TRP per frequency layer.

[0093]

[0099] The concept of frequency layer is somewhat like that of component carrier and bandwidth part (BWP), except that component carrier and BWP are used by one base station (or macrocell base station and small cell base station) to transmit data channels, and frequency layer is used by several (usually three or more) base stations to transmit PRS. When a UE sends its positioning capabilities to the network, such as during an LTE Positioning Protocol (LPP) session, it may indicate the number of frequency layers it can support. For example, a UE may indicate whether it can support one or four positioning frequency layers.

[0094]

[0100] FIG. 5B shows an example of various channels in a downlink slot of a radio frame. In NR, the channel bandwidth or system bandwidth is divided into multiple BWPs. A BWP is a contiguous set of PRBs selected from a contiguous subset of common RBs for a given numerology on a given carrier. In general, up to four BWPs can be specified in the downlink and uplink. That is, a UE can be configured with up to four BWPs on the downlink and up to four BWPs on the uplink. At a given time, only one BWP (uplink or downlink) can be active, which means that a UE can only receive or transmit on one BWP at a time. On the downlink, the bandwidth of each BWP should be equal to or greater than the bandwidth of an SSB, which may or may not include the SSB.

[0095]

[0101] Referring to FIG. 5B, the primary synchronization signal (PSS) is used by the UE to determine subframe / symbol timing and physical layer identity. The secondary synchronization signal (SSS) is used by the UE to determine the physical layer cell identity group number and radio frame timing. Based on the physical layer identity and the physical layer cell identity group number, the UE can determine the PCI. Based on the PCI, the UE can determine the location of the DL-RS mentioned above. The physical broadcast channel (PBCH) carrying the MIB can be logically grouped with the PSS and SSS to form an SSB (also called SS / PBCH). The MIB provides the number of RBs in the downlink system bandwidth and the system frame number (SFN). The physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) carries user data and broadcast system information not transmitted over the PBCH, such as the system information block (SIB), and paging messages.

[0096]

[0102] The Physical Downlink Control Channel (PDCCH) carries downlink control information (DCI) in one or more control channel elements (CCEs), each CCE containing one or more RE group (REG) bundles (which may span multiple symbols in the time domain), each REG bundle containing one or more REGs, each REG corresponding to 12 resource elements (one resource block) in the frequency domain and one OFDM symbol in the time domain. The set of physical resources used to carry the PDCCH / DCI is called a control resource set (CORESET) in NR. In NR, the PDCCH is limited to a single CORESET and transmitted with its own DMRS. This allows UE-specific beamforming for the PDCCH.

[0097]

[0103] In the example of FIG. 5B, there is one CORESET per BWP, and the CORESET spans three symbols in the time domain (although it may be only one or two symbols). Unlike the LTE control channel, which occupies the entire system bandwidth, in NR, the PDCCH channel is localized to a unique region (i.e., the CORESET) in the frequency domain. Thus, the frequency components of the PDCCH shown in FIG. 5B are shown as smaller than a single BWP in the frequency domain. Note that although the illustrated CORESET is contiguous in the frequency domain, it does not have to be contiguous. Additionally, the CORESET may span fewer than three symbols in the time domain.

[0098]

[0104] The DCI in the PDCCH carries information about uplink resource allocation (persistent and non-persistent), called uplink grant and downlink grant, respectively, and a description about the downlink data to be transmitted to the UE. More specifically, the DCI indicates the resources scheduled for the downlink data channel (e.g., PDSCH) and the uplink data channel (e.g., PUSCH). Multiple (e.g., up to eight) DCIs may be configured in the PDCCH, and these DCIs may have one of multiple formats. For example, there are different DCI formats for uplink scheduling, for downlink scheduling, for uplink transmit power control (TPC), etc. The PDCCH may be transported by one, two, four, eight, or sixteen CCEs to accommodate different DCI payload sizes or coding rates.

[0099]

[0105] As shown in FIG. 5C, some of the REs (labeled "R") carry DMRS for channel estimation at a receiver (e.g., a base station, another UE, etc.). The UE may further transmit an SRS, for example, in the last symbol of a slot. The SRS may have a comb structure, and the UE may transmit the SRS on one of the combs. In the example of FIG. 5C, the illustrated SRS is comb 2 spanning one symbol. The SRS may be used by the base station to obtain channel state information (CSI) for each UE. The CSI describes how the RF signal propagates from the UE to the base station and represents the combined effects of scattering, fading, and power attenuation over distance. The system uses the SRS for resource scheduling, link adaptation, massive MIMO, beam management, etc.

[0100]

[0106] Currently, an SRS resource can span 1, 2, 4, 8, or 12 consecutive symbols in a slot with comb sizes of Comb 2, Comb 4, or Comb 8. Below are the frequency offsets between symbols for the currently supported SRS comb patterns: Comb 2 with 1 symbol: {0}, Comb 2 with 2 symbols: {0,1}, Comb 2 with 4 symbols: {0,1,0,1}, Comb 4 with 4 symbols: {0,2,1,3}, Comb 4 with 8 symbols: {0,2,1,3,0,2,1,3}, Comb 4 with 12 symbols: {0,2,1,3,0,2,1,3,0,2,1,3}, Comb 8 with 4 symbols: {0,4,2,6}, Comb 8 with 8 symbols: {0,4,2,6,1,5,3,7} and Comb 8 with 12 symbols: {0,4,2,6,1,5,3,7,0,4,2,6}.

[0101]

[0107] A set of resource elements used for transmission of an SRS may be referred to as an "SRS resource" and identified by the parameter "SRS-ResourceId". The set of resource elements may span multiple PRBs in the frequency domain and may span N (e.g., one or more) consecutive symbols within a slot in the time domain. In a given OFDM symbol, the SRS resources occupy consecutive PRBs. An "SRS resource set" is a set of SRS resources used for transmission of an SRS signal and is identified by an SRS resource set ID ("SRS-ResourceSetId").

[0102]

[0108] Generally, a UE transmits an SRS to enable a receiving base station (either a serving base station or a neighboring base station) to measure the channel quality between the UE and the base station. However, the SRS can also be used as an uplink positioning reference signal for uplink positioning procedures such as UL-TDOA, multi-RTT, DL-AoA, etc.

[0103]

[0109] Several extensions over the previous definition of SRS have been proposed for SRS-for-positioning (also called "UL-PRS"), such as a new staggered pattern in SRS resources (except for single symbol / comb 2), a new comb type for SRS, a new sequence for SRS, a higher number of SRS resource sets per component carrier, and a higher number of SRS resources per component carrier. Furthermore, the parameters "SpatialRelationInfo" and "PathLossReference" should be configured based on the downlink reference signal or SSB from the neighboring TRP. Furthermore, one SRS resource may be transmitted outside the active BWP, and one SRS resource may span across multiple component carriers. Also, the SRS may be configured in the RRC connected state and transmitted only within the active BWP. Furthermore, there may be frequency hopping, no repetition factor, a single antenna port, and new lengths for the SRS (e.g., 8 and 12 symbols). Also, there may be open loop power control and no closed loop power control, and comb 8 (i.e., SRS transmitted on every 8th subcarrier in the same symbol) may be used. Finally, the UE may transmit from multiple SRS resources for UL-AoA through the same transmit beam. All of these are features added to the current SRS framework, which are configured through RRC higher layer signaling (and potentially triggered or activated through the MAC Control Element (CE) or DCI).

[0104]

[0110] FIG. 5D illustrates an example of various channels in an uplink slot of a frame according to an aspect of the disclosure. A random access channel (RACH), also referred to as a physical random access channel (PRACH), may be in one or more slots in a frame based on a PRACH configuration. The PRACH may include six consecutive RB pairs in a slot. The PRACH enables a UE to perform initial system access and achieve uplink synchronization. A physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) may be located on the edge of the uplink system bandwidth. The PUCCH carries uplink control information (UCI), such as scheduling requests, CSI reports, channel quality indicators (CQI), precoding matrix indicators (PMI), rank indicators (RI), and HARQ ACK / NACK feedback. A physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH) carries data and may be further used to carry a buffer status report (BSR), a power headroom report (PHR), and / or UCI.

[0105]

[0111] It should be noted that the terms "positioning reference signal" and "PRS" may generally refer to unique reference signals used for positioning in NR and LTE systems. However, the terms "positioning reference signal" and "PRS" as used herein may also refer to any type of reference signal that may be used for positioning, such as, but not limited to, PRS, TRS, PTRS, CRS, CSI-RS, DMRS, PSS, SSS, SSB, SRS, UL-PRS defined in LTE and NR. Furthermore, the terms "positioning reference signal" and "PRS" may refer to downlink or uplink positioning reference signals, unless otherwise specified by the context. If it is necessary to further distinguish the type of PRS, downlink positioning reference signals may be referred to as "DL-PRS" and uplink positioning reference signals (e.g., SRS, PTRS for positioning) may be referred to as "UL-PRS". Furthermore, for signals that may be transmitted in both uplink and downlink (e.g., DMRS, PTRS), those signals may be prepended with "UL" or "DL" to distinguish the direction. For example, "UL-DMRS" may be differentiated from "DL-DMRS."

[0106]

[0112] NR supports several cellular network-based positioning techniques, including downlink-based positioning methods, uplink-based positioning methods, and downlink and uplink-based positioning methods. Downlink-based positioning methods include observed time difference of arrival (OTDOA) in LTE, downlink time difference of arrival (DL-TDOA) in NR, and downlink angle of departure (DL-AoD) in NR. In an OTDOA or DL-TDOA positioning procedure, the UE measures the difference between the times of arrival (ToA) of reference signals (e.g., PRS, TRS, CSI-RS, SSB, etc.) received from a pair of base stations, called reference signal time difference (RSTD) or time difference of arrival (TDOA) measurements, and reports them to a positioning entity. More specifically, the UE receives an identifier (ID) of a reference base station (e.g., a serving base station) and multiple non-reference base stations in the assistance data. The UE then measures the RSTD between the reference base station and each of the non-reference base stations. Based on the known locations of the involved base stations and the RSTD measurements, the positioning entity can estimate the location of the UE. For DL-AoD positioning, the base station measures the angle and other channel properties (e.g., signal strength) of the downlink transmit beam used to communicate with the UE in order to estimate the UE's location.

[0107]

[0113] Uplink-based positioning methods include uplink time difference of arrival (UL-TDOA) and uplink angle of arrival (UL-AoA). UL-TDOA is similar to DL-TDOA, but is based on an uplink reference signal (e.g., SRS) transmitted by the UE. For UL-AoA positioning, the base station measures the angle and other channel properties (e.g., gain level) of the uplink receive beam used to communicate with the UE to estimate the UE's location.

[0108]

[0114] Downlink and uplink based positioning methods include Extended Cell ID (E-CID) positioning and Multi-Round Trip Time (RTT) positioning (also called "Multi-Cell RTT"). In the RTT procedure, an initiator (base station or UE) transmits an RTT measurement signal (e.g., PRS or SRS) to a responder (UE or base station), and the responder transmits an RTT response signal (e.g., SRS or PRS) back to the initiator. The RTT response signal includes the difference between the ToA of the RTT measurement signal and the transmission time of the RTT response signal, called a receive-transmit (Rx-Tx) measurement. The initiator calculates the difference between the transmission time of the RTT measurement signal and the ToA of the RTT response signal, called a "Tx-Rx" measurement. The propagation time (also called "time of flight") between the initiator and the responder can be calculated from the Tx-Rx and Rx-Tx measurements. Based on the propagation time and the known speed of light, the distance between the initiator and the responder may be determined. For multi-RTT positioning, the UE performs RTT procedures with multiple base stations to allow its location to be triangulated based on the known locations of the base stations. The RTT and multi-RTT methods may be combined with other positioning techniques, such as UL-AoA and DL-AoD, to improve location accuracy.

[0109]

[0115] The E-CID positioning method is based on Radio Resource Management (RRM) measurements. In E-CID, the UE reports the serving cell ID, timing advance (TA), and the identities, estimated timing, and signal strength of detected neighbor base stations. The location of the UE is then estimated based on this information and the known locations of the base stations.

[0110]

[0116] To assist the positioning operation, a location server (e.g., location server 230, LMF 270, SLP 272) may provide assistance data to the UE. For example, the assistance data may include an identifier of the base station (or cell / TRP of the base station) from which to measure the reference signal, reference signal configuration parameters (e.g., number of consecutive positioning subframes, periodicity of the positioning subframes, muting sequence, frequency hopping sequence, reference signal identifier, reference signal bandwidth, etc.), and / or other parameters applicable to a particular positioning method. Alternatively, the assistance data may originate directly from the base station itself (e.g., in a periodically broadcasted overhead message, etc.). In some cases, the UE may be able to detect neighbor network nodes on its own without using the assistance data.

[0111]

[0117] In the case of an OTDOA or DL-TDOA positioning procedure, the assistance data may further include an expected RSTD value and associated uncertainty, or a search window around the expected RSTD. In some cases, the expected RSTD value range may be + / - 500 microseconds (μs). In some cases, the expected RSTD uncertainty value range may be + / - 32 μs when any of the resources used for the positioning measurement are in FR1. In other cases, the expected RSTD uncertainty value range may be + / - 8 μs when all of the resources used for the positioning measurement(s) are in FR2.

[0112]

[0118] A location estimate may be called by other names, such as a position estimate, location, position, position fix, fix, etc. A location estimate may be geodetic and comprise coordinates (e.g., latitude, longitude, and possibly altitude) or may be civic and comprise a street address, postal address, or some other verbal description of the location. A location estimate may further be defined relative to some other known location or in absolute terms (e.g., using latitude, longitude, and possibly altitude). A location estimate may include an expected error or uncertainty (e.g., by including an area or volume that the location is expected to cover with some specified or default confidence level).

[0113]

[0119] In LTE and, at least in some cases, in NR, positioning measurements are reported through higher layer signaling, in particular the LTE Positioning Protocol (LPP) and / or RRC. LPP is used point-to-point between a location server (e.g., location server 230, LMF 270, SLP 272) and a UE (e.g., any of the UEs described herein) to position the UE using location-related measurements obtained from one or more reference sources. FIG. 6 is a diagram 600 illustrating exemplary LPP reference sources for positioning. In the example of FIG. 6, a target device, in particular a UE 604 (e.g., any of the UEs described herein), engages in an LPP session with a location server 630 (labeled as "E-SMLC / SLP" in the particular example of FIG. 6). The UE 604 is also receiving / measuring wireless positioning signals from a first reference source, specifically one or more base stations 602 (which may correspond to any of the base stations described herein and are labeled as “eNodeB” in the particular example of FIG. 6), and a second reference source, specifically one or more SPS satellites 620 (which may correspond to SV112 in FIG. 1).

[0114]

[0120] An LPP session is used between the location server 630 and the UE 604 to obtain location-related measurements or location estimates or to transfer assistance data. A single LPP session is used to support a single location request (e.g., for a single Mobile Terminated Location Request (MT-LR), Mobile Originated Location Request (MO-LR), or Network Induced Location Request (NI-LR)). Multiple LPP sessions may be used between the same endpoints to support multiple different location requests. Each LPP session comprises one or more LPP transactions, each performing a single operation (e.g., capability exchange, assistance data transfer, location information transfer). LPP transactions are called LPP procedures. The initiator of an LPP session initiates the first LPP transaction, but subsequent transactions may be initiated by either endpoint. LPP transactions within a session may be performed serially or in parallel. LPP transactions are indicated at the LPP protocol level with a transaction identifier to associate messages (e.g., requests and responses) with each other. Messages within a transaction are linked by a common transaction identifier.

[0115]

[0121] LPP positioning methods and associated signaling content are defined in the 3GPP LPP standard (3GPP Technical Specification (TS) 36.355, which is published and incorporated herein by reference in its entirety). LPP signaling can be used to request and report measurements related to the following positioning methods: Observed Time Difference of Arrival (OTDOA), Downlink Time Difference of Arrival (DL-TDOA), Aided Global Navigation Satellite System (A-GNSS), LTE Enhanced Cell Identity (E-CID), NR E-CID, Sensors, Terrestrial Beacon System (TBS), WLAN, Bluetooth, Downlink Angle of Departure (DL-AoD), Uplink Angle of Arrival (UL-AoA), and Multiple Round Trip Time (RTT). Currently, an LPP measurement report may include the following measurements: (1) one or more Time of Arrival (ToA), Time Difference of Arrival (TDOA), Reference Signal Time Difference (RSTD), or Receive-Transmit (Rx-Tx) measurements; (2) one or more AoA and / or AoD measurements (currently only for base stations to report UL-AoA and DL-AoD to location server 630); (3) one or more multipath measurements (ToA, Reference Signal Received Power (RSRP), AoA / AoD per path); (4) one or more motion states (e.g., walking, driving, etc.) and trajectory (currently only for UE 604); and (5) one or more reporting quality indications. In this disclosure, positioning measurements such as the example measurements just listed, regardless of positioning technology, may be collectively referred to as positioning state information (PSI).

[0116]

[0122] The UE 604 and / or location server 630 may derive location information from one or more reference sources, shown in the example of FIG. 6 as SPS satellite(s) 620 and base station(s) 602. Each reference source may be used to calculate an independent estimate of the location of the UE 604 using an associated positioning technique. In the example of FIG. 6, the UE 604 is measuring characteristics (e.g., ToA, RSRP, RSTD, etc.) of positioning signals received from base station(s) 602 to calculate, or assist the location server 630 in calculating, an estimate of the location of the UE 604 using one or more cellular network-based positioning methods (e.g., multi-RTT, OTDOA, DL-TDOA, DL-AoD, E-CID, etc.). Similarly, the UE 604 is measuring characteristics (e.g., ToA) of GNSS signals received from SPS satellites 620 to triangulate its location in two or three dimensions depending on the number of SPS satellites 620 measured. In some cases, the UE 604 or location server 630 may combine location solutions derived from each of the different positioning techniques to improve the accuracy of the final location estimate.

[0117]

[0123] As mentioned above, the UE 604 uses LPP to report location related measurements obtained from different reference sources (e.g., base station 602, Bluetooth beacons, SPS satellites 620, WLAN access points, motion sensors, etc.). As an example, in case of GNSS-based positioning, the UE 604 uses the LPP information element (IE) "A-GNSS-ProvideLocationInformation" to provide location measurements (e.g., pseudo range, location estimate, velocity, etc.) along with time information to the location server 630. It can also be used to provide GNSS positioning specific error reasons. The "A-GNSS-ProvideLocationInformation" IE includes IEs such as "GNSS-SignalMeasurementInformation", "GNSS-LocationInformation", "GNSS-MeasurementList", and "GNSS-Error". The UE 604 includes the "GNSS-LocationInformation" IE when it provides location and optionally velocity information derived using GNSS or hybrid GNSS and other measurements to the location server 630. The UE 604 uses the "GNSS-SignalMeasurementInformation" IE to provide GNSS signal measurement information to the location server 630 and to provide GNSS network time association if requested by the location server 630. This information includes measurements of code phase, Doppler, C / No, and optionally accumulated carrier phase, also called accumulated delta range (ADR), which enables UE-assisted GNSS methods where location is calculated at the location server 630. The UE 604 uses the "GNSS-MeasurementList" IE to provide measurements of code phase, Doppler, C / No, and optionally accumulated carrier phase (or ADR).

[0118]

[0124] As another example, for motion sensor-based positioning, currently supported positioning methods use air pressure sensors and motion sensors, as described in 3GPP TS36.305 (published and incorporated herein by reference in its entirety). The UE 604 uses the LPP IE "Sensor-ProvideLocationInformation" to provide location information for sensor-based methods to the location server 630. It may also be used to provide sensor-specific error reasons. The UE 604 uses the "Sensor-MeasurementInformation" IE to provide sensor measurements (e.g., air pressure readings) to the location server 630. The UE 604 uses the "Sensor-MotionInformation" IE to provide motion information to the location server 630. The motion information may comprise an ordered series of points. This information may be obtained by the UE 604 using one or more motion sensors (e.g., accelerometer, barometer, magnetometer, etc.).

[0119]

[0125] As yet another example, in the case of Bluetooth-based positioning, the UE 604 uses the "BT-ProvideLocationInformation" IE to provide measurements of one or more Bluetooth beacons to the location server 630. This IE may also be used to provide Bluetooth positioning specific error reasons.

[0120]

[0126] Commercial positioning use cases (including, among others, general commercial use cases and IoT and Industrial IOT (IIOT) use cases) require high accuracy (horizontal and vertical), low latency, network efficiency (e.g., scalability, reference signal overhead, etc.), and device efficiency (e.g., power consumption, complexity, etc.). It would be beneficial if existing positioning techniques could be used to meet the more stringent requirements of commercial use cases, especially for low latency.

[0121]

[0127] NR positioning techniques enable high-precision positioning, for example, by using large bandwidth positioning signals, beam sweeping in the mmW frequency range, AoA and / or AoD measurements and reporting, and multi-cell RTTs. However, NR positioning techniques do not address the low latency requirements of commercial use cases in particular.

[0122]

[0128] Some NR positioning techniques offer lower latency than others. For example, UE-based positioning techniques (currently implemented only on the downlink) and locating the LMF in the RAN (for UE-assisted positioning techniques) offer lower latency. However, all measurement reporting is still via LPP and / or RRC (e.g., RRC layer 445) using mechanisms similar to those in LTE, and there is no low-latency reporting mechanism. Therefore, it would be beneficial to provide a(n) lower latency reporting mechanism for existing positioning techniques. For example, in some IIoT cases, it would be beneficial to provide a latency of less than 100 ms or even 10 ms.

[0123]

[0129] To achieve such latency targets, it may be beneficial to report positioning measurements at L1 (e.g., the PHY layer 430) and / or L2 (e.g., the SDAP layer 410, the PDCP layer 415, the RLC layer 420, and the MAC layer 425). It is noted that L1 / L2 reporting reduces the latency between the UE and the base station, and that the latency between the base station and the location server may be addressed by locating the location server in the RAN (e.g., as a component of the serving base station).

[0124]

[0130] As mentioned above, positioning measurements are currently reported through higher layer signaling (e.g., LPP, RRC). This includes measurement reports that include the following measurements: (1) one or more ToA, TDOA, RSTD, or Rx-Tx measurements; (2) one or more AoA and / or AoD measurements (currently only for base stations to report downlink AoA and uplink AoD to a location server); (3) one or more multipath measurements (ToA, RSRP, AoA / AoD per path); (4) one or more motion states (e.g., walking, driving, etc.) and trajectories (currently only for UEs); and (5) one or more reporting quality indications. As mentioned above, in this disclosure, such positioning measurements may be collectively referred to as PSI.

[0125]

[0131] This disclosure describes PHY layer aspects that would be required if PSI is reported at the PHY layer (e.g., PHY layer 430). More specifically, this disclosure describes which reported quantities / parameters / measurements should be reported in a first part ("part 1") having a fixed length (or payload size) and which should be reported in a second part ("part 2") having a variable length (or payload size) of a two-part CSI report.

[0126]

[0132] A UE is configured to transmit a CSI report at a certain periodicity or when triggered by the network (e.g., serving base station, location server). A CSI report includes information indicating the quality of a given channel at a particular time. As described in 3GPP Technical Specification (TS) 38.212 (published and incorporated herein by reference in its entirety), a CSI report consists of a set of fields in a pre-specified order. In detail, a CSI report may include the following parameters: a channel quality indicator (CQI), a precoding matrix indicator (PMI), a CSI-RS resource indicator (CRI), a SS / PBCH resource block indicator (SSBRI), a rank indicator (RI) and / or a layer 1 reference signal received power (L1-RSRP), and a layer indicator (LI). For CSI acquisition and beam management, the UE may be configured with a CSI reporting configuration in RRC signaling, which may include a parameter (e.g., ReportQuantity) to indicate the amount of one or more CSI relationships to report on which component carrier (e.g., CRI, RI, PMI, CQI, L1-RSRP, etc.) as well as which uplink channel should be used to carry the amount of the reported CSI relationship (e.g., PUSCH or PUCCH).

[0127]

[0133] The interpretation of some fields in a CSI report may depend on the values ​​of other fields. A single uplink transmission (on PUSCH or PUCCH) may contain multiple CSI reports configured according to the priority defined in 3GPP TS38.214, section 5.2.5 (published and incorporated herein by reference in its entirety). The priority depends on the report periodicity (which may be aperiodic (A), semi-persistent (SP), or periodic (P) on PUSCH or PUCCH), the type (L1-RSRP or not), the serving cell index (in case of carrier aggregation), and the report configuration identifier (ID).

[0128]

[0134] In two-part CSI reporting, the first parts of all reports are collected together, the second parts of all reports are collected separately, and each collection is coded separately. The number of coded bits / symbols to be output after coding and rate matching is calculated based on the number of input bits and a beta factor, as defined in 3GPP TS38.212 (published and incorporated by reference in its entirety).

[0129]

[0135] It should be noted that the fixed length of the payload of the first part of the CSI report is based on configuration parameters, while the variable length of the payload of the second part depends on the configuration and content of the first part. Furthermore, a linkage is defined between an instance of the reference signal being measured and the corresponding CSI report.

[0130]

[0136] The reported parameters in the CSI report(s) are coded in UCI and mapped to PUSCH or PUCCH, and the coding format used is different depending on both the used physical channel and the frequency granularity of the CSI report(s). The reason for the different coding schemes is that the payload size (length) of the CSI report generally varies with the UE's selection of CRI and RI. That is, the codebook size for the PMI report is different for different ranks, especially for type II CSI reports and subband PMI reports in general, which can vary significantly. Similarly, since one codeword is used up to rank 4 and two codewords are used for higher ranks, the number of CQI parameters (given per codeword) included in the CSI report will vary depending on the selection of the rank.

[0131]

[0137] For PUCCH-based CSI reporting with wideband frequency granularity, the variation of the PMI / CQI payload (which depends on the selected rank) is not too large, and therefore a single-packet encoding of all CSI parameters in the UCI is used. Since the base station needs to know the payload size (length) of the UCI to decode the transmission, the UCI may be padded with some dummy bits (e.g., "0") corresponding to the difference between the maximum UCI payload size (i.e., the one corresponding to the RI that results in the maximum PMI / CQI overhead) and the actual payload size of the CSI report. This ensures that the payload size is fixed regardless of the UE's RI selection. If this measure was not taken, the base station would have to blindly detect the UCI payload size and attempt to decode for all possible UCI payload sizes, which is not feasible.

[0132]

[0138] However, for PUCCH-based CSI with subband frequency granularity as well as PUSCH-based CSI reporting, always padding the CSI report to the worst-case UCI payload size would result in too much overhead. For these cases, the CSI content / report is instead split into two CSI parts, Part 1 and Part 2. CSI Part 1 has a fixed payload size (and therefore can be decoded by the base station without prior information), and CSI Part 2 has a variable payload size. Information about the payload size of CSI Part 2 can be derived from the CSI parameters in CSI Part 1. That is, the base station first decodes CSI Part 1 to obtain a subset of CSI parameters, and then based on these CSI parameters, the base station can infer the payload size of CSI Part 2. The base station can then decode CSI Part 2 to obtain the remainder of the CSI parameters.

[0133]

[0139] The present disclosure proposes to report positioning quantities / measurements (i.e., PSI) in CSI Part 1 and Part 2 reports. It is expected that some reported quantities / measurements will result in variations in the size of UCI. Which types of measurements are reported and the size of each measurement vector (e.g., RSTD, RSRP, Rx-Tx, etc.) are selected by the UE. This is because the number of TRPs that can be detected / reported depends on the UE selection, the availability to measure PRS from the TRP(s), etc. It is noted that currently, a UE may be configured to measure up to 256 TRPs, so a measurement vector may include up to 256 measurements. Thus, in CSI reporting Part 1, the UE may report the size of each measurement vector (i.e., the number of measurements) and also the type of the measurement vector. For example, the UE may report the type of measurement vector using a bit string of "X" bits, where each bit corresponds to a particular type of measurement to be reported (e.g., RSTD, RSRP, Rx-Tx, etc.). Then, "X" numbers are reported in part 1, each indicating the size of one of the "X" measurement vectors reported in part 2.

[0134]

[0140] For example, if a UE is to report three measurement vectors (X=3) for three different types of measurements, the bit string will have a length of three bits. The first bit may indicate a first type of measurement (e.g., RSTD), the second bit may indicate a second type of measurement (e.g., ToA), and the third bit may indicate a third type of measurement (e.g., RSRP). CSI Part 1 will then include three additional numbers, one for each measurement vector and representing the number of measurements in the measurement vector. The first number indicates the size of the measurement vector for the first type of measurement, the second number indicates the size of the measurement vector for the second type of measurement, and the third number indicates the size of the measurement vector for the third type of measurement.

[0135]

[0141] Types of positioning measurement vectors may include, but are not limited to, RSTD vector and timestamp, UE Rx-Tx vector and timestamp, RSRP vector and timestamp, quality metric vector and timestamp, speed vector timestamp, ToA vector and timestamp, multipath vector and timestamp, LOS / NLOS metric and timestamp (indicating the likelihood / confidence that the measurement is of a line-of-sight (LOS) or non-line-of-sight (NLOS) path), and SINR vector and timestamp. Note that RSRP measurements for positioning purposes may be RSRP measurements of the PRS and may also be referred to as PRS RSRP.

[0136]

[0142] The timestamp associated with each vector is an additional value that represents the time period during which the measurement was made or for which the measurement is valid. More specifically, currently, for downlink RSTD measurements, downlink PRS RSRP measurements, and UE Rx-Tx measurements, the UE can report the associated higher layer (e.g., LPP, RRC) parameter "Timestamp". This timestamp can include the SFN and slot number for a particular subcarrier interval. These values ​​correspond to the reference provided by the parameter "DL-PRS-RSTDReferenceInfo".

[0137]

[0143] According to the techniques of this disclosure, the UE can choose whether the timestamp type is SFN or SFN+slot offset (or another type of timestamp). Part 1 of the CSI report may then include one (or more) bits that indicate the timestamp type (e.g., SFN or SFN+slot offset) of the timestamp to be reported in the CSI Part 2 report (as opposed to higher layer signaling). A bit (or bits) may be reported for each measurement type / vector. For example, for RSTD measurements, the timestamp type may be SFN only, while for Rx-Tx measurements, the timestamp type may be SFN+slot offset.

[0138]

[0144] In some cases, the UE may use different downlink PRS resources, or different downlink PRS resource sets, or even different TRPs to determine the reference time for RSTD measurements, as long as the downlink PRS resources used belong to a single downlink PRS resource set. If the UE chooses to use a different reference time other than that indicated by the network (e.g., a serving base station or a location server) in the positioning assistance data, it is expected to report the downlink PRS resource ID(s), downlink PRS resource set ID, and / or TRP ID used to determine the reference time. To identify a particular PRS resource, the UE needs to identify the PRS resource, the PRS resource set to which the PRS resource belongs, and the TRP to which the PRS resource set belongs. To identify a particular PRS resource set, the UE needs to identify the TRP to which the PRS resource set belongs. Thus, in this case, the CSI Part 1 report may include an indication of whether the UE has selected its own reference PRS resource, PRS resource set, and / or TRP, and thus the receiver knows whether the UE has added any reference PRS resource, PRS resource set, and / or TRP during the CSI report.

[0139]

[0145] In some cases, when the UE reports downlink PRS RSRP measurements from one downlink PRS resource set, the UE may indicate which downlink PRS RSRP measurements were performed using the same spatial domain filter for reception (i.e., the same downlink receive beam). For example, for each TRP, the UE may report up to eight RSRPs. One or more of these eight RSRPs may be received / measured in the same downlink receive beam as one or more other RSRPs of these eight RSRPs. Thus, the UE will need to label each RSRP associated with a given TRP with a group ID from "1" to "8". The two extreme cases are that all (up to eight) RSRPs are the same, meaning that all RSRPs associated with the TRP have the same group ID, or that all RSRPs are different, meaning that each RSRP has its own group ID.

[0140]

[0146] According to the techniques of this disclosure, in these cases, the UE can determine the number of groups of RSRPs associated with a given TRP that can be received / measured on the same downlink receive beam (one group per beam). Thus, the UE can report in CSI Part 1 how many groups of "same-beam-RSRPs" it plans to report in CSI Part 2, and the length of each group (i.e., the number of RSRPs). This information (i.e., the number of groups and the length of each) can be jointly coded into one bit string. Then, in CSI Part 2, the UE can simply order the RSRPs according to the reported group number. For example, the UE can start with the first group, then the second group, and so on, consecutively listing the RSRPs. Since the receiver knows the number of RSRPs in each group from CSI Part 1, it knows where each group starts and ends by simply counting the number of RSRPs from start to finish.

[0141]

[0147] In some cases, the UE may be configured to report up to four downlink RSTD measurements per pair of cells (reference and non-reference cells) according to the UE capabilities, with each measurement between a different pair of downlink PRS resources or downlink PRS resource sets within the downlink PRS configured for that pair of cells. Currently, up to four measurements performed on the same pair of cells, and all downlink RSTD measurements in the same report, use a single reference timing.

[0142]

[0148] In accordance with the techniques of this disclosure, in these cases, the UE may report in CSI Part 1 how many RSTD, RSRP, and / or Rx-Tx measurements it plans to report per TRP in CSI Part 2. In CSI Part 2, the UE then reports the specified measurements.

[0143]

[0149] In some cases, for downlink UE positioning reporting in the higher layer parameters "DL-PRS-RstdMeasurementInfo" or "DL-PRS-UE-Rx-Tx-MeasurementInfo", the UE may be configured to report downlink PRS resource ID(s) or downlink PRS resource set ID(s) associated with the downlink PRS resource(s) or downlink PRS resource set(s) used in determining the downlink RSTD, UE Tx-Rx, and / or downlink PRS RSRP measurements. According to the techniques of this disclosure, in these cases, the UE may report in CSI Part 1 whether it will report the downlink PRS resource ID or downlink PRS resource set ID used to determine the measurement. Then, in CSI Part 2, the UE reports the corresponding downlink PRS resource ID or downlink PRS resource set ID.

[0144]

[0150] Although the above described the UE reporting the type, number, or both of a set of positioning measurements in a CSI Part 1 report and reporting the actual positioning measurements in a CSI Part 2 report, in some cases the UE may instead report the actual positioning measurements in a CSI Part 1 report, where, for example, the measurements have a fixed size and / or a short length (i.e., the number of bits required to report a measurement is below a certain threshold).

[0145]

[0151] It should be noted that in some cases, instead of transmitting the CSI Part 1 and CSI Part 2 reports to the base station on the PUCCH, the UE may transmit a first physical layer message (such as a CSI Part 1 report) and a second physical layer message (such as a CSI Part 2 report) as a device-to-device message on a physical sidelink shared channel (PSSCH).

[0146]

[0152] 7 illustrates an example method 700 of wireless communication according to an aspect of the disclosure. In one aspect, the method 700 may be performed by a UE (e.g., any of the UEs described herein).

[0147]

[0153] At 710, the UE performs multiple positioning measurements of multiple PRS transmitted by at least one network node (e.g., the UE or the TRP). In an aspect, operation 710 may be performed by the WWAN transceiver 310, the processing system 332, the memory component 340, and / or the positioning component 342, any or all of which may be considered a means for performing this operation.

[0148]

[0154] At 720, the UE transmits a first physical layer message (e.g., a CSI Part 1 report) having a fixed payload size, where the first physical layer message includes at least an indication of a type, number, or both of a first set of positioning measurements of a plurality of positioning measurements to be included in a second physical layer message (e.g., a CSI Part 2 report) having a variable payload size. In an aspect, operation 720 may be performed by WWAN transceiver 310, processing system 332, memory component 340, and / or positioning component 342, any or all of which may be considered a means for performing this operation.

[0149]

[0155] At 730, the UE transmits a second physical layer message having a variable payload size, where the second physical layer message includes at least the first set of positioning measurements, where the variable payload size of the second physical layer message is based on at least a type, number, or both of the first set of positioning measurements. In an aspect, operation 730 may be performed by the WWAN transceiver 310, the processing system 332, the memory component 340, and / or the positioning component 342, any or all of which may be considered a means for performing this operation.

[0150]

[0156] 8 illustrates an example method 800 of wireless communication according to an aspect of the disclosure. In one aspect, the method 800 may be performed by a network node (e.g., any of the base stations described herein, a location server incorporated in any of the base stations described herein, or any of the UEs described herein).

[0151]

[0157] At 810, the network node receives from a UE (e.g., any of the UEs described herein) a first physical layer message (e.g., a CSI Part 1 report, or a sidelink physical layer message carrying similar information) having a fixed payload size, where the first physical layer message includes at least an indication of a type, number, or both of a first set of positioning measurements to be included in a second physical layer message (e.g., a CSI Part 2 report, or a sidelink physical layer message carrying similar information) having a variable payload size. In an aspect, if the network node is a UE, the operation 810 may be performed by the WWAN transceiver 310, the processing system 332, the memory component 340, and / or the positioning component 342, any or all of which may be considered as a means for performing this operation. It should be noted that if the network node is a UE, the UE may receive the first physical layer message over the sidelink. In one aspect, if the network node is a base station, operation 810 may be performed by the WWAN transceiver 350, the processing system 384, the memory component 386, and / or the positioning component 388, any or all of which may be considered as means for performing this operation. If the network node is a location server incorporated in a base station, operation 810 may be performed by the WWAN transceiver 390, the processing system 394, the memory component 396, and / or the positioning component 398, any or all of which may be considered as means for performing this operation.

[0152]

[0158] At 820, the network node receives from the UE a second physical layer message having a variable payload size, where the second physical layer message includes at least a first set of positioning measurements, where the variable payload size of the second physical layer message is based on at least a type, a number, or both of the first set of positioning measurements. In an aspect, if the network node is a UE, the operation 820 may be performed by the WWAN transceiver 310, the processing system 332, the memory component 340, and / or the positioning component 342, any or all of which may be considered as a means for performing this operation. It should be noted that if the network node is a UE, the UE may receive the second physical layer message over a sidelink. In an aspect, if the network node is a base station, the operation 820 may be performed by the WWAN transceiver 350, the processing system 384, the memory component 386, and / or the positioning component 388, any or all of which may be considered as a means for performing this operation. If the network node is a location server integrated into a base station, operation 820 may be performed by the WWAN transceiver 390, the processing system 394, the memory component 396, and / or the positioning component 398, any or all of which may be considered as a means for performing this operation.

[0153]

[0159] As will be appreciated, a technical advantage of methods 700 and 800 is lower latency reporting (eg, measurements, location estimates) for existing positioning techniques.

[0154]

[0160] Example implementations are described in the following numbered clauses.

[0155]

[0161] Clause 1. A method of wireless communications implemented by a user equipment (UE), comprising: performing a plurality of positioning measurements of a plurality of positioning reference signals (PRS) transmitted by at least one network node; transmitting a first physical layer message having a fixed payload size; and transmitting a second physical layer message having a variable payload size, wherein the first physical layer message includes at least an indication of a type, number, or both of a first set of positioning measurements of the plurality of positioning measurements to be included in a second physical layer message having a variable payload size, wherein the second physical layer message includes at least the first set of positioning measurements, and wherein the variable payload size of the second physical layer message is based on at least the type, number, or both of the first set of positioning measurements.

[0156]

[0162] Clause 2. The method of clause 1, wherein the first and second physical layer messages are first and second parts of a channel state information (CSI) report.

[0157]

[0163] Clause 3. The method of clause 2, wherein the CSI report is transmitted on a physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) or a physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH).

[0158]

[0164] Clause 4. The method of clause 1, wherein the first physical layer message and the second physical layer message are device-to-device messages transmitted on a physical sidelink shared channel (PSSCH).

[0159]

[0165] Clause 5. The method of any of clauses 1 to 4, wherein the first set of positioning measurements is a first positioning measurement vector.

[0160]

[0166] Clause 6. A method according to any of clauses 1 to 5, wherein the first physical layer message includes an indication of the type, number, or both of a second set of positioning measurements of a plurality of positioning measurements to be included in the second physical layer message, and at least the type of the second set of positioning measurements is different from the type of the first set of positioning measurements.

[0161]

[0167] Clause 7. The method of clause 6, wherein the indication of the first set of types of positioning measurements and the indication of the second set of types of positioning measurements are each bits of a bit string in the first physical layer message, each bit of the bit string representing a different type of positioning measurement.

[0162]

[0168] Clause 8. The method of any of clauses 1 to 7, wherein the first set of positioning measurements is associated with a timestamp included in a second physical layer message.

[0163]

[0169] Clause 9. The method of clause 8, wherein the type of timestamp is a system frame number, or a system frame number and a slot offset, during which the first set of positioning measurements is valid.

[0164]

[0170] Clause 10. The method of clause 9, wherein at least one bit in the first physical layer message indicates a type of time stamp.

[0165]

[0171] Clause 11. A method according to any of clauses 1 to 10, wherein a type of the first set of positioning measurements is Reference Signal Time Difference (RSTD) measurements, the UE selects a different TRP, PRS resource set, or one or more PRS resources as a reference time for each of the first set of positioning measurements other than that provided to the UE in the positioning assistance data, the first physical layer message includes an indication of the different TRP, PRS resource set, or one or more PRS resources, and the second physical layer message includes an identifier of the different TRP, PRS resource set, or one or more PRS resources.

[0166]

[0172] Clause 12. A method according to any of clauses 1 to 10, wherein a type of the first set of positioning measurements is Reference Signal Received Power (RSRP) measurements, the UE assigns a group identifier to each of the first set of positioning measurements performed using the same downlink receive beam, the first physical layer message includes the number of group identifiers and the number of the first sets of positioning measurements in each group, and the second physical layer message includes the first sets of positioning measurements in the order in which the group identifiers are reported in the first physical layer message.

[0167]

[0173] Clause 13. The method according to any of clauses 1 to 12, wherein the indication of the number of the first set of positioning measurements indicates that the first set of positioning measurements were performed on a positioning reference signal transmitted by the same TRP.

[0168]

[0174] Clause 14. A method according to any of clauses 1 to 13, wherein the first physical layer message includes an indication of whether the second physical layer message includes a PRS resource identifier or a PRS resource set identifier used to determine the first set of positioning measurements, and the second physical layer message includes a PRS resource identifier or a PRS resource set identifier used to determine the first set of positioning measurements.

[0169]

[0175] Clause 15. The method of any of clauses 1 to 14, wherein the first set of positioning measurements comprises one or more RSTD measurements, one or more UE reception-to-transmission (Rx-Tx) measurements, one or more RSRP measurements, one or more quality metric measurements, one or more velocity measurements, one or more time of arrival measurements, one or more multipath measurements, one or more line-of-sight (LOS) and / or non-line-of-sight (NLOS) metrics, or one or more signal-to-interference-plus-noise-ratio (SINR) measurements.

[0170]

[0176] Clause 16. The method of any of clauses 1 to 15, wherein the UE transmits a first physical layer message and a second physical layer message to a positioning entity.

[0171]

[0177] Clause 17. The method of clause 16, wherein the positioning entity is a serving base station for the UE.

[0172]

[0178] Clause 18. The method of clause 16, wherein the positioning entity is a location server.

[0173]

[0179] Clause 19. A method of wireless communications implemented by a network node, comprising: receiving from a user equipment (UE) a first physical layer message having a fixed payload size, wherein the first physical layer message includes an indication of at least a type, number, or both of a first set of positioning measurements to be included in a second physical layer message having a variable payload size; receiving from the UE a second physical layer message having a variable payload size, wherein the second physical layer message includes at least the first set of positioning measurements, and wherein the variable payload size of the second physical layer message is based on at least the type, number, or both of the first set of positioning measurements.

[0174]

[0180] Clause 20. The method of clause 19, wherein the first and second physical layer messages are first and second parts of a channel state information (CSI) report.

[0175]

[0181] Clause 21. The method of clause 20, wherein the CSI report is received on a physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) or a physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH).

[0176]

[0182] Clause 22. The method of any of clauses 19 to 21, wherein the first set of positioning measurements is a first positioning measurement vector.

[0177]

[0183] Clause 23. A method according to any of clauses 19 to 22, wherein the first physical layer message includes an indication of the type, number, or both of a second set of positioning measurements to be included in the second physical layer message, and at least the type of the second set of positioning measurements differs from the type of the first set of positioning measurements.

[0178]

[0184] Clause 24. The method of clause 23, wherein the indication of the first set of types of positioning measurements and the indication of the second set of types of positioning measurements are each bits of a bit string in the first physical layer message, each bit of the bit string representing a different type of positioning measurement.

[0179]

[0185] Clause 25. The method of any of clauses 19 to 24, wherein the first set of positioning measurements is associated with a timestamp included in the second physical layer message.

[0180]

[0186] Clause 26. The method of clause 25, wherein the type of timestamp is a system frame number, or a system frame number and a slot offset, during which the first set of positioning measurements is valid.

[0181]

[0187] Clause 27. The method of clause 26, wherein at least one bit in the first physical layer message indicates a type of time stamp.

[0182]

[0188] Clause 28. The method of any of clauses 19 to 27, wherein a type of the first set of positioning measurements is Reference Signal Time Difference (RSTD) measurements, and a different Transmit Reception Point (TRP), Positioning Reference Signal (PRS) resource set, or one or more PRS resources is selected by the UE as a reference time for each of the first set of positioning measurements other than that provided to the UE in the positioning assistance data, the first physical layer message includes an indication of the different TRP, PRS resource set, or one or more PRS resources, and the second physical layer message includes an identifier of the different TRP, PRS resource set, or one or more PRS resources.

[0183]

[0189] Clause 29. A method according to any of clauses 19 to 27, wherein a type of the first set of positioning measurements is Reference Signal Received Power (RSRP) measurements, a group identifier is assigned by the UE to each of the first set of positioning measurements performed using the same downlink receive beam, the first physical layer message includes the number of group identifiers and the number of the first sets of positioning measurements in each group, and the second physical layer message includes the first sets of positioning measurements in the order in which the group identifiers are reported in the first physical layer message.

[0184]

[0190] Clause 30. The method according to any of clauses 19 to 29, wherein the indication of the number of the first set of positioning measurements indicates that the first set of positioning measurements were performed on a positioning reference signal transmitted by the same TRP.

[0185]

[0191] Clause 31. A method according to any of clauses 19 to 30, wherein the first physical layer message includes an indication of whether the second physical layer message includes a PRS resource identifier or a PRS resource set identifier used to determine the first set of positioning measurements, and the second physical layer message includes a PRS resource identifier or a PRS resource set identifier used to determine the first set of positioning measurements.

[0186]

[0192] Clause 32. The method of any of clauses 19 to 31, wherein the first set of positioning measurements comprises one or more RSTD measurements, one or more UE receive-transmit (Rx-Tx) measurements, one or more RSRP measurements, one or more quality metric measurements, one or more speed measurements, one or more time-of-arrival measurements, one or more multipath measurements, one or more line-of-sight (LOS) and / or non-line-of-sight (NLOS) metrics, or one or more signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio (SINR) measurements.

[0187]

[0193] Clause 33. The method according to any of clauses 19 to 32, wherein the network node is a serving base station for the UE or the network node is a location server integrated in a serving base station for the UE.

[0188]

[0194] Clause 34. The method of any of clauses 19 to 32, wherein the network node is a second UE connected to the UE via a sidelink.

[0189]

[0195] Clause 35. An apparatus comprising: a memory; and at least one processor communicatively coupled to the memory, the memory and the at least one processor configured to perform a method according to any one of clauses 1 to 34.

[0190]

[0196] Clause 36. Apparatus comprising means for carrying out the method according to any one of clauses 1 to 34.

[0191]

[0197] Clause 37. A non-transitory computer readable medium storing computer executable instructions, the computer executable comprising at least one instruction for causing an apparatus to perform a method according to any one of clauses 1 to 34.

[0192]

[0198] Those skilled in the art will appreciate that information and signals may be represented using any of a variety of different technologies and techniques. For example, the data, instructions, commands, information, signals, bits, symbols, and chips that may be referred to throughout the above description may be represented by voltages, currents, electromagnetic waves, magnetic fields or particles, optical fields or particles, or any combination thereof.

[0193]

[0199] Moreover, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the various exemplary logic blocks, modules, circuits, and algorithm steps described in connection with the aspects disclosed herein may be implemented as electronic hardware, computer software, or a combination of both. To clearly illustrate this interchangeability of hardware and software, various exemplary components, blocks, modules, circuits, and steps have been described above generally in terms of their functionality. Whether such functionality is implemented as hardware or software depends on the particular application and design constraints imposed on the overall system. Those skilled in the art may implement the described functionality in varying ways for each particular application, but such implementation decisions should not be interpreted as causing a departure from the scope of the present disclosure.

[0194]

[0200] The various example logic blocks, modules, and circuits described in connection with the aspects disclosed herein may be implemented or performed using a general purpose processor, a DSP, an ASIC, an FPGA, or other programmable logic device, discrete gate or transistor logic, discrete hardware components, or any combination thereof designed to perform the functions described herein. A general purpose processor may be a microprocessor, but alternatively, the processor may be any conventional processor, controller, microcontroller, or state machine. A processor may also be implemented as a combination of computing devices, e.g., a combination of a DSP and a microprocessor, multiple microprocessors, one or more microprocessors in conjunction with a DSP core, or any other such configuration.

[0195]

[0201] The methods, sequences and / or algorithms described in connection with the aspects disclosed herein may be implemented directly in hardware, in software modules executed by a processor, or in a combination of the two. The software modules may reside in a random access memory (RAM), a flash memory, a read only memory (ROM), an erasable programmable ROM (EPROM), an electrically erasable programmable ROM (EEPROM), a register, a hard disk, a removable disk, a CD-ROM, or any other form of storage medium known in the art. An exemplary storage medium is coupled to the processor such that the processor can read information from, and write information to, the storage medium. Alternatively, the storage medium may be integral to the processor. The processor and the storage medium may reside in an ASIC. The ASIC may reside in a user terminal (e.g., UE). Alternatively, the processor and the storage medium may reside as discrete components in a user terminal.

[0196]

[0202] In one or more exemplary aspects, the functions described may be implemented in hardware, software, firmware, or any combination thereof. If implemented in software, the functions may be stored on or transmitted over a computer-readable medium as one or more instructions or code. Computer-readable media includes both computer storage media and communication media, including any medium that enables transfer of a computer program from one place to another. Storage media may be any available medium that can be accessed by a computer. By way of example, and not limitation, such computer-readable media may comprise RAM, ROM, EEPROM, CD-ROM or other optical disk storage, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or any other medium that can be used to carry or store desired program code in the form of instructions or data structures and that can be accessed by a computer. Also, any connection is properly termed a computer-readable medium. For example, if the software is transmitted from a website, server, or other remote source using coaxial cable, fiber optic cable, twisted pair, digital subscriber line (DSL), or wireless technologies such as infrared, radio, and microwave, the coaxial cable, fiber optic cable, twisted pair, DSL, or wireless technologies such as infrared, radio, and microwave are included in the definition of media. As used herein, disk and disc include compact disc (CD), laser disc, optical disc, digital versatile disc (DVD), floppy disk, and Blu-ray disc, where disks typically reproduce data magnetically and discs reproduce data optically with lasers. Combinations of the above should also be included within the scope of computer-readable media.

[0197]

[0203] Although the above disclosure illustrates exemplary aspects of the present disclosure, it should be noted that various changes and modifications may be made herein without departing from the scope of the present disclosure as defined by the appended claims. The functions, steps and / or actions of the method claims according to the aspects of the present disclosure described herein need not be performed in any particular order. Furthermore, although elements of the present disclosure may be described or claimed in the singular, the plural is contemplated unless limitation to the singular is explicitly stated. The invention as described in the claims of the original application is set forth below. [C1] A method of wireless communication implemented by a user equipment (UE), comprising: performing a plurality of positioning measurements of a plurality of positioning reference signals (PRS) transmitted by at least one network node; transmitting a first physical layer message having a fixed payload size, wherein the first physical layer message includes at least an indication of a type, a number, or both, of a first set of positioning measurements of the plurality of positioning measurements to be included in a second physical layer message having a variable payload size. transmitting the second physical layer message having the variable payload size, wherein the second physical layer message includes at least the first set of positioning measurements, and wherein the variable payload size of the second physical layer message is based at least on the type, the number, or both of the first set of positioning measurements. A method comprising: [C2] The method of C1, wherein the first physical layer message and the second physical layer message are a first part and a second part of a channel state information (CSI) report. [C3] The method according to C2, wherein the CSI report is transmitted on a physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) or a physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH). [C4] The method of C1, wherein the first physical layer message and the second physical layer message are device-to-device messages transmitted on a physical sidelink shared channel (PSSCH). [C5] The method of C1, wherein the first set of positioning measurements is a first positioning measurement vector. [C6] the first physical layer message includes an indication of a type, a number, or both, of a second set of positioning measurements of the plurality of positioning measurements to be included in the second physical layer message; at least, the type of the second set of positioning measurements is different from the type of the first set of positioning measurements; The method according to C1. [C7] the indication of the type of the first set of positioning measurements and the indication of the type of the second set of positioning measurements are each a bit of a bit string in the first physical layer message; each bit of the bit string represents a different type of positioning measurement; The method according to C6. [C8] The method of C1, wherein the first set of positioning measurements is associated with a timestamp included in the second physical layer message. [C9] The method of C8, wherein the type of timestamp is a system frame number, or a system frame number and a slot offset, during which the first set of positioning measurements is valid. [C10] The method of C9, wherein at least one bit in the first physical layer message indicates the type of the timestamp. [C11] wherein the type of the first set of positioning measurements is Reference Signal Time Difference (RSTD) measurements, and the UE selects a different TRP, PRS resource set, or one or more PRS resources as a reference time for each of the first set of positioning measurements other than that provided to the UE in positioning assistance data; the first physical layer message includes an indication of the different TRP, the PRS resource set, or the one or more PRS resources; the second physical layer message includes an identifier of the different TRP, the PRS resource set, or the one or more PRS resources; The method according to C1. [C12] the type of the first set of positioning measurements is Reference Signal Received Power (RSRP) measurements; the UE assigning a group identifier to each of the first set of positioning measurements performed using a same downlink receive beam; the first physical layer message includes a number of group identifiers and a number of the first set of positioning measurements in each group; the second physical layer message includes the first set of positioning measurements in the order in which the group identifiers were reported in the first physical layer message. The method according to C1. [C13] The method of C1, wherein the indication of the number of the first set of positioning measurements indicates that the first set of positioning measurements were performed on positioning reference signals transmitted by the same TRP. [C14] the first physical layer message includes an indication of whether the second physical layer message includes a PRS resource identifier or a PRS resource set identifier used to determine the first set of positioning measurements; the second physical layer message includes the PRS resource identifier or the PRS resource set identifier used to determine the first set of positioning measurements. The method according to C1. [C15] The method of C1, wherein the first set of positioning measurements comprises one or more RSTD measurements, one or more UE receive-transmit (Rx-Tx) measurements, one or more RSRP measurements, one or more quality metric measurements, one or more speed measurements, one or more time-of-arrival measurements, one or more multipath measurements, one or more line-of-sight (LOS) and / or non-line-of-sight (NLOS) metrics, or one or more signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio (SINR) measurements. [C16] The method according to C1, wherein the UE transmits the first physical layer message and the second physical layer message to a positioning entity. [C17] The method according to C16, wherein the positioning entity is a serving base station for the UE. [C18] The method of C16, wherein the positioning entity is a location server. [C19] A method of wireless communication implemented by a network node, comprising: receiving, from a user equipment (UE), a first physical layer message having a fixed payload size, wherein the first physical layer message includes at least an indication of a type, a number, or both, of a first set of positioning measurements to be included in a second physical layer message having a variable payload size; receiving from the UE the second physical layer message having the variable payload size, wherein the second physical layer message includes at least the first set of positioning measurements, and wherein the variable payload size of the second physical layer message is based at least on the type, the number, or both of the first set of positioning measurements; A method comprising: [C20] The method of C19, wherein the first physical layer message and the second physical layer message are a first part and a second part of a channel state information (CSI) report. [C21] The method of C20, wherein the CSI report is received on a physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) or a physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH). [C22] The method of C19, wherein the first set of positioning measurements is a first positioning measurement vector. [C23] the first physical layer message includes an indication of a type, number, or both of a second set of positioning measurements to be included in the second physical layer message; at least, the type of the second set of positioning measurements is different from the type of the first set of positioning measurements; The method according to C19. [C24] the indication of the type of the first set of positioning measurements and the indication of the type of the second set of positioning measurements are each a bit of a bit string in the first physical layer message; each bit of the bit string represents a different type of positioning measurement; The method described in C23. [C25] The method of C19, wherein the first set of positioning measurements is associated with a timestamp included in the second physical layer message. [C26] The method of C25, wherein the type of timestamp is a system frame number, or a system frame number and a slot offset, during which the first set of positioning measurements is valid. [C27] The method of C26, wherein at least one bit in the first physical layer message indicates the type of the timestamp. [C28] the type of the first set of positioning measurements is Reference Signal Time Difference (RSTD) measurements, and a different Transmit Reception Point (TRP), Positioning Reference Signal (PRS) resource set, or one or more PRS resources are selected by the UE as a reference time for each of the first set of positioning measurements other than that provided to the UE in positioning assistance data; the first physical layer message includes an indication of the different TRP, the PRS resource set, or the one or more PRS resources; the second physical layer message includes an identifier of the different TRP, the PRS resource set, or the one or more PRS resources; The method according to C19. [C29] wherein the type of the first set of positioning measurements is Reference Signal Received Power (RSRP) measurements; assigning a group identifier by the UE to each of the first set of positioning measurements performed using a same downlink receive beam; the first physical layer message includes a number of group identifiers and a number of the first set of positioning measurements in each group; the second physical layer message includes the first set of positioning measurements in the order in which the group identifiers were reported in the first physical layer message. The method according to C19. [C30] The method of C19, wherein the indication of the number of the first set of positioning measurements indicates that the first set of positioning measurements were performed on positioning reference signals transmitted by the same TRP. [C31] the first physical layer message includes an indication of whether the second physical layer message includes a PRS resource identifier or a PRS resource set identifier used to determine the first set of positioning measurements; the second physical layer message includes the PRS resource identifier or the PRS resource set identifier used to determine the first set of positioning measurements. The method according to C19. [C32] The method of C19, wherein the first set of positioning measurements comprises one or more RSTD measurements, one or more UE receive-transmit (Rx-Tx) measurements, one or more RSRP measurements, one or more quality metric measurements, one or more speed measurements, one or more time-of-arrival measurements, one or more multipath measurements, one or more line-of-sight (LOS) and / or non-line-of-sight (NLOS) metrics, or one or more signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio (SINR) measurements. [C33] the network node is a serving base station for the UE; or the network node is a location server embedded in the serving base station of the UE; The method according to C19. [C34] The method of C19, wherein the network node is a second UE connected to the UE via a sidelink. [C35] Memory and At least one transceiver; at least one processor communicatively coupled to the memory and to the at least one transceiver; 11. A user equipment (UE) comprising: performing a plurality of positioning measurements of a plurality of positioning reference signals (PRS) transmitted by at least one network node; causing the at least one transceiver to transmit a first physical layer message having a fixed payload size, wherein the first physical layer message includes at least an indication of a type, a number, or both, of a first set of positioning measurements of the plurality of positioning measurements to be included in a second physical layer message having a variable payload size. causing the at least one transceiver to transmit the second physical layer message having the variable payload size, wherein the second physical layer message includes at least the first set of positioning measurements, and wherein the variable payload size of the second physical layer message is based at least on the type, the number, or both of the first set of positioning measurements. configured to: User Equipment (UE). [C36] The UE of C35, wherein the first physical layer message and the second physical layer message are a first part and a second part of a channel state information (CSI) report. [C37] The UE according to C36, wherein the CSI report is transmitted on a physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) or a physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH). [C38] The UE of C35, wherein the first physical layer message and the second physical layer message are device-to-device messages transmitted on a physical sidelink shared channel (PSSCH). [C39] The UE of C35, wherein the first set of positioning measurements is a first positioning measurement vector. [C40] the first physical layer message includes an indication of a type, a number, or both, of a second set of positioning measurements of the plurality of positioning measurements to be included in the second physical layer message; at least, the type of the second set of positioning measurements is different from the type of the first set of positioning measurements; UE as described in C35. [C41] the indication of the type of the first set of positioning measurements and the indication of the type of the second set of positioning measurements are each a bit of a bit string in the first physical layer message; each bit of the bit string represents a different type of positioning measurement; The UE described in C40. [C42] The UE of C35, wherein the first set of positioning measurements is associated with a timestamp included in the second physical layer message. [C43] The UE of C42, wherein the type of timestamp is a system frame number, or a system frame number and a slot offset, during which the first set of positioning measurements is valid. [C44] The UE of C43, wherein at least one bit in the first physical layer message indicates the type of the timestamp. [C45] wherein the type of the first set of positioning measurements is Reference Signal Time Difference (RSTD) measurements, and the at least one processor selects a different TRP, PRS resource set, or one or more PRS resources as a reference time for each of the first set of positioning measurements other than that provided to the UE in positioning assistance data; the first physical layer message includes an indication of the different TRP, the PRS resource set, or the one or more PRS resources; the second physical layer message includes an identifier of the different TRP, the PRS resource set, or the one or more PRS resources; UE as described in C35. [C46] wherein the type of the first set of positioning measurements is Reference Signal Received Power (RSRP) measurements; the at least one processor assigns a group identifier to each of the first set of positioning measurements performed using a same downlink receive beam; the first physical layer message includes a number of group identifiers and a number of the first set of positioning measurements in each group; the second physical layer message includes the first set of positioning measurements in the order in which the group identifiers were reported in the first physical layer message. UE as described in C35. [C47] The UE described in C35, wherein the indication of the number of the first set of positioning measurements indicates that the first set of positioning measurements were performed on positioning reference signals transmitted by the same TRP. [C48] the first physical layer message includes an indication of whether the second physical layer message includes a PRS resource identifier or a PRS resource set identifier used to determine the first set of positioning measurements; the second physical layer message includes the PRS resource identifier or the PRS resource set identifier used to determine the first set of positioning measurements. UE as described in C35. [C49] The UE of C35, wherein the first set of positioning measurements comprises one or more RSTD measurements, one or more UE receive-transmit (Rx-Tx) measurements, one or more RSRP measurements, one or more quality metric measurements, one or more speed measurements, one or more time-of-arrival measurements, one or more multipath measurements, one or more line-of-sight (LOS) and / or non-line-of-sight (NLOS) metrics, or one or more signal-to-interference-plus-noise-ratio (SINR) measurements. [C50] The UE of C35, wherein the at least one processor causes the at least one transceiver to transmit the first physical layer message and the second physical layer message to a positioning entity. [C51] The UE described in C50, wherein the positioning entity is a serving base station for the UE. [C52] The UE described in C50, wherein the positioning entity is a location server. [C53] Memory and At least one transceiver; at least one processor communicatively coupled to the memory and to the at least one transceiver; 11. A network node comprising: receiving, via the at least one transceiver, from a user equipment (UE), a first physical layer message having a fixed payload size, wherein the first physical layer message includes at least an indication of a type, number, or both of a first set of positioning measurements to be included in a second physical layer message having a variable payload size; receiving, from the UE via the at least one transceiver, the second physical layer message having the variable payload size, wherein the second physical layer message includes at least the first set of positioning measurements, and wherein the variable payload size of the second physical layer message is based at least on the type, the number, or both of the first set of positioning measurements; configured to: Network node. [C54] A network node as described in C53, wherein the first physical layer message and the second physical layer message are a first part and a second part of a channel state information (CSI) report. [C55] The network node according to C54, wherein the CSI report is received on a physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) or a physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH). [C56] The network node of C53, wherein the first set of positioning measurements is a first positioning measurement vector. [C57] the first physical layer message includes an indication of the type, number, or both of a second set of positioning measurements to be included in the second physical layer message; at least, the type of the second set of positioning measurements is different from the type of the first set of positioning measurements; A network node as described in C53. [C58] the indication of the type of the first set of positioning measurements and the indication of the type of the second set of positioning measurements are each a bit of a bit string in the first physical layer message; each bit of the bit string represents a different type of positioning measurement; A network node as described in C57. [C59] The network node of C53, wherein the first set of positioning measurements is associated with a timestamp included in the second physical layer message. [C60] The network node of C59, wherein the type of timestamp is a system frame number, or a system frame number and a slot offset, during which the first set of positioning measurements is valid. [C61] A network node as described in C60, wherein at least one bit in the first physical layer message indicates the type of the timestamp. [C62] wherein the type of the first set of positioning measurements is Reference Signal Time Difference (RSTD) measurements, and a different Transmit Reception Point (TRP), Positioning Reference Signal (PRS) resource set, or one or more PRS resources are selected by the UE as a reference time for each of the first set of positioning measurements other than that provided to the UE in positioning assistance data; the first physical layer message includes an indication of the different TRP, the PRS resource set, or the one or more PRS resources; the second physical layer message includes an identifier of the different TRP, the PRS resource set, or the one or more PRS resources; A network node as described in C53. [C63] wherein the type of the first set of positioning measurements is Reference Signal Received Power (RSRP) measurements; assigning a group identifier by the UE to each of the first set of positioning measurements performed using a same downlink receive beam; the first physical layer message includes a number of group identifiers and a number of the first set of positioning measurements in each group; the second physical layer message includes the first set of positioning measurements in the order in which the group identifiers were reported in the first physical layer message. A network node as described in C53. [C64] A network node as described in C53, wherein the indication of the number of the first set of positioning measurements indicates that the first set of positioning measurements were performed on positioning reference signals transmitted by the same TRP. [C65] the first physical layer message includes an indication of whether the second physical layer message includes a PRS resource identifier or a PRS resource set identifier used to determine the first set of positioning measurements; the second physical layer message includes the PRS resource identifier or the PRS resource set identifier used to determine the first set of positioning measurements. A network node as described in C53. [C66] The network node of C53, wherein the first set of positioning measurements comprises one or more RSTD measurements, one or more UE receive-transmit (Rx-Tx) measurements, one or more RSRP measurements, one or more quality metric measurements, one or more speed measurements, one or more time-of-arrival measurements, one or more multipath measurements, one or more line-of-sight (LOS) and / or non-line-of-sight (NLOS) metrics, or one or more signal-to-interference-plus-noise-ratio (SINR) measurements. [C67] the network node is a serving base station for the UE; or the network node is a location server embedded in the serving base station of the UE; A network node as described in C53. [C68] The network node according to C53, wherein the network node is a second UE connected to the UE via a sidelink. [C69] means for performing a plurality of positioning measurements of a plurality of Positioning Reference Signals (PRS) transmitted by at least one network node; means for transmitting a first physical layer message having a fixed payload size, wherein the first physical layer message includes at least an indication of a type, a number, or both, of a first set of positioning measurements of the plurality of positioning measurements to be included in a second physical layer message having a variable payload size. means for transmitting the second physical layer message having the variable payload size, wherein the second physical layer message includes at least the first set of positioning measurements, and wherein the variable payload size of the second physical layer message is based at least on the type, the number, or both of the first set of positioning measurements. A user equipment (UE) comprising: [C70] Means for receiving, from a user equipment (UE), a first physical layer message having a fixed payload size, wherein the first physical layer message includes at least an indication of a type, a number, or both, of a first set of positioning measurements to be included in a second physical layer message having a variable payload size. means for receiving from the UE the second physical layer message having the variable payload size, wherein the second physical layer message includes at least the first set of positioning measurements, and wherein the variable payload size of the second physical layer message is based at least on the type, the number, or both of the first set of positioning measurements. A network node comprising: [C71] A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing computer-executable instructions, the computer-executable instructions comprising: at least one instruction to instruct a user equipment (UE) to perform a plurality of positioning measurements of a plurality of positioning reference signals (PRS) transmitted by at least one network node; at least one instruction to instruct the UE to transmit a first physical layer message having a fixed payload size, wherein the first physical layer message includes at least an indication of a type, a number, or both of a first set of positioning measurements of the plurality of positioning measurements to be included in a second physical layer message having a variable payload size; at least one instruction to instruct the UE to transmit the second physical layer message having the variable payload size, wherein the second physical layer message includes at least the first set of positioning measurements, and wherein the variable payload size of the second physical layer message is based at least on the type, the number, or both of the first set of positioning measurements; 1. A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising: [C72] A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing computer-executable instructions, the computer-executable instructions comprising: at least one instruction to instruct a network node to receive from a user equipment (UE) a first physical layer message having a fixed payload size, wherein the first physical layer message includes at least an indication of a type, a number, or both of a first set of positioning measurements to be included in a second physical layer message having a variable payload size; at least one instruction to instruct the network node to receive from the UE the second physical layer message having the variable payload size, wherein the second physical layer message includes at least the first set of positioning measurements, and wherein the variable payload size of the second physical layer message is based at least on the type, the number, or both of the first set of positioning measurements; 1. A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising:

Claims

1. 1. A method of wireless communication implemented by a user equipment (UE), comprising: performing a plurality of positioning measurements of a plurality of Positioning Reference Signals (PRS) transmitted by at least one network node; transmitting a first physical layer message having a fixed payload size, wherein the first physical layer message includes at least an indication of a type, a number, or both, of a first set of positioning measurements of the plurality of positioning measurements to be included in a second physical layer message having a variable payload size. transmitting the second physical layer message having the variable payload size, wherein the second physical layer message includes at least the first set of positioning measurements, and wherein the variable payload size of the second physical layer message is based at least on the type, the number, or both of the first set of positioning measurements. A method comprising:

2. the first physical layer message and the second physical layer message are a first part and a second part of a channel state information (CSI) report, the CSI report being transmitted on a physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) or a physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH); or 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first physical layer message and the second physical layer message are device-to-device messages transmitted on a Physical Sidelink Shared Channel (PSSCH).

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first set of positioning measurements is a first positioning measurement vector.

4. the first physical layer message includes an indication of a type, a number, or both, of a second set of positioning measurements of the plurality of positioning measurements to be included in the second physical layer message; at least the type of the second set of positioning measurements is different from the type of the first set of positioning measurements; Optionally, the indication of the type of the first set of positioning measurements and the indication of the type of the second set of positioning measurements are each bits of a bit string in the first physical layer message, each bit of the bit string representing a different type of positioning measurement. The method of claim 1.

5. 2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first set of positioning measurements are associated with a timestamp included in the second physical layer message, and optionally the type of the timestamp is a system frame number, or a system frame number and a slot offset, during which the first set of positioning measurements are valid, and at least one bit in the first physical layer message indicates the type of the timestamp.

6. the type of the first set of positioning measurements is Reference Signal Time Difference (RSTD) measurements; the UE selecting a different TRP, PRS resource set, or one or more PRS resources as a reference time for each of the first set of positioning measurements other than that provided to the UE in positioning assistance data; the first physical layer message includes an indication of the different TRP, the PRS resource set, or the one or more PRS resources; the second physical layer message includes an identifier of the different TRP, the PRS resource set, or the one or more PRS resources. The method according to claim 1, or the type of the first set of positioning measurements is Reference Signal Received Power (RSRP) measurements; the UE assigning a group identifier to each of the first set of positioning measurements performed using a same downlink receive beam; the first physical layer message includes a number of group identifiers and a number of the first set of positioning measurements in each group; the second physical layer message includes the first set of positioning measurements in the order in which the group identifiers were reported in the first physical layer message. The method of claim 1.

7. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the indication of the number of the first set of positioning measurements indicates that the first set of positioning measurements were performed on positioning reference signals transmitted by a same TRP.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first physical layer message includes an indication of whether the second physical layer message includes a PRS resource identifier or a PRS resource set identifier used to determine the first set of positioning measurements, and the second physical layer message includes the PRS resource identifier or the PRS resource set identifier used to determine the first set of positioning measurements.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first set of positioning measurements comprises one or more RSTD measurements, one or more UE receive-transmit (Rx-Tx) measurements, one or more RSRP measurements, one or more quality metric measurements, one or more velocity measurements, one or more time-of-arrival measurements, one or more multipath measurements, one or more line-of-sight (LOS) and / or non-line-of-sight (NLOS) metrics, or one or more signal-to-interference-plus-noise-ratio (SINR) measurements.

8. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the UE sends the first physical layer message and the second physical layer message to a positioning entity, the positioning entity being a serving base station for the UE, or the positioning entity being a location server.

9. 1. A method of wireless communication implemented by a network node, comprising: receiving, from a user equipment (UE), a first physical layer message having a fixed payload size, wherein the first physical layer message includes at least an indication of a type, number, or both of a first set of positioning measurements to be included in a second physical layer message having a variable payload size; receiving from the UE the second physical layer message having the variable payload size, wherein the second physical layer message includes at least the first set of positioning measurements, and wherein the variable payload size of the second physical layer message is based at least on the type, the number, or both of the first set of positioning measurements; A method comprising:

10. 10. The method of claim 9, wherein the first and second physical layer messages are first and second parts of a Channel State Information (CSI) report, and optionally the CSI report is received on a Physical Uplink Control Channel (PUCCH) or a Physical Uplink Shared Channel (PUSCH).

11. the first physical layer message includes an indication of a type, a number, or both, of a second set of positioning measurements to be included in the second physical layer message; at least the type of the second set of positioning measurements is different from the type of the first set of positioning measurements; the indication of the type of the first set of positioning measurements and the indication of the type of the second set of positioning measurements are each a bit of a bit string in the first physical layer message, each bit of the bit string representing a different type of positioning measurement.

10. The method of claim 9.

12. 10. The method of claim 9, wherein the first set of positioning measurements are associated with a timestamp included in the second physical layer message, optionally a type of the timestamp being a system frame number, or a system frame number and a slot offset, during which the first set of positioning measurements are valid, and at least one bit in the first physical layer message indicates the type of the timestamp.

13. the network node is a serving base station for the UE; the network node is a location server integrated in the serving base station of the UE, or 10. The method of claim 9, wherein the network node is a second UE connected to the UE via a sidelink.

14. Memory, At least one transceiver; at least one processor communicatively coupled to the memory and to the at least one transceiver; 11. A user equipment (UE) comprising: performing a plurality of positioning measurements of a plurality of Positioning Reference Signals (PRS) transmitted by at least one network node; causing the at least one transceiver to transmit a first physical layer message having a fixed payload size, wherein the first physical layer message includes at least an indication of a type, a number, or both, of a first set of positioning measurements of the plurality of positioning measurements to be included in a second physical layer message having a variable payload size. causing the at least one transceiver to transmit the second physical layer message having the variable payload size, wherein the second physical layer message includes at least the first set of positioning measurements, and wherein the variable payload size of the second physical layer message is based at least on the type, the number, or both of the first set of positioning measurements. configured to: User Equipment (UE).

15. Memory, At least one transceiver; at least one processor communicatively coupled to the memory and to the at least one transceiver; 11. A network node comprising: receiving, via the at least one transceiver, from a user equipment (UE), a first physical layer message having a fixed payload size, wherein the first physical layer message includes at least an indication of a type, number, or both of a first set of positioning measurements to be included in a second physical layer message having a variable payload size; receiving, from the UE via the at least one transceiver, the second physical layer message having the variable payload size, wherein the second physical layer message includes at least the first set of positioning measurements, and wherein the variable payload size of the second physical layer message is based at least on the type, the number, or both of the first set of positioning measurements; configured to: Network node.

16. The UE of claim 14, further configured to perform the method of any one of claims 2 to 8.

17. A network node as described in claim 15, further configured to perform a method as described in any one of claims 10 to 13.

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