Transmitting UE positioning signals while in a disconnected or inactive state

Abstract

A method for transmitting a sounding reference signal (SRS) for positioning includes, in a user equipment (UE), acquiring a plurality of SRS transmission parameters, and transmitting an SRS for positioning from the UE according to the plurality of SRS transmission parameters while the UE is in a disconnected state or an inactive state with respect to a communication network.

Description

[Background technology]

[0001] Wireless communication systems have evolved through various generations, including first generation analog wireless telephone service (1G), second generation (2G) digital wireless telephone service (including interim 2.5G networks), third generation (3G) high speed data, Internet-enabled wireless service, and fourth generation (4G) service (e.g., Long Term Evolution (LTE) or WiMax), fifth generation (5G) service, and the like. Currently, many different types of wireless communication systems are in use, including cellular systems and Personal Communications Service (PCS) systems. Examples of known cellular systems include the 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 access (GSM) variants of TDMA, and the like. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0002] The fifth generation (5G) wireless standard, called New Radio (NR), will allow, among other improvements, higher data transfer rates, a larger number of connections, and better coverage. The 5G standard is designed to provide data rates of tens of megabits per second to each of tens of thousands of users, delivering one gigabit per second to an office floor where dozens of people work, according to the Next Generation Mobile Networks Alliance. To support the deployment of large-scale wireless sensors, hundreds of thousands of simultaneous connections should be supported. Therefore, the spectral efficiency of 5G mobile communications must be significantly increased compared to the current 4G standard. Furthermore, signaling efficiency must be increased and latency significantly reduced compared to the current standard. [Means for solving the problem]

[0003] An exemplary method for transmitting a sounding reference signal (SRS) for positioning includes, in a user equipment (UE), obtaining a plurality of SRS transmission parameters, and transmitting an SRS for positioning from the UE according to the plurality of SRS transmission parameters while the UE is in a disconnected state or an inactive state with respect to a communication network.

[0004] Implementations of such a method may include one or more of the following features: The method includes receiving, by the UE, an indication from a communication network triggering transmission of an SRS for positioning from the UE. The unconnected state includes a radio resource control (RRC) idle mode or an RRC inactive mode, and the inactive state includes a discontinuous reception (DRX) inactive mode. The plurality of SRS transmission parameters includes a transmit beam, or a pilot sequence, or a physical resource mapping, or a timing advance, or a first guard time before transmission of an SRS for positioning, or a second guard time after transmission of an SRS for positioning, or a combination of two or more thereof. Obtaining the plurality of SRS transmission parameters includes receiving one or more configuration parameters from the communication network in response to a request from the UE for transmission of a sounding reference signal. Obtaining the plurality of SRS transmission parameters includes receiving one or more configuration parameters from the communication network while the UE is in an unconnected state with respect to the communication network for transmission of a sounding reference signal. The step of obtaining the plurality of SRS transmission parameters includes receiving one or more configuration parameters from the communication network in a Broadcast System Information Block (SIB) message that includes Downlink Positioning Reference Signal (DL-PRS) information. The step of obtaining the plurality of SRS transmission parameters includes receiving one or more configuration parameters from the communication network in a Broadcast System Information Block (SIB) message that is dedicated to carrying the one or more configuration parameters.

[0005] Additionally or alternatively, implementations of such methods may include one or more of the following features: Obtaining the plurality of SRS transmission parameters includes determining, by the UE, at least one UE-specific configuration parameter of another SRS while the UE is connected to the communications network. Obtaining the plurality of SRS transmission parameters includes determining each of the plurality of SRS transmission parameters based on non-connection configuration parameters, if any, received by the UE from the communications network while the UE is in a non-connected state with respect to the communications network, or based on connection configuration parameters received while the UE is in a connected state with respect to the communications network if no suitable non-connection configuration parameters were received.

[0006] Additionally or alternatively, implementations of such a method may include one or more of the following features: The method includes refraining from transmitting any signal in the frequency band of the SRS for positioning during a first guard time before a start of transmission of the SRS for positioning, or during a second guard time after an end of transmission of the SRS for positioning, or during a combination thereof, from the UE. The transmitting of the SRS for positioning includes transmitting a pilot sequence on the same set of subcarriers on consecutive Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) symbols for more consecutive OFDM symbols than a maximum number allowed for transmission of SRS resources for positioning during connected communication between the UE and the communication network. A starting portion of a set of multiple consecutive symbols of the SRS for positioning is used as a cyclic prefix for a remaining portion of another set of multiple consecutive symbols of the SRS for positioning.

[0007] Additionally or alternatively, implementations of such a method may include one or more of the following features: The step of obtaining a plurality of SRS transmission parameters includes the UE randomly or pseudo-randomly selecting a pilot sequence to be used for transmitting the SRS for positioning. The step of transmitting the SRS for positioning includes transmitting the SRS for positioning using a transmit beam corresponding to a receive beam associated with receiving a downlink reference signal from the communication network. The downlink reference signal includes an SSB (Synchronization Signal Block) or a PRS (Positioning Reference Signal).

[0008] An exemplary UE includes a memory, a transceiver, and a processor communicatively coupled to the memory and the transceiver, the processor configured to obtain a plurality of Sounding Reference Signal (SRS) transmission parameters and transmit an SRS for positioning from the UE in accordance with the plurality of SRS transmission parameters while the UE is in an unconnected state or an inactive state with respect to a communication network.

[0009] An implementation of such a UE may include one or more of the following features: The processor is configured to transmit the SRS for positioning in response to receiving, via the transceiver, an indication from the communication network triggering transmission of the SRS for positioning from the UE. The unconnected state includes a radio resource control (RRC) idle mode or an RRC inactive mode, and the inactive state includes a discontinuous reception (DRX) inactive mode. The plurality of SRS transmission parameters includes a transmit beam, or a pilot sequence, or a physical resource mapping, or a timing advance, or a first guard time before transmission of the SRS for positioning, or a second guard time after transmission of the SRS for positioning, or a combination of two or more thereof. To obtain the plurality of SRS transmission parameters, the processor is configured to receive one or more configuration parameters from the communication network in response to a request from the UE for transmission of a sounding reference signal. To obtain the plurality of SRS transmission parameters, the processor is configured to receive one or more configuration parameters from the communication network while the UE is in an unconnected state with respect to the communication network for transmission of a sounding reference signal. To obtain the plurality of SRS transmission parameters, the processor is configured to receive one or more configuration parameters from the communication network in a Broadcast System Information Block (SIB) message including Downlink Positioning Reference Signal (DL-PRS) information. To obtain the plurality of SRS transmission parameters, the processor is configured to receive one or more configuration parameters from the communication network in a Broadcast System Information Block (SIB) message dedicated to carrying the one or more configuration parameters.

[0010] Additionally or alternatively, implementations of such a UE may include one or more of the following features: To obtain the plurality of SRS transmission parameters, the processor is configured to determine at least one UE specific configuration parameter of another SRS while the UE is connected to the communications network; To obtain the plurality of SRS transmission parameters, the processor is configured to determine each of the plurality of SRS transmission parameters based on non-connection configuration parameters, if any, received by the UE from the communications network while the UE is in a non-connected state with respect to the communications network, or based on connection configuration parameters received while the UE is in a connected state with respect to the communications network if no suitable non-connection configuration parameters were received.

[0011] Additionally or alternatively, such an implementation of the UE may include one or more of the following features: The processor is configured to refrain from transmitting, via the transceiver, any signal in the frequency band of the SRS for positioning during a first guard time before a start of transmission of the SRS for positioning, or during a second guard time after an end of transmission of the SRS for positioning, or during a combination thereof. The processor is configured to transmit the SRS for positioning by transmitting a pilot sequence on the same set of subcarriers on consecutive Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) symbols for more than a maximum number of consecutive OFDM symbols allowed for transmission of SRS resources for positioning during connected communication between the UE and the communication network. The processor is configured to use a starting portion of the multiple consecutive symbols of the SRS for positioning as a cyclic prefix for a remaining portion of another set of multiple consecutive symbols of the SRS for positioning.

[0012] Additionally or alternatively, such an implementation of the UE may include one or more of the following features: To obtain the plurality of SRS transmission parameters, the processor is configured to randomly or pseudo-randomly select a pilot sequence to be used for transmitting the SRS for positioning. To transmit the SRS for positioning, the processor is configured to select a transmit beam for transmitting the SRS for positioning that corresponds to a receive beam associated with receiving a downlink reference signal from the communication network. The downlink reference signal includes an SSB (Synchronization Signal Block) or a PRS (Positioning Reference Signal).

[0013] Another exemplary UE includes means for acquiring a plurality of Sounding Reference Signal (SRS) transmission parameters and means for transmitting an SRS for positioning according to the plurality of SRS transmission parameters while the UE is in an unconnected state or an inactive state with respect to a communications network.

[0014] An implementation of such a UE may include one or more of the following features: The means for transmitting the SRS for positioning is for transmitting the SRS for positioning in response to receiving an indication from the communication network triggering transmission of the SRS for positioning from the UE. The unconnected state includes a radio resource control (RRC) idle mode or an RRC inactive mode, and the inactive state includes a discontinuous reception (DRX) inactive mode. The plurality of SRS transmission parameters includes a transmit beam, or a pilot sequence, or a physical resource mapping, or a timing advance, or a first guard time before transmission of the SRS for positioning, or a second guard time after transmission of the SRS for positioning, or a combination of two or more thereof. The means for acquiring the plurality of SRS transmission parameters includes means for receiving one or more configuration parameters from the communication network in response to a request from the UE for transmission of a sounding reference signal. The means for acquiring the plurality of SRS transmission parameters includes means for receiving one or more configuration parameters from the communication network while the UE is in an unconnected state with respect to the communication network for transmission of the sounding reference signal. The means for obtaining the plurality of SRS transmission parameters includes means for receiving one or more configuration parameters from the communication network in a Broadcast System Information Block (SIB) message that includes Downlink Positioning Reference Signal (DL-PRS) information. The means for obtaining the plurality of SRS transmission parameters includes means for receiving one or more configuration parameters from the communication network in a Broadcast System Information Block (SIB) message that is dedicated to carrying the one or more configuration parameters.

[0015] Additionally or alternatively, implementations of such a UE may include one or more of the following features: The means for obtaining a plurality of SRS transmission parameters includes means for determining at least one UE specific configuration parameter of another SRS while the UE is connected to the communications network. The means for obtaining a plurality of SRS transmission parameters includes means for determining each of the plurality of SRS transmission parameters based on non-connection configuration parameters, if any, received by the UE from the communications network while the UE is in a non-connected state with respect to the communications network, or based on connection configuration parameters received while the UE is in a connected state with respect to the communications network if no suitable non-connection configuration parameters were received.

[0016] Additionally or alternatively, such UE implementations may include one or more of the following features: The UE includes means for refraining from transmitting any signal in the frequency band of the SRS for positioning during a first guard time before a start of transmission of the SRS for positioning, or during a second guard time after an end of transmission of the SRS for positioning, or during a combination thereof. The means for transmitting the SRS for positioning includes means for transmitting a pilot sequence on a same set of subcarriers on consecutive Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) symbols for more consecutive OFDM symbols than a maximum number allowed for transmission of SRS resources for positioning during connected communication between the UE and the communication network. The UE includes means for using a starting portion of a plurality of consecutive symbols of the SRS for positioning as a cyclic prefix for a remaining portion of another set of a plurality of consecutive symbols of the SRS for positioning.

[0017] Additionally or alternatively, implementations of such a UE may include one or more of the following features: The means for obtaining a plurality of SRS transmission parameters includes means for randomly or pseudo-randomly selecting a pilot sequence to be used for transmitting the SRS for positioning. The means for transmitting the SRS for positioning includes means for selecting a transmit beam corresponding to a receive beam associated with receiving a downlink reference signal from the communication network. The downlink reference signal includes an SSB (Synchronization Signal Block) or a PRS (Positioning Reference Signal).

[0018] An exemplary non-transitory processor-readable storage medium includes processor-readable instructions configured to cause a processor of a user equipment (UE) to obtain a plurality of sounding reference signal (SRS) transmission parameters and to transmit an SRS for positioning from the UE in accordance with the plurality of SRS transmission parameters while the UE is in an unconnected state or an inactive state with respect to a communication network.

[0019] An implementation of such a storage medium may include one or more of the following features: The instructions are configured to cause the processor to transmit an SRS for positioning in response to receiving an indication from a communication network triggering transmission of the SRS for positioning from the UE. The unconnected state includes a radio resource control (RRC) idle mode or an RRC inactive mode, and the inactive state includes a discontinuous reception (DRX) inactive mode. The plurality of SRS transmission parameters includes a transmit beam, or a pilot sequence, or a physical resource mapping, or a timing advance, or a first guard time before transmission of the SRS for positioning, or a second guard time after transmission of the SRS for positioning, or a combination of two or more thereof. To obtain the plurality of SRS transmission parameters, the instructions are configured to cause the processor to receive one or more configuration parameters from the communication network in response to a request from the UE for transmission of a sounding reference signal. To obtain the plurality of SRS transmission parameters, the instructions are configured to cause the processor to receive one or more configuration parameters from the communication network while the UE is in an unconnected state with respect to the communication network for transmission of the sounding reference signal. To obtain the plurality of SRS transmission parameters, the instructions are configured to cause the processor to receive the one or more configuration parameters from the communication network in a Broadcast System Information Block (SIB) message including Downlink Positioning Reference Signal (DL-PRS) information. To obtain the plurality of SRS transmission parameters, the instructions are configured to cause the processor to receive the one or more configuration parameters from the communication network in a Broadcast System Information Block (SIB) message dedicated to carrying the one or more configuration parameters.

[0020] Additionally or alternatively, implementations of such a storage medium may include one or more of the following features: To obtain the plurality of SRS transmission parameters, the instructions are configured to cause the processor to determine at least one UE specific configuration parameter of another SRS while the UE is connected to the communications network; To obtain the plurality of SRS transmission parameters, the instructions are configured to cause the processor to determine each of the plurality of SRS transmission parameters based on non-connection configuration parameters, if any, received by the UE from the communications network while the UE is in a non-connected state with respect to the communications network, or based on connection configuration parameters received while the UE is in a connected state with respect to the communications network if no suitable non-connection configuration parameters were received.

[0021] Additionally or alternatively, such storage medium implementations may include one or more of the following features: The instructions are configured to cause the processor to refrain from transmitting any signal in the frequency band of the SRS for positioning during a first guard time before the start of transmission of the SRS for positioning, or during a second guard time after the end of transmission of the SRS for positioning, or during a combination thereof. The instructions are configured to cause the processor to transmit the SRS for positioning by transmitting a pilot sequence on the same set of subcarriers on consecutive Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) symbols for more than a maximum number of consecutive OFDM symbols allowed for transmission of SRS resources for positioning during connected communication between the UE and the communication network. The instructions are configured to cause the processor to use a starting portion of a plurality of consecutive symbols of the SRS for positioning as a cyclic prefix for a remaining portion of another set of a plurality of consecutive symbols of the SRS for positioning.

[0022] Additionally or alternatively, such storage medium implementations may include one or more of the following features: To obtain a plurality of SRS transmission parameters, the instructions are configured to cause the processor to randomly or pseudo-randomly select a pilot sequence to be used for transmitting the SRS for positioning. To transmit the SRS for positioning, the instructions are configured to cause the processor to select a transmit beam for transmitting the SRS for positioning that corresponds to a receive beam associated with receiving a downlink reference signal from the communication network. The downlink reference signal includes an SSB (Synchronization Signal Block) or a PRS (Positioning Reference Signal). [Brief description of the drawings]

[0023] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 illustrates an example wireless communication system. [Figure 2A] FIG. 2 illustrates another exemplary wireless network structure. [Figure 2B] FIG. 2 illustrates another exemplary wireless network structure. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating the example device of FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 1 illustrates an example of a frame structure for use in a wireless telecommunications system. [Diagram 5] 1 is a signal flow diagram for connecting a user equipment to a transmission / reception point. [Figure 6] 11 is another signal flow diagram for connecting a user equipment to a transmission / reception point; [Figure 7] 1 is a block flow diagram of a method for transmitting a positioning signal. [Figure 8] FIG. 2 is a signal and process flow diagram for transmitting positioning signals. [Figure 9] 1 is a table of positioning signal indexes and corresponding configuration parameters. [Figure 10] 1 is a simplified diagram of symbols used to transmit a sounding reference signal preceded or followed by a guard interval. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0024] Techniques for establishing transmission parameters for transmitting positioning signals from a user equipment (UE) while the UE is in an unconnected or inactive state are discussed herein. For example, the UE may receive one or more configuration parameters (e.g., from a transmission / reception point (TRP)) while in an unconnected state and / or while in a connected state. One or more of the configuration parameters may be transmitted to the UE by the TRP and may be generic to multiple UEs, and / or one or more configuration parameters from the TRP may be specific to the UE and obtained while the UE is connected to the TRP (e.g., RRC connected and DRX active mode). The UE may use one or more of the configuration parameters as one or more of the transmission parameters and / or may use one or more of the configuration parameters to determine one or more of the transmission parameters. Additionally or alternatively, the UE may obtain one or more of the transmission parameters from measurements made while the UE is connected to the TRP and / or to another TRP. The UE may transmit a sounding reference signal (SRS) for positioning according to the transmission parameters, for example, while the UE is in a disconnected or inactive state. However, these techniques are examples and are not exhaustive.

[0025] The items and / or techniques described herein may provide one or more of the following capabilities, as well as other capabilities not mentioned: A positioning signal may be transmitted by a UE while the UE is out of a connected state or connected but inactive to a communication network. A pilot sequence for transmitting an SRS for positioning may be randomized, which may help to avoid collisions between signals transmitted by neighboring UEs receiving the same positioning signal configuration parameters. The transmission of one or more SRS for positioning by the UE that is not expected by the transmitting / receiving point may be avoided, thus saving the energy of the UE. Other capabilities may be provided, and not all implementations according to the present disclosure must provide any, much less all, of the capabilities discussed. Furthermore, the above-mentioned effects may be achieved by means other than those mentioned, and the mentioned items / techniques do not necessarily result in the mentioned effects.

[0026] The information and signals described below may be represented using any of a wide variety of 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.

[0027] Many features are described in terms of a sequence of activities to be performed, for example, by elements of a computing device. 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. In addition, a sequence of activities described herein may be considered to be embodied entirely in any form of non-transitory processor-readable storage medium having stored thereon a corresponding set of processor-readable instructions that, when executed, cause or instruct an associated processor of a device to perform the functions described herein. Thus, various features of the present disclosure may be embodied in a number of different forms, all of which are intended to be within the scope of the claimed subject matter.

[0028] As used herein, the terms "user equipment" (UE) and "base station" are not intended to be specific to or otherwise limited to any particular radio access technology (RAT) unless otherwise stated. In general, a UE may be any wireless communication device (e.g., a mobile phone, a router, a tablet computer, a laptop computer, a consumer asset tracking device, a wearable (e.g., a smart watch, glasses, an augmented reality (AR) / virtual reality (VR) headset, etc.), a vehicle (e.g., an automobile, 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 stationary (e.g., at some time) and may communicate with a radio access network (RAN). As used herein, the term "UE" 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 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 to 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 IEEE 802.11, etc.), etc.

[0029] Depending on the network in which it is deployed, the 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, NodeB, evolved NodeB (eNB), New Radio (NR) Node B (also referred to as gNB or gNodeB), etc. In addition, in some systems, the base station may provide pure edge node signaling functionality, while in other systems it may provide additional control and / or network management functionality. A communication link through which a UE can transmit 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 can transmit signals to a UE is referred to as a downlink (DL) channel or forward link channel (e.g., paging channel, control channel, broadcast channel, forward traffic channel, etc.). As used herein, the term traffic channel (TCH) may refer to either a UL / reverse traffic channel or a DL / forward traffic channel.

[0030] The term "base station" may refer to a single physical transmission / reception point (TRP) or to multiple physical TRPs that may or may not be co-located. For example, when the term "base station" refers to a single physical TRP, the physical TRP may be an antenna of the base station corresponding to the base station's cell. When the term "base station" refers to multiple co-located physical TRPs, the physical TRPs may be an array of base station antennas (e.g., as in a multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) system or when the base station utilizes beamforming). When the term "base station" refers to multiple non-co-located physical TRPs, the physical TRPs 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-co-located physical TRPs may be a serving base station that receives measurement reports from the UE and a neighboring 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, so 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.

[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 a multipath channel. The same transmitted RF signal on different paths between a transmitter and a receiver may be referred to as a "multipath" RF signal.

[0032] 1, an exemplary wireless communication system 100 includes the components as shown. 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). The macrocell base stations may include eNBs, if the wireless communication system 100 corresponds to an LTE network, or gNBs, if 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.

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

[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. One or more cells may be supported by the base station 102 in each coverage area 110. A "cell" is a logical communication entity used for communication with the 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 (PCID), virtual cell identifier (VCID)) 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 for 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 supporting the cell and the base station, depending on the context. In some cases, the term “cell” may also refer to the geographic coverage area (e.g., a sector) of a base station, so long as the carrier frequency can be detected and used for communication within any portion of the geographic coverage area 110.

[0035] The geographic coverage areas 110 of adjacent macrocell base stations 102 may overlap partially (e.g., in handover regions), and some of the geographic coverage areas 110 may overlap significantly with larger geographic coverage areas 110. For example, a small cell base station 102' may have a coverage area 110' that overlaps significantly 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 referred to as a heterogeneous network. A heterogeneous network may also include Home eNBs (HeNBs) that may serve restricted groups called Closed Subscriber Groups (CSGs).

[0036] The communication link 120 between the base station 102 and the UE 104 may include UL (also referred to as reverse link) transmissions from the UE 104 to the base station 102, and / or downlink (DL) (also referred to as forward link) transmissions 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 DL and UL (e.g., more or fewer carriers may be allocated for DL ​​than UL).

[0037] The wireless communication system 100 may further include a wireless local area network (WLAN) access point (AP) 150 in communication 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 clear channel assessment (CCA) before communicating to determine if a channel is available.

[0038] The small cell base station 102' may operate in a licensed and / or unlicensed frequency spectrum. When operating in an unlicensed frequency spectrum, the small cell base station 102' may utilize 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' utilizing LTE / 5G in an unlicensed frequency spectrum may extend 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 MultiFire.

[0039] The wireless communication system 100 may further include a mmW base station 180 in communication with the UE 182 and may operate in millimeter wave (mmW) and / or sub-mmW frequencies. Extremely high frequency (EHF) is a portion of RF in the electromagnetic spectrum. EHF ranges from 30 GHz to 300 GHz, with wavelengths between 1 and 10 millimeters. Radio waves in this band may be referred to as millimeter waves. Sub-mmW may extend down to frequencies of 3 GHz, with wavelengths of 100 millimeters. The very high frequency (SHF) band, also known as centimeter wave, extends between 3 GHz and 30 GHz. Communications using the mmW / sub-mmW radio frequency bands have high path losses and relatively short distances. 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 losses and short distances. It will be further understood that in alternative configurations, one or more base stations 102 may also transmit using mmW or sub-mmW and beamforming. The foregoing examples are examples and do not limit the scope of the description or claims.

[0040] Transmit beamforming is a technique for converging an RF signal in a particular direction. Traditionally, when a network node (e.g., a base station) broadcasts an RF signal, the network node broadcasts the signal in all directions (omnidirectional). With transmit beamforming, the network node determines where a given target device (e.g., a UE) is located (relative to the transmitting network node) and launches a stronger downlink RF signal in that particular direction, thereby providing a stronger RF signal at a faster speed (in terms of data rate) to the receiving device. 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 one or more transmitters broadcasting the RF signal. For example, the network node may use an array of antennas (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. Specifically, RF currents from the transmitters are fed to individual antennas with the correct phase relationship so that the radio waves from the separate antennas combine together to increase radiation in the desired direction while canceling out to suppress radiation in undesired directions.

[0041] Transmit beams may be quasi-colocated, meaning that they appear to a receiver (e.g., UE) as having the same parameters, regardless of whether the network node's transmit antennas themselves are physically colocated. In NR, there are four types of quasi-collocation (QCL) relationships. Specifically, a QCL relationship of a given type means that some parameters for a second reference RF signal on a second beam can be derived from information about a source reference RF signal on a source beam. Thus, 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 second 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 second 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 average delay of a second 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 second reference RF signal transmitted on the same channel.

[0042] In receive beamforming, a receiver uses a receive beam 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) RF signals 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 higher than the beam gain along other directions, or that the beam gain in that direction is highest compared to the beam gain 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 and Noise Ratio (SINR), etc.) of RF signals received from that direction.

[0043] The receive beams may be spatially related. The spatial relationship means that the parameters of 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 a reference downlink reference signal (e.g., a synchronization signal block (SSB)) from a base station. The UE may then form a transmit beam for transmitting an uplink reference signal (e.g., a sounding reference signal (SRS)) to that base station based on the parameters of the receive beam.

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

[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, namely, FR1 (from 450 MHz to 6000 MHz), FR2 (from 24250 MHz 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 on 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 carriers all carry common and UE-specific control channels and may (but are not always) be carriers in licensed frequencies. The secondary carriers are carriers 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 an unlicensed frequency. Since both the primary uplink carrier and the primary downlink carrier are usually UE-specific, the secondary carrier may only include necessary signaling information and signals, e.g., signaling information and signals that are UE-specific may not be present in the secondary carrier. This means that different UEs 104 / 182 in a cell may have different downlink primary carriers. The same applies to the uplink primary carrier. The network may change the primary carrier of any UE 104 / 182 at any time. This is done, for example, to balance 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.

[0046] For example, with continued reference to FIG. 1, one of the frequencies utilized by the macrocell base station 102 may be an anchor carrier (i.e., a "PCell"), and 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 aggregated 20 MHz carriers in a multi-carrier system theoretically doubles the data rate (i.e., 40 MHz) compared to that achieved by a single 20 MHz carrier.

[0047] 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. In the example of FIG. 1, the UE 190 has a D2D P2P link 192 (sidelink) 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 an 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.

[0048] 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.

[0049] 2A illustrates an exemplary wireless network structure 200. For example, the NGC 210 (also referred to as "5GC") may be functionally viewed 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 work in concert to form a core network. A user plane interface (NG-U) 213 and a control plane interface (NG-C) 215 connect the gNB 222 to the NGC 210, specifically to the control plane function 214 and the user plane function 212. In an additional configuration, the eNB 224 may also be connected to the NGC 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 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 eNBs 224 and the gNBs 222. Either the gNBs 222 or the eNBs 224 may be in communication with the UEs 204 (e.g., any of the UEs shown in FIG. 1). A location server 230 may be included, which may be in communication with the NGC 210 to assist in locating the UEs 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 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 UEs 204 that may connect to the location server 230 via the core network, the NGC 210, and / or via the Internet (not shown). Additionally, the location server 230 may be integrated into components of the core network, or alternatively, may be external to the core network.

[0050] 2B illustrates another exemplary wireless network structure 250. For example, NGC 260 (also referred to as "5GC") may be functionally viewed as a control plane function provided by Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF) / User Plane Function (UPF) 264 and a user plane function provided by Session Management Function (SMF) 262, which work in coordination to form a core network (i.e., NGC 260). A user plane interface 263 and a control plane interface 265 connect eNB 224 to NGC 260, specifically to SMF 262 and AMF / UPF 264, respectively. In an additional configuration, gNB 222 may also be connected to NGC 260 via a control plane interface 265 to AMF / UPF 264 and a user plane interface 263 to SMF 262. Additionally, eNB 224 may communicate directly with gNB 222 via a backhaul connection 223 with or without gNB direct connectivity to NGC 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 eNBs 224 and the gNBs 222. Either the gNBs 222 or the eNBs 224 may communicate with the UEs 204 (e.g., any of the UEs shown in FIG. 1). The base stations of the new RAN 220 communicate with the AMF side of the AMF / UPF 264 via an N2 interface and with the UPF side of the AMF / UPF 264 via an N3 interface.

[0051] The functions of the AMF include registration management, connection management, reachability management, mobility management, lawful interception, transport for session management (SM) messages between the UE 204 and the SMF 262, transparent proxy service for routing SM messages, access authentication and access authorization, transport of 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 also interacts with an authentication server function (AUSF) (not shown) and the UE 204, and receives intermediate keys established as a result of the UE 204 authentication process. In case of authentication based on a universal mobile telecommunications system (UMTS) subscriber identity module (USIM), the AMF retrieves security material from the AUSF. The functions of the AMF also include security context management (SCM). The SCM receives keys from the SEAF that the SCM uses to derive access network specific keys. The AMF functions also include location service management for regulatory authorities, transport of location service messages between the UE 204 and the Location Management Function (LMF) 270 and 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. In addition, the AMF also supports functions for non-3GPP access networks.

[0052] The functions of the UPF include acting as an anchor point for intra / inter-RAT mobility (when possible), acting as an external Protocol Data Unit (PDU) session point for interconnection to a data network (not shown), routing and forwarding of packets, packet inspection, enforcement of user plane policy rules (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., UL / DL rate enforcement, reflected QoS marking in DL), UL traffic validation (Service Data Flow (SDF) to QoS Flow mapping), transport level packet marking in UL and DL, DL packet buffering and DL data notification triggers, and sending and forwarding one or more "end markers" to the source RAN node.

[0053] The functions of the SMF 262 include session management, allocation and management of UE Internet Protocol (IP) addresses, selection and control of user plane functions, configuration of traffic steering in the UPF to route traffic to the appropriate destination, control of policy enforcement and part of QoS, and downlink data notification. The interface through which the SMF 262 communicates with the AMF side of the AMF / UPF 264 is called the N11 interface.

[0054] An LMF 270 may be included, which may be in communication with the NGC 260 to assist in locating 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 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 UEs 204 that may connect to the LMF 270 via a core network, the NGC 260, and / or via the Internet (not shown).

[0055] FIG. 3 illustrates 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 embody any of the network functions described herein, including location server 230 and LMF 270) to support file transmission operations as taught herein. It will be understood that these components may be implemented in different types of devices in different implementations (e.g., in an ASIC, in a system on a chip (SoC), etc.). The illustrated components may also be incorporated in other devices in a communication system. For example, other devices in the system may include components similar to the illustrated components 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.

[0056] The UE 302 and the base station 304 each include at least one wireless communication device (represented by communication devices 308 and 314 (and communication device 320 if the base station 304 is a relay)) for communicating with other nodes via at least one designated RAT. For example, the communication devices 308 and 314 (e.g., transceivers) may communicate with each other via a wireless communication link 360, which may correspond to communication link 120 in FIG. 1. Each communication device 308 includes at least one transmitter (represented by transmitter 310) for transmitting and encoding signals (e.g., messages, instructions, information, pilots, etc.) and at least one receiver (represented by receiver 312) for receiving and decoding signals (e.g., messages, instructions, information, pilots, etc.). Similarly, each communications device 314 includes at least one transmitter (represented by transmitter 316) for transmitting signals (e.g., messages, instructions, information, pilots, etc.) and at least one receiver (represented by receiver 318) for receiving signals (e.g., messages, instructions, information, etc.). If the base station 304 is a relay station, each communications device 320 may include at least one transmitter (represented by transmitter 322) for transmitting signals (e.g., messages, instructions, information, pilots, etc.) and at least one receiver (represented by receiver 324) for receiving signals (e.g., messages, instructions, information, etc.).

[0057] The transmitter and receiver may comprise a transceiver that in some implementations may be an integrated device (e.g., embodied as transmitter and receiver circuits in a single communication device), in some implementations may comprise separate transmitter and receiver devices, or in other implementations may be embodied in other manners. A wireless communication device (e.g., one of a plurality of wireless communication devices) of the base station 304 may also comprise a network listen module (NLM), etc. for performing various measurements.

[0058] The network entity 306 (and the base station 304 if it is not a relay station) includes at least one communication device (represented by communication device 326 and optionally communication device 320) for communicating with other nodes. For example, the communication device 326 may comprise a network interface configured to communicate with one or more network entities via a wire-based or wireless backhaul 370 (which may correspond to the backhaul link 122 of FIG. 1). The communication device 326 may be implemented as a transceiver configured to support wire-based or wireless signal communication, and the transmitter 328 and receiver 330 may be integrated circuits. This communication may involve, for example, transmitting and receiving messages, parameters, or other types of information. Thus, in the example of FIG. 3, the communication device 326 is shown as comprising a transmitter 328 and a receiver 330. Alternatively, the transmitter 328 and the receiver 330 may be separate devices within the communication device 326. Similarly, if the base station 304 is not a relay station, the communications device 320 may comprise a network interface configured to communicate with one or more network entities 306 via a wire-based or wireless backhaul 370. Like the communications device 326, the communications device 320 is shown as comprising a transmitter 322 and a receiver 324.

[0059] The devices 302, 304, and 306 also include other components that may be used with file transmission operations as disclosed herein. The UE 302 includes a processing system 332, for example, for providing functionality related to UE operations as described herein and for providing other processing functions. The base station 304 includes a processing system 334, for example, for providing functionality related to base station operations as described herein and for providing other processing functions. The network entity 306 includes a processing system 336, for example, for providing functionality related to network function operations as described herein and for providing other processing functions. The devices 302, 304, and 306 each include memory components 338, 340, and 342 (e.g., each including a memory device) for maintaining information (e.g., information indicative of reserved resources, thresholds, parameters, etc.). Additionally, the UE 302 includes a user interface 350 for providing instructions (e.g., audio and / or visual instructions) to a user and / or receiving user input (e.g., upon the user actuating a sensing device such as a keypad, touch screen, microphone, etc.). Although not shown, the devices 304 and 306 may also include user interfaces.

[0060] Referring more particularly to the processing system 334, on the downlink, IP packets from the network entity 306 may be provided to the processing system 334. The processing system 334 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 334 may provide RRC layer functions related to broadcast 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 upper layer packet data units (PDUs), error correction via ARQ, concatenation, segmentation, and reassembly of RLC service data units (SDUs), resegmentation 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.

[0061] The transmitter 316 and receiver 318 may implement Layer 1 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 316 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), M-ary 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 combined together using an inverse fast Fourier transform (IFFT) to generate a physical channel carrying the time-domain OFDM symbol stream. The OFDM stream is 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 of the communication device 314. The transmitter 316 may modulate an RF carrier with each spatial stream for transmission.

[0062] At the UE 302, the receiver 312 receives signals through each antenna of the communication device 308. The receiver 312 recovers the information modulated onto the RF carriers and provides the information to the processing system 332. The transmitter 310 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 any 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, as well as the reference signal, are recovered and demodulated by determining the signal constellation points that were most likely 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 signals originally transmitted by the base station 304 on the physical channel. The data and control signals are then provided to a processing system 332 that implements Layer 3 and Layer 2 functions.

[0063] In the UL, the processing system 332 performs demultiplexing between transport and logical channels, packet reassembly, decryption, header decompression, and control signal processing to recover IP packets from the core network. The processing system 332 is also responsible for error detection.

[0064] Similar to the functionality described with respect to DL transmission by the base station 304, the processing system 332 provides RRC layer functionality related to system information (e.g., MIBs, SIBs) 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 transport blocks (TBs), demultiplexing of MAC SDUs from TBs, scheduling information reporting, error correction via HARQ, priority handling, and logical channel prioritization.

[0065] 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 310 to select an appropriate coding and modulation scheme and to facilitate spatial processing. The spatial streams generated by the transmitter 310 may be provided to different antennas. The transmitter 310 may modulate an RF carrier with each spatial stream for transmission.

[0066] The UL transmissions are processed at the base station 304 in a manner similar to that described with respect to the receiver functions at the UE 302. The receiver 318 receives the signals through its respective antenna. The receiver 318 recovers the information modulated onto the RF carrier and provides the information to the processing system 334.

[0067] In the UL, the processing system 334 performs demultiplexing between transport and logical channels, packet reassembly, decryption, header decompression, and control signal processing to recover IP packets from the UE 302. The IP packets from the processing system 334 may be provided to the core network. The processing system 334 is also responsible for error detection.

[0068] The devices 302, 304, and 306 may include positioning managers 344, 348, and 358, respectively. The positioning managers 344, 348, and 358 may be hardware circuits that are part of or coupled to the processing systems 332, 334, and 336, respectively, that, when executed, cause the devices 302, 304, and 306 to perform the functions described herein. Alternatively, the positioning managers 344, 348, and 358 may be memory modules stored in the memory components 338, 340, and 342, respectively, that, when executed by the processing systems 332, 334, and 336, cause the devices 302, 304, and 306 to perform the functions described herein.

[0069] For convenience, the apparatus 302, 304, and / or 306 are illustrated in FIG. 3 as including various components that may be configured in accordance with various examples described herein. However, it will be understood that the illustrated blocks may have different functionality in different designs. Furthermore, the UE 302 may be a low-cost UE or a high-cost UE, depending on the capabilities and features of the UE 302 (e.g., the number of antennas of the communication device 308, the bandwidth processing capabilities of the communication device 308, the processing capabilities of the processing system 332, etc.).

[0070] The various components of the devices 302, 304, and 306 may communicate with each other via data buses 352, 354, and 356, respectively. The components of FIG. 3 may be implemented in various ways. In some implementations, the components of FIG. 3 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), where 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 308, 332, 338, 344, and 350 may be performed by the processor and memory components 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 314, 320, 334, 340, and 348 may be performed by the processor and memory components 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 326, 336, 342, and 358 may be performed by the processor and memory components 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, activities, and / or functions are described herein as being performed "by a UE," "by a base station," "by a positioning entity," etc. However, it will be understood that such operations, activities, and / or functions may actually be performed by a particular component or combination of components, such as a UE, a base station, a positioning entity, etc., such as the processing systems 332, 334, 336, the communications devices 308, 314, 326, the positioning managers 344, 348, and 358, etc.

[0071] Various frame structures may be used to support downlink and uplink transmissions between a network node (e.g., a base station) and a UE. FIG. 4 illustrates an example of a frame structure 400. The frame structure for any particular application may vary depending on any number of factors. In FIG. 4, time is represented horizontally (e.g., on the X-axis), where time increases from left to right, while frequency is represented vertically (e.g., on the Y-axis), where frequency increases (or decreases) from bottom to top. In the time domain, a frame 410 (e.g., 10 ms) may now be divided into ten equally sized subframes 420 (e.g., 1 ms each). In this example, each subframe 420 includes two consecutive time slots 430 (0,5 ms each).

[0072] The resource grid may be used to represent two time slots 430, each of which includes one or more resource blocks (RBs) 440 (also called "physical resource blocks" or "PRBs" in the frequency domain). In NR, the resource block 440 includes 12 consecutive subcarriers 450 in the frequency domain and 14 consecutive OFDM symbols 460 in the time domain for a normal cyclic prefix (CP) in each OFDM symbol 460. A resource of one OFDM symbol length in the time domain and one subcarrier in the frequency domain (represented as a block in the resource grid) is called a resource element (RE). Thus, in the example of FIG. 4, there are 168 resource elements in the resource block 440.

[0073] LTE, and possibly NR, employs OFDM on the downlink and single-carrier frequency division multiplexing (SC-FDM) on the uplink. However, unlike LTE, NR also has the option of using OFDM on the uplink. OFDM and SC-FDM partition the system bandwidth into multiple (K) orthogonal subcarriers 450, also commonly referred to as tones, bins, etc. Each subcarrier 450 may be modulated with data. In general, modulation symbols are transmitted in the frequency domain with OFDM and in the time domain with SC-FDM. The spacing between adjacent subcarriers 450 may be fixed, or the total number (K) of subcarriers 450 may depend on the system bandwidth. For example, the spacing of the subcarriers 450 may be 15 kHz, and the minimum resource allocation (resource block) may be 12 subcarriers 450 (or 180 kHz). As a result, 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.

[0074] Continuing with reference to FIG. 4, some of the resource elements (REs) denoted as R0, R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, R7 include reference signals, such as reference signals used for positioning, such as SRS for positioning. The SRS for positioning may be transmitted according to one or more UE generic configuration parameters and / or one or more UE specific configuration parameters and / or transmission parameters, which may be obtained (e.g., determined) from one or more measurements as discussed herein. The number of bits carried by each resource element depends on the modulation scheme. Thus, the more resource blocks 440 a UE transmits and the higher the modulation scheme, the higher the data rate of the UE.

[0075] The UE may transmit a radio frame (e.g., radio frame 410), or other physical layer signaling sequence, to support SRS for positioning according to a frame structure that is either similar or the same as that shown in FIG. 4, which may be measured and used to determine a position estimate of the UE (e.g., any of the UEs described herein).

[0076] A collection of resource elements used for transmission of SRS is called an "SRS resource." The collection of resource elements may span multiple RBs in the frequency domain and M (e.g., one or more) consecutive symbols 460 in a slot 430 in the time domain. In a given OFDM symbol 460, the SRS resource occupies consecutive RBs. The SRS resource is described by at least the following parameters: SRS resource identifier (ID), sequence ID, comb size-N, resource element offset in the frequency domain, starting slot and starting symbol, number of symbols per SRS resource (i.e., time length of the SRS resource), and QCL information. Currently, one antenna port is supported. The comb size indicates the number of subcarriers in each symbol carrying the SRS. For example, a comb size of comb-4 means that every fourth subcarrier of a given symbol carries the SRS. In the example shown in FIG. 4, the SRS resources are staggered, with REs R0-R3 and REs R4-R7 using the same total bandwidth but different subcarriers in different symbols (here, R0-R3 are each offset by one RE from REs R4-R7).

[0077] An "SRS resource set" is a set of SRS resources used for transmission of an SRS signal, where each SRS resource has an SRS resource ID. In addition, the SRS resources in an SRS resource set are associated with the same UE. An SRS resource set is identified by an SRS resource set ID. An SRS resource ID in an SRS resource set is associated with a single beam (and / or beam ID) transmitted from the UE. That is, each SRS resource in an SRS resource set may be transmitted on a different beam.

[0078] An "SRS opportunity" is one instance of a regularly recurring time period (e.g., a group of one or more contiguous slots) during which an SRS is expected to be transmitted. An SRS opportunity may also be referred to as an "SRS positioning opportunity," a "positioning occasion," or simply an "opportunity."

[0079] It should be noted that the terms "sounding reference signal" and "SRS" sometimes refer to specific reference signals used for positioning in LTE systems. Although the discussion herein refers to sounding reference signals for positioning and SRS for positioning, the discussion may apply to other types of positioning signals.

[0080] Connecting the UE to the TRP

[0081] With reference to FIG. 5 and further with reference to FIG. 1-3, a TRP 501 (e.g., of a base station 304) and a UE 502 (e.g., UE 302) are configured to communicate with each other according to a signal flow 500 to establish an RRC connection of the UE 502 to a communication network including the TRP 501 (e.g., comprising the base station 102 and the core network 170 shown in FIG. 1). The signal flow 500 is a four-step process using a random access channel (RACH) to connect the TRP 501 and the UE 502. Once connected, the UE 502 and the TRP 501 may exchange unicast messages. Following the signal flow 500, the UE 502 may transition from an unconnected state (i.e., the UE 502 is outside of a connected state with a communication network including and through the TRP 501, for example) to a connected state. For example, the signal flow 500 may be followed when the UE 502 is powered on or wakes up from sleep, or when it wishes to transition from an RRC idle state (RRC idle mode) or an RRC inactive state (RRC inactive mode) to an RRC connected state. In either the RRC idle state or the RRC inactive state, the UE 502 is not connected.

[0082] At stage 510 of the signal flow 500, the TRP 501 transmits synchronization information in an SSB message and a SIB1 synchronization information block. The TRP 501 broadcasts the SSB and the SIB1 message. The UE 502 receives the SSB (via the communication device 308, specifically the receiver 312) and identifies the SIB1 message from the SSB. The UE 502 receives the SIB1 message from the TRP 501 via the communication device 308.

[0083] From the SIB1 message, the UE 502 determines one or more transmission parameters of a RACH preamble sequence to be transmitted in a first message MSG1 to the TRP 501 at stage 511. The UE 502 (e.g., the processing system 332) selects a RACH preamble sequence and determines a RACH opportunity (RO) (e.g., this may occur periodically, e.g., every 10 ms, 20 ms, 40 ms, 80 ms, 160 ms) according to the SSB-to-RO mapping for transmitting the RACH preamble. For example, the UE 502 may determine to transmit the RACH preamble at the next RACH opportunity (in time). The RO is a time / frequency opportunity for the UE 502 to transmit the RACH preamble. There are different RACH preamble formats and correspondingly different RO sizes. Due to antenna reciprocity, the UE 502 may determine which receive (Rx) beam best received the synchronization signal (e.g., SSB) and select the corresponding transmit (Tx) beam for transmitting the RACH preamble. If reciprocity holds in the TRP 501, the UE 502 may transmit MSG1 once, otherwise it may repeat the MSG1 message for each of the TRP Tx beams. The UE 502 may be configured to transmit the first message MSG1 using a PRACH (Physical RACH).

[0084] The TRP 501 is configured to respond to the MSG1 message transmitted in stage 511 (also referred to as step 1) by transmitting a response or second message MSG2 in stage 512 (also referred to as step 2). The response message MSG2 may be a Random Access Response (RAR) UL grant that the TRP 501 transmits using a PDSCH (Physical Downlink Shared Channel) with the selected Tx beam. The second message MSG2 may acknowledge the reception of the first message MSG1 and provide some collision avoidance information. Based on the messages MSG1, MSG2, the TRP 501 and the UE 502 may establish a coarse beam alignment that may be used in stages 513, 514 discussed below.

[0085] UE502 receives the response message MSG2 and is configured to respond in stage 513 (also referred to as step 3) by transmitting a third message MSG3 using resources scheduled by TRP501. Thus, TRP501 knows where to detect the third message MSG3 and which TRP Rx beam should be used to detect the third message MSG3. UE502 may be configured to transmit the third message MSG3 using a PUSCH (Physical Uplink Shared Channel) using the same beam as UE502 used to transmit the first message MSG1 or using a different beam.

[0086] In stage 514 (also referred to as step 4), TRP501 acknowledges receipt of the third message MSG3 by transmitting a fourth message MSG4 on the PDSCH using the TRP Tx beam determined in stage 512. At this point, UE502 has determined synchronization between TRP501 and UE502, has determined resources for transmission and reception, and is connected to the communication network (including and through TRP501), i.e., is in a connected state (RRC connected state).

[0087] 6, a TRP 601 (e.g., of a base station 304) and a UE 602 (e.g., UE 302) are configured to communicate with each other according to a signal flow 600 to establish an RRC connection of the UE 602 to a communication network including the TRP 601 (e.g., comprising the base station 102 and the core network 170 shown in FIG. 1). The signal flow 600 is a two-step process using a random access channel (RACH) to connect the TRP 601 and the UE 602. The signal flow 600 is substantially a two-step version of the four-step signal flow 500 shown in FIG. 5. In step 610, the UE 602 receives an SSB and a SIB1. In step 611 (step 1 of the two-step process), the UE 602 transmits an initial message MSGA after receiving the SSB and SIB1. The initial message MSGA uses both the PRACH and the PUSCH. At step 612 (step 2 of a two-step process), the TRP 601 sends a response message MSGB to the UE 602 to connect the UE 602 to the TRP 601 .

[0088] Transmission of positioning signals from the UE

[0089] With reference to Figure 7 and with further reference to Figures 1-6, a method 700 of transmitting a positioning signal includes the steps shown. However, method 700 is by way of example only and not limiting. Method 700 may be modified, for example, by adding, removing, reordering, combining, performing simultaneously steps, and / or splitting a single step into multiple steps.

[0090] The method 700 provides a technique for transmitting an SRS for positioning (possibly including multiple SRS for positioning signals) from the UE, for example, while the UE is in an unconnected or inactive state. In step 711, the method includes obtaining multiple transmission parameters at the UE. The SRS transmission parameters may be used in transmitting the SRS for positioning from the UE, including while the UE is disconnected from the communication network or in an inactive state (e.g., connected but inactive). For example, the UE 302 may obtain one or more configuration parameters that the UE 302 uses as one or more transmission parameters for controlling how the UE 302 transmits (e.g., broadcasts) one or more SRS for positioning while the UE 302 is in an unconnected state, i.e., outside a connected state or in an inactive state. In step 712, the method 700 includes transmitting the SRS for positioning from the UE according to the multiple SRS transmission parameters while the UE is in an unconnected state or in an inactive state with respect to the communication network. For example, the UE 302 may transmit an SRS for positioning while the UE 302 is in an unconnected or inactive state and while applying transmission parameters. In an unconnected state, the UE is disconnected (not connected or synchronized) from the communication network, does not have an active BWP (bandwidth portion), and cannot transmit information to or receive information from the communication network using unicast transmission. Examples of an unconnected state include RRC Idle defined in 3GPP, and RRC Inactive defined in 3GPP. The inactive state may be a DRX (discontinuous reception) inactive state (e.g., either a short-period DRX mode or a long-period DRX mode). In the inactive state, the UE is connected to the network (e.g., RRC connected) and in a sleep mode with reduced capabilities than the active state, e.g., such that the UE is not required to monitor downlink channels (e.g., PDCCH (physical downlink control channel)).In an inactive state (e.g., RRC inactive), since the UE is connected to the network in an inactive state, signaling and power consumption may be reduced compared to an active state while facilitating a quick resumption of the active state. For example, not monitoring the downlink channel may help to save battery power. In an inactive state, the UE may not be required to provide a channel quality report and may not provide it. In an inactive state, the UE may store an access stratum context, read system information (SI), perform RAN notification area (RNA) updates, apply DRX for paging, monitor PDCCH DCI (Downlink Control Information) using a P-RNTI (Paging Radio Network Temporary Identifier), monitor PCCH (Paging Control Channel) for CN (Core Network) paging using 5G-S-TMSI (SAE TMSI (System Architecture Evolution Temporary Mobile Subscriber Identity)), and monitor RAN paging using an I-RNTI (Inactive-RNTI). Exemplary details of the method 700 are discussed below with respect to FIG. 8.

[0091] The UE may obtain the transmission parameters in various ways. For example, the UE302 may receive one or more configuration parameters from the TRP that are generic to multiple UEs while in an unconnected state. As another example, the UE302 may receive one or more configuration parameters from the TRP that are specific to the UE302 while connected to the TRP (e.g., RRC connected and DRX active mode). As another example, the UE302 may perform one or more measurements of one or more signals (or receive one or more indications of one or more measurements). The UE302 may determine the transmission parameters from the configuration parameters and / or the measurement results. For example, the configuration parameters may indicate a receive beam, and the UE302 may select a transmit beam corresponding to the receive beam for transmitting the SRS for positioning. As another example, the measurement results of the received signal power may be used by the UE302 to determine the transmit power for transmitting the SRS for positioning.

[0092] With reference to FIG. 8 and further with reference to FIGS. 1-7, a signal and process flow 800 for transmitting a positioning signal includes the steps shown. However, the flow 800 is merely an example and not limiting. The flow 800 may be modified, for example, by adding, removing, reordering, combining, performing simultaneously, and / or splitting a single step into multiple steps. For example, a signal (indicated by an arrow) or process (indicated by a box) shown within a dashed line is optional and may be omitted. Although all of the signals and operations shown in the flow 800 corresponding to step 711 (see also FIG. 7) are shown as optional, at least one of the features (provision of a signal or process) shown in the flow 800 corresponding to step 711 is performed. As shown in flow 800, a server 801, a TRP 802 (e.g., of a base station 304), a UE 803 (UE 302, such as one of the UEs shown in FIG. 1), and a TRP 804 (of another of the base stations 304 of the base stations shown in FIG. 1 (i.e., other than TRP 802)) are configured to communicate with each other according to signal and processing flow 800 to implement an example of method 700.

[0093] In stage 810, the UE 803 may connect to the TRP 802. For example, the UE 803 and the TRP 802 may be configured to perform flow 500 and / or flow 600, and may connect the UE 803 to a communication network including and through the TRP 802 according to flow 500 or flow 600 as discussed above.

[0094] In stage 812, the TRP 802 may transmit a positioning signal transmission authorization to the UE 803. For example, the TRP 802 (e.g., the processing system 334, the communication device 314, and possibly the memory component 340) may be configured to transmit an indication authorizing the UE 803 to transmit one or more positioning signals. The communication device 308 and the processing system 332 (possibly in cooperation with the memory component 338) of the UE 803 may comprise means for receiving an indication of authorization to transmit a positioning signal, and means for transmitting an SRS for positioning in response to receiving an indication (e.g., a trigger) of authorization to transmit a positioning signal (e.g., an SRS for positioning). The authorization transmitted in stage 812 may indicate that the UE 803 may transmit a positioning signal while the UE 803 is in an unconnected or inactive state. Thus, the method 700 shown in FIG. 7 may include the UE 803 receiving an authorization from the TRP 802, which may authorize or permit the UE to transmit a positioning signal while the UE is in a disconnected state (RRC idle or RRC inactive) or an inactive state (RRC connected but inactive). The authorization may act as a trigger to transmit an SRS for positioning. The UE 803 may be configured not to transmit a positioning signal while the UE 803 is disconnected from the communication network or is inactive unless it receives a transmission authorization indication. Otherwise, the UE 803 may transmit a positioning signal, but the TRP 802 may not hear the positioning signal, thus wasting energy by the UE 803 and unnecessarily congesting the airwaves within range of the UE 803. The UE 803 may be configured to transmit a positioning signal without authorization but use the receipt of the authorization to, for example, enable or trigger one or more functions (e.g., positioning techniques such as RTT).

[0095] In stage 814, the UE 803 may transmit a request for one or more configuration parameters to be used to determine one or more transmission parameters to be used by the UE 803 to transmit an SRS for positioning while in an unconnected or inactive state (i.e., in an unconnected or inactive state). Each of the configuration parameters is an indication of a characteristic of, or a characteristic control of, a signal between the TRP 802 and the UE 803 (e.g., a positioning signal), or a conveyance. For example, the UE 803 (e.g., the processing system 332, the communication device 308, and possibly the memory component 338) may be configured to transmit the request using a RACH while the UE 803 is in an unconnected state or while the UE 803 is connected with the TRP 802. Thus, the processing system 332, the communication device 308, and possibly the memory component 338 may comprise a means for transmitting the request (a means for requesting transmission parameters). The transmission parameters may be for transmitting one or more SRS for positioning while the UE 803 is in an unconnected or inactive state. The request may request that the TRP802 transmit one or more configuration parameters in a dual-purpose positioning SIB that also includes DL PRS (Downlink Positioning Reference Signal) information, or in a dedicated positioning SIB for configuration parameters that do not include DL PRS information. Alternatively, the request may not specify whether to transmit the configuration parameters in a dual-purpose SIB or in a dedicated SIB, and the TRP802 may be configured to respond to such an unspecified request by choosing whether to transmit the configuration parameters in a dual-purpose SIB or in a dedicated SIB. The UE803 may transmit the request as part of MSG1, MSG3, or MSGA, as discussed in connection with Figures 5 and 6, respectively. The request may include one or more (UE-generic) configuration parameters with specific transmission parameters, e.g., bandwidth greater than a threshold bandwidth, length greater than a threshold SRS resource length, etc.The TRP 802 may be configured to respond to the request by providing the requested configuration (as discussed below), and obtaining the configuration parameters may be considered as responsive to the request, and / or the transmission parameters of the UE 803 for transmitting SRS for positioning while the UE 803 is in an unconnected or inactive state may be considered as responsive to the request. The request in stage 814 may be transmitted from the UE 803 while the UE 803 is in an unconnected state or while in a connected state (i.e., RRC connected to the TRP 802).

[0096] In stage 816, the TRP 802 may send a request for configuration parameters to the server 801 (e.g., a network entity 306 such as an LMF), and in stage 818, the server 801 may send one or more configuration parameters to the TRP 802 for relaying to the UE 803. The TRP 802 and / or the server 801 may be configured to determine one or more configuration parameters for configuring one or more UEs to transmit SRS for positioning. The server 801 may provide the one or more configuration parameters to the TRP 802 in stage 818 in response to the request received in stage 816 or without being requested.

[0097] In stage 820, the TRP 802 may provide one or more UE generic configuration parameters to the UE 803 while the UE 803 is in an unconnected state. The TRP 802 (e.g., the communication device 314 as controlled by the processing system 334 and the memory component 340) may broadcast the one or more UE generic configuration parameters. The parameters are UE generic in that the parameters are transmitted for use by potentially multiple UEs and are not targeted to a single UE, and thus contain information that may be used by multiple UEs in configuring transmission parameters for SRS for positioning. The UE generic configuration parameters may be provided in response to a request transmitted by the UE 803 in stage 814. The UE generic configuration parameters provided in stage 820 may include an authorization discussed above with respect to stage 812. The authorization may be explicit or implicit (e.g., the transmission of the UE generic configuration parameters for use in determining one or more transmission parameters suggests that the TRP 802 authorizes the transmission of SRS for positioning while the UE 803 is in an unconnected or inactive state). The configuration information transmitted in stage 820 may be provided in a broadcast channel, e.g., a SIB, which may be a dual-purpose SIB or a dedicated SIB for providing configuration information. The configuration information provided in stage 820 may provide UE general configuration information as requested by the UE 803 in stage 814 and by any other UEs from which the TRP 802 received a configuration parameter request.

[0098] In stage 822, the TRP 802 may provide one or more UE-specific configuration parameters to the UE 803 while the UE 803 is connected to the TRP 802. The TRP 802 (e.g., the communication device 314 as controlled by the processing system 334 and the memory component 340) may transmit the UE-specific configuration parameters to the UE 803 while the UE 803 is connected to the TRP 802 (e.g., RRC connected and DRX active mode). Thus, the TRP 802 may transmit the UE-specific configuration parameters to the UE 803 in a unicast communication. As with the UE-generic configuration parameters, the UE-specific configuration parameters may be provided in response to a request transmitted by the UE 803 in stage 814 and may include explicitly and / or implicitly the authorization discussed above with respect to stage 812. One or more of the UE-specific configuration parameters may be associated with one or more corresponding UE-generic configuration parameters, for example, through a one-to-one mapping (e.g., by configuration, written into a specification, etc.). Both steps 820 and 822 are shown with dashed lines as being optional, and the TRP 802 may provide UE generic configuration information in step 820 and UE specific configuration information in step 822, or may provide only UE generic configuration information in step 820 and no UE specific configuration information in step 822, or may provide only UE specific configuration information in step 822 and no UE generic configuration information in step 820, or may provide neither UE generic configuration information in step 820 nor UE specific configuration information in step 822.

[0099] The UE generic and / or UE specific configuration parameters transmitted in stages 820, 822 may be tabulated. The configuration parameters may be tabulated to reduce the number of bits transmitted (reducing overhead), which may reduce congestion and / or reduce collisions and save energy for transmitting the configuration parameters. Tabulating the configuration parameters encodes the configuration parameters such that a small number of bits are mapped to more information. It may be possible for the configuration parameters to be used directly as transmission parameters and / or to be used to determine transmission parameters (alone or in combination with one or more other configuration parameters). For example, as shown in Figure 9, the table 900 of configuration parameters includes an index field 910, a transmit (Tx) power field 911, a sequence field 912, a timing advance field 913, a guard field 914, a comb number field 915, a symbol per resource field 916, a resource mapping field 917, a stagger field 918, a slot index field 919, a symbol index field 920, a time length field 921, a group hopping field 922, a sequence hopping field 923, a scrambling ID field 924, a bandwidth (BW) field 925, a reference frequency field 926, a starting PRB field 927, a frequency hopping field 928, a periodicity field 929, and a transmit (Tx) beam field 930. The Tx power field 911 indicates a value that may be used to determine the Tx power of the UE 803 for the SRS for positioning. The sequence field 912 indicates a value that may be used to determine which Zadoff-Chu sequence to use for the SRS for positioning. The timing advance field 913 may indicate a timing delay from transmission by the UE 803 to the TRP 802 that the UE 803 may use to apply to SRS resources for positioning. The guard field 914 indicates a guard time to be added to each SRS for positioning before and / or after the SRS for positioning. The comb number field 915 controls the comb type of the SRS for positioning.The resource mapping field 917 provides a mapping of UE-specific and UE-generic resources. The stagger field 918, which may be part of the resource mapping field 917, indicates whether to stagger REs and, if so, how to stagger them (e.g., RE offset between symbols). The stagger field 918 may include a symbol index field 920. The slot index field 919 (which may be called an offset field) indicates in which slot to transmit (or in which slot to start transmitting). The symbol index field 920 indicates in which symbol within the slot to transmit SRS resources for positioning (e.g., in which symbol within the slot to start transmitting SRS resources for positioning). The time length field 921 indicates a time or number of symbols or other time length for transmitting SRS resources for positioning. The group hopping field 922, sequence hopping field 923, and scrambling ID field 924 provide parameters for use in randomizing (e.g., by determining / selecting) a pilot sequence (e.g., as discussed in chapter 5.2.2 of 3GPP TS 38.214 Release 16, where u, v, and n in the specification are group hopping, sequence hopping, and scrambling ID, respectively, and u is a function of n) for carrying an SRS for positioning. Randomizing the SRS for positioning resource sequence may help avoid collisions between signals transmitted by neighboring UEs receiving the same UE-generic configuration information. The bandwidth field 925 may specify the total bandwidth of the SRS for positioning resources. The reference frequency field 926 indicates a reference frequency (which may be referred to as point A), and the starting PRB field 927 indicates the starting frequency of the SRS for positioning resources, i.e., the number of PRBs relative to the reference frequency of the first PRB of the SRS for positioning transmission. The reference frequency may be designated as subcarrier 0 for common resource block 0.The frequency hopping field 928 may indicate whether to frequency hop and, if so, how to frequency hop (e.g., intra-slot hopping, inter-slot hopping, number of hops, size of hops, etc.). The periodicity field 929 indicates the number of subframes in which to transmit and may be expressed in units of number of subframes or units of time (e.g., ms). The Tx beam field 930 indicates which Tx beam the UE 803 should use to transmit SRS for positioning. Table 900 is only an example and other tables with other content, e.g., more or less fields than those shown, and / or omitting one or more of fields 911-930, and / or including one or more other fields.

[0100] In table 900, two indexes are shown, each with a value in index field 910, and each containing a set of values ​​of fields 911-930 that correspond (map) to the values ​​of index field 910. In this example, the values ​​of fields 911-930 are shown generically, and the values ​​corresponding to index values ​​of 8 and 12 in index field 910 are generic values ​​of X-8 and X-12, respectively, where X represents the various fields. For example, the transmit power for index value 8 in Tx power field 911 has the generic value of Tx-8 shown.

[0101] In stage 824, the UE 803 may determine transmission parameters to use in transmitting SRS for positioning while in an unconnected or inactive state. The transmission parameters may include, for example, one or more of a transmit beam to be used by the UE 803, a transmit power, a pilot sequence, a timing advance, a guard time, a comb number, a number of symbols per resource, an indication of a starting frequency of the resource, a mapping of the resource (e.g., staggered in frequency domain, unstaggered in frequency domain, which symbol of a slot is used for signal transmission), stagger information (e.g., whether to stagger, one or more stagger values ​​(e.g., offset)), etc. The UE 803 may use one or more other sources of information, such as one or more UE generic configuration parameters received in stage 820, one or more UE specific configuration parameters received in stage 822, information determined by the UE 803 through signal (e.g., SSB) measurements, and / or information received from a neighboring TRP 804 in stage 825 to determine one or more of the transmission parameters. In stage 825, the UE 803 may obtain (configuration) information from the TRP 804 for use in determining one or more transmission parameters. For example, the UE 803 may determine a path loss criterion (from the DL-PRS or from the SSB from the TRP 804) and / or a spatialRelationInfo value (from the DL-PRS or from the SSB from the TRP 804). The UE 803 (e.g., the processing system 332, possibly in conjunction with the memory component 338) may use the path loss criterion to determine or help determine a transmit power for the SRS for positioning. The UE 803 (e.g., the processing system 332, possibly in conjunction with the memory component 338) may use the spatialRelationInfo value to determine or help determine which Tx beam to use for the SRS for positioning.

[0102] The UE 803 may use the UE generic parameters and / or the UE specific parameters to determine one or more transmission parameters, e.g., for transmitting SRS for positioning while the UE 803 is in a non-connected or inactive state. For example, the UE 803 may use any of the UE generic parameters by default to determine the transmission parameters, e.g., any available UE generic parameters even if the UE 803 has one or more corresponding UE specific configuration parameters. Thus, the UE 803 may prioritize the UE generic configuration parameters over the UE specific configuration parameters when determining the transmission parameters. Alternatively, the UE 803 may use one or more UE specific parameters that the UE 803 obtained (received / determined) while connected to the TRP 802, even if the UE 803 received one or more UE generic parameters corresponding to the UE specific parameters obtained while connected. That is, the UE 803 may prioritize the UE specific configuration parameters over the UE generic configuration parameters when determining the transmission parameters. The UE 803 may prioritize either UE generic parameters or UE specific parameters based on which parameters are considered, e.g., prioritize one or more UE generic parameters and prioritize one or more other UE specific parameters. The UE 803 may, for example, use the UE specific configuration parameters to determine transmission parameters for which the UE 803 does not have UE generic configuration parameters (e.g., any transmission parameters not determined using UE generic information). The processing system 332, possibly in cooperation with the memory component 338, may comprise means for determining transmission parameters based on the UE generic parameters and / or the UE specific parameters.

[0103] If the UE 803 has not acquired UE-specific configuration parameters for positioning while in a connected state, the UE 803 may determine one or more of the transmission parameters in various ways. For example, the UE 803 may determine a Tx beam to be used according to a mapping between a received downlink reference signal, e.g., SSB and / or DL-PRS signal, and the transmission parameters. In a non-connected state, the UE 803 may measure a downlink signal and find a receiving beam associated with receiving the downlink signal (e.g., a beam that best receives any of these signals (e.g., best signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), best received power, and / or best signal-to-noise and interference ratio (SINR), etc.)). There may be one-to-one mapping, many-to-one mapping, or one-to-many mapping. If there is one-to-one mapping, the UE 803 may use a Tx beam corresponding to an Rx beam that received an SSB or DL-PRS signal. In many-to-one mapping, there are multiple DL-PRS, e.g., one SRS for positioning, and the UE 803 uses one available Tx beam to transmit the SRS for positioning if any DL-PRS is received. In one-to-many mapping, there is only one DL-PRS, e.g., the UE 803 may select an available Tx beam if the signal is received through an Rx beam. The UE 803 may transmit a communication, e.g., one or more PRACH sequences, to the TRP 802 to inform the TRP 802 about which SRS for the positioning resource the UE 803 selected for transmission. This may help the TRP 802 to conserve energy by not wasting energy listening to available SRS for positioning resources other than the one used by the UE 803 (or other UEs) to transmit the SRS for the positioning resource. Information regarding the selected SRS for the positioning resource may be carried in the MSG1, MSG3, or MSGA discussed above.

[0104] As another example, the UE 803 may determine a sequence for pilot signal transmission of the SRS for positioning. For example, the UE may randomize a pilot sequence for SRS transmission, which may help reduce collisions between multiple UEs that receive the same broadcast (UE-generic) configuration parameters from the TRP 802 and choose to transmit the SRS for positioning based on the received and broadcasted configuration parameters. The UE 803 may determine the pilot sequence, for example, using received values ​​of the group hopping field 922 and the sequence hopping field 923. The UE 803 may randomly or pseudo-randomly select one or more values ​​of the group hopping field 922, the sequence hopping field 923, or the scrambling ID 924, as another example. The UE 803 may use the determined (e.g., received, selected) values ​​of the sequence hopping field 923 and the scrambling ID 924 to determine a pilot sequence, for example according to a formula provided in the 3GPP 38.214 specification, Release 16, where the group hopping value is a function of the scrambling ID. The processing system 332, possibly in cooperation with the memory component 338, may comprise means for randomly or pseudo-randomly selecting a pilot sequence to be used for transmitting a positioning signal.

[0105] The UE 803 may control the pilot sequence such that the sequence does not change between symbols once determined, thereby mapping the SRS for positioning to the same subcarriers in consecutive symbols, since it is undesirable to stagger REs during unsynchronized communication. The UE 803 may transmit the SRS for positioning in a relatively large number of consecutive symbols, e.g., more than the maximum amount of consecutive symbols that may be used for SRS resource transmission during connected communication between the UE 803 and the TRP 802. For example, also referring to FIG. 10, the maximum number of consecutive symbols may be 12 for a resource block of 14 symbols, and the UE 803 may transmit the SRS for positioning in the same RE (i.e., with the same set of subcarriers and no offset between symbols) in more than 12 consecutive symbols. In this example, the UE 803 transmits the SRS for positioning in 23 consecutive symbols 1004 using subcarrier numbers 0, 3, 6, and 9. The UE 803 may repeat the first portion 1006 of the plurality of consecutive symbols of the SRS for positioning as the last portion 1008 of the plurality of consecutive symbols of the SRS for positioning such that the first portion 1006 of the plurality of consecutive symbols may be used as a cyclic prefix (CP) for the last (remaining) portion 1008 of another set of the plurality of consecutive symbols of the SRS for positioning. For example, the first portion 1006 may constitute about 10% (e.g., 5%-15%) of the SRS for positioning. The processing system 332 (possibly in conjunction with the memory component 338) and the communication device 308 (specifically the transmitter 310) may comprise means for transmitting positioning signals on the same set of resource elements on consecutive (OFDM) symbols with more symbols than a maximum number of consecutive symbols allowed during connected communication between the UE 803 and the communication network.

[0106] As another example, the UE 803 may determine a guard (also referred to as a guard interval) corresponding to the SRS for positioning. When the UE 803 is in an unconnected state, the UE 803 is not synchronized with the TRP 802, and the UE 803 may transmit the SRS for positioning with a timing advance of 0. The UE 803 may be configured to add a guard interval to the beginning and / or end of the SRS for positioning resource, which may help prevent reception of an unsynchronized SRS for positioning from disturbing subsequent subframes for a located UE at the edge of the TRP 802. The guard (e.g., the number of guard symbols) before the start of the transmission may be the same as or different from the guard (e.g., the number of guard symbols) after the end of the transmission. For example, as shown in Figure 10, the UE 803 may have a guard interval 1009 of symbols 0 to 1 before an SRS for positioning transmission, may transmit an SRS for positioning in symbols 2 to 24, and may add a guard interval 1010 of symbols 25 to 28 after the SRS for positioning transmission and before transmitting another SRS for positioning. During the guard intervals 1009, 1010, the UE 803 refrains from transmitting any signals in the frequency band of the SRS for positioning.

[0107] In view of the above discussion, obtaining transmission parameters in stage 711 of method 700 may comprise obtaining transmission parameters in various manners. For example, obtaining may comprise receiving one or more configuration parameters from a communication network (e.g., from TRP 802) in response to a request from UE 803. While UE 803 is in an unconnected state, the configuration parameters may be received from the communication network in a broadcast system information block (SIB) message that also includes downlink positioning reference signal (DL-PRS) information or in a broadcast SIB message dedicated to unconnected configuration parameters. The SIB may be a positioning-specific SIB (posSIB). UE 803 may receive one or more UE generic parameters while in an unconnected state and / or one or more UE specific parameters while connected (e.g., RRC connected and DRX active mode). UE 803 may use UE generic configuration parameters by default to determine transmission parameters and use appropriate UE specific configuration parameters to determine any transmission parameters for which the UE does not have UE generic configuration parameters. The processing system 332, possibly in cooperation with the memory component 338 and / or the communication device 308, may comprise means for obtaining transmission parameters, including means for receiving configuration parameters.

[0108] In step 826, the UE 803 transmits an SRS for positioning to the TRP 802. For example, the UE 803 transmits one or more SRS for positioning (i.e., one or more SRS for positioning signals) to the TRP 802 while in an unconnected state or an inactive state. The UE 803 transmits the SRS for positioning according to the transmission parameters obtained as discussed above. The UE 803 may become (e.g., enter) an unconnected state without even becoming a connected state, for example, in response to being powered on. For example, the UE 803 may enter an RRC idle state or an RRC inactive state after, for example, being in an RRC connected state. The UE 803 may enter an unconnected state before obtaining one or more of the transmission parameters.

[0109] Other considerations

[0110] Other examples and implementations are within the scope of this disclosure and the appended claims. For example, due to the nature of software and computers, the functions described above may be implemented using software executed by a processor, hardware, firmware, hardwiring, or any combination of these. Features implementing a function may also be physically located in various locations, including being distributed such that parts of the function are implemented in different physical locations. A statement that a feature implements a function or that a feature may implement a function includes that the feature may be configured to implement the function (e.g., a statement that an item performs function X or that an item may perform function X includes that the item may be configured to perform function X). The elements discussed may be components of a larger system, and other rules may take precedence over or otherwise modify the application of the invention. Also, some operations may be undertaken before, during, or after the elements or operations discussed above are considered. Thus, the above description does not limit the scope of the claims.

[0111] As used herein, the singular forms "a," "an," and "the" include the plural forms unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. The terms "comprises," "comprising," "including," and / or "comprising," when used herein, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and / or components, but do not exclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and / or groups thereof.

[0112] Also, as used herein, "or" used in a list of items beginning with "at least one of" or "one or more of" indicates a disjunctive list, such as, for example, a list of "at least one of A, B, or C," or a list of "one or more of A, B, or C" means A, or B, or C, or AB (A and B), or AC (A and C), or BC (B and C), or ABC (i.e., A and B and C), or a combination of more than one feature (e.g., AA, AAB, ABBC, etc.). Thus, a statement that an item, e.g., a processor, is configured to perform a function with respect to at least one of A or B means that the item may be configured to perform a function with respect to A, or may be configured to perform a function with respect to B, or may be configured to perform a function with respect to A and B. For example, the phrase "a processor configured to measure at least one of A or B" means that the processor may be configured to measure A (and may or may not be configured to measure B), or may be configured to measure B (and may or may not be configured to measure A), or may be configured to measure A and B (and may be configured to select whether to measure A or B, or to select to measure both A and B). Similarly, a reference to a means for measuring at least one of A or B includes a means for measuring A (which may or may not be capable of measuring B), or a means for measuring B (which may or may not be capable of measuring A), or a means for measuring A and B (which may be capable of selecting whether to measure A or B, or to select to measure both A and B).As another example, a statement that a processor is configured to do at least one of A or B means that the processor is configured to do A (and may or may not be configured to do B), or configured to do B (and may or may not be configured to do B), or configured to do A and B, where A is a function (e.g., determining, obtaining, or measuring) and B is a function.

[0113] As used herein, the term RS (reference signal) may refer to one or more reference signals and may refer to any form of the term RS, e.g., PRS, SRS, CSI-RS, etc., as appropriate.

[0114] Considerable variation may be made according to specific requirements. For example, customized hardware may be used and / or particular elements may be implemented in hardware, in software executed by a processor (including portable software such as applets), or both. Further, connection to other computing devices, such as network input / output devices, may be utilized.

[0115] As used herein, unless otherwise specified, a statement that a feature or action is "based on" an item or condition means that the feature or action is based on the stated item or condition, and may be based on one or more items and / or conditions in addition to the stated item or condition.

[0116] The systems and devices discussed above are examples. Various configurations may omit, substitute, or add various procedures or components, as appropriate. For example, features described with respect to some configurations may be combined in various other configurations. Different aspects and elements of the configurations may be combined in a similar manner. Also, technology evolves, and thus many of the elements are examples and do not limit the scope of the disclosure or claims.

[0117] A wireless communication system is one in which communications are carried wirelessly, i.e., by electromagnetic and / or sound waves propagating through space rather than through wires or other physical connections. A wireless communication network is configured to have at least some communications transmitted wirelessly, although not all communications are transmitted wirelessly. Furthermore, the term "wireless communication device," or similar terms, does not require that the function of the device be dedicated or even primarily for communication, or that the device be a mobile device, but indicates that the device includes wireless communication capabilities (one-way or two-way), e.g., at least one radio for wireless communication (each radio being part of a transmitter, receiver, or transceiver).

[0118] Specific details are given in the following description to provide a thorough understanding of the exemplary configurations (including implementations). However, the configurations may be practiced without these specific details. For example, well-known circuits, processes, algorithms, structures, and techniques are shown without unnecessary details to avoid obscuring the configurations. This description provides only exemplary configurations and does not limit the scope, applicability, or configurations of the claims. Rather, the above description of the configurations provides a description for implementing the described techniques. Various changes may be made in the function and arrangement of elements without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.

[0119] As used herein, the terms "processor-readable medium," "machine-readable medium," and "computer-readable medium" refer to any medium that participates in providing data that causes a machine to operate in a specific manner. Using a computing platform, various processor-readable media may participate in providing instructions / code to a processor for execution and / or may be used to store and / or carry such instructions / code (e.g., as a signal). In many embodiments, the processor-readable medium is a physical storage medium and / or a tangible storage medium. Such media may take many forms, including, but not limited to, non-volatile media and volatile media. Non-volatile media include, for example, optical and / or magnetic disks. Volatile media include, but are not limited to, dynamic memory.

[0120] Although some exemplary configurations have been described, various modifications, alternative configurations, and equivalents may be used without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. For example, the above elements may be components of a larger system, and other rules may take precedence over or otherwise modify the application of the present invention. Also, some operations may be undertaken before, during, or after the above elements are considered. Thus, the above description does not limit the scope of the claims.

[0121] A statement that a value exceeds (or is equal to or greater than) a first threshold is equivalent to a statement that the value meets or exceeds a second threshold that is slightly greater than the first threshold, e.g., the second threshold is one value higher than the first threshold at the resolution of the computing system. A statement that a value is less than (or within or less than) a first threshold is equivalent to a statement that the value is equal to or less than a second threshold that is slightly less than the first threshold, e.g., the second threshold is one value lower than the first threshold at the resolution of the computing system.

[0122] Furthermore, an indication that information is to be sent or transmitted, or a statement that information is sent or transmitted "to" an entity, does not require completion of the communication. Such indications or statements include situations in which information is conveyed from the sending entity but does not reach the intended recipient of the information. The intended recipient may be referred to as a receiving entity, e.g., a receiving execution environment, even if it does not actually receive the information. Furthermore, an entity that is configured to send or transmit information "to" an intended recipient is not required to be configured to complete delivery of the information to the intended recipient. For example, an entity may provide the information, along with the intended recipient's instructions, to another entity that is capable of forwarding the information along with the intended recipient's instructions.

[0123] Also, the configurations may be described as processes that are illustrated as flow charts or block diagrams. Although each may describe operations as a sequential process, some operations may be performed in parallel or simultaneously. In addition, the order of operations may be rearranged. A process may have additional steps or functions not included in the figures. Furthermore, the example methods may be implemented by hardware, software, firmware, middleware, microcode, hardware description languages, or any combination thereof. When implemented in software, firmware, middleware, or microcode, program code or code segments for performing tasks may be stored in a non-transitory computer-readable medium, such as a storage medium. A processor may perform one or more of the described tasks.

[0124] Components, functions, or other things shown in the figures and / or discussed herein as being connected or in communication with each other are, unless otherwise stated, communicatively coupled, i.e., they may be directly or indirectly connected to enable communication therebetween. [Explanation of symbols]

[0125] 100 Wireless communication system 102 Base station 104UE 110 Geographic Coverage Areas 120 Communication Links 122 backhaul links 134 backhaul links 150 WLAN AP 152 WLAN STA 154 Communication Links 164UE 170 Core Network 172 Location Server 180 mmW base station 182 U.S. 184 mmW communication link 190 UE 192 D2D P2P links 194 D2D P2P links 200 Wireless Network Structure 204UE 210 NGC 212 User Plane Functions 213 User Plane Interface 214 Control Plane Functions 215 Control Plane Interface 220 New RAN 222 gNB 223 Backhaul Connection 224 eNB 230 Location Server 260 NGC 262 SMF 263 User Plane Interface 264 AMF / UPF 265 Control Plane Interface 270 LMF 302UE 304 base station 306 Network Entities 308 Communication Devices 310 Transmitter 312 Receiver 314 Communication Devices 316 Transmitter 318 Receiver 320 Communication Devices 322 Transmitter 324 Receiver 326 Communication Devices 328 Transmitter 330 Receiver 332 Processing System 334 Processing System 336 Processing System 338 Memory Components 340 Memory Components 342 Memory Components 344 Positioning Manager 348 Positioning Manager 350 User Interface 352 Data Bus 354 Data Bus 356 Data Bus 358 Positioning Manager 360 Wireless Communication Link 370 Wire-based or wireless backhaul 410 Frames 420 Subframe 430 time slots 440 Resource Block 450 Subcarrier 460 OFDM symbols 501 TRP 502UE 601 TRP 602UE 801 Server 802 TRP 803UE 804 TRP 910 Index Fields 911 Transmit (Tx) Power Field 912 Sequence Field 913 Timing Advance Field 914 Guard Field 915 com number field 916 symbol fields per resource 917 Resource Mapping Fields 918 Staggerfield 919 Slot Index Field 920 Symbol Index Field 921 Duration Field 922 Group Hopping Field 923 Sequence Hopping Field 924 Scrambling ID field 925 Bandwidth Field 926 Reference Frequency Field 927 Start PRB field 928 Frequency Hopping Field 929 Periodicity Field 930 Transmit (Tx) Beam Field 1002 Subcarrier 1004 Symbols 1006 First Part 1008 Last part 1009 Guard Interval 1010 Guard Interval

Claims

1. 1. A method for transmitting a sounding reference signal (SRS) for positioning, comprising: In a user equipment (UE), acquiring a plurality of SRS transmission parameters, the plurality of SRS transmission parameters including a pilot sequence, or a timing advance, or a first guard time before transmitting the SRS for positioning, or a second guard time after transmitting the SRS for positioning, or a combination of two or more thereof; transmitting an SRS for positioning from the UE according to the plurality of SRS transmission parameters while the UE is in an inactive state.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising receiving, by the UE, an indication from a communication network that triggers the transmission of the SRS for positioning from the UE.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the inactive state comprises a discontinuous reception (DRX) inactive mode.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of SRS transmission parameters further includes a transmit beam or a physical resource mapping.

5. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein obtaining the plurality of SRS transmission parameters comprises receiving one or more configuration parameters from a communications network in response to a request from the UE for transmission of a sounding reference signal.

6. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein obtaining the plurality of SRS transmission parameters comprises receiving one or more configuration parameters from a communications network while the UE is in a disconnected state with respect to the communications network for transmission of a sounding reference signal.

7. 7. The method of claim 6, wherein obtaining the plurality of SRS transmission parameters comprises receiving the one or more configuration parameters from the communications network in a Broadcast System Information Block (SIB) message that includes Downlink Positioning Reference Signal (DL-PRS) information.

8. 7. The method of claim 6, wherein obtaining the plurality of SRS transmission parameters comprises receiving the one or more configuration parameters from the communication network in a broadcast system information block (SIB) message dedicated to carrying the one or more configuration parameters.

9. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein obtaining the plurality of SRS transmission parameters comprises determining, by the UE, at least one UE-specific configuration parameter of another SRS while the UE is connected to a communications network.

10. 10. The method of claim 9, wherein obtaining the plurality of SRS transmission parameters comprises determining each of the plurality of SRS transmission parameters based on non-connection configuration parameters, if any, received by the UE from the communications network while the UE is in a non-connected state relative to the communications network, or, if no suitable non-connection configuration parameters are received, based on connection configuration parameters received while the UE is in a connected state relative to the communications network.

11. The method of claim 1 , further comprising: refraining from transmitting the SRS for positioning from the UE during a guard interval before a start of transmission of the SRS for positioning.

12. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein transmitting the SRS for positioning comprises transmitting a pilot sequence on a same set of subcarriers on consecutive Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) symbols for more consecutive OFDM symbols than a maximum number allowed for transmission of SRS resources for positioning during connected communication between the UE and a communication network.

13. 13. The method of claim 12, wherein a starting portion of a set of multiple consecutive symbols of the SRS for positioning is used as a cyclic prefix for a remaining portion of another set of multiple consecutive symbols of the SRS for positioning.

14. The method of claim 1 , wherein obtaining the plurality of SRS transmission parameters comprises the UE randomly or pseudo-randomly selecting a pilot sequence to be used for transmitting the SRS for positioning.

15. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein transmitting the SRS for positioning comprises transmitting the SRS for positioning using a transmit beam corresponding to a receive beam associated with receiving a downlink reference signal from a communications network.

16. 16. The method of claim 15, wherein the downlink reference signal comprises a synchronization signal block (SSB) or a positioning reference signal (PRS).

17. A user equipment (UE), Memory, A transceiver; a processor communicatively coupled to the memory and to the transceiver, the processor comprising: Obtain a plurality of sounding reference signal (SRS) transmission parameters, the plurality of SRS transmission parameters including a pilot sequence, or a timing advance, or a first guard time before a transmission of an SRS for positioning, or a second guard time after a transmission of the SRS for positioning, or a combination of two or more thereof; Transmitting an SRS for positioning from the UE according to the plurality of SRS transmission parameters while the UE is in an inactive state. The UE is configured as follows.

18. 18. The UE of claim 17, wherein the processor is configured to transmit the SRS for positioning in response to receiving, via the transceiver, an instruction from a communication network triggering transmission of the SRS for positioning from the UE.

19. 20. The UE of claim 17, wherein the inactive state comprises a discontinuous reception (DRX) inactive mode.

20. The UE of claim 17, wherein the plurality of SRS transmission parameters further comprises a transmit beam or physical resource mapping.

21. 18. The UE of claim 17, wherein to obtain the plurality of SRS transmission parameters, the processor is configured to receive one or more configuration parameters from a communications network in response to a request from the UE for transmission of a sounding reference signal.

22. 18. The UE of claim 17, wherein to obtain the plurality of SRS transmission parameters, the processor is configured to receive one or more configuration parameters from a communications network for transmission of a sounding reference signal while the UE is in a non-connected state with respect to the communications network.

23. 23. The UE of claim 22, wherein to obtain the plurality of SRS transmission parameters, the processor is configured to receive the one or more configuration parameters from the communication network in a Broadcast System Information Block (SIB) message including Downlink Positioning Reference Signal (DL-PRS) information.

24. 23. The UE of claim 22, wherein to obtain the plurality of SRS transmission parameters, the processor is configured to receive the one or more configuration parameters from the communication network in a broadcast system information block (SIB) message dedicated to carrying the one or more configuration parameters.

25. 18. The UE of claim 17, wherein to obtain the plurality of SRS transmission parameters, the processor is configured to determine at least one UE specific configuration parameter of another SRS while the UE is connected to a communication network.

26. 26. The UE of claim 25, wherein to obtain the plurality of SRS transmission parameters, the processor is configured to determine each of the plurality of SRS transmission parameters based on non-connection configuration parameters, if any, received by the UE from the communications network while the UE is in a non-connected state with respect to the communications network, or, if no suitable non-connection configuration parameters are received, based on connection configuration parameters received while the UE is in a connected state with respect to the communications network.

27. 18. The UE of claim 17, wherein the processor is configured to refrain from transmitting, via the transceiver, the SRS for positioning during a guard interval before a start of transmission of the SRS for positioning.

28. 18. The UE of claim 17, wherein the processor is configured to transmit the SRS for positioning by transmitting a pilot sequence on the same set of subcarriers on consecutive Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) symbols for more than a maximum number of consecutive OFDM symbols allowed for transmission of SRS resources for positioning during connected communication between the UE and a communication network.

29. 30. The UE of claim 28, wherein the processor is configured to use a starting portion of a plurality of consecutive symbols of the SRS for positioning as a cyclic prefix for a remaining portion of another set of a plurality of consecutive symbols of the SRS for positioning.

30. 18. The UE of claim 17, wherein to obtain the plurality of SRS transmission parameters, the processor is configured to randomly or pseudo-randomly select a pilot sequence to be used for transmitting the SRS for positioning.

31. 18. The UE of claim 17, wherein, to transmit the SRS for positioning, the processor is configured to select a transmit beam for transmitting the SRS for positioning that corresponds to a receive beam associated with receiving a downlink reference signal from a communication network.

32. 32. The UE of claim 31, wherein the downlink reference signal comprises a synchronization signal block (SSB) or a positioning reference signal (PRS).

33. A user equipment (UE), a means for acquiring a plurality of sounding reference signal (SRS) transmission parameters, the plurality of SRS transmission parameters including a pilot sequence, or a timing advance, or a first guard time before a transmission of an SRS for positioning, or a second guard time after a transmission of the SRS for positioning, or a combination of two or more thereof; and means for transmitting an SRS for positioning according to the plurality of SRS transmission parameters while the UE is in an inactive state.

34. 34. The UE of claim 33, wherein the means for transmitting the SRS for positioning is for transmitting the SRS for positioning in response to receiving an instruction from a communication network triggering the transmission of the SRS for positioning from the UE.

35. 34. The UE of claim 33, wherein the inactive state comprises a discontinuous reception (DRX) inactive mode.

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