Uplink Cancellation Indication for Uplink Positioning Reference Signal

Abstract

In one aspect, a user equipment (UE) receives an uplink positioning reference signal (UL-PRS) resource configuration from a serving cell, the UL-PRS resource configuration comprising a plurality of N resource elements (REs) staggered in frequency across a plurality of M consecutive symbols of a resource block (RB), whereby the plurality of N REs span a plurality of N consecutive subcarriers of the RB; and receives an indication of a PRS symbol cancellation group to be used for uplink cancellation from the serving cell, the PRS symbol cancellation group identifying a set of a plurality of M consecutive symbols that are expected to be canceled for uplink transmissions. The UE cancels UL-PRS transmissions on one or more of the L symbol sets identified by the PRS symbol cancellation group.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] Cross - Reference to Related Applications

[0001] This patent application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 63 / 002,180, filed Mar. 30, 2020, and entitled "POSITIONING REFERENCE SIGNALS AND UPLINK CANCELATION INDICATION", and U.S. Non - Provisional Application No. 17 / 211,648, filed Mar. 24, 2021, and entitled "UPLINK CANCELATION INDICATION FOR UPLINK POSITIONING REFERENCE SIGNALS", both of which are assigned to the assignee of this application and are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.

[0002]

[0002] Aspects of the present disclosure generally relate to wireless communication.

Background Art

[0003]

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

[0004]

[0004] The 5th generation (5G) wireless standard, called New Radio (NR), among other improvements, requires higher data transfer speeds, a greater number of connections, and better coverage. The 5G standard by the Next Generation Mobile Networks Alliance is designed to provide data rates of tens of megabits per second to each of tens of thousands of users and a data rate of 1 gigabit per second to tens of workers on an office floor. To support large sensor deployments, hundreds of thousands of simultaneous connections should be supported. Therefore, the spectral efficiency of 5G mobile communications should be significantly extended compared to current 4G standards. Further, signaling efficiency should be extended and latency should be significantly reduced compared to current standards.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005]

[0005] The following presents a simplified summary relating to one or more aspects disclosed herein. Accordingly, the following summary should not be considered an extensive overview relating to all contemplated aspects, nor should the following summary be considered to identify key or critical elements relating to all contemplated aspects or to delineate the scope relating to any particular aspect. Accordingly, the following summary has the sole purpose of presenting in a simplified form some concepts relating to one or more aspects relating to the mechanisms disclosed herein prior to the forms presented below for implementing the invention.

[0006]

[0006] A method of wireless communication performed by a user equipment (UE) includes receiving an uplink positioning reference signal (UL-PRS) resource configuration from a serving cell, where the UL-PRS resource configuration includes a plurality of N resource elements (REs) staggered in frequency over a plurality of M consecutive symbols of a resource block (RB), such that the plurality of N REs span a plurality of N consecutive subcarriers of the RB, receiving an indication of a UL-PRS symbol cancellation group to be used for uplink cancellation from the serving cell, where the UL-PRS symbol cancellation group identifies a set of L symbols out of a plurality of M consecutive symbols expected to be cancelled for uplink transmission, and cancelling transmission of one or more UL-PRSs on one or more of the set of L symbols identified by the UL-PRS symbol cancellation group.

[0007]

[0007] A method of wireless communication performed by a serving cell includes transmitting an uplink positioning reference signal (UL-PRS) resource configuration to a UE, where the UL-PRS resource configuration includes a plurality of N resource elements (REs) staggered in frequency over a plurality of M consecutive symbols of a resource block (RB), such that the plurality of N REs span a plurality of N consecutive subcarriers of the RB, transmitting an indication of a UL-PRS symbol cancellation group to be used for uplink cancellation to the UE, where the UL-PRS symbol cancellation group identifies a set of L symbols out of a plurality of M consecutive symbols expected to be cancelled for uplink transmission.

[0008]

[0008] In one aspect, a user equipment (UE) includes a memory, at least one wireless transceiver, and at least one processor communicatively coupled to the memory and the at least one wireless transceiver, the at least one processor being configured to receive, via the at least one wireless transceiver, an uplink positioning reference signal (UL-PRS) resource configuration from a serving cell, the UL-PRS resource configuration comprising a plurality of N resource elements (REs) staggered in frequency over a plurality of M consecutive symbols of a resource block (RB), such that the plurality of N REs span a plurality of N consecutive subcarriers of the RB, receive, via the at least one wireless transceiver, an indication of a UL-PRS symbol cancellation group to be used for uplink cancellation from the serving cell, the UL-PRS symbol cancellation group identifying a set of L symbols out of the plurality of M consecutive symbols expected to be cancelled for uplink transmission, and cancel transmission of the UL-PRS on one or more symbols of the set of L symbols identified by the UL-PRS symbol cancellation group.

[0009]

[0009] In one aspect, a serving cell includes a memory, at least one wireless transceiver, and at least one processor communicatively coupled to the memory and the at least one wireless transceiver, the at least one processor causing the at least one wireless transceiver to transmit to a UE an uplink positioning reference signal (UL-PRS) resource configuration, the UL-PRS resource configuration comprising a plurality of N resource elements (REs) staggered in frequency over a plurality of M consecutive symbols of a resource block (RB), whereby the plurality of N REs span a plurality of N consecutive subcarriers of the RB, causing the at least one wireless transceiver to transmit to the UE an indication of a UL-PRS symbol cancellation group to be used for uplink cancellation, the UL-PRS symbol cancellation group identifying a set of L symbols out of a plurality of M consecutive symbols expected to be cancelled for uplink transmission, and is configured to perform the above.

[0010]

[0010] In one aspect, a user equipment (UE) includes means for receiving from a serving cell an uplink positioning reference signal (UL-PRS) resource configuration, the UL-PRS resource configuration comprising a plurality of N resource elements (REs) staggered in frequency over a plurality of M consecutive symbols of a resource block (RB), whereby the plurality of N REs span a plurality of N consecutive subcarriers of the RB, means for receiving from the serving cell an indication of a UL-PRS symbol cancellation group to be used for uplink cancellation, the UL-PRS symbol cancellation group identifying a set of L symbols out of a plurality of M consecutive symbols expected to be cancelled for uplink transmission, and means for canceling transmission of UL-PRS on one or more symbols of the set of L symbols identified by the UL-PRS symbol cancellation group.

[0011]

[0011] In one aspect, a serving cell includes means for transmitting to a UE an uplink positioning reference signal (UL-PRS) resource configuration, where the UL-PRS resource configuration comprises a plurality of N resource elements (REs) staggered in frequency over a plurality of M consecutive symbols of a resource block (RB), whereby the plurality of N REs span a plurality of N consecutive subcarriers of the RB, and means for transmitting an indication of a UL-PRS symbol cancellation group to be used for uplink cancellation at the UE, where the UL-PRS symbol cancellation group identifies a set of L symbols out of a plurality of M consecutive symbols expected to be cancelled for uplink transmission.

[0012]

[0012] In one aspect, a non-transitory computer-readable medium stores computer-executable instructions that, when executed by a user equipment (UE), cause the UE to receive an uplink positioning reference signal (UL-PRS) resource configuration from a serving cell, where the UL-PRS resource configuration comprises a plurality of N resource elements (REs) staggered in frequency over a plurality of M consecutive symbols of a resource block (RB), whereby the plurality of N REs span a plurality of N consecutive subcarriers of the RB, receive an indication of a UL-PRS symbol cancellation group to be used for uplink cancellation from the serving cell, where the UL-PRS symbol cancellation group identifies a set of L symbols out of a plurality of M consecutive symbols expected to be cancelled for uplink transmission, and cancel transmission of UL-PRS on one or more symbols of the set of L symbols identified by the UL-PRS symbol cancellation group.

[0013]

[0013] In one aspect, a non-transitory computer-readable medium stores computer-executable instructions that, when executed by a serving cell, cause the serving cell to transmit an uplink positioning reference signal (UL-PRS) resource configuration to a UE, where the UL-PRS resource configuration comprises a plurality of N resource elements (REs) staggered in frequency over a plurality of M consecutive symbols of a resource block (RB), such that the plurality of N REs span a plurality of N consecutive subcarriers of the RB, and to transmit an indication of a UL-PRS symbol cancellation group to be used for uplink cancellation at the UE, where the UL-PRS symbol cancellation group identifies a set of L symbols out of the plurality of M consecutive symbols that are expected to be cancelled for uplink transmission.

[0014]

[0014] Other objectives and advantages related to the aspects disclosed herein will become apparent to those skilled in the art based on the accompanying drawings and the mode for carrying out the invention.

[0015]

[0015] The accompanying drawings are presented to assist in the description of various aspects of the present disclosure and are provided for illustration of the aspects only, not limitation thereof.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0016]

Figure 1

[0016] A diagram showing an exemplary wireless communication system according to an aspect of the present disclosure.

Figure 2A

[0017] A diagram showing an exemplary wireless network structure according to an aspect of the present disclosure.

Figure 2B

Figure 3A

[0018] A simplified block diagram of some exemplary aspects of components that may be employed in a user equipment (UE) and configured to support the communication taught herein.

Figure 3B

Figure 3C

Figure 4A

[0019] A diagram showing an exemplary frame structure and channels within the frame according to aspects of the present disclosure.

Figure 4B

Figure 4C

Figure 4D

Figure 5A

[0020] A diagram showing various comb patterns supported for positioning reference signals within a resource block.

Figure 5B

Figure 6

[0021] A diagram showing various uplink positioning reference signal (UL-PRS) cancellation options according to aspects of the present disclosure.

Figure 7

[0022] A diagram showing an exemplary method of wireless communication according to aspects of the present disclosure.

Figure 8

[0017]

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

[0018]

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

[0019]

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

[0020]

[0026] Furthermore, many aspects are described with respect to a series of actions to be performed, for example, by elements of a computing device. It should be recognized that the various actions described herein may be implemented by a specific circuit (e.g., an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC)), by program instructions executed by one or more processors, or by a combination of both. Further, the series of actions described herein may be considered to be implemented in their entirety within any form of non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a corresponding set of computer instructions that, when executed, cause the relevant processor of the device to perform or be instructed to perform the functions described herein. Thus, the various aspects of the present disclosure may be implemented in several different forms all contemplated to fall within the scope of the claimed subject matter. Further, for each of the aspects described herein, a corresponding form of any such aspect may be described herein, for example, as "logic configured to" perform the described actions.

[0021]

[0027] 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. Generally, a UE can be any wireless communication device used by a user to communicate over a wireless communication network (e.g., a mobile phone, router, tablet computer, laptop computer, consumer asset tracking device, wearable (e.g., smartwatch, glasses, augmented reality (AR) / virtual reality (VR) headset, etc.), vehicle (e.g., automobile, motorcycle, bicycle, etc.), Internet of Things (IoT) device, etc.). A UE can be mobile or (e.g., at some times) stationary and can communicate with a radio access network (RAN). The term "UE" as used herein may be interchangeably referred to as "access terminal" or "AT", "client device", "wireless device", "subscriber device", "subscriber terminal", "subscriber station", "user terminal" or "UT", "mobile device", "mobile terminal", "mobile station", or variants thereof. Generally, a UE can communicate with a core network via the RAN, and through the core network, the UE can be connected to an external network such as the Internet and other UEs. Of course, other mechanisms for connecting to the core network and / or the Internet are also possible for a UE, such as via a wired access network, a wireless local area network (WLAN) network (e.g., based on Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11 specifications, etc.).

[0022]

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

[0023]

[0029] The term "base station" may refer to a single physical transmit-receive point (TRP), or multiple physical TRPs that may or may not be collocated. For example, when the term "base station" refers to a single physical TRP, the physical TRP may be the antenna of the base station corresponding to the cell (or some cell sectors) of the base station. When the term "base station" refers to multiple collocated physical TRPs, the physical TRPs may be an array of antennas of the base station (such as in a multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) system, or when the base station employs beamforming). When the term "base station" refers to multiple non-collocated 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-collocated physical TRPs may be the serving base station that receives measurement reports from the UE and the neighbor base station whose reference radio frequency (RF) signal the UE is measuring. Since the TRP is the point from which the base station transmits and receives wireless signals, references in this specification to transmissions from the base station or receptions at the base station should be understood to refer to a particular TRP of the base station.

[0024]

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

[0025]

[0031] An "RF signal" comprises an electromagnetic wave of a given frequency that transports information through the 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, due to the propagation characteristics of RF signals through a multipath channel, a receiver may receive multiple "RF signals" corresponding to each transmitted RF signal. The same transmitted RF signal on different paths between the transmitter and the receiver may be referred to as a "multipath" RF signal.

[0026]

[0032] FIG. 1 shows an exemplary wireless communication system 100 according to an aspect of the present disclosure. (Sometimes referred to as a wireless wide area network (WWAN)) The wireless communication system 100 may include various base stations 102 (labeled as "BS") and various UEs 104. The base stations 102 may include macrocell base stations (high-power cellular base stations) and / or small cell base stations (low-power cellular base stations). In one aspect, the macrocell base stations may include an eNB and / or ng-eNB corresponding to the wireless communication system 100 being an LTE network, or a gNB corresponding to the wireless communication system 100 being an NR network, or a combination of both, and the small cell base stations may include femtocells, picocells, microcells, etc.

[0027]

[0033] The base stations 102 collectively form the RAN, interface with the core network 170 (e.g., evolved packet core (EPC) or 5G core (5GC)) through the backhaul link 122, and can interface with one or more location servers 172 (e.g., location management function (LMF) or secure user plane location (SUPL) location platform (SLP)) through the core network 170. The (one or more) location servers 172 can be part of the core network 170 or external to the core network 170. In addition to other functions, the base stations 102 can perform functions related to one or more of transferring user data, wireless channel encryption and decryption, integrity protection, header compression, mobility control functions (e.g., handover, dual connectivity), inter-cell interference coordination, connection setup and release, load distribution, distribution for non-access stratum (NAS) messages, NAS node selection, synchronization, RAN sharing, multimedia broadcast multicast service (MBMS), subscriber and device tracing, RAN information management (RIM), paging, positioning, and delivery of warning messages. The base stations 102 can communicate with each other directly or indirectly (e.g., through the EPC / 5GC) via the backhaul link 134, which can be wired or wireless.

[0028]

[0034] The base station 102 can communicate wirelessly with the UE 104. Each of the base stations 102 can provide communication coverage to its respective geographical coverage area 110. In one aspect, one or more cells can be supported by the base stations 102 in each geographical coverage area 110. A "cell" is a logical communication entity used for communication with a base station (e.g., via some frequency resource such as a carrier frequency, component carrier, carrier, band, etc.), and can be associated with an identifier (e.g., Physical Cell Identifier (PCI), Virtual Cell Identifier (VCI), Cell Global Identifier (CGI)) for distinguishing cells operating via the same or different carrier frequencies. In some cases, different cells can be configured according to different protocol types (e.g., Machine Type Communication (MTC), Narrowband IoT (NB-IoT), Extended Mobile Broadband (eMBB), or others) that can provide access to different types of UEs. Since a cell is supported by a specific base station, the term "cell" can, depending on the context, refer to either or both the logical communication entity and the base station that supports it. In some cases, the term "cell" can also refer to the geographical coverage area (e.g., sector) of a base station as long as a carrier frequency is detected and can be used for communication within some portion of the geographical coverage area 110.

[0029]

[0035] The geographical coverage areas 110 of neighboring macro cell base stations 102 can partially overlap (e.g., in a handover region), but some of the geographical coverage areas 110 can be significantly overlapped by a larger geographical coverage area 110. For example, a Small Cell (SC) base station 102' can have a geographical coverage area 110' that significantly overlaps with the geographical coverage areas 110 of one or more macro cell base stations 102. A network including both small cell base stations and macro cell base stations can be known as a heterogeneous network. A heterogeneous network can also include a Home eNB (HeNB) that can provide services to a restricted group known as a Closed Subscriber Group (CSG).

[0030]

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

[0031]

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

[0032]

[0038] Small cell base station 102’ can operate in the licensed and / or unlicensed frequency spectrum. When operating in the unlicensed frequency spectrum, small cell base station 102’ can adopt LTE or NR technology and use the same 5GHz unlicensed frequency spectrum as that used by WLAN AP150. Small cell base station 102’ adopting LTE / 5G in the unlicensed frequency spectrum can boost the coverage to the access network and / or increase the capacity of the access network. NR in the unlicensed spectrum may be called NR-U. LTE in the unlicensed spectrum may be called LTE-U, Licensed-Assisted Access (LAA), or MulteFire.

[0033]

[0039] Wireless communication system 100 may further include a mmW base station 180 that can operate in millimeter wave (mmW) frequency and / or near mmW frequency and is communicating with UE182. Extremely High Frequency (EHF) is a part of RF in the electromagnetic spectrum. EHF has a range of 30GHz to 300GHz and a wavelength between 1 millimeter and 10 millimeters. Radio waves in this band may be called millimeter waves. Near mmW can extend downward to a frequency of 3GHz with a wavelength of 100 millimeters. The Super High Frequency (SHF) band extends between 3GHz and 30GHz, also called centimeter waves. Communication using the mmW / near mmW radio frequency band has high path loss and a relatively short range. The mmW base station 180 and UE182 can utilize beamforming (transmission and / or reception) via the mmW communication link 184 to compensate for the extremely high path loss and short range. Further, in an alternative configuration, it should be understood that one or more base stations 102 can also transmit using mmW or near mmW and beamforming. Therefore, it should be understood that the above description is only an example and should not be construed as limiting the various aspects disclosed herein.

[0034]

[0040] Transmission beamforming is a technique for focusing RF signals in a specific direction. Conventionally, when a network node (e.g., a base station) broadcasts an RF signal, it broadcasts the signal in all directions (omnidirectionally). In transmission beamforming, the network node determines where a given target device (e.g., a UE) is located (with respect to the transmitting network node) and projects a stronger downlink RF signal in that specific direction, thereby providing a faster and stronger RF signal (in terms of data rate) to one or more receiving devices. To change the directivity 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 that are broadcasting the RF signal. For example, the network node can use an array of antennas (referred to as a "phased array" or "antenna array") that can be "steered" to point in different directions without actually moving the antennas. In particular, the RF current from the transmitter is supplied to the individual antennas with an appropriate phase relationship such that the radio waves from the separate antennas are added together to increase the radiation in the desired direction while canceling and suppressing the radiation in the undesired directions.

[0035]

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

[0036]

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

[0037]

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

[0038]

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

[0039]

[0045] In 5G, the frequency spectrum in which wireless nodes (e.g., base stations 102 / 180, UEs 104 / 182) operate is divided into multiple frequency ranges: FR1 (from 450 to 6000 MHz), FR2 (from 24250 to 52600 MHz), FR3 (above 52600 MHz), and FR4 (between FR1 and FR2). In a multi-carrier system such as 5G, one of the carrier frequencies is called the "primary carrier" or "anchor carrier" or "primary serving cell" or "PCell", and the remaining carrier frequencies are called "secondary carriers" or "secondary serving cells" or "SCells". In carrier aggregation, the anchor carrier is the carrier that operates on the primary frequency (e.g., FR1) and is used by the UE 104 / 182 and the cell with which the UE 104 / 182 either performs the initial radio resource control (RRC) connection establishment procedure or starts the RRC connection re-establishment procedure. The primary carrier carries all common and UE-specific control channels and can be a carrier within the authorized frequency (although this is not always the case). The secondary carrier can be configured when the RRC connection is established between the UE 104 and the anchor carrier and can be used to provide additional radio resources. It is a carrier that operates on a second frequency (e.g., FR2). In some cases, the secondary carrier can be a carrier within the unlicensed frequency. The secondary carrier may contain only the necessary signaling information and signals. For example, since both the primary uplink carrier and the primary downlink carrier are typically UE-specific, UE-specific ones may not be present in the secondary carrier. This means that different UEs 104 / 182 in the cell can have different downlink primary carriers. The same is true for the uplink primary carrier. The network can change the primary carrier of any UE 104 / 182 at any time. This is done, for example, to distribute the load across different carriers.Regardless of whether it is a PCell or an SCell, since a "serving cell" corresponds to a carrier frequency / component carrier through which some base station communicates, terms such as "cell", "serving cell", "component carrier", "carrier frequency", etc. can be used interchangeably.

[0040]

[0046] For example, still referring to FIG. 1, one of the frequencies utilized by macrocell base station 102 can be an anchor carrier (or "PCell"), and other frequencies utilized by macrocell base station 102 and / or mmW base station 180 can be secondary carriers ("SCells"). Simultaneous transmission and / or reception of multiple carriers enables UE104 / 182 to significantly increase its data transmission and / or reception rate. For example, two aggregated 20 MHz carriers in a multi-carrier system would theoretically lead to a doubling of the data rate (i.e., 40 MHz) compared to what can be achieved by a single 20 MHz carrier.

[0041]

[0047] Wireless communication system 100 may further include UE164, which can communicate with macrocell base station 102 via communication link 120 and / or with mmW base station 180 via mmW communication link 184. For example, macrocell base station 102 can support a PCell and one or more SCells for UE164, and mmW base station 180 can support one or more SCells for UE164.

[0042]

[0048] In the example of FIG. 1, one or more Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) space vehicles (SVs) 112 (e.g., satellites) can be used as an independent source of location information for any of the illustrated UEs (shown in FIG. 1 as a single UE 104 for simplicity). The UE 104 can include one or more dedicated GNSS receivers specifically designed to receive GNSS signals 124 for deriving geolocation information from the SV 112. GNSS generally includes a system of transmitters arranged to enable a receiver (e.g., UE 104) to determine its location on or above the Earth based at least in part on signals (e.g., GNSS signals 124) received from a transmitter (e.g., SV 112). Such transmitters generally transmit signals marked with a set number of chips of a repeating pseudo-random noise (PN) code. Although generally located in the SV 112, the transmitters can sometimes be located on a ground-based control station, a base station 102, and / or another UE 104.

[0043]

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

[0044]

[0050] Wireless communication system 100 may further include one or more UEs such as UE190 that are indirectly connected to one or more communication networks via one or more device-to-device (D2D) peer-to-peer (P2P) links (referred to as "sidelink"). In the example of FIG. 1, UE190 has a D2D P2P link 192 with one of UE104 connected to one of base stations 102 (e.g., through which UE190 can indirectly obtain cellular connectivity), and a D2D P2P link 194 with WLAN STA152 connected to WLAN AP150 (through which UE190 can indirectly obtain WLAN-based Internet connectivity). In one example, D2D P2P links 192 and 194 can be supported using any well-known D2D RAT such as LTE Direct (LTE-D), WiFi Direct (registered trademark) (WiFi-D), Bluetooth (registered trademark).

[0045]

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

[0046]

[0052] Figure 2B shows another exemplary wireless network structure 250. (It may correspond to 5GC210 in FIG. 2A) 5GC260 can be considered, functionally, as a control plane function provided by an access and mobility management function (AMF) 264 that operates collaboratively to form a core network (i.e., 5GC260), and a user plane function provided by a user plane function (UPF) 262. The user plane interface 263 and the control plane interface 265 connect the ng-eNB224 to 5GC260, particularly to the UPF262 and the AMF264 respectively. In an additional configuration, the gNB222 can also be connected to 5GC260 via a control plane interface 265 to the AMF264 and a user plane interface 263 to the UPF262. Further, the ng-eNB224 can communicate directly with the gNB222 via a backhaul connection 223, with or without using the gNB direct connectivity to 5GC260. In some configurations, the NG-RAN220 can have only one or more gNB222s, while other configurations include one or more of both the ng-eNB224 and the gNB222. Either the gNB222 or the ng-eNB224 can communicate with the UE204 (e.g., any of the UEs shown in FIG. 1). The base stations of the NG-RAN220 communicate with the AMF264 via the N2 interface and with the UPF262 via the N3 interface.

[0047]

[0053] The functions of the AMF 264 include registration management, connection management, reachability management, mobility management, lawful interception, transport for session management (SM) messages between the UE 204 and the session management function (SMF) 266, a transparent proxy service for routing SM messages, access authentication and authorization, transport for short message service (SMS) messages between the UE 204 and a short message service function (SMSF) (not shown), and a security anchor function (SEAF). The AMF 264 also interacts with an authentication server function (AUSF) (not shown) and receives an intermediate key established as a result of the UE 204 authentication process. In the case of authentication based on a UMTS (Universal Mobile Telecommunications System) subscriber identity module (USIM), the AMF 264 retrieves security material from the AUSF. The functions of the AMF 264 also include security context management (SCM). The SCM receives a key from the SEAF that it uses to derive an access network specific key. The functions of the AMF 264 also include location service management for regulatory services, transport for location service messages between the UE 204 and the LMF 270 (acting as the location server 230), transport for location service messages between the NG-RAN 220 and the LMF 270, allocation of EPS bearer identifiers for interoperability with an evolved packet system (EPS), and UE 204 mobility event notification. Further, the AMF 264 also supports functions for non-3GPP (Registered Trademark) (3rd Generation Partnership Project) access networks.

[0048]

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

[0049]

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

[0050]

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

[0051]

[0057] FIG. 3A, FIG. 3B, and FIG. 3C illustrate some exemplary components (represented by corresponding blocks) that may be incorporated into 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 implement any of the network functions described herein, including location server 230 and LMF 270) to support the file transfer operations taught herein. It will be appreciated that these components may be implemented in different types of devices in different implementations (e.g., in an ASIC, in a system-on-chip (SoC), etc.). The illustrated components may also be incorporated into other devices in the communication system. For example, other devices in the system may include similar components as those described to provide similar functionality. Also, a given device may include one or more of the components. For example, a device may include multiple transceiver components that enable the device to operate on multiple carriers and / or communicate by different technologies.

[0052]

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

[0053]

[0059] UE 302 and base station 304 also each include, at least in some cases, at least one short-range wireless transceiver 320 and 360, respectively. The short-range wireless transceivers 320 and 360 are each connected to one or more antennas 326 and 366, respectively, and provide means (e.g., means for transmitting, receiving, measuring, adjusting, refraining from transmitting, etc.) for communicating with other network nodes such as other UEs, access points, base stations, etc. over the respective wireless communication medium via at least one designated RAT (e.g., WiFi®, LTE-D, Bluetooth, Zigbee®, Z-Wave®, PC5, dedicated short-range communications (DSRC), wireless access for vehicular environments (WAVE), near-field communication (NFC), etc.). The short-range wireless transceivers 320 and 360 can be variously configured to transmit and encode, respectively, signals 328 and 368 (e.g., messages, instructions, information, etc.) and, conversely, to receive and decode, respectively, signals 328 and 368 (e.g., messages, instructions, information, pilots, etc.). In particular, the short-range wireless transceivers 320 and 360 each include one or more transmitters 324 and 364, respectively, for transmitting and encoding signals 328 and 368, and each include one or more receivers 322 and 362, respectively, for receiving and decoding signals 328 and 368. As a specific example, the short-range wireless transceivers 320 and 360 can be WiFi transceivers, Bluetooth transceivers, Zigbee and / or Z-Wave® transceivers, NFC transceivers, or vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) and / or vehicle-to-everything (V2X) transceivers.

[0054]

[0060] A transceiver circuit including at least one transmitter and at least one receiver may, in some implementations, comprise an integrated device (e.g., implemented as the transmitter circuit and the receiver circuit of a single communication device), in some implementations, may comprise a separate transmitter device and a separate receiver device, or in other implementations, may be implemented in other ways. In one aspect, the transmitter may include or be coupled to a plurality of antennas (e.g., antennas 316, 326, 356, 366), such as an antenna array, that enable each device to perform transmission “beamforming” as described herein. Similarly, the receiver may include or be coupled to a plurality of antennas (e.g., antennas 316, 326, 356, 366), such as an antenna array, that enable each device to perform receive beamforming as described herein. In one aspect, the transmitter and the receiver may share the same plurality of antennas (e.g., antennas 316, 326, 356, 366) such that each device can perform only reception or only transmission at a given time, rather than performing both reception and transmission simultaneously. The wireless communication devices of UE302 and / or base station 304 (e.g., one or both of transceivers 310 and 320 and / or 350 and 360) may also comprise, for example, a network listening module (NLM) for performing various measurements.

[0055]

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

[0056]

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

[0057]

[0063] In one aspect, at least one WWAN transceiver 310 and / or at least one short-range wireless transceiver 320 may form the (wireless) communication interface of UE 302. Similarly, at least one WWAN transceiver 350, at least one short-range wireless transceiver 360, and / or at least one network interface 380 may form the (wireless) communication interface of base station 304. Similarly, at least one network interface 390 may form the (wireless) communication interface of network entity 306. The various wireless transceivers (e.g., transceivers 310, 320, 350, and 360) and wired transceivers (e.g., network interfaces 380 and 390) may generally be characterized as at least one transceiver or, alternatively, as at least one communication interface. Thus, whether a particular transceiver or communication interface is related to a wired or wireless transceiver or communication interface, respectively, may be inferred from the type of communication being performed (e.g., backhaul communication between network devices or servers is generally related to signaling via at least one wired transceiver).

[0058]

[0064] UE 302, base station 304, and network entity 306 also include other components that can be used with the operations disclosed herein. UE 302, base station 304, and network entity 306 each include at least one processor 332, 384, and 394, for example, to provide functions related to wireless communication and to provide other processing functions. Processors 332, 384, and 394 can thus provide means for processing, such as means for determining, means for calculating, means for receiving, means for transmitting, means for instructing, and the like. In one aspect, processors 332, 384, and 394 can include, for example, at least one general-purpose processor, a multi-core processor, a central processing unit (CPU), an ASIC, a digital signal processor (DSP), a field programmable gate array (FPGA), other programmable logic devices or processing circuits, or various combinations thereof.

[0059]

[0065] UE 302, base station 304, and network entity 306 each include a memory circuit that implements memory components 340, 386, and 396 (e.g., each including a memory device) to maintain information (e.g., information indicating reserved resources, thresholds, parameters, etc.). Memory components 340, 386, and 396 can thus provide means for storing, retrieving, maintaining, etc. In some cases, UE 302, base station 304, and network entity 306 may each include positioning components 342, 388, and 398. Positioning components 342, 388, and 398, when executed, can be part of or coupled to processors 332, 384, and 394 respectively, which cause UE 302, base station 304, and network entity 306 to perform the functions described herein, or can be hardware circuits. In other aspects, positioning components 342, 388, and 398 can be external to processors 332, 384, and 394 (e.g., integrated with another processing system that is part of a modem processing system, etc.). Alternatively, positioning components 342, 388, and 398 can be memory modules stored in memory components 340, 386, and 396 respectively, which cause UE 302, base station 304, and network entity 306 to perform the functions described herein when executed by processors 332, 384, and 394 (or a modem processing system, another processing system, etc.). FIG. 3A shows possible locations of positioning component 342, which can be part of, for example, at least one WWAN transceiver 310, memory component 340, at least one processor 332, or any combination thereof, or can be a stand-alone component. FIG. 3B shows possible locations of positioning component 388, which can be part of, for example, at least one WWAN transceiver 350, memory component 386, at least one processor 384, or any combination thereof, or can be a stand-alone component.FIG. 3C shows possible locations of a positioning component 398, which can be part of, for example, at least one network interface 390, a memory component 396, at least one processor 394, or any combination thereof, or can be a stand-alone component.

[0060]

[0066] The UE 302 may include one or more sensors 344 coupled to at least one processor 332 to provide means for detecting or sensing movement and / or orientation information that is independent of movement data derived from signals received by at least one WWAN transceiver 310, at least one short-range wireless transceiver 320, and / or an SPS receiver 330. By way of example, the sensor(s) 344 can include an accelerometer (e.g., a microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) device), a gyroscope, a geomagnetic sensor (e.g., a compass), an altimeter (e.g., a barometric altimeter), and / or any other type of movement detection sensor. Additionally, the sensor(s) 344 can include multiple different types of devices and can combine their outputs to provide movement information. For example, the sensor(s) 344 can use a combination of a multi-axis accelerometer and an orientation sensor to provide the ability to calculate a position in a two-dimensional (2D) and / or three-dimensional (3D) coordinate system.

[0061]

[0067] Further, the UE 302 includes a user interface 346 that provides means for providing an indication (e.g., an audible and / or visual indication) to the user and / or means for receiving user input (e.g., upon actuation of a sensing device such as a keypad, touch screen, microphone, etc.). Although not shown, the base station 304 and the network entity 306 may also include a user interface.

[0062]

[0068] Looking in more detail at at least one processor 384, in the downlink, IP packets from the network entity 306 may be provided to the at least one processor 384. The at least one processor 384 may implement functions for the Radio Resource Control (RRC) layer, the Packet Data Convergence Protocol (PDCP) layer, the Radio Link Control (RLC) layer, and the Medium Access Control (MAC) layer. The at least one processor 384 may broadcast 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 reports, RRC layer functions related to header compression / decompression, security (encryption, decryption, integrity protection, integrity verification), and handover support functions, PDCP layer functions related to upper layer PDU transfer, error correction via Automatic Repeat reQuest (ARQ), concatenation, segmentation, and reassembly of RLC service data units (SDUs), resegmentation of RLC data PDUs, rearrangement of RLC data PDUs, RLC layer functions related to mapping between logical channels and transport channels, scheduling information reporting, error correction, priority handling, and logical channel prioritization, and MAC layer functions related to mapping between logical channels and transport channels, scheduling information reporting, error correction, priority handling, and logical channel prioritization.

[0063]

[0069] The transmitter 354 and the receiver 352 may implement layer 1 (L1) functions related to various signal processing functions. Layer 1, including the physical (PHY) layer, includes error detection on the transport channel, forward error correction (FEC) coding / decoding of the transport channel, interleaving, rate matching, mapping onto the physical channel, modulation / demodulation of the physical channel, and MIMO antenna processing. The transmitter 354 handles mapping to signal constellations based on various modulation schemes (e.g., binary phase shift keying (BPSK), quadrature phase shift keying (QPSK), M-phase shift keying (M-PSK), multi-value quadrature amplitude modulation (M-QAM)). The coded and modulated symbols may then be split into parallel streams. Each stream is then mapped to orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) subcarriers to generate a physical channel carrying a time-domain OFDM symbol stream, multiplexed with a reference signal (e.g., a pilot) in the time and / or frequency domain, and then may be combined with each other using an inverse fast Fourier transform (IFFT). The OFDM symbol stream is spatially precoded to generate a plurality of spatial streams. Channel estimates from the 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 reference signals transmitted by the UE 302 and / or channel state feedback. Each spatial stream may then be provided to one or more different antennas 356. The transmitter 354 may modulate an RF carrier with each spatial stream for transmission.

[0064]

[0070] In UE302, receiver 312 receives signals through its respective antenna(s) 316. Receiver 312 recovers the information modulated on the RF carrier and provides the information to at least one processor 332. Transmitter 314 and receiver 312 implement layer 1 functions related to various signal processing functions. Receiver 312 may perform spatial processing on the information to recover the spatial streams destined for UE302. If multiple spatial streams are destined for UE302, they may be combined by receiver 312 into a single OFDM symbol stream. Receiver 312 then uses a fast Fourier transform (FFT) to convert the OFDM symbol stream from the time domain to the frequency domain. The frequency domain signal comprises a separate OFDM symbol stream for each subcarrier of the OFDM signal. The symbols on each subcarrier and the reference signals are recovered and demodulated by determining the most likely signal constellation points transmitted by base station 304. These soft decisions may be based on the channel estimates calculated by the channel estimator. The soft decisions are then decoded and deinterleaved to recover the data and control signals originally transmitted by base station 304 on the physical channel. The data and control signals are then provided to at least one processor 332 that implements layer 3 (L3) and layer 2 (L2) functions.

[0065]

[0071] In the uplink, at least one processor 332 provides demultiplexing, packet reassembly, decoding, header recovery, and control signal processing between the transport channel and the logical channel to recover IP packets from the core network. At least one processor 332 is also responsible for error detection.

[0066]

[0072] Similar to the functions described for downlink transmission by base station 304, at least one processor 332 performs RRC layer functions related to system information (e.g., MIB, SIB) acquisition, RRC connection, and measurement reporting, PDCP layer functions related to header compression / decompression and security (encryption, decryption, integrity protection, integrity verification), transfer of upper layer PDUs, error correction via ARQ, concatenation, segmentation, and reassembly of RLC SDUs, resegmentation of RLC data PDUs, rearrangement of RLC data PDUs, RLC layer functions 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 hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ), priority handling, and logical channel prioritization.

[0067]

[0073] Channel estimation values derived by a channel estimator from a reference signal or feedback transmitted by base station 304 can be used by transmitter 314 to select an appropriate coding and modulation scheme and to enable spatial processing. The spatial streams generated by transmitter 314 can be provided to one or more different antennas 316. Transmitter 314 can modulate RF carriers with each spatial stream for transmission.

[0068]

[0074] Uplink transmission is processed at base station 304 in a manner similar to the manner described for the receiver function in UE 302. Receiver 352 receives signals through its respective one or more antennas 356. Receiver 352 recovers the information modulated on the RF carrier and provides the information to at least one processor 384.

[0069]

[0075] On the uplink, at least one processor 384 provides demultiplexing between transport channels and logical channels, packet reassembly, decoding, header restoration, and control signal processing to restore IP packets from the UE 302. The IP packets from at least one processor 384 can be provided to the core network. At least one processor 384 is also responsible for error detection.

[0070]

[0076] For the sake of convenience, the UE 302, the base station 304, and / or the network entity 306 are shown in FIGS. 3A - 3C as including various components that can be configured according to the various examples described herein. However, it will be understood that the illustrated blocks may have different functions in different designs.

[0071]

[0077] The various components of the UE 302, the base station 304, and the network entity 306 can communicate with each other via data buses 334, 382, and 392, respectively. The components of FIGS. 3A-3C can be implemented in various ways. In some implementations, the components of FIGS. 3A-3C can be implemented in one or more circuits, such as one or more processors and / or one or more ASICs (which may include one or more processors). Here, each circuit uses at least one memory component for storing information or executable code used by the circuit to provide this function and / or can incorporate it. For example, some or all of the functions represented by blocks 310-346 can be implemented by the processor of the UE 302 and (one or more) memory components (e.g., by execution of appropriate code and / or by appropriate configuration of the processor components). Similarly, some or all of the functions represented by blocks 350-388 can be implemented by the processor of the base station 304 and (one or more) memory components (e.g., by execution of appropriate code and / or by appropriate configuration of the processor components). Also, some or all of the functions represented by blocks 390-398 can be implemented by the processor of the network entity 306 and (one or more) memory components (e.g., by execution of appropriate code and / or by appropriate configuration of the processor components). For simplicity, various operations, actions, and / or functions are described herein as being performed "by the UE", "by the base station", "by the network entity", etc. However, as will be understood, such operations, actions, and / or functions are actually performed by specific components or combinations of components, such as at least one of processors 332, 384, 394, transceivers 310, 320, 350, and 360, memory components 340, 386, and 396, positioning components 342, 388, and 398, etc., of the UE 302, the base station 304, the network entity 306, etc.

[0072]

[0078] To support downlink and uplink transmissions between network nodes (e.g., base stations and UEs), various frame structures can be used. FIG. 4A is a diagram 400 showing an example of a downlink frame structure according to an aspect of the present disclosure. FIG. 4B is a diagram 430 showing an example of channels within the downlink frame structure according to an aspect of the present disclosure. FIG. 4C is a diagram 450 showing an example of an uplink frame structure according to an aspect of the present disclosure. FIG. 4D is a diagram 470 showing an example of channels within the uplink frame structure according to an aspect of the present disclosure. Other wireless communication technologies may have different frame structures and / or different channels.

[0073]

[0079] LTE, and optionally NR, utilize OFDM on the downlink and single-carrier frequency-division multiplexing (SC-FDM) on the uplink. However, unlike LTE, NR has an option to use OFDM on the uplink as well. OFDM and SC-FDM divide the system bandwidth into a plurality (K) of orthogonal subcarriers, also commonly referred to as tones, bins, etc. Each subcarrier can be modulated with data. Generally, modulation symbols are sent in the frequency domain in OFDM and in the time domain in SC-FDM. The spacing between adjacent subcarriers can be fixed, and the total number (K) of subcarriers can depend on the system bandwidth. For example, the subcarrier spacing can be 15 kilohertz (kHz), and the minimum resource allocation (resource block) can be 12 subcarriers (or 180 kHz). Thus, the nominal FFT size can be equal to 128, 256, 512, 1024, or 2048 for system bandwidths of 1.25, 2.5, 5, 10, or 20 megahertz (MHz), respectively. The system bandwidth can also be divided into subbands. For example, a subband can cover 1.08 MHz (i.e., 6 resource blocks), and there can be 1, 2, 4, 8, or 16 subbands for system bandwidths of 1.25, 2.5, 5, 10, or 20 MHz, respectively.

[0074]

[0080] LTE supports a single numerology (such as subcarrier spacing (SCS), symbol length, etc.). In contrast, NR can support multiple numerologies (μ), for example, subcarrier spacings of 15 kHz (μ = 0), 30 kHz (μ = 1), 60 kHz (μ = 2), 120 kHz (μ = 3), and 240 kHz (μ = 4), or larger, may be available. At each subcarrier spacing, there are 14 symbols per slot. For 15 kHz SCS (μ = 0), there is 1 slot per subframe and 10 slots per frame, the slot duration is 1 millisecond (ms), the symbol duration is 66.7 microseconds (μs), and the maximum nominal system bandwidth in MHz with a 4K FFT size is 50. For 30 kHz SCS (μ = 1), there are 2 slots per subframe and 20 slots per frame, the slot duration is 0.5 ms, the symbol duration is 33.3 μs, and the maximum nominal system bandwidth in MHz with a 4K FFT size is 100. For 60 kHz SCS (μ = 2), there are 4 slots per subframe and 40 slots per frame, the slot duration is 0.25 ms, the symbol duration is 16.7 μs, and the maximum nominal system bandwidth in MHz with a 4K FFT size is 200. For 120 kHz SCS (μ = 3), there are 8 slots per subframe and 80 slots per frame, the slot duration is 0.125 ms, the symbol duration is 8.33 μs, and the maximum nominal system bandwidth in MHz with a 4K FFT size is 400. For 240 kHz SCS (μ = 4), there are 16 slots per subframe and 160 slots per frame, the slot duration is 0.0625 ms, the symbol duration is 4.17 μs, and the maximum nominal system bandwidth in MHz with a 4K FFT size is 800.

[0075]

[0081] In the example of FIGS. 4A to 4D, a numerology of 15 kHz is used. Therefore, in the time domain, a 10 ms frame is divided into 10 equal-sized sub-frames of 1 ms each, and each sub-frame contains one time slot. In FIGS. 4A to 4D, time is represented horizontally (on the X-axis), time increases from left to right, frequency is represented vertically (on the Y-axis), and frequency increases (or decreases) from bottom to top.

[0076]

[0082] A resource grid may be used to represent time slots, and each time slot contains one or more time-parallel resource blocks (RBs) (also referred to as physical RBs (PRBs)) in the frequency domain. The resource grid is further divided into a plurality of resource elements (REs). An RE may correspond to one symbol length in the time domain and one sub-carrier in the frequency domain. In the numerology of FIGS. 4A to 4D, for the normal cyclic prefix, an RB may contain 12 consecutive sub-carriers in the frequency domain for a total of 84 REs and may contain 7 consecutive symbols in the time domain. For the extended cyclic prefix, an RB may contain 12 consecutive sub-carriers in the frequency domain for a total of 72 REs and may contain 6 consecutive symbols in the time domain. The number of bits carried by each RE depends on the modulation scheme.

[0077]

[0083] Some of the REs carry downlink reference (pilot) signals (DL-RS). The DL-RS may include PRS, TRS, PTRS, CRS, CSI-RS, DMRS, PSS, SSS, SSB, etc. FIG. 4A shows an exemplary location of REs carrying PRS (labeled "R").

[0078]

[0084] The set of resource elements (REs) used for the transmission of PRS is referred to as the "PRS resource". The set of resource elements can span multiple PRBs in the frequency domain and can span (one or more, etc.) "N" consecutive symbols within a slot in the time domain. In a given OFDM symbol in the time domain, the PRS resource occupies consecutive PRBs in the frequency domain.

[0079]

[0085] The transmission of the PRS resource within a given PRB has a specific (also called "comb density") comb size. The comb size "N" represents the subcarrier spacing (or frequency / tone spacing) within each symbol of the PRS resource configuration. Specifically, in the case of comb size "N", the PRS is transmitted among every Nth subcarrier of the symbol of the PRB. For example, in the case of comb 4, for each symbol of the PRS resource configuration, the REs corresponding to every 4th subcarrier (such as subcarriers 0, 4, 8, etc.) are used to transmit the PRS of the PRS resource. Currently, comb sizes of comb 2, comb 4, comb 6, and comb 12 are supported for DL-PRS. Figure 4A shows an exemplary PRS resource configuration for comb 6 (spanning 6 symbols). That is, the location of the shaded REs (labeled "R") indicates the comb 6 PRS resource configuration.

[0080]

[0086] Currently, the DL-PRS resources can span two, four, six, or twelve consecutive symbols within a slot having a fully frequency-domain staggered pattern. The DL-PRS resources can be configured in any upper-layer configured downlink or flexible (FL) symbol of a slot. There can be a constant resource element unit energy (EPRE) for all the REs of a given DL-PRS resource. The following are the frequency offsets between symbols for comb sizes 2, 4, 6, and 12 spanning two, four, six, and twelve symbols. Comb 2 of 2 symbols: {0,1}, Comb 2 of 4 symbols: {0,1,0,1}, Comb 2 of 6 symbols: {0,1,0,1,0,1}, Comb 2 of 12 symbols: {0,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,1}, Comb 4 of 4 symbols: {0,2,1,3}, Comb 4 of 12 symbols: {0,2,1,3,0,2,1,3,0,2,1,3}, Comb 6 of 6 symbols: {0,3,1,4,2,5}, Comb 6 of 12 symbols: {0,3,1,4,2,5,0,3,1,4,2,5}, and Comb 12 of 12 symbols: {0,6,3,9,1,7,4,10,2,8,5,11}.

[0081]

[0087] A "PRS resource set" is a set of PRS resources used for the transmission of PRS signals, where each PRS resource has a PRS resource ID. Further, the PRS resources in a PRS resource set are associated with the same TRP. The PRS resource set is identified by a PRS resource set ID and is associated with a specific TRP (identified by the TRP ID). Further, the PRS resources in a PRS resource set have the same periodicity, the same common muting pattern configuration, and the same repetition factor (such as "PRS-ResourceRepetitionFactor") across slots. The periodicity is the time from the first repetition of the first PRS resource of the first PRS instance to the first repetition of the same first PRS resource of the next PRS instance. The periodicity can have a length selected from 2^μ*{4,5,8,10,16,20,32,40,64,80,160,320,640,1280,2560,5120,10240} slots, where μ = 0, 1, 2, 3. The repetition factor can have a length selected from {1,2,4,6,8,16,32} slots.

[0082]

[0088] The PRS resource ID in a PRS resource set is associated with a single beam (or beam ID) transmitted from a single TRP (where the TRP can transmit one or more beams). That is, each PRS resource in a PRS resource set can be transmitted on a different beam, and thus, a "PRS resource" or simply a "resource" may be referred to as a "beam". It should be noted that this has no implication regarding whether the TRP and the beam on which the PRS is transmitted are known to the UE.

[0083]

[0089] A "PRS instance" or "PRS occasion" is one instance of a periodically repeating time window (such as a group of one or more consecutive slots) in which a PRS is expected to be transmitted. A PRS occasion may be referred to as a "PRS positioning occasion", "PRS positioning instance", "positioning occasion", "positioning instance", "positioning repetition", or simply "occasion", "instance", or "repetition".

[0084]

[0090] A "positioning frequency layer" (also simply referred to as a "frequency layer") is a set of one or more PRS resource sets across one or more TRPs having the same values for several parameters. Specifically, the set of PRS resource sets has the same subcarrier spacing and cyclic prefix (CP) type (meaning that all numerologies supported for PDSCH are also supported for PRS), the same point A, the same value of the downlink PRS bandwidth, the same starting PRB (and center frequency), and the same comb size. The point A parameter takes the value of the parameter "ARFCN-ValueNR" (where "ARFCN" represents "absolute radio frequency channel number") and is an identifier / code that specifies a pair of physical radio channels used for transmission and reception. The downlink PRS bandwidth (i.e., the area of the bandwidth allocated for the transmission of the downlink PRS) may have a granularity of 4 PRBs, is at least 24 PRBs, and at most 272 PRBs. Currently, up to 4 frequency layers are defined, and up to 2 PRS resource sets can be configured per TRP per frequency layer.

[0085]

[0091] The concept of frequency layer is somewhat similar to the concepts of component carrier and bandwidth part (BWP), but different in that component carriers and BWPs are used by one base station (or macro cell base station and small cell base station) to transmit data channels, while frequency layers are used by several (usually three or more) base stations to transmit PRS. The UE may indicate the number of frequency layers it can support when sending its positioning capabilities to the network, such as during an LTE positioning protocol (LPP) session. For example, the UE may indicate whether it can support one or four positioning frequency layers.

[0086]

[0092] Figure 4B shows an example of various channels within a downlink slot of a radio frame. In NR, the channel bandwidth or system bandwidth is divided into multiple BWPs. A BWP is a contiguous set of PRBs selected from a contiguous subset of common RBs for a given numerology on a given carrier. Generally, up to four BWPs can be specified for both downlink and uplink. That is, the UE may be composed of up to four BWPs on the downlink and up to four BWPs on the uplink. At a given time, only one BWP (either uplink or downlink) can be active, which means that the UE can only receive or transmit on one BWP at a time. On the downlink, the bandwidth of each BWP should be equal to or greater than the bandwidth of the SSB, which may or may not include the SSB.

[0087]

[0093] Referring to FIG. 4B, the primary synchronization signal (PSS) is used by the UE to determine subframe / symbol timing and physical layer identification information. The secondary synchronization signal (SSS) is used by the UE to determine the physical layer cell identification information group number and radio frame timing. Based on the physical layer identification information and the physical layer cell identification information group number, the UE can determine the PCI. Based on the PCI, the UE can determine the location of the above-mentioned DL-RS. The physical broadcast channel (PBCH) carrying the MIB can be logically grouped using the PSS and SSS to form the SSB (also called SS / PBCH). The MIB provides the number of RBs in the downlink system bandwidth and the system frame number (SFN). The physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) carries user data, broadcast system information not transmitted through the PBCH such as the system information block (SIB), and paging messages.

[0088]

[0094] The physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) carries downlink control information (DCI) within one or more control channel elements (CCEs). Each CCE contains one or more resource element group (REG) bundles (which can span multiple symbols in the time domain). Each REG bundle contains one or more REGs. Each REG corresponds to 12 resource elements (one resource block) in the frequency domain and one OFDM symbol in the time domain. The set of physical resources used to carry the PDCCH / DCI is called the control resource set (CORESET) in NR. In NR, the PDCCH is limited to a single CORESET and is transmitted together with its own DMRS. This enables UE-specific beamforming for the PDCCH.

[0089]

[0095] In the example of FIG. 4B, there is one CORESET for each BWP, and the CORESET spans three symbols in the time domain (however, it can be only one or two symbols). Different from the LTE control channel that occupies the entire system bandwidth, in NR, the PDCCH channel is localized in a specific region in the frequency domain (i.e., CORESET). Therefore, the frequency components of the PDCCH shown in FIG. 4B are shown as being smaller than a single BWP in the frequency domain. It should be noted that the illustrated CORESET is continuous in the frequency domain, but it does not have to be continuous. Furthermore, the CORESET can span less than three symbols in the time domain.

[0090]

[0096] Each DCI in the PDCCH carries information regarding uplink resource allocation (persistent and non-persistent), called uplink grant and downlink grant respectively, and a description regarding the downlink data transmitted to the UE. More specifically, the DCI indicates the resources scheduled for the downlink data channel (e.g., PDSCH) and the uplink data channel (e.g., PUSCH). Multiple (e.g., up to eight) DCIs can be configured in the PDCCH, and these DCIs can have one of multiple formats. For example, there are different DCI formats for uplink scheduling, for downlink scheduling, for uplink transmission power control (TPC), etc. The PDCCH can be transported by one, two, four, eight, or sixteen CCEs to adapt to different DCI payload sizes or coding rates.

[0091]

[0097] The following are the currently supported DCI formats. Format 0_0: Fallback for PUSCH scheduling, Format 0_1: Non - fallback for PUSCH scheduling, Format 1_0: Fallback for PDSCH scheduling, Format 1_1: Non - fallback for PDSCH scheduling, Format 2_0: Notifying the UE group of the slot format, Format 2_1: Notifying the UE group that the UE may assume that the transmission is not targeted at the UE for (one or more) PRBs and (one or more) OFDM symbols, Format 2_2: Transmission of TPC commands for PUCCH and PUSCH, and Format 2_3: Transmission of a group of SRS requests and TPC commands for SRS transmission. Note that the fallback format is the default scheduling option that has non - configurable fields and supports basic NR operation. In contrast, the non - fallback format is flexible to adapt to NR features.

[0092]

[0098] As will be appreciated, the UE needs to be able to demodulate (also called "decode") the PDCCH to read the DCI, thereby obtaining the scheduling of the resources allocated to the UE on the PDSCH and PUSCH. If the UE cannot demodulate the PDCCH, the UE does not know the location of the PDSCH resources and the UE continues to attempt to demodulate the PDCCH using a different set of PDCCH candidates in subsequent PDCCH monitoring occasions. If the UE cannot demodulate the PDCCH after a number of attempts, the UE declares a radio link failure (RLF). To overcome PDCCH demodulation problems, the search space is configured for efficient PDCCH detection and demodulation.

[0093]

[0099] Generally, the UE does not attempt to demodulate each and every PDCCH candidate that can be scheduled within a slot. To reduce the restrictions on the PDCCH scheduler and at the same time reduce the number of blind demodulation attempts by the UE, a search space is configured. The search space is indicated by a set of consecutive CCEs for which it is assumed that the UE monitors the scheduling assignments / permissions related to a certain component carrier. There are two types of search spaces used for PDCCH to control each component carrier, the common search space (CSS), and the UE-specific search space (USS).

[0094]

[0100] The common search space is shared across all UEs, and the UE-specific search space is used per UE (i.e., the UE-specific search space is specific to a particular UE). In the case of the common search space, the DCI cyclic redundancy check (CRC) is scrambled using the system information radio network temporary identifier (SI-RNTI), random access RNTI (RA-RNTI), temporary cell RNTI (TC-RNTI), paging RNTI (P-RNTI), interruption RNTI (INT-RNTI), slot format indication RNTI (SFI-RNTI), TPC-PUCCH-RNTI, TPC-PUSCH-RNTI, TPC-SRS-RNTI, cell RNTI (C-RNTI), or configured scheduling RNTI (CS-RNTI) for all common procedures. In the case of the UE-specific search space, since the C-RNTI or CS-RNTI specifically targets an individual UE, the DCI CRC is scrambled using these.

[0095]

[0101] The UE demodulates the PDCCH using four UE-specific search space aggregation levels (1, 2, 4, and 8) and two common search space aggregation levels (4 and 8). Specifically, for the UE-specific search space, the aggregation level "1" has six PDCCH candidates per slot and the size of six CCEs. The aggregation level "2" has six PDCCH candidates per slot and the size of twelve CCEs. The aggregation level "4" has two PDCCH candidates per slot and the size of eight CCEs. The aggregation level "8" has two PDCCH candidates per slot and the size of sixteen CCEs. For the common search space, the aggregation level "4" has four PDCCH candidates per slot and the size of sixteen CCEs. The aggregation level "8" has two PDCCH candidates per slot and the size of sixteen CCEs.

[0096]

[0102] Each search space comprises a group of consecutive CCEs that can be allocated to the PDCCH, called PDCCH candidates. The UE demodulates all of the PDCCH candidates in these two search spaces (USS and CSS) to discover the DCI for that UE. For example, the UE may demodulate the DCI to obtain the scheduled uplink grant information on the PUSCH and the downlink resources on the PDSCH. Note that the aggregation level is the number of REs of the CORESET that carries the PDCCH DCI message, and is expressed in terms of CCEs. There is a one-to-one mapping between the aggregation level and the number of CCEs per aggregation level. That is, for the aggregation level "4", there are four CCEs. Thus, as shown above, when the aggregation level is "4" and the number of PDCCH candidates in the slot is "2", the size of the search space is "8" (i.e., 4 × 2 = 8).

[0097]

[0103] As shown in Figure 4C, some of the REs (labeled "R") carry DMRS for channel estimation at a receiver (e.g., a base station, another UE, etc.). The UE may further transmit SRS, for example, in the last symbol of a slot. The SRS may have a comb structure, and the UE may transmit the SRS on one of the combs. In the example of Figure 4C, the illustrated SRS is a comb 2 spanning one symbol. The SRS may be used by the base station to obtain channel state information (CSI) for each UE. The CSI describes how an RF signal propagates from the UE to the base station and represents the combined effects of scattering, fading, and power attenuation due to distance. The system uses the SRS for resource scheduling, link adaptation, massive MIMO, beam management, etc.

[0098]

[0104] Currently, the SRS resources can span one, two, four, eight, or twelve consecutive symbols within a slot having a comb size of comb 2, comb 4, or comb 8. The following are the frequency offsets between symbols for the currently supported SRS comb patterns. One-symbol comb 2: {0}, two-symbol comb 2: {0,1}, four-symbol comb 2: {0,1,0,1}, four-symbol comb 4: {0,2,1,3}, eight-symbol comb 4: {0,2,1,3,0,2,1,3}, twelve-symbol comb 4: {0,2,1,3,0,2,1,3,0,2,1,3}, four-symbol comb 8: {0,4,2,6}, eight-symbol comb 8: {0,4,2,6,1,5,3,7}, and twelve-symbol comb 8: {0,4,2,6,1,5,3,7,0,4,2,6}.

[0099]

[0105] The set of resource elements used for the transmission of SRS is called an "SRS resource" and can be identified by the parameter "SRS-ResourceId". The set of resource elements can span multiple PRBs in the frequency domain and can span N (e.g., one or more) consecutive symbols within a slot in the time domain. In a given OFDM symbol, the SRS resource occupies consecutive PRBs. An "SRS resource set" is a set of SRS resources used for the transmission of SRS signals and is identified by an SRS resource set ID ("SRS-ResourceSetId").

[0100]

[0106] Generally, a UE transmits SRS to enable a receiving base station (either a serving base station or a neighboring base station) to measure the channel quality between the UE and the base station. However, SRS can also be specifically configured as an uplink positioning reference signal for uplink-based positioning procedures such as uplink time difference of arrival (UL-TDOA), round trip time (RTT), uplink angle of arrival (UL-AoA). The term "SRS" as used herein can refer to SRS configured for channel quality measurement or SRS configured for positioning purposes. When it is necessary to distinguish between those two types of SRS, the former may be referred to herein as "SRS-for-communication" and / or the latter may be referred to as "SRS-for-positioning".

[0101]

[0107] Several extensions to the previous definition of SRS are proposed for positioning SRS (also referred to as "UL-PRS"), such as a new staggered pattern within the SRS resource (excluding the comb 2 of a single symbol), a new comb type for SRS, a new sequence for SRS, a higher number of SRS resource sets per component carrier, and a higher number of SRS resources per component carrier. Further, the parameters "SpatialRelationInfo" and "PathLossReference" should be configured based on the downlink reference signal or SSB from neighboring TRPs. Additionally, one SRS resource can be transmitted outside the active BWP, and one SRS resource can span across multiple component carriers. Also, SRS is configured in the RRC connected state and can be transmitted only within the active BWP. Furthermore, there can be frequency hopping, no repetition factor, a single antenna port, and new lengths for SRS (e.g., 8 and 12 symbols). There can also be open-loop power control and no closed-loop power control, and comb 8 (i.e., SRS transmitted in every 8th subcarrier within the same symbol) can be used. Finally, the UE can transmit through the same transmit beam from multiple SRS resources for UL-AoA. All of these are features added to the current SRS framework, and they are configured through RRC upper layer signaling (and potentially triggered or activated through MAC control elements (CE) or DCI).

[0102]

[0108] FIG. 4D shows an example of various channels within an uplink slot of a frame according to an aspect of the present disclosure. The random access channel (RACH), also referred to as the physical random access channel (PRACH), can be in one or more slots within a frame based on the PRACH configuration. The PRACH can include six consecutive RB pairs within a slot. The PRACH enables a UE to perform an initial system access and achieve uplink synchronization. The physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) can be located on the edge of the uplink system bandwidth. The PUCCH carries uplink control information (UCI) such as scheduling requests, CSI reports, channel quality indicator (CQI), precoding matrix indicator (PMI), rank indicator (RI), and HARQ ACK / NACK feedback. The physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH) carries data and can be further used to carry a buffer status report (BSR), a power headroom report (PHR), and / or UCI.

[0103]

[0109] Note that the terms "positioning reference signal" and "PRS" generally refer to the specific reference signals used for positioning in NR and LTE systems. However, as used herein, the terms "positioning reference signal" and "PRS" may refer to any type of reference signal that can be used for positioning, including but not limited to PRS, TRS, PTRS, CRS, CSI-RS, DMRS, PSS, SSS, SSB, SRS, UL-PRS, etc., defined in LTE and NR. Further, the terms "positioning reference signal" and "PRS" may refer to downlink or uplink positioning reference signals, unless otherwise specified by the context. When it is necessary to further distinguish the types of PRS, the downlink positioning reference signal may be referred to as "DL-PRS", and the uplink positioning reference signal (e.g., SRS for positioning, PTRS) may be referred to as "UL-PRS". Further, in the case of signals that can be transmitted in both uplink and downlink (e.g., DMRS, PTRS), those signals may be prefixed with "UL" or "DL" to distinguish the direction. For example, "UL-DMRS" may be distinguished from "DL-DMRS".

[0104]

[0110] Figures 5A and 5B show various comb patterns supported for PRS within a resource block. In Figures 5A and 5B, time is represented in the horizontal direction and frequency is represented in the vertical direction. Each large block in Figures 5A and 5B represents a resource block, and each small block represents a resource element. As described above, a resource element consists of one symbol in the time domain and one subcarrier in the frequency domain. In the example of Figures 5A and 5B, each resource block comprises 14 symbols in the time domain and 12 subcarriers in the frequency domain. The shaded resource elements carry or are scheduled to carry the PRS. Thus, the shaded resource elements in each resource block correspond to the PRS resource, or a portion of the PRS resource within one resource block (since the PRS resource can span multiple resource blocks in the frequency domain).

[0105]

[0111] The illustrated comb patterns correspond to the various PRS comb patterns described above. Specifically, Figure 5A shows the DL-PRS comb pattern 510 for comb 2 with two symbols, the DL-PRS comb pattern 520 for comb 4 with four symbols, the DL-PRS comb pattern 530 for comb 6 with six symbols, and the DL-PRS comb pattern 540 for comb 12 with twelve symbols. Figure 5B shows the UL-PRS comb pattern 550 for comb 2 with two symbols, the UL-PRS comb pattern 560 for comb 4 with four symbols, the UL-PRS comb pattern 570 for comb 8 with eight symbols, and the UL-PRS comb pattern 580 for comb 8 with twelve symbols.

[0106]

[0112] In the exemplary comb pattern of FIG. 5A, it should be noted that the resource elements on which the DL-PRS is transmitted are staggered in the frequency domain such that there is only one such resource element per subcarrier over a configured number of symbols. For example, in the case of the DL-PRS comb pattern 520, there is only one resource element per subcarrier over 4 symbols. This is referred to as "frequency domain staggering". As mentioned, some of the UL-PRS comb patterns in FIG. 5B are also staggered in the frequency domain such that there is only one such resource element per subcarrier over a configured number of symbols.

[0107]

[0113] As shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, there is some PRS resource symbol offset (given by the parameter "DL-PRS-ResourceSymbolOffset" for DL-PRS and "SRS-ResourceSymbolOffset" for UL-PRS) from the first symbol of the resource block to the first symbol of the PRS resource. In the example of the DL-PRS comb pattern 510, the offset is 3 symbols. In the example of the DL-PRS comb pattern 520, the offset is 8 symbols. In the examples of the DL-PRS comb patterns 530 and 540, the offset is 2 symbols. In the example of the UL-PRS comb pattern 550, the offset is 3 symbols. In the example of the UL-PRS comb pattern 560, the offset is 8 symbols. In the examples of the UL-PRS comb patterns 570 and 580, the offset is 2 symbols.

[0108]

[0114] The PRS (both uplink and downlink) defined in both NR LTE supports comb staggering, but the PRS defined in NR uses a different offset sequence from the PRS in LTE, and the related comb size may vary. In comb staggering, as briefly mentioned above, consecutive OFDM symbols have the same comb density (or comb size), but the tones (subcarriers) occupied are different across all symbols of the PRS resource configuration so that all tones are occupied. This is shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B. For example, as shown by the DL-PRS comb pattern 520, each symbol of the DL-PRS comb pattern 520 contains three REs (shaded REs) that carry the PRS. These REs are staggered in the frequency domain across the four symbols of the DL-PRS comb pattern 520 such that the REs carrying the PRS occupy each tone of the PRB.

[0109]

[0115] A receiver can, for example, de-stagger a PRS resource (e.g., a PRS resource having one of the comb patterns shown in FIG. 5A) to generate a comb 1 signal (a signal that occupies each tone of the symbols of a PRB). That is, the receiver (regardless of whether it is a base station or a UE) can "synthesize" the REs of the PRS resource so that all of the REs carrying the PRS appear to be transmitted on a single symbol and thus on consecutive PRBs in the frequency domain.

[0110]

[0116] As the REs of the PRS resources are staggered over multiple symbols (as shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B), they may overlap (and thus interfere / conflict) with other transmissions scheduled for one or more of those symbols. To avoid such interference, NR provides downlink preemption of DL-PRS and cancellation of UL-PRS. Specifically, a downlink preemption indicator (PI) instructs the UE that some previously received symbols should not be processed. An uplink cancellation indicator (CI) instructs the UE to avoid UL-PRS transmissions on some symbols.

[0111]

[0117] The cancellation indication is defined in 3GPP Technical Specification (TS) 38.213, which is publicly available and incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. The UE receives cancellation indication parameters from the serving cell in DCI, specifically, in DCI format 2_4. DCI format 2_4 is defined in 3GPP TS 38.212, which is publicly available and incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. DCI format 2_4 is used to notify the UE of the (one or more) PRBs and (one or more) OFDM symbols for which the UE is expected to cancel (one or more) uplink transmissions, specifically, PUSCH and SRS, in between. DCI format 2_4 is scrambled using a separate cancellation indication radio network temporary identifier (CI-RNTI). Currently, there is a separate cancellation indication for each component carrier (since the UE transmits only on the (one or more) serving cells, only the serving cell).

[0112]

[0118] The UE, through RRC signaling, T CI a number of symbols (excluding the symbols for receiving the SS / PBCH block and downlink symbols), and B CIIt can be composed in the time - frequency domain of individual PRBs, and the time domain starts “k2” after the reception of DCI with CI (i.e., DCI format 2_4). T CI The symbols can be divided into G CI groups of approximately equal size (either all groups are of the same size or, if T CI / G CI is not an integer, it means having at most two different sizes). For each group, B CI individual PRBs are also divided into groups of approximately equal size. Separate cancellation bits exist in DCI format 2_4 for each PRB group within each symbol group.

[0113]

[0119] The indication by DCI format 2_4 for the serving cell is applicable to PUSCH or SRS transmission on the serving cell. If the scheduled PUSCH or SRS overlaps / conflicts with any of the indicated time - frequency group regions, at least the overlapping PUSCH or SRS symbols are cancelled. In the case of PUSCH, all symbols starting from the earliest overlapping symbol are cancelled, while in the case of SRS, only the overlapping symbols are cancelled. It should be noted that in the case of PUSCH, this means that even if later symbols do not overlap at all with the indicated region, they can still be cancelled. This is for avoiding phase discontinuity when “resuming” transmission because the “old” DMRS (transmitted before cancellation) can no longer be used for channel estimation. However, in the case of SRS, this is not necessary because it is not used as a phase reference for any other channel.

[0114]

[0120] For example, referring to FIG. 5B, in the case of the UL-PRS pattern 560, if the first and second symbols are to be canceled, only the REs carrying UL-PRS among the remaining two symbols will exist, resulting in a one-tone gap (or discontinuity) between each RE carrying UL-PRS when despreading.

[0115]

[0121] This discontinuity in the frequency for SRS may be acceptable when SRS is not used for positioning, but when SRS is used for positioning, it may affect the accuracy of the relevant positioning measurement values (e.g., time of arrival (ToA), reference signal time difference (RSTD), etc.). More specifically, if the positioning SRS is discontinuous in frequency, it may not be coherently despread due to the phase discontinuity. Therefore, the present disclosure provides a technique for uplink cancellation for UL-PRS (i.e., positioning SRS).

[0116]

[0122] In one aspect, the cancellation behavior for UL-PRS can depend on the stagger pattern of the UL-PRS resource configuration. For example, a UL-PRS symbol cancellation group can be defined that indicates a group of staggered symbols that are combined and destaggered to generate the comb1 signal. For example, referring to FIG. 5B, the UL-PRS symbol cancellation group can be defined to include the 4th and 5th symbols of the UL-PRS comb pattern 550, the 9th to 12th symbols of the UL-PRS comb pattern 560, or 8 symbols of the UL-PRS comb pattern 570. A UL-PRS symbol cancellation group can be defined that includes (1) starting from the first UL-PRS symbol of the PRB (e.g., the 4th, 9th, 3rd, and 3rd symbols of the UL-PRS comb patterns 550, 560, 570, and 580, respectively), (2) starting from the first UL-PRS symbol that overlaps with the canceled time-frequency unit in accordance with CI, (3) starting from the first UL-PRS symbol of the canceled time-frequency unit as indicated in CI and up to the last symbol, or (4) all symbols except for the maximum length of consecutive PRS symbols within the entire affected PRS group.

[0117]

[0123] The third option above works well in the following scenario. If there is UL-PRS for comb8 and CI indicates that symbols "2" and "3" should be canceled, since three symbols may contain more UL-PRS tones for positioning, instead of canceling all symbols or canceling symbols "2" to "8", it may be better to transmit UL-PRS in symbols "4" to "8" and cancel symbols "1" to "3".

[0118]

[0124] The above fourth option may be implicitly derived or explicitly assigned. The motivation is that the maximum UL-PRS tones for positioning can be reserved. For example, if there is UL-PRS for Com 8 and the CI indicates that symbols "1", "6", and "7" are cancelled, it may be beneficial for the UE to cancel symbols "1" and "6" to "8" and transmit PRS over symbols "2" to "5". On the other hand, it is possible to have multiple consecutive UL-PRS symbols of the same length. For example, if the UL-PRS pattern is Com 8 with CIs of "4" and "5", it will function to transmit over either symbols "1" to "3" or "6" to "8". Which block to use may be based on implicit rules (e.g., the reserved first UL-PRS block, the last UL-PRS block), or explicit configuration from the base station.

[0119]

[0125] Figure 6 shows various UL-PRS cancellation options according to an aspect of the present disclosure. In Figure 6, time is represented in the horizontal direction and frequency is represented in the vertical direction. Each large block in Figure 6 represents a resource block, and each small block represents a resource element. In the example of Figure 6, each resource block includes 14 symbols in the time domain and 12 subcarriers in the frequency domain. The shaded resource elements carry or are scheduled to carry UL-PRS (e.g., SRS for positioning). Thus, the shaded resource elements in each resource block correspond to the UL-PRS resource or a portion of the UL-PRS resource within one resource block (since the UL-PRS resource can span multiple resource blocks in the frequency domain).

[0120]

[0126] Each resource block is associated with a CI provided by DCI format 2_4. The CI indicates two symbols in each resource block (enclosed by the dashed rectangle). As shown in scenario 610, all UL-PRS symbols within the resource block will be cancelled. That is, the UL-PRS symbol cancellation group includes all UL-PRS symbols of the resource block. As shown in scenario 620, the UL-PRS symbols starting from the two symbols indicated by the CI will be cancelled. That is, the UL-PRS symbol cancellation group includes the UL-PRS symbols of the resource block starting from the CI. As shown in scenario 630, the UL-PRS symbols up to and including the two symbols indicated by the CI will be cancelled. That is, the UL-PRS symbol cancellation group includes the UL-PRS symbols of the resource block up to and including the CI. As shown in scenario 640, either the UL-PRS symbols up to and including the two symbols indicated by the CI will be cancelled, or the UL-PRS symbols starting from the two symbols indicated by the CI will be cancelled. That is, the UL-PRS symbol cancellation group includes the UL-PRS symbols of the resource block up to and including the CI, or starting from the CI.

[0121]

[0127] Using the UL-PRS symbol cancellation group currently enables various alternatives to cancel only the affected / duplicated / competing symbols, as in the case of non-SRS-for-positioning. For example, the UE can cancel all symbols within the UL-PRS symbol cancellation group, or all remaining symbols within the UL-PRS symbol cancellation group (starting from the earliest duplicated symbol).

[0122]

[0128] The cancellation behavior may also depend on the number of UL-PRS symbol / stagger groups. For example, the UE may follow one behavior if there is only one UL-PRS symbol cancellation group and another behavior otherwise. More specifically, when the UL-PRS symbol cancellation group contains only one set of UL-PRS, which means that the UL-PRS has a filling factor of "1" (for example, for the 8 symbols for comb 8 as in the UL-PRS comb pattern 570 in Fig. 5B), it may be better to cancel a part of the set instead of the full set. Thus, when the UL-PRS symbol cancellation group contains multiple UL-PRS periods with a repetition factor greater than 1, the cancellation may be for all periods (for example, if given 16 symbols for comb 8, the first 8 symbols may be cancelled).

[0123]

[0129] The cancellation behavior described herein can be achieved without a special new rule for the UE to follow (i.e., the UE can continue to follow the current non-positioning SRS approach). Specifically, the base station can instruct the UE of all symbols to be cancelled according to the rules disclosed herein. However, this can be too restrictive. For example, if multiple UEs share the same CI-RNTI except for different SRS configurations, both may cancel excessively. This problem can be solved by allocating a separate CI-RNTI to the UE, but with the drawback of increased PDCCH overhead.

[0124]

[0130] In some cases, the UL-PRS may also be intended to be listened to by a non-serving cell (e.g., in the case of RSTD measurements for uplink time-difference of arrival (UL-TDOA) techniques). Accordingly, spatial relationships and path loss criteria may be configured for the non-serving cell. However, the UL-PRS resource configuration is still provided by the serving cell, which means that cancellation control is still provided by the serving cell. Accordingly, the cancellation behavior disclosed herein may differ for UL-PRS targeted at non-serving cells and UL-PRS targeted at serving cells. The "targeted" cell may be determined by spatial relationships and / or path loss criteria. The "targeted" cell means that cancellation for UL-PRS for a particular cell can be implicitly inferred from spatial relationships and / or path loss criteria.

[0125]

[0131] Currently, DCI format 2_4 is not distinguished by the TRP index. Multi-TRP operation is only applicable to PDSCH, where a separate CORESET pool is configured for DCI monitoring from each TRP. In the future, there may similarly be a separate CORESET pool for DCI format 2_4. Accordingly, the set of UL-PRS to be cancelled may be associated with the TRP index at which cancellation is received. For example, the (one or more) CIs of the first TRP may cancel only the UL-PRS targeted at the serving cell, and the (one or more) CIs of the second TRP may cancel only the UL-PRS targeted at the non-serving cell. Note that the TRP may also belong to different base stations (gNBs).

[0126]

[0132] FIG. 7 shows an exemplary method 700 of wireless communication according to an aspect of the present disclosure. In one aspect, method 700 may be performed by a UE (e.g., any of the UEs described herein).

[0127]

[0133] At 710, the UE receives a UL-PRS resource configuration from a serving cell (e.g., any serving cell of the base stations described herein), and the UL-PRS resource configuration includes a plurality of N REs staggered in frequency over a plurality of M consecutive symbols of an RB, as shown by the UL-PRS patterns 550-580 in FIG. 5B, such that the plurality of N REs span a plurality of N consecutive subcarriers of the RB. In one aspect, operation 710 may be performed by at least one WWAN transceiver 310, at least one processor 332, a memory component 340, and / or a positioning component 342, any or all of which may be regarded as means for performing this operation.

[0128]

[0134] At 720, the UE receives an indication of a PRS symbol cancellation group to be used for uplink cancellation from the serving cell, and the PRS symbol cancellation group identifies a set of L symbols out of a plurality of M consecutive symbols that are expected to be cancelled for uplink transmission. In one aspect, operation 720 may be performed by at least one WWAN transceiver 310, at least one processor 332, a memory component 340, and / or a positioning component 342, any or all of which may be regarded as means for performing this operation.

[0129]

[0135] At 730, the UE cancels the transmission of UL-PRS on one or more of the set of L symbols identified by the PRS symbol cancellation group. In one aspect, operation 730 may be performed by at least one WWAN transceiver 310, at least one processor 332, a memory component 340, and / or a positioning component 342, any or all of which may be regarded as means for performing this operation.

[0130]

[0136] FIG. 8 shows an exemplary method 800 of wireless communication according to an aspect of the present disclosure. In one aspect, method 800 may be performed by a serving cell (e.g., a serving cell of any of the base stations described herein).

[0131]

[0137] At 810, the serving cell transmits a UL-PRS resource configuration to a UE (e.g., any of the UEs described herein), the UL-PRS resource configuration comprising a plurality of N REs staggered in frequency over a plurality of M consecutive symbols of an RB, as shown by the UL-PRS comb patterns 550-580 in FIG. 5B, whereby the plurality of N REs span a plurality of N consecutive subcarriers of the RB. In one aspect, operation 810 may be performed by at least one WWAN transceiver 350, at least one processor 384, a memory component 386, and / or a positioning component 388, any or all of which may be regarded as means for performing this operation.

[0132]

[0138] At 820, the serving cell transmits an indication of a UL-PRS symbol cancellation group to be used for uplink cancellation by the UE, the UL-PRS symbol cancellation group identifying a set of L symbols out of a plurality of M consecutive symbols that are expected to be cancelled for uplink transmission. In one aspect, operation 820 may be performed by at least one WWAN transceiver 350, at least one processor 384, a memory component 386, and / or a positioning component 388, any or all of which may be regarded as means for performing this operation.

[0133]

[0139] It is understood that the technical advantages of methods 700 and 800 are reduced discontinuities in the time (phase) and frequency domains for UL-PRS (i.e., SRS for positioning) used for positioning, thereby improving positioning accuracy.

[0134]

[0140] In the foregoing detailed description, it can be seen that different features are grouped by way of example. This style of disclosure should not be understood as intending that the exemplary clauses have more features than are explicitly recited in each clause. Rather, the various aspects of the present disclosure may include fewer than all of the features of the individual exemplary clauses disclosed. Accordingly, the following clauses should be considered to be incorporated herein, and each clause can exist as a separate example by itself. Each dependent clause can refer in the clause to a particular combination with one of the other clauses, but the (one or more) aspects of that dependent clause are not limited to the particular combination. It will be understood that other exemplary clauses can also include combinations of (one or more) aspects of dependent clauses with the subject matter of any other dependent or independent clause, or any combination of features with other dependent and independent clauses. The various aspects disclosed herein do not explicitly include these combinations unless it is explicitly stated or can be readily inferred that a particular combination (such as defining an element as both an insulator and a conductor, an inconsistent aspect) is not intended. Further, it is also intended that an aspect of a clause can be included in any other independent clause, even if that clause is not directly dependent on that independent clause.

[0135]

[0141] Implementation examples are described in the following numbered clauses.

[0136]

[0142] Clause 1. A method of wireless communication performed by a user equipment (UE), comprising: receiving an uplink positioning reference signal (UL-PRS) resource configuration from a serving cell, the UL-PRS resource configuration comprising a plurality of N resource elements (REs) staggered in frequency over a plurality of M consecutive symbols of a resource block (RB), such that the plurality of N REs span a plurality of N consecutive subcarriers of the RB; receiving an indication of a PRS symbol cancellation group to be used for uplink cancellation from the serving cell, the PRS symbol cancellation group identifying a set of a plurality of M consecutive symbols to be cancelled for uplink transmission; and cancelling transmission of the UL-PRS on one or more of the set of the plurality of M consecutive symbols identified by the PRS symbol cancellation group.

[0137]

[0143] Clause 2. The method according to clause 1, wherein the set of the plurality of M consecutive symbols comprises all symbols of the plurality of M consecutive symbols.

[0138]

[0144] Clause 3. The method according to clause 2, wherein the PRS symbol cancellation group is defined to start from the first symbol of the plurality of M consecutive symbols.

[0139]

[0145] Clause 4. The method according to clause 1, wherein the PRS symbol cancellation group comprises all symbols of the plurality of M consecutive symbols that conflict with other traffic based on current scheduling from the serving cell and / or one or more neighboring cells.

[0140]

[0146] The method according to clause 1, wherein the PRS symbol cancellation group includes any symbol after the first symbol of a plurality of M consecutive symbols that conflicts with other traffic based on the current scheduling from the serving cell and / or one or more neighboring cells.

[0141]

[0147] The method according to clause 1, wherein the PRS symbol cancellation group is defined as including any symbol before the last symbol of a plurality of M consecutive symbols that conflicts with other traffic based on the current scheduling from the serving cell and / or one or more neighboring cells.

[0142]

[0148] The method according to clause 1, wherein the PRS symbol cancellation group is defined as including any symbol among a plurality of M consecutive symbols excluding the maximum length of consecutive UL-PRS symbols.

[0143]

[0149] The method according to any one of clauses 1 to 7, wherein one or more of the sets of a plurality of M consecutive symbols comprise all the symbols of the plurality of M consecutive symbols.

[0144]

[0150] The method according to any one of clauses 1 to 7, wherein one or more of the sets of a plurality of M consecutive symbols comprise all the symbols remaining in the PRS symbol cancellation group from the first symbol of the plurality of M consecutive symbols that conflicts with other traffic based on the current scheduling from the serving cell and / or one or more neighboring cells.

[0145]

[0151] The method according to any one of clauses 1 to 9, wherein the UE receives a plurality of PRS symbol cancellation groups.

[0146]

[0152] Clause 11. The method according to any one of Clauses 1 to 10, wherein the UE receives an indication of a PRS symbol cancellation group in downlink control information (DCI) from the serving cell.

[0147]

[0153] Clause 12. An apparatus comprising a memory, a communication interface, and at least one processor communicatively coupled to the memory and the communication interface, wherein the memory, the communication interface, and the at least one processor are configured to perform the method according to any one of Clauses 1 to 11.

[0148]

[0154] Clause 13. An apparatus comprising means for performing the method according to any one of Clauses 1 to 11.

[0149]

[0155] Clause 14. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing computer-executable instructions, the computer-executable instructions comprising at least one instruction for causing a computer or a processor to perform the method according to any one of Clauses 1 to 11.

[0150]

[0156] Additional implementation examples are described in the following numbered clauses.

[0151]

[0157] Clause 1. A method of wireless communication performed by a user equipment (UE), comprising: receiving an uplink positioning reference signal (UL-PRS) resource configuration from a serving cell, the UL-PRS resource configuration comprising a plurality of N resource elements (REs) staggered in frequency over a plurality of M consecutive symbols of a resource block (RB), whereby the plurality of N REs span a plurality of N consecutive subcarriers of the RB; receiving an indication of a UL-PRS symbol cancellation group to be used for uplink cancellation from the serving cell, the UL-PRS symbol cancellation group identifying a set of L symbols out of the plurality of M consecutive symbols expected to be cancelled for uplink transmission; and cancelling transmission of UL-PRS on one or more symbols of the set of L symbols identified by the UL-PRS symbol cancellation group.

[0152]

[0158] Clause 2. The method according to Clause 1, wherein the set of L symbols comprises all symbols of the plurality of M consecutive symbols.

[0153]

[0159] Clause 3. The method according to Clause 2, wherein the set of L symbols is defined as starting from the first symbol of the plurality of M consecutive symbols.

[0154]

[0160] Clause 4. The method according to Clause 1, wherein the set of L symbols comprises all symbols of the plurality of M consecutive symbols that conflict with other traffic based on current scheduling from the serving cell and / or one or more neighboring cells.

[0155]

[0161] Clause 5. The method according to Clause 1, wherein the set of L symbols comprises any symbol after the first symbol of the plurality of M consecutive symbols that conflict with other traffic based on current scheduling from the serving cell and / or one or more neighboring cells.

[0156]

[0162] The method according to clause 1, wherein the set of L symbols is defined to include any symbol before the last symbol of a plurality of M consecutive symbols that compete with other traffic based on current scheduling from a serving cell and / or one or more neighboring cells.

[0157]

[0163] The method according to clause 1, wherein the set of L symbols is defined to include any symbol among a plurality of M consecutive symbols that is less than the maximum length of consecutive UL-PRS symbols.

[0158]

[0164] The method according to any one of clauses 1 to 7, wherein one or more of the set of L symbols comprise all symbols of a plurality of M consecutive symbols.

[0159]

[0165] The method according to any one of clauses 1 to 7, wherein one or more of the set of L symbols comprise all symbols remaining in the set of L symbols from the first symbol of a plurality of M consecutive symbols that compete with other traffic scheduled for a serving cell and / or one or more neighboring cells.

[0160]

[0166] The method according to any one of clauses 1 to 9, wherein the set of L symbols among a plurality of M consecutive symbols is identified based on whether the UL-PRS transmission is directed to a serving cell or one or more neighboring cells, and the method further comprises determining, based on spatial relationship criteria, whether the UL-PRS transmission is directed to a serving cell or one or more neighboring cells.

[0161]

[0167] The method according to any one of clauses 1 to 10, further comprising receiving a plurality of UL-PRS symbol cancellation groups.

[0162]

[0168] Clause 12. The method according to any one of Clauses 1 to 11, wherein the UE receives an indication of a UL-PRS symbol cancellation group during downlink control information (DCI), medium access control control element (MAC-CE), or radio resource control (RRC) signaling from a serving cell.

[0163]

[0169] Clause 13. A method of wireless communication performed by a serving cell, comprising transmitting an uplink positioning reference signal (UL-PRS) resource configuration to a UE, the UL-PRS resource configuration comprising a plurality of N resource elements (REs) staggered in frequency over a plurality of M consecutive symbols of a resource block (RB), whereby the plurality of N REs span a plurality of N consecutive subcarriers of the RB; transmitting an indication of a UL-PRS symbol cancellation group to be used for uplink cancellation to the UE, the UL-PRS symbol cancellation group identifying a set of L symbols out of the plurality of M consecutive symbols that are expected to be cancelled for uplink transmission.

[0164]

[0170] Clause 14. The method according to Clause 13, wherein the set of L symbols comprises all the symbols of the plurality of M consecutive symbols.

[0165]

[0171] Clause 15. The method according to Clause 14, wherein the set of L symbols is defined as starting from the first symbol of the plurality of M consecutive symbols.

[0166]

[0172] Clause 16. The method according to Clause 13, wherein the set of L symbols comprises all the symbols of the plurality of M consecutive symbols that conflict with other traffic based on current scheduling from the serving cell and / or one or more neighboring cells.

[0167]

[0173] Method according to clause 13, wherein the set of L symbols includes any symbol after the first symbol of a plurality of M consecutive symbols that compete with other traffic based on the current scheduling from the serving cell and / or one or more neighboring cells.

[0168]

[0174] Method according to clause 13, wherein the set of L symbols is defined as including any symbol before the last symbol of a plurality of M consecutive symbols that compete with other traffic based on the current scheduling from the serving cell and / or one or more neighboring cells.

[0169]

[0175] Method according to clause 13, wherein the set of L symbols is defined as including any symbol among a plurality of M consecutive symbols that are less than the maximum length of consecutive UL-PRS symbols.

[0170]

[0176] Method according to any one of clauses 13 to 19, further comprising transmitting a plurality of UL-PRS symbol cancellation groups to the UE.

[0171]

[0177] Method according to any one of clauses 13 to 21, further comprising measuring a subset of UL-PRS defined by the UL-PRS resource configuration based on uplink cancellation.

[0172]

[0178] Method according to any one of clauses 13 to 21, further comprising measuring a subset of UL-PRS defined by the UL-PRS resource configuration based on uplink cancellation.

[0173]

[0179] Clause 23. An apparatus comprising a memory, a communication interface, and at least one processor communicatively coupled to the memory and the communication interface, wherein the memory, the communication interface, and the at least one processor are configured to perform the method according to any one of Clauses 1 to 22.

[0174]

[0180] Clause 24. An apparatus comprising means for performing the method according to any one of Clauses 1 to 22.

[0175]

[0181] Clause 25. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing computer-executable instructions, wherein the computer-executable instructions comprise at least one instruction for causing a computer or a processor to perform the method according to any one of Clauses 1 to 22.

[0176]

[0182] Those skilled in the art will understand that information and signals can be represented using any of a variety of different technologies and techniques. For example, data, instructions, commands, information, signals, bits, symbols, and chips that may be referred to throughout the above description may be represented by voltage, current, electromagnetic waves, magnetic fields or magnetic particles, optical fields or optical particles, or any combination thereof.

[0177]

[0183] Furthermore, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the various illustrative logical blocks, modules, circuits, and algorithm steps described in connection with the aspects disclosed herein can be implemented as electronic hardware, computer software, or a combination of both. To clearly illustrate this interchangeability of hardware and software, various illustrative components, blocks, modules, circuits, and steps have been described above generally in terms of their functionality. Whether such functionality is implemented as hardware or software depends upon the particular application and design constraints imposed on the overall system. Those skilled in the art may implement the described functionality in varying ways for each particular application, but such implementation decisions should not be interpreted as causing a departure from the scope of the present disclosure.

[0178]

[0184] The various illustrative logical blocks, modules, and circuits described in connection with the aspects disclosed herein can be implemented or performed using a general purpose processor, a DSP, an ASIC, an FPGA, or other programmable logic device, discrete gates or transistor logic, discrete hardware components, or any combination thereof designed to perform the functions described herein. A general purpose processor may be a microprocessor, but in the alternative, the processor may be any conventional processor, controller, microcontroller, or state machine. The processor may also be implemented as a combination of computing devices, e.g., a combination of a DSP and a microprocessor, a plurality of microprocessors, one or more microprocessors in conjunction with a DSP core, or any other such configuration.

[0179]

[0185] The methods, sequences and / or algorithms described in connection with the aspects disclosed in this specification may be implemented directly in hardware, in software modules executed by a processor, or in a combination of the two. The software modules may reside in random access memory (RAM), flash memory, read-only memory (ROM), erasable programmable ROM (EPROM), electrically erasable programmable ROM (EEPROM (registered trademark)), registers, hard disk, removable disk, CD-ROM, or any other form of storage medium known in the art. An exemplary storage medium is coupled to the processor such that the processor can read information from, and write information to, the storage medium. Alternatively, the storage medium may be integral to the processor. The processor and the storage medium may reside in an ASIC. The ASIC may reside in a user terminal (e.g., UE). Alternatively, the processor and the storage medium may reside as discrete components in a user terminal.

[0180]

[0186] In one or more exemplary embodiments, the described functions may be implemented in hardware, software, firmware, or any combination thereof. If implemented in software, the functions may be stored on or transmitted over as one or more instructions or code on a computer-readable medium. The computer-readable medium includes both a computer storage medium and a communication medium including any medium that facilitates transfer of a computer program from one place to another. The storage medium may be any available medium that can be accessed by a computer. By way of example, and not limitation, such computer-readable medium can comprise RAM, ROM, EEPROM, CD-ROM or other optical disk storage, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or any other medium that can be used to carry or store desired program code in the form of instructions or data structures and that can be accessed by a computer. Any connection is properly a computer-readable medium. For example, if software is transmitted from a website, server, or other remote source using a coaxial cable, fiber optic cable, twisted pair, digital subscriber line (DSL), or wireless technologies such as infrared, radio, and microwave, the coaxial cable, fiber optic cable, twisted pair, DSL, or wireless technologies such as infrared, radio, and microwave are included in the definition of medium. As used herein, the disk and disc includes compact disc (CD), laser disc (registered trademark), optical disc, digital versatile disc (DVD), floppy disk (registered trademark) and Blu-ray (registered trademark) disc, where the disk usually magnetically reproduces data, and the disc optically reproduces data with a laser. Combinations of the above should also be included within the scope of computer-readable medium.

[0181]

[0187] Although the above disclosure shows exemplary aspects of the present disclosure, it should be noted that various changes and modifications can be made herein without departing from the scope of the present disclosure as defined by the appended patent claims. The functions, steps, and / or actions of the method claims according to the aspects of the present disclosure described herein need not be performed in a particular order. Further, elements of the present disclosure may be described or claimed in the singular, but the plural is contemplated unless expressly stated to be limited to the singular. The invention described in the claims of the present application at the time of filing is appended below. [C1] A method of wireless communication performed by a user equipment (UE), comprising: receiving an uplink positioning reference signal (UL-PRS) resource configuration from a serving cell, the UL-PRS resource configuration comprising a plurality of N resource elements (REs) staggered in frequency over a plurality of M consecutive symbols of a resource block (RB), whereby the plurality of N REs span a plurality of N consecutive subcarriers of the RB; receiving an indication of a UL-PRS symbol cancellation group to be used for uplink cancellation from the serving cell, the UL-PRS symbol cancellation group identifying a set of L symbols out of the plurality of M consecutive symbols that are expected to be cancelled for uplink transmission; cancelling transmission of UL-PRS on one or more symbols of the set of L symbols identified by the UL-PRS symbol cancellation group. A method comprising the above. [C2] The method according to C1, wherein the set of L symbols comprises all symbols of the plurality of M consecutive symbols. [C3] The method according to C2, wherein the set of L symbols is defined as starting from the first symbol of the plurality of M consecutive symbols. [C4] The method according to C1, wherein the set of L symbols comprises all symbols of the plurality of M consecutive symbols that conflict with other traffic based on current scheduling from the serving cell and / or one or more neighboring cells. [C5] The method according to C1, wherein the set of L symbols comprises any symbol after the first symbol of the plurality of M consecutive symbols that conflict with other traffic based on current scheduling from the serving cell and / or one or more neighboring cells. [C6] The method according to C1, wherein the set of the L symbols is defined to include any symbol before the last symbol of the plurality of M consecutive symbols that competes with other traffic based on current scheduling from the serving cell and / or one or more neighboring cells. [C7] The method according to C1, wherein the set of the L symbols is defined to include any symbol among the plurality of M consecutive symbols that is less than the maximum length of consecutive UL-PRS symbols. [C8] The method according to C1, wherein the one or more of the set of the L symbols comprise all symbols of the plurality of M consecutive symbols. [C9] The method according to C1, wherein the one or more of the set of the L symbols comprise all symbols remaining in the set of the L symbols from the first symbol of the plurality of M consecutive symbols that competes with other traffic scheduled for the serving cell and / or one or more neighboring cells. [C10] The set of the L symbols among the plurality of M consecutive symbols is identified based on whether the transmission of the UL-PRS is directed to the serving cell or one or more neighboring cells, and the method determines, based on a spatial relationship criterion, whether the transmission of the UL-PRS is directed to the serving cell or the one or more neighboring cells further comprising the method according to C1. [C11] receiving a plurality of UL-PRS symbol cancellation groups further comprising the method according to C1. [C12] The method according to C1, wherein the UE receives the indication of the UL-PRS symbol cancellation group in downlink control information (DCI), medium access control control element (MAC-CE), or radio resource control (RRC) signaling from the serving cell. [C13] A method of wireless communication performed by a serving cell, wherein Transmitting an uplink positioning reference signal (UL-PRS) resource configuration to the UE, wherein the UL-PRS resource configuration comprises a plurality of N resource elements (REs) staggered in frequency over a plurality of M consecutive symbols of a resource block (RB), such that the plurality of N REs span a plurality of N consecutive subcarriers of the RB. Transmitting an indication of a UL-PRS symbol cancellation group to be used for uplink cancellation to the UE, wherein the UL-PRS symbol cancellation group identifies a set of L symbols out of the plurality of M consecutive symbols that are expected to be cancelled for uplink transmission. A method comprising this. [C14] The method according to C13, wherein the set of L symbols comprises all symbols of the plurality of M consecutive symbols. [C15] The method according to C14, wherein the set of L symbols is defined as starting from the first symbol of the plurality of M consecutive symbols. [C16] The method according to C13, wherein the set of L symbols comprises all symbols of the plurality of M consecutive symbols that conflict with other traffic based on current scheduling from the serving cell and / or one or more neighboring cells. [C17] The method according to C13, wherein the set of L symbols comprises any symbol after the first symbol of the plurality of M consecutive symbols that conflict with other traffic based on current scheduling from the serving cell and / or one or more neighboring cells. [C18] The method according to C13, wherein the set of L symbols is defined as including any symbol before the last symbol of the plurality of M consecutive symbols that conflict with other traffic based on current scheduling from the serving cell and / or one or more neighboring cells. [C19] The method according to C13, wherein the set of L symbols is defined as including any symbol of the plurality of M consecutive symbols that is less than the maximum length of consecutive UL-PRS symbols. The method according to C13, further comprising transmitting a plurality of UL-PRS symbol cancellation groups to the UE. The method according to C13, wherein the serving cell transmits the indication of the UL-PRS symbol cancellation group from the serving cell during downlink control information (DCI), media access control control element (MAC-CE), or radio resource control (RRC) signaling. Measuring a subset of UL-PRS defined by the UL-PRS resource configuration based on the uplink cancellation The method according to C13, further comprising. [C23] A memory, At least one wireless transceiver, At least one processor communicatively coupled to the memory and the at least one wireless transceiver A user equipment (UE) comprising, wherein the at least one processor Receiving, via the at least one wireless transceiver, an uplink positioning reference signal (UL-PRS) resource configuration from a serving cell, the UL-PRS resource configuration comprising a plurality of N resource elements (REs) staggered in frequency over a plurality of M consecutive symbols of a resource block (RB), whereby the plurality of N REs span a plurality of N consecutive subcarriers of the RB; Receiving, via the at least one wireless transceiver, an indication of a UL-PRS symbol cancellation group to be used for uplink cancellation from the serving cell, the UL-PRS symbol cancellation group identifying a set of L symbols out of the plurality of M consecutive symbols expected to be cancelled for uplink transmission; Canceling transmission of UL-PRS on one or more symbols of the set of L symbols identified by the UL-PRS symbol cancellation group Configured to perform User equipment (UE). [C24] The UE according to C23, wherein the set of L symbols comprises all symbols of the plurality of M consecutive symbols. [C25] The UE according to C24, wherein the set of L symbols is defined as starting from the first symbol of the plurality of M consecutive symbols. [C26] The UE according to C23, wherein the set of L symbols includes all symbols of the plurality of M consecutive symbols that conflict with other traffic based on current scheduling from the serving cell and / or one or more neighboring cells. [C27] The UE according to C23, wherein the set of L symbols includes any symbol after the first symbol of the plurality of M consecutive symbols that conflict with other traffic based on current scheduling from the serving cell and / or one or more neighboring cells. [C28] The UE according to C23, wherein the set of L symbols is defined as including any symbol before the last symbol of the plurality of M consecutive symbols that conflict with other traffic based on current scheduling from the serving cell and / or one or more neighboring cells. [C29] The UE according to C23, wherein the set of L symbols is defined as including any symbol of the plurality of M consecutive symbols that is less than the maximum length of consecutive UL-PRS symbols. [C30] The UE according to C23, wherein one or more of the set of L symbols comprise all symbols of the plurality of M consecutive symbols. [C31] The UE according to C23, wherein one or more of the set of L symbols comprise all symbols remaining in the set of L symbols from the first symbol of the plurality of M consecutive symbols that conflict with other traffic scheduled for the serving cell and / or one or more neighboring cells. [C32] The set of L symbols of the plurality of M consecutive symbols is identified based on whether the transmission of the UL-PRS is directed to the serving cell or one or more neighboring cells. The at least one processor is further configured to determine, based on a spatial relationship criterion, whether the transmission of the UL-PRS is directed to the serving cell or the one or more neighboring cells. The UE according to C23. [C33] The at least one processor receives, via the at least one wireless transceiver, a plurality of UL-PRS symbol cancellation groups The UE according to C23, further configured to perform the above. [C34] The UE according to C23, wherein the UE receives the indication of the UL-PRS symbol cancellation group from the serving cell during downlink control information (DCI), media access control control element (MAC-CE), or radio resource control (RRC) signaling. [C35] A memory, at least one wireless transceiver, at least one processor communicatively coupled to the memory and the communication interface A serving cell comprising: causing the at least one wireless transceiver to transmit to the UE an uplink positioning reference signal (UL-PRS) resource configuration, the UL-PRS resource configuration comprising a plurality of N resource elements (REs) staggered in frequency over a plurality of M consecutive symbols of a resource block (RB), whereby the plurality of N REs span a plurality of N consecutive subcarriers of the RB; causing the at least one wireless transceiver to transmit to the UE an indication of a UL-PRS symbol cancellation group to be used for uplink cancellation, the UL-PRS symbol cancellation group identifying a set of L symbols out of the plurality of M consecutive symbols that are expected to be cancelled for uplink transmission; configured to perform A serving cell. [C36] The serving cell according to C35, wherein the set of L symbols comprises all of the plurality of M consecutive symbols. [C37] The serving cell according to C36, wherein the set of L symbols is defined as starting from the first symbol of the plurality of M consecutive symbols. [C38] The serving cell according to C35, wherein the set of L symbols includes all symbols of the plurality of M consecutive symbols that compete with other traffic based on current scheduling from the serving cell and / or one or more neighboring cells. [C39] The serving cell according to C35, wherein the set of L symbols includes any symbol after the first symbol of the plurality of M consecutive symbols that compete with other traffic based on current scheduling from the serving cell and / or one or more neighboring cells. [C40] The serving cell according to C35, defined as including any symbol before the last symbol of the plurality of M consecutive symbols that compete with other traffic based on current scheduling from the serving cell and / or one or more neighboring cells. [C41] The serving cell according to C35, defined as including any symbol of the plurality of M consecutive symbols that is less than the maximum length of consecutive UL-PRS symbols. [C42] The at least one processor causes the at least one wireless transceiver to transmit a plurality of UL-PRS symbol cancellation groups to the UE The serving cell according to C35, further configured to perform the above. [C43] The serving cell according to C35, wherein the serving cell transmits the indication of the UL-PRS symbol cancellation group during downlink control information (DCI), media access control control element (MAC-CE), or radio resource control (RRC) signaling from the serving cell. [C44] The at least one processor measures a subset of UL-PRS defined by the UL-PRS resource configuration based on the uplink cancellation The serving cell according to C35, further configured to perform the above. Means for receiving an uplink positioning reference signal (UL-PRS) resource configuration from a serving cell, wherein the UL-PRS resource configuration comprises a plurality of N resource elements (REs) staggered in frequency over a plurality of M consecutive symbols of a resource block (RB), whereby the plurality of N REs span a plurality of N consecutive subcarriers of the RB, Means for receiving an indication of a UL-PRS symbol cancellation group to be used for uplink cancellation from the serving cell, wherein the UL-PRS symbol cancellation group identifies a set of L symbols out of the plurality of M consecutive symbols that are expected to be cancelled for uplink transmission, Means for cancelling transmission of UL-PRS on one or more symbols of the set of L symbols identified by the UL-PRS symbol cancellation group A user equipment (UE) comprising the above. [C46] Means for transmitting an uplink positioning reference signal (UL-PRS) resource configuration to a UE, wherein the UL-PRS resource configuration comprises a plurality of N resource elements (REs) staggered in frequency over a plurality of M consecutive symbols of a resource block (RB), whereby the plurality of N REs span a plurality of N consecutive subcarriers of the RB, Means for transmitting an indication of a UL-PRS symbol cancellation group to be used for uplink cancellation to the UE, wherein the UL-PRS symbol cancellation group identifies a set of L symbols out of the plurality of M consecutive symbols that are expected to be cancelled for uplink transmission, A serving cell comprising the above. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing computer-executable instructions that, when executed by a user equipment (UE), cause the UE to receive an uplink positioning reference signal (UL-PRS) resource configuration from a serving cell, wherein the UL-PRS resource configuration comprises a plurality of N resource elements (REs) staggered in frequency over a plurality of M consecutive symbols of a resource block (RB), whereby the plurality of N REs span a plurality of N consecutive subcarriers of the RB. Receive an indication of a UL-PRS symbol cancellation group to be used for uplink cancellation from the serving cell, wherein the UL-PRS symbol cancellation group identifies a set of L symbols out of the plurality of M consecutive symbols that are expected to be cancelled for uplink transmission. Cancel transmission of UL-PRS on one or more symbols of the set of L symbols identified by the UL-PRS symbol cancellation group. A non-transitory computer-readable medium that causes the above to be performed. [C48] A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing computer-executable instructions that, when executed by a serving cell, cause the serving cell to Transmit an uplink positioning reference signal (UL-PRS) resource configuration to a UE, wherein the UL-PRS resource configuration comprises a plurality of N resource elements (REs) staggered in frequency over a plurality of M consecutive symbols of a resource block (RB), whereby the plurality of N REs span a plurality of N consecutive subcarriers of the RB. Transmit an indication of a UL-PRS symbol cancellation group to be used for uplink cancellation to the UE, wherein the UL-PRS symbol cancellation group identifies a set of L symbols out of the plurality of M consecutive symbols that are expected to be cancelled for uplink transmission. A non-transitory computer-readable medium that causes the above to be performed.

Claims

1. A method of wireless communication performed by a user equipment (UE), comprising: receiving an uplink positioning reference signal (UL-PRS) resource configuration from a serving cell, the UL-PRS resource configuration comprising a plurality of N resource elements (REs) staggered in frequency over a plurality of M consecutive symbols of a resource block (RB), whereby the plurality of N REs span a plurality of N consecutive subcarriers of the RB; receiving an indication of a UL-PRS symbol cancellation group to be used for uplink cancellation from the serving cell, the UL-PRS symbol cancellation group identifying a set of L symbols out of the plurality of M consecutive symbols that are expected to be cancelled for uplink transmission; cancelling transmission of UL-PRS on one or more symbols of the set of L symbols identified by the UL-PRS symbol cancellation group; and a method comprising the steps of:

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the set of L symbols comprises all symbols of the plurality of M consecutive symbols.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the set of L symbols comprises all symbols of the plurality of M consecutive symbols that conflict with other traffic based on current scheduling from the serving cell and / or one or more neighboring cells.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein a plurality of the sets of L symbols comprises all symbols remaining in the set of L symbols from the first symbol of the plurality of M consecutive symbols that conflict with other traffic scheduled for the serving cell and / or one or more neighboring cells.

5. The set of L symbols out of the plurality of M consecutive symbols is identified based on whether the transmission of the UL-PRS is directed to the serving cell or one or more neighboring cells, and the method comprises: determining whether the transmission of the UL-PRS is directed to the serving cell or the one or more neighboring cells based on a spatial relationship criterion. The method according to claim 1, further comprising

6. Receiving a plurality of UL-PRS symbol cancellation groups The method according to claim 1, further comprising

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the UE receives the indication of the UL-PRS symbol cancellation group from the serving cell in downlink control information (DCI), media access control control element (MAC-CE), or radio resource control (RRC) signaling

8. A method of wireless communication performed by a serving cell, comprising: Transmitting an uplink positioning reference signal (UL-PRS) resource configuration to a UE, wherein the UL-PRS resource configuration comprises a plurality of N resource elements (REs) staggered in frequency over a plurality of M consecutive symbols of a resource block (RB), whereby the plurality of N REs span a plurality of N consecutive subcarriers of the RB Transmitting an indication of a UL-PRS symbol cancellation group to be used for uplink cancellation to the UE, wherein the UL-PRS symbol cancellation group identifies a set of L symbols out of the plurality of M consecutive symbols expected to be cancelled for uplink transmission

9. Means for receiving an uplink positioning reference signal (UL-PRS) resource configuration from a serving cell, wherein the UL-PRS resource configuration comprises a plurality of N resource elements (REs) staggered in frequency over a plurality of M consecutive symbols of a resource block (RB), whereby the plurality of N REs span a plurality of N consecutive subcarriers of the RB Means for receiving an indication of a UL-PRS symbol cancellation group to be used for uplink cancellation from the serving cell, wherein the UL-PRS symbol cancellation group identifies a set of L symbols out of the plurality of M consecutive symbols expected to be cancelled for uplink transmission Means for canceling UL-PRS transmission on one or more symbols of the set of L symbols identified by the UL-PRS symbol cancellation group A user equipment (UE) comprising the same. **Claim 10** Means for transmitting an uplink positioning reference signal (UL-PRS) resource configuration to the UE, the UL-PRS resource configuration comprising a plurality of N resource elements (REs) staggered in frequency over a plurality of M consecutive symbols of a resource block (RB), whereby the plurality of N REs span a plurality of N consecutive subcarriers of the RB Means for transmitting an indication of a UL-PRS symbol cancellation group to be used for uplink cancellation to the UE, the UL-PRS symbol cancellation group identifying a set of L symbols out of the plurality of M consecutive symbols expected to be canceled for uplink transmission A serving cell comprising the same. **Claim 11** A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing computer-executable instructions, the computer-executable instructions being When executed by a user equipment (UE), causing the UE to perform the method according to any one of claims 1 to 7, or When executed by a serving cell, causing the serving cell to perform the method according to claim 8 A non-transitory computer-readable medium causing the above.

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