System and method for positioning a mobile device in a fifth-generation wireless network

Abstract

A method and apparatus are provided that enable location support for 5G New Radio (NR) wireless access by user equipment (UE) by utilizing existing LTE location support. A method for supporting location of a UE via 5G wireless access includes receiving 810 a first LTE Positioning Protocol (LPP) message from a location server via a 5G base station, the first LPP message comprising a location request, obtaining 820 location measurement results based on the first LPP message, determining 830 location information based on the location measurement results, and sending 840 a second LPP message to the location server, the second LPP message comprising the measured location information.

Description

Background Art

[0001]

[0001] The subject matter disclosed herein relates to electronic devices, and more particularly, to methods and apparatuses for use in supporting the location of mobile devices that utilize a fifth generation (5G) wireless network.

Technical Field

[0002]

[0002] Standards for supporting 5G wireless networks are being developed by the Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP (registered trademark)). In the initial release of 5G (3GPP Release 15), the 5G Core Network (5GC) is expected to support voice services and emergency calls. In some regions (e.g., the United States, Japan), supporting emergency calls may require supporting the precise location of mobile devices. However, the initial release (Release 15) of the Next Generation Radio Access Network (NG-RAN), which is used to support 5G wireless access, may not have native 5G positioning support. Emergency calls initiated over 5G may be redirected via a fallback to the fourth generation (4G, or Long Term Evolution (LTE (registered trademark))) where location support is available, but that fallback can reduce the reliability of emergency calls (e.g., when 4G wireless coverage is not available) and may not meet regulatory requirements in some countries. Therefore, there is a need for a solution that can set up emergency calls without using location support that uses a 5G wireless access positioning method while using location support for 5G wireless access.

Summary of the Invention

[0003]

[0003] The techniques described in this specification are directed to enabling location support for 5G wireless access by leveraging existing LTE location support. More specifically, in 5GC, LTE positioning protocol (LPP) messages can be communicated between a user equipment (UE) and a Location Management Function (LMF) via the NG-RAN for location support. The UE can also receive timing information and employ strategies that use existing LTE base stations.

[0004]

[0004] According to the present disclosure, an example method for supporting the location of a user equipment (UE) by means of 5th generation (5G) new radio (NR) wireless access in the UE comprises receiving, from a location server, a first Long Term Evolution (LTE) Positioning Protocol (LPP) message, the first LPP message comprising a location request and being received via a serving 5G base station. The method further comprises obtaining at least one location measurement based on the first LPP message, the at least one location measurement comprising a measurement result for a Radio Access Technology (RAT)-independent position method or a measurement result for an Evolved Universal Terrestrial Radio Access (E-UTRA) position method. The method also comprises determining location information based on the at least one location measurement and sending a second LPP message to the location server, wherein the second LPP message comprises the location information and is sent via the serving 5G base station.

[0005] Alternative embodiments of the method may include one or more of the following features. The location server may comprise a Location Management Function (LMF). The location information may comprise a location estimate for the UE. The location information may comprise at least one location measurement result. The first LPP message may comprise an LPP Request Location Information message, and the second LPP message may comprise an LPP Provide Location Information message. The at least one location measurement result may comprise a location measurement result for a RAT-independent position method, and the RAT-independent position method may comprise an Assisted Global Navigation Satellite System (A-GNSS), Real Time Kinematics (RTK), Precise Point Positioning (PPP), Differential A-GNSS, Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN), Bluetooth®, Sensor, or any combination thereof. The at least one location measurement result may comprise a location measurement result for an E-UTRA position method, and the E-UTRA position method may comprise an Observed Time Difference Of Arrival (OTDOA) with respect to E-UTRA, or an Enhanced Cell ID (ECID) with respect to E-UTRA, or any combination thereof.The method further comprises receiving a third LPP message from a location server, the third LPP message comprising assistance data for a RAT-independent positioning method or an E-UTRA positioning method, and being received via a serving 5G base station, and obtaining at least one location measurement result is based on the assistance data. The third LPP message may comprise an LPP Provide Assistance Data message. The method may further comprise sending a request to the serving 5G base station to request a measurement gap, and obtaining at least one location measurement result during the measurement gap. The request for the measurement gap may comprise an NR Radio Resource Control (RRC) message. The at least one location measurement result may comprise a Reference Signal Time Difference (RSTD) measurement result for Observed Time Difference of Arrival (OTDOA) regarding E-UTRA, and the method may further comprise sending a request to the serving 5G base station to request an idle period, and obtaining LTE timing and System Frame Number (SFN) for an OTDOA reference cell during the idle period, wherein the request for the measurement gap is based on the LTE timing and the SFN. The OTDOA reference cell may comprise a cell for an evolved Node B (eNB) in an E-UTRA network (E-UTRAN), or a cell for a next-generation eNB (ng-eNB) in a next-generation radio access network (NG-RAN), and the serving 5G base station is in the NG-RAN. The request for the idle period may comprise an NR Radio Resource Control (RRC) message.The method further comprises receiving a fourth LPP message from a location server, where the fourth LPP message comprises a request for the UE's LPP positioning capability and is received via a serving 5G base station. The method also comprises sending a fifth LPP message to the location server, where the fifth LPP message comprises the UE's LPP positioning capability when the UE has NR wireless access and is sent via a serving 5G base station. The fourth LPP message may comprise an LPP Request Capabilities message, and the fifth LPP message may comprise an LPP Provide Capabilities message. The method may further comprise sending an indication to an Access Management Function (AMF), where the indication comprises an indication that the UE supports LPP via NR wireless access, and the AMF forwards the indication to the location server. The first LPP message may be received in a Non-Access Stratum (NAS) transport message, and the second LPP message may be sent in a NAS transport message.

[0006] According to the present disclosure, an example user equipment (UE) having a fifth generation (5G) new radio (NR) wireless access includes a wireless communication interface, a memory, and a processing unit communicatively connected to the wireless communication interface and the memory. The processing unit is configured to cause the UE to receive, using the wireless communication interface, a first long term evolution (LTE) positioning protocol (LPP) message from a location server, where the first LPP message includes a location request and is received via a serving Fifth Generation (5G) base station. The processing unit is further configured to cause the UE to obtain at least one location measurement result based on the first LPP message using the wireless communication interface, where the at least one location measurement result includes a measurement result for a radio access technology (RAT) independent positioning method or a measurement result for an evolved universal terrestrial radio access (E-UTRA) positioning method. The processing unit is also further configured to cause the UE to determine location information based on the at least one location measurement result and to send a second LPP message to the location server using the wireless communication interface, where the second LPP message includes the location information and is sent via the serving 5G base station.

[0007]

[0007] Alternative embodiments of the UE may include one or more of the following features. The processing unit may be further configured to cause the UE to determine location information by determining a location estimate for the UE. The processing unit may be configured to cause the UE to obtain at least one location measurement result comprising measurement results for a RAT-independent positioning method, where the RAT-independent positioning method may comprise Assisted Global Navigation Satellite System (A-GNSS), Real Time Kinematic (RTK), Precise Point Positioning (PPP), Differential A-GNSS, Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN), Bluetooth, sensors, or any combination thereof. The processing unit may be further configured to cause the UE to obtain at least one location measurement result comprising measurement results for an E-UTRA positioning method, where the E-UTRA positioning method may comprise Observed Time Difference of Arrival (OTDOA) with respect to E-UTRA, or Enhanced Cell ID (ECID) with respect to E-UTRA, or any combination thereof. The processing unit may be further configured to cause the UE to use a wireless communication interface to send a third LPP message from a location server, where the third LPP message comprises assistance data for a RAT-independent positioning method or an E-UTRA positioning method and is received via a serving 5G base station, and to obtain at least one location measurement result based on the assistance data. The processing unit may be further configured to cause the UE to receive a third LPP message comprising an LPP-provided assistance data message. The processing unit may be further configured to cause the UE to use a wireless communication interface to send a request to the serving 5G base station for a measurement gap and to obtain at least one location measurement result during the measurement gap. The processing unit may be configured to cause the UE to send a request for a measurement gap using an NR Radio Resource Control (RRC) message.At least one location measurement result may include a reference signal time difference (RSTD) measurement result for OTDOA related to E-UTRA. The processing unit may be configured to cause the UE to send, using the wireless communication interface, a request for an idle period to the serving 5G base station, obtain the LTE timing and system frame number (SFN) for the OTDOA reference cell during the idle period, and determine the measurement gap based on the request for the measurement gap in the LTE timing and SFN. The processing unit may be further configured to cause the UE to receive, using the wireless communication interface, a fourth LPP message from the location server, where the fourth LPP message includes a request for the UE's LPP positioning capability and is received via the serving 5G base station, and send, using the wireless communication interface, a fifth LPP message to the location server, where the fifth LPP message includes the UE's LPP positioning capability when the UE has NR wireless access and is sent via the serving 5G base station. The processing unit may be further configured to cause the UE to send an indication to the access management function (AMF) using the wireless communication interface, where the indication indicates that the UE supports LPP by NR wireless access, and the AMF forwards the indication to the location server.

[0008]

[0008] According to the present description, an exemplary device comprises means for receiving a first Long-Term Evolution (LTE) Positioning Protocol (LPP) message from a location server, the first LPP message comprising a location request and being received via a serving fifth generation (5G) base station. The exemplary device further comprises means for obtaining at least one location measurement result based on the first LPP message, the at least one location measurement result comprising a measurement result for a radio access technology (RAT) independent positioning method or a measurement result for an evolved Universal Terrestrial Radio Access (E-UTRA) positioning method. The exemplary device also comprises means for determining location information based on the at least one location measurement result and means for sending a second LPP message to the location server, the second LPP message comprising the location information and being sent via the serving 5G base station. Alternative embodiments may include any of a variety of additional features. For example, in some embodiments, the location information may comprise a location estimate for the device.

[0009]

[0009] According to the description, an example of a non-transitory computer-readable medium causes a user equipment (UE) to incorporate instructions that support the location of the user equipment (UE) by means of 5th generation (5G) new radio (NR) wireless access. When executed by a processing unit of the UE, the instructions are further configured to cause the UE to receive a first long-term evolution (LTE) positioning protocol (LPP) message from a location server, and the first LPP message includes a location request and is received via a serving 5G base station. The instructions are further configured to cause the UE to obtain at least one location measurement result based on the first LPP message, and the at least one location measurement result includes a measurement result for a radio access technology (RAT)-independent positioning method or a measurement result for an evolved universal terrestrial radio access (E-UTRA) positioning method. The instructions are also further configured to cause the UE to determine location information based on the at least one location measurement result and to send a second LPP message to the location server, and the second LPP message includes the location information and is sent via the serving 5G base station.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0010]

[0010] Non-limiting and non-exhaustive aspects are described with reference to the following figures, where like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the various figures unless otherwise specified.

Figure 1

[0011] FIG. 1 is a diagram of a communication system according to an embodiment.

Figure 2

[0012] FIG. 2 is an example illustrating a communication system having different architectures in which the techniques of this specification may be implemented according to an embodiment.

Figure 3

Figure 4

[0013] FIG. 4 is a signaling flow diagram illustrating various messages sent between components of a communication system during an LPP location session according to one embodiment.

Figure 5

[0014] FIG. 5 is a signaling flow diagram illustrating further messages communicated between various components of a communication system according to one embodiment.

Figure 6

[0015] FIG. 6 is a time-based diagram illustrating the structure of an exemplary LTE subframe sequence having a positioning reference signal (PRS) positioning opportunity.

Figure 7

[0016] FIG. 7 is a time-based diagram illustrating further aspects of PRS transmission for an LTE cell supported by an eNB.

Figure 8

[0017] FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating aspects of a method for supporting a UE's location by 5G wireless access according to different embodiments.

Figure 9

Figure 10

Figure 11

[0018] FIG. 11 is a block diagram of an embodiment of a UE.

Figure 12

[0019] FIG. 12 is a block diagram of an embodiment of a computing system.

[0011]

[0020] Elements, steps, actions, and operations having the same reference labels in different figures may correspond to each other (e.g., may be similar or identical to each other). Further, some elements in the various figures are labeled with a numeric prefix, followed by an alphabetic or numeric suffix. Elements having the same numeric prefix but different suffixes may be different instances of the same type of element. A numeric prefix having no suffix may be used herein to refer to any element using this numeric prefix. For example, FIG. 1 shows different instances 170-1, 170-2, and 170-3 of evolved Node B (eNB). A reference to eNB 170 may refer to any of eNB 170-1, 170-2, and 170-3. Detailed description

[0012]

[0021] Next, some exemplary embodiments will be described in connection with the accompanying drawings that form a part of this specification. The following description provides only embodiments and is not intended to limit the scope, applicability, or configuration of the present disclosure. Rather, the following description of the embodiments provides those skilled in the art with an explanation that enables them to implement one embodiment. It is understood that various changes may be made to the functions and arrangements of the plurality of elements without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure.

[0013]

[0022] The techniques described in this specification are directed towards providing location support for a UE via wireless access to the NG-RAN. According to some embodiments, such a UE (having wireless access to the NG-RAN) may be positioned using a radio access technology (RAT)-independent positioning method (e.g., Assisted Global Navigation Satellite System (A-GNSS), WiFi, Bluetooth, sensors, etc.) and / or (ii) a RAT-dependent position method for evolved Universal Terrestrial Radio Access (E-UTRA) (e.g., Enhanced Cell ID (ECID), Observed Time Difference Of Arrival (OTDOA), etc.) that does not rely on a new type of location support for 5G wireless access. To manage the location of the UE, the LTE Positioning Protocol (LPP), which is defined in 3GPP Technical Specification (TS) 36.355 to support the location of a UE over LTE, may be reused (with minor or no changes) for 5G wireless access by the UE. This may be made possible by using a transport protocol such as the 5G non-access stratum (NAS) (referred to herein as 5G NAS) protocol to transfer LPP messages between the UE and a 5GC location server (e.g., Location Management Function (LMF)). Transport (e.g., 5G NAS) messages used to transport messages for other services (e.g., network access, mobility management, session management) may be transferred between the access and mobility management function (AMF) in the 5GC and the UE via the NG-RAN as part of normal 5G operations. An appropriate transport (e.g., 5G NAS) message or messages may then carry the LPP message between the AMF and the UE with little or no additional impact on the NG-RAN.The LPP message can be transferred between the AMF and the LMF using the new 5GC protocol. The new 5GC protocol is similar to the Location Service (LCS) Application Protocol (LCS AP) defined in 3GPP TS29.171, which is used between the Mobility Management Entity (MME) and the Enhanced Serving Mobile Location Center (E-SMLC) to support the location of UEs with 4G (LTE) wireless access. The new 5GC protocol (for communication between the AMF and the LMF) is referred to herein as the "5G LCS AP". The AMF can also notify the LMF (e.g., using the 5G LCS AP) that a certain UE has 5G wireless access and can provide the 5G serving cell ID to the LMF.

[0014]

[0023] The use of LPP, such as the method described above, may enable the existing positioning methods supported by LPP for LTE access by the UE to be reused to position the UE by 5G wireless access. In some embodiments, with respect to the RAT-independent positioning method, the existing support for the UE may be reused and / or a part of the procedures described below as P1 to P4 may be used to enable the UE to perform RAT-independent positioning measurements. In embodiments using the E-UTRA RAT-dependent positioning method (e.g., ECID and / or OTDOA), the UE may be able to tune away from 5G wireless access to perform LTE measurements. In such embodiments, the procedures described below as P1 to P4 may be used. P1 The UE may request a short idle period (e.g., 10 to 50 milliseconds (ms)) from the serving 5G base station (referred to herein as the gNB), for example, using the 5G Radio Resource Control (RRC) protocol. The P2 UE may tune away from 5G wireless access during the idle period and capture LTE timings (e.g., LTE system frame number (SFN) and subframe boundaries) for specific reference cells indicated by the LMF in the LPP assistance data (AD) previously provided to the UE by the LMF. The P3 UE may use the captured LTE timings from P2 and the known 5G timings from the previous 5G wireless access to determine a series of periodic measurement gaps (e.g., each lasting 6 ms) with respect to 5G timings. For OTDOA with respect to E-UTRA, the measurement gaps may correspond to positioning reference signal (PRS) positioning occasions for LTE reference cells and neighboring cells provided to the UE as OTDOA AD by the LMF (as further described herein in relation to FIGS. 6 and 7). The UE may determine a 5G signaling boundary such as the start of a 5G radio frame or 5G subframe that occurs simultaneously with the start of the first measurement gap. The UE may then send a request for a measurement gap to the serving gNB, for example, using the 5G RRC protocol. This request may be confirmed by the gNB (e.g., via a 5G RRC response message) or may be considered accepted by the gNB. The P4 UE may tune away from 5G wireless access during each measurement gap and obtain one or more LTE measurements (e.g., reference signal time difference (RSTD) measurements for OTDOA).

[0015]

[0024] Measurements obtained by the UE (e.g., as described above in P1 - P4) may be relayed back to the LMF in an LPP message (e.g., sent to the AMF in a NAS transport message and then sent by the AMF to the LMF using the 5G LCS AP).

[0016]

[0025] These techniques may have limited impact on the UE and little or no impact on the NG-RAN if the requirements for determining the measurement gap and the idle period are supported by the NG-RAN for other types of measurements (e.g., 5G measurements to support cell change and handover). Further details and embodiments are described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0017]

[0026] FIG. 1 is a diagram of a communication system 100 capable of implementing the techniques described herein according to one embodiment. Here, the communication system 100 includes a user equipment (UE) 105 and components of a 5G system (5GS) 185 including an NG-RAN 135 and a 5GC 140. The NG-RAN 135 may also be referred to as a 5G radio access network (5G RAN), or a radio access network (RAN) for NR. The communication system 100 further includes components of an evolved packet system (EPS) 145 that supports LTE wireless access, which includes an evolved universal terrestrial radio access (E-UTRA) network (E-UTRAN) 150 and an evolved packet core (EPC) 155. The communication system 100 may further utilize information from GNSS satellite vehicles (SVs) 190. Further components of the communication system 100 are described below. It should be understood that the communication system 100 may include additional or alternative components. The EPS 145 may, in some embodiments, belong to or be managed by the same network operator that manages or owns the 5GS 185 (or in other embodiments, may be managed or owned by a different network operator).

[0018]

[0027] FIG. 1 is a generalized diagram of various components, and it should be understood that any or all of them may be appropriately utilized, and each of them may be replicated as needed. Specifically, although only one UE 105 is shown, it should be understood that many UEs (e.g., hundreds, thousands, millions, etc.) may utilize the communication system 100. Similarly, the communication system 100 may include a large number or a small number of SVs 190, eNBs 170, gNBs 110, ng-eNBs 180, external clients 130, and / or other components. Those skilled in the art will recognize many modifications to the illustrated components. The illustrated connections that connect the various components in the communication system 100 may include additional (intermediate) components, direct or indirect physical and / or wireless connections, and / or additional networks, with data and signaling connections. Further, these components may be rearranged, combined, separated, replaced, and / or omitted depending on the desired functionality.

[0019]

[0028] In this specification, UE105 can be referred to as a device, mobile device, wireless device, mobile terminal, terminal, mobile station (MS), Secure User Plane Location (SUPL) enabled terminal (SET), or some other name and / or can include them. Further, UE105 can correspond to a cell phone, smartphone, laptop, tablet, personal digital assistant (PDA), tracking device, or some other portable or mobile device. Although not essential, typically, UE105 uses one or more radio access technologies (RATs) such as GSM (registered trademark), code division multiple access (CDMA), wideband CDMA (WCDMA (registered trademark)), LTE (e.g., EPS 145), high rate packet data (HRPD), IEEE802.11 WiFi (also called Wi-Fi), Bluetooth (BT), WiMAX (Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access), 5G New Radio (NR) also simply called "5G" (e.g., using NG-RAN135 and 5GC140) to support wireless communication. UE105 can also support wireless communication using a wireless local area network (WLAN), for example, by using digital subscriber line or packet cable to connect to other networks (e.g., the Internet). One or more of these RATs can enable UE105 to communicate with external client 130 (either via elements of 5GC140 not shown in FIG. 1 or, in some cases, via a Gateway Mobile Location Center (GMLC)) and / or enable external client 130 to receive location information regarding UE105 (e.g., via GMLC125).

[0020]

[0029] UE105 may comprise a single entity or multiple entities in a personal area network or the like where the user can use audio, video, and / or data I / O devices and / or body sensors and a separate wired or wireless modem. The estimation of the location of UE105 may be referred to as location, location estimation, location fix, fix, position, position estimation, or position fix, and may or may not include altitude components (e.g., height above sea level, ground surface, floor height, or depth below the ground surface or deeper), and provides location coordinates (e.g., latitude and longitude) for UE105. Alternatively, the location of UE105 may be represented as a civic location (e.g., a postal address or the designation of some point or small area in a building such as a particular room or floor). The location of UE105 may also be represented as an area or volume where UE105 is expected to be located with some probability or confidence level (e.g., 67% or 95%) (defined either geographically or in civic form). The location of UE105 may further be defined as a relative location with distance and direction or relative X, Y (and Z) coordinates defined with respect to some origin at a known location, for example, geographically, in civic terms, or by reference to a point, area, or volume shown on a map, floor plan, or building plan. In the descriptions included herein, the use of the term location may, unless otherwise specified, include any of these variations.

[0021]

[0030] The base stations in E-UTRAN150 (4G RAN) are, in this specification, evolved Node Bs (eNode Bs or eNBs) (170-1, 170-2, and 170-3) (collectively and generically referred to herein as eNB170). The base stations in NG-RAN135 include NR Node Bs (gNBs) 110-1 and 110-2 (collectively and generically referred to herein as gNB110), and next-generation eNBs (ng-eNBs) 180-1 and 180-2 (collectively and generically referred to herein as ng-NB180). Access to the LTE network supported by EPS145 is provided to UE105 via wireless communication between UE105 and one or more of eNB170. eNB170 may provide wireless communication access to EPC155 on behalf of UE105 using LTE. Similarly, access to 5GS185 is provided to UE105 via wireless communication between UE105 and one or more of gNB110, which may provide wireless communication access to 5GS185 using 5G NR. In some embodiments, access to 5GS185 is provided to UE105 via wireless communication between UE105 and one or more of ng-eNB180, which may provide wireless communication access to 5GS185 using LTE. ng-eNB180 may provide LTE wireless access to UE105 similar to or the same as the LTE wireless access provided to UE105 by eNB170 at the physical layer. Further, in some embodiments, NG-RAN135 may include gNB110 but not ng-eNB180, or may include ng-eNB180 but not gNB110. Additionally, in some embodiments, EPS145 may not be present.

[0022]

[0031] In communication system 100, location support for UE105 can utilize LPP transport between LMF120 and UE105, which uses transport protocols such as the 5G NAS protocol and 5G LCS AP as described previously. The use of LPP and LPP transport can be similar or identical to both the access of UE105 to 5GC140 via gNB110 and the access of UE105 to 5GC140 via ng-eNB180.

[0023]

[0032] Regarding LTE wireless access, EPC155 includes a Mobility Management Entity (MME) 165 that can function as the main signaling node in EPC155 and support the mobility of UE105 and the provision of signaling access and voice bearer path to UE105. Regarding the positioning function, MME165 can relay information to and from an Enhanced Serving Mobile Location Center (E-SMLC) 160. E-SMLC 160 can support the positioning of UE105 (referring to the location of UE105) when UE105 accesses E-UTRAN150 and can support positioning methods such as Assisted GNSS (A-GNSS), OTDOA, ECID, Real-Time Kinematic, and / or WLAN positioning (also called WiFi positioning), which are well known in the prior art. E-SMLC 160 can also process, for example, the location service request for UE105 received from MME165. EPC155 can include other elements not shown in FIG. 1, such as a Packet Data Network (PDN) gateway and / or GMLC.

[0024]

[0033] Regarding NR (5G) wireless access, gNB 110 can communicate directly or indirectly with access and mobility management function (AMF) 115, which, regarding positioning functions, communicates with location management function (LMF) 120. Similarly, regarding LTE wireless access to NG-RAN 135, ng-eNB 180 can communicate directly or indirectly with AMF 115. Further, gNB 110 and / or ng-eNB 180 can communicate directly with each other, and some gNB 110 and / or some ng-eNB 180 may be able to communicate indirectly with AMF 115 only via one or more other gNB 110 and / or ng-eNB 180. AMF 115 can support the mobility of UE 105, including cell changes and handovers, and can be involved in supporting a signaling connection to UE 105 and, in some cases, assist in establishing data and voice bearers for UE 105. LMF 120 can support the positioning of UE 105 when the UE accesses NG-RAN 135 and can support positioning methods such as assisted GNSS (A-GNSS), OTDOA, ECID, RTK, and / or WLAN positioning, similar to E-SMLC 160. LMF 120 can also process location service requests for UE 105 received, for example, from AMF 115 or from gateway mobile location center (GMLC) 125. In some embodiments, LMF 120 can implement a function similar to E-SMLC, such as E-SMLC 160, that enables LMF 120 to query eNB 170 in E-UTRAN 150 (e.g., using the LTE positioning protocol A (LPPa) defined in 3GPP TS36.455) and can obtain assistance data from eNB 170 to support the OTDOA positioning of UE 105 when UE 105 has NR or LTE wireless access via NG-RAN 135. Additionally or alternatively, this function can be enabled via E-SMLC 160. For example, LMF 120 can be combined with E-SMLC 160 in the same physical entity or can have communication access to E-SMLC 160.

[0025]

[0034] As shown in FIG. 1, the LMF 120 and the eNB 170 may communicate using LPPa, where the LPPa messages are transferred between the eNB 170 and the LMF 120 via the MME 165 and the E-SMLC 160. Here, the LPPa transport between the E-SMLC 160 and the eNB 170 (via the MME 165) is defined in 3GPP TS 36.305 for existing LTE location, and the transport of the LPPa messages between the E-SMLC 160 and the LMF 120 may be internal (for example, when the LMF 120 and the E-SMLC 160 are combined), or may use a proprietary protocol when the LMF 120 and the E-SMLC 160 are separated. In an embodiment where the UE 105 accesses the 5GC 140 via LTE access to the ng-eNB 180 in the NG-RAN 135, messages similar to LPPa may be transferred between the ng-eNB 180 and the LMF 120 via the AMF 115 (as shown by the dashed arrow 191 in FIG. 1). The transferred messages similar to LPPa, as shown by the dashed arrow 191, may be messages for the NR positioning protocol A (NRPPa) defined in 3GPP TS 38.455 that are the same as or support the transfer of information similar to that transferred using LPPa.

[0026]

[0035] As further shown in FIG. 1, the LPP message can be exchanged between the UE 105 and the LMF 120 via the AMF 115 and the NG-RAN 135 (e.g., via either the gNB 110-1 or the ng-eNB 180-1 in the NG-RAN 135) as indicated by the solid arrow 192 in FIG. 1. For example, the LPP message can be transferred between the LMF 120 and the AMF 115 using the 5G Location Service Application Protocol (AP), and can be transferred between the AMF 115 and the UE 105 for the UE 105 via the serving eNB 110 or the serving ng-eNB 180 using 5G NAS. Since the AMF 115 can relay the LPP communication to and from the UE 105 within the 5G NAS message, the LPP communication may have little or no impact on the NG-RAN 135 (which can communicate 5G NAS messages that can be any other 5G NAS messages).

[0027]

[0036] The LPPa and NRPPa protocols may enable a location server to request and obtain information from a base station related to a location regarding either the location of a specific UE or a location configuration for a base station. The location-related information provided by eNB170 to LMF120 using LPPa (e.g., via E-SMLC160 and MME165) may include timing information, information for PRS transmission by eNB170 (as will be described later in relation to FIGS. 6 and 7), and location coordinates for eNB170. Similarly, the location-related information provided by ng-eNB180 to LMF120 using NRPPa may include timing information, information for PRS transmission by ng-eNB180 (as will be described later in relation to FIGS. 6 and 7), and location coordinates for ng-eNB180. For example, in the case of LPPa, E-SMLC160, or LMF120, to request information related to the location of UE105 (such as location measurement results for ECID positioning obtained by or transferred by eNB170-1 and obtained by UE105), or information related to the location configuration of eNB170-1 (such as the location of the PRS configuration for eNB170-1 regarding OTDOA positioning), an LPPa message may be sent to eNB170-1 via MME165 (and in the case of an LPPa message sent from LMF120, via E-SMLC160 in some cases). eNB170-1 may then obtain any requested location configuration information or location measurement results (e.g., when location information for UE105 is requested) and return the requested information to E-SMLC160 or LMF120 via MME165 (and in some cases, via E-SMLC160 when the information is requested by LMF120).The use of NRPPa can be done in a similar way to LMF120 sending an NRPPa message to gNB110-1 or ng-eNB180-1, for example, via AMF115, to request information related to the location configuration for gNB110-1 or ng-eNB180-1 or the location of UE105, and using gNB110-1 or ng-eNB180-1 to return the information requested in another NRPPa message via AMF115 to the original LMF120.

[0028]

[0037] In the case where an NRPPa message is sent to ng-eNB180-1, LMF120 may use LPPa to request information similar to or the same as what can be requested from eNB170-1. Thus, this information includes ECID location measurement results for UE105, PRS configuration information for ng-eNB180-1 applicable to OTDOA positioning of UE105, or the location of ng-eNB180-1. In the case where an NRPPa message is sent to gNB110-1, LMF120 may request the serving cell identity (ID) for UE105, or location measurement results (e.g., measurement results of reference signal received power (RSRP) or reference signal received quality (RSRQ) for LTE) obtained by UE105 and provided by UE105 to gNB110-1 (e.g., using RRC). LMF120 may also request location configuration information for gNB110-1, such as NR-related location estimation obtained by gNB110-1 for UE105 or NR PRS configuration information for gNB110-1 (e.g., in a later 3GPP release).

[0029]

[0038] The LMF120 may provide some or all of the location-related information received from the eNB170, ng-eNB180, and / or gNB110 to the UE105 (e.g., using LPPa and / or NRPPa) as auxiliary data in the LPP message sent to the UE105 via the NG-RAN135 and 5GC140.

[0030]

[0039] The LPP message communicated from the LMF120 to the UE105 (e.g., via the NG-RAN135) may instruct the UE105 to perform any of a variety of things depending on the desired function. For example, the LPP message may include instructions for the UE105 to acquire measurements related to GNSS (or A-GNSS), WLAN positioning, RTK, and / or OTDOA. In the case of OTDOA, the LPP message may notify the UE105 to perform one or more measurements (e.g., measurements of the reference signal time difference (RSTD)) of a particular eNB170 and / or ng-eNB180. Thus, when the UE105 is served by the gNB110 or ng-eNB180 in the NG-RAN135, in the case of measurements of a particular eNB170, the UE105 can behave as if it were served by the E-UTRAN150 and EPC155 (rather than the NG-RAN135 and 5GC140). Similarly, when the UE105 is served by the gNB110 in the NG-RAN135, in the case of measurements of a particular ng-eNB180, it can behave as if it were served by the ng-eNB180 in the NG-RAN135. The UE105 may then return the measurement results to the LMF120 in the LPP message (e.g., within the 5G NAS message) via the NG-RAN135.

[0031]

[0040] Note that the identification of the ng-eNB 180 as part of the NG-RAN 135 in FIG. 1 is merely a matter of terminology. For example, the ng-eNB 180-1 may be treated as not being part of the NG-RAN 135 but rather as part of the E-UTRAN 150, and may refer to the eNB 170-1 instead of the ng-eNB 180-1. Such an eNB 170-1 is connected to the AMF 115 rather than the MME 165, as indicated by the dashed line 193, to provide LTE wireless access to the UE 105 via the 5GC 140 rather than via the EPC 155. In that case, the eNB 170-1 may be able to perform exactly the same functions as the ng-eNB 180-1. In such a case, the eNB 170-1 can communicate with the LMF 120 using NRPPa (or LPPa) instead of using LPPa with the E-SMLC 120, where the NRPPa (or LPPa) messages can be transferred between the eNB 170-1 and the LMF 120 via the AMF 115 and, in some cases, via the gNB 110 (e.g., gNB 110-1), as will be described later in connection with FIG. 2, for the case when the UE 105 is served by the ng-eNB 180-1. Similarly, when the UE 105 is served by the eNB 170-1, the LPP messages can be transferred between the UE 105 and the LMF 120 via the AMF 115, the eNB 170-1, and, in some cases, via the gNB 110 (e.g., gNB 110-1), in the same manner as will be described later in connection with FIG. 2 for LPP message transfer, for the case when the UE 105 is served by the ng-eNB 180-1.

[0032]

[0041] As shown previously, embodiments of the techniques provided herein can be utilized in systems having different architectures. FIGS. 2 and 3 are examples that respectively illustrate communication systems 200 and 300, which show different architectures in which the techniques of this specification can be implemented, according to some embodiments. The different architectures illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3 provide different ways of connecting base stations in NG-RAN 135 to 5GC 140 and different base station arrangements for NG-RAN 135 for communication system 100. Thus, communication systems 200 and 300 can represent different variations of communication system 100. The components of communication systems 200 and 300 correspond to those illustrated in communication system 100, as illustrated and described in FIG. 1. These components include UE 105, ng-eNB 180-1, gNB 110-1, NG-RAN 135, 5GC 140, AMF 115, and LMF 120. As will be described in more detail below, optional components, interfaces, and protocols are illustrated with dashed lines. Here, the NR interface (NR-Uu), the LTE or enhanced or evolved LTE interface (eLTE-Uu), the interface from AMF to NG-RAN (N2), the interface from AMF to LMF (NLs), and the interface from gNB to ng-eNB (Xn) (which can also be referred to as the interface between gNB and gNB and between ng-eNB and ng-eNB) are shown with dashed or solid lines between components. The protocols LPP and NRPPa used between a pair of components are further illustrated with dashed and solid lines with double arrows, and each arrow connects a pair of components. Arrows passing through an intermediate component illustrate where the intermediate component can relay messages regarding the protocol illustrated by the arrow. For example, as illustrated, all communication between LMF 120 and other components in FIGS. 2 and 3 is relayed via AMF 115, which serves as an intermediate component.Those skilled in the art will understand that the architectures illustrated in FIGS. 2-3 may include additional and / or alternative components not shown (such as GMLC 125 and external client 130 of FIG. 1). Additionally, although NG-RAN 135 and 5GC 140 are illustrated, it should be further noted that the embodiments described herein may be implemented using other RANs and / or core components.

[0033]

[0042] In the communication system 200 in FIG. 2, as exemplified by the connection from gNB 110-1 in NG-RAN 135 to AMF 115 in 5GC 140, gNB 110 exists in NG-RAN 135 and is directly connected to the AMF in 5GC 140. When the ng-eNB 180 (e.g., optionally ng-eNB 180-1) does not exist in NG-RAN 135, the communication system 200 can be referred to as a stand-alone 5G (or NR) architecture and is also referred to as "Option 2" in 3GPP. Using this arrangement or option, the LPP message 210 can be exchanged between the UE 105 and the LMF 120 via the gNB 110-1 and the AMF 115, and the NRPPa message 220 can be exchanged between the gNB 110-1 and the LMF 120 via the AMF 115. When the ng-eNB 180 (e.g., optionally ng-eNB 180-1) exists in NG-RAN 135, the communication system 200 can be referred to as stand-alone 5G (or NR) using a non-stand-alone E-UTRA architecture and is also referred to as "Option 4" in 3GPP. Using this arrangement or option, when the UE 105 is served by the ng-eNB 180-1, the LPP message 230 can be exchanged between the UE 105 and the LMF 120 via the gNB 110-1, the ng-eNB 180-1, and the AMF 115, and the NRPPa message 240 can be exchanged between the ng-eNB 180-1 and the LMF 120 via the gNB 110-1 and the AMF 115. Using this arrangement (Option 4), the LPP and NRPPa messages may not be directly transferred between the AMF 115 and the ng-eNB 180-1. Instead, to transfer messages between the gNB 110-1 and the ng-eNB 180-1, they can be transferred via the gNB 110-1 using the Xn interface.

[0034]

[0043] FIG. 3, like FIG. 2, illustrates different embodiments that can be implemented according to a desired function. However, the roles of gNB110-1 and ng-eNB180-1 are reversed. Thus, in communication system 300, as exemplified by the connection from ng-eNB180-1 in NG-RAN135 to AMF115 in 5GC140, ng-eNB180 is present in NG-RAN135 and is directly connected to the AMF in 5GC140. When gNB110 (e.g., optionally gNB110-1) is not present in NG-RAN135, communication system 300 can be referred to as a stand-alone E-UTRA 5GS architecture and is also referred to as "Option 5" in 3GPP. Using this arrangement or option, LPP message 310 can be exchanged between UE105 and LMF120 via ng-eNB180-1 and AMF115, and NRPPa message 320 can be exchanged between ng-eNB180-1 and LMF120 via AMF115. When gNB110 (e.g., optionally gNB110-1) is present in NG-RAN135, communication system 300 can be referred to as a stand-alone E-UTRA using a non-stand-alone NR architecture and is also referred to as "Option 7" in 3GPP. Using this arrangement or option, when UE105 is served by gNB110-1, LPP message 330 can be exchanged between UE105 and LMF120 via gNB110-1, ng-eNB180-1, and AMF115, and NRPPa message 340 can be exchanged between gNB110-1 and LMF120 via ng-eNB180-1 and AMF115. Using this arrangement (Option 7), LPP and NRPPa messages may not be transferred directly between AMF115 and gNB110-1. Instead, the Xn interface can be used to transfer messages between gNB110-1 and ng-eNB180-1 and can be transferred via ng-eNB180-1.

[0035]

[0044] Note that the use of the existing LPP protocol for positioning the UE 105 having access to the NG-RAN 135, as previously described and illustrated with reference to FIGS. 1-3, may be applied or replaced by a new or modified protocol for the NG-RAN 135 (or, if available, another RAN). In some embodiments, the adaptations may include extensions to LPP or replacements of LPP that may be required to support a positioning method in which the UE 105 obtains measurements of NR signals transmitted by one or more gNBs 110. Such NR-related measurements may include measurements of RSRP, RSRQ, RSTD, round trip signal propagation time (RTT), and / or angle of arrival (AOA). In one embodiment, referred to as Alternative A1, LPP may be extended to support new NR RAT-dependent (and other available RAT-independent) positioning methods, such as NR RAT-dependent positioning methods similar to OTDOA or ECID for LTE access. In another embodiment, referred to as Alternative A2, an entire new protocol (e.g., NR positioning protocol (NPP or NRPP)) may be defined to be used in place of LPP, where this new protocol provides support for NR RAT-dependent and other RAT-independent positioning methods. In a further embodiment, referred to as Alternative A3, the new protocol (e.g., NPP or NRPP) may be limited to only supporting NR RAT-dependent positioning methods and may be defined to be used in combination with LPP when both NR RAT-dependent and RAT-alone positioning (and / or LTE RAT-dependent positioning) are required. Alternative A3 may use one of three variations. In a first variation of A3, messages regarding the new protocol may be incorporated within LPP messages as new external protocol data units (EPDUs) according to the definition of EPDUs in 3GPP TS36.355.In a second variation of A3, the LPP message can be incorporated into the message for the new protocol, for example, using an EPDU similar to the definition of the EPDU in 3GPP TS 36.355. In a third variation of A3, the new protocol can be separated from LPP (e.g., not incorporated within LPP or unable to incorporate LPP), but using the LMF120, the UE105 can exchange one or more messages regarding both the new protocol and LPP using the same NAS transport container. In another embodiment, referred to as Option A4, the new protocol can be defined to incorporate a portion of LPP to support a RAT-independent positioning method and / or an E-UTRA RAT-dependent positioning method (e.g., by importing Abstract Syntax Notation One (ASN.1) data types from LPP).

[0036]

[0045] The various options A1 through A4 described above may be most suitable for positioning the UE105 using NR wireless access to the gNB110 in the NG-RAN135, but they may also be applicable for positioning the UE105 using LTE access to the ng-eNB180 in the NG-RAN135 because they may use an NR RAT-dependent positioning method for the gNB110 in the vicinity of the UE105 whose signals are measurable by the UE105.

[0037]

[0046] Figure 4 is a signaling flow diagram illustrating various messages sent between multiple components of the communication system 100 in a location session (also referred to as a session, an LPP session, or an LPP location session) using LPP between the UE 105 and the LMF 120. The signaling flow in Figure 4 is applicable when the UE 105 has NR (5G) wireless access to the gNB 110 in the NG-RAN 135, which is assumed in the example in Figure 4. The LPP session can be triggered by action 401 when the LMF 120 receives a location request for the UE 105. Depending on the scenario and type of location support in the 5GC 140, the location request can reach the LMF 120 from the AMF 115 or from the GMLC 125. The LMF 120 can query the AMF 115 regarding information about the UE 105, or (for example, if the AMF 115 sends a location request to the LMF 120 in action 401) the AMF 115 can send information about the UE 105 to the LMF 120 (not shown in Figure 4). This information can indicate that the UE 105 has wireless access to the NG-RAN 135, and can provide the current NR serving cell for the UE 105 (for example, a cell supported by the gNB 110-1 which can be the serving gNB for the UE 105) when the UE 105 has NR wireless access (or when the UE 105 has access to the NG-RAN 135), and / or can indicate that the UE 105 supports location using LPP. Some or all of this information may have been obtained by the AMF 115 from the UE 105 and / or from the gNB 110-1, for example, when the UE 105 performs registration with the AMF 115 (using, for example, NAS).

[0038]

[0047] To start an LPP session (e.g., based on the indication of UE 105 that LPP is supported by NR wireless access), the LMF 120 can send an LPP request capability message to the AMF 115 that serves the UE 105 in action 402 (e.g., using the 5G LCSAP). The AMF 115 can include the LPP request capability message in a 5G NAS transport message, which is sent to the UE 105 in action 403 (e.g., via the NAS communication path in the NG-RAN 135 as shown in FIGS. 1-3). The UE 105 can then respond to the AMF 115 in action 404 by also sending an LPP offer capability message to the AMF 115 within the 5G NAS transport message. The AMF 115 can extract the LPP offer capability message from the 5G NAS transport message (e.g., using the 5G LCS AP) and relay the LPP offer capability message to the LMF 120 in action 405.

[0039]

[0048] Here, the LPP provisioning capability messages sent in actions 404 and 405 may indicate the positioning capabilities of UE 105 while accessing the 5G network using NR (e.g., positioning methods supported by UE 105 such as A-GNSS positioning, RTK positioning, OTDOA positioning, ECID positioning, WLAN positioning, etc.). This means that some of the positioning capabilities of UE 105 may be different from when UE 105 accesses EPC 155 via E-UTRAN 150 using LTE. For example, in some scenarios, UE 105 may have the ability to support OTDOA positioning for LTE (also called OTDOA for E-UTRA) while accessing the LTE network, but UE 105 may not have the ability to support OTDOA positioning for LTE while accessing the 5G network using NR. In this case, UE 105 may not indicate in the LPP provisioning capability messages sent in actions 404 and 405 that it has the OTDOA positioning capability for LTE. In some other scenarios, UE 105 may be able to support LTE positioning methods such as OTDOA and / or ECID when accessing the 5G network using NR (e.g., based on the techniques described herein), and in this case, the LPP provisioning capability messages sent in actions 404 and 405 may indicate this UE's support. The positioning capabilities of UE 105 sent in actions 404 and 405 enable the LMF 120 to determine what capabilities that UE 105 has while accessing the 5G network.

[0040]

[0049] Using the positioning capabilities of UE105, LMF120 can determine the assistance data for UE105 to support one or more of the positioning methods indicated by the supported UE105. For example, if UE105 indicates support for OTDOA related to LTE in actions 404 and 405, LMF120 can send an NRPPa OTDOA information request message (relayed to ng-eNB180-1 via AMF115 in action 407) to ng-eNB180-1 in action 406. ng-eNB180-1 can respond in action 408 using an NRPPa OTDOA information response (relayed to LMF120 via AMF115 in action 409). Similarly, LMF120 can send an LPPa OTDOA information request message (relayed to eNB170-1 via MME165 in action 411) to eNB170-1 in action 410. eNB170-1 can respond in action 412 using an LPPa OTDOA information response (relayed to LMF120 via AMF115 in action 413). Similar communications between LMF120 and other eNB170 and / or other ng-eNB180 can occur to collect OTDOA assistance data, and it should be noted that in some scenarios, LMF120 can request information only from eNB170 (using LPPa) or only from ng-eNB180 (using NRPPa). Further, as shown in Figure 4 and described with respect to Figure 1, the communication between eNB170 and LMF120 can be relayed via E-SMLC160. In the LPPa or NRPPa OTDOA information responses (e.g., in actions 408 - 409 and 412 - 413), the information provided to LMF120 by each eNB170 and each ng-eNB180 can include the location coordinates of the eNB170 or ng-eNB180, the PRS timing information and PRS configuration information (e.g., PRS configuration parameters) for the eNB170 or ng-eNB180, as described later with respect to Figures 6 and 7.

[0041]

[0050] The LMF120 can then send some or all of the auxiliary data received in actions 409 and 413 to the UE105 via the LPP-provided auxiliary data message sent to the AMF115 in action 414 and relayed to the UE105 in the 5G NAS transport message by the AMF115 in action 415 (for example, it can send PRS configuration information for the eNB170-1 and / or the ng-eNB180-1). This is then followed by an LLP request location information message sent again from the LMF120 to the AMF115 in action 416, which is relayed to the UE105 in the 5G NAS transport message by the AMF115 in action 417 and via the gNB110-1. The LLP request location information message may request one or more location measurement results from the UE105 and / or a location estimate according to the positioning capabilities of the UE105 sent to the LMF120 in actions 404 and 405. Location measurements can include, for example, reference signal time difference (RSTD) measurements for OTDOA related to LTE, pseudorange or code phase measurements for A-GNSS, carrier phase measurements for RTK, WiFi measurements for WLAN positioning, and / or measurements for AOA, RSRP, and / or RSRQ related to LTE (which may also be referred to as ECID for E-UTRA).

[0042]

[0051] In response thereto, at block 418, UE 105 may obtain some or all of the location measurement results requested in actions 416 and 417. In some embodiments, and if requested in actions 416 and 417, UE 105 may also obtain a location estimate at block 418 based on the location measurement results and, optionally, also based on some or all of the assistance data received in action 415. The location measurement results or the location estimate may be provided in an LPP-provided location message, which may be sent by UE 105 to AMF 115 via gNB 110-1 in a 5G NAS transport message in action 419. AMF 115 may extract the LPP-provided location message from the 5G NAS transport message and may relay it to LMF 120 in action 420 (e.g., using the 5G LCS AP). Using this information, LMF 120 may determine or verify the UE location at block 421 and may provide a location response connecting its determined or verified location to the requesting entity in action 422.

[0043]

[0052] In FIG. 4, LMF120 requests UE105 to obtain OTDOA RSTD measurements related to LTE in actions 416 and 417, and the OTDOA RSTD measurements obtained in block 418 can be obtained from ng-eNB180 (e.g., ng-eNB180-1) and / or from eNB170 (e.g., eNB170-1). This can cause problems when the carrier frequency used for LTE wireless access by ng-eNB180 and / or by eNB170 is different from the carrier frequency of the 5G network for NR wireless access, or when simply measuring the ng-eNB180 and / or eNB170 wireless signals (e.g., PRS signals) interferes with or obstructs normal NR wireless access by UE105. Additionally, the LTE timing of ng-eNBs 180 in NG-RAN 135 and / or the LTE timing of eNBs 170 in E-UTRAN 150 may be different from the timing used by gNB110 in NG-RAN 135, making it difficult or impossible for UE105 to perform RSTD measurements of PRS signals for OTDOA (as described with respect to FIGS. 6 and 7).

[0044]

[0053] To solve these problems, UE105 may be configured to tune away from NR access to gNB110-1 for a period of time (e.g., between 10 and 50 ms) to enable UE105 to search for and discover an appropriate reference LTE cell that provides LTE coverage in the area of UE105 (e.g., supported by ng-eNB180-1 or eNB170-1). Information regarding a specific reference LTE may be provided to UE105 by LMF120 in actions 414 and 415. For example, prior to action 414, LMF120 may determine a reference LTE cell based on the NR serving cell for the UE, e.g., by selecting an LTE reference cell having a similar or the same coverage area. UE105 may obtain LTE timing (e.g., LTE system frame number (SFN)) and obtain system information from the reference LTE cell. To enable UE105 to tune away for a period of time, UE105 may request an idle period from serving gNB110-1. Further details regarding this process are shown in FIG. 5.

[0045]

[0054] FIG. 5 is a signaling flow diagram illustrating messages communicated between various components of communication system 100 that, according to one embodiment, enable UE105 to tune away from NR wireless access for serving gNB110 in the 5G network to collect OTDOA timing information from ng-eNB180 and eNB170 in the LTE network. FIG. 5 may correspond to block 418 in FIG. 4 (e.g., may support it partially or wholly). Although FIG. 5 illustrates tuning away from NR wireless access to obtain OTDOA measurements related to LTE, it should be noted that some or similar procedures may be used to enable UE105 to tune away from NR wireless access to obtain other types of location measurement results, such as positioning related to ECID positioning, A-GNSS, RTK, and / or WLAN positioning for LTE.

[0046]

[0055] In action 501, UE 105 sends an NR radio resource control (RRC) idle period request to gNB 110-1. gNB 110-1 can typically be the serving gNB (or primary serving gNB) for UE 105. The request can include the length of the requested idle period (e.g., 50 ms), and optionally, when the idle period that is sufficient to measure and obtain LTE timing information in a later block 506 should occur. According to the desired functionality, gNB 110-1 can respond in action 502 by sending an RRC confirm idle period message (otherwise, in some embodiments, UE 105 can assume that the request sent in action 501 has been approved). During the requested idle period, in block 503, to enable UE 105 to tune away from NR wireless access during the idle period, gNB 110-1 suspends NR transmissions to UE 105 and suspends NR receptions from UE 105.

[0047]

[0056] UE105 can then tune away from the 5G NR carrier frequency (e.g., for gNB110-1) to the LTE carrier frequency supported by ng-eNB180 and / or eNB170 during the idle period. In block 506, UE105 can then obtain the LTE cell timing and system frame number (SFN) for the OTDOA reference cell for ng-eNB180-1 or eNB170-1 during the idle period. The LTE cell timing and SFN for the reference cell supported by ng-eNB180-1 or eNB170-1 can be obtained by UE105 from the RRC system information block (SIB) broadcast by ng-eNB180-1 or eNB170-1 respectively in action 504 or action 505. For example, UE105 can capture and measure the master information block (MIB) and SIB broadcast by ng-eNB180-1 or eNB170-1. As part of the auxiliary data sent to UE105 in actions 414 and 415, the identity and carrier frequency for the reference cell may have been previously provided to UE105 by LMF120. UE105 can then tune back to the NR wireless access to gNB110-1.

[0048]

[0057] In block 507, UE 105 can convert the LTE timing of the PRS positioning opportunities for the reference cells and neighboring cells regarding ng-eNB 180 and / or eNB 170 provided by LMF 120 (in the LPP assistance data sent in actions 414 and 415) into corresponding NR timing for gNB 110-1. This means converting the LTE PRS subframe timing into an equivalent NR timing (e.g., regarding an NR subframe, an NR radio frame, or other NR signaling units), as will be described later with respect to FIGS. 6 and 7. When performing this conversion, UE 105 may determine an NR measurement gap (regarding NR timing) appropriate for measuring the LTE PRS signal from ng-eNB 180 and / or eNB 170.

[0049]

[0058] As shown in FIG. 5, it should be noted that the functions described in actions 501-502 and 504-505, and in blocks 503, 506, and 507 are optional and can be used for OTDOA measurements if desired. That is, in some embodiments, LMF 120 provides UE 105 with information regarding the PRS signals transmitted by ng-eNB 180 and / or eNB 170, including the time at which those PRS signals are transmitted. However, these times may be related to LTE timing. Therefore, by obtaining timing information from the LTE OTDOA reference cell (or some other LTE cell) in block 506, UE 105 may discover the LTE timing at which the PRS signal is transmitted and the corresponding absolute times (e.g., global positioning system (GPS) time) or local times (e.g., time inside the UE). This may enable UE 105 to convert the LTE signal timing for the PRS opportunity into the corresponding NR timing.

[0050]

[0059] As will be described later with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7, typically, ng-eNB 180 and / or eNB 170 may use different LTE timings for different carrier frequencies, but can be synchronized when using the same LTE carrier frequency. Therefore, the actions performed in blocks 506 and 507 can be repeated by UE 105 for each separate PRS carrier frequency used by the reference cell and the neighboring cells, which UE 105 was requested by LMF 120 to measure in actions 414 and 415. This may enable UE 105 to determine the NR timing corresponding to the LTE timing for each separate LTE carrier frequency. However, since UE 105 can use the relationship between the LTE timings for each separate PRS carrier frequency to infer the NR timing corresponding to each PRS carrier frequency, if LMF 120 provides UE 105 with the relationship between the LTE timings for each separate PRS carrier frequency (such as supported by LPP and as described later in relation to FIGS. 6 and 7), UE 105 only needs to obtain the NR timing corresponding to one PRS carrier frequency in blocks 506 and 507.

[0051]

[0060] UE 105 may then send an NR RRC measurement gap request to gNB 110-1 in action 508 to request a measurement gap (which may comprise a series of periodic short periods of about 5 - 10 ms in some embodiments) with respect to the NR timing. gNB 110-1 may optionally confirm the request in action 509 (e.g., by sending an RRC confirmation message to UE 105), or UE 105 may assume that the request is supported. During each measurement gap, in block 510, gNB 110-1 may suspend NR transmissions to UE 105 and suspend NR receptions from UE 105 to enable UE 105 to tune away from the NR wireless access during each measurement gap.

[0052]

[0061] UE105 then captures and measures, in action 511, the time of arrival (TOA) for PRS broadcasts for the reference cell or neighboring cells regarding ng-eNB180-1, and in 512, to capture and measure the TOA for PRS broadcasts for the reference cell and neighboring cells regarding eNB170-1, it can tune away from the NR access to gNB110-1 periodically (when each measurement gap occurs). UE105 can then obtain, in block 513, an OTDOA RSTD measurement from the difference between the two TOA measurements, as described later with respect to FIGS. 6 and 7. In this example, UE105 measures the PRS broadcasts in the cell for each of ng-eNB180-1 and eNB170-1, and one of these cells is considered the reference cell for OTDOA. However, other scenarios are possible where UE105 measures the PRS broadcasts in a pair of eNB170s or a pair of ng-eNB180s using one of these cells that is the reference cell. Further, in all scenarios, UE105 can obtain additional TOA measurements during the measurement gap for PRS broadcasts for other cells by other ng-eNB180s and / or other eNB170s, and use these additional TOA measurements to determine additional RSTD measurements in block 513. Additionally or alternatively, UE105 can obtain other measurements in block 513 during the measurement gap, such as GNSS or RTK measurements for SV190. This can be done until sufficient measurements are obtained or until the maximum response interval expires. In action 514, UE105 can then optionally send an RRC measurement gap stop message to gNB110-1 to notify gNB110-1 that the measurement gap is no longer needed.

[0053]

[0062] UE105 may then include the measurements in the LPP location message (e.g., continue the process illustrated in FIG. 4 in action 419).

[0054]

[0063] In one variation of the procedure shown in FIG. 5, the LMF120 may provide UE105 with the relationship between the NR timing and the LTE timing for gNB110-1 in the auxiliary data sent in actions 414 and 415 (e.g., for the OTDOA reference cell related to ng-eNB180-1 or eNB170-1). For example, the LMF120 may use the NRPPa to request and obtain information from gNB110-1 by using the same or similar procedures as those used to obtain information related to OTDOA from ng-eNB180-1 in actions 406-409. If the information obtained from gNB110-1 and the information related to OTDOA obtained from ng-eNB180-1 in actions 406-409 and / or from eNB170-1 in actions 410-413 includes timing information (e.g., NR timing information related to absolute time such as GPS time for the LTE timing and gNB110-1 for the absolute time for ng-eNB180-1 and / or eNB170-1), then the LMF120 may infer the relationship between the NR timing and the LTE timing in actions 414 and 415 and provide this to UE105 as auxiliary data. In this case, UE105 may not need to perform actions 501-502, actions 504-505, and blocks 506 and 507, and gNB110-1 may not need to perform block 503.

[0055]

[0064] Figure 6 is a diagram of the structure of an LTE subframe sequence having a PRS positioning opportunity according to an embodiment. In Figure 6, as shown, time is represented horizontally (e.g., on the X-axis), with time increasing from left to right, while frequency is represented vertically (e.g., on the Y-axis), with frequency increasing (or decreasing) from bottom to top. As shown in Figure 6, the downlink and uplink LTE radio frames 610 each have a duration of 10 ms. For the downlink frequency division duplex (FDD) mode, the radio frame 610 is composed of 10 subframes 612 each having a duration of 1 ms. Each subframe 612 includes two slots 614 each having a duration of 0.5 ms.

[0056]

[0065] In the frequency domain, the available bandwidth is divided into orthogonal subcarriers 616 spaced at regular intervals. For example, for a normal-length cyclic prefix using a 15 kHz interval, the subcarriers 616 can be grouped into groups of 12 subcarriers. Each group of 12 subcarriers 616 in Figure 6 is called a resource block, and in the above example, the number of subcarriers in the resource block can be

Number

Number

Number

[0057]

[0066] In the architecture illustrated in Figure 1, the ng-eNB 180 and / or eNB 170 may transmit a PRS (i.e., a downlink (DL) PRS), such as the PRS illustrated in Figure 6 and Figure 7 (as described below), which is measured and used for UE (e.g., UE 105) position determination. Because the transmission of the PRS by the ng-eNB 180 and / or eNB 170 is intended for all UEs within the wireless range, the ng-eNB 180 and / or eNB 170 is also considered to broadcast the PRS.

[0058]

[0067] The PRS defined in 3GPP LTE Release 9 and later releases may be transmitted by the ng-eNB 180 and / or the eNB 170 after appropriate configuration (e.g., by an Operations and Maintenance (O&M) server). The PRS are transmitted in special positioning subframes that are grouped into positioning occasions (also called PRS positioning occasions or PRS opportunities). For example, in LTE, the PRS positioning occasions are divided into a number N PRS may be between 1 and 160 (e.g., may include values 1, 2, 4, and 6, as well as other values). PRS The PRS positioning occasion for a cell supported by the ng-eNB 180 or the eNB 170 may include T PRS The number of millisecond (or subframe) intervals, T, which can be equal to 5, 10, 20, 40, 80, 160, 320, 640, or 1280. PRS As an example, FIG. 6 shows a PRS is equal to 4, T PRS 20 or more. In some embodiments, T PRS may be measured in terms of the number of subframes between the start of multiple consecutive PRS positioning occasions.

[0059]

[0068] Within each positioning opportunity, the PRS can be transmitted at a constant power. The PRS can also be transmitted at zero power (i.e., muted). Muting, which turns off the regularly scheduled PRS transmissions, can be useful when PRS signals from different cells overlap by occurring simultaneously or almost simultaneously. In this case, the PRS signals from some cells can be muted while the PRS signals from other cells are being transmitted (e.g., at a constant power). Muting can assist the UE105 in signal acquisition and RSTD measurement for the non-muted PRS signals by avoiding interference from the muted PRS signals. Muting can be considered as non-transmission of the PRS for a given positioning opportunity for a particular cell. The muting pattern can be signaled to the UE105 (e.g., using LPP) using a bit string. For example, in the bit string that signals the muting pattern, if the bit at position j is set to "0", it implies that the PRS is muted for the j-th positioning opportunity.

[0060]

[0069] To further improve the hearability of the PRS, the positioning subframe can be a low-interference subframe transmitted without using the user data channel. As a result, in an ideally synchronized network, the PRS can receive interference from the PRS of other cells having the same PRS pattern index (i.e., having the same frequency shift but not from data transmissions). For example, in LTE, the frequency shift is a function of the PRS ID for a cell or transmission point (TP), or the physical cell identifier (PCI)

Number

Number

[0061]

[0070] To further improve the audibility of the PRS (e.g., when restricted such that the PRS bandwidth has only 6 resource blocks corresponding to a 1.4 MHz bandwidth), the frequency band for successive PRS positioning opportunities (or successive PRS sub - frames) can be changed in a known and predictable manner via frequency hopping. Additionally, the cells supported by the ng - eNB180 or eNB170 can support more than 1 PRS configuration, where each PRS configuration has a separate sequence of PRS positioning opportunities with a specific periodicity (T PRS ) and a specific number of sub - frames per positioning opportunity (N PRS ). Further enhancements to the PRS can also be supported by the ng - eNB180 or eNB170.

[0062]

[0071] OTDOA assistance data is typically provided to the UE105 by a location server (e.g., E - SMLC160 or LMF120) for a "reference cell" and one or more "neighbor cells" or "neighboring cells" related to the "reference cell". For example, the assistance data can provide the center channel frequency (also called the carrier frequency) of each cell, various PRS configuration parameters (e.g., N PRS , T PRS , muting sequence, frequency hopping sequence, PRS ID, PRS code sequence, PRS bandwidth), cell global ID, and / or other cell - related parameters applicable to OTDOA.

[0063]

[0072] The PRS positioned by UE105 can be facilitated by including, in the OTDOA assistance data, the serving cell for UE105 (e.g., using a reference cell shown as being the serving cell). In the case of UE105 having NR wireless access, the reference cell can be selected by LMF120 as several cells for ng-eNB180 or eNB170 with good coverage at the expected alternative location of UE105 (e.g., as indicated by a known NR serving cell for UE105).

[0064]

[0073] The OTDOA assistance data may also include a "predicted RSTD" parameter, which provides UE105 with information about the RSTD value, and UE105 is expected to measure it at its current location between the reference cell and each neighboring cell, with uncertainty in the predicted RSTD parameter. The predicted RSTD with uncertainty defines the search window for UE105 expected to measure the RSTD value (or the TOA value corresponding to the RSTD value). The OTDOA assistance information may also include PRS configuration information parameters, which enable the PRS positioning opportunity to occur on signals received from various neighboring cells related to the PRS positioning opportunity for the reference cell, and enable UE105 to determine the PRS sequences transmitted from various cells to measure the time of arrival (TOA) or RSTD of the signals.

[0065]

[0074] Using the RSTD measurement, the known absolute or relative transmission timing of each cell, and the known positions of the ng-eNB180 and / or eNB170 physical transmission antennas for the reference and neighboring cells, the position of UE105 can be calculated (e.g., by LMF120 or by UE105). The RSTD for neighboring cell "k" with respect to reference cell "Ref" is (TOA k -TOA Ref) can be given as. TOA measurements for different cells can be converted to RSTD measurements (e.g., as defined in 3GPP TS36.214 titled "Physical layer; Measurements") and sent by UE105 to a location server (e.g., LMF120). Using (i) RSTD measurements, (ii) the known reception or relative transmission timing of each cell, and (iii) the known positions of the physical transmission antennas of ng-eNB180 and / or eNB170 for the reference and neighboring cells, the position of UE105 can be determined.

[0066]

[0075] Figure 7 illustrates a further aspect of PRS transmission for cells supported by ng-eNB180 or eNB170. Figure 7 shows how the PRS positioning opportunity is determined by the system frame number (SFN), the cell-specific subframe offset (Δ PRS ), and the PRS periodicity (T PRS ) 620. Usually, the cell-specific PRS subframe configuration is defined by the "PRS Configuration Index" I PRS included in the OTDOA assistance data. The PRS periodicity (T PRS ) 620 and the cell-specific subframe offset (Δ PRS ) (e.g., as shown in Figure 7) are defined in 3GPP TS36.211 titled "Physical channels and modulation" as exemplified in Table 1 below based on the PRS configuration index I PRS .

Table 1

[0067]

[0076] The PRS configuration is defined with reference to the system frame number of the cell that transmits the PRS. For the first subframe of the first downlink subframe with a PRS positioning opportunity, the PRS instance can satisfy the following: PRS ​

Number

[0068]

[0077] As shown in FIG. 7, the cell-specific subframe offset Δ PRS 752 can be defined with respect to the number of subframes from slot number 0 750 transmitted starting from system frame number 0 to the start of the first (subsequent) PRS positioning opportunity. In FIG. 7, the number (N PRS ) of consecutive positioning subframes 618 is equal to 4.

[0069]

[0078] In some embodiments, when the UE105 receives the PRS configuration index I PRS in the OTDOA assistance data for a particular cell, the UE105 can use Table 1 to determine the PRS periodicity T PRS and the PRS subframe offset Δ PRS . The UE105 can then determine the radio frame, subframe, and slot when the PRS is scheduled in the cell (e.g., using Equation (1)). The OTDOA assistance data can include the number of neighboring cells defined by the LMF120 and supported by the ng-eNB180 and / or eNB170, and the assistance data for the reference cell.

[0070]

[0079] ​Typically, the PRS opportunities from all cells in a network using the same carrier frequency are aligned in time and may have a fixed known time offset relative to other cells in a network using different carrier frequencies. In an SFN-synchronized network, all ng-eNBs 180 and all eNBs 170 can be aligned both in terms of both frame boundaries and system frame numbers. Thus, in an SFN-synchronized network, all cells supported by ng-eNBs 180 and eNBs 170 can use the same PRS configuration index for any given frequency of PRS transmission. On the other hand, in an SFN-asynchronous network, all ng-eNBs 180 and all eNBs 170 can be aligned in terms of frame boundaries rather than system frame numbers. Thus, in an SFN-asynchronous network, the PRS configuration index for each cell can be configured separately by the network so that the PRS opportunities are aligned in time.

[0071]

[0080] UE 105 can determine the reference for OTDOA positioning and the LTE timing (also referred to as PRS timing) of the PRS opportunities of neighboring cells if, for example, as shown at block 506 in FIG. 5, UE 105 can obtain the timing of at least one cell (e.g., a reference cell) among a plurality of cells (e.g., the SFN or frame number). The LTE timing of other cells can then be derived by UE 105, for example, based on the assumption that the PRS opportunities from different cells overlap.

[0072]

[0081] FIGS. 6 and 7 show how LTE PRS timing can be carried, transformed, and / or measured at blocks 506, 507, and 513 in FIG. 5.

[0073]

[0082] FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating a method 800 for supporting the location of a UE by 5G NR wireless access according to an embodiment. Note that, similar to the drawings attached to this specification, FIG. 8 is provided as a non-limiting example. Other embodiments may vary according to desired functions. For example, the functional blocks illustrated in method 800 may be combined, divided, or rearranged to adapt different embodiments. This method 800 may be performed by a UE such as UE105. The means for performing the functions of method 800 may include the hardware and / or software means of a UE such as UE105 described above and shown in FIGS. 1-5 and FIG. 11.

[0074]

[0083] The function in block 810 comprises receiving, from a location server such as a location management function (e.g., LMF120), a first Long-Term Evolution (LTE) positioning protocol (LPP) message, where the first LPP message comprises a location request and is received via a serving 5G base station such as a gNB (e.g., gNB110-1). Block 810 may correspond to action 417 in FIG. 4. The means for performing the function in block 810 may include, for example, a processing unit 1110, a bus 1105, a memory 1160, a wireless communication interface 1130, a wireless communication antenna 1132, and / or other hardware and / or software components of UE105 as shown in FIG. 11 and described below.

[0075]

[0084] In block 820, at least one location measurement result is obtained based on a first LPP message, where the at least one location measurement result can be a measurement result for a radio access technology (RAT)-independent positioning method or a measurement result for an evolved universal terrestrial radio access (E-UTRA) positioning method. In some embodiments, the RAT-independent positioning method can include an assisted global navigation satellite system (A-GNSS), real-time kinematic (RTK), precise point positioning (PPP), differential A-GNSS, wireless local area network (WLAN) (also referred to as WiFi positioning), Bluetooth, sensors, or any combination thereof. The E-UTRA positioning method can include observed time difference of arrival (OTDOA) related to E-UTRA, or enhanced cell ID (ECID) related to E-UTRA. Block 820 may correspond to block 418 in FIG. 4.

[0076]

[0085] Means for performing the functions in block 820 can include, for example, a processing unit 1110, a bus 1105, a memory 1160, a wireless communication interface 1130, a wireless communication antenna 1132, and / or other hardware and / or software components of the UE 105, as shown in FIG. 11 and described below.

[0077]

[0086] The functions in block 830 include determining location information based on at least one location measurement result. For example, the location information can include a location estimate for the UE. Alternatively, the location information can include at least one location measurement result. Block 830 may correspond to block 418 in FIG. 4. Means for performing the functions in block 830 can include, for example, a processing unit 1110, a bus 1105, a memory 1160, a wireless communication interface 1130, a wireless communication antenna 1132, and / or other hardware and / or software components of the UE 105, as shown in FIG. 11 and described below.

[0078]

[0087] The function in block 840 includes sending a second LPP message to the location server, where the second LPP message carries location information and is sent via the serving 5G base station. Block 840 may correspond to action 419 in FIG. 4. The means for performing the function in block 840 may include, for example, a processing unit 1110, a bus 1105, a memory 1160, a wireless communication interface 1130, a wireless communication antenna 1132, and / or other hardware and / or software components of the UE 105 as shown in FIG. 11 and described below.

[0079]

[0088] Alternative embodiments of method 800 may include additional functions depending on the desired functionality. For example, in some embodiments, the first LPP message is an LPP request location information message and the second LPP message is an LPP provide location information message. Some embodiments further include receiving a third LPP message from the location server, where the third LPP message carries assistance data for a RAT-independent positioning method or an E-UTRA positioning method and is received via the serving 5G base station, and obtaining at least one location measurement result is based on the assistance data. The third LPP message may be an LPP provide assistance data message (such as action 415 in FIG. 4, for example).

[0080]

[0089] Some embodiments may further include receiving a fourth LPP message from a location server, where the fourth LPP message includes a request for the UE's LPP positioning capability and is received via a serving 5G base station, and sending a fifth LPP message to the location server. The fifth LPP message may include the UE's LPP positioning capability when the UE has NR wireless access and is sent via the serving 5G base station. (For example, like action 403 in FIG. 4) The fourth LPP message may include an LPP request capability message, and (for example, like action 404 in FIG. 4) the fifth LPP message may include an LPP provided capability message.

[0081]

[0090] In some embodiments, method 800 may further include sending a request for a measurement gap to a serving 5G base station (for example, like action 508 in FIG. 5) and obtaining at least one location measurement result during the measurement gap (for example, like actions 511, 512, or block 513 in FIG. 5). In some embodiments, the request for the measurement gap may include an NR radio resource control (RRC) message. Further, in some embodiments, the at least one location measurement result may include a reference signal time difference (RSTD) measurement result for OTDOA related to E-UTRA, and the method may further include sending a request for an idle period to the serving 5G base station (for example, like action 501 in FIG. 5) and obtaining the LTE timing and / or system frame number (SFN) for an OTDOA reference cell (for example, related to LTE) during the idle period (for example, like block 506 in FIG. 5), where the request for the measurement gap is based on the LTE timing and SFN. The request for the idle period is NR It may include an RRC message. The OTDOA reference cell may be a cell for an eNB (e.g., eNB 170) in the E-UTRAN (e.g., E-UTRAN 150) or a cell for an ng-eNB (e.g., ng-eNB 180) in the NG-RAN (e.g., NG-RAN 135), which may include the serving 5G base station.

[0082]

[0091] Some embodiments may further include sending an indication to an Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF) (e.g., AMF 115), which may occur as part of positioning using the AMF, where the indication is an indication that the UE supports LPP over NR wireless access, and where the AMF forwards the indication to a location server. Additionally or alternatively, for example, as described with respect to FIGS. 1-3, the first LPP message may be received in a Non-Access Stratum (NAS) transport message (e.g., a 5G NAS transport message), and the second LPP message may be sent in a NAS transport message (e.g., a 5G NAS transport message).

[0083]

[0092] FIG. 9 is a flow diagram illustrating a method 900 in a location server such as a Location Management Function (LMF) (e.g., LMF 120) for supporting the location of a User Equipment (UE) such as UE 105 by 5th Generation (5G) NR wireless access according to one embodiment. Note that, as with the drawings attached hereto, FIG. 9 is provided as a non-limiting example. Other embodiments may vary according to the desired functionality. For example, the functional blocks illustrated in method 900 may be combined, divided, or rearranged to adapt different embodiments. This method 900 may be performed by an LMF such as LMF 120. The means for performing the functions of method 900 may include hardware and / or software means of a computer system such as computer system 1200 shown in FIG. 12 and described in more detail below.

[0084]

[0093] The function in block 910 includes sending a Long-Term Evolution (LTE) Positioning Protocol (LPP) message to the UE, where the first LPP message includes a location request and is sent via an Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF) (e.g., AMF 115) and the serving 5G base station for the UE (e.g., gNB 110-1). Block 910 may correspond to action 416 in FIG. 4. The means for performing the function in block 910 may include, for example, a processing unit 1210, a bus 1205, a communication subsystem 1230, a wireless communication interface 1233, a working memory 1235, an operating system 1240, an application 1245, and / or other hardware and / or software components of the computer system 1200, as shown in FIG. 12 and described below.

[0085]

[0094] In block 920, a second LPP message is received from the UE, where the second LPP message comprises location information about the UE and is received via the AMF and the serving 5G base station, and the location information is based on at least one location measurement result obtained by the UE. The at least one location measurement result can be a measurement result for a radio access technology (RAT)-independent positioning method or a measurement result for an evolved universal terrestrial radio access (E-UTRA) positioning method. In some embodiments, the RAT-independent positioning method can comprise assisted global navigation satellite system (A-GNSS), real-time kinematic (RTK), precise point positioning, differential A-GNSS, wireless local area network (WLAN), Bluetooth, sensors, or any combination thereof. The E-UTRA positioning method can comprise observed time difference of arrival (OTDOA) with respect to E-UTRA, and / or enhanced cell ID (ECID) with respect to E-UTRA. Block 920 can correspond to action 420 in FIG. 4. The means for performing the functions in block 920 can include, for example, processing unit 1210, bus 1205, communication subsystem 1230, wireless communication interface 1233, working memory 1235, operating system 1240, application 1245, and / or other hardware and / or software components of computer system 1200 as shown in FIG. 12 and described below.

[0086]

[0095] In block 930, the function includes determining a location estimate for the UE based on location information. In some embodiments, the location information comprises a location estimate. In some other embodiments, the location information comprises at least one location measurement result. Block 930 may correspond to block 421 in FIG. 4. The means for performing the function in block 930 may include, for example, processing unit 1210, bus 1205, working memory 1235, operating system 1240, application 1245, and / or other hardware and / or software components of computer system 1200 as shown in FIG. 12 and described below.

[0087]

[0096] Alternative embodiments of method 900 may have one or more additional features. For example, the first LPP message may comprise an LPP request location information message, and the second LPP message may comprise an LPP provide location information message.

[0088]

[0097] In some embodiments, method 900 may further comprise sending a third LPP message to the UE, where the third LPP message comprises assistance data for a RAT-independent positioning method and / or an E-UTRA positioning method, and is sent via the AMF and the serving 5G base station, and at least one location measurement result is at least partially based on the assistance data. In these embodiments, the third LPP message may comprise an LTE-provided assistance data message (such as action 414 in FIG. 4, for example). In these embodiments, at least one location measurement result may be a location estimate for OTDOA related to E-UTRA, where the assistance data may comprise at least one eNB (such as eNB 170) in the E-UTRAN (such as E-UTRAN 150), or assistance data for at least one ng-eNB (such as eNB 180) in the NG-RAN (such as NG-RAN 135) that may include the serving 5G base station. In these embodiments, the assistance data may comprise configuration information for PRS transmitted by at least one eNB or at least one ng-eNB (as described with respect to action 414 for FIG. 4, for example).

[0089]

[0098] Method 900 further optionally comprises sending a fourth LPP message to the UE, where the fourth LPP message comprises a request for the UE's LPP positioning capabilities and is sent via the AMF and the serving 5G base station, receiving a fifth LPP message from the UE, where the fifth LPP message comprises the UE's LPP positioning capabilities when the UE has NR wireless access and is received via the AMF and the serving 5G base station. In some embodiments, the fourth LPP message (e.g., as in action 402 in FIG. 4) may comprise an LPP request capabilities message, and the fifth LPP message (e.g., as in action 405 in FIG. 4) may comprise an LPP provided capabilities message. Further, method 900 optionally comprises receiving an indication from the AMF, where the indication comprises an indication that the UE supports LPP via NR wireless access, and sending the fourth LPP message is based on the indication.

[0090]

[0099] FIG. 10 illustrates a method 1000 in a 5G base station, such as a gNB, for supporting the location of a user equipment (UE), such as UE105, via NR wireless access, according to one embodiment. Note that, as with the drawings attached hereto, FIG. 10 is provided as a non-limiting example. Other embodiments may vary according to the desired functionality. For example, the functional blocks illustrated in method 1000 may be combined, divided, or rearranged to accommodate different embodiments. Method 1000 may be performed by a gNB, such as gNB110. The means for performing the functions of method 1000 may include hardware and / or software means of a computer system, such as computer system 1200, shown in FIG. 12 and described in more detail below.

[0091]

[0100] The function in block 1010 includes sending a first LPP message received by the UE from an AMF (e.g., AMF 115). For example, block 1010 may include receiving a first LPP message (e.g., an LPP request location information message) within a NAS transport message from the AMF (or from the AMF via an ng-eNB such as ng-eNB 180), and sending the first LPP message within the NAS transport message to the UE as previously described in connection with FIGS. 1-3. In some embodiments, the 5G base station may be the serving base station for the UE. Block 1010 may correspond to the support of action 417 by gNB 110-1 in FIG. 4. The means for performing the function in block 1010 may include, for example, a processing unit 1210, a bus 1205, a communication subsystem 1230, a wireless communication interface 1233, an antenna 1250, a working memory 1235, an operating system 1240, an application 1245, and / or other hardware and / or software components of computer system 1200 as shown in FIG. 12 and described below.

[0092]

[0101] In block 1020, the function includes receiving a request for a measurement gap from the UE (such as action 508 in FIG. 5, for example). For example, the request for a measurement gap may include an NR radio resource control (RRC) message. The means for performing the function in block 1020 may include, for example, a processing unit 1210, a bus 1205, a communication subsystem 1230, a wireless communication interface 1233, an antenna 1250, a working memory 1235, an operating system 1240, an application 1245, and / or other hardware and / or software components of computer system 1200 as shown in FIG. 12 and described below.

[0102] In block 1030, the function includes temporarily stopping NR transmission to the UE and temporarily stopping NR reception from the UE during a measurement gap, where the UE obtains at least one location measurement result based on a first LPP message during the measurement gap, and the at least one location measurement result is a measurement result for a radio access technology (RAT)-independent positioning method or a measurement result for an evolved universal terrestrial radio access (E-UTRA) positioning method. In some embodiments, the RAT-independent positioning method may comprise an assisted global navigation satellite system (A-GNSS), real-time kinematic (RTK), precise point positioning (PPP), differential A-GNSS, wireless local area network (WLAN), Bluetooth, sensors, or any combination thereof. Further, the E-UTRA positioning method may comprise an observed time difference of arrival (OTDOA) related to E-UTRA and / or an enhanced cell ID (ECID) related to E-UTRA. Block 1030 may correspond to block 510 in FIG. 5. The means for performing the functions in block 1030 may include, for example, a processing unit 1210, a bus 1205, a communication subsystem 1230, a wireless communication interface 1233, an antenna 1250, a working memory 1235, an operating system 1240, an application 1245, and / or other hardware and / or software components of the computer system 1200 as shown in FIG. 12 and described below.

[0093]

[0103] In block 1040, the function includes transferring a second LPP message received from the UE to the AMF, where the second LPP message comprises location information about the UE, and the location information is based on at least one location measurement result. For example, block 1040 may include receiving a second LPP message (e.g., an LPP provide location information message) within a NAS transport message from the UE, and sending the second LPP message within the NAS transport message to the AMF as previously described with respect to FIGS. 1-3 (or sending the second LPP message to the AMF via an ng-eNB such as ng-eNB180). In one embodiment, the location information comprises a location estimate regarding the UE. In another embodiment, the location information comprises at least one location measurement result. Block 1040 may correspond to the support of action 419 by gNB110-1 in FIG. 4. The means for performing the function in block 1040 may include, for example, a processing unit 1210, a bus 1205, a communication subsystem 1230, a wireless communication interface 1233, an antenna 1250, a working memory 1235, an operating system 1240, an application 1245, and / or other hardware and / or software components of computer system 1200 as shown in and described below in FIG. 12.

[0094]

[0104] Alternative embodiments of method 1000 may have one or more additional features. For example, as in action 509 in FIG. 5, method 1000 optionally comprises sending an RCC message to the UE, where the RRC message may confirm the measurement gap requested by the UE in block 1010. Further, in some embodiments, at least one location measurement result comprises a reference signal time difference (RSTD) measurement result for OTDOA with respect to E-UTRA. In these embodiments, method 1000 optionally comprises receiving a request from the UE for an idle period (such as in action 501 in FIG. 5) and, during the idle period (such as in action 503 in FIG. 5), suspending NR transmissions to the UE and suspending NR receptions from the UE, where the UE (such as in block 506 in FIG. 5) obtains LTE timing and / or system frame number (SFN) for the OTDOA reference cell during the idle period, and the request for determining the measurement gap (such as as described for block 507 with respect to FIG. 5) is based on the LTE timing and / or SFN. In these embodiments, the request for an idle period may comprise an NR radio resource control (RRC) message. In these embodiments, method 1000 further comprises sending an RRC message to the UE, where the RRC message (such as in action 502 in FIG. 5) confirms the idle period.

[0095]

[0105] FIG. 11 is a block diagram of an embodiment of UE105 and is available as described in the embodiments described above and in connection with FIGS. 1-10. It should be noted that FIG. 11 is only intended to provide a general illustration of various components of UE105, and any or all of them may be used as appropriate. In other words, since UEs can vary widely in terms of functionality, they may include only a subset of the components shown in FIG. 11. In some cases, note that the elements illustrated in FIG. 11 may be localized to a single physical device and / or distributed among various networked devices, which may be arranged at different physical locations.

[0096]

[0106] UE105 is shown to comprise hardware elements that can be electrically coupled via bus 1105 (or otherwise communicate as appropriate). The hardware elements may include, but are not limited to, one or more general-purpose processors, one or more dedicated processors (such as digital signal processing (DSP) chips, graphics acceleration processors, application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), and / or the like), and / or other processing components or means, and may comprise a processing unit 1110, which may be configured to perform one or more of the methods described herein. As described in FIG. 11, some embodiments may have a separate DPS 1120 depending on the desired functionality. UE105 may also include, but is not limited to, one or more input devices 1170 that may comprise one or more touchscreens, touch pads, microphones, buttons, dials, switches, and / or the like, and one or more output devices 1115 that may comprise, but are not limited to, one or more displays, light-emitting diodes (LEDs), speakers, and / or the like.

[0097]

[0107] UE105 may also include, but is not limited to, a modem, a network card, an interference communication device, a wireless communication device, and / or a chipset (such as a Bluetooth device, an IEEE802.11 device, an IEEE 802.15.4 device, a WiFi device, a WiMAX device, a cellular communication facility, etc.), and / or the like, a wireless communication interface 1130, which may enable UE105 to communicate via the networks described above with reference to FIGS. 1-3. The wireless communication interface 1130 may permit data to communicate with a network, an eNB, an ng-eNB, a gNB, and / or other network components, a computer system, and / or other electronic devices described herein. The communication may be carried via one or more wireless communications via an antenna 1132 that transmits and / or receives a wireless signal 1134.

[0098]

[0108] According to the described functionality, the wireless communication interface 1130 may comprise a separate transceiver for communicating with a base station (e.g., eNB, ng-eNB, and / or gNB) and other terrestrial transceivers such as wireless devices and access points. The UE 105 may communicate with different data networks that may comprise various network types. For example, a wireless wide area network (WWAN) may be a code division multiple access (CDMA) network, a time division multiple access (TDMA) network, a frequency division multiple access (FDMA) network, an orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA) network, a single carrier frequency division multiple access (SC-FDMA) network, WiMax (IEEE802.16), etc. The CDMA network may implement one or more radio access technologies (RATs) such as cdma2000, wideband CDMA (W-CDMA (registered trademark)), etc. Cdma2000 includes the IS-95, IS-2000, and / or IS-856 standards. The TDMA network may implement the global system for mobile communications (GSM) for mobile communications, the digital advanced mobile phone system (D-AMPS), or some other RAT. The OFDMA network may use LTE, LTE Advanced, new radio (NR), etc. 5G, LTE, LTE Advanced, NR, GSM, and WCDMA are described in documents from 3GPP. Cdma2000 is described in documents by an association named "3rd Generation Partnership Project 2 (3GPP2)". The documents of 3GPP and 3GPP2 are publicly available. The wireless local area network (WLAN) may also be an IEEE802.11x network, and the wireless personal area network (WPAN) may be a Bluetooth network, IEEE802.15x, or some other type of network. The techniques described herein may also be used for any combination of WWAN, WLAN, and / or WPAN.

[0099]

[0109] UE105 may further include sensor 1140. Such sensors may include, but are not limited to, one or more internal sensors (e.g., accelerometers, gyroscopes, inertial measurement units (IMUs), cameras, magnetometers, compasses, altimeters, microphones, proximity sensors, optical sensors, barometers, etc.), some of which may be used to complement and / or facilitate the positioning described herein.

[0100]

[0110] Embodiments of UE105 may also include a GNSS receiver 1180 capable of receiving signals 1184 from one or more GNSS satellites (e.g., SV190), which may be combined in some implementations using antenna 1132. Such positioning may be utilized to complement and / or incorporate the techniques described herein. The GNSS receiver 1180 may extract the position of UE105 using conventional techniques from GNSS SVs (e.g., SV190) of GNSS systems such as the Global Positioning System (GPS), Galileo, Glonass, Compass, the Quasi-Zenith Satellite System (QZSS) for Japan, the Indian Regional Navigational Satellite System (IRNSS) for India, Beidou for China, and / or the like. Additionally, the GNSS receiver 1180 may use various augmentation systems (e.g., Satellite Based Augmentation System (SBAS)) that may be associated with or otherwise available for use with one or more global and / or regional navigation satellite systems. By way of non-limiting example, SBAS may include 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) for transport satellites, the GPS Aided Geo Augmented Navigation or GPS and Geo Augmented Navigation System (GAGAN), and / or the like. Thus, as used herein, GNSS may include any combination of one or more global and / or regional navigation satellite systems and / or augmentation systems, and GNSS signals may include signals such as GNSS signals and / or other signals associated with such one or more GNSS.

[0101]

[0111] UE105 further includes communication with and / or can communicate with memory 1160. Memory 1160 can comprise local and / or network-accessible storage, such as, but not limited to, random access memory (“RAM”) and / or read-only memory (“ROM”), disk drives, drive arrays, optical storage devices, solid-state storage devices, which can be programmable, flash-updatable, and / or the like. Such storage devices can be configured to implement any suitable data storage, including, but not limited to, various file systems, database structures, and / or the like.

[0102]

[0112] The memory 1160 of wireless device 105 can also comprise software elements (not shown), including an operating system, device drivers, executable libraries, and / or one or more application programs, which can comprise computer programs provided by various embodiments and / or can be designed to implement and / or configure a system in accordance with other methods as described herein. By way of example only, one or more procedures described with respect to the functions above can be implemented as code and / or instructions executable by UE105 (and / or a processing unit within UE105). Thus, in one aspect, such code and / or instructions can be used to configure and / or adapt a general purpose computer (or other device) to perform one or more operations in accordance with the methods described.

[0103]

[0113] FIG. 12 is a block diagram of an embodiment of a computer system 1200 and can be used, in whole or in part, to provide the functionality of one or more network components as described in the above embodiments (e.g., LMF120, AMF115, gNBs110, ng-eNB180, eNB170, etc.). It should be noted that FIG. 12 is only intended to provide a general illustration of various components, and any or all of them can be utilized as appropriate. Thus, FIG. 12 broadly illustrates how individual system elements can be implemented in a relatively separate or relatively more integrated manner. Additionally, note that the components illustrated by FIG. 12 can be localized to a single device and / or distributed among various networked devices that can be scattered across different geographical locations.

[0104]

[0114] The computer system 1200 is shown to include hardware elements that can be electrically coupled via a bus 1205 (or otherwise communicate as appropriate). The hardware elements can include, but are not limited to, a processing unit 1210 that can include one or more general-purpose processors, one or more dedicated processors (such as digital signal processing chips, graphics acceleration processors, and / or the like), and / or other processing configurations, which can be configured to perform one or more of the methods described herein. The computer system 1200 can also include, but is not limited to, one or more input devices 1215 that can include a mouse, keyboard, camera, microphone, and / or the like, and one or more output devices 1220 that can include, but are not limited to, a display device, printer, and / or the like.

[0105]

[0115] Computer system 1200 may further include (and / or be in communication with) one or more non-transitory storage devices 1225, which may include, but are not limited to, local and / or network-accessible storage, and / or may include, but are not limited to, solid state storage devices such as disk drives, drive arrays, optical storage devices, programmable and flash-updatable random access memory (“RAM”) and / or read only memory (“ROM”), and / or the like. Such storage devices may be configured to perform any suitable data storage, including, but not limited to, various file systems, database structures, and / or the like. Such data storage may include databases and / or other data structures using storage and management messages and / or other information sent to one or more devices via a hub as described herein.

[0106]

[0116] Computer system 1200 may also include a communication subsystem 1230, which may include wireless communication technologies managed and controlled by a wireless communication interface 1233, as well as wired technologies (such as Ethernet (registered trademark), coaxial communication, Universal Serial Bus (USB), and / or the like). The wireless communication interface 1233 may transmit and receive wireless signals 1255 (e.g., signals compliant with NR or LTE) via a wireless antenna 1250. Thus, the communication subsystem 1230 may include a modem, a network card (wireless or wired), an infrared communication device, a wireless communication device, and / or a chipset, and / or the like, which may communicate with any device on each network, including a UE (e.g., UE105), other computer systems (e.g., AMF115, gNB110, ng-eNB180, and / or eNB170), and / or any other electronic device described herein, in any or all of the communication networks described for the computer system 1200. Therefore, the communication subsystem 1230 may be used to transmit and receive data as described in the embodiments herein.

[0107]

[0117] In many embodiments, computer system 1200 may further include a working memory 1235 that may include a RAM or ROM device as described above. Software elements shown as being located within working memory 1235 may include an operating system 1240, device drivers, executable libraries, and / or other code such as one or more applications 1245, which may include computer programs provided by various embodiments as described herein, and / or may be designed to implement methods provided by other embodiments and / or configure the system. By way of example only, one or more procedures described with respect to the methods above may be implemented as code and / or instructions executable by a computer (and / or a processing unit within the computer); in one aspect, such code and / or instructions may then be used to configure and / or adapt a general purpose computer (or other device) to perform one or more operations in accordance with the methods described.

[0108]

[0118] These sets of instructions and / or code can be stored in a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium such as the memory device 1225 described above. In some cases, the storage medium can be incorporated within a computer system such as computer system 1200. In other embodiments, the storage medium can be separate from the computer system (e.g., a removable medium such as an optical disk), and / or can be provided within an installation package so that it can be used to program, configure, and / or adapt a general-purpose computer using the instructions / code stored thereon. These instructions can take the form of executable code executable by computer system 1200, and / or (e.g., using any of a variety of commonly available compilers, installation programs, compression / decompression utilities, etc.) can take the form of source and / or installable code upon compilation and / or installation on computer system 1200, and then can take the form of executable code.

[0109]

[0119] It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that considerable modifications can be made in accordance with specific requirements. For example, customized hardware can also be used, and / or certain elements can be implemented in hardware, software (including portable software such as applets), or both. Further, connections to other computing devices such as network input / output devices can be used.

[0110]

[0120] In addition, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that the embodiments described herein can bring about new functions in a UE, a location server, and / or a base station.

[0111]

[0121] For example, an embodiment may include a method for performing functions in a location server for supporting the location of a UE by 5G NR wireless access, means for performing the functions, or a device configured to perform the functions, where the functions include sending a first LPP message to the UE, the first LPP message comprising a location request and being sent via an AMF and a serving 5G base station for the UE. The functions further include receiving a second LPP message from the UE, where the second LPP message comprises location information about the UE and is received via an AMF and a serving 5G base station, and where the location information is based on at least one location measurement result obtained by the UE, and the at least one location measurement result comprises a measurement result for a RAT-independent positioning method or a measurement result for an E-UTRA positioning method. The functions also include determining, based on the location information, a location measurement result for the UE.

[0112]

[0122] Alternative embodiments may additionally include one or more of the following features. The location information may comprise a location estimate or at least one location measurement result. The first LPP message may comprise an LPP request location information message, and the second LPP message may comprise an LPP provide location information message. The RAT-independent positioning method may comprise an assisted global navigation satellite system (A-GNSS), real-time kinematic (RTK), precise point positioning, differential A-GNSS, wireless local area network (WLAN), Bluetooth, sensors, or any combination thereof. The E-UTRA positioning method may comprise an observed time difference of arrival (OTDOA) related to E-UTRA, or an enhanced cell ID (ECID) related to E-UTRA, or any combination thereof. The functionality may further comprise sending a third LPP message to the UE, where the third LPP message comprises assistance data for the RAT-independent positioning method or the E-UTRA positioning method and is sent via the AMF and the serving 5G base station, and at least one location measurement result is at least partially based on the assistance data. The third LPP message may comprise an LPP provide assistance data message. The at least one location measurement result may comprise a location measurement result for OTDOA related to E-UTRA, where the assistance data comprises assistance data for at least one evolved node B in the E-UTRA network (E-UTRAN) or at least one next-generation eNB (ng-eNB) in the next-generation radio access network (NG-RAN), and the serving 5G base station is in the NG-RAN. The assistance data may comprise configuration information for positioning reference signals (PRS) transmitted by at least one eNB or at least one ng-eNB.The function further comprises sending a fourth LPP message to the UE, where the fourth LPP message comprises a request for the UE's LPP positioning capability and is sent via the AMF and the serving 5G base station, and receiving a fifth LPP message from the UE, where the fifth LPP message may comprise the UE's LPP positioning capability when the UE has NR wireless access and is received via the AMF and the serving 5G base station. The fourth LPP message comprises an LPP request capability message, and the fifth LPP message comprises an LPP provided capability message. The function further comprises receiving an indication from the AMF, where the indication comprises an indication that the UE supports LPP via NR wireless access, and sending the fourth LPP message is based on the indication.

[0113]

[0123] In another example, an embodiment may include a method for performing a function in a 5G New Radio (NR) base station, means for performing the function, or a device configured to perform the function to support the location of a UE using 5G NR wireless access. Here, the function comprises sending a first Long-Term Evolution (LTE) positioning protocol (LPP) message received from an access management function (AMF) to the UE, and during a measurement gap, suspending NR transmissions to and NR receptions from the UE, where the UE obtains at least one location measurement result based on the first LPP message during the measurement gap, and the at least one location measurement result is a measurement result for a radio access technology (RAT)-independent positioning method or a measurement result for an evolved Universal Terrestrial Radio Access (E-UTRA) positioning method. The function further comprises sending a second LPP message received from the UE to the AMF, where the second LPP message comprises location information about the UE, and the location information is based on the at least one location measurement result.

[0114]

[0124] Alternative embodiments may additionally include one or more of the following features. The 5G NR base station may comprise a serving base station for the UE. The 5G NR base station may transfer a first LPP message and a second LPP message within a non-access stratum (NAS) transport message. The RAT-independent positioning method may comprise an assisted global navigation satellite system (A-GNSS), real-time kinematic (RTK), precise point positioning (PPP), differential A-GNSS, wireless local area network (WLAN), Bluetooth, sensors, or any combination thereof. The E-UTRA positioning method may comprise an observed time difference of arrival (OTDOA) related to E-UTRA, or an enhanced cell ID (ECID) related to E-UTRA, or any combination thereof. The location information may comprise a location estimate for the UE. The location information may comprise at least one location measurement result. The request for determining a measurement gap may comprise an NR radio resource control (RRC) message. The function may also comprise sending an RRC message to the UE, where the RRC confirms the measurement gap. The at least one location measurement result may comprise a reference signal time difference (RSTD) measurement result for OTDOA related to E-UTRA, and the function further comprises receiving a request for an idle period from the UE and, during the idle period, suspending NR transmissions to and from the UE, where the UE acquires LTE timing and system frame number (SFN) for the OTDOA reference cell during the idle period, and the request for determining a measurement gap is based on the LTE timing and SFN. The request for an idle period may comprise an NR radio resource control (RRC) message. The function further comprises sending an RRC message to the UE, where the RRC confirms the idle period.

[0115]

[0125] In connection with the accompanying drawings, a component that may include a memory may include a non-transitory machine-readable medium. As used herein, the terms "machine-readable medium" and "computer-readable medium" refer to any storage medium that participates in providing data that causes a machine to operate in a particular fashion. In the embodiments described above, various machine-readable media may be included in providing instructions / codes to a processing unit and / or other devices for execution. Additionally or alternatively, a machine-readable medium may be used to store and / or carry such instructions / codes. In many implementations, a computer-readable medium is a physical and / or tangible storage medium. Such a medium may take many forms including, but not limited to, non-volatile media, volatile media, and transmission media. Common forms of a computer-readable medium include, for example, magnetic and / or optical media, punch cards, paper tape, any other physical medium having patterns of holes, random access memory (RAM), programmable read-only memory (PROM), erasable PROM (EPROM), flash EPROM, any other memory chip or cartridge, a carrier wave as described below, or any other medium from which a computer can read instructions and / or codes.

[0116]

[0126] The methods, systems, and devices described herein are examples. Various embodiments may omit, substitute, or add various procedures or components as appropriate. For example, features described with respect to a particular embodiment may be combined in other embodiments. Different aspects and elements of embodiments may be combined in a similar manner. The various components of the figures described herein may be implemented in hardware and / or software. Also, because technology is evolving, many elements are examples that do not limit the scope of the disclosure with respect to their specific examples.

[0117]

[0127] References throughout this specification to "one example", "an example", "a particular example", or "exemplary implementation" mean that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the feature and / or example may be included in at least one feature and / or example of the claimed subject matter. Thus, the appearances of the phrases "in one example", "an example", "in a particular example", or "in a particular implementation", or other similar phrases in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same feature, example, and / or limitation. Further, the particular features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in one or more examples and / or features.

[0118]

[0128] Some portions of the detailed descriptions contained in this specification are presented in terms of algorithms or symbolic representations of operations on binary digital signals stored within the memory of a specific apparatus or special purpose computing device or platform. In the context of this particular specification, the term specific apparatus or the like includes a general purpose computer that, once programmed, performs specific operations in accordance with instructions from program software. Algorithmic descriptions or symbolic representations are examples of techniques used by those skilled in the signal processing or related art fields to convey the substance of their work to other skilled artisans. An algorithm is here, and generally, considered to be a sequence of consistent operations and / or similar signal processing leading to a desired result. In this context, an operation or process includes the physical manipulation of physical quantities. Although not necessarily, usually such quantities can take the form of electrical or magnetic signals capable of being stored, transferred, combined, compared, or otherwise manipulated. For primarily common usage reasons, it has proven convenient at times to refer to such signals as bits, data, values, elements, symbols, characters, terms, numbers, numerals, or the like. However, it should be understood that all of these or similar terms should be associated with appropriate physical quantities and are merely convenient labels. Unless otherwise specified, as is apparent from the description of this specification throughout, descriptions using terms such as "processing," "calculating," "computing," "determining," or the like refer to actions or processes of a specific apparatus such as a special purpose computer, a special purpose computing device, or a similar special purpose electronic computing device. Thus, in the context of this specification, a special purpose computer or similar special purpose electronic computing device is capable of manipulating or transforming signals typically represented as physical electronic or magnetic quantities within the memory, registers, or other information storage devices, transmission devices, or display devices of the special purpose computer or similar special purpose electronic computing device.

[0119]

[0129] In the foregoing detailed description, numerous specific details have been set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the claimed subject matter. It will be understood by those skilled in the art, however, that the claimed subject matter may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known methods and devices have not been described in detail so as not to obscure the claimed subject matter.

[0120]

[0130] The terms "and", "or", and "and / or" as used herein may include a variety of meanings that also are expected to depend, at least in part, upon the context in which such terms are used. Typically, "or" as used to associate a list such as A, B, or C, is intended to mean A, B, and C in an inclusive sense, as well as A, B, or C in an exclusive sense. In addition, the term "one or more" as used herein may be used to describe any feature, structure, or characteristic in the singular, or to describe any combination of features, structures, or characteristics or some other combination. However, this is merely illustrative and it should be noted that the claimed subject matter is not limited to this example.

[0121]

[0131] Although the presently considered exemplary features are illustrated and described, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various other modifications may be made and equivalents may be substituted without departing from the claimed subject matter. Furthermore, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the claimed subject matter without departing from the central concept described herein.

[0122]

[0132] Accordingly, the claimed subject matter is not limited to the specific examples disclosed, but is intended to cover all aspects included within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents. The invention described in the claims of the present application at the time of filing is appended below. [C1] A method for supporting the location of a user equipment (UE) by 5th generation (5G) new radio (NR) wireless access in the UE, the method comprising: receiving, from a location server, a first Long Term Evolution (LTE) positioning protocol (LPP) message, wherein the first LPP message comprises a location request and is received via a serving 5G base station; obtaining at least one location measurement result based on the first LPP message, wherein the at least one location measurement result comprises a measurement result for a radio access technology (RAT)-independent positioning method or a measurement result for an evolved Universal Terrestrial Radio Access (E-UTRA) positioning method; determining location information based on the at least one location measurement result; sending a second LPP message to the location server, wherein the second LPP message comprises the location information and is sent via the serving 5G base station; A method comprising. [C2] The method according to C1, wherein the location server comprises a location management function (LMF). [C3] The method according to C1, wherein the location information comprises a location estimate for the UE. [C4] The method according to C1, wherein the location information comprises the at least one location measurement result. [C5] The method according to C1, wherein the first LPP message comprises an LPP request location information message and the second LPP message comprises an LPP provide location information message. [C6] The at least one location measurement result comprises the measurement result for the RAT-independent positioning method, the RAT-independent positioning method comprising an assisted global navigation satellite system (A-GNSS), real-time kinematic (RTK), precise point positioning (PPP), differential A-GNSS, wireless local area network (WLAN), Bluetooth, sensors, or any combination thereof, or the at least one location measurement result comprises the measurement result for the E-UTRA positioning method, the E-UTRA positioning method comprising observed time difference of arrival (OTDOA) related to E-UTRA, or extended cell ID (ECID) related to E-UTRA, or any combination thereof, the method according to C1. [C7] Further comprising receiving a third LPP message from the location server, the third LPP message comprising assistance data for the RAT-independent positioning method or the E-UTRA positioning method and being received via the serving 5G base station, and obtaining the at least one location measurement result being based on the assistance data. The method according to C1. [C8] The third LPP message comprises an LPP-provided assistance data message, the method according to C7. [C9] Sending a request to the serving 5G base station for a measurement gap; Obtaining the at least one location measurement result during the measurement gap; Further comprising, the method according to C8. [C10] The request for the measurement gap comprises an NR radio resource control (RRC) message, the method according to C9. [C11] The at least one location measurement result comprises a reference signal time difference (RSTD) measurement result for observed time difference of arrival (OTDOA) related to E-UTRA; Sending a request to the serving 5G base station for an idle period; Obtaining LTE timing and system frame number (SFN) for an OTDOA reference cell during the idle period, wherein the request for the measurement gap is based on the LTE timing and the SFN; Further comprising, the method according to C9. [C12] The OTDOA reference cell includes a cell for an evolved Node B (eNB) in an E-UTRA network (E-UTRAN) or a cell for a next-generation eNB (ng-eNB) in a next-generation radio access network (NG-RAN), and the serving 5G base station is in the NG-RAN, the method described in C11. [C13] The request for obtaining the idle period is the method described in C11, which includes an NR radio resource control (RRC) message. [C14] Receiving a fourth LPP message from the location server, where the fourth LPP message includes a request for the LPP positioning capability of the UE and is received via the serving 5G base station, Sending a fifth LPP message to the location server, where the fifth LPP message includes the LPP positioning capability of the UE when the UE has NR wireless access and is sent via the serving 5G base station, Further comprising the method described in C1. [C15] The fourth LPP message includes an LPP request capability message, and the fifth LPP message includes an LPP provided capability message, the method described in C14. [C16] Further comprising sending an indication to an access and mobility management function (AMF), where the indication includes an indication that the UE supports LPP by NR wireless access, and the AMF forwards the indication to the location server, The method described in C1. [C17] The first LPP message is received in a non-access stratum (NAS) transport message, and the second LPP message is sent in a NAS transport message, the method described in C1. [C18] A user equipment (UE) having a fifth-generation (5G) new radio (NR) wireless access, A wireless communication interface, A memory, A processing unit communicatively connected to the wireless communication interface and the memory, Comprising, and the processing unit causes the UE to, Receive a first Long-Term Evolution (LTE) Positioning Protocol (LPP) message from a location server using the wireless communication interface, where the first LPP message comprises a location request and is received via a serving 5th Generation (5G) base station. Obtain at least one location measurement result based on the first LPP message using the wireless communication interface, where the at least one location measurement result comprises a measurement result for a Radio Access Technology (RAT)-independent positioning method or a measurement result for an Evolved Universal Terrestrial Radio Access (E-UTRA) positioning method. Determine location information based on the at least one location measurement result. Send a second LPP message to the location server using the wireless communication interface, where the second LPP message comprises the location information and is sent via the serving 5G base station. A UE configured to perform the above. [C19] The UE according to C18, wherein the processing unit is further configured to cause the UE to determine the location information by determining a location estimate for the UE. [C20] The UE according to C18, wherein the processing unit is configured to cause the UE to obtain the at least one location measurement result comprising the measurement result for the RAT-independent positioning method, and the RAT-independent positioning method comprises Assisted Global Navigation Satellite System (A-GNSS), Real-Time Kinematic (RTK), Precise Point Positioning (PPP), Differential A-GNSS, Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN), Bluetooth, sensors, or any combination thereof; or the processing unit is configured to cause the UE to obtain the at least one location measurement result comprising the measurement result for the E-UTRA positioning method, and the E-UTRA positioning method comprises Observed Time Difference of Arrival (OTDOA) related to E-UTRA, or Extended Cell ID (ECID) related to E-UTRA, or any combination thereof. [C21] The processing unit causes the UE to Receiving, using the wireless communication interface, a third LPP message from the location server, wherein the third LPP message comprises assistance data for the RAT-independent positioning method or the E-UTRA positioning method and is received via the serving 5G base station, Obtaining the at least one location measurement result based on the assistance data The UE according to C18, further configured to cause the above to be performed. [C22] The UE according to C21, wherein the processing unit is further configured to cause the UE to receive the third LPP message comprising the LPP-provided assistance data message. [C23] The processing unit causes the UE to Using the wireless communication interface, send a request to the serving 5G base station to obtain a measurement gap, Obtaining the at least one location measurement result during the measurement gap, The UE according to C22, further configured to cause the above to be performed. [C24] The UE according to C22, wherein the processing unit is configured to cause the UE to send the request to obtain a measurement gap using an NR radio resource control (RRC) message. [C25] The at least one location measurement result comprises a reference signal time difference (RSTD) measurement result for observed time difference of arrival (OTDOA) related to E-UTRA, and the processing unit causes the UE to Using the wireless communication interface, send a request to the serving 5G base station to obtain an idle period, Obtaining LTE timing and system frame number (SFN) for an OTDOA reference cell during the idle period, Making the request to obtain a measurement gap based on the LTE timing and the SFN The UE according to C22, configured to cause the above to be performed. [C26] The processing unit causes the UE to Receiving, using the wireless communication interface, a fourth LPP message from the location server, wherein the fourth LPP message comprises a request for the LPP positioning capability of the UE and is received via the serving 5G base station, Send a fifth LPP message to the location server using the wireless communication interface, where the fifth LPP message comprises the LPP positioning capability of the UE and is sent via the serving 5G base station when the UE has NR wireless access. The UE according to C18, further configured to cause the above to be performed. [C27] The processing unit causes the UE to be further configured to cause the UE to send an indication to an access management function (AMF) using the wireless communication interface, where the indication indicates that the UE supports LPP via NR wireless access, and the AMF forwards the indication to the location server. The UE according to C18. [C28] A device comprising means for receiving a first Long-Term Evolution (LTE) positioning protocol (LPP) message from a location server, where the first LPP message comprises a location request and is received via a serving fifth generation (5G) base station. means for obtaining at least one location measurement result based on the first LPP message, where the at least one location measurement result comprises a measurement result for a radio access technology (RAT)-independent positioning method or a measurement result for an evolved Universal Terrestrial Radio Access (E-UTRA) positioning method. means for determining location information based on the at least one location measurement result. means for sending a second LPP message to the location server, where the second LPP message comprises the location information and is sent via the serving 5G base station. A device comprising the above. [C29] The device according to C28, where the location information comprises a location estimate regarding the device. [C30] A non-transitory computer-readable medium having instructions incorporated therein to cause a user equipment (UE) to support the location of the UE via fifth generation (5G) new radio (NR) wireless access, where the instructions, when executed by a processing unit of the UE, cause the UE to Receiving a first Long-Term Evolution (LTE) Positioning Protocol (LPP) message from a location server, wherein the first LPP message comprises a location request and is received via a serving 5G base station Obtaining at least one location measurement result based on the first LPP message, wherein the at least one location measurement result comprises a measurement result for a Radio Access Technology (RAT)-independent positioning method or a measurement result for an Evolved Universal Terrestrial Radio Access (E-UTRA) positioning method Determining location information based on the at least one location measurement result Sending a second LPP message to the location server, wherein the second LPP message comprises the location information and is sent via the serving 5G base station A non-transitory computer-readable medium for causing the above to be performed

Claims

1. A method for a location server to support the location of a user equipment (UE) by 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) 5th Generation (5G) New Radio (NR) wireless access, the method comprising: Sending a first Long Term Evolution (LTE) positioning protocol (LPP) message to the UE, wherein the first LPP message comprises a location request and is sent via an access and mobility management function (AMF) and a serving 5G base station for the UE; Receiving a second LPP message from the UE, wherein the second LPP message comprises location information for the UE, is received via the AMF and the serving 5G base station, the location information is based on at least one location measurement result obtained by the UE after sending a 5G radio resource control (RRC) message to the serving 5G base station, the 5G RRC message comprises a request for an idle period including the length of the idle period and when the idle period should occur, and the at least one location measurement result comprises a measurement result for a radio access technology (RAT) independent positioning method or a measurement result for an evolved universal terrestrial radio access (E-UTRA) positioning method; Determining a location estimate for the UE based on the location information; Comprising; wherein the first LPP message is sent in a non-access stratum (NAS) transport message and the second LPP message is received in a NAS transport message; The method further comprises sending, by the location server, a third LPP message to the UE, the third LPP message comprising assistance data for the RAT independent positioning method or the E-UTRA positioning method and being sent via the AMF and the serving 5G base station, the at least one location measurement result is at least partially based on the assistance data, and the assistance data is determined using the positioning capabilities of the UE; Method.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the location information comprises the location estimate.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the location information comprises the at least one location measurement result.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first LPP message comprises an LPP request location information message, and the second LPP message comprises an LPP provide location information message.

5. The RAT-independent positioning method comprises an assisted global navigation satellite system (A-GNSS), real-time kinematic (RTK), precise point positioning, differential A-GNSS, wireless local area network (WLAN), Bluetooth, sensors, or any combination thereof, or the E-UTRA positioning method comprises an observed time difference of arrival (OTDOA) related to E-UTRA, or an enhanced cell ID (ECID) related to E-UTRA, or any combination thereof, according to claim 1.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the third LPP message comprises an LPP provide assistance data message.

7. The at least one location measurement result is a location measurement result for OTDOA related to E-UTRA, the assistance data comprises assistance data for at least one evolved Node B (eNB) in an E-UTRA network (E-UTRAN) or at least one next-generation eNB (ng-eNB) in a next-generation radio access network (NG-RAN), and the serving 5G base station is in the NG-RAN, according to claim 1.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the assistance data comprises configuration information for a positioning reference signal (PRS) transmitted by the at least one eNB or by the at least one ng-eNB.

9. Further comprising sending a fourth LPP message to the UE, wherein the fourth LPP message comprises a request for the LPP positioning capability of the UE and is sent via the AMF and the serving 5G base station, receiving a fifth LPP message from the UE, wherein the fifth LPP message comprises the LPP positioning capability of the UE when the UE has NR wireless access and is received via the AMF and the serving 5G base station, The method according to claim 1.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein the fourth LPP message comprises an LPP request capability message, and the fifth LPP message comprises an LPP provision capability message.

11. Further comprising receiving an indication from the AMF, the indication comprising an indication that the UE supports LPP via NR wireless access, and sending the fourth LPP message based on the indication. The method according to claim 10.

12. A location server for supporting the location of a user equipment (UE) by 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) 5th Generation (5G) New Radio (NR) wireless access, A communication interface, A memory, A processing unit communicatively connected to the communication interface and the memory, Comprising, the processing unit causes the location server to, Send a first Long Term Evolution (LTE) Positioning Protocol (LPP) message to the UE, wherein the first LPP message comprises a location request and is sent via an Access Management Function (AMF) and a serving 5G base station for the UE. Receive a second LPP message from the UE, wherein the second LPP message comprises location information about the UE, is received via the AMF and the serving 5G base station, and the location information is based on at least one location measurement result obtained by the UE after sending a 5G Radio Resource Control (RRC) message to the serving 5G base station, the 5G RRC message comprises a request for an idle period including the length of the idle period and when the idle period should occur, and the at least one location measurement result comprises a measurement result for a Radio Access Technology (RAT) independent positioning method or a measurement result for an Evolved Universal Terrestrial Radio Access (E-UTRA) positioning method. Determine a location estimate for the UE based on the location information. Configured to perform. Here, the first LPP message is sent in a non-access stratum (NAS) transport message, and the second LPP message is received in an NAS transport message. The processing unit causes the location server to send a third LPP message to the UE, where the third LPP message includes auxiliary data for the RAT-independent positioning method or the E-UTRA positioning method, and is sent via the AMF and the serving 5G base station, and the at least one location measurement result is at least partially based on the auxiliary data, and the auxiliary data is determined using the positioning capability of the UE. Location server. **Claim 13** The processing unit causes the location server to send a fourth LPP message to the UE, where the fourth LPP message includes a request for the LPP positioning capability of the UE, and is sent via the AMF and the serving 5G base station, receive a fifth LPP message from the UE, where the fifth LPP message includes the LPP positioning capability of the UE when the UE has NR wireless access, and is received via the AMF and the serving 5G base station. The location server according to claim 12, configured to perform the above.

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