Time Reversal for On-Demand Positioning

Abstract

A method and apparatus are disclosed for on-demand transmission of time-reversal (TR) precoded positioning signals. In an example method, a user equipment (UE) may transmit a request for transmission of one or more positioning signals from a base station associated with TR precoding, transmit the one or more signals to the base station, and receive one or more positioning signals from the base station based at least in part on the transmitted request and the one or more transmitted signals.

Description

Priority claims

[0001] CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims priority to and benefit of Greek Application No. 20210100299, entitled "TIME REVERSAL FOR ON-DEMAND POSITIONING," filed May 5, 2021, which is assigned to the assignee of the present application and is expressly incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. [Technical Field]

[0002] Various aspects described herein relate generally to wireless communication systems, and more particularly to applying a time-reversal filter to downlink positioning signals. [Background technology]

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

[0004]

[0004] Fifth-generation (5G) mobile standards require, among other improvements, higher data rates, a greater number of connections, and better coverage. The 5G standard from the Next Generation Mobile Network Alliance (also known as "New Radio" or "NR") is designed to provide data rates of tens of megabits per second to each of tens of thousands of users and 1 gigabit per second to dozens of workers on an office floor. To support large sensor deployments, hundreds of thousands of simultaneous connections should be supported. Consequently, the spectral efficiency of 5G mobile communications must be significantly enhanced compared to the current 4G standard. Furthermore, signaling efficiency must be enhanced and latency must be substantially reduced compared to current standards. Summary of the Invention

[0005]

[0005] The following presents a simplified summary of one or more aspects and / or embodiments disclosed herein. As such, the following summary should not be considered an extensive overview of all contemplated aspects and / or embodiments, nor should it be considered to identify key or critical elements of all contemplated aspects and / or embodiments or to delineate the scope associated with particular aspects and / or embodiments. Thus, the sole purpose of the following summary is to present some concepts of one or more aspects and / or embodiments of the mechanisms disclosed herein in a simplified form, as a prelude to the detailed description presented below.

[0006]

[0006] One or more aspects may be directed to a user equipment (UE). The UE may include a transceiver, a memory, and a processor communicatively coupled to the transceiver and the memory. The processor may be configured to: transmit a request for transmission of one or more positioning signals from a base station associated with time reversal (TR) precoding; transmit the one or more signals to the base station; and receive one or more positioning signals from the base station based at least in part on the transmitted request and the one or more transmitted signals.

[0007] One or more aspects may be directed to a method for a user equipment (UE). The method may include transmitting a request for transmission of one or more positioning signals from a base station associated with time-reversal (TR) precoding, transmitting the one or more signals to the base station, and receiving one or more positioning signals from the base station based at least in part on the transmitted request and the one or more transmitted signals.

[0008] One or more aspects may be directed to a user equipment (UE). The UE may include means for transmitting a request for transmission of one or more positioning signals from a base station associated with time-reversal (TR) precoding, means for transmitting the one or more signals to the base station, and means for receiving from the base station one or more positioning signals based at least in part on the transmitted request and the one or more transmitted signals.

[0009] One or more aspects may also be directed to a base station. The base station may include a transceiver, a memory, and a processor communicatively coupled to the transceiver and the memory. The processor may be configured to: receive a request for transmission of one or more positioning signals from the base station to a UE, the request being associated with TR precoding; receive one or more signals from the UE; and transmit the one or more positioning signals to the UE based at least in part on the received request and the one or more received signals.

[0010] One or more aspects may also be directed to a method for a base station. The method may include receiving a request for transmission of one or more positioning signals from the base station to a UE, the request being associated with TR precoding, receiving one or more signals from the UE, and transmitting the one or more positioning signals to the UE based at least in part on the received request and the one or more received signals.

[0011] One or more aspects may also be directed to a base station. The base station may include means for receiving a request for transmission of one or more positioning signals from the base station to a UE associated with TR precoding, means for receiving one or more signals from the UE, and means for transmitting the one or more positioning signals to the UE based at least in part on the received request and the one or more received signals.

[0012]

[0012] One or more aspects may also be directed to a location server. The network entity may include a transceiver, a memory, and a processor communicatively coupled to the transceiver and the memory. The processor may be configured to request transmission of one or more positioning signals from a base station to a UE related to TR precoding, receive one or more signals from the base station related to channel state information (CSI) from the UE, and send instructions to the base station related to TR precoding.

[0013] One or more aspects may be directed to a method for a location server, which may include requesting transmission of one or more positioning signals from a base station to a UE related to TR precoding, receiving one or more signals from the base station related to channel state information (CSI) from the UE, and transmitting instructions to the base station related to TR precoding.

[0014] One or more aspects may be directed to a location server, which may include means for requesting transmission of one or more positioning signals from a base station to a UE, related to TR precoding, means for receiving one or more signals from the base station, related to channel state information (CSI) from the UE, and means for transmitting instructions to the base station, related to TR precoding.

[0015]

[0015] Other objects and advantages associated with the aspects and embodiments disclosed herein will be apparent to those skilled in the art based on the accompanying drawings and detailed description.

[0016]

[0016] A more complete appreciation of the various aspects and embodiments described in this specification, and their many attendant advantages, will be readily obtained when better understood by reference to the following detailed description of the invention, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which are presented for purposes of illustration only and not limitation, in which: [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0017] [Figure 1]

[0017] FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary wireless communication system, in accordance with various aspects. [Figure 2A]

[0018] FIG. 1 illustrates an example wireless network structure, in accordance with various aspects. [Figure 2B] FIG. 1 illustrates an example wireless network structure, in accordance with various aspects. [Figure 3A]

[0019] 1 illustrates an example base station and an example UE in an access network, in accordance with various aspects. [Figure 3B]

[0020] 1 illustrates an exemplary server, in accordance with various aspects. [Figure 3C]

[0021] 1 is a schematic block diagram illustrating some example features of a UE, according to some implementations. [Figure 3D]

[0022] 1 is a schematic block diagram illustrating some exemplary features of a base station, according to some implementations. [Figure 4]

[0023] FIG. 1 illustrates an example wireless communication system, in accordance with various aspects. [Figure 5]

[0024] FIG. 1 illustrates an example wireless communication system, in accordance with various aspects. [Figure 6]

[0025] 1 is a flowchart of an example method for a user equipment (UE), according to one or more aspects. [Figure 7]

[0026] 1 is a flowchart of an exemplary method for a base station, according to one or more aspects. [Figure 8]

[0027] 1 is a flowchart of an exemplary method of a location server, according to one or more aspects. [Figure 9]

[0028] 1 is a flowchart of an example methodology for generating time-reversal (TR) precoding, according to one or more aspects. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0018]

[0029] Various aspects described herein relate generally to wireless communication systems, and more particularly to improving detectability of first path signals, for example, for positioning, by applying a time-reversal filter to transmit positioning signals. These and other aspects are disclosed in the following description and related drawings to illustrate specific examples related to exemplary aspects. Alternative aspects will be apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading this disclosure and may be constructed and implemented without departing from the scope or spirit of the present disclosure. Additionally, well-known elements may not be described in detail or may be omitted so as not to obscure the relevant details of the aspects disclosed herein.

[0019]

[0030] The word "exemplary" is used herein to mean "serving as an example, instance, or illustration." Any aspect described herein as "exemplary" is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other aspects. Likewise, the term "aspect" does not require that all aspects include the discussed feature, advantage or mode of operation.

[0020]

[0031] The terms used herein are merely descriptive of particular aspects and should not be construed as limiting the aspects disclosed herein. As used herein, the singular forms "a," "an," and "the" are intended to include the plural forms unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Furthermore, those skilled in the art will understand that the terms "comprises," "comprising," "includes," and / or "including," as used herein, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and / or components, but do not exclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and / or groups thereof.

[0021]

[0032] Further, various aspects may be described in terms of a sequence of actions to be performed by, for example, elements of a computing device. Those skilled in the art will recognize that the various actions described herein may be performed by particular circuitry (e.g., an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC)), by program instructions executed by one or more processors, or a combination of both. Furthermore, these sequences of actions described herein may be considered to be embodied as a whole in any form of non-transitory computer-readable medium storing a corresponding set of computer instructions that, when executed, cause an associated processor to perform the functions described herein. Accordingly, the various aspects described herein may be embodied in several different forms, all of which are contemplated to be within the scope of the claimed subject matter. Furthermore, for each aspect described herein, the corresponding form of any such aspect may be described herein as, for example, “logic configured to” perform the described actions and / or other structural components configured to perform the described actions.

[0022]

[0033] As used herein, the terms “user equipment” (or “UE”), “user device,” “user terminal,” “client device,” “communication device,” “wireless device,” “wireless communication device,” “handheld device,” “mobile device,” “mobile terminal,” “mobile station,” “handset,” “access terminal,” “subscriber device,” “subscriber terminal,” “subscriber station,” “terminal,” and variations thereof may interchangeably refer to any suitable mobile or fixed device capable of receiving wireless communication and / or navigation signals. These terms also include devices that communicate with other devices capable of receiving wireless communication and / or navigation signals, such as by short-range wireless, infrared, wireline, or other connections, regardless of whether satellite signal reception, assistance data reception, and / or position-related processing occurs in the device or in other devices. Furthermore, these terms are intended to include all devices, including wireless and wireline communication devices, that can communicate with a core network via a Radio Access Network (RAN), through which the UE may be connected to external networks, such as the Internet, and other UEs. Of course, other mechanisms for connecting to the core network and / or the Internet are possible for the UE, such as via a wired access network, a wireless local area network (WLAN) (e.g., based on IEEE 802.11, etc.), etc. The UE may be embodied by any of several types of devices, including, but not limited to, a printed circuit (PC) card, a compact flash device, an external or internal modem, a wireless or wireline phone, a smartphone, a tablet, a tracking device, an asset tag, a smart watch and other wearable devices, a server, a router, an electronic device implemented in a vehicle (e.g., an automobile, a bicycle, a motorcycle, etc.), etc. The communication link through which the UE can send signals to the RAN is called an uplink channel (e.g., a reverse traffic channel, a reverse control channel, an access channel, etc.).The communication links through which the RAN may send signals to the UEs are called downlink or forward link channels (e.g., paging channels, control channels, broadcast channels, forward traffic channels, etc.). As used herein, the term traffic channel (TCH) can refer to either an uplink / reverse traffic channel or a downlink / forward traffic channel.

[0023]

[0034] 1 illustrates an exemplary wireless communication system 100. The wireless communication system 100 (sometimes referred to as a wireless wide area network (WWAN)) may include various base stations 102 and various UEs 104. The base stations 102 may include macrocells (high-power cellular base stations) and / or small cells (low-power cellular base stations). The macrocells may include evolved Node Bs (eNBs) where the wireless communication system 100 corresponds to an LTE network, gNode Bs (gNBs) where the wireless communication system 100 corresponds to a 5G NR network, and / or combinations thereof, and the small cells may include femtocells, picocells, microcells, etc.

[0024]

[0035] The base stations 102 collectively form a Radio Access Network (RAN) and may interface with an Evolved Packet Core (EPC), Next Generation Core (NGC), or 5G Core (5GC) through backhaul links. In addition to other functions, the base stations 102 may perform functions related to one or more of: forwarding user data, radio channel encryption and decryption, integrity protection, header compression, mobility control functions (e.g., handover, dual connectivity), inter-cell interference coordination, connection setup and release, load balancing, distribution for Non-Access Layer (NAS) messages, NAS node selection, synchronization, RAN sharing, Multimedia Broadcast Multicast Services (MBMS), subscriber and equipment tracing, RAN Information Management (RIM), paging, positioning, delivery of alert messages, etc. The base stations 102 may communicate with each other directly or indirectly (e.g., through the EPC / NGC / 5GC) via backhaul links 134, which may be wired or wireless.

[0025]

[0036] The base stations 102 may communicate wirelessly with the UEs 104. Each of the base stations 102 may provide communication coverage for a respective geographic coverage area 110. In one aspect, although not shown in FIG. 1 , the geographic coverage area 110 may be subdivided into multiple cells (e.g., three), or sectors, with each cell corresponding to a single antenna or array of antennas of the base station 102. As used herein, the term “cell” or “sector” may correspond to one of the multiple cells of the base station 102 or to the base station 102 itself, depending on the context.

[0026]

[0037] Neighboring macrocell geographic coverage areas 110 may partially overlap (e.g., in handover regions), but some of the geographic coverage areas 110 may be significantly overlapped by larger geographic coverage areas 110. For example, a small cell base station 102' may have a geographic coverage area 110' that significantly overlaps with the geographic coverage area 110 of one or more macrocell base stations 102. A network including both small cells and macrocells may be known as a heterogeneous network. A heterogeneous network may also include a Home eNB (HeNB) that may serve a restricted group known as a Closed Subscriber Group (CSG). The communication link 120 between the base station 102 and the UE 104 may include uplink (UL) transmissions (also called reverse link) from the UE 104 to the base station 102 and / or downlink (DL) transmissions (also called forward link) from the base station 102 to the UE 104. The communication link 120 may use MIMO antenna techniques, including spatial multiplexing, beamforming, and / or transmit diversity. The communication link may be over one or more carriers. The allocation of carriers may be asymmetric with respect to DL and UL (e.g., more or fewer carriers may be allocated for DL ​​than for UL).

[0027]

[0038] The wireless communication system 100 may further include a wireless local area network (WLAN) access point (AP) 150 communicating with a WLAN station (STA) 152 via a communication link 154 in an unlicensed frequency spectrum (e.g., 5 GHz). When communicating in the unlicensed frequency spectrum, the WLAN STA 152 and / or the WLAN AP 150 may perform clear channel assessment (CCA) prior to communicating to determine whether a channel is available. While FIG. 1 shows a particular STA 152, in an aspect, any of the UEs 104 may be capable of communicating with the WLAN AP 150 and, therefore, may be referred to as a WLAN station (STA).

[0028]

[0039] The small cell base station 102' may operate in licensed and / or unlicensed frequency spectrum. When operating in the unlicensed frequency spectrum, the small cell base station 102' may employ LTE or 5G technology and use the same 5 GHz unlicensed frequency spectrum used by the WLAN AP 150. A small cell base station 102' employing LTE / 5G in the unlicensed frequency spectrum may boost coverage to and / or increase capacity of the access network. LTE in the unlicensed spectrum is sometimes referred to as LTE-unlicensed (LTE-U), licensed assisted access (LAA), or MultiFire.

[0029]

[0040] The wireless communication system 100 may further include an mmW base station 180 that may operate in mmW and / or near-mmW frequencies and that is in communication with a UE 182. Extremely high frequency (EHF) is a portion of RF in the electromagnetic spectrum. EHF has a range of 30 GHz to 300 GHz and a wavelength between 1 and 10 millimeters. Radio waves in this band are sometimes referred to as millimeter waves. Near-mmW may extend down to frequencies of 3 GHz, with wavelengths of 100 millimeters. The very high frequency (SHF) band, also referred to as centimeter wave, extends between 3 and 30 GHz. Communications using the mmW / near-mmW radio frequency bands have high path loss and relatively short range. The mmW base station 180 may utilize beamforming 184 with the UE 182 to compensate for the extremely high path loss and short range. It will be appreciated that in alternative configurations, one or more base stations 102 may also transmit using mmW or near-mmW and beamforming. Therefore, it should be appreciated that the above description is by way of example only and should not be construed as limiting the various aspects disclosed herein.

[0030]

[0041] The wireless communication system 100 may further include one or more UEs, such as a UE 190, that indirectly connect to one or more communication networks via one or more device-to-device (D2D) peer-to-peer (P2P) links. In the embodiment of FIG. 1, the UE 190 has a D2D P2P link 192 with one of the UEs 104 connected to one of the base stations 102 (e.g., through which the UE 190 may indirectly obtain cellular connectivity) and a D2D P2P link 194 with a WLAN STA 152 connected to a WLAN AP 150 (through which the UE 190 may indirectly obtain WLAN-based Internet connectivity). In one example, the D2D P2P links 192-194 may be supported using any well-known D2D radio access technology (RAT), such as LTE Direct (LTE-D), WiFi Direct (WiFi-D), Bluetooth, etc.

[0031]

[0042] According to various aspects, FIG. 2A illustrates an exemplary wireless network structure 200. For example, a next generation core (NGC) 210 may be functionally considered to include control plane functions 214 (e.g., UE registration, authentication, network access, gateway selection, etc.) and user plane functions 212 (e.g., UE gateway functions, data network access, IP routing, etc.), which operate cooperatively to form a core network. A user plane interface (NG-U) 213 and a control plane interface (NG-C) 215 may connect a gNB 222 to the NGC 210, particularly to the control plane function 214 and the user plane function 212. In an additional configuration, an eNB 224 may also be connected to the NGC 210 via the NG-C 215 to the control plane function 214 and the NG-U 213 to the user plane function 212. Additionally, the eNB 224 may communicate directly with the gNB 222 via a backhaul connection 223. Thus, in some configurations, the new RAN 220 may have only one or more gNBs 222, while other configurations include one or more of both eNBs 224 and gNBs 222. Either the gNBs 222 or the eNBs 224 may communicate with the UEs 240 (e.g., any of the UEs shown in FIG. 1, such as UE 104, UE 182, UE 190, etc.). Another optional aspect may include a location server 230, which may be in communication with the NGC 210 to provide location assistance to the UEs 240. The location servers 230 may be implemented as multiple structurally separate servers or, alternatively, may each correspond to a single server. The location server 230 may be configured to support one or more location services for the UEs 240 that can connect to the location server 230 via the core network NGC 210 and / or via the Internet (not shown). Furthermore, the location server 230 may be incorporated into a component of the core network or, alternatively, may be external to the core network.

[0032]

[0043] According to various aspects, FIG. 2B illustrates another exemplary wireless network structure 250. For example, the NGC 260 may be functionally considered as a control plane function, an access and mobility management function (AMF) 264, and a user plane function, a session management function (SMF) 262, which operate cooperatively to form a core network. A user plane interface 263 and a control plane interface 265 may connect the eNB 224 to the NGC 260, specifically to the AMF 264 and the SMF 262. In an additional configuration, the gNB 222 may also be connected to the NGC 260 via the control plane interface 265 to the AMF 264 and the user plane interface 263 to the SMF 262. Additionally, the eNB 224 may communicate directly with the gNB 222 via the backhaul connection 223, with or without direct connectivity of the gNB to the NGC 260. Thus, in some configurations, the new RAN 220 may have only one or more gNBs 222, while other configurations include one or more of both eNBs 224 and gNBs 222. Either the gNBs 222 or the eNBs 224 may communicate with the UEs 204 (e.g., any of the UEs shown in FIG. 1, such as UE 104, UE 182, UE 190, etc.). Another optional aspect may include a Location Management Function (LMF) 270, which may be in communication with the NGC 260 to provide location assistance to the UEs 204. The LMF 270 may be implemented as multiple separate servers (e.g., physically separate servers, different software modules on a single server, different software modules spread across multiple physical servers, etc.), or alternatively, may each correspond to a single server. The LMF 270 may be configured to support one or more location services for the UEs 204, which may connect to the LMF 270 via the core network NGC 260 and / or via the Internet (not shown).

[0033]

[0044] 3A illustrates an exemplary base station 310 (e.g., eNB, gNB, small cell AP, WLAN AP, etc.) in communication with an exemplary UE 350 in a wireless network. In the DL, IP packets from a core network (NGC 210 / EPC 260) may be provided to a controller / processor 375. The controller / processor 375 may implement functionality for a radio resource control (RRC) layer, a packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) layer, a radio link control (RLC) layer, and a medium access control (MAC) layer. The controller / processor 375 may provide RRC layer functions related to broadcasting of system information (e.g., MIBs, SIBs), RRC connection control (e.g., RRC connection paging, RRC connection establishment, RRC connection modification, and RRC connection release), inter-RAT mobility, and measurement configuration for UE measurement reporting; PDCP layer functions related to header compression / decompression, security (encryption, decryption, integrity protection, integrity verification), and handover support functions; RLC layer functions related to transfer of upper layer packet data units (PDUs), error correction via ARQ, concatenation, segmentation, and reassembly of RLC service data units (SDUs), re-segmentation of RLC data PDUs, and reordering of RLC data PDUs; and MAC layer functions related to mapping between logical channels and transport channels, scheduling information reporting, error correction, priority handling, and logical channel prioritization.

[0034]

[0045] The transmit (TX) processor 316 and receive (RX) processor 370 may implement Layer 1 functions related to various signal processing functions. Layer 1, including the physical (PHY) layer, may include error detection on transport channels, forward error correction (FEC) coding / decoding of transport channels, interleaving, rate matching, mapping onto physical channels, modulation / demodulation of physical channels, and MIMO antenna processing. The TX processor 316 may handle mapping to signal constellations based on various modulation schemes (e.g., binary phase shift keying (BPSK), quadrature phase shift keying (QPSK), M-phase shift keying (M-PSK), M-quadrature amplitude modulation (M-QAM)). The coded and modulated symbols may then be split into parallel streams. Each stream may then be mapped to OFDM subcarriers, multiplexed with a reference signal (e.g., a pilot) in the time and / or frequency domain, and then combined with each other using an inverse fast Fourier transform (IFFT) to generate a physical channel carrying a time-domain OFDM symbol stream. The OFDM stream may be spatially precoded to generate multiple spatial streams. Channel estimates from a channel estimator 374 may be used to determine the coding and modulation scheme and for spatial processing. The channel estimates may be derived from a reference signal and / or channel condition feedback transmitted by the UE 350. Each spatial stream may then be provided to one or more different antennas 320 via a separate transmitter 318a. Each transmitter 318a may modulate an RF carrier with the respective spatial stream for transmission.

[0035]

[0046] At the UE 350, each receiver 354a may receive a signal through its respective antenna 352. Each receiver 354a may recover information modulated onto an RF carrier and provide the information to the RX processor 356. The TX processor 368 and the RX processor 356 may implement Layer 1 functions related to various signal processing functions. The RX processor 356 may perform spatial processing on the information to recover the spatial stream destined for the UE 350. If multiple spatial streams are destined for the UE 350, they may be combined into a single OFDM symbol stream by the RX processor 356. The RX processor 356 may then use a fast Fourier transform (FFT) to transform the OFDM symbol stream from the time domain to the frequency domain. The frequency domain signal may comprise a separate OFDM symbol stream for each subcarrier of the OFDM signal. The symbols on each subcarrier and the reference signal may be recovered and demodulated by determining the most likely signal constellation point transmitted by the base station 310. These soft decisions may be based on channel estimates calculated by a channel estimator 358. The soft decisions may then be decoded and deinterleaved to recover the data and control signals originally transmitted by the base station 310 on the physical channel. The data and control signals may then be provided to a controller / processor 359 that implements Layer 3 and Layer 2 functions.

[0036]

[0047] The controller / processor 359 may be associated with a memory 360 that stores program codes and data. The memory 360 may be referred to as a computer-readable medium. In the UL, the controller / processor 359 may provide demultiplexing between transport and logical channels, packet reassembly, decryption, header decompression, and control signal processing to recover IP packets from the core network. The controller / processor 359 may also be responsible for error detection.

[0037]

[0048] Similar to the functions described with respect to DL transmission by the base station 310, the controller / processor 359 may perform RRC layer functions related to system information (e.g., MIB, SIB) collection, RRC connection, and measurement reporting; PDCP layer functions related to header compression / decompression and security (encryption, decryption, integrity protection, integrity verification); RLC layer functions related to transfer of upper layer PDUs, error correction via ARQ, concatenation, segmentation, and reassembly of RLC SDUs, re-segmentation of RLC data PDUs, and reordering of RLC data PDUs; and MAC layer functions related to mapping between logical channels and transport channels, multiplexing of MAC SDUs onto TBs, demultiplexing of MAC SDUs from TBs, scheduling information reporting, error correction via HARQ, priority handling, and logical channel prioritization.

[0038]

[0049] Channel estimates derived by the channel estimator 358 from a reference signal or feedback transmitted by the base station 310 may be used by the TX processor 368 to select an appropriate coding and modulation scheme and to enable spatial processing. The spatial streams generated by the TX processor 368 may be provided to different antennas 352 via separate transmitters 354b. Each transmitter 354b may modulate an RF carrier with a respective spatial stream for transmission.

[0039]

[0050] The UL transmission may be processed at the base station 310 in a manner similar to that described with respect to the receiver function at the UE 350. Each receiver 318b may receive a signal through its respective antenna 320. Each receiver 318b may recover information modulated onto an RF carrier and provide the information to the RX processor 370.

[0040]

[0051] The controller / processor 375 may be associated with a memory 376 that stores program codes and data. The memory 376 may be referred to as a computer-readable medium. In the UL, the controller / processor 375 may provide demultiplexing between transport and logical channels, packet reassembly, deciphering, header decompression, and control signal processing to recover IP packets from the UE 350. The IP packets from the controller / processor 375 may be provided to the core network. The controller / processor 375 is also responsible for error detection.

[0041]

[0052] With respect to the base station 310, the combination of the transmitter 318a and receiver 318b may be referred to as a transceiver 318. The transmitter 318a and receiver 318b that make up the transceiver 318 may be separate components dedicated to transmitting and receiving. Alternatively, the transmitter 318a and receiver 318b may be integrated into the transceiver 318. The transceiver 318 may be wireless (e.g., for communication with the UE 350 and / or other network nodes (e.g., base stations, LMFs, etc.)) or wired (e.g., for communication with other network nodes).

[0042]

[0053] With respect to the UE 350, the combination of the transmitter 354a and receiver 354b may be referred to as the transceiver 354. The transmitter 354a and receiver 354b that make up the transceiver 354 may be separate components dedicated to transmitting and receiving. Alternatively, the transmitter 354a and receiver 354b may be integrated into the transceiver 354. The transceiver 354 may be wireless (e.g., for communication with the base station 310).

[0043]

[0054] FIG. 3B illustrates an exemplary server 300B according to one aspect. In one example, the server 300B may correspond to the exemplary configuration of the location server 230 or LMF 270 described above. The location server 300B may be, for example, an E-SMLC or an LMF. The location server 300B may implement the process flow illustrated in FIG. 14. The location server 300B may include, for example, one or more processors 302B, memory 304B, and an external interface 316B (e.g., a wireline or wireless network interface to other network entities, such as core network entities and base stations), which may be operably coupled to one or more connections 306B (e.g., buses, lines, fibers, links, etc.) to a non-transitory computer-readable medium 320B and memory 304B. The base station 300B may further include additional items not shown, such as, for example, a user interface, which may include a display, a keypad such as a virtual keypad on the display, or other input device through which a user may interface with the location server. In some example implementations, all or part of the location server 300B may take the form of a chipset, etc. The external interface 316B may be a wired or wireless interface capable of connecting to a base station in a RAN or a network entity, such as an AMF or MME.

[0044]

[0055] The one or more processors 302B may be implemented using a combination of hardware, firmware, and software. For example, the one or more processors 302B may be configured to perform the functions described herein by implementing one or more instructions or program code 308B on a non-transitory computer-readable medium, such as medium 320B, and / or memory 304B. In some embodiments, the one or more processors 302B may represent one or more circuits configurable to perform at least a portion of a data signal calculation procedure or process related to the operation of the location server 300B.

[0045]

[0056] The medium 320B and / or memory 304B may store instructions or program code 308B, including executable code or software instructions that, when executed by one or more processors 302B, cause the one or more processors 302B to operate as a special-purpose computer programmed to perform the techniques disclosed herein. As shown in the location server 300B, the medium 320B and / or memory 304B may include one or more components or modules that can be implemented by the one or more processors 302B to perform the methods described herein. While the components or modules are shown as software in the medium 320B executable by the one or more processors 302B, it should be understood that the components or modules may be stored in the memory 304B or may be dedicated hardware in one or more processors 302B or separate from the processor(s). Several software modules and data tables may reside in the medium 320B and / or memory 304B and be utilized by the one or more processors 302B to manage both the communications and functionality described herein. It should be appreciated that the organization of the contents of medium 320B and / or memory 304B as shown in location server 300B is exemplary only, and thus the functionality of the modules and / or data structures may be combined, separated, and / or structured in various ways depending on the implementation of location server 300B.

[0046]

[0057] The medium 320B and / or the memory 304B may include a positioning session module 322B that, when implemented by the one or more processors 302B, configures the one or more processors 302B to participate in a positioning session for the UE. For example, the one or more processors 302B may be configured to participate in a positioning session by requesting positioning capabilities from the UE and receiving them from the UE via the external interface 316B. The one or more processors 302B may be configured to generate positioning assistance data and send it to the UE and / or a serving base station via the external interface 316B. The one or more processors 302B may be further configured to receive measurement information reports from the UE via the external interface 316B. The one or more processors 302B may be further configured to determine a position location for the UE based on positioning measurements received in the measurement information reports.

[0047]

[0058] The medium 320B and / or the memory 304B may include a TR processing module 324B that, when implemented by the one or more processors 302B, configures the one or more processors 302B to enable one or more positioning signals to be filtered in accordance with TR precoding. For example, the one or more processors 302B may be configured to request one or more positioning signals associated with TR precoding to be transmitted from a base station to a UE. The one or more processors 302B may be configured to receive one or more signals associated with channel state information (CSI) from the UE from the base station. The one or more processors 302B may be further configured to transmit instructions associated with TR precoding to the base station.

[0048]

[0059] The methods described herein may be implemented by various means depending on the application. For example, these methods may be implemented in hardware, firmware, software, or any combination thereof. In a hardware implementation, the one or more processors 302B may be implemented within one or more application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), digital signal processors (DSPs), digital signal processing devices (DSPDs), programmable logic devices (PLDs), field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), processors, controllers, microcontrollers, microprocessors, electronic devices, other electronic units designed to perform the functions described herein, or combinations thereof.

[0049]

[0060] For a firmware and / or software implementation, the methods may be implemented with modules (e.g., procedures, functions, and so on) that perform the functions described herein. Any machine-readable medium tangibly embodying instructions may be used in implementing the methods described herein. For example, software code may be stored in non-transitory computer-readable medium 320B or memory 304B coupled to and executed by one or more processors 302B. The memory may be implemented within the one or more processors or external to the one or more processors. The term “memory,” as used herein, may refer to long-term, short-term, volatile, non-volatile, or any other type of memory, and should not be limited to any particular type or number of memories or the type of medium on which the memory is stored.

[0050]

[0061] If implemented in firmware and / or software, the functions may be stored as one or more instructions or program code 308B on a non-transitory computer-readable medium, such as medium 320B and / or memory 304B. Examples include computer-readable media encoded with a data structure and computer-readable media encoded with a computer program 308B. For example, non-transitory computer-readable media with program code 308B stored thereon may include program code 308B for supporting positioning of UEs using non-PRS signals for positioning measurements in a manner consistent with the disclosed embodiments. Non-transitory computer-readable media 320B include physical computer storage media. A storage medium may be any available medium that can be accessed by a computer. By way of example, and not limitation, such non-transitory computer-readable media may comprise RAM, ROM, EEPROM, CD-ROM or other optical disk storage, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or any other medium that can be used to store desired program code 308B in the form of instructions or data structures and that can be accessed by a computer; as used herein, disk and disc include compact discs (CDs), laser discs, optical discs, digital versatile discs (DVDs), floppy disks, and Blu-ray discs, where disks typically reproduce data magnetically and discs reproduce data optically with lasers. Combinations of the above should also be included within the scope of computer-readable media.

[0051]

[0062] In addition to being stored on the computer-readable medium 320B, the instructions and / or data may be provided as signals on a transmission medium contained in the communications device. For example, the communications device may include an external interface 316B having signals indicative of instructions and data. The instructions and data are configured to cause one or more processors to implement the functions outlined in the claims. That is, the communications device includes a transmission medium with signals indicative of information to perform the disclosed functions.

[0052]

[0063] Memory 304B may represent any data storage mechanism. For example, memory 304B may include primary memory and / or secondary memory. Primary memory may include, for example, random access memory, read-only memory, etc. While shown in this example as being separate from one or more processors 302B, it should be understood that all or a portion of the primary memory may be provided within one or more processors 302B or, in some cases, co-located / coupled with one or more processors 302B. Secondary memory may include, for example, the same or similar type of memory as the primary memory and / or one or more data storage devices or systems, such as, for example, disk drives, optical disk drives, tape drives, solid-state memory drives, etc.

[0053]

[0064] In some implementations, the secondary memory may be operatively capable of receiving, or possibly configurable to couple to, a non-transitory computer-readable medium 320B. Thus, in some example implementations, the methods and / or apparatuses presented herein may take the form, in whole or in part, of a computer-readable medium 320B, which may include computer-implementable code 308B stored thereon, which, when executed by one or more processors 302B, may be operatively enabled to perform all or a portion of the example operations described herein. The computer-readable medium 320B may be part of the memory 304B.

[0054]

[0065] FIG. 3C shows a schematic block diagram illustrating some example features of a UE 300C, which may be, for example, the UE 104 shown in FIG. 1 or the UE 350 of FIG. 3A according to some implementations. The UE 300C may implement the process flow illustrated in FIG. 6. The UE 300C may include one or more processors 302C, memory 304C, and an external interface (e.g., a wireless network interface), such as a transceiver 310C, which may be operably coupled to one or more connections 306C (e.g., a bus, line, fiber, link, etc.) to a non-transitory computer-readable medium 320C and a memory 304C. The UE 300C may further include additional items not shown, such as, for example, a user interface, which may include a display, a keypad or other input device, such as a virtual keypad on the display, or a satellite positioning system receiver, through which a user may interface with the UE. In some example implementations, all or a portion of the UE 300C may take the form of a chipset or the like. The transceiver 310C may include, for example, a transmitter 312C enabled to transmit one or more signals over one or more types of wireless communication networks and a receiver 314C for receiving one or more signals transmitted over one or more types of wireless communication networks. The transceiver 310C may correspond, for example, to the TX processor 368, the RX processor 356, and one or more transmitters 354a and receivers 354b as shown in FIG. 3A.

[0055]

[0066] In some embodiments, the UE 300C may include an antenna 311C, which may be internal or external. The UE antenna 311C may be used to transmit and / or receive signals processed by the transceiver 310C. In some embodiments, the UE antenna 311C may be coupled to the transceiver 310C. In some embodiments, measurements of signals received (transmitted) by the UE 300C may be performed at the point of connection between the UE antenna 311C and the transceiver 310C. For example, the measurement point of reference for measurements of received (transmitted) RF signals may be the input (output) terminal of the receiver 314C (transmitter 312C) and the output (input) terminal of the UE antenna 311C. In a UE 300C with multiple UE antennas 311C or an antenna array, the antenna connector may be considered a virtual point representing the aggregate output (input) of the multiple UE antennas. In some embodiments, the UE 300C may measure received signals, including signal strength and TOA measurements, and the raw measurements may be processed by one or more processors 302C.

[0056]

[0067] The one or more processors 302C may be implemented using a combination of hardware, firmware, and software. For example, the one or more processors 302C may be configured to perform the functions described herein by implementing one or more instructions or program code 308C on a non-transitory computer-readable medium, such as medium 320C, and / or memory 304C. In some embodiments, the one or more processors 302C may represent one or more circuits configurable to perform at least a portion of a data signal computation procedure or process related to the operation of the UE 300C.

[0057]

[0068] The medium 320C and / or memory 304C may store instructions or program code 308C, including executable code or software instructions that, when executed by one or more processors 302C, cause the one or more processors 302C to operate as a special-purpose computer programmed to perform the techniques disclosed herein. As shown in the UE 300C, the medium 320C and / or memory 304C may include one or more components or modules that can be implemented by the one or more processors 302C to perform the methods described herein. While the components or modules are shown as software in the medium 320C executable by the one or more processors 302C, it should be understood that the components or modules may be stored in the memory 304C or may be dedicated hardware in one or more processors 302C or separate from the processor(s). Several software modules and data tables may reside in the medium 320C and / or memory 304C and be utilized by the one or more processors 302C to manage both the communications and functionality described herein. It should be appreciated that the organization of the contents of the medium 320C and / or memory 304C as shown in UE300C is merely an example, and thus the functionality of the modules and / or data structures may be combined, separated, and / or structured in various ways depending on the implementation of UE300C.

[0058]

[0069] The medium 320C and / or memory 304C may include a positioning session module 322C that, when implemented by the one or more processors 302C, configures the one or more processors 302C to participate in a positioning session for the UE. For example, the one or more processors 302C may be configured to participate in the positioning session by providing positioning capabilities to a location server via the transceiver 310C. The one or more processors 302C may be configured to receive positioning assistance data from a location server and / or a serving base station via the transceiver 310C. The one or more processors 302C may be configured to perform positioning measurements, for example, using the transceiver 310C. The one or more processors 302C may be further configured to provide measurement information reports to a network node, such as a location server, a serving base station, or a sidelink UE, via the transceiver 310C.

[0059]

[0070] The medium 320C and / or the memory 304C may include a time-reversal (TR) processing module 324C that, when implemented by the one or more processors 302C, configures the one or more processors 302C to enable one or more positioning signals to be filtered according to TR precoding. For example, the one or more processors 302C may be configured to transmit a request for transmission of one or more positioning signals by a base station according to TR precoding, a request for one or more positioning signals to be transmitted without TR precoding, etc., as described in more detail below. The one or more processors 302C may be configured to transmit one or more signals to a base station, for example, for determination of TR precoding. The one or more processors 302C may be configured to receive, from the base station, one or more positioning signals based at least in part on the transmitted request and the one or more transmitted signals.

[0060]

[0071] The methods described herein may be implemented by various means depending on the application. For example, these methods may be implemented in hardware, firmware, software, or any combination thereof. In a hardware implementation, the one or more processors 302C may be implemented within one or more application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), digital signal processors (DSPs), digital signal processing devices (DSPDs), programmable logic devices (PLDs), field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), processors, controllers, microcontrollers, microprocessors, electronic devices, other electronic units designed to perform the functions described herein, or combinations thereof.

[0061]

[0072] For a firmware and / or software implementation, the methods may be implemented with modules (e.g., procedures, functions, and so on) that perform the functions described herein. Any machine-readable medium tangibly embodying instructions may be used in implementing the methods described herein. For example, software code may be stored in non-transitory computer-readable medium 320C or memory 304C coupled to and executed by one or more processors 302C. The memory may be implemented within the one or more processors or external to the one or more processors. The term “memory,” as used herein, may refer to long-term, short-term, volatile, non-volatile, or any other type of memory, and should not be limited to any particular type or number of memories or the type of medium on which the memory is stored.

[0062]

[0073] If implemented in firmware and / or software, the functions may be stored as one or more instructions or program code 308C on a non-transitory computer-readable medium, such as medium 320C and / or memory 304C. Examples include computer-readable media encoded with a data structure and computer-readable media encoded with a computer program 308C. For example, non-transitory computer-readable media with program code 308C stored thereon may include program code 308C for supporting positioning of a UE using non-PRS signals for positioning measurements in a manner consistent with the disclosed embodiments. Non-transitory computer-readable media 320C include physical computer storage media. A storage medium may be any available medium that can be accessed by a computer. By way of example, and not limitation, such non-transitory computer-readable media may comprise RAM, ROM, EEPROM, CD-ROM or other optical disk storage, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or any other medium that can be used to store desired program code 308C in the form of instructions or data structures and that can be accessed by a computer; as used herein, disk and disc include compact discs (CDs), laser discs, optical discs, digital versatile discs (DVDs), floppy disks, and Blu-ray discs; disks typically reproduce data magnetically, while discs reproduce data optically with lasers. Combinations of the above should also be included within the scope of computer-readable media.

[0063]

[0074] In addition to being stored on the computer-readable medium 320C, the instructions and / or data may be provided as signals on a transmission medium contained in a communications device. For example, a communications device may include a transceiver 310C having signals indicative of instructions and data. The instructions and data are configured to cause one or more processors to implement the functions outlined in the claims. That is, the communications device includes a transmission medium with signals indicative of information to perform the disclosed functions.

[0064]

[0075] Memory 304C may represent any data storage mechanism. For example, memory 304C may include primary memory and / or secondary memory. Primary memory may include, for example, random access memory, read-only memory, etc. While shown in this example as being separate from one or more processors 302C, it should be understood that all or a portion of the primary memory may be provided within one or more processors 302C, or in some cases co-located / coupled with one or more processors 302C. Secondary memory may include, for example, the same or similar type of memory as the primary memory and / or one or more data storage devices or systems, such as, for example, disk drives, optical disk drives, tape drives, solid-state memory drives, etc.

[0065]

[0076] In some implementations, the secondary memory may be operatively capable of receiving, or possibly configurable to couple to, a non-transitory computer-readable medium 320C. Thus, in some example implementations, the methods and / or apparatuses presented herein may take the form, in whole or in part, of a computer-readable medium 320C, which may include computer-implementable code 308C stored thereon, which, when executed by one or more processors 302C, may be operatively enabled to perform all or a portion of the example operations described herein. The computer-readable medium 320C may be part of the memory 304C.

[0066]

[0077] FIG. 3D shows a schematic block diagram illustrating some exemplary features of a base station 300D, e.g., the base station 102 of FIG. 1 or the base station 310 of FIG. 3A, according to some implementations. The base station 300D may be an eNB or a gNB. The base station 300D may implement the process flow shown in FIG. 7. The base station 300D may include one or more processors 302D, which may be operably coupled to one or more connections 306D (e.g., buses, lines, fibers, links, etc.) to a non-transitory computer-readable medium 320D and a memory 304D, a memory 304D, an external interface (e.g., a wireless network interface) that may include a transceiver 310D, and a communication interface 316D (e.g., a wireline or wireless network interface to other base stations and / or entities in the core network, such as a location server). The base station 300D may further include additional items not shown, such as, for example, a user interface that may include a display, a keypad such as a virtual keypad on the display, or other input device through which a user may interface with the base station. In some example implementations, all or a portion of the base station 300D may take the form of a chipset or the like. The transceiver 310D may include, for example, a transmitter 312D enabled to transmit one or more signals over one or more types of wireless communication networks and a receiver 314D for receiving one or more signals transmitted over one or more types of wireless communication networks. The communication interface 316D may be a wired or wireless interface capable of connecting to other base stations in a RAN or network entity, such as the location server 172 shown in FIG. 1. The transceiver 310D may correspond, for example, to the TX processor 316, the RX processor 370, and one or more transmitters 318a and receivers 318b, as shown in FIG. 3A.

[0067]

[0078] In some embodiments, the base station 300D may include an antenna 311D, which may be internal or external. The antenna 311D may be used to transmit and / or receive signals processed by the transceiver 310D. In some embodiments, the antenna 311D may be coupled to the transceiver 310D. In some embodiments, measurements of signals received (transmitted) by the base station 300D may be performed at the point of connection between the antenna 311D and the transceiver 310D. For example, the measurement points of reference for measurements of received (transmitted) RF signals may be the input (output) terminal of the receiver 314D (transmitter 312D) and the output (input) terminal of the antenna 311D. In a base station 300D with multiple antennas 311D or an antenna array, the antenna connectors may be considered virtual points representing the aggregate output (input) of the multiple antennas. In some embodiments, the base station 300D may measure received signals, including signal strength and TOA measurements, and the raw measurements may be processed by one or more processors 302D.

[0068]

[0079] The one or more processors 302D may be implemented using a combination of hardware, firmware, and software. For example, the one or more processors 302D may be configured to perform the functions described herein by implementing one or more instructions or program code 308D on a non-transitory computer-readable medium, such as the medium 320D, and / or the memory 304D. In some embodiments, the one or more processors 302D may represent one or more circuits configurable to perform at least a portion of a data signal computation procedure or process related to the operation of the base station 300D.

[0069]

[0080] The medium 320D and / or memory 304D may store instructions or program code 308D, including executable code or software instructions that, when executed by one or more processors 302D, cause the one or more processors 302D to operate as a special-purpose computer programmed to perform the techniques disclosed herein. As shown in base station 300D, the medium 320D and / or memory 304D may include one or more components or modules that may be implemented by one or more processors 302D to perform the methods described herein. While the components or modules are shown as software in the medium 320D executable by one or more processors 302D, it should be understood that the components or modules may be stored in the memory 304D or may be dedicated hardware in one or more processors 302D or separate from the processor(s). Several software modules and data tables may reside in the medium 320D and / or memory 304D and be utilized by one or more processors 302D to manage both the communications and functionality described herein. It should be appreciated that the organization of the contents of the medium 320D and / or memory 304D as shown in the base station 300D is merely exemplary, and thus the functionality of the modules and / or data structures may be combined, separated, and / or structured in various ways depending on the implementation of the base station 300D.

[0070]

[0081] The medium 320D and / or the memory 304D may include a positioning session module 322D that, when implemented by the one or more processors 302D, configures the one or more processors 302D to participate in a positioning session for the UE. For example, the one or more processors 302D may be configured to send and receive positioning messages with the UE 104 and the location server 172.

[0071]

[0082] The medium 320D and / or memory 304D may include a TR processing module 324D that, when implemented by one or more processors 302D, configures the one or more processors 302D to transmit one or more positioning signals to a UE based on TR precoding. For example, the one or more processors 302D may be configured to receive a request for transmission of one or more positioning signals by a base station in accordance with TR precoding, a request for one or more positioning signals to be transmitted without TR precoding, etc., as described in more detail below. The one or more processors 302D may be configured to receive one or more signals from a UE, for example, for determining TR precoding. The one or more processors 302D may be configured to transmit one or more positioning signals to the UE based at least in part on the received request and the one or more received signals.

[0072]

[0083] The methods described herein may be implemented by various means depending on the application. For example, these methods may be implemented in hardware, firmware, software, or any combination thereof. In a hardware implementation, the one or more processors 302D may be implemented within one or more application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), digital signal processors (DSPs), digital signal processing devices (DSPDs), programmable logic devices (PLDs), field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), processors, controllers, microcontrollers, microprocessors, electronic devices, other electronic units designed to perform the functions described herein, or combinations thereof.

[0073]

[0084] For a firmware and / or software implementation, the methods may be implemented with modules (e.g., procedures, functions, and so on) that perform the functions described herein. Any machine-readable medium tangibly embodying instructions may be used in implementing the methodologies described herein. For example, software code may be stored in non-transitory computer-readable medium 320D or memory 304D coupled to and executed by one or more processors 302D. The memory may be implemented within the one or more processors or external to the one or more processors. The term “memory,” as used herein, may refer to long-term, short-term, volatile, non-volatile, or any other type of memory, and should not be limited to any particular type or number of memories or the type of medium on which the memory is stored.

[0074]

[0085] If implemented in firmware and / or software, the functions may be stored as one or more instructions or program code 308D on a non-transitory computer-readable medium, such as medium 320D and / or memory 304D. Examples include computer-readable media encoded with a data structure and computer-readable media encoded with a computer program 308D. For example, non-transitory computer-readable media with program code 308D stored thereon may include program code 308D for supporting positioning of UEs using non-PRS signals for positioning measurements in a manner consistent with the disclosed embodiments. Non-transitory computer-readable media 320D include physical computer storage media. A storage medium may be any available medium that can be accessed by a computer. By way of example, and not limitation, such non-transitory computer-readable media may comprise RAM, ROM, EEPROM, CD-ROM or other optical disk storage, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or any other medium that can be used to store desired program code 308D in the form of instructions or data structures and that can be accessed by a computer; as used herein, disk and disc include compact discs (CDs), laser discs, optical discs, digital versatile discs (DVDs), floppy disks, and Blu-ray discs; disks typically reproduce data magnetically, while discs reproduce data optically with lasers. Combinations of the above should also be included within the scope of computer-readable media.

[0075]

[0086] In addition to being stored on the computer-readable medium 320D, the instructions and / or data may be provided as signals on a transmission medium contained in a communications device. For example, the communications device may include a transceiver 310D having signals indicative of instructions and data. The instructions and data are configured to cause one or more processors to implement the functions outlined in the claims. That is, the communications device includes a transmission medium with signals indicative of information to perform the disclosed functions.

[0076]

[0087] The memory 304D may represent any data storage mechanism. For example, the memory 304D may include primary memory and / or secondary memory. The primary memory may include, for example, random access memory, read-only memory, etc. While shown in this example as being separate from the one or more processors 302D, it should be understood that all or a portion of the primary memory may be provided within, or possibly co-located / coupled with, the one or more processors 302D. The secondary memory may include, for example, the same or similar type of memory as the primary memory and / or one or more data storage devices or systems, such as, for example, disk drives, optical disk drives, tape drives, solid-state memory drives, etc.

[0077]

[0088] In some implementations, the secondary memory may be operatively receptive of, or possibly configurable to couple to, a non-transitory computer-readable medium 320D. Thus, in some example implementations, the methods and / or apparatuses presented herein may take the form, in whole or in part, of a computer-readable medium 320D, which may include computer-implementable code 308D stored thereon, which, when executed by one or more processors 302D, may be operatively enabled to perform all or a portion of the example operations described herein. The computer-readable medium 320D may be part of the memory 304D.

[0078]

[0089] Figure 4 illustrates an exemplary wireless communications system 400 according to one aspect. In the example of Figure 4, a UE 404, which may correspond to any of the UEs (e.g., UE 104, UE 182, UE 190, 240, 350, etc.) described above with respect to Figures 1, 2, and 3, may be attempting to calculate or possibly estimate its location or to assist another entity (e.g., a base station or core network component, another UE, a location server, a third-party application, etc.) in calculating or possibly estimating its location. The UE 404 may communicate wirelessly with multiple base stations 402a-d (collectively, base stations 402), which may correspond to any combination of the base stations (e.g., 102, 102', 150, 180, 222, 224, 310, etc.) described above with respect to Figures 1, 2, and 3, using RF signals and standardized protocols for modulating the RF signals and exchanging information packets. By extracting different types of information from the exchanged RF signals and utilizing the layout of the wireless communication system 400 (i.e., base station locations, geometry, etc.), the UE 404 may determine or aid in determining its location in a predefined reference coordinate system. In one aspect, the UE 404 may specify its location using a two-dimensional coordinate system and / or a three-dimensional coordinate system. Additionally, while FIG. 4 shows one UE 404 and four base stations 402, it will be appreciated that there may be more UEs 404 and more or fewer base stations 402.

[0079]

[0090] To support position estimation, base stations 402 may be configured to broadcast reference RF signals (e.g., positioning reference signals (PRS), cell-specific reference signals (CRS), channel state information reference signals (CSI-RS), synchronization signal blocks (SSB), timing reference signals (TRS), etc.) to UEs 404 in their coverage areas to enable the UEs 404 to measure reference RF signal timing differences (e.g., OTDOA, RTT, or RSTD) between pairs of network nodes and / or identify the beam that best excites LOS or the shortest radio path between the UE 404 and the transmitting base station 402. Identifying LOS / shortest path beams is interesting not only because these beams can then be used for OTDOA measurements between pairs of base stations 402, but also because identifying these beams can directly provide some positioning information based on the beam direction. Furthermore, these beams can then be used for other position estimation methods that require accurate ToA, such as round-trip time estimation-based methods. Alternatively or additionally, the beams may be used for angle-based positioning methods, such as methods based on angle of arrival (AoA) and / or angle of departure (AoD).

[0080]

[0091] As used herein, a "network node" may be a base station 402, a cell of a base station 402, a remote radio head, or an antenna of a base station 402, where the location of the antenna of a base station 402 is separate from the location of the base station 402 itself or any other network entity capable of transmitting a reference signal. Furthermore, as used herein, a "node" may refer to either a network node or a UE.

[0081]

[0092] A location server (e.g., location server 230, LMF 270) may send assistance data to the UE 404, including identification information of one or more neighbor cells of the base station 402 and configuration information for the reference RF signal transmitted by each neighbor cell. The location management function (LMF) may be an example of a location server in 5G and an enhanced serving mobile location center (e-SMLC) in LTE. Alternatively, the assistance data may originate directly from the base station 402 itself (e.g., in periodically broadcast overhead messages, etc.). Alternatively, the UE 404 may detect neighbor cells of the base station 402 itself without using assistance data. The UE 404 may measure and (optionally) report OTDOA from individual network nodes and / or RSTD between reference RF signals received from pairs of network nodes (e.g., based in part on assistance data, if provided). Using these measurements and the known location of the measured network node (i.e., the base station 402 or antenna that transmitted the reference RF signal that the UE 404 measured), the UE 404 or a location server can determine the distance between the UE 404 and the measured network node, thereby calculating the location of the UE 404.

[0082]

[0093] The term “position estimate” is used herein to refer to an estimate of a location for a UE 404, which may be a geographic estimate (e.g., which may comprise latitude, longitude, and possibly altitude) or a civic estimate (e.g., which may comprise a street address, a building designation, or a precise point or area within or near a building or street address, such as a particular entrance to a building, a particular room or suite in a building, or a landmark such as a town square). A location estimate may also be referred to as a “location,” “position,” “fix,” “position fix,” “location fix,” “location estimate,” “fix estimate,” or some other terminology. Means of obtaining a location estimate may be commonly referred to as “positioning,” “locating,” or “position determination.” A particular solution for obtaining a position estimate may be referred to as a “position solution.” A particular method for obtaining a position estimate as part of a position solution may be referred to as a “positioning method” or “positioning method.”

[0083]

[0094] The term “base station” may refer to a single physical transmission point or to multiple physical transmission points, which may or may not be collocated. For example, when the term “base station” refers to a single physical transmission point, the physical transmission point may be an antenna of a base station (e.g., base station 402) corresponding to the base station's cell. When the term “base station” refers to multiple collocated physical transmission points, the physical transmission point may be an array of antennas of the base station (e.g., as in a MIMO system or when the base station employs beamforming). When the term “base station” refers to multiple non-collocated physical transmission points, the physical transmission point may be a distributed antenna system (DAS) (a network of spatially separated antennas connected to a common source via a transport medium) or a remote radio head (RRH) (a remote base station connected to a serving base station). Alternatively, the non-collocated physical transmission point may be a serving base station that receives measurement reports from a UE (e.g., UE 404) and a neighbor base station from which the UE is measuring a reference RF signal. 4 illustrates an aspect in which base stations 402a and 402b form a DAS / RRH 420. For example, base station 402a may be a serving base station for UE 404, and base station 402b may be a neighbor base station for UE 404. Thus, base station 402b may be an RRH for base station 402a. Base stations 402a and 402b may communicate with each other via a wired or wireless link 422.

[0084]

[0095] To accurately determine the location of the UE 404 using the OTDOA, RTT, and / or RSTD between RF signals received from a pair of network nodes, the UE 404 may measure a reference RF signal received over the LOS path (or the shortest NLOS path if no LOS path is available) between the UE 404 and the network node (e.g., base station 402, antenna). However, the RF signal not only travels by the LOS / shortest path between the transmitter and receiver, but also travels via several other paths as the RF signal spreads from the transmitter and reflects off other objects, such as hills, buildings, water, etc., on its way to the receiver. Thus, FIG. 4 shows several LOS paths 410 and several NLOS paths 412 between the base station 402 and the UE 404. In particular, FIG. 4 shows base station 402a transmitting via LOS path 410a and NLOS path 412a, base station 402b transmitting via LOS path 410b and two NLOS paths 412b, base station 402c transmitting via LOS path 410c and NLOS path 412c, and base station 402d transmitting via two NLOS paths 412d. As shown in FIG. 4, each NLOS path 412 reflects off some object 430 (e.g., a building). As will be appreciated, each LOS path 410 and NLOS path 412 transmitted by base station 402 may be transmitted by a different antenna of base station 402 (e.g., as in a MIMO system) or may be transmitted by the same antenna of base station 402 (thereby illustrating RF signal propagation). Furthermore, as used herein, the term “LOS path” refers to the shortest path between the transmitter and receiver, which may not be the actual LOS path, but rather the shortest NLOS path.

[0085]

[0096] In one aspect, one or more of the base stations 402 may be configured to use beamforming to transmit RF signals. In that case, some of the available beams may focus RF signals transmitted along the LOS path 410 (e.g., the beams generate the highest antenna gain along the LOS path), while other available beams may focus RF signals transmitted along the NLOS path 412. A beam that has high gain along one path and therefore focuses RF signals along that path may still have some RF signals propagating along other paths, the strength of which naturally depends on the beam gain along those other paths. An “RF signal” comprises electromagnetic waves that transport information through space between a transmitter and a receiver. As used herein, a transmitter may transmit a single “RF signal” or multiple “RF signals” to a receiver. However, as explained further below, a receiver may receive multiple “RF signals” corresponding to each transmitted RF signal due to the propagation characteristics of RF signals through a multipath channel.

[0086]

[0097] If the base station 402 uses beamforming to transmit RF signals, the beam of interest for data communication between the base station 402 and the UE 404 will be the beam carrying the RF signal that arrives at the UE 404 with the highest signal strength (e.g., as indicated by a reference signal received power (RSRP) or SINR in the presence of a directional interfering signal), while the beam of interest for position estimation will be the beam carrying the RF signal that excites the shortest path or LOS path (e.g., LOS path 410). In some frequency bands and for commonly used antenna systems, this will be the same beam. However, in other frequency bands, such as mmW, where multiple antenna elements may typically be used to create a narrow transmit beam, they may not be the same beam. As described below with reference to FIG. 5, in some cases, the signal strength of the RF signal on the LOS path 410 may be weaker (e.g., due to obstructions) than the signal strength of the RF signal on the NLOS path 412, where the RF signal arrives later due to propagation delay.

[0087]

[0098] Figure 5 illustrates an exemplary wireless communications system 500 according to one aspect. In the example of Figure 5, a UE 504, which may correspond to the UE 404 of Figure 4, may be attempting to calculate or possibly estimate its location or to assist another entity (e.g., a base station or core network component, another UE, a location server, a third-party application, etc.) in calculating or possibly estimating its location. The UE 504 may communicate wirelessly with a base station 502, which may correspond to one of the base stations 402 of Figure 4, using RF signals and standardized protocols for modulation of the RF signals and exchange of information packets.

[0088]

[0099] As shown in Figure 5, the base station 502 may utilize beamforming to transmit multiple beams 511-515 of RF signals. Each beam 511-515 may be formed and transmitted by an array of antennas at the base station 502. While Figure 5 shows the base station 502 transmitting five beams, it will be appreciated that there may be more or fewer than five beams, the beam shapes, such as peak gain, width, and sidelobe gain, may vary among the transmitted beams, and some of the beams may be transmitted by different base stations.

[0089]

[0100] A beam index may be assigned to each of the multiple beams 511-515 to distinguish an RF signal associated with one beam from an RF signal associated with another beam. Moreover, an RF signal associated with a particular beam among the multiple beams 511-515 may carry a beam index indicator. The beam index may also be derived from the time of transmission of the RF signal, e.g., a frame, slot, and / or OFDM symbol number. The beam index indicator may be, for example, a 3-bit field for uniquely distinguishing up to eight beams. If two different RF signals with different beam indices are received, this indicates that the RF signals were transmitted using different beams. If two different RF signals share a common beam index, this indicates that the different RF signals are transmitted using the same beam. Another way to describe two RF signals being transmitted using the same beam is to state that the antenna port(s) used for transmission of the first RF signal are quasi-colocated in space with the antenna port(s) used for transmission of the second RF signal.

[0090]

[0101] In the example of FIG. 5, UE 504 may receive NLOS data stream 523 of RF signals transmitted on beam 513 and LOS data stream 524 of RF signals transmitted on beam 514. While FIG. 5 illustrates NLOS data stream 523 and LOS data stream 524 as single lines (dashed and solid lines, respectively), it will be appreciated that NLOS data stream 523 and LOS data stream 524 may each comprise multiple rays (i.e., "clusters") by the time they reach UE 504 due to, for example, the propagation characteristics of RF signals through a multipath channel. For example, when an electromagnetic wave is reflected off multiple surfaces of an object, a cluster of RF signals may be formed, with the reflections arriving at a receiver (e.g., UE 504) from approximately the same angle, each traveling a few wavelengths (e.g., centimeters) more or less than the others. A "cluster" of received RF signals generally corresponds to a single transmitted RF signal.

[0091]

[0102] In the example of FIG. 5, NLOS data stream 523 is not initially directed to UE 504, but as can be appreciated, it may be directed to UE 504, much like the RF signal on NLOS path 412 in FIG. 4 is. However, it may be reflected off reflectors 540 (e.g., buildings) and reach UE 504 unimpeded, and thus still be a relatively strong RF signal. In contrast, LOS data stream 524 is directed to UE 504 but passes through obstacles 530 (e.g., vegetation, buildings, hills, confusing environments such as clouds or smoke, etc.) that may significantly degrade the RF signal. As can be appreciated, LOS data stream 524 is weaker than NLOS data stream 523, but because LOS data stream 524 follows a shorter path from base station 502 to UE 504, it arrives at UE 504 before NLOS data stream 523.

[0092]

[0103] As described above, the beam of interest for data communication between a base station (e.g., base station 502) and a UE (e.g., UE 504) is the beam carrying the RF signal that arrives at the UE with the highest signal strength (e.g., highest RSRP or SINR), and the beam of interest for position estimation is the beam carrying the RF signal that excites the LOS path and has the highest gain along the LOS path among all other beams (e.g., beam 514). That is, even if beam 513 (an NLOS beam) weakly excites the LOS path (not focused along the LOS path but due to the propagation characteristics of RF signals), the weak signal, if any, of the LOS path of beam 513 may not be as reliably detectable (as the signal from beam 514), thus leading to larger errors in performing positioning measurements.

[0093]

[0104] While the beam of interest for data communication and the beam of interest for position estimation may be the same beam for some frequency bands, for other frequency bands, such as mmW, they may not be the same beam. Thus, referring to Figure 5, if UE 504 is engaged in a data communication session with base station 502 (e.g., base station 502 is the serving base station for UE 504) and is simply not attempting to measure a reference RF signal transmitted by base station 502, the beam of interest for the data communication session may be beam 513 because it carries unobstructed NLOS data stream 523. However, the beam of interest for position estimation will be beam 514 because beam 514 carries the strongest LOS data stream 524 despite being obstructed.

[0094]

[0105] A New Radio (NR) DL PRS resource may be defined as a set of resource elements used for NR DL PRS transmission that can span multiple physical resource blocks (PRBs) within N consecutive symbols within a slot, where N is one or more. In any OFDM symbol, PRS resources may occupy consecutive PRBs. A DL PRS resource set may be defined as a set of DL PRS resources, with each DL PRS resource having a DL PRS resource ID. DL PRS resources in a DL PRS resource set may be associated with the same Tx / Rx point (TRP).

[0095]

[0106] A DL PRS resource ID in a DL PRS resource set may be associated with a single beam transmitted from a single TRP. Note that a TRP may transmit one or more beams. This may or may not have implications regarding whether the TRP and the beam from which the signal is transmitted are known to the UE. A DL PRS occasion may be considered as one instance of a periodically recurring time window (e.g., consecutive slots) in which a DL PRS is expected to be transmitted. A DL PRS configuration including a DL PRS transmission schedule may be indicated to the UE for DL ​​PRS positioning measurements. Note that the UE may not be expected to perform blind detection of the DL PRS configuration.

[0096]

[0107] The accuracy of radio-based positioning can be severely affected by NLOS multipath propagation, which is unavoidable in some scenarios such as urban and indoor environments. For distance / range estimation (e.g., via ToA measurements), detection of the first path or LOS path is difficult in the presence of NLOS multipath propagation channels.

[0097]

[0108] At low SNR (signal-to-noise ratio) and / or low SINR (signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio), the first path with low power may not be successfully detected by the receiver. Therefore, one important problem can be framed as how to improve the ability to detect the first path even in the presence of a NLOS multipath channel under low SNR and / or SINR.

[0098]

[0109] Aspects of the present disclosure provide methods and systems for using time-reversal (TR) filtering to improve detection capabilities of the first path or LOS path. In a TR transmission, a reference signal S may be pre-filtered using a time-reversal filter.

[0099]

number

[0100] In equation (1), the time reversal filter h(-t) * is the time-reversed channel impulse response (CIR) between the transmitter (e.g., one of the UE and the gNB) and the receiver (e.g., the other of the UE and the gNB). t can be transmitted.

[0101]

[0110] The signal Y received at the receiver can be written as:

[0102]

number

[0103] At the receiver, the equivalent CIR is:

[0104]

number

[0105] This is the channel autocorrelation.

[0106]

[0111] TR filtering can compress the multipath channel, thereby increasing the SNR and improving estimation accuracy. This technique for increasing the SNR relies on channel knowledge, particularly the CIR h(t) of the channel. Thus, in one aspect, TR precoding (TR filtering) of the reference signal (RS) at the transmitter can be based on channel state information (CSI) between the transmitter and the receiver (e.g., CSI between the UE and the gNB), from which h(t) can be estimated.

[0107]

[0112] TR-based positioning may be applied in the uplink (UL) direction and / or the downlink (DL) direction. Reference signals for TR-based positioning in the UL are generally referred to as uplink reference signals (UL RS). Similarly, reference signals for TR-based positioning in the DL are generally referred to as downlink reference signals (DL RS). Examples of UL RS may include sounding reference signals (SRS), demodulation reference signals (DMRS), phase tracking reference signals (PTRS), etc. Examples of DL RS may include positioning reference signals (PRS), channel state information reference signals (CSI-RS), DMRS, primary synchronization signals (PSS), secondary synchronization signals (SSS), PTRS, etc. For signals such as DMRS and PTRS that may be transmitted in both the UL direction (e.g., by a UE) and the DL direction (e.g., by a gNB), the signals may be prepended with UL or DL ​​to distinguish them. For example, UL DMRS may be distinguished from DL DMRS.

[0108]

[0113] It is desirable for wireless devices such as gNBs, UEs, and location servers to support on-demand TR-based positioning on the downlink. That is, a UE or a location server may request transmission of one or more TR-precoded DL RSs (such as one or more PRSs) to be transmitted to a particular UE. The TR precoding may be based on one or more UL RSs transmitted by the particular UE. For example, a channel impulse response may be determined or estimated based on the UL RS and a TR precoding filter derived from the channel impulse response, as described above. Note that while this TR-precoded DL RS is intended for use by a particular UE, in some aspects, one or more other UEs may also use the TR-precoded DL RS for positioning. For example, one or more UEs near a particular UE may be able to use the TR-precoded DL RS for positioning. For example, a location server may indicate when a TR-precoded DL RS can be used by another UE.

[0109]

[0114] In some examples, the TR filter may be determined based on one or more SRSs transmitted by a particular UE. That is, the UL RS transmitted by a particular UE may include one or more SRSs. Note that although the SRS may not be transmitted on the same frequency band as the TR-precoded DL RS, the overlap between the UL frequency band on which the SRS is transmitted and the DL frequency band on which the TR-precoded DL RS is transmitted may improve the performance gain of the TR. For example, even when there is only a 15-20 MHz overlap between the UL and DL frequency bands, the performance gain from using the TR may be beneficial. The UL channel response may then be estimated based on one or more SRSs received by the base station.

[0110]

[0115] In some examples, the TR filter may be determined based on one or more CSI-RSs. That is, a particular UE may receive the CSI-RS and determine the CSI for the DL channel based on the CSI-RS. The particular UE may then indicate the CSI in one or more signals transmitted to a base station or location server. That is, one or more UL signals transmitted by the particular UE may include this CSI determined from one or more received CSI-RSs. For example, the UL signals may include one or more physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) signals, one or more physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH) signals. Such UL signals transmitted by the particular UE may include a CSI-RS report message indicating the CSI. Each CSI-RS report message may include a timestamp, and each CSI-RS and CSI-RS report may be associated with a particular on-demand DL RS. The CSI indicated by a particular UE may take any of several forms, for example, because different UEs may have different capabilities for processing the CSI-RS. In some aspects, the CSI may include a channel impulse response or a channel frequency response, and may include a partial channel impulse response, a truncated channel impulse response, a wideband channel frequency response, or a narrowband channel frequency response. In some other aspects, the CSI may include a power delay profile (PDP), a Doppler shift measurement. Depending on the frequency of the signal used for the Doppler shift measurement, the timing of the Doppler shift measurement relative to the TR-precoded DL RS may be constrained. For example, for higher frequency signals, it may be beneficial to schedule the Doppler shift measurement closer in time to the TR-precoded DL RS compared to lower frequency signals. In some aspects, the use of CSI-RS and CSI-RS report messages may be preferable to SRS-based techniques for systems operating using frequency division duplexing (FDD), for example, due to the lack of channel reciprocity in such systems.

[0111]

[0116] In some aspects, on-demand TR processing of DL positioning signals may be requested by a specific UE that is to receive a TR-precoded DL RS. For example, the UE may request TR precoding for a specific on-demand PRS to be received by the UE. In connection with such a request, the UE may indicate one or more types of UL RSs that it supports to indicate channel conditions, such as CSI, between the UE and the base station. For example, the UE may indicate whether it supports CSI feedback based on one or more CSI-RSs, whether it supports SRS transmission associated with the on-demand PRS, etc.

[0112]

[0117] In some aspects, on-demand TR processing of DL positioning signals may be requested by a location server associated with a particular UE and base station. For example, the location server may indicate relevant characteristics of the on-demand TR processing, such as the particular UE to be addressed by the TR-precoded DL RS, the base station for transmitting the TR-precoded DL RS, the type of CSI feedback to be employed by the particular UE (e.g., SRS, CSI based on CSI-RS, etc.), and the time for the particular UE to transmit the CSI feedback. In some examples, the location server may request that the particular UE transmit its CSI feedback or SRS at a particular time, such as within a threshold time of transmission of the TR-precoded DL RS. Such temporal proximity between measurement of UL channel conditions and transmission of the TR-precoded DL RS may improve channel reciprocity and increase the accuracy of the derived TR precoding.

[0113]

[0118] In some aspects, a base station, such as a gNB, may derive TR precoding based on channel information received from a UE, as described above. For example, the gNB may derive TR precoding based on one or more SRS or CSI-RS reports transmitted by the UE. In some other aspects, the base station may signal channel information, such as CSI, to a location server. In response, the location server may indicate a TR precoder, such as the TR filter described above, for the base station to use in the TR-precoded DL RS. Alternatively, the location server may indicate that the base station may select its own TR precoder. In an implementation in which the base station may select its own TR precoder, the base station may indicate a beam pattern, such as a 3 dB beamwidth for the TR-precoded DL RS, to the location server. When the positioning technique is AoD-based positioning, it may be important for the base station to indicate the beam pattern to the location server. The location server may then update its beam pattern information and indicate the updated beam pattern to the particular UE in the positioning assistance data. A location server updating beam pattern information and indicating this updated information to the UE in positioning assistance data can be important when the base station is a non-serving base station, since positioning assistance is typically signaled through the serving cell.

[0114]

[0119] After determining the TR precoding, the base station may apply TR precoding to one or more DL RSs, such as one or more PRSs, and transmit the TR-precoded DL RSs to a particular UE. The UE may then use the one or more TR-precoded DL RSs for positioning, as described above.

[0115]

[0120] In some aspects, rather than measuring channel state information using a CSI-RS or by transmitting one or more SRSs, channel state information for an on-demand TR-precoded DL RS may be determined by the UE based on one or more previously transmitted TR-precoded DL RSs. That is, the UE may use one or more TR-precoded DL RSs associated with previously requested DL RSs, either requested by the same particular UE or requested by different UEs. In some aspects, different UEs may be located in close proximity to a particular UE. In some aspects, a location server may indicate when a TR-precoded DL RS may be associated with a future on-demand DL RS.

[0116]

[0121] The above techniques have been described with respect to requesting TR precoding for an on-demand DL RS. However, use of TR may require channel reciprocity. Thus, if channel reciprocity is sufficiently weak, TR precoding may be inappropriate. Thus, in some aspects, a request for an on-demand DL RS may include requesting that TR precoding be disabled. For example, a base station or UE may request that a location server disable TR processing for the DL RS. The request for disabling TR processing may be based on channel reciprocity measured by the UE or base station. In some aspects, when a UE requests an on-demand DL RS, the request may include a request to disable TR processing for the DL RS. In some other aspects, a base station may indicate to the UE that channel reciprocity is insufficient, and this indication may trigger cancellation of TR precoding in the on-demand DL RS. In some aspects, a base station or UE may signal measured channel reciprocity, such as a measure of channel overlap, correlation of one or more channel impulse responses or channel frequency responses. In some aspects, recent movement of the UE may trigger a request to disable TR processing, e.g., because the UE movement may cause changes in channel conditions and thus reduce the relevance of CSI measured before the UE movement, for example.

[0117]

[0122] The above techniques describe requesting TR precoding for an on-demand DL RS and requesting the omission or disabling of TR processing for an on-demand DL RS. In both cases, the requested on-demand DL RS may be described as being "associated" with TR precoding.

[0118]

[0123] 6 illustrates a flowchart of an example method 600 of a user equipment (UE) according to one or more aspects. In one aspect, the memory 360 of the UE 350 of FIG. 3A may be an example of a computer-readable medium storing computer-executable instructions for one or more of the TX processor 368, the controller / processor 359, the RX processor 356, and / or the channel estimator 358 of the UE 350 to perform the method 600.

[0119]

[0124] In block 610, the UE transmits a request for transmission of one or more positioning signals from a base station, the request being associated with time-reversal (TR) precoding. In some aspects, means for transmitting a request for transmission of one or more positioning signals from a base station may include an antenna 352, a receiver 354a, an RX processor 356, a controller / processor 359, and a memory 360.

[0120]

[0125] The UE transmits one or more signals to the base station at block 620. In some aspects, the means for transmitting one or more signals to the base station may include the antenna 352, the receiver 354a, the RX processor 356, the controller / processor 359, and the memory 360.

[0121]

[0126] In block 630, the UE receives from the base station one or more positioning signals based at least in part on the transmitted request and the transmitted one or more signals. In some aspects, the means for receiving the one or more positioning signals may include the antenna 352, the transmitter 354b, the TX processor 368, the controller / processor 359, and the memory 360.

[0122]

[0127] In some aspects, the request in block 610 may be a request to the base station to transmit one or more positioning signals using TR precoding, where each of the one or more positioning signals is encoded according to TR precoding. In some aspects, the one or more positioning signals include one or more PRSs. In some aspects, the one or more transmitted signals include one or more SRSs. The one or more SRSs may be transmitted on a frequency band that at least partially overlaps with a frequency band in which the one or more positioning signals are received. In some aspects, the one or more transmitted signals are based at least in part on CSI measured from a previously received positioning signal received from the base station. In some aspects, the one or more transmitted signals indicate CSI derived from one or more CSI-RSs received by the UE. In some aspects, the CSI derived from the one or more CSI-RSs may include one or more of a channel impulse response, a channel frequency response, a partial channel impulse response, a truncated channel impulse response, a power delay profile (PDP), a wideband channel frequency response, a narrowband frequency response, or a Doppler shift measurement. In some aspects, the operations 600 may include indicating to a location server whether the UE supports transmission of CSI feedback or transmission of one or more SRS signals associated with receiving the one or more positioning signals prior to requesting transmission of the one or more positioning signals. In some aspects, the method 600 may include receiving a request to transmit one or more signals at a specified time prior to transmitting the one or more signals to the base station, where the one or more signals are transmitted at the specified time. The specified time may be within a threshold time of time for receiving the one or more positioning signals.

[0123]

[0128] In some aspects, the request transmitted in block 610 may include a request for one or more positioning signals to be transmitted without TR precoding. In some aspects, the request to transmit one or more positioning signals without TR precoding may be transmitted in response to insufficient channel reciprocity between the UE and the base station.

[0124]

[0129] 7 illustrates a flowchart of an example method 700 of a base station, according to one or more aspects. In one aspect, the memory 376 of the base station 310 of FIG. 3A may be an example of a computer-readable medium storing computer-executable instructions for one or more of the TX processor 316, the controller / processor 375, the RX processor 370, and / or the channel estimator 374 of the base station 310 to perform the method 700.

[0125]

[0130] In block 710, the base station receives a request from the UE for transmission of one or more positioning signals from the base station, where the request is associated with time-reversal (TR) precoding. In some aspects, means for receiving the request from the UE may include the antenna 320, the receiver 318b, the RX processor 370, the controller / processor 375, and the memory 376.

[0126]

[0131] In block 720, the base station receives one or more signals from the UE. In some aspects, the means for receiving one or more signals from the UE may include the antenna 320, the receiver 318b, the RX processor 370, the controller / processor 375, and the memory 376.

[0127]

[0132] In block 730, the base station transmits one or more positioning signals to the UE based at least in part on the request and the one or more received signals. In some aspects, the means for transmitting the one or more positioning signals may include the antenna 320, the transmitter 318a, the TX processor 316, the controller / processor 375, and the memory 376.

[0128]

[0133] In some aspects, the request received in block 710 is a request to the base station to transmit one or more positioning signals using TR precoding, and the one or more positioning signals are transmitted using TR precoding in block 730. In some aspects, the one or more positioning signals include one or more PRSs. In some aspects, the one or more received signals include one or more SRSs. The one or more SRSs may be received on a frequency band that at least partially overlaps with a frequency band in which the one or more positioning signals are transmitted. In some aspects, the one or more signals received in block 720 are based at least in part on CSI measured from a previously transmitted positioning signal transmitted by the base station. In some aspects, the one or more signals received in block 720 indicate CSI derived from one or more CSI-RSs. In some aspects, the one or more signals received at block 720 include CSI including one or more of a channel impulse response, a channel frequency response, a partial channel impulse response, a truncated channel impulse response, a power delay profile (PDP), a wideband channel frequency response, a narrowband frequency response, or a Doppler shift measurement. In some aspects, the method 700 includes, prior to receiving the one or more signals from the UE at block 720, requesting the UE to transmit one or more signals at designated times, where the one or more signals are received at the designated times. The designated times may be within a threshold time of time for transmitting the one or more positioning signals.

[0129]

[0134] In some aspects, method 700 includes determining one or more channel impulse responses (CIRs) h(t) based on one or more signals received from a UE, and filtering one or more TR filters h(-t) based on the one or more CIRs. * and deriving one or more TR filters h(-t) * and encoding the positioning signals based on the generated one or more TR precoders H(f).

[0130]

[0135] In some aspects, the request received at block 710 is a request for one or more positioning signals to be transmitted without using TR precoding.

[0131]

[0136] In some aspects, the request received at block 710 may be received from a location server. In some aspects, the request received at block 710 may be received from a UE.

[0132]

[0137] 8 illustrates a flowchart 800 of an exemplary method of location server, according to one or more aspects. Method 800 may be performed by a location server, such as location server 230, LMF 270, or location server 300B. For example, server 300B may perform method 800 by processor 301B executing instructions stored in non-volatile memory 303B.

[0133]

[0138] In block 810, the location server requests transmission of one or more positioning signals from the base station to the UE, the one or more positioning signals being associated with time-reversal (TR) precoding. In some aspects, means for requesting transmission of one or more positioning signals may include the processor 302B, the memory 304B, the medium 308B, the communication interface 316B, and the TR processing module 324B.

[0134]

[0139] In block 820, the location server receives one or more signals from the base station, the one or more signals associated with the CSI from the UE. In some aspects, the means for receiving one or more signals from the base station may include a processor 302B, a memory 304B, a medium 308B, a communication interface 316B, and a TR processing module 324B.

[0135]

[0140] In block 830, the location server sends an instruction to the base station, the instruction being associated with TR precoding. In some aspects, means for sending an instruction to the base station may include a processor 302B, a memory 304B, a medium 308B, a communication interface 316B, and a TR processing module 324B.

[0136]

[0141] In some aspects, sending the indication in block 830 includes signaling a TR precoding that the base station should use when transmitting one or more positioning signals to the UE. In some aspects, sending the indication in block 830 includes indicating that the base station should select a TR precoding to use when transmitting one or more positioning signals. In some aspects, method 800 may also include receiving, from the base station, a beam pattern associated with the TR precoding and sending the received beam pattern to the UE.

[0137]

[0142] FIG. 9 illustrates a flowchart of an example method 900 for generating time-reversal (TR) precoding according to one or more aspects. In some aspects, a base station may perform the method 900. That is, the memory 376 of the base station 310 of FIG. 3A may be an example of a computer-readable medium storing computer-executable instructions for one or more of the TX processor 316, the controller / processor 375, the RX processor 370, and / or the channel estimator 374 of the base station 310 to perform the method 700. In some other aspects, a location server may perform the method 900. That is, the method 900 may be performed by a location server, such as the location server 230, the LMF 270, or the server 300B. For example, the server 300B may perform the method 900 by the processor 301B executing instructions stored in the non-volatile memory 303B.

[0138] At block 910, a base station or location server may receive one or more signals associated with CSI from a UE. At block 920, the base station or location server may determine a channel impulse response associated with the CSI from the UE. At block 930, the base station or location server may generate TR precoding based at least in part on the channel impulse response.

[0139]

[0143] As explained above, TR precoding involves the time-reversal filter h(-t) * where h(-t) * is the time-reversed channel impulse response between the base station and the UE. Thus, determining the channel impulse response associated with the CSI from the UE enables determination of a time-reversed filter to be applied to one or more positioning signals, e.g., in block 630 or 730.

[0140]

[0144] Those skilled in the art will appreciate that information and signals may be represented using any of a variety of different technologies and techniques. For example, the data, instructions, commands, information, signals, bits, symbols, and chips that may be referred to throughout the above description may be represented by voltages, currents, electromagnetic waves, magnetic fields or particles, optical fields or particles, or any combination thereof.

[0141]

[0145] Furthermore, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the various illustrative logic blocks, modules, circuits, and algorithm steps described in connection with the aspects disclosed herein may be implemented as electronic hardware, computer software, or a combination of both. To clearly illustrate this interchangeability of hardware and software, various illustrative components, blocks, modules, circuits, and steps have been described above generally in terms of their functionality. Whether such functionality is implemented as hardware or software depends on the particular application and design constraints imposed on the overall system. Those skilled in the art may implement the described functionality in varying ways for each particular application, but such implementation decisions should not be interpreted as causing a departure from the scope of the various aspects described herein.

[0142]

[0146] The various example logic blocks, modules, and circuits described in connection with the aspects disclosed herein may be implemented or performed using a general-purpose processor, a digital signal processor (DSP), an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field-programmable gate array (FPGA) or other programmable logic device, discrete gate or transistor logic, discrete hardware components, or any combination thereof designed to perform the functions described herein. A general-purpose processor may be a microprocessor, but alternatively, the processor may be any conventional processor, controller, microcontroller, or state machine. A processor may also be implemented as a combination of computing devices (e.g., a combination of a DSP and a microprocessor, multiple microprocessors, one or more microprocessors in conjunction with a DSP core, or other such configuration).

[0143]

[0147] The methods, sequences, and / or algorithms described in connection with the aspects disclosed herein may be embodied directly in hardware, in software modules executed by a processor, or in a combination of the two. The software modules may reside in random access memory (RAM), flash memory, read-only memory (ROM), erasable programmable ROM (EPROM), electrically erasable programmable ROM (EEPROM), registers, hard disk, removable disk, CD-ROM, or any other form of non-transitory computer-readable medium known in the art. Exemplary non-transitory computer-readable media may be communicatively coupled to a processor such that the processor can read information from and write information to the non-transitory computer-readable medium. Alternatively, the non-transitory computer-readable medium may be integral to the processor. The processor and the non-transitory computer-readable medium may reside in an ASIC. The ASIC may reside in a user device (e.g., a UE) or a base station. Alternatively, the processor and the non-transitory computer-readable medium may be discrete components in a user device or a base station.

[0144]

[0148] In one or more exemplary aspects, the functions described herein may be implemented in hardware, software, firmware, or any combination thereof. If implemented in software, the functions may be stored on or transmitted over as one or more instructions or code on a non-transitory computer-readable medium. Computer-readable media may include storage and / or communication media, including any non-transitory medium that may enable a computer program to be transferred from one place to another. Storage media may be any available medium that can be accessed by a computer. By way of example, and not limitation, such computer-readable media may comprise RAM, ROM, EEPROM, CD-ROM or other optical disk storage, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or any other medium that can be used to carry or store desired program code in the form of instructions or data structures and that can be accessed by a computer. Also, any connection is properly termed a computer-readable medium. For example, if software is transmitted from a website, server, or other remote source using coaxial cable, fiber optic cable, twisted pair, DSL, or wireless technologies such as infrared, radio, and microwave, the coaxial cable, fiber optic cable, twisted pair, DSL, or wireless technologies such as infrared, radio, and microwave are included in the definition of medium. The terms disk and disc, which may be used interchangeably herein, include compact discs (CDs), laser discs, optical discs, digital video discs (DVDs), floppy disks, and Blu-ray discs, which typically reproduce data magnetically and / or optically with a laser. Combinations of the above should also be included within the scope of computer-readable media.

[0145]

[0149] While the above disclosure sets forth exemplary embodiments, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various changes and modifications can be made herein without departing from the scope of the present disclosure, as defined by the appended claims. Furthermore, those skilled in the art will appreciate that, in accordance with the various exemplary embodiments described herein, the functions, steps, and / or actions in any method described above and / or recited in any method claims appended hereto need not be performed in any particular order. Furthermore, those skilled in the art will appreciate that, to the extent any element is described above or recited in the singular, the singular also contemplates the plural, unless limitation to the singular is expressly stated.

[0146]

[0150] Example implementations are described in the following numbered clauses.

[0147]

[0151] Clause 1. A user equipment (UE) including a transceiver, a memory, and a processor communicatively coupled to the transceiver and the memory, the processor:

[0152] transmitting a request for transmission of one or more positioning signals from a base station, the request being one of a request for the base station to transmit the one or more positioning signals using time reversal (TR) precoding or a request for the one or more positioning signals to be transmitted without using TR precoding;

[0153] transmitting one or more signals to a base station;

[0154] receiving, from the base station, one or more positioning signals based at least in part on the transmitted request and the one or more transmitted signals; A user equipment (UE) configured to perform the following:

[0148]

[0155] Clause 2. The UE of clause 1, wherein the one or more received positioning signals are encoded according to TR precoding.

[0149]

[0156] Clause 3. The UE of clause 1 or 2, wherein the one or more positioning signals include one or more positioning reference signals (PRS).

[0150]

[0157] Clause 4. The UE of any one of clauses 1 to 3, wherein the one or more transmitted signals include one or more sounding reference signals (SRS).

[0151]

[0158] Clause 5. The UE of clause 4, wherein the one or more SRSs are transmitted on a frequency band that at least partially overlaps with a frequency band in which the one or more positioning signals are received.

[0152]

[0159] Clause 6. The UE of any one of clauses 1 to 5, wherein the one or more transmitted signals are based at least in part on channel state information (CSI) measured from a previously received positioning signal received from a base station.

[0153]

[0160] Clause 7. The UE of any one of clauses 1 to 6, wherein the one or more transmitted signals indicate channel state information (CSI) derived from one or more CSI reference signals (CSI-RS) received by the UE.

[0154]

[0161] Clause 8. The UE of Clause 7, wherein the one or more transmitted signals include CSI including one or more of a channel impulse response, a channel frequency response, a partial channel impulse response, a shortened channel impulse response, a power delay profile (PDP), a wideband channel frequency response, a narrowband frequency response, or a Doppler shift measurement.

[0155]

[0162] Clause 9. The UE of any one of clauses 1 to 8, wherein the processor is further configured to indicate to the location server, before requesting transmission of the one or more positioning signals, whether the UE supports transmission of CSI feedback or transmission of one or more SRS signals associated with reception of the one or more positioning signals.

[0156]

[0163] Clause 10. The UE of any one of clauses 1 to 9, wherein the processor, transceiver, and memory are configured to receive a request to transmit one or more signals at a specified time before transmitting one or more signals to a base station, wherein the one or more signals are transmitted at the specified time.

[0157]

[0164] Clause 11. The UE of clause 1, wherein the received one or more positioning signals are not encoded according to TR precoding.

[0158]

[0165] Clause 12. The UE of clause 11, wherein the request is transmitted in response to insufficient channel reciprocity between the UE and the base station.

[0159]

[0166] Clause 13. A method for positioning in a wireless network, the method being performed by a User Equipment (UE), comprising:

[0167] transmitting a request for transmission of one or more positioning signals from a base station, the request being one of a request for the base station to transmit the one or more positioning signals using time reversal (TR) precoding or a request for the one or more positioning signals to be transmitted without using TR precoding;

[0168] transmitting one or more signals to a base station;

[0169] receiving, from the base station, one or more positioning signals based at least in part on the transmitted request and the one or more transmitted signals; A method comprising:

[0160]

[0170] Clause 14. The method of clause 13, wherein the received positioning signal or signals are encoded according to TR precoding.

[0161]

[0171] Clause 15. The method of clause 14, wherein the one or more positioning signals include one or more positioning reference signals (PRS).

[0162]

[0172] Clause 16. The method of clause 14 or 15, wherein the one or more transmitted signals include one or more sounding reference signals (SRS).

[0163]

[0173] Clause 17. The method of clause 16, wherein the one or more SRSs are transmitted on a frequency band that at least partially overlaps with a frequency band in which the one or more positioning signals are received.

[0164]

[0174] Clause 18. The method of any one of clauses 14 to 17, wherein the one or more transmitted signals are based at least in part on channel state information (CSI) measured from previously received positioning signals received from a base station.

[0165]

[0175] Clause 19. The method of any one of clauses 14 to 18, wherein the one or more transmitted signals indicate channel state information (CSI) derived from one or more CSI reference signals (CSI-RS) received by the UE.

[0166]

[0176] Clause 20. The method of clause 19, wherein the one or more transmitted signals include CSI including one or more of a channel impulse response, a channel frequency response, a partial channel impulse response, a shortened channel impulse response, a power delay profile (PDP), a wideband channel frequency response, a narrowband frequency response, or a Doppler shift measurement.

[0167]

[0177] Clause 21. The method of any one of clauses 14 to 20, further comprising, prior to requesting transmission of one or more positioning signals, the UE indicating to the location server whether it supports transmission of CSI feedback or transmission of one or more SRS signals related to reception of the one or more positioning signals.

[0168]

[0178] Clause 22. The method of any one of clauses 14 to 21, further comprising, prior to transmitting the one or more signals to the base station, receiving a request to transmit one or more signals at a specified time, wherein the one or more signals are transmitted at the specified time.

[0169]

[0179] Clause 23. The method of clause 13, wherein the transmitted positioning signal or signals are not coded according to TR precoding.

[0170]

[0180] Clause 24. The method of clause 23, wherein the request is transmitted in response to insufficient channel reciprocity between the UE and the base station.

[0171]

[0181] Clause 25. A user equipment (UE) comprising:

[0182] means for transmitting a request for transmission of one or more positioning signals from a base station, the request being one of a request for the base station to transmit the one or more positioning signals using time reversal (TR) precoding or a request for the one or more positioning signals to be transmitted without using TR precoding;

[0183] means for transmitting one or more signals to a base station;

[0184] means for receiving, from the base station, one or more positioning signals based at least in part on the transmitted request and the one or more transmitted signals; a user equipment (UE) including:

[0172]

[0185] Clause 26. The UE of clause 25, wherein the one or more positioning signals are encoded according to TR precoding.

[0173]

[0186] Clause 27. The UE of clause 25 or 26, wherein the one or more transmitted signals indicate channel state information (CSI) derived from one or more CSI reference signals (CSI-RS) received by the UE.

[0174]

[0187] Clause 28. The UE of clause 25, wherein the one or more positioning signals are transmitted without using TR precoding.

[0175]

[0188] Article 29. A base station,

[0189] A transceiver;

[0190] Memory and

[0191] a processor communicatively coupled to the transceiver and the memory; Including,

[0192] The processor

[0193] receiving a request for transmission of one or more positioning signals from a base station to a user equipment (UE), the request being one of a request for the base station to transmit the one or more positioning signals using time reversal (TR) precoding or a request for the one or more positioning signals to be transmitted without using TR precoding;

[0194] receiving one or more signals from a UE;

[0195] transmitting one or more positioning signals to the UE based at least in part on the received request and the one or more received signals; A base station configured to perform the above.

[0176]

[0196] Clause 30. The base station according to clause 29, wherein the one or more positioning signals are encoded according to TR precoding.

[0177]

[0197] Clause 31. A base station according to clause 29 or 30, wherein the one or more positioning signals include one or more positioning reference signals (PRS).

[0178]

[0198] Clause 32. A base station according to any one of clauses 29 to 31, wherein the one or more received signals include one or more sounding reference signals (SRS).

[0179]

[0199] Clause 33. A base station according to clause 32, wherein the one or more SRSs are received on a frequency band that at least partially overlaps with a frequency band in which the one or more positioning signals are transmitted.

[0180]

[0200] Clause 34. A base station according to any one of clauses 29 to 33, wherein the one or more received signals are based at least in part on channel state information (CSI) measured from a previous positioning signal transmitted by the base station.

[0181]

[0201] Clause 35. The base station of any one of clauses 29 to 34, wherein the one or more received signals indicate channel state information (CSI) derived from one or more CSI reference signals (CSI-RS).

[0182]

[0202] Clause 36. The base station of clause 35, wherein the one or more received signals include CSI including one or more of a channel impulse response, a channel frequency response, a partial channel impulse response, a shortened channel impulse response, a power delay profile (PDP), a wideband channel frequency response, a narrowband frequency response, or a Doppler shift measurement.

[0183]

[0203] Clause 37. The base station of any one of clauses 29 to 36, wherein the processor is further configured to request the UE to transmit one or more signals at specified times before receiving one or more signals from the UE, wherein the one or more signals are received at the specified times.

[0184]

[0204] Clause 38. The processor determines one or more channel impulse responses (CIRs) h(t) based on one or more signals received from the UE, and filters one or more TR filters h(-t) based on the one or more CIRs. * and deriving one or more TR filters h(-t) *38. The base station of any one of clauses 29 to 37, further configured to encode the one or more positioning signals according to TR precoding by generating one or more TR precoders H(f) based on:

[0185]

[0205] Clause 39. A method for positioning in a wireless network, the method being performed by a base station, comprising:

[0206] receiving a request from a user equipment (UE) for transmission of one or more positioning signals from a base station, the request being one of a request for the base station to transmit the one or more positioning signals using time reversal (TR) precoding or a request for the one or more positioning signals to be transmitted without using TR precoding;

[0207] receiving one or more signals from a UE;

[0208] transmitting one or more positioning signals to the UE based at least in part on the received request and the one or more received signals; A method comprising:

[0186]

[0209] Clause 40. The method of clause 39, wherein the one or more positioning signals are encoded according to TR precoding.

[0187]

[0210] Clause 41. The method of clause 39 or 40, wherein the one or more positioning signals include one or more positioning reference signals (PRS).

[0188]

[0211] Clause 42. The method of any one of clauses 39 to 41, wherein the one or more received signals include one or more sounding reference signals (SRS).

[0189]

[0212] Clause 43. The method of clause 42, wherein the one or more SRSs are received on a frequency band that at least partially overlaps with a frequency band in which the one or more positioning signals are transmitted.

[0190]

[0213] Clause 44. The method of any one of clauses 39 to 43, wherein the one or more received signals are based at least in part on channel state information (CSI) measured from a previous positioning signal transmitted by the base station.

[0191]

[0214] Clause 45. The method of any one of clauses 39 to 44, wherein the one or more received signals indicate channel state information (CSI) derived from one or more CSI reference signals (CSI-RS).

[0192]

[0215] Clause 46. The method of clause 45, wherein the one or more received signals include CSI including one or more of a channel impulse response, a channel frequency response, a partial channel impulse response, a shortened channel impulse response, a power delay profile (PDP), a wideband channel frequency response, a narrowband frequency response, or a Doppler shift measurement.

[0193]

[0216] Clause 47. The method of any one of clauses 39 to 46, further comprising requesting the UE to transmit one or more signals at specified times prior to receiving one or more signals from the UE, wherein the one or more signals are received at the specified times.

[0194]

[0217] Clause 48. Determining one or more channel impulse responses (CIR) h(t) based on one or more signals received from the UE, and filtering one or more TR filters h(-t) based on the one or more CIRs. * and deriving one or more TR filters h(-t) *45. The method of any one of clauses 37 to 44, further comprising encoding the one or more positioning signals according to TR precoding by generating one or more TR precoders H(f) based on:

[0195]

[0218] Article 49. A base station,

[0219] means for receiving a request from a user equipment (UE) for transmission of one or more positioning signals from a base station, the request being one of a request for the base station to transmit the one or more positioning signals using time reversal (TR) precoding or a request for the one or more positioning signals to be transmitted without using TR precoding;

[0220] means for receiving one or more signals from the UE;

[0221] means for transmitting one or more positioning signals to the UE based at least in part on the received request and the one or more received signals; a base station.

[0196]

[0222] Clause 50. The base station according to clause 49, wherein the one or more positioning signals are encoded according to TR precoding.

[0197]

[0223] Clause 51. The base station of clause 49 or 50, wherein the one or more received signals indicate channel state information (CSI) derived from one or more CSI reference signals (CSI-RS).

[0198]

[0224] Clause 52. Determining one or more channel impulse responses (CIR) h(t) based on one or more signals received from the UE; and filtering one or more TR filters h(-t) based on the one or more CIRs. * and deriving one or more TR filters h(-t) *52. The base station of any one of clauses 49 to 51, further comprising means for encoding one or more positioning signals according to TR precoding by generating one or more TR precoders H(f) based on:

[0199]

[0225] Clause 53. A location server,

[0226] A transceiver;

[0227] Memory and

[0228] a processor communicatively coupled to the transceiver and the memory, the processor comprising:

[0229] requesting transmission of one or more positioning signals from a base station to a user equipment (UE), wherein the request is one of a request for the base station to transmit the one or more positioning signals using time reversal (TR) precoding or a request for the one or more positioning signals to be transmitted without using TR precoding;

[0230] receiving one or more signals from a base station, the one or more signals associated with channel state information (CSI) from the UE;

[0231] sending an instruction to the base station, the instruction being associated with TR precoding; a location server configured to:

[0200]

[0232] Clause 54. The location server of clause 53, wherein transmitting the instruction includes signaling TR precoding that the base station should use when transmitting one or more positioning signals.

[0201]

[0233] Clause 55. The location server of clause 53 or 54, wherein transmitting an instruction includes indicating that the base station should select TR precoding to use when transmitting one or more positioning signals.

[0202]

[0234] Clause 56. The location server according to any one of clauses 53 to 55, further comprising: receiving, from the base station, a beam pattern associated with TR precoding; and sending the received beam pattern to the UE.

[0203]

[0235] Clause 57. A method for positioning in a wireless network, the method being performed by a location server, comprising:

[0236] requesting transmission of one or more positioning signals from a base station to a user equipment (UE), wherein the request is one of a request for the base station to transmit the one or more positioning signals using time reversal (TR) precoding or a request for the one or more positioning signals to be transmitted without using TR precoding;

[0237] receiving one or more signals from a base station, the one or more signals associated with channel state information (CSI) from the UE;

[0238] sending an instruction to the base station, the instruction being associated with TR precoding; A method comprising:

[0204]

[0239] Clause 58. The method of clause 57, wherein transmitting the instruction includes signaling TR precoding that the base station should use when transmitting one or more positioning signals.

[0205]

[0240] Clause 59. The method of clause 57 or 58, wherein transmitting an instruction includes indicating that the base station should select a TR precoding to use when transmitting one or more positioning signals.

[0206]

[0241] Clause 60. The method of clause 59, further comprising receiving, from the base station, a beam pattern associated with TR precoding; and sending the received beam pattern to the UE.

[0207]

[0242] Clause 61. A location server,

[0243] means for requesting transmission of one or more positioning signals from a base station to a user equipment (UE), the request being one of a request for the base station to transmit the one or more positioning signals using time reversal (TR) precoding or a request for the one or more positioning signals to be transmitted without using TR precoding;

[0244] means for receiving one or more signals from a base station, the one or more signals being associated with channel state information (CSI) from the UE;

[0245] means for transmitting an instruction to the base station, the instruction being associated with TR precoding; a location server, including:

[0208]

[0246] Clause 62. The location server of clause 61, wherein sending the instruction includes signaling TR precoding that the base station should use when transmitting one or more positioning signals.

[0209]

[0247] Clause 63. The location server of clause 61 or 62, wherein sending an instruction includes indicating that the base station should select TR precoding to use when transmitting one or more positioning signals.

[0210]

[0248] Clause 64. The location server of clause 63, further comprising: receiving, from the base station, a beam pattern associated with TR precoding; and sending the received beam pattern to the UE. The inventions described in the claims of the present application as originally filed are set forth below. [C1] A user equipment (UE), A transceiver; Memory and a processor communicatively coupled to the transceiver and the memory; Equipped with The processor: transmitting a request for transmission of one or more positioning signals from a base station, wherein the request is associated with time-reversal (TR) precoding; transmitting one or more signals to the base station; receiving, from the base station, the one or more positioning signals based at least in part on the transmitted request and the one or more transmitted signals; A user equipment (UE) configured to perform the following: [C2] The UE of C1, wherein the request is a request for the base station to transmit the one or more positioning signals using the TR precoding, and the one or more received positioning signals are encoded in accordance with the TR precoding. [C3] The UE of C2, wherein the one or more positioning signals comprise one or more positioning reference signals (PRS). [C4] The UE of C2, wherein the one or more transmitted signals comprise one or more sounding reference signals (SRS). [C5] The UE of C4, wherein the one or more SRSs are transmitted on a frequency band that at least partially overlaps with a frequency band in which the one or more positioning signals are received. [C6] UE according to C2, wherein the one or more transmitted signals are based at least in part on channel state information (CSI) measured from a previously received positioning signal received from the base station. [C7] 10. The UE of claim 2, wherein the one or more transmitted signals indicate channel state information (CSI) derived from one or more CSI reference signals (CSI-RS) received by the UE. [C8] UE according to C7, wherein the one or more transmitted signals include CSI comprising one or more of a channel impulse response, a channel frequency response, a partial channel impulse response, a shortened channel impulse response, a power delay profile (PDP), a wideband channel frequency response, a narrowband frequency response, or a Doppler shift measurement. [C9] UE according to C2, wherein the processor is further configured to, prior to requesting the transmission of the one or more positioning signals, indicate to a location server whether the UE supports transmission of CSI feedback or transmission of one or more SRS signals related to reception of the one or more positioning signals. [C10] The UE of C2, wherein the processor is further configured to receive a request to transmit the one or more signals at a specified time before transmitting the one or more signals to the base station, wherein the one or more signals are transmitted at the specified time. [C11] The UE of C1, wherein the request is a request for the one or more positioning signals to be transmitted without using the TR precoding. [C12] The UE of C11, wherein the request is transmitted in response to insufficient channel reciprocity between the UE and the base station. [C13] 1. A method for positioning in a wireless network, the method being performed by a user equipment (UE), comprising: transmitting a request for transmission of one or more positioning signals from a base station, wherein the request is associated with time-reversal (TR) precoding; transmitting one or more signals to the base station; receiving, from the base station, the one or more positioning signals based at least in part on the transmitted request and the one or more transmitted signals; A method comprising: [C14] The method of claim 13, wherein the request is a request for the base station to transmit the one or more positioning signals using the TR precoding, and the one or more positioning signals are encoded according to the TR precoding. [C15] The method of C14, wherein the one or more positioning signals comprise one or more positioning reference signals (PRS). [C16] The method of C14, wherein the one or more transmitted signals comprise one or more sounding reference signals (SRS). [C17] The method of C16, wherein the one or more SRSs are transmitted on a frequency band that at least partially overlaps with a frequency band over which the one or more positioning signals are received. [C18] The method of C14, wherein the one or more transmitted signals are based at least in part on channel state information (CSI) measured from a previously received positioning signal received from the base station. [C19] The method of C14, wherein the one or more transmitted signals indicate channel state information (CSI) derived from one or more CSI reference signals (CSI-RS) received by the UE. [C20] 19. The method of claim 19, wherein the one or more transmitted signals include CSI comprising one or more of a channel impulse response, a channel frequency response, a partial channel impulse response, a shortened channel impulse response, a power delay profile (PDP), a wideband channel frequency response, a narrowband frequency response, or a Doppler shift measurement. [C21] The method of C14, further comprising, prior to requesting the transmission of the one or more positioning signals, indicating to a location server whether the UE supports transmission of CSI feedback or transmission of one or more SRS signals related to the reception of the one or more positioning signals. [C22] The method of claim 14, further comprising receiving a request to transmit the one or more signals at a designated time prior to transmitting the one or more signals to the base station, wherein the one or more signals are transmitted at the designated time. [C23] The method of C13, wherein the request is a request for the one or more positioning signals to be transmitted without using the TR precoding. [C24] The method of C23, wherein the request is sent in response to insufficient channel reciprocity between the UE and the base station. [C25] A user equipment (UE), means for transmitting a request for transmission of one or more positioning signals from a base station, the request being associated with time-reversal (TR) precoding; means for transmitting one or more signals to said base station; means for receiving, from the base station, the one or more positioning signals based at least in part on the transmitted request and the one or more transmitted signals; A user equipment (UE) comprising: [C26] The UE of C25, wherein the request is a request for the base station to transmit the one or more positioning signals using the TR precoding, and the one or more positioning signals are encoded in accordance with the TR precoding. [C27] 27. The UE of claim 26, wherein the one or more transmitted signals indicate channel state information (CSI) derived from one or more CSI reference signals (CSI-RS) received by the UE. [C28] The UE of C25, wherein the request is a request for the one or more positioning signals to be transmitted without using the TR precoding. [C29] A base station, A transceiver; Memory and a processor communicatively coupled to the transceiver and the memory; Equipped with The processor: receiving a request for transmission of one or more positioning signals from the base station to a user equipment (UE), the request being associated with time-reversal (TR) precoding; receiving one or more signals from the UE; transmitting the one or more positioning signals to the UE based at least in part on the received request and the one or more received signals; A base station configured to perform the above. [C30] The base station of C29, wherein the request is a request for the base station to transmit the one or more positioning signals using the TR precoding, and the one or more positioning signals are encoded in accordance with the TR precoding. [C31] The base station of C30, wherein the one or more positioning signals comprise one or more positioning reference signals (PRS). [C32] The base station of C30, wherein the one or more received signals comprise one or more sounding reference signals (SRS). [C33] The base station of C32, wherein the one or more SRSs are received on a frequency band that at least partially overlaps with a frequency band in which the one or more positioning signals are transmitted. [C34] The base station of C30, wherein the one or more received signals are based at least in part on channel state information (CSI) measured from a previous positioning signal transmitted by the base station. [C35] The base station of C30, wherein the one or more received signals indicate channel state information (CSI) derived from one or more CSI reference signals (CSI-RS). [C36] The base station of C35, wherein the one or more received signals include CSI comprising one or more of a channel impulse response, a channel frequency response, a partial channel impulse response, a shortened channel impulse response, a power delay profile (PDP), a wideband channel frequency response, a narrowband frequency response, or a Doppler shift measurement. [C37] The base station of C30, wherein the processor is further configured to request the UE to transmit the one or more signals at a designated time before receiving the one or more signals from the UE, wherein the one or more signals are received at the designated time. [C38] The processor: determining one or more channel impulse responses (CIRs) h(t) based on the one or more signals received from the UE; One or more TR filters h(-t) based on the one or more CIRs * and the one or more TR filters h(-t) * generating one or more TR precoders H(f) based on encoding the one or more positioning signals based on the generated one or more TR precoders H(f); 30. The base station of claim 29, further configured to encode the one or more positioning signals in accordance with the TR precoding by: [C39] 1. A method for positioning in a wireless network, the method being performed by a base station, the method comprising: receiving a request from a user equipment (UE) for transmission of one or more positioning signals from the base station, the request being associated with time reversal (TR) precoding; receiving one or more signals from the UE; transmitting the one or more positioning signals to the UE based at least in part on the received request and the one or more received signals; A method comprising: [C40] The method of claim 39, wherein the request is a request for the base station to transmit the one or more positioning signals using the TR precoding, and the one or more positioning signals are encoded according to the TR precoding. [C41] The method of C40, wherein the one or more positioning signals comprise one or more positioning reference signals (PRS). [C42] The method of C40, wherein the one or more received signals comprise one or more sounding reference signals (SRS). [C43] The method of C40, wherein the one or more SRSs are received on a frequency band that at least partially overlaps with a frequency band in which the one or more positioning signals are transmitted. [C44] The method of C40, wherein the one or more received signals are based at least in part on channel state information (CSI) measured from a previous positioning signal transmitted by the base station. [C45] The method of C40, wherein the one or more received signals indicate channel state information (CSI) derived from one or more CSI reference signals (CSI-RS). [C46] The method of C45, wherein the one or more received signals include CSI comprising one or more of a channel impulse response, a channel frequency response, a partial channel impulse response, a shortened channel impulse response, a power delay profile (PDP), a wideband channel frequency response, a narrowband frequency response, or a Doppler shift measurement. [C47] The method of C40, further comprising requesting the UE to transmit the one or more signals at a designated time prior to receiving the one or more signals from the UE, wherein the one or more signals are received at the designated time. [C48] determining one or more channel impulse responses (CIRs) h(t) based on the one or more signals received from the UE; One or more TR filters h(-t) based on the one or more CIRs * and the one or more TR filters h(-t) * generating one or more TR precoders H(f) based on encoding the one or more positioning signals based on the generated one or more TR precoders H(f); The method of C40, further comprising encoding the one or more positioning signals in accordance with the TR precoding by [C49] A base station, means for receiving a request from a user equipment (UE) for transmission of one or more positioning signals from the base station, the request being associated with time reversal (TR) precoding; means for receiving one or more signals from the UE; means for transmitting the one or more positioning signals to the UE based at least in part on the received request and the one or more received signals; A base station comprising: [C50] The base station of C49, wherein the request is a request for the base station to transmit the one or more positioning signals using the TR precoding, and the one or more positioning signals are encoded in accordance with the TR precoding. [C51] The base station of C50, wherein the one or more received signals indicate channel state information (CSI) derived from one or more CSI reference signals (CSI-RS). [C52] determining one or more channel impulse responses (CIRs) h(t) based on the one or more signals received from the UE; One or more TR filters h(-t) based on the one or more CIRs * and the one or more TR filters h(-t) * generating one or more TR precoders H(f) based on encoding the one or more positioning signals based on the generated one or more TR precoders H(f); The base station of C50, further comprising means for encoding the one or more positioning signals in accordance with the TR precoding by [C53] a location server, A transceiver; Memory and a processor communicatively coupled to the transceiver and the memory; Equipped with The processor: requesting transmission of one or more positioning signals from a base station to a user equipment (UE), wherein the one or more positioning signals are associated with time-reversal (TR) precoding; receiving one or more signals from the base station, the one or more signals associated with channel state information (CSI) from the UE; Sending an instruction to the base station, the instruction being associated with the TR precoding. a location server configured to: [C54] The location server of C53, wherein transmitting the instruction comprises signaling the TR precoding that the base station should use when transmitting the one or more positioning signals. [C55] The location server of C53, wherein sending the instruction comprises indicating that the base station should select the TR precoding to use when transmitting the one or more positioning signals. [C56] receiving, from the base station, a beam pattern associated with the TR precoding; sending the received beam pattern to the UE; The location server of C55 further comprises: [C57] 1. A method for positioning in a wireless network, the method being performed by a location server, comprising: requesting transmission of one or more positioning signals from a base station to a user equipment (UE), wherein the one or more positioning signals are associated with time-reversal (TR) precoding; receiving one or more signals from the base station, the one or more signals associated with channel state information (CSI) from the UE; Sending an instruction to the base station, the instruction being associated with the TR precoding. A method comprising: [C58] The method of C57, wherein transmitting the indication comprises signaling the TR precoding that the base station should use when transmitting the one or more positioning signals. [C59] The method of C57, wherein transmitting the instruction comprises indicating that the base station should select the TR precoding to use when transmitting the one or more positioning signals. [C60] receiving, from the base station, a beam pattern associated with the TR precoding; sending the received beam pattern to the UE; The method of C59, further comprising: [C61] a location server, means for requesting transmission of one or more positioning signals from a base station to a user equipment (UE), the one or more positioning signals being associated with time reversal (TR) precoding; means for receiving one or more signals from the base station, the one or more signals being associated with channel state information (CSI) from the UE; means for transmitting an instruction to the base station, the instruction being associated with the TR precoding; A location server comprising: [C62] The location server of C61, wherein transmitting the instruction comprises signaling the TR precoding that the base station should use when transmitting the one or more positioning signals. [C63] The location server of C61, wherein sending the instruction comprises indicating that the base station should select the TR precoding to use when transmitting the one or more positioning signals. [C64] receiving, from the base station, a beam pattern associated with the TR precoding; sending the received beam pattern to the UE; The location server according to C63, further comprising:

Claims

1. A user equipment (UE), A transceiver; Memory and a processor communicatively coupled to the transceiver and the memory; Equipped with The processor: transmitting a request for transmission of one or more positioning signals from a base station, wherein the request is associated with time-reversal (TR) precoding; transmitting one or more signals to the base station; receiving, from the base station, the one or more positioning signals based at least in part on the transmitted request and the one or more transmitted signals; configured to: the request is for the base station to transmit the one or more positioning signals using the TR precoding, and the one or more received positioning signals are encoded according to the TR precoding; The processor is further configured to, before requesting the transmission of the one or more positioning signals, indicate to a location server whether the UE supports transmission of CSI feedback or transmission of one or more SRS signals related to reception of the one or more positioning signals.

2. The UE of claim 1 , wherein the one or more positioning signals comprise one or more positioning reference signals (PRS).

3. the one or more transmitted signals comprise one or more sounding reference signals (SRS); Optionally, the one or more SRSs are transmitted on a frequency band that at least partially overlaps with a frequency band in which the one or more positioning signals are received.

4. 10. The UE of claim 1, wherein the one or more transmitted signals are based at least in part on channel state information (CSI) measured from a previously received positioning signal received from the base station.

5. the one or more transmitted signals are indicative of channel state information (CSI) derived from one or more CSI reference signals (CSI-RS) received by the UE; Optionally, the one or more transmitted signals include CSI comprising one or more of a channel impulse response, a channel frequency response, a partial channel impulse response, a shortened channel impulse response, a power delay profile (PDP), a wideband channel frequency response, a narrowband frequency response, or a Doppler shift measurement.

6. 10. The UE of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to receive a request to transmit the one or more signals at a designated time before transmitting the one or more signals to the base station, wherein the one or more signals are transmitted at the designated time.

7. the request is for the one or more positioning signals to be transmitted without using the TR precoding; Optionally, the request is sent in response to insufficient channel reciprocity between the UE and the base station.

8. 1. A method for positioning in a wireless network, the method being performed by a user equipment (UE), comprising: transmitting a request for transmission of one or more positioning signals from a base station, wherein the request is associated with time-reversal (TR) precoding; transmitting one or more signals to the base station; receiving, from the base station, the one or more positioning signals based at least in part on the transmitted request and the one or more transmitted signals; Equipped with the request is for the base station to transmit the one or more positioning signals using the TR precoding, the one or more positioning signals being encoded in accordance with the TR precoding; The method further comprises, prior to requesting the transmission of the one or more positioning signals, indicating to a location server whether the UE supports transmission of CSI feedback or transmission of one or more SRS signals associated with reception of the one or more positioning signals.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the one or more positioning signals comprise one or more positioning reference signals (PRS).

10. the one or more transmitted signals comprise one or more sounding reference signals (SRS); 9. The method of claim 8, wherein optionally, the one or more SRSs are transmitted on a frequency band that at least partially overlaps with a frequency band in which the one or more positioning signals are received.

11. 10. The method of claim 8, wherein the one or more transmitted signals are based at least in part on channel state information (CSI) measured from previously received positioning signals received from the base station.

12. the one or more transmitted signals are indicative of channel state information (CSI) derived from one or more CSI reference signals (CSI-RS) received by the UE; 9. The method of claim 8, wherein optionally, the one or more transmitted signals include CSI comprising one or more of a channel impulse response, a channel frequency response, a partial channel impulse response, a shortened channel impulse response, a power delay profile (PDP), a wideband channel frequency response, a narrowband frequency response, or a Doppler shift measurement.

13. 10. The method of claim 8, further comprising, prior to requesting the transmission of the one or more positioning signals, indicating to a location server whether the UE supports transmission of CSI feedback or transmission of one or more SRS signals associated with the reception of the one or more positioning signals.

14. 10. The method of claim 8, further comprising receiving a request to transmit the one or more signals at a designated time prior to transmitting the one or more signals to the base station, wherein the one or more signals are transmitted at the designated time.

15. the request is for the one or more positioning signals to be transmitted without using the TR precoding; 9. The method of claim 8, wherein optionally, the request is sent in response to insufficient channel reciprocity between the UE and the base station.

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