Artificial intelligence-based positioning in a communication network

Abstract

A communication equipment (20) receives (1000), from a location server (14) in a communication network (10), a request (22) for the communication equipment (20) to provide positioning information (24) to the location server (14) The request (22) requests the communication equipment (20) to provide the positioning information (24) using artificial intelligence, AI. The communication equipment (20) transmits (1010), to the location server (14), a response (26) indicating that the communication equipment (20) cannot use AI to provide positioning information (24) according to the request (22).

Description

[0001] ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE -BASED POSITIONING IN A COMMUNICATION NETWORK

[0002] TECHNICAL FIELD

[0003] The present application relates generally to a communication network and relates more particularly to artificial intelligence (Al) -based positioning in such a network.

[0004] BACKGROUND

[0005] Artificial intelligence (Al) has the potential to significantly enhance the accuracy with which the geographic position of a communication device is estimated in a communication network. In one approach, the communication device can exploit an Al model stored at the device to directly predict the device’s position from signal measurements. Or, the communication device can exploit the Al model to produce signal measurements that the device or the network can then use to estimate the device’s position. A radio network node or other communication equipment in the network can similarly use Al to perform or assist with positioning of a communication device. Use of Al by communication equipment for positioning will thereby advantageously allow for improved positioning, which will in turn improve overall network performance and user experience.

[0006] Challenges however exist with realizing use of Al for positioning in practice. Not all communication equipment will have the capability to use Al for positioning. Moreover, even for communication equipment that has the capability to use Al for positioning, the ability of that communication equipment to actually use Al for positioning may dynamically change over time, as conditions at the communication equipment vary. An otherwise Al-capable communication device in this regard may be unable to actually use Al for positioning if current conditions at the communication device differ from those for which its Al model was trained. These practicalities suggest that use of Al for positioning will require undesirable signaling overhead in order to regularly update the communication network on the current capability and / or ability of communication equipment to use Al for positioning. Indeed, the lack of such signaling would heretofore risk a location server misconfiguring Al-based positioning, jeopardizing positioning performance and increasing positioning latency.

[0007] SUMMARY

[0008] According to some embodiments herein, communication equipment opportunistically exploits a response to a positioning request as an opportunity to inform a location server about whether the communication equipment can use artificial intelligence (Al) for positioning. In response to a request for the communication equipment to provide positioning information using Al, the communication equipment in this regard may indicate that it cannot use Al to provide the requested positioning information. That is, rather than simply rejecting the request based on its inability to accommodate the request, the communication equipment offers a reason why the communication equipment cannot meet the request; namely, that the communication equipment cannot use Al, at least not for the requested purpose. In fact, the communication equipment in its response may indicate this cause of positioning failure or non-compliance even if the communication equipment offers in its response non-AI-based positioning information as a consolation for its inability to meet the request in full. With communication equipment opportunistically informing the location server about its ability to use Al for positioning in these and other ways, some embodiments herein advantageously better equip the location server to appropriately configure positioning to be Al-based or non-AI-based accounting for changing conditions overtime. Some embodiments do so with less signaling overhead than would otherwise be incurred with proactive signaling dynamically performed with changing conditions.

[0009] More particularly, embodiments herein include a method performed by a communication equipment in a communication network. The method comprises receiving, from a location server in the communication network, a request for the communication equipment to provide positioning information to the location server. In some embodiments, the request requests the communication equipment to provide the positioning information using artificial intelligence, Al. The method also comprises transmitting, to the location server, a response indicating that the communication equipment cannot use Al to provide positioning information according to the request.

[0010] In some embodiments, the response indicates a reason why the communication equipment cannot use Al to provide positioning information according to the request. In some embodiments, the indicated reason is that there is a discrepancy between conditions under which an Al model at the communication equipment was trained and conditions at the communication equipment under which the communication equipment would perform an inference from the Al model to determine positioning information according to the request. In some embodiments, the indicated reason is that the communication equipment does not have, and / or cannot timely obtain within a maximum allowable period for transmitting the response, any Al model that is valid and / or applicable for determining positioning information under conditions at the communication equipment. In some embodiments, the conditions for which the communication equipment does not have and / or cannot timely obtain any Al model that is valid and / or applicable for determining positioning information comprises one or more of: a speed at which the communication equipment is moving, a type of signal propagation environment in which the communication equipment is located, channel conditions at the communication equipment, a geographic or coverage area in which the communication equipment is located, and a hardware configuration of the communication equipment. In some embodiments, the response comprises an error cause field indicating a cause of the communication equipment not being able to use Al to provide positioning information according to the request.

[0011] In some embodiments, the response includes positioning information determined by the communication equipment without using Al, wherein inclusion in the response of positioning information determined by the communication equipment without using Al implicitly indicates that the communication equipment cannot use Al to provide positioning information according to the request.

[0012] In some embodiments, the method further comprises determining whether or not the communication equipment can use Al to provide positioning information according to the request, and based on determining that the communication equipment cannot use Al to provide positioning information according to the request, generating the response to indicate that the communication equipment cannot use Al to provide positioning information according to the request. In some embodiments, said determining comprises determining whether or not there is a discrepancy between conditions under which an Al model at the communication equipment was trained and conditions at the communication equipment under which the communication equipment would perform an inference from the Al model to determine positioning information according to the request. In some embodiments, said determining comprises determining whether or not the communication equipment has locally stored, or can timely obtain, an Al model. In some embodiments, the Al model is usable for determining positioning information. In other embodiments, the Al model is valid and / or applicable for determining positioning information under conditions at the communication equipment.

[0013] In some embodiments, the response indicates that the communication equipment does not have any Al model that is available and / or applicable for determining positioning information at the communication equipment.

[0014] In some embodiments, the communication equipment is a user equipment.

[0015] Embodiments herein also include a method performed by a location server in a communication network. The method comprises transmitting, to communication equipment in the communication network, a request for the communication equipment to provide positioning information to the location server. In some embodiments, the request requests the communication equipment to provide the positioning information using artificial intelligence, Al. The method also comprises receiving, from the communication equipment, a response indicating that the communication equipment cannot use Al to provide positioning information according to the request.

[0016] In some embodiments, the response indicates a reason why the communication equipment cannot use Al to provide positioning information according to the request. In some embodiments, the indicated reason is that there is a discrepancy between conditions under which an Al model at the communication equipment was trained and conditions at the communication equipment under which the communication equipment would perform an inference from the Al model to determine positioning information according to the request. In some embodiments, the indicated reason is that the communication equipment does not have, and / or cannot timely obtain within a maximum allowable period for transmitting the response, any Al model that is valid and / or applicable for determining positioning information under conditions at the communication equipment. In some embodiments, the conditions for which the communication equipment does not have and / or cannot timely obtain any Al model that is valid and / or applicable for determining positioning information comprises one or more of a speed at which the communication equipment is moving, a type of signal propagation environment in which the communication equipment is located, channel conditions at the communication equipment, a geographic or coverage area in which the communication equipment is located, and a hardware configuration of the communication equipment.

[0017] In some embodiments, the response comprises an error cause field indicating a cause of the communication equipment not being able to use Al to provide positioning information according to the request.

[0018] In some embodiments, the response includes positioning information determined by the communication equipment without using Al, wherein inclusion in the response of positioning information determined by the communication equipment without using Al implicitly indicates that the communication equipment cannot use Al to provide positioning information according to the request.

[0019] In some embodiments, the method further comprises, based on the response, making one or more decisions about whether and / or how the communication equipment is to provide positioning information.

[0020] In some embodiments, the response indicates that the communication equipment does not have any Al model that is available and / or applicable for determining positioning information at the communication equipment.

[0021] In some embodiments, the communication equipment is a user equipment.

[0022] In some embodiments, the location server implements a Location Management Function, LMF.

[0023] Other embodiments herein include a communication equipment. The communication equipment is configured to receive, from a location server in a communication network, a request for the communication equipment to provide positioning information to the location server using artificial intelligence, Al. The communication equipment is also configured to transmit, to the location server, a response indicating that the communication equipment cannot use Al to provide positioning information according to the request.

[0024] In some embodiments, the communication equipment is configured to perform the steps described above for the communication equipment in a communication network.

[0025] Other embodiments herein include a location server. The location server is configured to transmit, to a communication equipment in a communication network, a request for the communication equipment to provide positioning information to the location server using artificial intelligence, Al. The location server is also configured to receive, from the communication equipment, a response indicating that the communication equipment cannot use Al to provide positioning information according to the request.

[0026] In some embodiments, location server is configured to perform the steps described above for the location server in a communication network.

[0027] In some embodiments, a computer program comprising instructions which, when executed by at least one processor of a communication equipment, causes the communication equipment to perform the steps described above for the communication equipment in a communication network.

[0028] In some embodiments, a computer program comprising instructions which, when executed by at least one processor of a location server, causes the location server to perform the steps described above for the location server in a communication network.

[0029] In some embodiments, a carrier containing the computer program is one of an electronic signal, optical signal, radio signal, or computer readable storage medium.

[0030] Other embodiments herein include a communication equipment comprising a processor and a memory. The memory contains instructions executable by the processor whereby the communication equipment is operative to receive, from a location server in a communication network, a request for the communication equipment to provide positioning information to the location server using artificial intelligence, Al. The memory contains instructions executable by the processor whereby the communication equipment is operative also to transmit, to the location server, a response indicating that the communication equipment cannot use Al to provide positioning information according to the request.

[0031] In some embodiments, the instructions are executable by the processor whereby the communication equipment is further operative to perform the steps described above for the communication equipment in a communication network.

[0032] Other embodiments herein include a location server comprising a processor and a memory. The memory contains instructions executable by the processor whereby the location server is operative to transmit, to a communication equipment in a communication network, a request for the communication equipment to provide positioning information to the location server using artificial intelligence, Al. The memory contains instructions executable by the processor whereby the location server is operative also to communication equipment cannot use Al to provide positioning information according to the request.

[0033] In some embodiments, the instructions are executable by the processor whereby the location server is further operative to perform the steps described above for the location server in a communication network.

[0034] Embodiments herein also include corresponding apparatus, computer programs, and carriers of those computer programs.

[0035] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0036] Figure 1 illustrates a communication network configured to provide communication service to a communication device, according to some embodiments.

[0037] Figure 2 illustrates an exemplary Al model training pipeline, according to particular embodiments.

[0038] Figure 3 illustrates exemplary positioning architecture according to particular embodiments.

[0039] Figure 4 illustrates an exemplary procedure for a UE to indicate no available Al model to perform Al positioning, according to some embodiments.

[0040] Figure 5 illustrates a logic flow diagram of Al based positioning, according to particular embodiments.

[0041] Figure 6 illustrates a logic flow diagram of Al based positioning, according to other embodiments.

[0042] Figure 7 illustrates a logic flow diagram of Al based positioning, according to other embodiments.

[0043] Figure 8 illustrates a logic flow diagram of UE based positioning, according to particular embodiments.

[0044] Figure 9 illustrates a logic flow diagram of UE-assisted / LMF-based positioning according to particular embodiments.

[0045] Figure 10 depicts a method performed by a communication equipment configured for use in a communication network in accordance with particular embodiments.

[0046] Figure 11 depicts a method performed by a location server configured for use in a communication network in accordance with other particular embodiments.

[0047] Figure 12 is a block diagram of a communication device according to some embodiments.

[0048] Figure 13 is a block diagram of a network node according to some embodiments.

[0049] Figure 14 is a block diagram of a communication network according to some embodiments.

[0050] Figure 15 is a block diagram of a UE according to some embodiments.

[0051] Figure 16 is a block diagram of a network node according to other embodiments. Figure 17 is a block diagram of a virtualization environment according to other embodiments.

[0052] DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0053] Figure 1 shows a communication network 10 configured to provide communication service to a communication device 12, e.g., a user equipment (UE). The communication network 10 includes a location server 14, e.g., which may implement a Location Management Function (LMF) in a 3rdGeneration Partnership Project (3GPP) -based network. The location server 14 is configured to handle location-based services in the communication network 10. The location server 14 in this role enables the location 12L of the communication device 12 to be estimated and provided to applications that rely on location-based services.

[0054] In some embodiments, the communication device 12 estimates its own location 12L itself and indicates that location 12L to the location server 14. In other embodiments, the communication device 12 merely assists with estimation of its location 12L, such as by providing positioning measurement(s) for use by the location server 14 or another network node 16 to estimate the device’s location 12L. In still other embodiments, some other network node 16 assists with estimation of the device’s location 12L, such as by providing positioning measurement(s) for use by the location server 14 to estimate the device’s location 12L. This other network node 16 may for instance be a radio network node or a core network node.

[0055] To address any of these embodiments, Figure 1 shows communication equipment 20 generalized to be either the communication device 12 or the network node 16. The communication equipment 20 receives, from the location server 14, a request 22 for the communication equipment 20 to provide positioning information 24 to the location server 14. The requested positioning information 24 may include the location 12L of the communication device 12, which may or may not be the location of the communication equipment 20 itself, depending respectively on whether or not the communication equipment 12 is the communication device 12. Alternatively or additionally, the requested positioning information 24 may include positioning measurement(s) obtained by the communication equipment 20, e.g., for use by the location server 14 in determining the location 12L of the communication device 12. Either way, the communication equipment 20 may transmit a response 26 to the request 22. If the communication equipment 20 is able to meet the request 22, the communication equipment 20 may include the requested positioning information 24 in its response 26 to the location server 14.

[0056] According to embodiments herein, though, the request 22 more particularly requests that the communication equipment 20 provide the positioning information 24 using artificial intelligence (Al), e.g., using machine learning (ML) or some othertype of Al. As such, the request 22 is referred to for convenience as an Al-based positioning request 22. In this regard, the request 22 in some embodiments specifically requests the communication equipment 12 to provide positioning information 24 to the location server 14 using Al, as distinguished from providing such positioning information 24 without using Al. The request 22 may for instance request that positioning information 24 in the form of the device’s location 12L, and / or positioning measurements for estimating the device’s location 12L, be obtained using Al. The request 22 thereby does not just request positioning information 24 without any regard to how that positioning information 24 is obtained, but rather may more specifically request positioning information 24 which is obtained using Al. The request 22 may for example request positioning information 24 and indicate a requirement or preference that the positioning information 24 be obtained using Al.

[0057] In this context, the communication equipment 20 according to embodiments herein opportunistically exploits its response 26 to the request 22 as an opportunity to inform the location server 14 about whether or not the communication equipment 20 can use Al for providing positioning information 24. In the response 26 to the request 22, the communication equipment 20 in this regard may indicate that the communication equipment 20 cannot use Al to provide the positioning information 24 according to the request 22. Figure 1 for example shows the response 26 as including an Al indication 28 which indicates this, e.g., where the Al indication 28 may be a field that explicitly indicates the communication equipment 20 cannot use Al to provide positioning information 24 according to the request 22.

[0058] Thus, in the event that the communication equipment 20 cannot use Al to provide positioning information 24 as requested, the communication equipment 20 according to some embodiments does not simply reject or defy the request 22 without offering any sort of explanation for its inability to accommodate the request 22. Instead, the communication equipment 20 by way of its response 26 effectively offers a reason why the communication equipment 20 cannot meet the request 22; namely, that the communication equipment 20 cannot use Al, at least not for the requested purpose. In fact, in some embodiments, the response 26 indicates that the communication equipment 20 cannot use Al to provide the positioning information 24 in terms of a cause of the communication equipment 20 not providing positioning information 24 according to the request 22. The response 26 in this case may indicate (e.g., via a cause field) that a cause of the communication equipment 20 not providing positioning information 24 according to the request 22 is that the communication equipment 20 cannot use Al to provide positioning information 24 according to the request 22.

[0059] With the communication equipment 20 opportunistically informing the location server 14 about its inability to use Al for positioning in these and other ways, some embodiments herein advantageously equip the location server 14 to appropriately configure positioning to be Al-based or non-AI-based. Based on the response 26, for example, the location server 14 may efficiently reconfigure positioning to be non-AI-based to accommodate for the indicated inability of the communication equipment 20 to use Al for positioning, e.g., as opposed to the location server 14 perhaps re-attempting its request 22 in vain on the assumption that it failed for some other unidentified reason. And the request 22 may even inform future decisions by the location server 14 about whether or not to request the communication equipment 20 to use Al for positioning. Some embodiments thereby provide for predictable performance from the location server perspective, as otherwise the communication equipment 20 may fail the Al-based positioning procedure, e.g., if Al-based reporting conditions are not satisfied. Some embodiments also give control to the location server 14 on the desired communication equipment behavior, e.g., regarding whether an Al-based positioning procedure should be aborted or a fallback option employed. Generally, then, based on the response 26, the location server 14 may make one or more decisions about whether and / or how the communication equipment 20 is to provide positioning information 24.

[0060] By leveraging the response 26 in this way, some embodiments advantageously enable the communication equipment 20 to dynamically inform the location server 14 about its ability or inability to use Al for positioning, as that ability or inability potentially changes overtime. Indeed, not only does the response 26 provide a way for the communication equipment 20 to inform the location server 14 about the potentially static capability or incapability of the communication equipment 20 to use Al for positioning, but it also provides a way for the communication equipment 20 to inform the location server 14 about the more dynamically changing ability or inability of an otherwise Al-capable communication equipment 20 to use Al for positioning. The ability or inability of the communication equipment 20 to use Al for positioning may for instance vary over time under different conditions, e.g., different communication equipment speeds, different signal propagation environments, different channel conditions, different hardware configurations, etc. Updating the location server 14 about the changing ability of the communication equipment 20 to use Al for positioning only opportunistically via responses 26 to positioning requests notably proves more efficient in terms of less signaling overhead than if the communication equipment 20 were to proactively signal updates to that ability as the ability changes in realtime.

[0061] In these and other scenarios, one reason why the communication equipment 20 may not be able to use Al for providing the positioning information 24 as requested may be that the communication equipment 20 lacks the resources for doing so. Such resources may for instance include battery life, processing resources, memory resources, time, or any type of resource on which use of Al relies. Another (perhaps related) reason why the communication equipment 20 may not be able to use Al for providing the positioning information 24 as requested may be that the communication equipment 20 does not have and / or cannot timely obtain an Al model 18 (e.g., an ML model) that is usable for determining the positioning information 24 requested, e.g., that is usable for Al model inference in which the communication equipment 20 makes an inference from the Al model 18.

[0062] Further to this latter reason, use of Al for determining the positioning information 24 may require that the communication equipment 20 have an Al model 18 for positioning stored locally at the communication equipment 20. The lack of any such Al model 18 stored locally at the communication equipment 20 in memory may prompt the communication equipment 20 to indicate via the response 26 that the communication equipment 20 cannot use Al for providing the positioning information 24 as requested. In some embodiments, though, the communication equipment 20 may account for the possibility of obtaining such Al model 18 on-demand in response to the request 22, e.g., by dynamically retrieving the needed Al model 18 from other equipment or by dynamically generating the needed Al model 18 itself. The communication equipment 20 in this case may evaluate whether or not it can obtain the needed Al model 18, and indicate that it cannot use Al for providing the positioning information 24 if it cannot obtain the needed Al model 18 for doing so. That said, in some embodiments, there may be a maximum allowable period of time by which the communication equipment 20 must transmit its response 26 to the request 22. In this case, the communication equipment 20 may not just evaluate whether or not it can obtain the needed Al model 18, but evaluate whether or not it can timely obtain the needed Al model 18 within the maximum allowable period for transmitting the response 26. The communication equipment 20 may correspondingly indicate that it cannot use Al for providing the positioning information 24 if it cannot timely obtain the needed Al model 18 within the maximum allowable period for response 26.

[0063] Of course, it may not be sufficient for the communication equipment 20 to have just any Al model 18. Rather, use of Al for providing the positioning information 24 as requested may require the communication equipment 20 to have, or to otherwise obtain, an Al model 18 that meets one or more requirements for use.

[0064] The requirement(s) on the Al model 18 may for instance include that the Al model 18 is valid. An Al model 18 in this regard may be deemed valid only for a defined period of time since the Al model 18 was generated or trained for use. Such a requirement may for instance guard against use of an Al model 18 that has become outdated or stale.

[0065] Alternatively or additionally, requirements) on the Al model 18 may include that the Al model 18 is applicable for determining positioning information 24 under conditions at the communication equipment 20. Indeed, as conditions at the communication equipment 20 change over time, any given Al model 18 may or may not still be applicable for determining positioning information 24 under those conditions. The conditions for which an Al model 18 is applicable may for instance be dictated, governed, or impacted by the conditions under which that Al model 18 was generated or trained for use. For example, an Al model 18 may be deemed applicable for determining positioning information 24 for a limited range of communication equipment speeds for which the Al model 18 was trained to determine positioning information 24. In this case, an Al model 18 trained for determining positioning information 24 when the communication equipment 20 moves at slow speed may not be applicable for determining positioning information 24 when the communication equipment 20 moves at high speed, or vice versa. Alternatively or additionally, an Al model 18 may be deemed applicable for determining positioning information 24 for a type of signal propagation environment in which the Al model 18 was trained to determine positioning information 24. In this case, an Al model 18 trained for determining positioning information 24 when the communication equipment 20 operates in a line-of-sight environment may not be applicable for determining positioning information 24 when the communication equipment 20 operates in a non-line-of-sight environment. Alternatively or additionally, an Al model 18 may be deemed applicable for determining positioning information 24 for channel conditions, and / or a geographic or coverage area, in which the Al model 18 was trained to determine positioning information. For example, an Al model 18 trained for determining positioning information 24 when the communication equipment 20 is in bad channel conditions and / or at a cell edge may not be applicable for determining positioning information 24 when the communication equipment 20 is in good channel conditions or in the cell center. Alternatively or additionally, an Al model 18 may be deemed applicable for determining positioning information 24 for a communication equipment hardware configuration for which the Al model 18 was trained to determine positioning information, or when reference signals are configured for the communication equipment 20 to perform measurements thereon. In any of these and other examples, then, the conditions under which an Al model 18 was trained may limit the conditions under which that Al model 18 is applicable for determining positioning information 24.

[0066] In view of the potentially varied reasons why the communication equipment 20 may not be able to use Al to provide positioning information 24 as requested, the communication equipment 20 in some embodiments more specifically indicates in its response 26 a reason why the communication equipment 20 cannot use Al to provide the positioning information 24 requested. The response 26 may for instance include a field or information element (IE) which provides this additional information. In one example, for instance, the response 26 may give the reason as being that the communication equipment 20 does not have, and / or cannot timely obtain within the maximum allowable period for transmitting the response 26, any Al model 18 that is usable for determining positioning information 24. Here, an Al model 18 that is usable for determining positioning information 24 may be an Al model 18 that is valid and / or that is applicable for determining positioning information 24 under conditions at the communication equipment 20. In fact, in some embodiments, the response 26 indicates invalidity of an Al model 18 as being the reason why the communication equipment 20 cannot use Al for positioning. Or, the response 26 may indicate the specific conditions (e.g., speed, channel conditions, or hardware configuration) for which the communication equipment 20 does not have and / or cannot timely obtain any Al model 18 that is applicable for determining positioning information 24.

[0067] In these and other embodiments, then, the request 22 may more specifically be a request for the communication equipment 20 to provide positioning information 24 to the location server 14 using an Al model 18. In this case, the response 26 may indicate that the communication equipment 20 does not have, and / or cannot timely obtain within a maximum allowable period for transmitting the response 26, any Al model 18 that is usable for determining positioning information 24. Or, the response 26 may indicate that the communication equipment 20 does not have, and / or cannot timely obtain within a maximum allowable period for transmitting the response 26, any Al model 18 that is valid and / or that is applicable for determining positioning information 24 under conditions at the communication equipment 20. Or, if the request 22 is more specifically a request for the communication equipment 20 to provide positioning information to the location server 14 using Al model inference, the response 26 may indicate that the communication equipment 20 cannot use Al model inference to provide positioning information 24 according to the request 22.

[0068] In some embodiments, if the communication equipment 20 cannot use Al to provide the positioning information 24 as requested, the response 26 excludes any positioning information 24. In other embodiments, though, the communication equipment 20 offers in its response 26 non-AI-based positioning information as a consolation for its inability to meet the request 22 in full. That is, even though the request 22 requested positioning information 24 obtained using Al, the response 26 offers positioning information 24 obtained without using Al. The response 26 in this case may indicate (e.g., with a field of the response 26) that the communication equipment 20 did not use Al to provide the positioning information included in the response 26. In fact, in some embodiments, inclusion in the response 26 of positioning information determined by the communication equipment 20 without using Al implicitly indicates that the communication equipment 20 cannot use Al to provide positioning information according to the request 22, i.e., the reason why non-AI-based positioning information was included in the response 26 was that the communication equipment 20 lacks the ability to provide Al-based positioning information, at least within any maximum allowable period for the response 26. Note, too, that in some embodiments the response 26 indicates that the communication equipment 20 cannot use Al to provide positioning information 24 according to the request 22 because the communication equipment 20 cannot do so within a maximum allowable period for transmitting the response 26, e.g., the communication equipment 20 cannot obtain the needed Al model 18 in time. The response 26 in one or more such embodiments may actually indicate an expected time when the communication equipment 20 expects to be able to use Al to provide positioning information 24. This way, at or after the expected time, the location server 14 may decide to transmit another request for the communication equipment 20 to provide positioning information 24 to the location server 24 using Al. Or, the location server 14 may, based on the expected time, determine a new future time at which to expect a response from the communication equipment 20 with positioning information 24 determined using Al.

[0069] In any of the above embodiments, the location server 14 may equip the communication equipment 20 to respond appropriately to the Al-based positioning request 22. For example, the location server 14 may transmit configuration information to the communication equipment 20 which configures the communication equipment 20 to operate as described above. The configuration information may for instance configure the communication equipment 20 how to handle the communication equipment 20 being unable to use Al to provide positioning information 24 according to a request 22 for the communication equipment 20 to provide positioning information 24 to the location server 14 using Al. For example, the configuration information may configure the communication equipment 20 to provide positioning information 24 without using Al and / or to respond with a reason why the communication equipment 20 cannot use Al to provide positioning information 24 according to the request 22.

[0070] Some embodiments herein are applicable in the following context where the communication device 12 is exemplified as a user equipment (UE) and the network node 16 is exemplified as a gNB, e.g., in a 3GPP network.

[0071] AI / ML modeling

[0072] Some embodiments herein are applicable for artificial intelligence (Al) techniques as described below. Al techniques comprise one or more algorithms which use a set of data as input fortraining an Al model 18. The output of the Al model is used for performing certain operations or taking certain decisions fully or partially based on a prediction or inference, which in turn depends on the trained model. Al model inference refers to a process of using a trained Al model to produce a set of outputs based on a set of inputs.

[0073] An Al model 18 can be trained online (or on-the-fly while processing the data) or offline in the background. More specifically, online training is an Al training process where the model being used for inference is (typically continuously) trained in (near) real-time with the arrival of new training samples or data. Offline training is an Al training process where the model is trained based on collected samples or data, and where the trained model is later used or delivered for inference. Embodiments herein may exploit either online training or offline training of an Al model 18.

[0074] Embodiments herein are applicable for different modes by which an Al model 18 can be trained or used. Where the communication device 12 is a user equipment (UE), then, embodiments herein are applicable for any of the following cases:

[0075] • Case I: UE-side Al model whose inference is performed entirely at the UE.

[0076] • Case II: Network-side Al model whose inference is performed entirely at the network.

[0077] • Case III: One-sided Al model comprising a UE-side Al model or a Network-side Al model.

[0078] • Case IV: Two-sided Al model comprising a pair of Al models over which joint inference is performed, where joint inference comprises Al Inference whose inference is performed jointly across the UE and the network, i.e., the first part of inference is firstly performed by UE and then the remaining part is performed by network, or vice versa.

[0079] In some embodiments, the Al model 18 can be transferred or delivered over the air interface either in terms of one or more parameters of a model structure known at the receiving end or a new model with parameters. The model delivery may contain a full model or a partial model.

[0080] Some embodiments herein are applicable for lifecycle management (LCM) of an Al model 18 as described below. The LCM of an Al model 18 refers to the process of developing, deploying, and maintaining the Al model 18. An Al model training pipeline includes several processing stages such as gathering unprocessed input data from data repositories (data ingestion 30), finding high-quality input features (data pre-processing 32), finding the optimal mapping of the model input features to a desired model output target in a sense determined by a loss function (model training 34), and evaluating model performance on unseen data from a functional level as well as from a system level when relevant (model evaluation 36). The training pipeline may end with a model registration 38 stage, which may comprise operations to make the Al model 18 runnable via compilation to specific hardware and of steps like versioning and packaging of the model so that it can be executed. An example of the Al model training pipeline illustrating different stages is shown in Figure 2. Al model-based positioning

[0081] Some embodiments are applicable for Al model-based positioning as described below. In this respect, the Al model 18 can be used for positioning of the communication device 12 in the form of a UE. A UE or a network node 16 (e.g., a gNB), depending on capability, can have a trained model stored inside the device or node, or have an untrained Al model that can be trained on-the-fly to either produce measurements that are required to localize the UE within a radio access network (RAN) coverage area or directly predict / determine the UE location by exploiting the measurements performed by the UE or network node 16 on reference signals, such as positioning reference signal (PRS), sounding reference signal (SRS), etc., within a RAN coverage area.

[0082] Measurements predicted / determined by the UE by exploiting an Al model 18 can be defined as, but not limited to any of the following:

[0083] • Reference Signal Time Difference (RSTD): It is reference signal time difference between the positioning node j and the reference positioning node i. It is measured on the downlink (DL) Positioning Reference Signal (PRS) signals and always involves two cells (cell is interchangeably called as transmission reception point, TRP).

[0084] • UE Rx-Tx time difference: It is defined as TUE-RX -TUE-TX.

[0085] Where: o TUE-RX is the UE received timing of downlink subframe # / from a positioning node, defined by the first detected path in time. It is measured on PRS signals received from the gNB. o TUE-TX is the UE transmit timing of uplink subframe #j that is closest in time to the subframe # / received from the positioning node.

[0086] Measurements predicted / determined by the network node 16 by exploiting an Al model 18 can be defined as, but not limited to:

[0087] • gNB Rx-Tx time difference: It is defined as T9NB-RX - T9NB-TX.

[0088] Where: o TgNB-Rx is the positioning node received timing of uplink subframe # / containing SRS associated with UE, defined by the first detected path in time. It is measured on SRS signals received from the UE. o TgNB-Tx is the positioning node transmit timing of downlink subframe #j that is closest in time to the subframe # / received from the UE.

[0089] • Timing advance (TAD ): It is defined as the time difference TAD = (T9NB-RX - T9NB-

[0090] TX),

[0091] Where: o TgNB-Rx is the Transmission and Reception Point (TRP) received timing of uplink subframe # / containing Physical Random Access Channel (PRACH) transmitted from UE, defined by the first detected path in time. o TgNB-Tx is the TRP transmit timing of downlink subframe #j that is closest in time to the subframe # / received from the UE. o The detected PRACH is used to determine the start of one subframe containing that PRACH.

[0092] • UL Relative Time of Arrival (UL RTOA): It is defined as the beginning of subframe i containing Sounding Reference Signal (SRS) received in positioning node j, relative to the configurable reference time. For example, nodel (e.g., base station, etc.) measures the reception time of signals transmitted by the UE with respect to a reference time.

[0093] In addition to these, UE or network node 16 may also perform power measurements such as reference signal received power (RSRP) and / or reference signal received path power (RSRPP). These measurements can be performed on reference signals such as PRS and SRS.

[0094] Depending on the capability, a UE may also perform positioning measurements on the sidelink (SL) resources by exploiting Al model 18, e.g. on the SL-PRS transmitted between the target UE and one or more assisting or anchor UEs. The UE performing the positioning measurement is called a target UE and the UE(s) assisting the target UE to perform the SL positioning measurements is called the anchor or assisting UE. Assisted positioning

[0095] Some embodiments herein are applicable for so-called assisted positioning. In this mode, the positioning measurements are performed by UE / gNB and used as input for an Al model 18 residing at either the UE / gNB. After completion, the output (including measurement results) is then reported to the location server 14. The location server 14 upon receiving the Al model output (including measurement results) determines the location of the UE within the RAN coverage area. The location server 14, depending on the need, may forward the UE location to another node within the network to facilitate provisioning of UE location information to the application layer or the third party that is interested or has requested the positioning of UE within the RAN coverage area for further action to be taken.

[0096] - AIL model output: new measurement and / or enhancement of existing measurement

[0097] - e.g., LOS / NLOS identification, timing and / or angle of measurement, likelihood of measurement

[0098] Direct positioning

[0099] Other embodiments herein are applicable for so-called direct positioning. In this mode, the measurements performed by UE / gNB are input for positioning engine or the Al model18 to predict or determine the UE location. The Al model 18 resides within the UE node orthe gNB node or the location server 14. The location server 14, depending on the need, may forward the UE location to another node within the network to facilitate provisioning of UE location information to the application layer or the third party that is interested or has requested the positioning of UE within the RAN coverage area for further action to be taken.

[0100] - AI / ML model output: UE location

[0101] - e.g., fingerprinting based on channel observation as the input of AI / ML model Positioning measurement procedure (PMP):

[0102] Some embodiments herein operate within the context of a positioning measurement procedure (PMP) described below. The PMP comprises performing one or more positioning measurements on DL RS (e.g. PRS) and / or uplink (UL) RS (e.g. SRS) transmitted between the UE and one or more cells. The cell may also be called a transmission reception point (TRP) or node. Examples of the positioning measurements performed on DL and / or UL signals are RSTD, PRS-RSRP, PRS-RSRPP, UE Rx-Tx time difference, round trip time (RTT), time of arrival (TOA), channel impulse response (CIR), timing advance (TA), angle of departure (AoD), angle of arrival (AoA), power delay profile (PDP), delay profile (DP), etc.

[0103] To perform these measurements, the UE may make use of a trained model acquired before being deployed orthe UE needs to train its model on-the-fly before performing Al based positioning measurements to be reported to a network node such as location server 14. In either of the cases, UE requires assistance information / data from the network to determine or identify how and when to train its Al model 18 and what information (positioning measurements or estimated position) to report to a network node such as location server.

[0104] Some embodiments herein are applicable to any of the below cases: o Direct AI / ML positioning:

[0105] ■ Case 1 : UE-based positioning with UE-side model, direct AI / ML positioning

[0106] ■ Case 2b: UE-assisted / LMF-based positioning with LMF-side model, direct AI / ML positioning

[0107] ■ Case 3b: NG-RAN node assisted positioning with LMF-side model, direct AI / ML positioning. o AI / ML assisted positioning

[0108] ■ Case 2a: UE-assisted / LMF-based positioning with UE-side model, AI / ML assisted positioning

[0109] ■ Case 3a: NG-RAN node assisted positioning with gNB-side model, AI / ML assisted positioning. Positioning architecture

[0110] Some embodiments herein are applicable in the positioning architecture described below, such as in the architecture for positioning in New Radio (NR) as shown in Figure 3. In this case, the UE 12’ exemplifies the communication device 12, the LMF 14’ exemplifies the location server 14, and the gNB 16’ exemplifies the network node 16. The interactions between the gNB 16’ and the device 12 are supported via the Radio Resource Control (RRC) protocol, while the location node interfaces with the UE 12’ via the LTE positioning protocol (LPP). LPP is a common protocol to both NR and LTE. LMF 14’ is the location node in NR. There are also interactions between the location node and the gNB 16’ via the NRPPa protocol.

[0111] The positioning architecture in Figure 3 may also be used to support Al-based positioning.

[0112] For Al positioning with UE-side model (Case 1 and Case 2a), the signaling to indicate the model availability I model applicability from UE 12’ to LMF 14’ is not heretofore supported in legacy LPP. Moreover, as the model applicability may change dynamically if the environment changes, indication of every model applicability change can cause much signaling overhead. Hence a mechanism is needed which can avoid excessive signaling to verify if the Al model 18 is applicable or not; i.e., whether model inference is possible or not. For example, there can be cases where the UE 12’ has trained its Al model 18 at certain conditions such as at low speed, however at the time of positioning the UE 12’ may be at high speed and hence the trained model may not be applicable for model inference. Another example can be a scenario where the Al model 18 at UE is trained for the LoS environment, however at the time of positioning the UE 12’ may be at NLoS environment and hence the trained model may not be applicable for model inference.

[0113] For Al based positioning where it is important that the network (NW) is aware of the applicability and availability of the Al model for positioning so that the NW can configure UE 12’ to use Al model for positioning, enabling UE 12’ to report its model applicability or addition is needed. However, challenges exist with how to do this without incurring meaningful signaling overhead. If the UE 12’ has to report its model applicability or additional conditions to the NW beforehand, it will cause significant signaling overhead. In practice, situations like this can occur more than often and therefore to avoid situation like this a solution for this problem is desired.

[0114] Certain aspects of the disclosure and their embodiments may provide solutions to these or other challenges. In a positioning session, when a target UE is requested by LMF to perform Al positioning, e.g., Case 1 and / or Case 2, target UE according to some embodiments herein may indicate to LMF if it cannot report location estimate / measurement performed by AI / ML model for positioning, e.g., within the requested response time.

[0115] Such indication can be an implicit indication of UE sending either location estimate / measurement performed by employing the legacy positioning methods and / or explicit new error cause.

[0116] LMF may also indicate an explicit fallback condition or to report error if the requested location or measurement using Al cannot be executed by the UE. The fallback condition may also be implicit for the UE to derive location or measurements using non-AI method such as legacy DL-TDOA positioning method. The fallback condition may also be that the procedure is aborted / failed.

[0117] In certain scenarios, UE may have trained in areal but at the time of model inference (when performing positioning), the UE may be in area2. In such case, it may take some time for UE to re-train or generate samples for correlation of the Al model between areal and area2. In such case, the UE may also indicate the expected time when the model is available.

[0118] Some embodiments can also be applied for gNB side model, where gNB is unable to produce the results using Al model and uses legacy mode or the procedure is aborted because of lack of Al model availability.

[0119] Generally, some embodiments include a method performed by LMF where LMF provides configuration to the UE / gNB on the procedure to follow if Al model result cannot be derived within a time T. In some embodiments, the configuration options include: (i) fallback to legacy procedure (this can be implicit), i.e., without signaling this can be default; or (ii) LMF may configure that the procedure should be aborted and the failure reason to be provided.

[0120] UE / gNB can indicate LMF if it does not have available / applicable Al model for a positioning session when requested to perform Al based positioning or why it was unable to run the Al model inference.

[0121] Certain embodiments may provide one or more of the following technical advantage(s). Ping-pong signaling of UE’s model availability / applicability before LMF request if Al positioning should be used can cause a lot of signaling. However, if UE does not fulfill the request to perform Al positioning, sending indication to LMF will enable LMF to know the reason.

[0122] Scenario description

[0123] Some embodiments herein are applicable to the scenario below. Some embodiments are applicable to a UE capable of supporting Al based positioning, i.e., performing measurement, training or re-training its Al model for positioning, and performing inference. Some embodiments are applicable for UE Al-based positioning with UE-side model (Case 1) or UE-assisted / LMF-based positioning with UE-side model (Case 2a). According to some embodiments, availability of an Al model refers to a UE having a corresponding model stored locally. According to some embodiments, applicability of an Al model / functionality refers to a model’s / functionality's associated conditions including a defined validity area (consisting of one or multiple cell IDs and / or radio conditions of signals from one or multiple TRPs), and / or a timer (timer running indicates it is applicable / valid), and / or conditions under which the available AI / ML model / functionality can be applicable are met, e.g. the configuration of DL reference signals are met.

[0124] Signal procedure

[0125] Figure 4 shows an example procedure for a UE 12’ to indicate no available Al model to perform Al positioning, according to some embodiments.

[0126] As shown, the UE sends capability including AI / ML positioning capability to perform inference for UE based and / or UE-assisted positioning (Step 1).

[0127] The LMF 14’ chooses a positioning method and determines whether to request legacy or AI / ML based positioning (Step 2).

[0128] If so, the LMF 14’ requests the UE 12’ to perform AI / ML based positioning and report an AI / ML model inference for UE location or positioning measurements (Step 3).

[0129] The UE 12’ checks model availability I applicability (Step 4).

[0130] If the model is available before the requested time (YES at Step 5), the UE 12’ reports location result and / or positioning measurements based on the AI / ML model (Step 6). If not (NO at Step 5), the UE 12’ performs legacy positioning and / or sends an error cause due to no available model (Step 7).

[0131] Consider now a few example embodiments.

[0132] Embodiment #1 :

[0133] As shown in Figure 5, when receiving that UE 12’ is capable of performing Al based positioning for UE based and or UE-assisted (Step 1). Network (NW) node such as LMF 14’ determines if the UE 12’ shall report the measurement using Al procedure (Step 2). In some embodiments, LMF 14’ assumes there is an Al model available and applicable for positioning (Step 2). As shown, LMF 14’ requests UE 12’ to perform Al-based positioning or Al-based positioning measurements (Step 3). In case the UE 12’ is unable to perform requested measurements based on Al then in such cases configurations related to whether the UE 12’ should switch to using legacy / classical (non-AI / ML) positioning or abort the procedure are sent by the LMF 14’ (Step 3). The configuration could also be implicit that the UE 12’ provides the result using classical / legacy mechanism and inform the failure reason as to why Al could not be applied.

[0134] As shown, if the UE 12’ is able to perform AI / ML positioning within the certain time T, the UE 12’ reports the location result or the AI / ML model output (Step 4). If not, the UE 12’ may perform legacy positioning or abort the procedure (Step 5).

[0135] Embodiment #2:

[0136] When receiving a request to perform Al positioning from LMF 14’, UE 12’ checks its own model availability / applicability (e.g., monitoring process). If no model is available, UE 12’ compares time to get a suitable model (regardless if itself trains a new model or retrains the existing model or retrieve a trained model from OTT server) and the requested response time, and UE 12’ should report / indicate to LMF / NW if not possible to perform Al positioning by one or more options below.

[0137] • Perform legacy positioning (e.g.: DL-TDOA without using Al model) even if requested to use Al model for positioning measurements.

[0138] • Send cause information.

[0139] If model is not applicable, UE 12’ may switch model by itself, or request applicable DL-PRS by on-demand PRS. If model is not applicable before response time, UE 12’ should report / indicate to LMF 147NW if it is not possible to perform Al positioning by one or more options below.

[0140] • Perform legacy positioning (e.g.: DL-TDOA without using AI / ML model) even if requested to use AI / ML model for positioning measurements.

[0141] • Send cause information.

[0142] The failure information (cause) may also include the granular information if additional conditions were not met, such as discrepancy in UE speed while training and while performing inference. Similarly, the failure information may include granular information about other conditions not being met such as LOS condition change (environment change), UE 12’ in a different area than where it trained, changes in UE Hardware, etc.

[0143] Embodiment #3: Model Re-Tuning Information from UE 12’ / gNB 16’ to LMF 14’

[0144] In an embodiment shown in Figure 6, if there is re-tuning needed in Al model (additional training or get more samples, data labels), the UE 12’ / gNB 16’ may indicate such information to LMF 14’ and also provide the expected time by when the UE 12’ / gNB 16’ Al model will be available. In such case, the LMF 14’ will decide whether to reset the response Time (time by which the UE 12’ / gNB 16’) should provide the result or use non- AI / ML based method or abort the procedure. The LMF 14’ may also schedule the location at time T, where T would be the time when the Al model is available.

[0145] More particularly, as shown in Figure 6, the UE 12’ / gNB 16’ indicates AI / ML model availability (Step 1). The LMF 14’ chooses the positioning method and whether to request using legacy mechanism or AI / ML generated results (Step 2). The LMF 14’ requests the UE 12’ / gNB 16’ to perform AI / ML positioning within a certain time T and may configure fall back options, e.g., classical / legacy or abort (Step 3). The UE 12’ / gNB 16’ reports that model retuning is needed and an expected model for the model to be ready (Step 4). The LMF 14’ decides to reconfigure the response time or switch back (Step 5). The LMF 14’ schedules positioning / localization at time T, where T is the time when the AI / ML model is available (Step 6).

[0146] Embodiment #4: NRPPa (gNB 16’, LMF 14’)

[0147] As shown in Figure 7, when receiving the indication that gNB 16’ has Al model available for positioning, LMF 14’ assumes there is Al model available and applicable for positioning and can request gNB 16’ to perform Al based positioning measurements.

[0148] For fallback procedure LMF 14’ determines, if the gNB 16’ shall report the measurement using AI / ML procedure and in case the gNB 16’ is unable to perform requested measurements based on AI / ML then in such cases configurations related to whether the gNB 16’ should switch to using legacy / classical (non-AI) positioning or abort the procedure are sent by the LMF 14’. The configuration could also be implicit that the gNB 16’ provides the result using classical / legacy mechanism and inform the failure reason as to why Al could not be applied.

[0149] In some embodiments, the LMF 14’ may use the indication herein for observability purpose (gather statistics on failure) and operator may then take responsive actions to remedy the failure. From LMF 14’ perspective, it can be that without Al algorithms the positioning accuracy may be very bad; (NLOS condition); in such case it may simply abort the procedure and notify the client that positioning estimate was not possible or quality of service (QoS) cannot be met and hence procedure was aborted.

[0150] More particularly in Figure 7, the gNB 16’ indicates AI / ML model availability (Step 1). The LMF 14’ chooses the positioning method and whether to request legacy RTOA or AI / ML generated results (Step 2). The LMF 14’ requests the gNB 16’ to perform AI / ML positioning with a certain time T and may configure fall back options, e.g., classical / legacy or abort (Step 3). If the gNB 16’ can perform AI / ML positioning within the time T, the gNB 16’ reports the measurement using the AI / ML model output (Step 4). If not, the gNB performs legacy positioning or aborts the procedure (Step 5).

[0151] Technical Specification Impact

[0152] Consider now one example implementation of some embodiments herein in 3GPP specifications.

[0153] In TS 37.355 LPP NR-DL-TDOA-TargetDeviceErrorCauses

[0154] The IE NR-DL-TDOA-TargetDeviceErrorCauses is used by the target device to provide NR DL-TDOA error reasons to the location server.

[0155] - ASN1 START

[0156] NR-DL-TDOA-TargetDeviceErrorCauses-r16 ::= SEQUENCE { cause-r16 ENUMERATED {undefined, assistance-data-missing, unableToMeasureAnyTRP, attemptedButUnableToMeasureSomeNeighbourTRPs, thereWereNotEnoughSignalsReceivedForUeBasedDL-TDOA, locationCalculationAssistanceDataMissing, remoteUE-lndication-r18 ENUMERATED {true} OPTIONAL -- Cond NR ]],

[0157] [[ noAvailableAI-model-r19 ENUMERATED {true} OPTIONAL -- Cond NR, additionalConditions ENUMERATED {speed, hw, area, environment, losConditions...}

[0158] - ASN1 STOP

[0159] Impacts for TS 38.305

[0160] 8.X.1.1 UE-based positioning with UE-side model

[0161] 8.X.1.1.1 UE-based positioning with UE-side model Positioning procedure

[0162] UE-based positioning with UE-side model is based upon DL-TDOA positioning method.

[0163] With reference to Figure 8:

[0164] 0. The LMF 14’ may use the procedure in Figure 8 to obtain the TRP information required for DL-TDOA positioning.

[0165] 1 . The LMF 14’ may request the positioning capabilities of the target device using the LPP Capability Transfer procedure. The UE 12’ includes capability for UE-based UE side direct AI / ML positioning.

[0166] 2. The LMF 14’ sends an LPP Provide Assistance Data message to the target device. The message includes any required assistance data for the target device to perform the necessary DL-PRS measurements.

[0167] 3. The LMF 14’ sends an LPP Request Location Information message to request Location information using AI / ML model inference.

[0168] 4. The target device performs the channel measurements based upon DL-PRS and generates the result using the AI / ML model inference.

[0169] 5. The target device reports the location information to the LMF in a LPP Provide Location Information message and providing information whether the result has been derived using AI / ML model.

[0170] Note: If the UE 12’ does not indicate that the location was derived using AI / ML, it would imply that UE 12’ may not have the AI / ML model available or additional conditions for using the model inference were not met.

[0171] 6. The LMF 14’ may provide model performance feedback to the target device.

[0172] 8.X.2.1.1 UE-assisted / LMF-based positioning with UE-side model Positioning procedure UE-assisted / LMF-based positioning with UE-side model is based upon DL-TDOA positioning method.

[0173] With reference to Figure 9:

[0174] 0. The LMF 14’ may use the procedure in Figure 9 to obtain the TRP information required for DL-TDOA positioning.

[0175] 1 . The LMF 14’ may request the positioning capabilities of the target device using the LPP Capability Transfer procedure. The UE 12’ includes capability for UE-Assisted UE side direct AI / ML positioning.

[0176] 2. The LMF 14’ sends an LPP Provide Assistance Data message to the target device. The message includes any required assistance data for the target device to perform the necessary DL-PRS measurements.

[0177] 3. The LMF 14’ sends an LPP Request Location Information message to request positioning measurement using AI / ML model inference.

[0178] 4. The target device performs the channel measurements based upon DL-PRS and generates the result using the AI / ML model inference.

[0179] 5. The target device reports the positioning measurement to the LMF 14’ in a LPP Provide Location Information message and providing information whether the result has been derived using AI / ML model.

[0180] Note: If the UE 12’ does not indicate that the location was derived using AI / ML, it would imply that UE 12’ may not have the AI / ML model available or additional conditions for using the model inference were not met.

[0181] 6. The LMF 14’ may provide model performance feedback to the target device.

[0182] In view of the modifications and variations herein, Figure 10 depicts a method performed by a communication equipment 20 configured for use in a communication network 10 in accordance with particular embodiments. The method includes receiving, from a location server 14 in the communication network 10, a request 22 for the communication equipment 20 to provide positioning information 24 to the location server 14 using artificial intelligence, Al (Block 1000). The method also comprises transmitting, to the location server 14, a response 26 indicating that the communication equipment 20 cannot use Al to provide positioning information 24 according to the request 22 (Block 1010).

[0183] In some embodiments, the response 26 indicates a reason why the communication equipment 20 cannot use Al to provide positioning information 24 according to the request 22. In some embodiments, the indicated reason is that the communication equipment 20 does not have, and / or cannot timely obtain within a maximum allowable period for transmitting the response 26, any Al model 18 that is usable for determining positioning information 24. In some embodiments, the indicated reason is that the communication equipment 20 does not have, and / or cannot timely obtain within a maximum allowable period for transmitting the response 26, any Al model 18 that is valid and / or applicable for determining positioning information 24 under conditions at the communication equipment 20. In some embodiments, the response 26 indicates the conditions for which the communication equipment 20 does not have and / or cannot timely obtain any Al model 18 that is valid and / or applicable for determining positioning information 24. In some embodiments, the conditions for which the communication equipment 20 does not have and / or cannot timely obtain any Al model 18 that is valid and / or applicable for determining positioning information 24 comprises one or more of: a speed at which the communication equipment 20 is moving; a type of signal propagation environment in which the communication equipment 20 is located; channel conditions at the communication equipment 20; a geographic or coverage area in which the communication equipment 20 is located; and a hardware configuration of the communication equipment 20. In some embodiments, an Al model 18 for determining positioning information 24 is only valid and / or applicable for determining positioning information 24 for a defined time period after the Al model 18 was trained for determining positioning information 24. In other embodiments, an Al model 18 for determining positioning information 24 is only valid and / or applicable for determining positioning information 24 for a range of communication equipment 20 speeds for which the Al model 18 was trained to determine positioning information 24. In yet other embodiments, an Al model 18 for determining positioning information 24 is only valid and / or applicable for determining positioning information 24 for a type of signal propagation environment in which the Al model 18 was trained to determine positioning information 24. In still yet other embodiments, an Al model 18 for determining positioning information 24 is only valid and / or applicable for determining positioning information 24 for channel conditions in which the Al model 18 was trained to determine positioning information 24. In still yet other embodiments, an Al model 18 for determining positioning information 24 is only valid and / or applicable for determining positioning information 24 for a geographic or coverage area in the Al model 18 was trained to determine positioning information 24. In still yet other embodiments, an Al model 18 for determining positioning information 24 is only valid and / or applicable for determining positioning information 24 for a communication equipment 20 hardware configuration for which the Al model 18 was trained to determine positioning information 24. In still yet other embodiments, an Al model 18 for determining positioning information 24 is only valid and / or applicable for determining positioning information 24 when reference signals are configured for the communication equipment 20 to perform measurements thereon.

[0184] In some embodiments, the response 26 comprises a field that explicitly indicates the communication equipment 20 cannot use Al to provide positioning information 24 according to the request 22. In some embodiments, the field is an error cause field indicating a cause of the communication equipment 20 not providing positioning information 24 according to the request 22 as being that the communication equipment 20 cannot use Al to provide positioning information 24 according to the request 22.

[0185] In some embodiments, the response 26 includes positioning information 24 determined by the communication equipment 20 without using Al, wherein inclusion in the response 26 of positioning information 24 determined by the communication equipment 20 without using Al implicitly indicates that the communication equipment 20 cannot use Al to provide positioning information 24 according to the request 22.

[0186] In some embodiments, the response 26 includes positioning information 24 and a field indicating that the communication equipment 20 did not use Al to provide the positioning information 24 according to the request 22.

[0187] In some embodiments, the response 26 indicates that the communication equipment 20 cannot use Al to provide positioning information 24 according to the request 22 within a maximum allowable period for transmitting the response 26.

[0188] In some embodiments, the response 26 indicates an expected time when the communication equipment 20 expects to be able to use Al to provide positioning information 24.

[0189] In some embodiments, the positioning information 24 includes a location 12L of the communication equipment 20, or of a communication device 12, as estimated by the communication equipment 20 using an Al model 18 at the communication equipment 20. In other embodiments, the positioning information 24 includes positioning measurements obtained by the communication equipment 20 using an Al model 18 at the communication equipment 20, wherein a location 12L of the communication equipment 20, or of a communication device 12, is estimatable using the positioning measurements.

[0190] In some embodiments, the communication equipment 20 is a communication device 12.

[0191] In some embodiments, the communication equipment 20 is a radio network node 16 in the communication network 10.

[0192] In some embodiments, the method further comprises receiving, from the location server 14, configuration information that configures the communication equipment 20 how to handle the communication equipment 20 being unable to use Al to provide positioning information 24 according to a request 22 for the communication equipment 20 to provide positioning information 24 to the location server 14 using Al (Block 1020). In some embodiments, the configuration information configures the communication equipment 20 to provide positioning information 24 without using Al. In other embodiments, the configuration information alternatively or additionally configures the communication equipment 20 to respond with a reason why the communication equipment 20 cannot use Al to provide positioning information 24 according to the request 22.

[0193] In some embodiments, the request 22 comprises a request 22 for the communication equipment 20 to provide positioning information 24 to the location server 14 using Al model 18 inference, and wherein the response 26 indicates that the communication equipment 20 cannot use Al model 18 inference to provide positioning information 24 according to the request 22.

[0194] In some embodiments, the request 22 comprises a request 22 for the communication equipment 20 to provide positioning information 24 to the location server 14 using an Al model 18, and the response 26 indicates that the communication equipment 20 does not have, and / or cannot timely obtain within a maximum allowable period for transmitting the response 26 any Al model 18 that is usable for determining positioning information 24. In other embodiments, the request 22 comprises a request 22 for the communication equipment 20 to provide positioning information 24 to the location server 14 using an Al model 18, and the response 26 indicates that the communication equipment 20 does not have, and / or cannot timely obtain within a maximum allowable period for transmitting the response 26 any Al model 18 that is valid and / or applicable for determining positioning information 24 under conditions at the communication equipment 20.

[0195] In some embodiments, the method further comprises determining whether or not the communication equipment 20 can use Al to provide positioning information 24 according to the request 22, and based on determining that the communication equipment 20 cannot use Al to provide positioning information 24 according to the request 22, generating the response 26 to indicate that the communication equipment 20 cannot use Al to provide positioning information 24 according to the request 22 (Block 1030). In some embodiments, said determining comprises determining whether or not the communication equipment 20 has locally stored an Al model 18 that is usable for determining positioning information 24. In other embodiments, said determining comprises determining whether or not the communication equipment 20 has locally stored an Al model 18 that is valid and / or applicable for determining positioning information 24 under conditions at the communication equipment 20. In some embodiments, said determining comprises determining whether or not the communication equipment 20 can timely obtain, within a maximum allowable period for transmitting the response 26, an Al model 18 that is usable for determining positioning information 24. In other embodiments, said determining comprises determining whether or not the communication equipment 20 can timely obtain, within a maximum allowable period for transmitting the response 26, an Al model 18 that is valid and / or applicable for determining positioning information 24 under conditions at the communication equipment 20. In some embodiments, said determining comprises determining whether or not the communication equipment 20 can timely obtain the Al model 18 by training or re-training the Al model 18. In other embodiments, said determining comprises determining whether or not the communication equipment 20 can timely obtain the Al model 18 by retrieving the Al model 18 from a server.

[0196] Figure 11 depicts a method performed by a location server 14 configured for use in a communication network 10 in accordance with other particular embodiments. The method includes transmitting, to communication equipment 20 in the communication network 10, a request 22 for the communication equipment 20 to provide positioning information 24 to the location server 14 using artificial intelligence, Al (Block 1100). The method also comprises receiving, from the communication equipment 20, a response 26 indicating that the communication equipment 20 cannot use Al to provide positioning information 24 according to the request 22 (Block 1110).

[0197] In some embodiments, the response 26 indicates a reason why the communication equipment 20 cannot use Al to provide positioning information 24 according to the request 22. In some embodiments, the indicated reason is that the communication equipment 20 does not have, and / or cannot timely obtain within a maximum allowable period for transmitting the response 26, any Al model 18 that is usable for determining positioning information 24. In some embodiments, the indicated reason is that the communication equipment 20 does not have, and / or cannot timely obtain within a maximum allowable period for transmitting the response 26, any Al model 18 that is valid and / or applicable for determining positioning information 24 under conditions at the communication equipment 20. In some embodiments, the response 26 indicates the conditions for which the communication equipment 20 does not have and / or cannot timely obtain any Al model 18 that is valid and / or applicable for determining positioning information 24. In some embodiments, the conditions for which the communication equipment 20 does not have and / or cannot timely obtain any Al model 18 that is valid and / or applicable for determining positioning information 24 comprises one or more of: a speed at which the communication equipment 20 is moving; a type of signal propagation environment in which the communication equipment 20 is located; channel conditions at the communication equipment 20; a geographic or coverage area in which the communication equipment 20 is located; and a hardware configuration of the communication equipment 20. In some embodiments, an Al model 18 for determining positioning information 24 is only valid and / or applicable for determining positioning information 24 for a defined time period after the Al model 18 was trained for determining positioning information 24. In other embodiments, an Al model 18 for determining positioning information 24 is only valid and / or applicable for determining positioning information 24 for a range of communication equipment 20 speeds for which the Al model 18 was trained to determine positioning information 24. In yet other embodiments, an Al model 18 for determining positioning information 24 is only valid and / or applicable for determining positioning information 24 for a type of signal propagation environment in which the Al model 18 was trained to determine positioning information 24. In still yet other embodiments, an Al model 18 for determining positioning information 24 is only valid and / or applicable for determining positioning information 24 for channel conditions in which the Al model 18 was trained to determine positioning information 24. In still yet other embodiments, an Al model 18 for determining positioning information 24 is only valid and / or applicable for determining positioning information 24 for a geographic or coverage area in the Al model 18 was trained to determine positioning information 24. In still yet other embodiments, an Al model 18 for determining positioning information 24 is only valid and / or applicable for determining positioning information 24 for a communication equipment 20 hardware configuration for which the Al model 18 was trained to determine positioning information 24. In still yet other embodiments, an Al model 18 for determining positioning information 24 is only valid and / or applicable for determining positioning information 24 when reference signals are configured for the communication equipment 20 to perform measurements thereon.

[0198] In some embodiments, the response 26 comprises a field that explicitly indicates the communication equipment 20 cannot use Al to provide positioning information 24 according to the request 22. In some embodiments, the field is an error cause field indicating a cause of the communication equipment 20 not providing positioning information 24 according to the request 22 as being that the communication equipment 20 cannot use Al to provide positioning information 24 according to the request 22.

[0199] In some embodiments, the response 26 includes positioning information 24 determined by the communication equipment 20 without using Al, wherein inclusion in the response 26 of positioning information 24 determined by the communication equipment 20 without using Al implicitly indicates that the communication equipment 20 cannot use Al to provide positioning information 24 according to the request 22.

[0200] In some embodiments, the response 26 includes positioning information 24 and a field indicating that the communication equipment 20 did not use Al to provide the positioning information 24 according to the request 22.

[0201] In some embodiments, the response 26 indicates that the communication equipment 20 cannot use Al to provide positioning information 24 according to the request 22 within a maximum allowable period for transmitting the response 26.

[0202] In some embodiments, the response 26 indicates an expected time when the communication equipment 20 expects to be able to use Al to provide positioning information 24. In some embodiments, the positioning information 24 includes a location 12L of the communication equipment 20 as estimated by the communication equipment 20 using an Al model 18 at the communication equipment 20. In other embodiments, the positioning information 24 includes positioning measurements obtained by the communication equipment 20 using an Al model 18 at the communication equipment 20, wherein a location 12L of the communication equipment 20 is estimatable using the positioning measurements.

[0203] In some embodiments, the communication equipment 20 is a communication device 12.

[0204] In some embodiments, the communication equipment 20 is a radio network node 16 in the communication network 10.

[0205] In some embodiments, the method further comprises transmitting, to the communication equipment 20, configuration information that configures the communication equipment 20 how to handle the communication equipment 20 being unable to use Al to provide positioning information 24 according to a request 22 for the communication equipment 20 to provide positioning information 24 to the location server 14 using Al (Block 1120). In some embodiments, the configuration information configures the communication equipment 20 to provide positioning information 24 without using Al. In other embodiments, the configuration information alternatively or additionally configures the communication equipment 20 to respond with a reason why the communication equipment 20 cannot use Al to provide positioning information 24 according to the request 22.

[0206] In some embodiments, the request 22 comprises a request 22 for the communication equipment 20 to provide positioning information 24 to the location server 14 using Al model 18 inference, and wherein the response 26 indicates that the communication equipment 20 cannot use Al model 18 inference to provide positioning information 24 according to the request 22.

[0207] In some embodiments, the request 22 comprises a request 22 for the communication equipment 20 to provide positioning information 24 to the location server 14 using an Al model 18, and wherein the response 26 indicates that the communication equipment 20 does not have, and / or cannot timely obtain within a maximum allowable period for transmitting the response 26 any Al model 18 that is usable for determining positioning information 24. In other embodiments, the request 22 comprises a request 22 for the communication equipment 20 to provide positioning information 24 to the location server 14 using an Al model 18, and wherein the response 26 indicates that the communication equipment 20 does not have, and / or cannot timely obtain within a maximum allowable period for transmitting the response 26 any Al model 18 that is valid and / or applicable for determining positioning information 24 under conditions at the communication equipment 20. In some embodiments, the method further comprises, based on the response 26, making one or more decisions about whether and / or how the communication equipment 20 is to provide positioning information 24 (Block 1130).

[0208] In some embodiments, the method further comprises, at or after the expected time, transmitting, to the communication equipment 20, another request 22 for the communication equipment 20 to provide positioning information 24 to the location server 14 using artificial intelligence.

[0209] In some embodiments, the method further comprises, based on the expected time, determining a new future time at which to expect a response 26 from the communication equipment 20 with positioning information 24 determined using Al.

[0210] In some embodiments, Al comprises machine learning, ML.

[0211] Embodiments herein also include corresponding apparatuses. Embodiments herein for instance include communication equipment 20 configured to perform any of the steps of any of the embodiments described above for the communication equipment 20.

[0212] Embodiments also include communication equipment 20 comprising processing circuitry and power supply circuitry. The processing circuitry is configured to perform any of the steps of any of the embodiments described above for the communication equipment 20. The power supply circuitry is configured to supply power to the communication equipment 20.

[0213] Embodiments further include communication equipment 20 comprising processing circuitry. The processing circuitry is configured to perform any of the steps of any of the embodiments described above for the communication equipment 20. In some embodiments, the communication equipment 20further comprises communication circuitry.

[0214] Embodiments further include communication equipment 20 comprising processing circuitry and memory. The memory contains instructions executable by the processing circuitry whereby the communication equipment 20 is configured to perform any of the steps of any of the embodiments described above for the communication equipment 20.

[0215] Embodiments moreover include a user equipment (UE). The UE comprises an antenna configured to send and receive wireless signals. The UE also comprises radio frontend circuitry connected to the antenna and to processing circuitry, and configured to condition signals communicated between the antenna and the processing circuitry. The processing circuitry is configured to perform any of the steps of any of the embodiments described above for the communication equipment 20. In some embodiments, the UE also comprises an input interface connected to the processing circuitry and configured to allow input of information into the UE to be processed by the processing circuitry. The UE may comprise an output interface connected to the processing circuitry and configured to output information from the UE that has been processed by the processing circuitry. The UE may also comprise a battery connected to the processing circuitry and configured to supply power to the UE.

[0216] Embodiments herein also include a location server 14 configured to perform any of the steps of any of the embodiments described above for the location server 14.

[0217] Embodiments also include a location server 14 comprising processing circuitry and power supply circuitry. The processing circuitry is configured to perform any of the steps of any of the embodiments described above for the location server 14. The power supply circuitry is configured to supply power to the location server 14.

[0218] Embodiments further include a location server 14 comprising processing circuitry. The processing circuitry is configured to perform any of the steps of any of the embodiments described above for the location server 14. In some embodiments, the location server 14 further comprises communication circuitry.

[0219] Embodiments further include a location server 14 comprising processing circuitry and memory. The memory contains instructions executable by the processing circuitry whereby the location server 14 is configured to perform any of the steps of any of the embodiments described above for the location server 14.

[0220] More particularly, the apparatuses described above may perform the methods herein and any other processing by implementing any functional means, modules, units, or circuitry. In one embodiment, for example, the apparatuses comprise respective circuits or circuitry configured to perform the steps shown in the method figures. The circuits or circuitry in this regard may comprise circuits dedicated to performing certain functional processing and / or one or more microprocessors in conjunction with memory. For instance, the circuitry may include one or more microprocessor or microcontrollers, as well as other digital hardware, which may include digital signal processors (DSPs), special-purpose digital logic, and the like. The processing circuitry may be configured to execute program code stored in memory, which may include one or several types of memory such as read-only memory (ROM), random-access memory, cache memory, flash memory devices, optical storage devices, etc. Program code stored in memory may include program instructions for executing one or more telecommunications and / or data communications protocols as well as instructions for carrying out one or more of the techniques described herein, in several embodiments. In embodiments that employ memory, the memory stores program code that, when executed by the one or more processors, carries out the techniques described herein.

[0221] Figure 12 for example illustrates communication equipment 20 as implemented in accordance with one or more embodiments. As shown, the communication equipment 20 includes processing circuitry 1210 and communication circuitry 1220. The communication circuitry 1220 (e.g., radio circuitry) is configured to transmit and / or receive information to and / or from one or more other nodes, e.g., via any communication technology. Such communication may occur via one or more antennas that are either internal or external to the communication equipment 20. The processing circuitry 1210 is configured to perform processing described above, e.g., in Figure 10, such as by executing instructions stored in memory 1230. The processing circuitry 1210 in this regard may implement certain functional means, units, or modules.

[0222] Figure 13 illustrates a location server 14 as implemented in accordance with one or more embodiments. As shown, the location server 14 includes processing circuitry 1310 and communication circuitry 1320. The communication circuitry 1320 is configured to transmit and / or receive information to and / or from one or more other nodes, e.g., via any communication technology. The processing circuitry 1310 is configured to perform processing described above, e.g., in Figure 11 , such as by executing instructions stored in memory 1330. The processing circuitry 1310 in this regard may implement certain functional means, units, or modules.

[0223] Those skilled in the art will also appreciate that embodiments herein further include corresponding computer programs.

[0224] A computer program comprises instructions which, when executed on at least one processor of an apparatus, cause the apparatus to carry out any of the respective processing described above. A computer program in this regard may comprise one or more code modules corresponding to the means or units described above.

[0225] Embodiments further include a carrier containing such a computer program. This carrier may comprise one of an electronic signal, optical signal, radio signal, or computer readable storage medium.

[0226] In this regard, embodiments herein also include a computer program product stored on a non-transitory computer readable (storage or recording) medium and comprising instructions that, when executed by a processor of an apparatus, cause the apparatus to perform as described above.

[0227] Embodiments further include a computer program product comprising program code portions for performing the steps of any of the embodiments herein when the computer program product is executed by a computing device. This computer program product may be stored on a computer readable recording medium.

[0228] Figure 14 shows an example of a communication system 1400 in accordance with some embodiments.

[0229] In the example, the communication system 1400 includes a telecommunication network 1402 that includes an access network 1404, such as a radio access network (RAN), and a core network 1406, which includes one or more core network nodes 1408. The access network 1404 includes one or more access network nodes, such as network nodes 1410a and 1410b (one or more of which may be generally referred to as network nodes 1410), or any other similar 3rdGeneration Partnership Project (3GPP) access nodes or non-3GPP access points. Moreover, as will be appreciated by those of skill in the art, a network node is not necessarily limited to an implementation in which a radio portion and a baseband portion are supplied and integrated by a single vendor. Thus, it will be understood that network nodes include disaggregated implementations or portions thereof. For example, in some embodiments, the telecommunication network 1402 includes one or more Open-RAN (ORAN) network nodes. An ORAN network node is a node in the telecommunication network 1402 that supports an ORAN specification (e.g., a specification published by the O-RAN Alliance, or any similar organization) and may operate alone or together with other nodes to implement one or more functionalities of any node in the telecommunication network 1402, including one or more network nodes 1410 and / or core network nodes 1408.

[0230] Examples of an ORAN network node include an open radio unit (O-RU), an open distributed unit (O-DU), an open central unit (O-CU), including an O-CU control plane (O- CU-CP) or an O-CU user plane (O-CU-UP), a RAN intelligent controller (near-real time or non-real time) hosting software or software plug-ins, such as a near-real time control application (e.g., xApp) or a non-real time control application (e.g., rApp), or any combination thereof (the adjective “open” designating support of an ORAN specification). The network node may support a specification by, for example, supporting an interface defined by the ORAN specification, such as an A1 , F1 , W1 , E1 , E2, X2, Xn interface, an open fronthaul user plane interface, or an open fronthaul management plane interface. Moreover, an ORAN access node may be a logical node in a physical node. Furthermore, an ORAN network node may be implemented in a virtualization environment (described further below) in which one or more network functions are virtualized. For example, the virtualization environment may include an O-Cloud computing platform orchestrated by a Service Management and Orchestration Framework via an 0-2 interface defined by the O-RAN Alliance or comparable technologies. The network nodes 1410 facilitate direct or indirect connection of user equipment (UE), such as by connecting UEs 1412a, 1412b, 1412c, and 1412d (one or more of which may be generally referred to as UEs 1412) to the core network 1406 over one or more wireless connections.

[0231] Example wireless communications over a wireless connection include transmitting and / or receiving wireless signals using electromagnetic waves, radio waves, infrared waves, and / or other types of signals suitable for conveying information without the use of wires, cables, or other material conductors. Moreover, in different embodiments, the communication system 1400 may include any number of wired or wireless networks, network nodes, UEs, and / or any other components or systems that may facilitate or participate in the communication of data and / or signals whether via wired or wireless connections. The communication system 1400 may include and / or interface with any type of communication, telecommunication, data, cellular, radio network, and / or other similar type of system.

[0232] The UEs 1412 may be any of a wide variety of communication devices, including wireless devices arranged, configured, and / or operable to communicate wirelessly with the network nodes 1410 and other communication devices. Similarly, the network nodes 1410 are arranged, capable, configured, and / or operable to communicate directly or indirectly with the UEs 1412 and / or with other network nodes or equipment in the telecommunication network 1402 to enable and / or provide network access, such as wireless network access, and / or to perform other functions, such as administration in the telecommunication network 1402.

[0233] In the depicted example, the core network 1406 connects the network nodes 1410 to one or more host computing systems, such as host 1416. These connections may be direct or indirect via one or more intermediary networks or devices. In other examples, network nodes may be directly coupled to hosts. The core network 1406 includes one more core network nodes (e.g., core network node 1408) that are structured with hardware and software components. Features of these components may be substantially similar to those described with respect to the UEs, network nodes, and / or hosts, such that the descriptions thereof are generally applicable to the corresponding components of the core network node 1408. Example core network nodes include functions of one or more of a Mobile Switching Center (MSC), Mobility Management Entity (MME), Home Subscriber Server (HSS), Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF), Session Management Function (SMF), Authentication Server Function (AUSF), Subscription Identifier De-concealing function (SIDF), Unified Data Management (UDM), Security Edge Protection Proxy (SEPP), Network Exposure Function (NEF), and / or a User Plane Function (UPF).

[0234] The host 1416 may be under the ownership or control of a service provider other than an operator or provider of the access network 1404 and / or the telecommunication network 1402. The host 1416 may host a variety of applications to provide one or more service. Examples of such applications include live and pre-recorded audio / video content, data collection services such as retrieving and compiling data on various ambient conditions detected by a plurality of UEs, analytics functionality, social media, functions for controlling or otherwise interacting with remote devices, functions for an alarm and surveillance center, or any other such function performed by a server.

[0235] As a whole, the communication system 1400 of Figure 14 enables connectivity between the UEs, network nodes, and hosts. In that sense, the communication system may be configured to operate according to predefined rules or procedures, such as specific standards that include, but are not limited to: Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM); Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS); Long Term Evolution (LTE), and / or other suitable 2G, 3G, 4G, 5G standards, or any applicable future generation standard (e.g., 6G); wireless local area network (WLAN) standards, such as the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11 standards (WiFi); and / or any other appropriate wireless communication standard, such as the Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMax), Bluetooth, Z-Wave, Near Field Communication (NFC) ZigBee, LiFi, and / or any low-power wide-area network (LPWAN) standards such as LoRa and Sigfox.

[0236] In some examples, the telecommunication network 1402 is a cellular network that implements 3GPP standardized features. Accordingly, the telecommunications network 1402 may support network slicing to provide different logical networks to different devices that are connected to the telecommunication network 1402. For example, the telecommunications network 1402 may provide Ultra Reliable Low Latency Communication (URLLC) services to some UEs, while providing Enhanced Mobile Broadband (eMBB) services to other UEs, and / or Massive Machine Type Communication (mMTC)ZMassive loT services to yet further UEs.

[0237] In some examples, the UEs 1412 are configured to transmit and / or receive information without direct human interaction. For instance, a UE may be designed to transmit information to the access network 1404 on a predetermined schedule, when triggered by an internal or external event, or in response to requests from the access network 1404. Additionally, a UE may be configured for operating in single- or multi-RAT or multi-standard mode. For example, a UE may operate with any one or combination of Wi-Fi, NR (New Radio) and LTE, i.e. being configured for multi-radio dual connectivity (MR-DC), such as E- UTRAN (Evolved-UMTS Terrestrial Radio Access Network) New Radio - Dual Connectivity (EN-DC).

[0238] In the example, the hub 1414 communicates with the access network 1404 to facilitate indirect communication between one or more UEs (e.g., UE 1412c and / or 1412d) and network nodes (e.g., network node 1410b). In some examples, the hub 1414 may be a controller, router, content source and analytics, or any of the other communication devices described herein regarding UEs. For example, the hub 1414 may be a broadband router enabling access to the core network 1406 for the UEs. As another example, the hub 1414 may be a controller that sends commands or instructions to one or more actuators in the UEs. Commands or instructions may be received from the UEs, network nodes 1410, or by executable code, script, process, or other instructions in the hub 1414. As another example, the hub 1414 may be a data collector that acts as temporary storage for UE data and, in some embodiments, may perform analysis or other processing of the data. As another example, the hub 1414 may be a content source. For example, for a UE that is a VR device, display, loudspeaker, or other media delivery device, the hub 1414 may retrieve VR assets, video, audio, or other media or data related to sensory information via a network node, which the hub 1414 then provides to the UE either directly, after performing local processing, and / or after adding additional local content. In still another example, the hub 1414 acts as a proxy server or orchestrator for the UEs, in particular if one or more of the UEs are low energy loT devices.

[0239] The hub 1414 may have a constant / persistent or intermittent connection to the network node 1410b. The hub 1414 may also allow for a different communication scheme and / or schedule between the hub 1414 and UEs (e.g., UE 1412c and / or 1412d), and between the hub 1414 and the core network 1406. In other examples, the hub 1414 is connected to the core network 1406 and / or one or more UEs via a wired connection. Moreover, the hub 1414 may be configured to connect to an M2M service provider over the access network 1404 and / or to another UE over a direct connection. In some scenarios, UEs may establish a wireless connection with the network nodes 1410 while still connected via the hub 1414 via a wired or wireless connection. In some embodiments, the hub 1414 may be a dedicated hub - that is, a hub whose primary function is to route communications to / from the UEs from / to the network node 1410b. In other embodiments, the hub 1414 may be a non-dedicated hub - that is, a device which is capable of operating to route communications between the UEs and network node 1410b, but which is additionally capable of operating as a communication start and / or end point for certain data channels.

[0240] Figure 15 shows a UE 1500 in accordance with some embodiments. The UE 1500 presents additional details of some embodiments of the UE 1412 of Figure 1. As used herein, a UE refers to a device capable, configured, arranged and / or operable to communicate wirelessly with network nodes and / or other UEs. Examples of a UE include, but are not limited to, a smart phone, mobile phone, cell phone, voice over IP (VoIP) phone, wireless local loop phone, desktop computer, personal digital assistant (PDA), wireless cameras, gaming console or device, music sto rag e / p lay back device, wearable terminal device, wireless endpoint, mobile station, tablet, laptop, laptop-embedded equipment (LEE), laptop-mounted equipment (LME), an Augmented Reality (AR) or Virtual Reality (VR) device, wireless customer-premise equipment (CPE), vehicle, vehicle-mounted or vehicle embedded / integrated wireless device, etc. Other examples include any UE identified by the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP), including a narrow band internet of things (NB- loT) UE, a machine type communication (MTC) UE, and / or an enhanced MTC (eMTC) UE.

[0241] A UE may support device-to-device (D2D) communication, for example by implementing a 3GPP standard for sidelink communication, Dedicated Short-Range Communication (DSRC), vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V), vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I), or vehicle- to-everything (V2X). In other examples, a UE may not necessarily have a user in the sense of a human user who owns and / or operates the relevant device. Instead, a UE may represent a device that is intended for sale to, or operation by, a human user but which may not, or which may not initially, be associated with a specific human user (e.g., a smart sprinkler controller). Alternatively, a UE may represent a device that is not intended for sale to, or operation by, an end user but which may be associated with or operated for the benefit of a user (e.g., a smart power meter).

[0242] The UE 1500 includes processing circuitry 1502 that is operatively coupled via a bus 1504 to an input / output interface 1506, a power source 1508, a memory 1510, a communication interface 1512, and / or any other component, or any combination thereof. Certain UEs may utilize all or a subset of the components shown in Figure 15. The level of integration between the components may vary from one UE to another UE. Further, certain UEs may contain multiple instances of a component, such as multiple processors, memories, transceivers, transmitters, receivers, etc.

[0243] The processing circuitry 1502 is configured to process instructions and data and may be configured to implement any sequential state machine operative to execute instructions stored as machine-readable computer programs in the memory 1510. The processing circuitry 1502 may be implemented as one or more hardware-implemented state machines (e.g., in discrete logic, field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), application specific integrated circuits (ASICs), etc.); programmable logic together with appropriate firmware; one or more stored computer programs, general-purpose processors, such as a microprocessor or digital signal processor (DSP), together with appropriate software; or any combination of the above. For example, the processing circuitry 1502 may include multiple central processing units (CPUs).

[0244] In the example, the input / output interface 1506 may be configured to provide an interface or interfaces to an input device, output device, or one or more input and / or output devices. Examples of an output device include a speaker, a sound card, a video card, a display, a monitor, a printer, an actuator, an emitter, a smartcard, another output device, or any combination thereof. An input device may allow a user to capture information into the UE 1500. Examples of an input device include a touch-sensitive or presence-sensitive display, a camera (e.g., a digital camera, a digital video camera, a web camera, etc.), a microphone, a sensor, a mouse, a trackball, a directional pad, a trackpad, a scroll wheel, a smartcard, and the like. The presence-sensitive display may include a capacitive or resistive touch sensor to sense input from a user. A sensor may be, for instance, an accelerometer, a gyroscope, a tilt sensor, a force sensor, a magnetometer, an optical sensor, a proximity sensor, a biometric sensor, etc., or any combination thereof. An output device may use the same type of interface port as an input device. For example, a Universal Serial Bus (USB) port may be used to provide an input device and an output device.

[0245] In some embodiments, the power source 1508 is structured as a battery or battery pack. Other types of power sources, such as an external power source (e.g., an electricity outlet), photovoltaic device, or power cell, may be used. The power source 1508 may further include power circuitry for delivering power from the power source 1508 itself, and / or an external power source, to the various parts of the UE 1500 via input circuitry or an interface such as an electrical power cable. Delivering power may be, for example, for charging of the power source 1508. Power circuitry may perform any formatting, converting, or other modification to the power from the power source 1508 to make the power suitable for the respective components of the UE 1500 to which power is supplied.

[0246] The memory 1510 may be or be configured to include memory such as random access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), programmable read-only memory (PROM), erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), magnetic disks, optical disks, hard disks, removable cartridges, flash drives, and so forth. In one example, the memory 1510 includes one or more application programs 1514, such as an operating system, web browser application, a widget, gadget engine, or other application, and corresponding data 1516. The memory 1510 may store, for use by the UE 1500, any of a variety of various operating systems or combinations of operating systems.

[0247] The memory 1510 may be configured to include a number of physical drive units, such as redundant array of independent disks (RAID), flash memory, USB flash drive, external hard disk drive, thumb drive, pen drive, key drive, high-density digital versatile disc (HD-DVD) optical disc drive, internal hard disk drive, Blu-Ray optical disc drive, holographic digital data storage (HDDS) optical disc drive, external mini-dual in-line memory module (DIMM), synchronous dynamic random access memory (SDRAM), external micro-DIMM SDRAM, smartcard memory such as tamper resistant module in the form of a universal integrated circuit card (UICC) including one or more subscriber identity modules (SIMs), such as a USIM and / or ISIM, other memory, or any combination thereof. The UICC may for example be an embedded UICC (eUlCC), integrated UICC (iUICC) or a removable UICC commonly known as ‘SIM card.’ The memory 1510 may allow the UE 1500 to access instructions, application programs and the like, stored on transitory or non-transitory memory media, to off-load data, or to upload data. An article of manufacture, such as one utilizing a communication system may be tangibly embodied as or in the memory 1510, which may be or comprise a device-readable storage medium.

[0248] The processing circuitry 1502 may be configured to communicate with an access network or other network using the communication interface 1512. The communication interface 1512 may comprise one or more communication subsystems and may include or be communicatively coupled to an antenna 1522. The communication interface 1512 may include one or more transceivers used to communicate, such as by communicating with one or more remote transceivers of another device capable of wireless communication (e.g., another UE or a network node in an access network). Each transceiver may include a transmitter 1518 and / or a receiver 1520 appropriate to provide network communications (e.g., optical, electrical, frequency allocations, and so forth). Moreover, the transmitter 1518 and receiver 1520 may be coupled to one or more antennas (e.g., antenna 1522) and may share circuit components, software or firmware, or alternatively be implemented separately.

[0249] In the illustrated embodiment, communication functions of the communication interface 1512 may include cellular communication, Wi-Fi communication, LPWAN communication, data communication, voice communication, multimedia communication, short-range communications such as Bluetooth, near-field communication, location-based communication such as the use of the global positioning system (GPS) to determine a location, another like communication function, or any combination thereof. Communications may be implemented in according to one or more communication protocols and / or standards, such as IEEE 802.11 , Code Division Multiplexing Access (CDMA), Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA), GSM, LTE, New Radio (NR), UMTS, WiMax, Ethernet, transmission control protocol / internet protocol (TCP / IP), synchronous optical networking (SONET), Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM), QUIC, Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP), and so forth.

[0250] Regardless of the type of sensor, a UE may provide an output of data captured by its sensors, through its communication interface 1512, via a wireless connection to a network node. Data captured by sensors of a UE can be communicated through a wireless connection to a network node via another UE. The output may be periodic (e.g., once every 15 minutes if it reports the sensed temperature), random (e.g., to even out the load from reporting from several sensors), in response to a triggering event (e.g., when moisture is detected an alert is sent), in response to a request (e.g., a user initiated request), or a continuous stream (e.g., a live video feed of a patient).

[0251] As another example, a UE comprises an actuator, a motor, or a switch, related to a communication interface configured to receive wireless input from a network node via a wireless connection. In response to the received wireless input the states of the actuator, the motor, or the switch may change. For example, the UE may comprise a motor that adjusts the control surfaces or rotors of a drone in flight according to the received input or to a robotic arm performing a medical procedure according to the received input.

[0252] A UE, when in the form of an Internet of Things (loT) device, may be a device for use in one or more application domains, these domains comprising, but not limited to, city wearable technology, extended industrial application and healthcare. Non-limiting examples of such an loT device are a device which is or which is embedded in: a connected refrigerator or freezer, a TV, a connected lighting device, an electricity meter, a robot vacuum cleaner, a voice controlled smart speaker, a home security camera, a motion detector, a thermostat, a smoke detector, a door / window sensor, a flood / moisture sensor, an electrical door lock, a connected doorbell, an air conditioning system like a heat pump, an autonomous vehicle, a surveillance system, a weather monitoring device, a vehicle parking monitoring device, an electric vehicle charging station, a smart watch, a fitness tracker, a wearable for tactile augmentation or sensory enhancement, a water sprinkler, an animal- or item-tracking device, a sensor for monitoring a plant or animal, an industrial robot, an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV), and any kind of medical device, like a heart rate monitor or a remote controlled surgical robot. A UE in the form of an loT device comprises circuitry and / or software in dependence of the intended application of the loT device in addition to other components as described in relation to the UE 1500 shown in Figure 15.

[0253] As yet another specific example, in an loT scenario, a UE may represent a machine or other device that performs monitoring and / or measurements, and transmits the results of such monitoring and / or measurements to another UE and / or a network node. The UE may in this case be an M2M device, which may in a 3GPP context be referred to as an MTC device. As one particular example, the UE may implement the 3GPP NB-loT standard. In other scenarios, a UE may represent a vehicle, such as a car, a bus, a truck, a ship and an airplane, or other equipment that is capable of monitoring and / or reporting on its operational status or other functions associated with its operation.

[0254] In practice, any number of UEs may be used together with respect to a single use case. For example, a first UE might be or be integrated in a drone and provide the drone’s speed information (obtained through a speed sensor) to a second UE that is a remote controller operating the drone. When the user makes changes from the remote controller, the first UE may adjust the throttle on the drone (e.g. by controlling an actuator) to increase or decrease the drone’s speed. The first and / or the second UE can also include more than one of the functionalities described above. For example, a UE might comprise the sensor and the actuator, and handle communication of data for both the speed sensor and the actuators.

[0255] Figure 16 shows a network node 1600 in accordance with some embodiments. As used herein, network node refers to equipment capable, configured, arranged and / or operable to communicate directly or indirectly with a UE and / or with other network nodes or equipment, in a telecommunication network. Examples of network nodes include, but are not limited to, access points (APs) (e.g., radio access points), base stations (BSs) (e.g., radio base stations, Node Bs, evolved Node Bs (eNBs) and NR NodeBs (gNBs)), O-RAN nodes or components of an O-RAN node (e.g., O-RU, O-DU, O-CU).

[0256] Base stations may be categorized based on the amount of coverage they provide (or, stated differently, their transmit power level) and so, depending on the provided amount of coverage, may be referred to as femto base stations, pico base stations, micro base stations, or macro base stations. A base station may be a relay node or a relay donor node controlling a relay. A network node may also include one or more (or all) parts of a distributed radio base station such as centralized digital units, distributed units (e.g., in an O- RAN access node) and / or remote radio units (RRUs), sometimes referred to as Remote Radio Heads (RRHs). Such remote radio units may or may not be integrated with an antenna as an antenna integrated radio. Parts of a distributed radio base station may also be referred to as nodes in a distributed antenna system (DAS).

[0257] Other examples of network nodes include multiple transmission point (multi-TRP) 5G access nodes, multi-standard radio (MSR) equipment such as MSR BSs, network controllers such as radio network controllers (RNCs) or base station controllers (BSCs), base transceiver stations (BTSs), transmission points, transmission nodes, multi-cell / multicast coordination entities (MCEs), Operation and Maintenance (O&M) nodes, Operations Support System (OSS) nodes, Self-Organizing Network (SON) nodes, positioning nodes (e.g., Evolved Serving Mobile Location Centers (E-SMLCs)), and / or Minimization of Drive Tests (MDTs).

[0258] The network node 1600 includes a processing circuitry 1602, a memory 1604, a communication interface 1606, and a power source 1608. The network node 1600 may be composed of multiple physically separate components (e.g., a NodeB component and a RNC component, or a BTS component and a BSC component, etc.), which may each have their own respective components. In certain scenarios in which the network node 1600 comprises multiple separate components (e.g., BTS and BSC components), one or more of the separate components may be shared among several network nodes. For example, a single RNC may control multiple NodeBs. In such a scenario, each unique NodeB and RNC pair, may in some instances be considered a single separate network node. In some embodiments, the network node 1600 may be configured to support multiple radio access technologies (RATs). In such embodiments, some components may be duplicated (e.g., separate memory 1604 for different RATs) and some components may be reused (e.g., a same antenna 1610 may be shared by different RATs). The network node 1600 may also include multiple sets of the various illustrated components for different wireless technologies integrated into network node 1600, for example GSM, WCDMA, LTE, NR, WiFi, Zigbee, Z- wave, LoRaWAN, Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) or Bluetooth wireless technologies. These wireless technologies may be integrated into the same or different chip or set of chips and other components within network node 1600.

[0259] The processing circuitry 1602 may comprise a combination of one or more of a microprocessor, controller, microcontroller, central processing unit, digital signal processor, application-specific integrated circuit, field programmable gate array, or any other suitable computing device, resource, or combination of hardware, software and / or encoded logic operable to provide, either alone or in conjunction with other network node 1600 components, such as the memory 1604, to provide network node 1600 functionality.

[0260] In some embodiments, the processing circuitry 1602 includes a system on a chip (SOC). In some embodiments, the processing circuitry 1602 includes one or more of radio frequency (RF) transceiver circuitry 1612 and baseband processing circuitry 1614. In some embodiments, the radio frequency (RF) transceiver circuitry 1612 and the baseband processing circuitry 1614 may be on separate chips (or sets of chips), boards, or units, such as radio units and digital units. In alternative embodiments, part or all of RF transceiver circuitry 1612 and baseband processing circuitry 1614 may be on the same chip or set of chips, boards, or units.

[0261] The memory 1604 may comprise any form of volatile or non-volatile computer- readable memory including, without limitation, persistent storage, solid-state memory, remotely mounted memory, magnetic media, optical media, random access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), mass storage media (for example, a hard disk), removable storage media (for example, a flash drive, a Compact Disk (CD) or a Digital Video Disk (DVD)), and / or any other volatile or non-volatile, non-transitory device-readable and / or computer-executable memory devices that store information, data, and / or instructions that may be used by the processing circuitry 1602. The memory 1604 may store any suitable instructions, data, or information, including a computer program, software, an application including one or more of logic, rules, code, tables, and / or other instructions capable of being executed by the processing circuitry 1602 and utilized by the network node 1600. The memory 1604 may be used to store any calculations made by the processing circuitry 1602 and / or any data received via the communication interface 1606. In some embodiments, the processing circuitry 1602 and memory 1604 is integrated.

[0262] The communication interface 1606 is used in wired or wireless communication of signaling and / or data between a network node, access network, and / or UE. As illustrated, the communication interface 1606 comprises port(s) / terminal(s) 1616 to send and receive data, for example to and from a network over a wired connection. The communication interface 1606 also includes radio front-end circuitry 1618 that may be coupled to, or in certain embodiments a part of, the antenna 1610. Radio front-end circuitry 1618 comprises filters 1620 and amplifiers 1622. The radio front-end circuitry 1618 may be connected to an antenna 1610 and processing circuitry 1602. The radio front-end circuitry may be configured to condition signals communicated between antenna 1610 and processing circuitry 1602. The radio front-end circuitry 1618 may receive digital data that is to be sent out to other network nodes or UEs via a wireless connection. The radio front-end circuitry 1618 may convert the digital data into a radio signal having the appropriate channel and bandwidth parameters using a combination of filters 1620 and / or amplifiers 1622. The radio signal may then be transmitted via the antenna 1610. Similarly, when receiving data, the antenna 1610 may collect radio signals which are then converted into digital data by the radio front-end circuitry 1618. The digital data may be passed to the processing circuitry 1602. In other embodiments, the communication interface may comprise different components and / or different combinations of components.

[0263] In certain alternative embodiments, the network node 1600 does not include separate radio front-end circuitry 1618, instead, the processing circuitry 1602 includes radio front-end circuitry and is connected to the antenna 1610. Similarly, in some embodiments, all or some of the RF transceiver circuitry 1612 is part of the communication interface 1606. In still other embodiments, the communication interface 1606 includes one or more ports or terminals 1616, the radio front-end circuitry 1618, and the RF transceiver circuitry 1612, as part of a radio unit (not shown), and the communication interface 1606 communicates with the baseband processing circuitry 1614, which is part of a digital unit (not shown).

[0264] The antenna 1610 may include one or more antennas, or antenna arrays, configured to send and / or receive wireless signals. The antenna 1610 may be coupled to the radio front-end circuitry 1618 and may be any type of antenna capable of transmitting and receiving data and / or signals wirelessly. In certain embodiments, the antenna 1610 is separate from the network node 1600 and connectable to the network node 1600 through an interface or port.

[0265] The antenna 1610, communication interface 1606, and / or the processing circuitry 1602 may be configured to perform any receiving operations and / or certain obtaining operations described herein as being performed by the network node. Any information, data and / or signals may be received from a UE, another network node and / or any other network equipment. Similarly, the antenna 1610, the communication interface 1606, and / or the processing circuitry 1602 may be configured to perform any transmitting operations described herein as being performed by the network node. Any information, data and / or signals may be transmitted to a UE, another network node and / or any other network equipment.

[0266] The power source 1608 provides power to the various components of network node 1600 in a form suitable for the respective components (e.g., at a voltage and current level needed for each respective component). The power source 1608 may further comprise, or be coupled to, power management circuitry to supply the components of the network node 1600 with power for performing the functionality described herein. For example, the network node 1600 may be connectable to an external power source (e.g., the power grid, an electricity outlet) via an input circuitry or interface such as an electrical cable, whereby the external power source supplies powerto power circuitry of the power source 1608. As a further example, the power source 1608 may comprise a source of power in the form of a battery or battery pack which is connected to, or integrated in, power circuitry. The battery may provide backup power should the external power source fail.

[0267] Embodiments of the network node 1600 may include additional components beyond those shown in Figure 16 for providing certain aspects of the network node’s functionality, including any of the functionality described herein and / or any functionality necessary to support the subject matter described herein. For example, the network node 1600 may include user interface equipment to allow input of information into the network node 1600 and to allow output of information from the network node 1600. This may allow a user to perform diagnostic, maintenance, repair, and other administrative functions for the network node 1600. In some embodiments providing a core network node, such as core network node 108 of FIG. 14, some components, such as the radio front-end circuitry 1618 and the RF transceiver circuitry 1612 may be omitted.

[0268] Figure 17 is a block diagram illustrating a virtualization environment 1700 in which functions implemented by some embodiments may be virtualized. In the present context, virtualizing means creating virtual versions of apparatuses or devices which may include virtualizing hardware platforms, storage devices and networking resources. As used herein, virtualization can be applied to any device described herein, or components thereof, and relates to an implementation in which at least a portion of the functionality is implemented as one or more virtual components. Some or all of the functions described herein may be implemented as virtual components executed by one or more virtual machines (VMs) implemented in one or more virtual environments 1700 hosted by one or more of hardware nodes, such as a hardware computing device that operates as a network node, UE, core network node, or host. Further, in embodiments in which the virtual node does not require radio connectivity (e.g., a core network node or host), then the node may be entirely virtualized. In some embodiments, the virtualization environment 1700 includes components defined by the O-RAN Alliance, such as an O-Cloud environment orchestrated by a Service Management and Orchestration Framework via an 0-2 interface. Virtualization may facilitate distributed implementations of a network node, UE, core network node, or host.

[0269] Applications 1702 (which may alternatively be called software instances, virtual appliances, network functions, virtual nodes, virtual network functions, etc.) are run in the virtualization environment Q400 to implement some of the features, functions, and / or benefits of some of the embodiments disclosed herein.

[0270] Hardware 1704 includes processing circuitry, memory that stores software and / or instructions executable by hardware processing circuitry, and / or other hardware devices as described herein, such as a network interface, input / output interface, and so forth. Software may be executed by the processing circuitry to instantiate one or more virtualization layers 1706 (also referred to as hypervisors or virtual machine monitors (VMMs)), provide VMs 1708a and 1708b (one or more of which may be generally referred to as VMs 1708), and / or perform any of the functions, features and / or benefits described in relation with some embodiments described herein. The virtualization layer 1706 may present a virtual operating platform that appears like networking hardware to the VMs 1708.

[0271] The VMs 1708 comprise virtual processing, virtual memory, virtual networking or interface and virtual storage, and may be run by a corresponding virtualization layer 1706. Different embodiments of the instance of a virtual appliance 1702 may be implemented on one or more of VMs 1708, and the implementations may be made in different ways. Virtualization of the hardware is in some contexts referred to as network function virtualization (NFV). NFV may be used to consolidate many network equipment types onto industry standard high volume server hardware, physical switches, and physical storage, which can be located in data centers, and customer premise equipment.

[0272] In the context of NFV, a VM 1708 may be a software implementation of a physical machine that runs programs as if they were executing on a physical, non-virtualized machine. Each of the VMs 1708, and that part of hardware 1704 that executes that VM, be it hardware dedicated to that VM and / or hardware shared by that VM with others of the VMs, forms separate virtual network elements. Still in the context of NFV, a virtual network function is responsible for handling specific network functions that run in one or more VMs 1708 on top of the hardware 1704 and corresponds to the application 1702.

[0273] Hardware 1704 may be implemented in a standalone network node with generic or specific components. Hardware 1704 may implement some functions via virtualization. Alternatively, hardware 1704 may be part of a larger cluster of hardware (e.g. such as in a data center or CPE) where many hardware nodes work together and are managed via management and orchestration 1710, which, among others, oversees lifecycle management of applications 1702. In some embodiments, hardware 1704 is coupled to one or more radio units that each include one or more transmitters and one or more receivers that may be coupled to one or more antennas. Radio units may communicate directly with other hardware nodes via one or more appropriate network interfaces and may be used in combination with the virtual components to provide a virtual node with radio capabilities, such as a radio access node or a base station. In some embodiments, some signaling can be provided with the use of a control system 1712 which may alternatively be used for communication between hardware nodes and radio units.

[0274] Although the computing devices described herein (e.g., UEs, network nodes) may include the illustrated combination of hardware components, other embodiments may comprise computing devices with different combinations of components. It is to be understood that these computing devices may comprise any suitable combination of hardware and / or software needed to perform the tasks, features, functions and methods disclosed herein. Determining, calculating, obtaining or similar operations described herein may be performed by processing circuitry, which may process information by, for example, converting the obtained information into other information, comparing the obtained information or converted information to information stored in the network node, and / or performing one or more operations based on the obtained information or converted information, and as a result of said processing making a determination. Moreover, while components are depicted as single boxes located within a larger box, or nested within multiple boxes, in practice, computing devices may comprise multiple different physical components that make up a single illustrated component, and functionality may be partitioned between separate components. For example, a communication interface may be configured to include any of the components described herein, and / or the functionality of the components may be partitioned between the processing circuitry and the communication interface. In another example, non-computationally intensive functions of any of such components may be implemented in software or firmware and computationally intensive functions may be implemented in hardware.

[0275] In certain embodiments, some or all of the functionality described herein may be provided by processing circuitry executing instructions stored on in memory, which in certain embodiments may be a computer program product in the form of a non-transitory computer- readable storage medium. In alternative embodiments, some or all of the functionality may be provided by the processing circuitry without executing instructions stored on a separate or discrete device-readable storage medium, such as in a hard-wired manner. In any of those particular embodiments, whether executing instructions stored on a non-transitory computer- readable storage medium or not, the processing circuitry can be configured to perform the described functionality. The benefits provided by such functionality are not limited to the processing circuitry alone or to other components of the computing device, but are enjoyed by the computing device as a whole, and / or by end users and a wireless network generally.

[0276] Some embodiments herein may be enumerated as follows:

[0277] Group A Embodiments

[0278] A1 . A method performed by communication equipment configured for use in a communication network, the method comprising: receiving, from a location server in the communication network, a request for the communication equipment to provide positioning information to the location server using artificial intelligence, Al; and transmitting, to the location server, a response indicating that the communication equipment cannot use Al to provide positioning information according to the request. A2. The method of embodiment A1 , wherein the response indicates a reason why the communication equipment cannot use Al to provide positioning information according to the request.

[0279] A3. The method of embodiment A2, wherein the indicated reason is that the communication equipment does not have, and / or cannot timely obtain within a maximum allowable period for transmitting the response, any Al model that is usable for determining positioning information.

[0280] A4. The method of embodiment A2, wherein the indicated reason is that the communication equipment does not have, and / or cannot timely obtain within a maximum allowable period for transmitting the response, any Al model that is valid and / or applicable for determining positioning information under conditions at the communication equipment.

[0281] A5. The method of embodiment A4, wherein the response indicates the conditions for which the communication equipment does not have and / or cannot timely obtain any Al model that is valid and / or applicable for determining positioning information.

[0282] A6. The method of any of embodiments A4-A5, wherein the conditions for which the communication equipment does not have and / or cannot timely obtain any Al model that is valid and / or applicable for determining positioning information comprises one or more of: a speed at which the communication equipment is moving; a type of signal propagation environment in which the communication equipment is located; channel conditions at the communication equipment; a geographic or coverage area in which the communication equipment is located; and a hardware configuration of the communication equipment.

[0283] A7. The method of any of embodiments A4-A6, wherein an Al model for determining positioning information is only valid and / or applicable for determining positioning information: for a defined time period after the Al model was trained for determining positioning information; for a range of communication equipment speeds for which the Al model was trained to determine positioning information; for a type of signal propagation environment in which the Al model was trained to determine positioning information; for channel conditions in which the Al model was trained to determine positioning information; for a geographic or coverage area in the Al model was trained to determine positioning information; for a communication equipment hardware configuration for which the Al model was trained to determine positioning information; when reference signals are configured for the communication equipment to perform measurements thereon.

[0284] A8. The method of any of embodiments A1 -A8, wherein the response comprises a field that explicitly indicates the communication equipment cannot use Al to provide positioning information according to the request.

[0285] A9. The method of embodiment A8, wherein the field is an error cause field indicating a cause of the communication equipment not providing positioning information according to the request as being that the communication equipment cannot use Al to provide positioning information according to the request.

[0286] A10. The method of any of embodiments A1 -A8, wherein the response includes positioning information determined by the communication equipment without using Al, wherein inclusion in the response of positioning information determined by the communication equipment without using Al implicitly indicates that the communication equipment cannot use Al to provide positioning information according to the request.

[0287] A11 . The method of any of embodiments A1 -A8 and A10, wherein the response includes positioning information and a field indicating that the communication equipment did not use Al to provide the positioning information according to the request.

[0288] A12. The method of any of embodiments A1 -A11 , wherein the response indicates that the communication equipment cannot use Al to provide positioning information according to the request within a maximum allowable period for transmitting the response.

[0289] A13. The method of any of embodiments A1 -A12, wherein the response indicates an expected time when the communication equipment expects to be able to use Al to provide positioning information. A14. The method of any of embodiments A1 -A13, wherein the positioning information includes: a location of the communication equipment, or of a communication device, as estimated by the communication equipment using an Al model at the communication equipment; or positioning measurements obtained by the communication equipment using an Al model at the communication equipment, wherein a location of the communication equipment, or of a communication device, is estimatable using the positioning measurements.

[0290] A15. The method of any of embodiments A1 -A14, wherein the communication equipment is a communication device.

[0291] A16. The method of any of embodiments A1-A14, wherein the communication equipment is a radio network node in the communication network.

[0292] A17. The method of any of embodiments A1 -A16, further comprising receiving, from the location server, configuration information that configures the communication equipment how to handle the communication equipment being unable to use Al to provide positioning information according to a request for the communication equipment to provide positioning information to the location server using Al.

[0293] A18. The method of embodiment A17, wherein the configuration information configures the communication equipment to: provide positioning information without using Al; and / or respond with a reason why the communication equipment cannot use Al to provide positioning information according to the request.

[0294] A19. The method of any of embodiments A1 -A18, wherein the request comprises a request for the communication equipment to provide positioning information to the location server using Al model inference, and wherein the response indicates that the communication equipment cannot use Al model inference to provide positioning information according to the request.

[0295] A20. The method of any of embodiments A1 -A19, wherein the request comprises a request for the communication equipment to provide positioning information to the location server using an Al model, and wherein the response indicates that the communication equipment does not have, and / or cannot timely obtain within a maximum allowable period for transmitting the response: any Al model that is usable for determining positioning information; or any Al model that is valid and / or applicable for determining positioning information under conditions at the communication equipment.

[0296] A21 . The method of any of embodiments A1 -A20, further comprising: determining whether or not the communication equipment can use Al to provide positioning information according to the request; and based on determining that the communication equipment cannot use Al to provide positioning information according to the request, generating the response to indicate that the communication equipment cannot use Al to provide positioning information according to the request.

[0297] A22. The method of embodiment A21 , wherein said determining comprises determining whether or not the communication equipment has locally stored an Al model that: is usable for determining positioning information; or is valid and / or applicable for determining positioning information under conditions at the communication equipment.

[0298] A23. The method of any of embodiments A21-A22, wherein said determining comprises determining whether or not the communication equipment can timely obtain, within a maximum allowable period for transmitting the response, an Al model that: is usable for determining positioning information; or is valid and / or applicable for determining positioning information under conditions at the communication equipment.

[0299] A24. The method of any of embodiments A21-A23, wherein said determining comprises determining whether or not the communication equipment can timely obtain the Al model by either: training or re-training the Al model; or retrieving the Al model from a server.

[0300] A25. The method of any of embodiments A1-A24, wherein Al comprises machine learning, ML.

[0301] AA1 . A method performed by communication equipment configured for use in a communication network, the method comprising: receiving, from a location server in the communication network, configuration information that configures the communication equipment how to handle the communication equipment being unable to use Al to provide positioning information according to a request for the communication equipment to provide positioning information to the location server using Al.

[0302] AA2. The method of embodiment AA1 , comprising any of the steps of any of embodiments A1 -A25.

[0303] Group B Embodiments

[0304] B1 . A method performed by a location server configured for use in a communication network, the method comprising: transmitting, to communication equipment in the communication network, a request for the communication equipment to provide positioning information to the location server using artificial intelligence, Al; and receiving, from the communication equipment, a response indicating that the communication equipment cannot use Al to provide positioning information according to the request.

[0305] B2. The method of embodiment B1 , wherein the response indicates a reason why the communication equipment cannot use Al to provide positioning information according to the request.

[0306] B3. The method of embodiment B2, wherein the indicated reason is that the communication equipment does not have, and / or cannot timely obtain within a maximum allowable period for transmitting the response, any Al model that is usable for determining positioning information.

[0307] B4. The method of embodiment B2, wherein the indicated reason is that the communication equipment does not have, and / or cannot timely obtain within a maximum allowable period for transmitting the response, any Al model that is valid and / or applicable for determining positioning information under conditions at the communication equipment.

[0308] B5. The method of embodiment B4, wherein the response indicates the conditions for which the communication equipment does not have and / or cannot timely obtain any Al model that is valid and / or applicable for determining positioning information. B6. The method of any of embodiments B4-B5, wherein the conditions for which the communication equipment does not have and / or cannot timely obtain any Al model that is valid and / or applicable for determining positioning information comprises one or more of: a speed at which the communication equipment is moving; a type of signal propagation environment in which the communication equipment is located; channel conditions at the communication equipment; a geographic or coverage area in which the communication equipment is located; and a hardware configuration of the communication equipment.

[0309] B7. The method of any of embodiments B4-B6, wherein an Al model for determining positioning information is only valid and / or applicable for determining positioning information: for a defined time period after the Al model was trained for determining positioning information; for a range of communication equipment speeds for which the Al model was trained to determine positioning information; for a type of signal propagation environment in which the Al model was trained to determine positioning information; for channel conditions in which the Al model was trained to determine positioning information; for a geographic or coverage area in the Al model was trained to determine positioning information; for a communication equipment hardware configuration for which the Al model was trained to determine positioning information; when reference signals are configured for the communication equipment to perform measurements thereon.

[0310] B8. The method of any of embodiments B1-B8, wherein the response comprises a field that explicitly indicates the communication equipment cannot use Al to provide positioning information according to the request.

[0311] B9. The method of embodiment B8, wherein the field is an error cause field indicating a cause of the communication equipment not providing positioning information according to the request as being that the communication equipment cannot use Al to provide positioning information according to the request. B10. The method of any of embodiments B1 -B8, wherein the response includes positioning information determined by the communication equipment without using Al, wherein inclusion in the response of positioning information determined by the communication equipment without using Al implicitly indicates that the communication equipment cannot use Al to provide positioning information according to the request.

[0312] B11 . The method of any of embodiments B1 -B8 and B10, wherein the response includes positioning information and a field indicating that the communication equipment did not use Al to provide the positioning information according to the request.

[0313] B12. The method of any of embodiments B1 -B11 , wherein the response indicates that the communication equipment cannot use Al to provide positioning information according to the request within a maximum allowable period for transmitting the response.

[0314] B13. The method of any of embodiments B1 -B12, wherein the response indicates an expected time when the communication equipment expects to be able to use Al to provide positioning information.

[0315] B14. The method of any of embodiments B1 -B13, wherein the positioning information includes: a location of the communication equipment as estimated by the communication equipment using an Al model at the communication equipment; or positioning measurements obtained by the communication equipment using an Al model at the communication equipment, wherein a location of the communication equipment is estimatable using the positioning measurements.

[0316] B15. The method of any of embodiments B1 -B14, wherein the communication equipment is a communication device.

[0317] B16. The method of any of embodiments B1 -B14, wherein the communication equipment is a radio network node in the communication network.

[0318] B17. The method of any of embodiments B1 -B16, further comprising transmitting, to the communication equipment, configuration information that configures the communication equipment how to handle the communication equipment being unable to use Al to provide positioning information according to a request for the communication equipment to provide positioning information to the location server using Al.

[0319] B18. The method of embodiment B17, wherein the configuration information configures the communication equipment to: provide positioning information without using Al; and / or respond with a reason why the communication equipment cannot use Al to provide positioning information according to the request.

[0320] B19. The method of any of embodiments B1 -B18, wherein the request comprises a request for the communication equipment to provide positioning information to the location server using Al model inference, and wherein the response indicates that the communication equipment cannot use Al model inference to provide positioning information according to the request.

[0321] B20. The method of any of embodiments B1 -B19, wherein the request comprises a request for the communication equipment to provide positioning information to the location server using an Al model, and wherein the response indicates that the communication equipment does not have, and / or cannot timely obtain within a maximum allowable period for transmitting the response: any Al model that is usable for determining positioning information; or any Al model that is valid and / or applicable for determining positioning information under conditions at the communication equipment.

[0322] B21 . The method of any of embodiments B1 -B20, further comprising, based on the response, making one or more decisions about whether and / or how the communication equipment is to provide positioning information.

[0323] B22. The method of embodiment B13, further comprising, at or after the expected time, transmitting, to the communication equipment, another request for the communication equipment to provide positioning information to the location server using artificial intelligence.

[0324] B23. The method of embodiment B13, further comprising, based on the expected time, determining a new future time at which to expect a response from the communication equipment with positioning information determined using Al. B24. The method of any of embodiments B1-B23, wherein Al comprises machine learning, ML.

[0325] BB1 . A method performed by a location server configured for use in a communication network, the method comprising: transmitting, to communication equipment, configuration information that configures the communication equipment how to handle the communication equipment being unable to use Al to provide positioning information according to a request for the communication equipment to provide positioning information to the location server using Al.

[0326] BB2. The method of embodiment BB1 , comprising any of the steps of any of embodiments B1 -B24.

[0327] Group C Embodiments

[0328] C1 . Communication equipment configured to perform any of the steps of any of the Group A embodiments.

[0329] C2. Communication equipment comprising processing circuitry configured to any of the steps of any of the Group A embodiments.

[0330] C3. Communication equipment comprising: communication circuitry; and processing circuitry configured to perform any of the steps of any of the Group A embodiments.

[0331] C4. Communication equipment comprising: processing circuitry configured to perform any of the steps of any of the Group A embodiments; and power supply circuitry configured to supply power to the communication equipment.

[0332] C5. Communication equipment comprising: processing circuitry and memory, the memory containing instructions executable by the processing circuitry whereby the communication equipment is configured to perform any of the steps of any of the Group A embodiments.

[0333] C6. Communication equipment of any of embodiments C1 -C5, wherein the communication equipment is a communication device or a radio network node.

[0334] C7. A user equipment (UE) comprising: an antenna configured to send and receive wireless signals; radio front-end circuitry connected to the antenna and to processing circuitry, and configured to condition signals communicated between the antenna and the processing circuitry; the processing circuitry being configured to perform any of the steps of any of the Group A embodiments; an input interface connected to the processing circuitry and configured to allow input of information into the UE to be processed by the processing circuitry; an output interface connected to the processing circuitry and configured to output information from the UE that has been processed by the processing circuitry; and a battery connected to the processing circuitry and configured to supply power to the UE.

[0335] C8. A computer program comprising instructions which, when executed by at least one processor of communication equipment, causes the communication equipment to perform any of the steps of any of the Group A embodiments.

[0336] C9. A carrier containing the computer program of embodiment C7, wherein the carrier is one of an electronic signal, optical signal, radio signal, or computer readable storage medium.

[0337] C10. A location server configured to perform any of the steps of any of the Group B embodiments.

[0338] C11 . A location server comprising processing circuitry configured to perform any of the steps of any of the Group B embodiments.

[0339] C12. A location server comprising: communication circuitry; and processing circuitry configured to perform any of the steps of any of the Group B embodiments.

[0340] C13. A location server comprising: processing circuitry configured to perform any of the steps of any of the Group B embodiments; power supply circuitry configured to supply power to the location server. C14. A location server comprising: processing circuitry and memory, the memory containing instructions executable by the processing circuitry whereby the location server is configured to perform any of the steps of any of the Group B embodiments. C15. A computer program comprising instructions which, when executed by at least one processor of a location server, causes the location server to perform any of the steps of any of the Group B embodiments.

[0341] C16. A carrier containing the computer program of embodiment C15, wherein the carrier is one of an electronic signal, optical signal, radio signal, or computer readable storage medium.

Claims

CLAIMSWhat is claimed is:1 . A method performed by a communication equipment (20) in a communication network (10), the method comprising: receiving (1000), from a location server (14) in the communication network (10), a request (22) for the communication equipment (20) to provide positioning information (24) to the location server (14), wherein the request (22) requests the communication equipment (20) to provide the positioning information (24) using artificial intelligence, Al; and transmitting (1010), to the location server (14), a response (26) indicating that the communication equipment (20) cannot use Al to provide positioning information (24) according to the request (22).

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the response (26) indicates a reason why the communication equipment (20) cannot use Al to provide positioning information (24) according to the request (22).

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the indicated reason is that there is a discrepancy between conditions under which an Al model at the communication equipment (20) was trained and conditions at the communication equipment (20) under which the communication equipment (20) would perform an inference from the Al model to determine positioning information (24) according to the request (22).

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the indicated reason is that the communication equipment (20) does not have, and / or cannot timely obtain within a maximum allowable period for transmitting the response (26), any Al model that is valid and / or applicable for determining positioning information (24) under conditions at the communication equipment (20).

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the conditions for which the communication equipment (20) does not have and / or cannot timely obtain any Al model that is valid and / or applicable for determining positioning information (24) comprises one or more of: a speed at which the communication equipment (20) is moving; a type of signal propagation environment in which the communication equipment (20) is located; channel conditions at the communication equipment (20);a geographic or coverage area in which the communication equipment (20) is located; and a hardware configuration of the communication equipment (20).

6. The method of any of claims 1-5, wherein the response (26) comprises an error cause field indicating a cause of the communication equipment (20) not being able to use Al to provide positioning information (24) according to the request (22).

7. The method of any of claims 1-6, wherein the response (26) includes positioning information (24) determined by the communication equipment (20) without using Al, wherein inclusion in the response (26) of positioning information (24) determined by the communication equipment (20) without using Al implicitly indicates that the communication equipment (20) cannot use Al to provide positioning information (24) according to the request (22).

8. The method of any of claims 1-7, further comprising: determining whether or not the communication equipment (20) can use Al to provide positioning information (24) according to the request (22); and based on determining that the communication equipment (20) cannot use Al to provide positioning information (24) according to the request (22), generating the response (26) to indicate that the communication equipment (20) cannot use Al to provide positioning information (24) according to the request (22).

9. The method of claim 8, wherein said determining comprises determining whether or not there is a discrepancy between conditions under which an Al model at the communication equipment (20) was trained and conditions at the communication equipment (20) under which the communication equipment (20) would perform an inference from the Al model to determine positioning information (24) according to the request (22).

10. The method of claim 8, wherein said determining comprises determining whether or not the communication equipment (20) has locally stored, or can timely obtain, an Al model that: is usable for determining positioning information (24); or is valid and / or applicable for determining positioning information (24) under conditions at the communication equipment (20).11 . The method of any of claims 1-10, wherein the response (26) indicates that thecommunication equipment (20) does not have any Al model that is available and / or applicable for determining positioning information (24) at the communication equipment (20).

12. The method of any of claims 1-11 , wherein the communication equipment (20) is a user equipment.

13. A method performed by a location server (14) in a communication network (10), the method comprising: transmitting (1100), to communication equipment (20) in the communication network (10), a request (22) for the communication equipment (20) to provide positioning information (24) to the location server (14), wherein the request (22) requests the communication equipment (20) to provide the positioning information (24) using artificial intelligence, Al; and receiving (1110), from the communication equipment (20), a response (26) indicating that the communication equipment (20) cannot use Al to provide positioning information (24) according to the request (22).

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the response (26) indicates a reason why the communication equipment (20) cannot use Al to provide positioning information (24) according to the request (22).

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the indicated reason is that there is a discrepancy between conditions under which an Al model at the communication equipment (20) was trained and conditions at the communication equipment (20) under which the communication equipment (20) would perform an inference from the Al model to determine positioning information (24) according to the request (22).

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the indicated reason is that the communication equipment (20) does not have, and / or cannot timely obtain within a maximum allowable period for transmitting the response (26), any Al model that is valid and / or applicable for determining positioning information (24) under conditions at the communication equipment (20).

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the conditions for which the communication equipment (20) does not have and / or cannot timely obtain any Al model that is valid and / or applicable for determining positioning information (24) comprises one or more of: a speed at which the communication equipment (20) is moving;a type of signal propagation environment in which the communication equipment (20) is located; channel conditions at the communication equipment (20); a geographic or coverage area in which the communication equipment (20) is located; and a hardware configuration of the communication equipment (20).

18. The method of any of claims 13-14, wherein the response (26) comprises an error cause field indicating a cause of the communication equipment (20) not being able to use Al to provide positioning information (24) according to the request (22).

19. The method of any of claims 13-18, wherein the response (26) includes positioning information (24) determined by the communication equipment (20) without using Al, wherein inclusion in the response (26) of positioning information (24) determined by the communication equipment (20) without using Al implicitly indicates that the communication equipment (20) cannot use Al to provide positioning information (24) according to the request (22).

20. The method of any of claims 13-19, further comprising, based on the response (26), making one or more decisions about whether and / or how the communication equipment (20) is to provide positioning information (24).21 . The method of any of claims 13-20, wherein the response (26) indicates that the communication equipment (20) does not have any Al model that is available and / or applicable for determining positioning information (24) at the communication equipment (20).

22. The method of any of claims 13-21 , wherein the communication equipment (20) is a user equipment.

23. The method of any of claims 13-22, wherein the location server (14) implements a Location Management Function, LMF.

24. A communication equipment (20) configured to: receive, from a location server (14) in a communication network (10), a request (22) for the communication equipment (20) to provide positioning information (24) to the location server (14) using artificial intelligence, Al; and transmit, to the location server (14), a response (26) indicating that thecommunication equipment (20) cannot use Al to provide positioning information (24) according to the request (22).

25. The communication equipment (20) of claim 24, configured to perform the method of any of claims 2-12.

26. A location server (14) configured to: transmit, to a communication equipment (20) in a communication network (10), a request (22) for the communication equipment (20) to provide positioning information (24) to the location server (14) using artificial intelligence, Al; and receive, from the communication equipment (20), a response (26) indicating that the communication equipment (20) cannot use Al to provide positioning information (24) according to the request (22).

27. The location server (14) of claim 26, configured to perform the method of any of claims 14-23.

28. A computer program comprising instructions which, when executed by at least one processor of a communication equipment (20), causes the communication equipment (20) to perform the method of any of claims 1-12.

29. A computer program comprising instructions which, when executed by at least one processor of a location server (14), causes the location server (14) to perform the method of any of claims 13-23.

30. A carrier containing the computer program of any of claims 28-29, wherein the carrier is one of an electronic signal, optical signal, radio signal, or computer readable storage medium.31 . A communication equipment (20) comprising a processor (1210) and a memory (1230), the memory (1230) containing instructions executable by the processor (1210) whereby the communication equipment (20) is operative to: receive, from a location server (14) in a communication network (10), a request (22) for the communication equipment (20) to provide positioning information (24) to the location server (14) using artificial intelligence, Al; and transmit, to the location server (14), a response (26) indicating that the communication equipment (20) cannot use Al to provide positioninginformation (24) according to the request (22).

32. The communication equipment (20) of claim 31 , wherein the instructions are executable by the processor (1210) whereby the communication equipment (20) is further operative to perform the method of any of claims 2-12.

33. A location server (14) comprising a processor (1310) and a memory (1330), the memory (1330) containing instructions executable by the processor (1310) whereby the location server (14) is operative to: transmit, to a communication equipment (20) in a communication network (10), a request (22) for the communication equipment (20) to provide positioning information (24) to the location server (14) using artificial intelligence, Al; and receive, from the communication equipment (20), a response (26) indicating that the communication equipment (20) cannot use Al to provide positioning information (24) according to the request (22).

34. The location server (14) of claim 33, wherein the instructions are executable by the processor (1310) whereby the location server (14) is further operative to perform the method of any of claims 14-23.

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